I've enjoyed previous books by Jess Michaels and was excited to read this.

Good start to a new series with a few side characters from another series. Great characters, steamy and can't wait to read the rest of the series. Read this in one day.

THE LOVE OF A LIBERTINE follows Morgan Banfield, who has recently been saved by his brother after another drunk night full of mistakes. In exchange for his help, he agrees to have more responsibility and fix his life by becoming a Man of Affairs. This doesn't excite Lizzie Margolis. She really doesn't want another rogue or rake into the staff. She's had quite enough of them, especially after the one that ruined her life years prior. However, she is slowly more and more interested in Morgan. When they finally start to look towards a future together, Morgan's past comes back.

This took me a few days to read and all I have to say is I enjoyed this. I believed this had great potential, especially for a series. Now I'm hoping for more. I would love to read more about the other character's lives and relationships. The only complaint I have is I wish the book was a little longer so I could get more of certain scenes. Ex: the conflict at the end and the development of their relationship.

Another phenomenal read by Jess Michaels . She always bring it with suspense, intrigue, passion and some laughs thrown in! Great new series !

When Elizabeth “Lizzie” Margolis was young she ran away from home to be with her lover but found out that really he just wanted her for her inheritance. Her overprotective brother saves her from the mistake. Morgan Banfield half brother to the Duke of Roseford is always in trouble. When his brother the Duke finds Morgan in prison he pays the debt and Morgan is a free man. His brother has a good friend that needs a man of affairs and he offers Morgan the job just as a way to perhaps tame his wild ways. Lizzie’s goal is to leave London to go to the country estate of her brother and work on her late mother’s garden but Morgan is coming too. When Morgan meets Lizzie he knows that he is not good enough for her. Lizzie feels affection for Morgan but remembers the mistake that she made when she was young. As Morgan and Lizzie fight the attraction for each the past comes back to haunt them both.
This book was pretty different than a traditional historical regency romance! The story is slow to start but manages to flow smoothly. The banter between all the characters is witty and refreshing that it’s easy to see how much everyone really gets along despite the differences. Unfortunately, the love between the hero Morgan and Lizzie seems too quick and unbelievable that there is even a relationship at all. Morgan is a wonderful hero. He’s sarcastic and bitter but underneath all that false bravado he’s got a heart of gold and really cares for everyone. Lizzie the cautious and wary heroine is easily relatable. She’s lived through not only her reputation being sullied but her heart being broken and still manages to be a strong admirable woman. Ms. Michaels really writes a truly good story that keeps you involved in it and love the characters.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Morgan Banfield hasn't led the most productive life and his latest stunt has landed him in Newgate but if he wants his estranged brother to help him, he has to agree to get his life together starting with a job as a man of affairs for his brother's friend. Lizzie Margolis thought she was in love before but she was mistaken and narrowly escaped ruin, now she doesn't trust her own heart so when she meets Morgan she is quick to assume the worst of him while Morgan can't help but be drawn to her. As the two spend more time together they start to fall in love, until Morgan's past catches up to him and threatens the fragile romance the two have begun to build.






Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? The Love of a Libertine kicks off a brand new series with some very familiar faces lending a hand (or divulging some needed advice) or two with some new characters.


Lizzie and Morgan couldn't have been more opposite in personality and yet they complimented each other as a couple. They both made mistakes in their lives but while Lizzie truly regrets hers and it has made her more of a recluse, Morgan has made making bad choices almost an art form. He regrets his choices but not enough to actually change his life, until his brother makes that choice for him.



I loved the chemistry between the two, not only because they were so attracted to one another but because they also managed to build a healthy friendship that helped them overcome a lot of their personal obstacles. I loved seeing them support one another through their growth and the difficulties of their pasts. I was convinced that Morgan and Lizzie were truly in love at the end because of their friendship and the time that they spent getting to know each other.


But as much as I loved meeting Lizzie and Morgan, I had ulterior motives for picking up The Love of a Libertine and that was Lizzie and Morgan's siblings! Hugh and Robert were both heroes of their own books in the 1797 Club which I adored for the close bond that the men shared. So to have not one but both of them in this new book was icing on the cake. It felt familiar but at the same time it was a new adventure with new characters. I'm really excited about this new series!


Click It or Skip It? Click It. I can't wait to see what else Jess Michaels has in store for readers.

I always enjoy Jess Michaels work, and this book was no exception.

We have the resentful Morgan Banfield, behaving badly and rejecting his half brother’s friendship, because he feels he has been treated badly by his father, the former Duke of Roseford. When the wakes up in Newgate, his brother Robert Smithson, comes to liberate him, on condition that he accepts a job as Man of Affairs for another duke and his friend Hugh.

Hugh’s sister Elizabeth Margolies, has been duped by a villainous man when she was 16, she was humiliated, and she felt she had let Hugh down. As a result, she decides she doesn’t deserve to marry and have a family, and she punished herself by not engaging in society, and focusing on implementing her mother’s garden design as a way to honour and remember her.

When Morgan arrives, he sees Elizabeth very clearly, he realises that she both desires him, and is very afraid of something too.

Elizabeth is drawn to Morgan, but is afraid of what she feels too. She is angry with herself for not learning from her previous mistakes.

When they are thrown together because Morgan is asked to help her in creating her mother’s garden, they let down their guards, and get to know each other better, and explore their relationship, which is then at risk when Morgan’s past behaviour comes back to haunt him. Can he be honourable and face up to his past, to free him up to have an HEA with Elizabeth?

I really enjoyed this book, we get to meet many of the characters from the 1797 Club books, and the relationship between the hero and heroine was nicely judged.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

This is the first book in authors new series, " The Duke's Bastards" and is a spin off from her previous series, "The 1797 Club" series. We meet Morgan Banfield, the half brother of the Robert, Duke of Roseford and Lady Elizabeth (Lizzie) Margolis, sister of the Hugh, Duke of Brighthollow in this book. When Morgan is sent to Hugh's estate, to bail him out of a difficult situation. He meets Elizabeth who has a painful past of her own. As the story progresses, they both become friends even with Lizzie's hestitation in befriending a libertine like Morgan. I liked the pace of this story and really enjoyed Morgan and Lizzie's story. The romance is almost endearing and sweet. I would recommend this book and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I've been waiting for Elizabeth's book since the last book series with the Dukes. This is a great book about an opportunity with love of course not with the same person. This book reminds me alot of Hades and Persephone. There are a lot of references to Hades and Persephone. This book surround the development and designing of a garden on grounds. So a lot of outside scenes that are perfect post quarantine. This is a must read if you are Jess Michaels Fan.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I hadn't read aby of this author before but will be looking out for more
Really enjoyed this

This is part of a series - I found this a great read and loved the story and the characters
Can't wait for more

Although Michaels finished her best selling The 1797 Club series, we are reunited with three Dukes and their families as we veer off on another adventurous love story.

As the bastard son of the previous Duke of Roseford and the half-brother of The Duke of Desire, Morgan Banfield hasn’t had an easy life. His courtesan mother’s death several years ago and his rampant gambling and drinking have led him down a dangerous path. He’s betrayed friends and can’t seem to bond with his aristocratic brother, Robert. When he ends up in Newgate prison, he knows he must change his life. While he doesn’t like a helping hand from Robert, he agrees he might succeed as the man of affairs for the Duke of Brighthollow.

Lady Elizabeth “Lizzie” Margolis, sister of The Duke Who Lied aka the Duke of Brighthollow, has her own demons. At the tender age of sixteen, she was betrayed by a man who declared his love for her. Now twenty, she hates London and can’t stand the balls, parties, and the marriage market that encompasses the season. She isn’t thrilled another man with a horrible reputation is invading her life, but her brother assures her he will protect her from harm.

Now that we know the main characters, let’s dig into the story. Lizzie felt some attraction to her former beau, but her reaction toward Morgan is unexpected and considerably more. Morgan sees Lizzie as a naive girl at first, but can’t seem to set aside their attraction. Both know they should never act on the heat simmering between them, but neither can stop the burn created by their shared kisses.

Michaels gives us two dynamic characters who are vulnerable, yet strong in ways neither of them thought possible. While Michaels has written over forty-five stories, she gives us new and exciting tales every single time. This series will be no exception as she has begun to introduce us to the three half-siblings of the Duke of Roseford. Morgan and Lizzie find a love that knows no boundaries. As with every Jess Michaels release, I’m anxious to read two more upcoming stories in The Duke’s Bastards series, The Heart of a Hellion and The Matter of a Marquess.

The first book in a new series. A good read with quirky characters and a fun storyline. Jess Michaels never fails to entertain with her regency romances.

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I am a fan of Jess Michael's book and this is no different. Lizzie ran off to Greta Green when she was just sixteen. While her brother saved her from an unfortunate marriage to a fortune hunter she has been ruined. Morgan has been living down to his reputation as a bastard son but when his half brother springs him from the gaol and offers him a chance at redemption by working as a man of affairs for Lizzie's brother he accepts. Neither feel deserving of the other but that doesn't stop nature. I liked Morgan and his desire to reform. Lizzie seemed weak but I liked that Morgan helped her discover her own strength. Can't wait for the next one bully this author.

Jess Michaels delivers on chemistry in this book! Lizzie and Morgan have great chemistry and you could feel the sparks of their desire the entire time. This is a great start for a new series. I look forward to reading the next book.

WOW! another great historical romance by Jess Michaels. Good well-rounded characters and a great storyline. Enjoyed it

The Love of a Libertine by Jess Michaels is the First book in The Duke's Bastards Series. This is the story of Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Margolis and Morgan Banfield. Lizzie is a shy women who trusted to easyly which lead to her ruin. Now she is guarding her heart and doubts her judgement when it comes to men. This comes into play when she meets Morgan. Morgan is one of the former Duke of Roseford illegitimate children. Robert Smithson who is the current Duke of Roseford (his story was in The Duke of Desire) is Morgan's half brother. So when Morgan takes his drinking, gambling and womanizing to far he ends up in Newgate. This leads Robert to come there to get Morgan out of there. But Robert has offered him a job as 'Man of Affairs' to the Duke of Brighthollow. This is how he meets Lizzie and starts their story. Really enjoyed their story and this author's writing.

Can the past be overcome?
Jess Michaels at her best with her wounded characters that always draw me in to see how they achieve their redemption. A perfect combination of angst, past hurts and resentments, with amazing characters that are etched out of their experiences, truly only wanting love and acceptance.
This is Morgan's story, one of the bastard sons of the prolific Duke of Roseford, as he seems to have inherited his sire's wastrel ways and how Robert, the true heir and his half brother helping him get free and put his life together.
But even more, it is also Lizzie's story, who had a heart wrenching experience when she was only sixteen and has no use for libertines or rakes and ends up having Morgan working as the steward to her brother. The two seem to be paired together and begin to form a friendship and realizing they have a lot in common.
Can Morgan come to be the man he should and Lizzie trust again? A truly magnificent story and a wonderful beginning to this new series that I eagerly await to read. A story of the heart.

I have been a fan of Ms. Michaels' writing for a very long time, and I greatly enjoyed the 1797 Club series, so it was a pleasant surprise to be able to revisit some of the characters from that series with this story!

Elizabeth ("Lizzie" to her brother and friends) is the younger sister of Hugh Margolis, Duke of Brighthollow (the H in The Duke Who Lied, Book #8 in the 1797 Club series). As their parents passed away when Lizzie was still a child, Hugh essentially raised her and was the epitome of brotherly love and kindness, if a little overprotective. Unfortunately, he may have sheltered her a little too much as she fell a scoundrel and fortune hunter who seduced the impressionable 16 year old such that she absconded with him to Greta Green where he vowed to become her doting husband forever, a chance he would never get if she asked her brother for permission as he was not her social equal. Though Lizzie had a sense things were a bit off with her feelings towards this man, she convinced herself that she loved him and would be happy. En route to GG, she gave into passion as he claimed her innocence so that when her brother stormed through the door to rescue her before they reached their final destination, she was already "ruined." Her lover then showed his true colors when he gleefully informed the duke that he had consummated the relationship, and her brother could pay him off for his silence if he chose to try to shelter her from the scandal. Horrified and embarrassed that she fell for such a libertine, Lizzie vowed never to let her feelings loose again as they could only lead to further ruination. As such, she has since lived with her brother and his wife, a woman who was being swindled by the very man who saw to Lizzie's ruination until Hugh intervened and saved her from the same fate, which ultimately led to their HEA (all of the information just imparted was revealed in Hugh's book). So at the start of this story, after reliving the relevant bits above, Lizzie is now 20 and happily living a passion-free life.... or so she thinks until a new libertine makes his appearance as her brother's man of affairs.

Morgan Banfield is the bastard son of a duke, and the brother of the sitting Duke of Roseford (Robert Smithton, the H featured in Book 9 of the 1797 Club: The Duke of Desire). At present, he seems to be following in the well-trod footsteps of his sire as well as his legitimate brother, a former rake brought down by the love of a good woman that is now his duchess. Robert is concerned as he sees the path his brother is on, and while he would be a hypocrite to disapprove of the behavior he himself once overindulged in, he knows all too well that the path his sibling is on can lead to nothing good. After a particularly debauched evening, Morgan finds himself in Newgate, though he has little memory of why, but when his brother comes to bail him out, he knows there will be a catch and is immediately resentful. When Robert suggests that Morgan speak with his friend Hugh, the Duke of Brighthollow, about a position available in his staff as the man of affairs, Morgan reluctantly agrees. His relatively new relationship with his brother is tenuous at best, and he knows that he cannot continue to disappoint the new duke and be permitted to retain his allowance. When he meets with Hugh, he senses that the work would be interesting and that the duke is a good man, so he accepts. But when Morgan arrives on the property and first spots the beautiful Lizzie, the duke's beloved little sister, he is struck by her ethereal looks and her sweet demeanor and knows he is in for trouble. And when he is tasked with helping Lizzie complete their mother's dream of a garden on the estate grounds, this means more time in close proximity with the one woman he cannot resist.

Will Lizzie ever be able to trust another "libertine" again with her heart? If she does, will Morgan be willing to settle down with only one woman? Can Hugh ever release his tight reign on his sister and allow her to make her own choices? And, if all of these are even possible, what will happen when a mysterious foe from Morgan's past comes to the estate he now manages looking for revenge?

This was a very fun read with a decent amount of steam (I could have used a little more and at times, I felt that the chemistry was a bit lacking, but still solid in this area) and a fast-moving story line that I consumed very quickly! I would definitely recommend!

Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3.75/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd

The Love of a Libertine is the first volume in the new The Duke’s Bastards series, but some secondary characters where main characters in another of the author’s series. If just like me you discover the author with this novel be reassured, that doesn’t disturb at all the understanding of the story. Here we follow Morgan and Lizzie when the first is hired as man of affairs by the second’s brother.

In the prologue, we discover how Lizzie was fooled by a man she thought she was in love with, and who turned out to be a rake who only wanted her brother’s money. Four years later she’s emotionally closed off and she avoids any social event, only feeling at ease with her family or their friends. We see her doing a real introspection through contact with the hero who she feels is the only one seeing her as she is, until the moment she realizes she has a right to live for herself, and she decides to fight for what she wants.

Morgan is a rake, son of a courtesan and a duke who financially provided for his bastards. He fell in a self-destructive spiral of gaming, alcohol and women, and when his half-brother, the new duke, takes him out of prison and offers him to work for his best friend, he accepts reluctantly. Once there he realizes he likes this new life and he could be happy with it. We also see the evolution of his link with his half-brother he hated out of principle, and with whom he ends up having a real relationship. As for his relationship with the heroine, from the start he’s attentive, charming but nice, which helps the young woman in overcoming her apprehensiveness of the future.

The attraction between them is quickly present but their story is slow, all in softness, with lots of one step forward one step backward because of their pasts and their social status. Till the end the hero thinks he’s not good enough for the heroine, and she’s the one taking the determining steps.

In order to add some action or angst in her novel, the author has an antagonist of the hero following him to get revenge. I found it happened a bit late in the story, and it’s solve too easily, but that allows Lizzie to take her last decision and to impose herself facing with Morgan’s hesitations so I’d say it was a good idea.

All in all it’s a likeable historical romance perfect for readers who love slow-burn romances.

Morgan Banfield knows he’s hit rock bottom when he wakes up in Newgate and is bailed out by his half-brother, Robert, the Duke of Roseford. Morgan doesn’t really want a relationship with the man, but recognizes he needs help and in order to get it, Morgan must agree to apply himself to the position of Man of Affairs for Robert’s friend, the Duke of Brighthollow.

Lady Elizabeth Margolis is distressed by the admission of a known rake to her home. After her complete ruination four years previously, she’s completely intolerant to most men and to rakes especially. But as Lizzie spends time working on garden plans with Morgan, she comes to know him and is inexplicably drawn to him. She tries to keep her distance as she continues to struggle with her unwanted desire and her untrustworthy heart.

Just as Morgan begins to think he could truly start over and have a respectable life with Lizzie, enemies he made in the past emerge to threaten their fledgling connection and may be too much for them to overcome.

This book was rather a slow burn and took me a while to get into, but once Lizzie and Morgan stopped trying to keep their distance from each other, things heated up pretty fast. I loved that this wound up being a story of growth and redemption for both Lizzie and Morgan in different ways. He took responsibility for his mistakes and made a conscious effort to do better, she learned to stand up for herself and be strong, and they both learned to forgive themselves for those past mistakes. The honesty and open communication that developed between these two was lovely. They wound up being adorable together and I loved them as a couple and how open they were about their feelings for one another. I also really enjoyed Morgan’s developing relationship with Robert and his growing friendship with the other dukes. I wound up really enjoying this book; it was a great start to the new series and I can’t wait for more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ok read. Likeable if not memorable characters, plot moves at a decent pace. Nothing particulary original or unique.