I enjoyed Morgan Banfield and Lady Lizzie Margolis story. Morgan is a rake and Lady Lizzie is shy. When Lady Lizzie meets Morgan she is not sure of him because of what happened in her past. Morgan tries to become friends with Lizzie so the he doesn't frighten her.

Morgan brother helps him get a job as a Man of Affair. This is how he meets Lizzie. But his past catches up with him. Where he almost get hurt.

This story has a few twist and turn with in it that were fun to read. The begin of the story is sad but the rest was enjoyable to read.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.

This book hooked me right from the beginning. I enjoyed the story but didn't like the doubt Lizzie had in herself. I felt it was to drawn out. Once you got past that the story was great. Would read it again.

Another great book from Jess Michaels. Looking forward to the next in the series!

I was really excited to read this, I had been wondering about how Elizabeths story was going to end and this was perfect. My only criticism was that it didn't seem to go on for long enough! I do wish it was a little more fleshed out in the beginning.

Will look out for the next books in the series.

This is the first book in the Duke’s Bastards series. It is the story of Morgan and Lizzie, both of whom have made life changing mistakes in their pasts. They try to overcome their past mistakes to have a future together. I received an ARC from The Passionate Pen and NetGalley for my honest review.

This book is the a solid start of a spin-off series from Jess Michaels' other series. I have been between 3 and 4 starts for this - so I guess it is a sold 3.5! This series will focus on the illegitimate siblings of the Duke of Roseford starting with his brother Morgan.

Morgan's mother was a courtesan who never recovered from her relationship with the prior duke. Morgan was raised separately from his legitimate brother (and his other illegitimate siblings) and isn't behaving very well as an adult. He is wild and out-of-control, and when the book starts the current Duke of Roseford is bailing him out of jail. To help get Morgan's life back on track, his brother has found him a position as the man of affairs for his friend the Duke of Brighthollow. Morgan doesn't want to accept help or this intervention - but he does so grudgingly. Like a lot of people who have lost their way - Morgan doesn't enjoy the life he's living, but he's a little lost and in need of direction.

When Morgan reaches Brighthollow's estate he encounters Brighthollow's younger sister Elizabeth. Lizzie was taken advantage of by a seriously nasty man when she was 16. Since then she has been treated with kid gloves by her brother and family and has not wanted to be a part of society. She doesn't trust men or herself.

Morgan and Lizzie are both at a crossroads, ready to change their lives but waiting for something to push them forward. They are drawn to each other and each helps the other realize how they have been holding themselves back.

It was lovely to see. What kept this from a solid 4 star read for me were some plotting inconsistencies and I think a desire to include too many characters from books past. The secondary plot with Morgan's friend wasn't as well developed as it should have been. I understood the need for drama - but I think we really had a lot already going on. I have a feeling the friend is probably meant to be the love interest in a future story - and I am not sure the arc that introduced him was needed here. I think there were other ways Morgan could have shown character growth - and had indeed already shown it.

Overall, however, it is a lovely read and great start to a new series.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Historical romance which followed a typical pattern. Flawed rogue and spoiled heroine equals happy ending.

Morgan Banfield is in real trouble this time as he ponders his fate in Newgate. Not remembering how he got there, he's even more surprised when his ducal brother Robert pays his debts and bails him out. There's a condition though--he must accept the man of business position for Robert's friend, the Duke Brighthollow. Morgan bristles at Robert's high handedness, but he soon realizes he enjoys the work. The one caveat is Lizzie, the duke's sister who is an innocent and off limits to Morgan. What he doesn't know is that Lizzie suffered a tragic deception when she was 16 and has vowed never to risk her heart again. Can Morgan draw the shy beauty out of her shell?

I always enjoy Jess Michael's books and this one is no exception. It might have been helpful to read "The Duke Who Lied" to get a better understanding of Lizzie and her brother Hugh, but it's not necessary to enjoy this book. Poor Lizzie--she was such a broken character and I loved how Morgan helped her find her voice as they worked on her deceased mother's garden. Of course Morgan's past has come back to haunt him just when he and Lizzie were getting close. Morgan's growth from selfish rake to honorable gentleman taking responsibility for his past actions is a very good character arc. I was routing for Morgan and Lizzie at the outset and thought the final conflict was a great addition to the story.

This is a first book in a new series and I'm so excited! Jess Michaels continues to be one of my favorite authors so I'm always ready to read her next book.

This story focuses on Lizzie the sister of Hugh, the Duke of Brighthollow from The Duke who Lied and Morgan, the half-brother of Robert, the Duke of Roseford from The Duke of Desire. Lizzie and Morgan are two very different people but who are both trying to move on from their pasts. Lizzie ran away to Gretna Green to marry a man she thought she knew and now she is ruined and isolates herself from Society. Morgan is a full time rake who has to learn what being responsible for ones actions means. When Morgan comes to work for Lizzie's brother, the two find common ground and learn they are far more similar than they had thought before.

What I love the most, besides the wonderful romance, is how both Lizzie and Morgan had and are taking responsibility for their actions. Yes, they both regret their pasts but also know there is time to make up for it. Lizzie take a little longer to see that she isn't entirely at fault but when she does decide to trust herself once again, it leads to something she thought she had but now actually does, the trust and love of a decent man. They both have to learn to accept their pasts and move on from them. All of the Dukes and Duchesses have to learn to trust that Lizzie knows her own mind and Morgan isn't as much a libertine who can't change his spots as they thought he was. Lizzie and Morgan both illustrated that their pasts don't always predict their futures and it shouldn't run their lives either.

This is a sort of forbidding romance. Morgan is trying to prove to himself and his brother, all of the characters really, that he can and will change for the better. That maybe he can earn Lizzie's love honestly. It isn't about going after Lizzie because he finds her attractive, which he does but that isn't all he sees. I love how he doesn't judge her for her past. She doesn't judge him for his. They really compliment each other and it is one heck of a sweet romance.

This book wants me to go back to the 1797 club and I'm thinking the next book will be about Morgan and Robert's half-sister, Selina. Can't wait!

The Love of a Libertine is my first Jess Michaels novel, and I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the characterizations. While there is a significant cast of characters from a previous series populating the story, this is the start of a new series, and it isn't necessary to read the other to enjoy it. Focusing on one of a duke's several bastards, the hero wakes up in gaol after a particularly rough night of debauchery. Brought out by his half-brother, who is now duke, he is offered a choice to redeem himself as a man of affairs on a friend's estate. Morgan Banfield decides to take a chance, only to face temptation as presented by the friend's younger sister. Lizzie Margolis has been hiding from society since being ruined as a young girl, and the friendship and attraction between them drives the story. Morgan begins to enjoy his work, and realizes the precariousness of his situation if he and Lizzie act on their interest.

-spoiler-




This conflict ends up being almost an afterthought in the end, which makes all the "we can't! i can't!" seem meaningless, which drops the rating of my review.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

The Love of a Libertine is the first book in a new series by Jess Michaels, focusing on Morgan Banfield, the half sibling of Robert, Duke of Roseford. He's found himself in some difficulty, and is spiralling, and his brother wants to help. Robert's close friend, Hugh, Duke of Brighthollow, is looking for a Man of Affairs, and Morgan would be perfect for the job. When he arrives at the estate, Morgan meets Hugh's sister, Lizzie, and the sparks instantly fly. Lizzie has had her fair share of problems too. When she was 16, she was wooed by someone who claimed to love her, and want to marry her, and after a failed elopement, it was revealed that he only cared about sleeping with her, and getting her dowry. Since then, she's been even more anxious in company, and Morgan, what with his reputation, is definitely someone who she shouldn't want to be around. However, when he helps her fulfil her late mother's wishes to redesign the gardens, she can't help falling for him, and it seems to be reciprocated. But, his background comes calling, and it might just be the end of them, before they've even started.

This book was an impulse request on NetGalley, and I'm so glad I did. I haven't read any of Jess' other books, but know that some of the characters in this book (Hugh, Robert and Ewan) all have their own books in the 1797 Club series. I'm honestly not surprised she has so many books, that are well loved on GR, because I loved this book, and couldn't put it down until I was finished, because I was hooked from the first page, and needed to see if Lizzie and Morgan had a future. Both of the main characters - and the secondary cast - were fantastic, and perfect for this book. I loved Lizzie, and could really understand how she felt throughout the story, feeling used and ruined at the start, and later starting to come into her own, and realise that what happened wasn't her fault, and she deserves to be loved - and that Morgan loved her. Morgan was similar too, in that his character development was so real, and utterly believable. Because of his father and the way he was brought up as one of many bastard's, he never thought he was good enough for anything, and the fallout with his childhood friend a year ago sent him into free fall. Though Robert was a bit harsh and aloof with him, you knew he cared, and it was his wish that being given a purpose in life would help him through his demons, and Lizzie being there was an added bonus to prove he deserved love. Jess' characters were amazing, her plot fantastic, and I definitely will be on the look out for more books by this author in future!

This story was a story of growth. The heroine was the victim of a smooth talker when she was 16 years old. She lost her love, trust and virginity. She had always had to fight her shy nature and avoided ton events when she could. The hero is the bastard brother of the heroine's brother's friend. The heroine's brother hires the hero as his man of business when his half brother springs him from jail. This story was very soft and romantic as each character grew from where they were into a greater maturity. They were able to direct their focus from themselves onto others and grew in the process. There is much more to the story than that. And the reader should enjoy every moment.
This book was well written with accurate spelling and grammar. The characters were typical to regency: party-goers and working on their properties. There were no mention of charities or working for a greater cause. The story read smoothly, with great consistency. I would definitely read this story again. I would highly recommend this story. 5 stars

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Simply sweet at first with a genuinely good male protagonist, but it built up to be satisfyingly spicy. Perfect five

Jess does it again. This is a smart story with characters that will tear you apart. Morgan is super smart and when he gets a second chance he thrives. In walks Lizzie and sparks begin to fly. I like that even though she was wronged (you can read her brother’s story to find out more about the situation but it is in the prologue in this story) she does not cower from men, she just realizes that love is not for her. This is a slow burn and the gentleness of Morgan is so unlike Lizzie’s past experience that you cannot help but love Morgan even more. I really like their romance. Also, it was great seeing their brothers (both from the 1797 Club) and their wives and we are reaffirmed in our love for Ewan and Charlotte.

After a particularly bad night, Morgan Banfield lands himself in Newgate. Lucky for him, his estranged brother is able to bail him out. Morgan's brother wants him to become a little more respectable and he offers to help. All Morgan has to do is give it a shot. That is how Morgan finds himself working for the Duke of Brighthollow.

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Margolis wants nothing to do with the rake that has taken her brother's open position of "Man of Affairs". She's had enough heartache from a rake to last her a lifetime. Since then Lizzie has promised to avoid scandal at all costs. Unfortunately, her and Morgan share a connection. They are both scarred by things in their pasts and maybe leaning on each other is just what they need.

I truly loved THE LOVE OF A LIBERTINE, the first book in THE DUKE'S BASTARDS series. Author Jess Michaels really blows the lid off with this one. I fell instantly for the rakish young Morgan. It's clear that he is a better man than he believes himself to be. Lizzie was his perfect match. Their relationship grows slowly and they become friends first, lovers later. Couldn't have asked for a better love story. THE LOVE OF A LIBERTINE is a keeper. It's my first 5 star rated book of 2020! Highly recommended to historical romance fans.

Jess Michaels sure knows how to write stories that will have you not wanting to stop reading until you reach the last page! Be prepared to fall in love with Morgan, a bad boy with a tortured soul. At first all you want to do is give him a good shake but once you learn why he acts the way he does, you'll just want to hold him tight.

When Morgan finds himself working as a Man of Affairs for his half-brother's friend, he meets Lizzie, his employer's sister. It's instant attraction but Lizzie is keeping a secret and holds him at bay while he thinks he's not good enough for her because of his past and lack of title. Even as they try to ignore each other, though, hot passionate kisses happen and the struggle is real.... Morgan is also being threatened, his past catching up to him.

Very well written with characters that are believable and friends that have each other's backs. I thoroughly enjoyed this new book by Jess Michaels and give it a solid 5 star rating.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

In romance novels, I enjoy the concept of love helping people become their best selves, and Jess Michael’s The Love of a Libertine shows that in spades. It’s the story of two people deeply affected by their pasts and who find their way through the hurt to each other and a brighter future.

Morgan is the bastard brother of a duke (they share a father) and is walking a self-destructive path. His brother rescues him from goal and sets him up with a position as a man of affairs for another duke. Morgan knows he’s ready for a change, but he doesn’t know yet how big that change will be. Part of that change comes in the form of Elizabeth, the duke’s sister. The novel opens with a sixteen-year-old Elizabeth, who believes she’s in love with a man, discovering he’s only using her and has ruined her. Elizabeth’s brother rescues her but the events cast a lasting shadow over Elizbeth’s life from that point forward. This scene is well placed at the start and I immediately connected with the character.

Elizabeth and Morgan slowly coming together and blossoming is a wonderful read. There’s an extended metaphor with a garden that once belonged to Elizabeth’s mother that mirrors Elizabeth and Morgan’s relationship, and I enjoyed seeing the garden take shape. There’s also Hades and Persephone allusions which are pitch-perfect.

The plot itself is sewn together well, with scenes being echoed and the focus shifting from the inner conflict of Morgan and Elizabeth overcoming their entrenched patterns of thinking, to a climax that it historical romance catnip as Morgan’s past catches up to him. It’s a moment of clarity for both of the main characters and tension had me reading as fast as I could.

The characters here are all well-drawn, and I appreciated things such as Morgan’s past being clearly present, but it’s not an endless list of his conquests and all the women he’s bedded, which is occasionally a problem for me in stories that contain a rake. However, those events aren’t swept under the rug, either. It felt well balanced. Elizabeth’s past is harder for her to face, but I was so invested in her character that I really cheered when she found her way past it to let herself be happy.

All the emotions are spot on, I felt tugged through the narrative and deeply invested in Morgan and Elizabeth’s HEA.

The Love of a Libertine is an excellent historical romance, with everything I adore about the sub-genre and a heartfelt narrative with a very satisfying resolution. A highly recommended read.

This book started in a really promising way. I liked the heroine and I absolutely loved her very understanding brother. Meeting the hero was also rather interesting and they had be rooting for a HEA (given in romance novels, I know) from the beginning. There were some really good chapters and conversations and the love story was nice. What annoyed me to no end were the endless conversations by and with all the other characters. I know they were supposed to convey certain insights but they were just tiresome since the main characters were not that hard to read - she was young, had suffered a great deception and was scared to love; he was a rake who didn't think he deserved a second chance or the affection of a good woman. There, two sentences. I think keeping this novel a little shorter would have worked better. The actual physical scenes were well written and the chemistry was obvious.

I simply LOVE this story. Our main characters, Morgan and Elizabeth are wounded, but wonderful people. The supporting cast are equally interesting. No spoilers here, just trust me that when you start reading you won't want to put it down. Your heart will hurt, and maybe, just maybe rejoice!

Oh my goodness! If you want a book that you just cannot put down this is it. The Love of a Libertine is the first in The Duke's Bastards series and what a way to start a series. This story really packs a punch. It is the story of Lady Elizabeth Margolis who is sheltered by her brother after facing hurt to her reputation. She meets Morgan Banfield, her brother's man of affairs. Morgan is the bastard brother to the Duke of Roseford. Morgan's drinking, gambling and fighting land him in gaol where his brother finds him and arranges for him to work for Elizabeth's brother, Hugh. This book has love, romance, hope, passion, and there is even a little mystery thrown in for good measure. There are hints for the other books in the series that leave you anticipating. I would definitely recommend this book!

I like the was Jess Michaels wrote and I always find her book entertaining, this time it was also a good opportunity to meet some old friends, so I was double happy.

Mi piace come scrive Jess Michaels e trovo i suoi libri sempre piacevoli. inoltre stavolta avevo anche l'opportunità di "rivedere dei vecchi amici" quindi ero doppiamente felice.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!