I enjoyed reading “Lady, Be Wanton” by author Cerise Deland. This story is easy to read and keeps a steady pace. I enjoyed the aspect of this story where the author really makes the MCs earn their HEA. Angst is always a favorite of mine!

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

After their grandfather, the Earl of Barry, died, the Devereaux triplets have little to their name, and need to marry as quickly as possible. Left with only £2000 for their come out and dowry each, they are relying on their good looks, and the support of their cousin, Lady Downs, to find them partners while spending the season in Brighton. The middle sister, Imogen, wants to find love, and when she meets Lex Rowlandson, the Earl of Martindale, she thinks she's found it. But a man from her past is back, and out for revenge, and Lex is fighting his own battles too.

I've really enjoyed binging series on a weekend recently, and spotted that I had the three Naughty Ladies books on my kindle just waiting to be read. Imogen hopes that being in Brighton for the season, while the Prince Regent is in town, will be the making for her and her sisters. Her past indiscretions, and her grandfather's reputation, are things to hide, as is the fact that she was accosted at a party in Dublin, and her reputation was in tatters. Imogen is a realist, and knows that if she and her sisters aren't wed by the end of the season, their money will dry up, and there'll be nothing left. Meeting Lex was great for her, as he's a kindred spirit, and their attraction was palpable. But Lex is fighting his own demons, following his imprisonment and time in France when he and his father were betrayed to the enemy. I had a feeling the villain in both instances was the same, but even so, the way that they both discovered the truth was engaging, and added to the plot. A nice start to the series, though quite a short book.

Imogen and Lex have complex pasts that get in the way of the attraction they feel for each other. They have to really work for their HEA. This story has it all, past sorrows, imprisonment, intrigue, villainy and love. Wonderful start to the series.
Thank you Cerise Deland, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Regency Romance with Intrigue

He vowed to have revenge on those who wronged him, but falling in love might change his plans. Could his heart have room for both? Perhaps, there was a way for Lex to have justice without revenge taking over his life, and lady Imogen might be the woman to help him do it. Imogen had a secret, and there was scandal in her past. However, despite her scandal and secrets, or perhaps because of them, she might be just exactly what Lex needed. Imogen and Lex would have challenges to face and villains they must defeat. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like Regency romance with secrets and intrigue.

This is the first book in a captivating new series by Ms DeLand, Naughty Ladies. The series follows a group of triplets and Ms. Deland sets the stage and familiarizes the reader with the characters. This story focuses on Imogen who comes to Brighton with her two sisters to embark upon the Season. Lex has returned home from the war and his only focus is to find the traitor who gave him and his father up to Napoleon. He managed to escape, but his father grew too weak and ended up dying. Desperate for revenge, the last thing on his mind is finding a bride. But when he spies Imogen at a ball, he is completely entranced by her beauty and wit. Their romance grows and blossoms in the midst of secrets, mystery, and revenge. An engaging and enjoyable story that held my interest from start to finish. I enjoyed seeing Lex and Imogen's relationship develop and grow.
This was a delightful start and I am anxious to continue the series and read more about the remaining two Devereaux sisters and their journey to a HEA.

I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Lex Rowlandson has one goal and that is to find the person or persons responsible for selling him and his father to Napoleon's hell of a prison, and thus causing his father's death. Lex's heir, Wye, had mismanaged Lex's property and holdings while he was incarcerated in France, and Lex distrusts Wye and prefers to have nothing to do with him.
Lex has stated he has no desire to wed at this time. Lex goes to the Brighton Ball to try and get information about who sold him. Instead he meets Lady Imogen and there is instant chemistry. When Lex saves her from a man who threatens her reputation, Lex promptly proposes.
I loved the characters, and was not sure who the true villain was until it was revealed. I highly recommend this story, and I am looking forward to reading more by Cerise Deland.

Imogen is the middle of triplet girls. Their cousin has helped them to do their coming out. She meets the earl and they are attracted to each other at once. Lex has been in prison in France for years. He wants revenge for the years he and his father were held captive. A Brit sold them out to the French. He and Imogen find themselves married in short order. Can they find happiness? This story from NetGalley tells their story about how they find the love they want.

Lady Be Wanton by Cerise Deland is an entrancing tale of one third of a set of twins and a man bent on revenge, not love. Lady Imogen Devereaux was born the middle child of three: each beautiful, but with different colored hair. She had some proclivities she had most grown out of: she was a thief; sometime an opportunity presented itself, sometimes she created the opportunity. Her grandfather had persuaded her it was not a profitable pastime, but sometimes she slipped. Felix Rowlandson, the Earl of Martindale, was on a quest to discover who greased the wheels that saw himself, his father, and his best friend, Heath, spending several years in a French prison, well, really, more of a hole. His father had died there. It had been intended that they all die there. There was also his cousin, Wye, who was a worm and had nearly bankrupted the estate Felix' father had left in his care. He was beneath notice, and yet he kept turning up. Something had happened between Wye and Imogen. She hated him.

I kind of loved this story. For some reason the characters spoke to me. Imogen was not an ordinary girl; she had led an interesting life and was extremely outspoken. Felix liked her and so did I. I enjoyed Felix fairly short journey from revenge-seeker to man-in-love. They were so perfect for one another. He was able to confide in her things that no lady should ever hear about his time in prison and what he had done after. She believed in him. It was a fabulous love story.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Lady Be Wanton by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #ladybewanton #cerisedeland

What a wonderful beginning to Cerise DeLand's new series! Reasons?
1) Irish heroine!!
2) Witty
3) Romantic
4) Haunted hero
5) Flawed heroine
6) fabulous secondary characters
7) Cerise DeLand's talented writing!!

But a word of warning, once you start you won't be able to put it down!

I received a free copy for preview from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

I quite like some of the series I have read in the past by Cerise DeLand - the Delightful Doings at Dudley Crescent, the Christmas Belles, and those Notorious Americans come to mind as series I have quite enjoyed, with interesting story lines and characters I quite liked. I was looking forward to a new series, so I was thrilled when I saw that Lady, Be Wanton was available from NetGalley.

This is the start of a series, Naughty Ladies, that appear to be about triplet sisters, the granddaughters of a deceased Irish Earl, who are being sponsored for a Season by their widowed cousin, to find husbands. The first story is about Lady Imogen, who is the middle sister, and has... um... a little peccadillo... She appears to have some sticky fingers, but had vowed to stop on the death of her grandfather. She needs to keep a clean reputation, especially when trying to lure a husband.

Lex, the Earl of Martindale, is not on the search for a wife, but rather on the prowl for revenge. He had spent years in prison in Verdun, with his father, after being betrayed by someone, captured, and held captive by the French. He had managed to escape, but unfortunately his father was too weak by that time and died in Verdun. Lex has been on the trail of treasonous Englishmen he suspects sold him, his father, and other Englishmen, to the French for imprisonment. The last thing he expects is to be entranced by an Irish beauty.

This has the potential to be a lovely story, with the various different personalities and suggested foibles of the sisters, and the drama of Lex and his history. But I did not feel a connection to the characters and their stories - it always felt like the story and characters were touched on in a superficial level but without enough depth to really draw you in and have you feeling attached and caring about them. Imogen's peccadillo was rather interesting and there are allusions to it and her connections to her grandfather, and perhaps some psychological need of hers (middle sister of triplets, orphaned, whatever), but it did not feel fleshed out and explored enough for me. I also felt that Lex's head seemed too easily turned by Imogen, considering his core focus for so many years. Perhaps it is because he was coming to realize that he needed some lightness and joy in his life, after so much darkness driving him.

Perhaps it was because this was a rather short book, being less than 150 pages, but I just felt that there was potential that was not met, and depths that were hinted at but not fully plumbed. I am hoping that perhaps more is fleshed out in the rest of the series? I also wonder if the widowed cousin will get her own story.

2.75 out of 5.

Brighton, England 1813

A romance filled with past sorrows, secrets, a lurking villain and the chance for a wonderful love are all pulled together in this first of a series story.

Imogene and her sisters had come to town for one purpose. Find a husband and one that she can love. That is if she can put her past behind her and stay strong.

Lex, having returned from the war and all that he had endured there, was looking for the person who had betrayed him and his father. Not really interested in marriage until he resolved that issue.

But then they saw each other across the room and the journey began. Enjoyed this story so much and cannot wait to see what happens to the other sisters

The Devereaux triplets have completed their mourning period for their grandfather and have come from Ireland to Brighton with their cousin Cass, ready for their first season and finding husbands. Laurel, Imogen, and Adelaide are quite different from one another. Laurel is a worrier. Imogen is cheerful. Adalaide is a little of both, hopeful. Lex Rowlandson has return to England after surviving and escaping a hellish French prison and acting with the resistance against Napoleon. He is on a mission to find the despicable person who sold him, his father, and other Englishmen to the French. He has re-entered Society not to find a wife, but to further his mission. That is until he saw the golden-haired Imogen. They spotted each other across the crowded ballroom, and the attraction was immediate. Lex might have to adjust his plan.

This is a lovely, emotional story. Secrets, revenge, and intrigue surround a burgeoning romance. Imogen is exactly what Lex needs. As he put it the light to his darkness. They have a common nemesis in Lex’s wastrel cousin. He is a danger to them both and bears watching. The secondary characters (the nice ones) are entertaining. Cass and Fifi confident and amusing. Lex’s friend Heath, who was with him in France is stalwart support for him. The first of the Naughty Ladies has found her HEA. I enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Will the city of Brighton ever be the same? Wild Irish triplets have arrived to enjoy the season and they are so full of life. Of course, they came from Ireland; with their Cousin Cass Downs, to guide them through the events. They have been raised by their grandfather, who in his will, provided money for their season. The Devereaux triplets needed to find proper husbands and would enjoy each minute in this fascinating culture. Laurel, the oldest, Imogen, who has changed her ways, and the youngest Adelaide were about to enter a different world than they previously knew. Earl Lex Martindale has also entered back into society as he has returned after the war with France. Really not looking for a wife but trying to find the persons responsible for the years he and his father spent in a French Prison, killing his father. Someone close to him sold information to the French resulting in their arrest. So, the intrigue builds, the danger is closer than anyone is aware and what a great read this turns out to be. Looking forward to the next triplet as she begins her adventure in society.

The Brighton Season is all a twitter about the Devereaux triplets, three young Diamonds, granddaughters of the late Earl of Barry in Ireland. Sponsored by their mother's cousin, Lady William Downs, the girls are looking for husbands. Felix Rowland, Earl of Martindale, has already picked out the golden girl, Imogen Adelaide, but his priority is finding the men who sold he and his father to the French and are responsibile for the suffering in the prison called Verdun. Lex is convinced his cousin is involved. Imogen has had her own problems with his cousin who is not relenting in his pursuit of ruining her reputation. Lex saves her reputation with marriage, but should he give up looking for the men who are truly responsible for the suffering of many Englishmen in prison and the death of his father, or devote his life to his wife and future children. A little disappointed that the triplets are not as mature as I expected and it was anticlimactic finding the traitors..Otherwise, I still look forward to reading the next two books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

Felix, Earl of Martindale is on a mission to discover who betrayed him and his father during the Napoleonic wars which resulted in 12 years imprisonment and his father's death. Imogen has recently arrived from Ireland with her two sisters and a dowry from her grandfather who was also an Earl. She has a history of shoplifting / petty thievery and is trying to leave all that behind.

It's quite a sweet story but I found the writing quite difficult to read, the dialogue was odd - a mix between archaic and anachronism which is disconcerting. Apart from Imogen and Felix, the other characters didn't really come off the page.

Received an ARC from Netgalley.

This romance is enjoyable and the attraction between the main characters was evident from the moment they set eyes upon one another. Although I could not condone Lady Omogen's previous actions, the fact that she was willing to reform counted in her favor. As others have found, when it comes to survival, a person will sometimes go to despicable lengths to stay alive, but in this case, although driven by anger and revenge Lex, the Earl of Martindale did keep his honor. Together, Lex and Imogen make the perfect couple each being a foil for the other. Imogen brings laughter back into Lex's life and he, in turn, makes her wish to be a better person. However, it is Imogen's old habit that brings Lex the answers that he needs and the outcome is even worse than he thought. This novel is terribly sad in many ways, but it does end on a joyful note. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I don’t know what to say, I normally love Cerise’s books. They are full of insightful musings, good dialog and dedicated research. However, this book just did not resonate with me. The characters are okay, just kind of meh, but the story itself just fell flat. For a “steamy” Dragonblade line, this story was not steamy at all. Not that I hold that against it, it was just not as advertised.

Lady Imogen is a witty and sunny young girl, but she hides a little secret… A scandal follows her from Ireland and threatens to hinder her search for a loving husband. And when she meets the honorable, admirable and handsome Earl of Martindale she fears she’s not worthy of him…
Lex, the Earl of Martindale, is consumed by his need for revenge against those who sold him and his father to the French during the war. He’s devoted his life to his task, but when he meets an alluring and cheerful young lady he starts to reconsider his purpose in life… And when he marries her to save her reputation he realizes that he may have made the right choice.
I must confess that I didn’t know the author, but I liked her style of writing very much. It’s different, maybe a little bit old-school, but thoroughly enjoyable. I finished this book in almost one sitting, because I was captivated by the story and the characters. I loved sunny Imogen and her sweetness toward Lex, who needed exactly a woman like her in his life. I look forward to reading the following books to get to know Imogen’s sisters better.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lady Imogen arrived in Brighton with her two sisters and her cousin Cass for the Season. Returning home after the wars, Lex Rowlandson, the Earl of Martindale, vows to find the cur who sold him and his father into the hell of Napoleon’s dungeons. With a few clues to the identity of the creature who stole years from his life and caused the death of his father, Lex seeks out suspects at a Brighton ball. But he’s captured by the effervescent woman whose smiles light the dark corners of his heart. When he witnesses her plight at the hands of one fellow who threatens her reputation, Lex saves it—and marries her. Falling in love with her husband, Imogen sees that the best way to thank him for saving her is to commit the very crime she vowed never to repeat.
The first in a new series involving triplets, As with all series starters some time is spent setting the scene & getting to know the characters. The triplets are a delight & a breath of fresh air. I loved both Lex & Imogen, there was immediate attraction, I loved how their relationship grew & changed. There’s also the mystery surrounding who betrayed Lex & his father. A short but captivating read & I look forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

An enjoyable story and romance that built between Imogen and Lex. Lady, Be Wanton is book one in the new Naughty Ladies series and kicks off to a great start. Secrets and revenge build around a more important and enduring future of love.