I really enjoyed this Little Mermaid inspired historical romance. Duke Most Wicked is the third book in Bell's Wallflowers vs Rogues series.

Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, lost his money. Now, he has to marry for money and find good matches for his sisters. Viola Beaton is the Duke's sisters' music teacher, who has a giant crush on him. Viola makes a deal with the Duke. If his sisters can attend the season and find their own husbands, she will chaperone them.

I loved the angst that went along with Violet's unrequited love. Violet was a really fun character overall. I loved her and the friendship that she developed with Brandan;s sisters. Their family life was very complicated growing up and we see how that affected all of the characters particularly the Duke. I really liked how Violet and Brandan complimented each other.

It was also fun to see other characters from the series pop up! I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

From the first page to the last Duke Most Wicked takes off and will keep your attention from the moment you begin the journey with Viola and West until the very end. West has been living in a twisted web of pain wrap in self doubt and darkness until Viola. Viola is a wallflower who brings sunshine of into West's life. As Viola and West come together at her sister's house party sparks fly between the two, will they be able to find there happy ever after? Lenora Bell has written a story filled with remarkable emotions, unforgettable characters that are well thought out and each and everyone comes across clearly as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale, witty and enjoyable plot, and with visits from characters who you found a special place in your heart from the previous novel that leaves you wanting more.

Scarred by a dark secret, Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, must concede his misdeeds have finally caught up with him. With five younger sisters to support, he must marry for money. Sunny and steadfast, Viola Beaton is no heiress. As music instructor to the duke’s sisters, she’s developed a genuine affection for the bright young ladies. Unfortunately, she’s also developed a forbidden passion for her wildly attractive employer. When Westbury decrees that he’ll choose not only a bride, but grooms for his sisters, Viola can’t allow him to curtail their freedom. She strikes a bargain: if he allows his sisters to attend the Season, Viola will chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal. What if Viola and the duke are the ones most likely to cause a scandal?
This historical romance is full of adventure, and wonderful characters. Viola is a great every woman character, she doesn’t have a title and works hard with her father to stay afloat financially. Brandan is a man who condemns himself unjustly for his father’s hatred. But I didn’t feel any real passion between the main characters. I wanted to, I just felt something was missing. The writing was otherwise good. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Hmm, this was a tough one for me. I am new to this author so wasn't sure what to expect. Based on the cover art I expected the tone to be steamy and dramatic but it was instead quite light-hearted and a bit silly. I'm personally more into drama and big emotion than I am to humor and silliness (no judgement, we all have our preferences) so for me the overall tone wasn't my cup of tea. I struggled with the heroine's immaturity, it was tough for me to buy that a woman in her mid-twenties who has been responsible for working and caretaking for a loved one for years would be so girlishly and immediately in love with a man who is a sulky man-child who doesn't take care of his responsibilities and isn't even nice to her (he doesn't even call her by the correct name.) I didn't get the relationship or chemistry there was supposed to be between these two but I grant that it may just have not been to my taste. I appreciated some of the attempts at feminism woven throughout and some of the side characters were pretty intriguing.

This is the love story of a wicked Duke named West and his sister’s music teacher Viola. The music theme was interesting, the Duke’s sisters were adorable, and Viola was charming, but I was tired of hearing how wicked the Duke was. This book failed to hold my attention, it took me much longer to read than necessary. 2.5 stars rounded up.

Duke most wicked was an okay read. I was only able to get into thirty percent of it before I lost interest sooner on. It wasn't my cup of tea, but thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review.

Love lenora bell but am really worn out of secret nice guys. Just wanted things to be more wicked I guess.

I adored Brandan and Viola's story! I just loved these two together! They vrought out the best in one another!

3.5 Stars

A musical composer and a duke who’s the worst of them all… bring on the angst.

Bell’s latest in her Wallflowers vs. Rogues series is good, though left me craving more. I wanted to love our wicked Duke of Westbury, Brandon Delamar and the music instructor/wallflower Viola Beaton, but there was something that kept me from falling hard.

This book has all the right tropes, dukes, wallflowers, secrets, and potential scandals. From our heroine Viola and her desperate desire to keep her composer father’s illness a secret and provide for them both to our hero, Brandon, attempting to redeem his sisters by stopping his penchant for gambling and whoring. Except, there’s a few issues. One, Viola is employed by Brandon as a music instructor for his sisters. Two, Viola has somehow fallen into a deep fantasy about wishing Brandon would see her as a woman. Three, Brandon is infuriatingly attracted to Viola. Four, he needs to marry an heiress if he’s ever going to provide dowries and a solid future for his sisters.

What ensures is this dance between balls, musicales, ill-fated calls, and late-night rendezvous that certainly stoked passion and want. Deep down I felt disconnected from both Viola and Brandon. I wanted to smack Brandon around a lot. He’s the worst brother and his redemption is half-hearted at best. Even in ruin, he still pursues whatever he wants to the detriment of all around him. For once I am not enamored with the duke.

Viola is… adorable and ridiculous. Of the two main characters, I liked her more. She’s the one with the most to lose no matter what path she chooses, and I do love how the story resolves for her externally. She gets the most reward. In ways, she’s the true hero of this book.

Overall, if you’re looking for a quick escape Bell delivers. Though it’s easy to walk away from this one versus previous entries to the series. For readers who enjoy Sophia Jordan or Christi Caldwell.

~ Landra

I enjoyed the beginning of this novel at first--when the young and innocent love blooming between West and Viola is still sweet and forbidden--however, I quickly grew impatient with just how slow burn the romance is between them. There was very little action happening in the first half as well, leaving me hoping for a spicy romance that took too long to happen in my opinion. Overall, it wasn't bad, but I finished wishing for something more.

Tropes: forbidden love, wallflower heroine, down-on-his-luck hero, secret pining, SLOW BURN, boss/employee, hero betrothed to another, class difference

Duke Most Wanted by Lenora Bell

This book was such a sweet romance about a music tutor, Viola Beaton (daughter of a very famous composer) who comes to teach the Duke of Westbury’s sisters but ends up being their friend, governess, chaperone and confidant too. All the while falling for the Wicked Duke but knowing she can never possibly be his duchess. He must marry an heiress and she’s as impoverished as they come.

Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, has his own dark past and decided a long time ago to rebel against polite society and do whatever the damn hell he pleases. When he comes to realise how much it is affecting his sisters’ prospects of marriage, he decides that now is the time he may have to change his ways. Will he fail like his departed Papa predicted? Or will a certain music teacher turn him into the most respectable gentleman there ever was?

I really enjoyed this book, although having not read the previous in the series (this is book 3) I do intend going back and catching up on all the other characters that were mentioned. There is a very sweet moment in the book where her very-nearly deaf father struggles with his symphony and he saws off the legs of the pianoforte, he places it and himself on the floor to hear the vibrations, but the duke brings him a very expensive ear trumpet and the gratitude you feel from Viola at this simple gift was heart melting.

This is a lovely story of class differences which is one of my favourite tropes.

4.5 stars. Book out now.

Thank you to the publisher (Avon Books) for an ARC via Netgalley. All thoughts and views are my own.

Duke Most Wicked is aptly named. Brandon is most definitely wicked but does have love for Viola. Good solid plot and a wonderful romance

There were so many good characters in this book. It's a real shame that the 'hero' was not one of them. Viola Beaton is the music teacher for the Duke of Westbury's five sisters, and I liked her a lot. She is a fine musician in her own right, who has travelled with her famous composer father around Europe and acted as his manager. He is unfortunately going deaf, and having trouble finishing his current composition - this is a problem, since they have already spent the payment for it. Viola has actually composed some of his music. She does not contemplate marriage for herself as she has no dowry and has to care for her father. The Duke's five sisters were so well written, and a lot of fun. I would love to read their books.

The 'hero' is another story. Brandan Delamar is the Duke of Westbury (West), which makes him one of the most powerful men in England. West inherited a dukedom in good financial condition from his abusive father, and then set out to run it into the ground. He did this to get back at his dead father who had physically, verbally and emotionally abused him his whole life. However, he had not only impoverished the dukedom (and the tenants and surrounding towns that depended on custom from the estates), but had also spent the money meant for his mother and the dowries that belonged to his five sisters. Viola is the one who pointed out to him that his scandals - and the lack of dowries - had caused a lot of harm to his sister's marriage prospects. Brandan decides to mend the dukedom's finances by marrying a rich heiress ... but the only woman who appeals to him is Viola.

I enjoyed this book even with West as the hero, although I honestly thought that Viola could do better. I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher Avon/Avon and Harper Voyages via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

I’m biased as I myself am a musician, as is the heroine of this book. The musical and orchestral metaphors and similes were a whole lot for me. They could have been far more impactful if used sparingly.

Overall, this book was fine. Simply fine. West didn’t seem particularly wicked, so I was disappointed in his initial scenes; the moments of his reform were lovely. Viola is an OK heroine, one that I believe many readers will relate to as she’s in a caregiving role.

Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for granting me the opportunity to review this book via NetGalley.

Might be closer to 3.5 stars just because there were parts in the middle where I found myself getting bored, but other than that I did really enjoy this romance.

I’m always a sucker for a hero who feels he’s broken or tainted bc of past trauma, but then the heroine comes into his life and makes him see that he’s more than worthy of her love and more. I really enjoyed how West and Viola’s relationship developed throughout the story. And West’s grand gesture at the end?? So beautiful and unique. Definitely made me tear up a bit.

I adored the role music played in this. “Music makes us feel…it carries us away from the humdrum and places us amongst the stars, with light shining all around and shimmering in our ears.” As someone who has devoted my life to music, I couldn’t agree more. I also really appreciated how Viola was written as a tribute to female composers whose talent wasn’t appreciated until well after their deaths.

**thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

Brandon Delmar, the Duke of Westbury, spends his time drinking, gambling and seducing women. He's neglected his five sisters, except for hiring Miss Viola Beaton as their music teacher and is their friend. Viola gives him a lecture on changing his wicked ways, when she can get the words out. Her attraction to West tends to scramble her thoughts. West realizes he must reform, marry for money to pay off his debts and give his sisters a dowry and a season. Viola loves him, but has no money and is from a lower class. No chance they can be together. Only a miracle can make it happen. West is so endearing when he reforms. Never a dull moment with five sisters.
Heat level 4
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

GREAT READ!!! Duke Most Wicked by Lenora Bell is book 3 in A Wallflowers vs. Rogues series and though in a series this book can be read as a standalone. What I loved about this book was that the heroine, Viola was so accomplished and intelligent. As a music teacher and composer this was out to the norm for that period of time. I found this story to be very well written, great characters, vivd descriptions, had the real feel of the regency era, easy to read, the romance sizzled and just a joy to read. Bravo Lenora Bravo. This story has a very talented music teacher, a duke with dark secrets, never feeling good enough, needing to marry for money, 5 wonderful sisters, a beautiful sonatas, striking a deal and falling in love. I am highly recommending you read this book… It really was a great read!!!

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this advance copy!

I have been a fan of Lenora Bell's historical romances since she debuted. Her heroines are feisty and smart and her heroes are bold and, well, heroic. But something about Duke Most Wicked didn't click for me. The language felt a little off and while I loved Viola and her music making ways, I never got a great sense of West. It was hard to get a sense of why he loves Viola and honestly, what she sees in him when he is so wicked. There didn't feel like a lot of suspense in the story, just how he was going to get the funds to do whatever he needed to do and the final "miracle" that happens fell kinda flat for me. I wish Viola had spent more time with the ladies from the other books.

Overall, pretty enjoyable, just flatter than past Bell books. Bummer.

I am posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

I found Duke Most Wicked to be a nice tale of redemption & romance. Hitting rock bottom and digging yourself out of the hole you dug for yourself. Our hero has lived in the underbelly of London life so long it's a wonder he hadn't killed himself, or someone done it for him, actually someone did in the beginning of the book. Our heroine lacks gumption, she's lived to serve others for so long that she has trouble going after what she really wants, that's the Duke of course. They have a wonderful effect on each other. I'm not overly enamored with the characters but they were well written. There's an HEA, as always.

#LenoraBell #Netgalley #DukeMostWicked #AvonBooks #HarperCollinsPublishers #historicalromance

The Wicked Duke of Westbury has lived a life littered with sin, but when his family faces financial ruin he seeks an heiress to marry. He will have to attempt to leave his sinister ways behind and reform to save his sister’s reputation.

Viola Beaton is the daughter of a once renowned music composer. After scandal reeks havoc on their family name she finds herself the music teacher for a family of young girls. Their brother however (the duke of Westbury) often leaves Viola breathless with his bold and improper lifestyle.

This is the third book in the Wallflowers vs rogues series.

I have not read the other books in the series so I was afraid of feeling lost while reading this. That was definitely not the case! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical romance. I loved how driven Viola is and how we get to see her become a more confident version of herself. The hero was interesting and the plot kept my attention throughout. I will definitely be going back to read the rest of the series and I can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.