BOOK REVIEW: The Boxing Baroness by Minerva Spencer
Series: Wicked Women of Whitechapel | Book 1
2022 Publication Date: October 25

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T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
When I first picked up The Boxing Baroness, I was immediately hooked by the image that immediately leaped to mind. My imagination was already firing on all cylinders!

A woman in a Victorian-esque boxing stance, complete with gloves and skirts? Sign me up!

But after reading the first few pages, I realized that this book was about so much more than just a good fight. Inspired by the real-life Boxing Baroness, Minerva Spencer has created a heroine who's not afraid to speak her mind, stand up for what she believes in, and chart her own path — even if it means breaking society's rules.

The Boxing Baroness is an incredibly well-written book that had me completely captivated from beginning to end. Spencer has masterfully created a romance with a pro-female spin that is both thought-provoking and wildly entertaining. If you are a romance reader looking for something different from your usual Regency romance genre fare that makes the list for best historical romances, this is definitely the book for you!

Perfect for historical romance novel readers looking for empowering Regency romances with a strong heroine who knows exactly what she wants — and isn't afraid to go after it.

You won't be disappointed!... ✨😎✨

Pages: 420
Genre: Best Historical Romance Novels
Sub-Genre: Enemies To Lovers Romance | Steamy Historical Romance Novels
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶🌶 (Hot Spicy)
Time Period: 1815
Location: England | France

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Rake's Daughter by Anne Gracie (The Brides Of Bellaire Gardens Series | Book 2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Movie: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
If you're a fan of the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, then you'll love The Boxing Baroness by Minerva Spencer.

Set in Regency England and explores the role of women in a patriarchal society. The story follows the romance between Marianne Simpson, the boxing baroness, and the Duke of Staunton, who is both frustrated by and in admiration of Marianne's independent streak. What ensues is a witty, sexy read that will have you entertained from beginning to end.

Masterfully checking the boxes as an enemies-to-lovers romance morphing into a forbidden love romance with the dramatic tension of a whirlwind romance chemistry.

The Boxing Baroness is the first book in Spencer's Wicked Women of Whitechapel Series (Historical Romances) and it does not disappoint. The story is well-written and engaging, and the characters are complex and likable. The witty banter was sharp and clever, and the sexual chemistry of the main characters was off the charts!

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• Just because society tells you that you should do something, doesn't mean that you have to...
Marianne Simpson is a perfect example of this. She's a woman who isn't afraid to break the rules and go after what she wants — even if it means bucking societal norms.

• It's important to stand up for what you believe in, even if it means going against the grain...
Marianne is a strong advocate for women's rights and she isn't afraid to use her platform to speak out against the injustices that women face.

• It's possible to find love in the most unexpected places...
Marianne and the Duke of Staunton butt heads from the very beginning, but as they get to know each other, they realize that they have more in common than they thought. And, eventually, mutual respect and admiration turns into something more.

BOOK QUOTE:
"An homage to all those women who've been neglected by history and likely received very little fame, acclaim, or money while they competed in a man's world... " — The Boxing Baroness by Minerva Spencer

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I found this to be an entertaining read and I did like the main characters. Marianne had a distrust of the aristocracy and who could blame her. Marianne and St. John did have an attraction from the start but tried to ignore it. About the third of the way in, the pace of the story was a little slow but when they got to France, it was all action. A number of secrets are revealed. This is the first in the series and there are other women who have their own secrets to be revealed. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow this story blew me away! It was so much more than a historical romance! Marianne Simpson as so many secrets in her life she has no idea about. As we read the story it becomes a journey of uncovering secrets and gaining new questions. It also has a heroine who is independent, intelligent, resourceful and brave. Yes women in the 1700's did box. They were rare as you can imagine but this is the second author I have come across that has written stories about these women. The story also gets us embroiled in France after Napoleon escaped and marched to Paris to recover his empire. This powerful story impressed me. I can't wait to read more!

Marianne Simpson is about to turn 21 and is part of her uncle's Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre. It's comprised of all women performers and we meet several of this in this book. Marianne is a boxer who is quite good and almost always wins her matches. Her mother died when she was young and her uncle raised her. She unfortunately married a partner of her uncle at 18 and discovered it was a sham. Baron Dominic Strickland, known as the Rake of Rakes, is nothing but an unscrupulous user and she was taken in. He was already married she discovered and the ton made her notorious. She makes a living boxing in her uncles shows.

The Duke of Staunton, St. John Powell is known as Lord Flawless, has received information that his younger may not be dead. He needs to bring Marianne to France with him and meet with the Baron who has information for sale about Benjamin. Eventually Staunton convinces Marianne to go with him as the Fayre is taking a tour of France anyway. Staunton, Sin, and his 2 friends go undercover with him so they can travel with the troop. All of them worked for the Home Office during the previous war with Napoleon. So much happens on this journey, including war brewing as Napoleon returns to France. This was a romantic suspense story bundled in a historical setting and I loved every minute of it. I kept getting surprised by what got uncovered next.

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

Minerva Spencer’s new release, The Boxing Baroness packs a real punch!

I started reading the boxing Baroness and thought this would be a class difference romance featuring a fallen woman and a Duke. Yes, this book was about that but with so many twists and turns, it was so much more!

Marianne Simpson has resorted to boxing in her uncle’s female circus after a scandal makes her un-marriageable and un-hireable. When she starts to get the attention of a renowned by the book duke, she is rightfully hesitant to find out what he wants.

But the Duke of Staunton will not be denied and he needs Marianne to help him get his brother back… and he’ll use every trick in the book to get her cooperation from blackmail to seduction!

Along with the circus and their friends, they embark on a trip across France to complete their mission. Not even Napoleon and a rerun to war will stop them in their tracks!

Wow! This book was certainly an adventure and it kept me on my toes! From a great cast of characters ( many that will be pairing up in future books) to the extensive steamy content, this book was a blast! I’m looking forward to to reading more of The Wild Women of Whitechaple series!

Thanks to Kensington Books for my review copy. Opinions are my own.

Such a fun fine Regency romance, pitting in the ring and in love Boxing Baroness Marianne Simpson (educated as a lady but a pugilist in her uncle's circus) and the to-swoon-for Duke of Staunton.

The enemies-to-lovers trope works beautifully in this gorgeously written and brilliantly imagined historical romance. First in a series, one I've marked "must read" now and for the future. Highly recommended!

Such a delightful tale -- a heroine who is a bare-knuckled boxer and a duke, who make a couple you can't help rooting for.
Marianne Simpson is a boxer in her uncle’s circus, Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre, hardly the right place for such a forthright heroine. She is someone you can't help but love. Her partner is St. John Powell, the exquisitely handsome Duke of Staunton, who turns up at her shows and distracts her! Their path to love is simply scrumptious, and the details of a traveling circus boxing and their growing attraction make this a wonderful read. Five stars isn't enough. Great, great read! I loved this book.
(I received an advance copy on Net Galley. Opinions mine.

Marianne Simpson is a lady boxer performing with Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre. St. John Powell, Duke of Staunton, Duke of Flawless, His Grace of Flawless and Flawless, is fascinated by Marianne. Marianne feels the same about the duke. Their lives will intertwine in blackmail with a letter and a locket and a world torn apart by the man who escapes from Elba. A slow burn, passionate affair between a lady boxer with a mysterious past and a duke willing to let go of his flawless. This book was a journey that lead in a totally unexpected direction.
Heat level 5
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Enemies to lovers trope fits like a glove for this tale.

Marianne Simpson works as a pugilist in an all female circus troupe. There’s Marianne, Cecile a sharpshooter, and the strange woman Josephine Brown, who throws knives and has a familiar, a huge Raven who appears to speak in French.
Marianne’s uncle, Barnabas Farnham operates the Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre.
Marianne is known as the boxing baroness due to a very ruthless rake, Baron Dominic Strickland, staging a fake wedding service and seducing her into believing they were married, then revealing the truth once his wife appeared on the scene.
Now Marianne has a visitor. St. John Powell (Sin), the seventh Duke of Staunton. He’s been requested to bring Marianne to France with him. He needs to sort out the truth of whether his brother is alive or not. There’s no question that he’ll countenance failure in this endeavor. And the person requesting Marianne to go? Non other than her hated and despised husband who never was, Dominic.
Marianne of course refused, but the Duke held some dismaying evidence against her uncle, so she acquiesced. France at the time of Bonaparte’s return is no place to be.
Secrets, deadly secrets are uncovered. But in the end, Marianne knew she and the Duke were destined to part.
Adroitly written, I couldn’t put this down. Loved it!

A Kensington Bks ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

The Boxing Baroness by Minerva Spencer is a regency romance with some unique aspects to it.

Marianne is a feisty character and a woman boxer in her uncle's Fayre. She catches the eye of the Duke of Staunton, although such an alliance if it were to happen wouldn't exactly favor Marianne, as the class system would be a barrier. However soon St. John Powell (the Duke) and some of his friends are part of the Fayre and off to France. He wants to find out about his brother and the horrible Strickland who had duped Marianne previously demands he bring her with him.

It's a circuitous tale, with some really interesting women who no doubt will make further appearances in their own books, along with some interesting reveals and of course romance. It's open door so if you like to avoid that this won't be for you.

I enjoyed it, evidently a little of it is based on actual history, so while to me it seemed a bit fantastical it could be more real that I thought. So it you are feeling like a regency romance this could be for you.

🥊 Happy Release Day to "The Boxing Baroness" by Minerva Spencer! This was my first book by this author and I already can't wait for the next book in the series to be released! 4⭐

🐎 Marianne has had a hard life and is now a boxer in her uncle's traveling circus in England. She is recruited by Lord Staunton to help him get his kidnapped brother back from a mutual acquaintance. At the start, Marianne won't even read his letters, but he grows on her when she realizes that he is more than just a spoiled rich boy. Together, they and the circus go on a journey full of drama and political intrigue.

🎩 The plot got a little too twisty and convoluted at times, but I really enjoyed the ride. Marianne is relatable - smart and practical, but also willing to see what she wants and go for it. She is surrounded by a group of friends that really have her back, and I hope we'll hear their stories soon, too. This book is nearly 400 pages, so you definitely get your money's worth!

Thank you @kensingtonbooks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shareability: great for fans of Julia Quinn. Bridgerton, yes, obviously, but this book reminds even me more of her Rokesby series, which I love!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Pairs well with: buckskins (I think this is the 1800s version of leggings?!)

4.5 Stars
Magnetic and educated, Marianne Simpson has the manner of a lady and the looks of a lover, not a fighter. Neither of which explains her occupation as a boxer in her uncle’s circus, Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre. Nonetheless, when St. John Powell, the exquisitely handsome Duke of Staunton aka Lord Flawless, begins turning up at her shows, she finds herself dangerously distracted by the powerful peer’s mysterious presence. St. John Powell doesn’t just want Marianne Simpson, he needs her - to rescue his brother Ben, who is being held for ransom by a treasonous English baron—the man all of Britain knows as the Rake of Rakes. No matter how little Marianne wants to see her duplicitous ex-lover, the man responsible for the humiliating nickname the Boxing Baroness, St. John must convince her.
The first in a new series & it was well written with strong characters & a well paced story that took us on a journey from London, through France to an epilogue which saw the couple on an island. I loved that the author took some facts & wove them together in an improbable story. I loved both Marianne & Sin, their chemistry sizzled & their verbal banter a delight. I also loved how their preconceived ideas about each other were knocked on the head a they got to know each other. I loved their obstacle strewn journey to a HEA. The villain was horrid but did get his comeuppance. I also really liked both Sin’s & Marianne's friends & the relationships they developed, more to come on them I'm sure.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Boxing Baroness by Minerva Spencer is the first book of her new Wicked Women of Whitechapel Series and...

It was absolutely delightful!
Ha! I love when I read a good historical romance and kinda talk like them. 💁‍♀️

Marianne Simpson is known as The Boxing Baroness. As part of her uncle's Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre she's a professional female boxer along with a few other really interesting women.
But not everything went right in her life... and there's also the Duke of Staunton, who needs her help because of her past and connection to a  dubious man.
Will she be helpful? Or does she even care about the problems of a Duke?

Awwwwwwww!
Marianne and Sin were this kind of couple I fell in love with - right from the beginning.
Their story is definitely an enemies-to-lovers kind of historical romance where you can feel their special chemistry!
She's the strong, independent and stubborn woman who definitely can keep up with a Duke like HIM.
Sin has such an appeal. Awwwwww! He's more the quiet and brooding type!
And when both have to spend time together, on a more suspenseful and exciting journey, you can feel their explosive attraction!
The tempo of the storyline is sometimes a bit slower but never boring!
I really enjoyed every moment of this book because I definitely connected with the characters!
Ha! And I laughed so many times as much as I needed a few cold glasses of water.
The Boxing Baroness is a great combination of humour, romance, suspense, drama and sexy times.
I really can't wait for the next books of this series!

Thank you Kensington Books and Minerva Spencer for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

I was very interested in the premise of this series and this book in particular has so many unique elements to Historical Romance. An all female circus, a female athlete, a female BOXER... just so cool. I was really glad to try something so outside the norm. I do stand by that this is outside the 'ring', pardon the pun, and there was so much going on that was fun and new.

However, for me I feel like there was so much new going on that I didn't fully connect with the characters. I liked the set up and the forced proximity we got into... but I ended up just being confused and overwhelmed by all the story lines and history mixed into this one. It may not be that way for someone else, but it was just too much for me. Sin and Marianne were fun at times but I just didn't get enough of them. I am very interested in trying another from this series though.

I will always be a stan for Minerva Spencer though, and her continued pushing of the envelope and finding unique times in history to put into her romances.

A delightful regency romance based on a real person, Mary Anne Pierce. Marianne Simpson is a female pugilist in regency England in her uncle's all-female circus. St. John Powell is the Duke of Staunton and needs Marianne to help in getting his brother back from a treacherous English Baron. Their quest takes them through France (during Napoleon's escape from Elba), and of course they end up falling in love. But will they be able to stay together when all the secrets come to light?

Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for this e-arc.*

An interesting and unusual story featuring a female boxer within a travelling troupe of women and the three aristocrats who take up undercover positions within the show. They do so because a villainous baron who has faked his own death and fled England, manipulates numerous characters in this story to try and obtain money. Their journey through France is complicated by the escape of Bonaparte from Elba and the country’s upheaval. Whilst the story deals primarily with Sin and Marianne, the stage is set for other characters to get their own books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a fan of minerva Spencer and this book did not disappoint. Marianne is a female boxer at her uncles circus that has all female acts.
Sin (I had this nickname ever time I see it) is a duke who wants nothing to do with Marianne but needs her. Sin has gotten word from a dead man that his brother is still alive only he needs Marianne to get his brother back.
I liked the relationship between Sin and Marianne. Their relationship was fun and I liked how Marianne had a strong personality. I also like that Sin was willing to work for Marianne and her love.
I can't wait for Sin's friends and Marianne's coworkers to get their HEA too.

I wasn't really looking forward to this as boxing isn't my thing. However that was fairly well done and not as bad as I thought. Which leads me to our characters. Separately, I liked each of our main characters a lot. There are a lot of fun side characters that I look forward to reading about in further books. While well written it took a long time to get to the meat of the story, and then once we were in it certain sections felt rushed and others dragged although I did enjoy all the spy action the ending to bring them together was a bit ridiculous and not at all believable. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Boxing Baroness is the story of Marianne Simpson, a female boxer who is a part of an all female fair run by her uncle. She is approached by the Duke of Staunton, St. John, who needs her assistance finding his younger brother, whom he believed was killed while scouting for the British government during the War with France. St. John(Sin) has received information from a former friend that seems to prove his brother is still living, but he needs Marianne's assistance in order to find him. Marianne is sceptical of assisting Sin because the person who is offering the information of his brother is Dominic, her ex lover who had tricked her into believing they were married when he was already married to someone else. As they travel to France while taking the fair on tour, with Sin acting as Marianne's trainer, they develop a relationship and also uncover secrets regarding Marianne's past that had been hidden from her by someone she trusted. The Boxing Baroness has intrigue, adventure, romance and steam. I wasn't enthusiastic about reading about a female boxer in this time period but I couldn't put the book down once I started it. look forward to reading the other installments in this series. I received an ARC from Netgalley and Kensington and I am voluntarily leaving this review

After her duplicitous ex-lover ruined her, Marianne joined a circus as the Boxing Baroness. When she learns he's reportedly holding the brother of a duke for ransom, she wants nothing to do with the scheme. But St. John Powell, Duke of Staunton, convinces her she's the only one who can save his brother and bring the kidnapper to justice. During a dangerous flight across France, can Marianne and St. John stay alive long enough to fall in love?

This is a long novel with a lot going on. I enjoyed the complex storyline, the well-constructed characters, and the unexpected plot twists. Marianne and St. John are strong, determined, and worthy of each other.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

One thing you can always count on with Minerva, she gives us a story that is different and interesting. A unique story with lots of details. I really like how Minerva portrays characters that are not the norm. One thing that stood out to me, maybe not most people, was the use of oranges – I remember we used oranges all of the time when my son played baseball. Another thing is catnip to me is the dialog. I love lots of dialog and this book delivers. Sin and Marianne’s story engages and puts you into their lives.

I look forward to stories of the other couples. The small amount we see in this story is just foreplay to what I believe will be fantastic additions to this series.