Suspicious of her father's involvement in the death of a duke, Olivia Rainey goes to deliver a reluctant warning to his heir, only to become further entangled in the mystery.

In this final book in the Duel series, we finally get a conclusive answer to the mystery of the Duke of Cuttyngham's death, even if we knew pretty much from the start who committed the crime. With a side of romance and self-discovery, as a little treat.

Having been hidden away all his life due to a congenital disability, Victor was on the verge of escaping to university when his father's death forces him to shoulder the mantle of the title. Hidden away due to her illegitimacy, Olivia and he find first friendship and then love with each other, and I loved how they became both stronger and happier as a team. A major theme of this series has been overcoming isolation, and I enjoyed seeing how Olivia helped Victor break the ice and connect to his servants and neighbors after being besmirched by horrid rumors all his life.

However, I did feel that character development was given a bit short shrift with all the drama of the murder mystery and then the aftermath of the battle of Waterloo. We see Victor and Olivia grow together, but not as much where they were growing from, especially Olivia. While I enjoyed the quiet, slow-paced romance, I did wish there was some more space devoted to this element too.

Beloved
Book #4
By Mary Lancaster

I really enjoyed Victor and Olivia story, sweet. I am a huge fan of Mary Lancaster and this series has been wonderful I couldn't stomach the fact they were cousins, like 3rd and at that time that was exceptable sland encouraged my mind wouldn't let me over look that. But as always she is a great author and this is a really good series The Duel.

I received this copy free thanks to NetGalley for an honest review

It All Started with a Duel

When Olivia arrived to give Victor a warning, she did not intend to fall in love. Her father had his own ideas, and she had hers. It was not because Victor had a limp. She just did not want to marry him. Then, she went and fell in love. What did Olivia want to warn Victor about? It all started with a duel that she witnessed. The late duke was shot, but she saw him fall before that killing shot was fired. Something was suspicious, and now, Victor’s life was in peril.

Danger, Mystery, treachery, and romance kept me turning the pages. I read this series from the very beginning. Yes, you can read this book on its own, but you would have a far better experience if you started from the very first book. I enjoyed this book and the entire series. I would recommend it to lovers of historical romance with mystery.

Mary Lancaster has done it again. Another amazing story of love, loyalty, and friends. Don't wait, grab this fantastic read today!

This is the fourth installment of The Duel series. It has been such a captivating and engaging series thus far, and this latest addition is no less exciting, bringing us to the finale and conclusion of who killed the late Duke of Cuttyngham. Victor is now the new duke, but wasn't groomed to be as such because his father never thought him to be capable enough, with him being crippled and his father perceiving him as simple-minded. His father's cousin Anthony was gunning to be the new duke, and he was ready to do anything to make that happen. Olivia was Anthony's daughter and found out Victor was in danger. Despite rumors of him being described as a monster, Olivia went to warn him. She continues to see him, developing a beautiful friendship with him that slowly turns into something more as she helps him solve the mystery of the murder of his fafher.
A very well-written story that brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. The characters were lovely and I enjoyed following them on their journey as they solved the mystery and justice was finally served, and also found love alone the way.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This series is best read in order as there is a common mystery plotline that continues throughout the separate love stories. This is the conclusion and you will appreciate it more if you are familiar with the characters and events from the previous books. Victor has become the duke after his father died. The old duke despised Victor because of his physical disability so he is not much mourned, but Olivia thinks her father Anthony who is Victor's heir may know something about how Victor's father died and be a threat to Victor as well. The characters from the previous books all end up meeting in Belgium. The battle of Waterloo is being fought in the background so it adds poignancy here. I loved how Victor overcomes his upbringing and finds his strength.

Steam level: Brief references.

I have so enjoyed this series! While each book can easily be a stand alone, I did enjoy that the main characters in each story had their parts in the mystery of the Duke of Cuttyngham's death explained in their book.
I enjoyed Victor's character and how he surprised everyone by appearing to be perfectly normal, and not a crippled simpleton as rumors had stated.
Olivia was truly a life savior for Victor. Not only for wanting to warn him of her father, but also helping him when the dangerous accidents started to happen.
Thank you Mary Lancaster for an amazing series!

This historical romance is part of a series and although you could enjoy it on its own, I think you will understand the characters and story behind it all, if you read them in order. It is an unusual storyline with wonderful characters.

Our hero has struggled, mentally and physically all his life. Our heroine never met either of her parents until recently. She's not sure she likes, or trusts her father or his reasons for finding her.

This book is filled with adventure and danger for all. It reads like the last in the series with a catch up a few years later in the epilogue.

Good fun.

Olivia Rainey arrives at Cuttyng's to warn Victor, the Duke of Cuttyngham, that she fears for his life. He's not sure he can trust her. She's the illegitimate daughter of his cousin Anthony Severne, the next in line to inherit. It becomes obvious that she is the closest one he can trust, as she proves her devotion. Newly married, Victor and Olivia arrive in Belgium before Waterloo, but their worst enemy is already there. Her father thinks he can force Olivia to help him become the next duke, but Olivia and Victor only want to find proof of the former duke's killer. The mystery is solved and justice is served. Mild open bedroom door. Read from the beginning of the series each close friends and relatives find their happily ever after and the English defeat Napoleon.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I have really liked this series and it's not that I found the final book disappointing, just underwhelming. And this might just be me, but I couldn't get past the fact that Victor and Olivia were cousins. I know that they were something closer to 3rd cousins and that this kind of thing happened all the time in those days, but I'm not a fan of those relationships - it wouldn't fly in contemporary romances and I don't like it in my historical romances. And the shame of it is that I really did like them as a couple. They were so supportive of one another and saw beyond what many in society would have seen as their flaws. I liked that their relationship started as a friendship and developed over time. I thought the plot for them to have to get married came a bit out of no where. And the storyline involving his servant trying to kill him was left a little unresolved - we find out who it was but there isn't really a confrontation involving that person. We know from the book 1 that Anthony has been up to no good and I did like the way all the pieces to that mystery fell into place by the end. I loved getting to see everyone from the previous books (especially the reappearance of Tom) and the way they interacted with one another. There has also been a tension throughout the books with the upcoming battle at Waterloo and that is resolved as well, but it felt a little like an afterthought - it all occurs over a single chapter and there are no scenes involving the actual battle. For me this book fell in the "liked but didn't love" category.

Beloved by Mary Lancaster is a convoluted tale with a confusing background. Let’s just say, they had all been lied to, many times. Victor was now the duke. He had not been raised into the position as his father believed him to be a hopeless cripple as well as simple-minded. His cousin Anthony would be the heir if something happened to him and it appeared Anthony would make that something happen. Olivia was the base-born daughter of Anthony to whom he paid no attention until he thought she might be of use. Anthony wanted Olivia to marry Victor to undermine him and help her father gain the dukedom. Olivia was an honest and pure young woman who had witnessed something that made her think that Victor was in danger, so despite the rumors he was a monster, she took her chaperone and went to warn him. She was very surprised to find he was no monster but a handsome man with a bad leg and low self-esteem. She began the process of rectifying those issues and mitigating the danger.

Victor was a well-written character, typical of a Regency man who was less than perfect and so shunned. This father had never been anything but cruel and his mother was no better. His stepmother, who was younger than he, proved to be different, but had to be subtle as she was as much under his father’s thumb as was he. He was a well-written, empathetic character who took things into his own hands and grew into his position. The was just at the time of Waterloo and the characters all found themselves in Brussels, not quite in the middle of the war, but close. The setting provided the chaos needed for Anthony to do his best work and try, once more, to kill Victor. The descriptions of the war-wounded and the efforts to save them was well-done. As the reader, I felt myself rooting for Victor and Olivia as wall as the other characters. Good book!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Beloved by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #MaryLancaster #Beloved

Olivia is driven by her conscience to warn Victor the new Duke of Cuttyngham of a threat she does not wish to believe in. But Victor, the young duke, is very far from the ineffectual cripple she expects.
He may be moody, suspicious, and downright rude, but he is also formidably clever, determined and breathtakingly handsome. Victor is spreading his wings now his father has died. Together, he and Olivia travel to Brussels to reveal the true killer of the late duke. Catching such a wily enemy, however, is not easy, especially not when war breaks into their plans
The fourth & final part of the series & all is revealed. It could be read on its own but all four books are interlinked. Victor’s father was killed in a duel but as the series has progressed more evidence has emerged that there was more at play than the duel. I loved both Victor & Olivia, he’s been denigrated his whole life & it was lovely to see him gaining confidence & self esteem. Olivia was also a strong woman. I loved their journey to a HEA which wasn’t easy but was very entertaining. The villain had been obvious but he did get hi just desserts
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Four interlinked novels, each of which can be read on its own, start with a duel and end with Waterloo. Whilst a casual reader could pick up one of the books in this series and not feel cheated, it does make for far more enjoyment if they are read in chronological order. The new Duke of Cuttyngham has been despised, rejected, and denigrated his entire life for having a twisted limb that he was unfortunately born with. In a society where perfection was demanded, he stood little chance against a cruel and manipulative father. Olivia has information pertinent to the unsolved death of Victor's father, presumably in a duel, although there are conflicting thoughts on the matter. She feels that Victor is in danger and despite the risk to herself, she embarks on a journey to warn him of the threat facing him. Despite his deformity, Victor is no fool and he knows far more about the situation than Olivia anticipated, and when he invites her to assist him in his studies, he not only finds a competent helper but one who also stirs and delights him. Both Victor and Olivia discover that the new Duke is in danger, even in his own household, and a fortuitous meeting makes it possible for them to travel to Brussels to meet up with the rest of the family and their friends, most of whom are willing to support and stand by him. In the midst of the Battle of Waterloo, Victor and Olivia face their own demons, but as usual, Victor has been underestimated and he has far more strength and intuition than expected. I felt myself tearing up over the descriptions of Waterloo as the reality of war is brought home. Nevertheless, this romance comes to a lovely conclusion, bringing all the characters together once again. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Enjoyable series finale!
A reckoning is finally insight as the pivotal puzzle piece slots into place and our couples (brought together across the series) convene for a showdown in Brussels against the backdrop of the approaching devastation of the Battle of Waterloo. As we finally find out what the 'mysterious lady from the George Inn' truly saw as Olivia travels to warn Victor.
Developing an engaging slow burn romance that works hard to crumble the mistrust, conflicting loyalities, misconceptions and the heinous false rumours that have polluted their expectations. As the first stirrings of desire simmers gently beneath the loneliness, doubt fueled arguing, unraveling schemes and sweetly blooming friendship forging between them. While the pair hesitantly reach for the happiness, newly found hope has inspired them to crave, if only they can outsmart the danger that lurks close to home and is resurrecting a deadly game from the shadows.
I really enjoyed the comfortable dependence that grew as self-doubt gave way to admiration and love. Shining light on the humiliation Victor has cruelly been subjected to...because of his disability... as Olivia helps to reverse his detrimentally diminished confidence and selfworth seeded from the heartaching persuasion he is an unmarriageable monster. Not the attractive immensely appealing man, so delightfully and instanteously evident to Olivia, as layers are exposed to reveal the strong, highly intelligent, caring man beneath the guarded wall of rudeness he projects.
Cultivating a bittersweet journey of trust and teamwork wrapped in a compelling warmth that hooked me in with it's power to break through the repression and oppression that cloaks them and enables them to spread their wings towards a future together...if only they can disarm the glutinous villain haunting their steps.
A well written finale that combines threat, love, friendship, heated passion and a new found awakening freedom that ultimately ties up all the loose intriguing threads into one neatly crafted bow! I recommend you read in order to appreciate the character dynamics, relationships, binding bonds and friendships that interweave throughout the mysteries surrounding that fateful duel of book 1.

Best read after the other books in this series if you wish to keep track of the characters, though the romance element is a standalone. The common theme to the series was the unexpected death of a duke in a duel from a wound that shouldn’t have killed him. In this book all the threads of that event are pulled together for a satisfying conclusion, a villain gets his comeuppance and an abused young man and a lonely young woman come through trials to find love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Victor is a shy, socially awkward, intelligent young man who has just inherited a dukedom. His father was a cruel, hateful man who would use Victor’s disability, a twisted leg, as an excuse to humiliate and belittle him. Olivia is an abandoned illegitimate daughter of Victor’s cousin; she’s smart, honest, sweet and stands her ground. Olivia has witnessed the duel that killed the old duke and travels to Victor’s estate to warn him that he might be in danger.

The romance was slow, built on friendship and admiration. There’s a mystery, a villain, friends from the previous three books and a satisfying conclusion to the series.

4.5 stars

Great story. The last part of a four part series detailing the events of a duel. Victor's father, a mean man, was goaded into a duel and appeared to stumble into the shot. The other duellist's intention was to miss him, Olivia was the mystery woman at the duel but also Victor's cousin, Anthony's natural daughter. Victor is lame, possibly an injury at or before birth. His father had always tormented him and treated him poorly. Becoming the duke has awoken in Victor much needed self respect. Olivia realises that she needs to warn Victor that he is still in danger. Olivia is an interesting character generous caring and interested in intellectual pursuits. The romance builds slowly. It was lovely to see Astley, Lord Grande and other folk from the prevous three books.

IMO you will enjoy it more if you have read the whole series. I do like this author's work.

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

What a heart wrenching, thrill ride of a series ending. Finally knowing what/who killed the old duke, the Villain getting his due and Victor getting his chance to find love, life and laughter. I loved how Olivia could coax him out of his father induced shell. It was sooooo very satisfying for Victor to see for himself , the strong man he was and utilize that strength to get the life he should have had. Absolutely loved the set down his aunt and uncle got, too! A wonderful book and wonderful series. This group will be missed!

I received this ARC copy for free and these are my own opinions.

Book #4 of “The Duel” I truly enjoyed the whole series and the. Interwoven characters.
Victor is the new Duke and he is interested in finding out how his father actually died: was it the shot fired in the duel or something else? Victor was born with a deformed leg resulting in extreme isolation due to his father’s abuse.
Olivia is the illegitimate and ignored daughter of Victor’s cousin. She comes to the estate to warn Victor that something terrible might happen to him. After a few accidents, Victor begins to be concerned about himself and others. Olivia supports his efforts as she begins to fall in love with him.
Their travels lead them to Brussels and the rest of family friends who’ are also trying to solve the mystery.
Recommend reading all four books in order for the very best experience.

Beloved is a lovely story about a man who experienced cruelty and abuse all his life from those who were supposed to protect him. The first part of the story is a slow narration of Victor’s past and present, his current and past struggles through mental abuse experienced at the hands of his father and uncle specifically until there comes a moment of light personified by a girl who he doesn’t trust completely. When they decide to trust each other is when the adventure begins surrounded by the caos of war and tragedy while also fighting for their own lives.