The Phoenix's Revenge

Lavinia vows to get her father's treasures from those who wronged him. She steals these items from under the ton’s noses. She has no idea she is about to fall in love with the man hunting the thief known as “the Phoenix." Lavinia's need for revenge is causing her to take dangerous risks. She wants justice for her father. She wants him to have the mementos he cherished. Will the law catch up with her, or will she escape capture?

This story kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved it. Lavinia and peregrine were a delight. They had tough challenges to overcome. His duty was to uphold the law, and she was breaking it. Hers was a hanging offense. Could the two survive the collision between love and duty? I recommend this excellent story to those who enjoy historical romance with suspense.

Lavinia and her father lost everything fourteen years ago and now that she is entering her first season, she means to get revenge on the person responsible for it all. She goes about the ton, on a mission to "retrieve" everything that was taken from her family. Peregrine has been tasked with finding this thief of the ton. During his search, he meets Lavinia and is quite distracted by her as he can't help the attraction he feels towards her. Turns out they had known each other when they were young, and now have a chance to get reacquainted. As Peregrine goes about solving the mystery of the thief, he learns that his father is somehow connected and he begins to piece everything together.
This was a very well-written and intriguing story and the characters were well-developed and endearing. Lavinia and Peregrine had wonderful chemistry and I enjoyed seeing them together. This is the third book of the series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Glad to have had the opportunity to read this and I look forward to reading more!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Lavinia de Grande is taking back treasures stolen from her father. Stolen in a scheme to leave him destitute. His would be friends colluded in his down fall. Mingling with society that doesn't know she is the Phoenix, Lavinia is very smart in her thefts. Peregrine, Viscount Marlow, is knowledgeable in antiquities. He is looking for the stolen items and has made it his goal to unmask the Phoenix. As a child he gave his promise to protect Lavinia, but the closer he gets to the Phoenix, the closer he is to loosing his heart. I don't know what happened, but the pace and thread of the story got off track a few chapters before the end.
Some descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

An entertaining and well plotted story. Had fun and rooted for the characters
Recommended
Many thanks to the publisher, all opinions are mine

Redeeming her father is her #1 goal but it is ever so much fun to trick everyone as a woman. As all the males tend to be so 'superior'.
This has a few steamy chapters but the story and the plot are very intriguing. I was glad to see at least one person involved in the original scheme came forward at the height of crisis. This is one of those book where I will have to go back and read to catch all the nuances of the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.

Loved reading the exciting and entertaining romance story. Lavinia, posing as the Phoenix, continues to try to get back her father's treasures, but a handsome man, Peregrine, Viscount Marlow, that she hasn't seen in years is the one who is trying to find the Phoenix and apprehend her. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting love story.

I liked the premise here more than I actually ended up liking the book. There are some really good parts (Lavinia's plot with the painting being a definite highlight) but then there are some parts that didn't really land (how Peregrine didn't figure out sooner that Lavinia was the thief - she has guilt written all over her on multiple occasions). At times Lavinia was a great thief (see previous comment at the painting heist) but at other times she didn't really think things through. For one, the part involving the necklace and for two, the attempted robbery of the clock. For someone who was so smart she sure did make a lot of silly mistakes. I also didn't understand her father - on multiple occasions it is mentioned how much he loves her and how important she is to him, but most of the interactions between the two are him berating her for something. Peregrine's father was another piece of work - pretty much the worst dad in the world. I don't understand why he was so surprised when his son basically cut ties with him at the end. It was a little frustrating that the men who had worked together to destroy Lavinia's father never really got any kind of punishment for what they had done.

The story of Lavinia and Peregrine got off to a bit of a slow start. They had been childhood friends, but their reunion as adults was not the delight that it should have been. Lavinia had been engaging in some clandestine activities and Peregrine was tasked with investigating them! Even though everything Lavinia did was for a justifiable reason, she was still committing crime. Events were starting to spiral out of control. and I really wondered how things would play out in a way that allowed for a happy ending.

I think that the plot of this story overshadowed the romance. Lavinia's father played a large role, and I didn't like him at all until towards the end. It felt like he had been languishing at death's door for the entire 14-year duration of the story. The dynamics of his relationship with his daughter were more thought proving than his daughter's relationship with her love interest. The whole situation was rather sad and I'm glad that all of the problems were eventually solved. The well-crafted plot was more complicated than most. Bringing it to a believable happy ending must have been quite the challenge.

Even though this was the third book of the series, it definitely worked well on its own. The ending of this story gave some interesting hints for the future. The inevitable pairing of poor Miss Howard with the dastardly Duke of Whitcombe is bound to be a page turner. I can't wait!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Livinia de Grande is determined to get the precious items her father lost, back for him, whatever it takes.
Peregrine, Viscount Marlow has been tasked with catching the thief calling himself the Phoenix. He's sure it's a member of Society and there must be a pattern to the strange thefts.
This is a steamy historical romance with fabulous characters and lots of danger for our heroine.
This is part of a series ,but apart from maybe meeting some characters from the other stories, there are no spoilers. Each book is totally different, but equally enjoyable.
Great fun.

I found it difficult to get into this novel especially as Lady Lavinia de Grande was exacting revenge on those who had hurt her family. I was also unable to identify with the main characters, which was rather disappointing as I have previously enjoyed this author's work. Nevertheless, all's well that ends well and despite some rather unorthodox moves, the novel does come to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

A unique story with a different plot. Lavinia is determined to regain all that was stolen from her father. The man stealing it all is bent on revenge of a past issue. Lavinia is very good at what she does until she runs up against Perigrine. The chemistry of the two is great and the author challenges the reader to decide if Lavinia's theifing is really justified or not. Overall I believe it's a bit to long, 41 chapters. When a story has to go that long, it becomes repetitive in areas and drags. A moving story, well written and good characters. This is the third book of an excellent series. Good ending.

Thief of the Ton by Emily Royal is sort of a take-off on Robin Hood, except Lavinia is stealing things to return them to her father, from whom they’d been stolen years earlier. She was good at it. This night she was returning to a home in which she’d been a guest, but was not at this time. She was to sneak in and steal a necklace from the lady of the house as she slept, but embarrassingly enough she entered the bed room to hear the lady and her current lover in bed and going at it, none too quietly. She did manage to get out of there, with her target in hand. She had been remembering lately, the boy she had known when she was a little girl: her King Arthur. He promised to protect her forever. She wasn’t sure she knew his name. She certainly couldn’t remember what he looked like, except for his clear hazel eyes. She had only one more item to retrieve: a clock her mother had given her father when she was born. Then she would stop. He would be avenged, as much as she could do.

This was an intriguing story of one man ruined by another because he, her father, had married the woman he loved. The other man had wanted her. He never forgot a slight. No only did he see the her father ruined, but when his personal items came up for auction, arranged for him and his friends to buy valuable items for a pittance. Kicking a man when he was down. Lavinia would have none of it. Things came to a head when the only option left for her was to rob him as he rode in his carriage. This was a totally endearing story about a daughter’s love for her father, and a man’s disdain for his father. Loyalty was a big part of the story as well. The characters, most of them, were good, and likable. The plot was entertaining and different. Well done!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Thief of the Ton by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #EmilyRoyal #ThiefOfTheTon

It’s been fourteen years since Lavinia de Grande & her father Viscount Richard de Grande lost everything. On entering her first Season courtesy of Aunt Edna’s charity, Lavinia vows to wreak vengeance on the noblemen who orchestrated their ruination. Peregrine, Viscount Marlow, has been tasked with solving a mystery. A thief known as ‘the Phoenix’ is targeting the ton and stealing seemingly unconnected treasures from different houses. During his investigation, Peregrine is distracted by the daughter of an impoverished viscount, a young woman unlike other debutantes.
A well written book which whilst the third book in the series it’s easily read on its own. The characters have depth, some I really liked & some I disliked. The pace is good as we’re not only taken on Peregrine & Lavinia’s journey to a HEA but there’s also the mystery surrounding the Phoenix & if the true villain will be revealed. I really liked both Peregrine & Lavinia & loved the chemistry between them, both are intelligent & their banter was witty. Their journey to a HEA wasn’t easy but it made for a captivating read. My only quibble was that the villain didn’t get his comeuppance.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Lavinia Amelia de Grande, father Viscount Richard de Grande, lost all due to an evil friend. Her mother died when she was little.
Aunt Edna, Lady Yates, strict, demanding, old-school thinks she is better being titled, is giving lessons on department to Lavinia.
Lady Betty, friend of Lord de Grande, stuck by them thru the good and bad.
Henrietta Redford, outgoing and Eleanor Howard,shy one, her friends she made during her season.


Peregrine, Viscount Marlow, who's father the Earl of Walton, has a live of solving puzzle due to crimes. Has helped solve a few. He father is selfish, demanding, and believes all things are a possessions even people.
Mr. Houseman, a rather unsavory character who considered himself an accomplished sleuth but is an over-inflated buffoon.

A their going by the Phoenix bird symbol is releaving others of objects of minor importance to them but feels like more of a pride thing. Houseman goes to Marlow hoping he will do the leg work so he can take credit for solving the case. Marlow believes there is a pattern to the crimes and once he figures that out he would have the person responsible.

While investigating, Marlow comes across Lavinia and wonders if it is the same person he use to call "his little Guinevere" when they were young. They banter back and forth about the thief, while getting reacquainted.

As clues are dropped you figure out who and why the thief are occurring. Until the last one, which is how Marlow figures out who it is. When he mutters something, the Earl Says sho he thinks is the culprit. So, join the investigation, find the clues, and solve who the Phoenix is while traipsing thru the bsllrooms, house parties, and afternoon teas while I've blooms in this quirky fun read.

Lavinia seeks vengeance on the men who have destroyed her father and taken ownership of his prized possessions. She steals the items back and leaves a Pheonix calling card in their place. When Peregrine investigates he finds that her vengeance is just and that his father is the one who orchestrated the whole thing. Can they reconcile that as they fall in love? I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

Good Regency romance! 3.5 stars

Thief of the Ton, written by Emily Royal, is the third book in the Misfits of the Ton, an historical romance series and which I didn’t read previously.

In this story, we follow Lavinia and Peregrine on a quest to find the man responsible for her father’s ruination. Will they ever find the Phoenix dead or alive?

In the past, I have always loved this author's stories, but this time, something was missing to capture my interest and attention. Even if the characters are well described and the plot well developed, this one is different from his other books in her other series. I was attracted by the cover of this book!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This was a classic tale of two people, who on the surface, had very little in common, but once the attraction was confirmed, each made every effort to turn themselves into the person the other was looking for. The characters are different and very genial. A well-written story with plenty of diversions along the path to true love.