{Lords of Vice Review} The Earl and the Reluctant Lady by @RobynDeHart

The Earl and the Reluctant Lady by Robyn DeHart
Series: Lords of Vice #3
on November 12, 2018
Genres: Historical, Romance
Pages: 249
Format: eBook
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Rakish playboy, Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield has wanted Agnes Watkins since the first time he saw her. But her older brother is his direct supervisor and makes it very clear that Agnes is off limits. Fletcher does his best to forget her and instead focuses on his spying assignments that have him seducing women for needed information.

But when Agnes corners him at a ball and proclaims she’s going to reform his scoundrel ways, Fletcher knows he can ignore her no longer. Initially he considers this an opportunity to rid himself of his fascination with her. But the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that what he feels for her isn’t a passing infatuation, but real love. He uses her goal as an excuse to pursue her full throttle despite warning glances from her brother. But can he convince her that he’s mended his scandalous ways?

I received The Earl and the Reluctant Lady for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield, has no power with his title. His grandfather is the Duke while his father holds the Marquess title. Fletcher needs to earn a living until his elders die. He uses his charm and wit to seduce secrets for the Home Office, but when he meets Agnes Watkins, he realizes that he his tired of being the government’s Rake-for-Hire. The problem is her brother is his supervisor and he needs his approval to keep his job. For three years he keeps away from Agnes until circumstances throw the two together and all bets are off.

Agnes isn’t you average fading wallflower. She is a member of the Ladies of Virtue, a group of select woman who are trained to fight and work their bums off to prove their worth to the ranks of crime fighters. As part of LoV, she takes up the task of making covert weapons for ladies of the ton to protect themselves. A blade concealed in a fan is only one of the many items she’s constructed over the years. She never leaves home without a weapon or two, and she certainly knows just how to use them. Another part of her duties to the LoV is to reform a man from what they see as a deadly sin. Fletcher’s sin is lust and Agnes decides to take him on as her subject.

This is the third book in the series and what is really interesting is the novels take place at the same time. I remember a scene from the second book that came up again in this novel but told from Agnes’ point of view. For an author, this is a very bold choice. How DeHart keeps it all straight is a wonder, but she does and it has worked out beautifully so far.

DeHart weaves her carefully crafted threads and produces a witty, romantic escapade that will have historical romance lovers devouring as fast as they can. There are several more Ladies of Virtue and I’m excited to see what DeHart has in store for each and every one of them!