3.5 Stars
Nicholas, Lord Dowding, has become known as ‘The Earl of Deception' because for more than five years, revenge has been the earl's only goal as he travelled England seeking to ruin the lives of those who once wronged his family. Nicholas is close to putting the past to rest once and for all. The only problem? He'll need a woman by his side to do it. Miss Jenny Clifton is a dreamer. When the earl arrives at the school to call in a favour she never expected to have to repay, Jenny is quickly caught up in a dangerous game where she must first pose as his fiancée. Nicholas finds Jenny is one entanglement he cannot easily escape. While the girl is vexingly naive and innocent, she also burns with a beauty and sensuality that makes his heart beat faster.
This is the fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I really liked Nicholas who was carrying out his father’s final wish & seeking revenge on those who hurt & abused a family member. I liked Jenny but found her very immature. I also didn't feel much chemistry between the pair, they became friends but I found it hard to believe they fell in love. That said I did enjoy the book but I didn’t burn to read it in a sitting & I felt the villain didn’t get his just desserts & neither did a villainess
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The blurb, in my opinion, is not accurate. The Earl is scarred true, but he is not a beast, and our heroine is naive and annoying in her ridulous innocence. She is far from an interesting heroine. I am not at all sure either, that a another young school girl would really have been considered an adequate companion for outings to maintain social respectability.
As you can guess, I did not enjoy the book and indeed failed to finish as it did not appeal. I also found the writing style stodgy and dull, and rather old fashioned for this genre. It needed editing to make it sharper and more concinct.
In my opinion, some humour would help.

I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the Sisterhood of Secrets series, the previous three are available on Kindle Unlimited and this one will be available on Kindle Unlimited on publication day. They can all be read as a stand-alone book.

I feel like the Regency Romance genre is having a renaissance since Bridgerton burst onto our Netflix screens during the pandemic and I’m here for it as I love it!.

I just knew this book was going to be good when the Prologue started Chatsworth, England 1825.

It was an entertaining romp through a courtship with a twist that I enjoyed so much , I just love this type of book and if you love Regency Romance you’ll enjoy it too.

This is a friends to lovers tale that is most intriguing.
Jennifer Monroe has written an new episode in this tale that extends from a school for girls.
To get his revenge, he needs a fiancée...
Nicholas, Lord Dowding, is a dangerous and reckless man. For more than five years, revenge has been the earl's only goal as he traveled England seeking to ruin the lives of those who once wronged his family.
Earning himself the moniker "Earl of Deception" for his deadly, scheming ways, Nicholas is close to putting the past to rest once and for all. The only problem? He'll need a woman by his side to do it.
To play the role of a lifetime, she'll bargain her heart...
Her education could never have prepared the romantic dreamer Miss Jenny Clifton,, for a man like Nicholas. When the earl arrives at the school to call in a favor she never expected to have to repay, Jenny is quickly caught up in a dangerous game where she must first pose as his fiancée.
Nicholas is dashing but ruthless, and his heart is heavily scarred by his past when he asks Jenny to pose as his fiancée.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

A Historical romance with alot of drama and unexpected situations with a older to younger romance.
Voluntarily reviewed.

I felt like this plot was all over the place and the characters poorly written. Jenny was extremely silly and immature and Nicholas’s motives often did not make sense.

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

Although this is the 4th book it can be read as a standalone as I have only read one of the other's and didn't feel like I was missing out. However I was hoping to see a better build up of friendship to love as the scheme to ruin an evil man played out. But I was bored with the slow pace and the dull character of Jenny. I found the earl an interesting serious character who did drag his feet a bit blowing hot and cold but Jenny just seemed silly with no real character development however the twists and turns kept me reading. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received an ARC of The Earl of Deception by Jennifer Monroe from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is the first book I have read by this author.  I can't wait to read the previous books in this series as well as the upcoming books.
Nicholas, Earl of Dowding, dubbed Earl of Deception, is a jaded man who neither believes in love anymore nor in the truthfulness of people. He is out for revenge against the men who were involved in the death of his sister. Jenny Clifton is naive and young, but had an abundance of common sense. Both Nicholas and Jenny have an immediate attraction to each other because of their beauty, but soon come to learn the beauty that is beheld in their personalities.  A nice book to read!

Naive School girl Jenny catches the eye of the dashing Nicholas. He is known as the Earl of Deception by the gossip mongerers and Jenny is very keen to marry him and have his children. They engage in a merry tale of trickery over a nefarious local Lord. It is quite hard to be in Jenny’s side as her emotions are rather light and Nicholas isn’t given much depth for me to cheer him on in his endeavours. The plot holds together well, with a nasty past love thrown in which was good. The main characters just didn’t work for me.

A gorgeous friends to lovers regency romance. I was quickly caught up in this story, Nicholas and Jenny took me on a wonderful journey, based on deception but the heart can't be beaten and true love wins out in the end.

Thank you NetGalley!

This is a tough review for me to write.... I think this just wasn't my cup of tea and I hate to give a negative review just because I didn't enjoy it. But I guess that's what reviews are for. So, here goes...

I like the Count of Monte Cristo feel to the earl's story-and I like the earl himself.

Jenny was, well honestly, she was too silly. I generally don't mind a silly main character, but she was more Lydia Bennet than I could handle.

The story was intriguing-fake relationship, age gap, a dash of mystery/danger, throw in some unrequited feelings and I'm on board! But I would have preferred to *feel* more of the emotions not just read what they felt. Maybe that doesn't make sense, but there ya go. That's where I stand with this one.

An innocent maiden yearning for love. A scheming earl yearning for revenge. Will a fake engagement seal their fate?

This is a well-written book that focuses on intrigue from his perspective and manners from hers.

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

Thank you NetGalley for an interesting story. Jenny met in Marquess of Magic and she made a promise which she is to keep in this book. Lord Dowding has promised his father before he died that he would find his half sister. She is dead and it was a very bad life that brought her to this end. He has ruined the men ho had a hand in it. A Mystery Man who won't make his face known but has helped him in every other way.
Jenny is to help him by acting as his fake fiancee. In the process she comes to care for him and he for her. He is trying to keep himself as he has to complete the promise to his father before he can marry.
Jenny is able to believe the rumors about him. He has to convince her they are not true.

Nicholas Dowding known to some as the Earl of Deception was on a mission to get revenge from five men who had wronged his family. Four down and one to go, he needed a make believe fiancée to move forward to his next target. Miss Jenny Clifton resided at Mrs Rutley’s School for Young Women and had previously dropped her handkerchief. Nicholas had picked it up and made her promise to do him a favour if ever he requested it of her.

Nicholas now needed a make believe fiancée to carry out the last part of his revenge and decided to pretend to woo Jenny into his make believe fiancée. Jenny was a dreamer and her heart’s desire was to be loved by a man, have children and live happily together.

Nicholas found that he could not deceive Jenny and destroy her innocence, he wanted to protect her and her innocence so agreed that they should be friends. Still fighting his feelings for her he asked as a friend if she would pretend to be his fiancée at his masquerade ball he was holding.

A beautiful well written clean romantic story about finding that perfect someone, even in the midst of revenge! Nicholas and Jenny were perfect for each other and I really enjoyed their journey.

I loved the secondary character of Mr Thomas who had helped Nicholas gain his revenge for the last five years. What a twist with plenty of intrigue and mystery. I can’t wait for Louisa’s story!

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

I will be leaving reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and Bookbub

Nicholas, Lord Dowding, has a reputation for deceiving people and is bent on revenge. Nicholas is close to putting the past to rest once and for all, but he needs a woman to pose as his fiancée to help him in his final scheme. Jenny Clifton is love struck and naïve when Nicholas arrives at her school to call in a favor. 

This is fourth in a series of schoolgirls but I never thought you had to read the others to read this one.

I was hoping to see a burgeoning friendship unfold while a clever scheme played out. But I was bored with the slow pace and dull characters. I was skimming pretty early on. The 1806 setting doesn’t exactly come alive.

Nicholas knows he’s using Jenny’s crush on him to get what he wants. And she is painfully immature. Their characters arcs are flat and their motivations didn’t always make sense. I couldn’t connect with either of them.

Can the Earl of Deception put aside his mask for the one woman that can set his world to right?
I have really enjoyed the series. You don't need to read the previous books in order to enjoy this one. (Although I recommend it, the rest are really good too.) The Sisterhood of Secrets every young lady has her secret including the head Mistress. As these tales unfold its is wonderful to see the girls grow and find their love and how it comes to be. There is intrigue and a little bit of action and of course a clean love story. As this young lady discovered there has to be honesty in order for love to bloom. I think that was my favorite part of the book. How and why she discovers this truth.

I recieved a free copy so that I can tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

This book was really not my cup of tea, I found myself skipping sections to get to the end. 2 stars.