A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel

3.5 and rounding up.
I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first, but it was still a great mix of a English manor house story and queer romance. I have found that my favorite type of romance books, are actually just regular fiction that has a compelling story with the relationship sprinkled in. This duology delivers on it.

If you are a fan of Jane Austen, I feel like you'll like these.
I would also HIGHLY recommend the audiobook. Martyn Swain was chef's kiss perfect.

I'd happily pickup a 3rd Doomsday book...perhaps featuring Emily and Barry? (Pretty please!)

***Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Okay the HIGHLIGHT of this for me was how angry and unwilling to be appeased Rufus was after Luke betrayed him. I loved it. I was living for it. I was like FINALLYYYYYYY an MC who isn't forgiving shit just because of a few sweet words.

"Don't play the fool or the victim with me."

"I want answers. Give me those, or get out."

Looooooooove a man who knows his worth.

Did NOT accurately predict which of the two would be the dick in this duo.

"I understand greed and treachery and lies. I just don't understand how you combine them with everything else. "

"You're worth it!

I thought you were. "

"And don't think I'm not angry because I'm not shouting. What you did was dishonest and callous and it bloody hurt, and I'm struggling to reconcile that with the man I thought you were. "

"Find your bloody money and put an end to this business."

Finish him!!!!! 😈

I looooove a good long, long grudge. Yes. You do you, Rufus. Set your boundaries. Nurture your grudge like a child, until you're damn good and ready to forgive. Don't accept lip service apologies.

An MC I can get behind.

Rufusss. I was not familiar with your game.

My estimation of him went way, WAY up↗️

I was okay with the resolution because it felt like Rufus had time to stew, time to doubt, time to be angry and feel the hurt. Luke had time to really understand the impact of what he did and feel the fallout of losing Rufus.

I liked seeing the back and forth within Rufus on whether he wanted to forgive Luke, if he could ever trust him again, if he even WANTED to forgive him. You rarely get that. Usually there's a frantic 'I love you' by the aggressor and the aggrieved brushes past crimes under the rug.

So the fact that these two got to work through it in a realistic, reasonable way—(OVER TIME)and eventually get to a point where forgiveness felt natural......I highly rate that.

Unrelated — yes, Luke did some iffy things but he also was very sweet and very horny and very loving towards Rufus(when he wasn't betraying him)

"Are you proposing to change your hand for me?"

"Yes."

Gah. Luke is so fucking sweet and so fucking GONE for Rufus. Yeeish. The way he handled Rufus' reading difficulties? Time after time. With empathy. Without judgement. Chef's kiss.

"Suck me. Fuck me. Or leave me be. Pick one." 💀

The way this man speaks 🤌, you'd think there were no risk of being pilloried.