Daring and the Duke

June 8, 2020
MacLean concludes her Bareknuckle Bastards Regency series (after Brazen and the Beast) not with a bang but a sensual whisper. Grace Condry is a member of the fighting legends Bareknuckle Bastards, alongside Devil and Whit, men she considers to be brothers. All three were forced out onto the streets of Covent Garden at a young age after being betrayed by Ewan, Devil and Whit’s older brother—and Grace’s first love. The trio quickly rose in the ranks of Covent Garden’s underworld, with Grace, now called Dahlia, as their queen. Ewan, now Duke Marwick, has never stopped searching for Grace, hoping to win her back even after being told of her death. When Grace learns that Ewan is in the city, she swears revenge, though her resolve falters once they actually reunite. But with the harshness of their past between them, the pair must traverse a rather rocky path back to love. Grace is a fierce heroine and her role as the proprietress of a notorious ladies’ club adds dimension to an otherwise thin plot that feels more like an epilogue to the previous books than a self-contained outing. Series fans will be glad to see loose ends get tied up, but long for a meatier tale. Agent: Holly Root, Holly Root Literary.

Starred review from June 15, 2020
The final book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series reunites childhood loves who became enemies. Twenty years ago, Grace Condry was betrayed by Ewan, the boy she loved. He went on to become the Duke of Marwick while she became the queen of Covent Garden, a dark corner of London where she runs a club that specializes in women's pleasure. Ewan spent years searching for his love, and when he thought she was dead, he went mad with grief. When he discovers she's alive, hope blooms, and he'll do anything to be reunited with her. Grace wants vengeance because Ewan broke her heart and hurt those she holds dear, but when she's finally face to face with him, she feels immense desire. Although they are different people than they were as children, attraction still simmers. Perhaps love could turn their fantasies into reality despite all the terrible memories between them. Visceral, gritty, and full of passion and angst, this romance mixes moments of emotional introspection with grand scenes of balls, fights, and, of course, scorching intimacy. Grace and Ewan had traumatic pasts, and now they are both discovering who they are in the present and who they could be together. While this story excels as a second-chance, redemption love story, what really makes it stand out is the unabashedly feminist exploration of power and how it ties in with identity and desire. The cinematic finale draws the series to a wholly satisfying conclusion. Dark, daring, delicious, and absolutely delightful.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2020
One year ago, fate finally gave Grace Condry the opportunity to settle her score with Ewan, better known to the world as Robert Matthew Carrick, Duke of Marwick, for what he did to her and her two brothers. But now Ewan is back in London, and rumor has it he is looking for a suitable woman to become his duchess. As far as Grace is concerned, not only does Ewan not deserve any chance at happiness, his actions could have serious repercussions for Grace and her brothers. This leaves Grace no choice but to do whatever it takes to put a stop to Ewan's matrimonial plans. Wrapping up the Bareknuckle Bastards series (Brazen and the Beast, 2019) splendidly, RITA Award-winning MacLean reinforces her place as a master of historical romance with another exemplary, empowering love story that brilliantly showcases her flair for gloriously insightful characterization, grandly entertaining plotting, and gorgeously sensual prose.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from July 1, 2020

Grace Condry is the undisputed queen of London's underworld. Along with her adopted brothers, she's risen through the slums of Covent Garden, first as a celebrated street fighter, then as the wealthy owner of the city's most scandalous pleasure club for women. Few know that Grace is actually a duke's daughter, her title taken by the boy she once loved as a child. Ewan, the Duke of Marwick, has never stopped obsessing over Grace since the dark day she disappeared with his brothers. When he learns she's still alive, he's willing to do anything to have her back in his life. But their ruthless cat-and-mouse game of attraction is threatened by the pain of their past history. The emotional journey of the protagonists is raw in intensity, with breath-stealing love scenes. It's refreshing to find a romantic couple with a near-equal power balance. VERDICT The highly anticipated conclusion to the inimitable MacLean's massively popular "Bareknuckle Bastards" trilogy (Wicked and the Wallflower; Brazen and the Beast) delivers a satisfying emotional punch that fans will savor. It can be read as a stand-alone but is best enjoyed along with the rest of the series.--Kathryn Howe, Saint John Free P.L., NB

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.