The Notorious Lord Knightly: A Novel

by Lorraine Heath Narrated by Kate Reading

Overview

Who is the villainous Lord K? New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath's next novel in The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction series where revenge is best served hot...

A scandalous book by an anonymous author takes London by storm, and everyone is convinced its villainous “Lord K” is the greatly admired Earl of Knightly. Heartbroken that he left her at the altar, Miss Regina Leyland impulsively sought revenge by revealing the true Knightly to the world but never expected the uproar to bring enemies to her door. To keep her identity hidden, she must trust the one man with the power to destroy her.

Furious to be the object of notoriety and gossip, Knightly confronts the lady he suspects of penning the tome only to discover she is no longer the naïve innocent he was forced to betray, but a woman of strength and conviction, who will bow before no man.

Knightly and Regina pretend a reconciliation to salvage their reputations and throw the ton off their scent. But false friendship soon turns to powerful passion. When truths emerge, threatening all they hold dear, they must face the consequences of their past if their story is ever to deserve its happily ever after.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Heath again achieves the literary equivalent of checkmate with an exquisitely sensual love story that deftly illustrates her stellar sense of characterization and wickedly subtle sense of wit." — Booklist

“Brilliant…Heath slowly peels back the layers of her complex protagonists, making their forbidden attraction all the more intense and believable. With just the right blend of romance and mystery, this proves un-put-downable.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Return of the Duke

“Readers can finally enjoy Marcus’s story, and it is well worth the wait for those who love a strong heroine who breaks down all the preconceived notions that the hero has of her. Hand to readers who already love Heath, as well as fans of Stephanie Laurens and Lisa Kleypas.” — Library Journal on The Return of the Duke

"Heath steals your heart, then takes you on a journey that will leave you torn between tears and joy". — Christina Dodd, New York Times bestselling author

“Heath is known for her beautiful, deeply emotional romances.”  — Washington Post

“Heath opens her Once Upon a Dukedom series with a satisfying, character-driven Victorian romance... a promising spin-off.”  — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Scoundrel of My Heart

“[Penelope and King’s] evolution to lovers is pleasing and satisfying, especially since they have to trust each other with truly devastating stories from their past in order to make a future together. Heath explores how society’s confining rules force people into uncomfortable and even desperate choices. The end result is a fascinating exploration of power…A complex romance [that] explores how two lovers are influenced by class, gender, and societal expectations.” — Kirkus Reviews on The Duchess Hunt

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2023-04-11
Published as an act of revenge, a scandalous novel unwittingly reunites formerly betrothed lovers.

Who is “Lord K?” That’s what everyone in London is asking about the seductive lead in the anonymously published My Secret Desires, A Memoir. Many suspect Arthur Pennington, the Earl of Knightly, and he has grown annoyed by all the attention. When he finally gets his hands on the book some are trying to have banned for obscenity, he realizes that it’s true—he is indeed Lord K, and the author is Miss Regina Leyland, the woman he left at the altar five years ago but secretly never stopped loving. When Regina's reputation and livelihood are threatened by the revelation that she is the book’s author, she agrees to a fake reconciliation with Knightly, whom she loathes for hurting her. They’ve both changed and matured in the last five years, but their desire for each other remains fiery hot. To truly move on from the past, though, they’ll have to trust each other with the secrets they’ve been harboring to protect loved ones. This second-chance romance is brimming with heightened emotions; there’s regret and anger and so much delicious yearning. The ramifications of Society’s harsh expectations and judgments are thoughtfully incorporated, while the narrative is smartly and purposefully constructed for maximum emotional impact. Flashbacks to Knightly and Regina’s passionate and ultimately heartbreaking initial courtship are woven in, and their closely guarded secrets are gradually revealed to the reader before the pair learn each other’s truths.

Among Heath’s impressive oeuvre, this one is a standout.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175828123
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/27/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

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