Clay and Ara's story is one of love, hate, mystery and a sizzling romance despite how they felt once they reunited. This was my first time reading a book by Scarlett Scott and I'm glad to say it won't be my last! I recommend Nobody's Duke!

Netgalley graciously granted me an ARC of this in exchange for my honest review, so let's talk....

This book is the first in a new series by Scarlett Scott, League of Dukes! This book is about Clayton Ludlow, bastard son of the Duke of Carlisle.
We first met Clayton Ludlow in Her Deceptive Duke when he was protecting the Duchess of Leeds. In that story, it gave you just a sprinkle of information on him but left you wanting. Scarlett Scott never likes to leave someone wanting for too long, so Clay got his own book. YAY!!!
In this story you get forbidden relationship, spies, betrayal, first love, second chances, and most importantly...Sherman, the kitty. No, that's not code for something else, it's an actual kitten. You also get to discover the story behind the scar on Clay's face.
I do believe this novel has a little bit of everything. For me, the only thing missing is a little more details on the espionage side of things. I wanted to know why things were happening and felt it got neglected a bit. However, this was a fun romp and if romance is you're thing, I recommend you check this one out. It's a sweet second chance story that will have you rooting for the "underdog" to have his happily ever after but also before that beware you will be screaming at the characters to go ahead and talk it out. Oh and at Clay for being so silly and not knowing things as quickly as his brother and mother seem to. We'll blame it on his past head injuries.

another good well-written historical by Ms. Scott. Splendid characters and a solid plot. ENjoyed it from start to finish.

A murder. A widow. A bodyguard.
When Ara's husband is murdered by Fenians her world breaks down. Slowly she tries to establish a new life when the terrorists threaten her son and her. The man who is assigned to protect her is somebody she knows quite well from her past - it's the bastard son of a duke, Clayton Lludlow. 8 years ago she lost her innocence to him.

There are secrets to be revealed. There is danger in her own house and I am not talking about Lludlow.

A wonderful book with hot, powerful dialogues, passion and fear, hate and tension.

Set in 1882, Nobody’s Duke follows the widowed Duchess of Burghly as she tries to rebuild her life after her husband was murdered by Fenian (Irish) rebels. Forerunners of the IRA, these 19th century terrorists set off bombs and murdered English aristocrats and politicians, and yes, they did go after women and children as well.

Ara and her young son are assigned protection, but the man assigned to protect them is the last man Ara wants anywhere near them, because she’s hiding a secret from Clayton Ludlow, a secret she needs to keep.

In fact, Ara’s been keeping secrets for years, because she was a beard for her gay husband and his long-time lover, Sir Percy, who was a bit of a disappointment in this book. Ara’s dead husband was a Plot Point, but Sir Percy was obviously a big part of Ara and her son’s lives, and he never actually got to appear in the plot. It was a golden opportunity to have him be an actual gay person appearing in a historical romance, and I was disappointed that he was relegated to a Plot Point too. One dead gay man and one who’s only mentioned in passing doesn’t count as representation, I’m afraid.

There was quite a lot of angst and drama going on, though it was never precisely clear just why the Fenians were so set on killing Ara. And while the original grievance between Clay and Ara was caused by outside interference, Clay really didn’t have to be so aggressively nasty to her until he found out the truth - and then fail to actually apologize afterwards.

I liked Ara very much, and felt very sorry for what she suffered through, as well as respecting her emotional fortitude in any number of difficult situations. Blaming herself for not letting Clay know the truth when she had no way to tell him just irritated me, though, because it felt contrived to make her look bad when she was actually blameless. Clay didn’t get the scolding he so richly deserved and he didn’t show proper remorse for his autocratic, even brutal behaviour, and so despite the inevitable happy ending, I just didn’t quite believe in it.

This one had some good historical research backing it up, unlike some of the other historical romances I’ve read lately, but unfortunately the hero’s character failings and the manufactured drama of the plot mean I can’t give it any more than three stars.

This book has everything you would ever want in a historical romance story! I've just finished reading and my heart is so full. Ara and Clay were young lovers at one time and had plans to marry but unbeknownst to Ara, her father had arrange to have Clay stopped by hiring someone to assault him and carve him up. Of course, this all leads to misunderstandings....Ara thinks Clay changed his mind about eloping with her when he doesn't show up and Clay thinks Ara wants nothing to do with him when he is shown a letter that she apparently wrote. Forward 8 years and Ara and Clay meet up again, both very bitter but the passion they always felt for each other remains. Not only has Ara married and has a son, she is now a widow, her husband having been murdered. Clay is hired to protect her and what follows is a story filled with intrigue, heartache, passion, unveiled secrets, etc. I really did love their story and loved both characters!! A solid 5 star rating.

Scarlett Scott, she is now on my auto-buys list. This book is a second chance love story. If you like historicals and books like Jess Michaels. This book will be on top of your list. I am very excited about her back list. I will read all her books soon!

Ara's husband was killed and now her life is in danger and the crown sends an agent to protect her, only she gets the shock of her life, it is her long lost love Clay the man who betrayed her. Clay was livid that his brother who is also kind of his boss has him protecting the woman that had betrayed him and he hates her and does not want to do the job. They are at each others throats and I have to say that I almost stopped reading because they started to annoy me but then I was happy to have continued. When they both find out what really happened and how they were both played with and lost so much time together, now Clay is going to hold on to Ara and protect her and his family and no one is going to hurt them. My only issue was how come they didn't confront the person or persons that committed this travesty to them..I want justice..

Past betrayals underscore the present!

Betrayed lovers eons ago, Araminta (Ara), Duchess of Burghl the daughter of the Earl of Wickham and Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of the Duke of Carlisle, are forced into each others company after an eight year rift.
Of course each has a viewpoint about what happened to cause their parting, but they only have half the truth.
Ara's husband has been assassinated and Clayton, a British agent is to be her bodyguard. Neither are happy about this turn of events.
Danger and past mysteries collide as these two battle their feelings for each other.
A good premise for this Victorian romantic intrigue.

A Weapenry Co-Op. ARC via NetGalley

This book had a great potential but wasn't executed. It felt stilted and like the author was trying to hard. The words didn't flow. It was like the author was trying to add in big words to make the book seem more eloquent. It didn't work. It could have been a great story.

Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of a duke is a special agent for the crown. He works for his half -brother the Duke of Carlisle. Clay’s reputation as one of the Crown's most feared agents is needed to protect the duchess. I’m so glad he gets his own story, he so deserves it! His next assignment is to protect the one woman who broke his heart Ara, Duchess of Burghly. He hasn’t seen her for several long years, but under protest he must protect her from assassins who are out to kill her. For Ara it’s been eight years since he took her innocence and ruthlessly abandoned her. She doesn’t and can’t have him back in her drawing room and her life. I love the chemistry between these two there’s never a dull moment as the sparks fly and passion simmers as they try to keep their hearts from breaking again. This story has romance, passion, assumed betrayals and brutal prejudice that tore them apart, but can they overcome everything and still find the happiness they both want and so richly deserve after all this time. This my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

4.5 stars

Araminta "Ara", Duchess of Burghly is a widow, her husband was brutally murdered by Fenian assassins and now the Duke of Carlisle, head of a government agency known as the "League" is in her drawing room telling her the same men are after her. But that is not what is upsetting her the most. No, what is most upsetting is the man he brought with him - Clayton Ludlow, his half-brother, colleague and the man that Ara loved with all her heart and who betrayed her.

Clay wants nothing to do with Ara, he refuses to take the mission and insists that Leo find someone else. Ara is just as lovely as she was eight years ago and probably just as deceitful - she ruined his life, made him believe she loved him and then turned on him, leaving him with a scarred face and a broken heart.

But when Leo refuses to let him be reassigned, Clay decides to make the best of the situation, but this time he won't fall victim to her wiles. He makes his position clear, he is not her servant and does not answer to her. She makes hers clear as well, she hates him and wants him gone. But for the sake of her son, she will cooperate - for now.

This is a very well written, emotional story with lots of secrets, heartache and a second chance at the love of a lifetime. But before these two can have a HEA, they will need to revisit the past, with all it's highs and lows, lies and betrayals, as well as their lack of faith in each other and of course, they will also have to stop the people who are trying to kill Ara. For a good portion of the book, they are angry and bitter, but thankfully the author inserts several flashbacks to when they were in love, which saves the reader from being overwhelmed by their current hatefulness to each other. The book has a little of everything, assassins, lies, heartbreak, secrets, moments of joy, true love, red-hot love scenes and wonderful secondary characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Leo's story.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

I really enjoyed Ara and Clay's story. It was a reunion story, which is always one of my favorites.

Ara and Clay fell in love, but unbeknown to them, someone interfered with their plans to get married. Clay ends up feeling betrayed and Ara abandoned. Fast-forward to 8 years later and Ara is the widow to a Duke that was murdered. Clay is brought in to guard her and her son. Neither wants anything to do with the other because of past hurts, but the attract is still as strong as it was all those years ago. Can these two get passed the hurt to find their HEA?

I really enjoyed watching Ara and Clay find their way back to each other. They both had to get past everything they believed had happened in the past to find their future together. This was my first book by Scott and I hope to read more soon!

Ah, love, mystery, old problems and renewed love, what’s not to like with this book? Scarlet Scott’s stories are always very light and entertaining and this one is no different. A good book to curl up with for a cosy evening’s read.

Second chance romances are my catnip. I cannot resist and this story really took me into the lives and emotions of Clay and Ara. Normally I would say to the characters just talk it out and get past the confusion but in this story I liked how it played out. It was brought to us in little morsels at a time. And Clay, ooh-la-la, sexy to the max in a brooding alpha way. I loved that both characters were strong and when some bits of truth came out they acknowledged that it was true and did not hold grudges. A lovely story that continues with Clay’s brother and …… Cannot wait.

Another great read from Scarlett Scott. Nobody's Duke has passion, suspense, secrets. The writing and the pace of the book is marvelous. I was just rooting for Ara and Clay to made it before the end of the book. And I wasn't disappointed. There are lots of sexy time that are not overbearing at all. Awesome read.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this book. All the opinions here are all my own.

A widow with secrets

When the dangerous men who killed her husband in a political assassination threaten Ara, Duchess of Burghly, the Crown assigns her a bodyguard. But the man charged with protecting her is no stranger.

A man with a broken heart

She’s the only woman Clay ever loved and the one he hates above all others. When Ara brutally betrayed and deceived him, leaving him with a scarred face and a bitter heart, he devoted himself to earning his reputation as one of the Crown’s most feared agents.

This was my introduction to this new to me author.This book is an excellent second chances story filled with intrigue, misconceptions and interfering relatives in the past.
Both parties think the other betrayed them because someone else made it seem so.
I loved this pair and knew from the start that they belonged together.
The characterization of all involved was excellently spun into a somewhat typical second chances scenario with just enough differences to make this a very engaging story..
I gave this book 4.8 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization. The young son of our couple is very engaging and a real heartrending addition to this story.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I am giving my fair and honest review in exchange for this ARC. Well, what a wild tale with plots and danger and love that outlast all.

A captivating, breathtaking, passionate story that will twist your heart while filling it with a wonderful second chance romance! Scarlett Scott has fast become one of my favorite authors, who fulfills everything I want out of a romance novel and beyond. This highly charged story presents Ara and Clayton, two intriguing, passionate and guarded people, who had know each other years ago and now come back together unexpectedly.
Ara, the Duchess of Burghly, is assigned a bodyguard by the Crown since she was being threatened by a group of dangerous men who killed her husband. But no, it could not be! They sent Clayton, the first man she had ever loved. Each thinking the other betrayed them, the old emotions come forward with fireworks!
I loved the dialogue and interaction between these two! Once I started reading I literally could not put it down! Stayed up into the early morning and could only sigh as I turned the last page. Suspense, humor, sizzle and an amazing array of characters you cannot help but adore makes this tale a keeper, leaving me anxiously awaiting the next book in the League of Dukes! Trust me, this is a must read!!