It seems Caldwell's books have gotten more dark and dramatic over the years, and this book is nothing like her earlier joyful work. It's well written, and if you like serious Regency you will probably walk away satisfied. I did not have fun reading it, and I spent most of the book annoyed with how self-destructive Dare was. His attitude was not one I could relate to, and I found his constant lack of pragmatism frustrating. If you've never read Caldwell, don't start with this book/series. If you have read Caldwell and are a completist like me, you'll want to read this one because it does have mentions of other characters from earlier series. I'd rate this one 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars because I really do like Caldwell's work as a whole. I'm hoping future books have a more enjoyable tone.

Lord Darius (Dare) Grey disappeared from a privilege life he was lured into the East End and then never returned to society. He had a stern and unloving father, who told him he was a failure, he should not go into the East End to feed the poor or stricken. He’s on his way to the gallows when his grandfather the Duke rescues him, but with stipulations of his own. Marrying Dare rescued young Temperance Swift from a brutal life, a life where her father beat her on a regular basis. Temperance wanted more out of life, but she couldn’t except Dare didn’t want to change his way of life. Dare’s grandfather wants him to marry and have an heir, he has a wife now to just convince her to play along for the benefit of his grandfather and twenty thousand pounds. I loved this witty exchange between Dare and Temperance, she the voice of reason, and the one woman he’s always loved. Once they’re in residence in Mayfair the sparks fly and the passion is rekindled, but will their new found love survive Dare’s dangerous games in the East End. I have voluntarily read and reviewed these excellent story.

I wanted to know what others thought of this story after I finished it so I read several reviews and a lot thought the story was too dark. I have to tell you that I have read a lot of Christi’s stories and have loved all that I read but her books set in the Mac Diggory world are dark and sometimes there seems to be no resolution that would create a happily ever after. These dark reads are my favorites of Christi’s. They are dark but you get to see the other side of Regency England. The same could be said of this story. There seems to be no way that Dare and Temperance would see eye to eye and could not make their love work. I loved both of these characters. They were strong and fought for what they believe to be right, even though it sometimes veered off the path. I thought the ending was amazing (no giving anything away).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💋💋
Outstanding writing!
Definitely on a darker track for Christi, but also totally in her usual damaged and in need of love vein.

The two main characters that we follow have really had it tough, without giving spoilers in too many areas, they’ve overcome,
Kidnapping, parental abuse,Physical and Mental abuse,Miscarriage, Separation and all that goes with these, they have had to deal with treachery, almost hanging, imprisonment and pain, and they’ve fought back.

Obviously some would feel that these subjects may be triggers, that wasn’t the case for me.
I found the story riveting, was it emotionally draining? most definitely!

This book took some writing and I can imagine Christi poring her heart and soul into it, and I figure many tears were shed in that operation.
They were definitely shed reading it.

All I can say is that I found it to be a fantastic book, one that had me in floods, but I never wanted it to finish, it really was that enthralling.
When a book gives me that reaction and totally swamps my emotions I know it’s good.
I hope you give it a go and enjoy it as much as me.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

4.5 Stars
Long ago, Dare Grey disappeared & was thought to have died. Abandoning his future as a nobleman, he instead came of age as the most skilled—and wanted—thief in East London. But when the Robin Hood of the Rookeries is captured, his influential grandfather offers him a choice: face his heritage…or the gallows. And to step into his rightful role as marquis, Dare must find a wife.
Little do they know, he already has. Marrying Dare rescued young Temperance Swift from a brutal life. Yet his commitments were elsewhere, and Temperance would not continue in the charade of a relationship that surely would end with her husband in Newgate Prison. It broke her heart to leave the righteous bandit, but she established a new life for herself as a seamstress. But Dare finds her and offers to resume their role as husband and wife.
This is the third book In this darker gritty series. Another very well written, engrossing read, I was drawn in from the first page when Dare is being taken to the scaffold & I was captivated until the end. The characters are complex & have depth, I loved both Dare & Temperance, he wants a better life for those in the rookeries, she's the voice of reason. The journey to their HEA wasn’t easy & was strewn with obstacles but it did make for an engrossing read. I would have loved an epilogue that told us Dare became the successful Marquis he was destined to be
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Omg I cried through the end of this book. So much emotions and love.
Dare and Temperance fell in love young, in the slums of London. Dare sought to protect Temperance by marriage but he could not and would not change his ways. After sending him away she never thought to see him again. Years later he comes to her for help, she agreed against her better judgment. They will both get something out of this but at where will it leave them in the end?

This is such a good book. The heartache and loss is so heavy but the love and possibilities of a future drive this book. Yes it is dark at times but the light at the end is worth it !

Will his negative view of life impede his future with the woman who could redeem his soul ...

I have to say I quite dreaded this read because of reviews from people I follow and I was not really in the mood for a dark depressing read, why I pushed it forward, but I have to fulfill the promise I made.
Sure it is no stroll in a park but it is not the hardship I expected, the author’s style makes the story flows smoothly.
It is just the heroes are not easy to care for as they do not want to be loved. They believe they do not deserve it.

I can’t say I was found of the main characters when they were introduced.
Dare, while his reasons for rejecting his title are kept in the dark, is not easy to appreciate, so judgmental about the people he has decided to loath. And while I thought I understood what he wanted to do, why being a marquess would impede it.
Temperance is presented firstly as more stupidly stubborn than clever, so determined to prove she is smarter about something as trivial as the right color of a gown (let the woman appear as a walking pinkish nightmare if it is what she wants) when she works to put a roof on her head and food in her belly. Why jeopardize everything for such frivolities as it might endanger her living.

It is certain they are no prince nor princess charming, so very damaged by the rough existence they have lived.
So flawed and broken they leave nobody in. And I struggled to feel for them. She hold ont he tragedy of her past for too long, when he is blind to everything around so set on his way, he does not see that if he destroys his legacy, he will throw people in the streets when from his place in the society’s ladder, he has the means to fight for his oldest battle and new ones.
I disliked how he painted everything in black and white, the poor as the good and the rich, the bad. And while the child he was might have believed it, two decades later, he should have acknowledged there are more shades of grey than only black and white and from any side of the fence.

Why, it is sure they gave me a hard time, I did not read their story in one sitting. Otherwise, I would have thrown objets to their heads. I needed pauses to quiet my temper.
Yet once the past was shared, I reconciled with them, both were led on wrong paths, mostly Dare, so determined to reject his past and origins.

The author did not choose quiet personalities for her new heroes, these were so very destructive, especially Dare. Each sets on its own path, why my heart sided with Temperance because despite her flaws and the unsaid, she never strayed from her ideals when Dare lied to himself to justify his deeds.
4.5 stars

On a last note, I feel this book needed an epilogue as until the very last words, nothing was assured for Dare and Temperance.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Montlake, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

This book was engrossing, and I liked the two leads very much. The ending felt rushed, however, and some of the supporting characters’ behavior was difficult to comprehend.

I first want to thank NetGalley for providing me a copy of "Undressed with the Marquess" to read and provide feedback on.
As a content warning for readers that are sensitive to the topic of miscarriage, please be aware that it is a topic that is addressed in this novel, as a past trauma of the heroine, Temperance, as a result of abuse she suffered in the past (not on page).

As a whole, I think Caldwell fans will be pleased with the third entry in the "Lost Lords of London" series. Personally, I have found the series (I pre-read books 1 & 2 before tackling this book) to be a little quirky and not as interconnected as most series are traditionally set up, with this third being even more able to fully stand alone than the previous two. The hero in this book, Dare, isn't the strongest character. It really feels like he is stuck in a child's mindset of the world until almost the end of the story. The women in the story are who really stand out and are who in some cases I am left wishing to know more about. Specifically, Dare's younger sister, Kinsley, her backstory is being constantly hinted at, but never completely revealed.

***Spoiler*** The one place, this book stands out is with its HEA. I am going to praise it through the roof on this point, because there has been a call for this kind of HEA in romancelandia for a very long time and next to no one is giving readers this. Caldwell, with "Undressed with the Marquess", leaves us with a childless couple in a historical romance as the HEA. They can't have a baby, it hurts, they have come to terms with it, they are ok, and most importantly there is no miracle baby. This is revolutionary in the genre, and it needs to not be. Not every romance needs an epilogue baby, especially not when one of the premises of the story has been infertility. So I really want to praise and thank Caldwell for hearing (what isn't a personal pain of mine but is for others) the need for this kind of HEA in the community and giving it to them.

All in all, for me this one is a solid 3.5 read.

This is one incredibly heart wrenching story that takes the reader on an emotional journey. Christi Caldwell writes like no other, creating characters with so many layers and depths to their lives and their brokenness, that I become invested in each one. Dare Grey was raised to be a Marquess for the first ten years of his life, but never felt love or of any worth to his father. Venturing off into the slums of East London one day, he is caught up and sold into a life of thievery and becoming a Robin Hood to those in need. There he meets Temperance Swift, and rescues her from the streets. But she cannot stand for his continued stealing and subsequent trips to prison. They both are similar in not being able to see their own worth, so instead they strive to help out others while sabotaging relationships with the ones they need most in their lives. A beautiful and heart gripping story!

Lost loves found. This was a great end to the Lost Lords series. This story was so heartbreaking in my levels. Temperance and Dare’s story was a fight for love and a HEA. I truly enjoyed their fight.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. What a great read! I cried at the injustices and the losses of this formidable couple. To go through so much and still persevere kept me riveted. Seriously, you WANT this book.

This book was given to me as a arc from netgalley in return for a my honest review.

2.75 stars *some spoilers*

Trope: second chance at love

The plot was genius, but the story didn't hold my attention. I really wanted to love this book but I couldn't get into it. I struggled through out the book to finish it. There were alot of communication errors between the two main characters Darius and Temperance. This book also sets up the mood to be depressive and I prefer it to be equally balanced with happy moments. But the sadness, grief, and depression swallowed up the brief moments that had laughters, and smiles. Character build up was great. You get to meet them both and learn of their past, how they've met, how they became an item, why they separated, and how they reunited again. Basically It had plenty of flashbacks that takes you back into their past, and it gave you a chance to see through them as individuals and as a whole. The steam level was on the lower side. The love scenes were not very descriptive, happened quickly, and held no intensity. The ending of the book was abrupt, and it made me very sad that there was no epilogue. I would've loved to see how were doing. To see them grow, and to see what became of them. Although this book didn't work out for me as I would've liked. I still want to encourage everyone to give this book a chance. We are all different human beings and have different taste and is triggered differently. You might just like it, or better yet you might just love it. You'll never know unless you try.

Darius and Temperance grew up together in the slums in the east end of London. Both fighting to survive a hard life. Temperance's father was roughen abusive drunk. He abused her on a daily basis. Darius was born into nobility but at the tender age of 10 was lured into the streets. He became a theif, a criminal, and London's most wanted. Although he was labeled as a criminal, he had very good intentions. He stole from the rich to feed the poor, and to help those in need.

Through their struggles they first meet become the best of friends. To save herself from her abusive father...Darius and Temperance decides to marry. At first it was just a marriage of convenience, a business transaction but they fall hard in love. She wants him to give up thievery, so they can have a normal marriage but he unwilling to give up that crimal life. So they both go their own ways.

Darius is to be hung, and at the exact moment he is rescued by his long lost grandfather, who happens to be a Duke. The duke gives him two choices. Come back into society and take your place, or be hung. Darius chooses to be saved but there are stipulations. He must see his sister marry off, he also must marry, and lastly provide a heir. He then decides to goes back and fetches Temperance. Why? Because they are still legally married. They both agree to work this through together to gain the money promised by the Duke if the terms are met. Through this whole mess they both realize they've never stopped loving one another. They rekindled their relation but in the mist of everything going on they lose sight of what they are and she leaves him.

After being separated again they both realize they need each other. At the end he goes to her and begs for her to take him back. She gives in and they both give their loving marriage a chance.

The undressed Dare is a Thief and a Marquess, but he wants to remain a Thief. The hangman’s noose is what changes his mind about reclaiming his title as Grandparents want so he isn’t hung by the neck! He returns to the family home and immediately is immersed into becoming proper Lord since he was pushed out into the streets at age 10 by his stepfather. Before he knew it they were trying to control every aspect of his life and he was feeling choked almost like that noose especially when they said he had to marry. They even had a bride, but didn’t aprise him. of that fact, because he was already married to Temperance who he left after Two months of being married. She went off to becoming a seamstress for a shop and basically was slave labor! They were going on five years of marriage and not seeing one another.

This is where the book took a dramatic change in manner and foreboding. I found both characters becoming gloomy and spiritless at times. It was not till the end when Dare started to come alive. Temperance never seemed to reach that glorious pinnacle that the author usually has in her books so the ending was sober and dismal.

I have read pretty much all the authors books, but this one and there was one other recent one that just hasn’t hit the mark. This book will definitely appeal to other readers and I would never not tell anyone to read her books because she is truly a remarkable author! We all have those down times!
The storyline had a great premise it just did not connect for me. I am still going to anxiously await her next release because I love her books and will continue to purchase them regardless!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

I haven't read the other books in the series but it can be read as a standalone. This book had such a great setup. Dare and Tempest had known each other since childhood and Dare had married Tempest to protect her but his unwillingness to change caused her to leave him. I would have like to have seen some flashbacks to the beginnings of their relationship.

The ending was rushed and anti-climatic. I felt our two main characters deserved more. There is little mention of difficulties the two of them would have faced with society, in particular Temperance. It feels as though the issues between Dare's grandmother and Tempest are left unresolved.

Overall this was an okay read but not one I would read again. I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lost Lord's off London book 3. Dare Grey disappears as a child and ends up thieving on the streets.
He married his friend Temperance to help keep her safe. Then they split ways.
He is a Robin Hood type character. She is a seamstress.
Dares grandfather comes looking for him, then he finds he needs his wife again.
It is fun watching them reconnect with each other.

Growing up in the east end of London the two had met and became friends, and then... more than friends. Two unselfish soles who would go to any length to help those they cared about, while not realizing, or maybe refusing to admit, their own burning needs buried deep inside. Dare Grey, a man consumed with nurturing and giving to others, while feeling he himself unworthy of such love and attention. A man reliving endearing childhood memories long forgotten in the recesses of his mind. And Temperance Swift, a young woman constantly striving to bury heart wrenching haunts of a past life where every day was a struggle to survive. But as their world closed in and forces around them threatened, their lives took different paths.

When Dare’s family returns him to the life in Mayfair long ago lost to him, he strikes a deal with his grandfather. When Temperance’s help is necessary to meet the demands of the agreement, she joins him in London. Each with the idea that once the agreement has been met, they will part ways once again. But as their union strengthens and hidden feelings resurface, the bond grows stronger and they find themselves secretly wanting more.

She had always saw the good in him even as he doubted himself... could her love be enough? He had always encouraged her to want more for herself, that she deserved more. Would he believe in the faith she had in him that he could travel a better path where he could dream of a future filled with love and family, and would he reveal the desire that she too might be a part of his plan?

Whether light and funny or dark and sad, one thing the reader can count on with a Christi Caldwell novel is a captivating and emotional journey with amazing characters and a strong storyline. And without a doubt the reader will also be guaranteed as they turn that last page a feeling of satisfaction, triumph over trials, and the hope of love and new beginnings.

I received an arc of this book for my honest opinion. I’ve also pre-ordered a copy because... well I just can’t resist a new release from Christi Caldwell. I totally encourage the purchase of this well written, impassioned and beautiful story. It’s definitely one I will read many times over.

Undressed with the Marquess
Book 3 in the Lost Lords of London series
Rating; 2 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

First of all I would like to say that I am a fan of Christi Caldwell. I have read other books from other series, but this is the first one from this series...so maybe there lies my mistake.
I could not get into this book. I felt no connection to the main characters. I felt there was too much inner dialogue and too many pauses in the sentences. (...) Both Dare and Temperance are survivors and are still dealing with the consequences of what they went through when they were young. The choices they made then are still causing to doubt the other and themselves.
They do get a HEA. It felt a little abrupt and I was hoping for an epilogue to see how they were going on with their lives. Even to see a little glimpse of them finally being happy with each other and no shadow of doubt between them.

I could not put this book down.! Ms. Caldwell continues to write romance that makes you feel like you are one of the characters. Dare and Temperance are such great characters. Both entering a world they feel they don't belong to, but both have never felt more right than when they are together. Readers will not be disappointed in this book. I cannot wait to see what is next.

As little more than a child, Dare Grey left his privileged life for what seemed a grand adventure to help the oppressed of East London. Rather than coming into his noble title as Marquess of Milford, he became a king of thieves. But upon his inevitable capture, this Robin Hood of East London is left with few options and must agree to a rather distasteful contract: his grandfather, a powerful duke, will free Dare from the noose, but only if he accepts his birthright as marquess, finds a wife, and sees his sister safely married off.

Unbeknownst to his family, Dare already has a wife. Temperance Swift married Dare for protection from her violent drunkard of a father. But Dare would not abandon his thievery in his determination to provide for others and Temperance refused to stand by while her husband would up imprisoned or executed. Breaking her own heart, she fled London, finding a place for herself as a seamstress, a safe and respectable, if lonely, existence.

When Dare offers her a fortune if she resumes her role as his wife, Temperance knows she can’t refuse, for her brother’s sake and to keep Dare from thieving. Once they’re back under the same roof, the connection between Dare and Temperance reignites as if no time has passed, but their every interaction is tainted by painful past mistakes, and a devastating secret Temperance has kept to herself. As before, their love may not be enough to keep them together.

As a rule, I enjoy reading about couples who are already married. It’s often endearing to see that reconnection and improved communication. That’s not what happened here and this one just didn’t quite work for me. The subject matter is quite dark in several aspects so at first I thought perhaps it was just the wrong time for me to be reading it, but the more I read, the more I realized this had several other issues that were throwing me off. I think my main problem boils down to this heroine. Yes, she had an incredibly sad and tragic history, but she kept Dare in the dark for far too long about things he had every right to know. Yes, there were times in which Dare failed to be what she needed, but she also wasn’t willing to delve into his issues and try to figure out why that might be. She was utterly perplexed as to why Dare didn’t believe himself worthy of love and had such a generally low sense of self-worth and all the while she was almost constantly berating him for his shortcomings and enumerating all the things he’d done wrong. Perhaps much of their issues could’ve been avoided if she’d been more open with him about her feelings as well. Instead, it was like these two just went around in circles and never got anywhere. I felt like I read the same dialogues and inner monologues from both MCs over and over again and it just became tedious and overly dramatic. There was also an issue of lack of believability in one of the key plot points: there’s no way a marquess would’ve been arrested and held in Newgate for bribery. This just would’ve have happened with that rank and I also felt like this scene just felt gratuitous and didn’t truly do anything to advance or improve the plot. That’s a less important point, but it was the addition of insult to injury for me on this one.

I desperately wanted to like Dare and Temperance as a couple, but she just pushed him away repeatedly, so much so that their relationship seemed much the same in the end as it had in the beginning. Dare underwent significant character development and Temperance somehow really didn’t, despite all the emotional upheaval she experienced. I also felt like I needed more from the ending, not necessarily an epilogue, but just more, especially wit regards to Dare’s grandmother and the stability of his and Temperance’s future together. Temperance came off as a bit fickle to me so their HEA needed a bit more shoring up to be wholly satisfactory for me. Overall, I got tired of Temperance harping on all reasons they couldn’t be together, even after Dare got his act straight and came into his own in the role he was always meant to occupy (which was also a very long time coming.) this is one of my favorite authors, but I don’t expect to like every single book. This one fell flat for me, but I still look forward to what’s next.

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