Lady Viola has been impersonating a man, 'Tavistock,' in order to write articles. Jack is an MP, who is being implicated in the assassination attempt on the Prince Regent. Viola was a given a tip that an MP was involved in a scandal and after Jack reveals he knows her true identity they work together to discover if there is any truth to the rumor and who's behind the rumor. When an anonymous letter implicates Jack, it leads to a bit of danger and even more scandal.

Unlike the previous books in the series, the pacing was very slow and dry at times until about two thirds of the way into the book. The characters go from neither wishing to marry, to hot, sensual, steam as well as solving their mystery. This is a likeable historic romance but not quite as entertaining as the previous books in the series.

I was given an advanced reader copy and the above is my honest review. This is a likeable historic romance but not quite as entertaining as the previous books in the series.

More of my reviews can be found at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/

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Jack Barrett is a bright, promising, up-and-coming MP. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, from being a barrister to an MP (in the same seat as them both), Jack has planned his life be being along the same timelines as theirs. He plans to start looking for a wife, and marry, when he is thirty-five just like his father did. Until then, he has no interest in engaging in the marriage mart.

Viola Fairfax, the sister of Duke of Eastliegh, has been a minor pariah for the past five years. Suiting her well, as it has allowed her some form of freedom in society that few woman of her status get to enjoy. Nobody sees her as a potential wife, that is until her grandmama decides that now that her brother Val is married it is about time that she finds a husband. Viola wants to continue her independence, writing as “Tavistock” for the Ladies Gazette and using her male disguise to do so. She believes herself to be wholly convincing as a man, until one evening she is recognised one night as Viola disguised as Tavistock.

Using her persona, Viola tries to find out the truth behind a rumour that an MP had instigated an attack on the Prince Regent. If she can find out the truth she might be one step closer to being able to write about more serious matters. Things of more importance and influence. With the help of Jack, the two might be able to get to the bottom of this mystery. Allowing them to get closer and possibly begin to rethink their lives.

This book was pretty fun to read. I really liked that the main focus of it wasn’t the romance, unlike previous books, for most of the story. There was definitely bits dotted here and there for over half of the story, which laid a groundwork for the romance that featured more heavily later on. For most of the book, finding out the truth behind the rumour and who the MP is and why they helped to plan or steer radicals to try to assassinate the Prince Regent.

I really liked reading about the two of them working together, investigating the rumour. I felt like it really allowed Jack and Viola to grow closer as they worked together and then move towards being friends and then having a romantic relationship.

My only issue that I had was that it felt a little rushed towards the end. So much of the book was about finding out who the MP was, so much so that the last quarter of the book felt a little flat and rushed. This mystery was solved pretty quickly at the end, and I would have liked to have seen more consequences for those involved. This was explained away by the Home Office being involved with dealing with them. So, Jack, Viola and the reader don’t know the full story. We only get to read about Viola and Jack’s investigation and I would have liked them to have had a longer conversation with the Home Office that just delved a little deeper. Or at least that is what I felt when reading this.

I also would have liked more of a development of Jack and Viola’s romantic relationship. With their investigation they are able to get closer as friends, and their romantic feelings do crop up but it wasn’t until Viola accidentally causes a scandal that they have to think about marriage. Mainly because this scandal spreads like wildfire and very quickly reaches Viola’s grandmama’s ears. Who then demands that the two of them get married, to save them both from scandal. But at this point neither of them want to get married, nor have they thought much of any long term possibilities until then.

Considering the time that this story is set, it makes sense that they would be expected and pressured to get married. But I just wish that it hadn’t meant that the mystery and their investigation wasn’t pushed aside as much as it was. It felt like the priorities of the story sifted with little transition. And I would have liked it more if their had been a few more romantic moments that helped lead up to it. But considering the genre it does make sense.

I did enjoy this book, I just would have enjoyed it more if the romance had been less of an afterthought that was tagged on at the end. I would have liked to have seen more throughout the book, and maybe for them to have had more of a discussion about getting married than I felt they did. It all felt very neatly tied together at the end, and I personal I am not a huge fan of that. ( )

Darcy Burke does a wonderful job of adding to the Wicked Dukes Club Stories. In this book Viola disguises herself as a man to penetrate the world of men to gather information for a column in the Women's Gazette - which ironically is written totally by men. As Mr Tavistock, she is able to spend time at the Wicked Dukes and get gossip for her column. Jack Bennett is an MP who also frequents the club and who saw beneath the disguise but didn't know exactly which woman was hiding.
The two work together to uncover a scandal so not only does the book contain romance but also mystery. Who is behind the plot to assasinate the Prince Regent and why are they setting Jack up to take the fall?
This book was a delightful addition to the series and continues the collections use of independent women.
I received an advanced copy of this book. ( )

This is my first glimpse into the world of the Wicked Dukes Club and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One NIGHT OF SCANDAL is a great book and a fast read. Ms. Burke weaves a tale of danger, intrigue and, of course, romance in this well written tale.
Even though this is #4 in the series, I didn't feel lost or confused. Enough backstory is given to get you up to date and keep you reading.

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All is not as it seems!

It's 1817. The attitudes of the times towards women were demoralizing. Really it just needed an enterprising woman to circumnavigate the rules. At least that's what Viola Eversleigh does with such barriers when she becomes Tavistock, a male writer for a women's magazine.
Two years of perfecting her disguise sees Tavistock comfortably ensconced at the Dukes Tavern seeking out information for his column. And that's where it all starts with Jack Barrat MP rescuing her as she's about to storm the Gentlemen's club Brooks late one night.
It seems Jack's the only one who's penentrated her disguise early on in the experiment.
Viola is Valentine Fairfax, Duke of Eastleigh's sister. Now that Val's married Viola's grandmama has decided her new focus is Viola marriage's--the quicker the better, with Viola's agreement or without it.
Marriage is not on Viola's horizon , however she does find herself being very aware of Jack. With some sleuthing and scandal hovering in the background Viola's antics and Jack's bemusement result in an enjoyable read!

A NetGalley ARC ( )