The Dishonored Viscount

Sophie Barnes’ “The Dishonored Viscount” is book 8 in the Diamonds in the Rough Series. A little different from the usual regency romance is wonderful story can take your breath away. Stripped of his title because of his father’s crime, former Viscount Marcus Berkly is still London’s most skilled eye-surgeon and he dedicates his time to his patients while steering clear of society. Once Lady Louise discovers that Mr. Berkly’s surgical method could save her from permanent blindness, she decides to enlist his help against her father’s orders. But Louise is losing her sight to cataracts and is desperate. He wants nothing to do with a disgraced doctor. Marcus and Louise are delightful characters who are caught up in situations beyond their control. The author has written a lovely story of desperation, devotion, hope and love. This is an emotional, redemptive, heartbreaking, heartwarming inspiring story. I enjoyed it immensely! Sophie Barnes has a wonderful way of breathing life into a story. Her characters come to life beautifully and they are so deserving you find yourself rooting for them from page to page. The plot is perfectly paced and intense. As I read the last page I couldn’t help but sigh. Thank you so much Ms. Barnes for this delightful tale of love and hope beyond the odds.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Dishonored Viscount by Sophie Barnes. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating. The Dishonored Viscount is a well written novel with compelling characters and an absorbing plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The unique aspects of this story kept me reading to find out how it would resolve. Lady Louise is the heroine, and she captured my heart right away. She had such a heavy burden to bear that could have crippled her, but her bravery makes her strong as she faces the possibility of losing her sight forever. Her difficult relationship with her parents adds to her fears, but her courage and determination to circumvent her father’s control is amazing. As the attraction for the hero grows while she recovers from her surgery, they get to know each other, and her growing affection for Marcus frightens her, but she is unable to fight it. Marcus Berkly is the hero, and he’s such as amazing character. He has fought to find a place of respect, after living under his father’s scandal. At last, his skill as an eye surgeon has brought him acclaim, and he devotes his time to caring for his patients. I admired his determination, his humility, and his integrity. After the shadow he’s lived under, he’s amazingly resilient. As he gets to know Lady Louise, he realizes his affections are growing into love, and believing he’s too far below her, he fights his attraction by trying to stay away from her. Ms. Barnes shows his frustration and heartache at never being enough, and his unwarranted believe he’s unworthy of Lady Louise is so sad, it brought tears to my eyes. The romance between Lady Louise and Marcus develops slowly as both characters fight their growing attraction. I could feel their despair, each believing their love unrequited. They are so perfect for each other, and I wanted them to find a way for their love to flourish against the odds stacked against them. If you enjoy historical romance with more substance and depth than others in this genre, then you will love The Dishonored Viscount as much as I did. Ms. Barnes’ novel are always compelling love stories with characters that will touch one’s heart. I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read this intriguing novel. Happy reading!

After his father's crimes lead to the loss of the family's titles, former viscount Marcus reinvents himself as an eye surgeon. When wallflower Louise loses much of her sight to cataracts, he recommends an updated technique to permanently restore her sight. But her father insists on following the old ways, which can lead to relapse. Besides, he wants nothing to do with a man whose family has been disgraced. Louise, however, is desperate for a cure. She's already suffered through three painful surgeries. But her father's opposition to Marcus becoming her surgeon is nothing compared to his fury at the prospect of Marcus becoming her husband. Can love prevail before Louise is forced to marry someone else? This is the final book in the Diamonds in the Rough series, which I loved. I've been waiting for Marcus's story, so I was glad to see him get his HEA in this one. The author has done a great job of incorporating information about the state of medicine in the Regency into the series without turning the novels into research papers. Marcus and Louise are relatable, good-hearted characters caught in bad situations outside their control. Both behave with a sort of quiet nobility that stands out among the nobles behaving badly all around them. This is a high-tension story with plenty of twists that make it impossible to put down. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.