Thanks to Booksprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This can be read as a standalone novel, and is part of a new spin off series from Inconvenient Brides. HOWEVER, Nina Jarrett has written a richly intertwined world where there are so many connections and relationships between characters in previous novels, that it would add to the experience to read the previous books, to better appreciate some of the context of behaviours by characters here. For example, why the FMC Lily does not imbibe, and Richard was so hostile when discovering his friend may have ruined a young woman he considers under his protection.

Maybe it is because I have been reading this series from the beginning, but I feel very invested in the characters in this series. I have a great fondness for them, having enjoyed their stories before, and enjoy reading more about them, and Ms. Jarrett has a lovely way of building up the characters and their various relationships that really draw me into the story.

In this story, we return to Brendan Ridley, the brother of the Annabel, from book 1, the current Duchess of Halmesbury. He is a young, carefree rake about town, but has been called to heel by the Baron, as his heir. They have a contentious relationship and Brendan has essentially been estranged from him for years, especially considering how the Baron hates to travel. But because of the coronation of the new king, he is coming to town and decides to push Brendan's buttons as to his responsibilities as heir - marriage to an appropriate woman of society for one.

Brendan, to enjoy his one night before having to face the Baron, goes to visit his current mistress, the Lady Slight (seen previously in book 3, My Fair Bluestocking), and ended up passing the night there and dashes out early in the morning, so as not to be late meeting with the Baron. Unfortunately he rushes home to find the bloodied, dead body of the man. He ends up being targeted by the coroner as the murderer, and faces the risk of hanging, with no one willing to attest to his innocence.

Miss Lily Abbot, the cousin of the Countess of Saunton, is in her third season, and trying to avoid being pushed into a hasty marriage by her loving but smothering mother. She wants a love match, being inspired by the connection shared by her cousin and her husband. Because of circumstances, she is part of those who gathered around to comfort family and friends of Brendan after the death of the Baron, and she had witnessed his whereabouts, by chance the night before his murder. However, as an unwed miss, her word alone of what she observed has no weight. She tries to get those more involved to provide a witness alibi as to Brendan's circumstances, but is unsuccessful, and ends up sacrificing her own reputation to provide an alibi. She would not be able to live with herself if she had the ability to save an innocent man from being accused and hung, and did not step up.

Ultimately, she and Brendan are forced to marry because of her ruined reputation, but they still have to deal with the fact that there is a murderer on the loose, and Brendan, and now Lily, through marriage, are potentially in danger as well - as they navigate a new relationship and marriage between strangers. Brendan and Lily both seek to at least be friends, especially finding, after some mis-steps early in their acquaintance, that they each other, and having the inspiration of the happy relationships around them. But they do have to navigate the dangers they face, as well as other barriers to happiness such as Brendan's previous rakish ways.

Lily is a sweet character; quite optimistic and chattily effervescent. I am a dour old witch at times myself, so at times I wondered if she was just too sweet and chatty - but this was written as almost a defense mechanism for her to detract and distract, and it did not come off as brainless inanity, so it worked for me. Ultimately, she was a brave, principled, honorable woman who was unwilling to stand silently by while an innocent man suffered, and how can you not appreciate that? I enjoyed the greater relationships outside of the love story, and how the family relationships and friendships were portrayed. Well, except for the butler... did not quite get some of the dynamic between the butler and Brendan. Not clear if that was just the butler's personality, Brendan's misconception, or something more at play...

This story is left on a bit of a cliffhanger... while Brendan and Lily find an HEA, there is still the greater mystery of the murder, and motive that are left unfinished.

But, with all the familiar and rather loved characters and their interplay, this felt a warm, comforting hug to read.

4.5 stars out of 54 s Debdutch171 4

3.5
"Long Live the Baron" struggles as a standalone due to complex character histories. There are too many characters to keep them all straight. A mystery remains unsolved, leaving readers hanging. I guess the conclusion is in the next book.3 s Dolly Dagger30 3

Tropes

Grumpy/Sunshine

Strangers to lovers

Marriage of convenience

Sex before 50%- no

2 on page sex scenes (after wedding)

Steam level 2.5

1st in new series “Inconvenient Scandals” that follows the series , “Inconvenient Brides”. Although I’ve not read the previous series, I was able to follow along easily. The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so un the previous books, it’s not a true standalone.

The book takes place in July and August 1821 surrounding the events of the coronation of George the IV.

The MMC is the estranged son of a Baron who has been cast out of the country home and banished to the decrepit town home when he reached his majority roughly 7 years prior. The reason for the estrangement is revealed in the book, but I won’t be a spoiler. The Baron has avoided coming to London for decades, and has come to town solely for the purpose of the coronation and to finally arrange a suitable match for his heir. Even as his close friends are finding true love and have reformed their rakish ways, the MMC isn’t willing to settle down, and certainly not with a bride of the Baron’s choosing. He’s not quite a wastrel, but he’s definitely pretty aimless and drifts between meaningless flings with willing widows just waiting to receive his allowance from the Baron’s man of business.

The FMC is the daughter of a Viscount and the cousin of one of the “Inconvenient Brides” from the prior series. She is in her third season. She’s bubbly and a bit of a chatterbox. She’s a dutiful daughter who never rocks the boat and lets her mother dress her a child. Under all of those ruffles and curls, she’s actually quite intelligent, and incredibly loyal not to mention hot but no one knows this except her family. I really the FMC she’s reading the Art of War in the original French. What’s not to love about that?

I enjoyed their love story, even if it felt a little clunky at first. The FMC saves the MMC by sacrificing her own dreams of a love match. At first the MMC doesn’t trust her and is kind of a jerk, he’s not initially attracted to her and doesn’t even recognize her on her wedding day.

There’s a mystery underlying the love story that ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so it is not completely resolved. The mystery is compelling enough for me to look forward to the next book in the series. Plus, I found I really enjoy the world the author built with the main characters and their family and friends. Even though I haven’t read the other books I’m now looking forward to going back and doing so.

I am looking forward to the journey of the overarching mystery/who-done-it in the coming books and looking forward to getting to know the other characters introduced in this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily1 Colleen945 17

Long Live the Baron is the first book in the Inconvenient Scandals series. This is a fun start to a new series. It uses several of the characters from the Inconvenient Brides series.

Lily Abbott is 20 years old and has had several seasons but has not found a man who she could love yet. The blame mostly lies with her overprotective mother who dresses her in virginal white with frills and ruffles that hide her shape. Not to mention the childish curls in her hair which puts off most prospective grooms because they are looking for a young woman not a child and they don't take the time to see the wonderful person she is.

One night after her parents and her older brother have gone out, while Lily is reading, she sees Lord Ridley arriving and gaining entry to Lady slight's home. She note's the time that he arrives. She goes back to her reading. Later she is startled awake to find that she nodded off sometime during the night. When she looks out the window again, she spies Lady Slight arriving home. Shortly after Lord Ridley dashes out of the house in a hurry.

Lord Ridley is rushing back to his uncle for an appointment for which he is going to be late. But when he arrives, he discovers his uncle has been murdered. Ridley becomes the prime suspect because he won't provide the name of the woman he was supposed to spend time with to save her reputation.

Lily is waiting for Sophia, her cousin for a planned visit to the bookshop but Sophia is late. When she does arrive Lily races out to the carriage only to find that Lord Ridley's uncle has died. They go to the estate to support Sophia's husband's friend. As Lily listens to Brendan she realizes that she might be the only one that could keep Brendan out of jail and alive.

I really enjoy these books. They are more of a community of friends where a few are primary and the rest are supporting. Eventually they take turns supporting the new primary couple. It makes it easier to pick up where the other left off. With the murder of Brendan's Uncle, the murder is not solved yet. It would seem that the mystery will be solved sometime during the series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.1 Sarah Ess44 3

This story opens with the discovery of the body of a murdered baron by his heir, Brendan Ridley – a not-quite-dissolute gentleman - but certainly he’s spinning his wheels, collecting his quarterly allowance and rambling about in the run-down baronial townhouse. Lily Abbott, on the other hand is a precocious debutante ready to start living life, if only her loving family would let her.. they are simultaneously preoccupied with their own social lives and protectively hovering.

During the first 1/3 of the story quite a bit of time is spent on Lily’s transformation from this somewhat-ignored debutante to a woman of integrity who displays the courage of her convictions when she makes the choice to sacrifice herself and her future to save Brendan from being convicted of the baron’s murder, which he didn’t commit. But it feels this storyline and journey becomes subsumed by the overarching plot of the murder mystery.

The frequent presence of a large supporting cast of friends and family contained numerous references to what must be previous books and storylines.. but I haven’t read them, so this was slightly distracting from Brendan and Lily’s own story. That being said, I enjoyed following these two as they get to know each other AND work to solve the baron's murder. Lily is certainly a very cheerful, reasonable and understanding woman – often far more than Brendan deserves, he has some growing up of his own to do.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.1 Carolina CHC112 3

Long live the Baron by Nina Jarrett’s is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

In this story, Lily Abbott is encountered with a moral dilemma that she needs to face even if she is ruined. By chance, she watches a handsome man enter the house in front of her at midnight and then leave early in the morning.

Brendan Ridley is the heir of a baron who is murdered making him the sole suspect of the crime. As destiny works, Lily becomes the only alibi that could keep Brendan out of jail and alive.

The story only gets better as you keep reading, so hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did. This book reminded me my love at first read for historical romances. Hopefully the following stories are as captivating as this one is.

Even though, you can read all the books separately as standalone, I found it so interesting that made me curious about the other characters’ stories. I’ll be definitely going back and start reading the stories in order. I also appreciated the nice balance between the steamy scenes and the suspense and romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.1 Pat Robinson476 1 followerRead

This is my kind of story! I adored the chemistry between Lily and Brendan. Her self-sacrifice was so refreshing and I truly wanted to slap Brendan for his response to her reasoning! This story has mystery, angst, love and family camaraderie . It just flows off the page and the descriptive writing has me imagining it as I am reading it.( Some authors don’t have that ability ). I loved how Lily was written as this little elfin woman, especially when she is being hugged by her mother-that was hilarious. I can just envision her being smothered! Though there is a tiny cliffhanger, it doesn’t take away from the story at all. I spent a lot of time trying to guess who the true villain really is and have to wait to find out. I am enamored with this series and can’t wait for the next one!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.1 Ink595 10

The beginning of a new series and reading an established author that is new to me is always a treatand Long Live the Baron is no exception. I devoured this book and it has a flipping cliffhanger so I will be reading the previous series until book 2 comes out!

The FMC Lily is a delightful character and the MMC Brendan is your favourite type of dark, brooding, angsty D'arcy type. Opposites certainly do not attract at the beginning but the slow burn is constructed in such an engaging way that it frames the main plot (the whodunnit) without detracting from it

This is not your usual romance. The tale entwines strong, immersive, descriptibe prose with deliciously intellectual references, hilarious comedy, well-paced drama and intrigue with just a hint of spice

So glad I have been introduced to the exceptional writing of Nina Jarrett and I am excited to read more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.1 Prafulla Kg103

I am a great fan of madam authoress and I enjoyed every page of the book .As usual it is a women based fiction and for a change the woman helps the man in solving the murder. The description of the petite Lily brings a smile and would have been happy if the murderer was caught in the same novel.But the authoress has played cool and have to wait for her next novel.I wish her all the best.Moreover she has quoted war based strategies at the beginning of each chapter making one curious of how she has applied to the story. The book is enjoyable.1 CORINNE173 6

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily

What a read twists and turns accusations flying around everyone under suspicion a brave young woman determined an innocence must not be hung saved the day

What intrigues abound in this Regency tale of love and murder mystery

Love this series which can be read alone but better when read in order

Cannot believe I have to wait until next May for the next one

Arrgh!

Thank you Nina you are brilliant1 Samantha66 4

I enjoyed reading Lily and Brendan's tale, though I wish a bit more had been added. I feel there was room to extend the timeline of the story. For me, they fell in love a bit too fast, and the addition of more time would make it not only more believable but more suspenseful. Honestly, I loved these characters and would have d to have more time with them.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.52-book-club-2024 arc-read1 Beccie8

Amazing book full of twists and turns, well written characters and detailed descriptions, I couldn't put it down!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.1 Ann S63 3

What a great ebook, so well written. I loved the strong female lead, Lilly Billy. Her babbling was delightful. Swoon worthy, Brendan was a strong character too. I highly recommend this book.

A+++++1 Jessica689 7

She would have to choose between her honour and her reputation while he was facing a murder charge. Both dropped them into a forced marriage and the middle of a murder mystery. A pair of wonderful characters on the path of discovery and love. Enjoyable read, where another aspect of the mystery continues!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.1 Carol901 7

Intriguing & Heartwarming

A heroine who is honest and principled, kind and compassionate. An angry hero humiliated and betrayed by his mistress of sorts.
An unprincipled lascivious widow who cares only for herself.
A murder. Staunch friends. Rescue from potential hanging. Compromised. Reputations ruined. A wedding.
And that’s just for starters!
A rollercoaster ride through mystery, intrigue, and while hunting the murderer, the newlyweds adjust & learn about each other & hope for love.
Highly recommended. 1 Jamie BeeAuthor 2 books101

Young Heroine with Strong Moral Compass

While I can't say I've read every single book in this delightful Inconvenient Brides series, I've read most of them and enjoyed all but one. The author has created a complex, fascinating world I look forward to returning to. This book only continues the good streak. I absolutely adored the young, somewhat naïve, but supremely honorable heroine. She's got more backbone than people twice her age! Unfortunately, the hero took me quite a while to warm up to, as he's an unrepentant rogue (and even wastrel) for far too long. He was the book's only story downside, but he eventually grew on me. The hero becomes embroiled in his own father’s (really uncle-father!) murder, but the heroine happened to see him on the night of the murder as she looked out of her window. She could give him an alibi. This really weighs on her, especially as she knows and is even related to some in his social circle. She grapples with what she should do, tries to get another woman to do the right thing (at whose house he spent the night), but ultimately decides to sacrifice her own social reputation to keep him from heading to jail and possibly the hangman's noose.

I read a lot of historical romance, and one of my favorite tropes is when the couple marries before they truly fall for each other; this makes it so a good portion of the book is about how they have to work out living with virtual strangers, being husband and wife (with or without intimacy), and of course, eventually falling in love. I've been reading historical romance for decades, and in the middle of the last decade, I remember this being a more popular trope in contemporarily written historical romance, but it's kind of fallen by the wayside as more and more historical authors are picking up (and abusing!) tropes from contemporary romance. So after a bit of dithering and issues that I'll let you discover on your own, the couple does marry at around the halfway point of the book. I loved watching them get to know and understand each other better. Finally, the hero slowly comes to the realization of the gem he has in this strong, compassionate, honorable, and utterly delightful young woman.

This book ends on something of a cliffhanger, though not about the romance. The murder that impelled all the romantic action is not solved in this book. From what I read at the end of this book, it sounds the heroine's brother in this book becomes the hero in the next book as he tries to figure out who actually murdered this man. I loved the brother in the story, even though we see little of him. He loves his sister, is her unfailing champion, and sees her for the incredible young woman she is. You want him to find his own lady to love and admire! I am, indeed, looking forward to the next book in the series! I'm not sure how long this author is going to continue this series, but it's so well done with such a rich, complex world and cast of characters that I hope it keeps going on for a long time. I'm wondering if Lady Slight will get her own book at some point! She is certainly a character needing redemption as she's had a mildly villainous role in several books in this series. In fact, I often thought that both the hero and heroine in this book treated her a bit too nicely, given all that she had done (and not done)!

I so adored the heroine in this book that I didn't the cover! She is such a complex, compassionate, passionate, genuine young woman that the haughty lady on the cover is not my picture of her in any way, shape, or form... and the dress looks more medieval than Regency. A minor quibble about an otherwise fantastic book. Highly recommended.

I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.2024 regency Nazmin171 5

This is the first book I have read by Nina Jarrett and I loved it. It is the start of a new series and can be read as a standalone but it seems to be extended from her Inconvenient Brides series.
When Lord Brendan Ridley is accused of murdering his father to gain access to the title he finds himself in a dilemma. He cannot in all honour name the lady he was with unless she consents. When his lover refuses to come forward to clear his name, help comes from a most unexpected quarter. But can he force himself to spend the rest of his life with a woman he has not even noticed in all the years he has known her?
Miss Lily Abbott saw Brendan entering the widow’s home on the night in question so knows he cannot have committed patricide. But when the widow won’t help him Lily’s conscience dictates that she do all she can to save him. So she provides an alibi to clear his name. Now Lily is mired in scandal and locked in a marriage to a gentleman that cannot even remember her name.
Lily is a very sweet character who I immediately d. She has the tendency to babble when she’s nervous and has been overprotected by her mother who even dictates her fashion choices which has led to her being largely overlooked. But underneath she is strong, loyal, smart and has a strong sense of honour which led her to risk her own reputation to protect a man who she had no relationship with. She flourishes after her marriage and really makes Brendan take notice.
Brendan himself was a very able character who finds himself embroiled in a nightmare not of his making. I was quite frustrated with him at first with the way he thought of Lily – first not recalling who she is or even what she looks [!] and then wondering if he will ever be able to feel any desire for her. Although in his defence, Lily was often dressed far younger than her years in frills and washed out colours so he can be forgiven for that a little. Of course all that changes when Lily’s true self emerges. He was also a bit of a jerk when he assumed she had destroyed her reputation to trap him into marriage. But he did redeem himself in the end.
The mystery was not completely solved at the end of this so I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see how things develop. The second book follows Lily’s brother as he attempts to find the culprit and sounds it will be just as good.
I felt immediately drawn into Nina’s world and was intrigued by the mention of past couples, especially The Duke and Duchess of Halmesbury and the Earl and Countess of Saunton. Lily’s family and her brother were so supportive which was lovely to see. I enjoyed this so much I’ve immediately started reading the whole Inconvenient Brides series from the first. I think I have found another auto buy author in Nina.
I received an advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I loved Brendan and Lily and definitely recommend this to all. I
Ellie P451 9

Long Live the Baron is book six of the Inconvenient Brides series by Nina Jarret. This is a standalone historical romance. While some of the other characters from previous books pop up, all characters are introduced and appear within context. However, this has been such a wonderful series to get lost into, I would say you might as well read the rest of the books.

This is a book for people that love the whole marriage of convenience and avoiding a scandal trope. It is a regency romance with the major plot revolving around a murder mystery. It's both fun, keeps you guessing about the identity of the murderer and we get to read about a relationship that starts with marriage, goes to friendship and then becomes love.

The story all starts with Lily Abbot, the daughter of a viscount. She has loving parents and a protective older brother. Her mother despairs that Lily will never find a man to marry and will end up being a spinster - although Lily longs to marry for love. Lily doesn't know a lot of Lord Brendan Ridley, she has quietly met him through mutual acquaintances and observed him quietly.

Then Brendan's uncle is murdered, who is a wealthy baron. The problem is that Brendan is suspected. His alibi won't put herself out for him, though she would be in a position to do so being a widow. What Brendan doesn't realise until it's all happened, is that there was a witness that knows he is innocent. Lily saw Brendan and knew he couldn't be a murderer. There isn't much she can do, but her conscience forces her to do something - which is how Brendan and Lily find themselves being married.

They are strangers. Brendan barely recognises his bride when he sees her dressed properly as a young woman, rather than the childish demure dresses her mother favoured on her. Both are ready to make the best of their situation. Yet, Brendan is aware that there is still danger because the real murderer is still on the lose.

I loved the depth and complexity of Brendan and Lily as we get to know them, and as romance takes a hold. I also loved the murder mystery aspect, though I had figured it out, I needed to know how the pieces fell into place.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.arc historical regency-era ...more1 S.175

“Long Live the Baron” is Nina Jarrett’s 6th book in the Inconvenient Brides series which merges into the Inconvenient Scandals series. This book catches the reader right off the bat with a murder which immediately draws you into the story. Everything points to the heir, Brendan Ridley. But Lily knows he is innocent. By saving his neck, the two marry to avoid impending scandal. Lily is a great character with many layers which Brendan uncovers one by one. The more he discovers, the more intrigued he becomes with his bride. Brendan has drifted since turning twenty one, banished from the baronial seat to live in London, he spends his time chasing widows to bed and friends to have a good time with. He was totally unprepared to step into the baron’s shoes and to be a husband. He had a lot of help, especially from Lily’s side of the family, characters we have gotten to know in prior installments of the series. Nina Jarrett has done a great job building an integrated world with her characters and events over the course of the books. This could be read as a stand-alone romance or as part of the interconnected series. The romance is very steamy and open door. I enjoyed the story, it is well written and moves along at a good pace to keep the reader invested in the story. All is not smooth sailing though, the identity of the murderer and the staff member who is shielding them is hanging over their heads along with Lily’s jealousy of Brendan’s most recent widow paramour. I also enjoyed the quotes from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” and how they pertained to the upcoming chapter, and how Lily used the information in der daily life and marriage as well as practicing the French language. Definitely recommended for fans of Nina Jarrett, for lovers of the steamy historical romance genre, or those just looking to spend a few hours in another world.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. LV32

Nina Jarrett is a very skilled writer who obviously puts a lot of research and time into her stories. Long Live The Baron is the start of a new series featuring characters from her previous fantastic series.

I very much enjoyed her attention to historical details and seeing favourite characters from her previous series. Lily, this novels heroine is a sheltered, sweet and naive debutante and the characterisation is very believable. I also d that the hero Brendan had no recollection of her.

This current series is slightly different from the previous one as the entire series centers around a devious plot, that flows into the next books in the series. The books pacing does seem a little faster than her other books, it was written in a more rushed way. I would've d a slower pace and more time spent on building the overall environment. Due to the plot the characters don't meet each other face to face at the start, which was frustrating but obviously necessary for the overall plot and development of the narrative, so I can't fault that. However while it made sense that Lily fell in love quickly, I felt Brendan was less believable.

In saying that I read the book in one sitting, eager to find out who was guilty as there was a red herring. I thought the secondary characters were very well written, characterisation is a strong point with this writer and she makes all her characters unique with their own quirks. A very enjoyable start to this series I very much look forward to reading the next installments.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Sonia495 8

This book marks the transition into a new series. I definitely recommend reading the previous series (especially "The Duke Wins a Bride") first in order to get to know the characters more in depth.
This story features the Duchess of Halmesbury's brother Brendan. He's a bit older and hopefully wiser than he used to be. He lands in some serious hot water when he discovers his father's dead body and ends up being the prime murder suspect. Making matters worse, his only alibi is the extremely fickle Lady Slight. Even with powerful allies the Duke of Halmesbury and the Earl of Saunton, Brendan could be facing the hangman's noose.
Lily, cousin of the Earl's wife, is having a difficult time transitioning into adulthood. She's a smart girl, but she feels insignificant. The awful debutante-style outfits that her mother forces her to wear, are the icing on the cake. She doesn't know Brendan very well, but when she realizes that she holds his fate in her hands, she has no choice but to act. Hopefully, everyone will see past the little-girl exterior and appreciate the adult-sized sacrifice that she is willing to make.
I found this book impossible to put down! The author has taken some favorite characters from the original series and expanded upon some of the minor ones. I was thoroughly invested the moment I began reading. The story has a good balance of intrigue and romance. It's not just another tale of "the butler did it."
The book comes to a satisfying conclusion and offers some interesting tidbits for what the future series has in store.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. KelseyreadsHR175 2

Long Live the Baron is the first book in the Inconvenient Scandals series and also a continuation of characters met in the Inconvenient Brides series. The Inconvenient Scandals series will contain an overarching plot.

Brendan Ridley, the heir to Baron Filminster is set to meet the Baron the morning after the coronation of King George IV. However, when he arrives home he finds the Baron murdered and the study in disarray. A coroner more bent on political ambition than the truth is determined to name Brendan as the culprit unless an alibi can be provided. Brendan won’t give an alibi without the lady he was with permission. Lily Abbott, daughter of a viscount, was left alone the night of the coronation and can verify when Brendan arrived and left her widowed neighbor’s house. Left only with the choice to do the right thing to save an innocent man Lily ruins her reputation by giving the coroner Brendan’s alibi. Once again a free man, Brendan is still left with a murderer on the loose that may return to his townhouse and the task of doing the honorable thing for a selfless lady.

I enjoyed this whodunnit story and while I had a small suspicion of the murderer the author did a good job of not giving it away until the end. Had some Clue vibes and was intrigued to find out who it was with the equine statue in the study. There were times where the mystery overrode the romance and I’d wished there’d been a bit more building of the relationship but it was still enjoyable and balanced for the most part.

There were two encounters that were mid steam.

Advanced ecopy of the book provided by Book Sirens for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Naito DiamondAuthor 2 books8

"Long Live the Baron" is a captivating Regency romance that pleasantly surprised me with its blend of mystery and romance. As someone who was hesitant about diving into Regency romance due to the prevalence of adult scenes in the romance genre, I was intrigued by the promise of mystery in this novel. And I'm delighted to say that it exceeded my expectations.

The story follows the spirited FMC, Lily, whose determination to save an innocent person immediately drew me in. Despite initially finding her chatter a bit overwhelming, I soon warmed up to her charming character. Similarly, MMC Baron Brendan, accused of murdering his father, captured my heart with his noble demeanor and relatable struggles.

What truly impressed me was the intricate plot that weaved together the obstacles and challenges faced by the newlyweds. The external threat of unknown murder staying in the house of newlyweds looming over their marriage added an exciting layer of suspense, keeping me on the edge of my seat. I particularly enjoyed Lily's use of "The Strategy of War" as a guide for navigating the complexities of marriage.

Nina Jarret's attention to detail in recreating the Regency era is commendable, and I never once felt pulled out of the time period. The pacing and writing style of the book are top-notch, a testament to the author's talent and dedication to her craft.

In conclusion, "Long Live the Baron" is a must-read for fans of Regency romance. I eagerly anticipate delving into more of Nina Jarret's work, as she has proven herself to be an exceptional author who knows how to craft a captivating story.clasics historical-fiction historical-romance ...more1 Fanosse23269

Lady Lily Abbott is home alone and notices Lord Brendan Ridley entering a widow’s home across from her townhome. She saw him enter and saw him leave early that morning and knows that the widow was not at home. So when the next day, he is accused of murdering his uncle/father to obtain the title she knows she has the ability to provide an alibi.

Lily has integrity, is kind, and compassionate, she is naive but in the best way. So when she is faced with the dilemma of coming forward to save the baron after his mistress won’t she does at the expense of her reputation. Brendan was not very appreciative initially and actually accused her of doing this to force him into marriage. I loved that Lily told him to get lost and she won’t marry him.

Brendan eyes are opened and he realizes he accused her falsely and they marry. He wishes he was attracted to her but finds her child and young, but it is because of the childish clothing her mother makes her wear. It was quite humorous when she changes her appearance on their wedding day and he sees that there is much more to his new bride. As they send time together, he becomes attracted to her physically and admires her wit and intelligence.

A truly engaging story full of twists and turns, great characters, mystery, intrigue, humor, forced marriage, murder, a devious ex mistress, mistrust that turns to passion, two people that are thrown together for the wrong reasons but are meant for each other. I really enjoyed this romantic mystery and look forward to reading more in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions are my own.finished FD495 2

The first book of a new series, but this story is still closely connected to the previous series. It is an entertaining story, although I do think the story could have been developed better. We already know Brendan because of his sister who married the Duke of Halmesbury in an earlier book/ earlier series. He no longer had contact with his father, a Baron, but was summoned to him one bad morning in London, after spending an just as bad night at his mistresses house. Unfortunately, upon arrival it turned out that father had been murdered. Big problems for Brendan, who was suspected of the murder and could not prove his alibi. Fortunately, miss Lily Abbot, aware of his dilemma, provided him with an alibi herself, at the expense of her reputation, leaving them both with no other option but to get married.

When the two get married, they not only have to learn to live with each other, but there is also the threat of the real killer.

There are parts of the story that I think move a bit too quickly and could have been developed better, such as how Lily decides to help Brendan, or his first reaction to it. There are also parts that I just find a bit too cliché, the young lady who suddenly blossoms with the right clothes, the gentleman who does not yet want or can share his feelings.
Also, Brendan doesn't come out of the story too sympathetically for me.

What I did is Lily ‘s family and the development of the story. It has elements and potential to become an entertaining series with a bit of suspense. Plus an attractive easy to read writing style. So, I would definitely read the next in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Florida Girl Reads106 3

I was pulled into Long Live the Baron from the first few pages! Is is the first in Nina Jarrett's Inconvenient Scandals series but she weaves the families we have met in her previous books seamlessly into the new series. The plot surrounds Brendan Ridley and Lily Abbott who are drawn together as a result of a murder. Lily is a young woman with a strong sense of right and wrong. She is tiny, dressed as a fluffy debutante and often dismissed by those around her. She finds herself hearing about the murder of a Baron with ties to their family. Lily must decide to be honest and bear the consequences of her choice or to keep silent to save her reputation within Society.
Brendan is the handsome son of the murdered man and is now the heir apparent. However, questions arise and he becomes the focus of the investigation and the main suspect. How will he clear his name in time to claim his place as the new Baron. He knows he is innocent, but no one has stepped forward to verify his whereabouts at the time of the murder!

Nina Jarrett is wonderful at writing suspenseful mystery romances. Although this is a standalone book, I found that having read the previous series made it more enjoyable for me. I knew the relationships and personalities of the supporting characters so I could focus on Lily and Brendan unfolding story. This is a cliffhanger so I am looking forward to reading the next in Nina's Inconvenient Scandals Series.
I received an advance readers copy from Book Sirens and am leaving this voluntary review based on my reading experience.
Deborah Durand296 5

This was a joy to read, despite the fact that I, along with the Earl of Saunton, wanted to pummel Brendan Ridley to death. After finding his uncle/father dead upon his arrival home after an assignation with Lady Slight, Brendan is assumed guilty by a corrupt coroner. The only person who knows that he’s innocent is Lady Slight’s nearby neighbor, Miss Lily Abbott, who witnessed his arrival and departure. Sweet, chatterbox Lily is beleaguered by a loving, misguided mother who has total control of Lily’s wardrobe. This has resulted in her being into her third season without being noticed, because she looks 12 rather than 20 y/o. Being an honorable young woman, and ascertaining that Lady Slight will not come forward to provide Brendan an alibi, Lily goes to the coroner to provide him an alibi… unknown to her family. Lily’s hope is that Brendan will diffuse this scandalous admission by offering for her.

That’s the only blurb I will offer, because reading this story firsthand will be thoroughly enjoyable. Readers will absolutely adore all the characters, some of which are known from the series linked to this one. Read how Brendan reacts to Lily’s defense of him… you will be appalled but laughing at the same time, especially since it will take the Earl and Lily’s brother Aidan’s threats to motivate him. Eventually, Brendan’s character will grow on you… slowly… fungus. lol
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