It's war!

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How to Best a Marquess (Raven Club #2) by Tina Gabrielle             

Lady Ellie Swift and Hugh Vere, Marquess of Deveril are at sword point over who will take over her brother's gambling and boxing establishment, the Raven Club.  (... and of course these two have a HISTORY!)
Unfortunately I'm a tad over women wanting to take over gambling dens of late, even if their reasons are commendable. I found the story somewhat hackneyed. Harsh I know but nothing much new and exciting jumped out at me.
Mainly my stars are for Ellie's efforts in helping battered wives, a laudable reason for wanting the club.
However,
Whatever happened to Violet Lasher, the courtesan, Violet Lasher? Where did she disappear to? Maybe she's the subject of a future novel?
Awful Hugh on his high horse, and Ellie's on again off again attitude drove me crazy.
The rounding out of the story was torturous, despite having all the tropes in place to make this brilliant.
I so wanted to like this but it just didn't spark for me.

 A NetGalley ARC
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

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