Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman is the second book in the London's Greatest Lovers series revolving around 2 brothers. This book revolves around the middle son, Stephen who we met in the last book, who in that book displayed low characteristics in the choices he makes, aka letting his elder brother believe that he slept with his wife on their wedding night. 
 While that would have been off putting for me, I was curious to see what sort of development he would be going through in his own book and so and delved into Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman 
 The last book ended with Stephen going to war and this book starts off with Stephen already returned from war, wounded physical and mentally with a limp and lost memories. Only to discover a woman at his doorstep with a child whom she claims is his. 
 I had not expected the development that happened to Stephen's character in the book... You do feel that he has changed from the last book. He has become more honourable and more aware with his responsibilities towards his family and friends. Even though he continuous to feel like he is lower than his two brothers, it is understandable as they both hold titles, responsibilities and legacies while he does not therefore he feels no sense of purpose. 
 Plus he has to be the sweetest guy in the series, other than Leo. 
 With all that praise to the hero, I'm afraid what really brought this book down for me what Mercy, the heroine. 
 While the book tries to show that she is a selfless, kind hearted angel that puts others before herself in terms of her actions and feelings towards becoming a nurse to the soldiers who went to war. She in fact, is one of the most selfish female leads I have ever come across. Everything that she does after the war is for her own benefit, to ensure that she (view spoiler)[remained with Stephen and his son. She would lie, cheat, steal and even attempt to distract Stephen from remembering his time of the war because she knows that should he remember it all, and he would most likely leave her. She does all this for one purpose which is to make sure that she remains married to Stephen no matter what the cost. (hide spoiler)]She has committed everything that a healthy relationship should not have, there has not been any trust built in their relationship from the beginning. 
 There was another aspect that bothered me in the novel; it's the constant repetition in Stephen and Mercy's thoughts. Stephen wants to remember but couldn't and Mercy fears his memories coming back. This is in every single chapter and it does get a little boring at times 
 The side characters are a delight as always, with every new book I grow fonder of Tessa, Leo and grow even more interested in Ainsley's character what goes on in his head. 
 2/5