After having read so many insipid, good, but uncomplicated Regency romances lately, this book was a breath of fresh air for me. 
 The Marquess of Bourne had a dissolute youth, and lost his family estate to of at through a game of cards, and decides to make it his mission in life to get his estate back as well as get revenge on the man who won it from him (Viscount Langford and his innocent son, Tommy). Frankly, I think that Langford did him a favor, since that was the kick in the ass that got him off his ass and doing something with his life. 10 years later, Bourne finds out that Langford lost the estate to his childhood friend, Lady Penelope's father, and the estate is tied to her dowry. Penelope has survived a scandal of being jilted by her fiancee, a duke, years ago, and her reputation has suffered since. Her father is determined to marry her off, and the addition of the Falconwell estate is designed to attract a bevy of suitors. 
 Bourne, determined as hell to get his estate back, all but kidnaps and compromises Penelope, and all but forces her to marry him. The marriage is off to a bad start, filled with negotiations and threats, more of a business deal than anything resembling love. Penelope misses her childhood friend, who is now an unrecognizable shadow of himself, hell-bent on revenge and nothing else. They pretend to be in love in the eyes of the Ton, but the early days of marriage is fraught with Bourne ignoring her and his own heart, and a fair bit of misunderstanding. 
 Halfway through the book, to my delight, Bourne realizes he has been an asshole, and starts trying to make it up to her; Penelope is suspicious, a leopard doesn't change his stripes, after all. Their reconciliation is sweet, but Bourne's need for revenge consumes him and threatens to tear them apart. 
 I really liked this book, I liked the other members of the Fallen Angels Club, and look forward to reading their stories. I especially disliked Olivia, Penelope's sister, who is a frilly, fluffy, empty-headed girl, and hope she will get her own book later on when she matures.