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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Elodie Hart's books are always right up my alley ✨ The Alchemy series is one of my favorites, and I absolutely loved Audacity. I have been desperately waiting for Marlowe's story and I'm so happy to share that it exceeded my expectations! Duplicity is filled with emotion, humor, angst, and passion.
Marlowe, I absolutely adore her. She is so caring and wholesome, and loves her daughter so purely. She would literally go to the ends of the earth to help her chronically ill daughter, which is how she ends up taking on a....unique employment opportunity as a "full service" executive assistant to a very handsome billionaire. I'm not a mother so I can't totally relate to Marlowe's situation, but I felt every heart-wrenching emotion so deeply and connected with Marlowe so well. Everything Marlowe does is for Tabby, but she also learns to embrace her own happiness and enjoyment along the way, as she deserves. She is incredibly strong and I was rooting for her the whole time.
I wasn't sure how to feel about Brendan at first. He's a rich and sexy playboy who comes across as a bit immature for his age when we first meet him. Brendan is very different from his brother Gabe (from Audacity), and he kept me on my toes. I always appreciate ADHD representation in books, especially when it is portrayed accurately. Anyone who has ADHD or loves someone who does knows that ADHD is so much more than a "short attention span". Elodie does a great job portraying what ADHD feels like and how it can impact a person's life in so many ways. It also made me happy to see that Brendan thrives in his career even as a person with ADHD; even though it's a family business, it's still a challenging feat to run a whole company. Brendan REALLY pissed me off at times, but I grew to love him. At times, I didn't think I would ever change my opinion of him, but I'm so glad he proved me wrong!
The chemistry between Marlowe and Brendan is literally scorching from the start. Elodie writes incredible spicy scenes that leave no details to the imagination, and can also be quite poetic at the same time. I am drawn to the forbidden boss/employee relationship dynamic in romance books, and Duplicity checked off a lot of boxes of things I enjoy! If you love steamy romance filled with emotion and angst, and you enjoy or don't mind taboo topics (sex work, boss/employee, kink) I think you will really love Duplicity. I highly recommend reading Audacity first; it introduces us to the world of Seraph, the Sullivan family, and Marlowe and Brendan's first meeting. Plus, Gabe and Athena's story is not to be missed!
Thank you so much to Elodie Hart and the ARC team for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! It is such a privilege to get to read ARCs for my one of my favorite authors, and her work always impresses me.
Marlowe, I absolutely adore her. She is so caring and wholesome, and loves her daughter so purely. She would literally go to the ends of the earth to help her chronically ill daughter, which is how she ends up taking on a....unique employment opportunity as a "full service" executive assistant to a very handsome billionaire. I'm not a mother so I can't totally relate to Marlowe's situation, but I felt every heart-wrenching emotion so deeply and connected with Marlowe so well. Everything Marlowe does is for Tabby, but she also learns to embrace her own happiness and enjoyment along the way, as she deserves. She is incredibly strong and I was rooting for her the whole time.
I wasn't sure how to feel about Brendan at first. He's a rich and sexy playboy who comes across as a bit immature for his age when we first meet him. Brendan is very different from his brother Gabe (from Audacity), and he kept me on my toes. I always appreciate ADHD representation in books, especially when it is portrayed accurately. Anyone who has ADHD or loves someone who does knows that ADHD is so much more than a "short attention span". Elodie does a great job portraying what ADHD feels like and how it can impact a person's life in so many ways. It also made me happy to see that Brendan thrives in his career even as a person with ADHD; even though it's a family business, it's still a challenging feat to run a whole company. Brendan REALLY pissed me off at times, but I grew to love him. At times, I didn't think I would ever change my opinion of him, but I'm so glad he proved me wrong!
The chemistry between Marlowe and Brendan is literally scorching from the start. Elodie writes incredible spicy scenes that leave no details to the imagination, and can also be quite poetic at the same time. I am drawn to the forbidden boss/employee relationship dynamic in romance books, and Duplicity checked off a lot of boxes of things I enjoy! If you love steamy romance filled with emotion and angst, and you enjoy or don't mind taboo topics (sex work, boss/employee, kink) I think you will really love Duplicity. I highly recommend reading Audacity first; it introduces us to the world of Seraph, the Sullivan family, and Marlowe and Brendan's first meeting. Plus, Gabe and Athena's story is not to be missed!
Thank you so much to Elodie Hart and the ARC team for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! It is such a privilege to get to read ARCs for my one of my favorite authors, and her work always impresses me.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I truly never know what to expect when opening an Elodie book. But I will never be disappointed!!
A single mother is doing everything she can to get the surgery her daughter needs, fast. A billionaire with ADHD finds out what happens when his new, shiny toy is more than he is prepared for.
Marlowe knows her daughter needs heart surgery, and the best place to do it is in the states. Without a job like Seraph, she will never be able to provide this for her. Marlowe handles her own insecurities and enjoys herself in ways she never sees coming. Handling Brendan is a whirlwind of affection, tantrums, and chaos. Marlowe does it beautifully.
Brendan has so many great aspects of her personality but the ADHD over rides them sometimes. The representation is excellent. The way he takes care of her even when he doesn’t realize what he is doing? So cute. Cuddling her when he found her asleep, even if he never slept. When he hears Tabby’s laugh for the first time, you can feel in the pages his switch flipping. He sees what he has and handles it better than anything else he has handled thus far.
When they are together, it's powerfully peaceful. Their chemistry can crack and sizzle but for the most part it is very soft and calming. The spicy is spicy, as always! Bren is a dirty boy.
I will always love Athena, she handles everything knowing the power she wields.
Now, to the elephant in the room: Ethan Kingsley. What is your story, sir? I’m fully intrigued!
Thanks again Elodie for the ARC! Grateful to be on your team!
These opinions are my own.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so excited to have received an ARC for Duplicity. I loved audacity and absolutely adore the Alchemy series. I always have high expectations for Elodie and she always surpasses them!
It took me a few days to get fully into because I wasn’t in the headspace for something emotional, but boy once I got over that, I was off to the races.
As a someone who was once medically complex child, Marlowe and Tabby’s story touched me, and reminded to call my mom. She nails what it is like to care for a sick child right on the head.
I loathed Bren for most of the book, I was worried I wouldn’t be brought around to him, until the 11th hour, I was suspicious. This wasn’t a grovel, it was a true redemption arc. I should know by now to put my trust in Elodie to deliver the most beautiful characters and relationships.
I’m going to use some of my new British slang here-bloody brilliant.
It took me a few days to get fully into because I wasn’t in the headspace for something emotional, but boy once I got over that, I was off to the races.
As a someone who was once medically complex child, Marlowe and Tabby’s story touched me, and reminded to call my mom. She nails what it is like to care for a sick child right on the head.
I loathed Bren for most of the book, I was worried I wouldn’t be brought around to him, until the 11th hour, I was suspicious. This wasn’t a grovel, it was a true redemption arc. I should know by now to put my trust in Elodie to deliver the most beautiful characters and relationships.
I’m going to use some of my new British slang here-bloody brilliant.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I LOVE everything I've read by Elodie Hart (and under her other author name - Sara Madderson) and to say I was stoked to get to ARC read this next installment from the Seraph series is an understatement. The Seraph series is a spin off series from her Alchemy series and while you don't need to read Alchemy - do read the first in the Seraph series. FMC Marlow becomes an executive assistant with "benefits" to billionaire MMC Brendan (who's also a dog dad and I love having a pet as one of the supporting cast!). The spicy is spicy and it would have been very easy to by pass the more serious storylines - but the author didn't and you'll def be hit with a bit of an emotional roller coaster as Marlow navigates her struggles. And we get to watch playboy Brendan navigate life with ADHD (which I thought was very well represented and nuanced - not written with a broad generic brush.), over come some childhood trauma associated with it and watch him catch feelings HARD! Overall it's a romance that will stay with me for a long time.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨
𝔻𝕦𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪
𝔼𝕝𝕠𝕕𝕚𝕖 ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕥
𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘛𝘸𝘰
𝕆𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕝 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ℙ𝕝𝕠𝕥 📚📚📚📚📚
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Duplicity is opulent, dirty, and deeply emotional—a transactional relationship gone spectacularly rogue, where power plays, sex, and sincerity collide—and nothing is ever just what it seems.
At the heart of this book are two wildly compelling leads: Marlowe, a scrappy, fiercely loyal single mother desperate to save her daughter, and Brendan Sullivan, the billionaire bad boy with a filthy mouth and an increasingly inconvenient conscience.
But what elevates Duplicity beyond typical billionaire smut (and make no mistake—it’s scorching) is how relentlessly it interrogates consent, commodification, and the messy, maddening gray area between survival and desire. There are moments of explicit eroticism that'll make you gasp—like Brendan’s blunt “I want to see what I’ve bought” —but they’re immediately complicated by Marlowe’s whiplash of revulsion, pleasure, and disbelief.
In the end, it gives us a love story not between savior and victim, but between two deeply flawed people learning to choose themselves, eachother and their happy ending!
𝔻𝕦𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪
𝔼𝕝𝕠𝕕𝕚𝕖 ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕥
𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘛𝘸𝘰
𝕆𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕝 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ℙ𝕝𝕠𝕥 📚📚📚📚📚
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Duplicity is opulent, dirty, and deeply emotional—a transactional relationship gone spectacularly rogue, where power plays, sex, and sincerity collide—and nothing is ever just what it seems.
At the heart of this book are two wildly compelling leads: Marlowe, a scrappy, fiercely loyal single mother desperate to save her daughter, and Brendan Sullivan, the billionaire bad boy with a filthy mouth and an increasingly inconvenient conscience.
But what elevates Duplicity beyond typical billionaire smut (and make no mistake—it’s scorching) is how relentlessly it interrogates consent, commodification, and the messy, maddening gray area between survival and desire. There are moments of explicit eroticism that'll make you gasp—like Brendan’s blunt “I want to see what I’ve bought” —but they’re immediately complicated by Marlowe’s whiplash of revulsion, pleasure, and disbelief.
In the end, it gives us a love story not between savior and victim, but between two deeply flawed people learning to choose themselves, eachother and their happy ending!
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Once again, Elodie Hart, managed to blow my mind with a beautiful story filled with connection, chemistry and the scorching hot spice she’s known for.
Brendan and Marlowe’s story might’ve started unconventionally but it grew to into such beautiful and deep love. What started with undeniable chemistry ended with such a deep connection and love. Marlowe was such a deep and complex character that showed so much strength. As a single mom to a very ill child, she was a true reminder to never underestimate a mother’s love and the lengths she will go through for her child. Pushing her ego aside, she enters into an contract with Brendan while hiding big parts of her life and trying to juggle everything.
Brendan’s character arc and redemption was one of my favourite part of this story. He surprised me in best way possible after he learned Marlowe’s secret. Under his tough guy persona hid a sweet teddy bear with a huge heart. His struggles with ADHD were also approached with honesty, accuracy and respect.
Their story also brought on plenty of spice and scorching hot scenes. If you like your book spicy, this one serves it on a silver platter.
I absolutely recommend Duplicity!
I would like to thank Elodie Hart for the opportunity to read and review Duplicity.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I am so happy Marlowe got her own book.
First, I love the representation of the neurodivergent with Brendan. I loved how it was portrayed with his hyperfocus, the way he understands when his meds wear off, how his family sees him/he sees himself because of his family, just all of the things. So relatable on so many levels.
This one just had both of their feelings just sneak up on them and it was just one minute hot and heavy and then everything happened with Tabby and it was a slap in the face for them both, it was refreshing to see since normally it is the MC's hmming and hawing over their feelings. You could FEEL how hard Brendan was trying to ignore and not even try to identify his feelings or look at them in any capacity.
SECONDLY, once Brendan was in, HE WAS ALL IN. I loved how he just 'hyper-focused' on his feelings and understood that this was it for him, and he wanted to prove himself to the girls. Once he got the 'ah-ha' moment, everything clicked and he was donzeo.
I NEED MORE SERAPH BOOKS PLEASE.
First, I love the representation of the neurodivergent with Brendan. I loved how it was portrayed with his hyperfocus, the way he understands when his meds wear off, how his family sees him/he sees himself because of his family, just all of the things. So relatable on so many levels.
This one just had both of their feelings just sneak up on them and it was just one minute hot and heavy and then everything happened with Tabby and it was a slap in the face for them both, it was refreshing to see since normally it is the MC's hmming and hawing over their feelings. You could FEEL how hard Brendan was trying to ignore and not even try to identify his feelings or look at them in any capacity.
SECONDLY, once Brendan was in, HE WAS ALL IN. I loved how he just 'hyper-focused' on his feelings and understood that this was it for him, and he wanted to prove himself to the girls. Once he got the 'ah-ha' moment, everything clicked and he was donzeo.
I NEED MORE SERAPH BOOKS PLEASE.
emotional
medium-paced
If you have not read any of Elodie Hart's books, you are in for a treat. Duplicity is the second book in the Seraph series, although you don't have to read them in order (but you should read Audacity because it was so good). Duplicity follows rich boy CEO Brendan Sullivan and Single Mom Marlow Winters. I usually don't like single-parent stories, but I loved this one. Marlow is a character you can root for. She has not had the easiest of lives, but she is a fighter, and she hasn't let all the bad stuff make her bitter. Brendan starts off as a playboy boy, but once he gets his head out of his *** he becomes a golden retriever. He grovels his way into Marlow's heart in the best way.