Cocky Butler by Annabelle Anders

Cocky Butler by Annabelle Anders
Series: Cocky Gents Series Book #7
on February 16, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 340
Goodreads

Book 7 of the Regency Cocky Gents Series: The Duke of Blackheart's happily everA duke pretending to be a butler and a very suspicious spinster realize that choosing love isn't as easy as one might think... "The loser must perform butler duties for the winner throughout the Season this spring." The Duke of Blackheart should never have accepted the wager. A foolish drunken night of games had led to an uncomfortable promise, but after considerable planning and a good deal of delegating, he'd found the charade almost too easy... Or so he'd thought, until Lord Greystone's spinster cousin arrives, lips pinched in disapproval, eyes filled with suspicion, with the potential to spoil everything. Miss Violet Faraday had come to London for one reason only--to assist in launching her niece into society. She did not come in hopes of landing a husband for herself, nor had she expected to come face to face with her tragic past. Most of all, she had not planned on becoming extraordinarily fascinated with Mr. Cockfield, her cousin's charming, arrogant, and ridiculously good-looking butler. He is a servant and she is a lady... anything beyond a mild flirtation can only lead to heartbreak... Step into the past and fall in love with these Regency Cocky Gents, where a group of Englands' sexiest cocksure lords lose their hearts to headstrong, intoxicating ladies who don't always follow the rules. Seven completed novels to make up your next binge!

Cocky Butler is book seven in the Cock Gents series by Annabelle Anders. I have mixed feelings about Cocky Butler. I enjoyed the romantic tension building between the hero and heroine. Blackheart has been a bit of a mystery figure in the other “Cocky” books, so I was excited to read his story. There are quite a few steamy scenes. Here’s a shortened section that is one of my favorites:

“You want to kiss me?” Her voice came out thready…needy. “Who would not wish to kiss you? A beautiful, willing woman.” He was leaning even closer. She parted her lips and could almost taste the whiskey now. She lowered her lashes. “You would be surprised.” her answer held all the self-derision she’d fought over the past decade. He had not kissed her earlier that afternoon – not even after she’d essentially propositioned him. For Posy’s sake. Don’t be a hypocrite. Violet chastised herself. If this had been for Posy’s sake, she would have returned to her chamber ten minutes ago. Alone. “It’s late. We should go to bed. I should go to bed. And you should go to bed. Both of us – but separately.” She stepped backward… “Not quite yet.” He followed her, dropping his good hand to her waist, his other remaining trapped in the sling. And then he dipped his head, not quite kissing her but close. Very close.”

I think this book is well written; however, there is a particular social issue that is introduced that I wasn’t comfortable with and that I thought was unnecessary. But overall, a good romance.