Series: Duke Dynasty, #3
Traits & Tropes: enemies to lovers
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England
Publication Date: 08.25.20
Heat Level: 3/5
Rating: 4.5/5
Marlowe Drake, the Duke of Thornstock, might’ve been able to forget a passionate kiss nine years ago with Miss Olivia Norley, but he can’t forget or forgive her stepmother’s attempt to blackmail him into marriage and the resulting damage to both of their reputations. He has had no contact with Miss Norley in the succeeding nine years, but that’s about to change since Thorn’s half-brother, Grey, has hired her to employ her expertise in chemistry to help them investigate a family mystery. Suspicious of her motives and protective of his family, Thorn is determined to shadow Olivia while she’s on Grey’s estate.
Olivia is keen to help Grey and his family and also highly aware of the fact that determining whether Grey’s father was poisoned with arsenic can establish her as a respected chemist. But when she gets close to a result, it becomes clear that someone is keen to stop her research. Perhaps even more surprising is the lingering connection between Olivia and Thorn and the caring nature hidden beneath his layers of rakish artifice.
I really enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as its predecessors. Thorn was very jaded and rather arrogant and only really became likable for me closer to the end of the book, though very rapidly so at that point. It took me a little bit to warm up to Olivia as well, mostly because of how exagerratedly awkward she was at times, and yet at the same time this was oddly charming and relatable. Olivia didn’t cut Thorn any slack, but that was exactly what he needed to get his head on straight. I wound up loving these two as a very charmingly unconventional couple and the thread of mystery still running through this series is a delightful touch. I’ve always enjoyed a bit of suspense in my romance and now I can’t wait for Sheridan’s story and the culmination of the likely conspiracy against Lydia’s family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3399942797
Comments
Post a Comment