How to Tempt a Duke by Madeline Martin | ARC Review

Series: The London School for Ladies, #1
Tropes & Traits: swoonworthy, titled hero, suspense
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England, 1814
Publication Date: 12.01.19
Heat Level: 4/5
Rating: 5 stars!  I loved it!

When the man who was courting her quickly becomes engaged to someone else, Lady Eleanor Murray becomes the talk of the ton, and not in a good way. She was trained by a harsh and demanding father to never show emotion and now that stoicism has earned her to moniker "The Ice Queen." With no suitors in sight and tight finances making it necessary for Eleanor to be wed by the end of the season, her mother, the Countess of Westix, sets up a shocking arrangement: Eleanor will take lesons with a courtesan to learn how to flirt and show genuine emotion.

Charles Pemberton, the newly minted Duke of Somersville, is frankly appalled to find that in the five years he was off exploring the world his childhood friend Lottie has become a courtesan. So when she asks him to help her tutor Lady Eleanor, he cannot refuse her. Even though she is the daughter of his father's, and therefore his own, enemy, Lady Eleanor possesses journals Charles needs to find the prized ruby of his father's obsession and perhaps finally do something his sire would've been proud of. That means befriending Eleanor and earning her trust.

Eleanor's mother dislikes Charles because she likewise detested his father and Charles has adventuring to do an must find the stone and fulfill his promise to his late father before he can consider a wife. But as Eleanor and Charles spend more time together their bond becomes genuine, as does the spark of attraction that ignites between them and soon Charles finds Eleanor inexplicably outranking the journals in his thoughts and priorities, just as she's set to be bombarded by other suitors.

I loved this book. I loved how Charles and Eleanor both developed and grew as individuals even as their friendship grew. This made for a nicely believable story and it was lovely to see them fall in love. I was glad to see Charles get his priorities straight and Eleanor come out of her shell. Madeline never disappoints and here she has created that elusive heroine who is incredibly strong without once becoming shrewish. Charles was lovely and even his faults were rather endearing. Add in some steamy goodness and a bit of suspense and this book was perfect for me. Now I just NEED a sequel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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