Series: Rogues to Riches, #1
Traits & Tropes: self-made hero; dukes; imprisoned hero; marriage of convenience; widowed heroine; unexpected inheritance
Publication Date: 11.06.18
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England
Heat Level: 3
Rating: 5/5
Narration Rating: 5/5
Quinn Wentworth has pulled himself up from the slums of York to become one of the most successful bankers in London, only to find himself facing execution on a trumped-up charge of manslaughter. His life takes another unexpected turn when he’s declared the new Duke of Walden and released at the last minute. He’s happy enough with his newfound circumstances, but he knows someone pulled a lot of strings to put him in the hangman’s noose and he’s determined to find out who.
Jane Winston is widowed, pregnant, and stuck with her preacher father, a pompous man given to pontificating incessantly in prisons but not doing much real good. Jane meets Quinn in jail and he, believing himself soon to be executed, offers to marry her and set up a trust to provide her and her child independence and an escape from her father.
Neither Jane nor Quinn expected to truly become a married couple, but now that they are, they’re going to make the most of it. Jane’s mother was a lady, so she knows how to make Quinn’s household into something properly ducal, while he’s more focused on his vengeance than anything else.
This wound up being such a sweet book and I’m glad I finally got around to reading it. So far, I’ve read Althea’s, Constance’s, Stephen’s and Ned’s books, but not the first three of the series and I’m trying to remedy that, though I must say I’m pretty happy to have read them out of order, actually. I’m not sure I would’ve liked Althea and Constance very much as heroines if I’d read this book first, but at the same time, this book definitely shows how much growth they undergo between it and their own stories.
Anyway, Quinn’s situation and last-minute reprieve is so unique, and I loved it. The only time I’ve read something similar was Julie Anne Long’s The Perils of Pleasure, Colin Eversea’s story. I actually find I preferred this story to that one, possibly because Quinn was able to seize his power and clear his name rather than having to go on the run. I loved that Quinn was so tenacious about protecting his family and ensuring their wellbeing at any cost. Perhaps my favorite aspect of his character was his treatment of Jane though. He wasn’t in the least bit put off by her pregnancy, not at all fussed about the child not being his, and he made it clear to her how attractive and desirable he found her regardless. He may have tried to protect her a bit too much by not sharing certain alarming things with her, but I think most men are guilty of this at one time or another and he did mean well. Having built himself up from nothing, and with an abusive father, Quinn was understandably territorial over what was his, including his family, so his reaction when their safety was threatened made perfect sense. I loved that Jane also understood this and insinuated herself right there to help him adjust to his newly elevated circumstances, providing him with support he didn’t even realize he needed.
It’s not often that I say this, but I really loved Jane as a heroine. I can definitely relate to her struggle with feeling guilty about the treatment of her family and I loved that she finally stood up for herself to her father. The fact that Quinn gave her the stability to enable her to do that just solidified them as a favorite couple for me. Jane took charge of Quinn’s house, whipping it into something worthy of a new, if reluctant duke, and I loved her take charge attitude. I especially loved seeing Jane stand up to Quinn’s sisters and brother as she really came into her own. She’d never really had an opportunity to be her own person outside of her father’s demands and I loved watching her finally have a chance to develop her own personality and show it, rather than having to tamp down her wants in favor of the desires of another. Jane and Quinn became a real team and Jane demanded openness and honesty from Quinn, not resting until she got it. I loved the communication they worked up to and it made it impossible not to root for them. These two are a new favorite couple for me and perfect to be the heads of the Wentworth family.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1713294936
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3313946469
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