Series: The Duke Hunt, #3
Traits & Tropes: forced/marriage of necessity; working heroine; both commoners; conman hero; redemption arc; forced proximity; fake engagement; antihero
Publication Date: 08.23.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; Shropshire, England
Heat Level: 3.5
Rating: 4/5
Gwen Cully has become independent because she’s had to be, having had the running of her family’s blacksmithing business since her father’s and uncle's illnesses and subsequent deaths. Now a new blacksmith has moved into the village and is threatening Gwen’s livelihood, though she has no one to turn to for help catching up on her orders. But all that changes when a ridiculously attractive fugitive uses her shop as a place to hide out from an angry mob.
Kellan Fox is a confidence man and has made no secret of it, though most of his actions have been with the express goal of keeping his father out of trouble as much as possible. Unfortunately, his father hasn’t shown Kellan the same consideration or loyalty, leaving him fighting for his life against an angry mob of villagers. When Gwen protects him and stands up for him against the outraged mob actively trying to hang him, Kellan and Gwen wind up roped into agreeing to marry. Marriage may be the only way to save Kellan’s life, so Gwen agrees, with the stipulation that it be a union in name only and that it will end in a year’s time.
Despite her ground rules, Kellan makes no secret of his attraction to Gwen, though she’s often skeptical of his sincerity. Though she has reservations, Gwen finds herself allowing Kellan ever closer to both her heart and her body, all the while still questioning whether or not she can truly trust him.
This was such a uniquely tropey book! I really liked the fact that not only do we have a working heroine, but neither of the MCs is titled. Both are ordinary people, and the hero is more of an antihero and very much a scoundrel, though with a heart of gold and his own set of morals. He was so sweet to and protective of Gwen, and his admiration for her so abundantly clear, that it was impossible for me not to root for them as a couple. In fact, contrary to my expectations, it wasn’t the scoundrel hero responsible for the annoyances I did have with this book, but the heroine as she kept being so wishy-washy with him out of her own discomfort with her reaction to him. She did at least realize what she was doing and take steps to ameliorate this behavior, but it took a while. Thankfully, in the meantime, the sexual tension between these two built through the roof and made this feel like the slowest burn ever as I waited for these two to finally give in and admit their feelings/desires. These two were fire when they finally did come together, but I have to say I would’ve loved to see a bit more of that. Maybe that makes me sound dirty or whatever, but I don’t care. These two had phenomenal chemistry and I wanted to see more culmination of that. Nevertheless, I loved seeing a tall, not especially conventionally feminine woman get the male and attention and praise she deserved, as well as someone to stand up for and defend her, all the while being wholly aware that she didn’t need him to. Along those lines, I definitely wanted to see the disgustingly oafish Meyer put in his place more firmly, but alas, it was not to be. Overall, this storyline was bananas given the way these two came together, the villagers are certifiable and I’m not sure I’d have wanted to live there still if I had been either of these two, but I very much liked this couple.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3956233970
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4864778162
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