Series: The Disgraceful Dukes, #1
Traits & Tropes: reformed rake; hidden identity; unexpected inheritance; titled hero; class difference; second son; abusive father; working heroine
Publication Date: 04.26.16
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; Surrey/London, England, 1817
Heat Level: 4
Rating: 4/5
Narration Rating: 4/5
James, the very reluctant Duke of Harland, has only returned to England from his preferred Trinidad to secure a bride. He fully plans to return to the island and leave her behind in England once he’s found a wife who has a pristine enough reputation to make up for his blackened one. He has no interest in feeling anything for his bride, not lust and certainly not love, so he selects four ladies and invites them to his country estate for a three-day house party with the intention of choosing one to be his wife.
Charlene Beckett has never been acknowledged by her natural father, an earl, but the man’s wife has noticed her and the fact that she bears an uncanny resemblance to her own daughter, Lady Dorothea. With her daughter not yet returned from Italy, the countess seeks to secure her a duke and offers Charlene a fortune to pretend to be Lady Dorothea for three days.
Charlene cannot refuse the money that could change not only her circumstances, but those of her mother and younger sister. She plays her part well, but when the truth comes out and the passion between Charlene and James becomes overwhelming, James has to reevaluate his priorities in a wife and Charlene must decide what she’s willing to risk for her own happiness.
I was unsure about this book when I realized it was a hidden identity trope because usually the secret is kept too long and that just doesn’t really work for me, yet it did here. I think this story felt acceptable for me because Charlene and James truly did come to know one another on a deep level fairly quickly, he simply did not know her true name, and he was quickly able to recognize that Lady Dorothea wasn’t who he thought, so there was no other woman drama going on here. Charlene’s spine and determination to do what was necessary for her family without becoming her mother were admirable and made it impossible not to root for her. James wasn’t exactly a catch, and he had a lot of questionable behaviors, but Charlene didn’t pull any punches in dealing with him. She pointed out exactly where James was lacking or missing something, and he endeared himself to me by actually listening and making changes. In the end, he went after what he wanted and decided not to worry about what anyone else might think or say and I always love that in a hero. James may have changed everything about Charlene’s difficult life and circumstances, but she showed him that it was safe to love and show emotions, safe to be himself. These two were evenly matched and made a lovely, believable couple and I loved how they came together in the end with fairly little fuss or drama.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/219247737
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5040242705
Comments
Post a Comment