My Inconvenient Duke
I’m an absolute sucker for historical romance and this one did not disappoint.
Lady Alice Ancaster needs a husband quite urgently because her reckless brother is likely to end up dead due to his fast living.The dukedom would then fall to an odious cousin who would make Alice’s life a misery. So off she goes to London, ready to find herself a suitable man. And she does. But she doesn’t close the deal: her brother disappears unexpectedly and Alice is determined to find him.
Her companion for this adventure? Giles, the Duke of Blackwood. He’s tall, intimidating, a bit wild and he’s been in love with Alice since they were both children. But he is convinced Alice deserves better than the likes of him so other than a scorching kiss as young adults, nothing comes of it.
Until…
Alice and Giles are both captivating to read about. There is banter and it is witty, but it’s also grounded and real and emotion-filled. They are both stubborn and driven. Their various escapades as they try to find Alice’s brother, possibly save him from himself, and resist one another in the meantime illustrate a wide range of emotions from pining to exhilaration to terror. Underpinning all of their interactions is an affinity they’ve had for each other since they were children.
This is very much part of a series. The first three quarters of the book work perfectly as a standalone. It was only in the last quarter that I realised how closely tied together the series is. I was still able to follow the story, but when we went quickly through certain events so that parts of the first two books were woven into this book, it did get a little jarring. So if you’re expecting a standard plot arc for this book, you’ll be disappointed. A lot of plot is crammed into the last quarter.
There are shenanigans and adventures aplenty throughout the book. The last quarter is memorable for its depiction of Alice and Giles finding a way to build a life together rather than lead two completely separate lives.
I really enjoyed the historical detail in this book, particularly the geography of London and its surroundings. It helped the story be truly immersive. I felt like I lived in that world while I was reading.
If you’ve read book one and two in the series, I imagine book three is a must read for you. As a standalone, the last quarter is a little bit of a whirlwind, but I still really enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to other fans of historical romance.
– Lara
USA Today bestselling author Loretta Chase continues her Difficult Dukes series with this charming brother’s best friend second-chance historical romance.
Of all the dukes in all the world, why does it have to be him?
Lady Alice Ancaster needs a husband, and fast, because her reckless brother is going to get himself killed, leaving the dukedom—and her future—in their repellent cousin’s clutches.
The Duke of Blackwood has known Alice since childhood, and they’ve always had a special connection. But years ago he broke it, when he chose a riotous life with his two best friends instead of a reasonable one with her.
The trouble is, the tall, dark, sardonic rogue keeps turning up exactly when needed, and ready—though he sometimes needs a push—to play the hero, if only for as long as it takes.
Being irresistibly drawn to the Wrong Man is not convenient, but when events come to a crisis, Alice has to make a choice. The question is, can she live with it?
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