A Rogue for the Dutiful Duchess (Harlequin Historical, No 1713)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Fantastic story that kept me hooked from start to finish. Sophie is a young widow who has just finished her year of mourning. She looks forward to her independence and caring for her young son. She has no intention of marrying again and giving up her freedom but will devote her time to raising her son and caring for his estates until he is grown.
Her marriage wasn't happy, with her much older husband moving his mistress into their home. Even after his death, she was stuck with the woman until the year's mourning ended. On that day, Sophie discovered the mistress gone, along with several of the duke's diaries - diaries that would create an enormous scandal if they were made public. Desperate to prevent that scandal, she hires "problem fixer" Nicholas Pascoe to retrieve them.
I loved the first meeting between Sophie and Nick. He is handsome, confident, and not at all deferential. Something about him stirs her up, and she doesn't like it. Nick is equally drawn to her and just as dismayed. He doesn't need the distraction while he works to retrieve the diaries. I enjoyed the sparks that flew between them during that meeting as they wrangled over the details of the mission. Nick's methods are effective, and I had fun watching him work his wiles on Mrs. Sweeting. There are some tense moments when his search faces disaster, but quick-thinking Sophie saves the day.
At the same time, the attraction between Sophie and Nick continues to grow. Their chemistry is explosive, and they also find themselves becoming friends. Each finds themselves thinking of the impossibility of their growing feelings for each other. But Nick is hiding a secret that could change everything. I loved that he trusted Sophie enough to share his story and that she cared enough to help him. I loved seeing her play referee at the ball.
But the defeated mistress has one last card to play, and it is a doozy. The mayhem she causes forces Nick's hand regarding his future and his need to protect Sophie. I loved how cool and calm he was as he carried out his plans. I ached for both, as each was reluctant to confess their feelings, their fear of rejection creating distance between them. I could have shaken them both when miscommunication caused misunderstandings and harsh words. The ending was heartwarmingly emotional, with both admitting to their fears and mistakes and their love.
I loved Sophie's son Freddie. He's realistically portrayed for his age, with good and bad moments. Sophie doesn't spoil him and intends to ensure he grows into a responsible man. It was sweet to see how he took to "Pas!" and that Nick was equally enchanted with him. My favorite scene with them was the coach ride when Nick and Freddie went to ride on top to give Sophie a break. The two were adorable together.
#netgalley
Her marriage wasn't happy, with her much older husband moving his mistress into their home. Even after his death, she was stuck with the woman until the year's mourning ended. On that day, Sophie discovered the mistress gone, along with several of the duke's diaries - diaries that would create an enormous scandal if they were made public. Desperate to prevent that scandal, she hires "problem fixer" Nicholas Pascoe to retrieve them.
I loved the first meeting between Sophie and Nick. He is handsome, confident, and not at all deferential. Something about him stirs her up, and she doesn't like it. Nick is equally drawn to her and just as dismayed. He doesn't need the distraction while he works to retrieve the diaries. I enjoyed the sparks that flew between them during that meeting as they wrangled over the details of the mission. Nick's methods are effective, and I had fun watching him work his wiles on Mrs. Sweeting. There are some tense moments when his search faces disaster, but quick-thinking Sophie saves the day.
At the same time, the attraction between Sophie and Nick continues to grow. Their chemistry is explosive, and they also find themselves becoming friends. Each finds themselves thinking of the impossibility of their growing feelings for each other. But Nick is hiding a secret that could change everything. I loved that he trusted Sophie enough to share his story and that she cared enough to help him. I loved seeing her play referee at the ball.
But the defeated mistress has one last card to play, and it is a doozy. The mayhem she causes forces Nick's hand regarding his future and his need to protect Sophie. I loved how cool and calm he was as he carried out his plans. I ached for both, as each was reluctant to confess their feelings, their fear of rejection creating distance between them. I could have shaken them both when miscommunication caused misunderstandings and harsh words. The ending was heartwarmingly emotional, with both admitting to their fears and mistakes and their love.
I loved Sophie's son Freddie. He's realistically portrayed for his age, with good and bad moments. Sophie doesn't spoil him and intends to ensure he grows into a responsible man. It was sweet to see how he took to "Pas!" and that Nick was equally enchanted with him. My favorite scene with them was the coach ride when Nick and Freddie went to ride on top to give Sophie a break. The two were adorable together.
#netgalley
