Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Dukes of Darkness #1
Publication Date: 8/27/24
Number of Pages: 308

This author’s introduction to her new series, The Dukes of Darkness, is intriguing, interesting, and entertaining. Not only did we meet the Duke featured in this book, but we were also introduced to the dark Dukes who will follow in subsequent books. Each duke has a darkness haunting them and I know it will be great fun to follow them into their HEA.

This book follows Devlin Raines, the Duke of Dartmoor, and Peyton Chandler whose parents were brutally murdered ten years earlier. Devlin is on a mission to set right all of the things his father initiated in his search for greater riches and power and Peyton’s mission is to punish those she holds responsible for the murder of her parents. Though the two barely knew each other ten years ago, their fates are now inextricably entwined. Can they both complete their mission without harm to the other? Must one lose for the other to win?

Peyton was barely sixteen when she accompanied her parents to a soiree hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Dartmoor on the night of her parent’s brutal murder. Little did she understand that she would be forever linked to Devlin, the handsome young man who was barely into his manhood and who barely noticed her. But she remembered him – Oh! Yes! She remembered him and he would pay!

To say that Devlin’s father was a vile, despicable human being would be putting it mildly. The atrocities he inflicted on his family don’t bear speaking of – and those he inflicted on the rest of the world are just as unspeakable. Yet, Devlin inherited none of his vileness and has spent the years since his father’s death trying to make up for the evil his father did. He has come a long way, but he isn’t there yet.

Peyton barely escaped death – and worse – when her parents were murdered. She has one single, profound, irrefutable memory of that night. She knows Devlin was there – he was the man who tried to rape her – and he was the man who saw to her parent’s murder. She remembers – she KNOWS – and she will make him pay with all he holds dear.

I liked Peyton and Devlin and enjoyed watching Peyton exact her revenge – though I felt sorry for Devlin. Their characters were nuanced, layered, complex, and interesting and their backgrounds made their current actions more relatable and understandable. I was excited to watch their relationship grow, but I was concerned for them and how they would handle the information about the past events. Their views were very different and I was curious about how or if they could come to a compromise on which they could both agree.

This story could have been very dark, but the author gracefully blended a spicy romance with some sweet touching moments into the darkness so it was more palatable. The darkness is mostly spoken of rather than shown, but if you are sensitive, this book does contain mention of physical violence, rape, etc.

I didn’t care for Peyton as the MFCs name because it seemed anachronistic to me, but the story was excellently done, the romance was sweet and spicy, and the characters were full and robust. It was an excellent story and I hope you will enjoy it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.