Hazardous to a Duke’s Heart: Lords of Hazard, Book 1 by Sabrina Jeffries

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Lords of Hazard, #1

Release Date: April 29, 2025

At the age of 18, Lord Jonathan “Jon” Leighton, the third son of the Duke of Falconridge set out on his Grand Tour with his tutor/mentor, Dr. Issac Morris, but while in France, war breaks out and he and Morris are captured by Napoleon’s soldiers and held as prisoners for 11 long years. On the day of their release, Morris lays dying from an injury sustained while attempting an escape with Jon and two of his friends, 3 years ago, an escape that was ruined when they were betrayed. He begs Jon to make sure his daughter Victoria is taken care of, as it is clear he will not be returning to England. Morris’ death lays heavy on Jon, he blames himself, believing Morris only tried to escape because of Jon. Jon returns to England to learn that he is now the Duke of Falconridge and Victoria “Tory” Morris is his sister Chloe’s governess. Jon is stunned by Tory and knows that if she ever knew that it was his fault her father died, she would want nothing to do with him, so it would be best if he married her off as soon as possible. He tells her that her father left her some money for a dowry and convinces his mother to sponsor her “come out”. It should be simple, but he wants her for himself and is having trouble keeping track of his lies, while trying to learn his new duties and tracking down the person who betrayed him and his friends in France, oh and there is the small fact that Tory doesn’t want to marry.

Victoria “Tory” Morris began working the Duchess after her mother died and knows that her time is coming to an end as Chloe is in her second season and has no need for a governess. She is shocked (and a bit suspicious) when Jon tells her of the “dowry” her father left for her, but she doesn’t want to marry, what she wants is to open a school for women artists. Tory is an artist and specializes in sculpture. Tells Jon of her dream and is surprised when he says he will consider giving her the money, IF she attends the rest of the season and tries to find a husband. She agrees if he will take sculpture lessons with her. He agrees and she presses him for information about her father; not sure she believes his stories. But Tory has secrets of her own and her reason for not wanting to marry is due to much more than just wanting to pursue her art. She falls hard for Jon, but he is keeping things from her, and she isn’t sure she can trust him with her heart. But can she live without him?

This was a good start to a new series, steeped with history and enlightening readers of the challenges and hardships of the English détenus held in France during the Napoleonic wars. But is much more than an history lesson, it is a charming romance filled with wonderful characters, lies, secrets, heartache, betrayal, witty banter, a slightly ditzy duchess, great secondary characters, warmish love scenes, surprises that ends with an HEA and includes an epilogue. I had this book in audiobook format and thought the narrator (Beverley A. Crick) did a very good job, although she did make Jon sound like an old man – but overall, her voices were great, and her reading cadence was paced perfectly. I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend this book. In fact, I am already looking forward to the next installment!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *