A Duke of One’s Own
Summer, 1816. A notorious rebel is about to meet her match…
Lady Georgiana Pendlebury is no stranger to breaking the rules of polite society. But when a so-called ‘friend’ invites her to a clandestine party, Georgiana is shocked to discover the event is more scandalous than even she could have imagined. So when a mysterious stranger offers help, she accepts, not realizing their encounter will turn her life upside down.
Later that summer, Georgiana is invited to attend a house party at an infamous castle in Yorkshire. The gathering is a loosely veiled effort to arrange a marriage for the Duke of Northriding, who desperately needs an heir. Duke Gabriel Mauleverer has a terrible reputation as a rake, and Georgiana is happy to be a guest purely for the entertainment, but upon arrival, she is shocked to discover that the Duke is none other than the stranger who rescued her weeks earlier.
As the other ladies vie for the Duke’s attention, Georgiana is desperate to avoid their shocking secret getting out. But she finds herself caught, unable to avoid Gabriel’s gaze. Are they a threat to each other? Or could they be the answer to each other’s greatest desires?
Author Bio:
Emma Orchard is the author of several well-reviewed regency romance novels published by Allison & Busby. In her other life she is a literary agent. Her first book with Boldwood is a raunchy romp set in Regency London.
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Tracy’s Review:
A Duke of One’s Own by Emma Orchard
Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Release Date: April 22, 2024
Lady Georgiana “Georgie” Pendlebury seems to have knack for making bad decisions and finding trouble and her current dilemma is a prime example of that! Weeks ago, she found herself abandoned at a very risqué masquerade party and one bad decision led to another which ended in a very intimate encounter with a stranger and a night she will never forget. And now that decision has come back to bite her, when she finds herself at a house party to find a bride for the infamous Silver Duke – who just happens to be her mystery lover! Awkward! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your POV) the duke remembers her and soon decides that Georgie is the perfect bride! Passion won’t be a problem, but Georgie wants more and is sure that a match between them will only end in heartache.
Gabriel Mauleverer, the Duke of Northriding AKA the Silver Duke (thanks to his unusual eyes and the silver streaks in his ebony hair), is a well-known rake and content bachelor, but since the death of his younger brother and his cousin, he is without an heir and needs to find a bride. He lets his sister plan a house party with prospective brides and never imagines that his mysterious lady would be a guest – too bad she isn’t there as bride. He knows she doesn’t believe that they could be happy, but when they are caught in a compromising position, they are left with no choice but to wed. Now he just needs to convince her that they are perfect for each other.
This new to me author came through with a cute story with very likable characters. The story has secrets, witty banter, a very diverse cast of secondary characters, steamy love scenes, blackmail, realizations, life or death moments, and finally a soulmate type of love leading to HEA, complete with an epilogue. I enjoyed this story, but it wasn’t perfect, there were some dangling plot points, and some very anticlimactic moments. Overall, I liked the book and would happily recommend the title to readers who like steamy historical romances with feisty heroines and heroes who fall fast and hard.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
