Tag: Scarlett Scott

The Detective Duke by Scarlett Scott

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Detective Duke (Unexpected Lords #1)

Barbara’s rating: 4.3 out of 5 Stars
Series: Unexpected Lord’s #1
Publication Date: 11/18/21
Period: Victorian – 1886 – London and Buckinghamshire
Number of Pages: 318

I thoroughly enjoyed this first-in-series book by a new-to-me author. The title and premise sounded intriguing, so, of course, I was excited to read the book. We have Hudson Stone, a very successful Detective Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard who absolutely loves his profession – yet, out of the blue, he finds out he’s now the Duke of Wycombe. Bummer that! Then, we have Lady Elysande Collingwood, who was betrothed to the previous duke, not because it was a love match, but because her parents said she had to marry and he was as good as any other male. So, in her view – the new duke will do just fine as well.

I liked Elysande who was brilliant, independent, determined, and at the same time vulnerable and insecure. I really liked Hudson also – because the poor guy just had his whole world turned upside down when they tracked him down as the heir to a Duchy. He didn’t care for aristocrats – and suddenly he was one – and a penniless one to boot. Can he and Elysande make a go of it? You’ll just have to read it and see.

Making a go of it won’t be easy when Hudson takes off to London to help capture an escaped criminal – his last case. Then, he is accused of murder – and another – and … Elysand can just walk away and let it be – or she can believe in him and help prove his innocence. Which will it be? You’ll just have to read it and see.

This was fast-paced, well-written, very spicy, and romantic. I absolutely loved the supporting characters – especially Elysande’s family – and I believe several (maybe all) of them will be featured in future books in the series. I enjoyed the read so much that I purchased the second book as soon as I finished this one. Happy Reading!

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Nobody’s Duke by Scarlett Scott

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

Nobody's Duke (League of Dukes Book 1)Nobody’s Duke by Scarlett Scott

Series: League of Dukes #1
Publication Date: 1/8/19
Number of Pages: 277

This is an absolutely lovely second chance romance. Two wonderful young people who were very much in love and were torn apart by a nasty fiend. Eight years later, they get their chance to find love with each other again. The story is well written and excellently delivered. I loved both of the main characters and could absolutely feel the love they had for each other even after all that was done to them. Great read.

The story jumps back and forth in time – part of it telling the events of eight years earlier and part of it telling their current story. The main setting is London in 1882 – during the time the Irish Finians are using terrorism to gain home rule for Ireland. Many of their tactics are the same as terrorists use today.

Clayton Ludlow is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Carlisle. The duke raised Clay alongside his legitimate son. The Duke loved Clay’s mother and they all lived together as a family – leaving the Duke’s cold and unfeeling wife on her own. I didn’t understand the little I saw of Clay’s brother, Leo. He was raised in a very loving home with a woman who loved him and treated him as if he were her own. However, he appears to be very aloof and unfeeling in this book. I guess we’ll learn more about him in the next book.

Lady Araminta (Ara) Winters is the youngest child of the Earl of Wickham. She’s bright, funny, loving, and unspoiled. It is kind of hard to imagine her being so sweet given the parents she has. She had two seasons but just hasn’t found anyone who curled her toes.

When she’s out riding one day Araminta sees the most gorgeous young man running down the path. She conceals herself so she can admire him without being seen. She returns the next day and the next and the next before he finally confronts her. They spend more and more time together and fall in love with each other. They finally make plans to marry without her father’s consent and agreed to meet at dawn to leave. Dastardly deeds intervene and each thinks the other has betrayed them.

Eight years later, Clay works for an elite organization in the Home Office and Ara has just become the widow of a duke who was killed by the Finians. The Finians are now threatening Ara’s life as well and the Home Office assigns Clay to her protection. He fights the assignment, but in the end, he has no choice but to accept.

It was a wonderful time watching these two very lovely people find that their love had never died. They slowly come to realize what happened to them all those years ago and they realize that they can now have all they lost.

I definitely recommend this book!

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