Author: Emma Orchard
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: 22 April 2024
Pages: 304
Format: eBook - PDF
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: ARC via NetGalley
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 realising 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?
A Duke of One's Own was a mostly enjoyable Regency romance romp. I liked the story premise and the main characters, and I thought their relationship developed in a believable way within the confines of the setup. Perhaps the views of the characters sometimes felt a little too liberal for the period, but I was willing to overlook that in order to enjoy the story, and that was the only standout anachronism. This one is very much at the bodice-ripper end of the genre, so bear that in mind when deciding whether it's for you. The sex scenes were well-written, and some of them really did help to advance the plot and character development, but a couple felt a little extraneous. Overall, though, this was a quick, fun read and I am giving it four stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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