The Romanorum: Book Review: What A Duke Wants by Lavinia Kent

BLOG DISCLOSURE

The books I review here have been purchased by me, either second-hand or brand new or taken from my library or the rare occasion I win one on a blog.
Or ones I read from NetGalley.

Of course, these reviews are just my own opinion. Take from it what you will.

ADDENDUM: I will no longer be reviewing any ebooks. I no longer have the time and also since I am now a published author I feel it is a conflict of interest to review books from any publishing company I have dealings with. So I am taking ebooks completely off the table. I will post a star rating at Goodreads periodically for ebooks, but no written review.

~Karyn Gerrard

Some Info About This Blog

I have A TBR (To be read) pile that goes clear to the ceiling, also 2 boxes of used Romances that I haven't even cracked the covers yet. Plus I buy new releases. I know, I am cracked.

What this blog is about, anything and everything romance, I will do some short book reviews on books I have read (not always new releases) and should mention my first love is historicals.

Grab a cup of tea or some other comfort beverage, and have a browse around ~Karyn Gerrard

NOTE: I am now a published writer and find my book review time has been slashed considerably. Going forward I will probably only posting a few reviews from netgalley reads. I also am not taking any requests. Thanks!

Avon Romance Sept 27, 2011

384 pages Lavinia Kent

BLURB ON BACK OF BOOK:

What woman would refuse a Duke’s kiss?

Running from a dark secret past, Isabella Masters craves peace and stability, a life far from the prying eyes of society.
She does not dream of landing a lord.

But in the arms of a stranger with magnificent eyes, she loses herself in one breath-stealing kiss— only to discover she has been misled by a reluctant Duke.

Angered but enthralled, she dares not submit . . . though her passionate heart begs her to. He cannot wed her . . . but he must not lose her.

Only one possibility remains— one too scandalous to consider . . . yet too tempting to resist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First, I have to mention the cover, Nathan Kamp is aging nicely. What a sexy, sly look and it fits the hero of this book perfectly. Mark Smythe, Duke of Strattington is a reluctant duke, not at all comfortable with the strictures of a dukedom. One night at an inn, he overhears a woman talking about 'who covers a cock.'. A wonderful way to begin this story. Mark is of course, intrigued and when the young lady in question begins to bad mouth 'the duke' Mark pretends to be an employee. I was immediately caught up in this story and I did not read the previous books and found this very much a 'stand alone'.

The heroine, Isabella Masters, or 'Smith' as she is posing herself off as, is not a governess/nursemaid but your standard lady of the ton on the run for some perceived shameful and scandalous wrong. This has been used many times before, but hasn't everything?

Mark carries a lot of baggage, he isn't keen on being a Duke and makes a lot of decisions in this story that are questionable. Once the cat is out of the bag about his Dukedom, he coolly offers Isabella the position of mistress, which I suppose in a historical romance is a step up from a governess. Isabella is suitably appalled, but a small part of her wants to be in Mark's bed, and his bed would be a perfect place to hide from society and the law.

Mark is an amazing mix of an alpha and beta hero, at times it doesn't quite work, but for the most part I found his Jekyll and Hyde Duke endearing. Plus, Mark is sexy hot! The love scenes sizzle.

Isabella, while thoroughly enjoying the sizzling hot Duke in the bed chamber, her inner conflict on being a mistress and being on the run was well portrayed. The conflict in this story was real and palatable.
I won't give away the ending, it had a real fairy tale feel to it. This was a fine read, and even though the characters do questionable things along the way, they certainly redeemed themselves at the end.

3.50 stars out of 4