The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter Series: Wicked Trilogy, #3
Published by Jove Publication Date: May 31st 2016
Pages: 400
Also in this series: Tall, Dark and Wicked
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Third in the roguishly intriguing series by the New York Times bestselling author of Tall, Dark, and Wicked and His Wicked Reputation…
She appeals to his wicked inclinations, but he never expects she might snare his heart…
Suspected of his brother’s murder, Lancelot Hemingford, Duke of Aylesbury, was forced to give up his hell-raising habits in London for the anonymity of quiet country living. So, when an opportunity arises to clear his name in exchange for proposing to the niece of a neighbor, he sees no choice but to accept. Plus, seducing the reluctant maiden will be a most intriguing challenge…
As Marianne Radley is dependent on her uncle, she must accept the Duke’s marriage proposal at her family’s request, despite her belief he is irredeemably wicked. But along with marrying him, she intends to sniff out the duke’s unsavory secrets and expose them to the world: a plan that would be flawless were it not for one minor detail—even she, with all her determination, is not immune to the charms of a rakish duke…
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
Madeline Hunter is a new author for me and I am so glad that I gave her, The Wicked Duke, a chance. Lance is a bad boy who has been elevated to Duke with the recent death of his brother, but there is a cloud of suspicion hanging over him due to circumstances. Marianne is the impoverished niece of his neighbor.
The story that follows starts slowly and initially feels fairly typical for a historical fiction work set in the period. Lance and Marianne are both interesting characters that are fun to get to know. She is slightly older than most young women of “marriageable” age and considers herself to be “on the shelve” both due to age and circumstance. That attitude has left her to be slightly feistier than one would expect.
Circumstances in Lance’s life have created a situation where Marianne’s uncle holds power he normally wouldn’t and he uses that to force a relationship between the two. Lance doesn’t fight it because he is attracted to and intrigued by her.
The well written story includes some suspense, intrigue, friendship, and a marriage of convenience that turns into a true romance. I enjoyed getting to know both characters and the supporting cast surrounding them. The Wicked Duke is the third book in a series, but it reads very well all on its own. This was a great treat for historical fiction lovers and I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Hunter’s work.
Elizabeth
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