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What a Duke Wants

by Lavinia Kent (Goodreads Author)

3.62 of 5 stars 3.62 · rating details · 124 ratings · 21 reviews

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...more

ebook, 384 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by Avon

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Nov 08, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance-regency-england

WHAT A DUKE WANTS by Lavinia Kent is an exciting and interesting historical romance set in Middleham,England 1821. It is the story of Isabella Masters(Isabella Smith) and Mark Smythe,the Duke of Strattington. Whenm Mark Smythe, Duke of Strattington, overhears a young woman muttering about "who covers a cock?",while escaping to a horse barn,how could he not be aroused. Isabella, is running from a dark secret,working as a governess to a small infant,and has escaped to the horse barn,where she meet...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Vanetta Quintana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After waiting almost three years for this book to be released.... I can say it was 100% worth the wait!

If the first line of the book "who covers a cock?" don't get you interested to "read" I don't know what will!

This is a very interesting and entertaining story with some mystery, suspense and a lot of sex appeal...

Isabella Masters "Smith" left the scene a few books back and now after three books she appears, and finds herself traveling back to her past. In the mist of this she finds her "prince"...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Janga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a Duke Wants is a thematically rich novel with interesting characters and sustained suspense. Watching Isabella and Mark discover significant things about one another even as they protected their secrets was a joy. I found Isabella a particularly sympathetic character. Her reasons for running away are credible, and surviving on her own given her youth and inexperience is a testament to her strength. I did have some problems with Mark. His unease with his title and his feeling that who he is...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-story, historical, romance

Isabella Masters isn't thrilled to be nursemaid to a harridan like Mrs. Wattington. However, it's better than going back to her family. Yes, they're good ton but they also didn't support her when she... well, that's a (view spoiler).
So, when a handsome man offers her a few moments of happiness, Isabella jumps on board. She's not excited to find out he's the Duke of Strattington. When he was a simple groom, she had hopes of marrying hi...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, review, read-in-2011

Review posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/10/03/...

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: NetGalley

I had the pleasure of being able to read this book while on vacation in London, so I have to admit to being in the spirit of historical regency romance books while I read this one.

Isabella is on the run from her past, hiding out as a wetnurse for families in the country, but when the woman she is working for is called back to London, Isabella starts to worry that her pas...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Thelma Banzhoff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After much waiting, Isabella’s story is here! You will not be disappointed.

In this tale we find Miss Isabella Masters, who has deliberately disappeared from her home and family. She is a nursemaid traveling on her way to London with her charge (Oh, no, not London!) when into the picture steps Mark, an estate agent. Isabella is keeping a few secrets, but then Mark has at least one big secret of his own.

What will Isabella decide to do about Mark? What will Mark decide to do about Isabella?

To fin...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kent-lavinia

Another really good Regency romance. The hero, Mark, was a most reluctant duke. He never wanted the title and had received it when his cousin unexpectedly dies. And he is not comfortable with it. He meets the heroine, Isabella, at an inn. She is working as a nursery maid and has taken her charge to the stables one night to walk with him so he wouldn't wake the entire family with his crying. Mark is there because he is unable to sleep. They start talking and develop a friendship, neither one awar...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, regency, romance

A nice twist on the typical regency tale. The heroine falls in love with a man named Mark, whom she believes is just an ordinary man. It turns out he's a Duke. Not quite as lovely. She doesn't tell him she's actually the granddaughter of an Earl so he offers to make her his mistress because he can't marry a peasant. Despite all of this they truly fall in love.
Some aspects of the story are a stretch, but it was a fun read.

And an added bonus, the book never describes the heroine as coltish nor d...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Reading Romances rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a Duke Wants is a very lovely, exciting and captivating tale.

Isabella and Mark are incredible together! I loved all their dialogues and every little interaction between them. This book is packed with twists that will delight and surprise the reader. Lavinia Kent has the power to create scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat desperatly turning the pages to know what will happen next. It has hints of mystery and suspense but they never overgrow the fact that it's a very HOT roman...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, historical, read-2012, adult

Posted at Oh My Books!

I decided to read What a Duke Wants following the reviews. Almost all said this was a great book, so why not? I was not disappointed.

Isabella has a secret past that can't be discovered by anyone. She just want an easy life, away from society. So when she meets the man of her dreams, she's very sure he's going to ask her to marry him and have a wonderful life.

Mark doesn't know how to be a Duke. He just want some nice and quiet time alone when he met Isabella. She's beautiful...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Karyn Gerrard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 immedi...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Rowena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

This book solves the mystery of what happened to Isabella Masters. If you've read the other books in this series that feature Isabella's siblings than you might have been looking forward to this book. I didn't read either of the other books and so I didn't even know that all of the mystery behind Isabella's past from this book was talked about in previous books. Well, I should say that going into this book I didn't know but as I read through this book, I started picking up on the details that we...more This book solves the mystery of what happened to Isabella Masters. If you've read the other books in this series that feature Isabella's siblings than you might have been looking forward to this book. I didn't read either of the other books and so I didn't even know that all of the mystery behind Isabella's past from this book was talked about in previous books. Well, I should say that going into this book I didn't know but as I read through this book, I started picking up on the details that were screaming at me, "You're reading this series out of order again". Really, all I could do was sigh because that seems to be my thing these days.

Oh well, that didn't stop me from enjoying this book. From the beginning of the book where we meet Isabella griping about the uppity duke who can't sleep so she has to bring her young charge to the stables to quiet him down in the cold night had me laughing and when she starts griping to the actual duke unknowingly, I knew that I was going to enjoy this book.

Isabella was one of those heroines that I spent a great deal of the book trying to figure out. I knew that I liked her but trying to piece her secret together made for an entertaining way to spend reading this book. The way that her thought processes moved at a lightning speed made me smile while reading this book, she thinks fast and she talks fast and I liked her.

Mark had my heart from the moment he took Baby Joseph into his arms and held him while Isabella got some rest. From that moment on, I just knew that I was going to love him and I did. He was just so yummy. I loved the easy way he was with Isabella, I loved seeing his inner struggle with his attraction to her at first and then watching him grow to care and then love Isabella was just too sweet for words.

This book has definitely shown me that I'm missing out on not reading more Lavinia Kent. Outside of the Real Duchesses of London books, I haven't read very many of her books. Just haven't been in the mood for them, I guess but I hope to fix that soon. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading many more books by this author. My only gripe with this story was that if Isabella's story started in the other books, her reunion with her family was kind of short. I wanted more page time with her family but outside of that, this was a great historical story and I'm glad that I read it.(less)

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Nov 07, 2011 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At Heart website:

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

We finally have Isabella's happily-ever-after, but you won't be lost if you don't read the previous books in the series. However, I'm one of those people that just loves to read them in order, because the family dynamic is something I can't get enough of when it comes to series of any kind.

Isabella Masters has been on the run from bad men for a while now, and under those circumstances, it is imperative she h...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, historical-romance, lavinia-kent

Escaping to the horse barn one night, Mark Smythe, Duke of Strattington, overhears a young woman muttering about "who covers a cock?" and naturally his interest is quite ummm, aroused. The woman in question is Isabella Masters, or Isabella Smith as she introduces herself to this man whom she believes has come to the barn to take care of the problem that is bothering the high and might Duke. Little does she know she is rambling on to the actual duke about his wretched steward man and all his ridi...more Escaping to the horse barn one night, Mark Smythe, Duke of Strattington, overhears a young woman muttering about "who covers a cock?" and naturally his interest is quite ummm, aroused. The woman in question is Isabella Masters, or Isabella Smith as she introduces herself to this man whom she believes has come to the barn to take care of the problem that is bothering the high and might Duke. Little does she know she is rambling on to the actual duke about his wretched steward man and all his ridiculous rules. Isabella is a nursemaid on the run from a shameful and torrid past and she finds it utterly unfathomable that a duke would think himself so much better than anyone else that he would send a nursemaid out to the barn with the baby until the baby is quiet. As Isabella is prattling on, Mark is instantly drawn to her. He does not get a chance to say he is the duke, but a very unexpected one as he inherited from his late uncle after his death and his sons death, and all those horrid rules were the old dukes way of life. Not Marks. Instead Mark is able to feel like himself...not like his new title and rules in life and he enjoys the way Isabella talks to him. Just him.

As Isabellas employer, Mrs. Wattingham, is on the way to the kings coronation and Mark just happens to be going there as well, he conveniently arrives at all the same inns as Isabella and they continue to meet in the horse stables and continue their acquaintance. They only talk (well, for the most part..there are a few hot kisses) as Mark knows he needs to confess the full extent of his identity but the opportunity never presents itself until one very steamy encounter later in which they are discovered together does the whole truth about Mark become revealed to Isabella. Isabella is naturally shocked and hurt and when her employer tosses her out, Mark becomes her only option of survival. She is running from her family and needs funds to stay hidden and when Mark presents an opportunity, she is unable to refuse, though her heart wants too.

This was my first full length Lavinia Kent novel and it was full of steamy goodness! Even though the hidden identity isn't a favorite of mine, it worked in this story. Mark was well aware of the fact he needed to tell Isabella the truth but at the same time Isabella is hiding her own secrets and it takes her quite a bit of time to finally let Mark in. Both had valid reasons for why they did what they did though and it helped me enjoy the storyline. Now, I wanted to smack Mark upside the head a few times with his treatment of Isabella after they are discovered. He is having a hard time adjusting to being the duke and what is expected of him and his friends have to tell him a few times that he is the duke...he tells people what to do and they listen to him, not the other way around. Mark wants to offer Isabella the happy little cottage in the country together but feels like it is to beneath him as a duke. Oh, but when he finally stands up for Isabella at a very public ball (Isabellas past had finally caught up to her at this point and her situation was being resolved) it was so...perfect! Mark knew that Isabella loved him for him, not the duke status, and he showed his love for her in a most fitting way. And the epilogue left a big, happy smile on my face for the wonderful new duke that emerged from underneath so much pressure who loves the woman who helped him realize his full potential. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more! 4 stars

I received this ebook from the publisher via netgalley.com(less)

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Sep 22, 2011 Stella rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, for-review, historical, romance

One novel was enough to make me a die hard fan of Lavinia Kent and everything I have read from her since reinforced my appreciation and enthusiasm for her writing. What a Duke Wants is a great sensual and cute historical romance, one I gobbled up in less than a day it was so addictive.

I give What a Duke Wants 4.5 stars.

My review will be posted soon.

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Oct 28, 2011 Cecilia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A true "it was OK." It started promisingly, but then didn't fulfill the promise. Too much purple melodrama. Too much ickyness in the hero's behaviour. Too unsatisfying a grovel.

All in all, it wasn't as awful as the cover and its cheesy fonts suggest, but also far from as good as the reviews I've seen promised.

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Jan 14, 2012 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-2011, romance-regency

This was such a childish book. I was so disappointed especially after Peter and Violet's book. Isabella is unbelievable as a heroine, really how did she survive on her own for three years? Mark what a disappointment...he didn't ever do anything.

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Feb 16, 2013 Paula Chhetri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was ok. Just ok. There were lots of things that just didn't fit for this book for me. Mainly the end drama wasn't very dramatic at all. Big climax to a little solution. *shrug* It was ok, but not memorable.

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Jan 16, 2013 Vicki rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story was very slow to me, it finally picked up towards the end. It was one of those books I just kept thinking hurry let me finish this and be done with it.

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Feb 28, 2012 Geulis rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: period-romance

Horrible book

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Sep 09, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Nice book..review to come

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Jan 25, 2013 Marya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Or 3.5.

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May 13, 2013 Brenna marked it as in-queue-bf · review of another edition

May 12, 2013 Katrina marked it as to-read

Shelves: historical-georgian

May 05, 2013 Angelina Clemments marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 03, 2013 Kat marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 01, 2013 Lorena Haro rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Apr 29, 2013 Tina Denson marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 27, 2013 Miranda King rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Apr 25, 2013 Runbarbrun rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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About Lavinia Kent

I live in Washington, DC with my husband, kids, two cats and a changing menagerie of other small beasts.

I worked in both the arts and in the business world before giving into my love of story telling after the birth of my oldest -- although it wasn't until after the birth of my youngest when I suddenly had full-time childcare that it all came together for me.

I love discussing books -- almost any b...more

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Kathryn, The Kitten: The Real Duchesses of London

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