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The Duchess of Love (Duchess of Love 0.5)
A Duke In Disguise
The day was as hot as the pond was inviting. It's not as if anyone in Little Huffington was going to happen upon a secluded vale on the Duke of Greycliffe's lands. And Venus Collingswood didn't want to get her shift all wet. It was the perfect setting in which to plan her lovely bookworm of a sister's betrothal to the mysterious new duke arriving seven da...more
The day was as hot as the pond was inviting. It's not as if anyone in Little Huffington was going to happen upon a secluded vale on the Duke of Greycliffe's lands. And Venus Collingswood didn't want to get her shift all wet. It was the perfect setting in which to plan her lovely bookworm of a sister's betrothal to the mysterious new duke arriving seven da...more
ebook, 93 pages
Published
April 24th 2012
by Zebra
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review first posted on Demon Lover's Books & More
3.5
You can read this either before or after Bedding Lord Ned and Surprising Lord Jack, but it’s more fun to read it after Bedding Lord Ned just because it gives you a glimpse into the Duke and Duchess before they had children.
Here we see Venus, who will later become known as the Duchess of Love, trying to pull her sister out of her books and towards some eligible men. Living in a small town, and being daughters of a vicar aren’t really conduc...more
3.5
You can read this either before or after Bedding Lord Ned and Surprising Lord Jack, but it’s more fun to read it after Bedding Lord Ned just because it gives you a glimpse into the Duke and Duchess before they had children.
Here we see Venus, who will later become known as the Duchess of Love, trying to pull her sister out of her books and towards some eligible men. Living in a small town, and being daughters of a vicar aren’t really conduc...more
A short, cute & humorous, very fun to read historical romance with a case of mistaken identity or mistaken assumption & love at first sight.
The Duke of Greycliffe, Andrew (Drew) Valentine & his cousin, Mr. Nigel Valentine arrived at the former's inherited property Hyndon Hall at Little Huffington where the housekeeper mistook Mr. Valentine (Nigel) as the duke since he is older (28) than Drew who's only 21. Drew took advantage of this mistake since he wanted to experience how it is to...more
The Duke of Greycliffe, Andrew (Drew) Valentine & his cousin, Mr. Nigel Valentine arrived at the former's inherited property Hyndon Hall at Little Huffington where the housekeeper mistook Mr. Valentine (Nigel) as the duke since he is older (28) than Drew who's only 21. Drew took advantage of this mistake since he wanted to experience how it is to...more
Jul 01, 2012
Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Although this is a prequel to Bedding Lord Ned showing us how the Duchess of Love, matchmaker extradonnaire, the hero's mother and the Duke met and fell in love. I would recommend reading this after having read Bedding Lord Ned, or atleast I liked reading this knowing what is going to happen in the future and seeing them just as in love as they are when the novella ends, it made the romance that did seem a little bit rushed (it was love at first sight) seem more viable.
It is hard to judge it th...more
It is hard to judge it th...more
This review is also posted on Always a Booklover
Note: This is just gonna be a really short review. I simply have way too many reviews to write and not enough time
The Duchess of Love was a very fun read. I did wish it hadn’t been a novella though, there was a lot of scope for the plot development. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading it. When I first saw the blurb, I just knew I had to read it. It seemed like everything I would enjoy. I mean, mistaken identity, headstrong heroine, what’s not...more
Note: This is just gonna be a really short review. I simply have way too many reviews to write and not enough time
The Duchess of Love was a very fun read. I did wish it hadn’t been a novella though, there was a lot of scope for the plot development. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading it. When I first saw the blurb, I just knew I had to read it. It seemed like everything I would enjoy. I mean, mistaken identity, headstrong heroine, what’s not...more
I got a flash of the image from the classic BBC Pride and Prejudice moment when Mr. Darcy dives into the pond at Pemberly when Drew (Andrew Valentine, Duke of Greycliffe) jumps in the water to save Venus Collingswood when he thinks she is drowning.
Of course they're both in their birthday suits (aka butt naked!) what else would you expect from the author that wrote the Naked Nobles series like Sally MacKenzie Bundle: The Naked Earl, the Naked Gentleman, the Naked Marquis, the Naked Baron, the Nak...more
Of course they're both in their birthday suits (aka butt naked!) what else would you expect from the author that wrote the Naked Nobles series like Sally MacKenzie Bundle: The Naked Earl, the Naked Gentleman, the Naked Marquis, the Naked Baron, the Nak...more
May 09, 2013
Lover of Romance
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance,
regency
The Duchess of Love is a short novella that was included in the book Bedding Lord Ned. This short story is about Venus and Drew (Ned's Parents) and their love story. I wanted to do a separate review for this one, I found I really liked this one even if it was a bit short, with only being 97 pages. There was a sense of charm and sweet feeling to the story. Venus is well known in her country town as the matchmaker of love. When the Duke of Greycliff comes to town, she decides to try to set him up...more
I was drawn to the general plot, wanting to know how it ends just to satisfy my curiosity. Funny, bold, but not believable. This was more like historians acting in a modern way. Like watching highschool kids in an amateur play, entertaining enough, just not gratifying as a professional Broadway performance. They were kids acting like adults. And making adult decisions.
The writing seemed forced, it was amusing. Yet didn't have that lovely British sarcasm. . . "snarky-charm" I call it. "Snarky" w...more
The writing seemed forced, it was amusing. Yet didn't have that lovely British sarcasm. . . "snarky-charm" I call it. "Snarky" w...more
When I read a novella, I still expect it to contain a good story. From what I could gather, The Duchess of Love is a small prequel and the namesake of Sally MacKenzie’s new series - the Duchess of Love is actually the mother of the hero in the first book, Bedding Lord Ned. The story was somewhat cute, and a little funny, but it left me unsatisfied. I think the problem for me was the age of the hero. Younger heroes are a harder sell for me, and I just couldn’t buy into the young Andrew, Duke of...more
This could have been a wonderful full-length novel. Im actually quite disappointed because i didn't realize this was a novella until I was ten minutes in and 50% finished.
Venus was a great spunky character and I felt slighted to not get to know her better. I also feel there should be a story devoted to Aphrodite, instead of rushing through a novella to set up a novel that takes place a generation later.
It would've been interesting to read a novel about a very young duke and the hardships in his...more
Venus was a great spunky character and I felt slighted to not get to know her better. I also feel there should be a story devoted to Aphrodite, instead of rushing through a novella to set up a novel that takes place a generation later.
It would've been interesting to read a novel about a very young duke and the hardships in his...more
Included at the end of Bedding Lord Ned, this novella shows how Venus Collingswood became Venus Valentine, Duchess of Love (technically, the Duchess of Greycliffe). Though short, I thought MacKenzie developed the characters well (though that could have, in part, been because they were featured in the longer novel.
Venus first meets her husband-to-be while they're skinny-dipping (separately;) he sees her slip and fall and erroneously believes she will be unable to save herself. Not knowing that he...more
Venus first meets her husband-to-be while they're skinny-dipping (separately;) he sees her slip and fall and erroneously believes she will be unable to save herself. Not knowing that he...more
I'm all for trying new authors so when this author was recommended to me I started looking for her books in all the used bookstores I frequent but I just never saw any so when this one came up as a kindle freebie I jumped on it.
I was actually surprised by how much I liked this book considering its a take on the classic Pride & Prejudice and we all know that I detest Pride & Prejudice (I know it's shocking) and all the re-tellings of it really don't help endear the original to me.
However...more
I was browsing through Goodreads looking for books with dogs on the cover (my personal reading challenge this year) when I found this short but really amusing story about a duke who wants to be a simple man for a day or two. When visiting his country estate for the first time his housekeeper assumes that his cousin Nigel, who is about ten years older than Drew, is the duke. So, he just switches places with the man. Of course this is the day Drew meets the love of his life - a skinny dipping vica...more
A fun, little novella. Short, but the characters were interesting enough to keep me entertained. I loved the sisters' names - Venus and Aphrodite - and that Venus was willing to grab onto life with both hands. Or at least she was willing to strip off her clothes and swim in the buff. That takes some serious guts when we're in this sort of historical.
This book was a free Kindle download I picked up 06/04/12 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
This book was a free Kindle download I picked up 06/04/12 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
view 1 comment
A cute short story. When Drew, Duke of Greycliff, arrives in the small town of Little Huffington and is quickly mistaken for his cousin, he jumps at the chance to be around people who see him for who he is instead of graveling at the feet of 'your Grace.' But when he comes upon a naked goddess falling into a pond he then realizes he want snothing more than to be with Venus and hopes she can love him for who he is on the inside. When he decides to tell her who he really is, he hopes she can love...more
This was a short, fun, sweet novella that I really enjoyed. Venus Collingswood decides to go for a dip in her neighbors lake one last time before the new owners arrive in a few days. Besides, her dog is having fun in the water and it is blasted hot out. Just as she is about to dive in, she slips and is grabbed up by some very strong arms....male arms of a man just as unclothed as she is. Quite a fun interaction occurs and even though the man identifies himself as the new duke, Venus thinks he is...more
6 likes · like · see review
It is quite clear MacKenzie is a fan of Colin Firth diving in the pond at Pemberley... so it's a good thing I am as well ;) As I read this novella, I could just picture all the events of the story happening on the set of Pride and Prej - in fact, the beginning few lines had me expecting someone to cry "Netherfield Park is let at last!".
P&P aside, I enjoyed the story, although things progressed incredibly quickly for them to be credible, particularly for the period. The cover is pretty, too,...more
P&P aside, I enjoyed the story, although things progressed incredibly quickly for them to be credible, particularly for the period. The cover is pretty, too,...more
Dec 21, 2012
Melissa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ebook,
historical-romance
Freebie short story that introduces a character that is a focus of a later work. Venus is a vicar's daughter who finds herself in a compromising situation with a gentleman she's just met. She mistakes him for the cousin of the duke that is coming to visit his estate. The man in question is the actual Duke but he wishes to maintain the illusion that he is his cousin. He thinks this will give him a sense of freedom; to be himself rather than a title.
This was sooooo cute! I know it's the #0.5 novel of the series, but I'm glad I read it second. After seeing how Venus is with her children in the first book, Bedding Lord Ned, it's fun to go back in time and see how married life began for her. I just love her spunkiness, and I love knowing that it doesn't disappear with age.
I can't wait for Jack's story to come out!
I can't wait for Jack's story to come out!
The Duchess of Love is Historical Romance Short Stories which grabs you from the start and could have been a better story if it had more of an ending the story ends very abruptly. Just a few more pages t tell and explain what happen to the other characters in the story would have been great. especially since this short story about the Duchess of Love and her matchmaking schemes leads to an entire series, involving her future sons.
Check out the full review @ The Brunette Librarian's Blog
A case of mistaken identity paired with a young duke and a sensitive young lady equals a dramatic romance with a happy ending. Short and sweet, you enjoy the characters, but beyond that its fairly normal and unremarkable. A fun beginning to a series and if you are going to continue to with the second “Bedding Lord Ned,” that features Venus’ son Ned, I think this one is required. Fun, flirty and fast folks :)
A case of mistaken identity paired with a young duke and a sensitive young lady equals a dramatic romance with a happy ending. Short and sweet, you enjoy the characters, but beyond that its fairly normal and unremarkable. A fun beginning to a series and if you are going to continue to with the second “Bedding Lord Ned,” that features Venus’ son Ned, I think this one is required. Fun, flirty and fast folks :)
I totally love anything Sally MacKenzie writes....always such fun characters lurking between her sheets...er...pages...and you know someone is going to get naked too! Loved thisr novella, a prelude to her new Duchess of Love series. Drew and Venus will appear in the next book coming in June. Personally, I can't wait. So do yourself a favor and pick up this quick read and enjoy a few hours of fun with Sally and her friends.
I suppose it's somewhat unfair to give this a two. But Courtney Milan's governess novella launching her new series just blew this one completely out of the pond by which our h/h do the deep somewhat precipitously.
Hijinks ensue after a naked meeting of the Duke of Greycliffe and the vicar's daughter, Venus. (I know.)
The good news is the series teaser chapter looks like it might be a winner.
Hijinks ensue after a naked meeting of the Duke of Greycliffe and the vicar's daughter, Venus. (I know.)
The good news is the series teaser chapter looks like it might be a winner.
May 06, 2012
Shawna
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of light historical romance
Shelves:
e-book,
anthologies-novellas-shorts,
historical-romance,
historical-romance-regency,
sally-mackenzie,
2012-reads,
4-stars,
animals-matter,
brothers-sisters-cousins-family,
feel-good-read-pick-me-upper,
hero-beta,
hero-duke-heir-to-dukedom,
hero-gentleman,
hero-titled-wealthy-lord,
heroine-bluestocking-unconventional,
heroine-commoner-lower-class,
heroine-country-lass,
heroine-girl-next-door,
heroine-hoyden,
heroine-kickass-spirited-strong,
heroine-naïve-virgin-like-a-virgin,
heroine-plucky-lively-feisty-spunky,
hh-aristocracy-nobility-royalty,
hh-smart-intellectual-brainy-geek,
hh-social-class-wealth-matters,
humorous-at-times-or-fluffy-fun,
i-read-kindle,
kindle,
masquerade-hide-your-face-identity,
revenge-deception-secrets-lies,
steam-1-tepid,
sweet-romance-left-smile-on-my-face,
satisfying-secondary-romance
4 stars – Historical Romance Novella
Cute, winsome story! This is the first I've read by this author and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
And I might give the author's Naked Nobility series a try at some point as well.
Note: According to the author's website, this prequel novella will be included in the print version of the first book, Bedding Lord Ned.
Cute, winsome story! This is the first I've read by this author and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
And I might give the author's Naked Nobility series a try at some point as well.
Note: According to the author's website, this prequel novella will be included in the print version of the first book, Bedding Lord Ned.
10 likes · like · see review
I don't normally like these short novellas much. But this one was an exception. I enjoyed Drew, the Duke of Greycliffe, as he switched places with his cousin Nigel just to have a little peace. And then Venus, the vicar's daughter, falls in love with him not realizing who he really is.
The story was humorous and touching. A nice, satisfying read.
The story was humorous and touching. A nice, satisfying read.
This was a fun short read with many of the elements familiar to romance readers: mistaken identity, vicar's daughters, matchmaking machinations, and interfering wicked mistresses.
It is an introduction to a new series which will probably be fun. I have not read this author before, so it was nice to get this one on Kindle for a bargain price.
It is an introduction to a new series which will probably be fun. I have not read this author before, so it was nice to get this one on Kindle for a bargain price.
Purchased for free on Amazon Kindle on June 4, 2012. Read for The Unread Reader's Why Buy the Cow reading challenge.
Cute little novella that provided good insight into MacKenzie's writing style and what to expect from her new series. I liked the two main characters and am excited to see what their lives are like down the road. My biggest complaint is that it felt so short and, therefore, rushed especially at the end. I enjoyed the plot (though it was far-fetched) and would like to have seen it...more
Cute little novella that provided good insight into MacKenzie's writing style and what to expect from her new series. I liked the two main characters and am excited to see what their lives are like down the road. My biggest complaint is that it felt so short and, therefore, rushed especially at the end. I enjoyed the plot (though it was far-fetched) and would like to have seen it...more
Jun 08, 2012
Sandy
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
e-books,
library-books
I didn't think it was going to be that short of a book but it was an ok read. I agree with another reviewer that their age was a problem. Like the reviewer said it's kind of hard for me to believe that a 19 year old is love and stays in love.
I thought this was a very entertaining read. I had already read "Bedding Lord Ned", but it did not take anything way from this story.
I wish this had been a full length book, there were plenty of interesting characters we could have learned more about. Venus was a engaging character right off and I would have liked to follow her along for awhile longer, and Aphrodite what happens to her?
All in all I enjoyed this novella and will look for more of this author's books.
I wish this had been a full length book, there were plenty of interesting characters we could have learned more about. Venus was a engaging character right off and I would have liked to follow her along for awhile longer, and Aphrodite what happens to her?
All in all I enjoyed this novella and will look for more of this author's books.
This was an entertaining story, but would have been better as a full length novel. I'm disappointed by the brevity when the author had such great characterization and conflict going.
I probably wouldn't have read this if I had known in advance it was so short. But I was happy I did read it. It was a humorous romance. I wanted to have more of the story to read when it was finished.
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Sally MacKenzie decided to become a writer in grade school when she read one of her stories to the class. Her classmates laughed and she was hooked. She sat down immediately to pen her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, a...more
More about Sally MacKenzie...
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, a...more
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