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The Dangerous Duke (Series #2)

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 112 ratings · 21 reviews

She seeks justice. He, revenge. And they'll never guess what they find...

A Daring Diary

Trapped in a loveless marriage, Lady Kate Fairchild found refuge in her diary, scene of her fantasy affair. And now, even though her husband's death has set her free, no suitor can thrill Kate quite like her phantom lover—until a duke with a murky past sears her with his gaze.

A Dangerous...more

Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages

Published September 2nd 2008 by Berkley Sensation

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Sep 14, 2008 Julie (jjmachshev) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-reads, queuemyreview

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Sep08

During the late regency period in England, there were fears of a ‘British Revolution’. Remember that not so long before this time the ‘colonies’ had successfully achieved their independence and established a democracy, throwing off the bonds of a monarchy. France had their ‘Glorious Revolution’ and did away with their monarchs via ‘Madame Guillotine’. In any event, the regency period encompassed more than the blissful excesses of ‘Prinny’ and the...more Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Sep08

During the late regency period in England, there were fears of a ‘British Revolution’. Remember that not so long before this time the ‘colonies’ had successfully achieved their independence and established a democracy, throwing off the bonds of a monarchy. France had their ‘Glorious Revolution’ and did away with their monarchs via ‘Madame Guillotine’. In any event, the regency period encompassed more than the blissful excesses of ‘Prinny’ and the ton, but it’s very rare to read anything about this in a regency romance novel. “The Dangerous Duke” by Christine Wells opens with the plight of a vicar imprisoned under suspicion of sedition because he refuses to name the rebels accused of burning a peer’s home. The fire killed four members of the aristocracy and is assumed to be a prelude to revolutionary activities. I personally (History geek alert!) found this fascinating, but the author quickly moves on to more salacious events involving: the theft of a scandalous diary, a headstrong widow, and a hardboiled Home Office investigator who has become a Duke.

The vicar’s sister, Lady Kate, is the widow of a politician. He was apparently a cold fish so she began a personal diary where she wrote about her ‘dream’ lover. The diary is quite spicy for an upright regency widow and each chapter heading is a short quote from her diary. She decides to free her brother (even though he has repeatedly asked her to butt out) by whtever means necessary including threatening to publish a scandalous tell-all book about the secrets she knows about current politicians. In those times (unlike today?) this was a particularly BAD idea as safeguarding the status quo meant anything up to and including murder was condoned! Threats and attacks by an unknown assailant/s occur and she ends up with no choice but to trust the handsome Duke of Lyle to keep her safe. How convenient.

The brand new Duke of Lyle is the one who (unbeknownst to Kate) put her brother in prison in an effort to get him to spill the names of the rebel conspirators. Since the vicar won’t talk, he decides that kidnapping Kate and holding her hostage until her brother talks is the most expedient way to get what he wants. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s VERY attracted to Kate.

The history and the fluid writing made reading the book a pleasure. Unfortunately, I found Kate to be a bit of a twit. Loyalty to family is important, but if her brother has (repeatedly!) asked her to butt out, can she not assume he has a plan and doesn’t intend to die? One of them is stupid and either way that kind of irritated me throughout the book. The villain is hinted at fairly heavily throughout the book, but there are a few red herrings thrown around in an effort to be less blatant. The hero has definite flaws…he’s not a particularly good guy through most of the book. His plans for Kate were fairly clear and it irritated me again that Kate couldn’t figure this out. The sex scenes were, I must admit, pretty darn hot for a regency. But a senseless misunderstanding regarding their sex life could have been prevented with a simple conversation! Another irritant for me.

I read Christine Wells first novel “Scandal’s Daughter” and had some of the same issues with miscommunications and not-so-bright characters. I do think “The Dangerous Duke” was a better read than her first and I’ll likely pick up her next release when it hits the shelves. If the above mentioned irritants for me don’t bother you, then you’ll likely really enjoy the story of a shady Duke and his feisty widow.(less)

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Jan 17, 2009 Alaine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

For reasons I can't explain I'm not a big fan of the Regency period. I prefer medieval times, however, if you are after a light, fun and sexy read then don't go any further. The plot was a little different and it was nice to have an older heroin with wealth and privilege.

The Duke of Lyle and Lady Fairchild are the hero and heroine of this tale, but there is so much happening that their story is sometimes lost. This is a story of intrigue and mystery and it is fun to read along as it unravels. Th...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-3-stars

The Dangerous Duke was fun read, so I'm giving it a 3 3/4 stars, which may be splitting hairs a bit, but it's just not quite a 4 for me but it's a little bit better than my usual 3 1/2's, so there you have it.

The new Duke of Lyle, Maxwell Brooke, is trying to hunt down the villain who murdered his family and set fire to his home. Fowl play is involved, and he is determined to find answers. Therefore, he tracks down Stephen Holt, the local reverend who confesses he knows where rebels (people tha...more The Dangerous Duke was fun read, so I'm giving it a 3 3/4 stars, which may be splitting hairs a bit, but it's just not quite a 4 for me but it's a little bit better than my usual 3 1/2's, so there you have it.

The new Duke of Lyle, Maxwell Brooke, is trying to hunt down the villain who murdered his family and set fire to his home. Fowl play is involved, and he is determined to find answers. Therefore, he tracks down Stephen Holt, the local reverend who confesses he knows where rebels (people that are causing unrest in the area and the prime suspects for the fire) are hiding. However, no amount of coercion or threats is making Stephen tell Max where they are, claiming that he's protecting innocent men. Trying another tactic, Max throws Stephen in Newgate prison, hoping to change his mind. But Stephen is stubborn and no answers are forthcoming. Despite this, Max is far from done trying. Enter our heroine, Kate Fairchild, Stephen's sister.

Max finds Kate to be lovely, intriguing, and intelligent. Nevertheless, even though he respects her, he has plans to kidnap her and threaten Stephen with this information. But Kate is not someone to be bullied, and she threatens to publish a memoir with many government secrets, trying to get whoever is holding her brother captive to release him. So not only does Max kidnap Kate, he also steals her diary to find out what Kate knows. Despite her threats and innuendos, Kate has not written down the secrets she knows and Max is in for quite a different sort of read than he had originally assumed.

While under Max's care, someone breaks in and almost ends Kate's life, driving the severity of the situation home to Kate. Throughout her few days of imprisonment, Kate draws closer and closer to her protector/jailer, and Max can't seem to keep his hands off of her either. When Stephen finally breaks, distressed over his sister's imprisonment, Max learns where the rebels are hiding and even hears their surprising side of the story. The suspect list changes and when someone steals Kate from him and threatens her life, Max is on the greatest mission of his life: to get the woman he's fallen hopelessly in love with back in his arms. Thankfully, Max rushes to save her, eventually eliminating both the person threatening Kate's life and the arsonist.

This was a fun story. It was a light read. There's quite a bit of action and adventure in this novel, so if you're looking for something that isn't going to take a lot of time, nor something that doesn't have tons of depth, this novel is perfect.

My complaints about this book are that the romance happens in so short a time. It only takes the couple a few days to fall in love and marry. It's absurd in my opinion for love to happen that fast.
The novel also seems to just skim the surface sometimes. It talks a lot about superficial things and the moments that could've made the reader cry if written correctly were just kind of an "Awww, oh well" moment. You feel a little bereft of any truly strong emotion.
I also saw the ending coming. I think I determined who the actual villain was maybe a little over 1/2 through the book. I didn't know exactly how things were going to end up of course, but I knew who Max and Kate should be looking out for.

Even with my complaints, I still found myself enjoying the book. I look forward to potentially reading additional books from this author. (less)

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Jul 02, 2011 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

REVIEW COURTESY OF FALLEN ANGEL REVIEWS:

When a fire is set to Maxwell Brooke's ancestral home, he immediately senses foul play. Especially, since the death of four male relatives leaves Max as the new Duke of Lyle. Max sets out to do a little of his own investigating and stumbles upon Reverend Stephen Holt, who Max believes is hiding key information. The Reverend is imprisoned immediately to coerce him into spilling the details. The imprisonment isn't going well, so Max starts following Lady Kat...more

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Jul 10, 2009 Shelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. For some reason, this book read like it was a second book in a series. There were lots of references to past events that were never really cleared up. Maybe a prologue would have helped or a flash back or two.

Near the beginning of the book, Max is breaking into Kate's house to steal her diary when he is caught by Kate. He makes it look like he couldn't stay away from her and distracts her with kisses. Eventually, she puts a stop to it by saying no and slapping Max, so he stops and leaves. Then K...more For some reason, this book read like it was a second book in a series. There were lots of references to past events that were never really cleared up. Maybe a prologue would have helped or a flash back or two.

Near the beginning of the book, Max is breaking into Kate's house to steal her diary when he is caught by Kate. He makes it look like he couldn't stay away from her and distracts her with kisses. Eventually, she puts a stop to it by saying no and slapping Max, so he stops and leaves. Then Kate goes into this whole 'he must think I'm disgusting to leave so abruptly' train of thought and how she should have stopped him like a normal virtuous lady. So, needless to say, I was confused. She smacks him and tells him no, but yet she did nothing to stop him? What? It sounds to me like she stopped him quite effectively.

I could have done without the whole 'I am too passionate so I must be a whore' act on Kate's part and the 'I must be the gentle lover Kate wants' act on Max's part. I really didn't think it added anything to the story, especially since there were just vague references to Kate's relationship with her dead husband. This part of the story actually annoyed me.

I enjoyed the secondary storyline of Louisa and Jardine but it didn't end well. Maybe they will have their own story in the future. I wanted to know more about their past together, but again there were vague references to their past. If they don't ever get their own book, it will have just been wasted. Especially since they did not end happily at the end of this book.

Kate threatens to write a tell all about certain members in Parliament and once again, things are eluded to but never explained. I wanted to know some of the things that she knew. I think it would have helped to have a few other possibilities in the mix as to who might want to kill Kate.

I did enjoy the interactions between Max and Kate and found their early fights to be well done. As I said before, I hope the author writes about Louisa and Jardine in the future. (less)

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Jan 14, 2011 Bronwyn Rykiert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

This book was a little bit of a disappointment through some of it but in the end it all pulled together.

Maxwell Brooke, has unexpectantly become the Duke of Lyle, after a fire at the ancestral home killed the 4 men in line before him. He has been working as a Fixer for the Home Office for years and he has decided that this investigation will be his last before he takes up his new role.

He has had Stephen Holt taken prisoner because he will not give the details to the whereabouts of the people tha...more

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Jun 14, 2010 VampFanGirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

My Review:

Lady Kate Fairchild is willing to go to desperate extremes in order to free her brother from prison. As the Lyle parish vicar, Stephan is accused of withholding information regarding the identities of the arsonists that burned the Duke of Lyle's seat to the ground - killing several family members. Knowing that her brother will martyr himself before revealing the names of those that Lyle seeks, for he'll surely be sending the accused to their death, Kate turns to blackmail. As the widow...more My Review:

Lady Kate Fairchild is willing to go to desperate extremes in order to free her brother from prison. As the Lyle parish vicar, Stephan is accused of withholding information regarding the identities of the arsonists that burned the Duke of Lyle's seat to the ground - killing several family members. Knowing that her brother will martyr himself before revealing the names of those that Lyle seeks, for he'll surely be sending the accused to their death, Kate turns to blackmail. As the widow of a once affluent politician, Kate has mentally retained many incriminating anecdotes that could easily bring down a few members of the peerage. After exhausting all other avenues, blackmail appears to be the best and last choice, that is until she incurs the wrath of the Home Office and the Duke of Lyle himself.

Working his last mission for the Home Office due to his recent defaulted inheritance as the new Duke of Lyle, Maxwell Brooke is determined to acquire the identities of the arsonists that destroyed his ducal seat in addition to several family members - unfamiliar people to Max but nonetheless family. Determined to imprison Lady Kate's stubborn brother for as long as feasibly possible, Max hopes to hurry matters along by seducing the lady in question into convincing her brother to spill the information he so desperately seeks. However, he never anticipated his lustful but inconvenient reaction to the clever minded, gorgeous slip of a woman. Kate's quick intelligence both infuriates and fascinates Max while her sharp tongue and bald remarks ignites his temper right along side his flaming desire. Determining that Kate is entirely too smart and too desperate for her own good after revealing her plans to print a tell-all memoir, Max fears for her safety and swiftly organizes his procurement of said memoir as well as the Lady Kate herself.

Initially, Kate worries that her spotless reputation faces irreparable damage in the hands of the duke whom of which has the shocking ability to turn her sharp mind slow with lust. Never has she felt a passion this sharp, not even with her phantom lover. Sexually repressed within her loveless marriage, Kate took her pleasure in a diary that documented all her erotic fantasies. There she found solace in the arms of her made-up lover but what Max makes her feel surpasses all of her fantasies. Terrified by her rampant emotions, Kate thinks of nothing but escape until her many refusals of Max's ardor leads her straight towards a killer's embrace.

When Max's falsities for abducting Kate turns to reality and she truly does become the prey of a killer, he's convinced that his ill-timed lust prevented him from ensuring her proper protection and resolves to maintain distance. Emotional entanglements are never conducive to a successful mission but Kate's vulnerabilities and overall shock after near death propels them both into each others arms seeking comfort and release. When the details of the Kate's stolen diary reveals not the incriminating facts that she's threatened, but rather years worth of pent up sexual frustration, Max becomes convinced that his lust is to blame once again since it's obvious that he's gone about his carnal pursuits all wrong. Kate's documented her wants of a slow and sensual lover not the fierce ravishment he's subjected her to, treating her as though a common trollop. Resolving to treat Kate like her phantom lover as well as that which her station deserves, Max fights to restrain the dark possessive nature within him that demands release.

Kate, confused by Max's sudden cooling ardor, fights to build confidence and explain to him that she rather experience more of the possessive, overwhelming love making he'd originally demanded. While he still sates her every desire, somehow she's left unsatisfied. While a distance inevitably begins to expand with Max's clamped hold on his lust and Kate's fear of what his reaction will be to her dark needs, an enemy soon gains the upper hand forcing them each to face who they really are or loose each other forever.

My Thoughts:

THE DANGEROUS DUKE, while a seamless romance with a wonderfully developed hero and heroine, unfortunately became a bit overshadowed by two very interesting secondary characters. Lady Louisa, Max's sister, and Jardine, a Marquis whose connections led him to work for the Home Office, are embroiled in a thrilling game of cat and mouse. Jardine's extremely possessive nature combined with Louisa's desperation to maintain distance, soon propels the reader's own desperation to speed to the next scene containing the two. The forbidden passion and underlying current of a deep history leaves one begging for more, thus thrusting Max and Kate into the background. Jardine is one of those magnetic characters that commands full attention of the reader whenever he walks on stage. One can't help but have their eyes completely captured by his beauty, his dangerous bad-boy appeal so a warning: Be prepared to fall in love.

Unfortunately by the end, I cared little for Max and Kate but instead held bated breath between theirs and Jardine's and Louisa's scenes. It was their romance I became desperate to read and therefore sadly - yet successfully - ending my connection with Max and Kate. Their trials became trivial in the face of Jardine's and Louisa's complicated connection.

Aside from the above, I'm still in awe of Christine Wells and her unbelievable talent as a writer for she brings a distinct authenticity to her novels. Her grasp of the language, culture and rules whisks you wonderfully away to a whole other time and place. I imagine that she must toil over each and every sentence because from beginning to end, this novel is supremely polished and complete.

A wonderful diversion, THE DANGEROUS DUKE, combines thrilling action, sweet romance and two brilliant secondary characters that make it a complete pleasure from start to finish. Enjoy!(less)

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Sep 02, 2012 Laine rated it 3 of 5 stars

for a start the plot got me excited, but as you go through it it took them a while to figure out who the real suspect is. max and kate are your typical couple who wouldn't admit about their true feeling for each other, but when danger arises that will be the time they will tell the truth to each other. i do love the little story of louisa and jardine. looking forward to this series.

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Dec 26, 2008 Dancer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Maxwell Brooke and Kate Fairchild are the hero and heroine of this tale, but there is so much happening that their story is sometimes lost to the other characters. There is a waltz, a kidnapping, a lover's retreat, blackmail, arsonists, jealousy, women prize fighters, etc. Sometimes it is hard to tell who is the good guy in the book.

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Nov 28, 2008 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Historical romance fans

Recommended to Holly by: BOOKreviews Magazine

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction, real-life

This was my first encounter with Christine Wells and I must admit, I kind of liked the mystery more than the romance. While The Dangerous Duke definitely holds much romance, I was more drawn into the story's mystery. Lyle and Kate are nearly complete opposites and that's what brings them together...sort of. At times, it seemed as if something was a little off. Kate is a brilliant girl. Why would she naively believe some of the things he tells her when she knows how dangerous he is? It was a good...more

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May 05, 2012 Kellianne Stevens rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-books

3.5 Stars. An interesting story. The logic of the emotional build-up didn't always work for me. And I just dislike books with crazy, evil villians. Good writing, interesting characters, but not the best.

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Dec 27, 2009 Éowyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, regency-romance

Not above the average romance. Two main characters were good, but didn't feel there was a strong sense of period. some supporting characters were good, but others didn't feel so real. Plot was Ok-ish, but nothing remarkable.

Enjoyable enough read but not a keeper.

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Jan 09, 2010 Jackie rated it 2 of 5 stars

No character development to speak of, and a fairly silly plot. Hard to believe this won an award...

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Jun 30, 2009 Jc rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I would much rather read about the supporting characters than the main characters in this one...

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Sep 01, 2012 Anne Marshall rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Couldn't get into it.

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Mar 29, 2009 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

great light read.

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Mar 14, 2009 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book

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Sep 25, 2009 Sylvia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Regency

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Apr 15, 2013 Doris Davis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: needed

Nice romance.

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Jan 05, 2013 Angie Outland rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is well written. I enjoyed it very much. I like Christine Wells writing style; I will be reading more of her books.

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Oct 06, 2008 Janga rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the use of the diary and the political context, but I want to hear more about Louisa and Jardine.

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Oct 29, 2010 Mitzi marked it as to-read

Shelves: a-own-tbr-k2

Won a copy

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Mar 31, 2013 MJ rated it 3 of 5 stars

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About Christine Wells

Christine Wells writes also under the name Christina Brooke.

I wrote my first book at the age of ten. It was a picture book about aliens, which were the only creatures I could draw.

Many years later, after completing school, a Bachelor of Laws and a few years in a legal firm, the writing bug bit again. Not a picture book this time, but a crime thriller set in a legal firm not unlike the one where I...more

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