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Perfect Series Companion #2
Winning the Duke
Grace Denton’s first Season solidifies her decision to never marry. How can she? The London gentlemen are boorish and unappealing. When reunited with the handsome, yet brooding Braiden Everett, his hidden charm captivates her. If she marries him, she could obtain her dream of having a child of her own and a husband she can stand to be around. Despite his contentions to a union, she is confident their connection will help him as well. She has already seen how her proximity begins to heal his pain. Faced with his indifference, will she be able to control her building passion for him?
Discovering women’s heartless nature, Braiden Everett, Duke of Donetic, has sworn off the foolish idea of love. Upon reentering his life, the sweet and spirited Grace illuminates the only light left in his dark world. He agrees her marriage of convenience proposal has some merit. But is it wise? He’s intrigued by her mind and tempted by her body. However, he refuses to lose his heart again. Besides, she deserves more than he can give. After all, he’s forgotten how to love, hasn’t he?
Discovering women’s heartless nature, Braiden Everett, Duke of Donetic, has sworn off the foolish idea of love. Upon reentering his life, the sweet and spirited Grace illuminates the only light left in his dark world. He agrees her marriage of convenience proposal has some merit. But is it wise? He’s intrigued by her mind and tempted by her body. However, he refuses to lose his heart again. Besides, she deserves more than he can give. After all, he’s forgotten how to love, hasn’t he?
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2015
About the author
Jenn Langston
16 books36 followersJenn Langston is a writer and a lover of historical romances. She developed her love of reading romance novels at a very young age. What began as the simple joy of reading developed into a passion to write.
She lives in the beloved state of Texas where she was born and raised. With her husband, three beautiful children, and three cats, she has a full house. There is never a dull moment, but always time to read and write.
She lives in the beloved state of Texas where she was born and raised. With her husband, three beautiful children, and three cats, she has a full house. There is never a dull moment, but always time to read and write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 7, 2018
I didn't see this coming. Well, like every Duke story and getting a bride, it started out that way. That unusual young lady and a depressed Duke. However, there's a turn of events with everything else. Their goal, plans and aspirations all twisted in an event with fate. No one saw this coming, the Duke's mother was initially sweet and not sweet at the same time. I almost wept for the Duchess and anticipated so much for the Duke.
The author certainly kept me turning the pages. I didn't put it down till I was done! It was a good story overall, not too cliche.
The author certainly kept me turning the pages. I didn't put it down till I was done! It was a good story overall, not too cliche.
March 30, 2015
This book started of so great but then it just went downhill from there. The hero,Braiden, of this story spent so much time doubting himself because his ex wife cheated on him and called him a terrible lover that it became so tedious to listen to him. When he eventually starts to have a proper relationship with the heroine Grace he blames her for being conniving and deceiving i was so looking forward to reading this book judging from all the great rating but truly this was terrible he cannot be even called a hero. It got a one start from me it just wasn't my cup of tea.
June 19, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book, right from the get go I felt that it spoke to me in a way that some of the other books haven’t. Grace is the main point of view for this story however it does also switch to Braiden’s point of view.
We start of with Grace in London where she’s desperately trying to get her mother’s attention regarding who she is to marry. Her mother doesn’t seem to care who she marries, whether it’s a beggar or a prince, and all Grace want’s is her mother’s approval. Grace’s trusty friend suggests that Grace uses the holiday time at her sisters to relax from the husband hunting and just enjoy herself.
Braiden on the other hand wants to wallow in self pity and continue to drink himself into oblivion. The only reason he decides to go with his cousin, Thomas, to his families regular Christmas gathering is to try and marry Thomas off so that he doesn’t have to go through that again. And we learn it’s because he married a harpy the first time around who ruined him for any other future marriage prospects.
Turns out they are both going to the same party! However, when Grace arrives it turns out her sister has invited a number of new gentlemen to help Grace choose a husband. Which Grace is NOT happy about! Braiden arrives later that same day and discovers that the extra men have been invited to marry Grace off and decides that Thomas should be in the running. When talking to Grace about how she feels about this situation he plants the idea of the perfect gentleman in her head, intending for it to describe Thomas. As luck would have it, and a number of unfortunate run in’s with some of the other gentlemen, Grace decides that only Braiden will do for her. Now she just needs to convince him of this. I feel like this was me a few years ago so I really felt for Grace and how she knew what she wanted and just wanted to skip to the part where she had it.
We spend quite some time on convincing Braiden that his previous wife was wrong and that it’s ok to love Grace before he finally relinquishes enough to marry her. Once they do marry he refuses to sleep with her even though he knows she wants children. Braiden ends up taking Grace to her sister’s to spend time with her since she’d just given birth to a second child and attempts to avoid sleeping with her. He finally gives in and sleeps in the same bed as Grace, however he makes sure nothing other than sleep happens. And this feels like even though he’s given in to marrying Grace he’s not 100% committed. And I’m sure a lot of girls feel like this in their relationships until they reach the tipping point and their guy finally realises that they are all in and can commit.
Next thing we know Braiden takes Grace back to his estate hoping that she will be distracted while there. While there we get the feeling that Braiden’s elderly (and mentally ailing) mother doesn’t like Grace very much. After a while Grace gives up on Braiden ever coming around and leaves for London on foot. Which results in her breaking her ankle and Braiden finds her laying on the ground and rushes her to his hunting lodge. Turns out this was all that was needed for Braiden to finally give in and sleep with Grace! And this was Braiden’s tipping point, when he can’t stand to see Grace in pain, can’t stand to loose her to anyone else and realises he needs to embrace his fears and take a leap of faith into this relationship with Grace.
Fast forward a while and Grace gets kidnapped while Braiden is in one of his “I hate Grace” moods and so doesn’t notice that she’s been kidnapped. Luckily he comes to his senses and realises she’s been kidnapped and figured out by who in just enough time to save her. And he ensures the kidnapper pays for also being responsible for killing his first wife. I don’t understand why Grace would let Braiden off the hook so easily, however I don’t forgive as easily as she does. And that’s one of the things that makes her who she is and one of the many reasons why Braiden loves her. From this excursion Braiden learns a lot about his family, who those close to him really are and what he really needs to be able to move forward and be happy.
I finished this book mostly happy with everything, and there was nothing that really bugged me which I found really nice for a change. And the cool thing is it turns out this is the second book in a series. So I will DEFINITELY be coming back to this series once I get through a few more books in my TBR pile.
https://proudbookreviews.com/2018/05/...
We start of with Grace in London where she’s desperately trying to get her mother’s attention regarding who she is to marry. Her mother doesn’t seem to care who she marries, whether it’s a beggar or a prince, and all Grace want’s is her mother’s approval. Grace’s trusty friend suggests that Grace uses the holiday time at her sisters to relax from the husband hunting and just enjoy herself.
Braiden on the other hand wants to wallow in self pity and continue to drink himself into oblivion. The only reason he decides to go with his cousin, Thomas, to his families regular Christmas gathering is to try and marry Thomas off so that he doesn’t have to go through that again. And we learn it’s because he married a harpy the first time around who ruined him for any other future marriage prospects.
Turns out they are both going to the same party! However, when Grace arrives it turns out her sister has invited a number of new gentlemen to help Grace choose a husband. Which Grace is NOT happy about! Braiden arrives later that same day and discovers that the extra men have been invited to marry Grace off and decides that Thomas should be in the running. When talking to Grace about how she feels about this situation he plants the idea of the perfect gentleman in her head, intending for it to describe Thomas. As luck would have it, and a number of unfortunate run in’s with some of the other gentlemen, Grace decides that only Braiden will do for her. Now she just needs to convince him of this. I feel like this was me a few years ago so I really felt for Grace and how she knew what she wanted and just wanted to skip to the part where she had it.
We spend quite some time on convincing Braiden that his previous wife was wrong and that it’s ok to love Grace before he finally relinquishes enough to marry her. Once they do marry he refuses to sleep with her even though he knows she wants children. Braiden ends up taking Grace to her sister’s to spend time with her since she’d just given birth to a second child and attempts to avoid sleeping with her. He finally gives in and sleeps in the same bed as Grace, however he makes sure nothing other than sleep happens. And this feels like even though he’s given in to marrying Grace he’s not 100% committed. And I’m sure a lot of girls feel like this in their relationships until they reach the tipping point and their guy finally realises that they are all in and can commit.
Next thing we know Braiden takes Grace back to his estate hoping that she will be distracted while there. While there we get the feeling that Braiden’s elderly (and mentally ailing) mother doesn’t like Grace very much. After a while Grace gives up on Braiden ever coming around and leaves for London on foot. Which results in her breaking her ankle and Braiden finds her laying on the ground and rushes her to his hunting lodge. Turns out this was all that was needed for Braiden to finally give in and sleep with Grace! And this was Braiden’s tipping point, when he can’t stand to see Grace in pain, can’t stand to loose her to anyone else and realises he needs to embrace his fears and take a leap of faith into this relationship with Grace.
Fast forward a while and Grace gets kidnapped while Braiden is in one of his “I hate Grace” moods and so doesn’t notice that she’s been kidnapped. Luckily he comes to his senses and realises she’s been kidnapped and figured out by who in just enough time to save her. And he ensures the kidnapper pays for also being responsible for killing his first wife. I don’t understand why Grace would let Braiden off the hook so easily, however I don’t forgive as easily as she does. And that’s one of the things that makes her who she is and one of the many reasons why Braiden loves her. From this excursion Braiden learns a lot about his family, who those close to him really are and what he really needs to be able to move forward and be happy.
I finished this book mostly happy with everything, and there was nothing that really bugged me which I found really nice for a change. And the cool thing is it turns out this is the second book in a series. So I will DEFINITELY be coming back to this series once I get through a few more books in my TBR pile.
https://proudbookreviews.com/2018/05/...
January 10, 2020
Winning The Duke is a phenomenal historical romance by Jenn Langston. Ms. Langston has provided readers with a well-written book. The characters in this story are outstanding and my favorite part of the book. Grace is convinced her mother doesn't care for her. Braiden, Duke of Donetic, mostly just wants to be left alone. Braiden and Grace's story is packed with drama, humor, sizzle and suspense. I enjoyed reading Winning The Duke and look forward to my next book by Jenn Langston. Winning The Duke is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
June 20, 2017
A Good Read. Despite both of our protagonists having issues (she, with her mother and he, with his dead b***h of a wife), they both triumphed in the end. The author did well in creating an atmosphere of conflict and I must say ~ that dead wife of Braiden was a Perfect B***h for damaging him emotionally so that it took him quite awhile to recover. Good thing Grace is a strong woman, so all went well in the end as most fairy tales do.
July 1, 2017
Loved the characters
Well written. Just one problem. The hero sexual dilemma was somewhat unbelievable. It would have been a better plot without it. There was more than enough in the murder part of the story but unfortunately the author didn't use it as the main drive of the plot. It doesn't how up until almost at the end. As the plot stands...the storyline becomes a bit of a farce.
Well written. Just one problem. The hero sexual dilemma was somewhat unbelievable. It would have been a better plot without it. There was more than enough in the murder part of the story but unfortunately the author didn't use it as the main drive of the plot. It doesn't how up until almost at the end. As the plot stands...the storyline becomes a bit of a farce.
October 25, 2017
Really enjoyed the book
A very enjoyable read. I like how the beginning of the relationship was developed thoroughly before things got to the marriage stage. I enjoyed reading the development of their relationship after the marriage as well. I didn’t see the ending coming. But it was a great book and enjoyed reading it.
A very enjoyable read. I like how the beginning of the relationship was developed thoroughly before things got to the marriage stage. I enjoyed reading the development of their relationship after the marriage as well. I didn’t see the ending coming. But it was a great book and enjoyed reading it.
July 29, 2018
Great read
What is the Duke hiding? Could he really have killed his wife or arranged it. He needs an heir but cares not. He has a cousin and he can take over the duties he no longer wants. What caused his withdrawal? Will he ever be happy again. Ah but there is reason to hope and his cousin means to help.
What is the Duke hiding? Could he really have killed his wife or arranged it. He needs an heir but cares not. He has a cousin and he can take over the duties he no longer wants. What caused his withdrawal? Will he ever be happy again. Ah but there is reason to hope and his cousin means to help.
June 20, 2017
A little slow..
This story was slow to me. I found myself skipping ahead several times just to find a good part. Winning the duke was not very entertaining to me but it did end with a good ending.
This story was slow to me. I found myself skipping ahead several times just to find a good part. Winning the duke was not very entertaining to me but it did end with a good ending.
November 8, 2017
Really great story
This was a great story. Grace loved the Duke for years. He thought she was too young. He had no plans to remarry. Jenn Langston did a great job in telling their story. I highly recommend it.
This was a great story. Grace loved the Duke for years. He thought she was too young. He had no plans to remarry. Jenn Langston did a great job in telling their story. I highly recommend it.
August 20, 2018
Lovely story.
I love the story that was written for Grace. I think I did find the first book a bit more to my liking. I still did enjoy reading book 2 in the series. Classic love story for sure.
I love the story that was written for Grace. I think I did find the first book a bit more to my liking. I still did enjoy reading book 2 in the series. Classic love story for sure.
September 22, 2018
Grace wants to marry and Braiden is who she has always been interested in. He however had a very unhappy marriage and feels he can’t make any woman happy. Even though there seems to be a connection Grace can’t get him to forget his past.
January 11, 2022
There is something missing
The madness is the Hollywood versions of dementia. The characters are awful. He's stupid and mean. She's a doormat. And while I can sympathize with wanting a child there were much better candidates.
The madness is the Hollywood versions of dementia. The characters are awful. He's stupid and mean. She's a doormat. And while I can sympathize with wanting a child there were much better candidates.
June 18, 2017
Male character running away from imagined inadequacies?
June 20, 2017
Weird approch to make sure someone doesn't have an affair.
August 8, 2017
This is a nice historical romance, but not a great one. You almost have more book than you do story. And towards the end, it takes a leap that isn't indicated anywhere else in the book.
June 23, 2018
Wonderful
Another wonderful story by Jenn Langston. Story so full of mystery, family and love. I hope you will read her books.
Another wonderful story by Jenn Langston. Story so full of mystery, family and love. I hope you will read her books.
August 7, 2019
3.5/5
February 25, 2020
They both went back and forth about their feelings and their decisions. It became monotonous after a while I mean why didn't she just ask the question out right instead of playing head games...
May 3, 2020
I really enjoyed Grace and Braiden's story. She has loved him for years, he endured a very bad marriage.
September 10, 2016
I'm not sure how to rate this. The first half is mostly push and pull on the H's part. You can't really blame him for having his hang-ups, but it did become tedious after a while. I'm glad the author didn't let it drag on for the whole book.
But the second half of the book was borderline ridiculous. I should have known better than to expect anything else from the book featuring Abigail's big brother. Without giving anything away, the h was a saint. She put up with a lot. And I'm not quite sure if I liked that. She was too patient, too perfect, and a little too willing to make herself vulnerable to the H. The H was too wishy washy. I wanted to yell at him, "make up your mind already!"
The mystery element of this story ended abruptly and I felt like it was all too easily explained away. Overall this book was ok. I liked that there was really no ow/om drama and that we saw some of the characters from previous books. However, there was just too much pining and angst for me, the characterization wasn't quite strong enough, and the plot wasn't particularly interesting.
But the second half of the book was borderline ridiculous. I should have known better than to expect anything else from the book featuring Abigail's big brother. Without giving anything away, the h was a saint. She put up with a lot. And I'm not quite sure if I liked that. She was too patient, too perfect, and a little too willing to make herself vulnerable to the H. The H was too wishy washy. I wanted to yell at him, "make up your mind already!"
The mystery element of this story ended abruptly and I felt like it was all too easily explained away. Overall this book was ok. I liked that there was really no ow/om drama and that we saw some of the characters from previous books. However, there was just too much pining and angst for me, the characterization wasn't quite strong enough, and the plot wasn't particularly interesting.
April 4, 2015
Romance flourishes from life-long friendship
Life-long friends Braiden and Grace develop romance from their friendship. Both characters come to life as you follow the romantic pair who have a common interest in not conforming to society. The fun in the beginning is that neither one at first wants to marry the other.
While both can be likeable characters, there are times when you just shake your head at what they are thinking. Braiden projects his relationship with his first wife onto Grace, which leads him to believe himself unsuited to marriage and incapable of happiness. There are moments when you hope Grace walks away, but true love wins in the end.
Grace, in love with Braiden for several years, is kind and forgiving. She has reached the age where her family requires her to select a husband, which she dreads doing, but for the life-long friend recently widowed, she is willing to make an exception.
While I enjoyed most of the book, at the end Braiden becomes incredibly dense. You can sympathize with Braiden at the beginning, but once he marries Grace his angst gets bothersome. Also, there are a couple of other things at the end that seem a little contrived, yet the story is good enough this all can be overlooked.
Besides romance there is a mystery running in the background throughout the story as Braiden seeks to find out not only who killed her but why. This lends a dark, complex tone to the story that plays out with a twist at the end of the book.
Life-long friends Braiden and Grace develop romance from their friendship. Both characters come to life as you follow the romantic pair who have a common interest in not conforming to society. The fun in the beginning is that neither one at first wants to marry the other.
While both can be likeable characters, there are times when you just shake your head at what they are thinking. Braiden projects his relationship with his first wife onto Grace, which leads him to believe himself unsuited to marriage and incapable of happiness. There are moments when you hope Grace walks away, but true love wins in the end.
Grace, in love with Braiden for several years, is kind and forgiving. She has reached the age where her family requires her to select a husband, which she dreads doing, but for the life-long friend recently widowed, she is willing to make an exception.
While I enjoyed most of the book, at the end Braiden becomes incredibly dense. You can sympathize with Braiden at the beginning, but once he marries Grace his angst gets bothersome. Also, there are a couple of other things at the end that seem a little contrived, yet the story is good enough this all can be overlooked.
Besides romance there is a mystery running in the background throughout the story as Braiden seeks to find out not only who killed her but why. This lends a dark, complex tone to the story that plays out with a twist at the end of the book.
March 28, 2015
FIGHTING FOR LOVE AND HAPPINESS
Grace Denton found her first season boorish, her mother inattentive and feels her dream of someday becoming a wife and mother slipping away. Braiden Everett, the Duke of Donetic is now a widower, his wife Tabitha and one of her lovers had been murdered by highwaymen. Braiden is very jaded when it comes to love and marriage after Tabitha made a farce of their marriage. Grace and Braiden knew each other when she was only 15 years old, what a shock to see the beautiful young woman she is now. But he refuses to believe in love and would rather see his cousin Thomas married and provide an heir for the title. Maybe setting Thomas and Grace up would be a grand gesture, if only he wasn't so jealous seeing them together. This story comes with lies, deceit, betrayal, adultery, sabotage, crazy mothers, murder, but also love and forgiveness. Will Grace find a man who matches her in intelligence, can give her love and passion, and a child? Can Braiden put the lies and heartache behind him caused by Tabitha and move forward in his life with happiness? Or will he live in self-pity and drunkenness? Will they every find out who is behind the murders before it claims more victims? Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
Grace Denton found her first season boorish, her mother inattentive and feels her dream of someday becoming a wife and mother slipping away. Braiden Everett, the Duke of Donetic is now a widower, his wife Tabitha and one of her lovers had been murdered by highwaymen. Braiden is very jaded when it comes to love and marriage after Tabitha made a farce of their marriage. Grace and Braiden knew each other when she was only 15 years old, what a shock to see the beautiful young woman she is now. But he refuses to believe in love and would rather see his cousin Thomas married and provide an heir for the title. Maybe setting Thomas and Grace up would be a grand gesture, if only he wasn't so jealous seeing them together. This story comes with lies, deceit, betrayal, adultery, sabotage, crazy mothers, murder, but also love and forgiveness. Will Grace find a man who matches her in intelligence, can give her love and passion, and a child? Can Braiden put the lies and heartache behind him caused by Tabitha and move forward in his life with happiness? Or will he live in self-pity and drunkenness? Will they every find out who is behind the murders before it claims more victims? Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
March 22, 2015
Jenn Langston's Winning the Duke opens with a wonderfully drawn romantic pair: Grace and Braiden have little interest in conforming to society, let alone marrying one another. While Braiden (the Duke) should be finding a wife (his faithless, first wife has died) and producing an heir, he believes himself unsuited to marriage and incapable of happiness. Then a holiday gathering reunites him with an old friend (Grace was a child the last time he saw her) and he’s met his match. Grace dreads the idea of looking for a husband, but she’ll make an exception for Braiden. Conflict and humor abound as the couple move ever closer to a committed relationship. But old enemies conspire to destroy their love. Following the Black Moment, the story is darkly suspenseful, a perfect stage for Braiden’s power and Grace’s passion and cleverness to win the day. I was quickly drawn into this complex tale and thoroughly satisfied with the outcome.
April 4, 2015
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review. I got lost in this engaging story of a young noblewoman's coming of age tale and hated to see it end. Jenn Langston blends the right mix of period detail with believable and sympathetic characters. The sexual tension between Grace and Braiden is believable and well written. A surprising suspense twist kicks in just as the love scenes start to heat up propelling the reader along with the characters to a surprising but satisfying conclusion.
February 26, 2015
I love everything Jenn Langston writes. She brings her characters to life as you read. Grace has been in love with Braiden for several years!! He still realling from his wife's murder as he tries to find out not only who killed her but why!!! Grace wants to be married and have a child and she sets her sights on Braiden!! You have fun, intrigue, mystery and love all wrapped up in a delicious story!!!
November 13, 2017
Grace is a very fiesty and determined young woman who sets her sights on an old family friend suffering from the loss and pain of being a widower in a loveless marriage....where his wife led him to believe he was totally inadequate. This is the second in the series.....but I read it first.....and now having read #1, I understand somethings much better. This author produces interesting characters with depth and steamy but complex plot lines. This book is no exception.
February 27, 2015
Loved this book! Braiden is your perfect hero that you want to rescue. And Grace is the heroine you love to love! Beautiful story.
April 7, 2015
Badly written, asinine plot. Life is too short!
September 6, 2016
Good read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews