Duke of My Heart

“You shouldn’t have to be fine, Ivory. You should be free. Protected from things that you survived once and that you shouldn’t have to survive again.” He brushed his lips across her forehead. “I want to do that for you.”

I really enjoyed this book! What I love most about this author is her unconventional and strong-willed heroines, and Ivory did not disappoint.

From the opening scene I was engrossed in this book. Miss Ivory Moore has been summoned to the house of the Duke of Alderidg

“You shouldn’t have to be fine, Ivory. You should be free. Protected from things that you survived once and that you shouldn’t have to survive again.” He brushed his lips across her forehead. “I want to do that for you.”

I really enjoyed this book! What I love most about this author is her unconventional and strong-willed heroines, and Ivory did not disappoint.

From the opening scene I was engrossed in this book. Miss Ivory Moore has been summoned to the house of the Duke of Alderidge, and what she finds is a dead, and naked earl tied to the duke’s sister of eighteen’s bed. Luckily Ivory is in the business of fixing scandals before they become public, and this scene doesn’t faze her. She is cool and calm and very in charge of doing what needs to be done.

Captain Maximus Harcourt, the duke of Alderidge, has just arrived home after his latest voyage. He is used to being in charge of his men and his ship, and he has no idea how to handle the scene he finds in his sister, Beatrice’s bedroom or the bossy woman who is telling him what to do. How can she be so calm when his sister is missing, and a dead man is tied to her bed?? But because he finds himself out of his depth, he has no choice but to do as the infuriating woman demands, while trying to keep his unexpected attraction to her at bay.

Protecting Lady Beatrice from ruination from the scandalous scene was easy, but finding out where she has fled is the mystery. And Max has no choice but to turn to Ivory for assistance, and with every encounter he can’t help but fall further under her spell. Because Ivory is like no woman he has ever met, and finding out her secrets together with his sister has become a must.

I loved the intrigue and mystery surrounding Beatrice’s scandal, and what happened to her. It was extremely captivating, and I enjoyed myself immensely.

“I did a lot of things to survive in my life, things that I cannot apologize for because they have, in the end, brought me here. But I am done surviving that life. I am no longer something to be owned. My destiny is mine to choose, mine to control.”

Ivory is my kind of HR heroine. She has worked hard to get her independence, to ensure the success of Chegarre & Associates. She’s no simpering miss, and she isn’t shy. She’s outspoken and follows her own rules. But she has a big and loyal heart, caring for those down on their luck, and I just loved her. She is an outcast who was forced to work since she was thirteen, taking care of herself however she could.

Max was bossy and so very sexy! In a way he and Ivory had so much in common, because even though he was the son of a duke, he was the youngest son, and had to take care of himself, ensuring his own future. When his parents and older brothers died, he was forced to become the duke, but after years of being his own man, he couldn’t fit in society, and preferred keeping to the life he had made.

“I know who you are. You are Ivory Moore. You are the woman who redressed a corpse to save my sister. The woman who kissed me to save me from myself. You are the only one who understands why I can never be put in a prison that was built for me by fate and circumstance.”

I loved the banter and the chemistry between Ivory and Max. Both of them are so used to being the one in charge, and seeing them fighting for control was so very funny!!! I loved that they were attracted to each other right from the start, and the slow burn of their romance was fantastic! The sexy times only happened later in the book, but the intense build-up of their chemistry worked perfectly for me.

There were so many interesting secondary characters: Ivory’s assistants Elise and her brother Alex, and Gil the owner of the Lion’s Paw were fabulous characters, and I really hope all of them will be getting their own books.

This was a wonderful HR, with a very interesting plot, great characters and a wonderful romance. I love how this author writes, she doesn’t just write about the nobility, but also about the people not part of the society, the outcasts, the ones that had to do anything to survive, and I love that. A definite must read.

“The careful barriers that she had built around herself were crumbling like a wall of sand in the face of a rising tide. Maximus Harcourt was no longer a client, any more than he was an amusement or a distraction. There was no point in pretending anymore, and with that admission a weight seemed to slide away from her. For better or for worse, this man had become something more.”

“The careful barriers that she had built around herself were crumbling like a wall of sand in the face of a rising tide. Maximus Harcourt was no longer a client, any more than he was an amusement or a distraction. There was no point in pretending anymore, and with that admission a weight seemed to slide away from her. For better or for worse, this man had become something more.”

“She had chosen herself. When Max had forced her hand, had acted like every man who simply wanted to own her, to possess her on his own terms, Ivory had chosen Ivory.”

“Here was a man who commanded men, who was used to controlling every aspect of his life. Who was used to taking action to achieve his ends.
And she was asking him to place that control in her hands. She did not underestimate the significance of that.
“I trust you.” He hadn’t looked away from her.
“Thank you,” she said softly.”

“You undo me, Maximus Harcourt.”
“I will always come for you, Ivory Moore.”

I care more about rescuing your sister’s reputation than the truth of what happened here tonight. And frankly, so should you. We’ve got a great deal of work to do if your sister’s future is to remain as bright as it was this morning.”
The duke’s expression was positively glacial. “I give the orders here, Miss Moore, not you. Don’t presume that I will ever follow your lead.”
Irritation surged. “Take a look around you, Your Grace. Do you see a crew of sailors anxiously awaiting your direction?” She put emphasis on the last two words. “This is not your world. This is mine.”

“Are you ordering me to shave? Now?”
“Anything that deviates from an expected appearance will be remembered. Remarked upon. Speculated on. You cannot appear like a barbarous, disheveled pirate on the same night that your ball ends because there is a dead man in your guest room.”
“What did you just call me?”
“I didn’t call you anything. I simply commented upon your current appearance.” Ivory had reached the wardrobe and stopped. “Do you need me to shave you?”
Alderidge’s jaw dropped open. “What?”
Given his expression, she might as well have suggested she take him on a flying carpet to the moon. “Time, Your Grace, is ticking. I don’t know how many more times I need to stress this to you before you understand that we simply must find a way to get done what needs to be done. Either you shave, and make yourself look presentable to society, or I will do it for you.”
“No, I don’t need you holding a razor to my throat,” Alderidge muttered, but at least he was moving now.

“I was the third of three boys, Miss Moore,” he said, feeling the inexplicable need to explain himself. “I was sent away to school when I was six, and when I was twelve, my father sent me a letter asking me to choose between the church and military service, as befits an unneeded son in a family with two boys too many.”
She watched him in silence.
“What I’m trying to say, Miss Moore, is that I have been solving my own problems since I left home at the age of six. Mine and those of others around me. I have never had to rely on others to manage my affairs, and I find it…difficult to do with any grace.”

“For the love of God, Gilda, don’t shoot him.”
Max closed his eyes.
Gilda’s gaze slid past Max, and her eyes crinkled at the corners, her mouth turning up in renewed amusement. “Well, if it isn’t the duchess.” She paused, her eyes coming back to rest on him. “Why can’t I shoot him?”
“Because he’s my client.”
A red brow arched. “My condolences.”
“Thank you.”
Max gritted his teeth and turned to find Miss Moore standing behind him, brushing beads of dampness from her cloak. “What are you doing here?” he hissed.
“Aside from making sure you don’t end up with a hole through your miserable hide? Having a cup of ale, I should think.

“Did the physician who was summoned attribute Debarry’s death to natural causes?”
“Thank the saints, but that was his opinion, yes. And he was quite insistent upon it.”
“Was he, indeed?” Miss Moore gave him a wry look.
Max blinked. “That had nothing to do with the saints, did it?”
“Well, I suspect the saints are often busy these days. I do what I can to take burdens from their heavenly shoulders and place them on more earthly ones. And ones that take coin and don’t ask stupid questions.”
“The physician was your man.”
“Of course he was.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Ivory. Ever.”
“I’m sure you say that to all the girls,” she said, forcing a lightness she didn’t feel.
“No.” He wasn’t laughing. “I want you.” He caught her chin and forced her eyes back to his.
“You currently have me. Sprawled on top of you. Naked at that.”
“That’s not what I mean. And you know it.”

Max stood, coming around the side of the desk and dropping to a knee in front of her. “I am willing to try to be a duke. And the brother that Beatrice deserves. But I can’t do that if I don’t have somewhere I belong. And I belong with you.”
Ivory could feel the emotion rising in her throat and burning the backs of her eyes. She reached out and touched his face, and he caught her hand and brought it to his lips.
“Yes,” she whispered. “You do.”