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The Heart of a Duke #13
To Enchant a Wicked Duke
A Devil in Disguise Years ago, when Nick Tallings, the recent Duke of Huntly, watched his family destroyed at the hands of a merciless nobleman, he vowed revenge. But his efforts had been futile, as his enemy, Lord Rutland is without weakness. Until now... With his rival finally happily married, Nick is able to set his ruthless scheme into motion. His plot hinges upon Lord Rutland's innocent, empty-headed sister-in-law, Justina Barrett. Nick will ruin her, marry her, and then leave her brokenhearted. A Lady Dreaming of Love From the moment Justina Barrett makes her Come Out, she is labeled a Diamond. Even with her ruthless father determined to sell her off to the highest bidder, Justina never gives up on her hope for a good, honorable gentleman who values her wit more than her looks. A Not-So-Chance Meeting Nick's ploy to ensnare Justina falls neatly into place in the streets of London. With each carefully orchestrated encounter, he slips further and further inside the lady's heart, never anticipating that Justina, with her quick wit and strength, will break down his own defenses. As Nick's plans begins to unravel, he's left to determine which is more important--Justina's love or his vow for vengeance. But can Justina ever forgive the duke who deceived her?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2017
869 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Christi Caldwell
137 books2,562 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling author CHRISTI CALDWELL blames Judith McNaught's "Whitney, My Love!" for luring her into the world of historical romance. While sitting in her graduate school apartment at the University of Connecticut, Christi decided to set aside her notes and pick up her laptop to try her hand at romance. She believes the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections, and she rather enjoys torturing them before crafting them a well deserved happily ever after!
Christi makes her home in Charlotte, North Carolina where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances, and baking surprisingly good cakes (almost 2 years in lockdown will do that) with her courageous son and twin daughters, each who with their daily antics provides limitless source material.
Christi makes her home in Charlotte, North Carolina where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances, and baking surprisingly good cakes (almost 2 years in lockdown will do that) with her courageous son and twin daughters, each who with their daily antics provides limitless source material.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
December 3, 2017
This was a romance that seemed destined to teach a lesson in morality to the H; like a sort of fable he was going to be living through, at the end of which his life would have been altered far beyond his anticipated expectations. I truly enjoyed this novel far more than I thought I would.
The H is a very bitter, angry 27 year old man who had lost all faith and hope in humanity and goodness when his father committed suicide 13 years ago. He blamed Edward, a rich and cruel Marquis to whom his father had owed humongous debts. After Edward had called in the debt a year earlier than expected, the H's father had killed himself by hanging. The H Nick, had been an impressionable and romantic young 14 yr old boy who loved to read poetry and lose himself in books. After he saw his father's hanging body ( which he cut down so his mother and sister would be spared the sight ) his life changed for the worse. His mother lapsed into depression and died 6 months after, leaving him and his 15 yr old sister at the mercy of their cruel maternal grandfather. The grandfather married off the sister when she was just 16 to an old decrepit Earl and the H blamed Edward for being the catalyst to his family's downfall and subsequent tragedies.
Nick had threatened Edward by telling him that one day he would hurt him by destroying the people he loved too. Edward had laughed cruelly and stated that he loved no one.
After a few years passed, the H inherited a wealthy dukedom from a distant childless relative. But even before he had inherited the dukedom, Nick had built his own business empire so now he had an unimaginably huge combined fortune. It had also come to pass that The Marquis, Edward had fallen in love with a woman named Phoebe, married her and had 3 kids. This was the opportunity Nick had been waiting for. His plan was to destroy Phoebe's family because that would hurt her so much and by so doing, it would get him his revenge on Edward. This convoluted revenge tale was a trifle weird, I thought, because I would have expected Nick to seek revenge on Edward by destroying Phoebe and the kids, not by targeting Phoebe's parents, brother and sister. But that was the strange plan concocted by Nick.
Fortunately for Nick, Edward's father in law was a profligate gambler and womanizing wastrel. I seriously pictured Boss Hogg from old The Dukes of Hazzard tv series when the author gave a physical description of the father in law, Viscount Masters. That man was described as an obese, wheezing fool who only drank tons of alcohol, ate a lot and gambled away his fortune and spent all his time at the brothel. The hero started by slowly buying up all the viscount's debts but the main part of his revenge plan focused on the viscount's younger daughter Justina, who had just made her debut into society. Justina was described as an Incomparable in beauty; a Diamond of the first water etc. Basically, she was the hottest item on the marriage mart and her father planned to barter her in exchange for his debts. For a minute there I wondered how in the world the Boss Hogg viscount could have fathered such a beauty. Anyway, he had this really sleazy guy called Lord Tennyson who would forgive his debts if he gave him Justina. What a nasty old pimp of a father !
The H's plan was to marry Justina himself so her corpulent dad would be unable to barter her and would thus be destroyed. There was also a wastrel brother called Andrew who was not corpulent but was just as lazy and addicted to gambling as the father. Lord Andrew was kind of like Boss Hogg's sidekick, the bumbling but good hearted sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. Seriously, I love old tv shows ! Nick had made a big error of judgement however, when he included a very crazy bitch OW called the Lady Carew in on his plans. Her family had also been financially ruined by Edward so she was foaming like a rabid cat for vengeance too. However she didn't agree with the part of the plan that included marriage to Justina the heroine. Although she was married to an old Baron, Lady Carew was a very talented cock connoisseur who was having an affair with Justina's brother Andrew while still panting after the H. The H had given her some gratuitous pity sex a few times in order to get information from her about Justina and her family but he seriously miscalculated when he tried to dump her. The "lady" was so demented that she was not going to let herself be dumped. She was one the worst neurotic pyscho narcissist bitchy OW ever ! That bitch was really insecure too. The H had to keep pacifying her and turning her away simultaneously. His biggest mistake was thinking that he would be able to control this nutjob.
Now I can get to the romance part that developed between Nick and the lovely Justina. Nick had gotten some really prejudiced reports from Lady Carew which had led him to believe that Justina was just an empty headed beauty with a fascination for pretty bonnets, ribbons and jewels. He was shocked when he met her. Not only did she save the life of an orphan street child but she loved reading poetry and gothic romances. Nick started to feel things for her that he had not thought he could feel and she revived his long lost love for poetry. A lot of readers might find this part bland but I loved it. I loved the way these two shared their knowledge of poetry and the author did a beautiful job with her quotations from the works of Byron and Shelley. The courtship of Justina was so romantic and I couldn't keep laughing at Nick because he was slowly drowning in love for her and his plan would obviously backfire.
I wouldn't go into the details but Nick's plan to financially destroy the Boss Hogg viscount and the bumbling Andrew did succeed. In fact he called in all debts right after he married Justina. The viscount was almost apoplectic because he was faced with life on one of his turnip farms. I kid you not. That part was funny: the bumbling idiot carrying on about how he would have to resort to laboring on a turnip farm. But the H still did not get the satisfaction he had expected because Justina dumped his vengeful ass and even Edward was pitying him because the latter was happy with a wife and 3 kids while he ( the hero ) was now all by his lonesome self.
Nick soon realized that his 13 yr old plan of grand revenge wasn't so sweet in the end because he still felt no happiness and his heart was breaking into a million pieces because he had lost Justina. Then he decided to cancel the viscount's debts and he met and finally made peace with Edward.
Nick's grand gesture of grovelling and loving supplication was one of the best I have ever read in a romance novel ! He attended a public literary seminar where Justina was an audience member ( it was at the "Circulating Library" where they had met before and had beautiful romantic interactions) and read out a very beautiful and eloquent piece of poetry that he had written for her. This was SO ROMANTIC. Here was this big rough alpha dude duke who is reading love poetry IN PUBLIC that he wrote just for his wife. That was such a grand gesture and it led to the estranged couple having a public reconciliation. It was too sweet.
Of course there had to be one nasty obstacle that almost ruined their newfound love and that came in the form of a demented Lady Carew. The obsessive bitch came with a pistol and threatened to kill Justina for stealing Nick. Apparently, the evil narcissist spiraled into full scale insanity when she heard Nick reading his love poem for Justina. But her murderous plans were foiled and she was carted off to jail by the constables. Perfect comeuppance for an OW ! I seriously hope that bitch gets placed in Bedlam or Newgate because if she gets transported to North A'ca or Australia, she might find some other poor fool like Andrew to manipulate.
I just loved this novel. It wasn't filled with sex but it somehow captivated my attention from start to finish. The epilogue was lovely too: Nick had designed an elegant parlor/meeting room for Jestina to use to invite her literary inclined friends to come and share their love of books. That was something only a very loving and thoughtful husband would do.
The novel also made me very interested in Edward's romance with Phoebe ( Justina's older sister ). That love story was written in a previous novel in this series and I will definitely be reading it. Edward had been such a cruel bastard to Nick's family that I really want to know his story.
The H is a very bitter, angry 27 year old man who had lost all faith and hope in humanity and goodness when his father committed suicide 13 years ago. He blamed Edward, a rich and cruel Marquis to whom his father had owed humongous debts. After Edward had called in the debt a year earlier than expected, the H's father had killed himself by hanging. The H Nick, had been an impressionable and romantic young 14 yr old boy who loved to read poetry and lose himself in books. After he saw his father's hanging body ( which he cut down so his mother and sister would be spared the sight ) his life changed for the worse. His mother lapsed into depression and died 6 months after, leaving him and his 15 yr old sister at the mercy of their cruel maternal grandfather. The grandfather married off the sister when she was just 16 to an old decrepit Earl and the H blamed Edward for being the catalyst to his family's downfall and subsequent tragedies.
Nick had threatened Edward by telling him that one day he would hurt him by destroying the people he loved too. Edward had laughed cruelly and stated that he loved no one.
After a few years passed, the H inherited a wealthy dukedom from a distant childless relative. But even before he had inherited the dukedom, Nick had built his own business empire so now he had an unimaginably huge combined fortune. It had also come to pass that The Marquis, Edward had fallen in love with a woman named Phoebe, married her and had 3 kids. This was the opportunity Nick had been waiting for. His plan was to destroy Phoebe's family because that would hurt her so much and by so doing, it would get him his revenge on Edward. This convoluted revenge tale was a trifle weird, I thought, because I would have expected Nick to seek revenge on Edward by destroying Phoebe and the kids, not by targeting Phoebe's parents, brother and sister. But that was the strange plan concocted by Nick.
Fortunately for Nick, Edward's father in law was a profligate gambler and womanizing wastrel. I seriously pictured Boss Hogg from old The Dukes of Hazzard tv series when the author gave a physical description of the father in law, Viscount Masters. That man was described as an obese, wheezing fool who only drank tons of alcohol, ate a lot and gambled away his fortune and spent all his time at the brothel. The hero started by slowly buying up all the viscount's debts but the main part of his revenge plan focused on the viscount's younger daughter Justina, who had just made her debut into society. Justina was described as an Incomparable in beauty; a Diamond of the first water etc. Basically, she was the hottest item on the marriage mart and her father planned to barter her in exchange for his debts. For a minute there I wondered how in the world the Boss Hogg viscount could have fathered such a beauty. Anyway, he had this really sleazy guy called Lord Tennyson who would forgive his debts if he gave him Justina. What a nasty old pimp of a father !
The H's plan was to marry Justina himself so her corpulent dad would be unable to barter her and would thus be destroyed. There was also a wastrel brother called Andrew who was not corpulent but was just as lazy and addicted to gambling as the father. Lord Andrew was kind of like Boss Hogg's sidekick, the bumbling but good hearted sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. Seriously, I love old tv shows ! Nick had made a big error of judgement however, when he included a very crazy bitch OW called the Lady Carew in on his plans. Her family had also been financially ruined by Edward so she was foaming like a rabid cat for vengeance too. However she didn't agree with the part of the plan that included marriage to Justina the heroine. Although she was married to an old Baron, Lady Carew was a very talented cock connoisseur who was having an affair with Justina's brother Andrew while still panting after the H. The H had given her some gratuitous pity sex a few times in order to get information from her about Justina and her family but he seriously miscalculated when he tried to dump her. The "lady" was so demented that she was not going to let herself be dumped. She was one the worst neurotic pyscho narcissist bitchy OW ever ! That bitch was really insecure too. The H had to keep pacifying her and turning her away simultaneously. His biggest mistake was thinking that he would be able to control this nutjob.
Now I can get to the romance part that developed between Nick and the lovely Justina. Nick had gotten some really prejudiced reports from Lady Carew which had led him to believe that Justina was just an empty headed beauty with a fascination for pretty bonnets, ribbons and jewels. He was shocked when he met her. Not only did she save the life of an orphan street child but she loved reading poetry and gothic romances. Nick started to feel things for her that he had not thought he could feel and she revived his long lost love for poetry. A lot of readers might find this part bland but I loved it. I loved the way these two shared their knowledge of poetry and the author did a beautiful job with her quotations from the works of Byron and Shelley. The courtship of Justina was so romantic and I couldn't keep laughing at Nick because he was slowly drowning in love for her and his plan would obviously backfire.
I wouldn't go into the details but Nick's plan to financially destroy the Boss Hogg viscount and the bumbling Andrew did succeed. In fact he called in all debts right after he married Justina. The viscount was almost apoplectic because he was faced with life on one of his turnip farms. I kid you not. That part was funny: the bumbling idiot carrying on about how he would have to resort to laboring on a turnip farm. But the H still did not get the satisfaction he had expected because Justina dumped his vengeful ass and even Edward was pitying him because the latter was happy with a wife and 3 kids while he ( the hero ) was now all by his lonesome self.
Nick soon realized that his 13 yr old plan of grand revenge wasn't so sweet in the end because he still felt no happiness and his heart was breaking into a million pieces because he had lost Justina. Then he decided to cancel the viscount's debts and he met and finally made peace with Edward.
Nick's grand gesture of grovelling and loving supplication was one of the best I have ever read in a romance novel ! He attended a public literary seminar where Justina was an audience member ( it was at the "Circulating Library" where they had met before and had beautiful romantic interactions) and read out a very beautiful and eloquent piece of poetry that he had written for her. This was SO ROMANTIC. Here was this big rough alpha dude duke who is reading love poetry IN PUBLIC that he wrote just for his wife. That was such a grand gesture and it led to the estranged couple having a public reconciliation. It was too sweet.
Of course there had to be one nasty obstacle that almost ruined their newfound love and that came in the form of a demented Lady Carew. The obsessive bitch came with a pistol and threatened to kill Justina for stealing Nick. Apparently, the evil narcissist spiraled into full scale insanity when she heard Nick reading his love poem for Justina. But her murderous plans were foiled and she was carted off to jail by the constables. Perfect comeuppance for an OW ! I seriously hope that bitch gets placed in Bedlam or Newgate because if she gets transported to North A'ca or Australia, she might find some other poor fool like Andrew to manipulate.
I just loved this novel. It wasn't filled with sex but it somehow captivated my attention from start to finish. The epilogue was lovely too: Nick had designed an elegant parlor/meeting room for Jestina to use to invite her literary inclined friends to come and share their love of books. That was something only a very loving and thoughtful husband would do.
The novel also made me very interested in Edward's romance with Phoebe ( Justina's older sister ). That love story was written in a previous novel in this series and I will definitely be reading it. Edward had been such a cruel bastard to Nick's family that I really want to know his story.
February 10, 2017
When it comes down to the bottom of things, author Christi Caldwell is one to keep the audience entertained and intrigued at all times. She never pushes the envelope, but dives headfirst into the story that needs to be told.
Lucky number thirteen in the HEART OF A DUKE series, TO ENCHANT A WICKED DUKE is a revelation in so many ways. In this wonderful tale, we begin with a young Dominick Tallings who instead of enjoying his informative years has to cover up the demise of his family and the death of his father in particular. The evident cause of the Tallings Family fall from grace is the malicious Marquess of Rutland, who has called in all of Tallings debt and in turn has begun a domino effect which shapes Dominck for years to come. When the Marquess confronts the young man after leaving the pivotal argument with his father, Rutland tells Dominck to never make apologies for who one is or for what one has done, thus beginning Dominick's quest for revenge that consumes him for over a decade.
Miss Justina Barrett may be a Diamond of the First Water but her life at home with her family is far from sparkling. Her father is in dun territory and devises a way to sell Justina to the highest bidder to squash his debt. Unfortunately, the man who pursues Justina is probably the last man she would ever want to marry, The Marquess of Tennyson, who has disrespected Justina in public. After a disagreement with her father, who threatens to hurt Justina's mother if she doesn't comply with his wishes, Justina is bereft, but determined to find another way. If only her brother-in-law and reformed rogue, the Marquess of Rutland, were in town to stop Justina's father's threats. Happily married to Phoebe, Justina's sister, who has just gone through a difficult birth, Rutland puts the fear of God into anyone who crosses him, especially those who seek to harm the family of the love of his life. Alas, Rutland is by his wife's side as she recovers and Justina is loathe to write and tell him of the Barrett family troubles.
A chance meeting with the fascinating Dominick Tallings, Duke of Huntly, who literally sweeps Justina off her feet when he saves her from a runaway horse who would have trampled her, gives her hope that maybe her father's dastardly plans for an unwanted marriage to a man she despises can be thwarted. The Duke of Huntly has other plans for Miss Barrett however, and she is his means to an end in Dominick's plan for revenge against Rutland.
Dominick thinks it will be cut and dry. He thinks his quest for vengeance will overshadow any humanity inside of him. What he soon comes to discover is nothing is cut and dry where Justina Barrett is concerned and the more time he spends in her company, the less cold hearted he actually may be. Revenge consumes Nick, and his inner struggle to fight off his new emotions for Justina war with the need to see the Marquess of Rutland brought low. Just when all may be resolved, Dominick's former lover and partner in crime, Lady Marianne Carew slithers in give Nick an ultimatum to finish what he started with their mutual nemesis, the Marquess of Rutland, or suffer the consequences.
As much as I would continue to give an inside to this fabulous work by the brilliant Christi Caldwell, I feel it would be better if TO ENCHANT A WICKED DUKE were grabbed and read immediately. Nothing can come close to Ms. Caldwell's writing, her emotion and her attention to detail and this book is a shining example of what Christi Caldwell is all about, perfection.
Lucky number thirteen in the HEART OF A DUKE series, TO ENCHANT A WICKED DUKE is a revelation in so many ways. In this wonderful tale, we begin with a young Dominick Tallings who instead of enjoying his informative years has to cover up the demise of his family and the death of his father in particular. The evident cause of the Tallings Family fall from grace is the malicious Marquess of Rutland, who has called in all of Tallings debt and in turn has begun a domino effect which shapes Dominck for years to come. When the Marquess confronts the young man after leaving the pivotal argument with his father, Rutland tells Dominck to never make apologies for who one is or for what one has done, thus beginning Dominick's quest for revenge that consumes him for over a decade.
Miss Justina Barrett may be a Diamond of the First Water but her life at home with her family is far from sparkling. Her father is in dun territory and devises a way to sell Justina to the highest bidder to squash his debt. Unfortunately, the man who pursues Justina is probably the last man she would ever want to marry, The Marquess of Tennyson, who has disrespected Justina in public. After a disagreement with her father, who threatens to hurt Justina's mother if she doesn't comply with his wishes, Justina is bereft, but determined to find another way. If only her brother-in-law and reformed rogue, the Marquess of Rutland, were in town to stop Justina's father's threats. Happily married to Phoebe, Justina's sister, who has just gone through a difficult birth, Rutland puts the fear of God into anyone who crosses him, especially those who seek to harm the family of the love of his life. Alas, Rutland is by his wife's side as she recovers and Justina is loathe to write and tell him of the Barrett family troubles.
A chance meeting with the fascinating Dominick Tallings, Duke of Huntly, who literally sweeps Justina off her feet when he saves her from a runaway horse who would have trampled her, gives her hope that maybe her father's dastardly plans for an unwanted marriage to a man she despises can be thwarted. The Duke of Huntly has other plans for Miss Barrett however, and she is his means to an end in Dominick's plan for revenge against Rutland.
Dominick thinks it will be cut and dry. He thinks his quest for vengeance will overshadow any humanity inside of him. What he soon comes to discover is nothing is cut and dry where Justina Barrett is concerned and the more time he spends in her company, the less cold hearted he actually may be. Revenge consumes Nick, and his inner struggle to fight off his new emotions for Justina war with the need to see the Marquess of Rutland brought low. Just when all may be resolved, Dominick's former lover and partner in crime, Lady Marianne Carew slithers in give Nick an ultimatum to finish what he started with their mutual nemesis, the Marquess of Rutland, or suffer the consequences.
As much as I would continue to give an inside to this fabulous work by the brilliant Christi Caldwell, I feel it would be better if TO ENCHANT A WICKED DUKE were grabbed and read immediately. Nothing can come close to Ms. Caldwell's writing, her emotion and her attention to detail and this book is a shining example of what Christi Caldwell is all about, perfection.
April 14, 2019
2.5 stars
It was dragging during the first half and I got a bit bored. The second half was much better but too many repetitions and I got a little annoyed.
I wondered why Justina wasn't chaperoned anymore after meeting Nick? Or at least where Nick was concerned. Additionally, how did a gently-bred lady know how to throw a punch? And a hard one at that.
I find it hypocritical that Nick would save Justina from being sold off by her father, because if that were to happen, her spirit would wither and die. And he would be damned if he let anyone extinguish her effervescent light. Wouldn't he also extinguish her effervescent light if had his revenge over her family?
Lastly, I didn't expect that Marianne (who was Nick's erstwhile lover) was also Andrew's (Justina's brother) lover and it was a nice twist.
I am looking forward to Andrew's and Honoria's story especially Honoria's. I am very curious what made her so cynic in love and I would like to see Andrew as a matured man. I hope the author will write their stories soon.
It was dragging during the first half and I got a bit bored. The second half was much better but too many repetitions and I got a little annoyed.
I wondered why Justina wasn't chaperoned anymore after meeting Nick? Or at least where Nick was concerned. Additionally, how did a gently-bred lady know how to throw a punch? And a hard one at that.
I find it hypocritical that Nick would save Justina from being sold off by her father, because if that were to happen, her spirit would wither and die. And he would be damned if he let anyone extinguish her effervescent light. Wouldn't he also extinguish her effervescent light if had his revenge over her family?
Lastly, I didn't expect that Marianne (who was Nick's erstwhile lover) was also Andrew's (Justina's brother) lover and it was a nice twist.
I am looking forward to Andrew's and Honoria's story especially Honoria's. I am very curious what made her so cynic in love and I would like to see Andrew as a matured man. I hope the author will write their stories soon.
November 9, 2023
Would you look at that, another Christi Caldwell book.
February 10, 2017
Thirteen long years. Thirteen years harboring his hatred. Thirteen years to plan the perfect revenge. Now the time has come for Dominick “Nick” Tallings, the Duke of Huntly, to put that plan in motion against the man who destroyed his family.
Justina Barrett has always been thought to be an empty-headed ninny content with her collection of bonnets. No one, not even her family, sees the intelligent woman looking for a love that resembles the one her sister has attained with the Marquess of Rutland. Unaware that this quest puts her on a collision course to heartbreak.
As Nick puts his plan in motion he comes to learn his pawn is more than what he’s been led to believe. But will he alter his scheme and when Justina finds out the depth of his hatred will she forgive him?
The depth of emotions that Christi Caldwell puts in her books is amazing and To Enchant a Wicked Duke is no exception. I felt Nick’s agony over what he lost and rode the same emotional roller coaster he did while discovering the true Justina. And the devastation Justina felt upon learning her role in his revenge had me bawling. I admired Justina’s strength in handling all that life threw her way. And fell in love with Nick as he realized what his hatred would cost him and his willingness to try and change.
A definite 7 hankie read!!!
Justina Barrett has always been thought to be an empty-headed ninny content with her collection of bonnets. No one, not even her family, sees the intelligent woman looking for a love that resembles the one her sister has attained with the Marquess of Rutland. Unaware that this quest puts her on a collision course to heartbreak.
As Nick puts his plan in motion he comes to learn his pawn is more than what he’s been led to believe. But will he alter his scheme and when Justina finds out the depth of his hatred will she forgive him?
The depth of emotions that Christi Caldwell puts in her books is amazing and To Enchant a Wicked Duke is no exception. I felt Nick’s agony over what he lost and rode the same emotional roller coaster he did while discovering the true Justina. And the devastation Justina felt upon learning her role in his revenge had me bawling. I admired Justina’s strength in handling all that life threw her way. And fell in love with Nick as he realized what his hatred would cost him and his willingness to try and change.
A definite 7 hankie read!!!
December 14, 2024
***TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING: Prologue contains scene of suicide right after it was completed; the Hero is a minor and finds his father dead and cleans up the scene, so to speak. This is referenced throughout the book. ***
8/4/24-
It's finally over! 😭 This was incredibly tedious to read because of the constant reminders of Nick's plans to ruin Justina's family. I don't have a great memory, but I think I can manage remembering the plot of the book from one page to the next. Then it turned into constant dithering in Nick's mind about his plans because Justina was making him feel feelings. Because of all that, the revelation scene really suffered when it could've been a highlight of angst and character development.
There were also the never-ending, very disruptive inner monologues that broke in during the middle of conversations, frequently several times in one paragraph in between spoken sentences.
Great plot, but poor execution and a disappointing resolution. I do not recommend this book.
8/4/24-
It's finally over! 😭 This was incredibly tedious to read because of the constant reminders of Nick's plans to ruin Justina's family. I don't have a great memory, but I think I can manage remembering the plot of the book from one page to the next. Then it turned into constant dithering in Nick's mind about his plans because Justina was making him feel feelings. Because of all that, the revelation scene really suffered when it could've been a highlight of angst and character development.
There were also the never-ending, very disruptive inner monologues that broke in during the middle of conversations, frequently several times in one paragraph in between spoken sentences.
Great plot, but poor execution and a disappointing resolution. I do not recommend this book.
March 19, 2017
Same story line as earlier book but still good
It was pretty much the same plot and story that was done early called The Heart of a Scoundrel. I didn't like this one as much especially since the first scene had him in bed with a lover and she was gross. She kept popping up in the book too and I just hate that. He didn't even know the h at the opening chapter so it shouldn't bother me but I just prefer not to 'see' that in my books. It's enough to know they are rakes but seeing it..... Crazy I know. But I did like the story and it kept me interested. I like the trope of marrying for revenge I guess. It backfired on both of them and I like that too. Will read this author again.
It was pretty much the same plot and story that was done early called The Heart of a Scoundrel. I didn't like this one as much especially since the first scene had him in bed with a lover and she was gross. She kept popping up in the book too and I just hate that. He didn't even know the h at the opening chapter so it shouldn't bother me but I just prefer not to 'see' that in my books. It's enough to know they are rakes but seeing it..... Crazy I know. But I did like the story and it kept me interested. I like the trope of marrying for revenge I guess. It backfired on both of them and I like that too. Will read this author again.
April 25, 2017
3.5/5
December 12, 2021
Note: Do not judge this book by its cover (it's soooo ...... I have no words).
Aside from its awful cover (sorry Ms. Caldwell), this was a very pleasant and satisfying read. A bit angsty (though I didn't shed any tears over this book hahah), but engaging nevertheless.
I've always loved stories about vengeance - where the hero was so stemmed on exacting his revenge through the heroine; and one where the heroine was innocent and 'pure' - unaware of the hero's insidious intention all along.
Nick had been living with his deep hatred towards a certain marquess who ruined his entire family. Because of this person, his father hanged himself and her mother died soon after. To top it off, his older sister had to wed an ancient man at fifteen in order to keep his family from crumbling. Vowing to exact his retribution, he sought to destroy the man he despised all these many years by hurting the people closest to him ... by wooing the unknowing, beautiful Justina and then ruining her.
Unbeknownst to the heroine, she plunged right into Nick's 'trap'. She fell head over heels with the ever handsome, delicate but illusive duke. Everything was falling into place as he'd planned, right? Wrong. He didn't intend to fall in love with his wife. He never thought he could feel any remorse and fear ... over losing this very dear person.
I must say I expected a little more 'oomph' for the ending. It fell a bit flat for me (although I appreciate the OW coming in ... ) but yeah ... wished there's more. But overall, I really enjoyed it very much.
Aside from its awful cover (sorry Ms. Caldwell), this was a very pleasant and satisfying read. A bit angsty (though I didn't shed any tears over this book hahah), but engaging nevertheless.
I've always loved stories about vengeance - where the hero was so stemmed on exacting his revenge through the heroine; and one where the heroine was innocent and 'pure' - unaware of the hero's insidious intention all along.
Nick had been living with his deep hatred towards a certain marquess who ruined his entire family. Because of this person, his father hanged himself and her mother died soon after. To top it off, his older sister had to wed an ancient man at fifteen in order to keep his family from crumbling. Vowing to exact his retribution, he sought to destroy the man he despised all these many years by hurting the people closest to him ... by wooing the unknowing, beautiful Justina and then ruining her.
Unbeknownst to the heroine, she plunged right into Nick's 'trap'. She fell head over heels with the ever handsome, delicate but illusive duke. Everything was falling into place as he'd planned, right? Wrong. He didn't intend to fall in love with his wife. He never thought he could feel any remorse and fear ... over losing this very dear person.
I must say I expected a little more 'oomph' for the ending. It fell a bit flat for me (although I appreciate the OW coming in ... ) but yeah ... wished there's more. But overall, I really enjoyed it very much.
June 9, 2023
A book read for Mad About Series Challenge 2023. The MC’s h Justina Barrett 20, daughter of Viscount Waters a gambler, whoremonger and drunk so vile he would trade his daughter to pay off his debts. The H is Dominick Tallings , Duke of Huntley. This is a story of revenge with a twist. Can love change the human heart. It is another tale with the Marquess of Rutland as the evil villain who ruined Nick’s family. He called in his father’s debt and Nick’s father committed suicide. His mother died of a broken heart. His sister was forced to marry an old man with a title whom she detested. She had a daughter Felicity who Nick doted on. Nick thought if he seduced Justina and married her and bankrupted Viscount Waters and Justina’s brother Andrew he would be vindicated. Oh what a tangled web we weave.
Review.
Review.
October 4, 2017
The first in the series that I read. And the first book I was hoping the H (Nick) don't have to grovel too much. His seek of justice was justify. What Edmund did to his family was ruthless even though Nick's father was partly to blame.
I always have mix feeling for heroin. I wanted them to be strong and yet not annoying. And thank God Justina was not that.
The plot was what I'm used to. A famous plot for Thai lakorn. Not much can be said about Nick's wish for revenge because it was not done directly towards the perpetrator. It would be better if Justina was Edmond's sister or cousin. A page turner nonetheless.
I always have mix feeling for heroin. I wanted them to be strong and yet not annoying. And thank God Justina was not that.
The plot was what I'm used to. A famous plot for Thai lakorn. Not much can be said about Nick's wish for revenge because it was not done directly towards the perpetrator. It would be better if Justina was Edmond's sister or cousin. A page turner nonetheless.
February 10, 2017
The book was good, but in many ways it resembled The Heart of a Scoundrel . I also had an issue of constant repetitiveness of Hero's inner monologue/thoughts about his hatred towards Marquess of Rutland, it seems like a filler to make up extra pages.
I hope Andrew will get his book as well.
I hope Andrew will get his book as well.
January 30, 2017
What I love best about Ms. Caldwell's writing is that she does not shy away from emotional, difficult and tough subject matters out there. In her capable hands she deftly deals with traumatic and life changing experiences is a real and satisfying way.
As a boy Nick's life is irrevocably changed, when a cold hearted Marquees calls in his fathers debt. This decisions leads to a serious of tragic events that forever changes the path of Nick and the sister he dearly loves. Consumed by hatred and bitterness over how life has turned out, Nick only lives for the day he can enact his revenges on the Marquees. Nick seizes an opportunity to destroy the Marquees by destroying the Marquees' newly acquired family. His first step is to seduced and marry Justina Barrett, the Marquees' SIL.
As Nick begins to orchestrate meeting after meeting with Justina, he finds a woman so unlike the Ton he has come to hate. Justina is no pampered miss. Having a wastrel father has shown her the ugly side of life. Justina has long learned that in order for her to find her happiness, she must be the one to fight for it and not rely on others to give what she so desperately needs.
Justina is a breath of fresh air in Nick's dark and twisted life. Whereas Nick allowed his circumstances to destroy who he was, Justina refuses to let the darkness in her life beat her down. The more time he spends with her, the more alive he becomes. He starts to remember the boy he was and still wants to be, but Nick is unable to let his thirst for revenge go and naively believes he can have and love Justina and still destroy all those she cares for.
Justina has to be my favorite heroine written by Ms. Caldwell. She was the true epitome of strength beyond measure. While Nick let the hurts of his past consume him into a life of darkness, Justina found the strength within to rise above her pain. Justina was the true hero of the story. She so easily could have allowed pain and hurt consumer her once she was confronted with the lies and betrayal of those she loved and trusted most. Instead she blazed her own path once again to reclaim what was rightfully hers.
As a boy Nick's life is irrevocably changed, when a cold hearted Marquees calls in his fathers debt. This decisions leads to a serious of tragic events that forever changes the path of Nick and the sister he dearly loves. Consumed by hatred and bitterness over how life has turned out, Nick only lives for the day he can enact his revenges on the Marquees. Nick seizes an opportunity to destroy the Marquees by destroying the Marquees' newly acquired family. His first step is to seduced and marry Justina Barrett, the Marquees' SIL.
As Nick begins to orchestrate meeting after meeting with Justina, he finds a woman so unlike the Ton he has come to hate. Justina is no pampered miss. Having a wastrel father has shown her the ugly side of life. Justina has long learned that in order for her to find her happiness, she must be the one to fight for it and not rely on others to give what she so desperately needs.
Justina is a breath of fresh air in Nick's dark and twisted life. Whereas Nick allowed his circumstances to destroy who he was, Justina refuses to let the darkness in her life beat her down. The more time he spends with her, the more alive he becomes. He starts to remember the boy he was and still wants to be, but Nick is unable to let his thirst for revenge go and naively believes he can have and love Justina and still destroy all those she cares for.
Justina has to be my favorite heroine written by Ms. Caldwell. She was the true epitome of strength beyond measure. While Nick let the hurts of his past consume him into a life of darkness, Justina found the strength within to rise above her pain. Justina was the true hero of the story. She so easily could have allowed pain and hurt consumer her once she was confronted with the lies and betrayal of those she loved and trusted most. Instead she blazed her own path once again to reclaim what was rightfully hers.
January 13, 2025
nick has a bone to pick with lord rutland, who indirectly caused his father's death and ruined his family. years later, nick unexpectedly inherits a dukedom and plans his revenge against rutland. however, to get to rutland, he decides to seduce rutland's sister-in-law, justina, and break her heart. it’s a plan built on a far-fetched six degrees of separation, with vengeance aimed not directly at rutland but at his wife's sister. it's an elaborate and convoluted scheme.
as for justina, i felt bad for her throughout the story. she believes wholeheartedly that nick is a good man (and, to be fair, he is—but he has his secret motives). she thinks he truly cares for her, while all he’s showing her is a carefully crafted facade hiding his agenda. i kept waiting for the moment when the truth would come crashing down, and the inevitable heartbreak would follow.
the book was okay. nick is fundamentally a good guy, and despite his original plan for revenge, he genuinely loves justina. justina, on the other hand, is doing her best within the limited space she has. she has opinions but struggles to voice them, especially with a father who treats her like an asset to pay off his debts. despite all this, she finds strength in the space nick provides her, and it’s clear that he empowers her to speak up and take control of her life.
even though nick's actions were morally complicated, he ultimately liberates justina and her family from her father's oppressive grip. it's a bittersweet journey, but in the end, nick's love for justina shines through, and so does justina's quiet resilience.
as for justina, i felt bad for her throughout the story. she believes wholeheartedly that nick is a good man (and, to be fair, he is—but he has his secret motives). she thinks he truly cares for her, while all he’s showing her is a carefully crafted facade hiding his agenda. i kept waiting for the moment when the truth would come crashing down, and the inevitable heartbreak would follow.
the book was okay. nick is fundamentally a good guy, and despite his original plan for revenge, he genuinely loves justina. justina, on the other hand, is doing her best within the limited space she has. she has opinions but struggles to voice them, especially with a father who treats her like an asset to pay off his debts. despite all this, she finds strength in the space nick provides her, and it’s clear that he empowers her to speak up and take control of her life.
even though nick's actions were morally complicated, he ultimately liberates justina and her family from her father's oppressive grip. it's a bittersweet journey, but in the end, nick's love for justina shines through, and so does justina's quiet resilience.
January 16, 2017
Whoever said "Revenge is a dish best served cold" must have seen Dominick Tallings planned. He's waited 13 long years to get his revenge on the Lord Rutland. Thirteen years ago, when Nick was just a teen, the Marquis came to their house one day and called in his father's loan. The family lost everything. After Rutland left, Nick went into the office to find that his father had hung himself. Later, his family was forced to live with his grandfather, his mother died shortly after and Nick's sister was married off to a cruel,.old Lord.
After all this time waiting to find a way to get back at Rutland, Nick has gone from a penniless boy to a rich Duke. Rutland is now a happily married man and Nick plots to get to him through his wife's family but he never thought he'd fall in love with Rutland's sister-in-law.
As the 13th book in Christi Caldwell's Heart of a Duke series, the characters continue to be interesting and well worth the read. This couple must fight for their Happily Ever After. Justina fights to be seen as something other than a pretty doll without a thought in her head and Nick must fight to put aside his past hatred and pain to let love into his life. The struggles make the ending all the more sweet.
After all this time waiting to find a way to get back at Rutland, Nick has gone from a penniless boy to a rich Duke. Rutland is now a happily married man and Nick plots to get to him through his wife's family but he never thought he'd fall in love with Rutland's sister-in-law.
As the 13th book in Christi Caldwell's Heart of a Duke series, the characters continue to be interesting and well worth the read. This couple must fight for their Happily Ever After. Justina fights to be seen as something other than a pretty doll without a thought in her head and Nick must fight to put aside his past hatred and pain to let love into his life. The struggles make the ending all the more sweet.
May 21, 2022
5⭐️
I absolutely loved this one! The love, the heartbreak, the drama. The first chapter absolutely devestated me, I gasped so loud. Understandably, I get why Nick sought out revenge over Rutland and his family. His hatred for the family blinded him so much that when he finally got to know Justina, it became too personal and real for him. Justina was absolutely the kind’ve heroine I rooted for entirely. She was smart, strong and hopeful and you can’t help but want to be on her side. When she found out Nick’s plan to destroy her and her family because of his fathers suicide, it felt like I was hearing it for the first time even though obviously we knew what was happening. It was absolutely gut wrenching. It was wonderfully written as well as Nick and Justina’s first kiss. Oh my heaaaaaart. I just love Christi’s writing!
I absolutely loved this one! The love, the heartbreak, the drama. The first chapter absolutely devestated me, I gasped so loud. Understandably, I get why Nick sought out revenge over Rutland and his family. His hatred for the family blinded him so much that when he finally got to know Justina, it became too personal and real for him. Justina was absolutely the kind’ve heroine I rooted for entirely. She was smart, strong and hopeful and you can’t help but want to be on her side. When she found out Nick’s plan to destroy her and her family because of his fathers suicide, it felt like I was hearing it for the first time even though obviously we knew what was happening. It was absolutely gut wrenching. It was wonderfully written as well as Nick and Justina’s first kiss. Oh my heaaaaaart. I just love Christi’s writing!
December 5, 2023
Justine is wanting a love match but her wants her to marry Marquess of Tennyson to pay off a gambling debt. Nick, Duke of Huntly has a plan to destroy Rutland like Rutland had destroyed his family years ago. Nick sets out to Woo Justine, marry her and then destroy her, her father and her brother. But instead Nick discovers Justine is more than society perceives. Instead she is "A woman who reminded him of all those pleasures he’d once found joy in, and through her spirit and love of those same books, she’d sparked a long dormant part of his soul he’d trusted was dead." Lady Carew is a Nick's informant and former lover who is jealous of Justina but also wants Rutland destroyed. Nick describes her as a venomous serpent who would not rest until she spread that venom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2017
I liked this one a lot, aside from some bits at the end. My favorite book in this entire series is The Heart of a Scoundrel, Edmund and Phoebe's story. So this was fun to read because it includes those characters again. I like Nick and Justina and I felt there was plenty of character development. I read this in a day because I didn't want to put it down.
Again, only the ending was a bit of a let down. I did not like Nick's ex lover with the gun and how it ended. That whole scene was just a bit too dramatic for me. Then after that scene, it felt like the end came very quickly.
Again, only the ending was a bit of a let down. I did not like Nick's ex lover with the gun and how it ended. That whole scene was just a bit too dramatic for me. Then after that scene, it felt like the end came very quickly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2018
Great Story, every emotion explored
Fabulous story with wonderful characters, hatred and revenge start the story and we are how one's eyes are opened layer by layer. We will learn that we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make throughout our lives and understand the mistakes we make. As always we will have a happily ever after but what a great storyline getting us to that point. As always we enjoy the side characters and wonder to ourselves who may be a character in the next book. Enjoy!
Fabulous story with wonderful characters, hatred and revenge start the story and we are how one's eyes are opened layer by layer. We will learn that we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make throughout our lives and understand the mistakes we make. As always we will have a happily ever after but what a great storyline getting us to that point. As always we enjoy the side characters and wonder to ourselves who may be a character in the next book. Enjoy!
January 4, 2025
The plot seems to be repetitive. I read this right after I read "The Heart of Scoundrel." Phoebe's story, and it was centred on revenge and as is this story. At least for the sake of the siblings having a different life, Christi could have tried something else. I did finish it, though. I did not feel any emotional connection with the characters.
It wasn't like the steam/prose kept me going, either. I usually like clichéd tropes when there is something redeeming about it, but this one just droned on.
I used to enjoy Christi, but I wonder why I am unable to relate to her anymore.
It wasn't like the steam/prose kept me going, either. I usually like clichéd tropes when there is something redeeming about it, but this one just droned on.
I used to enjoy Christi, but I wonder why I am unable to relate to her anymore.
May 16, 2021
4 stars. The characters had clear motivations. There was some time (not a lot) for genuine affection to grow instead of instalove. So many of the side characters have their own books, many I read already, yet not having read or remembered most of them didn’t detract from this book.
I’ve read the mother’s book in a different series. Does the brother Andrew get a book?
I’ve read the mother’s book in a different series. Does the brother Andrew get a book?
April 6, 2022
Hate, Revenge and Live
He has lived with hate in his heart and revenge on his mind She has lived under the dictatorial thumb of a profligate father who has gambled their wealth away . Christi brings these two together in a twist and turn story that will break your heart and then put it back together as only she can .
He has lived with hate in his heart and revenge on his mind She has lived under the dictatorial thumb of a profligate father who has gambled their wealth away . Christi brings these two together in a twist and turn story that will break your heart and then put it back together as only she can .
August 18, 2017
Fantastic story of revenge, loss and love! I could not put down this captivating novel from start to finish. I got completely wrapped up in these compelling characters and was taken on an emotional roller coaster ride. Can't wait for the next in this phenomenal series!!
April 2, 2018
A fun read
It's always fun to read regency romances. The characters are interesting, the plot is typical of the genre, but well executed. A 5 star is misses because I believe the resolution was somewhat rushed. A pleasurable read
It's always fun to read regency romances. The characters are interesting, the plot is typical of the genre, but well executed. A 5 star is misses because I believe the resolution was somewhat rushed. A pleasurable read
August 21, 2021
A true love story
Even though Nick was seeking revenge on someone who hurt him in his youth this really was a beautiful tried and tested, love story. No matter how hard he tried to resist, love overcame all of his hatred. A very enchanting love story.
Even though Nick was seeking revenge on someone who hurt him in his youth this really was a beautiful tried and tested, love story. No matter how hard he tried to resist, love overcame all of his hatred. A very enchanting love story.
March 6, 2022
Wicked Duke
I thoroughly enjoy reading Christi 's books. This is another good book that I did not want to put down. The characters are engaging and interesting. Nick has a horrific past, but Justina show him hope and love.
I thoroughly enjoy reading Christi 's books. This is another good book that I did not want to put down. The characters are engaging and interesting. Nick has a horrific past, but Justina show him hope and love.
February 14, 2025
Tragedy/A Plan/A Price/Then Love?
A plan in place, thought about for
13 years for the fears of his family the Duke plans everything perfectly
Until he thinks a little too much & it begins to unravel. He finally realizes Justina is everything but is it too late?
A plan in place, thought about for
13 years for the fears of his family the Duke plans everything perfectly
Until he thinks a little too much & it begins to unravel. He finally realizes Justina is everything but is it too late?
May 26, 2017
I want my money back. .
This download was horrible. Numerous times more than 10 pages at a time were missing. It makes it really hard to enjoy the story.
This download was horrible. Numerous times more than 10 pages at a time were missing. It makes it really hard to enjoy the story.
September 6, 2017
this story is a lot like her sister story( heart of a scoundrel). but a very good story.
May 26, 2018
Lovely story with Justin's and Nick......oh, I do love a story where the H is called Nick. A marvellous time reading this Christi Caldwell as always. She's fab! 5☆
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