Captured by a Duke

by Summer Hanford

A Scarsdale Publishing Half Hour Read

Freedom is within her grasp... if she truly desires escape.

When Lady Annabel sets out to introduce herself to her fiancé the day before their wedding, she doesn't count on being waylaid by highwaymen. Kidnapped, but not without recourse, Annabel shoots her abductor and escapes. Too late, she discovers she might not want her freedom.


More in the Ladies Always Shoot First series:

To Save a Lord (Two)  One Shot for a Gentleman (Three)  Anything for a Lord (Four)

Genres: Historical Romance, Novella

34 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2017

About the author

Summer Hanford writes gripping Epic Fantasy, swashbuckling Historical Romance, and best-selling Pride and Prejudice retellings. She lives in the Finger Lakes Region of New York with her husband and compulsory, deliberately spoiled, cat. The newest addition to their household, an energetic setter-shepherd mix, has been trying, and failing, for six years to gain acceptance from the cat, but is adored by the humans.

Since the moment she read her first novel, Summer’s passion has always been writing. As a child growing up on a dairy farm, she built castles made of hay and wielded swords made of fence posts. She is also passionate about animals, travel, and organizing her closet. Nothing pleases her more than a row of tops broken down by sleeve length and ordered by color…except working on her latest novel with her cat in her lap, her dog lounging on the rug dreaming of squirrels, and a cup of tea at hand.

For more about Summer, visit www.summerhanford.com.

Reviews

[Katja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short story more than a novella, IMO, it ends at 62 % and then there are some excerpts. It could be a cute idea but the condensed format leaves the backstory very thin. The premise is that the heroine has been betrothed to a duke sight unseen so she makes a clandestine plan to go see her fiance. But highwaymen with their own agendas interrupt them on the way.

The reason why any of this was necessary eludes me. Why couldn't they not have met in more normal circumstances? Why were they engaged without never having met? Who on earth thought it was advisable and why? The duke, at least, is assumed to have had a choice in the matter. If he wanted to see his bride before the wedding or even before the engagement why didn't he just visit her?

A duke should be addressed as "your grace".

[Natasha Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

An arranged marriage, it seems our protagonists want to meet before the big day. So our protagonist's best friend makes an arrangement for an outlandish scheme. When they meet things go just a tad awry.

It's an enjoyable short read and you're engrossed from the start.

Now, it annoys me that some authors don't do their research about the correct use of honorifics, and make the mistakes of many of their colleagues.

A Duke is NEVER EVER addressed as a Lord. It is the highest rank in terms of Peerages (titles). Reading Debretts Ettiquette would not go astray, use of honorifics, for both Peers and Church of England Clergy.

The lack of research shows the author has a low regard for the general knowledge and intelligence of her audience.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like this was a cute suspenseful, comical romance yet from the Regency times! made me chuckle and smile ---good read.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet read with an unexpected twist at the end

[Virginia Tican · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story line and concept BUT I have issues. If Lady Annabel wants to know about her betrothed, she could have looked him up at Debrett's or at the Domesday Book and even asked her older relatives about the Duke. If anything else, the ton thrives on gossip and if His Grace seldom goes to town, all the more that tongues will wag because of the romance and mystique of a mystery (and heightened curiosity to be appeased). Furthermore, the ton is a pretty close~knit collection of the creme de la creme of the elite in society (the British aristocracy) where everybody knows everybody. If Richard is a Duke and unless the dukedom is bankrupt (which apparently is not, judging by the state of the hunting lodge), he could have given an un~entailed property to John that merits his dignity as the only brother of a Duke (since Richard did not allow him to be hanged after all). For if John's motive is jealousy because the heir was the parents' favorite, Richard can still afford to be generous. Unless John is an inveterate gambler and cannot manage an estate? There is a lack of important background stories for the characters that should at least give credence to a plausible outcome of their actions based on 'facts' given by the author. There are more questions on the reader's mind to preclude any joy from reading this story.