O outro duque

The Notorious Flynns #1

by Jess Michaels

Durante anos, Serafina McPhee está comprometida a se casar o duque de Hartholm e, por quase o mesmo tempo, ela luta para encontrar uma maneira de sair desse noivado. Quando ele morre repentinamente, ela não chora, mas se emociona com a ideia de que estará livre. Infelizmente, os melhores planos dão errado quando o próximo na fila para o título, o primo do duque, Raphael "Rafe" Flynn, é forçado a assumir o compromisso. Mas Serafina conhece a reputação de Rafe como libertino e também não quer nada com ele, mesmo ele sendo devastadoramente bonito.

Ela lhe propõe um acordo: ela concorda com o casamento e fornece a Rafe seu herdeiro e um sobressalente. Depois que cumprir seu dever, ele a deixará ir. Rafe está intrigado tanto por sua beleza quanto por seu total desgosto com a ideia de ser sua noiva. As mulheres normalmente caem aos seus pés, não o temem.

Como o casamento arranjado não é algo do qual Raphael "Rafe" Flynn possa escapar, ele concorda com os termos de Serefina McFhee.

Mas quando, na noite de núpcias, descobre a verdade sobre a tortura que ela sofreu nas mãos de seu antecessor, se vê impelido a não apenas cumprir sua barganha com sua nova esposa, mas a apresentá-la ao desejo. Enquanto eles se aproximam, se rendendo a prazeres perversos, emoções perigosas podem violar todos os acordos que fizeram.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Audiobook, Erotica, Marriage Of Convenience

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2015

About the author

Jess Michaels is a USA Today Bestselling Author who likes geeky stuff like Star Wars, playing video games (she ships herself with Dragon Age’s Iron Bull FOREVER), Bob’s Burgers and collecting POPs! She also drinks a LOT of Diet Coke. Probably an unhealthy amount, but it’s her only vice. She will eat (almost) anything coconut, truly anything cheesy and nothing spicy (yes, she is a walking stereotype when it comes to that). She likes cats, her dog Elton and people who care about the welfare of their fellow humans.

Although she started out traditionally published by Avon/HarperCollins, Pocket, Hachette and Samhain Publishing, in 2015 she went fully indie and has never looked back! She is lucky enough to be married to her favorite person in the world and live tucked between the ocean and the mountains in Oregon.

When she’s not watching Our Flag Means Death or trying out all the new flavors of Greek yogurt, she writes historical romances with smoking hot heroes and sassy heroines who do anything but wait to get what they want.

Reviews

[Lady Nilambari Reads HR · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

First things first, that ugly cover. I mean, am I the only one who noticed how weird it is? It almost makes the cover of The Devil is a Marquess seem beautiful in comparison.

Trigger Warning - Rape & Sexual Abuse
Had I known about the raped heroine trope, I would not have read it. The blurb indicated harassment, but the nature of it was unknown, and I do not like being blindsided, especially with this trope.

It's difficult for a reader to comment upon a character who has faced such horrendous trauma. You stand a risk of either downplaying or overanalysing the situation, and you are also constantly on guard about any ill feelings you may have towards the character, coupled with the guilt that goes with thinking badly of someone who suffers. Ah, it's much too emotional tempering, and I do that enough at work.

With that being said, objectively, this book was a sweet, cute, cuddly, steamy romance, which comes as no surprise as Jess Michaels delivers steadily.

My Reticent Review
- Interesting twist on a marriage of convenience
- Absolutely, positively adorable, loveable hero
- Steady development of the plot
- Great ancillary characters

My Recommendations
Barring this particular trope, I will read anything Ms Micheals writes.

[Sonya Heaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally posted HERE .

This one was so promising. I loved the premise, and I genuinely liked the characters. However, in the end I thought it fell apart a bit. The Other Duke has great ideas, but relies too heavily on repetitive sex scenes for character development, and tops it all off with plenty of historical inaccuracies.

I am going to give away a few plot points, but they’re not anything you can’t figure out from the blurb.

We start off with our heroine about to marry a violent, abusive, rapist duke. She is dreading it. However, he is killed and both the title and the fiancée pass on to the next male relative, who happens to be our hero.

I liked that they were practical about the situation they found themselves in, and I really liked that they genuinely liked each other pretty much from the outset.

But this is where I encountered my first problem with the book, and the fact they make an agreement to live apart, only meeting to produce the heir and spare. In truth, that’s an arrangement that wasn’t uncommon amongst the aristocracy anyway – love matches were largely frowned upon.

However, I just couldn’t figure out why they kept talking about this silly arrangement. From day one they liked each other and were attracted to each other. After a short while it became clear they loved each other, too. The only reason the issue of living apart was carried on to the end of the book was because there had to be some sort of conflict in the relationship.

But it made No Sense!

Another problem, relating to all the sex, was that our heroine is a victim of sexual assault. But after a few token bad reactions to kissing at the very start of the book, she switches into a bold lover who adores sex. The issue of her trauma was not dealt with much, and another trauma at the end of the book was also glossed over.

It has been said to me that this author is known for her erotic romances, which I suppose is why every single scene ended with the characters having sex. But it just didn’t work for me. It should also be noted that the book was not marketed to me as erotic romance, and the cover is no different to every other historical romance on the market these days.

I started skipping the sex scenes by the halfway point, as the plot seemed to disappear so the two of them could have sex at the end of every single conversation. Additionally, the approach to sex was quite anachronistic. No man in 1813 would be taking time to explain medical terminology for his wife’s body!

I think most people who read enough romance start to get bored by sex scenes after a while, and I seem to have reached that point.

It must be said there were bright moments throughout, at the times people managed to keep their clothes on. While I eventually became hugely frustrated with the heroine, I did like her in-laws and I would be interested in reading about them in upcoming books.

Two other things I appreciated were having a blond hero, and having a heroine known for her beauty. I’m tired of all the Plain Janes whose books only feature attractive women if they’re to be the enemy!

Other anachronisms included the language, but then almost all historical romance authors get their British terminology all wrong – “sidewalk” is not a word that should ever appear! I was very confused why our characters were waltzing at a ball years before the waltz was even introduced to England!

Unfortunately I didn’t end up enjoying The Other Duke anywhere near as much as I expected to. For the first few chapters I actually thought it might be a five star read for me, but unfortunately my opinion changed.


Review copy provided by NetGalley.

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for some sweet smut, this is it. The plot and character depth suffer on account of this being essentially a novella plus loads of sex, described using modern vocabulary for sexual intimacy. Even though I went with low expectations, author's usage of modern words was annoying and ruined the historical setting I wanted to enjoy.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I tried reading this book a while ago and wasn't feeling the characters. I thought Serafina and Rafe were both too arrogant and it irritated me so I put this book down never thinking I would return to it. I love Jess Michaels books so I recently went back to reading the rest of the series and I enjoyed them so much I thought it was a good time to go back and read the first book. I didn't love this book but I did like it. I loved Serafina and Rafe when they were in the other books but this one I didn't care for them as much which is a bit weird. At first, I had a hard time connecting with Serafina. I still found her arrogant but with her past struggles and problems I grew to very sympathetic for her. She was tormented by her previous fiancé and I admire the way Rafe was very patient and nurturing with her. I think I understand them better but I still love them more in the following novels. I also like how Rafe had his siblings and Sera had her friend Emma to help them both realize they loved each other. Sera was very guarded and Rafe helps her to open up and wants her to know that he will take care of her and that she doesn't have to be scared anymore with him which was lovely.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lei è davvero odiosa...

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really tried, but I can't connect to the characters. I also hate the chick's name: Serafina?! Really??

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instructed from childhood on how she will dress, how she will act, and even whom she would marry, Serafina McPhee has not been allowed to make a single decision in her entire life. When her abusive fiance dies days before the wedding, Serafina thinks she will finally be free. But a pesky marriage contract with airtight language insists that she shall marry the Duke of Hartholm. Enter Raphael Flynn, estranged cousin to Serafina’s former fiance and now her new fiance! Trapped into a marriage neither wanted, Serafina and Rafe learn to make the best of a bad situation and along the way Rafe shows Serafina that not all men are the callous, heartless beasts she has had the misfortune of knowing all her life.

Serafina is a guarded, but intelligent young woman. She has suffered tremendously at the hands of a cruel, degenerate fiance and a father who couldn’t care less what she wanted. And yet despite this background, Serafina remains a caring, astute woman able to analyze others and identify their needs of the moment. When presented with Rafe, she quickly assesses both her own and Rafe’s positions in the contract and takes control of marriage negotiations with the aplomb of a skilled solicitor.

Rafe is teasing, playful, and charming, but when he is informed of Serafina’s past, he is protective and very understanding. Despite having a reputation as a scoundrel, his honorable side is quite prevalent and he exhibits a great deal of compassion and patience as Serafina works her way through overcoming her inner demons.

In true Jess Michaels style, the sex scenes are sensual, inventive, and – while numerous – come as a natural progression of the plot and character development. Rafe and Serafina compliment each other so well and Rafe’s process of teaching Serafina about intimacy is both hot and heart-breaking as it gives her things she never had – passion, love, and control.

Now, I will warn readers – as I always do – that rape does play a minor part of this plot. While I would normally knock an entire star off for the use of this as a plot device, I would like to point out that the way Ms. Michaels handled this sensitive subject was very well done; so much so that she earned that star back. There are no overly detailed descriptions of what happened – barely enough to convey the idea even. And rather than harping on it time and again, the focus is instead on Rafe’s determination to make Serafina feel safe and loved, never worthless or less of a person for it. Rafe places the blame squarely on Serafina’s former fiance and makes it his personal quest to replace all of Serafina’s bad memories of intimacy and love with new, happy ones.

It’s no surprise why I love Jess Michaels’ books – compelling characters, a well-paced plot, witty dialogue, humor, and spicy romance. THE OTHER DUKE has all of these things. I loved watching Serafina and Rafe fall in love with each other AFTER their marriage and can’t wait to see what is in store for the other books in this series.

HIGHLY recommend picking this one up! I read this all in one sitting because I simply could NOT put it down.

Originally posted at Plot Twist Reviews [dot] Com

I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review from 2015

C+ for narration/ C for content.

The Other Duke is the first book in Ms Michaels’ series, The Scandalous Flynns , and it tells the story of the oldest of the Flynn siblings, Raphael (Rafe) who is unexpectedly elevated to a dukedom he doesn’t want upon the death of a distant cousin. It’s a fairly short story, lasting for a little over seven hours in audio, and it begins well; but ultimately, it does not contain enough material to sustain a full-length (albeit short) novel. After the first couple of hours, it seems to be padded out with sex scenes that, while well written, are largely irrelevant.

Seraphina McPhee has been engaged to marry the heir to the dukedom of Hartholm for years, and has been desperate to find a way out of the betrothal for just as long. When her fiancé dies unexpectedly, she is hugely relieved and looks forward to finally being free to live her own life – only to discover that the betrothal contract was worded in such a way as not to stipulate the identity of her intended, referring to him not by name but by title. Seraphina’s wily father thus ensures that her marriage to a duke’s heir will go ahead – just that the bridegroom will be a different man.

Raphael Flynn is quite happy with his carefree existence and has no wish to be a duke or a husband. But the contracts stipulating his marriage to Miss McPhee are water-tight and he has no alternative but to honour them. When he meets Seraphina, however, his disinclination ebbs as she is both beautiful and intelligent and he starts to think that perhaps marriage won’t be such a bad thing after all. Unfortunately, however, Seraphina very quickly puts paid to that train of thought when she tells him that she wants a marriage in name only and wishes to have a separate establishment. Rafe points out that he will need at least an heir and a spare, so the couple comes to an arrangement. They will consummate their marriage and come together for the purpose of procreation, but will otherwise live completely independently of each other.

Seraphina has good reason for not wanting to marry either of her fiancés. The first one raped her repeatedly, giving her, quite naturally, a disgust and fear of men and intimacy which extends to Rafe by default. One of the things that works well about the central relationship is that the couple talks to each other honestly, so that when, on their wedding night, Rafe realises something is wrong, he has nothing but sympathy for Seraphina’s situation, removing them immediately from the ducal house and her bad memories. In this he shows himself to be a kind, considerate man in spite of his reputation as a bit of a scoundrel (although listeners are never privy to his supposed rakish activities).

Rafe naturally wants to show his new wife that not all men are rutting bastards and that physical intimacy can be pleasurable rather than something to be feared. Given the set-up, it’s a necessary part of the story for Rafe to be able to help Seraphina overcome her fears, but this happens quickly – before the half-way point of the book – which is why I said at the beginning that the rest of the sex scenes are largely irrelevant. After that key one, the others felt like sex for the sake of it rather than being crucial to the progression of the story, and had I not been listening for review, I may well have fast-forwarded through the rest of them.

My main issue with the book as a whole is that there is an almost complete lack of conflict. What little there is stems from Seraphina’s oft reiterated desire for a house of her own, even though it’s very clear that she and Rafe like each other and are deeply attracted to one another. I could understand where Seraphina was coming from when she didn’t know Rafe from Adam, but once she got to know him, it made no sense for her to continue to insist on their living apart.

There is also a secondary plotline in which it seems that someone is out to do Rafe harm, but it isn’t well developed so that the final section of the story – in which this aspect of the plot is escalated – comes almost completely out of the blue and crosses the line into the overly melodramatic.
Danielle O’Farrell isn’t a narrator I have heard of before and, as I am sure my fellow AudioGals will attest, there is always a degree of apprehension when listening to an unfamiliar narrator for the first time. I’m pleased to be able to report that on the whole, Ms O’Farrell does a good job, performing both narrative and dialogue at a good pace and with a suitable degree of expression. She has an attractive, melodic voice in the mezzo-soprano range, and even though she does not lower her pitch very much to portray the male characters, she nonetheless makes them sound suitably masculine by a variation in timbre and the addition of a slightly harder edge to her tone. She differentiates well between the female characters but is less successful with the men, particularly with Rafe and his younger brother, Crispin, and I often had to pay attention to the dialogue tags in order to work out who was speaking in their scenes together. Given the large number of sex scenes in such a short book (there are four or five – I lost count after two!) I paid particular attention to her performance in that regard, and she acquits herself well, creating an atmosphere of intimacy between the couple without going over the top. I noticed a few mispronunciations here and there, some which she corrected (for instance, she pronounced “viscount” as “veecount” in some scenes, but pronounced it correctly in others), and others which she didn’t – cravat rhymes with “hat” and not “art”; “reticence” was pronounced “reTIshence” for some strange reason and “whoa!” rhymed with mower.

If you’re in the mood for a short listen with plenty of steam then you might enjoy The Other Duke, but I can’t really recommend it. I liked the premise, but wish the story had contained more substance and hadn’t needed so many sex scenes to pad it out. There are a smattering of Americanisms throughout – we don’t have sidewalks in England, we have pavements – and anachronisms (the “ton” is not the same as “the Upper Ten Thousand”, which was a phrase not coined until 1852), which is surprising given that Ms Michaels is a very experienced author with over fifty historical romances to her name. In terms of the narration, Danielle O’Farrell was a pleasant surprise and I certainly am not ruling out listening to her again.

[Kiltsandswords · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was another hit for Jess Michaels, as all her books are! She creates compelling characters that make you care about them and their happiness. As you read the story, it’s like an onion that you peel away layers getting closer and closer to knowing the true depth of Rafe and Serafina. I fell more and more in love with both of them then more I read.
Serafina is a beautiful woman. A truly beautiful woman that holds you eye and your breath when you look at her. She has been sold by her father into an unholy union with Cyril, the Duke of Hartholm as a child. She has been prepared all her life for the role of duchess. It appears and is described as a shallow, lonely existence that she has lived.
Rafe comes from the ‘Infamous Flynn’ family and inherits the title after Cyril dies in a very scandalous carriage accident. His side of the family has been the black sheep and had very little to do with the duchy. All of a sudden Rafe is thrust into the role of Duke. Something he never wanted or aspired to. It’s not just the duchy with its empty coffers, but also a marriage arrangement that he can’t break. He must fulfill Cyril’s obligations and marry Serafina.
We get to meet Rafe’s family right away and they are as lovely as they are infamous. His family cares deeply for him and worry intensely that the new role of Duke will change him and force him into a life he is not happy with. Rafe existed on the fringes of society, gambling, wenching and making a fortune as he saw fit. He doesn’t need the role of Duke or a bride, but he has little choice, especially with Serafina’s horrible father bleating his displeasure about Cyril’s death to anyone who will listen.
Serafina shows more intellect and cunning then she is given credit for. She asks Rafe to negotiate with her. They negotiate that they will have a marriage in name only. They will remain together to let gossip die down and come together to create an heir and spare, then Serafina will have her freedom and her own home.
It seems inconceivable that Serafina would want this arrangement. She barely knows Rafe. He could be a good guy for all she knows, but as the reader gets to know Serafina and the life she has lived you understand why freedom is so important to her. Eventually the question becomes freedom or love, but the author takes you on a journey before she faces that choice.
On the wedding night, we learn that Serafina is not a virgin. For years she has been tormented and abused by Cyril. Your heart breaks for Serafina as you imagine the horrible images that torment her. This is where Rafe truly shines. He takes Serafina back to him home as soon as she utters the truth and admits she is tormented by the ducal bedroom. He immediately recognizes that Serafina is scarred by the actions of her family’s neglect and Cyril’s abuse. He is immensely attracted to her body, but also her courage.
And so begins the hottest love scenes I have read in a while. Over the next week, Rafe promises to go slow and teach Serafina about passion. He gives her control to say when, where and no. This is something she has never had. I adored that Rafe gave her the consideration of being in charge of her body and passion. They start with long slow kisses, progress to touching and caressing and eventually to mind-blowing orgasms. Rafe nurtures her fledgling passion and strokes her to heights she never imagined could exist. With all this wonderful intimacy and likely lots of feel good hormones, they develop a friendship together. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a historical romance novel that features such a lovely breakfast scene of two people figuring out life together.
Rafe needs Serafina to help steer his way in society. He must help the gossip die down and learn his responsibilities as a Duke. She has been trained for this her whole life and wants to be his partner. It truly did feel as though they were each other’s mentors. Rafe tutored her in passion and family and her in the role he had assumed.
Of course it’s not all roses and sunshine. There are mysterious events that put Rafe’s life in jeopardy. He brushes them off at first, but eventually he can’t deny that someone is out to get him. Who knew being a Duke could is so life threatening? This is a great twist in the plot line that provides the impetuous for Serafina and Rafe to face their issues.
The issues they face are the choice Serafina must make. Does she want a life with love and the chances that go along with it or the freedom she negotiated before she knew Rafe? As the reader, you are rooting for Rafe and yelling at Serafina not to let something go as special as their intimate bond. That is when you know you are reading a book that catapults you into the story and pulls at your heart strings.
I adored this book. I loved the characters and the plot. I thought that Rafe was a wonderful man. I did wonder about his life before he meets Serafina. Some of it is referenced, but I wanted to know where he went and who his friends were, but in the end, it didn’t matter as he helps to heal Serafina and bring her into the light. I strongly recommend this book when it is published in January. Another great hit for Jess Michaels!
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com

[Kimberly Rocha~ Book Obsessed Chicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when she is resolved to marry the loathsome and abusive, Cyril, Duke of Hartholm, the beauty, Serafina McPhee is saved by his untimely death in a carriage accident. Oh but wait! She is not truly saved from marriage to the duke, for the contract that was negotiated while she was still a child indicated marriage to THE Duke of Hartholm, who now is Cyril's cousin, self-proclaimed rogue, Raphael Flynn, of the Famous Flynn family. Alas, Serafina was not to have her wish of personal freedom afterall.... unless she can convince the strikingly handsome Rafe to toss aside convention and sign on for a very unusual form of marriage which would give her that freedom she thinks she craves.

Raphael Flynn did not want the dukedom. He loved his life. For his family, Rafe would do anything, including assuring his sister a future with a proper marriage by attempting to fulfill the bargain that Serafina has placed before him. When faced with the blinding beauty, Rafe almost loses his will to stay free with her sweet innocence and her charming personality, but Serafina doesn't want Rafe to lose his head over her. Quite the opposite. She wants them to remain virtual strangers aside from the occasional bedding to produce and heir and a spare. With some sly renegotiation, Rafe gets Serafina exactly where he wants her, beneath him in his bed.

Exploring passion with Rafe is a pleasure that Serafina could never imagine after her long and horrible betrothal to Cyril. When Rafe discovers how hurt Serafina was by his cousin, he goes on to prove that all men are not as crude and hurtful as the cad who left Rafe his title are and thus awakens Serafina to a world of intimacy she had no clue existed. The hard-headed Serafina is so blinded by her quest for independence that she is in the process of ruining the only relationship that is worthwhile, with a man who will truly respect and bestow on her all her heart desires if she only got her head out of her ignorance.

Well what can I say after that? I truly loved The Other Duke by Jess Michaels. It was exciting and engaging, sexy and sensual, all things I just love. There were times when I just wanted to knock some sense into Serafina, much like her friend, Emma, tried a few times. Rafe is a dream hero, handsome, understanding and honorable along with a good sense of humor and passionate. The Other Duke by Jess Michaels held my attention until the very end as I was so eager to see both Rafe and Serafina finally have the HEA that they both deserved.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving Jess Michaels’ recent historicals. They are so romantic and filled with details of how they share their love which I like to read. This story is no different and I’m excited about this next trilogy.

Rafe is the ultimate redeemable rake. He has a reputation as a complete libertine, and is resistant to change his life even though it is a dukedom (hello!) he inherits. A dukedom with benefits, as he is insta-engaged to Serafina, for whom he instantly falls. What is sweet is that he has the most tender intentions with her. When it turns out that Serafina was traumatized by her former fiancé, Rafe’s cousin, Rafe takes immediate and frankly, selfless, steps to ensure that Serafina gets over her trauma and doesn’t classify Rafe as the same kind of beast. I wish all men were as selfless and sincere as Rafe – not only was he described as beyond handsome, but his character was such that he seemed the most beautiful man. Very dreamy…



Serafina was beautiful as well and despite her upbringing, an angel. She was kind to others no matter their station could have turned out terrible but she has an inner strength that kept her mainly intact. Not surprisingly, she mistrusted men and despite Rafe’s efforts to change her mind, it took her a long time to turn her opinion around of him. What became a bit wearisome throughout the book, was that she was so set on her original plans, that she wouldn’t let Rafe’s love in and allow herself to reevalute things. This of course is a conflict to resolve which could have been resolved in a few different ways. The way it was resolved seemed more of the path of least resistance and I would not have minded seeing it play out more dramatically stringing out the story a bit longer.

The secondary characters, primarily Rafe’s family, are enjoyable and makes me look forward to reading their stories.

Overall, a sweet, sexy romance and I’m looking forward to reading the next two in the series!

My thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Duke was a really sweet historical romance. It was an enjoyable read, though fairly predictable, and I really liked it.

Serafina was a lovely heroine, She had been through a lot at the hands of her former fiance but she still survived and managed to stay a kind person. My only issue was that she really took her time in accepting her feelings for and relationship with Rafe. It wasn't the lack of trust that annoyed me, because it was understandable given her past, It was that, even after she came to trust him, she couldn't reconcile marriage with freedom, despite the fact that Rafe gave no indication that he would ever try to control her. Despite this, though, I still liked her.

Rafe was an absolute sweetie. He was charming, kind, and more honorable than his rakish reputation gave him credit for. I loved how patient and caring he was with Serafina and she overcame her past. I thought he was just perfect.

The romance was lovely. It was clear from the start that they had a thing for each other even though neither of them wanted it. They were a sweet couple and definitely had some hot chemistry between them.

The plot moved quickly and kept me interested all the way through. The downside to the book was that it was predictable. I knew from the start what Serafina's past consisted of. And something that happened later in the book, which might have been an interesting twist, was heavily foreshadowed which kept it from being anything near a surprise. It just kept the book from going from good to great. But, I still liked the story and I thought the ending was lovely.

The Other Duke was a delightful historical romance that I really enjoyed. Romance lovers, this is a book worth checking out.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Pâmela Possani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esse livro foi meu primeiro contato com a autora e fazia um bom tempo que eu não lia livros de época, então iniciei a leitura e me surpreendi com a fluidez da escrita de Jess, dei boas risadas com a ousadia de Rafe e me deparei com a delicadeza, teimosia e força de Sera. Os personagens são dosados e não encontrei exageros que fizessem me deixar irritada com eles, e sim, muito pelo contrário - eles são cativantes e me vi torcendo para que tudo desse certo. Certa parte da leitura nos encontramos com uma teimosia muito comum encontrada nos dias de hoje, o andamento foi bem, mas eu fiquei um pouco irritada com os personagens neste momento, confesso, o que me fez cair na última estrela.

Existem algumas situações que, podemos achar que não são comuns para aquela época e são e achei interessante a autora explorá-las. Você consegue entender como o passado de uma pessoa influencia sobre ela e também como as pessoas podem ser cruéis sem medirem esforços para tal. Eu mesma me surpreendi com algumas coisas no final, pois em determinada situação eu pensei que não fosse possível também, mas sim, isso é. Além disso, a escrita e a tradução não são cansativas apesar de passar em uma época como vemos em alguns livros de romance de época e encontramos pouquíssimos problemas de diagramação que não atrapalham o desenvolvimento.


Com um enredo diferente e cheio de segredos que vão sendo desenrolados ao longo da história, O Outro Duque é uma boa surpresa e um livro da Leabhar que gostei especialmente de seus personagens, me vi rindo e também sentindo compaixão pelos mesmos durante toda a história. Tem uma leitura fluida que vai te proporcionar bons momentos e se perguntar onde você vai encontrar o seu outro duque. HAHA

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raphael “Rafe” Flynn has an uncomplicated life and consider a huge catch. He tries his best not to be caught. Unexpectedly, Rafe becomes the next heir to the dukedom and expect to married his cousin's fiancé according to the betrothed contact. He tries his best to get out of the arrangement. Serafina McPhee did not want to married the first duke much less married the next. But Serafina's father enforcing the arrangement. I love Rafe and he is a dream come true. I love how he handles everything that is thrown at him and still be his charming nature and defies society's expectations. It was wonderful to read how they grow into love and proof that not all people are the same. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher thru NetGalley for an honest review.

[Suellen Mima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oi, gente!

Estou tentando por todas as resenhas que pretendo fazer em dia, espero conseguir.

E vamos a uma leitura muito boa em parceria com a #leabharbook que fiz e estava ansiosa para ler, já estou esperando necessariamente o segundo haha.

Mas antes um aviso: aqui temos cenas sensuais e recomendo para maiores de dezoito anos, além de indícios de violência/abuso sexual e psicológico.

Título original em inglês: The Other Duke, The Notorious Flynns
Autora: Jess Michaels
Tradução: Regiane Moreira
Páginas: 237
Editora: Leabhar Books Editora Ltda.

Sinopse
Durante anos, Serafina McPhee está comprometida a se casar o duque de Hartholm e, por quase o mesmo tempo, ela luta para encontrar uma maneira de sair desse noivado. Quando ele morre repentinamente, ela não chora, mas se emociona com a ideia de que estará livre. Infelizmente, os melhores planos dão errado quando o próximo na fila para o título, o primo do duque, Raphael "Rafe" Flynn, é forçado a assumir o compromisso. Mas Serafina conhece a reputação de Rafe como libertino e também não quer nada com ele, mesmo ele sendo devastadoramente bonito.

Ela lhe propõe um acordo: ela concorda com o casamento e fornece a Rafe seu herdeiro e um sobressalente. Depois que cumprir seu dever, ele a deixará ir. Rafe está intrigado tanto por sua beleza quanto por seu total desgosto com a ideia de ser sua noiva. As mulheres normalmente caem aos seus pés, não o temem.

Como o casamento arranjado não é algo do qual Raphael "Rafe" Flynn possa escapar, ele concorda com os termos de Serefina McFhee.

Mas quando, na noite de núpcias, descobre a verdade sobre a tortura que ela sofreu nas mãos de seu antecessor, se vê impelido a não apenas cumprir sua barganha com sua nova esposa, mas a apresentá-la ao desejo. Enquanto eles se aproximam, se rendendo a prazeres perversos, emoções perigosas podem violar todos os acordos que fizeram.

Resenha

Logo no começo somos apresentados à Serafina McPhee, os últimos detalhes de seu vestido de noiva estão sendo arrumados e notamos a tristeza que a envolve em ter que enlaçar sua vida num matrimônio indesejado com um homem que ela despreza, o Duque de Hartholm.

Porém, o dito noivo vem a ter sua morte, mas mesmo assim um casamento deve ser feito, um casamento com o Outro Duque, Raphael Flynn, primo do falecido, que por sua vez também não desejava o título e muito menos uma esposa, pois vivia muito bem e não tinha interesse na alta sociedade londrina.

Serafina precisa negociar, não quer estar presa àquele homem, e consegue um acordo com ele: um herdeiro, sua liberdade. Era arriscado confiar em homens, aprendera com Cyril, o falecido noivo, que ela só poderia fazer o que ele determinasse, não teria voz, não seria nada, Rafe poderia ser como o primo e descumprir qualquer trato feito.

Quanto a Raphael, Sera era uma incógnita, até descobrir, na noite de núpcias, coisas odiosas que ela suportara, coisas que seu primo cara de sapo lhe fizera, mas aos poucos, além do desejo, da paixão, um sentimento vai surgindo, um querer proteger, descobrir seus traumas, do trato com o pai que não a tratava muito bem e de ter sido criada num lar sem afeto, onde a boa aparência deveria ser o que falasse mais alto.

E ambos, um ensinando ao outro, descobrem que o acordo feito vai muito além dele, talvez um novo sentimento possa surgir

Que romance de época emocionante, eu queria chorar em algumas partes quando a Serafina falava ou pensava nas coisas que ela tinha passado com o antigo noivo, o coração ficava pequeno, a sorte dela foi que Raphael foi um anjo, assim como o nome dele e achei que casou muito bem com tudo, já que São Rafael é um arcanjo da cura (estou fazendo uma analogia às dores que Sera tinha e Rafe curou com seu amor e respeito).

Tirando o casal, adorei a família Flinn, principalmente Annabelle Flinn, irmã caçula dos três irmãos, sendo Rafe o mais velho. Acho que li poucas vezes em romance de época a origem de uma família como a dos Flinn, foi um diferencial muito bem vindo. E também tiveram personagens de torcer o nariz, o pai da mocinha foi um egoísta demais, e a outra foi a mãe de Cyril, megera horrorosa.

Enfim, muito bom e o final foi: ahá! Eu sabia que era você!, mas não previ que seria tão daquele jeito, só lendo para vocês saberem kk.

Aproveitem que está no kindleunlimited e me contem o que acharam.

A edição

E-book, não me lembro de ter encontrado erros de português e concordância, há licença poética para não ficar enfadonho, a cada capítulo e entre eles têm uns detalhes (não sei o nome, acho que é arabesco).

Minha nota 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5

Eu sofri um pouco com a Serafina por tudo que ela tinha passado e entendi sobre o porquê dela não querer entregar o coração para seu marido.

Adorei o Rafe, as atitudes dele foram dignas, gostei muito, mas quem gostei mesmo foi de Annabelle, mesmo que tenha sido em curtas passagens, parece ser uma mulher inteligente e mal posso esperar para ler o livro com ela kkkk (é o segundo e, por favor, não leiam o segundo antes de ler o primeiro inteiro, não façam como a pessoa ansiosa que escreve esta resenha haha, eu queria saber quem era o segundo notório Flinn e li um capítulo do próximo da série).

Vou deixar uma parte da dedicatória da autora para o amor dela, eu achei tão lindo e romântico.

"Eu mal conseguiria respirar sem você, muito menos ser corajosa o suficiente para tentar isso."

Então, até.

[Lori Kays · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing in this book made logical sense even by accident. For one thing, she goes to him with some sort of "bargain" that for the time period makes zero sense. She goes to him and says "I'll give you total freedom if you let me have my own life and be married in name only" It's supposedly the regency era, as a man and a Duke he would have had total freedom anyways! So she asks him this and he says "Well, yeeeeah, but I need an heir and a spare" and she's like "Okay, I guess I can agree to marry you AND having two kids with you, but that's it!" What a deal 🤦🏼‍♀️She makes a big deal of having her own place, but as a Duke, he would have inherited multiple properties along with his own and she would have been able to reside in any of those without much question. So basically, she asks the duke for a favor that was expected anyways, it's like if you got hired at a new job and said "Okay, I want to negotiate that I'll work during office hours, but I insist on having a lunch break!" Ooookkkkkay, you were going to have one of those anyways, but whatever helps get your day moving. Then after this it was one ridiculous out of time period plot device after another. I don't need my historical romances to be perfectly period appropriate, but this was down right anachronistic. The language, the interactions between people, the fact that some random unknown cousin would become a Duke! There are so freaking few Duke titles and almost all of them are taken by members of the royal family, that this is absurd. However, I digress as this is a common problem for regency romance and not just this book. The smut was definitely not worth the lack of any substantial story, won't be reading any more of these.

[Liz F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

The Other Duke is another excellent example of a great historical romance. It combines heat, humor, tragedy, and scandal all in the right amounts. But I think that for seasoned fans of historical romance may find this book a bit familiar.

I liked Serafina. She's beautiful and kind but she's engaged to an awful man - the Duke of Hartholm. At the start of the book, her fiancee is killed in a scandalous carriage accident. But the way the marriage contract was written, she's going to have to marry WHOEVER the Duke of Hartholm is, including the NEXT Duke of Hartholm. I was surprised and appalled that Serafina could be treated like an object and passed from one duke to the next! Of course, when I phrase it like that, I guess it's not all THAT surprising since that's just how women were treated back then. I totally understand Serafina's reluctance to open herself up to the new duke. As always, I was wishing that she would just hurry up and fall in love with him but I'm really impatient and I want everyone to fall in love right away. I'll grudgingly admit that it was sweet to watch Serafina slowly begin to trust the new duke and begin to share herself with him.

Rafe was pretty great. Before he inherits the title, he's a bit of a troublemaker and a ladies man. His time before he was granted the title is not in the book but Rafe and his brother are definitely well known for their shenanigans. I liked that Rafe wasn't really all that interested in becoming a duke since he was already wealthy and was enjoying doing whatever the hell he wanted with his time. In fact, he'd rather anyone else inherit the dukedom since he knows he won't be able to do as he pleases as he's used to. I liked Rafe from the start and he only got better as his feelings for Serafina developed. It was so good of him to be patient with her and for him to listen to what she actually had to say. I guess Rafe was just an all around good guy and an excellent hero. He was kind and sweet, he loved his family, and best of all, he had a fun and sometimes naughty sense of humor!

The relationship between Rafe and Serafina was not easy - they had a bit of a rough start. They were never adversarial but they also were not a love match. It was because of that, that I enjoyed their scenes together so much. Of course, they are a great match even though neither of them know it. He's a little bit of a scoundrel (in a good way), getting into trouble and not caring what society thinks. And she was essentially raised to be a duke's wife so she knows everything about how to act, etc. They truly complete each other. Even better, they are eventually super hot together too!

I would recommend this book to someone interested in trying out a historical romance. I feel like I've seen parts of this book before so die-hard or long-time fans of historical romance may not love it...even though I certainly did. There's plenty of Sexy Time, a good amount of laughs, and a little mystery too since it appears that an unknown entity may not be happy with either Rafe or Serafina. But the mystery is barely a side plot so readers who don't love suspense will still like this book. I definitely enjoyed this book and I really liked all the characters. Well, I really liked all of the good guys anyway! I can't wait for the next book, which features Rafe's sister!

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Jess Michaels book that I have every read, so I was unsure of what to expect. But what I found with in the first few chapters was a mixture of delight, intrigue and for one character total disgust.
So unlike all of my past reviews where I don’t reveal the characters, in this book I will, because unlike most of the historical romances I read, in this book it’s all about the characters and not so heavily focused on the storyline (yea! I’m so happy).
Serafina McPhee is our leading lady. Beautiful, intelligent and locked in a prison, where the jail keepers are her Father and her intended Cyril.
Cyril, Duke of Hartholm is Serafina’s intended and in her own words he is Cruel. Horrible. Disgusting. Hateful…and thankfully dead.
Rafe Flynn is the new Duke of Hartholm, and not only has he inherited a Dukedom, but a future wife as well… and for one of the Notorious Flynns, having a wife is just not what he was planning on.

But I cannot just tease you with the characters and not give you the story…well at least a little of it anyway. In the first chapter, Serafina is at the seamstress getting fitted for her wedding day to the vile Cyril, Duke of Hartholm. Thankfully her best friend Emma is there to see her through this arduous task. It is not a surprise that she is marrying vile Cyril; her father had secured his social climbing clutches when poor Serafina was a little girl of 6 years old. She has been raised to be a duchess and act appropriate at all times. Although at the moment that her odious Father (he really is awful) informs her that Vile Cyril is dead, she has a glimmer of hope, a chance to still break free of her father’s prison, in hopes of freedom. And yep, I am going to leave it there, with just a little taster of the great things to come.

So let’s start off with all the great and fabulous things I LOVE about this book. The characters are whole, not one dimensional, they have a back story; their lives don’t begin and end with this book. The writing of this book is perfect, smooth and with no time period errors. So one to the one thing I disliked about this book….that I am going to have to wait till March 10th for the next story.
I really enjoyed reading this book; in fact I read it twice, because I was not quite ready to give up the characters. It was a truly beautiful story, one where I cried and smiled. So I urge you, read this book, you won’t be sorry.

I give The Other Duke 10 out of 10

[Madison Vonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8/5

A pretty good read. Nothing particularly wrong about it, just sometimes these are more predictable than others. I think the other characters in the series might become more interesting but I don't think that's worth $5 a pop. Standard cisgender sex. Oral both sides, which I like, even though it was always with her last abuse lurking in her mind to make the scenes obviously somewhat unpleasant (to be reminded at each encounter of the fact that she was forced for years). 5.5/10 on sex-o-meter for this reason. Although the character would feel that way in order to recover, I really never want to be thinking about non-consensual sex when we are reading these books to escape. This is my second of this authors and I have been a bit underwhelmed each time...

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by Victory Editing Publishing Group via NetGalley for an honest review.

I really really enjoyed this book. To be honest, there really isn't a Jess Michael's book that I have read I didn't enjoy.

In this very lovely and really quite funny at times story, we have Serafina McPhee, who has been engaged to marry the heir to the Duke of Hartholm since she was a child AND she has been trying to find a way out of the marriage for almost as long! (it's the little things that make me laugh) And what do you know ... WHAM, the Duke dies! Yea Serafina, right? HA! Not so much. You see, this contract states she has to marry THE Duke ... which is now the previous Duke's cousin, Rafe. Bummer for Serafina :( or is it? (hehe) OK, so the new Duke never wanted the dukedom. He loved his care-free bachelor life but he also loves his family, so kicking and screaming he takes on his new role. And then he lays eyes on the beautiful Serafina. OK, no more kicking and screaming LOL he can make this work .... yea, but Serafina has other plans, you see. She wants to be free. Serafina has had some things happen, so she wants no part in intimacy and love. She will give him children because that is her duty, but she wants separate 'homes'.
Well, Rafe breaks thru her walls and soon finds out her past and why she wants what she wants. SO what does he do? He sets out to woo her! I REALLY LOVE RAFE! I may have fallen just a little bit in love with him myself just reading the things he does to earn her trust and her love over the course of their 'after marriage courting' period. Serafina is a tough nut to crack, but when she cracks .... bring on the hot and steamy sex scenes – YAY! I think the best and funniest part would have to be when Serafina would tell Rafe that they had already 'done it' a certain way so often ... I laughed a lot while reading this book. It was just such a happy story even with the dark and oh so heart-wrenching moments when we learned of Serafina's past!

HIGHLY recommend this story!

[CrazyForRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fin dall’inizio mi è parso chiaro che non fosse uno storico come quelli a cui ero abituata. Non è Lisa Kleypas, la cui cura dei dettagli, l’ha resa la regina del romance storico, ma nonostante il lessico sembri piuttosto moderno per un romanzo ambientato nell’Ottocento è davvero una bella storia. Romantica, leggera, ma piuttosto bollente.

Serafina McPhee è promessa al Duca di Hartholm fin dall’età di sei anni. E per lei è tutt’altro che un piacere. Quando a pochi giorni dal matrimonio quest’ultimo muore in un incidente, lei pensa subito che ormai sia finita. Essendo lui morto, lei è finalmente libera. Ma la sua felicità dura poco, perché il padre le comunica che il cugino del suo defunto fidanzato è il prossimo in linea di successione, diventerà il nuovo Duca di Hartholm e sposerà Serafina come previsto. Il contratto è di ferro, impossibile da contestare. Così Serafina non può far altro che proporre un accordo al nuovo duca e sperare che lui non si riveli un mostro come il suo defunto cugino.
Raphael Flynn, nuovo duca di Hartholm, preferirebbe tagliarsi un braccio piuttosto che fregiarsi del titolo e accollarsi la moglie che è piombata nella sua vita quando il suo odioso cugino è passato a miglior vita. Così, quando Serafina gli propone un matrimonio solo di facciata – lei gli darà degli eredi, ma condurranno vite separate – lui accetta. Non si aspetta di certo di infatuarsi della sua nuova reticente moglie. Una moglie bellissima, che nasconde dentro di sé tanto dolore. Una moglie che ha tutte le intenzioni di conquistare. Continua su CrazyForRomance

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

original post: http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspo...
I was drawn to this story line because I wanted to see how Jess Michaels would bring together Serafina McPhee and Raphael “Rafe” Flynn. I have always heard of this author but never read anything by her. I liked the plot that she lined up. Serafina is forced into an arranged marriage by her father. Although it has been a long engagement to the Duke of Hartholm they have finally set a wedding day. Serfina is not in love with the Duke of Hartholm. Besides the fact that they were not in love he is a pretty despicable man. When, days away from his wedding, he dies his inheritance, title, fiancée go to his cousin Rafe.
Rafe is a good guy. He never wanted to be Duke nor did he want the responsibility that went with this title. He realizes that he has to meet Serafina and intends to break off the engagement but her father made sure that the agreement was airtight and there is no way out of it. When Serafina and Rafe meet they realize that they have to complete their duties but they will each live their own lives once they have met the obligation of producing an heir.

I liked both Rafe and Serafina. They were both likeable characters and the author threw in a big secret that Serafina carried that absolutely blindsided me. I did not see it coming! Although I enjoyed seeing Rafe and Serafina fall in love there was no big “wow” factor for me. I thought they made a great couple but aside from their arranged marriage and her big secret their relationship goes pretty straightforward. The biggest challenge they encounter is when Serafina thinks that Rafe has taken up with his old mistress.

This was a cute story and I’m certain that Michaels’ fans will enjoy it. The scenes were interesting and so were the characters. Both came into the marriage with a sense of duty but it quickly turned into something else. I enjoyed this book and plan to read more by Michales.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1 in "The Notorious Flynns" series and what a beginning! I have been patiently waiting for this title and was not disappointed. Fast paced with romance, suspicion, mistrust, betrayal, a bit of suspense,and lots of passion. WOW! All any Historical Romance could want in a Romance book. The hero/heroine are both enjoyable, while, a bit predictable, they where both endearing as well as engaging. Engaging the reader in a story of desire, passion and the vulnerable of finding love in the least expected place.
Meet, Raphael “Rafe” Flynn, the new Duke of Hartholm, and Serafina McPhee's, her intended’s cousin. Serafina thinks everything is fine now as her intended is dead, but atlas, things go awry, and Rafe finds himself engaged to Serafina and ready to show her how good desire and pleasure can be between a man and a woman.

Well written with Ms. Michaels' usual aplomb and engaging characters. The storyline is intriguing as well as satisfying. The passion between Rafe and Serafina is passionate, and tasteful. Just when their love is beginning to bloom, trouble, comes a'calling. Someone is out to destroy the new Duke and his betrothed. A very enjoyable and satisfying read from beginning to end. I can hardly wait until the next "The Notorious Flynn" installment. Well done, Ms. Michaels! I love this author's writing and "The Other Duke" was no exception. Ms. Michaels is an amazing storyteller. I would highly recommend "The Other Duke" to any romance reader, rather Historical reader or not. A deliciously wicked tale with a few twists and turns.

*Received for an honest review from the author*

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Amy Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 in the Notorious Flynns series.

Serafina McPhee has been engaged to marry the heir to the Duke of Hartholm since she was a child. She has been trying to find a way out of the marriage for almost as long. It appears that she has gotten her wish when her fiancee dies days before the wedding until she learns that the betrothal contract is still in place and she must marry the new Duke, Rafe Flynn.

Rafe Flynn never wanted to be a duke and certainly didn't want a wife not of his choosing. So when Serafina proposes that they have a marriage in name only, he quickly agrees. He soon learns that the previous duke did horrible things to Serafina and understands why she wants this kind of marriage.

But what happens when Rafe realizes that he is in love with his wife? Can he undo all the damage that the previous duke did and get Serafina to agree to a real marriage?

I pretty much fell in love with Rafe myself while reading this story. After marrying Serafina and finding himself falling for his wife, he sets out to seduce her. I loved watching him earn her trust and her love over the course of his "courting" period.

Serafina was a very strong woman. Without going into too many details, she went through a lot and came out a stronger person. I love reading about strong women!

I also fell in love with the Flynn family and can't wait to see what Michaels has in store for them!!

Thanks go out to Jess Michaels for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

[Andressa Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livro foi um daqueles, que em diversos momentos você precisa parar de ler para respirar .
O pai de serafina arranjou um casamento para a filha sem ela ao menos conhecer o pretendente. E isso levou ela à terríveis momentos com ele, mas um dia antes do casamento ele morre e serafina se vê livre pela primeira vez na vida
Quando o pai dela assinou os acordos do casamento, serafina era obrigada a se casar com "o título de duque", resumindo ela deveria se casar com qualquer pessoa que herdar o título, não importando quem fosse.
Esses foi um dos momentos que eu parei para respirar de tão absurdo que é isso é. O antigo noivo dela era bastante abusivo e quando este morre logo em seguida, sem nem se recuperar do trauma, ela é obrigada a casar com um cara que ela nunca viu na vida. Fico bastante triste quando naquela época muitas mulheres eram submetidas a isso e fico feliz que hoje em dia não é mais assim
Bom, talvez por sorte ou não o novo duque, rafe, é uma pessoa que, no momento que viu serafina, se apaixonou por ela e a tratava como uma rainha. E um outro momento que eu parei de ler para respirar era quando o rafe protegia a serafina 😍😍 ele sem dúvidas se tornou mais um crush literário que eu queria que existisse.
O modo que a autora desenvolveu a história é extremamente lindo, ela não vitimiza a serafina e nem coloca rafe como um herói, o amor deles nasce de forma genuína e que tem um final feliz.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Copy was provided for honest review*

I am a sucker for a well written historical romance and this one is no different, I absolutely loved the story line and found it so hard to put down. Rafe is a player with a soft side, and Sera is the innocent young girl who needs to be saved in more ways then she realizes. I love how there is a back story to this as well, and that there isn't just the love story. What I loved about this plot line is it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns it was trouble from the start and had you wondering were they going to work it all out. For me this is a easy 5 star rating. The characters and plot line are so well developed , and the story itself is a fast read that keeps you wondering what is going to happen next... Well worth the read!

[Sofia Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marriage to a rake? One of my favourite historical tropes :-)

If you enjoy taming-the-rake novels, you’ll like this one. Rafe is well written, and has some pleasantly modern attitudes, and Serafina is no wishy-washy pushover. He has to work hard to win her heart. Add in a little intrigue, and a hint of danger, and it adds up to an enjoyable and absorbing read, and a solid start to this new series. I’ll definitely be reading the next, in search of more Notorious Flynns.

Check out my full review at Silken Sheets & Seduction:

https://silkensheetsandseduction.word...

[Dot Salvagin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a very sensuous and sexy book. It is also well written by and accomplished author. Rafe is perhaps too good to be true but we will certainly forgive him for that. Serafina is perhaps a bit too stubborn but then again we need that trait to balance out Rafe. Together they are tinder and match. We read and turn pages to find out what will change Sera’s mind about a life with Rafe.

This is a fun and easy read and the start of a series. Next will be Rafe’s sister Annabelle’s story. You really can’t go wrong with a Jess Michael’s book, especially if you like your historical romances very sexy.

[Cecily · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a simple and nice enough read but I felt curiously detached from the characters, almost as if you were seeing them through perspex rather than the feeling that you were in the room with them. I think I would have felt more kindly towards the book if it decided to break with tradition and not have the characters meet some sort of concocted barrier to happiness 80% into the action that is then resolved happily. The characters were, by disposition, honest and loving sorts that could have gradually come to their happy ending without the artificial injection of emotional angst and drama. It all felt a bit unnecessary....

[Vamsi Deepak · Rating 2 out of 5]

The lead female character in this novel goes through abuse at the hands of her fiance who's dead at the beginning of the book. She needs therapy, not just some sex and a trusting partner who's not going to physically harm her.

Other than that I'd say that "she's not like other girls" and the guy's giving her compliments like "smart, brave and unique" without knowing anything about her just because she has an opinion about things and asks for what she wants.