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Game of Dukes #4
The Duke Redemption
A gentleman in search of redemption finds a lady looking for sin. Will honor or temptation prevail? Find out in this sensual and heart-melting take on Beauty and the Beast…
The Beast
Once London’s reigning debutante, Lady Beatrice Wodehouse is poised for a life of happiness when an accident shatters her dreams. Renamed Lady Beastly by vicious gossips, she flees loss and betrayal, escaping to the countryside. There, she finds solace in anonymity and discovers new purpose, turning her estate into a haven for society’s outcasts. Yet a shard of her old dream remains: she yearns for a taste of forbidden passion…
The Beauty
Once London’s most feckless rake, Wickham Murray has fought to redeem his honor and prove that he is more than a shallow Adonis. Now a railway industrialist, he’s as renowned for his prowess in the boardroom as in the bedchamber. His latest venture will be the greatest success of his career: the only obstacle is a stubborn country spinster who refuses to sell him her land. On his way to negotiate with her, he stops at a masquerade, where an encounter with a masked lady changes everything he thought he knew about desire…
Their Timeless Tale
Negotiations go from heated to scorching as Bea and Wick discover that they are not only opponents in business but lovers bonded by a night of ecstasy that neither can forget. As they wrestle with all-consuming passion and blossoming love, they must also contend with deadly attacks from a mysterious foe. In order to survive, they will have to unravel dark secrets…and trust the truth of their own hearts.
The Duke Redemption is the 4th book in the Game of Dukes series, which features hot, sexy romance, fun and feel-good happily ever afters, and intriguing mystery and adventure. This book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel and is also part of a series.
The Beast
Once London’s reigning debutante, Lady Beatrice Wodehouse is poised for a life of happiness when an accident shatters her dreams. Renamed Lady Beastly by vicious gossips, she flees loss and betrayal, escaping to the countryside. There, she finds solace in anonymity and discovers new purpose, turning her estate into a haven for society’s outcasts. Yet a shard of her old dream remains: she yearns for a taste of forbidden passion…
The Beauty
Once London’s most feckless rake, Wickham Murray has fought to redeem his honor and prove that he is more than a shallow Adonis. Now a railway industrialist, he’s as renowned for his prowess in the boardroom as in the bedchamber. His latest venture will be the greatest success of his career: the only obstacle is a stubborn country spinster who refuses to sell him her land. On his way to negotiate with her, he stops at a masquerade, where an encounter with a masked lady changes everything he thought he knew about desire…
Their Timeless Tale
Negotiations go from heated to scorching as Bea and Wick discover that they are not only opponents in business but lovers bonded by a night of ecstasy that neither can forget. As they wrestle with all-consuming passion and blossoming love, they must also contend with deadly attacks from a mysterious foe. In order to survive, they will have to unravel dark secrets…and trust the truth of their own hearts.
The Duke Redemption is the 4th book in the Game of Dukes series, which features hot, sexy romance, fun and feel-good happily ever afters, and intriguing mystery and adventure. This book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel and is also part of a series.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2019
355 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Grace Callaway
51 books1,084 followers
Preorder GLORY AND THE MASTER OF SHADOWS (Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels #4) for March 28th!
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Don't miss this thrilling new historical romance by USA Today Bestseller Grace Callaway! Set during the Opium Wars, this steamy and spellbinding Charlie’s Angels meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon romance will leave you breathless...
Their love is forbidden…and irresistible.
The daughter of a half-Chinese duke and a lady fossil hunter, Lady Glory Cavendish is a free-spirited campaigner for justice. She belongs to a secret society of lady detectives whose goal is to help women in need. During her latest case involving a dastardly dognapping, Glory crosses paths with the handsome and mysterious Wei Chen, a master of healing and martial arts. Fascinated by the noble shifu, Glory convinces him to take her on as a pupil; the more time she spends with him, however, the more she longs for lessons of a more intimate nature.
Master Wei Chen has led a life of discipline focused on a single goal: avenging his murdered kin. His journey takes him to London where, by day, he treats opium users in his East End clinic and, by night, he secretly hunts the villain who destroyed his family. Yet for the first time, temptation distracts Wei: his spirited and lovely new pupil stirs dangerous needs in him. Desires that are forbidden between a shifu and his student…and between a commoner and a duke’s daughter.
As Wei and Glory’s slow-burn romance ignites into fiery passion, they are drawn into a web of betrayal and deceit. Torn between honor and desire, revenge and love, the pair must decide if they will let the past determine their future…or if they will fight the shadows for their chance at happily ever after.
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About Grace
USA Today & International Bestselling Author Grace Callaway writes hot and heart-melting historical romance filled with mystery and adventure. Her debut novel was a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist and a #1 National Regency Bestseller, and her subsequent novels have topped national and international bestselling lists. She is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, the Maggie Award for Excellence in Historical Romance, the Golden Leaf, and the Passionate Plume Award for Historical Novel. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan and lives with her family in a valley close to the sea. When she’s not writing, she enjoys dancing, exploring the great outdoors with her rescue pup, and cheering on her favorite basketball team.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
May 18, 2023
3.5/5 I really liked most of this. Not a huge fan of the third act since heroines who ignore safety advice are a personal pet peeve. This one was definitely super hot: a little exhibition and facesitting to say the least.
January 7, 2020
I love Grace Callaway's books (and I'm proud to have been an "early adopter" of her work!), and I especially enjoy the chance to revisit a previous character from her earlier books. This whole series has treated the readers to this, starting with Harry Kent's story in the first book. This story takes us back to Violet Kent's story, which is a favorite of mine (The Viscount Always Knocks Twice from The Heart of Enquiry series) as it centers around Violet's chum Wick, which is how she was introduced to her love, his older brother Richard. In the Viscount book, Wick comes across as immature (but in a likeable way as he is clearly in over his head), but 10 years have passed since his less responsible days, and he has matured significantly and become a respected man of business.
Wick is in partnership with Harry Kent and Adam Garrity (Hs of earlier stories in this series) to build a railroad that will bring industry to more and benefit businesses and consumers alike. Given Wick's ability to charm pretty much anyone, he is the deal maker/negotiator, and he has been sent to persuade a Miss Beatrice Brown to take the more than generous offer for her lands that are in the direct path of the railroad plans.
Beatrice Brown (whose name is actually Lady Beatrice Wodehouse, the daughter of a Duke and once considered a prime catch on the debutante market) has found a place where she can be accepted for who she is, and others seeking similar refuge have settled on her land and are making lives for themselves despite the odds. In Bea's case, she was scarred by an accident that happened when she was 17, and in the 8 years since, she has become a recluse as a result of the fallout. Not only was her appearance marred (in her opinion), but her family fell apart, and now she is estranged from the only living relative she has left: her brother who has now assumed the Duke's title. Seeking anonymity, Bea purchased the land with the funds settled on her after her parents' deaths, and she has taken in many others in need of sanctuary from former prostitutes to traveling tinkers. The thought of selling her home at any price is out of the question, as Bea knows that her tenants (who have become more like family) are reliant on her to continue to provide a safe place for them to thrive as society will not welcome them elsewhere. But as her 25th birthday approaches, Bea realizes that there is something she is missing: passion. She had a small taste of it when she once kissed her betrothed (pre-accident), but now that she believes herself to be physically unattractive, and thus, unsuitable for marriage, she wants to know the touch of a man and the passion of a sexual encounter. When a masquerade is held by a scandalous party-giver, Bea realizes this is her chance. She attends with the goal of finding a man who she is attracted to but who also is intelligent enough to correctly guess her chosen costume.
Wick is bored. It has been a long time since anyone has sparked his interest, and he doesn't even know why he agreed to attend the masquerade ball, as while he has been propositioned a few times, he is flatly uninterested. Same old, same old. Then he hears a woman refusing a man, and the man not taking the hint, so the gentleman in him is spurred into action. Though what he finds is not a damsel in distress, but a stunningly beautiful woman in complete control of the situation. Finally he has found a woman who actually interests him... only to lose her the next day when she slips away in the night. Except.... when he confronts Miss Brown the following afternoon and discovers she is his mysterious lover, he knows he cannot allow her to slip away, regardless of the cost. How will Wick be able to balance the needs of the company he has worked so hard to build with his partners? Will Bea accept that Wick finds her to be the most beautiful woman he has even seen despite her insecurities about her scar? Is there any compromise that will allow Bea to keep her land and Wick to move forward with the railroad project? And even if all of those things can be resolved, will there be any future for these two when one of their lives is endangered?
What I liked:
- As I mentioned earlier, the chance to revisit characters from previous books is always a treat, and this was no exception with Wick's story
- I liked that Bea was a strong, independent h who had her priorities straight
- I always enjoy some mystery and suspense with my steamy goodness!
What I didn't like as much:
- I love me some steamy goodness!! And while I did find some enjoyable scenes that fogged up my kindle, it felt a little off to me - almost like it wasn't Ms. Callaway's writing at times because it came across a little more crass than usual
- It was nearly impossible to be able to guess who the villain was, and that person was a little over the top (though I
think that was purposeful as it may have indicated that the villain was not of sound mind)
Overall, another very enjoyable story from Grace Callaway that I would recommend to any lovers of steamy, suspenseful HRs with strong H and h characters!
Plot - 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 3.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all!
Please note that I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Wick is in partnership with Harry Kent and Adam Garrity (Hs of earlier stories in this series) to build a railroad that will bring industry to more and benefit businesses and consumers alike. Given Wick's ability to charm pretty much anyone, he is the deal maker/negotiator, and he has been sent to persuade a Miss Beatrice Brown to take the more than generous offer for her lands that are in the direct path of the railroad plans.
Beatrice Brown (whose name is actually Lady Beatrice Wodehouse, the daughter of a Duke and once considered a prime catch on the debutante market) has found a place where she can be accepted for who she is, and others seeking similar refuge have settled on her land and are making lives for themselves despite the odds. In Bea's case, she was scarred by an accident that happened when she was 17, and in the 8 years since, she has become a recluse as a result of the fallout. Not only was her appearance marred (in her opinion), but her family fell apart, and now she is estranged from the only living relative she has left: her brother who has now assumed the Duke's title. Seeking anonymity, Bea purchased the land with the funds settled on her after her parents' deaths, and she has taken in many others in need of sanctuary from former prostitutes to traveling tinkers. The thought of selling her home at any price is out of the question, as Bea knows that her tenants (who have become more like family) are reliant on her to continue to provide a safe place for them to thrive as society will not welcome them elsewhere. But as her 25th birthday approaches, Bea realizes that there is something she is missing: passion. She had a small taste of it when she once kissed her betrothed (pre-accident), but now that she believes herself to be physically unattractive, and thus, unsuitable for marriage, she wants to know the touch of a man and the passion of a sexual encounter. When a masquerade is held by a scandalous party-giver, Bea realizes this is her chance. She attends with the goal of finding a man who she is attracted to but who also is intelligent enough to correctly guess her chosen costume.
Wick is bored. It has been a long time since anyone has sparked his interest, and he doesn't even know why he agreed to attend the masquerade ball, as while he has been propositioned a few times, he is flatly uninterested. Same old, same old. Then he hears a woman refusing a man, and the man not taking the hint, so the gentleman in him is spurred into action. Though what he finds is not a damsel in distress, but a stunningly beautiful woman in complete control of the situation. Finally he has found a woman who actually interests him... only to lose her the next day when she slips away in the night. Except.... when he confronts Miss Brown the following afternoon and discovers she is his mysterious lover, he knows he cannot allow her to slip away, regardless of the cost. How will Wick be able to balance the needs of the company he has worked so hard to build with his partners? Will Bea accept that Wick finds her to be the most beautiful woman he has even seen despite her insecurities about her scar? Is there any compromise that will allow Bea to keep her land and Wick to move forward with the railroad project? And even if all of those things can be resolved, will there be any future for these two when one of their lives is endangered?
What I liked:
- As I mentioned earlier, the chance to revisit characters from previous books is always a treat, and this was no exception with Wick's story
- I liked that Bea was a strong, independent h who had her priorities straight
- I always enjoy some mystery and suspense with my steamy goodness!
What I didn't like as much:
- I love me some steamy goodness!! And while I did find some enjoyable scenes that fogged up my kindle, it felt a little off to me - almost like it wasn't Ms. Callaway's writing at times because it came across a little more crass than usual
- It was nearly impossible to be able to guess who the villain was, and that person was a little over the top (though I
think that was purposeful as it may have indicated that the villain was not of sound mind)
Overall, another very enjoyable story from Grace Callaway that I would recommend to any lovers of steamy, suspenseful HRs with strong H and h characters!
Plot - 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 3.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all!
Please note that I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
April 22, 2020
Oh my, I loved this story. Lots of sexy bits too. Had to put it down at 3 a.m., but didn't want to.
5☆
5☆
September 20, 2022
Grace Callaway is an extremely underrated author. She has created her own unique brand of writing that should, in my humble opinion, put her up there with Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas and Tessa Dare. Callaway and Shana Galen have an addictive quality to their writing, where out of all of their books, almost all of them hit the spot and the few that don't are true anomalies.
Now I think this writing is not for everybody. Don't read this book if you're looking for a realistic or romance. There's always a mystery element that definitely exceeds the actual role of women back in the day, but why would I want to read a realistic book about regency era women?? ladies of the ton couldn't breathe the right way. And all the rakes died of syphilis. Why the fuck would I want to read about that when I could be reading a fantasy version of history that makes me happy!
Her plots are formulaic to the extent of boy meets girl, lots of lust, sprinkled in with cheesy love, LOTS of graphic sex, a mystery to be solved, a climax with plenty of action and usually someone gets saved from kidnapping, and then a good old happily ever after with an extra steamy epilogue. If this type of writing isn't for you, then so be it. BUT her books are what they are. They do not claim to be anything but fun, fast paced, very extra spicy sex-filled, brain candy type books. And I for one cannot get enough of them.
The characters are always complex, the writing itself is intelligent and well-researched. I'm 99% positive that Ms. Callaway has a list somewhere of every single substitute word for 'penis'. I'm pretty sure I've seen em ALL in her books: meaty pole, veiny shaft, sword, dripping crown, pulsing rod. The list does not end. When I think I've seen it all, she pulls out 'thick, glistening stalk', I mean who the fuck comes up with these 😂😂😂😂 The best part is I unironically get horny when reading her sex scenes because believe it or not the colorful language makes it better. Don't knock till you try it!!!
I loved this series. This one is my fave. I actually haven't read the first one lolll, but I've read all of her other books and I'm saving the first probably for a long plane or car ride. Sometimes you just have to be in the right mood to enjoy these fully!
Now I think this writing is not for everybody. Don't read this book if you're looking for a realistic or romance. There's always a mystery element that definitely exceeds the actual role of women back in the day, but why would I want to read a realistic book about regency era women?? ladies of the ton couldn't breathe the right way. And all the rakes died of syphilis. Why the fuck would I want to read about that when I could be reading a fantasy version of history that makes me happy!
Her plots are formulaic to the extent of boy meets girl, lots of lust, sprinkled in with cheesy love, LOTS of graphic sex, a mystery to be solved, a climax with plenty of action and usually someone gets saved from kidnapping, and then a good old happily ever after with an extra steamy epilogue. If this type of writing isn't for you, then so be it. BUT her books are what they are. They do not claim to be anything but fun, fast paced, very extra spicy sex-filled, brain candy type books. And I for one cannot get enough of them.
The characters are always complex, the writing itself is intelligent and well-researched. I'm 99% positive that Ms. Callaway has a list somewhere of every single substitute word for 'penis'. I'm pretty sure I've seen em ALL in her books: meaty pole, veiny shaft, sword, dripping crown, pulsing rod. The list does not end. When I think I've seen it all, she pulls out 'thick, glistening stalk', I mean who the fuck comes up with these 😂😂😂😂 The best part is I unironically get horny when reading her sex scenes because believe it or not the colorful language makes it better. Don't knock till you try it!!!
I loved this series. This one is my fave. I actually haven't read the first one lolll, but I've read all of her other books and I'm saving the first probably for a long plane or car ride. Sometimes you just have to be in the right mood to enjoy these fully!
March 13, 2025
Victorian beauty (the H) & the beast (the h with a partially
disfigured face) theme. This had too many sex scenes
featuring mostly mechanical sex.
Wickham, a viscount's 2nd son, known as "Wick" met a
beautiful lady, Lady Bea (sis of a duke) at an illicit masked
social event. She chose not to remove her mask. They did
not exchange names & enjoyed sex. Wick formerly worked
in the underworld as a money lender. Now he and his 2
business associates wanted to build railroad lines. His goal:
to continue to reform himself in legit business & be more
respectful of women.
My interest waxed+ waned. Bea held herself responsible
for past events, ditto for Wick. The people the MCs
ruminated on made their own (bad) decisions, so why the
angst ? Wick spoke crudely when amorous & I wished
Bea had slapped him a time or two. Wick valued sex above
real relationships before he found the h. I did not feel the
love in this couple.
disfigured face) theme. This had too many sex scenes
featuring mostly mechanical sex.
Wickham, a viscount's 2nd son, known as "Wick" met a
beautiful lady, Lady Bea (sis of a duke) at an illicit masked
social event. She chose not to remove her mask. They did
not exchange names & enjoyed sex. Wick formerly worked
in the underworld as a money lender. Now he and his 2
business associates wanted to build railroad lines. His goal:
to continue to reform himself in legit business & be more
respectful of women.
My interest waxed+ waned. Bea held herself responsible
for past events, ditto for Wick. The people the MCs
ruminated on made their own (bad) decisions, so why the
angst ? Wick spoke crudely when amorous & I wished
Bea had slapped him a time or two. Wick valued sex above
real relationships before he found the h. I did not feel the
love in this couple.
July 22, 2022
Does anyone know if Grace Callway fails to built up the chemistry in most of her books?
I have read 5 already and they are a hit or miss.
She goes from "I don't know who you are" to "You are the reason I breathe" in a blink of an eye...
I am not really fan of that.Sometimes it feels that everything is built up on pure sex scenes.That is not real falling in love...Well as you might have guessed this one falls under this category as well.Saved,yet again,by previous characters appearing and a nice mystery.Grrr come on...
I have read 5 already and they are a hit or miss.
She goes from "I don't know who you are" to "You are the reason I breathe" in a blink of an eye...
I am not really fan of that.Sometimes it feels that everything is built up on pure sex scenes.That is not real falling in love...Well as you might have guessed this one falls under this category as well.Saved,yet again,by previous characters appearing and a nice mystery.Grrr come on...
May 3, 2020
Too long with too sweet H. 🙄
September 14, 2020
No one had seen her so clearly before. No man had ever just listened, without trying to fix or change her. She didn’t know how to react to the novel feeling: of being exposed yet protected at the same time.3.5 stars
This book is presented as a twist on the "Beauty and the Beast" tale, with our heroine, Beatrice, as "Lady Beastly," and Wick as the hot Adonis playboy. I say "presented as," because Bea only has a scar and is still considered beautiful by basically everyone.
To be clear, I'm not trying to minimize the scar—it's significant and more important is the impact it has had on her—but given the accident that led to it, I expected it to be far worse and honestly I don't know how all she got was a scar (she's practically trampled by her horse; no way a horse steps on your face and all you get is a scar). Not long after it happens, she hears her fiancé-at-the-time and supposed best friends talk badly about her and call her "Lady Beastly." The fallout affected her family as well and in her eyes, it destroyed her parents' marriage and sent her brother round the bend, leading him to do some horrible things. All of that is obviously very significant and has shaped her life and who she is now, 7 years later.
Who she is now is a total boss lady. She has her own estate that she completely renovated and she has, over the years, gathered tenants/farmers to work the land who were down on their luck, scandalous, or excluded from society in some way or for some reason. She moved to Camden Manor 5 years ago and has lived there ever since, never returning to London or seeing anyone from her previous life.
Wick was a lovely hero. He's a reformed rake—already had his come-to moment where he realized he had to change his ways, and if you've read a couple of Callaway's previous books then you've already witnessed it ( The Viscount Always Knocks Twice and books in this series). He's still a favorite among the ladies, but he's an honorable guy and doesn't lead women on. He pretty quickly falls for Beatrice, admires her strength and determination, is sweetly protective, and, despite being in a pretty tough spot—caught in between potentially ruining his company and spending his life with the woman he's fallen in love with—doesn't consider duping Bea or anything like that. He really is a good guy from the beginning of the book, and it's a nice refreshing change.
Wick and Bea meet as a one-night-stand when Bea decides to seek out her first sexual experience, because she fears that otherwise she'll die a virgin, and they meet at one of those decadent-orgy-masquerade-type ball things. What neither realizes is that they already know one another, to a certain extent, as Wick has been trying for months to purchase Bea's estate, and she has rebuffed every single offer. Wick is in the area because he decided to finally come and meet the woman in person, expecting her to be a stodgy old crone ... not the young, beautiful woman he had amazingly hot anonymous sex with two nights ago.
Criticism. This was one of my least favorite Callaway reads, though note that even with that, I'm giving it 3.5 stars, so that's saying something, because it means I'm still glad I read it. It was one of those books where the things that didn't feel right weren't necessarily glaringly obvious, it just didn't click for me for some reason, as her books normally do.
Bea's "beastly" aspect seemed way overhyped; it played a huge central role in the story in a variety of ways, but somewhat undeservedly. I've read other romances where the hero or heroine has been badly disabled or disfigured, and when done right, it's very compelling and came make the book extremely emotionally engaging and heart-wrenching. Here, it felt forced and again, it just doesn't feel right ... she wasn't badly injured, she's still conventionally beautiful, and yet it plays a HUGE role in the main plot and multi subplots.
The whole thing was also a bit too sweet for me. I appreciate that Grace Callaway doesn't have too much angst in her books, and doesn't always rely on the standard omg-I'm-so-afraid-to-commit-because-I'm-a-man-and-have-whatever-bullshit-reason—characters are often quite honest about their feelings, and it's a refreshing change. Here though, it was all a bit eye-rolling for me and the obstacles in the book aren't really obstacles to their relationship. Yes, there is Wick's "tough spot" that I mentioned previously, but it is really only played up towards the end—when it is, it's done superbly well and felt very emotional.
Bottom Line. Worth a read if you're a die-hard Grace Callaway fan and/or someone who always wants to read all the books in a series (because it has some stellar ones), but otherwise, there are a ton of Callaway books that I enjoyed more (see below for recs). I like recommending her, because I think of her as one of those "hidden gem" authors that more people should know about, but this won't be in the list of books I give.
Game of Dukes Series
#1 The Duke Identity — 4 stars
#2 Enter the Duke — TBR
#3 Regarding the Duke (Game of Dukes, #3) — 4.5 stars
#4 The Duke of Redemption — 3.5 stars
#5 The Return of the Duke — 4.25 stars
Other Grace Callaway Recommendations
My other GC favorites (4-5 stars), organized in order of my rating
● Her Husband's Harlot (Mayhem in Mayfair, #1) — 4 stars
● Her Wanton Wager (Mayhem in Mayfair, #2) — 4 stars
● Her Protector's Pleasure (Mayhem in Mayfair, #3) — 4 stars
● M is for Marquess (Heart of Enquiry, #2) — 4 stars
Trope Recommendations: Beauty and the Beast.
Heroines
● A Seduction in Winter by Carolyn Jewel — 5 stars
● Someone to Wed (Westcott, #3) by Mary Balogh — 4 stars
● The Rogue's Wager (Sinful Brides, #1) by Christi Caldwell — 4.5 stars
Heroes
● The Lady's Guard (Sinful Brides, #3) by Christi Caldwell — 4-4.5 stars
● To Beguile a Beast (Legend of the Four Soldiers, #3) by Elizabeth Hoyt — 4 stars
● The Raven Prince (Princes Trilogy, #1) by Elizabeth Hoyt — 4.5-5 stars
● 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick — 4 stars
● Rescued By a Lady's Love (Lords of Honor, #3) by Christi Caldwell — 3.5 stars
August 27, 2022
3.5 stars
August 9, 2020
Squick warning:
Tags: enemies-lovers-friends, ye old sex club
Gotta praise Callaway for delivering erotica with a solid plot.
Imagine spending a passionate night with a man and then finding out he’s the businessman trying to buy your land. Yeesh, talk about bad timing. No wonder our heroine was full of doubt about his intentions.
I hate misunderstandings in romance when theyre drawn out but this wasn’t a lazy crutch —the heart of the conflict actually made sense. Wick wanted to mix business and pleasure; everyone knows how foolish that is. Despite his admiring thoughts for Beatrice from the start, the conflict of interest made me a tad uncomfortable.
This also had the “You Dont Know You’re Beautiful” trope and I typically hate that too. Why cant our heroine have the freedom to be ugly?! Simone de Beauvoir hella pulled and she’s not a looker; its not unfathomable.
All of those tropes shouldve repelled me, but the mystery of the antagonist’s goals kept reeling me back. I admire the heroine for holding firm to her rights to the land and duty to her tenants. But, the stubborn lack of negotiations, the lack of flexibility or even hope on her part and then the tstl decision to go unprotected into danger made me roll my eyes. While the plot compelled me to finish it, my interest drifted in the middle and I had no emotional connection to the couple. As a result, this book had all the sex but very little was actually sexy.
Tags: enemies-lovers-friends, ye old sex club
Gotta praise Callaway for delivering erotica with a solid plot.
Imagine spending a passionate night with a man and then finding out he’s the businessman trying to buy your land. Yeesh, talk about bad timing. No wonder our heroine was full of doubt about his intentions.
I hate misunderstandings in romance when theyre drawn out but this wasn’t a lazy crutch —the heart of the conflict actually made sense. Wick wanted to mix business and pleasure; everyone knows how foolish that is. Despite his admiring thoughts for Beatrice from the start, the conflict of interest made me a tad uncomfortable.
This also had the “You Dont Know You’re Beautiful” trope and I typically hate that too. Why cant our heroine have the freedom to be ugly?! Simone de Beauvoir hella pulled and she’s not a looker; its not unfathomable.
All of those tropes shouldve repelled me, but the mystery of the antagonist’s goals kept reeling me back. I admire the heroine for holding firm to her rights to the land and duty to her tenants. But, the stubborn lack of negotiations, the lack of flexibility or even hope on her part and then the tstl decision to go unprotected into danger made me roll my eyes. While the plot compelled me to finish it, my interest drifted in the middle and I had no emotional connection to the couple. As a result, this book had all the sex but very little was actually sexy.
September 23, 2023
Grace Callaway writes good tales, her leading gents and ladies always come with complete back stories and motivations. Be prepared whether her characters are supposedly from genteel backgrounds or not, they will all enjoy talking dirty in the bedroom, and if you read the series you start to feel like they all watched the same porn flick. I took a star off, not because I’m a prude, but I did read the series, and this ruined the writing for me.
Beatrice, daughter of the Duke of Hadleigh was being courted by the most handsome young Duke in the ton, and her very best friend was there the day he was to propose to her. Unfortunately, Beatrice saw a man beating a young boy, and dismounted from her horse to stop him, the young Duke did nothing. Her mount was spooked and struck her in the face and scarred her for life. As she was healing, Bea overheard her best friend and supposed fiancé calling her Lady Beastly, and she ran away to the countryside, bought her own manor after her parents deaths and never returned to London.
Wickham Murray was a full partner in the Great London National Railway, and for it to proceed he needed one more deed of land and it was Wick’s job to negotiate for that deed. While on that trip he went to a special masquerade where daring people went to mix and he had an exciting and memorable night with lady with lavender eyes. Beatrice wanted nothing to do with ever seeing him again and didn’t want her reputation ruined, but he taken with her and was hopeful they would meet again.
As luck would have it, Beatrice was the owner of the property in the way of the railroad, and who he was meant to negotiate with. Wick was nothing if not a good negotiator and managed to stay around and make himself useful at the harvest, and as Beatrice’s escort at the harvest ball.
Wick and Beatrice were enjoying themselves until barn with the new harvest caught fire. Wick joined the effort to save the harvest, only to discover the fire was likely arson.
Beatrice and Wick were well matched in the bedroom and Wick realized she was the first woman he ever considered worthy of spending his life with, and he proposed marriage. Beatrice was afraid to give up her well on freedom or her carefully crafted refuge, and Wick and his railroad was a danger to both.
When Wick takes Beatrice back to London to meet his family to protect her from increasing dangers, Bea is torn between the joy of acceptance and the old fears. And what of Wick’s past, and his mistress that died because he left her? Would Wick allow the railroad to fail to save the people who relied on her land? So many obstacles and fears, are they strong enough to weather the storms and come out the other side?
Beatrice, daughter of the Duke of Hadleigh was being courted by the most handsome young Duke in the ton, and her very best friend was there the day he was to propose to her. Unfortunately, Beatrice saw a man beating a young boy, and dismounted from her horse to stop him, the young Duke did nothing. Her mount was spooked and struck her in the face and scarred her for life. As she was healing, Bea overheard her best friend and supposed fiancé calling her Lady Beastly, and she ran away to the countryside, bought her own manor after her parents deaths and never returned to London.
Wickham Murray was a full partner in the Great London National Railway, and for it to proceed he needed one more deed of land and it was Wick’s job to negotiate for that deed. While on that trip he went to a special masquerade where daring people went to mix and he had an exciting and memorable night with lady with lavender eyes. Beatrice wanted nothing to do with ever seeing him again and didn’t want her reputation ruined, but he taken with her and was hopeful they would meet again.
As luck would have it, Beatrice was the owner of the property in the way of the railroad, and who he was meant to negotiate with. Wick was nothing if not a good negotiator and managed to stay around and make himself useful at the harvest, and as Beatrice’s escort at the harvest ball.
Wick and Beatrice were enjoying themselves until barn with the new harvest caught fire. Wick joined the effort to save the harvest, only to discover the fire was likely arson.
Beatrice and Wick were well matched in the bedroom and Wick realized she was the first woman he ever considered worthy of spending his life with, and he proposed marriage. Beatrice was afraid to give up her well on freedom or her carefully crafted refuge, and Wick and his railroad was a danger to both.
When Wick takes Beatrice back to London to meet his family to protect her from increasing dangers, Bea is torn between the joy of acceptance and the old fears. And what of Wick’s past, and his mistress that died because he left her? Would Wick allow the railroad to fail to save the people who relied on her land? So many obstacles and fears, are they strong enough to weather the storms and come out the other side?
December 21, 2019
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Duke Redemption is the long awaited book of Wickham Murray, who first appeared in The Viscount Always Knocks Twice from the Heart of Enquiry series. He was also quite the supporting character in Regarding the Duke, the previous book in the Game of Dukes series. Even though Wickham has jumped from one series to another, The Duke Redemption can easily be read as a standalone. Wickham has really grown from his role as a spoiled rake to a self-made man who worked his way up and redeemed himself in the process. As a railway industrialist, his latest business venture leads him to the heroine, Lady Beatrice, who refuses to sell him her land. Lady Beatrice left London seven years ago after an accident left a permanent scar on her face and Society named her Lady Beastly. She escaped to the countryside and now lives in seclusion with her tenants, who are mostly outcasts like herself.
I really enjoyed Wick and Bea’s love story and its delicious twist on the beauty and the beast trope. Physically scarred heroes are prevalent in the romance genre, but it is very rare to encounter heroines who are physically scarred. The author did an excellent job portraying the aftermath of Bea’s fall from being a popular debutante to being a reclusive spinster. Bea's trust issues are authentic to her character and I couldn't fault her for not trusting Wick in the beginning. But what I love the most about Bea and Wick’s relationship is that they clearly communicate with each other, even when Bea was still having reservations about him. Wick and Bea bring out the best in each other and I love how their relationship progressed in an organic way. Their love story is both incredibly steamy and heartfelt (the best of both worlds!). And when I say steamy, I mean S T E A M Y 🔥 Wick is quite the dirty talker 😏 In terms of plot, I really enjoyed the mystery arc, which actually took a surprising turn that I didn’t see coming. Unlike most historical romances that I read this year, Callaway crafts an interesting and engaging mystery that actually holds my interest. And it is written in a way that seamlessly includes characters from the previous books in the series.
As a long time reader of this author, I was ecstatic that Richard and Violet from The Viscount Always Knocks Twice made a special appearance. I loved catching up with them and their brood! As for Bea’s family, her relationship with her younger brother, the Duke of Hadleigh, is complicated to say the least. Hadleigh is a fascinating character who has made questionable choices in the past and I actually want to dig deeper and learn more about him. The same thing with Knighton, whose story is next! I'm really excited to read his book!!
The Duke Redemption is the long awaited book of Wickham Murray, who first appeared in The Viscount Always Knocks Twice from the Heart of Enquiry series. He was also quite the supporting character in Regarding the Duke, the previous book in the Game of Dukes series. Even though Wickham has jumped from one series to another, The Duke Redemption can easily be read as a standalone. Wickham has really grown from his role as a spoiled rake to a self-made man who worked his way up and redeemed himself in the process. As a railway industrialist, his latest business venture leads him to the heroine, Lady Beatrice, who refuses to sell him her land. Lady Beatrice left London seven years ago after an accident left a permanent scar on her face and Society named her Lady Beastly. She escaped to the countryside and now lives in seclusion with her tenants, who are mostly outcasts like herself.
I really enjoyed Wick and Bea’s love story and its delicious twist on the beauty and the beast trope. Physically scarred heroes are prevalent in the romance genre, but it is very rare to encounter heroines who are physically scarred. The author did an excellent job portraying the aftermath of Bea’s fall from being a popular debutante to being a reclusive spinster. Bea's trust issues are authentic to her character and I couldn't fault her for not trusting Wick in the beginning. But what I love the most about Bea and Wick’s relationship is that they clearly communicate with each other, even when Bea was still having reservations about him. Wick and Bea bring out the best in each other and I love how their relationship progressed in an organic way. Their love story is both incredibly steamy and heartfelt (the best of both worlds!). And when I say steamy, I mean S T E A M Y 🔥 Wick is quite the dirty talker 😏 In terms of plot, I really enjoyed the mystery arc, which actually took a surprising turn that I didn’t see coming. Unlike most historical romances that I read this year, Callaway crafts an interesting and engaging mystery that actually holds my interest. And it is written in a way that seamlessly includes characters from the previous books in the series.
As a long time reader of this author, I was ecstatic that Richard and Violet from The Viscount Always Knocks Twice made a special appearance. I loved catching up with them and their brood! As for Bea’s family, her relationship with her younger brother, the Duke of Hadleigh, is complicated to say the least. Hadleigh is a fascinating character who has made questionable choices in the past and I actually want to dig deeper and learn more about him. The same thing with Knighton, whose story is next! I'm really excited to read his book!!
December 19, 2019
The Duke Redemption by Grace Callaway is the fourth book in her Game of Dukes series. Book 4 is kind of a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale (my favourite) but with a twist. In this story the heroine is the beast and the hero is the beauty. The writing (as always) was absolutely wonderful and held me captivated from beginning to end. The emotion flowed off the pages and it felt like I was right there with the characters. Absolutely mesmerizing. Beatrice and Wick were perfect for each other and had sizzling hot chemistry and I couldn’t get enough of it! The story was completely unpredictable. I never guessed who the villain was until it was all laid out for me. Very well done! It kept me guessing for a long time. I loved the suspense. All around a great story and one I would love to read again.
December 21, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
Who said you can’t redeem a rogue and a bounder . Grace certainly can :)
Wick was always trouble, a ladies man and a disgrace to his Gentlemanly status, he was broke and working for a money lender.
Now he’s a recovering Rake , he has his honour back and he’s determined to keep in that way .
He’s about to be tested .
Beatrice is a beauty even as a scarred Spinster she has a presence about her.
After an amorous first meeting during which she is masked the two go separate ways only to meet once more under more stressful circumstances.
In a book filled with passion, emotion, and tension this has to be one of the best Redemption reads I’ve had .
These two are great together their clinches are always electric, and the banter wonderful.
Look out for Wicks mother , she’s a great character, so cleverly insulting it’s brilliant.
I’d love to see Grace have a go at giving Hadleigh a makeover too , he’d be an awesome person to help out .
Brilliant, addictive reading
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋💋
Who said you can’t redeem a rogue and a bounder . Grace certainly can :)
Wick was always trouble, a ladies man and a disgrace to his Gentlemanly status, he was broke and working for a money lender.
Now he’s a recovering Rake , he has his honour back and he’s determined to keep in that way .
He’s about to be tested .
Beatrice is a beauty even as a scarred Spinster she has a presence about her.
After an amorous first meeting during which she is masked the two go separate ways only to meet once more under more stressful circumstances.
In a book filled with passion, emotion, and tension this has to be one of the best Redemption reads I’ve had .
These two are great together their clinches are always electric, and the banter wonderful.
Look out for Wicks mother , she’s a great character, so cleverly insulting it’s brilliant.
I’d love to see Grace have a go at giving Hadleigh a makeover too , he’d be an awesome person to help out .
Brilliant, addictive reading
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
April 4, 2022
AGAIN, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT NARRATION BY MARIAN HUSSEY. She really has a way of bringing Characters alive in her narration.
The Duke Redemption is fast paced. With lively characters and an excellent storyline. Wickham/Wick Murray railroad industrialist has been trying to buy Lady Beatrice/Bea Wodehouse's property. She refuses to sale. Wick travels to meet her where they start on a road of Adventure and Erotic love making. This is a really good story. I like the way Grace Callaway paid attention to details in her storytelling. I really enjoyed revisiting all the couples from the previous stories in the series. The only thing I don't like about this series is my pet peeve the Spinster heroines. Why do all these females have to be Spinsters? that's the only fault I can find with any of the stories in The Game of Dukes series.
The Duke Redemption is fast paced. With lively characters and an excellent storyline. Wickham/Wick Murray railroad industrialist has been trying to buy Lady Beatrice/Bea Wodehouse's property. She refuses to sale. Wick travels to meet her where they start on a road of Adventure and Erotic love making. This is a really good story. I like the way Grace Callaway paid attention to details in her storytelling. I really enjoyed revisiting all the couples from the previous stories in the series. The only thing I don't like about this series is my pet peeve the Spinster heroines. Why do all these females have to be Spinsters? that's the only fault I can find with any of the stories in The Game of Dukes series.
May 18, 2023
Another fantastic addition to this series! I love seeing Wickham’s continuing journey to redemption. I always knew he would find his way. I absolutely loved Beatrice. She has risen above the hypocrites of the ton and she is one tough cookie who has such a strong and caring heart. The plot really carried the story along with the romance. I had no idea who the villains were and I was satisfied all the way through the story. I cannot wait for Fancy’s story. Also seeing the prior characters from other Grace Callaway’s books always bring joy to my heart.
December 22, 2019
A refreshing regency twist on Beauty and the Beast.
I loved reading this. This is not just a romance. It has mystery, revenge and death strewn throughout. I admire Lady Beatrice. At seventeen her first season in London she suffered a scar on her face all from trying to save a boy from being beaten mercilessly. She was dubbed Lady Beastly. Little did she know how that kindness to that young boy would be returned to her in the future under the most dire and dangerous circumstances. Beatrice took her inheritance and bought a manor in the country. She welcomed all that felt like rejects from society. They became her friends and tenants and farmers on her land. She was kindness itself and earned the respect and admiration of all those who worked for her. She was an astute manager and had a successful estate. Beatrice was fiercely loyal to those she cared for and for all her tenants. She treated all as equals with kindness and respect. After her accident that left her face scarred, she fled London because she lost her fiancé, she lost all her friends and her beloved family fell apart. Now at twenty-five she was still a virgin and decided to indulge in one night of passion. She attended a masked ball, a bacchanal, an orgy of sorts. She met a stranger that met her three requirements. He removed his mask but she refused to remove hers. She knew this was her one and only time to receive and cherish such pleasure. A few days later the GLNR - the Great London Northern Railway who had been dogging her consistently to sell her land to make way for the railroad sent their emissary. Shockingly she recognized him as her lover for that one decadent night. His name was Wickham Murray. He was the second son of a viscount and a partner in the GLNR. Wickham or Wick as he was known had a checkered past that when done with that part of his life was determined to redeem his honor. Wick had shown himself to be an incredible man. Although wealthy in his own right, he treated everyone as an equal and never lorded himself above others. He was also very sensitive to his surroundings and audience. He was not fake and was comfortable around the working man and they with him. He had this uniquely strange quality that enabled him to take a screaming irritable baby and calm them. No one had any idea how he did that but he had a gift. He had also taken a serious romantic interest in Beatrice but she did not allow herself to entertain it. She thought all he wanted was her land and would do anything even marry her to get it. But as she got to know him by spending time with him, she realized he was not what she thought he was. He was sincere in all he said, kept his word and was honorable to a fault. When Beatrice's life and home was threatened Wick stood by her side. They made a list of her enemies and there were quite a few. When the threat became more real. Wick took her back to London for protection and to follow a lead, a clue. Beatrice's old insecurities flared back to life and yet she was resolved to get to the bottom of the mayhem. She also had to deal with the fact that Wick was in an untenable situation. It was either her or the failure of his company. Putting all that aside she only thought of keeping her tenants safe. Wick had to deal with the brunt of the investors' frustrations for the delay in his railway project. They threatened him that they would pull out if he did not get the deal done. On top of all that he had to deal with his growing affections for Beatrice and knew he had to break down the walls around her heart and win her trust. There was so much going on in this story that made it an amazing read. The difficult relationship between Beatrice and Wick, the railway project, the dangerous mysterious enemy and the revelations of shocking proportions about the people she thought she knew are all segued intricately page after page. A must read. You will not be disappointed. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved reading this. This is not just a romance. It has mystery, revenge and death strewn throughout. I admire Lady Beatrice. At seventeen her first season in London she suffered a scar on her face all from trying to save a boy from being beaten mercilessly. She was dubbed Lady Beastly. Little did she know how that kindness to that young boy would be returned to her in the future under the most dire and dangerous circumstances. Beatrice took her inheritance and bought a manor in the country. She welcomed all that felt like rejects from society. They became her friends and tenants and farmers on her land. She was kindness itself and earned the respect and admiration of all those who worked for her. She was an astute manager and had a successful estate. Beatrice was fiercely loyal to those she cared for and for all her tenants. She treated all as equals with kindness and respect. After her accident that left her face scarred, she fled London because she lost her fiancé, she lost all her friends and her beloved family fell apart. Now at twenty-five she was still a virgin and decided to indulge in one night of passion. She attended a masked ball, a bacchanal, an orgy of sorts. She met a stranger that met her three requirements. He removed his mask but she refused to remove hers. She knew this was her one and only time to receive and cherish such pleasure. A few days later the GLNR - the Great London Northern Railway who had been dogging her consistently to sell her land to make way for the railroad sent their emissary. Shockingly she recognized him as her lover for that one decadent night. His name was Wickham Murray. He was the second son of a viscount and a partner in the GLNR. Wickham or Wick as he was known had a checkered past that when done with that part of his life was determined to redeem his honor. Wick had shown himself to be an incredible man. Although wealthy in his own right, he treated everyone as an equal and never lorded himself above others. He was also very sensitive to his surroundings and audience. He was not fake and was comfortable around the working man and they with him. He had this uniquely strange quality that enabled him to take a screaming irritable baby and calm them. No one had any idea how he did that but he had a gift. He had also taken a serious romantic interest in Beatrice but she did not allow herself to entertain it. She thought all he wanted was her land and would do anything even marry her to get it. But as she got to know him by spending time with him, she realized he was not what she thought he was. He was sincere in all he said, kept his word and was honorable to a fault. When Beatrice's life and home was threatened Wick stood by her side. They made a list of her enemies and there were quite a few. When the threat became more real. Wick took her back to London for protection and to follow a lead, a clue. Beatrice's old insecurities flared back to life and yet she was resolved to get to the bottom of the mayhem. She also had to deal with the fact that Wick was in an untenable situation. It was either her or the failure of his company. Putting all that aside she only thought of keeping her tenants safe. Wick had to deal with the brunt of the investors' frustrations for the delay in his railway project. They threatened him that they would pull out if he did not get the deal done. On top of all that he had to deal with his growing affections for Beatrice and knew he had to break down the walls around her heart and win her trust. There was so much going on in this story that made it an amazing read. The difficult relationship between Beatrice and Wick, the railway project, the dangerous mysterious enemy and the revelations of shocking proportions about the people she thought she knew are all segued intricately page after page. A must read. You will not be disappointed. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 17, 2022
Ok the book is fine. Now I did enjoy it, but there were a few things off. Firstly the characters were good, well developed, the writing descriptive. Some moments I found really really funny!
.
Bea was a strong and determined woman. It had threads of beauty and the beast elements running through it but I wouldn’t define her as a beast!
Wick was funny, debonair and he didn’t behave like an asshole which so often rakes do!
.
Now here’s where it just didn’t live up to the previous ones in the series: the 🌶🌶 scenes, descriptively were good but my god do they talk a lot during it! And with so much talk in those scenes it made them feel slightly cringeworthy! Then I also felt like so much was going on, almost too many things! In a way it felt less like a book and more like a script for an hour long episode of a tv series!
.
The villain was a good twist I didn’t see coming but the extreme measures they went to just seemed absurd! Especially considering Bea’s brother was really the catalyst in the demise! Also at times I just wanted to shake Bea! There was a cheesy element at times that went from being cringeworthy to cliché.
.
The book is fine, and in comparison to some others I have read i would have probably enjoyed it more, however the first three books in this series I have just absolutely loved! To me they were faultless - and this one sadly didn’t live up to their magnanimity.
.
I really hope the last book picks up and is like the first three as it would be a shame that the last two done live up to the standard of the first 3!
.
Bea was a strong and determined woman. It had threads of beauty and the beast elements running through it but I wouldn’t define her as a beast!
Wick was funny, debonair and he didn’t behave like an asshole which so often rakes do!
.
Now here’s where it just didn’t live up to the previous ones in the series: the 🌶🌶 scenes, descriptively were good but my god do they talk a lot during it! And with so much talk in those scenes it made them feel slightly cringeworthy! Then I also felt like so much was going on, almost too many things! In a way it felt less like a book and more like a script for an hour long episode of a tv series!
.
The villain was a good twist I didn’t see coming but the extreme measures they went to just seemed absurd! Especially considering Bea’s brother was really the catalyst in the demise! Also at times I just wanted to shake Bea! There was a cheesy element at times that went from being cringeworthy to cliché.
.
The book is fine, and in comparison to some others I have read i would have probably enjoyed it more, however the first three books in this series I have just absolutely loved! To me they were faultless - and this one sadly didn’t live up to their magnanimity.
.
I really hope the last book picks up and is like the first three as it would be a shame that the last two done live up to the standard of the first 3!
December 19, 2019
After being injured by a horse that left a scar across her face, Beatrice escapes to the countryside to begin a new life away from the viciousness of the ton and their distain for things that are not perfect. She turns her new estate into a place that welcomes other outcasts and become her haven. When the railroad contacts her about selling her property, she adamantly refuses to sell. Her estate is too important to so many and she would never take it away from them.
Wanting to do something for herself, Beatrice decides that she is going to attend a masquerade where she intends to find a lover and finally lose her virginity. After having on the the most enjoyable nights of her life, she finds out that the man she spent it with is none other than the man that intends to buy her property.
Wickham needs this railroad deal to go through. But he hasn't been able to convince the spinster that owns the property to sell it to him, so he decides to pay her a visit. Before he arrives, he decides to spend the night at a masquerade party where he encounters an enchanting woman that he spends the night with.
After the amazing night they had, Beatrice and Wickham could have something amazing, but can they get passed their dispute over her property?
I absolutely adored Wickham and Beatrice's story!! The connection they had was there from the start even though they were adversaries. I loved watching them work through all their obstacles and how they helped each other overcome their past. This was a great addition to the Game of Dukes series and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!!
Wanting to do something for herself, Beatrice decides that she is going to attend a masquerade where she intends to find a lover and finally lose her virginity. After having on the the most enjoyable nights of her life, she finds out that the man she spent it with is none other than the man that intends to buy her property.
Wickham needs this railroad deal to go through. But he hasn't been able to convince the spinster that owns the property to sell it to him, so he decides to pay her a visit. Before he arrives, he decides to spend the night at a masquerade party where he encounters an enchanting woman that he spends the night with.
After the amazing night they had, Beatrice and Wickham could have something amazing, but can they get passed their dispute over her property?
I absolutely adored Wickham and Beatrice's story!! The connection they had was there from the start even though they were adversaries. I loved watching them work through all their obstacles and how they helped each other overcome their past. This was a great addition to the Game of Dukes series and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!!
December 23, 2019
Had to get the fire hose out – hot, hot, hot. Normally I never use hot as a description for a book, but believe me, this one is definitely high octane. You get all the feels in all the right places when reading a Grace Callaway book. A twist on Beauty and the Beast that is fun, flirty, fabulous, and fantastic. You might remember Wickham as Richard’s brother from the Heart of Enquiry series in a not so favorable light, but in this story he is delicious, dirty-talking, and deadly gorgeous. He is also so very kind and loving and really humble in his own way. Beatrice is a woman hardened by her circumstances. She was once an incomparable but because of her selfless act, she becomes Lady Beastly to those she formerly perceived as friends. We can ask ourselves why this happens but it happens for a reason. She becomes a better person not relying on her looks but rather her compassion. The love affair between Wick and Bea is beautiful (and scorching). I loved this story and all of its intricacies of how beauty is perceived.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
February 1, 2020
Like Brazen and the Beast, this opens with a ‘I’m a woman in the 1800’s but I’m gonna have sex for my birthday because chaste virginity is a silly and sexist concept’ and I’m like HECK YES MY GIRL GO HAVE THAT DICK APPOINTMENT.
Wick is a tit man, I like that. Even more though, I like that he’s super feminist. This is another example of what I call The Feminist Alpha, who is assertive and ~masculine~ without being a toxic dickhead. Every single interaction Wick has with a woman he confirms enthusiastic consent. And within that cone of enthusiastic consent, Wick and Bea are free to do whatever saucy submissive and possessive stuff their little hearts and not so little parts desire. The creative sexual encounters were my fave parts of this book.
Also there are some really feminist quotes. I loved that.
Wick is a tit man, I like that. Even more though, I like that he’s super feminist. This is another example of what I call The Feminist Alpha, who is assertive and ~masculine~ without being a toxic dickhead. Every single interaction Wick has with a woman he confirms enthusiastic consent. And within that cone of enthusiastic consent, Wick and Bea are free to do whatever saucy submissive and possessive stuff their little hearts and not so little parts desire. The creative sexual encounters were my fave parts of this book.
Also there are some really feminist quotes. I loved that.
May 10, 2024
It was okay. Not as bad as I had anticipated, so that was a pleasant surprise.
January 23, 2023
Really liked Bea and enjoyed Bea and Wickham together. I would have liked more time spent addressing things with Bea and her brother, but that's really my only complaint about this.
December 30, 2019
Once again, another perfect historical romance from Grace Callaway! I loved Wick and Bea together, loved the mystery, as well as seeing Harry, Tessa, Garrity and Gabby again. I cannot wait for the next installment!
July 19, 2022
I read a book with a similar beginning (masked party, virgin who want to have sex, etc) and I did not like that book at all. This book is better match for me luckily! I don’t really like the beauty and the beast trope, usually the beast is not really beastly. In this book it is the same, her beastly feature was a scar… like really? Also how does one get a scar but no other mutilation if a horse stomps on your face?
But I could look past that because I did like how Bea was so independent. She knew what she wanted and was not afraid of it. I also liked how she was so okay with her sexuality, and did not viewed it as something shameful, which is something you (understandingly) see a lot in HR.
The drama/crime mystery was a bit much for me but overall I enjoyed it.
But I could look past that because I did like how Bea was so independent. She knew what she wanted and was not afraid of it. I also liked how she was so okay with her sexuality, and did not viewed it as something shameful, which is something you (understandingly) see a lot in HR.
The drama/crime mystery was a bit much for me but overall I enjoyed it.
December 30, 2019
4.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-14t
Lady Beatrice Wodehouse is on top of the world. At seventeen, she’s having a successful debut season, and, in fact, has just become engaged to a handsome young duke. A terrible accident happens, one that leaves Bea with facial scars, and also affects her very future. Bea realizes that her fiancé is now regretting their engagement, so she releases him. Society treats her differently, and her own family is in turmoil over her. Eventually her parents die, and she becomes estranged from her brother, choosing to use her fortune to purchase a country estate, and to live on her own. Camden Manor is a haven not only for Bea, but for the strays and outcasts she welcomes. The years pass, and Bea is now approaching her twenty-fifth birthday. Though she’s content with her life, she longs for just one taste of passion. She attends a local masked assembly, where it’s rumored that illicit encounters are the norm, determined to have a night to remember forever.
Wickham Murray handles negotiations for the Great London Northern Railway, and he’s in town to persuade the mysterious spinster, “Beatrice Brown,” to sell him her property. Camden Manor and the surrounding land is the only remaining parcel he needs, and Miss Brown has already refused several very generous offers. Wick is also attending the masquerade, where he finds himself strangely bored with all the women and lewd activity around him. Something, however, is different, when he meets Bea, though he’s unaware of her identity. When she propositions him, he finds all his resolve to change his former rakish ways dissolving away. They spend a passionate night together, neither knowing the other’s identity, with Bea sneaking home at dawn.
Wick awakes alone, feeling somehow used, and regretful that his companion has left without revealing her identity. Wick also begins to question whether she was an innocent. When he attends to business later, at Miss Brown’s home, he recognizes his lover from the previous night, though she’s unmasked. He determines two things then and there – first, he will obtain her land, and, second, he will marry her. Bea refuses his offer and his proposal, and the battle of wills is on. The situation changes, however, when direct attacks begin to happen to Bea’s property and her friend. Bea agrees to accept Wick’s help finding out who her enemy is. Wick is adamant that he will court Bea, and that he will find a compromise for the railroad that will be agreeable to both of them.
In the meantime, Bea and Wick continue to have a steamy, and I do mean steamy, affair. The sexual chemistry between them is off the charts! Wick is a man trying to atone for a misspent youth, where he gambled, drank, spent, and womanized to excess. Now his protective and honorable side is obvious, but he can’t subdue his passion for Bea, which she returns. His treatment helps Bea to finally feel fulfilled, and not that Lady Beastly that the ton called her after her accident.
The search for Bea’s enemy leads them back to London, and the twisted path takes them to some surprising places, including a secret sex club. (Be warned, there is a scene here involving Bea and Wick that is, in my opinion, really over the top.) The villain turned out to be a total surprise to me – I love it when the solution to the mystery is not totally obvious.
THE DUKE’S REDEMPTION is well written, engaging, romantic, and very, very steamy. I totally enjoyed seeing the passion turn to love. Bea and Wick each brought something the other needed – he felt his worth and honor again, and she felt beautiful and desirable. They treated each other as equals, and I believe their future will continue to be filled with joy and passion.
Lady Beatrice Wodehouse is on top of the world. At seventeen, she’s having a successful debut season, and, in fact, has just become engaged to a handsome young duke. A terrible accident happens, one that leaves Bea with facial scars, and also affects her very future. Bea realizes that her fiancé is now regretting their engagement, so she releases him. Society treats her differently, and her own family is in turmoil over her. Eventually her parents die, and she becomes estranged from her brother, choosing to use her fortune to purchase a country estate, and to live on her own. Camden Manor is a haven not only for Bea, but for the strays and outcasts she welcomes. The years pass, and Bea is now approaching her twenty-fifth birthday. Though she’s content with her life, she longs for just one taste of passion. She attends a local masked assembly, where it’s rumored that illicit encounters are the norm, determined to have a night to remember forever.
Wickham Murray handles negotiations for the Great London Northern Railway, and he’s in town to persuade the mysterious spinster, “Beatrice Brown,” to sell him her property. Camden Manor and the surrounding land is the only remaining parcel he needs, and Miss Brown has already refused several very generous offers. Wick is also attending the masquerade, where he finds himself strangely bored with all the women and lewd activity around him. Something, however, is different, when he meets Bea, though he’s unaware of her identity. When she propositions him, he finds all his resolve to change his former rakish ways dissolving away. They spend a passionate night together, neither knowing the other’s identity, with Bea sneaking home at dawn.
Wick awakes alone, feeling somehow used, and regretful that his companion has left without revealing her identity. Wick also begins to question whether she was an innocent. When he attends to business later, at Miss Brown’s home, he recognizes his lover from the previous night, though she’s unmasked. He determines two things then and there – first, he will obtain her land, and, second, he will marry her. Bea refuses his offer and his proposal, and the battle of wills is on. The situation changes, however, when direct attacks begin to happen to Bea’s property and her friend. Bea agrees to accept Wick’s help finding out who her enemy is. Wick is adamant that he will court Bea, and that he will find a compromise for the railroad that will be agreeable to both of them.
In the meantime, Bea and Wick continue to have a steamy, and I do mean steamy, affair. The sexual chemistry between them is off the charts! Wick is a man trying to atone for a misspent youth, where he gambled, drank, spent, and womanized to excess. Now his protective and honorable side is obvious, but he can’t subdue his passion for Bea, which she returns. His treatment helps Bea to finally feel fulfilled, and not that Lady Beastly that the ton called her after her accident.
The search for Bea’s enemy leads them back to London, and the twisted path takes them to some surprising places, including a secret sex club. (Be warned, there is a scene here involving Bea and Wick that is, in my opinion, really over the top.) The villain turned out to be a total surprise to me – I love it when the solution to the mystery is not totally obvious.
THE DUKE’S REDEMPTION is well written, engaging, romantic, and very, very steamy. I totally enjoyed seeing the passion turn to love. Bea and Wick each brought something the other needed – he felt his worth and honor again, and she felt beautiful and desirable. They treated each other as equals, and I believe their future will continue to be filled with joy and passion.
December 26, 2019
Grace Callaway is one of my favorite authors. She has given readers yet another fantastic addition to the Game of Dukes series. Book 4 in the series, The Duke Redemption tells the story of Lady Beatrice Wodehouse and Wickham Murray. This novel is a retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story, which romance novels are known for. In this instance however it is the heroine Bea, who is the scarred recluse. The novel is also somewhat of an enemies to lovers tale.
l have come to trust how Ms. Callaway is able to make the relationships between the heroine and hero realistic. The heroine and hero complimented each other. The reader doesn’t feel as if their feelings were rushed, instead their love develops naturally. Wickham was a worthy hero and having read the other books in the series I admired how Ms. Callaway has shown the development of his character. We have seen Wick go from being a ne'er-do-well to a honorable man. In the novel Bea has something that Wickham needs if his next business deal is to succeed. To give it up however will affect not only her but others. The theme of the things we hold onto whether physical or emotional is explored in this novel. Wick was able to help Bea discover the beauty that she was all along.
Ms. Calloway’s love scenes are hot!!! I know I blushed a few times. She is the mistress of creating steamy love scenes which enhance the novel without a hint of tawdriness. As usual in the mystery component is important. I have always appreciated how this author is able to develop the mystery aspect of her novels without it overshadowing the romance. This book was no different as the mystery complimented the romance.
The Duke Redemption was one novel that ticked off aspects I love 1. romance, 2. mystery and 3. hot love scenes. Grace Callaway has another hit on her hands.
Please note it isn’t necessary to read the preceding books in the series to understand and enjoy The Duke Redemption. I was asked to give an honest review for an ARC of this novel.
l have come to trust how Ms. Callaway is able to make the relationships between the heroine and hero realistic. The heroine and hero complimented each other. The reader doesn’t feel as if their feelings were rushed, instead their love develops naturally. Wickham was a worthy hero and having read the other books in the series I admired how Ms. Callaway has shown the development of his character. We have seen Wick go from being a ne'er-do-well to a honorable man. In the novel Bea has something that Wickham needs if his next business deal is to succeed. To give it up however will affect not only her but others. The theme of the things we hold onto whether physical or emotional is explored in this novel. Wick was able to help Bea discover the beauty that she was all along.
Ms. Calloway’s love scenes are hot!!! I know I blushed a few times. She is the mistress of creating steamy love scenes which enhance the novel without a hint of tawdriness. As usual in the mystery component is important. I have always appreciated how this author is able to develop the mystery aspect of her novels without it overshadowing the romance. This book was no different as the mystery complimented the romance.
The Duke Redemption was one novel that ticked off aspects I love 1. romance, 2. mystery and 3. hot love scenes. Grace Callaway has another hit on her hands.
Please note it isn’t necessary to read the preceding books in the series to understand and enjoy The Duke Redemption. I was asked to give an honest review for an ARC of this novel.
December 26, 2019
4.5 stars. Callaway’s latest pits two hard-headed characters against each other. Lady Beatrice Wodehouse was shunned by the ton after an attack that left her scarred. She finds a haven on her country estate where she is threatened by railway investors for her land and an unseen enemy. Bea wants one night of passion and attends a masquerade where she meets a man who fulfills all of her desires.
Tasked with convincing spinster Beatrice Brown to sell her land, Wickham Murray travels to confront Bea in person. He attends the same masquerade and is happy to oblige the beautiful masked woman who propositions him for the night. Wick is shocked when he learns that the spinster and the masked woman are one and the same. After an act of violence at her estate, they band together to learn the identity of her enemy.
Bea and Wick are both cynical when it comes to love, but together they burn with passion for each other. Bea was shattered after her attack resulting scarred visage. Wick hasn’t allowed himself to form emotional connections to women. Both characters have been hurt in different ways, but they find kindred spirits in each other and because of this, they start to believe they can trust someone of the opposite sex. The mystery keeps the plot moving forward, but it is easily solved and the villains are bland cookie-cutter characters. Readers who have not read the previous books in the series will want to go back and learn more about Wick’s friends who are featured in the author’s other novels. The love scenes in this book are scorching and frequent.
Tasked with convincing spinster Beatrice Brown to sell her land, Wickham Murray travels to confront Bea in person. He attends the same masquerade and is happy to oblige the beautiful masked woman who propositions him for the night. Wick is shocked when he learns that the spinster and the masked woman are one and the same. After an act of violence at her estate, they band together to learn the identity of her enemy.
Bea and Wick are both cynical when it comes to love, but together they burn with passion for each other. Bea was shattered after her attack resulting scarred visage. Wick hasn’t allowed himself to form emotional connections to women. Both characters have been hurt in different ways, but they find kindred spirits in each other and because of this, they start to believe they can trust someone of the opposite sex. The mystery keeps the plot moving forward, but it is easily solved and the villains are bland cookie-cutter characters. Readers who have not read the previous books in the series will want to go back and learn more about Wick’s friends who are featured in the author’s other novels. The love scenes in this book are scorching and frequent.
December 26, 2019
The Duke of Redemption is a twist on Beauty and Beast with Bea being Lady Beastly and Wickham being the Beauty. A facial disfigurement from an accident caused Lady Bea to remove herself from society. She surrounded herself with other misfits who became her family, but she still lacked passion. This book is filled with passion. Lady Bea and Wick spark passion and fireworks in this installment. She is adamant she isn’t selling her land for his railroad and he is adamant she will be his. I love the banter between characters in Grace Callaway’s novels. As usual, she brings you in and connects you with the characters to where even the ones you should dislike, such as Lady Bea’s brother, the Duke if Hadleigh, make you want to know more about them and why they’re the way they are. Maybe, like Wick, we will see his story later. Grace Callaway’s stories always mix romance with mystery and mayhem. This one is the best out of the latest series and really showed the growth of Wickham’s character as well as Lady Bea.
October 10, 2024
The Duke Redemption
3.5 Stars
A devastating accident left Beatrice Wodehouse scared and ostracized by society. Bea finds solace at her country estate, where she offers a haven to other social outcasts. But her sanctuary is threatened by a railway company determined to purchase the land for their newest endeavor. To make matters worse, the company's representative, Wickham Murray, is the man Bea spent one night of passion with at a masquerade. Will he use their shared past against her, or can he be trusted with her heart?
Series note: Wickham's character first appears in The Viscount Always Knocks Twice in the Hearts of Enquiry series, and he plays an important role in the previous installment of Game of Dukes, Regarding the Duke. While all necessary backstory is provided, reading the series' in order contributes to the enjoyment of the characters and the romance.
Bea and Wickham's reverse Beauty and the Beast romance is sweet but overly angsty at times, mainly due to both the hero and heroine's issues with self-esteem. Wick blames himself for anything that goes wrong due to his reckless past while Bea sees herself as ugly and undesirable due to her facial scar. She blames herself for its disastrous effect on her family, although this is completely overdone - .
In terms of the romance, Bea and Wick's initial chemistry at the masquerade is excellent; however, it does not remain as intense once their real identities are revealed.
The mystery revolves around attacks on Bea's estate, and it has some very good twists and turns and an exciting climax and resolution. The eventual revelation of the culprit is surprising, but in hindsight the clues are all there.
Despite some of the abovementioned issues, this is an entertaining read overall. The 5th and final book in the series focuses on Severin Knight and Fancy Sheridan, whose connection is hinted at in this book. Fancy seems to have a mysterious past, and I look forward to learning more about her.
3.5 Stars
A devastating accident left Beatrice Wodehouse scared and ostracized by society. Bea finds solace at her country estate, where she offers a haven to other social outcasts. But her sanctuary is threatened by a railway company determined to purchase the land for their newest endeavor. To make matters worse, the company's representative, Wickham Murray, is the man Bea spent one night of passion with at a masquerade. Will he use their shared past against her, or can he be trusted with her heart?
Series note: Wickham's character first appears in The Viscount Always Knocks Twice in the Hearts of Enquiry series, and he plays an important role in the previous installment of Game of Dukes, Regarding the Duke. While all necessary backstory is provided, reading the series' in order contributes to the enjoyment of the characters and the romance.
Bea and Wickham's reverse Beauty and the Beast romance is sweet but overly angsty at times, mainly due to both the hero and heroine's issues with self-esteem. Wick blames himself for anything that goes wrong due to his reckless past while Bea sees herself as ugly and undesirable due to her facial scar. She blames herself for its disastrous effect on her family, although this is completely overdone - .
In terms of the romance, Bea and Wick's initial chemistry at the masquerade is excellent; however, it does not remain as intense once their real identities are revealed.
The mystery revolves around attacks on Bea's estate, and it has some very good twists and turns and an exciting climax and resolution. The eventual revelation of the culprit is surprising, but in hindsight the clues are all there.
Despite some of the abovementioned issues, this is an entertaining read overall. The 5th and final book in the series focuses on Severin Knight and Fancy Sheridan, whose connection is hinted at in this book. Fancy seems to have a mysterious past, and I look forward to learning more about her.
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