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The Irresistible Dukes #1
Awakening His Shy Duchess
Comprised with a sexy Regency duke…
A panicked escape…
ends in a surprising proposal!
Evan Bellwether, the Duke of Fallon, is stunned when Madeline Goddard takes a tumble attempting to flee a ball...and accidentally falls into him! But that’s the least of the duke’s worries when the compromising situation forces them somewhere Evan didn’t want to be—the altar! At first, his new bride appears painfully shy. Could the key to discovering the real Maddie lie with unlocking the passion of their marriage?
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
The Irresistible Dukes
Book 1: Awakening His Shy Duchess
Book 2: A Duke for the Penniless Widow
A panicked escape…
ends in a surprising proposal!
Evan Bellwether, the Duke of Fallon, is stunned when Madeline Goddard takes a tumble attempting to flee a ball...and accidentally falls into him! But that’s the least of the duke’s worries when the compromising situation forces them somewhere Evan didn’t want to be—the altar! At first, his new bride appears painfully shy. Could the key to discovering the real Maddie lie with unlocking the passion of their marriage?
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
The Irresistible Dukes
Book 1: Awakening His Shy Duchess
Book 2: A Duke for the Penniless Widow
- GenresRomanceHistoricalRegency
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2023
13 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Christine Merrill
242 books215 followersChristine Merrill has wanted to be an author for as long as she can remember. But one thing stood in her way: touch typing.
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 11, 2024
I have read Christine Merrill before and enjoyed her but this book was a complete miss for me. Maddie is a complete doormat, too afraid to show her new husband anything real about her. I give her grace for the abuse in her past, but she was a frustrating and occasionally annoying character. Evan is just terrible. His expectations for married life and for Maddie herself are sexist and without true reasoning of his own. And then suddenly they are in love with the other? There has been zero emotional honesty or intimacy, so where did the love come from? Good sex is great but love requires at least some semblance of the other.
Two stars. I would be willing to read more of Christine Merrill's books, though, based on previous experience. Thank you to Harlequin and to NetGalley for a complementary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.
Two stars. I would be willing to read more of Christine Merrill's books, though, based on previous experience. Thank you to Harlequin and to NetGalley for a complementary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.
July 29, 2023
Title: Awakening His Shy Duchess
Author: Christine Merrill
Genre: Romance; Historical Romance; Fiction
Main Characters: Maddie (the shy duchess), Evan(the Duke Maddie married), and Alex(the stepbrother that was supposed to marry Maddie, but refused)
.
.
It starts out with a ball and kinda ends with a ball ☺️, but Maddie( or Madeline,), is being married off, by her father, to a Duke. And they’re attending a ball to introduce them and then they will quickly be married in a week or so. When getting to the ball, Maddie, notices Evan, the stepbrother of the man she’s supposed to marry, but she doesn’t know this.. (She hoped it was Evan she would be marrying, but he wasn’t him). But she finally meets the Duke she is to marry and that is Alex, Evan’s stepbrother. 😲🫢 She’s disappointed and a matter of fact, Alex, is too, because he doesn’t want to marry, so after they dance he whisks her off to the side and tells her so. He tells her it was all a mistake. So she is embarrassed to say the least and she hates everything going on at this time and having to be forced to marry. So she walks out to the garden and decides quickly that she’s going to run away and climbs up the garden wall to get away. And then she meets Evan, Alex’s(the man she was supposed to marry) stepbrother, the man she noticed, first of all when entering the ball. And after that, it all goes uphill and downhill, as well,😩, but it doesn’t stay in the downhill though.😃 This is an enjoyable book to read. It’s engaging to read. I didn’t want to put it down. I loved Evan’s and Maddie’s story. It’s comical at times too. There is sexual content, as well, for those of you who doesn’t like it in your reading. The content isn’t terribly bad, but in places, sometimes it can be. I really don’t like it either, but I had already gotten attached to the story and was reading for Net Galley to review, so I just continued. Just wanted to give those who doesn’t care for it, a heads up. No bad language though, if so, I can’t recall it.
Thank you to #NetGalley , the publishers, and author for giving me the opportunity to read and review #AwakeningHisShyDuchess for my honest review and thoughts.
Author: Christine Merrill
Genre: Romance; Historical Romance; Fiction
Main Characters: Maddie (the shy duchess), Evan(the Duke Maddie married), and Alex(the stepbrother that was supposed to marry Maddie, but refused)
.
.
It starts out with a ball and kinda ends with a ball ☺️, but Maddie( or Madeline,), is being married off, by her father, to a Duke. And they’re attending a ball to introduce them and then they will quickly be married in a week or so. When getting to the ball, Maddie, notices Evan, the stepbrother of the man she’s supposed to marry, but she doesn’t know this.. (She hoped it was Evan she would be marrying, but he wasn’t him). But she finally meets the Duke she is to marry and that is Alex, Evan’s stepbrother. 😲🫢 She’s disappointed and a matter of fact, Alex, is too, because he doesn’t want to marry, so after they dance he whisks her off to the side and tells her so. He tells her it was all a mistake. So she is embarrassed to say the least and she hates everything going on at this time and having to be forced to marry. So she walks out to the garden and decides quickly that she’s going to run away and climbs up the garden wall to get away. And then she meets Evan, Alex’s(the man she was supposed to marry) stepbrother, the man she noticed, first of all when entering the ball. And after that, it all goes uphill and downhill, as well,😩, but it doesn’t stay in the downhill though.😃 This is an enjoyable book to read. It’s engaging to read. I didn’t want to put it down. I loved Evan’s and Maddie’s story. It’s comical at times too. There is sexual content, as well, for those of you who doesn’t like it in your reading. The content isn’t terribly bad, but in places, sometimes it can be. I really don’t like it either, but I had already gotten attached to the story and was reading for Net Galley to review, so I just continued. Just wanted to give those who doesn’t care for it, a heads up. No bad language though, if so, I can’t recall it.
Thank you to #NetGalley , the publishers, and author for giving me the opportunity to read and review #AwakeningHisShyDuchess for my honest review and thoughts.
December 28, 2023
Not up to authors usual standard. Something is missing
July 13, 2023
3.5 stars
Madeline Goddard had been engaged to an elderly Duke, who dies. Unfortunately, the marriage contract only named him as the Duke of Glenmoor, making that now the old Duke's heir, Alex; Who doesn't want to marry her, and tells her as much at a ball where she finally meets him. Not wanting to face her abusive father on her 'inability' to secure the Duke of Glenmoor, be he a different Duke of Glenmoor than her father was expecting, Madeline leaves the ball and attempts to escape to anywhere she can think of, which causes her to fall from the garden wall onto Evan Bellweather, the Duke of Fallon. This puts them into a compromising position with his head under her skirt, and England's 'finest' to witness it. Seeing as Evan is the half brother of Alex, the new Duke of Glenmoor, at least her dowry will be brought to the same family - sort of.
Evan Bellweather thinks that Madeline is attractive, and as she brings a rather large dowry to him, he agrees to the marriage, but hides out with her father and makes all the arrangements with him, while Madeline is locked in her room by her father, so as not to escape her fate.
While Madeline has a flair for sums, her husband Evan does not. Where Madeline tries to flourish in the household with her new husband, he seems to be thwarting her at every turn. While he has agreed to put off the consummation of their marriage, I was a bit surprised at the abrupt scene in the library when their marriage is actually consummated. In the library? After all the 'careful consideration' Evan was supposed to have for his wife's sensibilities?
Then, there is no mention of it and Madeline is happily sharing her bed with Evan every night. Until their next disagreement where she tries to point out a very dire thing that is going on in their household, and Evan once again treats her as if she is unimportant. He declares that they will never get along, and orders her to the country, where they will then live separate lives. This causes Madeline to leave the house and rent her own place in London, to avoid Evan heartlessly casting her off to the country. The little bit of news Evan got just before that, did not stop him from treating his wife this cruelly.
While well-written, I did not like Evan's personality. He was at best, a dunce, and at worst, a heartless moron when it came to recognizing the feelings of others. Even the ending didn't do it for me. I would have made him apologize a bit more, if I were Madeline, and he's lucky she took him back.
Madeline Goddard had been engaged to an elderly Duke, who dies. Unfortunately, the marriage contract only named him as the Duke of Glenmoor, making that now the old Duke's heir, Alex; Who doesn't want to marry her, and tells her as much at a ball where she finally meets him. Not wanting to face her abusive father on her 'inability' to secure the Duke of Glenmoor, be he a different Duke of Glenmoor than her father was expecting, Madeline leaves the ball and attempts to escape to anywhere she can think of, which causes her to fall from the garden wall onto Evan Bellweather, the Duke of Fallon. This puts them into a compromising position with his head under her skirt, and England's 'finest' to witness it. Seeing as Evan is the half brother of Alex, the new Duke of Glenmoor, at least her dowry will be brought to the same family - sort of.
Evan Bellweather thinks that Madeline is attractive, and as she brings a rather large dowry to him, he agrees to the marriage, but hides out with her father and makes all the arrangements with him, while Madeline is locked in her room by her father, so as not to escape her fate.
While Madeline has a flair for sums, her husband Evan does not. Where Madeline tries to flourish in the household with her new husband, he seems to be thwarting her at every turn. While he has agreed to put off the consummation of their marriage, I was a bit surprised at the abrupt scene in the library when their marriage is actually consummated. In the library? After all the 'careful consideration' Evan was supposed to have for his wife's sensibilities?
Then, there is no mention of it and Madeline is happily sharing her bed with Evan every night. Until their next disagreement where she tries to point out a very dire thing that is going on in their household, and Evan once again treats her as if she is unimportant. He declares that they will never get along, and orders her to the country, where they will then live separate lives. This causes Madeline to leave the house and rent her own place in London, to avoid Evan heartlessly casting her off to the country. The little bit of news Evan got just before that, did not stop him from treating his wife this cruelly.
While well-written, I did not like Evan's personality. He was at best, a dunce, and at worst, a heartless moron when it came to recognizing the feelings of others. Even the ending didn't do it for me. I would have made him apologize a bit more, if I were Madeline, and he's lucky she took him back.
July 5, 2023
Maddie is the daughter of a wealthy man who uses her to gain a foothold in society. On the night her engagement is to be announced to one duke, her attempt to escape her fate winds up with her engaged to a different one. To her abusive father, one duke is as good as another, and he has no intention of listening to her objections.
Though he extolled the virtues of marriage to his stepbrother, Alex, Evan has no intention of marrying anytime soon. He is not pleased when his attempt to assure himself of Maddie's welfare goes hideously wrong.
I enjoyed this story of how two very different people found that they were perfect for each other. It was not an easy journey. Evan was raised by his father to follow strict rules regarding his conduct and his father's somewhat skewed vision of marriage. Evan is very confident, except in one area - anything to do with mathematics or numbers. He describes it as looking at a row of numbers and seeing them dance over the page. Evan suffers from Dyscalculia, dyslexia of numbers, and t has left him unable to handle the finances of his estate. He is in financial trouble and unable to find his way out. Marriage to Maddie will bring some much-needed cash to his life.
Maddie has been living under the thumb of her emotionally and physically abusive father. She is accustomed to staying in the background as much as possible and doing whatever is necessary to keep out of her father's way. Because of him, she buries her true nature and adapts her actions to his demands. She is quiet but very intelligent, with a fascination for anything related to numbers.
When Evan and Maddie marry, she has high hopes of finally being able to be herself. Unfortunately, she finds herself at the mercy of Evan's views of women and marriage. His idea that all women are the same and spend their lives shopping, painting, and embroidering frustrated Maddie (and me). She hates traditional female pursuits and would much rather spend her time studying math books and solving puzzles, but she tries to force herself into Evan's mold to make him happy. When she stumbles on the estate's account books and sees their mess, she attempts to fix them before being shut down by Evan and his estate manager, Ramsey.
I spent a good part of the book wanting to shake Evan. He knows he has problems with numbers and that the estate is in trouble. However, his pride won't allow him to admit the problem to anyone, so it keeps worsening. Seeing Maddie's talent with numbers should have been a wake-up call for him, giving him someone who would be on his side in straightening out the mess, but instead, he keeps trying to shove her into the box created by his father's training.
The only thing that brings Evan and Maddie together is their undeniable attraction for each other. I liked Evan's patience and willingness to wait until they knew each other better before consummating their marriage. Their passion is evident when they do, but they still don't TALK to each other. It becomes increasingly apparent that each has trust issues, and I wondered how they would get past them. Matters become more complicated when Maddie makes a discovery in the account books, and Evan refuses to listen to her about it.
Evan makes a boneheaded mistake in trying to send Maddie to the country, while Maddie finds her backbone and makes alternate arrangements. I loved watching her come into her own with other women of like minds. Meanwhile, Evan has some serious soul-searching to do. The catalyst for his awakening was a surprise, and I loved seeing Evan break free of the past. I loved his big moment at the end and finally seeing him and Maddie accept their differences and embrace the love they share.
#netgalley
Though he extolled the virtues of marriage to his stepbrother, Alex, Evan has no intention of marrying anytime soon. He is not pleased when his attempt to assure himself of Maddie's welfare goes hideously wrong.
I enjoyed this story of how two very different people found that they were perfect for each other. It was not an easy journey. Evan was raised by his father to follow strict rules regarding his conduct and his father's somewhat skewed vision of marriage. Evan is very confident, except in one area - anything to do with mathematics or numbers. He describes it as looking at a row of numbers and seeing them dance over the page. Evan suffers from Dyscalculia, dyslexia of numbers, and t has left him unable to handle the finances of his estate. He is in financial trouble and unable to find his way out. Marriage to Maddie will bring some much-needed cash to his life.
Maddie has been living under the thumb of her emotionally and physically abusive father. She is accustomed to staying in the background as much as possible and doing whatever is necessary to keep out of her father's way. Because of him, she buries her true nature and adapts her actions to his demands. She is quiet but very intelligent, with a fascination for anything related to numbers.
When Evan and Maddie marry, she has high hopes of finally being able to be herself. Unfortunately, she finds herself at the mercy of Evan's views of women and marriage. His idea that all women are the same and spend their lives shopping, painting, and embroidering frustrated Maddie (and me). She hates traditional female pursuits and would much rather spend her time studying math books and solving puzzles, but she tries to force herself into Evan's mold to make him happy. When she stumbles on the estate's account books and sees their mess, she attempts to fix them before being shut down by Evan and his estate manager, Ramsey.
I spent a good part of the book wanting to shake Evan. He knows he has problems with numbers and that the estate is in trouble. However, his pride won't allow him to admit the problem to anyone, so it keeps worsening. Seeing Maddie's talent with numbers should have been a wake-up call for him, giving him someone who would be on his side in straightening out the mess, but instead, he keeps trying to shove her into the box created by his father's training.
The only thing that brings Evan and Maddie together is their undeniable attraction for each other. I liked Evan's patience and willingness to wait until they knew each other better before consummating their marriage. Their passion is evident when they do, but they still don't TALK to each other. It becomes increasingly apparent that each has trust issues, and I wondered how they would get past them. Matters become more complicated when Maddie makes a discovery in the account books, and Evan refuses to listen to her about it.
Evan makes a boneheaded mistake in trying to send Maddie to the country, while Maddie finds her backbone and makes alternate arrangements. I loved watching her come into her own with other women of like minds. Meanwhile, Evan has some serious soul-searching to do. The catalyst for his awakening was a surprise, and I loved seeing Evan break free of the past. I loved his big moment at the end and finally seeing him and Maddie accept their differences and embrace the love they share.
#netgalley
September 15, 2023
Get ready to be swept away in the love story of Awakening His Shy Duchess.
I adore Harlequin romance books. They are short and sweet (or sometimes spicy) and a great way to escape the world for a few hours. I enjoyed reading this book. I loved watching Madeline break out of her wallflower shell and become this shelf-assured woman that knows what she wants. Her character really was what stood out most for me. She has this beautiful quiet strength to her, and she is brilliant. I loved watching her stand up to her bully of a father and her idiot of a husband. The story is slower-paced and focuses on the growing relationship between Madeline and Evan.
Fans of forced marriage and miscommunication tropes will love the romance between Madeline and Evan. It was obvious that they felt a connection from the first moment they saw each other, but neither one actually wanted to get married. But when they are caught in a compromising situation, they have no choice but to marry. The relationship between Madeline and Evan is full of bumps. There are plenty of miscommunications between these two, and Evan’s constant mood swings often strain things between them. There are reasons for Evan’s mood swings. He struggles with family expectations and how his growing love for Madeline changes his views on marriage. One thing I felt this book was missing was that moment of grovelling that I felt Evan needed to do to win Madeline back. He does act like a big idiot throughout this story, and I wish he would have just fallen to his knees and begged for Madeline’s forgiveness.
Awakening His Shy Duchess is another great Harlequin romance.
Click on the link to read more reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
I adore Harlequin romance books. They are short and sweet (or sometimes spicy) and a great way to escape the world for a few hours. I enjoyed reading this book. I loved watching Madeline break out of her wallflower shell and become this shelf-assured woman that knows what she wants. Her character really was what stood out most for me. She has this beautiful quiet strength to her, and she is brilliant. I loved watching her stand up to her bully of a father and her idiot of a husband. The story is slower-paced and focuses on the growing relationship between Madeline and Evan.
Fans of forced marriage and miscommunication tropes will love the romance between Madeline and Evan. It was obvious that they felt a connection from the first moment they saw each other, but neither one actually wanted to get married. But when they are caught in a compromising situation, they have no choice but to marry. The relationship between Madeline and Evan is full of bumps. There are plenty of miscommunications between these two, and Evan’s constant mood swings often strain things between them. There are reasons for Evan’s mood swings. He struggles with family expectations and how his growing love for Madeline changes his views on marriage. One thing I felt this book was missing was that moment of grovelling that I felt Evan needed to do to win Madeline back. He does act like a big idiot throughout this story, and I wish he would have just fallen to his knees and begged for Madeline’s forgiveness.
Awakening His Shy Duchess is another great Harlequin romance.
Click on the link to read more reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
June 28, 2023
My first book of this author and I specifically asked for it because it’s my favorite trope, marriage of convenience, and in this case a variation of the trope, aka forced marriage (to avoid scandal!). And I’m happy the author granted me a copy, because I really adored the book and finished it in one day!!! I love this trope because the relationship between the two main characters grows during the book while the lovemaking usually starts early (yes, I’m quite naughty this way!): it’s a slow burn with steam! And I was not disappointed because in this case there’s also quite a good dose of personal growth for both characters.
Evan learns that the perfect world he wanted to create for himself according to his father’s rules is not so perfect and not so desirable after all, while Madeline learns to express her true self after a life of suffering under her father’s thumb. The writing is gorgeous, with intriguing descriptions and well fleshed-out characters. I really hope to read more of this author in the future!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Evan learns that the perfect world he wanted to create for himself according to his father’s rules is not so perfect and not so desirable after all, while Madeline learns to express her true self after a life of suffering under her father’s thumb. The writing is gorgeous, with intriguing descriptions and well fleshed-out characters. I really hope to read more of this author in the future!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 21, 2023
She's not shy...
I was so looking forward to this book. Maddie is not shy. She has been abused by her father all her life, as has her mother. She attempts to run at her engagment party by climbing over the wall and ends up on top of Evan, her replacement fiancé's step-brother (Alex jilted her first). Evan is pretty and pretty vacant. He has dyslexia and cannot fathom numbers, so of course he puts all his blind trust in Ramsay, his grubby man of business, who he gave a raise to, instead of admitting he knows zilch about math. Whereas, Maddie is a mathematical genius and hosts a math society.
Maddie's rapid growth and trajectory from an abused victim to confident person is vast. Whereas, Evan seems to be going in the other direction. He bumbles about, not learning anything. His continual belief in his father, Ramsay and his constant belief that all women are alike (in the dark and in the light of day) wears on the reader. It was frustrating.
But I could appreciate Maddie's evolution.
3.5 stars.
I was so looking forward to this book. Maddie is not shy. She has been abused by her father all her life, as has her mother. She attempts to run at her engagment party by climbing over the wall and ends up on top of Evan, her replacement fiancé's step-brother (Alex jilted her first). Evan is pretty and pretty vacant. He has dyslexia and cannot fathom numbers, so of course he puts all his blind trust in Ramsay, his grubby man of business, who he gave a raise to, instead of admitting he knows zilch about math. Whereas, Maddie is a mathematical genius and hosts a math society.
Maddie's rapid growth and trajectory from an abused victim to confident person is vast. Whereas, Evan seems to be going in the other direction. He bumbles about, not learning anything. His continual belief in his father, Ramsay and his constant belief that all women are alike (in the dark and in the light of day) wears on the reader. It was frustrating.
But I could appreciate Maddie's evolution.
3.5 stars.
March 13, 2025
Evan Bellwether, the Duke of Fallon, is stunned when Madeline Goddard takes a tumble while running away from a ball and accidentally falls into him. But that’s the least of the duke’s worries when the situation forces them somewhere Evan didn’t want to be—the altar! At first, his new bride appears painfully shy. Could the key to discovering the real Maddie lie with unlocking the passion of their marriage?
I really wanted to like this story more than I did. I didn't sense the chemistry between the main characters, and I honestly felt that something was missing to make the story cohesive. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
I really wanted to like this story more than I did. I didn't sense the chemistry between the main characters, and I honestly felt that something was missing to make the story cohesive. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
June 19, 2023
Forced to marry, Evan and Madeline couldn't be more different. He's a confident duke, and she's a timid young woman from an abusive home. Though she learns to trust Evan, it's difficult for her to assert herself. Can he learn to give her what she needs before it's too late?
This is a character-driven story about two strangers struggling with conflicting expectations. Neither Evan nor Maddie are ready for marriage, but they both do their best, making mistakes along the way. The affection and the physical relationship are a start, but they have to become vulnerable to find true happiness.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a character-driven story about two strangers struggling with conflicting expectations. Neither Evan nor Maddie are ready for marriage, but they both do their best, making mistakes along the way. The affection and the physical relationship are a start, but they have to become vulnerable to find true happiness.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 3, 2023
While trying to escape a ball, Madeleine Goddard tumbles into Evan Bellwether, the Duke of Falllon.
Forced into marriage, Evan and Madeleine have to adjust to their new relationship as husband and wife.
Complicating matters the two are at opposite ends of the spectrum: Madeline is a math genius, while Evan has Dyscalculia( a learning disability that makes calculations difficult)
Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace are historical figures mentioned in the story.
However, Ada was Lord Byron’s daughter, not his wife.
Forced into marriage, Evan and Madeleine have to adjust to their new relationship as husband and wife.
Complicating matters the two are at opposite ends of the spectrum: Madeline is a math genius, while Evan has Dyscalculia( a learning disability that makes calculations difficult)
Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace are historical figures mentioned in the story.
However, Ada was Lord Byron’s daughter, not his wife.
June 19, 2024
A steamy story. A likeable story of a controlled and submissive lady entering a marriage of convenience/necessity with a duke. A lot could have been avoided purely by them talking, but she is terrified of offending and being struck and he to be honest seemed a bit of a wimp without any real thought about what a wife would do during the day, or even interested. It was nice to see her find her backbone and standup for what she wanted. As I said likeable but not exceptional.
June 12, 2023
An engaging story that starts with a panicked escape and a surprising proposal. I enjoyed Evan and Maddie's developing love, getting to know each other and most of all trust in each other. A worthy happily ever after for them both.
Read
June 2, 2023Historical Fiction, Sagas, Regency Romance
Miniseries
The Irresistible Dukes (Book #1)
Miniseries
The Irresistible Dukes (Book #1)
June 10, 2023
Maddie and Evan are forced to be married after being caught in a compromising position. Through trial and error they learn to love each other. Sweet romance.
July 14, 2023
I loved it.
April 13, 2024
resolution was rushed .... not enough groveling, the dude was a pos tbh
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews