The Duchess Hunt

By Lorraine Heath

Series: Once Upon a Dukedom #2

Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian Romance

Publisher: Avon Romance

Source: Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4 Stars

Amazon Indiebound

Description:

New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath continues her Once Upon a Dukedom series with this lush love story of a duke who discovers what he desires in a wife may not be what he needs…

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess. However, restoring the dukedom—left in ruins by his father—to its former glory demands all his time, with little room for sentiment. He places an advert encouraging the single ladies of the ton to write why they should be the one chosen, and leaves it to his efficient secretary to select his future wife.

If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can’t imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer.

But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he’s willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he’s hunting for has been in front of him all along?

Review:

After finishing the previous book in this series, Scoundrel of My Heart, I knew I wanted Penelope and King’s book. King was supposed to marry the heroine of the previous book, and when that doesn’t work out, he entrusts the task of finding him a duchess to his secretary, Penelope. Little does he know, he will soon start to see her in a new light and that might throw a wrench in his plans. Penelope is in love with the duke but never expects anything to come of it. Even so, to have to find him a wife is like a knife to the heart. As Penelope needs to enter society to interview prospective wives, with King by her side, things begin to change between them.

I’m a sucker for a competent heroine and that is Penelope in spades. She manages King’s businesses and life so perfectly and I loved watching King realize just how important she is to him. Both King and Penelope have had serious struggles in their past that have shaped them into the aloof characters they are. But as those shields come down and they give into the attraction between them, a beautiful love story occurs.

Lorraine Heath has been a consistent historical romance writer for years now. She is able to include the riches of the nobility and the ton, that we all love, with the realities of middle and lower class life in the Regency and Victorian periods. The juxtaposition between King as a duke and Penelope as his secretary, coming from the working class, shouldn’t work but does so beautifully in this book.

Published by SomewhereLostInBooks

I’m Melisa! I’m an avid reader. I love romance novels and decided, hey, why not write about what I love and hate about the genre. And my favorite books. And when I get to meet authors. And all round why romance novels are awesome. Expect a lot of fan-girling, laughter, and some tears. View all posts by SomewhereLostInBooks