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A review by readingwithjessica_w
Return of the Duke by Lorraine Heath
5.0
This has been my favorite book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series and I was not expecting Marcus’s story to be the one that made me feel that. Due to his father’s role in a plot to kill Queen Victoria, Marcus Stanwick has lost everything; his dukedom, his home, and his source of income. Hoping to uncover the truth of his father’s involvement, he sets off to question Esme Lancaster, a woman thought to be his father’s lover. In this tale, nothing is as it seems as Marcus learns the truth about Esme and his father’s relationship.
Esme is the ideal heroine. She’s beautiful, older, smart, and devoted to her country, and she has seen her fair share of difficulties. The tension and chemistry between Marcus and Esme is palpable, from the very first meeting and the “wound scene”. I couldn’t wait for these two to get together. The intimate scenes are excellent and Marcus’s character shows him to be truly in love with Esme—the care and thoughtfulness makes him a dream hero. I should mention there are content warnings for infertility and hysterectomy, but Heath handled it so beautifully that it just enamored me even more to Marcus.
Interwoven into this story is a spies for the Crown subplot that was a fun unexpected twist not typical for a romance. I enjoyed seeing characters from earlier books in the series lend a hand; siblings Griffith and Althea make an appearance and the Trewlove family also plays a role. I can’t wait to read the Chessmen series Heath is starting in next. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Avon for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Esme is the ideal heroine. She’s beautiful, older, smart, and devoted to her country, and she has seen her fair share of difficulties. The tension and chemistry between Marcus and Esme is palpable, from the very first meeting and the “wound scene”. I couldn’t wait for these two to get together. The intimate scenes are excellent and Marcus’s character shows him to be truly in love with Esme—the care and thoughtfulness makes him a dream hero. I should mention there are content warnings for infertility and hysterectomy, but Heath handled it so beautifully that it just enamored me even more to Marcus.
Interwoven into this story is a spies for the Crown subplot that was a fun unexpected twist not typical for a romance. I enjoyed seeing characters from earlier books in the series lend a hand; siblings Griffith and Althea make an appearance and the Trewlove family also plays a role. I can’t wait to read the Chessmen series Heath is starting in next. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Avon for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.