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A review by soulkissed2003
The Accidental Duchess by Madeline Hunter
4.0
Lady Lydia Alfreton is a young lady who likes her independence, and to her brother's dismay, gambling halls. It's quite the scandal, even though she usually wins! Still, her brother is desperate to marry her off to the first eligible bachelor who will put up with her headstrong ways. Lydia is having none of it.
Yet one day, Lydia finds herself in a predicament. A blackmailer produces some notes she took on some ships docked at England's shore. The details were fodder for a story she was working on, one she had all but forgotten as she felt it wasn't very good. Still, in a time of unease between England and France, those papers could make some conclude that she was acting as a spy! Seeing little way out but to pay, Lydia strikes a bold bargain with her brother's friend, the Duke of Penthurst. She bets the taking of her innocence in exchange for the money she'll need to pay off the nasty blackmailer. And this time, she loses the hand of cards!
How will she get out of this mess? I enjoyed the plot twists in this romance story; there were several good surprises and the story line kept me guessing throughout the novel. I loved Lydia's fierce self-confidence and contentment in her own skin. Penthurst is a complex character, hard to figure out; this only makes the story richer. The love scenes were vivid and passionate.
The book was published in June 2013 and is the last in a quartet of books sharing some mutual characters. It is a Jove Historical Romance through Penguin Books. ISBN #978-0-515-15131-2. Suggested retail price for the paperback edition is $7.99 in the US or $9.99 in Canada. Fans of historical romance will enjoy this selection.
Yet one day, Lydia finds herself in a predicament. A blackmailer produces some notes she took on some ships docked at England's shore. The details were fodder for a story she was working on, one she had all but forgotten as she felt it wasn't very good. Still, in a time of unease between England and France, those papers could make some conclude that she was acting as a spy! Seeing little way out but to pay, Lydia strikes a bold bargain with her brother's friend, the Duke of Penthurst. She bets the taking of her innocence in exchange for the money she'll need to pay off the nasty blackmailer. And this time, she loses the hand of cards!
How will she get out of this mess? I enjoyed the plot twists in this romance story; there were several good surprises and the story line kept me guessing throughout the novel. I loved Lydia's fierce self-confidence and contentment in her own skin. Penthurst is a complex character, hard to figure out; this only makes the story richer. The love scenes were vivid and passionate.
The book was published in June 2013 and is the last in a quartet of books sharing some mutual characters. It is a Jove Historical Romance through Penguin Books. ISBN #978-0-515-15131-2. Suggested retail price for the paperback edition is $7.99 in the US or $9.99 in Canada. Fans of historical romance will enjoy this selection.