ABOUT THE BOOK
All Lady Victoria Kirby wants is to dig in the dirt, take notations, and record history, thank you very much. Bumbling through ballrooms and getting disdained by the ton for her less than ideal looks, on the other hand, is the last thing she wants. But her reckless father has a different idea for her future when he puts up the ultimate ante—her hand in marriage—and loses. Over her dead body.
The Duke of Chase cannot bear to see a woman misused. After all, he saw that often enough as a child. So when he’s witness to a marquess gambling away his daughter to a lecher of a man, he has no choice but to step in and rescue her. Lady Victoria has a reputation for being as tart as a lemon and as bitter as one, too. So, he may have just found the perfect wife to keep a promise he made to himself long ago–to never have an heir. With her, surely, he’ll never be tempted to take her to bed and break that promise.
But when he meets the wild, witty intelligent young lady he’s bound to marry, he knows trouble is headed his way… And everything he ever swore to uphold may very well come undone, especially his heart.
MY REVIEW
The Duke of Chase is a complicated man. He is scandalous, yet he is a valorous advocate for women. His past is full of pain and to prove himself worthy of his title, he performs for the ton while secretly rescuing damsels in distress. Lady Victoria Kirby is his latest rescue when her father intent on gambling her hand to a lecherous man leaves the Duke no choice but to save her. His intentions to marry the plain and outspoken Lady Kirby is solely in name only to keep his promise to himself to never have an heir. However, he discovers she is far from plain. She is remarkably intelligent, witty, and singular. She is extraordinary and he doesn’t deserve her.
Victoria and Derek are made for each other with their quirky humor and likemindedness. Their friendship is important as they grow to admire each other and slowly fall in love. To the ton, Derek puts on a facade as the arrogant and rakish Duke, but he hides a secret behind his confident persona. To Victoria or “Victory” as Derek lovingly calls her, he is an honorable man before his time as he vehemently fights for women’s rights in his own unorthodox way. I really like Derek’s personality as he happily lavishes Victoria and her sister Catherine with anything they desire and not expecting anything in return. Even going so far as to offer to build a museum for Victoria’s artifacts. He is witty and playful and so relaxed in Victoria’s company. Victoria takes to her new title valiantly as she joins Derek in using it for good. Though she believes she is plain, her vibrance is her inner beauty and her resilience.
I appreciated Lord Brookhaven’s character as an exceptional friend doling out good advice to both Derek and Victoria. Catherine, Victoria’s sister, is also a woman who knows her own mind and is a great companion to her sister.
This was not one of my favorite Eva Devon novels, but if you enjoy historical romance rife with secrets, honor, humor, and a happily ever after. Check out my other Eva Devon book reviews for The Spinster and the Rake and Once Upon a Duke.
Thank you to Ms. Devon for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eva Devon was raised on literary fiction, but quite accidentally and thankfully, she was introduced to romance one Christmas by Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory novella, The Present. A romance addict was born. She devoured every single Lindsey novel within a few months and moved on to contemporary and paranormal with gusto. Now, she loves to write her own roguish dukes, alpha males, and the heroines who tame them. She loves to hear from her readers.
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