EBookObsessed
Written on Dec 8, 2018
Lady Daphne Hallworth is ready to celebrate the holidays with her family. But when they accidentally leave her home alone, Daphne uses the time to work on her dream - opening a home for unwed mothers. But her quest isn’t problem-free: She’s in a battle to win the property for the home against her brother’s best friend-turned-enemy, Paul Barstowe, Duke of Southart. And that’s not all: someone has stolen her personal diary, which holds secrets that could devastate her family. Daphne has always harbored private feelings for the man her family scorns... though perhaps striking a bargain with the handsome Duke will solve both their problems?
Paul, long considered good for nothing, aims to open a hospital to honor his brother and restore his reputation. So when a conflict over the land brings him straight into Daphne’s life, they make a deal: He will help her find her diary if Daphne can change her family’s opinion of him. But before he can win her family’s affection, he has to win hers first. Maybe love was the answer to their family feud all along?
- ISBN13 9781250295972
- Publish Date 1 December 2018 (first published 27 November 2018)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 4 April 2022
- Publish Country US
- Publisher St Martin's Press
- Imprint St. Martin's Paperbacks
- Format Paperback
- Pages 368
- Language English
- URL http://melia.co.uk/page/detail/?k=9781250295972
Reviews
Cocktails and Books
Written on Nov 29, 2018
stacey_is_sassy
Written on Nov 18, 2018
I had something happen that has never (if my memory serves me right) happened in my romance reads. The hero getting snubbed made me cry. I suppose this was different because normally it’s the heroine that gets snubbed in my historical romance reads. In this case, the former Rake, Paul, is trying his hardest to overcome his past and turn over a new leaf. It’s a tricky one though. See, I know how hard he’s trying to be a better man. BUT, I’ve also seen him at his worst and shed a tear over his thoughtless and horrible deeds. The trials and tribulations of a romance reader…when the Rake is Reformed…forgetting the bad to see the good.
I really struggled to remember the “bad” side of Paul Barstowe, the Duke of Southart. The Paul I just met, well, he was kind of sweet. There was a real vulnerability about him that made me want to reach into the book and give him a cuddle. His past relationship with his father ruined his life. His father made him feel unloved and insignificant. Paul’s way to get back at him and gain his attention is by acting up and getting into trouble. When his older brother dies and his father weeks later, the spare ignored and forgotten son, suddenly becomes important. It’s time for Paul to make up for his past and fulfil his brother’s dying wish…become the Good Duke.
Daphne has always had a crush on her older brother’s EX best friend. That’s a huge EX considering what Paul has done in his past. Daphne always saw the best in him and hoped that one day he would find happiness. She’s had some pretty lascivious thoughts about him, and considering Daphne is such a “good” girl, there’s no way she can share those feelings with anyone, let alone him. She does write them down in a journal that she keeps close…until the day it’s stolen.
I really enjoyed The Good, the Bad, and the Duke. The characters were interesting, the storyline kept my attention from start to finish and the emotions jumped off the pages. While there were plenty of sizzling moments, these were not the only emotions that had my heart pumping. I was also extremely mad at Paul’s father's terrible parenting. And, as I mentioned above, I was also shattered by the rejection that Paul dealt with. What made it even harder, I could completely understand why they rebuffed his attempts at peace. I can be pretty unforgiving when it comes to excusing a villain’s past dastardly deeds, especially when it has hurt a previous heroine I’ve liked. In this case, I need everyone to love Paul as much as I had come to.
This series has become one of my favourites in historical romance. The characters are loving and devoted to each other and the servants show loyalty, which is always a good sign. On a side note…I really love meeting the servants in a Lord or Lady’s house, like the loyal butlers, maids and footmen. But, I don’t like reading their love stories. Don’t I sound like a snob? It’s just that I see the hours they work and the dedication to their jobs that I can’t imagine they’d have time for love. Poor buggers, I’m dooming them to living lives without love. Sorry, butler, maids and footmen…
Anyways, if you’re looking for an entertaining historical romance with plenty of sizzle, a little angst and plenty of emotion, I definitely recommend The Cavensham Heiresses. I will be back for William’s story.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Written on Oct 22, 2018
chymerra
Written on Sep 17, 2018
I hated Paul’s father. What he did to Paul when he was alive was awful. He was beaten for any little slight as a child. One beating was so bad that he couldn’t sit down without a pillow for a week. Once Paul’s brother saw what was going on, he stopped it. But he couldn’t stop the emotional abuse. The way that Paul acted in the first couple of books was a direct result of how his father treated him. Even after death, he was still torturing Paul. Those notes (actually the titles of them) were heartbreaking to read. There was an explanation towards the end of the book about why Paul’s father treated him the way he did. It was a weak explanation but it did bring some light about why Paul was abused.
I got shivers reading Paul and Daphne’s scenes together. Even before they kissed, you could tell that they wanted each other. But once they kissed, it was like a fire was set. Those scenes set this book on fire. What I liked is that the author kept the sexual attraction and tension going after they had sex. Every sex scene was on fire. There were a few times I had to put down my Kindle and go “Oh my!!”
What I also liked about this book was that Daphne was the only one for Paul. He could see her across the room and no one else existed. Everything he did after a certain point in the book was for her. I loved it. I loved seeing that it went both ways. I loved seeing them interact like they were the only people in a room. It was romantic.
I did like the storylines in the book. The author did a wonderful job of bringing them together. There were no forgotten plotlines. After the plotlines merged, the flow was flawless. It didn’t get choppy.
I will warn everyone that you will need a Kleenex or two while reading. There are a few scenes where I was moved to tears. The main scene, after Paul reads his father’s final letter, made me a sobbing mess. The other is the scene where he read his brother’s letter. Again, sobbing mess over here.
What I also liked about this book was that the villain in the other books was made into a hero. The author chose to give an explanation to his actions towards Emma and Claire. He was given a chance to redeem himself. I loved it!!
The end of the book made me happy. And the epilogue, I was ecstatic. Out of all the books I have read this year, this one has touched me the most. Paul deserved his HEA with Daphne. With everything he went through, that man deserved every bit of happiness that he could get.
I gave The Good, the Bad, and the Duke a 4-star rating. I enjoyed reading this book. The plotlines were wonderfully written. I came to care for the characters and got emotionally invested in backstories. You will cry during this book, so read with a box, or two, of Kleenex. Any quibble that I had with the book was minor and had no effect on my rating.
I would give The Good, the Bad, and the Duke an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is mild violence. There is no language. There are triggers. They are child abuse. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
I would reread The Good, the Bad, and the Duke. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Good, the Bad, and the Duke.
All opinions stated in this review of The Good, the Bad, and the Duke are mine.
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**