Cinderella and the Duke

by Lydia Drake

Julia Beaumont is a merry spinster whose wicked stepmother wants to keep her unmarried forevermore. When Julia has a chance to attend a ball during the London Season, she jumps at the opportunity, hoping to find a husband who will save her from a less than happy ending.

Gregory Carter, Duke of Ashworth, is London's most notorious rake, known for bedding married women and dueling their husbands afterwards. Officially tired of trysts and attempts on his life, he needs a wife to stand between him and the ton's most lascivious matrons.

When Julia and Gregory meet, an instant attraction and battle of wits sparks between them. A stolen kiss, a flight from the ball, and a lost slipper conspire to bring them together in a plot straight out of a fairy tale. Julia is Gregory's ideal buffer, and Gregory is Julia's ticket out of spinsterhood. They marry, agreeing to
live separate lives, but they may find their happily ever after together.

• ISBN10: 1649373147
• ISBN13: 9781649373144
• Publish Date: 9 January 2023 (first published 27 December 2022)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 8 July 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Entangled Publishing, LLC
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: http://melia.co.uk/page/detail/?k=9781649373144

Reviews

[Lindsey Gray]

4.5 Stars

Some fairytales do come true. Well… sort of.

Out for one night only, Julia Beaumont needs to find a husband. She’s twenty-seven and can’t stand the thought of spending the rest of her life caring for her wicked step-mother, Constance. She hasn’t been to London for the season in ten years and is only in town now for her adored step-sister’s first season. Her dear friend, Lady Weatherford, has agreed to help any way she can, but when Julia spies the hungry women of the ton lusting after the Duke of Ashworth, she has concerns for his safety.

When the ethereal Julia saves Gregory, the Duke of Ashworth, from dueling with an angry husband for something he didn’t do, they share a passionate kiss before she runs off leaving only her shoe. The next day when he calls to return her shoe, she makes a proposal and sparks a wicked game of love and passion.

I believe this is Lydia Drake’s debut novel and she has completely swept me up in the world of Gregory and Julia. Julia has a witty, yet sharp wit. Her sparring with he step-mother is hilarious and absolutely what the older lady deserves. She uses that same wit with Gregory before and after they are married. It is one of the many things that cause Gregory to fall in love with his more than beautiful wife. While they play the love match to the ton, they agree to a marriage of convenience at first. Then it changes to only a wedding night to consummate things, but once the dear readers get to that chapter, we know Gregory will never be able to resist more.

While I did shout at Gregory a few times for him to stop being so stubborn, he does get his act together eventually. The road there is filled with spice, passion, and the creation of a love of a lifetime.

I’m absolutely certain historical romance lovers will enjoy every word of Cinderella and the Duke. I hope to read more soon from the talented Lydia Drake!

I received Cinderella and the Duke for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.