Reviewed by Cocktails and Books on
Madeline Hunter is a new author for me and I am so glad that I gave her, The Wicked Duke, a chance. Lance is a bad boy who has been elevated to Duke with the recent death of his brother, but there is a cloud of suspicion hanging over him due to circumstances. Marianne is the impoverished niece of his neighbor.
The story that follows starts slowly and initially feels fairly typical for a historical fiction work set in the period. Lance and Marianne are both interesting characters that are fun to get to know. She is slightly older than most young women of “marriageable” age and considers herself to be “on the shelve” both due to age and circumstance. That attitude has left her to be slightly feistier than one would expect.
Circumstances in Lance’s life have created a situation where Marianne’s uncle holds power he normally wouldn’t and he uses that to force a relationship between the two. Lance doesn’t fight it because he is attracted to and intrigued by her.
The well written story includes some suspense, intrigue, friendship, and a marriage of convenience that turns into a true romance. I enjoyed getting to know both characters and the supporting cast surrounding them. The Wicked Duke is the third book in a series, but it reads very well all on its own. This was a great treat for historical fiction lovers and I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Hunter’s work.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 24 July, 2016: Reviewed