The Duke of Nothing (1797 Club, #5)

by Jess Michaels

[Lindsey Gray]

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

Baldwin Undercross, Duke of Sheffield, is one of the most handsome and intriguing dukes of The 1797 Club. Just look at that cover! We got to see more of him in the fourth novel, The Silent Duke, in which his sister married one of his closest friends. Now, it’s Baldwin’s turn to marry, whether he wants it to be or not. He’s been hiding a dark secret since he became the Duke of Sheffield five years earlier. His father’s gambling and bad judgement with his finances has left them broke and Baldwin can no longer keep them afloat. When he discovers three debts of his father’s totaling 5,000 pounds, he decides he must marry for money and fast. His mother brings up the possibility of marrying an American heiress new in town. Unfortunately he mistakes the heiress’s cousin for her and the spark is lit.

Helena Monroe has come to England to be her cousin Charity’s companion while Charity parades herself on the marriage mart. An accidental meeting on a terrace blossoms into a love that Helena never imagined she would know.

I fell in love with Helena’s character instantly. While she was unable to show the world who she was because of her past indiscretion (which wasn’t even her fault), once she’s accepted by Baldwin’s set, she has friends for life. Both Helena and Baldwin put up an obstacle for their futures brought on by their stubborn pride. Their slow progression was frustrating at times and I swear I would’ve smacked each of them at some point, but it really did help in the development of their relationship. There were moments of joy and of heartache, but in the end, the duke won the heart of his lady love.

I am chopping at the bit for the six remaining books in the series releasing in 2018. While this novel can easily be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series thus far. The 1797 Club series is a brilliant idea as a whole and Michaels gives us a five star read with each novel.