The Duke's Accidental Bride

by Eva Devon

[Lindsey Gray]

Lady Jaqueline “Jack” Peabody is a force to be reckoned with. James Haven, The Duke of Stone, learns this lesson when Jack climbs a tree in breeches in the middle of the night to tell him how he has ruined her life. After James’ matchmaking abilities found Jack’s sister a husband of little means, Jack blames him for her new duty to save the family and fill their coffers when she is forced to marry a wealthy husband. Once James agrees to help her find a husband, he thinks he can wed her to someone who will die shortly after the I do’s to give Jack the freedom she craves. This plan does not go well.

James has sworn off marriage due to medical issues his father experienced and which he would never want to inflict on a wife or children. Jack will do anything to save her family, even after she realizes she’s always been in love with James.

Devon creates a hauntingly beautiful story. The pain James suffered as a child had me wanting to reach through the pages and hug him. Jack’s devotion to her family is incredibly brave and emotionally gripping. Their forbidden passion boiled to the surface so many times, yet they resisted, for awhile.

This is a brother’s best friend/childhood friend/second chance romance all rolled into one. While it took an extraordinary set of circumstances to make Jack the new Duchess of Stone, the build up is an exquisite climb.

I received The Duke's Accidental Bride for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.