nellesnightstand's review against another edition
5.0
The Untouchable series has had some very unique hero's, this one is no exception. Just when she decides to leave the marriage mart Aquilla Knox meets Edward of the Earl of Sutton. He's been putting young misses through their paces to see if he can trust them. He has a secret he must keep. He has earned the reputation of the Duke of Deception and Aquilla doesn't trust that he's going to follow through on his courtship.
This one was a great story. Truly enjoyable.
This one was a great story. Truly enjoyable.
whiskeyinthejar's review against another edition
3.0
Ned bent down and kissed his brother’s cheek. “Lemon cakes,”he whispered.
George’s eyes remained closed, but his lips curved into a familiar, beloved smile. “Lemon cakes. Yes, Ned. Lemon cakes.”
Those had been their favorite sweet. Cook, who’d passed long ago, had made them twice a week and always ensured Ned and George had the first batch while they were still warm. “Lemon cakes”had been something they’d uttered to each other as a gesture of comfort. A sort of “I love you”for boys who wouldn’t dare say such a thing to each other.
Lemon cakes. This got me.
Anyway, good but not wowing. The sex scenes read a bit contemporary, they do hold off until the latter second half of book. Except for the beautiful lemon cakes scene not really anything new or memorable. Hero's brother George was the most I got emotional about, hero and heroine had more of a sedate romance and chemistry; I personally like a bit more spark.
George’s eyes remained closed, but his lips curved into a familiar, beloved smile. “Lemon cakes. Yes, Ned. Lemon cakes.”
Those had been their favorite sweet. Cook, who’d passed long ago, had made them twice a week and always ensured Ned and George had the first batch while they were still warm. “Lemon cakes”had been something they’d uttered to each other as a gesture of comfort. A sort of “I love you”for boys who wouldn’t dare say such a thing to each other.
Lemon cakes. This got me.
Anyway, good but not wowing. The sex scenes read a bit contemporary, they do hold off until the latter second half of book. Except for the beautiful lemon cakes scene not really anything new or memorable. Hero's brother George was the most I got emotional about, hero and heroine had more of a sedate romance and chemistry; I personally like a bit more spark.
b_nour's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
Three and a half stars.
Edward Bishop, ninth Earl of Sutton, Ned to his friends, is looking for a wife. However, his brother George suffers from some unexplained dementia and as a consequence Ned has some very particular requirements in a wife. Ned's serial courting of ladies of the ton has not gone unnoticed by Miss Aquilla Knox and her friends who have dubbed him the Duke of Deception because of the way he courts women and then just when they expect an offer of matrimony, he abandons them entirely. Ned isn't looking for love, he saw his parents' marriage fall apart when his brother became ill and he doesn't want that pain.
Ned and Aquilla become acquainted at Lady Middlegrove's ball when Aquilla gets caught in the rain and asks Ned to get her sponsor Lady Satterfield. It is Aquilla's fifth season, her father has already refused to pay for her so Lady Satterfield has kindly offered to support her for the season. Aquilla's home life is very unpleasant and has given her a distaste for marriage, she plans to become a lady's companion instead. But when Aquilla's father accepts an offer for her hand from an unpleasant suitor, where can she turn?
It's inevitable isn't it - two people who don't want to fall in love just have to fall for each other. But can Ned trust Aquilla with the secret about his brother? And can Aquilla trust Ned not to hurt her?
This was a gentle, fun historical novel. I liked that the heroine had an unusual name and George's dementia was something different - although I was left wondering exactly what his modern-day diagnosis would be.
Although this is the second book in a series, I don't think you need to have read the preceding book and I read it easily as a stand-alone.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Edward Bishop, ninth Earl of Sutton, Ned to his friends, is looking for a wife. However, his brother George suffers from some unexplained dementia and as a consequence Ned has some very particular requirements in a wife. Ned's serial courting of ladies of the ton has not gone unnoticed by Miss Aquilla Knox and her friends who have dubbed him the Duke of Deception because of the way he courts women and then just when they expect an offer of matrimony, he abandons them entirely. Ned isn't looking for love, he saw his parents' marriage fall apart when his brother became ill and he doesn't want that pain.
Ned and Aquilla become acquainted at Lady Middlegrove's ball when Aquilla gets caught in the rain and asks Ned to get her sponsor Lady Satterfield. It is Aquilla's fifth season, her father has already refused to pay for her so Lady Satterfield has kindly offered to support her for the season. Aquilla's home life is very unpleasant and has given her a distaste for marriage, she plans to become a lady's companion instead. But when Aquilla's father accepts an offer for her hand from an unpleasant suitor, where can she turn?
It's inevitable isn't it - two people who don't want to fall in love just have to fall for each other. But can Ned trust Aquilla with the secret about his brother? And can Aquilla trust Ned not to hurt her?
This was a gentle, fun historical novel. I liked that the heroine had an unusual name and George's dementia was something different - although I was left wondering exactly what his modern-day diagnosis would be.
Although this is the second book in a series, I don't think you need to have read the preceding book and I read it easily as a stand-alone.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
swancreates's review against another edition
4.0
This book had me transfixed, it was so good. I love the chemistry between the two main characters and the pacing of the story was well done and I read this book in one day.
The only thing was that things wrapped up way too fast and what George did was not believable giving his history. But even with the fast ending, I loved this book so much.
The only thing was that things wrapped up way too fast and what George did was not believable giving his history. But even with the fast ending, I loved this book so much.
suzanne's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book, especially the latter half, but was frustrated the full first half because of Aquilla and her wish not to marry, which contradicted her actions in past books. I understand how she may feel obligated to perform a deception for sake of appearances but it was to the point where she was pushing marriage on her friends and always encouraging them to be married. I don't think it's credible that she would mistrust all husbands so much and put her beloved friends in such a position.
That said, I did enjoy both hero and heroine, though I thought some things were obvious from the start and they were stretched out as if to build suspense. Overall, it was an interesting book and I'm glad mental illness in this era was spotlighted. I am sure I will read it again; it's just not one of my favorites in the series.
That said, I did enjoy both hero and heroine, though I thought some things were obvious from the start and they were stretched out as if to build suspense. Overall, it was an interesting book and I'm glad mental illness in this era was spotlighted. I am sure I will read it again; it's just not one of my favorites in the series.
readingwithmerb's review
4.0
Going through terrible experiences with the men in her family, Miss Aquilla Knox has found herself with little interest in marriage. When her father tries to force her into a marriage with an unkind man who is willing to trade land for her, she decides to accept a marriage proposal from Edward Bishop, Earl of Sutton, also known as the Duke of Deception. However, as time goes on, she finds herself falling deeply for his kindness and generosity, but what are his secrets that have caused his nickname of deception? While Aquilla is trying to figure him out, Ned is trying to care for his brother George, who has a cognitive disability. Ned’s goal is to find a wife who will love and accept George, and Aquila’s kindness and gentle nature seem to be exactly what he is looking for.
This was wholeheartedly and utterly adorable. I don’t think I’ve read a romance that was so feel good. If you enjoyed The Governess Game by Tessa Dare, I definitely recommend this one. The familial elements are very pure and heart warming, and it was beautiful to see Ned create a safe space for Aquilla and George. Seeing how Ned cared for George and planned his future around a good life for him, was so blessed. I only wish that Aquilla and Ned’s relationship had been a bit more romance focused, as many of their scenes together were mostly setting up their lustful chemistry. I also did not like that Ned held George’s identity a secret until well into the marriage, as I feel Aquilla had a right to know about the responsibility she was getting herself into. But at the end of the day, this was incredibly wholesome, and I highly recommend!
This was wholeheartedly and utterly adorable. I don’t think I’ve read a romance that was so feel good. If you enjoyed The Governess Game by Tessa Dare, I definitely recommend this one. The familial elements are very pure and heart warming, and it was beautiful to see Ned create a safe space for Aquilla and George. Seeing how Ned cared for George and planned his future around a good life for him, was so blessed. I only wish that Aquilla and Ned’s relationship had been a bit more romance focused, as many of their scenes together were mostly setting up their lustful chemistry. I also did not like that Ned held George’s identity a secret until well into the marriage, as I feel Aquilla had a right to know about the responsibility she was getting herself into. But at the end of the day, this was incredibly wholesome, and I highly recommend!