Scan barcode
theeclecticreview's review
5.0
*Full Review on Blog*
"Kate drew in a calming breath. She had every right to feel uneasy. Spending months planning her own debauchery was one thing; executing it was quite another."
Kathryn Darrell is one of the wealthiest widows in Britain and she is determined to finally know passion she never experienced with her gold digger of a husband. After reading the scandal sheets of London, her plan to be independent and stop following everyone else’s rules is underway. Her visit to the scandalous “Duke of Debauchery” or Ryder Blake, the eleventh Duke of Darkwell, is her road to happiness, but will she be able to keep up the pretense of detachment with a man who is hard to forget?
"Long ago, he'd sworn to himself that, though he could give his body, he would never allow any woman to have his heart."
Duke Ryder Blake is no stranger to women throwing themselves at him, but his guilt from his past, will not allow him to become emotionally involved with any woman. Kathryn Darrell “needed more than a tumble to awaken her body. She needed the one thing he never gave--a meeting of the minds.” When they were caught in a scandalous predicament in the opera house, his only option was to marry her, but she would not have it. Why wasn’t he relieved at her answer?
This is my second book from Tempted by His Touch: A Limited Edition Boxed Set of Dukes, Rogues, & Alpha Heroes Historical Romance Novels and it didn’t disappoint. I’m a fan of strong heroines and brooding, sensitive heroes and Kate and Ryder fit the bill. It is nice to see a hero and heroine who are closer to the same age. The very likable supporting characters of Imogen and Hunt are a great addition to the story as well.
Overall, the story is unique and the sexual tension is intense and worth waiting for. I loved my first Eva Devon novel and look forward to reading more from this incredible author. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Ms. Devon and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book with no expectation of a positive review given.
More book reviews at The Eclectic Review
"Kate drew in a calming breath. She had every right to feel uneasy. Spending months planning her own debauchery was one thing; executing it was quite another."
Kathryn Darrell is one of the wealthiest widows in Britain and she is determined to finally know passion she never experienced with her gold digger of a husband. After reading the scandal sheets of London, her plan to be independent and stop following everyone else’s rules is underway. Her visit to the scandalous “Duke of Debauchery” or Ryder Blake, the eleventh Duke of Darkwell, is her road to happiness, but will she be able to keep up the pretense of detachment with a man who is hard to forget?
"Long ago, he'd sworn to himself that, though he could give his body, he would never allow any woman to have his heart."
Duke Ryder Blake is no stranger to women throwing themselves at him, but his guilt from his past, will not allow him to become emotionally involved with any woman. Kathryn Darrell “needed more than a tumble to awaken her body. She needed the one thing he never gave--a meeting of the minds.” When they were caught in a scandalous predicament in the opera house, his only option was to marry her, but she would not have it. Why wasn’t he relieved at her answer?
This is my second book from Tempted by His Touch: A Limited Edition Boxed Set of Dukes, Rogues, & Alpha Heroes Historical Romance Novels and it didn’t disappoint. I’m a fan of strong heroines and brooding, sensitive heroes and Kate and Ryder fit the bill. It is nice to see a hero and heroine who are closer to the same age. The very likable supporting characters of Imogen and Hunt are a great addition to the story as well.
Overall, the story is unique and the sexual tension is intense and worth waiting for. I loved my first Eva Devon novel and look forward to reading more from this incredible author. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Ms. Devon and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book with no expectation of a positive review given.
More book reviews at The Eclectic Review
nblackburn827's review against another edition
5.0
Hello Duke
Wonderful womderful wonderful I want to read the rest of this series right away! I can't wait to see what the Duke of Hunts story is
Wonderful womderful wonderful I want to read the rest of this series right away! I can't wait to see what the Duke of Hunts story is
librovert's review
3.0
I read Once Upon a Duke in the collection [b:My Favorite Rogue: 8 Wicked, Witty, and Swoon-worthy Heroes|28802518|My Favorite Rogue 8 Wicked, Witty, and Swoon-worthy Heroes|Courtney Milan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454105732s/28802518.jpg|49014729], a free collection of historical romances.
Our heroine is Kathryn Darrell, a wealthy widow. Coming out of a loveless and passionless marriage, she has promised herself that she will never give her heart to anyone again. But she will travel from her country home to live with her cousin in London with the intention of causing a scandal.
Ryder Blake is the Duke of Darkwell, a widower who blames himself for the death of his late wife. Consumed by his guilt, he'll take a tumble with anyone who stumbles through his door. But he'll never love again.
In true Historical Romance fashion, it's no secret that these two have to learn to work out their pasts to find a place where they can stand together. The last 10-15% of this book, when Ryder finally starts to let down his walls, was beautiful and definitely up there with some of best romances I've read. There may have been some water in my eyes.
But as much as I grinned myself through the last pages, I put up with a lot of shit to get there. The rest of the book was nowhere near the same standard. The tropes beat you over the head. Darkwell is brooding all over the place. Kate is the most average of average women, but utterly special to Darkwell as soon as he lays eyes on her in Chapter One. There are Bacchanalian orgies, pirates with harems, and the lowest lows of debauched London. The angst is real. They play out a constant game of cat and mouse, going back and forth on who will be pursuing and who will be pursued. Ryder wants nothing to do with the feelings she brings out in him, but he'll also pummel anyone to the ground who so much as looks at her. The line between teenager and grown man is very blurry.
If the rest of the book had lived up to the ending, it would have been an easy 5 stars. And one of my three stars that I'm giving this book is solely for the ending.
Our heroine is Kathryn Darrell, a wealthy widow. Coming out of a loveless and passionless marriage, she has promised herself that she will never give her heart to anyone again. But she will travel from her country home to live with her cousin in London with the intention of causing a scandal.
Ryder Blake is the Duke of Darkwell, a widower who blames himself for the death of his late wife. Consumed by his guilt, he'll take a tumble with anyone who stumbles through his door. But he'll never love again.
In true Historical Romance fashion, it's no secret that these two have to learn to work out their pasts to find a place where they can stand together. The last 10-15% of this book, when Ryder finally starts to let down his walls, was beautiful and definitely up there with some of best romances I've read. There may have been some water in my eyes.
But as much as I grinned myself through the last pages, I put up with a lot of shit to get there. The rest of the book was nowhere near the same standard. The tropes beat you over the head. Darkwell is brooding all over the place. Kate is the most average of average women, but utterly special to Darkwell as soon as he lays eyes on her in Chapter One. There are Bacchanalian orgies, pirates with harems, and the lowest lows of debauched London. The angst is real. They play out a constant game of cat and mouse, going back and forth on who will be pursuing and who will be pursued. Ryder wants nothing to do with the feelings she brings out in him, but he'll also pummel anyone to the ground who so much as looks at her. The line between teenager and grown man is very blurry.
If the rest of the book had lived up to the ending, it would have been an easy 5 stars. And one of my three stars that I'm giving this book is solely for the ending.
mhzking's review against another edition
4.0
Toe curling spice and a heroine who knows EXACTLY what she wants. What more could I ask for?
liferhi_inspired's review
4.0
*Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion*
This was a beautiful story of two people that have a lot of past history to over come before they can open their hearts to one another. The emotions that Kate and Ryder are complex, well written, and very believable. There's a point in this story most authors would have ended to story, however that wasn't the case here. The story continued and transformed from an enjoyable story to an incredible story, and well worth reading. I plan to continue the series since this one was so enjoyable.
This was a beautiful story of two people that have a lot of past history to over come before they can open their hearts to one another. The emotions that Kate and Ryder are complex, well written, and very believable. There's a point in this story most authors would have ended to story, however that wasn't the case here. The story continued and transformed from an enjoyable story to an incredible story, and well worth reading. I plan to continue the series since this one was so enjoyable.
ali5hba's review
3.0
The start seemed a bit cliché at first but I soon began to understand Kathryn more and more. For once there is a guy lost in love not in anger or hatred. So that was a change. The author has done very well with the story, I just wish some parts were more elaborate. For example the part in the end, where they are having their final clash before true love confession. The married life should have had more details. Because I would have loved to see them have breakfast happily or enjoy a book. That is what is lacking. A fun filled element. The romance parts are covered just about fine. But the friendship filled laughter and talks and banter is missing. Overall I enjoyed it. I don't have many issues.
perfectphlaws's review
3.0
This book had a few more typos than I like. Typos always through me off. Other than that I liked her style and would read more from this series. This particular book was centered completely around sex and love sort of followed after. I find this sometimes happens in the first book a series. Sometimes they just get straight to it. Just a pattern I've noticed. The romance was a bit hard to understand, honestly by the end its seemed like the only reason Kate was into the duke was because he kept buying her presents and he was super good in bed.
More...