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The Writing Girls #3
The Tattooed Duke
Exclusive—"tattooed duke" finds fortune in ruins!
Breaking news, scandal fans:
You thought you knew the dangerous Duke of Wycliff, London's globe-trotting adventure addict. Here's what you don't know: he's penniless. Sebastian Digby's dukely lifestyle is over forever unless he finds a rich bride. But thanks to The London Weekly, everyone knows better than to tangle with this lothario. Besides (as one writer can testify), it seems that Sebastian has been unable to keep his hands off his own lowly housemaid...
And that's a problem. A big one.
Because that housemaid just happens to be me. Eliza Fielding. The same undercover Writing Girl who's been exposing the Duke's most intimate secrets to the world. And now I've gone and complicated everything by falling in love with him. Passion and deception have never been so delicious, but now the truth could destroy everything. This is more than a conflict of interest. It's a seduction where love itself hangs in the balance.
Breaking news, scandal fans:
You thought you knew the dangerous Duke of Wycliff, London's globe-trotting adventure addict. Here's what you don't know: he's penniless. Sebastian Digby's dukely lifestyle is over forever unless he finds a rich bride. But thanks to The London Weekly, everyone knows better than to tangle with this lothario. Besides (as one writer can testify), it seems that Sebastian has been unable to keep his hands off his own lowly housemaid...
And that's a problem. A big one.
Because that housemaid just happens to be me. Eliza Fielding. The same undercover Writing Girl who's been exposing the Duke's most intimate secrets to the world. And now I've gone and complicated everything by falling in love with him. Passion and deception have never been so delicious, but now the truth could destroy everything. This is more than a conflict of interest. It's a seduction where love itself hangs in the balance.
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 28, 2012
86 people are currently reading
1161 people want to read
About the author
Maya Rodale
46 books1,621 followersMaya Rodale is the best-selling and award-winning author of funny, feminist fiction including historical romance, YA and historical fiction. A champion of the romance genre and its readers, she is also the author of Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels, Explained. Maya reviews romance for NPR and has appeared in Bustle, Glamour, Shondaland, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and PBS. She began reading romance novels in college at her mother’s insistence and has never been allowed to forget it.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.mayarodale.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
March 8, 2017
That gorgeous cover is the main reason I picked this book up but unfortunately the actual story did nothing to capture my interest. The writing in this was pretty poor and kind of stale to be honest. I also kept finding a lot of grammar mistakes and typos. Typos especially, this was riddled with them to the point where I literally took a pencil and had to fix them myself because it got so distracting. Lots of repetitive dialogue and weird choice of phrasing things. In fact some of the odd proses made no sense to me. The love scene which is at the very end of the book was underwhelming and odd. The author dragged these two coming together throughout the story and had them make love as the final scene only for it to be glossed over in certain areas and just filled with fuzzy awkward fragmented dialogue. The sad part was it didn't even read like a love scene, she glosses over entirely all the *crucial parts* just gave bits and pieces instead.
Let me give a snippet of what the one and only love scene consisted of:
"The duke kissed her here. The duke kissed her there. The duke kissed her down there. Her legs parted. He moaned. Her hips arched. He bit his lip."
"She cried out again and again and again."
"He did it again, and she moaned, again and again and again"
I mean...really? -__-
But aside from that, the the overall plot and characters did nothing for me. I tried really hard but I found myself not buying the 'love story' between the hero Sebastian and the heroine Eliza. It came off hallow and flat. I didn't see much of any chemistry between them, it came off not believable considering how little time we actually see them spending time together other than playfully flirting and him ogling her ass. The 'wooing' in this pretty much consists of them sharing one or two heated kisses, a quick fondle, a few rooftop drunken moments where she plays the coy flirtatious empty-headed housemaid and he gives a few naughty winks in return fighting back his desperate lust for her because he will not be another 'Wicked Wycliff' who tups the housemaid. And here I'm supposed to believe she falls madly deeply in love with him? *crickets* Yeah, I got nothing. I just had a hard time buying any of it there wasn't enough page time or effort into showing these two actually connecting or getting to know each other. And for some inane reason I can't wrap my head around, through 90% of this book the hero Sebastian is referred to as 'the duke'. Not his given name, not Wycliff but the duke even (as mentioned earlier) during the love scene at the end. I found this odd and as a reader incredibly tiring and so out of place. He has such a lovely name author, please use it more. And the fact that he has tattoos on his chest, has long hair and wears an earring is emphasized, repeated, milked for all its worth through out the story. I truly lost count how many times this statement was brought up in this book.
February 2, 2021
Another average read for me where it was juicy because of deceit and him being a blacksheep in society but ultimately did not care for the ending.
Read
May 25, 2024I was bored. I couldn't quite care less about a man who couldn't give two shits that he was a duke, prefers frolicking through life than to uphold his responsibility and was flirting with the maid. LOL, this sounded interesting, but the execution left me skimming and then I decide ENOUGH was ENOUGH.
The instant attraction for one, already killed my interest.
The instant attraction for one, already killed my interest.
July 14, 2018
This was a cute read. The Hero was interesting. He's traveled and experienced some pretty wild things for his time. And the heroine is sneaking around as a maid in his house gathering information.
Initially I really like this book. There was nothing wrong with the story or the characters. Who doesn't love a girl who writes and reads? But somehow I never fell in love with the romance. The chemistry was not there for me. Even so, I would only take off a half a star for that because the writing was great, and I've loved Maya Rodale's books.
Definitely recommend this one and am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Initially I really like this book. There was nothing wrong with the story or the characters. Who doesn't love a girl who writes and reads? But somehow I never fell in love with the romance. The chemistry was not there for me. Even so, I would only take off a half a star for that because the writing was great, and I've loved Maya Rodale's books.
Definitely recommend this one and am looking forward to the rest of the series.
January 13, 2013
I had a hard time reading thus book, as it did not draw me in. That and the fact that part of my brain kept screeching in distress at the historical inconsistancies and the grammar problems, almost made me stop reading. I did finish, but wasn't happy with the story.
There were also a many issues with word usage, including over-use of varients of 'debauch.' Using a few archaic words does not make a historical novel.
There was a gentleman named Mehitable which happens to be a woman's name. One of the characters was informed her brother might send her to a monestary, in which case she would have problems finding parties and men... and here I thought monestaries were rather known for their men.. and sometimes even for their brandy. The convents, on the other hand...
Anyway, this could have been interesting, but it was written in terms of modern thinking and was not appropriate to the period. If you want to write current day, great, but if you want to delve in to historicals you need to have a deep understanding of the culture of the period and how far you can push the envelope. This one left no trace of the envelope. It was torn, shredded, pulped, composted and is now a soil ammendment, helping seedlings grow.
Bleh.
There were also a many issues with word usage, including over-use of varients of 'debauch.' Using a few archaic words does not make a historical novel.
There was a gentleman named Mehitable which happens to be a woman's name. One of the characters was informed her brother might send her to a monestary, in which case she would have problems finding parties and men... and here I thought monestaries were rather known for their men.. and sometimes even for their brandy. The convents, on the other hand...
Anyway, this could have been interesting, but it was written in terms of modern thinking and was not appropriate to the period. If you want to write current day, great, but if you want to delve in to historicals you need to have a deep understanding of the culture of the period and how far you can push the envelope. This one left no trace of the envelope. It was torn, shredded, pulped, composted and is now a soil ammendment, helping seedlings grow.
Bleh.
Read
March 19, 2012DNF by page 150. Reads too much like a contemporary romance. The way the hero and heroine act are more like a present day characters and in no way shape or form act like they are in Regency England.
Not sure what the author was trying to prove with this very un-historical romance. And such a shame too because the hero was interesting but in the wrong time period.
Not sure what the author was trying to prove with this very un-historical romance. And such a shame too because the hero was interesting but in the wrong time period.
May 21, 2013
Boring and repetitive writing style, historical inconsistencies and inaccuracies and underwhelming character development make this a book not worth reading though it has a very promising premise. Maybe some author will pick up the gauntlet?
April 1, 2016
Amazingly inaccurate for the time period + characters too stupid to breathe + poor editing = DNF
May 17, 2013
The Duke of Wycliff, has spent the past seven years traveling all around the world, in his search of Timbuktu, and has battled sharks, pirates, see numerous cultures and of course women. Sebastian has come home unfortunately to assume his duties as the Duke, only to find that he is out of funds. Funds he needs to make his dream trip to Timbuktu, which he has devoted his whole life in finding. He knows he is in need of a rich wife, but finds himself distracted by the new housemaid, who makes his body burn with desire.Eliza Fielding has had a history of going undercover to get her story for the "London Weekly". Her boss, Mr. Knightly, has given her a ultimatum, if she desires to keep her job, she must put in a scandal in the paper, and very very soon. So upon hearing of the Duke's return, she goes undercover as his housemaid, to learn his secrets and expose them to London. Eliza never imagined that she would have so much success, but what she never thought would happen is fall in love with the man with whom she has betrayed his secrets. Will Eliza be able to get her happily ever after, or lose her heart to a man she may never have.
When I first found the whole series at the library, I wasn't sure if I should grab all of them, wondering if I would regret it later, however I am so thrilled I did now. I do love it when I get a chance to read a series in order, especially a series I am truly have a jolly time reading. Now the first one I liked quite a bit, the second one, wasn't as good as the first one, but was still a enjoyable read. So when I started reading the Tattooed Duke, I was nervous, hoping I would at least like it more than the second one. I am proud to say that this one, is my favorite of the series so far. There were quite a few of complex issues that played a part in the story.
It starts off with Eliza seeing the Duke return at the Docks of all places, when he first steps on England soil. From this moment, we see a instant attraction that Eliza feels for Sebastian. She knows he is the way by which she will be able to continue her career, as one of the writing girls. With Mr. Knightly having giving her this only chance, before firing her, she knows she must do everything she can to save what she has worked years to accomplish. When she dresses and poses as a housemaid, she never thought that she would be in such close proximity to Sebastian, or to find herself being slowly seduced. Sebastian we see is not the usual Duke type. He has a craving for adventure and he could care less about balls or what the Ton may think of him. All he wants is to find the one place he has devoted all his time and effort into finding. When he is labeled the "Tattooed Duke" and certain details of his life are revealed to everyone in England, and he knows it would be near impossible to find a respectable woman to marry him. He also has another problem on his hands....his servant, a mere maid, has all of his attention and he finds himself falling hard for her, even knowing they could never share a future together.
I found Eliza to be independent, strong willed and feisty to the bitter end. In the beginning we see her determined to write the Duke's secrets, but then we see her start to become real and full of emotion when she starts to fall in love. Eliza is the type of heroine that you can't help but love through the bad and the good, I really liked her quite a bit. She resembled the "contemporary" type of women, as she seeks to support herself, she does have a vulnerability when it comes to falling in love. Then we really start to see her true character, and I found myself to be admiring Eliza as a character. Sebastian is sexy, with his tattoo, his thirst for adventure and his attitude toward society. I found him to be a breath of fresh air, considering he is far different from most Regency hero types. There is plenty of conflict, especially once the secret is out, we really see some action, and I loved the villains that play a part in this book, it only added a more of a intense aspect to the plot. Even though the ending seemed a bit rushed, I found that was the only aspect I had a issue with.
I found The Tattooed Duke to be full of everything you need for a sound romance. A sure keeper for any one's shelf that keeps you interested from beginning to end. This installment in the Writing Girls series is by far my favorite so far. I just adored the bantering between Sebastian and Eliza. I found it be so entertaining, and the type of book that is a hard to put down. I found this one, to be highly amusing and stimulating at times. There was also a mysterious element (that deals with Eliza's past) that only intensifies the emotions that are played out. A Fully Satisfying romance from beginning to end that will win your heart!
When I first found the whole series at the library, I wasn't sure if I should grab all of them, wondering if I would regret it later, however I am so thrilled I did now. I do love it when I get a chance to read a series in order, especially a series I am truly have a jolly time reading. Now the first one I liked quite a bit, the second one, wasn't as good as the first one, but was still a enjoyable read. So when I started reading the Tattooed Duke, I was nervous, hoping I would at least like it more than the second one. I am proud to say that this one, is my favorite of the series so far. There were quite a few of complex issues that played a part in the story.
It starts off with Eliza seeing the Duke return at the Docks of all places, when he first steps on England soil. From this moment, we see a instant attraction that Eliza feels for Sebastian. She knows he is the way by which she will be able to continue her career, as one of the writing girls. With Mr. Knightly having giving her this only chance, before firing her, she knows she must do everything she can to save what she has worked years to accomplish. When she dresses and poses as a housemaid, she never thought that she would be in such close proximity to Sebastian, or to find herself being slowly seduced. Sebastian we see is not the usual Duke type. He has a craving for adventure and he could care less about balls or what the Ton may think of him. All he wants is to find the one place he has devoted all his time and effort into finding. When he is labeled the "Tattooed Duke" and certain details of his life are revealed to everyone in England, and he knows it would be near impossible to find a respectable woman to marry him. He also has another problem on his hands....his servant, a mere maid, has all of his attention and he finds himself falling hard for her, even knowing they could never share a future together.
I found Eliza to be independent, strong willed and feisty to the bitter end. In the beginning we see her determined to write the Duke's secrets, but then we see her start to become real and full of emotion when she starts to fall in love. Eliza is the type of heroine that you can't help but love through the bad and the good, I really liked her quite a bit. She resembled the "contemporary" type of women, as she seeks to support herself, she does have a vulnerability when it comes to falling in love. Then we really start to see her true character, and I found myself to be admiring Eliza as a character. Sebastian is sexy, with his tattoo, his thirst for adventure and his attitude toward society. I found him to be a breath of fresh air, considering he is far different from most Regency hero types. There is plenty of conflict, especially once the secret is out, we really see some action, and I loved the villains that play a part in this book, it only added a more of a intense aspect to the plot. Even though the ending seemed a bit rushed, I found that was the only aspect I had a issue with.
I found The Tattooed Duke to be full of everything you need for a sound romance. A sure keeper for any one's shelf that keeps you interested from beginning to end. This installment in the Writing Girls series is by far my favorite so far. I just adored the bantering between Sebastian and Eliza. I found it be so entertaining, and the type of book that is a hard to put down. I found this one, to be highly amusing and stimulating at times. There was also a mysterious element (that deals with Eliza's past) that only intensifies the emotions that are played out. A Fully Satisfying romance from beginning to end that will win your heart!
February 19, 2012
3.5 Stars
Her job as a writer is the most important thing in Eliza's life. But she hasn't had many stories published in the paper lately. The scandalous return of the Duke of Wycliff might change that. Her boss has given her the assignment to get the gossip on Wycliff --and put together a titillating article-- or consider her career as one of the so-called "Writing Girls" to be over. She accepts the challenge and decides to go undercover as a maid in his household.
Wycliff has been away from London for many years, exploring the world. He's traveled the seas, been to exotic locations, and experienced different cultures. The stories of his exploits are legendary. Now that his father is dead, he must take over the dukedom, but his passion still lies in exploration. More than anything he wants to return to his travels and become the first Londoner to journey to Timbuktu and back.
As a maid, Eliza has unfettered access to the duke and she quickly begins amassing information for her column. But she never expected the attraction that begins to burn between her and Wycliff. As a relationship grows between them, she must weigh her ambition with her growing feelings for her subject... because her scandalous articles are wreaking havoc on his already tenuous reputation. Add to that, a nefarious man from her past, the duke's financial troubles, and his jilted ex-lover and things grow even more complicated.
I liked the story overall. Eliza is spunky and it doesn't take long for her conscience to catch up with her. Wycliff is sexy and worldly and free thinking. I was happy to find a heroine who was not a prim miss --one who works hard to take care of herself and direct her own life. However, I did have some issues.
I felt like the amount of time it took Wycliff to figure out Eliza's identity was ridiculous. In addition, I thought the character development was only slightly beyond superficial. Other than a desire to escape the confines of London and to indulge his wanderlust, we don't see much depth to Wycliff. We do get a better glimpse into who Eliza really is, thanks to the unveiling of a major event in her past. But speaking of which, the resolution to Eliza's personal obstacle to their relationship was dispensed much too easily. And there was no sex until the very end.
This is book three in Maya Rodale's Writing Girls series. And while some of the previous couples are secondary characters, this works very easily as a standalone. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Her job as a writer is the most important thing in Eliza's life. But she hasn't had many stories published in the paper lately. The scandalous return of the Duke of Wycliff might change that. Her boss has given her the assignment to get the gossip on Wycliff --and put together a titillating article-- or consider her career as one of the so-called "Writing Girls" to be over. She accepts the challenge and decides to go undercover as a maid in his household.
Wycliff has been away from London for many years, exploring the world. He's traveled the seas, been to exotic locations, and experienced different cultures. The stories of his exploits are legendary. Now that his father is dead, he must take over the dukedom, but his passion still lies in exploration. More than anything he wants to return to his travels and become the first Londoner to journey to Timbuktu and back.
As a maid, Eliza has unfettered access to the duke and she quickly begins amassing information for her column. But she never expected the attraction that begins to burn between her and Wycliff. As a relationship grows between them, she must weigh her ambition with her growing feelings for her subject... because her scandalous articles are wreaking havoc on his already tenuous reputation. Add to that, a nefarious man from her past, the duke's financial troubles, and his jilted ex-lover and things grow even more complicated.
I liked the story overall. Eliza is spunky and it doesn't take long for her conscience to catch up with her. Wycliff is sexy and worldly and free thinking. I was happy to find a heroine who was not a prim miss --one who works hard to take care of herself and direct her own life. However, I did have some issues.
I felt like the amount of time it took Wycliff to figure out Eliza's identity was ridiculous. In addition, I thought the character development was only slightly beyond superficial. Other than a desire to escape the confines of London and to indulge his wanderlust, we don't see much depth to Wycliff. We do get a better glimpse into who Eliza really is, thanks to the unveiling of a major event in her past. But speaking of which, the resolution to Eliza's personal obstacle to their relationship was dispensed much too easily. And there was no sex until the very end.
This is book three in Maya Rodale's Writing Girls series. And while some of the previous couples are secondary characters, this works very easily as a standalone. 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
April 28, 2012
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romancehaolic.
Expected Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Author’s Website: mayarodale.com
My Source for This Book: Edelweiss
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Writing Girls Series
Series Best Read In Order: Worked well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Steamy
This one got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but about, oh, 1/3 of the way in, things really started to pick up. Once things started to pick up, however, I ended up staying up all night to finish it, because I couldn’t stand the thought of putting it down even for a few hours. I quickly fell in love with Sebastian and was on the edge of my seat waiting for an elegant solution to Eliza’s dilemma. While I was a little disappointed with the number of villains, I have to admit that having several antagonists certainly kept the pace right where it needed to be.
I’m also thrilled that the next book is going to be Knightly’s! *fangirls all over the place for a moment*
Recommended for fans of deliciously reformed rakes, of ruthless heroines trying to balance between her ambitions and her conscience, and of seemingly impossible love finding a way.
An incredibly solid 4.5/5 Stars.
Expected Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Author’s Website: mayarodale.com
My Source for This Book: Edelweiss
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Writing Girls Series
Series Best Read In Order: Worked well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Steamy
This one got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but about, oh, 1/3 of the way in, things really started to pick up. Once things started to pick up, however, I ended up staying up all night to finish it, because I couldn’t stand the thought of putting it down even for a few hours. I quickly fell in love with Sebastian and was on the edge of my seat waiting for an elegant solution to Eliza’s dilemma. While I was a little disappointed with the number of villains, I have to admit that having several antagonists certainly kept the pace right where it needed to be.
I’m also thrilled that the next book is going to be Knightly’s! *fangirls all over the place for a moment*
Recommended for fans of deliciously reformed rakes, of ruthless heroines trying to balance between her ambitions and her conscience, and of seemingly impossible love finding a way.
An incredibly solid 4.5/5 Stars.
March 24, 2018
Disappointing
Such a shame since it seemed so good
Such a shame since it seemed so good
February 17, 2022
Like the previous one in this series, I found the first half just kind of okay, but then really enjoyed the second half when the plot seemed to pick up steam.
April 19, 2018
Of all the books I've read by this woman so far, this one seems to have had the most plot and the most enjoyable heros.
But then, I'm never one to turn down a tattoed member of the aristocracy... So. Thats me squared away.
But then, I'm never one to turn down a tattoed member of the aristocracy... So. Thats me squared away.
December 13, 2022
The duke was much more tattooed than the cover suggests 👀
3 stars 🌟
3 stars 🌟
February 29, 2012
My review originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...
All of London wants to know more about the mysterious Sebastian Digby, Duke of Wycliff. Eliza Fielding, reporter for The London Weekly, is determined to be the one to provide members of the ton with the salacious details they’re looking for. Eliza has taken a position in the duke’s household and is using her cover to get the dirty details on the duke’s travels. Her undercover assignment goes better than she expected and it’s not long before the duke takes her into his confidence. But while Eliza’s wild reports of Sebastian’s tattoos, visits to harems, and more make her articles the talk of the ton, the scandal is hurting Sebastian’s chances of securing financing for a new expedition. A hardened reporter might not care, but the more time Eliza spends with her employer, the more she’s drawn to him. What will happen when Sebastian discovers the truth about Eliza.
The Tattooed Duke is the best book in The Writing Girls series yet! Maya Rodale’s original characters shine in this lively tale. Sebastian has traveled the world, immersed himself in cultures far different from his native London, has brought back foreign flora for research, et cetera. He’s seductive and not afraid of scandal, sure, but there’s more to this world-travelling duke than his title and prowess in the bedchamber. Sebastian’s was an interesting character and given his broad range of experience, it would definitely take a unique woman to capture his heart. Eliza is that woman. She’s not your average society belle, but the daughter of a playwright and an actress with a scandalous past of her own. Eliza’s also intelligent, a hard worker, and willing to go after what she wants — but not without care to the feelings of others. She’s never selfish or single-minded (a fault which I’ve found in the two previous Writing Girls heroines) and though her actions have negative consequences, she does her best to set things right. With two such interesting protagonists, it’s easy to see why I was taken with The Tattooed Duke. The romance, sexual tension, and obstacles that must be overcome kept me eagerly turning the pages because I wanted Eliza and Sebastian to get that elusive “happily ever after.”
The Tattooed Duke is the third book in Ms. Rodale’s Writing Girls series but you don’t have to have read A Groom of One’s Own or A Tale of Two Lovers to enjoy Eliza and Sebastian’s story. Fans of the series new and old will undoubtedly enjoy seeing more of the other three Writing Girls as well as the previous two heroes and the all-business Mr. Knightly, publisher of The London Weekly. I finished The Tattooed Duke a well-satisfied reader. The only thing I could wish for is for the fourth Writing Girls book to be out soon, for Ms. Rodale has made me more and more eager for Annabelle’s story with each book!
All of London wants to know more about the mysterious Sebastian Digby, Duke of Wycliff. Eliza Fielding, reporter for The London Weekly, is determined to be the one to provide members of the ton with the salacious details they’re looking for. Eliza has taken a position in the duke’s household and is using her cover to get the dirty details on the duke’s travels. Her undercover assignment goes better than she expected and it’s not long before the duke takes her into his confidence. But while Eliza’s wild reports of Sebastian’s tattoos, visits to harems, and more make her articles the talk of the ton, the scandal is hurting Sebastian’s chances of securing financing for a new expedition. A hardened reporter might not care, but the more time Eliza spends with her employer, the more she’s drawn to him. What will happen when Sebastian discovers the truth about Eliza.
The Tattooed Duke is the best book in The Writing Girls series yet! Maya Rodale’s original characters shine in this lively tale. Sebastian has traveled the world, immersed himself in cultures far different from his native London, has brought back foreign flora for research, et cetera. He’s seductive and not afraid of scandal, sure, but there’s more to this world-travelling duke than his title and prowess in the bedchamber. Sebastian’s was an interesting character and given his broad range of experience, it would definitely take a unique woman to capture his heart. Eliza is that woman. She’s not your average society belle, but the daughter of a playwright and an actress with a scandalous past of her own. Eliza’s also intelligent, a hard worker, and willing to go after what she wants — but not without care to the feelings of others. She’s never selfish or single-minded (a fault which I’ve found in the two previous Writing Girls heroines) and though her actions have negative consequences, she does her best to set things right. With two such interesting protagonists, it’s easy to see why I was taken with The Tattooed Duke. The romance, sexual tension, and obstacles that must be overcome kept me eagerly turning the pages because I wanted Eliza and Sebastian to get that elusive “happily ever after.”
The Tattooed Duke is the third book in Ms. Rodale’s Writing Girls series but you don’t have to have read A Groom of One’s Own or A Tale of Two Lovers to enjoy Eliza and Sebastian’s story. Fans of the series new and old will undoubtedly enjoy seeing more of the other three Writing Girls as well as the previous two heroes and the all-business Mr. Knightly, publisher of The London Weekly. I finished The Tattooed Duke a well-satisfied reader. The only thing I could wish for is for the fourth Writing Girls book to be out soon, for Ms. Rodale has made me more and more eager for Annabelle’s story with each book!
February 22, 2012
Eliza Fielding knows her writing career will be over if she can not deliver a scandalous story. So when the globe-trotting Duke of Wycliff finally returns home after his fathers death--and no one wants to work for a Wicked Wycliff-- she knows she has found her story. She just needs to go undercover as a maid and find out some delicious secrets. Eliza easily lands a job but soon finds the work tedious and her subject oh so distracting. She quickly learns a few interesting titbits to feed London's society and she is beyond pleased to finally have a successful column, The Tattooed Duke. But as her feelings start to grow, she is torn between getting the story and helping Sebastian gain his proper footing in society.
Sebastian, Duke of Wycliff, wants nothing more to come home from him travels, get his ducal affairs in order and gather the funds necessary to pursue his dream--discovering Timbuktu. He is aggravated when he learns the estate is broke and he can not quite get his sassy housemaid out of his mind. When The Tattooed Duke brings even more problems upon him, he is determined to find out who the snitch is and while his mind keeps going to Eliza, he dismisses her many times. However, the truth is soon revealed and deep secret of Eliza's is brought to light as well that will threaten this couples happiness.
This is the third book in Maya Rodale's Writing Girls series and I felt it could be read as a standalone. Yes, the previous characters are present and you see a bit of their futures but not anything major is missed. I was drawn to this book first because I have read the previous and enjoyed them but also the interesting title and I like the undercover maid storyline :) I really enjoyed Sebastian...and not just because of his tattoos. He doesn't want to be a duke, he just wants to go out and explore the world and make his impact through that. He is instantly attracted to Eliza but beyond a few stolen kisses and one very steamy encounter, our couple is forced to stay apart. That part was a bit of a bummer--there is no major action until the very, very end. Boo. Eliza is smart and spunky, but her role as a maid forces her to act less smart and then she has to deal with her guilty conscience. Yes, I felt Sebastian should have followed through with his gut feeling about Eliza being the writer sooner than he did but the fun cat and mouse type game they play with each other at the end was a delight. Overall, another wonderful addition to the Writing Girl series and I am very anxious for Annabelle to finally have her story! If you enjoy a hero and heroine who are a bit different than many books out there and have a smoldering attraction with a bit of mystery, deceit, and smartness mixed in, this is one delicious book to read! 4 stars
Sebastian, Duke of Wycliff, wants nothing more to come home from him travels, get his ducal affairs in order and gather the funds necessary to pursue his dream--discovering Timbuktu. He is aggravated when he learns the estate is broke and he can not quite get his sassy housemaid out of his mind. When The Tattooed Duke brings even more problems upon him, he is determined to find out who the snitch is and while his mind keeps going to Eliza, he dismisses her many times. However, the truth is soon revealed and deep secret of Eliza's is brought to light as well that will threaten this couples happiness.
This is the third book in Maya Rodale's Writing Girls series and I felt it could be read as a standalone. Yes, the previous characters are present and you see a bit of their futures but not anything major is missed. I was drawn to this book first because I have read the previous and enjoyed them but also the interesting title and I like the undercover maid storyline :) I really enjoyed Sebastian...and not just because of his tattoos. He doesn't want to be a duke, he just wants to go out and explore the world and make his impact through that. He is instantly attracted to Eliza but beyond a few stolen kisses and one very steamy encounter, our couple is forced to stay apart. That part was a bit of a bummer--there is no major action until the very, very end. Boo. Eliza is smart and spunky, but her role as a maid forces her to act less smart and then she has to deal with her guilty conscience. Yes, I felt Sebastian should have followed through with his gut feeling about Eliza being the writer sooner than he did but the fun cat and mouse type game they play with each other at the end was a delight. Overall, another wonderful addition to the Writing Girl series and I am very anxious for Annabelle to finally have her story! If you enjoy a hero and heroine who are a bit different than many books out there and have a smoldering attraction with a bit of mystery, deceit, and smartness mixed in, this is one delicious book to read! 4 stars
June 30, 2024
Good parts:
* interesting premise
* lovely descriptions of hero (that NEVER happens for me)
Bad parts:
* repetition, repetition, repetition
* faulty logic
* lack of observational and deduction skills
Look, when there are exactly four people in your hero's household: the one who's sailed with the hero forever and has simply taken up residence, one footman who's briefly mentioned, a nympho maid who's tupping the briefly mentioned footman, and the lush of a housekeeper who's been there all 20 drunken years--but he doesn't suspect the NEW MAID, who, by the way, is the only one who can be hired because nobody wants to work for him, of being the one to be behind his sudden popularity in the gossip columns, you have an insurmountable plot hole.
When your heroine is infiltrating a household and she's supposed to be an illiterate city girl with a consumptive mother, she should probably not 1) use her real name, 2) actually admit she's a playwright's daughter, 3) be escorted back to the hero's home by the newspaper editor and his bodyguard (both of whom the hero has already met), 4) have an editor who requires her to break her cover and come in for meetings inconvenient to the household's schedule, and 5) READ to the aforementioned staff for their entertainment.
The hero's supposed to be an adventurer who collected specimens and wrote journals and such on his travels a la Dr. Stephen Maturin, and craves scientific recognition so he can finance an expedition to Timbuktu. Such a person probably should be more observant of the world around him, but apparently his dick does all the observing and all his dick observes is the heroine's eyes and ass. Very strange.
The heroine's supposed to be a crack investigative journalist, who can go undercover where men can't because she's a woman. She is also the daughter of a playwright and supposedly grew up in a theater learning how to act. And yet...her cover is thin to nonexistent, she can't act her way out of a paper bag, and she has no idea how to sneak around. A 7-year-old boy has better sneakery skills than she does.
The prose was mediocre, but then Avon's not exactly known for sparkle, so I wasn't expecting brilliance here. There were too many typos for a NY published book. Major points were repeated. Repeatedly. And once more, with feeling.
But I finally DNF'd in sheer frustration at the Swiss cheese of a plot caused solely by the characters' ineptitude doing things at which they were supposed to be skilled.
* interesting premise
* lovely descriptions of hero (that NEVER happens for me)
Bad parts:
* repetition, repetition, repetition
* faulty logic
* lack of observational and deduction skills
Look, when there are exactly four people in your hero's household: the one who's sailed with the hero forever and has simply taken up residence, one footman who's briefly mentioned, a nympho maid who's tupping the briefly mentioned footman, and the lush of a housekeeper who's been there all 20 drunken years--but he doesn't suspect the NEW MAID, who, by the way, is the only one who can be hired because nobody wants to work for him, of being the one to be behind his sudden popularity in the gossip columns, you have an insurmountable plot hole.
When your heroine is infiltrating a household and she's supposed to be an illiterate city girl with a consumptive mother, she should probably not 1) use her real name, 2) actually admit she's a playwright's daughter, 3) be escorted back to the hero's home by the newspaper editor and his bodyguard (both of whom the hero has already met), 4) have an editor who requires her to break her cover and come in for meetings inconvenient to the household's schedule, and 5) READ to the aforementioned staff for their entertainment.
The hero's supposed to be an adventurer who collected specimens and wrote journals and such on his travels a la Dr. Stephen Maturin, and craves scientific recognition so he can finance an expedition to Timbuktu. Such a person probably should be more observant of the world around him, but apparently his dick does all the observing and all his dick observes is the heroine's eyes and ass. Very strange.
The heroine's supposed to be a crack investigative journalist, who can go undercover where men can't because she's a woman. She is also the daughter of a playwright and supposedly grew up in a theater learning how to act. And yet...her cover is thin to nonexistent, she can't act her way out of a paper bag, and she has no idea how to sneak around. A 7-year-old boy has better sneakery skills than she does.
The prose was mediocre, but then Avon's not exactly known for sparkle, so I wasn't expecting brilliance here. There were too many typos for a NY published book. Major points were repeated. Repeatedly. And once more, with feeling.
But I finally DNF'd in sheer frustration at the Swiss cheese of a plot caused solely by the characters' ineptitude doing things at which they were supposed to be skilled.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2017
Ridiculous...implausible...anachronistic...almost immediate insta-lust by page 38...and I kind of liked it.
July 12, 2012
I just finished reading book (#3 Writing Girls series) of a unconventional tattooed Duke. Of course, the man in the spotlight is Sebastian Digby, the Duke of Wycliff. He is dangerous and handsome adventurer who needs to come up with money to stake his next big voyage. He is broke and has come home to find a wealthy bride. So when he find's out that a newspaper called The London Weekly is writing items that hinder his bride hunting, he's outraged. Of course, he doesn't know that his newest maid, Eliza, is a Writing Girl who is working undercover for said newspaper. Sebastian only sees a beautiful and sexy maid who he can't stop lusting after because he is from a long line of "Wicked Wycliffs". Will Sebastian and Eliza get their "happy every after"? You will have to read to find out. Thank you Ms Rodale for another great love story.
January 21, 2013
This is the first book I've read by this author. Whilst I wasn't particularly impressed with this novel, I might give the author another go. It may not have been a fantastic book, but I've read worse! I found a great many of the thoughts/dialogue of both characters to be repetitive, which made the book drag for me. About halfway through, I found myself thinking, "Just get on with it!" I'd like to have seen what made these two fight convention to get married. Maybe I missed something, but I saw very little of why they wanted to be together, other than their physical attraction to each other. It just didn't feel as though either of these characters developed fully. The ending was a little anticlimactic for me, as well. I can see why the author chose to end the book that way, but it just felt a bit flat.
April 8, 2013
That was actually better than the impression I got from the beginning of the book.
Indeed some things seem slightly anachronical and there are some inaccuracies .
However the personnality of both the hero and heroine grew on me, and I soon really wanted them to end up together, despite their seemingly incompatible station in life: a duke, vs. a working girl commoner masquerading as a housemaid. The plot was rather good with what seemed like a forever increasing list of major obstacles preventing the match and just the right level of conflicts between the lying and at least at first deceitful heroine and the unusual and too talkative hero.
I quite enjoyed this reading.
Indeed some things seem slightly anachronical and there are some inaccuracies .
However the personnality of both the hero and heroine grew on me, and I soon really wanted them to end up together, despite their seemingly incompatible station in life: a duke, vs. a working girl commoner masquerading as a housemaid. The plot was rather good with what seemed like a forever increasing list of major obstacles preventing the match and just the right level of conflicts between the lying and at least at first deceitful heroine and the unusual and too talkative hero.
I quite enjoyed this reading.
March 31, 2012
M.E.M.B.O.S.A.N.K.A.N!
setelah menskip lebih dari setengah buku akhirnya selesai juga 'menamatkan' buku ini. karakter si Duke bertato cukup menarik untuk dibaca.
yang menyebalkan itu si tokoh ceweknya. dengan alasan jurnalisme ia pura-pura menjadi pelayan dirumah si duke, menyebarkan gosip yang bikin pamor si duke yang udah jelek makin jelek terus mengkhianati kepercayaan si duke yang menceritakan rahasia-rahasianya kepada si pelayan gadungan.
setelah semua itu, si pelayan sama sekali ga menyesali perbuatannya.
udah bukunya membosankan bikin kesel lagi. huh!
setelah menskip lebih dari setengah buku akhirnya selesai juga 'menamatkan' buku ini. karakter si Duke bertato cukup menarik untuk dibaca.
yang menyebalkan itu si tokoh ceweknya. dengan alasan jurnalisme ia pura-pura menjadi pelayan dirumah si duke, menyebarkan gosip yang bikin pamor si duke yang udah jelek makin jelek terus mengkhianati kepercayaan si duke yang menceritakan rahasia-rahasianya kepada si pelayan gadungan.
setelah semua itu, si pelayan sama sekali ga menyesali perbuatannya.
udah bukunya membosankan bikin kesel lagi. huh!
February 19, 2019
ick ick ick. I usually like this author a lot, but this book was just plan not good. The hero was a whiny piss ant and the heroine was (I think) supposed to be an assertive female but she just came across as nasty, rude, and thoughtless. The whole undercover writing thing just had a creepy voyeuristic quality to me that was dreadful.
July 16, 2012
This book was pretty good and kept me entertained and interested in the story. I don't think it was completely historically correct, but I read it for the characters and story alone and didn't have a problem with it.
This is my first by this author but I'm sure I'll be looking for more.
This is my first by this author but I'm sure I'll be looking for more.
March 26, 2012
There's something so exuberant and yet touching about Maya Rodale's books; another winner here!
November 15, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. So glad I made this selection. I'll going right into Seducing Mr. Knightly next.
March 22, 2024
I'm sorry, but I despised Eliza. She was a lying, conniving ____ (use your own word here) in the worst of ways. She's a member of this group of four women who write for the London Weekly called the Writing Girls, which thrived on gossip. The better the gossip, the more newspapers were sold, padding the pockets of Knightly, the editor. Her job was to get the scoop on the Duke of Wycliff who had recently returned from Tahiti and wasn't the normal kind of duke. She gets a job as a housekeeper, which gave her all kinds of exposure to him, which she was running to her editor. Sales of the paper rose exponentially and a reward was offered for anybody who would reveal the true identity of W.G. Meadows.
Sebastian Digby, the Duke of Wycliff, is an unusual man. He's got long hair, an earring, doesn't wear a cravat or even fancy clothes, and has a tribal design for a tattoo on his chest. The dukedom is broke and he wants to lead an expedition to Timbuktu before another guy does. Since these articles are damaging his reputation (like he had a good one to begin with), he can't find anybody to back him. He hated that his private life was being exposed in the newspaper and knew he had a "mole" in the house. He just didn't know who it was. But this person was destroying his life all while he's trying to figure out ways to either build back the dukedom or finance the expedition to Timbuktu.
I hated Eliza for what she did to him and when her conscience finally caught up to her, it was too little too late. She'd done irreparable harm to him. She should've been on her knees, groveling at his feet while begging for his forgiveness. She was just too self-centered and deceitful and there was no coming back from that. I didn't feel any sort of love connection between these two because of her insidious behavior. She pretended to be his friend, which she definitely was not. Friends don't do that to other friends. You can't get true love out of a lie and she was the queen of liars.
Another thing that got me was she was supposedly an heiress. Well, somebody in your family has to die for you to become an heir or an heiress. Nobody died. Therefore, she was not an heiress. In addition to that, there were a few grammar errors (breath instead of breathe, a room was pilfered with candles...) that did interrupt the reading experience, but did not destroy it.
I liked Sebastian. I thought he was a down-to-earth kind of guy that didn't follow the rules of society the majority of the time and wanted to break the reputation of the Wicked Wycliffs. The men all dallied with the household girls. Sebastian was Eliza's boss and was attracted to her, but held back for a couple of reasons, one of them being the reputation thing. The other reason stunned me.
There were a few great plot twists that kept the story going, but I just could not condone the actions of Eliza. I disliked her intensely and never got to the point where I could even tolerate her let alone actually like her. There was just too much deception on her part and it trashed the book.
Sebastian Digby, the Duke of Wycliff, is an unusual man. He's got long hair, an earring, doesn't wear a cravat or even fancy clothes, and has a tribal design for a tattoo on his chest. The dukedom is broke and he wants to lead an expedition to Timbuktu before another guy does. Since these articles are damaging his reputation (like he had a good one to begin with), he can't find anybody to back him. He hated that his private life was being exposed in the newspaper and knew he had a "mole" in the house. He just didn't know who it was. But this person was destroying his life all while he's trying to figure out ways to either build back the dukedom or finance the expedition to Timbuktu.
I hated Eliza for what she did to him and when her conscience finally caught up to her, it was too little too late. She'd done irreparable harm to him. She should've been on her knees, groveling at his feet while begging for his forgiveness. She was just too self-centered and deceitful and there was no coming back from that. I didn't feel any sort of love connection between these two because of her insidious behavior. She pretended to be his friend, which she definitely was not. Friends don't do that to other friends. You can't get true love out of a lie and she was the queen of liars.
Another thing that got me was she was supposedly an heiress. Well, somebody in your family has to die for you to become an heir or an heiress. Nobody died. Therefore, she was not an heiress. In addition to that, there were a few grammar errors (breath instead of breathe, a room was pilfered with candles...) that did interrupt the reading experience, but did not destroy it.
I liked Sebastian. I thought he was a down-to-earth kind of guy that didn't follow the rules of society the majority of the time and wanted to break the reputation of the Wicked Wycliffs. The men all dallied with the household girls. Sebastian was Eliza's boss and was attracted to her, but held back for a couple of reasons, one of them being the reputation thing. The other reason stunned me.
There were a few great plot twists that kept the story going, but I just could not condone the actions of Eliza. I disliked her intensely and never got to the point where I could even tolerate her let alone actually like her. There was just too much deception on her part and it trashed the book.
September 30, 2025
The best thing about The Tattooed Duke was the cover of the book. I absolutely loved the cover!! 🥵🔥😘 The actual story? Not so much.
The Hero, Sebastian the Duke of Wycliff, was an ignorant idiot most of the time. And the heroine, Eliza, was a lying annoyance. Eliza is one of the Infamous "Writing Girls". Her articles are finding out the dirt on what's going on in London. So, she masquerades as a maid to find out all about the mysterious Duke, who has returned from afar.
Wycliff instantly becomes attracted to Eliza, telling her his secrets...which she promptly shares in her articles. Then, Wycliff can't figure out who is sharing his secrets in The London Weekly. Um, seriously?!! This maid is the only one you're telling all your secrets to and because you think she can't read, you can't figure out who the snitch is?? 🤦♀️
Eliza is simply blah. All she does is lie over and over again to Wycliff. When he finally finds out she's the snitch, Eliza finally feels guilty enough to try to make amends. About the only interesting part is when others are keeping them apart, mainly the man from Eliza's past and the woman from Wycliff's past.
Oh, and this story had next to no steam. A few kisses, then finally 9 pages from the end there is 1 (just one) slightly steamy scene. I will say this book was better than Julianna's book, which was a dnf for me, but not that much better. I still have Annabelle and Knightley's book to read, but so far this series is not my cup of tea.
The Hero, Sebastian the Duke of Wycliff, was an ignorant idiot most of the time. And the heroine, Eliza, was a lying annoyance. Eliza is one of the Infamous "Writing Girls". Her articles are finding out the dirt on what's going on in London. So, she masquerades as a maid to find out all about the mysterious Duke, who has returned from afar.
Wycliff instantly becomes attracted to Eliza, telling her his secrets...which she promptly shares in her articles. Then, Wycliff can't figure out who is sharing his secrets in The London Weekly. Um, seriously?!! This maid is the only one you're telling all your secrets to and because you think she can't read, you can't figure out who the snitch is?? 🤦♀️
Eliza is simply blah. All she does is lie over and over again to Wycliff. When he finally finds out she's the snitch, Eliza finally feels guilty enough to try to make amends. About the only interesting part is when others are keeping them apart, mainly the man from Eliza's past and the woman from Wycliff's past.
Oh, and this story had next to no steam. A few kisses, then finally 9 pages from the end there is 1 (just one) slightly steamy scene. I will say this book was better than Julianna's book, which was a dnf for me, but not that much better. I still have Annabelle and Knightley's book to read, but so far this series is not my cup of tea.
December 29, 2024
Well I enjoyed this immensely, it’s my favorite from the series. I just really liked Eliza and Sebastian’s characters and liked them together. Sebastian has just come back from years of traveling because he inherited the dukedom and Eliza goes undercover as a maid in his household to discover his secrets so she can report about them in the paper. There’s an immediate attraction for both of them. Sebastian can’t seem to keep his mind (or hands) off of her and the more she learns about the Duke and his love of travel the more she’s falling for him. The only thing I couldn’t believe was that they didn’t give in to each other completely till the very end of the book, all that blustering sexual tension.
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