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The Discarded Duke
Shepherd's Delight
Nearly destitute, Ursula Roarke agrees to sell her late husband's bloodstock to the Duke of Ardsley. But the wily widow has an ulterior motive in visiting the peer's property in Devon: She hopes to entice him into marriage. Never does she imagine that a handsome sheepherder will jeopardize her plan--and win her heart.
William Ridd has spent years breeding the best woolbearing sheep in England for Ardsley. And he blames Ursula alone for the duke's decision to replace the flocks with horses. Still, Ridd cannot long deny the redhead's tempting charms. But the love of a beautiful woman may not be enough to conquer his fear that a secret from long ago will destroy any future happiness.
Nearly destitute, Ursula Roarke agrees to sell her late husband's bloodstock to the Duke of Ardsley. But the wily widow has an ulterior motive in visiting the peer's property in Devon: She hopes to entice him into marriage. Never does she imagine that a handsome sheepherder will jeopardize her plan--and win her heart.
William Ridd has spent years breeding the best woolbearing sheep in England for Ardsley. And he blames Ursula alone for the duke's decision to replace the flocks with horses. Still, Ridd cannot long deny the redhead's tempting charms. But the love of a beautiful woman may not be enough to conquer his fear that a secret from long ago will destroy any future happiness.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
53 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Butler
61 books70 followersNancy Butler also writes under her real name, Nancy J. Hajeski.
Nancy Butler has been an Anglophile since she was nineteen, when she traveled to England to see Carnaby Street. (“I blame it on the Beatles!”) Her frequent visits to an American friend living in London have furnished her with enough inspiration to keep writing Regencies well into the new millennium.
Butler resides in northern New Jersey with two cats, Aja and Puck, surrounded by her collection of artwork, funky antiques, and books. When she manages to get away from her computer, she can usually be found riding her quarter horse mare, Ginger, through the scenic wilds of Bergen County.
Butler is the 1998 Golden Leaf Award winner for Best First Novel.
Nancy Butler has been an Anglophile since she was nineteen, when she traveled to England to see Carnaby Street. (“I blame it on the Beatles!”) Her frequent visits to an American friend living in London have furnished her with enough inspiration to keep writing Regencies well into the new millennium.
Butler resides in northern New Jersey with two cats, Aja and Puck, surrounded by her collection of artwork, funky antiques, and books. When she manages to get away from her computer, she can usually be found riding her quarter horse mare, Ginger, through the scenic wilds of Bergen County.
Butler is the 1998 Golden Leaf Award winner for Best First Novel.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 20, 2016
This has a bit of everything thrown into the pot. Lost brother, evil grandmother, poor-but-beautiful widow, cold-but-not-really Duke, bluestocking neighborhood meddler, horses and sheep.
There are definitely two romances going on and Butler does a good job of juggling both couples.
Nothing that's not been done before but Butler does it pretty well. I'd put her at a step below Balogh but that's still a pretty high step to be on. I like that her heroes often have slightly unusual occupations (swan keeper, anyone?).
I WISH they'd release her backlist in e-format.
There are definitely two romances going on and Butler does a good job of juggling both couples.
Nothing that's not been done before but Butler does it pretty well. I'd put her at a step below Balogh but that's still a pretty high step to be on. I like that her heroes often have slightly unusual occupations (swan keeper, anyone?).
I WISH they'd release her backlist in e-format.
August 15, 2020
If you have a classic Regency trope bingo card, this could fill several squares! Amnesia! Evil relatives! Missing heir! Horses! Penniless fortune-seeking widow! It was a smooth and well-written story, mixing many tropes plus the less common appearance of SHEEP. It was surprisingly angsty for all those tropes and sheep, rather than madcap, and had the more complex writing style of older Regencies (this was 2002). Parts of the story feel like an homage to Shakespeare's As You Like It, but with angst.
February 21, 2023
Regency in Ireland then England. This paperback had some
mystery too. This had low-key sex scenes. Gave this 3 stars.
Ursula (an auburn-haired beauty) was the widow of an Irish
baronet w/ a gambling problem. She managed their horse
stud farm after his death. She wanted to sell the stud horses
to a reserved, aloof duke Damien. This would barely pay her
late spouse's outstanding debts. She decided to persuade
Damien to marry her even though he seemed lifeless & they
had little chemistry together. Damien still grieved his older
bro Tony who died 12 yrs. prior.
Ursula met Damien's bailiff/ sheep farmer, Will. Villagers
so admired Will for keeping their economy alive. And Will
perfected breeding sheep to make the softest wool, which
made weavers & customers v happy. He called them "my
sheep" & defied the direct orders of the duke.
Damien made clear he wanted the sheep gone to make way
for the beginnings of his horse stud farm. I predicted Will's
secret past. Also Will had never been kissed! Believable?
This kept me interested till about 75% in, then the story
direction, IMO, kind of gummed up the works.
This had 2 future couples? Barbara, Ursula's companion
(of Scottish heritage) added wit and practicality.
mystery too. This had low-key sex scenes. Gave this 3 stars.
Ursula (an auburn-haired beauty) was the widow of an Irish
baronet w/ a gambling problem. She managed their horse
stud farm after his death. She wanted to sell the stud horses
to a reserved, aloof duke Damien. This would barely pay her
late spouse's outstanding debts. She decided to persuade
Damien to marry her even though he seemed lifeless & they
had little chemistry together. Damien still grieved his older
bro Tony who died 12 yrs. prior.
Ursula met Damien's bailiff/ sheep farmer, Will. Villagers
so admired Will for keeping their economy alive. And Will
perfected breeding sheep to make the softest wool, which
made weavers & customers v happy. He called them "my
sheep" & defied the direct orders of the duke.
Damien made clear he wanted the sheep gone to make way
for the beginnings of his horse stud farm. I predicted Will's
secret past. Also Will had never been kissed! Believable?
This kept me interested till about 75% in, then the story
direction, IMO, kind of gummed up the works.
This had 2 future couples? Barbara, Ursula's companion
(of Scottish heritage) added wit and practicality.
November 16, 2023
Regency
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews