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Lords of Vice #6
Dusk with a Dangerous Duke
They were children when the Duke of Huntsley was introduced to Lady Grace Kearly. The young duke—nicknamed “Hunter”—took one look at his future bride and thought only of escaping his responsibilities to his family. Marriage was for grown-ups and Hunter still had years of skirt-chasing ahead of him. But now the time has come for Hunter to heed the call: if this Lord of Vice hopes to keep all of his inheritance, he’ll have to claim his long-neglected betrothed…
With her twenty-first birthday approaching, Lady Grace dreads the thought of marrying the duke she has met only once—especially since he’s grown into a notorious rake who will probably beget his heir and abandon her in the country while he pursues fresh game in London. So when Lady Grace coolly decides to call the wedding off, even Hunter is surprised by his refusal to let her go. Suddenly, the notion of claiming and taming this green-eyed beauty is one challenge he cannot resist…
With her twenty-first birthday approaching, Lady Grace dreads the thought of marrying the duke she has met only once—especially since he’s grown into a notorious rake who will probably beget his heir and abandon her in the country while he pursues fresh game in London. So when Lady Grace coolly decides to call the wedding off, even Hunter is surprised by his refusal to let her go. Suddenly, the notion of claiming and taming this green-eyed beauty is one challenge he cannot resist…
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 26, 2013
30 people are currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Hawkins
16 books682 followersAlexandra Hawkins is an unrepentant Anglophile who discovered romance novels as a teenager and knew that one day she would be writing her own. In "The Lords of Vice" series, she has combined her love of English history, mythology, and romance to create sensual character-driven stories that, she hopes, will touch readers' hearts.
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You can also find me at:
www.facebook.com/author.alexandra.haw...
Fan page: www.facebook.com/lordsofvice
www.twitter.com/lordsofvice
https://plus.google.com/u/0/103785519...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
March 15, 2013
I hate to give negative reviews, but I did not like reading this book. I am really starting to lose interest in her books. The first few were not bad, but the previous book and this makes me hope that the last book in the Lords of Vice featuring Frost would redeem the whole series.
Lady Grace Kearly has been betrothed to the Duke of Huntsley (Hunter)from the cradle, when she was two and he twelve. Naturally, Hunter did not take this news well, and sought to escape the marriage by neglecting his fiancee for nineteen years. However, should they not wed by Grace's twenty-first birthday, she would have her inheritance turned over to a spendthrift uncle, and he would lose his whole inheritance to a cousin. Not wanting to lose his inheritance, Hunter finally decides to marry Grace, while Grace made the decision to null the betrothal. They kept on missing each other, and Hunter meets his grown bride for the first time by 1/5 of the novel.
Hunter believes Grace to be an ugly shrew for the nineteen years that he has avoided her. Upon their first meeting, he is struck with lust, and autocratically tries to force Grace to marry him for his own selfish reasons.
"There was no love lost between him and his bride. He was not even certain he liked her."
By more than half of the book, and the hero doesn't even know if he likes the heroine! I cannot be convinced that he suddenly developed a true love for Grace by the end. What he feels for her is lust, but lust is not love. Additionally, his repeated references to "paddling her backside" for her lack of obsequiousness towards him is insufferable and unfair to sweet Grace.
Add in some over-dramatic action in the end, and the characters believe themselves in love. Not only the characterization, but the plot is also lacking a clear direction and have too many weird twists and turns. This book is one of the few HRs I was barely able to finish, and I sincerely hope the next one would be better.
Lady Grace Kearly has been betrothed to the Duke of Huntsley (Hunter)from the cradle, when she was two and he twelve. Naturally, Hunter did not take this news well, and sought to escape the marriage by neglecting his fiancee for nineteen years. However, should they not wed by Grace's twenty-first birthday, she would have her inheritance turned over to a spendthrift uncle, and he would lose his whole inheritance to a cousin. Not wanting to lose his inheritance, Hunter finally decides to marry Grace, while Grace made the decision to null the betrothal. They kept on missing each other, and Hunter meets his grown bride for the first time by 1/5 of the novel.
Hunter believes Grace to be an ugly shrew for the nineteen years that he has avoided her. Upon their first meeting, he is struck with lust, and autocratically tries to force Grace to marry him for his own selfish reasons.
"There was no love lost between him and his bride. He was not even certain he liked her."
By more than half of the book, and the hero doesn't even know if he likes the heroine! I cannot be convinced that he suddenly developed a true love for Grace by the end. What he feels for her is lust, but lust is not love. Additionally, his repeated references to "paddling her backside" for her lack of obsequiousness towards him is insufferable and unfair to sweet Grace.
Add in some over-dramatic action in the end, and the characters believe themselves in love. Not only the characterization, but the plot is also lacking a clear direction and have too many weird twists and turns. This book is one of the few HRs I was barely able to finish, and I sincerely hope the next one would be better.
February 28, 2013
3.5 stars
Originally posted in My Book Musings.
What happened? I have been waiting for Alexandra Hawkins' next book in the Lords of Vice series, Dusk with a Dangerous Duke, for months, and now that it's here I feel a tad let down. When I finished the book, I was like... "Huh?"
As with other Lords of Vice books (read my reviews of books 1-4 and book 5 here), Dusk with a Dangerous Duke was tantalizing and sexy, but it was barely such compared to the previous books! I felt like the book was seriously short and lacking in story. Some books you dislike for going on and on but a book with a delicious plot like this, you just want it to go on and on.
The premise of the plot was exciting: being betrothed to a woman all your life and when Hunter was finally ready, he's rebuffed and refused, and even threatened that the marriage will not go through at all. Hunter was feeling possessive by that time already (are all men really like this?) and was challenged to convince Grace to push through with the wedding. That and the fact that he doesn't want his cousin to get some of his lands that he inherited from his dowager grandmother whom he loved very much.
Hunter was...acting like an arse, as Regan so aptly pointed out several times. He left Grace on her own for nineteen years (although he did provide for her and increased her wealth through investments), but she was just waiting for him and he never came. At least, she thought he didn't. I'll get back to that point later. I like Hunter, he seemed virile and naughty, but this was not explored much in the story. He had so much potential to tease us readers and make us laugh with his antics.
Grace, on the other hand, is my kind of woman: brave and smart. She also wasn't spiteful despite being left on her own all those years, and she was not afraid to go to London on her own. Also, in the end, she was honest enough to admit to herself that she wanted her husband. I think that takes guts despite getting her heart broken for several years.
Of course, Frost is also in the picture, and he really is outrageous. I think that he is slowly being more comfortable with love, as he makes a comment that Regan truly is happy with Dare, something that I think he would not have said before. Also, I really admire that he's so protective of his friends. I admit that he can be a complete jerk (remember what happened with him and Madam Venna and Saint?), but there were several instances when he proved himself to be a good friend: One was when he stared darkly at Walker, Hunter's cousin, while he dared to flirt with Grace at a ball, and second was when he readily offered himself as Dare's second and took care of Hunter's business. I'm not really into bad boys, but Frost intrigues me to no end.
What I didn't like about the story is the numerous loose ends at the end of the story. What happened to Portia, why was that incident not even explained to Grace? I think she deserved an explanation of why Hunter really chafed against their marriage for so long. Second, what happened to Strangham? Did Hunter tell Grace what Strangham really did to her parents? Who will inherit the dukedom now that Strangham is dead, and how does this affect Grace? Third, Hunter is a duke, and a man with his lofty position would have several household help so how did Walker get into his place and start a fire without anyone noticing? Fourth, how did Grace and Hunter end up married? I mean, he sets her on the road outside a carriage, and the next chapter says they're married. Just like that. Fifth, Hunter visited her home in the countryside at least a couple of times, but why was Grace not even aware of this? Did her Butler not tell her at all? And why did Hunter not even tell her? She wrote to him all those years, but I don't think he even got any of that. Also, what's up with Rosemary's serious beef with Hunter? Hunter mentions that Rosemary has been poisoning Grace's ears for years. And when they got married, what happened to Rosemary, who was supposed to be closer to her than a mother could have been?
The plot was too fast, and the book too short. The book ends abruptly with them declaring their love for each other. Yes, just like that Hunter realizes he's in love when there was no mention of him coming to admire Grace for who she is, although her admiration for her body and sexiness leaves no room for doubt.
If you're a fan of the Lords of Vice series, I think this is still a good book to read, just so you can complete the whole story. There were a few balms to my disappointment such as Hunter's comments about marriage and women being obedient, which all his married friends found funny (and rightly so). Also, seeing more sides to Frost just ups the intrigue for his own story. Also, it just might be me who found the story a bit short.
Ciao, and happy musings!
Originally posted in My Book Musings.
What happened? I have been waiting for Alexandra Hawkins' next book in the Lords of Vice series, Dusk with a Dangerous Duke, for months, and now that it's here I feel a tad let down. When I finished the book, I was like... "Huh?"
As with other Lords of Vice books (read my reviews of books 1-4 and book 5 here), Dusk with a Dangerous Duke was tantalizing and sexy, but it was barely such compared to the previous books! I felt like the book was seriously short and lacking in story. Some books you dislike for going on and on but a book with a delicious plot like this, you just want it to go on and on.
The premise of the plot was exciting: being betrothed to a woman all your life and when Hunter was finally ready, he's rebuffed and refused, and even threatened that the marriage will not go through at all. Hunter was feeling possessive by that time already (are all men really like this?) and was challenged to convince Grace to push through with the wedding. That and the fact that he doesn't want his cousin to get some of his lands that he inherited from his dowager grandmother whom he loved very much.
Hunter was...acting like an arse, as Regan so aptly pointed out several times. He left Grace on her own for nineteen years (although he did provide for her and increased her wealth through investments), but she was just waiting for him and he never came. At least, she thought he didn't. I'll get back to that point later. I like Hunter, he seemed virile and naughty, but this was not explored much in the story. He had so much potential to tease us readers and make us laugh with his antics.
Grace, on the other hand, is my kind of woman: brave and smart. She also wasn't spiteful despite being left on her own all those years, and she was not afraid to go to London on her own. Also, in the end, she was honest enough to admit to herself that she wanted her husband. I think that takes guts despite getting her heart broken for several years.
Of course, Frost is also in the picture, and he really is outrageous. I think that he is slowly being more comfortable with love, as he makes a comment that Regan truly is happy with Dare, something that I think he would not have said before. Also, I really admire that he's so protective of his friends. I admit that he can be a complete jerk (remember what happened with him and Madam Venna and Saint?), but there were several instances when he proved himself to be a good friend: One was when he stared darkly at Walker, Hunter's cousin, while he dared to flirt with Grace at a ball, and second was when he readily offered himself as Dare's second and took care of Hunter's business. I'm not really into bad boys, but Frost intrigues me to no end.
What I didn't like about the story is the numerous loose ends at the end of the story. What happened to Portia, why was that incident not even explained to Grace? I think she deserved an explanation of why Hunter really chafed against their marriage for so long. Second, what happened to Strangham? Did Hunter tell Grace what Strangham really did to her parents? Who will inherit the dukedom now that Strangham is dead, and how does this affect Grace? Third, Hunter is a duke, and a man with his lofty position would have several household help so how did Walker get into his place and start a fire without anyone noticing? Fourth, how did Grace and Hunter end up married? I mean, he sets her on the road outside a carriage, and the next chapter says they're married. Just like that. Fifth, Hunter visited her home in the countryside at least a couple of times, but why was Grace not even aware of this? Did her Butler not tell her at all? And why did Hunter not even tell her? She wrote to him all those years, but I don't think he even got any of that. Also, what's up with Rosemary's serious beef with Hunter? Hunter mentions that Rosemary has been poisoning Grace's ears for years. And when they got married, what happened to Rosemary, who was supposed to be closer to her than a mother could have been?
The plot was too fast, and the book too short. The book ends abruptly with them declaring their love for each other. Yes, just like that Hunter realizes he's in love when there was no mention of him coming to admire Grace for who she is, although her admiration for her body and sexiness leaves no room for doubt.
If you're a fan of the Lords of Vice series, I think this is still a good book to read, just so you can complete the whole story. There were a few balms to my disappointment such as Hunter's comments about marriage and women being obedient, which all his married friends found funny (and rightly so). Also, seeing more sides to Frost just ups the intrigue for his own story. Also, it just might be me who found the story a bit short.
Ciao, and happy musings!
October 25, 2014
Why is there not a no-star option? I'll be reviewing this for AAR, so let me just say this: Romance novel detractors think all romances are like this. When I try to picture anyone liking any part of this book, my imagination fails me completely. It has a much higher rating on this site than it deserves.
Now, if you want a good laugh, you might try reading the ending, which is (unintentionally, I assume) the most hilarious I have read in years. The hero and heroine confess their undying love after eliminating the villain, then they remember the house is burning down. Someone breaks down the door, puts out the fire (I guess), and they all walk out. This takes place in a couple of paragraphs. It's like the author got sick of writing the book (can't say I blame her) and wanted to head out the door for happy hour, so she just said fuck it and called it a day. Totally hilarious.
Now, if you want a good laugh, you might try reading the ending, which is (unintentionally, I assume) the most hilarious I have read in years. The hero and heroine confess their undying love after eliminating the villain, then they remember the house is burning down. Someone breaks down the door, puts out the fire (I guess), and they all walk out. This takes place in a couple of paragraphs. It's like the author got sick of writing the book (can't say I blame her) and wanted to head out the door for happy hour, so she just said fuck it and called it a day. Totally hilarious.
February 10, 2015
3 stars
I absolutely love this series, and I've been waiting for my library to finally get this book in. Unfortunately, I may have built up my expectations too high because I found this story lacking. The chemistry wasn't there, and Hunter was an ass pretty much the whole time. And the fact that by 90% he's still speaking and thinking about all the women he's been with before Grace got on my nerves. Seriously. Before he takes her virginity he actually says "I've been with a lot of women." That kind of thing irks me. I'm just hoping the next book restores my love of this series, because I've got a love/hate relationship with Frost.
I absolutely love this series, and I've been waiting for my library to finally get this book in. Unfortunately, I may have built up my expectations too high because I found this story lacking. The chemistry wasn't there, and Hunter was an ass pretty much the whole time. And the fact that by 90% he's still speaking and thinking about all the women he's been with before Grace got on my nerves. Seriously. Before he takes her virginity he actually says "I've been with a lot of women." That kind of thing irks me. I'm just hoping the next book restores my love of this series, because I've got a love/hate relationship with Frost.
March 9, 2013
The interaction between the two leads was only driven by their lust for each other. Grace's beauty - her unblemished skin, her perfect form - is practically all he thinks about every time he sees her.
Mentioning Lords of Vice constantly like it's some club they're proud of... Like it's a darn badge or something. Why would one be proud of being known as a rake? Why do we have to have damned names foisted upon us just because we're famous for being rakes and rogues and complete arses? Famous for bedding women, that's all.. Why do they wear this badge in much the same way a man would wear the badge of honor a knighthood gives him? It's senseless and completely irrelevant.
I couldn't keep track of the Lords of Vice and who married who. It's one thing to see characters from previous books again, to see that their lives are going well and it's a completely different thing to have info about their lives and their histories of coupledom dumped on you especially when there's like 5 other couples beside the lead characters of the story. I hate it when authors do that. Dumping info on us.. In a series, authors have to make things clear to new readers as well as satisfy longtime fans. Well, I'm a new reader and I was lost. Completely confused.
I didn't buy it when Grace and Hunter said their "I love yous" especially when it seemed beauty was all he thought of when he looked at and then occasionally his guilt for not marrying her earlier.
I didn't buy it.
Mentioning Lords of Vice constantly like it's some club they're proud of... Like it's a darn badge or something. Why would one be proud of being known as a rake? Why do we have to have damned names foisted upon us just because we're famous for being rakes and rogues and complete arses? Famous for bedding women, that's all.. Why do they wear this badge in much the same way a man would wear the badge of honor a knighthood gives him? It's senseless and completely irrelevant.
I couldn't keep track of the Lords of Vice and who married who. It's one thing to see characters from previous books again, to see that their lives are going well and it's a completely different thing to have info about their lives and their histories of coupledom dumped on you especially when there's like 5 other couples beside the lead characters of the story. I hate it when authors do that. Dumping info on us.. In a series, authors have to make things clear to new readers as well as satisfy longtime fans. Well, I'm a new reader and I was lost. Completely confused.
I didn't buy it when Grace and Hunter said their "I love yous" especially when it seemed beauty was all he thought of when he looked at and then occasionally his guilt for not marrying her earlier.
I didn't buy it.
February 28, 2013
The story is an old and overdone one, ultimately in these types of books, it is the author's writing and creation of truly memorable characters and plots that elevates a tired old storyline into a remarkable one worth reading. Unfortunately, this book is not one of them.
The Duke of Huntsley (Hunter) has been engaged to Lady Grace since she was an infant of two and he but a boy of 10. The last memory Hunter had of Grace was of holding her and her biting him when he dropped her, so not a good beginning for either of them. Both children were orphaned, and Hunter spends the next 19 years rutting his way around the ton with his friends, the (mostly happily married) Lords of Vice. Finally, when time's almost up (he has to marry by a certain day or surrender his fortune to a much hated cousin) he decides to come fetch his bride, and as she has been left mouldering in the countryside while he has his fun, Grace is most unhappy with his Lordship.
Grace also has to get married by age 21 or else her inheritance will revert to a scheming, evil uncle. Hunter finds his bride in town, is smitten by her beauty, and is as determined to marry her as she is to cry off the engagement to marry someone else before her birthday.
Do I really need to summarize more? Can this get any more trite?
The plot is old and often used, the hero and heroine both equally unremarkable, he is a rake and she is a spirited beauty. There's all sorts of sinister characters behind the scenes like the scheming uncle and the plotting cousin, and your usual cast of lovable friends and reformed rakes and their wives rooting for the main couple and helping them behind the scenes. They help Hunter do something to Grace that I am not happy with at all. It turned Hunter from an usual rake to a complete asshole in my eyes, and lowered this book from an average book to one I would not recommend.
An altogether forgettable Regency.
The Duke of Huntsley (Hunter) has been engaged to Lady Grace since she was an infant of two and he but a boy of 10. The last memory Hunter had of Grace was of holding her and her biting him when he dropped her, so not a good beginning for either of them. Both children were orphaned, and Hunter spends the next 19 years rutting his way around the ton with his friends, the (mostly happily married) Lords of Vice. Finally, when time's almost up (he has to marry by a certain day or surrender his fortune to a much hated cousin) he decides to come fetch his bride, and as she has been left mouldering in the countryside while he has his fun, Grace is most unhappy with his Lordship.
Grace also has to get married by age 21 or else her inheritance will revert to a scheming, evil uncle. Hunter finds his bride in town, is smitten by her beauty, and is as determined to marry her as she is to cry off the engagement to marry someone else before her birthday.
Do I really need to summarize more? Can this get any more trite?
The plot is old and often used, the hero and heroine both equally unremarkable, he is a rake and she is a spirited beauty. There's all sorts of sinister characters behind the scenes like the scheming uncle and the plotting cousin, and your usual cast of lovable friends and reformed rakes and their wives rooting for the main couple and helping them behind the scenes. They help Hunter do something to Grace that I am not happy with at all. It turned Hunter from an usual rake to a complete asshole in my eyes, and lowered this book from an average book to one I would not recommend.
An altogether forgettable Regency.
June 17, 2018
This was much better....3.5
I always liked Hunter, our Duke Of Huntley and it was nice to see him finally get his girl. Our lady Grace sent him on a fine chase....
They were young when they were contracted to marry and Grace, fed up goes to London and sends him on a merry chase....
Somewhere though at the end, this book was rushed! In literally one chapter a whole host of things happen and remain unresolved. We didn’t even see the wedding......WTF?
This author might just not be for me. I’ve powered thru the series because it was recommended, but I just can’t with all the unanswered endings!
I’m actually glad to be at Frosts book. I’ll read it, but quite frankly, this series agitates me and it should be a joyous, romantic read......
It’s a it’s me not you thing, clearly.
I always liked Hunter, our Duke Of Huntley and it was nice to see him finally get his girl. Our lady Grace sent him on a fine chase....
They were young when they were contracted to marry and Grace, fed up goes to London and sends him on a merry chase....
Somewhere though at the end, this book was rushed! In literally one chapter a whole host of things happen and remain unresolved. We didn’t even see the wedding......WTF?
This author might just not be for me. I’ve powered thru the series because it was recommended, but I just can’t with all the unanswered endings!
I’m actually glad to be at Frosts book. I’ll read it, but quite frankly, this series agitates me and it should be a joyous, romantic read......
It’s a it’s me not you thing, clearly.
June 16, 2013
Nicolas Stuart Towers, Duke of Huntsley, and Lady Grace Kearly have been contractually betrothed for nineteen years. Hunter has done his best to ignore Grace and she has had enough. He can keep his contract, bed all the mistresses he wants, because she is going to find a husband and damn the consequences.
Hunter had decided he is the man Grace is going to marry to keep the contract that their grandparents agreed upon because honor among all other traits is one to be cherished. He may be seen as a Lord of Vice but he is truly a man that knows the right thing to do and Hunter must prove to Grace he has been neglectful of her but that is in the past.
Trying to court Grace is a challenge Hunter never anticipated and Grace is determined to lose him like dust on her shoes. Yes, Hunter is guilty of neglecting her but he also never expected to find himself falling in love with her. Grace has become the desire he must have, the passion he seeks in his life, and someone that has provided a reason to become a better man. Even with family objections, friends interference, and a lurking danger whatever steps must be taken Hunter will perform to obtain Grace as his duchess.
Alexandra Hawkins never lets a reader of historical romance forget how wonderful she is at creating characters with depth and a romance between them that brings a tear to your eye.
Hunter had decided he is the man Grace is going to marry to keep the contract that their grandparents agreed upon because honor among all other traits is one to be cherished. He may be seen as a Lord of Vice but he is truly a man that knows the right thing to do and Hunter must prove to Grace he has been neglectful of her but that is in the past.
Trying to court Grace is a challenge Hunter never anticipated and Grace is determined to lose him like dust on her shoes. Yes, Hunter is guilty of neglecting her but he also never expected to find himself falling in love with her. Grace has become the desire he must have, the passion he seeks in his life, and someone that has provided a reason to become a better man. Even with family objections, friends interference, and a lurking danger whatever steps must be taken Hunter will perform to obtain Grace as his duchess.
Alexandra Hawkins never lets a reader of historical romance forget how wonderful she is at creating characters with depth and a romance between them that brings a tear to your eye.
February 26, 2013
Excellent book 6 Lord of Vice, much better then 5. Loved Hunter and Grace together and there story. Just wish it was longer and ended to quick!
Looking forward to Frost book.
Looking forward to Frost book.
February 28, 2018
A more fitting title would have been "Abducted by an Abusive Arsehole" .
June 16, 2013
Story and Writing Style
Yikes. What the hell was that?... I lost my place in the series after the first three and read this one. Definitely not Hawkins’ best, to be sure. Was she being manacled to a certain word count? Did she rush to finish it due to an angry deadline? Whatever the deal, I feel like the story’s plot was strong, and it started off at a decent pace. Then about halfway through it was like someone hit fast forward. Several times I was left with my mind whirling, having to go back to read, wondering if I missed a page.
Lady Grace and the Duke of Huntsley were affianced since childhood, and Hunter refused to see her for the next nineteen years. So now he’s left to woo his bride when she shows up in London and demands to end the marriage contract and seek her own husband.
A grand plot point, indeed. What’s more, is Hunter decides to kidnap his bride-to-be for a hasty elopement to Gretna Green, with the assistance of a couple of the other Lords of Vice. A fake consummation is endured (THAT whole scene was ridiculous), only to be consummated for real within two pages of the ending. And then Grace wakes up in the middle of the night to an empty bed and the house on fire? And Hunter’s tied up? And they leave the house hand-in-hand and that’s it?! This did more than hint at a “part 2” tome, but there’s no indication of such. I do believe there is one more book in the series—Frost’s book—and we’ll see how this ends. I need to go back and read the other books that I carelessly passed up.
Ugh. Not Hawkins’ best work. It was a trite and exhausted tale that could have been sexy and fun. Instead, flat characters and hasty exposition made it more amusing…and not in a good way.
Characters
I suppose the intent was to have two equally stubborn leads, with Hunter coming to his senses and eventually acting like a gentleman. Grace, I’m assuming, was supposed to be strong. Especially if she packs up to move to London by herself. That takes gumption. But in the end, she’s just a mouse.
Sex
I felt that Hunter’s seduction attempts during their fake consummation were too brash. He seemed drunk and careless, and Grace wasn’t feisty enough to balance it. The actual sex several pages later wasn’t much better.
Yikes. What the hell was that?... I lost my place in the series after the first three and read this one. Definitely not Hawkins’ best, to be sure. Was she being manacled to a certain word count? Did she rush to finish it due to an angry deadline? Whatever the deal, I feel like the story’s plot was strong, and it started off at a decent pace. Then about halfway through it was like someone hit fast forward. Several times I was left with my mind whirling, having to go back to read, wondering if I missed a page.
Lady Grace and the Duke of Huntsley were affianced since childhood, and Hunter refused to see her for the next nineteen years. So now he’s left to woo his bride when she shows up in London and demands to end the marriage contract and seek her own husband.
A grand plot point, indeed. What’s more, is Hunter decides to kidnap his bride-to-be for a hasty elopement to Gretna Green, with the assistance of a couple of the other Lords of Vice. A fake consummation is endured (THAT whole scene was ridiculous), only to be consummated for real within two pages of the ending. And then Grace wakes up in the middle of the night to an empty bed and the house on fire? And Hunter’s tied up? And they leave the house hand-in-hand and that’s it?! This did more than hint at a “part 2” tome, but there’s no indication of such. I do believe there is one more book in the series—Frost’s book—and we’ll see how this ends. I need to go back and read the other books that I carelessly passed up.
Ugh. Not Hawkins’ best work. It was a trite and exhausted tale that could have been sexy and fun. Instead, flat characters and hasty exposition made it more amusing…and not in a good way.
Characters
I suppose the intent was to have two equally stubborn leads, with Hunter coming to his senses and eventually acting like a gentleman. Grace, I’m assuming, was supposed to be strong. Especially if she packs up to move to London by herself. That takes gumption. But in the end, she’s just a mouse.
Sex
I felt that Hunter’s seduction attempts during their fake consummation were too brash. He seemed drunk and careless, and Grace wasn’t feisty enough to balance it. The actual sex several pages later wasn’t much better.
February 14, 2016
Book Review of “Dusk with a Dangerous Duke” By Alexandra Hawkins
Lady Grace Kearly has already had her husband chosen for her at a young age. Lady Graces Grandfather and the Duke of Huntsley’s Grandmother had arranged for Lady Grace and the Duke of Huntsley to be married to each other by Lady Grace’s twenty first birthday.
Lady Grace has waited her whole life for the Duke of Huntsley to arrive and sweep her off her feet. Now, Twenty years later, he still has not arrived and Lady Grace is starting to wonder if the Duke of Huntsley will ever realize that is to marry her? Lady Grace has pretty much given up all hope of the Duke of Huntsley and has decided that she is going to marry someone else. She will be twenty one soon and if she does not marry, she will lose her inheritance and her Uncle will get it all.
While in London on a trip, Lady Grace is approached by a dashing young man, but Lady Grace has no idea that this dashing man is actually her husband to be, the Duke of Huntsley.
Tempers will fly when Hunter the Duke of Huntsley decides to kidnap his future bride and try and convince her once and for all that he is the man she is to marry. Will this feisty women decide to marry him and forgive him for not coming to see her in twenty years (while he was living it up with other women) when he should have been wooing her and sweeping her off her feet? Will The Duke of Huntsley and Lady Grace finally tie the knot, or will both of them go on their way and forget about each other? Find out what happens in this heart warming novel by Alexandra Hawkins.
Lady Grace Kearly has already had her husband chosen for her at a young age. Lady Graces Grandfather and the Duke of Huntsley’s Grandmother had arranged for Lady Grace and the Duke of Huntsley to be married to each other by Lady Grace’s twenty first birthday.
Lady Grace has waited her whole life for the Duke of Huntsley to arrive and sweep her off her feet. Now, Twenty years later, he still has not arrived and Lady Grace is starting to wonder if the Duke of Huntsley will ever realize that is to marry her? Lady Grace has pretty much given up all hope of the Duke of Huntsley and has decided that she is going to marry someone else. She will be twenty one soon and if she does not marry, she will lose her inheritance and her Uncle will get it all.
While in London on a trip, Lady Grace is approached by a dashing young man, but Lady Grace has no idea that this dashing man is actually her husband to be, the Duke of Huntsley.
Tempers will fly when Hunter the Duke of Huntsley decides to kidnap his future bride and try and convince her once and for all that he is the man she is to marry. Will this feisty women decide to marry him and forgive him for not coming to see her in twenty years (while he was living it up with other women) when he should have been wooing her and sweeping her off her feet? Will The Duke of Huntsley and Lady Grace finally tie the knot, or will both of them go on their way and forget about each other? Find out what happens in this heart warming novel by Alexandra Hawkins.
May 13, 2014
One reviewer summed up this book when she said that it had no romance, but abuse. I absolutely loathed the hero, who really behaved more like a villain. **SPOILERS AHEAD** After never visiting the heroine in the course of a 19 year betrothal, even upon the death of her grandparents, our hero expected her to agree to an immediate marriage once it became convenient for him. As part of his "wooing," he entered a fitting room while she was partially undressed, getting measurements taken, and physically accosted her. That scene did not inspire feelings of either love or lust, but just made me sick. The hero's friends repeatedly described him as an honorable man, even though none of his actions in the book were the least bit honorable. I started skimming after a few chapters, but completely gave up about two-thirds in when he drugged the heroine and kidnapped her to Gretna Green. I wanted to throw the bastard in jail or kill him. In fact, I found almost all of the characters in this book either unlikeable or weak. After the kidnapping, the hero had two of his male friends and one female friend accompany them to Gretna Green. Not one of the characters tried to stop the marriage or help the heroine. The heroine herself was hard to relate to and even though she went through token verbal protestations at her treatment throughout the book, she was one-dimensional, with little character development. There is also the matter of her falling in love with her abuser. The only person I liked in the story in spite of myself was Frost and I found myself wishing he were the main character.
June 5, 2013
I usually do the page 99 test when trying out a new author but this time around, I only did the flip the last few pages and thought that this book had promise. I mean, beaning of a baddie with a bedwarmer to rescue the hero? Sounds like game on, right?
Wrong.
You have a group of guys who call themselves Lords of Vice. You hope to have them be snarky and dissipated. What you get is a bunch of guys who get together and chitchat like Valley girls. WTF?
Urgh.
The heroine. I had so much hopes for someone who rescued the hero with a bedwarmer. But somehow she seems schizophrenic to me; alternating from innocent miss who loves her neglectful fiancee to I-will-marry-anyone-to-foil-my-uncle virago. I find it hard to reconcile someone who wants to preserve her inheritance at all cost by getting married before turning 21 would snub a ready-and-able fiancee in search of a mythical love match in a few week's time. It's not ... logical. Just make up your mind: do you want to preserve your inheritance or marry for love? Because the scenario simply paints that you can have one but not the other.
How to deal with such annoyance? I skipped pages till the end because dammit I paid good money to rent this book and Ima finish it.
Male protagonist: 1/5 stars
Female protagonist: 1/5 stars
Storyline: 2/5 stars
Pacing: 1/5 stars
Fun Factor: 1/5 stars
Repeat Reading Factor: 0/5 stars
Wrong.
You have a group of guys who call themselves Lords of Vice. You hope to have them be snarky and dissipated. What you get is a bunch of guys who get together and chitchat like Valley girls. WTF?
Urgh.
The heroine. I had so much hopes for someone who rescued the hero with a bedwarmer. But somehow she seems schizophrenic to me; alternating from innocent miss who loves her neglectful fiancee to I-will-marry-anyone-to-foil-my-uncle virago. I find it hard to reconcile someone who wants to preserve her inheritance at all cost by getting married before turning 21 would snub a ready-and-able fiancee in search of a mythical love match in a few week's time. It's not ... logical. Just make up your mind: do you want to preserve your inheritance or marry for love? Because the scenario simply paints that you can have one but not the other.
How to deal with such annoyance? I skipped pages till the end because dammit I paid good money to rent this book and Ima finish it.
Male protagonist: 1/5 stars
Female protagonist: 1/5 stars
Storyline: 2/5 stars
Pacing: 1/5 stars
Fun Factor: 1/5 stars
Repeat Reading Factor: 0/5 stars
March 10, 2013
Oh dear, what happened? Considering the previous 5 books were extremely enjoyable, this should have continued (especially because of Hunter!) It was an absolute face-plant of a book in that it was nothing like Ms Hawkins is capable of.
Hunter came across as arrogant, selfish and totally self-serving; Grace was presented as an innocent beauty (which was emphasised over and over and over again). OK, so she's beautiful: we accept that but it doesn't need ramming down our throats. And I was so disappointed with the fixation on Hunter's selfishness (which has NEVER shown in the previous books).
There was absolutely NO magic (or even mention) of them falling in love - and I'm not surprised! Hunter kidnaps Grace to get her to Gretna Green; he drugs her; and he forces her to marry him (after an off-page 2 hours of conversation). No, no, and no!!
Totally disappointed (but hopefully not disillusioned, because I want Frost's story to be brilliant!!)
Hunter came across as arrogant, selfish and totally self-serving; Grace was presented as an innocent beauty (which was emphasised over and over and over again). OK, so she's beautiful: we accept that but it doesn't need ramming down our throats. And I was so disappointed with the fixation on Hunter's selfishness (which has NEVER shown in the previous books).
There was absolutely NO magic (or even mention) of them falling in love - and I'm not surprised! Hunter kidnaps Grace to get her to Gretna Green; he drugs her; and he forces her to marry him (after an off-page 2 hours of conversation). No, no, and no!!
Totally disappointed (but hopefully not disillusioned, because I want Frost's story to be brilliant!!)
January 5, 2017
Uh....I'm not even sure how to review this one. Hunter, our hero is an ass and there wasn't a single redeemable quality to him (at least in my opinion). Grace could have done so much better had she gotten out of that marriage contract. Yet readers are to believe these two characters would somehow find their HEA. I couldn't buy it. Up until page 292 Hunter only saw Grace as an obligation he needed to fulfill in order to keep a promise to his Grandmother. He never tried to get to know Grace or make up for the fact that he neglected her for 19 years. Makes it kinda hard to believe his feelings he suddenly found were real.
March 12, 2013
Hmmm I was expecting this book to be very good but it disappointed me a little because I just felt there was no love development between the hero and heroine (well maybe the heroine because she waited for him for nine years) but the hero was just WHAT?!?! you just fell in love with her? Just like that? It was good at first and the middle but near the end of the middle to the end it felt rushed with no development for their love. So i was disappointed with that but the dialogue exchanges between them were good.
September 2, 2013
After enjoying the others in this series, I was expecting so much from this, there was a lot of potential but Hunter's was being such an arse truly and the story failed to captivate me ...hoping Frost's story tops this one!!
February 26, 2013
The start had a lot of promise but the end was just too easy for me. I'm hoping Frost's book is better.
March 13, 2020
3 Stars
April 2, 2013
Nicholas Stuart Towers, Duke of Huntsley, atau yang oleh sahabat2nya dikenal dengan Hunter, sudah ditunangkan dengan Lady Grace Kearly sejak dirinya berusia 12 tahun. apesnya saat itu sang tunangan baru berusia 2 tahun.
kenangan tak terlupakan saat pertama kali bertemu tunangan mungilnya adalah hunter digigit habis2an....xixixixixixixi.....
tidak ingin terikat, hunter menghindari sang tunangan selama 19 tahun.
hunter terus hidup di london, menjalani kehidupan yang diinginkannya sedang sang tunangan, Lady Grace, tinggal di Frethwell Hall, sendirian.
selama 19 tahun tidak sekalipun hunter menemui lady grace. alih2 hunter yang menemui, hunter malah rutin mengirim mr. porter, pengacara dirinya & sang nenek.
kini Lady Grace sebentar lagi berusia 21 tahun. Waktu yang diberikan sang nenek sudah mendekati titik penghabisan. itu artinya Hunter harus segera ke frethwell hall & segera meresmikan Lady Grace menjadi Duchess of Huntsley.
tapi tampaknya Lady Grace tidak sepatuh yang dibayangkan Hunter.
tiap kali Hunter mencoba menemui sang lady selalu tidak ada ditempat.
entah disengaja ataukah tidak yang pasti Hunter jadi jengkel sendiri.
pendapatnya ttg sang tunangan semakin buruk.
Sementara itu Grace yang mau tidak mau termakan hasutan sang paman juga orang2 disekitarnya tentang gaya hidup Duke Hunstley. Grace jadi berpendapat Hunter pasti ingin mengingkari janji dengan tidak menikahinya apalagi toh kakek Grace serta nenek sang duke sudah meninggal jadi tidak ada yang bisa memaksa sang duke menepati janji pernikahan mereka.
padahal Grace harus segera menikah sebelum berusia 21 tahun jika ingin membebaskan diri dari pengaruh sang paman yang tampaknya ingin menguasai harta warisan Grace.
sang paman tertarik dengan harta warisan grace yang berlimpah2.
well, hal itu harus diakui berkat hunter yang pintar mengelola warisan grace hingga membuatnya berlipat2 ganda, membuat grace sebagai heiress. tapi tetap saja si duke ga pernah menongolkan batang hidungnya 1x pun selama 19 tahun ini.
merasa terdesak akhirnya grace menemui Lady Netherly.
Lady Netherly ini adalah ibunda Vane.
Grace meminta Lady Netherly untuk membantunya membatalkan pertunangannya dengan Duke Of Huntley & membantu Grace mencari suami. toh pasti banyak pria2 potensial yang bisa menjadi suaminya.
rencana Grace langsung membuat Hunter yang tahu jadi marah.
bagaimana grace yang sudah punya tunangan bisa memiliki pemikiran ingin mencari suami lain??? yang benar saja.....
ah dasar Hunter nih....susyeh.... mau menang sendiri.
Grace pun diajak ke pesta2 & dikenalkan ke kalangan Ton. termasuk ke beberapa wanita muda cantik yg ramah yang ternyata adalah teman serta istri dari para sahabat Duke Of Hunstley.
dari mereka lah Grace tahu sang duke lebih dikenal dengan panggilan Hunter.
tidak hanya bertemu dengan teman2 wanita Hunter, Grace pun bertemu dengan Frost.
dasar Frost iseng, ga peduli Grace adalah tunangan Hunter eh Frost mencium Grace :D
wah minta ditinju lagi nih si Frost......
Hunter sendiri tidak berniat melepaskan Grace.
setelah bertemu Grace yang sudah dewasa Hunter semakin bertekad menjadikan Grace sebagai Duchess nya.
masalahnya Grace benar2 keras kepala. Grace menolak lamaran Hunter mentah2.
kabar pertunangan Hunter - Grace yang terancam bubar sampai ditelinga sepupu Hunter.
sepupu Hunter ini sejak kecil adalah saingan Hunter.
si nenek mengancam Hunter jika Hunter sampai tidak jadi menikah dengan Grace maka seluruh harta warisan akan jatuh ke tangan si sepupu.
jelas Hunter tidak sudi seluruh hartanya jatuh ke tangan si sepupu itu, enak aja....masa kerja keras Hunter bertahun2 harus jatuh ke tangan si sepupu.
Grace juga ga akan dibiarkan Hunter jatuh kedalam pesona si sepupu.
nah untungnya Grace dekat dengan Regan. jadi lumayanlah Regan mau membantu Hunter mendekati Grace.
eh si Hunter juga aneh2.
dapat kabar dari Regan kalo Regan & Grace akan berbelanja eh Hunter nyusul. termasuk nyusul ke ruang ganti saat Grace sedang dipas. jelas aja Grace teriak2.
Grace teriak2 Hunter cengar cengir....dasar Hunter uaneh2.....
usaha lain Hunter menjadikan Grace sebagai istrinya adalah dengan menculik Grace & membawanya ke Gretna Green.
ampun2 deh si Hunter.
si Hunter dengan liciknya memohon bantuan Regan untuk mengajak Grace piknik padahal Hunter punya rencana lain dari piknik tersebut.
dibantu Dare & Frost, Hunter membius Grace & membawa Grace ke Gretna Green.
Regan yang akhirnya tau rencana ke 3 orang tersebut jelas aja ngamuk2.
tapi Regan juga ga tega menggagalkan rencana Hunter.
toh Regan dari awal juga ingin Hunter & Grace bersatu.
hanya saja Regan ga akan membuat segalanya mulus2 saja pada Hunter.
sepanjang perjalanan Regan membuat Hunter sengsara.
Grace sendiri bukannya tidak suka dengan Hunter.
yahhhh Hunter bukan pria buruk rupa justru Hunter sangat tampan mempesona. & Hunter pun bisa memikat hati jika diinginkan.
& Hunter mengeluarkan segala daya pesonanya pada Grace.
Grace jelas saja yahhhh rada berbunga2 juga.
Grace juga sadar dia tidak bisa lagi melarang2 Hunter. toh Grace juga sebenarnya ingin menikah dengan Hunter. jadi biarlah Grace akan menuruti Hunter untuk menikah di Gretna Green.
Nahhhhhh lucunya nih, saat mo malam pengantin, baru serius2nya eh si paman datang menggedor2 pintu kamar Grace & Hunter....wkakakakakaka Hunter manyun berattttttttttt.....
udah gitu si paman ga nyadar bahaya didepan mata malah terus menghina2 termasuk menghina Regan.
wuihhhhh langsung Dare & Frost naik pitam.
Frost langsung setuju menjadi second man bagi Hunter dalam duel.
eh si paman ketakutan langsung ngacirrr
nih si paman belum pernah merasakan bogem para lords of vice nih.....
tapi halangan ga cuma datang dari si paman. ternyata sepupu Hunter masih tidak sudi melepaskan Hunter begitu saja.
dia menembak Hunter.....aduhhhhhhh......
yahhhh demi harta memang bisa membuat seseorang lupa diri & lupa segalanya termasuk hubungan keluarga.
yahhhh seru baca nih novel.
aq suka banget dengan Grace yang ga sudi langsung bertekuk lutut.
justru Grace menikmati melihat Hunter yang kalang kabut berusaha merebut hatinya.
Hunter memang pantas mendapatkan.
ih 19 tahun nyuekin apa ga bikin orang gondok tuhhhhh.....
aq juga suka banget dengan para sahabat Hunter beserta istri2 mereka yang menerima Grace dengan tangan terbuka.
bahkan Grace jadi bersahabat dengan Regan.
ah paling suka dengan Regan nih.......
pengen baca tentang Regan lagi.......
kenangan tak terlupakan saat pertama kali bertemu tunangan mungilnya adalah hunter digigit habis2an....xixixixixixixi.....
tidak ingin terikat, hunter menghindari sang tunangan selama 19 tahun.
hunter terus hidup di london, menjalani kehidupan yang diinginkannya sedang sang tunangan, Lady Grace, tinggal di Frethwell Hall, sendirian.
selama 19 tahun tidak sekalipun hunter menemui lady grace. alih2 hunter yang menemui, hunter malah rutin mengirim mr. porter, pengacara dirinya & sang nenek.
kini Lady Grace sebentar lagi berusia 21 tahun. Waktu yang diberikan sang nenek sudah mendekati titik penghabisan. itu artinya Hunter harus segera ke frethwell hall & segera meresmikan Lady Grace menjadi Duchess of Huntsley.
tapi tampaknya Lady Grace tidak sepatuh yang dibayangkan Hunter.
tiap kali Hunter mencoba menemui sang lady selalu tidak ada ditempat.
entah disengaja ataukah tidak yang pasti Hunter jadi jengkel sendiri.
pendapatnya ttg sang tunangan semakin buruk.
Sementara itu Grace yang mau tidak mau termakan hasutan sang paman juga orang2 disekitarnya tentang gaya hidup Duke Hunstley. Grace jadi berpendapat Hunter pasti ingin mengingkari janji dengan tidak menikahinya apalagi toh kakek Grace serta nenek sang duke sudah meninggal jadi tidak ada yang bisa memaksa sang duke menepati janji pernikahan mereka.
padahal Grace harus segera menikah sebelum berusia 21 tahun jika ingin membebaskan diri dari pengaruh sang paman yang tampaknya ingin menguasai harta warisan Grace.
sang paman tertarik dengan harta warisan grace yang berlimpah2.
well, hal itu harus diakui berkat hunter yang pintar mengelola warisan grace hingga membuatnya berlipat2 ganda, membuat grace sebagai heiress. tapi tetap saja si duke ga pernah menongolkan batang hidungnya 1x pun selama 19 tahun ini.
merasa terdesak akhirnya grace menemui Lady Netherly.
Lady Netherly ini adalah ibunda Vane.
Grace meminta Lady Netherly untuk membantunya membatalkan pertunangannya dengan Duke Of Huntley & membantu Grace mencari suami. toh pasti banyak pria2 potensial yang bisa menjadi suaminya.
rencana Grace langsung membuat Hunter yang tahu jadi marah.
bagaimana grace yang sudah punya tunangan bisa memiliki pemikiran ingin mencari suami lain??? yang benar saja.....
ah dasar Hunter nih....susyeh.... mau menang sendiri.
Grace pun diajak ke pesta2 & dikenalkan ke kalangan Ton. termasuk ke beberapa wanita muda cantik yg ramah yang ternyata adalah teman serta istri dari para sahabat Duke Of Hunstley.
dari mereka lah Grace tahu sang duke lebih dikenal dengan panggilan Hunter.
tidak hanya bertemu dengan teman2 wanita Hunter, Grace pun bertemu dengan Frost.
dasar Frost iseng, ga peduli Grace adalah tunangan Hunter eh Frost mencium Grace :D
wah minta ditinju lagi nih si Frost......
Hunter sendiri tidak berniat melepaskan Grace.
setelah bertemu Grace yang sudah dewasa Hunter semakin bertekad menjadikan Grace sebagai Duchess nya.
masalahnya Grace benar2 keras kepala. Grace menolak lamaran Hunter mentah2.
kabar pertunangan Hunter - Grace yang terancam bubar sampai ditelinga sepupu Hunter.
sepupu Hunter ini sejak kecil adalah saingan Hunter.
si nenek mengancam Hunter jika Hunter sampai tidak jadi menikah dengan Grace maka seluruh harta warisan akan jatuh ke tangan si sepupu.
jelas Hunter tidak sudi seluruh hartanya jatuh ke tangan si sepupu itu, enak aja....masa kerja keras Hunter bertahun2 harus jatuh ke tangan si sepupu.
Grace juga ga akan dibiarkan Hunter jatuh kedalam pesona si sepupu.
nah untungnya Grace dekat dengan Regan. jadi lumayanlah Regan mau membantu Hunter mendekati Grace.
eh si Hunter juga aneh2.
dapat kabar dari Regan kalo Regan & Grace akan berbelanja eh Hunter nyusul. termasuk nyusul ke ruang ganti saat Grace sedang dipas. jelas aja Grace teriak2.
Grace teriak2 Hunter cengar cengir....dasar Hunter uaneh2.....
usaha lain Hunter menjadikan Grace sebagai istrinya adalah dengan menculik Grace & membawanya ke Gretna Green.
ampun2 deh si Hunter.
si Hunter dengan liciknya memohon bantuan Regan untuk mengajak Grace piknik padahal Hunter punya rencana lain dari piknik tersebut.
dibantu Dare & Frost, Hunter membius Grace & membawa Grace ke Gretna Green.
Regan yang akhirnya tau rencana ke 3 orang tersebut jelas aja ngamuk2.
tapi Regan juga ga tega menggagalkan rencana Hunter.
toh Regan dari awal juga ingin Hunter & Grace bersatu.
hanya saja Regan ga akan membuat segalanya mulus2 saja pada Hunter.
sepanjang perjalanan Regan membuat Hunter sengsara.
Grace sendiri bukannya tidak suka dengan Hunter.
yahhhh Hunter bukan pria buruk rupa justru Hunter sangat tampan mempesona. & Hunter pun bisa memikat hati jika diinginkan.
& Hunter mengeluarkan segala daya pesonanya pada Grace.
Grace jelas saja yahhhh rada berbunga2 juga.
Grace juga sadar dia tidak bisa lagi melarang2 Hunter. toh Grace juga sebenarnya ingin menikah dengan Hunter. jadi biarlah Grace akan menuruti Hunter untuk menikah di Gretna Green.
Nahhhhhh lucunya nih, saat mo malam pengantin, baru serius2nya eh si paman datang menggedor2 pintu kamar Grace & Hunter....wkakakakakaka Hunter manyun berattttttttttt.....
udah gitu si paman ga nyadar bahaya didepan mata malah terus menghina2 termasuk menghina Regan.
wuihhhhh langsung Dare & Frost naik pitam.
Frost langsung setuju menjadi second man bagi Hunter dalam duel.
eh si paman ketakutan langsung ngacirrr
nih si paman belum pernah merasakan bogem para lords of vice nih.....
tapi halangan ga cuma datang dari si paman. ternyata sepupu Hunter masih tidak sudi melepaskan Hunter begitu saja.
dia menembak Hunter.....aduhhhhhhh......
yahhhh demi harta memang bisa membuat seseorang lupa diri & lupa segalanya termasuk hubungan keluarga.
yahhhh seru baca nih novel.
aq suka banget dengan Grace yang ga sudi langsung bertekuk lutut.
justru Grace menikmati melihat Hunter yang kalang kabut berusaha merebut hatinya.
Hunter memang pantas mendapatkan.
ih 19 tahun nyuekin apa ga bikin orang gondok tuhhhhh.....
aq juga suka banget dengan para sahabat Hunter beserta istri2 mereka yang menerima Grace dengan tangan terbuka.
bahkan Grace jadi bersahabat dengan Regan.
ah paling suka dengan Regan nih.......
pengen baca tentang Regan lagi.......
March 3, 2018
The synopsis was sooo good and the execution was sooo bad! The saving 'grace' of this book was GRACE, the heroine! She was smart, she was determined, she was hopeful. And the hero didn't deserve her in the slightest. Hero was beyond lazy. I get that he put marriage on the back burner considering he'd been engaged since he was a child. But he was dismissive, arrogant, selfish and couldn't be bothered to try to court his betrothed, instead he drugged her and forced an elopement on her. That's when I was out. He 'loved' her all of a sudden, she 'loved' him since she saw his portrait....unbelievable on all fronts. And the actual excitement that came in at the end fell flat and wasn't enough to save the story overall. Second Lords of Vice I've read and my last.
April 21, 2020
Another disappointment. Though All Night With A Rogue was soap-opera-ish, at least it had a riveting first meeting and the chemistry/sexual tension between hero and heroine was still there. In this book, though the sexual tention is present, it is unclear how the hero falls in love with the heroine. He avoids marrying her for years and then suddenly it is imperative that he does (because of family honor?) but he still is unhappy with the loss of freedom. Good thing she’s beautiful and sexy so he desires her, and courts and cajoles her…and then suddenly he loves her. What? Ms. Hawkins’s writing for this series is inconsistent. It is appearing that After Dark With A Scoundrel is the exception rather than the norm.
March 9, 2025
Betrothed as children, Hunter ignores Lady Grace and never even meets her. As she approaches her 21st birthday, Grace decends on London to break the betrothal and move on with her life.
Hunter was selfish and self righteous, only wanting Grace when she tries to dump him. No real chemistry between them and a rather dislike able hero.
Writing is disjointed and lacks throughlines. In the end, Hunter and his friends kidnap Grace to force a marriage, her evil uncle tries to kidnap her and suddenly they love eachother. No real characters, nor relationship development.
I have not read any of the other books in the series so all the side characters were lost on me.
Meh.
Hunter was selfish and self righteous, only wanting Grace when she tries to dump him. No real chemistry between them and a rather dislike able hero.
Writing is disjointed and lacks throughlines. In the end, Hunter and his friends kidnap Grace to force a marriage, her evil uncle tries to kidnap her and suddenly they love eachother. No real characters, nor relationship development.
I have not read any of the other books in the series so all the side characters were lost on me.
Meh.
May 29, 2025
Meh
I didn't really care for this one. The ending was badly wrapped up and rushed. There was minimal romance. Grace and Hunter's declaration of love at the end was not believable. I found Hunter to be a selfish arrogant bully. Grace was a lovely character and I felt really bad for how she was treated by Hunter since the age of 2. Even though he felt bad, he never really gives a sincere apology to Grace and she never requires it.
All in all, I would not read this one unless you're interested in reading all of the Lord's Of Vice books.
A.H. could have done a much better job considering the other stories.
I didn't really care for this one. The ending was badly wrapped up and rushed. There was minimal romance. Grace and Hunter's declaration of love at the end was not believable. I found Hunter to be a selfish arrogant bully. Grace was a lovely character and I felt really bad for how she was treated by Hunter since the age of 2. Even though he felt bad, he never really gives a sincere apology to Grace and she never requires it.
All in all, I would not read this one unless you're interested in reading all of the Lord's Of Vice books.
A.H. could have done a much better job considering the other stories.
February 22, 2020
Would have gotten 5 if not for the rushed kidnapping and forced marriage at Gretna Green. It was smooth sailing until the ML jumped the gun and everything devolved quickly. It felt forced and at that point out of character for everyone. The last minute fire was also super rushed. Discovering the uncle murdered the FL parents one after the other then making it look like he tried to shoot them while it was actually the cousin all in the last 30ish pages of a 300+ page book was way to fast and just added on at the end. Otherwise it was an okay novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2025
3.5 Stars, the verdict is Out.
Did not really care for this story. Even though it had all of my historical romance preferences, such as a Duke and ballroom intrigues , it was not sexy enough for me. Only one sex scene is not a dangerous Duke. Still love this series thus far Lady Alexandra.
Did not really care for this story. Even though it had all of my historical romance preferences, such as a Duke and ballroom intrigues , it was not sexy enough for me. Only one sex scene is not a dangerous Duke. Still love this series thus far Lady Alexandra.
October 16, 2017
Out of the whole series thus far this was my least fave! It was lacking a whole lot! I felt it was rushed and way too short! So many unanswered questions and just upset she was forced into so many situations! I really hope the next one is better!!
April 26, 2020
Hunter is a bit of a dick. This is my least favorite " Lords of Vice story.
This book states that Hunter rarely mentions his betrothed in the past, yet books 1-5 have him lamenting his situation over and over and over...smh
This book states that Hunter rarely mentions his betrothed in the past, yet books 1-5 have him lamenting his situation over and over and over...smh
December 9, 2020
I was so disappointed with the story. I felt Ms. Hawkins just wanted to get the story done. There were a lot of things that did not make sense in the story. The story had potential but there no heart to the story.
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