The Way to a Duke's Heart

The Truth About the Duke #3

by Caroline Linden

Historical romance readers can’t wait to learn The Truth about the Duke, Caroline Linden’s wonderful series about three English brothers on a quest to restore their family name, seek their fortunes, and find true love. The Way to a Duke’s Heart is the thrilling final chapter, as a charming, pleasure-seeking nobleman takes on the serious business of uncovering a blackmailer, and enlists the help of a beautiful, no-nonsense businesswoman who, against her better judgment, finds herself falling for the rake. A RITA Award-nominated author who, as Julia Quinn says, “touches every emotion,” Caroline Linden once again demonstrates why she is a true fan favorite, especially for those who adore the exciting romantic adventures of  Liz Carlyle and Elizabeth Boyle.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 12, 2012

About the author

Caroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University and worked as a programmer in the financial services industry before realizing writing fiction is much more exciting than writing code. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Readers' Choice Award, the JNRW Golden Leaf, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA's RITA Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England.

Sign up at http://www.carolinelinden.com/signup.... to get notified about her books and receive a free short story exclusively for subscribers.

Reviews

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way to a Duke’s Heart is the final book in the The Truth About the Duke trilogy and a fun, charming story. Scandal, mystery, romance and blackmail make up this tale, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Charles de Lacey, Lord Gresham, is running out of time, running from his responsibilities, and running from love.

Destined to be a duke, Charles de Lacey has led a life of decadent pleasure, free of any care for propriety or responsibility. It comes as a terrible shock to learn that he might be stripped of everything, thanks to his father's scandalous past. He has no choice but to find the blackmailer who would ruin him—and his only link to the villain is a woman who may be part of the plot…

To save his fortune and title, he vows he'll stop at nothing—in fact, he's all too eager to unravel the beautiful, tart-tongued Tessa Neville. She intrigues him and tempts him like no other lady ever has. With only his heart to guide him, and keenly aware that his entire future is at stake, Charles must decide: is she the woman of his dreams, or an enemy in disguise.

This is my first taste of Caroline Linden’s writing and a truly pleasant experience. The characters, their lives and circumstances, kept me invested and wanting to know more about them, especially the scandal surrounding Charles’ rightful – or not – claim to the Dukedom.

And speaking of Charles, I found him to be clever, insightful, immensely charming, and most definitely sexy, too! But aside from all this, I think what I loved most about him were his insecurities and uncertainties because they made him an imperfect hero, one I wanted to bring home and love until he could see in himself the man that I saw in him! Charismatic, flawed, honorable and sexy... Charles is the kind of hero I love in my historical romance reads.

Tessa is a truly great heroine, one I felt connected to early on. Unconventional, independent, compassionate and loving, she might have been stubborn but she was never annoying – okay, maybe occasionally annoying, but nothing I couldn’t cope with! She felt deep love for her family, and shame for what she had put them through, and so she spent her life trying to prove herself and win back their respect. I loved this about her! She didn't whimper and whine about the things that had happened. There was no “Woe is me!” simpering. She knew what had to be done and then set about putting everything to rights, thus restoring her family’s faith in her! Though I have to say, I'm not entirely sure she had ever truly lost it.

In addition to the wonderful leading couple, there was an awesome supporting cast, but my favorite was Tessa’s clever, elderly companion, Eugenie, who stole the show a time or two.

Before closing, I want to reiterate - Although this is the third book of the trilogy, it really does work well as a standalone. Ms. Linden did a fabulous job giving us the back-story without it feeling forced or dictated. That said, I will most definitely be reading the prequel, I Love the Earl and the first two full length novels, One Night in London and Blame it on Bath, and look forward to reading more by this very talented author!

The bottom line: While there were areas the story lagged a bit, The Way to a Duke's Heart is a brilliant work of twists and turns that never felt contrived or predictable. I’m very impressed that, although I hadn’t read the first two books, I never felt lost or as if I had missed something. The relationship and the romance built at a comfortable pace and I found myself cheering for Charles’ and Tessa’s happily ever after and, when they reached it, knowing it was a love meant to be.

3.5/5 stars

This book was read as part of the The Way to a Duke's Heart Buddy Read in the Happily Ever After Cafe here on Goodreads. Stop by and see what others are saying!

My thanks to HarperCollins/Avon Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

And there you have it. The end to a perfect series where I gave all installments 5 stars. I’m not sure that’s ever happened to me. I just loved settling into this series and seeing the different facets of each brother. This book is a lot gentler than the others and less steamy, but no less satisfying. It’s funny, but while this brother was painted as the least capable, I thought he was the only one who asked the right questions to really uncover the truth. Yes he made mistakes in his youth that should not have poisoned the last bit of time he had with his father but at the same time he showed a lot of growth and a new outlook at the end.

Tessa was a fun character. I liked her slight prickle and her direct manner. The only slight niggle I had was how she lost faith at the end for a little bit. But hey it yielded a lovely proposal from Charlie so it’s all good.

The older Companion, Eugenie, is also a delight. It’s
Not often you get an older, dependent relation who adds so much to the story.

Also, the mystery does get solved here. My overall guess was right but the added details were intriguing.

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine

(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )

Should I read in order?
It’s not totally necessary but I think if you can, yes. There is a series long mystery going on that slowly builds about the brother’s father being a bigamist. Though, most of the detective work happens in this novel.

Basic plot:
Charles is ready to fight for his dukedom and it leads him to Frome where he meets the intriguing Tessa Neville.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1810)
- Frome setting (near Bath?)
- Working together to solve a mystery
- Heroine does the leg work/financial aspect for investing for her brother – in this book she’s looking into a canal/lock venture
- A touch of class difference feel – the hero is a duke and the heroine is a sister of a Viscount but there is a lot of talk and doubt about her being ‘worthy’
- Medium steam – 3 scenes I counted, it is a touch smushed together though

Ages:
- Heroine is not yet 30, hero I didn’t catch his age, but he must be in his 30s because the youngest brother I have at 28 years old. (And this hero is the eldest of 3)

My thoughts:
I just thought this one was all right. It felt to me it was more focused on the mystery here and the relationship wasn’t front and center. There were some separation while they each worked on their own things. And *whine whine * I just like what I like in romance and I didn’t get what I wanted here.

It’s definitely not a bad book but I tend to get bored with mystery aspects and I did here. I thought the book was over repeatedly but it kept going on for 20% more and I was just really, really ready for it to be done.

I will say I did like Charles growth over the course of the series. I didn’t like him AT ALL when I started book 1, so it was nice to see him find his own place in life. (another reason to read in order for this one). And I did like Tessa. There was some humor and steam and it was..pleasant. I was also bored in parts. I don’t think would reread this one but I’m so proud of myself for completing a whole series haha.

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:


“I want you. You satisfy me very much. I want you pouring over my books, telling me when the under butler is siphoning off funds meant for coal. I want you telling me what bonds and shares to purchase, but quietly so my brother will think I’ve become a financial genius overnight. I want you beneath me in bed at night, telling me when you ride you harder and digging your nails into my shoulders. I want you looking at me as you’re doing now, as if I’ve lost my mind and you must be especially gentle and kind to me.”



Content warnings:

- Remembrance of a manipulative relationship where the heroine was taken advantage of
- Infidelity – the hero sleeps with his old crush when she’s married and she becomes pregnant and they don’t know if it’s his kid or the husbands
-


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

4% - kiss with another woman
47% - kiss
55% - 🔥 kisses, missionary
61% - kisses, oral for her that fades
64% - 🔥 doggy style
73% - 🔥 outdoor standing sex against the old mill

[Sammy Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay!

Charlie finally grows up and starts acting like a man and taking care of his responsibilities. Through some self reflection he realizes he's been an immature jack ass. And he actually apologizes and acknowledges his wrongs.

Oh, and the mystery behind the blackmailer is solved.

My least favorite of the series, but still a solid 3 star read!

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“And the realization that she cared for him, not for his title, struck him like a blow to the chest. He wanted to make her happy forever. He wanted to see her look at him this way for the rest of his life. She saw him as he was, and admired him all the same.”

Caroline Linden is one of my go-to HR authors and this book didn’t disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters, romance, and element of mystery.

— opposites attract
— duke/viscount’s daughter
— rake/industrious businesswoman
— slow burn
— mystery

Tessa Neville is a spirited viscount’s daughter. She’s fiercely independent and manages her brother’s investments and estate.

Charles de Lacey is the earl of Gresham and Duke of Durham. The eldest of three brothers, he’s a consummate rake.

Plot
Tessa travels to Bath with her companion to meet Mr. Scott, who is promoting an investment opportunity which her brother is considering. Charlie is on the hunt for a man who is blackmailing his family and threatening his claim to the dukedom. He suspects Mr. Scott of being the blackmailer and goes to Bath to confront him. Charlie meets Tessa when they end up staying in the same hotel.

Romance
This is a delicious slow burn, opposites attract romance. Tessa is full of scorn for Charlie when she meets him, judging him to be an indolent rake. She is wary of charming, handsome men having been badly burnt in the past. Charlie, on the other hand, is intrigued by the prickly and brusque Tessa. She’s not impressed by him nor does she flirt. In fact, she does everything she can to avoid him. But as Charlie’s help prevents Tessa from making a bad investment, her opinion of him changes. She realizes that there’s more to him than meets the eye and falls for him. Their chemistry is strong and I love their emotional connection. Charlie helps Tessa laugh and lighten up, while her analytical mind helps him with his investigation and claim to the title. They are perfect foils for each other.

Steam-o-meter
Steamy. Four full length love scenes.

[Lady Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five plus stars! Caroline Linden has pulled off a hat trick – all three volumes of The Truth About the Duke series are first rate.

The series revolves around the de Lacey brothers – Charlie, the indolent, rakish heir; Edward, the dutiful, serious-minded son; and Gerard, the devil-may-care veteran of the Napoleonic wars. Their father, the Duke of Durham, has left a death-bed confession detailing his youthful marriage to an actress, which means that the duke’s marriage to the brothers’ mother may have been bigamous and that the brothers are in fact penniless bastards. A blackmailer was plaguing the duke with anonymous letters in the year before his death, and the mystery running through the series involves their efforts to find out the truth about the duke. Edward first takes charge, as he always has, and hires lawyers to investigate the facts and fight it out before Parliament (One Night in London). Gerard (Blame It on Bath) gallops off to find and kill the blackmailer. Along the way, they meet and marry their wives, settling down in domestic bliss and leaving Charlie to finally solve the mystery and claim his title.

I must pause here to compliment the author on her masterful first chapter of this book. She tells the entire backstory, as well as the moving story of Charlie’s growing up, in this chapter, and it is brilliantly done. Too often, a series author starts out with an info dump designed to catch up the reader who may not have read the earlier volumes. At the other extreme, there is a paucity of information, which leaves the frustrated reader wondering “who?” or “what?” Ms. Linden avoids both extremes here, and by the end of the first chapter the reader is fully engaged in the story. (As a result, this book works very well as a stand alone, but the entire series is so delightful that I recommend reading it in order.)

Left with no other option, Charlie sobers up and reluctantly sets out to find and confront the blackmailer. He’s not too optimistic, though, as he’s never really accomplished anything worthwhile. Mainly he’s devoted himself to living up to his father’s opinion of him as a worthless fribble.

Charlie’s pursuit takes him to the York Hotel in Bath, where he accidentally learns that Tessa Neville, a fellow guest, is somehow connected to Hiram Scott, the suspected blackmailer. A suspicious Charlie uses his considerable charm to inveigle Tessa’s elderly companion and thereby meet Tessa. Tessa has no use for Charlie; she views him as just another arrogant, useless, pampered aristocrat. Tessa, a widow in her late twenties, is an unusual woman, who applies her common sense and business acumen to managing her viscount brother’s affairs. She has come to Bath to investigate a proposed canal, run by Hiram Scott, in which her brother is considering investing, and she has no time or inclination to become captivated by Charlie. He, on the other hand, becomes captivated by her, even as he remains wary that she may somehow be involved in the blackmail scheme.

Charlie follows Tessa to the village of Frome, where he feigns an interest in the canal in order to meet Hiram Scott. Gradually, Charlie and Tessa become friends, then allies, and finally lovers. But all does not go smoothly, and both Charlie and Tessa must weather some rough patches before finding their HEA. Charlie learns that he needs a woman like Tessa, who will stand by him and bring out the best in him, and Tessa needs a confident man like Charlie who will respect her intelligence and let her make the most of her talents. Theirs is a wonderful, romantic partnership.

Does Charlie find the answers he needs to retain his title? I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say that Ms. Linden devises a clever, believable series of twists that satisfactorily resolve the mystery.

I have only two criticisms. The first third or so of this book drags on a bit too long. I became quite impatient for something to happen by the time Charlie and Tessa got to Frome. Second, after a few days in Frome, Tessa does something so unexpected and shocking that my jaw literally dropped. There is simply no explanation for her behavior, no interior monologue that would have explained her motivation for such a rash and uncharacteristic act. These are mere bumps along the way, however, and I still give this book a five-star rating.

Heartfelt thanks to Avon and Edleweiss for the chance to read an ARC of this book.

[Luana ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than the second of the series but less than the first. All my complaints about the series are inconsequential, I believe. So I am just being silly.

First. I have never read a series where all heroines are old. Nowadays 30 isn't old but back when 15-17 were the marriageble age, 30 is ancient. I think the writer could have mixed things up.

Second. What is up with all the widows? I hated that fact. It truly bothered me that I read 3 books where all of them were widows. There's a twist to this heroine's widow hood, but she is still a widow. Still with "freedom", still not a set of rules... I just wanted one of them to be "normal".

Third. I don't like when all brothers or friends in the series all marry in a matter of months. In this case in 2 months I believe, they were all married. Things don't happen like that. I understand that they were all searching to solve a big problem and found someone in the course of it, but it sounds so unrealistic.

Fourth. There was no family interaction and that is not attractive in a series to me. The heroines never even met each other. Never even said each other's name.

This book was good, I liked the hero, thought him quite nice in learning with his errors and asking for forgiveness. His errors were youthful and let's say, expected when paired with arrogance.

I enjoyed how the problem was gradually taking shape and we started understanding the truth about the Duke and why they were in that situation in the first place, I thought it quite realistic and unexpected but at the same time expected, you know? No, I think only if you read the book you will understand what I mean.

I enjoyed more the mystery/problem than the romance itself. The only romance that I was amazed about was the first book and so I was extremely disappointed that in the epilogue there was not even mention of Edward. It makes no sense to me to have a series not ending with a mention of all the people involved. But okay.

PS: if you're looking for romance, I wouldn't recommend this series. But the first book was so wonderful that I highly recommend that one. But if you're a curious person and want to solve a problem and put the puzzle together, I recommend this series. It all comes down to personal preference.

3.5 stars.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is third (and last) in a series with a frame story that has been a big part of the plot throughout. The other brothers have carried out their individual investigations pretty independently, however, so you don't really need to read in order. Frankly, this one is better than both on a strictly plot basis so starting here wouldn't serve you ill.

Well crap. I just realized I hadn't reviewed this and I finished it weeks ago. It's a good conclusion to the mystery through line. Indeed, this book benefited greatly from nearing wrap up because that allowed the actual plot to take some more serious thought and time and since Charles is the most nearly connected (as the one who'd lose the dukedom) that makes a lot of sense emotionally as well as plot-wise.

And I ended up liking Charles and his character arc learning to overcome his indolent past and to care about things (and take effective action to get what he wants). And Tessa was interesting, too, with her self-confidence and determination and business ability. I think a lot of the conflict arising from her inertia worked against the story, but my memories are too vague to be more specific than that. I do recall that there's more than a little anachronistic women's rights thrown in, but that's not really a detriment in the story, I don't think.

Anyway, I recall liking it well-enough that I'm going to call it four stars. That may be a generous rounding, but letting writing the review languish wasn't really a function of how much I did or didn't like the story.

A note about Steamy: Yeah, like I remember details. There was explicit sex. About the same as others in the series? Sigh...

[Joanna Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

July 2019
Bringing this back up to 5 stars. Really enjoyed it this time. Charlie’s journey in this is quite compelling.

August 2017
I still really liked this book, but I decided to drop a star because I do think it is the weakest in the series. I like both the hero and heroine, but they don't stand out as unique as the first two novels in this series. They are a popular type of pairing for this genre, an indolent Duke and a clever pragmatic heroine. It is a pairing that I tend to enjoy, and Linden, as per usual, does it well. NOTE: this is the conclusion of a highly-connected series. Character development and story build with each novel, and they should be read in order. While the heroine is not met until this novel, there is a transformation by the end of the series of the Duke.

Linden has a wonderful way of making a story that belongs in the past, relatable and relevant to modern day. I love the canal project and presentation. The challenges with budgets, perception, schedules and making it work were very interesting to me and applicable to projects today. I also loved the human nature and relationship dynamics of this section. Tessa struggles with being a woman in a man's world while she considers the rationale of investing in the canal project felt authentic as well, and (I hate to say it) applicable to today in many ways. I really enjoyed this part of the story, BUT I do think many would find it dull.

The romance was sweet and well-done. These two are perfect for each other. Lovely book, lovely series.

[Lady Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, narrator Gildart Jackson brings life to Caroline Linden's characters -- here the indolent Charlie and his perfect match, the uber-competent Tessa. For more detail, my review of the Kindle edition is here.

I do recommend listening to a sample before purchasing any of the audiobooks in this series, as some reviewers do not like Mr. Jackson's narration style. I agree that he has a couple of annoying verbal tics -- he sometimes lapses into Speaking . . . Very . . . Slowly . . . Emphasizing . . . Every . . . Word. It's overly dramatic, and he needs a good director to call him on it. He also has some difficulty with female voices; too many times they all sound like aging dowagers.

Nevertheless, he has a beautiful, rich voice, with an elegant accent, and he did an outstanding job giving each brother a distinct voice appropriate to their personalities. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three volumes of this audiobook series.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles de Lacey, Earl of Gresham, has grown up knowing his duty is to be the duke one day and when someone threatens his families claim to the title, he sets about to find out the truth. Surely is moral, uptight father wasn't married before his own mother, therefore disclaiming Charlie and his brothers? After all, his father prevented Charlie from marry a 'nobody' and it changed his relationship with him forever. He turned into a scoundrel and enjoyed life and left the estate running to his brother and almost disregarded his fathers claims but his brothers force him to take charge of his own life. After all, it is Charlie's dukedom, not theirs. Upon his travels to meet the man that mailed the blackmail letters, he meets a most intriguing young lady, Tessa Neville. When it becomes clear that Tessa knows the supposed blackmailer, he befriends her and follows her about the countryside to meet this man and determine if Tessa is in any way involved. But Tessa slowly slides her way into every aspect of Charlie's life, leaving him wanting her forever but Tessa, just a common young woman, knows that she will never be good enough to be a duchess. Can Charlie discover the truth about his father's past and at the same time, finally find some peace and happiness he has longed for with Tessa?

Finally, the long awaited conclusion to the Durham Dilemma! I was very pleased with how the whole mystery aspect turned out. It had a couple little twists that I wasn't expecting (well, I didn't know what to expect truthfully lol) and I also liked that it was not an over-the-top conclusion. I enjoyed watching the romance bloom between Charlie and Tessa. Tessa was so much fun to read--she is smart (she is investigating whether to invest in a new canal system being built), strong, confident and not afraid to speak her mind. This is a bit of an amusement to Charlie since everyone always treats him with a bit of reverence due to a future duke. Tessa stands up to him but also relies on him when help is needed. I also liked Charlie's back story and watching him transform from a scoundrel to a man deeply in love and doing whatever it takes to win her heart. Overall, a very solid conclusion to a very enjoyable series. I was a bit bogged down by the telling of inner thoughts versus showing more of those thoughts through more conversation, which I personally just prefer more of. However, Caroline Linden has made me a fan of hers through this series and I look forward to what she comes up with next! Recommended for fans of strong, intelligent heroines paired with a hero who is bent on finding the truth and stumbles headlong into love mixed with a mystery that will keep you guessing. 4 stars

eARC provided by Avon via edelweiss.com

[Lady Nilambari Reads HR · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Finally, the truth is out!

The ducal household of the de Lacey family is in shock, not only because the old duke has passed away, but a devastating secret has come to light, one that of his first marriage sans divorce. The de Lacey children might be illegitimate, their inheritance in question, and with a blackmailer afoot threatening to reveal all to create a scandal of the century.

Plot Summary
It's up to Charles, Lord Gresham, heir to the Duke of Durham, to take over the investigation into the blackmail since he is the one who will gain or lose everything. Charlie knows the name of the man who sent the letters thanks to Gerard. Perchance, an overheard conversation offers him the best lead, and he has no compunction in following it, especially if it comes in form of a beautiful woman who seems to dislike the very idea of him. Tessa Neville hates smooth-talking devils and charming rakes. She is on a business errand and has no time to indulge in social niceties. So why won’t Lord Gresham leave her and her companion alone? In the little village, with nothing else to do, proximity can lead to a lot of things, in this case, the way to a Duke’s heart.

Quick Review
- I liked this story, it was a good conclusion to the mystery. Unfortunately, it was not as great as I had expected it to be.
- The descriptive writing style took away from the central plot. Nothing noteworthy happened till about halfway mark thus making it a slow read for me. (It rarely takes me 3 days to finish a book.)
- The bloody truth about the duke, which was supposed to be a big bang was nought but a whimper. It ended up being about Charlie, not Francis. All of it was based on supposition and a rumour which the blackmailer hoped would hit the mark, which it did without any real repercussion.
- Majority of the story was dedicated to unnecessary and uninteresting things, annoying side characters and subplots which led nowhere. The canal nonsense, (though it was historically accurate and informative, it was also boring), the charming of the companion, Tessa's family, all of it made the book really long...

What I Liked
- The romance was beautiful. I liked these two together. Their intellectual chemistry was engaging and the steam was a slow burn.
- The character development was a big plus, especially Charlie. His story gave a lot of insight into the way he is. It made him look petty little rich heir initially, but that changed quickly. Charlie was charming, intelligent, unusual and oh so sexy. He had a lot to come to terms with and the author penned it brilliantly.
- Tessa was your quintessential strong, independent and self-reliant heroine. She was doing great until the stupid doubt set in to create a separation between Charlie & Tessa, as a dramatic effect, why? It was so out of character.
- The hunt for the secret had potential, the resolution flatlined the series.
- Sweet epilogue.

*I know this review seems like it has been written by a scatterbrain, but I am struggling to pen it. Maybe I will edit it when inspiration strikes.

My Recommendation
Keep your expectations in check and you shall like the series. A solid 4-star author. Go for it.

[SidneyKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep on Truckin'

The first words out of my mouth must be - don't give up on The Way to a Duke's Heart! Yes, it starts off slowly and I confess that I almost gave up on it. However, I'm glad I kept on reading, because the payoff was delightful!

This is a very satisfying conclusion to The Truth About the Duke series and we finally get to learn what that truth is.

The Way to a Duke's Heart is the last in the series and is about the third deLacey brother, the eldest rapscallion, Charles. Charles is teamed up with Tessa, a very different type of heroine. And, let me say this about Tessa - when I started to read Tessa's character, I was concerned that I wasn't going to be particularly fond of her. She was cold, remote and prickly. A lot of times she was prickly for no particular reason that I could see. However, somewhere along the way I found that I had softened toward her, dare I say even grown fond of her.

Charles, on the other hand, I liked from the very beginning. Even though he was painted as being a bad boy, a bit of a rake, he had a gentle soul that was considerably bruised from his past.

When these two finally get together, they make quite a charming couple. They both have issues and secrets - but they turn to each other, confide and against all normal Romanceland patterns they do not have any big misunderstandings. And, much to my surprise, there was only a small token "I'm not good enough," but that was over quickly.

But, it wasn't only the romance in this story that's entertaining... no siree. The solution to the mystery surrounding the deLacey's birth had a bit of a nice twist to it which I found very interesting. And, let me say something about loose ends: I am usually of the opinion that loose ends need to be tied. However, there is a major loose end in this book that is left dangling. I'm not going to spoil it but here's a hint - it involves Charles and his past and something he doesn't know. I was actually pleased that Ms. Linden didn't resolve it, because just as in real life, not everything is tied up in a nice neat bundle.

There was also a lovely, poignant moment when Charles realizes that he is/was as much to blame for what happened to him as his father was. But, it is too late for him to make any atonement because his father is dead.

So, I do recommend this story, even with the slow start. In the end it is quite magical.

KaysBlog

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointing conclusion... In the beginning, I loved the blackmail plot and the impact it had on three sons (one a future Duke!) who could be declared bastards due to a past indiscretion of their fathers' that was a secret until blackmail letters started to arrive. But after the three brothers learned nothing in the first book, and only got the name of the person who posted the blackmail letters in the second book, I was ready for some answers. I thought the imminent loss of an inheritance would have been enough to make the oldest brother, Charlie, pull himself together and start doing something for once in his life... But, unfortunately, he was more interested in chasing a girl. The romance doesn't pick up until after the 50% mark (instead there's a lot of dull talk about canals, Charlie trying to charm the heroine and her companion, and Charlie following the blackmailer, whom he doesn't confront until the very end), and the actual blackmail plot is only resolved in the last few chapters. And oh, what a disappointing resolution that was: When he was young, Charlie fell madly in love with a manipulating little witch who had him wrapped around her little finger, but after failing to charm his father, who opposed the match, she ran off to marry someone else. Charlie blames his father, throws a fit and severs all ties to his family. After years of debauchery, he meets the girl again, she spins him some tale about her horrible marriage and her awful husband, and manages to get him to spent the night with her. It later turns out she gave birth to a boy shortly after, and doesn't know who the father ist, which makes her husband start blackmailing Charlie's father. I don't really know why, it made no sense to me why he would choose to address the letters to the father instead of the son who may or may not have fathered his son. I also didn't like that this revelation had seemingly little impact on Charlie other than a sudden realization that the woman was not worth loving. To give her credit, his love interest handled it pretty well (the only thing I really admired about her), but it felt a bit rushed to add this conflict only in the last few chapters to me. It just felt unresolved and rushed to me.

[HR-ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somerset & London 1810. Bk 3 of 3.

This featured the last of the de Lacy brothers, Charles. His 2
younger bros, Edward & Gerard, did the 'heavy lifting' in the
2 previous books in trying to disprove their late father, the
Duke of Durham, a bigamist. Only the sibs of Chas, referred
to him as the new Duke.

Charlie, who went by Lord Gresham, did not have to work
hard, was accustomed to luxuries and folks who showed
him deference. Tessa & her elderly companion Eugenie
arrived at a hotel around the same time as Chas. Tessa
called him "indolent" & he overheard her. He charmed
Eugenie in order to better know Tessa.

Tessa had an appt w/ an iron works factory owner who
sought investors for a new canal. The owner appeared
to be nefarious & the H acted guarded toward him. The
H+ h together met the owner @ his factory, viewed the
incomplete canal & had dinner w/ his investors.

Tessa showed Chas. hostility & distrust from the start,
due to a failed relationship. IMO Tessa came across as
too harsh and blunt (alienating others) & Chas. put aside
work on the bigamy issue until he finally got serious. I
could not cheer for either the H or h.

Frankly I liked better the main couples in the 2 previous
books in the series. I loved Eugenie, who had heart, soul
& wit.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way to A Duke's Heart
3.5 Stars

In the aftermath of his father's death and the revelation of a shocking family secret, the new Duke of Durham, Charles de Lacey, is forced to renounce his rakish ways and take responsibility for discovering the identity of the blackmailer threatening his birthright. Upon encountering Tessa Neville, Charles is convinced the beautiful yet sharp-tongued miss is involved in the scandal, but finds himself irresistibly drawn to her. Charles will have to decide if she is a deceitful liar or the one woman who can love him despite his faults.

Unfortunately, the final installment in the series lacks both the cohesiveness of plot and intimacy of romance that characterized the first two books.

The blackmail plot fizzles not only because the red herring and culprit are underdeveloped, but also due to the fact that the hero is presented in a particularly negative light.

The romance has potential, especially as Tessa is lovely heroine, and her banter with Charles is entertaining. Nevertheless, there is something missing in the chemistry between them. Although their feelings for one another are described, the actual emotion and connection behind them seem very nebulous.

All in all, a good if somewhat disappointing conclusion to the series. I highly recommend the first two books though.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Charles de Lacey, Earl of Gresham, was born and raised with one goal in mind: to prepare him for the day when he would become the Duke of Durham. However, just before he died, the previous duke revealed a shocking secret: he was married to someone before he married Charlie’s mother…and he never divorced his first wife. On top of that, someone is blackmailing the de Lacey family – someone who knows of the deceased duke’s secret. Charlie must discover who the blackmailer is, for it is the only lead he has on his quest to determine whether or not he will inherit the title he was born to take. His youngest brother has tracked the blackmailer as far as Bath, and now the one link Charlie has to the blackmailer is beautiful widow Tessa Neville. Charlie’s drawn to the spirited Tessa, but with his fortune, reputation, and title at stake, can he put his trust in a woman who may be a co-conspirator in the plot to ruin him?

The truth about the duke is finally uncovered in The Way to a Duke’s Heart! Caroline Linden has delivered a wonderfully entertaining conclusion to the de Lacey family series with Charlie’s book. I admit, I had high expectations of Charlie after seeing him in his brothers’ books (One Night in London and Blame It on Bath), and happily, Charlie more than lived up to my hopes for him as a hero. On the surface, he’s a carefree, rakish lord. Beneath the genial façade, however, lies a man who’s been hurt numerous times by his father, the man he looked up to. Charlie needs someone to love him and stand by him, and Tessa is just the woman to do so. Tessa is as brilliant as she is beautiful, an atypical Regence-era woman who struggles against sexism. Just as Charlie needs a partner like her, Tessa needs a partner like Charlie; one who respects and admires her intelligence, and doesn’t let others get away with giving Tessa less than her due. Tessa and Charlie make a wonderful couple who fit one another in every way, making it easy to fall in love with The Way to a Duke’s Heart.

Aside from the romance, what I was looking forward to the most in The Way to a Duke’s Heart was Charlie solving the series-long mystery of what happened to Durham’s first wife. Are the de Lacey brothers legitimate? Well, I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the book by telling you. I will say that – had I not liked Charlie, Tessa, and Tessa’s elderly cousin Eugenie so much – I would’ve been tempted to speed through a lot of the book because I so desperately wanted to find out the answer. Ms. Linden definitely makes the outcome worth the buildup, though.

There’s a lot riding on The Way to a Duke’s Heart since it’s the conclusion of the series, and I applaud Ms. Linden for making the story work beautifully both as a standalone and as part of the Truth About the Duke series. While you don’t have to have read One Night in London and Blame It on Bath to enjoy The Way to a Duke’s Heart, I highly recommend reading them for their own merits, along with the prequel to the series, I Love the Earl, a fantastic romance involving Charlie’s aunt.

The Way to a Duke’s Heart is a lovely book that is sure to delight readers. I simply adored Charlie and Tessa’s romance and I highly recommend the Truth About the Duke series to anyone who enjoys smartly-written historical romances.

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.

[Katherine 黄爱芬 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie aka Earl Gresham hrs menuntaskan pekerjaannya yaitu menyelidiki pernikahan pertama ayahnya dgn seorang aktris di kala mudanya. Dan di Bath, Charlie bertemu dgn seorang janda bernama Mrs Neville yg mengatainya Lord Pemalas.

Janda ini belakangan diketahui Charlie bernama Tessa, adalah duta yg dikirim oleh kakaknya, Lord Marchmont utk menyurvei proyek kanal yg dikerjakan oleh Hiram Scott. Charlie yg mencurigai Scott sbg si pengirim surat kaleng, mendapati dia bisa sekali dayung dua tiga pulau terlampaui, dia mendekati Tessa sekaligus utk menyelidiki Scott. Sayangnya Tessa juga curiga dgn PDKT Charlie melalui bibinya, Eugenie. Tetapi Tessa toh punya misi dan tidak berkeinginan utk mendekati earl yg tampan ini.

Titik balik mulai terjadi saat Tessa diberitahu Charlie bhw proyek kanal itu kemungkinan besar gagal total. Tessa terpukul krn dirinya sudah sangat PeDe dgn ketelitiannya. Dan disini saya masih bingung bin ajaib dgn tingkah Tessa yg tiba-tiba mendatangi Charlie dan minta bercinta dgnnya. Ini tidak sesuai dgn karakter Tessa yg hati-hati dan cermat, walaupun tidak dipungkiri Tessa memiliki mulut yg digunakan utk mengutarakan apapun yg tercetus di hatinya alias gak disensor. Saya suka karakter Tessa yg ini, yg menceritakan saat dia "menghukum" Richard, ex tunangannya di depan altar dgn menyatakan "Saya tidak bersedia". Memang terlalu ekstrim utk ukuran abad 19 ataupun abad milenium ini.

Tetapi yg saya suka adalah kejujuran dari mereka terhadap satu sama lain. Mereka membeberkan semua rahasia masa lalu mereka, perasaan mereka terhadap mantan (Saya suka sikap asertif Charlie pd Maria Gronow, ex kekasihnya yg sudah menjadi istri Lord Worley. Ketidakbahagiaan Maria di pernikahannya bukan tanggungjawab Charlie dan Charlie menegaskan hal tsb dgn sangat baik tanpa embel-embel rasa bersalah). Tessa juga jujur dgn keraguannya bhw dia tidak bisa menjadi duchess yg sempurna. Tapi Charlie adalah pria sejati yg tahu aset terbaik dari istrinya utk masa depannya, ya kan? Silakan dibaca, walaupun alurnya agak lamban, yg merupakan ciri khas author ini.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read book 1 not that long ago, and was all, hey what about the mystery? Aye it took book 3, the last book, to find out.

Charles is about to lose his dukedom if he is a bastard. Yes that if part is the question. Was his dad married before and when did that wife die? Was he married to two women? Ohh the plot thickens and I got my answers.

Back to Charles, he finds a lead and that lead leads him to a beautiful smart woman named Tessa. Is Tessa the one blackmailing them, or?

Charles, I was not a fan of him in book 1, but here I got to understand why he was like he was. And I did like him. As for Tessa, of course I liked her too. She was smart and her family said she thought like a man. Well good for you.

They meet. She is annoyed by him. He is intrigued. They start to fall for each other. Oh you know the history ;)

A fun romantic story.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I somehow managed to not read the second book in the story despite my enjoyment of the first, and so I admit I was thrown a bit off of my game when I first picked up this installment.

That said, I quite enjoyed it. With a both the hero and heroine having been hurt by love in their youth, neither of them was quick to trust matters of the heart.

I have to say that at first I was a bit disappointed by the low steam level. However, things quickly began to heat up between them once they'd gotten their initial encounter out of the way, and I tell you, I will never look at letter-writing the same way again *fans self*

Overall, a very solid 4/5 Stars.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way to a Duke’s Heart is the final story in Caroline Linden’s newest series, The Truth About the Duke. Briefly, the three stories weave a tale of the family saga of three brothers whose ducal father, the Duke of Durham, tells them in a post mortem letter that they may not be legitimate and oh, by the way, he was being blackmailed before his death. This confession, if true, will ruin not only the three brothers standing in society but also their fortunes. The first story (personally my favorite) is One Night in London about the middle brother, Edward, the astute estate businessman, followed by Blame it on Bath about the youngest brother, Gerard, the soldier. Finally, we have the story about the eldest brother, Charles de Lacey, the current Earl of Gresham and heir to the dukedom.

In the previous two stories the brothers try to discover the truth of their legacy without success. In The Way to a Duke’s Heart, Charles is left to solve the mystery of legitimacy and who the blackmailer is himself. The last clues lead Charlie to Bath where he meets the lovely Tessa Neville. Mrs. Neville is traveling with her cousin on a mission for her brother to discover if an investment in an area coal canal is sound.

Tessa is a woman who is proud of her own intelligence and the ability to survive on her own. After she forsakes her former finance on their wedding day, she shuns the state of matrimony. She goes through the motions of life by becoming an investment “wiz” for her brother at the cost of hiding her feelings and emotions.

Charles, aka Charlie, meets Tessa at a Bath hotel where he quickly suspects she may be involved in the blackmail. Along the way, Charlie becomes enamored with Tessa and the story takes off with both becoming more and more involved in each other’s lives.

I loved Charlie. In the previous two books he’s described as aloof, indolent, spoiled, and arrogant. The author has a wonderful way of explaining away his previous bad behavior while describing Charlie’s true character. Meanwhile, Tessa is a sympathetic character who has suffered silently because she was different from a typical society lady.

The mystery of the blackmail and the question of legitimacy are handled with aplomb and skill as usual by this author. Generally, I loved the development of the characters and their relationship but thought it dragged at times. Plus, I had a hard time being interested in the setting (coal country) and found myself not as interested in the story overall because of this fact. Be that as it may, I was satisfied with the way this series ended and fondly think of this series as one of my all time favorites.

You won’t go wrong with this book but I think you’ll enjoy it more if you read in series order. It’s a nice ending to a mystery that’s based upon the true story of the 7th Earl of Anglesey. If you want to learn more, go to the author’s official website.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Linden has never let me down. She has great love stories that never make me angry. I never hate her heroes. I'm never tempted to toss the nook against the wall. Somehow she manages to create couples whose obstacles are not self-imposed. The characters are all generally likable and the romance, easy to root for. And this third book in the Truth About the Duke series may be my favorite of the bunch.

When we first met the hero, Charlie, back in One Night in London, he was difficult to like. He was a playboy of the highest order, leaving the family responsibilities to his brothers. But as we get to know him here, we learn there are reasons for the way he is. He made a break with his father after the man sabotaged his betrothal. He lost the woman he loved and he never forgave his father for it.

The overall arc of the series has been focused on the three de Lacey brothers as they try to prove their legitimacy and unmask the man who was blackmailing their father in the days before his death. Now that his younger brothers are wrapped up with their new wives, the duty falls to Charlie. All he has to go on is an old ledger kept by the man who married his father to his first wife... and a possible name for the blackmailer: Hiram Scott. When Charlie hears Scott's name linked to an impertinent widow staying at his hotel, he grabs on to the lead with both hands.

Tessa is woman completely uninterested in gossip or climbing social station. She is utterly oblivious to the so-called Durham Dilemma surrounding Charlie's family. She is in Bath to guide her brother in an investment opportunity with Mr Scott --an unusual task for a woman, but she is no ordinary woman. She is plain-spoken and independent. And a failed engagement has left her with no desire to find a husband. But once Charlie begins to cozy up to her and her companion, it's hard to remember why she has cut herself off from the opposite sex.

It was interesting to see how the whole blackmailing storyline finally came together. It was unpredictable and satisfying. But where the story really shined was in the romance. It was sweet, but still managed to pull off the sexy times. Charlie is a rake, but a good man. I think one of the reasons I ended up liking him so much was because he could see what a treasure Tessa really was. He treated her well. He was honest with her. And she was never coy. She didn't scheme. She said what was on her mind. They were each exactly what the other needed.

You don't have to read the earlier installments to enjoy this book, but I think it's even better after the events of the first two books. It's not overly angsty or tumultuous, but it's a pleasant read and a solid romance.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Avon

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was burning a hole in my NOOK whilst I read The Ugly Duchess (hey, Eloisa tweeted me, so she got to be first - I'm easy that way). Being a romance novel I had no doubt as to the outcome of the Durham Dilemma (duh) but I just wanted to know how it would all unwind as well as who Charlie would be paired with.

First off, I have to say I quite loved Tessa's companion/cousin, Eugenia Bates. Yes, Bates. Who has much the sweet, chatty, dithering demeanor of the Miss Bates of Austen's Emma - but not as annoying since we're not seeing her through Emma's eyes. And she has a taste for the luird Gothic novels of Mrs. Radcliff.

Second, I quite liked how Linden let us see how Charlie resented his younger brothers' freedom, just that little bit (Edward his facility in estate management and Gerard his fearless antics), and how he regretted that his break with their father had perhaps put the family in the situation of the Durham Dilemma (well, it would have been less-bad if Edward hadn't told his idiot fiancee at the beginning of One Night in London - but then he got Francesca and that was much better).

Third, Tessa is an excellent foil for Charlie. But she isn't set up as a paragon who is right all the time with regard to the business of the canal - she's allowed to have a failing or two.

But I do have a slight misgiving about the climax of the book and hence, spoiler warning:

While I really appreciated the twist with Lord Worth - and the awful Maria as his wife - as the impetus for the blackmail scheme what I didn't appreciate was the scene with Maria before Charlie left the house and the he didn't explicitly tell Worth that he would have no claim on the child. Worth would always hate Charlie's guts, and Charlie didn't help himself there, but the least Charlie could do after explaining and apologizing was to say that he wouldn't ever contest the child's paternity. Or maybe he did and I missed it, I was pretty tired. And then Charlie should have got the hell out of the house rather than stay and discuss things with Maria - wouldn't Worth have followed to make sure Charlie left?

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duke of Durham’s father was secretly married before he met his son’s mother. Before he passed away, somebody started blackmailing the family, implying that his three sons might be bastards. The oldest son, Charlie, never could live up to his father’s standards. When he was twenty-two, he tried to marry the woman he believed to be the love of his life, but his father stopped the marriage. And Charlie stopped speaking to his father. His next youngest brother has been running the family estates and the youngest has carved out a career in the military. Both leapt into action when they discovered the blackmail, but now that each has found true love, they’re less willing to keep working on the family secret. So it has fallen to Charlie, the most indolent of the sons, to figure out whether or not he is truly the duke’s heir.
His youngest brother had tracked the notes to Bath and discovered the names of the sender. When Charlie starts looking for this potential suspect, he runs across Tessa Neville. Could she be part of the nefarious scheme?
Of course not, she’s our heroine! (before people get all antsy, this is not a spoiler.) She’s in town to meet with Charlie’s suspect who is the head of a group of investors. See, her brother has no money sense, but Tess has loads so she’s been in charge of the family business. At least her brother is smart enough to put her there.
This is a fun book. I definitely had issues with it while I was reading it, but a few days later those have faded. I’m not even as torn about the the fact that Charlie had to walk away from the boy who might have been his son, even knowing that the boy’s “father” was the idiot blackmailing Charlie and might not treat the boy well. We’re not left with a resolution, which probably makes sense for the time, no one would have ever known, but is not great for a girl who has come to expect loose ends to be tied up in her romance novels.

[The_Book_Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on TBQ's Book Palace

~ * ~ * ~ * ~


This was my first time reading Caroline Linden's work, and The Way to the Duke's Heart was actually a good book. I was intrigued by the blackmail and family secrets, and I flipped the pages to find out how everything turned out.






I liked the hero and heroine—they may not be in my top 10 list, but I still enjoyed reading their story. Tessa was very strong, very intelligent, and I respected her for that. I also came to respect Charlie for understanding her, and not just seeing a beautiful woman, as many other men have seen.






The romance was great, very passionate, and I loved every minute of it. I was happy when Charlie realized that he had made a mistake when he was younger, thinking himself in love with Maria; the fact that it took finding Tessa, and realizing that he not just wanted her, but needed her, to realize that he had never really loved Maria...I loved watching him come to terms with this!






4 STARS! A wonderful historical, with just the right amount of mystery and romance, but also with a dose of wit and sexy, The Way to the Duke's Heart is a great choice for any fan of the genre! Now I'm only sorry that I didn't wait and read the previous two books in this trilogy, but I will definitely be doing so soon. I look forward to seeing what Linden will write next!

[WinieP · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent regency romance, with enough blackmail, mystery and history mixed in, and a sweet, sexy read. The late Duke of Durham had been blackmailed about an earlier marriage, which could have made his sons bastards, and a lost of the dukedom for his eldest son, Charles de Lacey, also known as the Earl of Gresham. Charles de Lacey, felt overshadowed by his younger brothers, Edward, with his fine business acumen, and Gerard, the intrepid soldier. The heroine, Tess Neville, although very intelligent and capable, also had her own human fear of not fitting in society. They were obviously made for each other.

This book was perfectly paced in the winning over of the heroine, and Gresham's journey from irresponsible charming rake to confident and competent duke.

I loved the way Gresham's "failing" of being a rake could be useful in helping to resolve the mystery of the blackmailer, save his dukedom, and win the lady. Also, that in the end, what could have been a horrible loss of their heritage, resulted in true happiness for the eldest de Lacey son, as well for his brothers.

This was a very satisfying end to the trilogy of The Truth About the Duke, which included "One Night in London" and "Blame It on Bath". This book could stand on it's own, but reading the earlier books in the trilogy would give fuller enjoyment. I almost forgot her novella, "I Love the Earl", which is a delightful HEA tale of their aunt, the Countess of Dowling.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in The Truth About The Duke series by Caroline Linden. Charles de Lacey has always known someday he would be the Duke of Durham. But doubt has been cast and he may be stripped of everything. So it's up to him to discover the truth and set matters right. Along the way he encounters Tessa Neville. Tessa is looking into investment opportunities for her brother and it leads her to Bath where her first impression of Charles was less than ideal.

The book had a great start and then lagged slightly but before I could grumble too much, it picked up and carried me to the end. I didn't read the first two books in this series but I don't feel the story suffered for it. The characters were likable and I enjoyed their banter.

[Booklover, Indianapolis · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Oct) Sigh...I always get a bit sad at the end of a series. At least I didn't have to wait a year between books (hate that!). This book started a bit slow but really picked up in the second half. I really enjoyed this series - it was kinda fun, kinda charming, and ended really well. I was actually a bit worried about where the story line would go - were they legitimate or not - but it all worked out well and actually made sense. The 3 brothers ultimately became close, found love, and lived HEA. Also, for once, 3 really great heroines - a rarity lately, at least for me.

[Mskychick · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 25%. Every character annoyed me.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a slow burn this is really for you. It took WAY too long to get steamy -- but that is my only gripe. It is the drawback of a really satisfactory b-plot, unfortunately, so I'd still definitely recommend it to all who are interested.

I would always mentally complain about how there are significantly less heroines in romance novels with back stories that scar them from love in real ways, but Linden has seen fit to remedy that. Tessa is very much traumatized by her past relationships with men and it is something she has to work through to be with Charlie. It's cute and rewarding.

Finally, and this is something that this series as a whole should be recognized for, the writing is really exceptional. The characters are all different, with each of the brothers having a distinct personality and each of their partners also differ, which is something that I think a lot of romance authors struggle with. There is a really satisfactory b-plot having to do with blackmail and scandal that held the whole series together. Also Caroline Linden is a MASTER at avoiding cliches. Slow clap. Every time you thought you saw a quintessential romance novel trope coming your way the author swerved and it was just so satisfying. There were no third-act-separations due to misunderstandings or lies-by-omission, and I LOVED it. For this reason alone the entire series was completely original for me and I highly recommend.