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Regency Expedient Marriages #3
The Brooding Duke
"Scarred, monstrous, reluctant, brooding" is what society calls him, but he's just a kind-hearted Duke who avoids messing with the ton because of the harsh judgment of his scars. No one gave him a chance to prove who he really was... except her, his convenient bride, the first one not to run from his scarred face.
The battle-scarred face of Russell Johns, Duke of Amesbury, sends ladies running. Resigned to a lonely bachelorhood in his decrepit castle, he’s pessimistic about an arranged marriage with the daughter of a marquess. They’re strangers, and he’s sure his disfigurement will repulse her when they finally meet. She rejects him, yet claims it’s not for his scars, but because she wishes to marry for love. Russell has one month before the wedding to change her mind and win her heart.
Lady Caroline Richardson was the indulged daughter of a marquess, until her twin brother, the heir, was killed. Then, she became her father’s pawn in an arranged marriage to a Duke she’s never met. True, the Duke isn’t the dour monster she expected but powerfully attractive, his scars a badge of valour. How to convince him they’re not the reason for her rejection, that she’s simply holding out against a loveless marriage? With one month until the wedding, she must fight against her own resolve not to fall for him. But will she succeed?
The battle-scarred face of Russell Johns, Duke of Amesbury, sends ladies running. Resigned to a lonely bachelorhood in his decrepit castle, he’s pessimistic about an arranged marriage with the daughter of a marquess. They’re strangers, and he’s sure his disfigurement will repulse her when they finally meet. She rejects him, yet claims it’s not for his scars, but because she wishes to marry for love. Russell has one month before the wedding to change her mind and win her heart.
Lady Caroline Richardson was the indulged daughter of a marquess, until her twin brother, the heir, was killed. Then, she became her father’s pawn in an arranged marriage to a Duke she’s never met. True, the Duke isn’t the dour monster she expected but powerfully attractive, his scars a badge of valour. How to convince him they’re not the reason for her rejection, that she’s simply holding out against a loveless marriage? With one month until the wedding, she must fight against her own resolve not to fall for him. But will she succeed?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2023
143 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 13, 2023
I love this story. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard while reading a Historical Regency Romance. It was about Lady Caroline being forced to marry a Duke. She had never met him before, and being a rebellious lady, she immediately took her anger out on him. I was surprised at how he handled her rebellion. The things he said or thought were hilarious bec he had decided to teach her a lesson. That was the hilarious story of the rebellious lady and the relationship with the man Caroline was being forced to marry. I got caught up at the beginning and stayed interested all the way through. There was nothing I didn't like. Thank you so much, Dorothy, for writing another wonderful story. If you like to laugh and you like historical regency romance, you will love this story. This is one of the best books I've read.
September 19, 2023
This is a story that really details the characters. You will almost immediately be drawn into the drama this story entails. Russell Johns, Duke of Amesbury, has scars from a battle when he was in America. Women and their mothers turn away in fright whenever he attends an event. His mother wants him to marry so she can have grandchildren. Russell wonders who would marry him until his mother assures him she has found a wife for him. Lady Caroline Richardson is shocked when her father announces he has arranged a marriage for her with a man she does not know. She is rebellious in nature and decides to show this side of herself to her new husband. How will this turn out? You will need to read this story to find how an arranged marriage to two people who did not want this marriage turns out. Trust me you will enjoy the read and the surprises along the way.
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August 8, 2024Too many typos and anachronisms to count! What could be an entertaining take on The Taming of the Shrew is ruined by distracting grammatical errors.
While Caroline is far less interesting than Kate, she could potentially be salvaged were she not so immature and one-tone. Unfortunately, Russell is no Petruchio. Though, as the title says, he is brooding. I simply could not reconcile the fact that he’s a decorated veteran (a colonel!) with the facts that he is completely under the influence of his mother and that he becomes practically tongue-tied in Caroline’s presence.
Overall, the novel read as hastily scribbled without any characters to truly care about and with modestly diverting dialogue.
While Caroline is far less interesting than Kate, she could potentially be salvaged were she not so immature and one-tone. Unfortunately, Russell is no Petruchio. Though, as the title says, he is brooding. I simply could not reconcile the fact that he’s a decorated veteran (a colonel!) with the facts that he is completely under the influence of his mother and that he becomes practically tongue-tied in Caroline’s presence.
Overall, the novel read as hastily scribbled without any characters to truly care about and with modestly diverting dialogue.
September 15, 2023
Once again, the author did a great job writing a very good story that kept my attention. I really enjoyed the back and forth banter between the main characters. Lady Caroline Richardson and Russell Johns, Duke of Amesbury, are put together in an arranged marriage by her father and his mother. She is very against an arranged marriage and wants to marry for love. Russell figures no lady will ever love him due to his scared face from a gunshot. They meet and find each other interesting but Russell thinks she doesn’t want anything to do with him because of his face but he’s going to convince her to marry him. She doesn’t want to have an arranged marriage but feels something for the duke. Maybe their parents knew what was good for the two of them. Very good storyline.
November 9, 2023
DNF at 50%. Caroline is a complete and total bitch. She decides that because her father has chosen her future husband for her that:
1: he can't possibly be anyone she loves
2: therefore she will hate him forever
3: so that means she has to do her best to be mean to him at all times so he'll leave
Yep, the crux of the whole novel is that since she didn't choose him herself, he can't possibly be a person she would ever like. Therefore she spends (the 50% I read) being an absolutely horrible person to him, even going so far as to insult his scars. She's bitchy, she's mean, she's cruel, she's over emotional.. who would want this person at all???
1: he can't possibly be anyone she loves
2: therefore she will hate him forever
3: so that means she has to do her best to be mean to him at all times so he'll leave
Yep, the crux of the whole novel is that since she didn't choose him herself, he can't possibly be a person she would ever like. Therefore she spends (the 50% I read) being an absolutely horrible person to him, even going so far as to insult his scars. She's bitchy, she's mean, she's cruel, she's over emotional.. who would want this person at all???
October 17, 2023
A truly beautiful historical romance!
Reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies. With my teaching career my time was limited. Now that I’m retired I can read more and I do. Novels like this make it the best hobby possible. A really delightful book such as this one makes me so happy, thank you, Jack.
Reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies. With my teaching career my time was limited. Now that I’m retired I can read more and I do. Novels like this make it the best hobby possible. A really delightful book such as this one makes me so happy, thank you, Jack.
October 27, 2023
Great Regency Romance, but...
Really liked this book. The characters were very well drawn and the plot was perfect regency romance. However, I found typos and mistakes all over the place in this book so I down graded my rating from 5 to 4. It's a shame because Ms Sheldon is such a talented writer, love her stories!
Really liked this book. The characters were very well drawn and the plot was perfect regency romance. However, I found typos and mistakes all over the place in this book so I down graded my rating from 5 to 4. It's a shame because Ms Sheldon is such a talented writer, love her stories!
September 21, 2023
Sweet
I enjoyed this book very much. I couldn't see how it could come to have a happy ending but I knew that it had to. There are a few places where it needs to be edited better.
I enjoyed this book very much. I couldn't see how it could come to have a happy ending but I knew that it had to. There are a few places where it needs to be edited better.
September 30, 2023
Exceptionally good.
This book had never a dull moment. They were continually snapping at each other but they were laughing with each other as well. I read a lot of these books. I really would recommend this one.
This book had never a dull moment. They were continually snapping at each other but they were laughing with each other as well. I read a lot of these books. I really would recommend this one.
October 7, 2023
The Arranged Marriage
A sweet love story that has two characters butting heads. Neither want to marry. The young lady decides to turn the Duke away from her, but ends up falling for him because of his patience and kindness.
Watch the proofreading.
A sweet love story that has two characters butting heads. Neither want to marry. The young lady decides to turn the Duke away from her, but ends up falling for him because of his patience and kindness.
Watch the proofreading.
April 10, 2025
I only made it to chapter 7. I was not fond of the heroine. Her father is forcing her to marry a duke, handsomne but scarred duke. She dosen't want to marry him because she wants to marry for love. Instead of trying to get to know him she tries to get him to hate her. Made no sense to me.
September 14, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! Couldn't turn pages fast enough! The banter between these two and the way the relationship developed was fabulous!
September 14, 2023
This is one of the first books of hers that I wanted to hate the main character for the way she was acting. Overall a good read.
September 28, 2023
He wasn't very brooding and she was too scattered.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews