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The Twisted Dukes #1
My Cruel Duke
“I will help your sister… if you agree to marry me."
With her father behind bars and her brother having fled the country, Penelope is left to fend for herself and her sister. And she would do anything for a chance to escape this impoverished life.
The Duke of Huxton has no qualms about putting his family’s murderer in prison. And yet, revenge does not seem to satisfy his black heart. Until his adversary’s daughter walks into his study, determined to make him pay.
Desperate and destitute, Penelope turns to the very man responsible for her family’s ruination. But she never expected the Cruel Duke to make her such an outlandish Her hand in marriage in exchange for her sister’s future...
In this Regency Romance by bestselling and award-winning author Loretta Levine, a desperate lady matches wits with a Duke so cruel she never expected to fall so madly in love with.Read it on Kindle Unlimited for Free!
The Twisted Dukes Series#1 My Cruel Duke
With her father behind bars and her brother having fled the country, Penelope is left to fend for herself and her sister. And she would do anything for a chance to escape this impoverished life.
The Duke of Huxton has no qualms about putting his family’s murderer in prison. And yet, revenge does not seem to satisfy his black heart. Until his adversary’s daughter walks into his study, determined to make him pay.
Desperate and destitute, Penelope turns to the very man responsible for her family’s ruination. But she never expected the Cruel Duke to make her such an outlandish Her hand in marriage in exchange for her sister’s future...
In this Regency Romance by bestselling and award-winning author Loretta Levine, a desperate lady matches wits with a Duke so cruel she never expected to fall so madly in love with.Read it on Kindle Unlimited for Free!
The Twisted Dukes Series#1 My Cruel Duke
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2024
158 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Levine
18 books19 followersLoretta Levine is an American Author of Steamy Regency Novels. A linguist, a poet, a dreamer, but most importantly, a woman with a passion for romance.
After leaving sunny Colorado to travel and explore the world and her writing, she fell irrevocably in love with both.
Loretta now lives in Scotland where she met the man of her dreams and father of her children. And their undying love and devotion have only helped spur her dreams forward.
“To me, the Regency Era is more than just a historical setting. It is a place in time in which I can finally be myself.
A time of true romance that makes my heart skip a beat…”
After leaving sunny Colorado to travel and explore the world and her writing, she fell irrevocably in love with both.
Loretta now lives in Scotland where she met the man of her dreams and father of her children. And their undying love and devotion have only helped spur her dreams forward.
“To me, the Regency Era is more than just a historical setting. It is a place in time in which I can finally be myself.
A time of true romance that makes my heart skip a beat…”
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 24, 2024
Most unusual book. Strange characters with strange behaviors. I would like to give it more stars for the writing was better than expected but honestly, the author isn’t much of an author. She didn’t quite think her story through. There were a couple times when certain information were said known to the hero or heroine when it shouldn’t have been at all? It’s not like neither characters can read minds, so how they came to know such information in the first place without being told or implied to was just poor storytelling. Indeed, the plot was mostly an odd jumble mess and full of brainless substance.
Why and how Penelope came to marry the duke was not convincing at all. Even if the mean duke required heirs and she require the means he could provide, there was no way he would end up that likely and instantly offering a marriage arrangement to her. His very own enemy’s daughter! As it is more unlikely that Penelope should accept the duke when he had put her very own father behind bars. But he did asked! And she certainly accepted! How unrealistic! How absurd! It hardly make any book sense in this execution. I doubt neither of them made much sense of it. They didn’t even think! And as if that wasn’t odd enough her aunt and sister were equally mindless! Aunty came up most ecstatic about the arrangement, somehow she thinks the whole ordeal was grand as the duke is fantastical; as for dearest sissy she was naturally distracted by the good fortune of having the duke as bro-in-law and providing her a very fashionable debut after all. Oh, have these idiots women forgotten that the duke is the very man they all should fear? Avoid? Do they only got peas for brains? Don’t y’all ever think about saving your father, girls? Perhaps, discuss some terms with the duke and see to it?
Idk, but homegirl was too busy shopping for dresswears and enjoying balls to think. Once married, Penelope only bothered to think about the cruel duke and how badly she wants to make his life colorful. First, by wanting to change all the black wallpapers around the house. Icing on the cake, their attraction (below the belt and chemistry) came off more forced than not, imo. Obviously, one can’t even say the author was the smartest one here. DNR.
Why and how Penelope came to marry the duke was not convincing at all. Even if the mean duke required heirs and she require the means he could provide, there was no way he would end up that likely and instantly offering a marriage arrangement to her. His very own enemy’s daughter! As it is more unlikely that Penelope should accept the duke when he had put her very own father behind bars. But he did asked! And she certainly accepted! How unrealistic! How absurd! It hardly make any book sense in this execution. I doubt neither of them made much sense of it. They didn’t even think! And as if that wasn’t odd enough her aunt and sister were equally mindless! Aunty came up most ecstatic about the arrangement, somehow she thinks the whole ordeal was grand as the duke is fantastical; as for dearest sissy she was naturally distracted by the good fortune of having the duke as bro-in-law and providing her a very fashionable debut after all. Oh, have these idiots women forgotten that the duke is the very man they all should fear? Avoid? Do they only got peas for brains? Don’t y’all ever think about saving your father, girls? Perhaps, discuss some terms with the duke and see to it?
Idk, but homegirl was too busy shopping for dresswears and enjoying balls to think. Once married, Penelope only bothered to think about the cruel duke and how badly she wants to make his life colorful. First, by wanting to change all the black wallpapers around the house. Icing on the cake, their attraction (below the belt and chemistry) came off more forced than not, imo. Obviously, one can’t even say the author was the smartest one here. DNR.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2025
Absolutely aweful.
Starts out okay with a good plot and almost immediate interaction between MMC and FMC. I'm kind of interested but then the spelling errors, sentences that make no sense at all, timeline is all over the place without any good transitions, the way the story starts jumping around, the just unbelievable crap that this story quickly becomes is not how a good historical book should flow.
Not sure how or why people are reading or even buying this drivel. This has to be the most jumbled up mess i've ever tried to read. The writing is terrible and the timeline is horribly marked out in the transitions from one scene to another.
I have to think the reviewers are bots and not real people and those who actually wrote out a review, well I hope you are able to find better authors to read. Besides that a book should never rate a 5 unless it has all the parts to make it a PERFECT read.
One Reviewer - Magali explained it like this. Please check out those guidelines and rate it accurately as it makes thes ratings just junk.
Star : Hated it/DNF.
Stars : Did not really like it but finished it and it had some qualities.
Stars : It was okay but I won't read it again.
Stars : I really liked it and would be okay to read it again.
Stars : OMG I LOVED IT AND I NEED TO READ IT AGAIN AND YOU REALLY SHOULD TOO !
Starts out okay with a good plot and almost immediate interaction between MMC and FMC. I'm kind of interested but then the spelling errors, sentences that make no sense at all, timeline is all over the place without any good transitions, the way the story starts jumping around, the just unbelievable crap that this story quickly becomes is not how a good historical book should flow.
Not sure how or why people are reading or even buying this drivel. This has to be the most jumbled up mess i've ever tried to read. The writing is terrible and the timeline is horribly marked out in the transitions from one scene to another.
I have to think the reviewers are bots and not real people and those who actually wrote out a review, well I hope you are able to find better authors to read. Besides that a book should never rate a 5 unless it has all the parts to make it a PERFECT read.
One Reviewer - Magali explained it like this. Please check out those guidelines and rate it accurately as it makes thes ratings just junk.
Star : Hated it/DNF.
Stars : Did not really like it but finished it and it had some qualities.
Stars : It was okay but I won't read it again.
Stars : I really liked it and would be okay to read it again.
Stars : OMG I LOVED IT AND I NEED TO READ IT AGAIN AND YOU REALLY SHOULD TOO !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2024
The story of Rhys and Penny and how they both turned vengeance into love … I really liked the character of Rhys all dark, charming with a bit of vengeance … Penny I wasn’t so crazy about, while she had strong
Character development… she came across all too often as whiny and pushy and very naive which just got exhausting at times ..
The story line was great, I very much enjoyed the how’s and why’s of their story .. there was also a bonus story between Phillip who I like very much and Lydia (Pens younger sister)… their side story was also enjoyable ..
All in all it was a good read tho Penny could have been less in some areas and better in others …
Character development… she came across all too often as whiny and pushy and very naive which just got exhausting at times ..
The story line was great, I very much enjoyed the how’s and why’s of their story .. there was also a bonus story between Phillip who I like very much and Lydia (Pens younger sister)… their side story was also enjoyable ..
All in all it was a good read tho Penny could have been less in some areas and better in others …
September 19, 2025
What I loved most about My Cruel Duke was how Loretta Levine blended raw emotion with slow burning romance. The premise alone is riveting a fallen lady forced to beg mercy from the man who destroyed her family. But instead of giving us an easy redemption arc, Levine makes us sit through the fire of mistrust, bitterness, and guarded passion. The Duke is not softened too quickly; his cruelty lingers, making their relationship feel dangerous yet thrilling. Penelope, however, is his perfect match. Her inner strength, sharp tongue, and quiet resilience made me cheer for her. By the end, I felt like I had witnessed not just a romance but a battle of wills, where love became the ultimate victory.
February 3, 2024
"My Cruel Duke," is a wonderfully written whodunit between two families. The drama that plays out between Duke Rhysand, the strong, dark brooding Hero and Lady Penelope the optimistic heroine, along with a colorful cast of characters is great. The plot twists will keep you guessing and a little surprised at the outcome. These two really had to work for their HEA. This author never disappoints. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
TG
I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
TG
I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 11, 2024
This book has lots of twists and turns. There is selfishness, attempted murder, actual murder and betrayal. It is steamy in parts but not a lot. Duke Rhysand and Penny marry for convenience. They agree to stay together until Penny is with child. Their relationship is overshadowed by the actions of Penny's father. Will Penny be able to help Rhysand to put aside his bad humour and smile again? Will they discover the murderer in their midst? Will they eventually find happiness? Read on and enjoy this well-written story.
February 22, 2024
twisted love, basically twisted love like nothing more nothing less. the storyline was great because it was the same as twisted love, even some of the character names like “lady madeline” and broo the plot twists, the quotes, the everything.. too much twisted love. it was a good book and had so fucking much potential if jt wasnt so twisted love copied. tho i liked it but cant give it more
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2024
Too many strange plot twists
I expected to like this but really who marries a man who has imprisoned her father? What best friends cut her and she welcomes them back? After wanting her sister to marry thee H shows up late to the wedding. Finished the book but I was disappointed.
I expected to like this but really who marries a man who has imprisoned her father? What best friends cut her and she welcomes them back? After wanting her sister to marry thee H shows up late to the wedding. Finished the book but I was disappointed.
September 13, 2024
The cruel duke who isn’t. Both main characters have traumatic pasts that affects how they are as adults. Their relationship starts from antagonistic positions but with a little give and take they are able to meet each other. Mystery, murder, betrayal complicates their relationship. Excellent read!
I received an ARC of this book and leaving my review voluntarily.
I received an ARC of this book and leaving my review voluntarily.
January 28, 2024
That was cute...
(I almost didn't read it cuz of the title)
(I almost didn't read it cuz of the title)
February 15, 2024
This was a great story. Well written romance with a keep you guessing mystery. Happily ever after ending. Loved it. Highly recommend!!
February 16, 2024
My Cruel Duke
This was a fantastic story. It was well written and entertaining to read. I enjoyed the story line. The ending was perfect.
This was a fantastic story. It was well written and entertaining to read. I enjoyed the story line. The ending was perfect.
July 10, 2024
I'm a sucker for enemy-to-lover romances. Enjoyed this story line but I struggled with repetitive plots and dialogue. Sometimes I couldn't tell who was talking or who's head I was in.
September 14, 2024
DNF. I pretty much read the whole thing even though it was a bore. Would’ve been a hit back in my wattpad days.
January 17, 2025
I have never understood how you can marry for revenge. There were a few twists and turns to keep this book interesting.
May 5, 2025
A most ridiculous story!
**1/2
**1/2
February 3, 2024
A simplistic yet captivating regency tale. With a tangled web of storylines, it keeps you guessing until the end.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews