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The Gentleman's Vow #1
Her Duke’s Secret
"I will keep her safe, even if it means keeping her in the dark"
Lady Arabella’s only hope of escaping a cruel home is marriage. But the heartless Duke of Sheffield was never supposed to be the one to offer it…
Duke Harry never cared for love. But after being caught in a scandal, he is forced to protect a woman he never wanted to make his wife…
Determined to thaw his icy heart, Arabella soon discovers that her new husband is hiding more than his growing feelings for her. A secret that will force him to decide whether it’s worth losing the only woman who’s ever made him feel alive…
*If you like a realistic yet charming depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then Her Duke’s Secret is the novel for you.
An enchanting regency romance of 80,000 words (around 400 pages), written by Hanna Hamilton and published by Cobalt Fairy.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Pick up "Her Duke’s Secret" today to discover Hanna's amazing new story!
Lady Arabella’s only hope of escaping a cruel home is marriage. But the heartless Duke of Sheffield was never supposed to be the one to offer it…
Duke Harry never cared for love. But after being caught in a scandal, he is forced to protect a woman he never wanted to make his wife…
Determined to thaw his icy heart, Arabella soon discovers that her new husband is hiding more than his growing feelings for her. A secret that will force him to decide whether it’s worth losing the only woman who’s ever made him feel alive…
*If you like a realistic yet charming depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then Her Duke’s Secret is the novel for you.
An enchanting regency romance of 80,000 words (around 400 pages), written by Hanna Hamilton and published by Cobalt Fairy.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Pick up "Her Duke’s Secret" today to discover Hanna's amazing new story!
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2024
194 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Hanna Hamilton
123 books127 followersHanna Hamilton has been fascinated with the Regency era ever since she was a young teen, first discovering historical romance novels by famous authors such as Jane Austen and Lisa Kleypas. She believes that love was just so much more magical back then, more like a fairy tale. She always daydreamed about finding love herself that way, but since that is impossible in the twenty-first century, she decided to write about it instead!
Born in Texas, Hanna Hamilton obtained a degree in Creative Writing and has worked as a literature teacher before becoming a novelist. When she isn’t writing, Hanna likes to explore the countryside with her husband and two children, gaining inspiration from the natural world around her.
So, come on a journey into love, confusion, and redemption all within the Regency era. Hanna hopes that you will enjoy immersing yourself into her novels and that you too will find a love for old-fashioned romance, just as she has.
Facebook page: http://facebook.com/hannahamiltonauthor
Born in Texas, Hanna Hamilton obtained a degree in Creative Writing and has worked as a literature teacher before becoming a novelist. When she isn’t writing, Hanna likes to explore the countryside with her husband and two children, gaining inspiration from the natural world around her.
So, come on a journey into love, confusion, and redemption all within the Regency era. Hanna hopes that you will enjoy immersing yourself into her novels and that you too will find a love for old-fashioned romance, just as she has.
Facebook page: http://facebook.com/hannahamiltonauthor
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 30, 2024
While reading this book, I found myself wanting to like the story, but too many improbabilities occurred for that to happen. The plot is implausible, and the characters move like pieces on a checkerboard.
Lady Arabella, the Earl of Worcester’s eldest daughter, has been tricked into marriage to Harry Ridlington, the Duke of Sheffield. The machinations behind such trickery are silly. Her father, the earl, is a drunkard who has gambled and drunk away a fortune. This book is the story of Lady Arabella and the duke’s marriage.
Keeping company with this trio of characters, is the duke’s disagreeable mother, his disparaging uncle, Lady Arabella’s two querulous sisters, and their indifferent brother. Add to them someone named “Helen,” who is deliberately written in a deceptive manner, and we have our main cast.
There are some problem spots:
Arabella tells the duke about a canopy she had over her bed as a child. “It was made to look like a starry sky, with tiny lights sewn into the fabric…” It’s 1813, where did the tiny lights come from? There’s no electricity and a candlelit canopy would be a sincere fire hazard.
Arabella tells the duke, “I’ve always loved watching the stars. They’ve been a source of comfort to me for as long as I can remember…“ and “When I was a little girl, I used to sneak out of the house at night and lie on the grass, just staring up at the stars.” Arabella tells the duke about these enjoyable activities at the duke’s estate, while taking a tour of his gardens at night, something she insisted on. But…a few pages later are we told, “She’d [Arabella] never liked the dark—she found it frightening…” and she states, “I do not like the darkness, I confess.” So…Arabella tells the duke she wants to tour his gardens at night, and that she’s loved lying in the grass at night watching the stars. And suddenly she’s afraid of the dark? No. Either she finds comfort in the dark or she’s frightened of it, not both. A few sentences later it becomes clear that this sudden fear is a device the writer uses to get Arabella into the duke’s arms so he can protect her from the dark. This whole scene is patently ridiculous.
Later in the book, Arabella is able to set aside her fear in order to prowl around the duke’s home in the dark, eavesdropping on half-heard conversations. Not only is Arabella’s fear of the dark discarded, but this is a device used by the writer to allow Arabella to jump to erroneous conclusions that cause misunderstandings. It’s obvious and it doesn’t work well.
The duke is wealthy and powerful. The writer assures us multiple times that this is the case. And yet, he’s unable to provide the financial support to someone for whom he cares. And it is the flimsiest and most illogical excuse the writer provides for the rationale. It would be a spoiler to say much more, but one of the main premises of the book—indeed, at the heart of the duke’s character—is nothing more than a charade that hurts the book. The writer surely could have come up with a better reason for not providing proper care for a loved one. It ruins the story.
Harry, the duke, is very much afraid of Sir Richard, his uncle, and fears retribution. But again, there is no groundwork laid for his fear. Harry is a duke. Sir Richard is a knight. Harry is wealthier and more respected than his uncle. At the end of the book, we learn that Sir Richard has lied to Harry for years, yet it is a lie that would have been so easy to uncover but is exposed only at the end. This lie is an unbelievable part of Harry’s life.
Arabella’s brother, Alexander, fled to Ireland to get away from his father and though he promised to take care of his sisters if life with the earl became unbearable, he turned his back on them—even when they wrote and begged him to help them over and over again. He has behaved like an indifferent brother at best. Suddenly, at the end of the book, he turns into a responsive brother who wants to help. There is no foundation for this change. Letter after pleading letter was written to the man who refused to help his sisters. Now he’s good? No. That’s an inconceivable change.
I rated this book 2.5 stars and rounded down. Too many incredulous plotlines and unconvincing characters took away from the enjoyment of reading this book. I found myself shaking my head often while I read one unlikely situation after another. I also pondered the need to read an offline prequel chapter in order to better understand this book. Before the prologue, there is an author’s note: “Here is a Prequel Chapter which will help you understand and visualize the story inside my book better.” Why? If it’s important, include it in the book. A reader will never need help to understand or visualize a well-written story. To this…no, thank you.
Lady Arabella, the Earl of Worcester’s eldest daughter, has been tricked into marriage to Harry Ridlington, the Duke of Sheffield. The machinations behind such trickery are silly. Her father, the earl, is a drunkard who has gambled and drunk away a fortune. This book is the story of Lady Arabella and the duke’s marriage.
Keeping company with this trio of characters, is the duke’s disagreeable mother, his disparaging uncle, Lady Arabella’s two querulous sisters, and their indifferent brother. Add to them someone named “Helen,” who is deliberately written in a deceptive manner, and we have our main cast.
There are some problem spots:
Arabella tells the duke about a canopy she had over her bed as a child. “It was made to look like a starry sky, with tiny lights sewn into the fabric…” It’s 1813, where did the tiny lights come from? There’s no electricity and a candlelit canopy would be a sincere fire hazard.
Arabella tells the duke, “I’ve always loved watching the stars. They’ve been a source of comfort to me for as long as I can remember…“ and “When I was a little girl, I used to sneak out of the house at night and lie on the grass, just staring up at the stars.” Arabella tells the duke about these enjoyable activities at the duke’s estate, while taking a tour of his gardens at night, something she insisted on. But…a few pages later are we told, “She’d [Arabella] never liked the dark—she found it frightening…” and she states, “I do not like the darkness, I confess.” So…Arabella tells the duke she wants to tour his gardens at night, and that she’s loved lying in the grass at night watching the stars. And suddenly she’s afraid of the dark? No. Either she finds comfort in the dark or she’s frightened of it, not both. A few sentences later it becomes clear that this sudden fear is a device the writer uses to get Arabella into the duke’s arms so he can protect her from the dark. This whole scene is patently ridiculous.
Later in the book, Arabella is able to set aside her fear in order to prowl around the duke’s home in the dark, eavesdropping on half-heard conversations. Not only is Arabella’s fear of the dark discarded, but this is a device used by the writer to allow Arabella to jump to erroneous conclusions that cause misunderstandings. It’s obvious and it doesn’t work well.
The duke is wealthy and powerful. The writer assures us multiple times that this is the case. And yet, he’s unable to provide the financial support to someone for whom he cares. And it is the flimsiest and most illogical excuse the writer provides for the rationale. It would be a spoiler to say much more, but one of the main premises of the book—indeed, at the heart of the duke’s character—is nothing more than a charade that hurts the book. The writer surely could have come up with a better reason for not providing proper care for a loved one. It ruins the story.
Harry, the duke, is very much afraid of Sir Richard, his uncle, and fears retribution. But again, there is no groundwork laid for his fear. Harry is a duke. Sir Richard is a knight. Harry is wealthier and more respected than his uncle. At the end of the book, we learn that Sir Richard has lied to Harry for years, yet it is a lie that would have been so easy to uncover but is exposed only at the end. This lie is an unbelievable part of Harry’s life.
Arabella’s brother, Alexander, fled to Ireland to get away from his father and though he promised to take care of his sisters if life with the earl became unbearable, he turned his back on them—even when they wrote and begged him to help them over and over again. He has behaved like an indifferent brother at best. Suddenly, at the end of the book, he turns into a responsive brother who wants to help. There is no foundation for this change. Letter after pleading letter was written to the man who refused to help his sisters. Now he’s good? No. That’s an inconceivable change.
I rated this book 2.5 stars and rounded down. Too many incredulous plotlines and unconvincing characters took away from the enjoyment of reading this book. I found myself shaking my head often while I read one unlikely situation after another. I also pondered the need to read an offline prequel chapter in order to better understand this book. Before the prologue, there is an author’s note: “Here is a Prequel Chapter which will help you understand and visualize the story inside my book better.” Why? If it’s important, include it in the book. A reader will never need help to understand or visualize a well-written story. To this…no, thank you.
September 12, 2024
Lady Arabella is already unhappy living with her two older sisters along with their father, who has become a mean drunk since the death of their mother. When her father, the Earl of Worcester tells her she must find a husband at the ball tonight. Arabella is only in her first Season and tries to explain to her father, but he insisted she will dance with a gentleman twice tonight. While at the ball, Arabella overhears a woman making a comment about someone who has entered the ballroom. They eyes meet and she feels a jolt. She inquires who the gentleman is to find he is Harry Ridlington, The Duke of Sheffield. Arabella decides to go to the garden for some air and shortly Harry shows up there. They share a few words and he offers her his handkerchief as he sees she has been crying. She immediately goes back into the ballroom and runs into her father. He tells her Hanna is not feeling well and Emma is with her and tells her to go check on them in the library. Not finding her sisters, Arabella is surprised when the door opens and in walks the Duke. He tells her he is there to find his uncle and also to escape mamas trying to marry him to their daughters. Arabella decides she needs to leave the library, but in her hurry she trips and almost falls. Harry catches her before she hits the floor. Suddenly the door opens again and there is Arabella's father and Lady Lawrence, a well know gossip. Arabella then realizes this has been a trap. Her father demands that Harry marry his daughter. At first both Arabella and Harry refuse and then finally Harry says yes. What happens next? You must read for yourself to find the family secrets that Harry is holding to himself. Can this story have a happy ending?
September 8, 2024
An Enjoyable Read
I enjoyed this story but was confused because the introductory prequel and the extended epilogue story were about a completely different story.
In Her Duke's Secret, Arabella lived with her father and sisters. He was an Earl but was now a drunkard. He had driven his son away and treated his daughters badly. So much so that it was ruining their chances to find matches in society.
At a ball he tricked Arabella into a compromising situation . She was found alone with Duke Harry. He had been tricked as well but the result was they had to marry against their wishes. Harry had a lot of secrets which he would not share with Arabella. She was unhappy because Harry seemed distant with her. He would not reveal his worries but eventually Arabella discovered the truth. The story explores how drunkenness can have a devastating effect on families. It also reveals deceit and treachery. Harry struggled with the threats he was faced with and it was only when the truth was revealed that the effect of the threats was removed. Arabella could have a settled relationship with Harry and her family at last. An enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this story but was confused because the introductory prequel and the extended epilogue story were about a completely different story.
In Her Duke's Secret, Arabella lived with her father and sisters. He was an Earl but was now a drunkard. He had driven his son away and treated his daughters badly. So much so that it was ruining their chances to find matches in society.
At a ball he tricked Arabella into a compromising situation . She was found alone with Duke Harry. He had been tricked as well but the result was they had to marry against their wishes. Harry had a lot of secrets which he would not share with Arabella. She was unhappy because Harry seemed distant with her. He would not reveal his worries but eventually Arabella discovered the truth. The story explores how drunkenness can have a devastating effect on families. It also reveals deceit and treachery. Harry struggled with the threats he was faced with and it was only when the truth was revealed that the effect of the threats was removed. Arabella could have a settled relationship with Harry and her family at last. An enjoyable read.
November 28, 2025
A great book with a captivating story and memorable characters. Arabella shines as a smart, thoughtful, and spirited heroine her strength and wit make her easy to root for. Harry, meanwhile, is dashing, protective, and every inch the gentleman, bringing both charm and tension to the romance.
Arabella’s sisters add extra fun and lightness to the narrative, their presence making the family dynamic lively and entertaining. And then there’s Helen when her secret came to light, I was ready to call Harry a scoundrel! But the twist didn’t play out the way I expected, which kept me turning the pages eagerly.
Hanna Hamilton delivers a delightful historical romance full of wit, surprises, and heartfelt moments. The journey to Arabella and Harry’s happily ever after is both entertaining and rewarding.
Arabella’s sisters add extra fun and lightness to the narrative, their presence making the family dynamic lively and entertaining. And then there’s Helen when her secret came to light, I was ready to call Harry a scoundrel! But the twist didn’t play out the way I expected, which kept me turning the pages eagerly.
Hanna Hamilton delivers a delightful historical romance full of wit, surprises, and heartfelt moments. The journey to Arabella and Harry’s happily ever after is both entertaining and rewarding.
September 7, 2024
I appreciate how Harry tried to make Arabella feel comfortable & tried to help with her family, he was weridly vary compassionate & sometimes not at all, though I appreciate that he usually apologized. I liked that the simular experiences they both had in childhood help draw them together & how they were able to & helped each other feel understood. The back & forth with their relationship getting closer, & then further was a little tiring, but the story was enjoyable. Though there were several villains in the story in my opinion none were worse than Alex, he was a truly deplorable person & I wish they had turn out different for him.
September 15, 2024
Never quite believe what you are told!
I was so disappointed to read how some girls were treated in this era! Arabella’s father is a drunken Earl, after his wife died, turned to the bottle, and drove his son to flee to Ireland, and constantly belittled his three daughters. Arabella is the youngest, and he trapped her, by his lies, and Harry, Duke into marriage. Neither wanted to marry, but tried to make the best of it. Harry’s uncle had raised him since his parents died in shipwreck, and he was raised in fear and guilt. Slowly they began a slow march toward truth! Book worth reading!
I was so disappointed to read how some girls were treated in this era! Arabella’s father is a drunken Earl, after his wife died, turned to the bottle, and drove his son to flee to Ireland, and constantly belittled his three daughters. Arabella is the youngest, and he trapped her, by his lies, and Harry, Duke into marriage. Neither wanted to marry, but tried to make the best of it. Harry’s uncle had raised him since his parents died in shipwreck, and he was raised in fear and guilt. Slowly they began a slow march toward truth! Book worth reading!
September 16, 2024
I was left feeling bereft in regard to the romance element of Harry and Arabella's love story. I enjoyed the story as well as the characters as they developed relationships. I especially enjoyed Helen's character and relationship to Duke Harry. Arabella's boldness and courage to stand up to her drunken father and Harry's cruel uncle Richard was unexpected. But overall, I would recommend this book.
September 18, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
This book was such a great surprise!!! It approached a very subtle yet present theme: the burdens we carry consciously or unconsciously, placed there by our own misconceptions or by mean intended people.
This is a beautiful story about resilience, survival against abuse (verbal and psychological due to greed or alcohol) and of course, the undying power of love.
I absolutely loved it!!!
This book was such a great surprise!!! It approached a very subtle yet present theme: the burdens we carry consciously or unconsciously, placed there by our own misconceptions or by mean intended people.
This is a beautiful story about resilience, survival against abuse (verbal and psychological due to greed or alcohol) and of course, the undying power of love.
I absolutely loved it!!!
September 15, 2024
The hero doesn’t want to marry as he has secrets to keep. The heroine has a drunken father who wants to get rid of his daughters, so he tricks the heroine into a scandalous situation with the duke. They end up married and slowly she finds out his secrets. There are twists and turns to the plot which made the story intriguing.
December 20, 2025
Harry
What a lovely book. I enjoy books with unusual storylines and this was definitely a good one. Forced to marry Harry and Arabella have rough and tumultuous relationship. Hearing about a woman named Helen she is sure her husband is having an affair! Hurt and jealous she begins her investigation… must read to find out what truths she finds!
What a lovely book. I enjoy books with unusual storylines and this was definitely a good one. Forced to marry Harry and Arabella have rough and tumultuous relationship. Hearing about a woman named Helen she is sure her husband is having an affair! Hurt and jealous she begins her investigation… must read to find out what truths she finds!
September 16, 2024
Tragic bits of the past/No Love & Then…
A forced marriage & one of convince
Arabella does her best to not disappear in a huge manor with no husband around. Secrets abound & eventually the truth comes out but it’s not what it seems.
A forced marriage & one of convince
Arabella does her best to not disappear in a huge manor with no husband around. Secrets abound & eventually the truth comes out but it’s not what it seems.
October 9, 2024
Lovely Story
I have this story a five because it held my interest from the first page until the last page. Though I knew that the end of the story would find the Duke and his wife finding love, the journey was interesting. This is one O believe even teens could read and enjoy.
I have this story a five because it held my interest from the first page until the last page. Though I knew that the end of the story would find the Duke and his wife finding love, the journey was interesting. This is one O believe even teens could read and enjoy.
September 8, 2024
3.75 stars
Want to read
September 19, 20245.0/1*
November 24, 2025
Very clean. This series was frustrating though. Through most of the story the reader and the heroine believe he a cheat but no cheating!! Hanna Hamilton wrote a great loyal hero.
September 14, 2024
Secrets and lies
I enjoyed reading this book, its characters make you want to cheer for them and so glad that they win, you’ll be so glad you read this too.
I enjoyed reading this book, its characters make you want to cheer for them and so glad that they win, you’ll be so glad you read this too.
November 11, 2024
Guilt Undeserved
The two characters which were misery o two legs were just too awful to be believed. The main characters were too understanding to be believed. Always good to have happy ending.
The two characters which were misery o two legs were just too awful to be believed. The main characters were too understanding to be believed. Always good to have happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews