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Regency Ethereal Encounters #4
A Lady’s Ruthless Duke
"This marriage was a matter of duty, nothing more… or so I thought."
Adrian Norfolk, the Duke of Norenshire, has spent years mastering the art of detachment, his heart shielded by icy walls forged in childhood. Driven by responsibility, he agrees to marry Lady Arabella Cooper, a match born of necessity, not desire.
Arabella, independent and quietly fierce, resents a marriage that seems more a business arrangement than a promise of companionship. Yet, beneath Adrian’s cold exterior, she glimpses the man he once was, a man capable of love.
As their worlds collide, and old wounds resurface, the line between obligation and desire blurs. Can a loveless arrangement become the greatest love of all, or will the shadows of their pasts keep them forever apart?
"A Lady’s Ruthless Duke" is a historical romance novel of approximately 60,000 words, no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. If you like the Regency and Victorian era, this novel is for you.
Get your copy today, free with Kindle Unlimited!
Adrian Norfolk, the Duke of Norenshire, has spent years mastering the art of detachment, his heart shielded by icy walls forged in childhood. Driven by responsibility, he agrees to marry Lady Arabella Cooper, a match born of necessity, not desire.
Arabella, independent and quietly fierce, resents a marriage that seems more a business arrangement than a promise of companionship. Yet, beneath Adrian’s cold exterior, she glimpses the man he once was, a man capable of love.
As their worlds collide, and old wounds resurface, the line between obligation and desire blurs. Can a loveless arrangement become the greatest love of all, or will the shadows of their pasts keep them forever apart?
"A Lady’s Ruthless Duke" is a historical romance novel of approximately 60,000 words, no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. If you like the Regency and Victorian era, this novel is for you.
Get your copy today, free with Kindle Unlimited!
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2024
153 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 20, 2024
A sweet historical romance of determination, hope and abiding love
As most ladies of nobility, Lady Arabella is arranged to be married to a notoriously cold and distant Duke, Lord Adrian. This depicts how those even in the upper classes of English society are made to conform to what their parents arrange for their children’s futures.
Despite his indifference and often callous treatment, Lady Arabella is determined to thaw the Duke’s icy heart and hope that their marriage of convenience will turn out to be one of mutual affection, esteem and respect. It is by sheer courage, force, intelligence and patience that Lady Arabella forges on to become the best Duchess to her husband despite his reluctance and constant acts of pushing her away. Little by little, she manages to chip away the defenses the Duke has put up after years of emotional and mental abuse from a stern and cruel father.
But will Lady Arabella’s efforts be enough to achieve hers and Lord Adrian’s happily ever after?
Despite typographical errors, this is a satisfying historical love story. What caused the star deduction is how swift the novel ended and with focus often shifting to another romance of secondary characters. The novel might as well have been titled Arabella’s and Victoria’s Romances or Love for Two Cousins.
In other words, this reader hoped for more pages emphasized on Arabella and Adrian rather than the supporting couple. More time should’ve spent boosting the love story especially towards the end. Since the story end was rather quick unsatisfactorily, this reader was left hoping for more.
As most ladies of nobility, Lady Arabella is arranged to be married to a notoriously cold and distant Duke, Lord Adrian. This depicts how those even in the upper classes of English society are made to conform to what their parents arrange for their children’s futures.
Despite his indifference and often callous treatment, Lady Arabella is determined to thaw the Duke’s icy heart and hope that their marriage of convenience will turn out to be one of mutual affection, esteem and respect. It is by sheer courage, force, intelligence and patience that Lady Arabella forges on to become the best Duchess to her husband despite his reluctance and constant acts of pushing her away. Little by little, she manages to chip away the defenses the Duke has put up after years of emotional and mental abuse from a stern and cruel father.
But will Lady Arabella’s efforts be enough to achieve hers and Lord Adrian’s happily ever after?
Despite typographical errors, this is a satisfying historical love story. What caused the star deduction is how swift the novel ended and with focus often shifting to another romance of secondary characters. The novel might as well have been titled Arabella’s and Victoria’s Romances or Love for Two Cousins.
In other words, this reader hoped for more pages emphasized on Arabella and Adrian rather than the supporting couple. More time should’ve spent boosting the love story especially towards the end. Since the story end was rather quick unsatisfactorily, this reader was left hoping for more.
August 14, 2025
3.5 stars for a angst driven HEA
This duke has issues. He finally grows up enough to realize it but it has prevented any growth in the newly married couple's relationship - and the bride is frustrated trying to bound with a husband who is determined to stay a stranger. The feelings develop but the Duke's fear of expressing them stymie any growth in the marriage until the crisis comes.
I felt a bit tired of the Duke's emotional struggle and awed at the author's portrayal of the bride's confusion and despair. It made the few friends that more likeable as they helped the newly weds through the struggle.
Any age can read this but those fascinated by psychology will be greatly intrigued.
This duke has issues. He finally grows up enough to realize it but it has prevented any growth in the newly married couple's relationship - and the bride is frustrated trying to bound with a husband who is determined to stay a stranger. The feelings develop but the Duke's fear of expressing them stymie any growth in the marriage until the crisis comes.
I felt a bit tired of the Duke's emotional struggle and awed at the author's portrayal of the bride's confusion and despair. It made the few friends that more likeable as they helped the newly weds through the struggle.
Any age can read this but those fascinated by psychology will be greatly intrigued.
October 1, 2025
The Lady’s Ruthless Duke by Emily Barnet is a clean Regency romance. Arabella is forced into a business marriage with a man who has no interest in love. Adrian believes he can keep his cold mask firmly in place, yet over time, the cracks begin to show.
This is a slow-burn romance with sweet kisses only—well written and enjoyable throughout. While the pacing felt a little slow in places, I’d still happily recommend The Lady’s Ruthless Duke!
This is a slow-burn romance with sweet kisses only—well written and enjoyable throughout. While the pacing felt a little slow in places, I’d still happily recommend The Lady’s Ruthless Duke!
December 21, 2024
When an iceberg meets a heat wave!
Arabella is a pawn in a business deal, her father agrees for her to marry Adrian,Duke who is cold as ice. His only thought are business, his father had drummed in his head that only fools and weaklings showed any emotion. So this is her life now, empty and rebuffed! Sounds interesting right?
Arabella is a pawn in a business deal, her father agrees for her to marry Adrian,Duke who is cold as ice. His only thought are business, his father had drummed in his head that only fools and weaklings showed any emotion. So this is her life now, empty and rebuffed! Sounds interesting right?
December 27, 2024
A Business/An Arrangement/An Advisory
An arranged marriage to help his business leads to the Duke caring more about his wife. And then a very serious injury leads everyone to find the perpetrator. Then a wife who finds love in her marriage & waits for his recovery. And both know family is everything.
An arranged marriage to help his business leads to the Duke caring more about his wife. And then a very serious injury leads everyone to find the perpetrator. Then a wife who finds love in her marriage & waits for his recovery. And both know family is everything.
December 19, 2024
Loved this sweet, fun story! The chemistry and family dynamics were awesome!
December 19, 2024
love
This is an interesting story of how love can be in many different forms. Emily Barnet has written a wonderful book that shall touch anyone who reads it.
This is an interesting story of how love can be in many different forms. Emily Barnet has written a wonderful book that shall touch anyone who reads it.
January 2, 2025
Emotional abuse is real. Love how true Emily stays to her subject and shows how there are ways to become even stronger. Love learning something new! Needless to say I did not get much done at home because I just had to know!
May 5, 2025
A marriage of convenience turns into love as the main characters develop their relationship overtime.
July 22, 2025
A Lady’s Ruthless Duke
I found the adventures of Arabella and Adrian to be a fantastic story. It was well written. It ended with a HEA which I found very enjoyable.
I found the adventures of Arabella and Adrian to be a fantastic story. It was well written. It ended with a HEA which I found very enjoyable.
August 13, 2025
Really, dad?
Cute afternoon clean read. Loved the storyline. Slow+ fast burn. Liked the characters even the icy Duke with his tragic background.
Cute afternoon clean read. Loved the storyline. Slow+ fast burn. Liked the characters even the icy Duke with his tragic background.
August 30, 2025
no words (in a bad way)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews