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The Sinful Scoundrels #3
What a Devilish Duke Desires
WILL A FEW FLIRTATIOUS STEPS
Harry Norcliffe never wanted to inherit his beloved uncle's title. The rigidity of the ton, the incessant reminders from his marriage-minded mama that he must settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare: it's all such a dreadful bore. So when his mother asks him to take part in a dancing competition, he patently refuses. The last thing he needs is another chore . . . until a beautiful, brilliant, delightfully tempting maid makes him rethink his position.
LEAD TO A SCANDALOUS SEDUCTION?
Most women would be over the moon to be pursued by a wickedly handsome—not to mention wealthy—duke like Norcliffe. But Lucy will not be any man's trophy. She could use a friend, though, and what begins innocently soon ignites into desire. As Lucy tries to resist Harry's scorching kisses, he makes an utterly irresistible offer. Enter the dance contest with him, and win a prize that could change her life forever . . . if falling in love doesn't change it first.
Harry Norcliffe never wanted to inherit his beloved uncle's title. The rigidity of the ton, the incessant reminders from his marriage-minded mama that he must settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare: it's all such a dreadful bore. So when his mother asks him to take part in a dancing competition, he patently refuses. The last thing he needs is another chore . . . until a beautiful, brilliant, delightfully tempting maid makes him rethink his position.
LEAD TO A SCANDALOUS SEDUCTION?
Most women would be over the moon to be pursued by a wickedly handsome—not to mention wealthy—duke like Norcliffe. But Lucy will not be any man's trophy. She could use a friend, though, and what begins innocently soon ignites into desire. As Lucy tries to resist Harry's scorching kisses, he makes an utterly irresistible offer. Enter the dance contest with him, and win a prize that could change her life forever . . . if falling in love doesn't change it first.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 24, 2015
15 people are currently reading
942 people want to read
About the author
Vicky Dreiling
11 books561 followersVicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.”
When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit that lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.
When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit that lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 25, 2015
First, let me give credit where it is due. What a Devilish Duke Desires is fairly an original read because it involves a dance competition. What it doesn’t entail is an arrogant and insanely lustful rake. Kudos!
Now, let’s begin.
Wow. Just wow.
Is What a Devilish Duke Desires a debut novel?
Let’s see . . .
Nope.
According to my quick research, Vicky Dreiling has been writing in the Historical Romance genre for the past four years.
So pray tell why this book lacks passion, lacks charm, lacks common sense, lacks experience, lacks everything that makes me love historical romance.
Reading it was a major struggle. The beginning was so perfect and I loved the characters. However, after a short while, the awkward and bland writing took its toll on me. The repetitive writing was the absolute worst.
Again with the fucking repetition. Why are so many of the HR books I’m reading these days full of repetitive writing like the author is constantly repeating details for the readers’ sake? As if anyone of us can forget this “important” piece of information when we only read this dialogue/monologue a mere two pages ago. Do we look dense to you?
Example #1: When Lucy kept recalling how she never took insults to the heart, but Harry’s mother’s dismissal humiliated her. The author rewrote this part about three times and each time it sounded exactly the same. It was completely annoying and unnecessary to repeat when nothing new was being revealed.
Example #2: “He would never mean to hurt her, but it was inevitable, because she could never be a part of his world.” 11 lines later . . . “He wouldn’t mean to hurt her, but it was inevitable, because she could never be a part of his world.”
There are much, much more examples I can give, but I’m not about to scavenge these pages again to look for them.
No fucking thank you.
The transitions between time jumps was uncomfortable too thanks to Vicky's awkward writing style.
The characters, too, lost their glow.
Even though I still think Harry and Lucy are pretty cute together, I feel nothing for these two. Not happiness. Not relief. Not anything remotely close to a positive feeling.
As much as I sympathize with Lucy’s social standing and the threats in her life— Buckley, for example— I can’t make myself care. And I don’t see the point of a villian when that person hardly poses a threat. The drama with Buckley feels dull and forced. On the other hand, the tension and drama between Lucy and Mrs. Norcliffe and the rest of ton is reasonable to read about.
Conclusion: The book blurb is misleading. The plot fails to reach its potential. The romance is dead. The main characters spend their times wallowing, repeating themselves, running back and forth to each other, and downright does nothing interesting worth mentioning. As expected, the author continues to duplicate dialogues because she ran out of English words and reached the capacity of her creativity.
Initially, I planned on a two star rating, but this book utterly killed my mood for more historical romance reads and I can’t get passed how green and horrid the writing is. One star for the small amount of enjoyment I had. No stars for everything else.
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now, let’s begin.
Wow. Just wow.
Is What a Devilish Duke Desires a debut novel?
Let’s see . . .
Nope.
According to my quick research, Vicky Dreiling has been writing in the Historical Romance genre for the past four years.
So pray tell why this book lacks passion, lacks charm, lacks common sense, lacks experience, lacks everything that makes me love historical romance.
Reading it was a major struggle. The beginning was so perfect and I loved the characters. However, after a short while, the awkward and bland writing took its toll on me. The repetitive writing was the absolute worst.
Again with the fucking repetition. Why are so many of the HR books I’m reading these days full of repetitive writing like the author is constantly repeating details for the readers’ sake? As if anyone of us can forget this “important” piece of information when we only read this dialogue/monologue a mere two pages ago. Do we look dense to you?
Example #1: When Lucy kept recalling how she never took insults to the heart, but Harry’s mother’s dismissal humiliated her. The author rewrote this part about three times and each time it sounded exactly the same. It was completely annoying and unnecessary to repeat when nothing new was being revealed.
Example #2: “He would never mean to hurt her, but it was inevitable, because she could never be a part of his world.” 11 lines later . . . “He wouldn’t mean to hurt her, but it was inevitable, because she could never be a part of his world.”
There are much, much more examples I can give, but I’m not about to scavenge these pages again to look for them.
No fucking thank you.
The transitions between time jumps was uncomfortable too thanks to Vicky's awkward writing style.
The characters, too, lost their glow.
Even though I still think Harry and Lucy are pretty cute together, I feel nothing for these two. Not happiness. Not relief. Not anything remotely close to a positive feeling.
As much as I sympathize with Lucy’s social standing and the threats in her life— Buckley, for example— I can’t make myself care. And I don’t see the point of a villian when that person hardly poses a threat. The drama with Buckley feels dull and forced. On the other hand, the tension and drama between Lucy and Mrs. Norcliffe and the rest of ton is reasonable to read about.
Conclusion: The book blurb is misleading. The plot fails to reach its potential. The romance is dead. The main characters spend their times wallowing, repeating themselves, running back and forth to each other, and downright does nothing interesting worth mentioning. As expected, the author continues to duplicate dialogues because she ran out of English words and reached the capacity of her creativity.
Initially, I planned on a two star rating, but this book utterly killed my mood for more historical romance reads and I can’t get passed how green and horrid the writing is. One star for the small amount of enjoyment I had. No stars for everything else.
ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2015
I received a arc in exchange for a honest review, thanks to Netgalley and Hatchette Book Group.
Summary
Harry Norcliffe, is recovering from the death of a beloved uncle, and having to take over the title, and all the matchmaking mama's, including his own. Harry is determined to marry for love, and not for position or wealth. Then he meets Lucy, and his world shifts, and he knows he needs to make her his. Lucy, has fallen on hard times. Her parents are dead, and her only living relative, her grandmother, who is blind and needs her. Lucy, works two jobs, trying to support them both, and save money for her own dance studio. She never expected to become friends with a Duke, Harry Norcliffe. At first Harry is intrigued by Lucy, because she doesn't look at him as a Duke, but as a person with intelligence, thoughts and feelings. Until three months ago, he was barely noticed. But now as the Duke, he has responsibilities, but he also feels he has a duty to his heart. Lucy is determined to make her own way, but she can't deny how her resolve weakens when he is near, or how she wishes their worlds weren't opposite from each other. But if they have a chance for a future, Lucy will need to embrace her feelings for Harry and face her past...
The Hero
Harry Norcliffe, never thought that he would be next in line to be the Duke. It is the last thing he would ever desire for his future. His uncle, he loved dearly, and would trade anything to have him alive again. Harry now that he is titled with a dukedom, has doors opened for him that he didn't have before. Harry is a scoundrel, but is a charmer. He loves women, and doesn't hide his interest in Lucy. He could charm the head of a snake if it suited him. But he also is true to himself. He doesn't let what society may say to determine what he wants in his future. What I really admired about this character, was his attitude toward the Ton...I just loved it. He had that devil may care attitude, that was quite refreshing. When he knows that he wants Lucy in his future, he isn't afraid to go after her. He is a bit a a rogue, but is playful, witty, and delectable. Where can I find my own Harry Norcliffe?
The Heroine
Lucy Longmore, is a young woman that is doing everything that she can to make her dreams come true. Her mother taught her how to dance, and Lucy loves it. She loves teaching it and showing the joy of it to others. She lost her mother young, and her father died from drinking, and now it is just her and her grandmother. She is working multiple jobs, and taking care of her grandmother. Lucy is a heroine I adored. I admired her so much, she had so much courage to go after what she wanted in life, and despite how others looked at her, she knew that she could make her dreams come true. She had this inner strength that came out in the story, and I enjoyed seeing her flourish. She is pretty stubborn but has backbone and it was quite fun seeing how she stands up to Harry, and is no door mat. She says things how they really are and damn the consequences.
Plot and Story Line
What A Devilish Duke Desires is the third book in the series, now I am not sure that it is the last book in the series, because it does lead up to other connection, that could make room for other books. I have been amazed with this series, and how much I have fallen for this author. Vicky Dreiling is so talented, and I am in love with her. She has such a perfect way of writing a story that is compelling, and draws you into the story from the beginning. It wasn't any struggle to get into it at all, and I was curious if it would be. I am in love with this story and it made me want to read the first two books again, because it was so fun seeing the previous characters from those books involved in this story. I love the sense of friendship that Harry has with his two friends and their wives. What was a fun aspect, was the dog. Now I am not a dog fan, but I love seeing animals incorporated into romances, and he was cute and playful. The romance between Harry and Lucy, is a bit slow going, but from the beginning you see the chemistry. But I loved the slow and steady development of their love story. The characters in this story are endearing and captivating, and they grab your attention immediately. If you are looking for a good historical romance in the regency era, this is a book for you. You don't have to read the series in order, its pretty easy to catch on to what is going on, but I am pleased that I was able to read it in order. The plot is ongoing, and there are some aspects that will definitely keep you entranced, and there is a bad villain...he adds a certain depth to the story that you wouldn't expect. I loved the level of intensity that picks up, and the humor in this story is witty and dry and it wraps around you like a warm blanket on a cold night.
Cover
This cover is so pretty and even though I am not a huge fan of yellow themed colors...this one really worked for me. It has that sweet yet lightly sensual tone to it, and I love the way they are posed and the hero and heroine in the cover portray how the characters are described in the story fairly well. So no complaints...just pretty and tasteful.
Overall View
What A Devilish Duke Desires is a romantic story that brings the passion of the regency era to life. A book that is full of sensuality, a level of playful interaction, delightful scenes, and characters to endear themselves in your heart. A powerfully written tale that will tie you in knots, and keep you fully invested until the end. SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
Summary
Harry Norcliffe, is recovering from the death of a beloved uncle, and having to take over the title, and all the matchmaking mama's, including his own. Harry is determined to marry for love, and not for position or wealth. Then he meets Lucy, and his world shifts, and he knows he needs to make her his. Lucy, has fallen on hard times. Her parents are dead, and her only living relative, her grandmother, who is blind and needs her. Lucy, works two jobs, trying to support them both, and save money for her own dance studio. She never expected to become friends with a Duke, Harry Norcliffe. At first Harry is intrigued by Lucy, because she doesn't look at him as a Duke, but as a person with intelligence, thoughts and feelings. Until three months ago, he was barely noticed. But now as the Duke, he has responsibilities, but he also feels he has a duty to his heart. Lucy is determined to make her own way, but she can't deny how her resolve weakens when he is near, or how she wishes their worlds weren't opposite from each other. But if they have a chance for a future, Lucy will need to embrace her feelings for Harry and face her past...
The Hero
Harry Norcliffe, never thought that he would be next in line to be the Duke. It is the last thing he would ever desire for his future. His uncle, he loved dearly, and would trade anything to have him alive again. Harry now that he is titled with a dukedom, has doors opened for him that he didn't have before. Harry is a scoundrel, but is a charmer. He loves women, and doesn't hide his interest in Lucy. He could charm the head of a snake if it suited him. But he also is true to himself. He doesn't let what society may say to determine what he wants in his future. What I really admired about this character, was his attitude toward the Ton...I just loved it. He had that devil may care attitude, that was quite refreshing. When he knows that he wants Lucy in his future, he isn't afraid to go after her. He is a bit a a rogue, but is playful, witty, and delectable. Where can I find my own Harry Norcliffe?
The Heroine
Lucy Longmore, is a young woman that is doing everything that she can to make her dreams come true. Her mother taught her how to dance, and Lucy loves it. She loves teaching it and showing the joy of it to others. She lost her mother young, and her father died from drinking, and now it is just her and her grandmother. She is working multiple jobs, and taking care of her grandmother. Lucy is a heroine I adored. I admired her so much, she had so much courage to go after what she wanted in life, and despite how others looked at her, she knew that she could make her dreams come true. She had this inner strength that came out in the story, and I enjoyed seeing her flourish. She is pretty stubborn but has backbone and it was quite fun seeing how she stands up to Harry, and is no door mat. She says things how they really are and damn the consequences.
Plot and Story Line
What A Devilish Duke Desires is the third book in the series, now I am not sure that it is the last book in the series, because it does lead up to other connection, that could make room for other books. I have been amazed with this series, and how much I have fallen for this author. Vicky Dreiling is so talented, and I am in love with her. She has such a perfect way of writing a story that is compelling, and draws you into the story from the beginning. It wasn't any struggle to get into it at all, and I was curious if it would be. I am in love with this story and it made me want to read the first two books again, because it was so fun seeing the previous characters from those books involved in this story. I love the sense of friendship that Harry has with his two friends and their wives. What was a fun aspect, was the dog. Now I am not a dog fan, but I love seeing animals incorporated into romances, and he was cute and playful. The romance between Harry and Lucy, is a bit slow going, but from the beginning you see the chemistry. But I loved the slow and steady development of their love story. The characters in this story are endearing and captivating, and they grab your attention immediately. If you are looking for a good historical romance in the regency era, this is a book for you. You don't have to read the series in order, its pretty easy to catch on to what is going on, but I am pleased that I was able to read it in order. The plot is ongoing, and there are some aspects that will definitely keep you entranced, and there is a bad villain...he adds a certain depth to the story that you wouldn't expect. I loved the level of intensity that picks up, and the humor in this story is witty and dry and it wraps around you like a warm blanket on a cold night.
Cover
This cover is so pretty and even though I am not a huge fan of yellow themed colors...this one really worked for me. It has that sweet yet lightly sensual tone to it, and I love the way they are posed and the hero and heroine in the cover portray how the characters are described in the story fairly well. So no complaints...just pretty and tasteful.
Overall View
What A Devilish Duke Desires is a romantic story that brings the passion of the regency era to life. A book that is full of sensuality, a level of playful interaction, delightful scenes, and characters to endear themselves in your heart. A powerfully written tale that will tie you in knots, and keep you fully invested until the end. SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
February 24, 2015
MY THOUGHTS
Harry Norcliffe didn’t ask to be a duke, but since his uncle died, he is named heir. He never thought he would inherit anything and was previously snubbed by society. Now, his two best friends have married and he claims he will never marry unless it is for love. His mother has tried to set him with eligible ladies, but none seem to be the one. Now that he is titled and had wealth, he has suddenly become desirable and he wants nothing to do with the elite.
Lucy Longmore has moved to London with her blind grandmother after her father dies and leaves them penniless. In order to support them, she takes on every job she can find. After being dismissed as a seamstress, she finds additional odd jobs as a maid and tries to follow her passion of dance as an instructor. She is hired by a unsovory character, as a dance assistant and when he is thrown out of a client’s house for being drunk, she is hired on in his place.
The two have a second cute meet in a local park when Harry’s dog finds her. She knows he is a gentleman and could ruin her reputation by even speaking with him, but there is an instant spark between the them. As Harry tried to get closer to Lucy, she knows that he can never marry her because of her status as a servant. They continue to meet and Harry rescues her from her former boss who intends to do her harm. Lucy knows that his assistance will come at a great risk and possibly ruin her reputation.
I adored this book! The romance between Lucy and Harry just hit the right spot. When Harry thought he might lose Lucy, he tried everything to save her. Lucy always tried to put on a brave face when thing were at their worse and it was nice that she finally had a champion in Harry. Overall, this is a wonderfully written historical romance with a bit of spice and humor that will make you want more.
Harry Norcliffe didn’t ask to be a duke, but since his uncle died, he is named heir. He never thought he would inherit anything and was previously snubbed by society. Now, his two best friends have married and he claims he will never marry unless it is for love. His mother has tried to set him with eligible ladies, but none seem to be the one. Now that he is titled and had wealth, he has suddenly become desirable and he wants nothing to do with the elite.
Lucy Longmore has moved to London with her blind grandmother after her father dies and leaves them penniless. In order to support them, she takes on every job she can find. After being dismissed as a seamstress, she finds additional odd jobs as a maid and tries to follow her passion of dance as an instructor. She is hired by a unsovory character, as a dance assistant and when he is thrown out of a client’s house for being drunk, she is hired on in his place.
The two have a second cute meet in a local park when Harry’s dog finds her. She knows he is a gentleman and could ruin her reputation by even speaking with him, but there is an instant spark between the them. As Harry tried to get closer to Lucy, she knows that he can never marry her because of her status as a servant. They continue to meet and Harry rescues her from her former boss who intends to do her harm. Lucy knows that his assistance will come at a great risk and possibly ruin her reputation.
I adored this book! The romance between Lucy and Harry just hit the right spot. When Harry thought he might lose Lucy, he tried everything to save her. Lucy always tried to put on a brave face when thing were at their worse and it was nice that she finally had a champion in Harry. Overall, this is a wonderfully written historical romance with a bit of spice and humor that will make you want more.
February 22, 2015
As soon as I started reading this book, I had it feeling it was going to be good, and it was. It was exciting, humorous, and entertaining. I have to say the synopsis is a little misleading about the contest, but other than that, I really liked reading it!
Lucy was a great heroine with a fiery personality to match her red hair. She's sassy, passionate, strong, brave, and she challenges Harry--that was always amusing to watch. The only time I wasn't happy with Lucy was when she was fighting to accept that her and Harry could be together no matter what the ton thought. I understood where she was coming from, but I was just like: let it happen, everything is going to work out. It didn't bother me too much though because the doubts aren't in your face the whole time and they're over pretty fast.
Harry was an awesome hero! He was funny, sarcastic, mischievous, and a little wicked. You could never question his devotion to Lucy and he was so sexy with his she's-mine-I'm-never-giving-up-on-her-and-I'm-never-letting-her-go thing. He was just so sweet and caring that I just completely loved him!
What a Devilish Duke Desires is perfect if you're looking for a light, easy read that won't make you feel like your heart is heart is bleeding, but just tugs on it a little with some steamy, twisty, turn-y times and a touch of danger thrown in.
It made me laugh and smile, made me angry, made me clap with excitement and happiness, and totally do a fist pump while shouting "YES!" when one of the characters got what was coming to them! It was a really good read and I enjoyed it a lot!
What a Devilish Duke Desires is a standalone told mainly from Harry and Lucy's POV, but we do hear from a couple more characters, and they get their HEA. ~ Paige, 4 stars
Lucy was a great heroine with a fiery personality to match her red hair. She's sassy, passionate, strong, brave, and she challenges Harry--that was always amusing to watch. The only time I wasn't happy with Lucy was when she was fighting to accept that her and Harry could be together no matter what the ton thought. I understood where she was coming from, but I was just like: let it happen, everything is going to work out. It didn't bother me too much though because the doubts aren't in your face the whole time and they're over pretty fast.
Harry was an awesome hero! He was funny, sarcastic, mischievous, and a little wicked. You could never question his devotion to Lucy and he was so sexy with his she's-mine-I'm-never-giving-up-on-her-and-I'm-never-letting-her-go thing. He was just so sweet and caring that I just completely loved him!
What a Devilish Duke Desires is perfect if you're looking for a light, easy read that won't make you feel like your heart is heart is bleeding, but just tugs on it a little with some steamy, twisty, turn-y times and a touch of danger thrown in.
It made me laugh and smile, made me angry, made me clap with excitement and happiness, and totally do a fist pump while shouting "YES!" when one of the characters got what was coming to them! It was a really good read and I enjoyed it a lot!
What a Devilish Duke Desires is a standalone told mainly from Harry and Lucy's POV, but we do hear from a couple more characters, and they get their HEA. ~ Paige, 4 stars
November 2, 2015
**REVIEW SOON***
5 STARS!!!
5 STARS!!!
May 1, 2015
Vicky Dreiling combines again a reality TV competition theme with a historical romance. And again I love it! WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES was the perfect blend of fun that I like to read in my historical romances. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and manages to keep me interested in the story the whole time.
We have Harry Norcliffe, who doesn’t want his uncle’s title. He’s a simple guy and not too concerned with the dreadful commitments of the ton. His mother has other plans for him and decides to do her best to find him a good bride. I absolutely adored him! He’s the type of guy you want to sit and banter with, and from his first meeting with Lucy it’s always been easy to see their perfect chemistry.
Lucy is not what his mother would say his bride needs to be. She works a few jobs to keep a roof over her family, taking care of her grandmother. All while trying to reach her dream and being a dance teacher.
And here’s where the reality TV aspect comes into play. There will be a dance competition! Think a type of Dancing with the Stars. The ton is all buzzing with which couples will compete and who will make it until the end. And they are seeking guidance and instruction. Which is where Lucy comes in.
Dance teacher, maid, waitress. But with a secret. I love the story of the girl that is down on her luck and finds that one man that will do anything to rescue her. And that’s exactly what Harry does even before her past comes out.
This is still one of my favorite historical romance series because I always know what I’ll get, and that is a lot of sizzling chemistry wrapped in an enthralling story. Always satisfying. It hasn’t disappointed me yet and I wait with anticipation for every installment.
*ARC provided by publisher
March 26, 2015
4.5 out of 5.0 I chose this book as a Night Owl Review Top Pick
Vicky Dreiling's WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES is a fun, fresh Regency historical romance with a heroine who managed to take me by surprise. Lucy Longmore isn't the usual Regency romance heroine. She must work for a living to support herself and her grandmother, and she has an abiding dream to start her own dance studio. When she takes a position as a maid and encounters Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Granfield, sparks fly between them.
I enjoyed this romance mostly because of the rules it broke with an independent female heroine who was more interested in earning wages to support herself than finding a wealthy husband. And Harry, Duke of Granfield, proved unusual too, when he was willing to pursue Lucy, despite the differences in their rank and status. The plot point of the dance competition was a fun "Silver Linings Playbook"-ish element that allowed Harry and Lucy to spend time together, touch each other, and get to know one another in a way that would normally have not been allowed in polite Regency society.
Read the rest of my review at Night Owl Reviews: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Rev...
Vicky Dreiling's WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES is a fun, fresh Regency historical romance with a heroine who managed to take me by surprise. Lucy Longmore isn't the usual Regency romance heroine. She must work for a living to support herself and her grandmother, and she has an abiding dream to start her own dance studio. When she takes a position as a maid and encounters Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Granfield, sparks fly between them.
I enjoyed this romance mostly because of the rules it broke with an independent female heroine who was more interested in earning wages to support herself than finding a wealthy husband. And Harry, Duke of Granfield, proved unusual too, when he was willing to pursue Lucy, despite the differences in their rank and status. The plot point of the dance competition was a fun "Silver Linings Playbook"-ish element that allowed Harry and Lucy to spend time together, touch each other, and get to know one another in a way that would normally have not been allowed in polite Regency society.
Read the rest of my review at Night Owl Reviews: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Rev...
November 2, 2015
Didn't finish. Was too boring. This was an extremely linear and dry portrayal of the classic social gap romance. The duke. The working girl. The 1800's. You've read this before. Nothing complicated or enhanced the plot in any way.
July 21, 2015
An uncomplicated romance with a somewhat problematic narrator. Full review at AudioGals
November 15, 2017
Reviewed by Amy W.
Book provided by Netgalley
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
In this rich man/poor girl Regency romance, author Vicky Dreiling delivers a sweet story destined to take the ton by storm. With What a Devilish Duke Desires, Dreiling launches the third in her Sinful Scoundrels series.
Making cameo appearances are the headliners of her first two books, but this segment focuses on Harry Norcliffe and Lucy Longmore. If bad luck could be sold, Lucy would definitely be a rich woman. While she comports herself like a lady, the reality is that she is a working girl with the dream of one day opening her own dance studio. Through a series of mishaps, her dream moves farther out of reach…until she catches the eye of the Duke.
Norcliffe is not happy that he is expected to follow his peers into the realm of marriage. When he encounters a beautiful red-headed maid, he is absolutely enchanted. Combine that with the efforts on behalf of the patronesses of Almack’s to liven up Wednesday evenings with a dance competition and the stage is set for a rather interesting love story to unfold.
While the narration is certainly lively in a Regency sort of way, I couldn’t help but snicker at some of the language used. For example, one line from Lucy’s aunt is that she “will take his measure and give you my honest opinion.” The formal tone does match the time period, but it makes it a bit more difficult to follow.
The rapport between Lucy and the Duke is well developed, particularly when it comes to whether a relationship outside the boundaries of the social class will be successful. The story picked up midway through, but the pace remained fairly slow and steady with very few opportunities for an accelerated heartbeat.
Book provided by Netgalley
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
In this rich man/poor girl Regency romance, author Vicky Dreiling delivers a sweet story destined to take the ton by storm. With What a Devilish Duke Desires, Dreiling launches the third in her Sinful Scoundrels series.
Making cameo appearances are the headliners of her first two books, but this segment focuses on Harry Norcliffe and Lucy Longmore. If bad luck could be sold, Lucy would definitely be a rich woman. While she comports herself like a lady, the reality is that she is a working girl with the dream of one day opening her own dance studio. Through a series of mishaps, her dream moves farther out of reach…until she catches the eye of the Duke.
Norcliffe is not happy that he is expected to follow his peers into the realm of marriage. When he encounters a beautiful red-headed maid, he is absolutely enchanted. Combine that with the efforts on behalf of the patronesses of Almack’s to liven up Wednesday evenings with a dance competition and the stage is set for a rather interesting love story to unfold.
While the narration is certainly lively in a Regency sort of way, I couldn’t help but snicker at some of the language used. For example, one line from Lucy’s aunt is that she “will take his measure and give you my honest opinion.” The formal tone does match the time period, but it makes it a bit more difficult to follow.
The rapport between Lucy and the Duke is well developed, particularly when it comes to whether a relationship outside the boundaries of the social class will be successful. The story picked up midway through, but the pace remained fairly slow and steady with very few opportunities for an accelerated heartbeat.
August 18, 2015
A light historical romance that made me feel like dancing!
"I'd better go," he said. There was a knowing look in his eyes, as if he was aware of exactly how he'd affected her.
When she inhaled on a shaky breath, he helped her to rise. She walked with him to the door as if she were enveloped in a fog.
He halted and gazed into her eyes. Then he drew her in his arms and kissed her gently on the lips. His mouth moved over hers and his hand slipped down the curve of her spine. Heat and longing surged inside her. He wrapped his arms around her, and she could feel the hard, unyielding muscles of his arms, chest, and thighs as he pressed her against him.
"Forgive me in advance," he said.
"For what?" she whispered.
He kissed her gently once more, and then he drew his tongue along the seam of her mouth. Her lips parted and then his tongue was in her mouth, tasting her while his hands slid down her spine and to her bottom. He pulled her flush against him, and she could feel his hard body. She was breathing faster and everything inside of her was on fire for him. God help her, she wanted his hands all over her.
He broke the kiss, and she was aware that his breathing had quickened as well.
When he released her, he said," Good night, sweet Lucy."
Her limbs trembled a little as he strode out into the night, leaving her to wonder if he knew it was her first kiss.
WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES by Vicky Dreiling was a very enjoyable historical romance. This is the first book I've ever read by this author; I don't plan on it being the last. WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES is the third book in the author's Sinful Scoundrels Series. I have not read any of the previous books in the series so this book obviously works well as a standalone. This was the story of Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Grandfield, and Lucy Longmore, a commoner and part-time dance instructor.
As the story opens, Harry is mourning the loss of his beloved uncle and railing at the title he has inherited from him as he was a relatively content nobody before his uncle's death. His mother is now pushing Harry to do his duty - to marry well and produce heirs. To that end, his mother concocts a scheme to hold a dancing competition at Almack’s with Harry as one of the contestants partnered with a young woman that his mother feels suitable for him. Harry flatly refuses.
Then... on his way home from his club one evening, Harry comes upon a thief trying to steal a woman's basket. He rushes into the scene shouting for the crook to stop. The thief takes one look at Harry and runs away. The woman is Lucy and this marks the beginning of their love story.
Harry was an exemplary male lead. He was funny, kind-hearted, sexy and a little wicked. LOL! I loved that he had a special book that he read before going to sleep at night - until he met Lucy. He was devoted to Lucy and he was quite determined to not give up on them as a couple despite their class differences and his snobby, domineering mother. I liked him a lot for standing up for Lucy and being so sweet and caring of Lucy and her grandmother.
Lucy was a great heroine with a fiery personality to match her red hair. Lucy holds down multiple jobs to support her and her grandmother. She was very loyal and caring of her grandmother and very brave to set out on her own to make their own way in a time when women's work was not valued. Even though she loved Harry, she was obstinate that they could not be together. Would Harry be able to overcome her determined nays to say yes to them as a couple? It sure seemed doubtful.
I enjoyed the dance competition aspect in the storyline and also thoroughly enjoyed the sequences where Lucy was teaching the dancing lessons. It made me feel like dancing! The chemistry between Harry and Lucy was sweet and hot - there were some pretty yummy erotic moments that made me wish for a fan. The main villain was a despicable character who made my skin crawl.
The book was narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki, who delivered a solid performance with a clear, pleasing voice. Her narration was well-paced. She has a very proper English accent that suited the characters in this story perfectly. She also did an excellent job with the dialect of several of the characters who were of the lower classes and did not speak proper English. This is the first time I've listened to Elizabeth; I would not hesitate to pick up another book she has narrated.
The author's writing was solid. I laughed, swooned and got mad at parts. The conclusion was jaw-dropping wonderful - I had wracked my brain through-out for a way for the couple to be together given their societal differences and the class boundaries and I have to say I had despaired of a satisfactory conclusion. I'm glad the author proved me wrong with a unique twist I sure didn't see coming! I would recommend WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES to anyone to enjoys light historical romance.
My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out here: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
4 Wine Glasses!
"I'd better go," he said. There was a knowing look in his eyes, as if he was aware of exactly how he'd affected her.
When she inhaled on a shaky breath, he helped her to rise. She walked with him to the door as if she were enveloped in a fog.
He halted and gazed into her eyes. Then he drew her in his arms and kissed her gently on the lips. His mouth moved over hers and his hand slipped down the curve of her spine. Heat and longing surged inside her. He wrapped his arms around her, and she could feel the hard, unyielding muscles of his arms, chest, and thighs as he pressed her against him.
"Forgive me in advance," he said.
"For what?" she whispered.
He kissed her gently once more, and then he drew his tongue along the seam of her mouth. Her lips parted and then his tongue was in her mouth, tasting her while his hands slid down her spine and to her bottom. He pulled her flush against him, and she could feel his hard body. She was breathing faster and everything inside of her was on fire for him. God help her, she wanted his hands all over her.
He broke the kiss, and she was aware that his breathing had quickened as well.
When he released her, he said," Good night, sweet Lucy."
Her limbs trembled a little as he strode out into the night, leaving her to wonder if he knew it was her first kiss.
WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES by Vicky Dreiling was a very enjoyable historical romance. This is the first book I've ever read by this author; I don't plan on it being the last. WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES is the third book in the author's Sinful Scoundrels Series. I have not read any of the previous books in the series so this book obviously works well as a standalone. This was the story of Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Grandfield, and Lucy Longmore, a commoner and part-time dance instructor.
As the story opens, Harry is mourning the loss of his beloved uncle and railing at the title he has inherited from him as he was a relatively content nobody before his uncle's death. His mother is now pushing Harry to do his duty - to marry well and produce heirs. To that end, his mother concocts a scheme to hold a dancing competition at Almack’s with Harry as one of the contestants partnered with a young woman that his mother feels suitable for him. Harry flatly refuses.
Then... on his way home from his club one evening, Harry comes upon a thief trying to steal a woman's basket. He rushes into the scene shouting for the crook to stop. The thief takes one look at Harry and runs away. The woman is Lucy and this marks the beginning of their love story.
Harry was an exemplary male lead. He was funny, kind-hearted, sexy and a little wicked. LOL! I loved that he had a special book that he read before going to sleep at night - until he met Lucy. He was devoted to Lucy and he was quite determined to not give up on them as a couple despite their class differences and his snobby, domineering mother. I liked him a lot for standing up for Lucy and being so sweet and caring of Lucy and her grandmother.
Lucy was a great heroine with a fiery personality to match her red hair. Lucy holds down multiple jobs to support her and her grandmother. She was very loyal and caring of her grandmother and very brave to set out on her own to make their own way in a time when women's work was not valued. Even though she loved Harry, she was obstinate that they could not be together. Would Harry be able to overcome her determined nays to say yes to them as a couple? It sure seemed doubtful.
I enjoyed the dance competition aspect in the storyline and also thoroughly enjoyed the sequences where Lucy was teaching the dancing lessons. It made me feel like dancing! The chemistry between Harry and Lucy was sweet and hot - there were some pretty yummy erotic moments that made me wish for a fan. The main villain was a despicable character who made my skin crawl.
The book was narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki, who delivered a solid performance with a clear, pleasing voice. Her narration was well-paced. She has a very proper English accent that suited the characters in this story perfectly. She also did an excellent job with the dialect of several of the characters who were of the lower classes and did not speak proper English. This is the first time I've listened to Elizabeth; I would not hesitate to pick up another book she has narrated.
The author's writing was solid. I laughed, swooned and got mad at parts. The conclusion was jaw-dropping wonderful - I had wracked my brain through-out for a way for the couple to be together given their societal differences and the class boundaries and I have to say I had despaired of a satisfactory conclusion. I'm glad the author proved me wrong with a unique twist I sure didn't see coming! I would recommend WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES to anyone to enjoys light historical romance.
My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out here: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
4 Wine Glasses!
March 23, 2015
Posted on What I'm Reading
I have to say that it has been an adventure watching change Bell, Colin, and Harry throughout The Sinful Scoundrel series. I still standby what I have said about Colin and Harry they were dorks. Maybe adorkable. Ever since Harry's grandfather died you saw the mantle of responsibility slowly suck the life of him, so it was refreshing to see Harry slowly become the lovable character we have know he was all along. As you can guess it we are talking about What A Devilish Duke Desires, lets dive into Harry's story.
At the beginning, Harry is melancholy at the beginning of the story, because he's the lone ranger now. Both his best buds are happily married and no longer able carouse. He's at a lost and trying to figure out what do next, and now he's a duke. Poor guy has a target on his back for matchmaker mama's who would love to see their daughters as Duchess of Granfield. All he wants to do is find a girl who will love him for just being Harry. In a sense he's wallowing in a pity party. That all changes in a blink of an eye, when he meets a charming young lady willing to gut him if he got too close. Instead, she calls him Sir Galahad by the end of their encounter. Eventually, they do meet again, but they still don't know each others name. Both are smitten. It's not until the third time they meet that things between Harry and Lucy become interesting. Especially, when Harry calls Lucy out for treating him just like everyone else, and can't see past the ducal title.
Okay, Lucy is different from any character Vicky has ever written, because she's a servant. She cleans rooms at Albany and she teaches dance to society. So, the idea of Harry wanting to be with her ludicrous, because everyone would start to wonder if she was his mistress. We all know that a duke would never marry a servant, so why would she get her hopes up. However, a friendship builds between Harry and Lucy, of course it becomes something more.
As I was reading What A Devilish Duke Desires kind of reminded me a little of Pride and Prejudice, and I know you all are going "WHAT!", just hear me out. When Lucy finds out that Harry is a Duke she let her own prejudice kind of dictate her feelings. Unlike Elizabeth she didn't let her pride get in her way, but I think her grandma help with that. She let the friendship between them to blossom. However, there were a couple of road blocks in the way, for instance Mrs. Norcliffe (Harry's mother). In some ways, Mrs. Norcliffe kind of reminded me of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, because Mrs. Norcliffe try to put Lucy in her place. So, I started to dislike her, and she wasn't the true villain in the story. You can't fault her for wanting to make a good match for Harry, even though it's his choice on who he wants to be with. Fortunately she had an allied in Mina, who reminded me of Miss Darcy, but with a little more sass. Basically, the story is about overcoming obstacles that might stand in away and figuring out if they are worth fighting. We see a determine Harry wanting to win the girl of his dreams, and he doesn't care if he has ducal title. In the long run he wants someone who will love him for just being Harry, and he sees that in Lucy. Lucy is an obstacle in itself, because she thinks of propriety and what others will think. I love Harry's attitude "If there is a will, there is a way." I love how he shows how much he cares for Lucy. Throughout the story you see Harry doing little and huge gestures for Lucy that would win any girl over, but she's a stubborn one.
Overall, I love What A Devilish Duke Desires, because we start to see Harry come out of his shell of grief and become the fun lovable guy he first met in Bell's book. Seeing him grow to be the gentleman that he is has been a treat. I hope you will take a chance on Harry in What A Devilish Duke Desires.
Copy provided by the publisher.
I have to say that it has been an adventure watching change Bell, Colin, and Harry throughout The Sinful Scoundrel series. I still standby what I have said about Colin and Harry they were dorks. Maybe adorkable. Ever since Harry's grandfather died you saw the mantle of responsibility slowly suck the life of him, so it was refreshing to see Harry slowly become the lovable character we have know he was all along. As you can guess it we are talking about What A Devilish Duke Desires, lets dive into Harry's story.
At the beginning, Harry is melancholy at the beginning of the story, because he's the lone ranger now. Both his best buds are happily married and no longer able carouse. He's at a lost and trying to figure out what do next, and now he's a duke. Poor guy has a target on his back for matchmaker mama's who would love to see their daughters as Duchess of Granfield. All he wants to do is find a girl who will love him for just being Harry. In a sense he's wallowing in a pity party. That all changes in a blink of an eye, when he meets a charming young lady willing to gut him if he got too close. Instead, she calls him Sir Galahad by the end of their encounter. Eventually, they do meet again, but they still don't know each others name. Both are smitten. It's not until the third time they meet that things between Harry and Lucy become interesting. Especially, when Harry calls Lucy out for treating him just like everyone else, and can't see past the ducal title.
Okay, Lucy is different from any character Vicky has ever written, because she's a servant. She cleans rooms at Albany and she teaches dance to society. So, the idea of Harry wanting to be with her ludicrous, because everyone would start to wonder if she was his mistress. We all know that a duke would never marry a servant, so why would she get her hopes up. However, a friendship builds between Harry and Lucy, of course it becomes something more.
As I was reading What A Devilish Duke Desires kind of reminded me a little of Pride and Prejudice, and I know you all are going "WHAT!", just hear me out. When Lucy finds out that Harry is a Duke she let her own prejudice kind of dictate her feelings. Unlike Elizabeth she didn't let her pride get in her way, but I think her grandma help with that. She let the friendship between them to blossom. However, there were a couple of road blocks in the way, for instance Mrs. Norcliffe (Harry's mother). In some ways, Mrs. Norcliffe kind of reminded me of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, because Mrs. Norcliffe try to put Lucy in her place. So, I started to dislike her, and she wasn't the true villain in the story. You can't fault her for wanting to make a good match for Harry, even though it's his choice on who he wants to be with. Fortunately she had an allied in Mina, who reminded me of Miss Darcy, but with a little more sass. Basically, the story is about overcoming obstacles that might stand in away and figuring out if they are worth fighting. We see a determine Harry wanting to win the girl of his dreams, and he doesn't care if he has ducal title. In the long run he wants someone who will love him for just being Harry, and he sees that in Lucy. Lucy is an obstacle in itself, because she thinks of propriety and what others will think. I love Harry's attitude "If there is a will, there is a way." I love how he shows how much he cares for Lucy. Throughout the story you see Harry doing little and huge gestures for Lucy that would win any girl over, but she's a stubborn one.
Overall, I love What A Devilish Duke Desires, because we start to see Harry come out of his shell of grief and become the fun lovable guy he first met in Bell's book. Seeing him grow to be the gentleman that he is has been a treat. I hope you will take a chance on Harry in What A Devilish Duke Desires.
Copy provided by the publisher.
May 5, 2015
Vikki’s Musings
I have been a fan of Vicky Dreiling since I read her debut novel. Her books always have a unique twist to the plot. This one is a takeoff on Dancing with the Stars, a TV show that has become hugely popular in recent years. One thing I can count on with Ms. Dreiling’s books is that they are always witty and emotionally-charged. What a Devilish Duke Desires is definitely both.
Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Grandfield is mourning the loss of his beloved uncle and lamenting the title he has inherited. His mother insists on introducing him to all the young misses on the marriage mart, pointing out to him that it is now his duty to marry well and produce an heir or two. When his mother concocts a scheme to hold a dancing competition at Almack’s, Harry flatly refuses.
Lucy Longmore works two jobs to keep a roof over her grandmother’s head. She is a seamstress most of the day and an assistant dance instructor to Mr. Buckley each afternoon for two hours. When the owner of the dress shop dismisses Lucy because she is no longer willing to allow her the time off to teach her dance classes, Lucy is heartsick, but at least Madame gives her a letter of character, something she lacked when she arrived in London six months before.
On his way home from dinner at his club, Harry hears a woman’s scream and sees a thief trying to steal her basket. He rushes forward while yelling for the thief to stop. The thief takes one look at Harry and dashes away. The woman is Lucy and this starts the wonderful love story between her and the charming Harry.
Lucy’s sweet character stole my heart from the first. Her willingness to take care of her blind grandmother, pulled at my heartstrings. I loved her determination to achieve her goal of owning a dance studio someday. While she is an innocent, she is a sensible young lady with a no nonsense personality. At times she is so sensible that it stands in her way, especially with Harry.
What I loved most about Harry’s character is, while he is very self-possessed with the dignity that befits a duke, he is still a kind-hearted man. His honor shines forth from the first page. I particularly liked the way he did not give in to his mother’s machinations. She tries repeatedly to catch Harry in her net, but he evades her every time, and lets her know that he sees past her ploys.
I found the romance between the couple very moving. The love they have for each other leaps off the page. Ms. Dreiling is a master at building sexual tension. Harry and Lucy do not make love until well into the story, but their kisses are so erotic, I did not even miss it. In fact, I think her timing of the love scene is impeccable.
I want to mention the narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Jasicki’s narration. She has a very proper English voice that suits the characters in this story perfectly. She also does an excellent job with the dialect of several of the characters who lack refinement. She is a gifted storyteller, and I will look forward to listening to other books she narrates.
While at times, the plot became a bit unbelievable, what carries this story for me is the emotion that Ms. Dreiling is able to give her characters. There were times where tears filled my eyes. I became totally enmeshed with the characters, and I always love it when that happens.
If you enjoy a story that will have you rooting for the hero to win his fair lady, then What a Devilish Duke Desires will delight your fancy. The pacing is excellent and even though it is over four hundred pages, it is a very fast read. This is a story that will have you sighing for the hero and put a smile on your face when you read the last line. The ending is perfect. Happy reading!
I have been a fan of Vicky Dreiling since I read her debut novel. Her books always have a unique twist to the plot. This one is a takeoff on Dancing with the Stars, a TV show that has become hugely popular in recent years. One thing I can count on with Ms. Dreiling’s books is that they are always witty and emotionally-charged. What a Devilish Duke Desires is definitely both.
Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Grandfield is mourning the loss of his beloved uncle and lamenting the title he has inherited. His mother insists on introducing him to all the young misses on the marriage mart, pointing out to him that it is now his duty to marry well and produce an heir or two. When his mother concocts a scheme to hold a dancing competition at Almack’s, Harry flatly refuses.
Lucy Longmore works two jobs to keep a roof over her grandmother’s head. She is a seamstress most of the day and an assistant dance instructor to Mr. Buckley each afternoon for two hours. When the owner of the dress shop dismisses Lucy because she is no longer willing to allow her the time off to teach her dance classes, Lucy is heartsick, but at least Madame gives her a letter of character, something she lacked when she arrived in London six months before.
On his way home from dinner at his club, Harry hears a woman’s scream and sees a thief trying to steal her basket. He rushes forward while yelling for the thief to stop. The thief takes one look at Harry and dashes away. The woman is Lucy and this starts the wonderful love story between her and the charming Harry.
Lucy’s sweet character stole my heart from the first. Her willingness to take care of her blind grandmother, pulled at my heartstrings. I loved her determination to achieve her goal of owning a dance studio someday. While she is an innocent, she is a sensible young lady with a no nonsense personality. At times she is so sensible that it stands in her way, especially with Harry.
What I loved most about Harry’s character is, while he is very self-possessed with the dignity that befits a duke, he is still a kind-hearted man. His honor shines forth from the first page. I particularly liked the way he did not give in to his mother’s machinations. She tries repeatedly to catch Harry in her net, but he evades her every time, and lets her know that he sees past her ploys.
I found the romance between the couple very moving. The love they have for each other leaps off the page. Ms. Dreiling is a master at building sexual tension. Harry and Lucy do not make love until well into the story, but their kisses are so erotic, I did not even miss it. In fact, I think her timing of the love scene is impeccable.
I want to mention the narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Jasicki’s narration. She has a very proper English voice that suits the characters in this story perfectly. She also does an excellent job with the dialect of several of the characters who lack refinement. She is a gifted storyteller, and I will look forward to listening to other books she narrates.
While at times, the plot became a bit unbelievable, what carries this story for me is the emotion that Ms. Dreiling is able to give her characters. There were times where tears filled my eyes. I became totally enmeshed with the characters, and I always love it when that happens.
If you enjoy a story that will have you rooting for the hero to win his fair lady, then What a Devilish Duke Desires will delight your fancy. The pacing is excellent and even though it is over four hundred pages, it is a very fast read. This is a story that will have you sighing for the hero and put a smile on your face when you read the last line. The ending is perfect. Happy reading!
February 1, 2015
This is book 3 in the Sinful Scoundrels series.
Harry Norcliffe never wanted his uncles title. He was not raised among the peerage and is not your typical Duke. When he meets Lucy, he doesn't tell her that he is a Duke right away. She works among the ton, but has no idea who he really is. He enjoys spending time with her, because he knows she is not after something from him other than his friendship.
Lucy is just trying to make ends meet for her grandmother and herself. Her dream is to open her own dance studio to train you debutants how to dance. Having been let go from her seamstress job, and working for a tyrannical dance instructor, Lucy welcomes the opportunity to branch out on her own. A chance meeting introduces her to Harry. Thinking him a well to do businessman, she befriends him needing someone to talk to during her troubling times.
What happens when Lucy finds out that not only is Harry a member of the peerage, but a Duke? Their two worlds soon collide and mischief ensues. Can their budding romance survive?
I really enjoyed Harry and Lucy's story. I've always enjoyed stories in which members of the peerage don't act like they are better than everyone else. Having not grown up with a title, Harry hates all the attention that comes with being a Duke. He desperately misses his uncle that he inherited the title from and feels like it shouldn't even be his. He is intrigued by Lucy for what she isn't, a young debutant looking to marry a title.
Lucy has been educated like a young society miss because her mother was from the peerage. But having married beneath her, her family disowned her. After Lucy's mother and then father passed away, she didn't have anyone to rely on but herself. Taking care of her blind grandmother became another job in of itself, although she never begrudged her for it. Meeting Harry took some of the load off of her mind, not because her life became easier, but because she had someone to talk to about it.
Another great read by Dreiling!! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Thanks go out to Forever Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
Harry Norcliffe never wanted his uncles title. He was not raised among the peerage and is not your typical Duke. When he meets Lucy, he doesn't tell her that he is a Duke right away. She works among the ton, but has no idea who he really is. He enjoys spending time with her, because he knows she is not after something from him other than his friendship.
Lucy is just trying to make ends meet for her grandmother and herself. Her dream is to open her own dance studio to train you debutants how to dance. Having been let go from her seamstress job, and working for a tyrannical dance instructor, Lucy welcomes the opportunity to branch out on her own. A chance meeting introduces her to Harry. Thinking him a well to do businessman, she befriends him needing someone to talk to during her troubling times.
What happens when Lucy finds out that not only is Harry a member of the peerage, but a Duke? Their two worlds soon collide and mischief ensues. Can their budding romance survive?
I really enjoyed Harry and Lucy's story. I've always enjoyed stories in which members of the peerage don't act like they are better than everyone else. Having not grown up with a title, Harry hates all the attention that comes with being a Duke. He desperately misses his uncle that he inherited the title from and feels like it shouldn't even be his. He is intrigued by Lucy for what she isn't, a young debutant looking to marry a title.
Lucy has been educated like a young society miss because her mother was from the peerage. But having married beneath her, her family disowned her. After Lucy's mother and then father passed away, she didn't have anyone to rely on but herself. Taking care of her blind grandmother became another job in of itself, although she never begrudged her for it. Meeting Harry took some of the load off of her mind, not because her life became easier, but because she had someone to talk to about it.
Another great read by Dreiling!! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Thanks go out to Forever Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
February 17, 2015
Originally Reviewed For: Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
February seems to be third in the series month.. and Vicky Dreiling treats us with a wonderful book three in her Sinful Scoundrels Series.
This time we get Harry's book. We met him in book one, a new friend to love. He's carefree and fun.. but he's also a loyal friend. Of course saving the hero in a book automatically makes him a great guy and that's what he did in What An Earl Wants.. But now his friends are married and he really wants to remain footloose and fancy free..
Lucy is a lady in disguise. Fortune has not smiled on Lucy and her grandmother lately and now she is forced to work for their survival, a seamstress, a hotel maid, a dance instructor, anything that brings in some money. When she meets a man of means she knows he is so not for her. But he keeps popping up in her life and now Lucy is falling.
Harry Norcliffe went from nobody to a Duke when his uncle died. From a man ignored by society to THE most eligible bachelor in town. He doesn't want to be forced to marry and he isn't willing to compromise. So when he meets an intriguing woman in the park, Harry wants more. He wants to get to know her.. he can't help himself it seems he's fallen in love. But there are those who don't like what they see, Harry's mother being one of them. A woman who believes in the strict class boundaries.. and when she discovers that Harry is interested in their dance instructor? Quelle Horror..
Between society's snobbish snubs and a vengeful ex employer this relationship is doomed to fail. Especially since Lucy tends to agree with the things. Afraid to take a chance on Harry, Lucy almost looses it all.
Nothing extravagant in this story just a romance that sweeps you off your feet, makes you believe in fairy tales and promises of forever love. Made me smile.. a great book for a cold February day.. just curl up and indulge.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of What A Devilish Duke Desires, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on February 24, 2015
February 27, 2015
‘What a Devilish Duke Desires’ is Vicky Dreiling’s third story in her Sinful Scoundrels series and a really sweet romance. This was Harry’s story and if you’ve read the previous two books, you’ll remember Harry as a young man who Earl of Bellingham literally “fished” out from the Thames and befriended. The story is a stand alone, but if you do have a chance to read the other two, you’ll appreciate his back story that much more.
In this story we see Harry coping with his beloved uncle’s death and newly acquired title, as well as with society in general. He manages to navigate the latter but when it comes to dealing with his mother, he is having a hard time putting her off and letting her know in no uncertain terms that when it comes to his marital state, he is well capable of taking care of it all on his own.
Lucy, a commoner living with her grandmother in a part of London that isn’t all that safe, is a hard-working young woman who at the start of the story loses her full-time job as a seamstress and now has to relay on her part-time position of a dance instructor’s assistant. When the said instructor shows up drunk and is called out by the lady who hired him to teach her young girls dancing, our heroine is devastated because she is expecting to be dismissed as well. But the opposite happens, and now she is being helped by the grand lady in teaching not just her girls but other members of the ton as well.
I find stories about aristocracy mixing with commoners to be a hard sell, yet Ms. Dreiling is a master of her craft and I should have had more faith in her storytelling.
I loved these two so much. Both were so sweet and so innocent yet when push came to shove, both showed how strong they can be. It was so much fun watching these two come together!
For a story filled with fun dialogue and a unique plot, don’t look no further.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
In this story we see Harry coping with his beloved uncle’s death and newly acquired title, as well as with society in general. He manages to navigate the latter but when it comes to dealing with his mother, he is having a hard time putting her off and letting her know in no uncertain terms that when it comes to his marital state, he is well capable of taking care of it all on his own.
Lucy, a commoner living with her grandmother in a part of London that isn’t all that safe, is a hard-working young woman who at the start of the story loses her full-time job as a seamstress and now has to relay on her part-time position of a dance instructor’s assistant. When the said instructor shows up drunk and is called out by the lady who hired him to teach her young girls dancing, our heroine is devastated because she is expecting to be dismissed as well. But the opposite happens, and now she is being helped by the grand lady in teaching not just her girls but other members of the ton as well.
I find stories about aristocracy mixing with commoners to be a hard sell, yet Ms. Dreiling is a master of her craft and I should have had more faith in her storytelling.
I loved these two so much. Both were so sweet and so innocent yet when push came to shove, both showed how strong they can be. It was so much fun watching these two come together!
For a story filled with fun dialogue and a unique plot, don’t look no further.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
March 14, 2015
3.5 stars. I don't think I've ever come across a historical romance involving a dance competition at Almack's, and I'm not sure if that's even historically correct or just a fun spin on the romantic fantasy, but it sure caught my attention. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the idea was enough to make me read with relish from cover to cover.
It's universally known that dukes pretty much have free rein and can get out of anything they don't want to do. So how did Harry get roped into the nutty scheme? Turns out the Dancing with the Stars-like competition was merely the backdrop needed to connect Harry and Lucy, the dedicated and enterprising dance instructor hired by his mother to give lessons to members of the ton. Yes, I was a little disappointed that they were not a competing dance couple.
Theirs was a classic romance of love crossing social class. Harry, having recently inherited the title, didn't carry the inbred arrogance typical of the highest ranking aristocrats making him much more open to a serious relationship with a common girl. Lucy, however, knew it was only a temporary but irresistible affair. Normally, they never would have crossed paths socially, yet they managed to remain within each others' radar with chance encounters and secret rendezvous. Perfect for heated lovers' liaisons, which make delicious reading!
And I love heroes who cry when faced with possibly losing their lady loves. Harry was a great guy since he had that heady combination of sensitive and strong. Lucy was just plain fun with a lot of pluck but not in your face with it. Harry did a good job at courting (sigh), and I was happy to see this really cute couple overcome their social and familial challenges.
Although I was initially inclined to give an average rating, What a Devilish Duke Desires deserves higher marks for original use of a dance competition in a historical romance. An entertaining read at 3.5 stars.
It's universally known that dukes pretty much have free rein and can get out of anything they don't want to do. So how did Harry get roped into the nutty scheme? Turns out the Dancing with the Stars-like competition was merely the backdrop needed to connect Harry and Lucy, the dedicated and enterprising dance instructor hired by his mother to give lessons to members of the ton. Yes, I was a little disappointed that they were not a competing dance couple.
Theirs was a classic romance of love crossing social class. Harry, having recently inherited the title, didn't carry the inbred arrogance typical of the highest ranking aristocrats making him much more open to a serious relationship with a common girl. Lucy, however, knew it was only a temporary but irresistible affair. Normally, they never would have crossed paths socially, yet they managed to remain within each others' radar with chance encounters and secret rendezvous. Perfect for heated lovers' liaisons, which make delicious reading!
And I love heroes who cry when faced with possibly losing their lady loves. Harry was a great guy since he had that heady combination of sensitive and strong. Lucy was just plain fun with a lot of pluck but not in your face with it. Harry did a good job at courting (sigh), and I was happy to see this really cute couple overcome their social and familial challenges.
Although I was initially inclined to give an average rating, What a Devilish Duke Desires deserves higher marks for original use of a dance competition in a historical romance. An entertaining read at 3.5 stars.
September 1, 2023
Temo che questo libro abbia avuto seri problemi di editing. Non dico quei super editor americani che si studiano le statistiche e guidano gli scrittori in tutto, ma almeno un beta-reader sincero! E' mancato un occhio che correggesse difetti fastidiosi.
Le battute si ripetono ancora e ancora e ancora. Come se l'autrice si fosse giocata una trovata brillante ogni volta che poteva per scegliere poi quando tenerla, ma alla fine non avesse riletto e non avesse cancellato.
I protagonisti sono piatti e noiosissimi, non sono credibili per quanto appaiono robotici nei loro dialoghi e pensieri.
E poi un salto di trama assurdo, in una pagina stanno appena accarezzando l'idea di piacersi, tra sorrisini e ammiccamenti, in quella dopo li troviamo travolti dalla passione che si dichiarano di non poter più vivere lontani!
Chi ama i romanzi regancy li apprezza proprio perché sono rassicuranti con i loro cliché limitati, i dialoghi educati, gli scandali ridicoli di baci sospiri e rossori indiscreti... Per questo ci vuole più coraggio a scriverli, DEVONO essere scritti bene: noi lettori sappiamo dalle prime tre pagine come si muoveranno le cose. Non ci interessa sapere cosa accadrà, conosciamo già la trama, sono tutti uguali! Il fascino sta nella lettura in sé, nella compagnia che ci fanno pagine e parole belle e piacevoli da leggere.
Questo libro ha tradito tutto il genere.
Le battute si ripetono ancora e ancora e ancora. Come se l'autrice si fosse giocata una trovata brillante ogni volta che poteva per scegliere poi quando tenerla, ma alla fine non avesse riletto e non avesse cancellato.
I protagonisti sono piatti e noiosissimi, non sono credibili per quanto appaiono robotici nei loro dialoghi e pensieri.
E poi un salto di trama assurdo, in una pagina stanno appena accarezzando l'idea di piacersi, tra sorrisini e ammiccamenti, in quella dopo li troviamo travolti dalla passione che si dichiarano di non poter più vivere lontani!
Chi ama i romanzi regancy li apprezza proprio perché sono rassicuranti con i loro cliché limitati, i dialoghi educati, gli scandali ridicoli di baci sospiri e rossori indiscreti... Per questo ci vuole più coraggio a scriverli, DEVONO essere scritti bene: noi lettori sappiamo dalle prime tre pagine come si muoveranno le cose. Non ci interessa sapere cosa accadrà, conosciamo già la trama, sono tutti uguali! Il fascino sta nella lettura in sé, nella compagnia che ci fanno pagine e parole belle e piacevoli da leggere.
Questo libro ha tradito tutto il genere.
July 26, 2015
What a Devilish Duke Desires is the third book in The Sinful Scoundrels series and can be read as a stand-alone.
I really enjoyed reading Harry and Lucy's love story,although the pace of this book seemed a little slow but I couldn't put it down.
Lucy was a beautiful and hard-worker heroine with a dream of having her own dance studio and taking care of her blind grandmother. She worked for the horrible dance instructor, Mr. Buckley, whom soon was dismissed by ton( because of his drunkenness)and people starts to hire Lucy instead.
Now Mr. Buckley blames Lucy for losing his job and wants revenge.
Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Grandfield,was a charming and sweet hero who has inherited his beloved uncle's title and his marriage-minded mama wants him to settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare.So His mother tries to make him to participate in the dancing competition in order to make brilliant match for him.
But Harry has different idea about his future duchess and he is smitten by Lucy almost from the first time they met.
This is a great read of two people of different classes with a nice plot and sweet romance.
Thank you Vicky Dreiling
I really enjoyed reading Harry and Lucy's love story,although the pace of this book seemed a little slow but I couldn't put it down.
Lucy was a beautiful and hard-worker heroine with a dream of having her own dance studio and taking care of her blind grandmother. She worked for the horrible dance instructor, Mr. Buckley, whom soon was dismissed by ton( because of his drunkenness)and people starts to hire Lucy instead.
Now Mr. Buckley blames Lucy for losing his job and wants revenge.
Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Grandfield,was a charming and sweet hero who has inherited his beloved uncle's title and his marriage-minded mama wants him to settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare.So His mother tries to make him to participate in the dancing competition in order to make brilliant match for him.
But Harry has different idea about his future duchess and he is smitten by Lucy almost from the first time they met.
This is a great read of two people of different classes with a nice plot and sweet romance.
Thank you Vicky Dreiling
January 20, 2015
A sweet romance that I liked, What a Devilish Duke Desires was a lovely read. It was enjoyable, romantic, and a great romance.
I really liked both of the characters. Lucy was resilient, making it through tough circumstances while taking care of her grandmother. Harry was an absolute charmer who I found to be adorable.
The romance was cute. Lucy and Harry were obviously smitten with each other from the start and their relationship after that was adorable. My only issue with the romance was that, while Lucy's hesitance was understandable at first, it got be be vaguely annoying after a while, particularly because it started to feel like her reluctance was just there to lengthen the story. But, I did still think they were sweet together and they definitely had chemistry.
The plot was good, other than the part that got slow because of Lucy's aforementioned hangups. I enjoyed the story and the ending was great.
What a Devilish Duke Desires was a lovely romance that I really enjoyed. Romance lovers, this is a book worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I really liked both of the characters. Lucy was resilient, making it through tough circumstances while taking care of her grandmother. Harry was an absolute charmer who I found to be adorable.
The romance was cute. Lucy and Harry were obviously smitten with each other from the start and their relationship after that was adorable. My only issue with the romance was that, while Lucy's hesitance was understandable at first, it got be be vaguely annoying after a while, particularly because it started to feel like her reluctance was just there to lengthen the story. But, I did still think they were sweet together and they definitely had chemistry.
The plot was good, other than the part that got slow because of Lucy's aforementioned hangups. I enjoyed the story and the ending was great.
What a Devilish Duke Desires was a lovely romance that I really enjoyed. Romance lovers, this is a book worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
December 4, 2016
Seamstress shop girl Lucy Longmore's dream is to have her own dance studio and she hopes her second job as dancing assistant will build a clientele despite her cheating, drunkard boss. But Lucy's dreams are temporarily dashed when she's fired from her seamstress position unexpectedly and she falls prey to a thief as she distractedly walked home.
New member to the ton, Harry Norville, Duke of Granfield rescues Lucy by startling the thief and is smitten with Lucy. After a few pleasantries and intriguing flirtation, they part. Lucy's spirits are lifted after finding employment as a maid at a gentlemen's club and as a waitress weekly. A chance meeting in the park gives the pair another opportunity to trade witticisms and flatter.
Lucy deems herself unsuitable as Harry oozes wealth meanwhile Harry's mother plots to find a suitable wife for him and comes up with a dancing competition at the club on the night Lucy happens to be waitressing. While not a bad outing, the characters were cute but not connected for my taste. This outing brings the series full circle as Harry reminisces with the men from previous outings recalling pieces of their own courtships.
Rating: 3.5stars
New member to the ton, Harry Norville, Duke of Granfield rescues Lucy by startling the thief and is smitten with Lucy. After a few pleasantries and intriguing flirtation, they part. Lucy's spirits are lifted after finding employment as a maid at a gentlemen's club and as a waitress weekly. A chance meeting in the park gives the pair another opportunity to trade witticisms and flatter.
Lucy deems herself unsuitable as Harry oozes wealth meanwhile Harry's mother plots to find a suitable wife for him and comes up with a dancing competition at the club on the night Lucy happens to be waitressing. While not a bad outing, the characters were cute but not connected for my taste. This outing brings the series full circle as Harry reminisces with the men from previous outings recalling pieces of their own courtships.
Rating: 3.5stars
February 27, 2015
Another amazing romance from Vicky Dreiling. A young lady who has to work for a living to support herself and her blind grandmother. She wants to earn enough money to open her own dance studio and will work as many jobs as she can do realize her dream. Then a chance meeting in a park with a newly minted Duke throws all of her plans awry. He is an honorable man who never wanted to be a Duke and doesn't have patience for the syphocants and hanger ons in Society. He has met the women he wants to spend his life with, but she won't have him because of the difference in their stations. The more time they spend together the more he falls for her, but will she have him? Read this book. Vicky writes a wonderful historical romance with great characters, a great love story, a plot that will keep you happily entranced until the ending. This is a five star romance!!!!
April 14, 2015
This book was a toss up between 3 stars and 4. There were certainly elements that made me like the story, but some areas of the story fizzled instead of sparked, quite frankly. For example, the Buckley angle started with great promise in terms of a conflict point, however, it just fell flat in the end. Also, the separation and reunion between Lucy and Harry, as well as between Lucy and her estranged family was just dull. I guess I was looking for a bit more bite.
Despite the aforementioned, I can honestly say that I liked both Lucy and Harry. They were good people with good hearts. They were compassionate and authentic. I loved that they had a heart for each other and for the underdogs. additionally, Lucy's grandmother was a doll.
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Adult
Status: Historical Romance
Conflict/Drama: Yes (mild)
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes (mild)
HEA: Yes
Despite the aforementioned, I can honestly say that I liked both Lucy and Harry. They were good people with good hearts. They were compassionate and authentic. I loved that they had a heart for each other and for the underdogs. additionally, Lucy's grandmother was a doll.
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Adult
Status: Historical Romance
Conflict/Drama: Yes (mild)
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes (mild)
HEA: Yes
March 1, 2015
I liked the majority of this book very much. The love story is sweet. I've been waiting for Harry's story. I've read all of Vicki's books and plan on reading more. This one however had a few minor editing errors in the first part of the book and the back cover. However, towards the end of the book the scene were the heroine is in her future mother-in-law's drawing room with the heroine's unknown relatives was so confusing I had to read the few pages three times and still can't tell you exactly which relatives were present. It felt to me like hurry up and end the book. This is not what her first 5 books and novella were like so I will try her next book. I hope the hero will be Justin.
February 1, 2015
I read an arc copy of this book and I loved it!
February 7, 2015
What a Devilish Duke DesiresI received an Advance Reading Copy (ARC), for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This is the first book I have read from Vicky Dreiling, entitled WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES. It is the 3rd book in The Sinful Scoundrels Series. I have not read any of the previous books in the series.
What I like best about this book is that it was well paced. The story flowed naturally and believably. I did not feel that the characters were rushed in the story's development or that a lot of filler was added to the story to simply fill the pages. The author gave enough of a relevant back-story that I did not feel the need to read the previous books in order to understand this book. It certainly stands on it's own.
The story is about Harry Norcliffe, whom has recently inherited the ducal title from his beloved uncle: Hugh. Like most regency plots, he has a match-making mama who wants to see him married with an heir and a spare as soon as yesterday. Harry does not come off as a spoiled, pompous lord with more money than Croesus, even though it seems he has certainly had his fair share of engaging in all sorts of debauchery. He does however, present a sweet, somewhat meek baring in his personality, he yet has cynical attitude towards his peers. It is these exact traits that make him perfect for Lucy. He simply wants to be like or loved for himself. He has no care for the thoughts of the ton, who has as recently as last year, felt he was beneath their notice. He is content with his close network of friends and family. I do think that it is important to note that his relationship with his mother throughout was very strained. I felt that while he loves his mother, he really doesn't like her.
Lucy Longmore is our leading lady. She is a well spoken, hardworking girl obviously down on her luck. She is the sole provider for her grandmother. While in the ways of fiction, she is quite beautiful, she doesn't know that she is. Her plight of poverty and overcoming obstacles are the main theme to this book, so I will not divulge too much about her past, only that there are several rips must be mended before she is acceptable in the eyes of the ton. I felt that the author did this beautifully.
There are several other supporting characters in the book, Harry's mother; Mrs. Norcliffe, his cousin; Mina, Mina's beau; Everleigh, Mrs. Vernon (a favorite) Lucy's co-workers; Evelyn and Mary, as well as her one of her many employers; Buckley. The two stand-out characters for me were Mrs. Longmore,- Lucy's blind grandmother. and Bandit,-Harry's precocious Border Collie puppy. The grandmother; Mrs. Longmore is a wise, sweet, yet self reliant older lady that requires Lucy's support, but not necessarily her care. I particularly enjoyed the relationship that developed between Harry and her throughout the story. As for Bandit... he does was all puppies do, wreak havoc wherever he goes. The humor of the book is due largely to that dog and his silver tray.
After a chance meeting between Lucy and Harry, it was really fate that the two should meet. Between all the jobs that Lucy has, she was certain to come into contact with Harry at many given points. It was fun to see when he realized just how often he would have a chance to meet Lucy and how different his relationship could have been without that "by chance" meeting. It is doubtful that she would have given him the time of day if she knew it was HIS naughty book she found on the bed while working at the Albany.
Lucy's true passion is Dance. She longs to have her own studio that she can teach others. After Mrs. Norcliffe and the other matrons of Almack's decide to devise a dance competition to drum up interest among the men of the ton, Lucy is front and center teaching the upper crust popular dances. The dance competition was a clever ploy on part of the author and is relevant to readers who enjoy Dancing With the Stars and other talent shows. The ARC cover synopsis I received stated that Lucy enters the competition, however, this was not the case. She is there however, to see it. It is HOW she comes to be there is a clear obstacle that must be overcome to make the story believable. Again, The author does this flawlessly, addressing it head on.
It is obvious to the reader that Harry knows early that Lucy is the one for him. He cares little for what others may think, but, is realistic that Lucy has many misgivings for being with him. He plots his moves very well, biding his time. While key members of the ton knows for certain that she is a well spoken servant, she is clearly outside of their class, therefore she can not become one of them. She has been seen in too many trades to ever be accepted as a Duchess. She admits that she loves Harry, but sees that it can be nothing more than a love affair. She loves Harry too much to embarrass him, and he loves Lucy too much to let her go.
When Lucy's well being is in jeopardy, it is up to Harry to save the day.... this happens more than once. The question is can they somehow overcome Lucy's past and make her the Duchess she was meant to be?
I received this book yesterday early afternoon, and read it in one sitting. Even going a far as staying up past my bedtime because I was invested in the plot and wanted to see how it would all end. It is clear from my rating that I liked the book. In fact, I liked it so much that I plan on getting the others in the series. For me, Vicky Dreiling's writing style is a cross between Sabrina Jeffries and Mary Balogh. She has enough of the wit for the former, and conveys enough longing to be compatible with the latter. For me, the book definitely goes into the "keeper" pile, widely avoiding the "to be donated" pile. Would I advise others to go out and buy the book?- YES!!!! If you love Regency novels you will certainly love this one too!
****MILD SPOILER ALERT!!!****
The only question or issue I had with the book is WHAT HAPPENED TO IDA? I felt that there was a part at the end where Ida's disappearance could have been explained. (The women found in the Apothecary shop.) Perhaps the author has future plans for her???
Happy Reading!
This is the first book I have read from Vicky Dreiling, entitled WHAT A DEVILISH DUKE DESIRES. It is the 3rd book in The Sinful Scoundrels Series. I have not read any of the previous books in the series.
What I like best about this book is that it was well paced. The story flowed naturally and believably. I did not feel that the characters were rushed in the story's development or that a lot of filler was added to the story to simply fill the pages. The author gave enough of a relevant back-story that I did not feel the need to read the previous books in order to understand this book. It certainly stands on it's own.
The story is about Harry Norcliffe, whom has recently inherited the ducal title from his beloved uncle: Hugh. Like most regency plots, he has a match-making mama who wants to see him married with an heir and a spare as soon as yesterday. Harry does not come off as a spoiled, pompous lord with more money than Croesus, even though it seems he has certainly had his fair share of engaging in all sorts of debauchery. He does however, present a sweet, somewhat meek baring in his personality, he yet has cynical attitude towards his peers. It is these exact traits that make him perfect for Lucy. He simply wants to be like or loved for himself. He has no care for the thoughts of the ton, who has as recently as last year, felt he was beneath their notice. He is content with his close network of friends and family. I do think that it is important to note that his relationship with his mother throughout was very strained. I felt that while he loves his mother, he really doesn't like her.
Lucy Longmore is our leading lady. She is a well spoken, hardworking girl obviously down on her luck. She is the sole provider for her grandmother. While in the ways of fiction, she is quite beautiful, she doesn't know that she is. Her plight of poverty and overcoming obstacles are the main theme to this book, so I will not divulge too much about her past, only that there are several rips must be mended before she is acceptable in the eyes of the ton. I felt that the author did this beautifully.
There are several other supporting characters in the book, Harry's mother; Mrs. Norcliffe, his cousin; Mina, Mina's beau; Everleigh, Mrs. Vernon (a favorite) Lucy's co-workers; Evelyn and Mary, as well as her one of her many employers; Buckley. The two stand-out characters for me were Mrs. Longmore,- Lucy's blind grandmother. and Bandit,-Harry's precocious Border Collie puppy. The grandmother; Mrs. Longmore is a wise, sweet, yet self reliant older lady that requires Lucy's support, but not necessarily her care. I particularly enjoyed the relationship that developed between Harry and her throughout the story. As for Bandit... he does was all puppies do, wreak havoc wherever he goes. The humor of the book is due largely to that dog and his silver tray.
After a chance meeting between Lucy and Harry, it was really fate that the two should meet. Between all the jobs that Lucy has, she was certain to come into contact with Harry at many given points. It was fun to see when he realized just how often he would have a chance to meet Lucy and how different his relationship could have been without that "by chance" meeting. It is doubtful that she would have given him the time of day if she knew it was HIS naughty book she found on the bed while working at the Albany.
Lucy's true passion is Dance. She longs to have her own studio that she can teach others. After Mrs. Norcliffe and the other matrons of Almack's decide to devise a dance competition to drum up interest among the men of the ton, Lucy is front and center teaching the upper crust popular dances. The dance competition was a clever ploy on part of the author and is relevant to readers who enjoy Dancing With the Stars and other talent shows. The ARC cover synopsis I received stated that Lucy enters the competition, however, this was not the case. She is there however, to see it. It is HOW she comes to be there is a clear obstacle that must be overcome to make the story believable. Again, The author does this flawlessly, addressing it head on.
It is obvious to the reader that Harry knows early that Lucy is the one for him. He cares little for what others may think, but, is realistic that Lucy has many misgivings for being with him. He plots his moves very well, biding his time. While key members of the ton knows for certain that she is a well spoken servant, she is clearly outside of their class, therefore she can not become one of them. She has been seen in too many trades to ever be accepted as a Duchess. She admits that she loves Harry, but sees that it can be nothing more than a love affair. She loves Harry too much to embarrass him, and he loves Lucy too much to let her go.
When Lucy's well being is in jeopardy, it is up to Harry to save the day.... this happens more than once. The question is can they somehow overcome Lucy's past and make her the Duchess she was meant to be?
I received this book yesterday early afternoon, and read it in one sitting. Even going a far as staying up past my bedtime because I was invested in the plot and wanted to see how it would all end. It is clear from my rating that I liked the book. In fact, I liked it so much that I plan on getting the others in the series. For me, Vicky Dreiling's writing style is a cross between Sabrina Jeffries and Mary Balogh. She has enough of the wit for the former, and conveys enough longing to be compatible with the latter. For me, the book definitely goes into the "keeper" pile, widely avoiding the "to be donated" pile. Would I advise others to go out and buy the book?- YES!!!! If you love Regency novels you will certainly love this one too!
****MILD SPOILER ALERT!!!****
The only question or issue I had with the book is WHAT HAPPENED TO IDA? I felt that there was a part at the end where Ida's disappearance could have been explained. (The women found in the Apothecary shop.) Perhaps the author has future plans for her???
Happy Reading!
February 8, 2021
I received this book in a contest many years ago as an ARC. I pulled this out to read as a new to me author. I loved the humor, the dialogue, and the fun of this romance. I hadn't read a historical romance in quite a while and this turned out to be a fun read. It is about a down and out lady who is supporting her grandmother in London with various odd jobs She befriends a Duke that she didn't know was a Duke and he will not let her be and seems to turn up everywhere that she does. It is an overall fun read. I recommend as I went and bought the 1st book in the series and have begun reading.
March 8, 2020
Good book by Vicky
Harry never wanted to inherit the estate of his uncle.
He meets Lucy and is attracted to immedicately.
Lucy is hard working A dance teacher and a maid. She works hard for herself and grandmother.
She becomes friend with Harry but knows that never can come of it
Harry is determined to have Lucy for his wife.
They have sparks and they find a love just for them in spite of their diffculties.
She finally her grandfather and tried to forgive him.
Love the characaters and story
Harry never wanted to inherit the estate of his uncle.
He meets Lucy and is attracted to immedicately.
Lucy is hard working A dance teacher and a maid. She works hard for herself and grandmother.
She becomes friend with Harry but knows that never can come of it
Harry is determined to have Lucy for his wife.
They have sparks and they find a love just for them in spite of their diffculties.
She finally her grandfather and tried to forgive him.
Love the characaters and story
September 6, 2017
Ridiculous
Highly unlikely plot with gaping holes in the details. Not well thought out or researched. I can suspend my disbelief with the best of them, but this was beyond reasonable.
Highly unlikely plot with gaping holes in the details. Not well thought out or researched. I can suspend my disbelief with the best of them, but this was beyond reasonable.
April 21, 2018
3.5 stars
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