Envolvida Com O Duque: Romance Histórico Regencial (As Damas Dos Duques Livro 1)

Graciela Cervantes Aguilar

Entangled with the Duke by Abby Ayles Is the story of Lady Alexandra Woodley, daughter of the Earl of Grebs and Theodore Hendricks, the Duke of Raven. Alexandra's mother died fifteen years ago and left her three daughters and her husband in the hands of her eldest daughter, Alexandra who took that admonition to heart and has given her life to her family, doing might appear to be the impossible and kept them all afloat. The Duke of Raven has returned home from his travels at the behest of his aunt Rebecca: he thinks she's dying, she just wants him to find a wife, and she has already selected the one she wants. Because he is a good nephew, he agrees to go to the ball that evening to meet her, despite his exhaustion. In a hurry once he's there he rushes to introduce himself to Lady Charlotte, despite the impropriety of that. The sad news is: he introduced himself to the wrong lady. Instead, he introduces himself to Lady Alexandra. Then attraction takes over, for several people.

This was a really good book with a good plot and good characters. The sad news is that it is a first draft. There are abundant word usage errors; misuse of common words such as your and you're; some terrible sentence and many unfinished ones, and other errors too numerous to mention. What should have been quite a good book was spoiled by all of these mishaps.

I was given a free ARC of Entangled with the Duke in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Melanie S

1,840 reviews34 followers

December 25, 2018

Really good romance in desperate need of an editor

I loved the story of Alexandra the dutiful daughter, and Raven, the duke who meets her by mistake but ends up in love with her. I did not love the multitude of editing errors and omissions which make the story read as though an amateur writer had published a rough draft.

2018 historical romance

132 reviews10 followers

August 24, 2025

Me cuesta trabajo darle una calificación, hubo partes que gustaron, pero hubo otras que se me hicieron leeentaaas.
Una novela muy rosa, con una protagonista que lleva el peso de una casa por que su padre vive confinado en una biblioteca después de la muerte de su esposa. Creo que el personaje dentro del libro tuvo momentos buenos pero para mi gusto un poco dramática. El mejor personaje fue el de Raven, un aristocrata que a viajado mucho por el mundo, regresa a Londres para ver a su tia (quien lo crio) , ya que esta en un modo de engaño quiere que se case. Raven tuvo mucho más protagonismo en el libro, mejor desarrollo, y cae mejor.

Como conclusión creo que me recordó a las novelas de Barbara Cartland , rosas con muy poquitos toques de romance. Pero que no pasa de ahí, todo muy superficial.

Emma

2,864 reviews37 followers

What I liked about this book was that it was filled with many different states of mind and emotions. I smiled, I laughed and then became very sad for our heroine. It seemed she had no choice in her life except that of her family, home and her father's business. She had nothing left for herself. Lady Alexandra Woodley, daughter of the Earl of Grebs, has had more than her share of burdens to bare. Her mother died when she was eight years old. She now was the lady of the home. Having three younger sisters to raise, Alexandra selflessly guided each in their education and into womanhood. She also chaperoned them at social events. She not only ran the household, raise her sisters, but she also had to take care of a father so deep in grief that he withdrew from life and sequestered himself to his library for his studies. She had to run the estate, what little there was of it. She had to make sure whatever moneys they had stretched for the household, two sisters who were now out in society and care for the museum her father owned. A great many burdens indeed. She made sure her sisters did not feel her burdens and grew up in the most gentile ladylike manner. I could not help but admire this emotionally and physically strong woman. She worried, felt pressure, felt exasperated, felt exhausted, always concerned about her family, she was the lady of the house, bookkeeper, assisted the kitchen by shopping for supplies and food, she made sure her sisters had fashionable clothes, she made sure her father ate and was looked after. She always tried to be thankful for the small staff they could afford. A loyal butler, a cook and a maid. She and her sisters shared bedrooms because the townhouse was the only home they had. I felt sorry for Alexandra and her sisters because they had never left London proper. They had never been to the country. Although her father studied plants, fauna, animals from all over the world, she appreciated learning about the heavenly stars. By sheer accident she met His Grace, Theodore Hendricks, Duke of Raven. Theodore's parents died when he was very young. He was raised by his mother's older sister, his aunt, Lady Rebecca Sinclair. She is the only family he has left. Rebecca summoned Raven from the colonies to her side for the purpose of him getting married to a young woman she arranged for him. According to her, the perfect match. But she also had an ulterior motive in this match that he was not aware of. Rebecca and Raven attended a ball so he could be introduced to Lady Charlotte Weiderhold, daughter of Earl Derber. Now Alexandra and her sisters were attending the same ball. Her dearest friend, Lady Regina Eagleton advised her that her husband, the Earl of Eagleton, was a close friend of the elusive Duke of Raven. Regina immediately brought Raven up in conversation to Alexandra as a potential match. Alexandra would hear none of it. She would be only interested in his acquaintance to further her sisters’ interests. Aunt Rebecca could not find Lady Charlotte. Raven asked what she looked like so he could find her on his own. He found a woman who fit the description and asked her to dance. While dancing, he called his partner Lady Charlotte, but in actuality, it was Alexandra. She felt hurt because she thought he sought her out personally. She did not realize, she made quite an impression on him. He could not get her off his mind. Not even after he met Charlotte, could he stop thinking of Alexandra. They had many things in common but the most significant thing was her father's Museum of Natural Wonders. Lord Grebs is a naturalist and has devoted his time and money to the pursuit of plants, fauna and animals from around the world for the museum. After Alexandra's dance with Raven, knowing he thought her to be someone else, she felt embarrassed and upset about the way she handled the situation. She shared her distress to Regina and left the ball leaving her sisters in the care of Regina. This is the beginning of the relationship of Raven and Alexandra. Thank goodness Raven is a kind, intelligent astute man for it came in handy when he happened to cross paths with Alexandra. The more Raven was around her, he realized the pressures she was under and made a commitment to help her and her family. Raven could see Alexandra's many talents and strengths. He began to admire her more and more until he found himself taken by her and no one else. This is such a wonderful love story filled with such realistic emotions. It was not hard to empathize with the characters. I highly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed.

Joy

607 reviews

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SETTING: 4 motherless sisters, raised by the eldest sister, Alexandra, have been neglected by their grieving father for all the 15 years since their mother’s death after childbirth. Alexandra, now in her 20’s, has focused her life on properly teaching and training her sisters, 2 of whom are now “out” and the 3rd, Sophia, at fifteen chomping-the-bit to be “out”. Dwindling finances are pushing Alexandra to find a husband this season for Josephine, so they can afford Sophia’s coming out next year. A husband for herself has never been Alexandra’s primary concern. Although their father is an Earl, their financial standing is such that they have few aquaintances of the upper echelon of the “ton”.
Returning from his holding in the New World and worldly travels is the Duke of Raven, brought swiftly back by word from his Aunt Rebecca that she has need of him. Since his parents untimely death, Aunt Rebecca has lived with him and raised him as her own. Her summons raised Raven’s fears that his elderly Aunt may have health issues and require his care. So, by the time of his arrival, he had determined in his heart to settle down and care for his Aunt her remaining years. He was not surprised that his Aunt had a young woman in mind for him to marry. To please her, he determined to meet the young woman and give her a fair chance. But, fate intervened, and he fell for another—our very own Alexandra!
Now, how to appease his Aunt, capture the heart of the lady capturing his heart, and to make peace with the young lady intended by their families to be his—this is his challenge!
CRITIQUE: Lovely story of a selfless young woman, taking the lead in caring for her family while her grieving father whiled away the hours in his study, working on specimens for his museum. Her character is strong, worthy of emulation. The Duke of Raven is well pictured, and a good match for her. The ups and downs of the relationship are believable, and the reader is pulled right into the story from the first, hoping for a happy outcome for Lady Alexandra. Mountains are leveled and the HEA is finally attained. This delightful story will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Jenna

2,009 reviews20 followers

May 22, 2020

1.5 stars
it's just as advertised. a clean, sweet historical romance.
a PG-13 read.
that's fine b/c i don't need erotica to enjoy a romance story.

there wasn't enough interaction b/w the Hero & heroine. it was too much introspective thinking narrative which caused the story to move slowly & drag.
i got bored.
i did like the characters.
thank you to the author for a free copy of this ebook so that i might sample her work.

Priscilla Cook

109 reviews1 follower

Entangled with the Duke, if not the best is one of Abby Ayle’s best romances. I enjoyed the story; I like the intelligence, strength and determination of the main characters, Lady Alexandra Woodley and the Duke of Raven.

Alexandra’s mother died a few days after delivering her youngest sister, but before dying she beseeched Alexandra to look after her three sisters. Eight years-old Alexandra promised she would do so. Her father, Earl Grebs, withdrew from everything except the Natural Museum of Zoology and Botany of which he was the patron. He did not leave the house, not even to go to the Museum, and any projects for the museum was completed at home. If something needed to go to the Museum or needed doing there he would send Alexandra.

The Duke of Raven parents had died at sea when he was very young. Lady Rebecca Sinclair, Aunt Rebecca, his mother’s older sister, raised him like her own. At eighteen Raven left England to see the world. He had a touch of wonder lust; but really he was on a quest – to find a place to belong.

Raven left his Virginia plantation to return to London as quickly as possible after receiving a letter from his beloved Aunt. The way the letter was written alarmed him, he feared something was wrong with her. She had not meant to alarm him but she did want him home for The Season. She wants him to consider getting married (he is thirty) and specifically to Lady Charlotte.

His Aunt drags him to a ball to meet Lady Charlotte. The ball is crowded so Raven asked his Aunt what she looks like. Rebecca replied that Charlotte was wearing a fine blue silk gown with long gloves. He sees a young lady in a fine blue silk and introduces himself. Although there were a few things that puzzled him about her he was not put off by them and asks her to dance. They were enjoying the dance until he commented that the Natural Museum of Zoology and Botany was a “dreadful place” and “completely backwards.” When he tried to apologize he called her Lady Charlotte. Realizing he had mistaken her for someone else Alexandra corrects him. Feeling very embarrassed as soon as the music finished she left him and the ball.

Raven does dance with and go driving with Charlotte. Although she seems like a very refine young lady, she is not the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

Alexandra and Raven cross paths several times and each time Raven is drawn more to her and realizes he wants to marry her. Alexandra fights her attractions for him convinced he could not be interested in her. As often happens in stories and life, there are misunderstandings, and a few bumps but for true love the trip is worth it.

Who is Theodore Hendricks?

How does the Woman’s Relief Society for Orphaned Children play into the story?

What does a stuffed porcupine in a baby carriage have to do with Alexandra and Raven?

Why was Charlotte in the garden on a bench looking at a bird nest?

Sharon

1,049 reviews2 followers

December 22, 2018

Alexandra Woodley, is the oldest daughter to the Earl of Grebs, who took over running the house and raising her 3 younger sisters when she looses her mother when she was 8 years old. She is determined to see one of her two younger sisters married, since money is tight. Her baby sister is only 15, but she will have her coming out next year, even though she thinks she is old enough now.

Theodore Hendricks, the Duke of Raven is a handsome and eligible bachelor, who was raised by his spinster aunt when his parents were killed when their boat sank. Much to his aunt's dismay, he inherited his parents need for adventure. When his aunt entices him to come home, he finds out his beloved aunt thinks it is time he marries and has the perfect lady picked out for him, Lady Charlotte.

At a ball, the Duke of Raven mistakes Lady Alexandra for Lady Charlotte. He is fascinated with Lady Alexandra, even after he realizes he made a mistake.

Can Raven get Lady Alexandra to realize he is sincere, and he really wants to help her? Will Lady Alexandra see the Raven is not making fun of her whenever he talks to her? What about his aunt, who has her sights set on Lady Charlotte, and not the poor Lady Alexandra for her nephew to marry? Who will become the Raven's bride?

I loved this book and the characters. It held my interest and I highly recommend this book which is clean and wholesome.

read-arc

Linda

116 reviews

December 21, 2018

The Duke of Raven is quite the world traveler.Very tall eligible and handsome he is. He did not care for attending balls when the London season was on. Actually he detested London. He would do whatever he could to make his Aunt Rebecca happy. Almost Everything! Aunt Rebecca already has chosen Lady Charlotte for him to court. The Duke of Raven had another person on his mind instead. Lady Alexandra strong headed person who speaks her mind. She doesn't think she is deserving of any happiness though. But, Fate has other plans for her! They both meet at Sir Hamilton's Ball. Their meeting happens by mistake. She felt insulted and left so abruptly because the Duke thought she was Lady Charlotte. He finds out who she is and that she is involved with the Museum of Wonders. Her father is the proprietor of the Museum. He pursues her even though his Aunt Rebecca is against it. He invites her and her family to his country estate for a outing for the day and to get away from London. The Duke of Raven wants to let her know his true feelings and his intentions. This story was wonderful and all the characters were so engaging. A different twist on a heartfelt family in the regency era. Highly recommended read.

The Mysterious Reader

3,588 reviews66 followers

Abby Ayles’ Entangled with the Duke is precisely the clean and sweet Regency Period romance promised by its publisher’s blurb. It’s beautifully told and a true pleasure to read. What I love most about it, however, is just how perfectly crafted its characters are. Not just the heroine, Alexandra, and her beau, Theodore, but her father and three sisters, and his mother. There’s no true evil here but there is great character evolution of both leads and supporting characters that is superbly done. A HEA is, of course, guaranteed for this sort of book but here it’s a multi-level (multi-character) HEA that is a total pleasure. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.

Sharon

717 reviews7 followers

Lady Alexandra has to take care of her three younger sisters and her father. She has made up her mind she will be a spinster. She must find husbands for the three sisters and doesn't have time to find someone for herself.
Theodore Hendricks, the Duke of Raven has been traveling around the world when he arrives a summons from his Aunt Rebecca. She tells him to come home immediatelty, it is of the utmost immportance. He thinks she is dying. He arrives home as soon as he can. Turns out there is nothing wrong with Aunt Rebecca. She just wants him there for the season. She has already picked his wife.
Theodore meets Alexandra. What will happen now? Will they fall in love? Will Alexandra find a husband for Josephine? Will Williamina find someone? There are twists and turns that made this a very enjoyable book to read. Well thought out and well written. Characters are fleshed out. An epilogue is included.
Get a copy and come along on this ride with Alexandra, her sisters, and the Duke. You'll be glad you did.

Jan Hamman

5 reviews1 follower

This is a sweet, well written book. Alexandra has become the Mother to her three younger sisters since her Mother's death. As the season starts, she is concerned with finding a husband for her sister closest to her age. She takes the two older girls to a ball hoping one of them will meet a match while she sits with the Mothers of other girls. Raven has just returned from Virginia at the request of his aunt to took care of him after his parents died. She has chosen a young woman that she wants him to court and marry. Someone at the ball gave him a description of that Lady. However, Alexandra also fits the description. He introduces himself and dances with her thinking she is the woman his aunt wants him to marry. There are many twists and turns before he chooses his bride.

Kaye

7,177 reviews72 followers

ONE ENGAGING ROMANCE!!!
Abby never ceases to amaze me. Full of life, imagination and keen insight for detail she brings us another wonderful read. A whirlwind of emotions and events really pulls those heartstrings. The drama, uncertainty, fear, heartbreak, intrigue and suspense increases steadily while tension spirials as the plot thickens. Twists and turns abound with unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises that make for one thrilling experience. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this little jewel together beautifully. Abby did an amazing job bringing this read to life brilliantly. Fantastic job Abby, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.

Cindy Cooke

522 reviews5 followers

Loved the storyline!

Ms Ayles has a great talent for writing. The only fault I have with any of her books is that her copywriter does not catch many of the typos and misspellings, and these mistakes take away from the enjoyment of reading. Her plots are always entertaining and never boring. This book is no exception. She researches well and translates historical facts into a great read.

Marti

2,499 reviews6 followers

December 19, 2018

Very entertaining plot twists and most enjoyable characters.

Debra Everett

58 reviews1 follower

I was given a chance to read this book for an honest review. It is a true romance of a woman who was left to help raise her sisters and never really thought about funding a husband for herself. She only wanted to make sure her sisters did. So because of an honest mistake of the Duke she found love herself. This is a romance of the year. I cover it a 5+++.

Judy Munoz

320 reviews2 followers

December 29, 2018

I received a review copy of this book from the author.
This is another hit for this author. I loved this book. The story is intriguing and compelling and is a good representation of and is entirely suitable for era. The story flows well and has a few unexpected twists and turns which add to the drama. The characters are all lovingly created and each one fits well into the story. I liked that the heroine is strong willed and independent and that the hero is dashing and honourable. This romance is sweet and gentle and the connection between Alexandra and Raven builds nicely throughout the story. This is a very entertaining and enjoyable romance.

Meg

193 reviews1 follower

Very enjoyable

This book has a very smart, competent female lead. She has been raising her younger si longs since she was eight years old.
Which a heartbroken recluse of a father, she takes care of the household and his not so normal affairs.

The Duke is a bit different also. A few humorous incidents, well loved sisters and good friends make this book an enjoyable read.

readwithk

147 reviews1 follower

January 25, 2025

3.75 ⭐️’s rounded up

🌻historical romance
🌻mistaken identity
🌻close/forced proximity
🌻single guardian

Alessandra

815 reviews27 followers

June 10, 2025

forse la storia non era nemmeno male ma la traduzione così terribile che non me lo sono affatto goduto

Patricia

405 reviews

December 18, 2018

Simply sweet

I received this book free from the author as part of the ARC team. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I love Abby's books. I can count on a sweet, clean read with a strong female heroine. The hero's strong and memorable. I find that the characters in this book were very well done. There are plenty of turns for the couple to navigate & a big surprise at the end!

One of my favorite authors, Abby produces a read that is accurate for the time. I especially enjoyed this book as it drew me in and I read the entire book before I knew it! Thanks Abby for another book of dreams, surprise, strength, and love. I highly recommend this book.

Wanda Liendro

90 reviews1 follower

December 18, 2018

Clean and sweet romance

With three younger sisters and her reclusive father and finances to worry about, Lady Alexandra had no time to think about finding romance for herself. But what if romance finds her??
The Duke of Raven has been summoned home by the elderly Aunt that raised him. He races home from America, thinking she's dying, only to find out that her only reason for him to come home is so she can see him married. To a Lady of her choosing. Will she be successful or will his attraction to Lady Alexandra win out??

Kety

810 reviews5 followers

A beautiful story full of emotions and plots.
wonderful characters, strong interactions and idea...
This is a story of not only one hero and one heorine but also about their family and friends...
A fantastic reading! Don't miss it!
I recommend this book to all that love sweet story set up in Regency Era.

Jodi

27 reviews1 follower

December 21, 2018

Fabulous

I was quite amazed that there was so much detail over all. I loved the museum the best. I'm sure back in the time setting that the oldest daughter did usually take over raising her siblings if the mother passed away for the father usually had to work. I really enjoyed reading this one. I wish for everyone to.

Margaret Yelton

2,135 reviews43 followers

December 21, 2018

Excellent read, was a very sweet and clean read. Even though I don't mind some heat at times it is also so nice to just be able to sit and read a book and not have to worry about some of the smut that is written today.

Delbora

1,458 reviews6 followers

Love is available to Everyone

This is a story of a selfless young woman who from the age of 8 has run a household and raised three younger siblings. She feels that she shall never find love but will end up a spinster taking care of her elderly parent. Life still has surprises in store for this young woman.

Ann Brown

3,417 reviews22 followers