What do you think?
Rate this book
Prelude to a Kiss #3
The Duke Can Go to the Devil
In the new novel from the bestselling author of The Earl I Adore, May Bradford isn’t afraid to play devil’s advocate when it comes to a duke.…
After her mother’s death, May’s sea captain father sends her halfway around the world to live with his stodgy sister in England. The summer festival in Bath made for a lovely distraction, but now she can’t wait for her father’s return so she can leave this country, its suffocating rules, and one infuriatingly proper nobleman in particular behind.
Because he is the Duke of Radcliffe, William Spencer’s whole life revolves around his duties. He never steps foot outside the bounds of proper behavior, and he expects the same of those around him. With her devil-may-care ways, May vexes him nearly as much as she tempts him, but there’s something about her that he just can’t resist. He knows he’s falling hard for her, but with lives that are worlds apart, will they ever be able to find any common ground?
After her mother’s death, May’s sea captain father sends her halfway around the world to live with his stodgy sister in England. The summer festival in Bath made for a lovely distraction, but now she can’t wait for her father’s return so she can leave this country, its suffocating rules, and one infuriatingly proper nobleman in particular behind.
Because he is the Duke of Radcliffe, William Spencer’s whole life revolves around his duties. He never steps foot outside the bounds of proper behavior, and he expects the same of those around him. With her devil-may-care ways, May vexes him nearly as much as she tempts him, but there’s something about her that he just can’t resist. He knows he’s falling hard for her, but with lives that are worlds apart, will they ever be able to find any common ground?
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 7, 2015
33 people are currently reading
1268 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
August 8, 2018
A great enemy to lovers story!
When I started this book I was not expecting to like it this much!
An unusual heoine who acts with intelligence and is ready to acknolodge when she's wrong! So refreshing! And she's practicing thai-chi!
The hero is as conventional as they come: a stick-in-the-a** English Duke!
So when he sees her practicing, he's outraged first with her clothes and then with the fact that a lady is alone without chaperone!
The fact that thai-chi is a martial art means nothing to him, so when Mei-li demonstrate he finds himself on his back in an instant! It was hilarious!
I loved both of them! They're so well matched in their complatly opposite ways! They banter and pick on each other mercilessly and it was a joy to read!
Their love story is based not on lust - in fact we get to read about only two luscious kisses - but on growing friendship and understanding! A very, very welcome thing in Romancelandia!
Very recommended!
When I started this book I was not expecting to like it this much!
An unusual heoine who acts with intelligence and is ready to acknolodge when she's wrong! So refreshing! And she's practicing thai-chi!
The hero is as conventional as they come: a stick-in-the-a** English Duke!
So when he sees her practicing, he's outraged first with her clothes and then with the fact that a lady is alone without chaperone!
The fact that thai-chi is a martial art means nothing to him, so when Mei-li demonstrate he finds himself on his back in an instant! It was hilarious!
I loved both of them! They're so well matched in their complatly opposite ways! They banter and pick on each other mercilessly and it was a joy to read!
Their love story is based not on lust - in fact we get to read about only two luscious kisses - but on growing friendship and understanding! A very, very welcome thing in Romancelandia!
Very recommended!
February 12, 2016
Erin Knightley officially has a spot on my auto-buy list. Her books are delightful, fluffy fun and it is a nice reprieve to open the pages of her books and know I am guaranteed a sweet romance and not an obsession with lust (aka how often a hero happens to get an erection when around the heroine...I swear, for some authors, I think many of the heroes have a medical condition!)
Anyways, this story is a classic enemies to lovers story, with the hero being stuffy and proper and the heroine being free-spirited, world traveled, and opinionated as hell. In many ways, this story had a flavor of Pride and Prejudice. These characters were helplessly drawn to each other in ways they couldn't understand. Their lives were so different, the Duke is tied to everything English, and May's heart resists England in favor of the sea faring life she used to have with her tradesman father. There were times when I wondered how the two would ever find common ground. Just like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, May and William drew premature conclusions about each other and slowly discovered new things that made them realized perhaps they were wrong.
There are several romantic scenes and I thought that William, though stubborn, was honorable and likeable. May was more difficult to like because of her pride and unwillingness to change her mind, but I think her loyal nature and unpredictability are exactly what the Duke needed. Despite the antagonistic beginning, I do believe they would be happy together. The secondary characters are delightful and include William's young stepsiblings, May's friends Sophie and Charity, and William's old friend Dering (who is the hero of the last book in this series).
Overall, this was a pleasant read and some of the cursing and name-calling in it made me smile.
Anyways, this story is a classic enemies to lovers story, with the hero being stuffy and proper and the heroine being free-spirited, world traveled, and opinionated as hell. In many ways, this story had a flavor of Pride and Prejudice. These characters were helplessly drawn to each other in ways they couldn't understand. Their lives were so different, the Duke is tied to everything English, and May's heart resists England in favor of the sea faring life she used to have with her tradesman father. There were times when I wondered how the two would ever find common ground. Just like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, May and William drew premature conclusions about each other and slowly discovered new things that made them realized perhaps they were wrong.
There are several romantic scenes and I thought that William, though stubborn, was honorable and likeable. May was more difficult to like because of her pride and unwillingness to change her mind, but I think her loyal nature and unpredictability are exactly what the Duke needed. Despite the antagonistic beginning, I do believe they would be happy together. The secondary characters are delightful and include William's young stepsiblings, May's friends Sophie and Charity, and William's old friend Dering (who is the hero of the last book in this series).
Overall, this was a pleasant read and some of the cursing and name-calling in it made me smile.
February 16, 2019
Meh. Given that all my friends adored this one, I think it's time to officially admit that I have outgrown historical romances like this. I didn't enjoy the bantering (to be honest, it more than irritated me the way Mei would rail at the Duke for making snap judgments when she does that all the time; granted, she at least apologizes when she overreacts and insults him without realizing it, but I quickly got tired of it), and I really didn't like the ending:
I did like the starchy Duke. He was sweet. Decent. Kind. What more could you want, really. I wish I could've enjoyed it more :(
I did like the starchy Duke. He was sweet. Decent. Kind. What more could you want, really. I wish I could've enjoyed it more :(
July 7, 2015
Amanda and Autry's reviews are posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Amanda's Review 5 Stars
Erin Knightley has written one of my favorite tropes in her newest story; The Duke can go to the Devil, in which one very proper Duke exchanges intense heated sparring with a very free spirited young lady. May Bradford is not your typical English lady and is biding her time until her father returns to take her home. She’s the daughter of a sea captain and grew up in exotic places and can’t wait to return to that life she’s known. In the meantime she’s made friends in Bath during the Music Festival and plays a zither in the trio she created with Sophie and Charity. William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, at first sight thought that May was a beautiful woman but didn’t like care for her when he heard their modified rendition of a classic composition. When he catches her doing martial arts at the break of dawn the following morning that just sets them at odds even more.
May was my kind of woman. She didn’t mince words, cussed and drank, didn’t care about convention and walked to the beat of a different drum. She helped her friend’s in their romances and played an unconventional instrument. She knew what she wanted and had no qualms of putting Radcliffe in his place. The sparks flew between her in Radcliffe it seems whenever they met, but she eventually got to know him better once she visited his estate. Finding common ground wasn’t easy but there was no denying that there was chemistry between them when he let his guard down. Unfortunately she knew that there was much they disagreed upon and they could never make a match, especially when she knew she was to leave England.
Radcliffe was exceedingly proper and wealthy and with his title commanded respect amongst his peers. May doesn’t readily give out respect because of one’s title but rather that it is earned. What confounded him more was why she was so eager to write off her own country in favor of the more exotic locations of the Far East. He invites her to his home after the festival ends to show her his estate and things change between them while they are there together. What he didn’t realize is how much she changed him and how he could see himself as more than the title and just as a man. That realization is my favorite part of the story is when things start to change once one of them realizes his or her affection for the other.
This is a very well written story of opposite attraction and how it all plays out in the end that loves finds a way for them to be together. Of course the cast of secondary characters add to the story. Radcliffe’s half-siblings are adorable, his step-mother Vivian and her actions explain a great deal about the man, May’s Aunt Victoria finally has her say, and of course the friends in Bath who were in previous stories. The previous stories in the series would help you appreciate May’s story but aren’t necessary for you to love her in her own story with Radcliffe. The ending she creates for them is quite romantic and very fitting that they both come together in their own time. I am a fan of Erin Knightley and she is one I can count on for superb storytelling and love in her historical romances.
Autry's Review 4 Stars
The Duke is back in town for a visit, a forced visit, with his stepmother forcing his hand to return to society and their stuffy balls. Duke William has no desire to be at the balls or to have eligible women fluttering about. Williams’s only desire is to be back on his estate and overseeing the mill, he had become a very hands-on owner in the mill and takes business very seriously, so seriously he has not even entertained the thought of finding a Duchess. The very last person he would consider to be of worth is the one who is constantly battling him in wits and physical strength, Miss May Bradford.
May Bradford has been thrust upon her Aunt for the summer season as her father is recovering from a broken heat while captaining a ship in the turbulent seas. May’s unique sense of style and quick witty comebacks have left her in a perpetual state of tension with many in society. Including the handsome Duke William. Traveling among countries with her father has allowed May to speak her mind and dress in clothes from other countries much to other dismay. Only after William learns more and more about May does he come to realize she’s willing to fit for her beliefs and beliefs of others making her a perfect candidate to become a Duchess.
William and May is a couple that loves to antagonize each other in verbal sparring matches. May has traveled the world and is accustomed to speaking her mind and searching for beauty everywhere. Unfortunately her Aunt has found her to brash to be in good company and threatens to remove her from the season unless she can act appropriately. The Duke has his hands tied, he can either accept May the way she is or he can ridicule and mock her, but is unable to see past the tough exterior to see how big and beautiful her heart is. I loved the verbal sparring between the May and William; May was always quick with witty comebacks yet very quick to slam walls up when deemed necessary. Her Heart lies within William’s estate, two very small yet completely adorable children William is raising gives him a glimpse into May’s heart. The two characters could not have been more perfect for each other, the chemistry was spot-on; I found myself having a range of emotion from shock to hope and disbelief into swoon-worthy romance.
Erin Knightley has done another fantastic job of creating characters that allow the reader to fall into scene and watch the book play out flawlessly. At times I found myself (unsuccessfully) covering laughter spells, smiling at the antics between May and her Aunt and satisfied with quick flashes into previous characters current lives. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a sassy female sailor, a traditional Duke, and a cast of novel-enhancing secondary characters. I’m intrigued as to how Ms. Knightley will continue with this cast of characters and just what exactly lies in store for Ms. Felicity.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
Amanda's Review 5 Stars
Erin Knightley has written one of my favorite tropes in her newest story; The Duke can go to the Devil, in which one very proper Duke exchanges intense heated sparring with a very free spirited young lady. May Bradford is not your typical English lady and is biding her time until her father returns to take her home. She’s the daughter of a sea captain and grew up in exotic places and can’t wait to return to that life she’s known. In the meantime she’s made friends in Bath during the Music Festival and plays a zither in the trio she created with Sophie and Charity. William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, at first sight thought that May was a beautiful woman but didn’t like care for her when he heard their modified rendition of a classic composition. When he catches her doing martial arts at the break of dawn the following morning that just sets them at odds even more.
May was my kind of woman. She didn’t mince words, cussed and drank, didn’t care about convention and walked to the beat of a different drum. She helped her friend’s in their romances and played an unconventional instrument. She knew what she wanted and had no qualms of putting Radcliffe in his place. The sparks flew between her in Radcliffe it seems whenever they met, but she eventually got to know him better once she visited his estate. Finding common ground wasn’t easy but there was no denying that there was chemistry between them when he let his guard down. Unfortunately she knew that there was much they disagreed upon and they could never make a match, especially when she knew she was to leave England.
Radcliffe was exceedingly proper and wealthy and with his title commanded respect amongst his peers. May doesn’t readily give out respect because of one’s title but rather that it is earned. What confounded him more was why she was so eager to write off her own country in favor of the more exotic locations of the Far East. He invites her to his home after the festival ends to show her his estate and things change between them while they are there together. What he didn’t realize is how much she changed him and how he could see himself as more than the title and just as a man. That realization is my favorite part of the story is when things start to change once one of them realizes his or her affection for the other.
This is a very well written story of opposite attraction and how it all plays out in the end that loves finds a way for them to be together. Of course the cast of secondary characters add to the story. Radcliffe’s half-siblings are adorable, his step-mother Vivian and her actions explain a great deal about the man, May’s Aunt Victoria finally has her say, and of course the friends in Bath who were in previous stories. The previous stories in the series would help you appreciate May’s story but aren’t necessary for you to love her in her own story with Radcliffe. The ending she creates for them is quite romantic and very fitting that they both come together in their own time. I am a fan of Erin Knightley and she is one I can count on for superb storytelling and love in her historical romances.
Autry's Review 4 Stars
The Duke is back in town for a visit, a forced visit, with his stepmother forcing his hand to return to society and their stuffy balls. Duke William has no desire to be at the balls or to have eligible women fluttering about. Williams’s only desire is to be back on his estate and overseeing the mill, he had become a very hands-on owner in the mill and takes business very seriously, so seriously he has not even entertained the thought of finding a Duchess. The very last person he would consider to be of worth is the one who is constantly battling him in wits and physical strength, Miss May Bradford.
May Bradford has been thrust upon her Aunt for the summer season as her father is recovering from a broken heat while captaining a ship in the turbulent seas. May’s unique sense of style and quick witty comebacks have left her in a perpetual state of tension with many in society. Including the handsome Duke William. Traveling among countries with her father has allowed May to speak her mind and dress in clothes from other countries much to other dismay. Only after William learns more and more about May does he come to realize she’s willing to fit for her beliefs and beliefs of others making her a perfect candidate to become a Duchess.
William and May is a couple that loves to antagonize each other in verbal sparring matches. May has traveled the world and is accustomed to speaking her mind and searching for beauty everywhere. Unfortunately her Aunt has found her to brash to be in good company and threatens to remove her from the season unless she can act appropriately. The Duke has his hands tied, he can either accept May the way she is or he can ridicule and mock her, but is unable to see past the tough exterior to see how big and beautiful her heart is. I loved the verbal sparring between the May and William; May was always quick with witty comebacks yet very quick to slam walls up when deemed necessary. Her Heart lies within William’s estate, two very small yet completely adorable children William is raising gives him a glimpse into May’s heart. The two characters could not have been more perfect for each other, the chemistry was spot-on; I found myself having a range of emotion from shock to hope and disbelief into swoon-worthy romance.
Erin Knightley has done another fantastic job of creating characters that allow the reader to fall into scene and watch the book play out flawlessly. At times I found myself (unsuccessfully) covering laughter spells, smiling at the antics between May and her Aunt and satisfied with quick flashes into previous characters current lives. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a sassy female sailor, a traditional Duke, and a cast of novel-enhancing secondary characters. I’m intrigued as to how Ms. Knightley will continue with this cast of characters and just what exactly lies in store for Ms. Felicity.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
February 13, 2017
I knew I was clever in dubbing Erin Knightley a modern day Jane Austen and The Duke Can Go to the Devil was her Pride & Prejudice. William and May could not have been more different and therefore, of course, could not stand each other. May was a scandal waiting to happen and William was as pomp as they come. But as they each began to set aside their pride (HEE) and prejudices (HA), May and William soon discover that there is much more to one another that their aggrieved first impressions (I'm sorry I couldn't help it) would have had them believe.
May has been one of my favorite characters of this series from the very beginning so I had high hopes for her story. And, thankfully, I was not disappointed and in fact had all my expectations exceeded tremendously. May made for the most unique heroine, in the very best ways, as I knew she would. From her unconventional upbringing, to her emboldened dresses that matched her flamboyant personality. She drank spirits, cursed like a sailor and was never afraid to speak her mind no matter the situation or person. But being so outrageous in a place and era that was all about structure and following the status quo heavily grained on her. May was also very stubborn and set in her outlook on life and it wasn't until she met William that she began to bend, just a little. Just enough to stop a moment and see things, and people, in a different perspective.
As for William, contrary to the kind of pampered, self-centered aristocrat May presumed him to be, he was an exception in that he took his responsibilities as Duke very seriously which yes, shockingly, involved actual work and effort on his part. And while yes he was on the starchy side (and come on, who doesn't love a good starchy hero?), he was in possession of the softest of hearts, particularly where his young half-siblings were concerned. Not to say William wasn't difficult at times himself. He was. But, like May and because of May, William was able to take a step outside his black and white world and see that there was and could be more to life than propriety and duty. So in effect, May and William made each other better people. The fact that their banter was first rate and their attraction undeniable was just icing and cherries atop the most delectable of cakes.
I'm so pleased with the way Erin Knightley's writing continues to enchant me. This one definitely reminded me of why she's become one of my favorite authors. I very much look forward to reading (and presumably sobbing over) Dering and Felicity's story next.
P.S. Erin, thank you so much for Radcliffe's wet Darcy moment. I, and I'm sure May as well, appreciated that particular visual very much indeed.
May has been one of my favorite characters of this series from the very beginning so I had high hopes for her story. And, thankfully, I was not disappointed and in fact had all my expectations exceeded tremendously. May made for the most unique heroine, in the very best ways, as I knew she would. From her unconventional upbringing, to her emboldened dresses that matched her flamboyant personality. She drank spirits, cursed like a sailor and was never afraid to speak her mind no matter the situation or person. But being so outrageous in a place and era that was all about structure and following the status quo heavily grained on her. May was also very stubborn and set in her outlook on life and it wasn't until she met William that she began to bend, just a little. Just enough to stop a moment and see things, and people, in a different perspective.
As for William, contrary to the kind of pampered, self-centered aristocrat May presumed him to be, he was an exception in that he took his responsibilities as Duke very seriously which yes, shockingly, involved actual work and effort on his part. And while yes he was on the starchy side (and come on, who doesn't love a good starchy hero?), he was in possession of the softest of hearts, particularly where his young half-siblings were concerned. Not to say William wasn't difficult at times himself. He was. But, like May and because of May, William was able to take a step outside his black and white world and see that there was and could be more to life than propriety and duty. So in effect, May and William made each other better people. The fact that their banter was first rate and their attraction undeniable was just icing and cherries atop the most delectable of cakes.
I'm so pleased with the way Erin Knightley's writing continues to enchant me. This one definitely reminded me of why she's become one of my favorite authors. I very much look forward to reading (and presumably sobbing over) Dering and Felicity's story next.
P.S. Erin, thank you so much for Radcliffe's wet Darcy moment. I, and I'm sure May as well, appreciated that particular visual very much indeed.
July 13, 2015
Thank you to PENGUIN for providing a print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Duke Can Go to the Devil is the story of a well-traveled woman who lands in England with a sharp tongue, and the stuffy duke she can’t seem to evade. This book is the third in the series (of which the only other book I have read is the second,) but it can be read as a standalone. I do think, though, that the relationship between the heroines in this series is so enjoyable that it would be a shame to miss out on any of them. For this reason, I’ll be going back to read the first.
I’ve been looking forward to this book since I read the previous book, The Earl I Adore. May was a catalyst in uniting the main characters in that one, and I was hoping her antics would be plentiful in this one. I was not disappointed! As soon as May and William met, sparks started flying. And they never stopped. May was not going to let society dictate her actions, and since William gave in to the expectations of his title, he could make neither heads nor tails of her. Because of the rules he had set for himself, he decided that the best course of action was to forget his run-in with May altogether. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be done, and the more he gets to know her, the more intrigued he is by her non-traditional ways.
Heaven help him, but she was gorgeous. She was more tempting than anyone he had ever known, and much more enticing. He could scarcely recall what it was that had so exasperated him about her when they first met. All those things he had thought he disliked—her frankness, her humor, her ability to see him as a person instead of a duke—had somehow become the things he most loved about her.
It’s when he realized how unimpressive she finds England that he decided it was time to step in and show her all his country had to offer. He is incredibly proud of everything he has, including his title and wealth and is baffled and frustrated when May seems unmoved by them. This was one of my favorite things about their relationship—William had always been accepted by everyone in society simply because of his title. With May, he had to open up in order to impress her, and it was something that made him realize for the first time that who he was as a person and the title he held were two separate things. For May, the fact that William took his duty so seriously made her think about how brash she could be, and while she didn’t intend to hurt people’s feelings, it was often a result of her words. They each made the other think of how they could be more considerate.
In his effort to show her how extraordinary England is, he invites May and her aunt to accompany him to his estate under the guise of providing companionship to his step-mother. One thing that confused me here was that once they reached the estate, May’s Aunt Victoria all but disappeared. While she hadn’t been a huge part of the book before, it was her insistence that May apologize to the duke for the way she (May) acted in their first interlude that brought them together again. It’s insinuated that Aunt Victoria spends a lot of time worrying about whether or not May will tarnish the family’s reputation, so I expected her to be watchful of May and to demand a report of any time spent with the duke. While this isn’t a huge issue, I just found it a bit odd that she’s not seen again until they’re departing the estate. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. The relationship between May and William was a slow build as they were interested in getting to know everything about each other, and they had a few barriers to get through because of their first few meetings. They have some heart-warming moments while bonding over the loss of their parents, and then spending time with William’s younger brother and sister. When they finally did realize their feelings for each other, it wasn’t a zippy ‘love conquers all’ feel. It was something they struggled with. The duke had the same expectations of any woman that might become his duchess that he had of himself, so he knew it would be a huge change inviting May to share his life. And May knew there was no way to merge the two worlds—travelling around the world and being in England with William—so she was going to have to give up one of her dreams. Their thoughtfulness was an accurate depiction of the characters we’d come to know throughout the book. There was no sex in this book, and I am torn on how I feel about it. On the one hand, their kisses were so explosive, I wanted more! On the other, I think it was more indicative of the time period and the duke’s tendency to heed societal constraints that they didn’t.
…in that moment he saw with perfect clarity that what she was suited to was the role of his wife. He, William, not the title he held. For perhaps the first time in his life, he could separate the two in his mind and see that he had needs and desires that were separate from the dukedom. He possessed the title, not the other way around.
Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read with interesting characters. If you’re a fan of opposites attract and the enemies to lovers trope, you’ll enjoy The Duke Can Go to the Devil. I’m excited for the next one in the series!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
The Duke Can Go to the Devil is the story of a well-traveled woman who lands in England with a sharp tongue, and the stuffy duke she can’t seem to evade. This book is the third in the series (of which the only other book I have read is the second,) but it can be read as a standalone. I do think, though, that the relationship between the heroines in this series is so enjoyable that it would be a shame to miss out on any of them. For this reason, I’ll be going back to read the first.
I’ve been looking forward to this book since I read the previous book, The Earl I Adore. May was a catalyst in uniting the main characters in that one, and I was hoping her antics would be plentiful in this one. I was not disappointed! As soon as May and William met, sparks started flying. And they never stopped. May was not going to let society dictate her actions, and since William gave in to the expectations of his title, he could make neither heads nor tails of her. Because of the rules he had set for himself, he decided that the best course of action was to forget his run-in with May altogether. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be done, and the more he gets to know her, the more intrigued he is by her non-traditional ways.
Heaven help him, but she was gorgeous. She was more tempting than anyone he had ever known, and much more enticing. He could scarcely recall what it was that had so exasperated him about her when they first met. All those things he had thought he disliked—her frankness, her humor, her ability to see him as a person instead of a duke—had somehow become the things he most loved about her.
It’s when he realized how unimpressive she finds England that he decided it was time to step in and show her all his country had to offer. He is incredibly proud of everything he has, including his title and wealth and is baffled and frustrated when May seems unmoved by them. This was one of my favorite things about their relationship—William had always been accepted by everyone in society simply because of his title. With May, he had to open up in order to impress her, and it was something that made him realize for the first time that who he was as a person and the title he held were two separate things. For May, the fact that William took his duty so seriously made her think about how brash she could be, and while she didn’t intend to hurt people’s feelings, it was often a result of her words. They each made the other think of how they could be more considerate.
In his effort to show her how extraordinary England is, he invites May and her aunt to accompany him to his estate under the guise of providing companionship to his step-mother. One thing that confused me here was that once they reached the estate, May’s Aunt Victoria all but disappeared. While she hadn’t been a huge part of the book before, it was her insistence that May apologize to the duke for the way she (May) acted in their first interlude that brought them together again. It’s insinuated that Aunt Victoria spends a lot of time worrying about whether or not May will tarnish the family’s reputation, so I expected her to be watchful of May and to demand a report of any time spent with the duke. While this isn’t a huge issue, I just found it a bit odd that she’s not seen again until they’re departing the estate. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. The relationship between May and William was a slow build as they were interested in getting to know everything about each other, and they had a few barriers to get through because of their first few meetings. They have some heart-warming moments while bonding over the loss of their parents, and then spending time with William’s younger brother and sister. When they finally did realize their feelings for each other, it wasn’t a zippy ‘love conquers all’ feel. It was something they struggled with. The duke had the same expectations of any woman that might become his duchess that he had of himself, so he knew it would be a huge change inviting May to share his life. And May knew there was no way to merge the two worlds—travelling around the world and being in England with William—so she was going to have to give up one of her dreams. Their thoughtfulness was an accurate depiction of the characters we’d come to know throughout the book. There was no sex in this book, and I am torn on how I feel about it. On the one hand, their kisses were so explosive, I wanted more! On the other, I think it was more indicative of the time period and the duke’s tendency to heed societal constraints that they didn’t.
…in that moment he saw with perfect clarity that what she was suited to was the role of his wife. He, William, not the title he held. For perhaps the first time in his life, he could separate the two in his mind and see that he had needs and desires that were separate from the dukedom. He possessed the title, not the other way around.
Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read with interesting characters. If you’re a fan of opposites attract and the enemies to lovers trope, you’ll enjoy The Duke Can Go to the Devil. I’m excited for the next one in the series!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
May 27, 2017
Such a sweet, heart-warming conclusion to the stories of three friends. This series just got better and better. I loved May's character from the very beginning and knew she would have to find someone remarkably perfect for her to change her mind about traveling the world over. William was an odiously snobby and righteous Duke who needed to, as his step mother said 'find his joie de vivre!' And May have him that. This read much like a P&P vagary and I loved it!
My only quibbles were no actual nookie (spoiler, sorry) and that May never got to actually take William on some tropical vacation that he sorely needs. Ah well. Theirs was still a lovely story about finding home.
I know there's one more in the series and I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing how Viscount Derrington's story turns out!
My only quibbles were no actual nookie (spoiler, sorry) and that May never got to actually take William on some tropical vacation that he sorely needs. Ah well. Theirs was still a lovely story about finding home.
I know there's one more in the series and I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing how Viscount Derrington's story turns out!
June 24, 2015
THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL is a brilliant tour de force! Miss May Bradford, whose real given name is Mei-li, spent most of her life abroad following her father who is a sea captain. Although she knows English customs and everything that is proper, she often fails to behave according to them; neither can she fathom why she should fawn over the peers of the realm. William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, is very conservative, he is dedicated to all his title entails, and expects the respect that is due him. May is in a musical trio in the first annual Summer Serenade in Somerset music festival, of which William is a patron. He had spotted the divinely beautiful May but he is aghast when he hears her playing her Chinese string instrument: how un-English of her to mar the beauty of refined music with her discordant instrument! May had seemed suitable to become a proper wife to a Duke until the concert. And still he cannot resist being captivated.
THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL features one of the most wonderful female characters I have ever read in a historical romance: May practises Tai Chi in scandalous clothing, which leads to a fabulous scene; she dresses colourfully and shuns sartorial conventions whenever possible whereas the handsome Duke remains dignified at all times, or did before he met May.
Ms. Knightley excels at depicting the clashes between the stuffy Duke and May: both are in fact very passionate as well as set in their ways and inflexible, in their own fashion. The author’s flowing, elegant and eloquent writing is a joy to read, all the while remaining faithful to the era’s vocabulary but never sounding stilted. The dialogues are splendid, especially when it comes to May's imaginative insults and cuss words.
And O, be still my heart! What a magnificent romance it is: the almost-first kiss left me breathless with expectation and waiting with bated breath for more. The romance builds slowly, May and William’s passion is all-consuming and yet restrained, their attraction is palpable, the sexual tension is nearly unbearable; it is all painfully exquisite! The characters are exceptionally well-defined, and character development is unsurpassed. THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL is a perfectly splendid, refreshing, and ingenious take on opposites attracting; it is absolutely divine!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL features one of the most wonderful female characters I have ever read in a historical romance: May practises Tai Chi in scandalous clothing, which leads to a fabulous scene; she dresses colourfully and shuns sartorial conventions whenever possible whereas the handsome Duke remains dignified at all times, or did before he met May.
Ms. Knightley excels at depicting the clashes between the stuffy Duke and May: both are in fact very passionate as well as set in their ways and inflexible, in their own fashion. The author’s flowing, elegant and eloquent writing is a joy to read, all the while remaining faithful to the era’s vocabulary but never sounding stilted. The dialogues are splendid, especially when it comes to May's imaginative insults and cuss words.
And O, be still my heart! What a magnificent romance it is: the almost-first kiss left me breathless with expectation and waiting with bated breath for more. The romance builds slowly, May and William’s passion is all-consuming and yet restrained, their attraction is palpable, the sexual tension is nearly unbearable; it is all painfully exquisite! The characters are exceptionally well-defined, and character development is unsurpassed. THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL is a perfectly splendid, refreshing, and ingenious take on opposites attracting; it is absolutely divine!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 10, 2015
This might be my favorite of the series! Proper, stuffy Duke meets uninhibited woman who infuriates and captivates him at the same time. That's all you'll get from me as I don't like to write or read plot spoilers. This book is well written and very enjoyable. I recommend it highly. Also, I'm thrilled the Duke's friend, Derington, gets his own story (The Viscount Risks It All) early next year.
July 28, 2015
If you want to read about characters that you can relate to instead of characters that are historically more accurate and fit the time period, you enjoy this book. They are both likable but they are modern in everything but their clothing.
July 1, 2018
I love reading Historical Romance novels. I have moments when all I want to is read that genre of books. Historical Romance just has this magic to it, and I love being swept away to a time long ago when people wore these beautiful clothes and a lot of men were chivalrous. Reading Historical Romance is definitely the perfect way to relax if you ask me. So when I found ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’ waiting for me to read, I just couldn’t resist and started reading as soon as possible. ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’ is the third book in the Prelude to a Kiss series, and can be read as a standalone.
In ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’ we meet May Bradford. May isn’t like your average young woman. May has grown up sailing the seas with her parents and visiting lots of different countries. Growing up traveling also means a lot of the ‘normal’ British etiquette is lost on her. So when May’s mother dies and her father leaves her with her aunt in Bath, May is definitely the odd one out. And May isn’t afraid to speak her mind. So when May meets the seemingly arrogant Duke of Radcliffe, William Spencer she isn’t afraid to tell him what she thinks of him. But what they both didn’t expect is the attraction that is immediate between them.
I loved May’s character. She was definitely unlike most woman you find in Historical Romance novels. May was honest, direct, funny and had some very different routines than most people in Bath. And I loved reading about her. May’s character definitely made me laugh a lot. And the chemistry between May and William was just perfect. You could almost feel it coming through the pages and because they were so different and both really stubborn they made for some very funny scenes.
I definitely loved reading ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’. I read this book in one setting, and it was just the perfect read to get me out of my reading slump. Although you definitely expect a certain ending to this kind of book, I loved the way I was still surprised by certain things.
And that cover from the Piatkus version of ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’ is definitely something I liked too. I love the black red combination and the way you instantly see which kind of genre this book is.
In ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’ we meet May Bradford. May isn’t like your average young woman. May has grown up sailing the seas with her parents and visiting lots of different countries. Growing up traveling also means a lot of the ‘normal’ British etiquette is lost on her. So when May’s mother dies and her father leaves her with her aunt in Bath, May is definitely the odd one out. And May isn’t afraid to speak her mind. So when May meets the seemingly arrogant Duke of Radcliffe, William Spencer she isn’t afraid to tell him what she thinks of him. But what they both didn’t expect is the attraction that is immediate between them.
I loved May’s character. She was definitely unlike most woman you find in Historical Romance novels. May was honest, direct, funny and had some very different routines than most people in Bath. And I loved reading about her. May’s character definitely made me laugh a lot. And the chemistry between May and William was just perfect. You could almost feel it coming through the pages and because they were so different and both really stubborn they made for some very funny scenes.
I definitely loved reading ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’. I read this book in one setting, and it was just the perfect read to get me out of my reading slump. Although you definitely expect a certain ending to this kind of book, I loved the way I was still surprised by certain things.
And that cover from the Piatkus version of ‘The Duke Can Go to the Devil’ is definitely something I liked too. I love the black red combination and the way you instantly see which kind of genre this book is.
July 7, 2015
For the third book in the trilogy, I had high expectations because May has been one of the most colorful characters since the beginning. I was so curious what man would be her match. She is beautiful, lively, and eccentric when it comes to English ways having done her growing up in the Orient and on board her father's ship. I didn't have long to wait and loved the man she was paired with. The tension and sizzle was off the hook.
As I mentioned, this is the third in the series. It can be read out of order, but one would probably get more out of it getting them in order.
The story opens with May's aunt warning her with no uncertain terms that her behavior had better improve or else. Unfortunately, right after her last concert with her two friends, May bumps into an insufferable man who assumes she is there to insinuate herself into his company. They trade barbs, but it is only on the arrival of her aunt that she has been with the Duke of Radcliffe, a man her aunt wished to cultivate an acquaintance. As a result, she is forced to make nice if she wants out of her room.
William Spencer, Duke of Radcliffe is a rule follower and takes is duties seriously. Someone like May who lives outside the rules frustrates him. He wants to avoid a woman like her, but he can't deny that he feels a strong attraction, too. She wants different things in life, she hates his country, and she plans to return to her old life as soon as her father returns, and yet he issues the invitation to join him, his flirty step-mother, and his half-siblings at his country estate.
May is confused by her reaction to William. She wanted to continue to hate everything about him and his country because that would keep things easier for her plans when her father returns, but she discovers that there is a lot more to him than she originally thought. But this doesn't change anything because they still aren't right for each other.
This story was my favorite of the three and I thought for sure book two would be. The sparks between this pair, their opposite situations, and the development of the brewing issues that eventually come to a head were exciting. Both characters have a tendency to quick judgment and speech, but learn to appreciate each other's fine points along with their view points.
The romance is slow build and stays on the sweet side because they are at dagger point for a while before cooling off and getting to know each other. The attraction was a playful thing that both found inconvenient at times and they were flirtatious when they got past the hostilities. William and May were a great couple.
The historical setting was full of interesting elements like the music festival, the beginnings to the industrial era, and the trade wars. It fit in nicely to give both the main characters their opposing opinions on these matters as well as place them in a changing time. I loved that the author chose Bath as her main setting instead of the more popular London.
All in all, I enjoyed this book for its opposites attract fiery romance, loveable characters, and neat historical backdrop. I was glad to see that a side character, Lord Derring, gets his story next. I would heartily recommend this book and the others in the series to historical romance fans who like lighter, flirty stories.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
As I mentioned, this is the third in the series. It can be read out of order, but one would probably get more out of it getting them in order.
The story opens with May's aunt warning her with no uncertain terms that her behavior had better improve or else. Unfortunately, right after her last concert with her two friends, May bumps into an insufferable man who assumes she is there to insinuate herself into his company. They trade barbs, but it is only on the arrival of her aunt that she has been with the Duke of Radcliffe, a man her aunt wished to cultivate an acquaintance. As a result, she is forced to make nice if she wants out of her room.
William Spencer, Duke of Radcliffe is a rule follower and takes is duties seriously. Someone like May who lives outside the rules frustrates him. He wants to avoid a woman like her, but he can't deny that he feels a strong attraction, too. She wants different things in life, she hates his country, and she plans to return to her old life as soon as her father returns, and yet he issues the invitation to join him, his flirty step-mother, and his half-siblings at his country estate.
May is confused by her reaction to William. She wanted to continue to hate everything about him and his country because that would keep things easier for her plans when her father returns, but she discovers that there is a lot more to him than she originally thought. But this doesn't change anything because they still aren't right for each other.
This story was my favorite of the three and I thought for sure book two would be. The sparks between this pair, their opposite situations, and the development of the brewing issues that eventually come to a head were exciting. Both characters have a tendency to quick judgment and speech, but learn to appreciate each other's fine points along with their view points.
The romance is slow build and stays on the sweet side because they are at dagger point for a while before cooling off and getting to know each other. The attraction was a playful thing that both found inconvenient at times and they were flirtatious when they got past the hostilities. William and May were a great couple.
The historical setting was full of interesting elements like the music festival, the beginnings to the industrial era, and the trade wars. It fit in nicely to give both the main characters their opposing opinions on these matters as well as place them in a changing time. I loved that the author chose Bath as her main setting instead of the more popular London.
All in all, I enjoyed this book for its opposites attract fiery romance, loveable characters, and neat historical backdrop. I was glad to see that a side character, Lord Derring, gets his story next. I would heartily recommend this book and the others in the series to historical romance fans who like lighter, flirty stories.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2015
Même 4,5 ^^
Alors c'est une histoire un peu à la Darcy/Elizabeth Bennet mais avec des trucs en plus....
Nous sommes toujours à Bath, et si vous avez lu les deux premiers tomes, vous savez que May Bradford est une jeune fille moyennement conventionnelle. Son père est capitaine pour la Compagnie des Indes Orientales, elle a été élevée à l'étranger, est habitué à voyager, connais d'autres cultures... d'ailleurs comme instrument elle joue du guzheng, la cithare chinoise. Et devoir, suite à la mort de sa mère, être obligé de vivre avec sa tante, un modèle de bienséance toujours sur son dos à lui répéter comment une jeune fille doit être la gonfle. Sérieusement. D'ailleurs globalement l'Angleterre, du moins celle de sa classe sociale avec son ensemble de règles étouffantes la gonfle. heureusement qu'elle a ses deux amies, mais celles-ci ont trouvé l'âme soeur (2 premier tomes ^^). Et puis May n'a pas l'intention de rester en Angleterre, puisque son père une fois sa première période de deuil passé va revenir la chercher et elle va pouvoir retourner en Asie.
De l'autre côté nous avons William spencer, duc de Radcliffe. Un modèle de vertu et bienséance anglaise, fier de son pays qu'il considère comme le centre du monde et il se demande même comment on peut souhaiter vivre ailleurs. Nan sérieusement il est vraiment comme ça, il est sexy sans doute, mais c'est vraiment le modèle de l'aristocrate qui s'investit sans doute pour ses terres (c'est ni une feignasse, ni un débauché) mais qui a un peu du mal avec le concept "ailleurs". D'ailleurs j'aime beaucoup quand May lui demande si il a déjà voyagé pour se permettre de jugé tout aussi catégoriquement et qu'il lui dit que non, il n'est jamais sorti d'Angleterre; pourquoi?
Donc nos deux héros vont commencer (et continuer assez longtemps) par s'envoyer de piquantes remarques. J'ai adoré May, qui est sans doute un peu têtue dans sa volonté de ne pas aimer l'Angleterre au début, mais qui sait très bien reconnaitre ses torts. J'allais dire "elle évolue bien" mais c'est déjà quelqu'un qui par son éducation non conventionnelle est assez ouverte....
En face, William c'est Darcy. C'est limite si il ne va pas falloir lui faire rentrer certaines notions dans le crâne en lui tapant dessus. Et pourtant je l'aime bien, parce que son personnage est cohérent avec son époque. Son éducation, sa fonction, le monde dans lequel il vit fait qu'il ne va pas devenir comme ça du jour au lendemain un type ouvert sur le monde. Mais on le sent en bonne voie pour l'être.
Ce que j'ai aimé c'est aussi le contexte, qui fait écho à notre époque. On se rend compte que la mondialisation n'est pas un phénomène nouveau et que les racines sont profondes.... et on comprends les motivations aussi bien de William (qui va développer une manufacture de coton sur son domaine, en prévision de l'évolution économique....) et de May (qui se rend compte que si cela donne du travail aux ouvriers anglais, cela va aussi avoir un impact économiques sur ses amis à l’autre bout du monde....)
Sans aller sur la thèse socio-économique, le sujet est abordé de façon assez intéressante pour avoir un rôle dans l'histoire... et j'aime bien ça ^^
Alors c'est une histoire un peu à la Darcy/Elizabeth Bennet mais avec des trucs en plus....
Nous sommes toujours à Bath, et si vous avez lu les deux premiers tomes, vous savez que May Bradford est une jeune fille moyennement conventionnelle. Son père est capitaine pour la Compagnie des Indes Orientales, elle a été élevée à l'étranger, est habitué à voyager, connais d'autres cultures... d'ailleurs comme instrument elle joue du guzheng, la cithare chinoise. Et devoir, suite à la mort de sa mère, être obligé de vivre avec sa tante, un modèle de bienséance toujours sur son dos à lui répéter comment une jeune fille doit être la gonfle. Sérieusement. D'ailleurs globalement l'Angleterre, du moins celle de sa classe sociale avec son ensemble de règles étouffantes la gonfle. heureusement qu'elle a ses deux amies, mais celles-ci ont trouvé l'âme soeur (2 premier tomes ^^). Et puis May n'a pas l'intention de rester en Angleterre, puisque son père une fois sa première période de deuil passé va revenir la chercher et elle va pouvoir retourner en Asie.
De l'autre côté nous avons William spencer, duc de Radcliffe. Un modèle de vertu et bienséance anglaise, fier de son pays qu'il considère comme le centre du monde et il se demande même comment on peut souhaiter vivre ailleurs. Nan sérieusement il est vraiment comme ça, il est sexy sans doute, mais c'est vraiment le modèle de l'aristocrate qui s'investit sans doute pour ses terres (c'est ni une feignasse, ni un débauché) mais qui a un peu du mal avec le concept "ailleurs". D'ailleurs j'aime beaucoup quand May lui demande si il a déjà voyagé pour se permettre de jugé tout aussi catégoriquement et qu'il lui dit que non, il n'est jamais sorti d'Angleterre; pourquoi?
Donc nos deux héros vont commencer (et continuer assez longtemps) par s'envoyer de piquantes remarques. J'ai adoré May, qui est sans doute un peu têtue dans sa volonté de ne pas aimer l'Angleterre au début, mais qui sait très bien reconnaitre ses torts. J'allais dire "elle évolue bien" mais c'est déjà quelqu'un qui par son éducation non conventionnelle est assez ouverte....
En face, William c'est Darcy. C'est limite si il ne va pas falloir lui faire rentrer certaines notions dans le crâne en lui tapant dessus. Et pourtant je l'aime bien, parce que son personnage est cohérent avec son époque. Son éducation, sa fonction, le monde dans lequel il vit fait qu'il ne va pas devenir comme ça du jour au lendemain un type ouvert sur le monde. Mais on le sent en bonne voie pour l'être.
Ce que j'ai aimé c'est aussi le contexte, qui fait écho à notre époque. On se rend compte que la mondialisation n'est pas un phénomène nouveau et que les racines sont profondes.... et on comprends les motivations aussi bien de William (qui va développer une manufacture de coton sur son domaine, en prévision de l'évolution économique....) et de May (qui se rend compte que si cela donne du travail aux ouvriers anglais, cela va aussi avoir un impact économiques sur ses amis à l’autre bout du monde....)
Sans aller sur la thèse socio-économique, le sujet est abordé de façon assez intéressante pour avoir un rôle dans l'histoire... et j'aime bien ça ^^
July 9, 2015
William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, is very proper & starting to think about looking for a proper wife. May Bradford has lived her life at sea and around the world with her sea captain father & her mother, who had recently passed away. Her father had left her in London with his older sister, who is a stickler for rules & doesn't like May's free spirit. William is initially very attracted to May at a concert, but when she plays her foreign instrument in a trio, that is the end of his interest. They clash in every conversation, but have a true spark of attraction that proves irresistible to them both. It is one kiss only. And then only one kiss more. May is expecting to go back to sea with her father. William is not so sure, mostly based on some political decisions that have been made, which affect her father's job. William initially meets May in London, but invites her & her aunt to visit his estate in the country. This is where things get more interesting & their true characters come through. I absolutely loved this sweet romance! The enduring friendships with May's friends from the previous books is a bonus!
August 1, 2015
Poorly written! The author tells us this takes place in the 19th century; but the dialogue is totally modern. I found this so disconcerting it made it hard for me to follow the story line. She should have just called it a contemporary romance and written it as such.
January 26, 2022
It started off great, with sparks flying everywhere as they did not agree on anything and argued most of the time. But as time passed, the story became draggy and boring and I found myself skimming most of it.
It didn’t help that I couldn’t like the duke very much because he came off as a very stiff and boring person. Sure, he and Melli had their bantering at times, but it was very little. Their conversations and interactions were boring and the pacing was slow. Was disappointed with this one. Even Melli, who seemed like a wonderful character in the previous books, turned out to be not as exciting as I thought she would be.
It didn’t help that I couldn’t like the duke very much because he came off as a very stiff and boring person. Sure, he and Melli had their bantering at times, but it was very little. Their conversations and interactions were boring and the pacing was slow. Was disappointed with this one. Even Melli, who seemed like a wonderful character in the previous books, turned out to be not as exciting as I thought she would be.
July 8, 2015
Miss Mei-li (May) Bradford grew up in a tropical climate. Her father is a sea captain so May has experienced life in the Far East. Sadly, her mother passed away the previous year. While on a voyage, her father has left her in the care of her overly strict and stuffy aunt, Lady Victoria Stanwix, known privately to May as The Warden. She is to experience English society life in Bath and, hopefully, meet a man she will want to marry.
Currently, it is time for the Bath Summer Music Festival and May and her two friends have enjoyed playing their musical instruments as a trio during the Festival. May plays a guzheng which is a Chinese zither. Sophie, newly married and the Countess of Evansleigh, plays the oboe. Charity is betrothed to Baron Cadgwith and plays the piano. Their musical renditions have been quite popular at the Festival.
William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, age 30, is a man dedicated to doing his duties in caring for his family home, Clifton House, and participating in building the country’s first cotton mill, thus providing jobs and reasonably priced textiles for people to buy. In addition, he introduced legislation that will severely limit the amount of finely-made textile imports from the Far East. At his home, he is caring for his young half sister and half brother. When his father passed away, his second wife, Lady Radcliffe, decided she did not want to stay with her children all the time and only visits them occasionally. William tries to spend as much time with the children as possible.
Although William does not care for the music that May makes, he is intrigued by her and sees her early one morning doing her exercises outside. When William insults her physical abilities, she literally throws him over her shoulder. Not hurt, he is angered. Her aunt finds out and insists that she apologize to him. A stubborn young lady, it is very hard for her to do so but eventually she does.
William invites May and her aunt to visit Clifton House. There they become better acquainted but still continue to constantly “lock horns.” When May learns of his work to limit imports, she is infuriated because that means her father’s import business is at risk.
Her father eventually returns and May is saddened to know that he cannot afford to keep his ship and will be giving up his sailing. Heartbroken, she blames William.
Although William and May are attracted to one another, they are both very stubborn personalities. Will they find a way to learn to understand one another’s points of view and find a way to be a couple?
At first, I was really taken aback by May’s attitude and did not care for her character. I found myself thinking that I just don’t like her. But, after awhile, I realized that the author meant to create a controversial character and she did a very good job of it. I applaud Ms. Knightley’s talent.
Currently, it is time for the Bath Summer Music Festival and May and her two friends have enjoyed playing their musical instruments as a trio during the Festival. May plays a guzheng which is a Chinese zither. Sophie, newly married and the Countess of Evansleigh, plays the oboe. Charity is betrothed to Baron Cadgwith and plays the piano. Their musical renditions have been quite popular at the Festival.
William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, age 30, is a man dedicated to doing his duties in caring for his family home, Clifton House, and participating in building the country’s first cotton mill, thus providing jobs and reasonably priced textiles for people to buy. In addition, he introduced legislation that will severely limit the amount of finely-made textile imports from the Far East. At his home, he is caring for his young half sister and half brother. When his father passed away, his second wife, Lady Radcliffe, decided she did not want to stay with her children all the time and only visits them occasionally. William tries to spend as much time with the children as possible.
Although William does not care for the music that May makes, he is intrigued by her and sees her early one morning doing her exercises outside. When William insults her physical abilities, she literally throws him over her shoulder. Not hurt, he is angered. Her aunt finds out and insists that she apologize to him. A stubborn young lady, it is very hard for her to do so but eventually she does.
William invites May and her aunt to visit Clifton House. There they become better acquainted but still continue to constantly “lock horns.” When May learns of his work to limit imports, she is infuriated because that means her father’s import business is at risk.
Her father eventually returns and May is saddened to know that he cannot afford to keep his ship and will be giving up his sailing. Heartbroken, she blames William.
Although William and May are attracted to one another, they are both very stubborn personalities. Will they find a way to learn to understand one another’s points of view and find a way to be a couple?
At first, I was really taken aback by May’s attitude and did not care for her character. I found myself thinking that I just don’t like her. But, after awhile, I realized that the author meant to create a controversial character and she did a very good job of it. I applaud Ms. Knightley’s talent.
April 20, 2016
The Duke Can Go to the Devil is #3 in the Prelude to a Kiss series by Erin Knightley. It's a clean historical (Regency) romance, and is certainly a stand-alone novel.
May Bradford is the daughter of a shipping captain for the East India Trade Company. Her mother died about a year ago, and soon after, her father decided to send May to live with her aunt in Bath, England. May is unhappy about being away from the East, which she considers her home. She struggles with her aunt's wish to make May into a proper young lady. Her independence and uniqueness are so very ingrained within her that it is a difficult (and perhaps unrealistic) task for her aunt to undertake, but May tries to get along with her aunt for her father's sake. From her bright embroidered dresses, to her guzheng, not to mention her outspokenness, she isn't destined to be well-received by society.
William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, has been working on legislation for years to break the monopoly the East India Trade Company has in the textile industry. He greatly values following society's rules, and takes his role as a duke very seriously. "In his family, there was nothing more sacred than pomp and circumstance. Whenever he did finally choose a duchess, it would be a woman who understood and respected such things."
May and William are complete foils to one another, which makes for a lot of fun disagreements, one of my favorite plot devices. (Although I think it would be annoying in real life!)
What I liked:
*As I've indicated, I like the contrary dialogue between the hero and heroine. But more than that, I like that Erin Knightley does a great job of helping the reader to sympathize with and understand both May's and William's points-of-view.
*Even though I generally prefer books strong in historically accurate language, I do enjoy Ms. Knightley's more accessible books. She does not use modern anachronisms, however.
*A favorite quote by William and May's mutual friend: "When in doubt of how to behave, just imagine my fist in your face."
What I didn't like:
*The only thing I can mention is that I wasn't as engrossed in this book as I anticipated being. I enjoyed it very much, but wasn't hanging on the edge of my seat. For that reason, I'd say it's a 4 1/2 star book for me, but I'm rounding up to 5 because it just may be that I really do need more sleep!
I'd recommend this to fans of clean Regency romances. I really appreciate Erin as a modern author of dependably clean Regencies, and as always, I will be adding another of her books to my to-read list!
May Bradford is the daughter of a shipping captain for the East India Trade Company. Her mother died about a year ago, and soon after, her father decided to send May to live with her aunt in Bath, England. May is unhappy about being away from the East, which she considers her home. She struggles with her aunt's wish to make May into a proper young lady. Her independence and uniqueness are so very ingrained within her that it is a difficult (and perhaps unrealistic) task for her aunt to undertake, but May tries to get along with her aunt for her father's sake. From her bright embroidered dresses, to her guzheng, not to mention her outspokenness, she isn't destined to be well-received by society.
William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, has been working on legislation for years to break the monopoly the East India Trade Company has in the textile industry. He greatly values following society's rules, and takes his role as a duke very seriously. "In his family, there was nothing more sacred than pomp and circumstance. Whenever he did finally choose a duchess, it would be a woman who understood and respected such things."
May and William are complete foils to one another, which makes for a lot of fun disagreements, one of my favorite plot devices. (Although I think it would be annoying in real life!)
What I liked:
*As I've indicated, I like the contrary dialogue between the hero and heroine. But more than that, I like that Erin Knightley does a great job of helping the reader to sympathize with and understand both May's and William's points-of-view.
*Even though I generally prefer books strong in historically accurate language, I do enjoy Ms. Knightley's more accessible books. She does not use modern anachronisms, however.
*A favorite quote by William and May's mutual friend: "When in doubt of how to behave, just imagine my fist in your face."
What I didn't like:
*The only thing I can mention is that I wasn't as engrossed in this book as I anticipated being. I enjoyed it very much, but wasn't hanging on the edge of my seat. For that reason, I'd say it's a 4 1/2 star book for me, but I'm rounding up to 5 because it just may be that I really do need more sleep!
I'd recommend this to fans of clean Regency romances. I really appreciate Erin as a modern author of dependably clean Regencies, and as always, I will be adding another of her books to my to-read list!
July 9, 2015
I knew that May's story was going to be an interesting because she isn't your typical young lady. She's grown up traveling the Far East with her father a captain for a trading company and longs to return to her home. At one of the summer's concert she meets a most arrogant man who finds her unconventional ways distasteful and the spar with words from the very beginning. I love when opposites attract.
Erin Knightley can write really good love stories and develop them at a good pace over the course of the book. I'm so glad that she gave so much attention to May in order for her to figure things out on her own. I think this one was my favorite.
Erin Knightley can write really good love stories and develop them at a good pace over the course of the book. I'm so glad that she gave so much attention to May in order for her to figure things out on her own. I think this one was my favorite.
July 5, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, and this is my honest review. I loved it. I love a feisty female, and in May that is what you get. She is strong, opinionated, and talks like a sailor. William is a Duke first and foremost, always behaving properly as should a Duke. What is that about opposites attracting? This book is a historical romance that will make you laugh. I highly recommend this book.
September 29, 2024
This book was pleasant enough, but I thought the descriptions of their personality traits were a little heavy handed. It was clear that they were opposites, I didn’t need to be hit over the head with it. They had nice chemistry though and I thought the pacing of their animosity dissolving into genuine romantic feelings made sense. I would have appreciated something a little spicer as this was too mild for me, but that’s not an inherent flaw in the book, just a personal preference of mine.
June 7, 2015
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books.
This book was reviewed by a member of the review staff at Cocktails and Books. The name of the reviewer can be found under the post categories.
This book was reviewed by a member of the review staff at Cocktails and Books. The name of the reviewer can be found under the post categories.
July 13, 2015
May has that way about her that she just can't help but be honest, “I shall always act as myself, whether I am in private or public. Just as you, I suspect, shall always act the overbearing a**.” I enjoyed this book although there were no naughty bits there were steamy kisses and witty banter which in certain situations I like more and this was one of those situations.
July 3, 2015
Fabulous------:)
Review to follow
Review to follow
August 7, 2015
5 stars because it has a lot of chemistry between them!
August 25, 2015
May was just so rude to William for most of the book that it made it really hard for me to like her at all. Honestly, I think he could have done better.
August 9, 2015
It was a light, fresh and charming story. This story is an example of how opposites attract.
September 16, 2023
I was excited to read May's story because she was always described as a tall blonde goddess in the other books and she was always so bold and unique too. So I thought her story would be fun to read. I was not disappointed!
I loved it that May's story revolved around her uniqueness as her Hero, William, was such a hoity-toity English duke who disliked her boldness initially. They were polar opposites but they balanced each other wonderfully. Not much happened in the story but the characters' banters were entertaining enough to keep me hooked!
I even liked the new side characters who were William's little half siblings, Julian and Clarisse. They were both so adorable, I could understand how May instantly liked them.
May and William's HEA was very sweet! The part when William waited and waited for May to come to him, which would mean she chooses him over a free life of adventure, only to have the day end without her showing up at all leaving him all disappointed and sad but then she surprised him by waiting for him in the conservatory...that was just breathtakingly beautiful! And to have his little siblings applaud their engagement was just the icing on the cake!
And the Epilogue!!! I was soo satisfied with how it wrapped up the trio's stories in the most sweet and sentimental way. With Charity and May both expecting babies and having all their family members in the audience to see them perform on stage with their husbands beaming at them with all the pride and love on their faces...swoon!
I loved it that May's story revolved around her uniqueness as her Hero, William, was such a hoity-toity English duke who disliked her boldness initially. They were polar opposites but they balanced each other wonderfully. Not much happened in the story but the characters' banters were entertaining enough to keep me hooked!
I even liked the new side characters who were William's little half siblings, Julian and Clarisse. They were both so adorable, I could understand how May instantly liked them.
May and William's HEA was very sweet! The part when William waited and waited for May to come to him, which would mean she chooses him over a free life of adventure, only to have the day end without her showing up at all leaving him all disappointed and sad but then she surprised him by waiting for him in the conservatory...that was just breathtakingly beautiful! And to have his little siblings applaud their engagement was just the icing on the cake!
And the Epilogue!!! I was soo satisfied with how it wrapped up the trio's stories in the most sweet and sentimental way. With Charity and May both expecting babies and having all their family members in the audience to see them perform on stage with their husbands beaming at them with all the pride and love on their faces...swoon!
August 1, 2018
The heroine Mei-Lei practices Tai Chi and was raised abroad. She is unconventional and has plenty of flippant remarks to make to the Duke. The language in the book is decidedly modern. William Spencer the Duke of Radcliffe is kind of a stuffy shirt bound to duty, but has his fun side. He invites Mei-Lei and her grandmother to stay at his estate to get to know England better. Huh??
The third novel in the series is well written and slow paced. I enjoyed reading how all 3 ladies, May, Chastity and Sophia all found a man during the 2 months of the Bath Music Festival. The festival itself sounded so boring its a wonder any eligible bachelors were present.
The third novel in the series is well written and slow paced. I enjoyed reading how all 3 ladies, May, Chastity and Sophia all found a man during the 2 months of the Bath Music Festival. The festival itself sounded so boring its a wonder any eligible bachelors were present.
December 20, 2019
Very sweet easy read!!!! Read it in one afternoon even among work & dinner lol Loved the tension/emotions could feel coming off the pages with our main protagonists!!!!! Loved the witty dialogue!!!! Very much a fearless bluestocking in a regency world!!!! Thought the author did a great job even rounding out the minor characters! Even came to understand the stepmother which was something never thought would happen—still disliked the cold Aunt though now emotional range just bitterness, but one can’t have a fleshed out story without characters we love & others we don’t 😂 highly recommend this novel!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews