What do you think?
Rate this book
To Wed a Beastly Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel
"You can learn to live with loneliness. Until someone shows you what it feels like to be seen."
They call him “The Beast of Thornedale”, scarred, silent, unreachable. Haunted by the loss of his sister and burdened by a family curse, Julian Thorne has built walls no one dares breach. A marriage of convenience is simply another take a bride, secure the line, feel nothing.
Lady Martha Fairchild never imagined her life would end in a cold chapel, traded like a debt to a man she’s never met. But for her family’s survival, she agrees to the match, expecting nothing but isolation in a crumbling, windswept castle.
What she doesn’t expect is the man beneath the silence. A duke who plays music when no one listens. A protector who hides his tenderness like a wound. A broken soul who looks at her as though he can’t believe she’s real.
In a house full of secrets and shadows, can two wounded hearts find warmth in the very place they feared would destroy them?
To "Wed a Beastly Duke" is a historical romance with a slow-burn love story, emotional healing, and absolutely no cheating, no cliffhanger, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
It’s a tender, character-driven Regency/Victorian tale about courage, patience, and the woman brave enough to wait for the thaw.
Perfect for readers who love brooding dukes, quiet strength, and deeply emotional historical romance.
Available now, read free on Kindle Unlimited!
They call him “The Beast of Thornedale”, scarred, silent, unreachable. Haunted by the loss of his sister and burdened by a family curse, Julian Thorne has built walls no one dares breach. A marriage of convenience is simply another take a bride, secure the line, feel nothing.
Lady Martha Fairchild never imagined her life would end in a cold chapel, traded like a debt to a man she’s never met. But for her family’s survival, she agrees to the match, expecting nothing but isolation in a crumbling, windswept castle.
What she doesn’t expect is the man beneath the silence. A duke who plays music when no one listens. A protector who hides his tenderness like a wound. A broken soul who looks at her as though he can’t believe she’s real.
In a house full of secrets and shadows, can two wounded hearts find warmth in the very place they feared would destroy them?
To "Wed a Beastly Duke" is a historical romance with a slow-burn love story, emotional healing, and absolutely no cheating, no cliffhanger, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
It’s a tender, character-driven Regency/Victorian tale about courage, patience, and the woman brave enough to wait for the thaw.
Perfect for readers who love brooding dukes, quiet strength, and deeply emotional historical romance.
Available now, read free on Kindle Unlimited!
- GenresHistorical Romance
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2025
120 people are currently reading
17 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 20, 2025
Gothic Non-Romance
Julian Thorne married the lovely Martha to settle her father’s gaming debts and fulfill his obligation to marry.
The story was the Beast (Julian) with the scar on his face from an accident, and a dark attitude from the accidental death of his sister while they were together, made him what gossips called the Beast and they also thought he was cursed.
Martha has an angelic singing voice and Julian feels drawn to her, but because he feels guilty about his sister’s death he refuses to allow himself to be happy. Yes, totally ridiculous, but the major premise of the entire story.
The villain was easy to guess, almost from the start, mostly because the author explains everything to death. This story had great possibilities but fell short. Two stars for close, but no cigar.
Julian Thorne married the lovely Martha to settle her father’s gaming debts and fulfill his obligation to marry.
The story was the Beast (Julian) with the scar on his face from an accident, and a dark attitude from the accidental death of his sister while they were together, made him what gossips called the Beast and they also thought he was cursed.
Martha has an angelic singing voice and Julian feels drawn to her, but because he feels guilty about his sister’s death he refuses to allow himself to be happy. Yes, totally ridiculous, but the major premise of the entire story.
The villain was easy to guess, almost from the start, mostly because the author explains everything to death. This story had great possibilities but fell short. Two stars for close, but no cigar.
August 29, 2025
Check out your friends!
An interesting story, but got a little long winded and repeated the same thing at times. Duke Julian has a lot of tragedy in his life, fell from horse, cut his face severely. Had a long recovery, as infection set in, then his father became ill, and died, then beloved sister Charity is thorn from her horse into the ocean and dies. Then Martha’s father gets in finical problems, so she marries the “Beastly Duke” and out story begins!
An interesting story, but got a little long winded and repeated the same thing at times. Duke Julian has a lot of tragedy in his life, fell from horse, cut his face severely. Had a long recovery, as infection set in, then his father became ill, and died, then beloved sister Charity is thorn from her horse into the ocean and dies. Then Martha’s father gets in finical problems, so she marries the “Beastly Duke” and out story begins!
September 1, 2025
A Marriage Sight unseen …
Lady Martha has married & her husband, the Duke, has had many problems in his life. His life long friend, Alistair, has been by his side forever but lately thoughts are returning…Lord Edward & Lady Sarah are devoted friends but something is missing from the Duke’s perspective. And is it love at last? And then something happens..
Lady Martha has married & her husband, the Duke, has had many problems in his life. His life long friend, Alistair, has been by his side forever but lately thoughts are returning…Lord Edward & Lady Sarah are devoted friends but something is missing from the Duke’s perspective. And is it love at last? And then something happens..
September 2, 2025
Cute slowburn
Its a sweet story that keeps you coming back for more. I loved how the characters grew and evolved. I also enjoyed how some characters gave me bad vibes subtly, not making the twist too obvious but also not making it too outlandish.
All and all a adorable story that will have you kicking your feet over their cute interactions.
Its a sweet story that keeps you coming back for more. I loved how the characters grew and evolved. I also enjoyed how some characters gave me bad vibes subtly, not making the twist too obvious but also not making it too outlandish.
All and all a adorable story that will have you kicking your feet over their cute interactions.
August 18, 2025
This story left me speechless. The gradual and detailed portrayal of Julian's psyche and its subtle nuances is unlike anything I have experienced in historical romance books before. Bravo! It was amazing from beginning to end.
December 14, 2025
friend or foe
Grief takes many forms, but when a supposed friend uses it to create discord and misconceptions, it’s unspeakable. The author wrote the villain and his victim exceptionally well. The climactic ending sealed the story.
Grief takes many forms, but when a supposed friend uses it to create discord and misconceptions, it’s unspeakable. The author wrote the villain and his victim exceptionally well. The climactic ending sealed the story.
January 17, 2026
To Wed a Beastly Duke
Good story, kind of slow but the story had me guessing who the villain was. I wasn't really impressed with Martha she seemed rather timid. Julian was scared and just didn't believe in himself!!
Good story, kind of slow but the story had me guessing who the villain was. I wasn't really impressed with Martha she seemed rather timid. Julian was scared and just didn't believe in himself!!
September 17, 2025
Easy to spot villain with the rest of the characters pretty unremarkable, but the added mystery points were interesting.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews