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Courting the Duke: A Reimagined Regency Romance
Courting the Duke is a reimagining of the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac, set in Regency England.
She wrote in her cousin’s name, but he fell for the woman behind the words.
Miss Serena Deburgiak has long dwelt in the background. Born with a cleft lip, repaired by surgery, she bears the scar still, both visible and unseen. While her cousin Roxanne shines as the incomparable of the Season, Serena’s own future rests upon Roxanne’s marriage. If Roxanne secures the Duke of Hoxton, Serena may at last find a place where she belongs.
Lord Christian, Duke of Hoxton, is bound by duty and scarred by war. He finds solace in healing injured birds on his estate, yet human connection proves far more elusive. Determined to keep his word, he intends to wed Lady Roxanne. But it is Serena witty, clever, and impossible to ignore, who begins to capture his heart.
As Serena’s bold plan to secure her cousin’s future unravels, she must face a heartbreaking surrender her own happiness or risk everything for a love she never dreamed was hers to claim.
She wrote in her cousin’s name, but he fell for the woman behind the words.
Miss Serena Deburgiak has long dwelt in the background. Born with a cleft lip, repaired by surgery, she bears the scar still, both visible and unseen. While her cousin Roxanne shines as the incomparable of the Season, Serena’s own future rests upon Roxanne’s marriage. If Roxanne secures the Duke of Hoxton, Serena may at last find a place where she belongs.
Lord Christian, Duke of Hoxton, is bound by duty and scarred by war. He finds solace in healing injured birds on his estate, yet human connection proves far more elusive. Determined to keep his word, he intends to wed Lady Roxanne. But it is Serena witty, clever, and impossible to ignore, who begins to capture his heart.
As Serena’s bold plan to secure her cousin’s future unravels, she must face a heartbreaking surrender her own happiness or risk everything for a love she never dreamed was hers to claim.
- GenresAmazonHistorical
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
About the author
Anne Shaw
41 books106 followersAnne Shaw is the author of both contemporary and historical romances. She lives in western Washington with her four-legged friend Larry, a quirky cat who stares at her for hours on end while she loses herself in a world where a sexy hero, and bold heroine face insurmountable odds to reach the ultimate goal, a happily-ever-after.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 28, 2025
This is a new author for me. I only read book 1 in this series prior and really loved it. I actually added it to my favorite books read for September, 2025. I loved the covers in this series so thought I'd research her. Looking forward to this next read.
I liked this book. Not as much as book 1 which was surprising but the characters where not associated with any characters from book 1 so maybe that was it. I did like Serena. She seemed like she had a good head on her shoulders but upon further reflection, I felt Hoxton was a bit boring. I think Serena brought him out of his shell a bit but he was still kind of a boring guy. I did like them together as a couple. Her sex scenes are decent but don't have any length to them and not overly descriptive. Anyway, it was still an overall decent read. I may read more of hers of books later.
I liked this book. Not as much as book 1 which was surprising but the characters where not associated with any characters from book 1 so maybe that was it. I did like Serena. She seemed like she had a good head on her shoulders but upon further reflection, I felt Hoxton was a bit boring. I think Serena brought him out of his shell a bit but he was still kind of a boring guy. I did like them together as a couple. Her sex scenes are decent but don't have any length to them and not overly descriptive. Anyway, it was still an overall decent read. I may read more of hers of books later.
September 11, 2026
Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of this novel and this is my freely given opinion.
This is a steamy historical romance with Cinderella and Cyrano vibes. Serena is a woman in her 20s taken in by her aunt and uncle, when she was orphaned at 15. But instead of being treated like a cherished family member, she was constantly maltreated by her aunt, her mother's half/step sister, Lady Agatha, for being the daughter of a tradesman (her father was a noted portraitist), for being ugly and disfigured (Serena has a scar from having had a cleft lip surgically corrected), and treated as an unpaid companion for her cousin, Roxanne. Roxanne is also firmly under her overbearing mother's thumb. After a decade of being treated as such, Serena has no love for the Ton, and hopes to escape her current situation when her cousin, Roxanne, secures the betrothal her mother and godmother, the elderly Dowager Duchess of Hoxton are pushing for.
Christian, the young Duke of Hoxton, has recently come into his grand title and is being pushed to find a suitable bride to secure the line. His grandmother is firmly pushing him towards Roxanne, the daughter of a viscount, and his aunt is hosting a houseparty to introduce them and allow him to court his future bride before formalizing a betrothal.
This is a rather sweet romance with competitive suitors, interfering family members, a duke who knows his duty and expectations and is willing to follow his grandmother's wishes, but whose heart is pushing him in another directions. I really enjoyed the differing characters and their various personalities, as well as the use of animals as characters and how they are connected to some of the various characters and their importance. The relationships, outside of the romance, were likeable as well, such as Serena and Roxanne, Daisy and Christian, Christian and Mulligan, and Mulligan and Imogene. There is open door love scenes that are steamy as well, when the romance comes to a head. There is themes of PTSD and past trauma, emotional abuse/parental abuse, as well as differing social status, etc. Serena and Christian's relationship is threatened almost before it begins by the interference of others, including those who mean well, as well as those with ill-intent.
What I disliked about the story was that there were some inconsistencies in the story telling, and the obvious misuse of titles in the story. Namely Roxanne is the daughter of a viscount and given the title of Lady, which is not right, and even worse, and this occured CONSTANTLY in the story from the beginning to the end, is that her mother, the Lady Agatha, the daughter of an earl, but the wife of a viscount was referred to as "the countess". SHE IS A VISCOUNTESS!
3.5 stars out of 5
This is a steamy historical romance with Cinderella and Cyrano vibes. Serena is a woman in her 20s taken in by her aunt and uncle, when she was orphaned at 15. But instead of being treated like a cherished family member, she was constantly maltreated by her aunt, her mother's half/step sister, Lady Agatha, for being the daughter of a tradesman (her father was a noted portraitist), for being ugly and disfigured (Serena has a scar from having had a cleft lip surgically corrected), and treated as an unpaid companion for her cousin, Roxanne. Roxanne is also firmly under her overbearing mother's thumb. After a decade of being treated as such, Serena has no love for the Ton, and hopes to escape her current situation when her cousin, Roxanne, secures the betrothal her mother and godmother, the elderly Dowager Duchess of Hoxton are pushing for.
Christian, the young Duke of Hoxton, has recently come into his grand title and is being pushed to find a suitable bride to secure the line. His grandmother is firmly pushing him towards Roxanne, the daughter of a viscount, and his aunt is hosting a houseparty to introduce them and allow him to court his future bride before formalizing a betrothal.
This is a rather sweet romance with competitive suitors, interfering family members, a duke who knows his duty and expectations and is willing to follow his grandmother's wishes, but whose heart is pushing him in another directions. I really enjoyed the differing characters and their various personalities, as well as the use of animals as characters and how they are connected to some of the various characters and their importance. The relationships, outside of the romance, were likeable as well, such as Serena and Roxanne, Daisy and Christian, Christian and Mulligan, and Mulligan and Imogene. There is open door love scenes that are steamy as well, when the romance comes to a head. There is themes of PTSD and past trauma, emotional abuse/parental abuse, as well as differing social status, etc. Serena and Christian's relationship is threatened almost before it begins by the interference of others, including those who mean well, as well as those with ill-intent.
What I disliked about the story was that there were some inconsistencies in the story telling, and the obvious misuse of titles in the story. Namely Roxanne is the daughter of a viscount and given the title of Lady, which is not right, and even worse, and this occured CONSTANTLY in the story from the beginning to the end, is that her mother, the Lady Agatha, the daughter of an earl, but the wife of a viscount was referred to as "the countess". SHE IS A VISCOUNTESS!
3.5 stars out of 5
October 4, 2025
I enjoyed reading this romance story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed their creative plot as well as their characters that pop off the pages. This is a story about Serena and her wanting to help her cousin secure a future. The problem becomes is when Christian falls for the person behind the letter. He is determined to keep his word to marry the cousin but will Serena be the one who has a future with the Lord? I enjoyed all the characters in this story and what they added to the story. This is an easy and entertaining story that has great growth throughout. The characters kept the story fast paced and hard to put down. This is a romance story you don't want to miss. I highly recommend this book.
November 8, 2025
I decided to read this book because the story blurb drew me. I enjoy reading the tortured hero trope. I was not disappointed. I was drawn in right away. I enjoyed Serena. She was kind and strong, even though she harbored her own demons. Huxton was sweet and attentive, even when he felt pulled in different directions.
I enjoyed how they were learning from each other, even in the steamy scenes. All in all, this was a fast, enjoyable read.
I enjoyed how they were learning from each other, even in the steamy scenes. All in all, this was a fast, enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews