The Duke of Mayhem: A Steamy Marriage of Convenience Regency Romance Novel

by Tessa Brookman

“The only sounds I desire to hear from your mouth are gasps of pleasure.”

Lady Cecilia, fed up with her stalled betrothal, hatches a scandalous plan to trap her fiancé into marriage. But she never expected to accidentally kiss her greatest the notorious Duke Cassian.

Duke Cassian has vowed against love, after being abandoned one too many times. He plans to leave his life in England behind forever. Until, the day before his departure, an infuriatingly irresistible wallflower traps him into marriage, throwing his plans in disarray…

So, they make a marry for 60 days and then annul the marriage. Cassian can leave and Cecilia can choose anyone but the man she despises most. Resisting is necessary.

But being alone with one another makes resisting impossible…

Each book in the Rakes and Roses series is a standalone story of 70,000 words that can be enjoyed out of order and can be read for free with Kindle Unlimited.

490 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2025

Reviews

[readwithk · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️’s rounded up

🌻historical romance
🌻forced marriage (reputation)
🌻close/forced proximity
🌻enemies-to-lovers

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong woman once again

Cecilia is a woman who has been engaged for 2 years to a beautiful man who is really a SOB, leading her on until she decides to call his bluff. Only ahe ends up kissing the wrong man! And according to his rules of the times they now must marry. Caspian is a wounded soul, also beautiful, with a scandalous reputation, but he agrees to marry her as long as they can annul it in 2 months so he can leave England for good. Of course, the best laid plans go awry. Yes, there's a HEA.

Aside from a few minor errors, this was a very pleasant story.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring af

Weak Duke. Stupid plot. Silly heroine. No follow up re: kitten. No followup re: dogs. This book was tedious and lacked direction.

[Shraddha Sondhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore regency romances when done right and this one almost was. I appreciated greatly that even though it is set in the past, the women all seemed to have agency. Cecilia, especially, was a crown jewel in female main characters, with her strength, resourcefulness & valour, there wasn’t a single situation that she did not face head on. The revenge she sought on Gabriel was definitely a full circle moment that underlined exactly how much her character had developed during the events that transpired in the book, since the beginning, when she had pinned all her hopes on him till the end, where she chose to expose him for the bounder, he truly was. My problem with this book was the male main character, he just did not seem to change enough to match the growth that Cecilia had made. He didn’t seem to be able to face his feelings head on, to confess how he felt, even though he constantly wanted to be reassured by her about how important he was to her, and at a certain point, I just started feeling like he wasn’t strong enough for her. She managed to do everything to resolve her situation on her own, so why did she really need a man who is so heavily scarred by his past and stuck in his no feelings era? Expecting her to chase him down after the annulment of their marriage, and he has done little to encourage her, on the basis of a letter she might or might not find was too passive for me.

[Carmel Zumbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Cecilia considers Duke Cassian to be a rake of the highest order and her enemy after their initial encounter years ago where he left her humiliated. She is planning on marrying another but this more acceptable duke does not seem to be in a hurry to make it official and so she plots to entrap him but it goes disastrously wrong. So Lady Cecelia is ruined by none other than Cassian and finds herself in the centre of a scandal which can only result in marriage. Cassian has no need for a wife and so plans to do the right thing and wed her for two months then get an annulment. Fate and feelings intervene and this arrangement undergoes many changes. Cecelia learns about herself and what she really wants and that her dream duke is really the devil where that her enemy husband is more than just his bad reputation. He is the man for her. Soon they are fighting emotions they never knew they felt for one another and addressing the deep passion they experience as husband and wife. There are many obstacles to overcome on their journey to their HEA. It is a satisfying read with a terrific bonus epilogue also. Don’t miss this gem!

[Rins H · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I really loved that they were together most of the book & happy for the majority of it, with some great moments!

I was disappointed that they had a falling out, but was glad that the falling out was only about 20 pages & 5 days for them.

So I was a little disappointed that Cassian was a Rake, though I was glad his reputation was overly exaggerated with no really details & I did appreciate it was explained why he was that way.

I really loved how Cassian was so protective of Cecilia, even from the beginning, especially given the circumstance. I loved how much he cared to get to know the real her & wanted to build her up.

I also love how Cecilia stared to see how Cassian created a reputation to hide behind, but was a good person that she wanted to support & help.

[Caroline Reichardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a fantastic story about Cassian and Cecilia. This story starts with a bang with Cecilia at the center of a problem she created. When Cassian realizes the problem he makes a statement that has Cecilia finally figuring out what has been taking place. When Cassian and Cecilia go to the country home Cecilia realizes the mistake she made for years. The time together for Cassian and Cecilia has suspense, passion, and the need to understand what is going on between them. When 60 days passes and Cassian proceeds with his plans Cecilia decides what is best for herself and goes against her mother and brother’s wishes. Cecilia knows her heart and builds a library for the town on the property. I absolutely loved the final ending of the story and would love to recommend this book.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy Scandal of Rakes
Tessa Brookman definitely knows how to write intriguing steamy marriage of convenience regency romance novels of which Lady Cecilia and Duke Cassian’s romance fits ever bill. Lady Cecilia considers Duke Cassinan to be the worst of rakes and one of her worst enemies. Even so it is not right that he should be forced to sacrifice his happiness for her when she finds herself in the center of a scandal. He immediately steps up to the plate though to try to protect her as Cecilia learns who the real Rake of London is. Neither expect that they could These two characters are more alike than they ever realized. Great read.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical romance.
The unforgiving era of the Ton is brought to life with vivid imagery from a very talented author. The characters and settings are magnificently portrayed. I felt it was a moving and possibly realistic view of life amongst gossipmongers waiting with waspish whispers ready to claw down anyone who is different. It tells a story of not judging a person only by what they have been painted as or the position they are in, and that life starts when you are true to yourself. A thoroughly enjoyable tale.

[Rita Chrivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lady and her Rake

This one definitely brings the steam! Although their marriage is one of convenience, Cecelia takes the opportunity to learn everything she can from the man she has detested for so long - a notorious rake. In the process, she learns about herself, her former fiancé, and her husband.
Tessa has done a wonderful job again in bringing the Regency to life in a very pleasurable way.

[Kathryn DeSmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Duke of Mayhem

The novel captivates readers with its richly developed characters and compelling narrative arc, ultimately delivering a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion that leaves audiences feeling uplifted and emotionally fulfilled. The story's engaging protagonists and their intricate personal journeys are masterfully crafted, drawing readers deeply into their world and creating a profound emotional connection that resonates long after the final page is turned.u

[N Dent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scandal of all Scandals

Lady Cecilia locking lips with London’s most notorious rake hill.Duke Tressingham, Cassian Fritzroy, while her fiancée watched. They married with an understanding that they would have an annulment after 60 days. Scandals, loneliness and true love doesn’t recognize time. Home isn’t a place it’s where your love ones live!

[Nancy T Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Betrothed/A Flirt/A Note/A Kiss..

Duke Cassian lands in a marriage on
Paper & wisks his bride away to his country home for 2 months. And each day the attraction grows by kisses & they each try to find ways to stop the scandal. And in the end
It seems his bride is alone until she reads his letter…

[Cindy Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story of a man afraid to love and lose and a woman who's afraid to be herself and how they save each other! I especially loved the bonus ending as it crystallized, for me, how love can change everything. Cecilia and Cassian do almost everything wrong and yet, love does conquer all!. Although I received a complimentary reader's review copy, my opinions are my own and freely given.

[Pauline Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot and steamy

Cecilia is trying to get her fiancee to set the date but cause a scandal with Cassian by accident fortunately for her because he agrees to marry her and shows her how to love these are wonderful characters in this story

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

People who are not what they seem until you look deeper. He taught her to be her true self and stand up for herself and she taught him where his real home is. I love how he teases her and how they protect and defend each other. Highly recommended read!

[Aspoon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Snooze fest and lack a solid direction.

[Jennifer King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Loved the main characters.