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Tempting the Brooding Duke: A Historical Steamy Regency Romance Novel
"I have survived poverty, scandal, and my father's guinea pig farms. I think I shall survive one brooding duke."
It is the only thing that has kept her upright since her father gambled the family fortune away on Peruvian guinea pig farms. On her way to a governess post she does not want, a storm overturns her carriage on the Yorkshire moor and strands her at the one place everyone warned her Thornvale Hall, the Gothic monstrosity where a reclusive duke has shut himself away from the world.
Lucien Hawthorne, the Duke of Thornvale, dismissed his entire household two years ago and has been perfectly content to rot in peace ever since, alone with his engineering texts, his disapproving housekeeper, and an unfortunate number of cats. He did not invite a half-drowned, infuriatingly cheerful woman into his home. He certainly did not expect her to start rearranging his furniture, his routines, and his carefully guarded heart.
But one storm becomes a week. A week becomes an impossibility. And when Marianne's odious cousin arrives to drag her away, ranting about ruined reputations, Lucien finds himself proposing the one solution guaranteed to upend both their marriage.
It is meant to be a matter of convenience. A bargain. Nothing more.
Except the duke who swore he was finished with feeling cannot stop wanting his sharp-tongued, impossible bride. And Marianne, who has spent her whole life being sensible, is discovering there is nothing sensible about the way Lucien Hawthorne looks at her in the firelight.
A steamy Regency romance featuring a brooding duke, a fearless heroine, and a marriage of convenience that turns into an all-consuming love. Perfect for readers who love grumpy heroes, sunshine heroines, slow-burning desire, sparkling banter, and emotionally intense romance with a fiery, unforgettable payoff.
No cheating. No cliffhangers. Just a passionate, deeply satisfying happily ever after.
Also available with Kindle Unlimited!
It is the only thing that has kept her upright since her father gambled the family fortune away on Peruvian guinea pig farms. On her way to a governess post she does not want, a storm overturns her carriage on the Yorkshire moor and strands her at the one place everyone warned her Thornvale Hall, the Gothic monstrosity where a reclusive duke has shut himself away from the world.
Lucien Hawthorne, the Duke of Thornvale, dismissed his entire household two years ago and has been perfectly content to rot in peace ever since, alone with his engineering texts, his disapproving housekeeper, and an unfortunate number of cats. He did not invite a half-drowned, infuriatingly cheerful woman into his home. He certainly did not expect her to start rearranging his furniture, his routines, and his carefully guarded heart.
But one storm becomes a week. A week becomes an impossibility. And when Marianne's odious cousin arrives to drag her away, ranting about ruined reputations, Lucien finds himself proposing the one solution guaranteed to upend both their marriage.
It is meant to be a matter of convenience. A bargain. Nothing more.
Except the duke who swore he was finished with feeling cannot stop wanting his sharp-tongued, impossible bride. And Marianne, who has spent her whole life being sensible, is discovering there is nothing sensible about the way Lucien Hawthorne looks at her in the firelight.
A steamy Regency romance featuring a brooding duke, a fearless heroine, and a marriage of convenience that turns into an all-consuming love. Perfect for readers who love grumpy heroes, sunshine heroines, slow-burning desire, sparkling banter, and emotionally intense romance with a fiery, unforgettable payoff.
No cheating. No cliffhangers. Just a passionate, deeply satisfying happily ever after.
Also available with Kindle Unlimited!
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 8, 2026
Marianne our sunny heroine is to become a governess after her ruined father’s death. But Fate intervenes and her life is overturned just as is her carriage on a Yorkshire moor which strands her at Thornvale Hall, where a mysterious reclusive duke has retreated away from the world.
Two years before Lucien Hawthorne, the Duke of Thornvale, dismissed his entire household and has been quietly rotting emotionally ever since. He enjoys time alone pursuing his love of engineering. His only company being his disapproving housekeeper. Enter Marianne who is injured so he cannot turn her away. She also unable to leave because of the terrible unforgiving effects of the storm. During her stay, Marianne takes on this serious, brooding man and begins a campaign of rearranging what has been overlooked and neglected. Never did he expect her to manage not only his furniture but his daily routines, and ultimately his heart.
When scandal threatens he offers marriage as a solution. At first she is hesitant as it is only meant to be a matter of convenience but pretty soon it becomes a totally different proposition fuelled purely by passion.
There is such wonderful banter between these two, some suitable dramatic twists and a couple of minor villains who must be dealt with on the way to their HEA. I absolutely loved these two together and felt the story was very satisfactorily ended in the extra epilogue. Don’t miss it!
Two years before Lucien Hawthorne, the Duke of Thornvale, dismissed his entire household and has been quietly rotting emotionally ever since. He enjoys time alone pursuing his love of engineering. His only company being his disapproving housekeeper. Enter Marianne who is injured so he cannot turn her away. She also unable to leave because of the terrible unforgiving effects of the storm. During her stay, Marianne takes on this serious, brooding man and begins a campaign of rearranging what has been overlooked and neglected. Never did he expect her to manage not only his furniture but his daily routines, and ultimately his heart.
When scandal threatens he offers marriage as a solution. At first she is hesitant as it is only meant to be a matter of convenience but pretty soon it becomes a totally different proposition fuelled purely by passion.
There is such wonderful banter between these two, some suitable dramatic twists and a couple of minor villains who must be dealt with on the way to their HEA. I absolutely loved these two together and felt the story was very satisfactorily ended in the extra epilogue. Don’t miss it!
July 9, 2026
I enjoyed this story very much. Marianne and Lucien are complex and relatable characters that I could not help caring about. I loved their interaction and the banter they exchanged was sweet. Their relationship begin as a marriage of convenience but soon develops into something deeper and emotional. Their love story was beautifully presented and I hope other readers will enjoy it as I have.
July 25, 2026
This book was okay, but a bit confusing where she held something against him after he asked her to wait/be patient with him and that he would let her know everything at a certain time. I also felt the love he had for her more so than her love for him.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews