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Dukes' Club #6

Not Quite A Duke

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A Rake With A Broken Heart:
Deadly with a rapier and one of the most notorious rakes London has ever known, Lord Charles, twin brother of the Duke of Hunt, is hiding a dark secret. Wine, women, and song can’t drown his pain but when he wins Barrow House in a night of gambling, he finds that he’s also won an entanglement with the owner’s niece, Lady Patience. Prickly, forthright, and clad in black from head to toe, she’s the opposite of every thing he’s ever desired in a woman and yet, Lord Charles is inexplicably drawn to her. When he discovers she has a secret just as serious and scandalous as his own, he knows marriage into his powerful family is the only thing that can rescue her. But can a rake take a chance at marriage and risk losing his heart?

A Lady in Disguise:
Lady Patience has no wish to be rescued but nor is she willing to give up her double life as the extremely successful author P. Auden. When her secret identity is exposed, she has no one to turn to but the rake who won her family house in a card game. But Lord Charles is all that she dislikes in a man. A womanizer and a gambler, she should abhor him. Only Lord Charles is not as simple as he seems. With each day she discovers the hidden depths and pain under his witty and cold exterior. And as she finds that underneath he is a good man nearly destroyed by a terrible secret, she cannot help but lose her heart to the rake who has sacrificed everything for his family’s happiness. Can she save him from his past just as he has saved her? Or will the past claim them both and ruin their chance at love?

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2016

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245 people want to read

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Eva Devon

104 books542 followers

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5 stars
301 (47%)
4 stars
217 (34%)
3 stars
79 (12%)
2 stars
20 (3%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Jaci.
464 reviews21 followers
July 12, 2016
Book #6 of The Duke's Club Series is a beautiful, deeply emotional story of two people who both hid there true self from the world and the people who loved them. If you have read any of the Series you will recognize Lord Charles, brother of The Duke of Hunt (Dreaming of The Duke). Lord Charles has a reputation as a wild reckless Lord who whores, drinks and gambles to excess. Only his family knows that he suffers from dark periods of depression just like his father did before him. But even his family does not know what actually happened when his father died. He has kept the secret from everyone.

Lady Patience is a spinster who is hiding her own secret that could ruin her life and make her an outcast. Charles and Patience meet when he comes to inspect a property that he won in a game of cards. When Charles realizes that he would be taking away this young lady's home he decides to find another solution. They are instantly attracted to each other. But will Charles find out her secret and expose her and will Patience have the strength to help Charles when he finds himself falling into the abyss of blackness that has been with him for as long.

This is a lovely story that exposes the depths and many layers of how life experiences shape and make Charles and Patience who they are. There is sadness, guilt, redemption and mostly Love. Eva is excellent at making her readers really feel what her characters are going through. I loved this story and know that if you are a fan you will love it too.
Profile Image for Fita.
19 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2024
I LOVED Charles in the previous book. I thought he was funnier than his twin. So I was ecstatic to read this one. It's quite a letdown.

Too simple, extremely dull, and somehow I lost the Charles whom I fell in love with in the previous book. It's not fair, you see, to be invested in a wonderful character in a previous book and the author decided to make that character as boring as possible in their own story.
Profile Image for Bookfreak OHearn.
120 reviews
November 25, 2022
I liked Charles, but could do without Patience and Cordelia. Cordelia should have just stayed in her own book. I didn’t care for her in that one either.
484 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2017
This book was a mess—a fairly enjoyable mess, to be sure, but a mess nonetheless. It's plagued by errors that closer editing would have resolved (misplaced commas, use of the wrong homophone, sentences missing words and not in an intentional stylistic way). It also suffers from being a late book in a series, in that there are all these people around that I'm clearly supposed to care about, but are given no depth in this book and so they just annoy me because their antics aren't adorable (the way they might be had I read those people's books) but instead just get in the way. Okay, fine, my fault for picking up a book in the middle of a series, but I've done that with other authors (such as Caroline Linden and Katharine Ashe) and been intrigued rather than annoyed by the other characters.

The other issue I have with the book is that the main conflict is a scandal, namely the reveal of Patience's identity as a ~scandalous writer~ which should ruin her altogether, is brushed aside because the ducal family likes artists. Look, dukes get to do more or less as they please, that's a feature of the title, but it's more difficult to extend that immunity to younger sons. Basically, I didn't buy the resolution of the conflict, and that made the entire book fall flat.

I did enjoy Patience and I was amused rather than infuriated by Charles's efforts to make her a published writer, but overall, the book didn't encourage me to seek out anything else by this author.
Profile Image for Monic snow.
54 reviews
March 21, 2017
DNF 50% - Sorry this one was way to predictable couldn't get through the story
Profile Image for LOU71.
569 reviews
April 14, 2019
Not Quite a Duke is the sixth book of nine in the Duke’s Club series. This is an emotional historical romance with strong identities portrayed in the Hero and Heroine. This was a gentle journey through sadness, guilt, redemption, and love. The pace faltered a bit in the second half of the book but it came home strong with a satisfying HEA.

The Duke’s Club had been formed years ago so that the few members would have someone of equal rank to commiserate with and not be puffed up with sunshine and flattery. As a Duke, people insist on fawning. And well, the only one who dares to treat a duke as an equal is another duke.

Once Upon a Duke: 4 stars: Duke of Darkwell; Ryder & Kathryn
Dreaming of the Duke: 2 stars: Duke of Hunt; Jack & Cordelia
Wish Upon a Duke: 4+ stars: Duke of Blackburn; Duncan & Imogen
All About the Duke: 3 stars: Duke of Roth; Nicholas & Allegra
Duke Ever After: 3 stars: Duke of Aston; Derek & Rosamund
Not Quite a Duke: 4- stars; Duke of Hunt’s twin; Lord Charles & Patience

Lord Charles Eversleigh, the younger twin brother to Jack the Duke of Hunt, is deadly with a rapier and one of the most notorious rakes London has ever known. Charles is hiding a dark torturous secret. In a night of gambling, he wins Barrow House and, unbeknownst to him, the entanglement of the owner’s niece.

Lady Patience is prickly, forthright, and clad in black from head to toe. Hiding her own secret; a double life.

Charles and Patience’s sexy times were not intricate or graphic, they were more feelings and emotions in action.

I did enjoy the library scene when Patience conversed with the Duke of Aston about her relationship with Charles. The Duke of Aston is an opinionated and charming character that keeps giving and giving in this series. He makes me smile because he pops up unexpectedly and wields his dry humour and advice.

A few mistakes in this book which is not as many as in previous books.
I recommend this book. I recommend this series.
994 reviews10 followers
June 7, 2021
5 STARS, RECENCY HISTORICAL ROMANCE ERA DRAMA

Action filled with pleasure, shared by the main couple closer intimacy with each other than they had ever shared with another in this wonderful interesting Book 6 of the Dukes' Club Series. Charles our very sexy rake is a Lord, A character that has been introduced in other of the Series Books; but Lady Patience isn't a character we know, but come to love.

Visiting with those Dukes & their Lady wives characters we have been introduced to in earlier Books of this Series & the new characters are just added to carry the Series storyline forward. As we discover Book 6 is about Charles & Patience, the reader within us can't put this down & must finish reading to the end. Why, you might ask, to find out if either Charles or Patience, could & would let love enter into their relationship.

Recommend

Profile Image for MARIE MARUCCI.
505 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2025
Charles' story was a page turner.

In the earlier stories where he appeared, it seemed he was a party guy with no cares in the world, but he had depths that were unknown.

Enter Patience, the niece of the man Charles gambled with to start the story and won his home. Unfortunately, it is also where Patience lived and was dealing with her uncle's recent death.

They "connect" but Patience is not really interested since she has a secret -- she is an author, but no one knows as she uses a man's name, since women aren't really welcome to be authors at this time in England.

A wonderful story about their relationship and how it changes and grows begins and we eventually learn what has been haunting Charles.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,466 reviews
May 21, 2017
Recommended by Book Bub:

Lord Charles has been plagued by depression for years, and his family just leaves him alone when one of his "moods" comes upon him. His twin brother is the Duke, but he has continued to make his way through life by gambling. Upon winning a home in the country, he decides to go there and meets Lady Patience. She has been living with her uncle and has been keeping the small estate going. When Lord Charles arrives, she finds herself having to hide her try identity, that of the writer P Auden.

This is a good story which I enjoyed quite a bit.
778 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2019
Loving this series

Live that Lord Charles found someone to share his life and his dark days too. Lady P is a lady who also writes under a man's name. She meets Charles when he comes to look over the house he win in cards from her uncle. Well written and with ups and downs ad the H/H learn to live with each other
969 reviews5 followers
October 22, 2022
Charles and Patience

Wonderful read and characters. Two souls hiding secrets who come together as one to heal each other. They get their HEA , always wish for an extended epilogue. A book and series worth reading. Would highly recommend. 😊
Profile Image for Kim.
664 reviews9 followers
April 1, 2023
So glad this was about Charles. He’s been a favorite side character for me from the beginning. I loved hearing his story and the small surprises here and there. Lady Patience is ok, not my favorite of the heroines. Overall good book.
Profile Image for Patricia Perez.
656 reviews7 followers
September 10, 2017
So good

I loved Charles's story. It was awesome to see just a great happily ever after.😀😀😀😀 Get your copy today. Happy Reading
11 reviews
March 23, 2018
In the first 4 books of this series Aston was my favourite character. But as is often the case I didn’t love him as much in his own novel. I did love Tony though and can’t wait to read his book
19 reviews
May 12, 2018
One of my favorite books from the (Duke's Club) Recommend!
119 reviews
August 27, 2018
A good and interesting read

Different than the average romance book. It felt good. The ending felt good they both were able to help each other.
10 reviews
Read
June 29, 2019
Lady author who boldly goes into the London underworld for research? Definitely yes! I also liked the hero's dark charm.
Profile Image for Angela Malone.
220 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2020
Brilliant

A great read for ones who know their heart. Light and dark make a home in this novel. So much to love and soo little to hate
Profile Image for Marjorie.
2,099 reviews4 followers
November 14, 2020
Beautiful love story

All through these stories i could tell from the hints you put in your stories that Charles had witness something traumatic.
Profile Image for Mary Smith.
1,162 reviews5 followers
March 25, 2021
Lovely book this series is very enjoyable just keeps getting better
Profile Image for Diana (DomesticGoddess).
1,460 reviews27 followers
March 15, 2017
3.75 stars.
It was jarring. Women had always been his domain, but not her. She was terra incognito and he felt like an explorer which might either be wrecked by the unknown landscape or given the most bountiful lands depending on the route he chose. So, he would travel with care.

His dark beauty was perfectly suited to the shadows and in this place he looked like some sort of dangerous thief lord.
1,553 reviews
March 18, 2017
it's sweet and has some deeper moments. interesting characters.
Profile Image for JoRead.
365 reviews39 followers
July 29, 2016
This was such a fun read. It was one of those that even though it got in my nerves and made me roll my eyes several times it also made me want to keep turning the pages to know what was going to happen next. The author was able to combine humor, romance, and poetry all into one well-written love story.

I always try to connect to the books I read and I try to understand where the characters are coming from to have a better understanding of their behavior and the story itself. In the case of lady Patience, her attitude reminded me so much of myself at one point in my own life. I suppose that’s not here nor there but there was also something about her that that still rang true to this day. She wasn’t made out to be the epitome of beauty or with a body “made out to sin” and when she and Lord Charles met he flatly judges her as a woman in despair, not even giving her the chance to show him how smart she really is. That is something I believe many women still encounter these days.
Ah, but how gratifying it was that this “damsel in distress” got to set him straight and let him know that she actually didn’t need him at all. I believe I can nominate Lady Patience as one of the best historical feminists I’ve ever read.

“The arrogance of him to suppose he would know what was best for her. Then again he was a man.”



Dear Charles was a rake of the best kind of course *wink wink* Despite his faux pass with Patience, he was a charming character. He had a dark secret and to hide it he became the debauched man everyone knew him to be. Of course, Patience had no patience for anyone like him because what woman in her right man would trust a man like him?
As the story progresses and they are forced into doing things they may not have done in other circumstances, their relationship proves to be worth fighting for.

“But she was a goddess. His goddess. And since he’d longed to kneel and worship before her, having her declare that he belonged to her suddenly made him feel like an acolyte being praised by his deity… In short, it was rare and absolutely glorious.”



I love it when an author is able to turn simple words into poetic writing. Miss Devon is able to capture the feelings and thoughts of all her characters in such words that any other time I’d thought them corny but right here they are most definitely not.

And, to finish my feminism rant: there was something about the second half of the book that I felt missed the mark because I didn’t want Patience to be rescued, however later I understood that given the times she wasn’t being rescued but she was actually being granted some kind of freedom (You’ll get this when you read the book because I kind of paraphrased it from it ;) )

Definitely a great read and I recommend it to all historical romance lovers.

** I was gifted a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review **

~ Please note: all quotes on this review are from an uncorrected ARC. They may change and not appear on the final edition of the book. ~
Profile Image for Diane.
1,092 reviews
June 28, 2016
Two independent people manage to find each other accidentally and there is an immediate attraction. Lady Patience is living alone in a home she thought had been left to her by her uncle. Charles won the property from the uncle before his death. He came to inspect the property not expecting it to be inhabited. When he meets Patience, he feels sorry about taking her house from her and tries to be generous and allow her to continue living there. Patience wants nothing to do with his generosity and offers to buy it from him. She doesn't need his generosity because upbeknowst to all she is actually P Auden a famous author. She hides in the country, secretly writing her novels only traveling to London to do research.
When she travels to London, Charles finds a manuscript in her desk. He thinks it is so good he will help her get it published only to find out that it already has been published and the author is the famous P Auden. Knowing her secret, he agrees to help her with her research into the lives of rakes and unfortunate women.
When her secret is found out and Patience is about to be ruined Charles marries her to save her reputation. It seems that his family is known for its outrageous actions and could easily weather the gossip about her writing.
The two agree to marry, without any thought of feelings but they seemed well suited to each other. Unfortunately, they both have secrets - deep dark secrets. They (esp Charles) find it easier to hide their dark feelings than to risk sharing them but when they finally get comfortable enough to share their pasts, they are able to help each other heal.
This has been a wonderful series and this book certainly adds to the whole. The characters are well written, smart people who are more concerned with the poor than the ton. They live their lives with meaning and show kindness and generosity to all.
Profile Image for Debbie Brown.
2,040 reviews18 followers
June 27, 2016
Lord Charles, twin brother of the Duke of Hunt, is hiding a dark secret. Lady Patience has a secret or two of her own and she has no wish to give up her double life as the extremely successful author P. Auden. Lord Charles is everything Patience detests in a man, he’s a womanizer and a gambler. Lord Charles after a night of gambling becomes entangles with Lady Patience and her life. Charles and Patience are two people, each with their own problems and heartaches they have hidden from the rest of the world. Charles and Patience are drawn to each other, they both start to realize their hidden depths of each other. Will Patience and Charles, the rake take a chance at marriage, and risk losing their hearts and finding their HEA. Loved the characters and the story line. Another great book by Eva Devon!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Tory.
324 reviews
Read
June 18, 2016
I really liked both Lord Charles and Lady Patience. They were both strong and caring. They are both lonely, in their own way, but still content in their lives. They meet each other and are drawn to each other. I like that they are so understanding and supportive of each other. Neither tries to change each other or themselves.

The story moves along at a good pace. I really enjoyed the banter between the characters - especially between Patience and Charles and Patience and Duke Aston. I found myself smiling while reading :)

Tigger warning -- there is conversations and description of suicide.

My one quibble was that I thought the ending felt a little rushed.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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