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Decadent Dukes Society #1
The Most Dangerous Duke in London
Three sinfully handsome dukes, three scores to settle, three hearts about to meet their matches. All in one thrilling new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Madeline Hunter . . .
NOTORIOUS NOBLEMAN SEEKS REVENGE
Name and title: Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton. Affiliation: London’s elite Society of Decadent Dukes. Family history: Scandalous. Personality traits: Dark and brooding, with a thirst for revenge. Ideal romantic partner: A woman of means, with beauty and brains, willing to live with reckless abandon. Desire: Clara Cheswick, gorgeous daughter of his family’s sworn enemy.
FAINT OF HEART NEED NOT APPLY
Clara may be the woman Adam wants, but there’s one problem: she’s far more interested in publishing her women’s journal than getting married—especially to a man said to be dead-set on vengeance. Though, with her nose for a story, Clara wonders if his desire for justice is sincere—along with his incredibly unnerving intention to be her husband. If her weak-kneed response to his kiss is any indication, falling for Adam clearly comes with a cost. But who knew courting danger could be such exhilarating fun?
NOTORIOUS NOBLEMAN SEEKS REVENGE
Name and title: Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton. Affiliation: London’s elite Society of Decadent Dukes. Family history: Scandalous. Personality traits: Dark and brooding, with a thirst for revenge. Ideal romantic partner: A woman of means, with beauty and brains, willing to live with reckless abandon. Desire: Clara Cheswick, gorgeous daughter of his family’s sworn enemy.
FAINT OF HEART NEED NOT APPLY
Clara may be the woman Adam wants, but there’s one problem: she’s far more interested in publishing her women’s journal than getting married—especially to a man said to be dead-set on vengeance. Though, with her nose for a story, Clara wonders if his desire for justice is sincere—along with his incredibly unnerving intention to be her husband. If her weak-kneed response to his kiss is any indication, falling for Adam clearly comes with a cost. But who knew courting danger could be such exhilarating fun?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2017
1173 people are currently reading
2622 people want to read
About the author
Madeline Hunter
102 books2,107 followersMadeline Hunter is a nationally bestselling author of historical romances who lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. Her books have won two RITA awards and seven nominations, and have had three starred reviews in Publishers Weekly. In a parallel existence to the one she enjoys as a novelist, Madeline has a Ph.D. in art history and teaches at an East Coast university.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 507 reviews
June 6, 2017
I didn't feel the love here... It was somewhat mechanical, IMHO...
I felt that the hero was too cold and distant, even when the author was trying to depict him as out of his head for the heroine...
Also the heroine was not much to my liking... She was too afraid of loosing her properties, even if it was described as fear of loosing her freedom...
The tumble into bed too easily. The heroine do not have any problem with having sex with the hero - it's too far-fetched for me! I love a strong heroine, but for me she was just too much free!
I didn't appreciate that the hero didn't have any problem with this (obviously!). He decided at the beginning that he would marry her, but he didn't object even the idea that he could ruin her in the eyes of the ton. He was too selfish for me.
I know that this will not be a popular point of view, but this is what I honestly felt while reading...
I felt that the hero was too cold and distant, even when the author was trying to depict him as out of his head for the heroine...
Also the heroine was not much to my liking... She was too afraid of loosing her properties, even if it was described as fear of loosing her freedom...
The tumble into bed too easily. The heroine do not have any problem with having sex with the hero - it's too far-fetched for me! I love a strong heroine, but for me she was just too much free!
I didn't appreciate that the hero didn't have any problem with this (obviously!). He decided at the beginning that he would marry her, but he didn't object even the idea that he could ruin her in the eyes of the ton. He was too selfish for me.
I know that this will not be a popular point of view, but this is what I honestly felt while reading...
June 8, 2017
ARC provided by NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review.
Rating 3.5
Adam, The Duke of Stratton returns to London after living years in France with his Mother. Adam left London after the death of his Father and the swirling rumors that his Father had committed suicide. There was also speculation that his father was helping Napoleon (his wife was french). Adam's reputation is known in London as angry, brooding and dangerous as rumor is that he has killed men in France,dueling.
On Adams return he is summoned by Dowager Countess of Marwood to her home. The Dowager's son and Adams father where archenemies and the families in turn have been rival's. The Countess has asked Adam to forget the past and to help bring the two families to a more civil and friendly footing she suggested he marry her youngest granddaughter. Well during the meeting out in the gardens/outside Adam notices a woman riding freely/wildly on a horse close to the home. He's drawn to her and asks about her. Clara is the the Countess's eldest granddaughter.
Clara is an intelligent bluestocking, she's beautiful and owner of a publication for woman's journals. Clara has no interest in marriage, she's strong and independent and loves her family.
The two are introduced and immediately are drawn to each other. Adam decides it is Clara that he wants and pursues her. Clara is attracted to Adam but at first fights it as she wants nothing to do with marriage. Even though Clara fights the attraction she is drawn to Adam's and his intellect. The have some great dialogue and interaction. A friendship develops along with the added attraction. Adam is determined to solve the mystery of his fathers death/suicide. Clara at times wonders if their relationship is real and sincere.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between the two main characters, it was a adult and mature progression. The mystery of Adams fathers adds a nice suspense. I liked the depth of each character but had issues with Adams demeanor and arrogance at times throughout the story. Clara I enjoyed, she was such a strong woman and very loyal to her family. The pace of the story was good but found at times it did drag in certain parts. I do enjoy the authors writing and her ability to create authentic historical romances that are true to the time period.
Rating 3.5
Adam, The Duke of Stratton returns to London after living years in France with his Mother. Adam left London after the death of his Father and the swirling rumors that his Father had committed suicide. There was also speculation that his father was helping Napoleon (his wife was french). Adam's reputation is known in London as angry, brooding and dangerous as rumor is that he has killed men in France,dueling.
On Adams return he is summoned by Dowager Countess of Marwood to her home. The Dowager's son and Adams father where archenemies and the families in turn have been rival's. The Countess has asked Adam to forget the past and to help bring the two families to a more civil and friendly footing she suggested he marry her youngest granddaughter. Well during the meeting out in the gardens/outside Adam notices a woman riding freely/wildly on a horse close to the home. He's drawn to her and asks about her. Clara is the the Countess's eldest granddaughter.
Clara is an intelligent bluestocking, she's beautiful and owner of a publication for woman's journals. Clara has no interest in marriage, she's strong and independent and loves her family.
The two are introduced and immediately are drawn to each other. Adam decides it is Clara that he wants and pursues her. Clara is attracted to Adam but at first fights it as she wants nothing to do with marriage. Even though Clara fights the attraction she is drawn to Adam's and his intellect. The have some great dialogue and interaction. A friendship develops along with the added attraction. Adam is determined to solve the mystery of his fathers death/suicide. Clara at times wonders if their relationship is real and sincere.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between the two main characters, it was a adult and mature progression. The mystery of Adams fathers adds a nice suspense. I liked the depth of each character but had issues with Adams demeanor and arrogance at times throughout the story. Clara I enjoyed, she was such a strong woman and very loyal to her family. The pace of the story was good but found at times it did drag in certain parts. I do enjoy the authors writing and her ability to create authentic historical romances that are true to the time period.
March 29, 2019
I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. I just got back from my holidays so review to come!
May 26, 2018
4.5 stars
The Most Dangerous Duke in London gets Madeline Hunter’s new Decadent Dukes Society series off to a strong start with an extremely readable and engaging tale of a man seeking revenge, an old family enmity and the woman caught in the middle. The romance is a delightful, sensual slow-burn, and in addition, there’s mystery and intrigue, a whiff of espionage, lots of witty banter and a wonderfully written friendship between the hero and his two closest friends (both of whom will feature in future books).
Adam Penrose, the Duke of Stratton has recently returned to England after living in for the past five years, during which he has acquired a reputation for having a quick temper and for fighting and killing his opponents in duels – thus earning himself him the moniker of “The Dangerous Duke”. Adam left the country following his father’s death, which is widely thought to been at his own hand following rumours that he was engaged in treasonous activities, rumours Adam believes were fuelled by the hints and accusations of the late Earl of Marwood. There has long been bad blood between the two families, and now Adam is determined to find out if his suspicions about Marwood are true and to make someone pay for driving his father to his grave. Given the long-standing enmity between the Penroses and the Cheswicks, Adam is therefore surprised to receive an invitation to visit the dowager Countess of Marwood, who states her belief that it’s time the two families patched up their differences.
Adam is highly sceptical, but plays along until the countess proposes that he should marry her sixteen-year-old granddaughter, thus burying the hatchet in the time-honoured tradition of marital alliance. Lady Emilia is pretty and amiable, but Adam isn’t interested in a schoolroom chit – he prefers spirited women with minds of their own, and when he meets Lady Clara, the current earl’s half-sister, Adam decides straight away that she will suit him very well indeed.
Lady Clara Cheswick is the only child of her father’s first marriage and was his favourite among his children. He left her very comfortably off when he died, so Clara doesn’t need to marry if she doesn’t want to, and, at twenty-four, she is on the shelf and quite happy to keep it that way. She’s intelligent, strong-willed and independent, and is content to focus her considerable energies on her publishing venture, Parnassus, a magazine written and produced by women for women which is starting to achieve success. When Adam proposes marriage, Clara doesn’t take him at all seriously, telling him that she isn’t interested in marrying him or anyone, but Adam won’t take no for an answer and sets about courting her.
Clara can’t deny that Adam is a very attractive man, or that she’s drawn to him; he’s sexy and witty and clever and makes it very clear that the qualities that her family regard as problematic and unladylike – her desire for independence and the fact that she not only has her own opinions but makes no bones about voicing them – are qualities he likes and admires. He is genuinely interested in what she has to say about any number of topics, and doesn’t talk down to her or treat her as though she’s a hothouse flower. Adam insists his proposal of marriage was quite serious – and as Clara spends time with him and gets to know him, she is increasingly tempted to believe him, but can’t quite shake her suspicions that there is something else behind his stated intention. Perhaps, given her close relationship with her late father, Adam is primarily interested in getting close to her in order to find out if she knows anything about the late earl’s possible involvement in his father’s death? Or maybe he wants to use her – somehow – as an instrument of revenge?
The sparks fly between Adam and Clara right from their first meeting, and their relationship unfolds gradually and deliciously as Adam finds ways to spend time with Clara – to her initial exasperation – and they slowly come to appreciate each other’s wit, intelligence and sense of humour. These are two mature adults who never underestimate each other as they match one another quip for quip, their verbal sparring a deliciously sensual courtship and prelude to a later, more intimate relationship. The romance is very well-developed; there’s none of the immediate and anachronistic bed-hopping or insta-lust that characterises so many historical romances these days, which is always a refreshing discovery. Adam never wavers in his determination to marry Clara, and his persistence is charming and often funny; he’s generous and forthright, answering Clara’s questions about his motivations honestly and is never less than charming and gentlemanly towards her. I was also impressed with the way that Ms. Hunter has managed to create a credibly independent heroine who is not too modern; Clara wants to make her own way in the world, but is also mindful of her reputation and knows she has to at least appear to operate within the confines of society.
The plotline that revolves around Adam’s search for the truth about his father is well set up and executed, weaving in and out of the romance but never overwhelming it; and when the resolution comes it’s unexpected and quite clever.
With two multi-faceted and strongly characterised principals, an entertaining and well-drawn secondary cast, a sensual romance and a dash of intrigue, The Most Dangerous Duke in London is a thoroughly engaging read and one I’d recommend to fans of the author and of historical romance in general.
The Most Dangerous Duke in London gets Madeline Hunter’s new Decadent Dukes Society series off to a strong start with an extremely readable and engaging tale of a man seeking revenge, an old family enmity and the woman caught in the middle. The romance is a delightful, sensual slow-burn, and in addition, there’s mystery and intrigue, a whiff of espionage, lots of witty banter and a wonderfully written friendship between the hero and his two closest friends (both of whom will feature in future books).
Adam Penrose, the Duke of Stratton has recently returned to England after living in for the past five years, during which he has acquired a reputation for having a quick temper and for fighting and killing his opponents in duels – thus earning himself him the moniker of “The Dangerous Duke”. Adam left the country following his father’s death, which is widely thought to been at his own hand following rumours that he was engaged in treasonous activities, rumours Adam believes were fuelled by the hints and accusations of the late Earl of Marwood. There has long been bad blood between the two families, and now Adam is determined to find out if his suspicions about Marwood are true and to make someone pay for driving his father to his grave. Given the long-standing enmity between the Penroses and the Cheswicks, Adam is therefore surprised to receive an invitation to visit the dowager Countess of Marwood, who states her belief that it’s time the two families patched up their differences.
Adam is highly sceptical, but plays along until the countess proposes that he should marry her sixteen-year-old granddaughter, thus burying the hatchet in the time-honoured tradition of marital alliance. Lady Emilia is pretty and amiable, but Adam isn’t interested in a schoolroom chit – he prefers spirited women with minds of their own, and when he meets Lady Clara, the current earl’s half-sister, Adam decides straight away that she will suit him very well indeed.
Lady Clara Cheswick is the only child of her father’s first marriage and was his favourite among his children. He left her very comfortably off when he died, so Clara doesn’t need to marry if she doesn’t want to, and, at twenty-four, she is on the shelf and quite happy to keep it that way. She’s intelligent, strong-willed and independent, and is content to focus her considerable energies on her publishing venture, Parnassus, a magazine written and produced by women for women which is starting to achieve success. When Adam proposes marriage, Clara doesn’t take him at all seriously, telling him that she isn’t interested in marrying him or anyone, but Adam won’t take no for an answer and sets about courting her.
Clara can’t deny that Adam is a very attractive man, or that she’s drawn to him; he’s sexy and witty and clever and makes it very clear that the qualities that her family regard as problematic and unladylike – her desire for independence and the fact that she not only has her own opinions but makes no bones about voicing them – are qualities he likes and admires. He is genuinely interested in what she has to say about any number of topics, and doesn’t talk down to her or treat her as though she’s a hothouse flower. Adam insists his proposal of marriage was quite serious – and as Clara spends time with him and gets to know him, she is increasingly tempted to believe him, but can’t quite shake her suspicions that there is something else behind his stated intention. Perhaps, given her close relationship with her late father, Adam is primarily interested in getting close to her in order to find out if she knows anything about the late earl’s possible involvement in his father’s death? Or maybe he wants to use her – somehow – as an instrument of revenge?
The sparks fly between Adam and Clara right from their first meeting, and their relationship unfolds gradually and deliciously as Adam finds ways to spend time with Clara – to her initial exasperation – and they slowly come to appreciate each other’s wit, intelligence and sense of humour. These are two mature adults who never underestimate each other as they match one another quip for quip, their verbal sparring a deliciously sensual courtship and prelude to a later, more intimate relationship. The romance is very well-developed; there’s none of the immediate and anachronistic bed-hopping or insta-lust that characterises so many historical romances these days, which is always a refreshing discovery. Adam never wavers in his determination to marry Clara, and his persistence is charming and often funny; he’s generous and forthright, answering Clara’s questions about his motivations honestly and is never less than charming and gentlemanly towards her. I was also impressed with the way that Ms. Hunter has managed to create a credibly independent heroine who is not too modern; Clara wants to make her own way in the world, but is also mindful of her reputation and knows she has to at least appear to operate within the confines of society.
The plotline that revolves around Adam’s search for the truth about his father is well set up and executed, weaving in and out of the romance but never overwhelming it; and when the resolution comes it’s unexpected and quite clever.
With two multi-faceted and strongly characterised principals, an entertaining and well-drawn secondary cast, a sensual romance and a dash of intrigue, The Most Dangerous Duke in London is a thoroughly engaging read and one I’d recommend to fans of the author and of historical romance in general.
May 23, 2024
Review from 2017
I've given this a D+ for narration at AudioGals - seriously, I get so bloody fed up when publishers employ completely the wrong narrator for the job. It's not fair to them or to the author. I gave the book 4.5 stars and would definitely recommend reading rather than listening.
I’ve read and enjoyed a number of Madeline Hunter’s books and I count myself among her fans, but given she’s one of the biggest names in historical romance, she’s being very poorly served when it comes to audio. Her last series, the Wicked trilogy , started out well, with His Wicked Reputation being excellently narrated by Mary Jane Wells, but went downhill when Ms. Wells was not used for the rest of the series. I was so disappointed by Lulu Russell’s lacklustre performance in book two, (Tall, Dark and Wicked), that I didn’t bother listening to the final book and stuck to the print version. And for her new Decadent Dukes Society series, Ms. Hunter again gets the fuzzy end of the lollipop, this time with a narrator who sounds like a teenaged girl. Maybe casting youthful sounding narrators works in some genres, but it doesn’t work in romance and it REALLY doesn’t work in historicals, where you need someone who can inject those aristocratic males with a sufficient degree of hauteur while at the same time making them sound attractive enough to appeal as a romantic hero. To cast for the ingénue heroine (although the heroine in this book isn’t an ingénue) almost always means getting someone with a very narrow range, whose voice lacks the necessary resonance and colour to be able to render the hero and a range of supporting characters from formidable dowagers to old family retainers. Ms. Gray has a vocal range of about half an octave, and her ‘hero voice’ is higher in pitch than my normal speaking voice. In the book, Adam, Duke of Stratton, is supposed to be dangerous – he’s fought lots of duels, he’s got an unpredictable temper, he’s dark and brooding and sexy – but he sounds as though he’s barely out of short trousers. I wanted to warm him some milk, ruffle his hair and ask if he’d finished his homework yet.
If I were Madeline Hunter, I’d be seriously displeased.
Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, has been living in France for the past decade, whence he fled following his father’s death and the unpleasant rumours of treason and suicide that surfaced following it. He suspects those rumours originated with the Earl of Marwood and intends to get to the bottom of them in whatever way he can. The two families – who are neighbours in the country – have long been at loggerheads, so Adam is surprised to receive an invitation from the dowager Countess (the present Earl’s grandmother) to visit, and further surprised when she suggests patching up their differences in the time honoured tradition of a marital alliance.
The proposed bride, Lady Emilia, is pretty and amiable – and just out of the schoolroom. Adam, who prefers women with minds of their own to those whose conversation consists of inane chit-chat – isn’t interested. He is, however, interested in her much more independent and formidable half-sister, Lady Clara, and decides immediately upon meeting her that she will suit him very well indeed.
But Lady Clara Cheswick isn’t about to allow her plans to be de-railed by an arrogant aristocrat, no matter how handsome he is or how strongly she is attracted to him. The daughter of her father’s first marriage – and her father’s favourite among his children – Clara has been left comfortably off and doesn’t need to marry if she doesn’t want to. And she doesn’t want to, preferring instead to focus her considerable energies and intellect on her publishing venture, a magazine written by women for women which is just starting to achieve success. So the last thing she needs is to be singled out by an attractive, titled man whose family history and whose nickname, “The Dangerous Duke”, gained as the result of the many duels he fought in France, makes him the perfect subject of society gossip.
When Adam first proposes to Clara, she thinks he’s joking, and tells him she isn’t interested in marrying him or anyone – but he doesn’t accept her refusal and sets about courting her, and his persistence is charming, often funny and – fortunately – not at all stalkerish. He never wavers in his determination to marry her, and the more she gets to know him, the harder Clara finds it to refuse him. He’s sexy and funny and clever, he’s genuinely interested in her opinions and what she has to say, and he never talks down to her or treats her as though she is fragile or has cotton wool for brains. Yet lurking at the back of her mind is the suspicion that perhaps there is something more than desire for her behind his pursuit. Given the animosity between their families, Clara can’t help thinking that perhaps Adam is interested in getting close to her in order to find out if she knows anything about the late earl’s possible involvement in his father’s death? Or maybe he wants to use her – somehow – as an instrument of revenge?
The sparks fly between Adam and Clara right from the start, and I loved the way their relationship evolves as they come to appreciate each other’s intelligence, insight and wit. These are two mature people who never underestimate each other and their relationship is very well developed. They are clearly well-matched intellectually and they have fabulous chemistry, their verbal sparring a deliciously sensual prelude to the more intimate relationship that eventually develops between them.
The storyline that deals with Adam’s search for the truth about his father’s death is intriguing and is well-integrated into the main romantic plotline without overshadowing it, and the resolution is unexpected and clever. With two strongly drawn, attractive protagonists, a good story and lots of superb dialogue and sexual tension, The Most Dangerous Duke in London is a very enjoyable book. But do yourself a favour and stick to the print version, because Charlotte Gray’s narration doesn’t even begin do it justice. In addition to what I said at the beginning of this review, her character differentiation is poor across the board; the three Dukes – Stratton and his friends who will be the subject of the next two books – sound pretty much the same, and this is also true of the various female characters, such as Clara’s friends and colleagues working on the magazine. Ms. Gray’s voice isn’t unpleasant and her enunciation is generally good, but her pacing is a little on the slow side, and she often leaves quite long pauses at the ends of sentences. Ultimately, however, her performance is just… boring. She tries to inject a degree of expression and emotion into the narration, but she’s so clearly inexperienced – I can find no other titles by her listed at Audible – and her voice doesn’t have the requisite amount of depth and colour for this sort of story. And don’t get me started on the love scenes, which are hopeless. As is obvious, I can’t recommend this audiobook, and I really hope that Recorded Books engages a better narrator (did they lose Mary Jane Wells’ phone number?) for the other books in this series.
I've given this a D+ for narration at AudioGals - seriously, I get so bloody fed up when publishers employ completely the wrong narrator for the job. It's not fair to them or to the author. I gave the book 4.5 stars and would definitely recommend reading rather than listening.
I’ve read and enjoyed a number of Madeline Hunter’s books and I count myself among her fans, but given she’s one of the biggest names in historical romance, she’s being very poorly served when it comes to audio. Her last series, the Wicked trilogy , started out well, with His Wicked Reputation being excellently narrated by Mary Jane Wells, but went downhill when Ms. Wells was not used for the rest of the series. I was so disappointed by Lulu Russell’s lacklustre performance in book two, (Tall, Dark and Wicked), that I didn’t bother listening to the final book and stuck to the print version. And for her new Decadent Dukes Society series, Ms. Hunter again gets the fuzzy end of the lollipop, this time with a narrator who sounds like a teenaged girl. Maybe casting youthful sounding narrators works in some genres, but it doesn’t work in romance and it REALLY doesn’t work in historicals, where you need someone who can inject those aristocratic males with a sufficient degree of hauteur while at the same time making them sound attractive enough to appeal as a romantic hero. To cast for the ingénue heroine (although the heroine in this book isn’t an ingénue) almost always means getting someone with a very narrow range, whose voice lacks the necessary resonance and colour to be able to render the hero and a range of supporting characters from formidable dowagers to old family retainers. Ms. Gray has a vocal range of about half an octave, and her ‘hero voice’ is higher in pitch than my normal speaking voice. In the book, Adam, Duke of Stratton, is supposed to be dangerous – he’s fought lots of duels, he’s got an unpredictable temper, he’s dark and brooding and sexy – but he sounds as though he’s barely out of short trousers. I wanted to warm him some milk, ruffle his hair and ask if he’d finished his homework yet.
If I were Madeline Hunter, I’d be seriously displeased.
Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, has been living in France for the past decade, whence he fled following his father’s death and the unpleasant rumours of treason and suicide that surfaced following it. He suspects those rumours originated with the Earl of Marwood and intends to get to the bottom of them in whatever way he can. The two families – who are neighbours in the country – have long been at loggerheads, so Adam is surprised to receive an invitation from the dowager Countess (the present Earl’s grandmother) to visit, and further surprised when she suggests patching up their differences in the time honoured tradition of a marital alliance.
The proposed bride, Lady Emilia, is pretty and amiable – and just out of the schoolroom. Adam, who prefers women with minds of their own to those whose conversation consists of inane chit-chat – isn’t interested. He is, however, interested in her much more independent and formidable half-sister, Lady Clara, and decides immediately upon meeting her that she will suit him very well indeed.
But Lady Clara Cheswick isn’t about to allow her plans to be de-railed by an arrogant aristocrat, no matter how handsome he is or how strongly she is attracted to him. The daughter of her father’s first marriage – and her father’s favourite among his children – Clara has been left comfortably off and doesn’t need to marry if she doesn’t want to. And she doesn’t want to, preferring instead to focus her considerable energies and intellect on her publishing venture, a magazine written by women for women which is just starting to achieve success. So the last thing she needs is to be singled out by an attractive, titled man whose family history and whose nickname, “The Dangerous Duke”, gained as the result of the many duels he fought in France, makes him the perfect subject of society gossip.
When Adam first proposes to Clara, she thinks he’s joking, and tells him she isn’t interested in marrying him or anyone – but he doesn’t accept her refusal and sets about courting her, and his persistence is charming, often funny and – fortunately – not at all stalkerish. He never wavers in his determination to marry her, and the more she gets to know him, the harder Clara finds it to refuse him. He’s sexy and funny and clever, he’s genuinely interested in her opinions and what she has to say, and he never talks down to her or treats her as though she is fragile or has cotton wool for brains. Yet lurking at the back of her mind is the suspicion that perhaps there is something more than desire for her behind his pursuit. Given the animosity between their families, Clara can’t help thinking that perhaps Adam is interested in getting close to her in order to find out if she knows anything about the late earl’s possible involvement in his father’s death? Or maybe he wants to use her – somehow – as an instrument of revenge?
The sparks fly between Adam and Clara right from the start, and I loved the way their relationship evolves as they come to appreciate each other’s intelligence, insight and wit. These are two mature people who never underestimate each other and their relationship is very well developed. They are clearly well-matched intellectually and they have fabulous chemistry, their verbal sparring a deliciously sensual prelude to the more intimate relationship that eventually develops between them.
The storyline that deals with Adam’s search for the truth about his father’s death is intriguing and is well-integrated into the main romantic plotline without overshadowing it, and the resolution is unexpected and clever. With two strongly drawn, attractive protagonists, a good story and lots of superb dialogue and sexual tension, The Most Dangerous Duke in London is a very enjoyable book. But do yourself a favour and stick to the print version, because Charlotte Gray’s narration doesn’t even begin do it justice. In addition to what I said at the beginning of this review, her character differentiation is poor across the board; the three Dukes – Stratton and his friends who will be the subject of the next two books – sound pretty much the same, and this is also true of the various female characters, such as Clara’s friends and colleagues working on the magazine. Ms. Gray’s voice isn’t unpleasant and her enunciation is generally good, but her pacing is a little on the slow side, and she often leaves quite long pauses at the ends of sentences. Ultimately, however, her performance is just… boring. She tries to inject a degree of expression and emotion into the narration, but she’s so clearly inexperienced – I can find no other titles by her listed at Audible – and her voice doesn’t have the requisite amount of depth and colour for this sort of story. And don’t get me started on the love scenes, which are hopeless. As is obvious, I can’t recommend this audiobook, and I really hope that Recorded Books engages a better narrator (did they lose Mary Jane Wells’ phone number?) for the other books in this series.
December 14, 2017
Madeline Hunter's writing has a subtle way of telling a story that engages my interest long before I realize it. Some stories benefit or suffer based on what you read before, and while I know I would enjoy this one regardless of when I read it, I certainly have had some frustrating reads that may have bumped this up half a star. Thank goodness for concise writing, strong plots and relatable characters. It was what I needed in a read at the moment. I loved the way this story unfolded slowly and built up. It gave me time to digest the story, to notice and pick up on the subtleties. I am finding my patience growing thin for stories that are trying to give us the most romantic, the wittiest, the most sensational story ever. What it is starting to turn into for me is the most ridiculous story ever. This was not one of those.
It may not the be the most romantic, the wittiest or the most sensational story I have ever read, but it was certainly romantic, witty and sensational. It was romantic in the way the hero buys gifts for the heroine knowing it was much to soon to give them to her, but he just wants to get her something because he's excited about her and thinking of her. It was witty in the dialogue between the hero and heroine, and in other instances. It was sensational in how the subplot unfolded. The ending was surprising to this rarely-surprised avid reader.
This could be described as a revenge trope, but that plot was not weighty and really was more about uncovering truths and understanding the past. It may be considered a star-crossed lovers trope, because of the history of the two families. The hero's motives are not entirely altruistic in the beginning, thought it is very obvious his reason for pursuit of the heroine is due to the fact that she intrigues him and not an ends to a means. The heroine is very resistant to his courtship at first because of the antipathy her recently deceased father felt for the hero's father. I love it when the hero does the chasing, which was the case here. The heroine is a woman of independent means and has decided to take up her own residence and move out of the family abode. MH handles this well with the precariousness of heroine's position in society based on this situation. The hero is a Duke with a past scandal hanging over his head. I enjoyed how annoyingly persistent his courtship of the heroine was, while still respecting her abilities and the boundaries she set (they just made him get creative). The love scenes were quite tastefully done and not very explicit, which I appreciated as the tendency is now toward the explicit and its another aspect that has become overdone. BUT they do bring me to the one unresolved question of this story of how marriage was not more inevitable to the resistant heroine, spoiler for more specifics.
For me, this story worked. It won't for everyone, but what a boring world it would be if it did. I am eager for the next installment.
It may not the be the most romantic, the wittiest or the most sensational story I have ever read, but it was certainly romantic, witty and sensational. It was romantic in the way the hero buys gifts for the heroine knowing it was much to soon to give them to her, but he just wants to get her something because he's excited about her and thinking of her. It was witty in the dialogue between the hero and heroine, and in other instances. It was sensational in how the subplot unfolded. The ending was surprising to this rarely-surprised avid reader.
This could be described as a revenge trope, but that plot was not weighty and really was more about uncovering truths and understanding the past. It may be considered a star-crossed lovers trope, because of the history of the two families. The hero's motives are not entirely altruistic in the beginning, thought it is very obvious his reason for pursuit of the heroine is due to the fact that she intrigues him and not an ends to a means. The heroine is very resistant to his courtship at first because of the antipathy her recently deceased father felt for the hero's father. I love it when the hero does the chasing, which was the case here. The heroine is a woman of independent means and has decided to take up her own residence and move out of the family abode. MH handles this well with the precariousness of heroine's position in society based on this situation. The hero is a Duke with a past scandal hanging over his head. I enjoyed how annoyingly persistent his courtship of the heroine was, while still respecting her abilities and the boundaries she set (they just made him get creative). The love scenes were quite tastefully done and not very explicit, which I appreciated as the tendency is now toward the explicit and its another aspect that has become overdone. BUT they do bring me to the one unresolved question of this story of how marriage was not more inevitable to the resistant heroine, spoiler for more specifics.
For me, this story worked. It won't for everyone, but what a boring world it would be if it did. I am eager for the next installment.
May 30, 2020
Tropes: Spinster, Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Love, Unstarched (her)
It started SO strong!
I loved Clara, so fierce, independent and does not take sh*t from anyone.
- Clara’s character is above reproach, but she is not suitable for any man who desires domestic harmony.”
The clash between Adam and her is delightful. Lovely to see a woman not immediately go gaga for the hero.
- “You are a very direct woman.”
“You are a most persistent man.”
“Persistence in man is a virtue, while directness in a woman—”
“Is a nuisance. Which begs the question of why you have bothered being so persistent with this nuisance of a woman.”
- I have my carriage here. I will take you to your sister.”
She had planned to hire a hackney. “I will permit that because I am late. However, if you so much as try to touch me, I will stab you with a hatpin.”
And the fact that no matter how hard she resists, she (and me as the reader) can’t help but fall – because Adam is pretty awesome.
- Her breath caught. Heavens, but he was beautiful. And exciting. Even that darkness seduced. Thrills kept spiraling through her, begging to have excuses to become something more powerful.
- The younger one I hear is exquisite, but Lady Clara, even in her prime, had little to recommend her besides spirit.”
“Too much spirit,” Langford said.
“I like spirit,” Adam said. “Men who fear it in women are sheep.”
- As for you, besides your eyes and alluring mouth, your reckless spirit and self-possession find favor with me. Indeed, I admire all those traits that probably make your family despair and call you a shrew.”
But then, it just stumbles, their romance almost turns clinical. The romance is boringly descriptive or completely vague.
- He kissed her, softly at first but then more passionately.
Plenty of “romantic” interludes like this cooled my ardour and it fizzled out to a boring read. Clara almost lost pretty much everything I loved about her, and I lost interest in the happy ending.
3.25 stars
It started SO strong!
I loved Clara, so fierce, independent and does not take sh*t from anyone.
- Clara’s character is above reproach, but she is not suitable for any man who desires domestic harmony.”
The clash between Adam and her is delightful. Lovely to see a woman not immediately go gaga for the hero.
- “You are a very direct woman.”
“You are a most persistent man.”
“Persistence in man is a virtue, while directness in a woman—”
“Is a nuisance. Which begs the question of why you have bothered being so persistent with this nuisance of a woman.”
- I have my carriage here. I will take you to your sister.”
She had planned to hire a hackney. “I will permit that because I am late. However, if you so much as try to touch me, I will stab you with a hatpin.”
And the fact that no matter how hard she resists, she (and me as the reader) can’t help but fall – because Adam is pretty awesome.
- Her breath caught. Heavens, but he was beautiful. And exciting. Even that darkness seduced. Thrills kept spiraling through her, begging to have excuses to become something more powerful.
- The younger one I hear is exquisite, but Lady Clara, even in her prime, had little to recommend her besides spirit.”
“Too much spirit,” Langford said.
“I like spirit,” Adam said. “Men who fear it in women are sheep.”
- As for you, besides your eyes and alluring mouth, your reckless spirit and self-possession find favor with me. Indeed, I admire all those traits that probably make your family despair and call you a shrew.”
But then, it just stumbles, their romance almost turns clinical. The romance is boringly descriptive or completely vague.
- He kissed her, softly at first but then more passionately.
Plenty of “romantic” interludes like this cooled my ardour and it fizzled out to a boring read. Clara almost lost pretty much everything I loved about her, and I lost interest in the happy ending.
3.25 stars
May 24, 2024
I enjoyed this book more on this, my second read of it (2024). I originally read it in 2020, but this time around I felt more connection with the characters, and between them. I like Hunter's writing style and characterisations.
Stratton and Clara were attracted from the beginning, and I enjoyed the way their relationship gradually developed and deepened. Alongside the romance was the mystery of Stratton's father and his death. I liked the way this unfolded, and the eventual revelations made for a satisfying ending to the book.
Both MCs appealed to me. Stratton was dour and serious at times, and very honourable. He loved his parents and didn't want to believe the gossip about them. But he was driven to find the truth anyway.
Clara missed her own father after his death, but she was making her own way in the world now. Determined to be her own person, she stood up to her bullying grandmother and made her own decisions. She still lived within the mores of her times, however, and didn't feel too 'modern', which I liked. I prefer my HRs to be believable for their times, not just modern romance dressed up in long frocks etc.
I liked this book, and intend to reread the whole trilogy. Sometimes (like on this occasion) I enjoy a book more the second time around, when I feel I understand the characters better etc.
Stratton and Clara were attracted from the beginning, and I enjoyed the way their relationship gradually developed and deepened. Alongside the romance was the mystery of Stratton's father and his death. I liked the way this unfolded, and the eventual revelations made for a satisfying ending to the book.
Both MCs appealed to me. Stratton was dour and serious at times, and very honourable. He loved his parents and didn't want to believe the gossip about them. But he was driven to find the truth anyway.
Clara missed her own father after his death, but she was making her own way in the world now. Determined to be her own person, she stood up to her bullying grandmother and made her own decisions. She still lived within the mores of her times, however, and didn't feel too 'modern', which I liked. I prefer my HRs to be believable for their times, not just modern romance dressed up in long frocks etc.
I liked this book, and intend to reread the whole trilogy. Sometimes (like on this occasion) I enjoy a book more the second time around, when I feel I understand the characters better etc.
May 18, 2017
4.5 "Revenge or Love?" Stars!
Originally posted at The Reading Alley and The Romance Reviews.
Lovers of independent heroines and the family feud trope will be delighted and intrigued with Madeline Hunter's latest novel, The Most Dangerous Duke in London. Featuring a colorful cast, with various motivations, and demonstrating how an inheritance can make a difference in the marriage needs of women of the day, this historical romance set in the 1820s in England is sure to pique your interest. Moreover, for those that enjoy a bit of suspense with their romances, there is a secondary plot that revolves around the mystery surrounding the hero's father's suicide and missing jewels that also brings in a potential espionage connection.
Lady Clara Cheswick, the oldest and favorite daughter of an Earl is now set for life due to the generous inheritance that her father left her. Having always enjoyed a special connection to her father, Clara got to do things (such as learn how to shoot) that should in that day only have been reserved for a son. Part of this atypical upbringing was also her father's understanding that she wished to never marry. Now at 24 years of age (virtually on the shelf for the marriage market of the day) and with an inheritance to boot, she uses her finances to clandestinely publish a journal called Pernassus, which featured political news as well as essays from a feminist perspective and reviews of things more of interest to women, like theater performances and travel destinations. However, its success depends on her anonymity and the anonymity of many of its authors.
Adam Penrose, the Duke of Stratton, is known as a dangerous duke. Having fled England for his mother's homeland of France shortly after his father's mysterious death, he has just recently returned. However, his dangerous reputation of having been involved in several duels while in France, precedes him, and the neighboring family (Clara's family) who had been rumored to have had a feud with his father (and possibly having been involved in his death) is on alert. Rather than risk his wrath, Clara's grandmother (and her brother the new Earl) arrange a meeting to propose a truce with Adam. As part of the truce, they have offered up the hand of her much younger sister. However, at first sight, Adam decides that Clara would suit him much more. Thus ensues the cat and mouse chase where Adam proposes to Clara but she just rebuffs him instead. However, their chemistry sparks other more physical interests. Could there possibly be a HEA under the circumstances? Moreover, what are Adam's true motivations (to ruin Clara, her father's favorite daughter, or truly to find married bliss with her)? And just what transpired all those years ago that led to Adam's father's death?
I enjoyed both the romance and the suspense of this book (though I will say that both require your dedicated attention and patience until the very end to finally find their resolution). This was my first experience with Madeline Hunter, but it definitely will not be my last. I look forward to exploring more of her works soon. Moreover, The Most Dangerous Duke in London was a great start to a series about three dukes that are members of the Society of Decadent Dukes (thus the name of the series). I look forward to reading about the other two dukes, Brentworth and Langford, in future books to come in this series.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
Originally posted at The Reading Alley and The Romance Reviews.
Lovers of independent heroines and the family feud trope will be delighted and intrigued with Madeline Hunter's latest novel, The Most Dangerous Duke in London. Featuring a colorful cast, with various motivations, and demonstrating how an inheritance can make a difference in the marriage needs of women of the day, this historical romance set in the 1820s in England is sure to pique your interest. Moreover, for those that enjoy a bit of suspense with their romances, there is a secondary plot that revolves around the mystery surrounding the hero's father's suicide and missing jewels that also brings in a potential espionage connection.
Lady Clara Cheswick, the oldest and favorite daughter of an Earl is now set for life due to the generous inheritance that her father left her. Having always enjoyed a special connection to her father, Clara got to do things (such as learn how to shoot) that should in that day only have been reserved for a son. Part of this atypical upbringing was also her father's understanding that she wished to never marry. Now at 24 years of age (virtually on the shelf for the marriage market of the day) and with an inheritance to boot, she uses her finances to clandestinely publish a journal called Pernassus, which featured political news as well as essays from a feminist perspective and reviews of things more of interest to women, like theater performances and travel destinations. However, its success depends on her anonymity and the anonymity of many of its authors.
Adam Penrose, the Duke of Stratton, is known as a dangerous duke. Having fled England for his mother's homeland of France shortly after his father's mysterious death, he has just recently returned. However, his dangerous reputation of having been involved in several duels while in France, precedes him, and the neighboring family (Clara's family) who had been rumored to have had a feud with his father (and possibly having been involved in his death) is on alert. Rather than risk his wrath, Clara's grandmother (and her brother the new Earl) arrange a meeting to propose a truce with Adam. As part of the truce, they have offered up the hand of her much younger sister. However, at first sight, Adam decides that Clara would suit him much more. Thus ensues the cat and mouse chase where Adam proposes to Clara but she just rebuffs him instead. However, their chemistry sparks other more physical interests. Could there possibly be a HEA under the circumstances? Moreover, what are Adam's true motivations (to ruin Clara, her father's favorite daughter, or truly to find married bliss with her)? And just what transpired all those years ago that led to Adam's father's death?
I enjoyed both the romance and the suspense of this book (though I will say that both require your dedicated attention and patience until the very end to finally find their resolution). This was my first experience with Madeline Hunter, but it definitely will not be my last. I look forward to exploring more of her works soon. Moreover, The Most Dangerous Duke in London was a great start to a series about three dukes that are members of the Society of Decadent Dukes (thus the name of the series). I look forward to reading about the other two dukes, Brentworth and Langford, in future books to come in this series.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
April 26, 2017
Madeline Hunter is one of my favourite authors. It’s that simple. I’ve loved every single one of her books I’ve read, and I loved this one, too.
There was just so much to like about The Most Dangerous Duke in London. I wasn’t sure how we were going to get close to the usual word count when the hero declared to the heroine they were engaged (hilariously and without her permission) right at the beginning, but there’s a big, complex, interesting plot to follow.
I like that the heroine was unusual but not anachronistic, and I like that the hero was such a bloody aristocrat, but also fair and easy to fall in love with.
Hunter gives her characters a real sense of time and place; these are not modern-day characters in fancy outfits.
One of the best features of Hunter’s work is her ability to write male friendships. I don’t know of many (any?) authors who do this as well as she does. Her men are “real” men, and they talk and act like men of their time and level of power would. It’s not contrived, and it’s something that makes them seem larger than life without the usual romance-genre references to muscles and looks and all of that other standard stuff.
However, it’s not just the male friendships she writes well. She ALWAYS gives her heroines close female friendships and relationships, and she manages to give them interests and even careers without making them historically inaccurate. She does this better than just about any author.
With Hunter’s more complicated storylines it means that the plot doesn’t wind up near the start; there were still discoveries and revelations in the last pages of the book, and everything was wrapped up expertly. I’ve been a bit bored with some historical romances recently because they seemed so preoccupied with the romance to the point I couldn’t see an actual story by a quarter of the way through; this book is exactly what I needed.
One thing that does occasionally irritate me, however, is that the Americanisms are always there. It really is the only thing that I dislike about Hunter’s work. She is SO talented at creating a sense of class and power – and England – and then the snucks and gottens and asses (though I’m not sure that one turned up in this book) are sneaked in and some of the magic is lost.
However, this is a fantastic to start to a new trilogy, and I cannot wait to read the next two books.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
There was just so much to like about The Most Dangerous Duke in London. I wasn’t sure how we were going to get close to the usual word count when the hero declared to the heroine they were engaged (hilariously and without her permission) right at the beginning, but there’s a big, complex, interesting plot to follow.
I like that the heroine was unusual but not anachronistic, and I like that the hero was such a bloody aristocrat, but also fair and easy to fall in love with.
Hunter gives her characters a real sense of time and place; these are not modern-day characters in fancy outfits.
One of the best features of Hunter’s work is her ability to write male friendships. I don’t know of many (any?) authors who do this as well as she does. Her men are “real” men, and they talk and act like men of their time and level of power would. It’s not contrived, and it’s something that makes them seem larger than life without the usual romance-genre references to muscles and looks and all of that other standard stuff.
However, it’s not just the male friendships she writes well. She ALWAYS gives her heroines close female friendships and relationships, and she manages to give them interests and even careers without making them historically inaccurate. She does this better than just about any author.
With Hunter’s more complicated storylines it means that the plot doesn’t wind up near the start; there were still discoveries and revelations in the last pages of the book, and everything was wrapped up expertly. I’ve been a bit bored with some historical romances recently because they seemed so preoccupied with the romance to the point I couldn’t see an actual story by a quarter of the way through; this book is exactly what I needed.
One thing that does occasionally irritate me, however, is that the Americanisms are always there. It really is the only thing that I dislike about Hunter’s work. She is SO talented at creating a sense of class and power – and England – and then the snucks and gottens and asses (though I’m not sure that one turned up in this book) are sneaked in and some of the magic is lost.
However, this is a fantastic to start to a new trilogy, and I cannot wait to read the next two books.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
December 4, 2025
For all that this was a revenge trope with a 'dangerous' duke, the H was very mild
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September 1, 2024
2.5
The audiobook kept my interest most of the time. However, I do not think the narrator's voice fits the male characters well because I wasn't convinced of the hero's pursuit of the heroine. It felt like he was using her to get some answers about his father's death or out of revenge. When I could put that doubt behind me, I enjoyed his perseverance and the heroine's reaction to it/him.
The heroine is an independent woman. Her father loved her and taught her many things as if she was a son. She secretly runs a journal and to continue to do that, she moves out of her family's London home, which her grandmother and younger half-brother were completely against, but they couldn't stop her. She doesn't want to marry and so decides to begin a love affair with the hero. Lately, I've realized I am coming to like historical romances with love affairs between the hero and heroine (regardless of how historically inaccurate that is). I just want to read an HR with lots of steam.
Memorable moments:
There were moments when the investigation of his father's death took a backseat. I'm all for romance, but I felt like this should have been the hero's main focus. I don't know how I feel about the resolution to the mystery. There was a red herring and I completely fell for it. lol. I liked how one flashback scene became important later.
Honorable mention:
The Duke of Langston, one of the hero's friends (the other friend is also a duke) provided most of the comedic scenes, at least I found them entertaining. I'm currently listening to the audiobook for the final installment, and he's still entertaining. Langston's book is the second installment. Unfortunately, I don't recall his romance.
The audiobook kept my interest most of the time. However, I do not think the narrator's voice fits the male characters well because I wasn't convinced of the hero's pursuit of the heroine. It felt like he was using her to get some answers about his father's death or out of revenge. When I could put that doubt behind me, I enjoyed his perseverance and the heroine's reaction to it/him.
The heroine is an independent woman. Her father loved her and taught her many things as if she was a son. She secretly runs a journal and to continue to do that, she moves out of her family's London home, which her grandmother and younger half-brother were completely against, but they couldn't stop her. She doesn't want to marry and so decides to begin a love affair with the hero. Lately, I've realized I am coming to like historical romances with love affairs between the hero and heroine (regardless of how historically inaccurate that is). I just want to read an HR with lots of steam.
Memorable moments:
There were moments when the investigation of his father's death took a backseat. I'm all for romance, but I felt like this should have been the hero's main focus. I don't know how I feel about the resolution to the mystery. There was a red herring and I completely fell for it. lol. I liked how one flashback scene became important later.
Honorable mention:
The Duke of Langston, one of the hero's friends (the other friend is also a duke) provided most of the comedic scenes, at least I found them entertaining. I'm currently listening to the audiobook for the final installment, and he's still entertaining. Langston's book is the second installment. Unfortunately, I don't recall his romance.
January 4, 2018
I just didn't like the MCs. He was obsessed with revenge, she was an independent woman involved in secretly publishing a journal for women. She allowed her grandmother to totally dominate her- so much for strength of character- and happily embarked on a purely sexual affair with the hero because she didn't ever want to get married. Like that was easy-peasy as a single young lady in those days!
He wanted to find out the circumstances surrounding his father's death and was able to totally compartmentalise his life. When he was on his revenge mission, she just didn't figure in his thoughts at all. I found that hard to like- is this supposed to be a romance?
They were both kind of cold- it was all about the sex.
I have looked at the info on other books by this author and she tends to have heroines who blithely launch themselves into affairs without thought for possible social (or physical ie. pregnancy) consequences. Given the period setting of the books, it just doesn't work for me. Think I will leave this author to other readers!
He wanted to find out the circumstances surrounding his father's death and was able to totally compartmentalise his life. When he was on his revenge mission, she just didn't figure in his thoughts at all. I found that hard to like- is this supposed to be a romance?
They were both kind of cold- it was all about the sex.
I have looked at the info on other books by this author and she tends to have heroines who blithely launch themselves into affairs without thought for possible social (or physical ie. pregnancy) consequences. Given the period setting of the books, it just doesn't work for me. Think I will leave this author to other readers!
November 14, 2018
Desde o início que impliquei com este romance.
Mal o protagonista vê uma mulher, vestida de negro, em cima de um cavalo, a várias centenas de metros de distância, a sua atenção amorosa é conquistada.
Se isto não é irreal, não sei o que será.
Poucas coisas irritam-me desta maneira como o amor instantâneo.
Não existiu qualquer motivação para este amor tão incondicional por parte da personagem masculina.
E esta falta de coerência/consistência só me fez infeliz.
Costumo gostar dos livros desta autora. Mas este é tão fraquinho, que até me dói.
Mal o protagonista vê uma mulher, vestida de negro, em cima de um cavalo, a várias centenas de metros de distância, a sua atenção amorosa é conquistada.
Se isto não é irreal, não sei o que será.
Poucas coisas irritam-me desta maneira como o amor instantâneo.
Não existiu qualquer motivação para este amor tão incondicional por parte da personagem masculina.
E esta falta de coerência/consistência só me fez infeliz.
Costumo gostar dos livros desta autora. Mas este é tão fraquinho, que até me dói.
December 28, 2017
This was a well-written book, so 3 stars, but I just didn't feel it. The hero was such a cold fish. He compartmentalised constantly, so that the heroine was popped into a box and he got on with his main agenda. While I understood his need to resolve the questions surrounding his father's death, I just cannot respect or like a person who is prepared to avenge some wrong by punishing other innocent members of the family. It makes them no better than the people who wronged them in the first place. As a plot device in HR it is just getting a bit old for me, tbh. I think I like my tortured heroes a little more mature and thoughtful, and a little less self-absorbed!
There was another aspect of the story I did not like, although perhaps it was meant to fit in with the character of the heroine being an independent woman who did not want marriage but planned to publish a journal for women by women. Laudable aim, but let's not pretend she would not be ruined socially if the truth came out. Was she prepared to sacrifice her ambitions, and those of her fellow women, on the altar of simple lust?
The hero really did not love her enough for my tastes- he was too ready to dismiss her and quite disinterested in what she was doing when they were apart.
She asks:
"How long will you be gone?"
"A week perhaps."...............
"Then of course you must go. I will miss you, but I have matters of my own to attend that will make the days fly by"
He had on occasion wondered how she passed her time.... (My bold)
Just on occasion. When he wasn't plotting revenge or shagging her.
There was just no real communication. It had a very modern vibe, with a sexually confident woman and a very self-contained, detached man.
Unfortunately for me, the passion was MIA.
There was another aspect of the story I did not like, although perhaps it was meant to fit in with the character of the heroine being an independent woman who did not want marriage but planned to publish a journal for women by women. Laudable aim, but let's not pretend she would not be ruined socially if the truth came out. Was she prepared to sacrifice her ambitions, and those of her fellow women, on the altar of simple lust?
The hero really did not love her enough for my tastes- he was too ready to dismiss her and quite disinterested in what she was doing when they were apart.
She asks:
"How long will you be gone?"
"A week perhaps."...............
"Then of course you must go. I will miss you, but I have matters of my own to attend that will make the days fly by"
He had on occasion wondered how she passed her time.... (My bold)
Just on occasion. When he wasn't plotting revenge or shagging her.
There was just no real communication. It had a very modern vibe, with a sexually confident woman and a very self-contained, detached man.
Unfortunately for me, the passion was MIA.
December 19, 2017
3.75/5. Fantastic start of the book that really reeled me in with a strong, self-assured, somewhat autocratic Duke, pretty much decreeing to the heroine, she was the chosen one, his future duchess, and that his will shall be done. Our headstrong, independent, on-the-shelf-because-that's-where-she-wanted-to-be heroine showed him in no uncertain terms, that she was noone's submissive wife material but intended to remain in charge of her own destiny, her own mistress. I feel, they got together intimately too quickly, that Clara too readily handed over her body to him, even as she insisted on retaining her freedom and not be bound by matrimonial ties. And there was no mention of any contraceptive precautions that they took, and if indeed they did not take precautions, there was no mention of any fears of 'consequences' arising from their multiple rendezvous. The romance had to share equal billing with the parallel plot of the hero trying to investigate the events leading to his father's suicide under the shadowy accusations of treason. While the this mystery was interesting, I could use a bit more romance. His ducal friends appeared very likeable, and I certainly will check out the next 2 books in the series.
“A hackney again?” He glanced up and down the street. “Does he live near here? Your friend, I mean.”
"There is no friend. Not the way you insinuate.”
"Of course not.”
"I am serious.”
"Please understand that I am not shocked. I am half French, after all. I do not mind. I merely request that you end it.” He lied smoothly. He did mind. Any man would once he set his sights on a woman.
"A request, is it?”
"I am being polite. A request for now. Eventually, of course, it will have to be a command.” Her eyes blazed. Hell, she was exciting when she was angry. Just as well, since he expected she would be angry often.
“A hackney again?” He glanced up and down the street. “Does he live near here? Your friend, I mean.”
"There is no friend. Not the way you insinuate.”
"Of course not.”
"I am serious.”
"Please understand that I am not shocked. I am half French, after all. I do not mind. I merely request that you end it.” He lied smoothly. He did mind. Any man would once he set his sights on a woman.
"A request, is it?”
"I am being polite. A request for now. Eventually, of course, it will have to be a command.” Her eyes blazed. Hell, she was exciting when she was angry. Just as well, since he expected she would be angry often.
February 2, 2023
I've been a fan of Madeline Hunter's for years now (decades actually, yikes) and have really enjoyed many of her books. This was just pretty good for me. It felt very formal and stiff in it's writing. I guess maybe because it included a duke and a lady? Still, it seemed moreso than usual. The characters were okay but I didn't really related to either of them and the main plot of the two families being long enemies didn't really hold my interest. I also didn't really buy into why these two fell in love, especially Clara. The duke was pompous, overbearing, didn't listen to her needs and somehow all that was overcome because he was handsome. Oh well, hopefully the second book in the trilogy is better. 3.5 stars rounded down.
May 19, 2025
Brooding H, independent h are mutually attracted. Both have secrets, she's quietly setting up her own house; H is trying to solve a mystery. His father is thought to be a traitor. An excellent plot and a wonderful ending.
August 7, 2017
3.5 Stars
May 14, 2017
Review in Portuguese: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.co.uk/20...
4.5*
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think I’ve found my favourite Madeline Hunter’s book so far. Although I always appreciate and like her books, they sometimes seem to be a bit below my expectations – but not this one. The Most Dangerous Duke in London doesn’t fit that category. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down.
The base of the plot is related to revenge, and these are usually my favourite plots, but in this case, the story was so well put together that what mattered wasn’t so much the revenge plan but the growth of the relationship between Adam and Clare.
Clare is a strong, independent woman, who knows what she wants and is very smart and intelligent. Adam is a duke that finds himself confronted with a choice and at that moment he sees Clare, in her horse, at the top of a hill – and, being she the daughter of a deceased man who might have had something to do with Adam’s family tragedy, he cannot put her aside and let her go – she was at the right place, on the right time.
Clare’s family wants to use her younger sister almost like a sacrifice to placate Adam’s supposed anger and rage, but when he sees Clare, he doesn’t even think twice about her little sister.
Clare and Adam have an important attraction, but more than that, what matters is how their relationship grows with friendship and companionship.
With a plot that has mystery, betrayal, connections to France and the war, as well as a romance that keep you holding on to the book, this has become my favourite book by Madeline Hunter.
4.5*
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think I’ve found my favourite Madeline Hunter’s book so far. Although I always appreciate and like her books, they sometimes seem to be a bit below my expectations – but not this one. The Most Dangerous Duke in London doesn’t fit that category. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down.
The base of the plot is related to revenge, and these are usually my favourite plots, but in this case, the story was so well put together that what mattered wasn’t so much the revenge plan but the growth of the relationship between Adam and Clare.
Clare is a strong, independent woman, who knows what she wants and is very smart and intelligent. Adam is a duke that finds himself confronted with a choice and at that moment he sees Clare, in her horse, at the top of a hill – and, being she the daughter of a deceased man who might have had something to do with Adam’s family tragedy, he cannot put her aside and let her go – she was at the right place, on the right time.
Clare’s family wants to use her younger sister almost like a sacrifice to placate Adam’s supposed anger and rage, but when he sees Clare, he doesn’t even think twice about her little sister.
Clare and Adam have an important attraction, but more than that, what matters is how their relationship grows with friendship and companionship.
With a plot that has mystery, betrayal, connections to France and the war, as well as a romance that keep you holding on to the book, this has become my favourite book by Madeline Hunter.
February 6, 2018
3.5 Stars!
The Most Dangerous Duke in London was a wonderful romance between a hero seeking revenge for his father's death and a heroine determined not to live by society's rules.
Adam Penrose the Duke of Stratton has finally returned to England afters years spent in France. Adam only has one thing in mind for his return, revenge. The first step in his plan? Marry Clara Cheswick, the daughter of his family's sworn enemy. Clara however wants nothing to do with marriage which does cause a bit of a problem for Adam. But the more time the two spend together the closer they become, leaving Adam with a choice. Revenge or love?
Clara has spent the past six months grieving the father she adored who considered her the favorite of his children. Clara is not bound by society's rules to the extent other unmarried young women are as her father made sure to leave her a fortune that cannot be touched by her brother, the new Earl of Marwood. As Clara has vowed to never marry, she decides it is time to move out on her own so she can use her fortune to help fund a women's journal that she helps publish in secret with her friend Althea.
Adam has spent the past five years in France trying to outrun the anger caused by his father's death. He hopes that by returning to England he will be able to finally find the truth about what happened to lead his father to take his own life. At the start of the book, nearly all of Adam's thoughts are consumed by thoughts of revenge with every decision made in the hopes of gaining the information he seeks. During the course of his investigation not all the information he finds is what he wants to hear, but he presses on regardless determined that only the truth will free him of his anger.
Adam and Clara's relationship follows the enemies to lovers trope with very satisfying results. Adam proposes to Clara during what is only their second conversation leading her to think him mad. What follows is more of a pursuit of an affair than marriage, but it was very enjoyable to watch. Clara is drawn to Adam despite not wanting to be and Adam finds himself enjoying Clara more for himself than his pursuits of revenge. The two have wonderful conversations and open up to each other in ways they've never been able to before. There are some secrets kept on both sides which lead to a few problems, but their relationship, for the most part, is relatively drama-free.
Where this book broke down for me a bit was in the plot regarding Adam's father. Ultimately that storyline lacked something to keep me interested and I found myself wishing it was excluded altogether. Although that revenge plot was what brought the characters together, so I don't see how it could have been left out.
In my opinion, the characters were the best part of The Most Dangerous Duke in London and I'm excited to see Adam's friends find their matches in future books.
The Most Dangerous Duke in London was a wonderful romance between a hero seeking revenge for his father's death and a heroine determined not to live by society's rules.
Adam Penrose the Duke of Stratton has finally returned to England afters years spent in France. Adam only has one thing in mind for his return, revenge. The first step in his plan? Marry Clara Cheswick, the daughter of his family's sworn enemy. Clara however wants nothing to do with marriage which does cause a bit of a problem for Adam. But the more time the two spend together the closer they become, leaving Adam with a choice. Revenge or love?
Clara has spent the past six months grieving the father she adored who considered her the favorite of his children. Clara is not bound by society's rules to the extent other unmarried young women are as her father made sure to leave her a fortune that cannot be touched by her brother, the new Earl of Marwood. As Clara has vowed to never marry, she decides it is time to move out on her own so she can use her fortune to help fund a women's journal that she helps publish in secret with her friend Althea.
Adam has spent the past five years in France trying to outrun the anger caused by his father's death. He hopes that by returning to England he will be able to finally find the truth about what happened to lead his father to take his own life. At the start of the book, nearly all of Adam's thoughts are consumed by thoughts of revenge with every decision made in the hopes of gaining the information he seeks. During the course of his investigation not all the information he finds is what he wants to hear, but he presses on regardless determined that only the truth will free him of his anger.
Adam and Clara's relationship follows the enemies to lovers trope with very satisfying results. Adam proposes to Clara during what is only their second conversation leading her to think him mad. What follows is more of a pursuit of an affair than marriage, but it was very enjoyable to watch. Clara is drawn to Adam despite not wanting to be and Adam finds himself enjoying Clara more for himself than his pursuits of revenge. The two have wonderful conversations and open up to each other in ways they've never been able to before. There are some secrets kept on both sides which lead to a few problems, but their relationship, for the most part, is relatively drama-free.
Where this book broke down for me a bit was in the plot regarding Adam's father. Ultimately that storyline lacked something to keep me interested and I found myself wishing it was excluded altogether. Although that revenge plot was what brought the characters together, so I don't see how it could have been left out.
In my opinion, the characters were the best part of The Most Dangerous Duke in London and I'm excited to see Adam's friends find their matches in future books.
April 16, 2017
Exciting beginning to Madeline Hunter's new 'Decadent Dukes Society' trilogy! In addition to the main hero and heroine in this book, we get a great introduction to the next two dukes who will have their stories. Can't wait!!
I really liked our hero - Adam Penrose, the Duke of Stratton. He has been living under a shadow for years and even fled the country to avoid some of it. However, the shadow followed him to France where he was involved in duels because of some people's belief that his father had committed treason. So, he returns to England fully intending to find the truth of who is behind the heinous rumors - and to prove they aren't true.
I also liked our heroine - Clara Cheswick who is the oldest daughter of his family's sworn enemy. Clara has only heard the worst about Adam, so she has little to make her think well of him. She's also determined to keep her independence and never marry, so when she is inexplicably drawn to Adam she is really disconcerted.
The story is well developed and the characters, including the supporting characters, are complete and well developed. Madeline Hunter writes an excellent story filled with romance, angst and a great mystery.
Now, I loved the characters and the story -- but there are a few things that just aren't well explained or plausible. First -- how easily Adam and Clara manage to have their liaisons with no chaperones, etc. Also - Clara moves into her own home unchaperoned and she is still acceptable in the ton (not likely). Then, there is Clara's grandmother. I just didn't get what made her decide to try to forge an alliance with Adam. She didn't appear to me to have had a sudden epiphany that she had done a real bad thing. I don't know -- just didn't buy that part!
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
I really liked our hero - Adam Penrose, the Duke of Stratton. He has been living under a shadow for years and even fled the country to avoid some of it. However, the shadow followed him to France where he was involved in duels because of some people's belief that his father had committed treason. So, he returns to England fully intending to find the truth of who is behind the heinous rumors - and to prove they aren't true.
I also liked our heroine - Clara Cheswick who is the oldest daughter of his family's sworn enemy. Clara has only heard the worst about Adam, so she has little to make her think well of him. She's also determined to keep her independence and never marry, so when she is inexplicably drawn to Adam she is really disconcerted.
The story is well developed and the characters, including the supporting characters, are complete and well developed. Madeline Hunter writes an excellent story filled with romance, angst and a great mystery.
Now, I loved the characters and the story -- but there are a few things that just aren't well explained or plausible. First -- how easily Adam and Clara manage to have their liaisons with no chaperones, etc. Also - Clara moves into her own home unchaperoned and she is still acceptable in the ton (not likely). Then, there is Clara's grandmother. I just didn't get what made her decide to try to forge an alliance with Adam. She didn't appear to me to have had a sudden epiphany that she had done a real bad thing. I don't know -- just didn't buy that part!
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
March 19, 2018
This was the first book in a long time that has held my attention and not annoyed the hell out of me at some point. Adam was persistent. He didn't back down from any challenge no matter how difficult but didn't take unnecessary risks to achieve his goals. Clara was unique. Being liked by society didn't mean much to her. She had a secret profession. I loved it that she wasn't beautiful and wasn't loved by every guy. Their were impediments to their relationship: one being her desire to be independent and another was the old family feud.
The romance was good without being angsty. There were jealousy issues and that kind of petty BS. It was the exact type of thing I've been looking for. The characters did what they did, fought their impulses without doing anything self-destructive just for the sake of drama. There was a side mystery plot involving the feud between their families. Everything happened in earlier generations, and Alex was determined to find out how it lead to his father's death. It was resolved in a way that I expected but enjoyed it nonetheless. It kept the romance more interesting without bogging it down with extraneous drama.
The romance was good without being angsty. There were jealousy issues and that kind of petty BS. It was the exact type of thing I've been looking for. The characters did what they did, fought their impulses without doing anything self-destructive just for the sake of drama. There was a side mystery plot involving the feud between their families. Everything happened in earlier generations, and Alex was determined to find out how it lead to his father's death. It was resolved in a way that I expected but enjoyed it nonetheless. It kept the romance more interesting without bogging it down with extraneous drama.
August 14, 2021
Stopped at chapter 8. It was boring the heck out of me. I felt the author was focusing too much on the hero’s father’s death and the heroine’s independence that they failed to focus on the actual romance. On top of not seeing any chemistry between the hero and heroine, they barely interacted as most of the story thus far is not about building the relationship between the hero and heroine, as it should be in a historical romance book. The author is focusing on the wrong things. I was biding my time, hoping that their bonding would come soon but it seems it will take a very long time, and I have no patience skimming the rest of the book that does not involve the romance between them. Probably won’t read another of this author’s books again if all of her books are like this.
July 6, 2025
Kobo+ Mad About Series HRBC Challenge 2025. Tropes: Regency Romance, Romance /Mystery, Enemies to Lovers, Family/Friends, Heiress, Spinster-Bluestocking.
MC's h. L. Clara,24, daughter of the late Earl of Marwood, brother Theo,21, Earl of Marwood, & Sister Emilia,17, grandmother Dowager Countess of Marwood.
H. Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, mother lives in France, father committed suicide 5 years ago. Bestfriends, Duke of Brentworth & Duke of Langford.
This is a love story with a mystery. Adam, (Stratton) lost his father to suicide 5 years ago. He fled to France with his mother the Duchess of Stratton. He decided it was time to return. He wanted to learn about the mystery surrounding his father's suicide. He is feared because he fought 3 duels in France. People in England don't want any trouble.
Intriguing his curiousity the Dowager Countess of Marwood a formiddable society dame invites him to hear her unusual request. She asked him to put the family feud bewteen their families behind them and start anew by marrying her youngest grandaughter Emilia who hasn't had her first season and is in mourning. The Earl passed away 6 months ago.
While Adam has no intention of doing so he hears her out wondering what her strategy is. He sees a woman in the distance riding a horse. He asks the Countess who she is. It is her oldest Grandaughter Clara. She rides away on her horse and he decides to follow. When he catches up to her, she isn't thrilled to meet him but there are sparks between them and Adam is looking forward to the challenge. The next time they meet he asks her to marry him. She refuses outright. He leans into her and she thinks he is going to kiss her but he doesn't. He tells her he will see her soon and leaves but reminds her they will be wed. Adam pursues her finding ways to meet up or run into her. He finally gets his chance and kisses her. She can't think of anything else.
Since Clara and her friend Althea and some other fine ladies have started a ladies magazine called Parnassus and Clara has purchased a home for the ladies to meet and work, she decided she would move there to live. She moves out against her Grandmother and Brother's advice.
Romance is in the air:
The Duke shows up at her new home,and kisses her again. The next day he brings a horse for her to ride and they go in a picnic outside the city. He kisses her some more passionately before some other people come along. He asks his friend the Duke of Brentworth to have a garden party and invite Clara and her sister. He enjoys an hour with Clara and they kiss and a little more in a secluded part of the garden. He is wooing her and wishes to bed her. And she is considering taking on a lover.
Opinion: This is my first Madeline Hunter book and I am quite pleased by her writing. The story has intrigue (solving the mystery surrounding the Duke's suicide and the family feud between the Earl of Marwood and the Duke of Stratton), the attraction between L.Clara and Stratton, the family dynamics in the Marwood household, Clara's new magazine and her lady friends and the Duke and his amiable and helpful friends Brentworth and Langford.
Adam is a strong character with a reputation of a dangerous Lord due to the duels he fought in France but also one who knows he wants Clara in his bed and won't give up until she acquiesces. He is also a good friend to his best friends Brentworth and Langford. He is determined to find out the mystery of his father's death.
Clara is an independent and strongwilled intelligent woman. Her father who she is grieving left her financially well off. She need never marry. She is excited about her new venture of a ladies magazine, Parnassus and living independantly in her own home. She works with her bestfriend Althea, a widow. She is apprehensive of her feelings around the Duke of Stratton, Adam Penrose. She is attracted but also leary. She cares about her sister and tolorates her grandmother and brother.
Ms. Hunter's, character development and dialogue is very well written. The detail involving proper etiquette amongst the upper class and all of the rules young lady's must follow is well done. The romance between Adam and Clara is flowing nicely with a little bit of banter and resistance on Clara's part. The description of both characters feelings regarding one another is well written. This would be described as a slow burn romance. The intrigue involving the mystery surrounding the late Duke's suicide is slowly developing with clues gradually being revealed to pique the readers interest.
Overall I give this book 4 stars. I will enjoy reading all of the Madeline Hunter books I own.
MC's h. L. Clara,24, daughter of the late Earl of Marwood, brother Theo,21, Earl of Marwood, & Sister Emilia,17, grandmother Dowager Countess of Marwood.
H. Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, mother lives in France, father committed suicide 5 years ago. Bestfriends, Duke of Brentworth & Duke of Langford.
This is a love story with a mystery. Adam, (Stratton) lost his father to suicide 5 years ago. He fled to France with his mother the Duchess of Stratton. He decided it was time to return. He wanted to learn about the mystery surrounding his father's suicide. He is feared because he fought 3 duels in France. People in England don't want any trouble.
Intriguing his curiousity the Dowager Countess of Marwood a formiddable society dame invites him to hear her unusual request. She asked him to put the family feud bewteen their families behind them and start anew by marrying her youngest grandaughter Emilia who hasn't had her first season and is in mourning. The Earl passed away 6 months ago.
While Adam has no intention of doing so he hears her out wondering what her strategy is. He sees a woman in the distance riding a horse. He asks the Countess who she is. It is her oldest Grandaughter Clara. She rides away on her horse and he decides to follow. When he catches up to her, she isn't thrilled to meet him but there are sparks between them and Adam is looking forward to the challenge. The next time they meet he asks her to marry him. She refuses outright. He leans into her and she thinks he is going to kiss her but he doesn't. He tells her he will see her soon and leaves but reminds her they will be wed. Adam pursues her finding ways to meet up or run into her. He finally gets his chance and kisses her. She can't think of anything else.
Since Clara and her friend Althea and some other fine ladies have started a ladies magazine called Parnassus and Clara has purchased a home for the ladies to meet and work, she decided she would move there to live. She moves out against her Grandmother and Brother's advice.
Romance is in the air:
The Duke shows up at her new home,and kisses her again. The next day he brings a horse for her to ride and they go in a picnic outside the city. He kisses her some more passionately before some other people come along. He asks his friend the Duke of Brentworth to have a garden party and invite Clara and her sister. He enjoys an hour with Clara and they kiss and a little more in a secluded part of the garden. He is wooing her and wishes to bed her. And she is considering taking on a lover.
Opinion: This is my first Madeline Hunter book and I am quite pleased by her writing. The story has intrigue (solving the mystery surrounding the Duke's suicide and the family feud between the Earl of Marwood and the Duke of Stratton), the attraction between L.Clara and Stratton, the family dynamics in the Marwood household, Clara's new magazine and her lady friends and the Duke and his amiable and helpful friends Brentworth and Langford.
Adam is a strong character with a reputation of a dangerous Lord due to the duels he fought in France but also one who knows he wants Clara in his bed and won't give up until she acquiesces. He is also a good friend to his best friends Brentworth and Langford. He is determined to find out the mystery of his father's death.
Clara is an independent and strongwilled intelligent woman. Her father who she is grieving left her financially well off. She need never marry. She is excited about her new venture of a ladies magazine, Parnassus and living independantly in her own home. She works with her bestfriend Althea, a widow. She is apprehensive of her feelings around the Duke of Stratton, Adam Penrose. She is attracted but also leary. She cares about her sister and tolorates her grandmother and brother.
Ms. Hunter's, character development and dialogue is very well written. The detail involving proper etiquette amongst the upper class and all of the rules young lady's must follow is well done. The romance between Adam and Clara is flowing nicely with a little bit of banter and resistance on Clara's part. The description of both characters feelings regarding one another is well written. This would be described as a slow burn romance. The intrigue involving the mystery surrounding the late Duke's suicide is slowly developing with clues gradually being revealed to pique the readers interest.
Overall I give this book 4 stars. I will enjoy reading all of the Madeline Hunter books I own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2017
The Dowager Countess of Marwood summons her grandson Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, and she orders him that to solve the long-time feud between their family and the Cheswicks, he should marry the granddaughter, Emilia. Adam wants to avenge the wrongs done to his family, so be it; he doesn’t care. Adam is not precisely enthralled by Emilia however, but when he sees her older sister Clara, it’s another matter; the indomitable Clara might just make him more amenable to a political union. Clara is a spinster; nobody has proposed to her because she is believed to be quite difficult, and it suits her just fine. Adam’s reputation as a dangerous man precedes him, he is not dangerous to women, but after a while, Clara is not so sure about that.
THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON was my first incursion into the magnificence of Madeline Hunter’s oeuvre, and it won’t be my last. Oh my, this is a marvellous book! The very beginning grabbed my attention right away, and it only got better from then on. Clara is a true manifestation of feminine power: she has her own home, she is the publisher of a journal, she is independently wealthy; she is a force of nature. Adam is quite a novel character: he is handsome, titled, well-off, and the marriage-minded mamas don’t shove their daughters at him. His reputation is based on facts: he has fought duels when he was in France, and there are family matters he won’t discuss which also affect his demeanour. While there is some initial attraction between Adam and Clara, she sees him as a major inconvenience in her life, and he sees her only as a means to an end; there is definitely no insta-anything there.
THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON has two strong angles to the story: while it is a romance, and a splendid one at that, the story of Adam looking into his father’s misfortune is riveting, and the resolution took me entirely by surprise; it was glorious. I could go on and on about the wonderfully drawn characters that are Clara, Adam, Emilia, the terrifying Dowager Countess, and the other two delectable dukes of the Decadent Dukes Society: Brentwood and Langford. The dialogues were just as fabulous as everything else in this book: the men’s conversations sounded natural and masculine, while Clara and Emilia came across as loving sisters.
Adam and Clara have one of the oddest courtships I have ever read, it felt entirely genuine and it was simply wonderful! There is no silly bickering; there is nothing silly or implausible at all, in fact, in THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON. The romance between Adam and Clara slowly smoulders until it becomes a full-fledged blaze, and the sex scenes are extremely sensuous, beautiful and while not very explicit, the pillow talk is erotic, playful, and utterly sublime. I also thoroughly enjoyed a look at Regency women who had a life, outside of the home, and in a realistic way. Madeline Hunter’s prose is perfection itself: elegant, subdued, nuanced, and so smooth, I barely had the impression I was reading; I was buried in this wonderfully imagined world. Towards the end, I also realised that the author does not dwell excessively on the characters’ physical attributes, for which I am ever so grateful.
THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON is a feast for the mind, and also for the eyes, because of Madeline Hunter’s mastery at stringing words and sentences together to present her fictional world in such vivid colour. THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON was a most joyous discovery, and to say that I am eagerly awaiting the next two instalments in the Decadent Dukes Society series would be a major understatement. What a glorious read this was!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON was my first incursion into the magnificence of Madeline Hunter’s oeuvre, and it won’t be my last. Oh my, this is a marvellous book! The very beginning grabbed my attention right away, and it only got better from then on. Clara is a true manifestation of feminine power: she has her own home, she is the publisher of a journal, she is independently wealthy; she is a force of nature. Adam is quite a novel character: he is handsome, titled, well-off, and the marriage-minded mamas don’t shove their daughters at him. His reputation is based on facts: he has fought duels when he was in France, and there are family matters he won’t discuss which also affect his demeanour. While there is some initial attraction between Adam and Clara, she sees him as a major inconvenience in her life, and he sees her only as a means to an end; there is definitely no insta-anything there.
THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON has two strong angles to the story: while it is a romance, and a splendid one at that, the story of Adam looking into his father’s misfortune is riveting, and the resolution took me entirely by surprise; it was glorious. I could go on and on about the wonderfully drawn characters that are Clara, Adam, Emilia, the terrifying Dowager Countess, and the other two delectable dukes of the Decadent Dukes Society: Brentwood and Langford. The dialogues were just as fabulous as everything else in this book: the men’s conversations sounded natural and masculine, while Clara and Emilia came across as loving sisters.
Adam and Clara have one of the oddest courtships I have ever read, it felt entirely genuine and it was simply wonderful! There is no silly bickering; there is nothing silly or implausible at all, in fact, in THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON. The romance between Adam and Clara slowly smoulders until it becomes a full-fledged blaze, and the sex scenes are extremely sensuous, beautiful and while not very explicit, the pillow talk is erotic, playful, and utterly sublime. I also thoroughly enjoyed a look at Regency women who had a life, outside of the home, and in a realistic way. Madeline Hunter’s prose is perfection itself: elegant, subdued, nuanced, and so smooth, I barely had the impression I was reading; I was buried in this wonderfully imagined world. Towards the end, I also realised that the author does not dwell excessively on the characters’ physical attributes, for which I am ever so grateful.
THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON is a feast for the mind, and also for the eyes, because of Madeline Hunter’s mastery at stringing words and sentences together to present her fictional world in such vivid colour. THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON was a most joyous discovery, and to say that I am eagerly awaiting the next two instalments in the Decadent Dukes Society series would be a major understatement. What a glorious read this was!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
August 9, 2017
3.5 stars. I have trouble rating this one. It was well written, engaging, sensible, competent. Good characters, interesting dialogue, proper use of sex i.e not just as a place holder. Let me state that I did enjoy the opening few scenes. And his declaration of their engagement at the beginning was hilarious. But overall I didn't quite love it. It was missing that 'umph' that makes me fall in love with a book.
I felt no pain whatsoever at leaving the characters at the end. No longing to spend more time with them. I had what was pretty much an "Aight then, that's done" feeling at wrap up.
Of note on plot points, I really don't get how they had so many servants willing to not say a peep at all that shagging at all hours at all residences. Some neighbour would have spotted something at some point at the very least, I mean c'mon!
And she visited a man's residence, a bachelor, alone and in broad daylight. And this was just ok? A lot of period norms were carelessly brushed over.
I see it as highly unlikely that the heroine could have simply moved off on her own with no chaperone or hired companion. I kept waiting for her to offer Althea the position so that she could at least, on the surface, appear respectable. Especially as she was attempting to shepherd her baby sister around and would have had to appear beyond suspicion/ above reproach.
I appreciated that he respected her agency and did not come to her home when she requested he did not call on her again. Very often pursuit can cross the line and that thankfully stopped it from moving into stalking. He heard the 'no'.
Please note though, that a 3-4 star Hunter book blows most romance novels out of the water. #5innormalratings. Her main problem in pleasing her fans is that she is competing against herself and thus has big shoes to fill. Or perhaps more aptly her feet were swollen and she couldn't quite squeeze things into shape this time.
I felt no pain whatsoever at leaving the characters at the end. No longing to spend more time with them. I had what was pretty much an "Aight then, that's done" feeling at wrap up.
Of note on plot points, I really don't get how they had so many servants willing to not say a peep at all that shagging at all hours at all residences. Some neighbour would have spotted something at some point at the very least, I mean c'mon!
And she visited a man's residence, a bachelor, alone and in broad daylight. And this was just ok? A lot of period norms were carelessly brushed over.
I see it as highly unlikely that the heroine could have simply moved off on her own with no chaperone or hired companion. I kept waiting for her to offer Althea the position so that she could at least, on the surface, appear respectable. Especially as she was attempting to shepherd her baby sister around and would have had to appear beyond suspicion/ above reproach.
I appreciated that he respected her agency and did not come to her home when she requested he did not call on her again. Very often pursuit can cross the line and that thankfully stopped it from moving into stalking. He heard the 'no'.
Please note though, that a 3-4 star Hunter book blows most romance novels out of the water. #5innormalratings. Her main problem in pleasing her fans is that she is competing against herself and thus has big shoes to fill. Or perhaps more aptly her feet were swollen and she couldn't quite squeeze things into shape this time.
July 1, 2017
When Adam, the Duke of Stratton, is called to the home of an elderly duchess, he doesn't know what to expect. The families are enemies. His father committed suicide after the late duke, head of this family, promoted stories of treason about him. Adam is determined to get to the truth now. So when the duchess offers him her granddaughter in marriage, in order to bring peace between them, he's astonished. But not interested in the young girl. Then he sees Clara. Clara is older, independent and was her father's darling. She has no need to marry and doesn't intend to. He has to have her. The characters here were interesting, not your typical Regency tropes and the plot had some twists that kept me reading. I enjoyed the love story which was pretty steamy and will have to look for the other Decadent Dukes. Too bad Hunter is only writing one a year now.
June 4, 2017
It was my first book from Madeline Hunter. Her writing is beautiful, enjoyed dailouges & interaction between characters. But the plot left me looking for more. The jump from lust to love was too quick, too rough. Their chemistry was sizzling but emotional depth was missing. Heroine was independent, but her attitude sometime feel too much, specially in Historical era book . Also the end...Hero had lost too much. I feel bad for his family.
Looking forward for the next two Dukes. Will going to try other books from this author.
Looking forward for the next two Dukes. Will going to try other books from this author.
December 23, 2017
I liked the hero and the heroine, but I was bored with the family mystery by about 50%. I liked the duke (and his friends), but I felt too much time was spent on the mystery for the entire book and therefore less on romance (although he was sweet with presents). I would have liked an epilogue or at least to have seen her reveal her publication to him. I also thought the otherwise independent and smart heroine fell into bed with him rather easily....over and over and over again.
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