It's All About the Duke

The Rakes of St. James #3

by Amelia Grey

Nearing thirty, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager that caused him and his best friends such scandal―but taking on a ward who needs a husband is a feat he’s not sure he can manage. The last he saw of Miss Marlena Fast, she was a spirited little ruffian, not the sort of bride most bachelors on the marriage mart sought. But one glance at the lovely lady she has become is enough to convince him otherwise…

Orphaned young and shuffled from family to family, Marlena counts on her fierce independence and quick wits to keep herself content. Being the responsibility of a notoriously wicked duke who upended so many lives is an unexpected challenge when she realizes he arouses her decidedly feminine desires. Marlena must be careful. She has her own scandalous secret to protect. If he finds out, will it shatter her chances of a happily-ever-after with the notorious rake?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Regency Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction

344 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 29, 2018

About the author

Amelia Grey (aka Gloria Dale Skinner) grew up in a small town in the Florida Panhandle. She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over twenty-five years. She has lived in Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire and now lives in Florida.

Amelia has won the coveted Romantic Times award for Love and Laughter, the prestigious Maggie award for best historical and Affaire de Coeur's best American historical award. She has been a finalist for the Golden Heart and the Holt Medallion awards which are given by Romance Writers of America and numerous other awards. Her books have been sold to many countries in Europe, Russia and China.

Amelia likes flowers, candlelight, sweet smiles, gentle laughter and sunshine.

Reviews

[Ivy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A wonderful ending to an entertaining series. The romantic relationship between the MC's took a little while to start developing ( as was the case with the first 2 novels in this series ) but the story itself kept me interested at all times. The author also chose this final novel to reveal the identity of the scandalous gossip columnist Honora Truth it turned out to be none other than the heroine herself !

Rath ( referred to by this moniker since he's The Duke of Rathburne ) is the last remaining bachelor duke, since the other 2 rakes of St. James are now happily married. The H has to intention of becoming leg shackled to any ambitious debutante in the near future because he's the good natured, happy go lucky type of rake:



Rath finds himself as the guardian of a hoydenish young lady called Marlena and he's smitten and bemused by her eccentric habits and general air of bonhomie:



Marlena's shocked when he introduces himself because she thinks he's found out her big secret and is here to confront her. Marlena's not really proud of her big secret but she continues to engage in that sideline, because the money she earns is given to her 2 best friends Eugenia and Veronica. These women are her neighbours and they're often in need of funds because Veronica's husband Mr. Portington keeps spending all his money on artifacts and collectors' items. Marlena's not happy to be Rath's ward because she despises him for his part in the scandal that had led to the ruin of Veronica's first season many years ago. This scandal ( termed the secret admirer letters scandal ) had been a central part of both the first and second novels. Many years ago, Rath and his fellow rakes of St. James ( the dukes of Griffin and Hawksthorn, who were the H's of books 1 and 2 respectfully ) had made a drunken wager: they each chose 4 vapid debutantes and sent secret admirer letters to them. They were competing to see who would get the most positive responses. They hadn't expected all of the women to turn up to meet their secret admirers and the fallout from this wager had been scandalous for all the debutantes. Veronica's season had been ruined and she'd had to settle for marriage to the middle aged and staid Mr. Portington.

Marlena comes up a lot of arguments to dissuade Rath from forcing her to participate in the season, but in spite of her objections she finds herself becoming a bit obsessed with the roguish H:



One of the best characters in the novel is Marlena's little dog Tut:



Tut's actually introduced in the storyline before the heroine makes her appearance ! He's a funny looking little dog with short legs and a huge personality. He's not afraid of anyone and oftentimes he lets everyone know if he's displeased and he does this in the funniest way ever ! There was one character who annoyed the F out of me though and that was Marlena's widowed matronly cousin Justina. This is Justina:



Justina wasn't exactly hateful or mean but she was the epitome of vanity. She lived in the past and was more obsessed with her lost youth; she reminded me of Amanda Wingfield from The Glass Menagerie. Justina lives in a dream world where she thinks she's the eternal belle of every ball and she loves to exaggerate her stories about her debutante year when she was supposedly the diamond of the season: She also makes up fake stories about dancing with Rath during her debutante season; the stories are obviously fake since he's only 30 and she's much older but that doesn't stop her from deluding herself into thinking that he's in love with her and wants her to be his duchess. This storyline was the funniest shit ever ! I couldn't stop laughing at all of Justina's pathetic, attention whoring hijinks . In fact, when Rath visits the women for the first time ( unannounced ), he doesn't actually meet Justina because she spends 2 hours getting dressed to meet her "gentleman caller":



Although I was vastly entertained by the ridiculous antics of Justina, it did detract from the core romantic storyline. Her delusional obsession with becoming The Duchess of Rathburne started to annoy me after the embarrassing scene where she attempted to force the H's butler to let her sleep in the H's ducal chamber. The author tended to focus too much on the issues that were connected to Justina and to the other minor characters, Eugenia and Veronica. Eugenia was a sweet Mary Sue type of character and her continual fainting each time she met the H was quite amusing. Veronica, however, was just a plain useless bore. I felt sorry for her since she's married to the dumbass Mr. Portington but my pity couldn't overcome my dislike for the character. That's the only reason why I couldn't rate this novel higher. I wasn't bored at any time during the story but I wished that more relative effort had been focused on the MC's budding relationship. It was wonderful to see cameo appearances from the main characters of the first and second novels in the series. Rath's wedding proposal was unexpected and came immediately after the MC's had consummated their relationship. Marlena had only attended one ball but that was enough to turn Rath into a besotted, possessive and jealous H:

He took hold of her chin and gently forced her face toward him again. “All right. I suppose I should have first told you that I love you, Marlena.” He pressed another soft kiss to her lips. “I do. And I’m damned jealous, too. I didn’t want any other gentleman dancing with you, bringing you a glass of champagne, but I had to stand by and watch them do it. I knew the first day I saw you I felt differently about you, but I didn’t want to believe it could be true. I still can’t believe you captured my heart so quickly.”

Amelia Grey. It's All About the Duke--The Rakes of St. James (Kindle Locations 4098-4101). St. Martin's Press. Kindle Edition.

He literally intended to prevent any other guy from trying to court Marlena !



There was a tiny bit of conflict after Marlena's big secret was revealed. the fact that she's the scandalous gossip columnist who's been making life difficult for the 3 Rakes of St. James

This was a lighthearted and engaging novel with a nice epilogue which provided information that revealed that all the characters ( including Eugenia, her new husband Mr. Bramwell, Veronica and Mr. Portington ) ended up getting their HEA. It was admirable to see that Rath and the other 2 rakes of St. James, had atoned for their role in inadvertently causing Veronica to have to marry the foolish Mr. Portington. The only thing that I absolutely hated was that the annoying Justina ended up with a small townhouse in Mayfair and a carriage of her own. The H had been kind enough to purchase those for her after he'd married Marlena. That level of generosity was uneccessary ! That woman did not deserve such largesse !



It did ruin my mood at the end, because my happiness for the MC's was marred by my evil grumbling over Justina's good fortune:



It was a bit sad to come to end of this sweet series. I wasn't blown away by any of these 3 novels but they did provide a pleasant and charming reading experience.

[Sonya Heaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Also posted HERE .

Something was niggling at me when I downloaded It’s All About the Duke. It wasn’t until I got into chapter three and the hero and heroine still hadn’t finished the conversation they began at the start of the book that I remembered: Amelia Grey’s writing style just doesn’t work for me.

I actually enjoyed the opening, even though it includes a trope I dislike: the heroine who secretly writes scandal sheets. I liked the characters, enjoyed the dialogue…

However, the conversation just kept going. The first scene of the book takes three chapters and 16% of the text. It’s FAR too long to hold a reader’s interest.

I read the first book in this Rakes of St James series last year, and had a similar reaction. The conversation that opened that book also went for three whole chapters. The pace was far too slow, and with each conversation taking up such a huge chunk of the book, there wasn’t any time left for character or plot development.

I admit: I didn’t finish this one. Scenes that would have been witty and fun if they’d been edited just made my mind wander. I simply couldn’t find the motivation to devote any more hours to the book.

This is Regency (? - I didn’t see a date) romance for people who enjoy writers who use a lot of dialogue, and for readers who like a book that moves at a slower pace. Unfortunately, I don’t have the patience for it.


Review copy provided by NetGalley.

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the first two books in this trilogy, but I don't think it really matters. In this one, we follow Marlena who is orphaned and her guardian is old, so he enlists the help of the Duke of Rathburne to be her new guardian. Right away the Duke is smitten with is new charge but has made a promise to make sure she is married off in her first season. Marlena isn't looking to get married though, she is more concerned with helping her neighbors and their financial security. She's fiery and independent, which only makes Rath like her more. I found this quite enjoyable. I liked the characters and the plot. I did wish that there had been a little more conflict but, overall, I really liked the story. Marlena was sweet but had a fierceness to her that I liked. Rath is a good man--even if he is a rake! I also liked the side characters of Marlena's friends and neighbors. I was glad that they got their HEA.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s All About the Duke was an enjoyable read and I was happy to finally get the story of the Duke of Rathburne who was my favorite of the Rakes of St. James.

As the last Rake of St. James to be unwed, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager from his youth that caused a scandal for a dozen debutants. At the request of an old family friend, Rath takes on a ward, Miss Marlena Fast, and is tasked with helping her find a husband. Orphaned as a child and left in the care of an aging earl, Marlena has come to count on herself to keep content. When she finds out she’s the ward of a notorious rake, Marlena knows she needs to come up with a plan to secure her own future. But upon finding herself unexpectedly attracted to Rath, Marlena realizes love may have a different plan for her.

Marlena is a very independent woman and doesn’t need someone to look out for her interests as she’s perfectly capable of doing so herself. Marlena is definitely ahead of her time and is often frustrated by the restrictions placed on women. She cares deeply about her friends and is willing to do everything in her power to help them without a thought of herself. I admired her loyalty and belief that actions should have consequences regardless of who you are.

Rath has never been good about being the kind of gentleman others expect him to be but he does have lines he won’t cross. He doesn’t see the point of some of society’s rules and tends to ignore them. Rath is always there for his friends and when it counts will always do the right thing. He feels guilt over what happened with the secret admirer letters of his youth but has never been able to find a way to properly atone for his part in it feeling at times that society will never let it go.

Marlena and Rath have a bit of an antagonistic relationship at first as Marlena is determined to do as she pleases while Rath simply wants to fulfill his promise to see his ward wed. Eventually the two fall into a great banter filled relationship as they get to know each other more. The chemistry between Marlena and Rath is off the charts, but there were very few scenes where they had the opportunity to succumb to their passions. While I enjoyed the few kissing scenes and one sex scene, I typically prefer my books to be slightly more explicit so that was my only complaint in regards to their relationship.

The main characters from the first two books pop up frequently throughout the book and I was happy to see them all again. In this final book in the series we finally learn the identity of Miss Honora Truth, the author of the scandal sheet that has plagued the Rakes of St. James for the last three years. I enjoyed the storyline surrounding the gossip columnist and felt it added a nice touch to the story. I also loved the little snippets of advice from her book that’s at the start of each chapter.

It’s All About the Duke was an amazing conclusion to The Rakes of St. James series and I’m looking forward to seeing what the author does next. I highly recommend this series for anyone looking for a great historical romance series to pick up.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Stacee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked this premise and was pretty excited to get to it. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.

I liked Marlena and Rath well enough. They’re both stubborn and they have some fun banter together. I felt like the chemistry between them was told, not shown. There are a lot of other characters, but everyone was just so bland. Well, except Justina, but I don’t have energy to deal with her.

Plot wise it was slllllllllllloooooooooow. A whole lot of nothing happens in this story. The build up is quite small and by the time the reveal happens, it was a relief. Somehow, I felt compelled to finish this book.

Overall, it was the characters that kept me reading, but I have no desire to read anything else in this series...and mostly likely nothing else from this author.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s paperbacks for providing the arc free of charge**

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s no doubt that the hero and heroine in this story belong together. I did not read the previous two books in this series, but it’s not hard to get up to speed with the backstory here.

The Duke of Rathburne (Rath) and his two cohorts (Griff and Hawk) made a thoughtless wager a while back involving a dozen women. They didn’t foresee that these women would be tainted by scandal because of their actions. Unfairly, the three dukes never suffered personal repercussions. The men are remorseful and have tried to make amends in the years since this occurred. Griffin and Hawk are now happily wed, while Rath still enjoys his freedom as an unmarried rake.

However, negative consequences from their boyish prank continue to be felt, as Marlena Fast clearly sees. Her dear friend, Victoria Portington, is one of those unfortunate ladies and, as a result, is unhappily married to a man she never would have considered otherwise. Living next door, Marlena witnesses Victoria’s daily misery.

Starting three years ago, Marlena decided something must be done to publicly reprimand the careless dukes. She took up her pen and became “Miss Honora Truth,” author of a popular gossip sheet that centers on these rakes to keep reminding the public of their previous misdeeds. She also masterminded the spread of an untrue rumor suggesting that the dukes’ sisters might be targeted for revenge when they made their own come-out. In her devotion to her cause, Marlena has never stopped to consider the consequences of her own actions on people she’d never met.

As this story begins, Rath has accepted the request from an ailing family friend to assume guardianship of Miss Marlena Fast. Mr. Olingworth is just too ill to properly introduce her into society himself. I do enjoy the irony of Marlena becoming Rath’s ward. When Rath shows up at her home, Marlena at first is certain he must have learned that she’s Honora Truth.

However, she’s also disturbingly attracted to him, and he is to her. This is a romance trope that I really dislike. I can understand recognizing how attractive someone is on first sight. I have trouble believing that a man with a lot of experience bedding women feels a tangibly stronger attraction beyond anything he’s ever felt to this woman before he even talks to her. With all of Marlena’s ingrained dislike for the Duke of Rathburne, I don’t find her reaction to him credible, either. Their mutual spark is supposed to be a sign of “true love,” but to me it just signals true lust.

The storyline where Rath is trying to behave like a gentleman with Marlena when all he wants to do is get her into bed is one I’ve read befrore, but Marlena’s secret identity as the scandal sheet authoress puts an interesting spin on things. I love Eugenia, Victoria’s sister, who keeps popping over to see Marlena at inopportune times. Both sisters contribute to keeping Marlena’s secret, and she gives all the money she receives for its publication to help support them, since Mr. Portington is terrible with household finances.

The characters are all great. Marlena lives with her cousin Justine, who’s irritating in a humorous way, always reminiscing about her supposed smash in society when she made her debut. Lady Vera, Griff’s sister, enters the story to help Marlena shop for appropriate clothing. Mr. Portington turns out to be exceedingly eccentric rather than intentionally cruel. Griff and Hawk are amiable friends to Rath.

The two biggest problems with this book, though, are too much introspection and too much repetition. Dialogue is interrupted by paragraphs describing all the thoughts going through a character’s head before he or she responds, much of which is old news. I read multiple times about how Marlena developed courage because she was raised alongside five male cousins. I also got tired of reading how Rath just couldn’t be the gentleman his father wanted him to be and knows the old man was disappointed in him when he died. These and other repeated bits of information made the story feel long and draggy, even though the story itself was pretty good.

Rated MA. Sex before marriage.

Received an ARC from netgalley. Opinions are my own.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Reformed rakes often make the best husbands.” –Judith McNaught, Something Wonderful

There are three books in The Rakes of St. James series:
Last Night with the Duke: pub Mar 7, 2017 [The Duke of Griffin & Miss Esmeralda Swift]
To the Duke, With Love: pub Dec 5, 2017 [The Duke of Hawksthorn & Miss Loretta Quick]
It’s All About the Duke: estimated pub May 29, 2018 [The Duke of Rathburn & Miss Marlena Fast]

OK am I the only one to see the pattern in the last names of the ladies… Swift, Quick, and Fast? Seriously?? And the guys… [Griff, Hawk, & Rath]… what do they represent? Griffin is a mythical creature with the head and winds of an eagle and the body of a lion… both creatures of prey. Hawk… a bird of prey. Rath… not sure about him. All three are reformed rakes trying to clean up their act and redeem their reputations. Several years prior, they created a scandal that has haunted them and their victims… although the ladies suffered more than they did. Society blamed the females in the scheme before they blamed the Dukes… or as the ton said… ‘rakes will be rakes.’ By the third or fourth chapter… I was becoming pretty tired of hearing of the scandal and Marlena’s anger toward the Duke for ruining her friend’s life. She was pretty zealous in regard to her friend and neighbor… to the point of being obsessed with her situation and well-being. It quickly became tiresome… all-the-way to the final chapter. If I heard the word scandal one more time… I might call myself out… to end my misery.

“If a wicked rake doesn’t kiss a young lady when they’re alone in a moonlit rose garden, might it mean he doesn’t intend to? There were rules about such things. Weren’t they written down somewhere? If not, then they should be. A Treatise on Rakes, written for Susceptible Young Ladies, by a lady of distinction.” –Anna Bradley, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl

Our heroine, Miss Marlena Fast, had a secret. She wrote for the scandal sheets under the name Miss Honora Truth. Her target… the Rakes of St. James… our hero His Grace, the Duke of Rathburn and his friends… the Duke of Griffin and the Duke of Hawksthorn. Her writing had become so popular that the publisher convinced her to write a book with her reflections. The title… Miss Honora Truth’s Words of Wisdom and Warning About Rakes, Scoundrels, Rogues, and Libertines.

Each chapter of this book had a heading with Miss Honora Truth’s reflections regarding rakes. They read like a Jeff Foxworthy… “You might be a redneck…” only our author stated “He could be a rake…” and then listed a reflection on what might constitute someone being a rake. Of course, that was exactly what our hero did in that very chapter. His every action reinforcing her opinion that he was a rake.

The chemistry between them was HOT… thus the RATING: MA: mature audience, sex scene between consenting adults [anticipating vows]. I’m sorry, but our couple jumped into lusty and steamy… way to quickly. I didn’t ‘feel the love’ between them, but rather felt the lust factor instead. He wanted her and she wanted him. Just saying. Then they had a colossal fight, had to suck up their courage, resolve the misunderstanding and forgive each other and head off to their happy ever after. Pretty predictable.

This story did not make me want to run and read books 1&2. Characters from those books were present and made an appearance in this story. I liked his buddies, the other rakes or Dukes; however, their wives were just OK… nothing that piqued my interest. There was comedic relief from Miss Marlena’s cousin and widow… Mrs. Justine Abernathy. She was a pistol; however, after a while even her antics became tedious. Everyone got on my nerves. I am sorry, I simply could not connect with these guys. [3-stars]

I volunteered to read an ‘Uncorrected digital Galley’ from the publisher via NetGalley. The views expressed are my own. Estimated publication date... May 29, 2018.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

A rake (although, really, the man is a sweetheart once he's all smitten. All that makes him a rake is the fact that he sometimes sleeps with a mistress or a widow; there are no scenes showing this, and it's only mentioned once or twice) willing to take responsibility for a misguided, drunken wager he and his friends made and a heroine who supports herself and her best friends with her income from a scandal sheet and a novel. Two genuinely nice people owning up to their mistakes and growing closer because of it.

This book should have been just perfect for me: There's no insta-lust, the couple spends a lot of time talking and getting to know each other, there's very little drama (and what there is makes sense within the story), and not a single person did something to annoy me because they were just nice. Even the heroine (who I had misgivings about in the beginning) learns from her mistakes. I still don't really understand her as a person. One of her friends receives a letter from a secret admirer, begging her to come meet him alone. She goes. Is discovered. And, of course, ruined. Heroine gets mad at the three unknown dukes who got away with their wager to see whose letters would get the most debutantes to sneak out in the middle of the night and starts a scandal sheet so that everyone will be reminded of how evil they are. Heroine never leaves her house, so relies on second-hand gossip for her column, and when she has nothing new to write about, recycles old stories or makes something up. Which, in my mind, doesn't make her any better than the dukes, but hey. In the end, she does own up to it and realizes that it was wrong. So there's that.

I honestly have NO idea why this didn't work for me. I really don't. I thought the book was a bit too long, some conversations could've done with some editing (I may have skimmed a bit here and there), but other than that? I really have nothing to complain about. This was nice. I did roll my eyes here and there at some of the advice about "rakes" from the heroine's gossip column (because really, going by this, every single man in the world would be a rake), but in the end, it didn't really bother me too much.

Although part of a series, these novels work well on their own in my opinion. As with the first book, there are some anachronisms (the heroine calling spiders "creepy" comes to mind), but nothing too noticeable.

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley*

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series: The Rakes of St. James #3
Publication Date: 5/29/18

I enjoyed this third and final book in the Rakes of St. James series. The series is based on a really lame scandal, but the books are all nice reads even if they are a bit prosy. You can read each as a stand-alone if you wish to do so. I loved the last names of all of the heroines in the three books – Swift, Quick and Fast.

The big scandal is a wager made by three young friends – all dukes. They would write ‘secret admirer’ letters to all twelve of the debutants who were in their first season. The letters would say that they had long admired the lady and hoped she would meet them at a certain place and time. Whichever of the dukes had the most ladies actually show up would win the bet. When all twelve of the ladies show up and word of the wager and the ladies all going to the meeting places leaks out – well – SCANDAL. The dukes immediately felt remorseful, but there wasn’t anything they could do to change things. Someone decides that the duke should be punished for what they did and starts a scandal column that only talks about the scandal and the dukes.

Rath, Duke of Rathburne, was the one who suggested the cursed wager and he’s felt guilty about it ever since. He’s come to a point in his life, he’s almost thirty, where he feels he should become the gentleman his father always wanted him to be. I know he was described as a rake and scoundrel throughout the book, but frankly, I just didn’t see it. Yes, he had mistresses and widows on occasion, but he wasn’t a letch and he didn’t chase innocent ladies. Seems he was just a normal gentleman of the time – and maybe better than most.

When Rath received a letter from Mr. Olingworth, a very good friend of Rath’s father, his first inclination was to turn down the request it contained. Then, after he has finished a bottle, he pens a letter to Mr. Olingworth saying that he agrees to be the guardian of Miss Marlena Fast. When he awakens the next morning, he regrets penning his acceptance, but it is too late – the letter is already in the post – thanks to his efficient new butler. Mr. Olingworth is quite ill and can no longer properly see to Marlena’s care. Rath had met Marlena once when she was about twelve and holding a frog. He was sure it was going to be a challenge because ‘ruffian girls rarely, if ever, become decorous young ladies’.

Marlena Fast has been an orphan since shortly after she was born. She’s been passed from place to place and never had a real home that was hers. First, she lived with an aunt and uncle, then Mr. Olingworth, then her cousin Justine. Now, it seems, she is being passed on again – into someone else’s care. But, it can’t be – not HIM – one of the Rakes of St. James. He’s one of the despised men who helped make her friend's life miserable – she can’t be his ward.

I liked both Marlena and Rath and I liked the way their insta-lust grew into solid attraction and love. Now, I’ll be honest – I did skim-read some of those long prosy descriptions/conversations – but it was still a good read. The book often refers to the conversations as banter, but I think more often than not it was either bickering or arguing – there is some lovely banter too because they both had quick wits and a lovely sense of humor.

The secondary characters are a hit-or-miss bunch. I loved the other Dukes of St. James and their families that made an appearance – especially Lady Vera. Then, there are Marlena’s best friends, Eugenia and Veronica, I never did like them – they seemed more like users than friends to me. They did, however, redeem themselves a little in the end – well, Eugenia did anyway. When it comes to Marlena’s cousin, Justine, well – nobody has enough time, space or energy to deal with her!

One of my favorite scenes is of Rath in a ladies shop – he was looking for smelling salts. Yes – where else would you go to buy something ladies use except Miss Lola’s Lacy Linens? His interactions with Miss Lola and then a couple of unexpected customers are delightful. Definitely shows his humor and irreverence.

We also finally unmask Miss Honora Truth, the person who has been taunting the dukes in a scandal sheet for the last three years. Will her identity surprise you? Probably not – but it sure surprised the duke!

If you are looking for a hold-your-breath, action-packed read, this isn’t it. But if you are looking for a nice, steady read of two people coming together, finding love and dealing with obstacles, then you have found a good one here.

The first two books in the series are:
Last Night With the Duke-- Duke of Griffin and Esmeralda Swift
To the Duke, With Love -- Duke of Hawksthorn and Loretta Quick

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"I requested and received this e-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."

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s All About the Duke by Amelia Grey

Book three in The Rakes of St. James Trilogy

2 stars

The Duke of Rathburne and his friends have a dark past and find themselves the targets of the scandal sheet of Miss Honora Truth. Years ago, he and his two friends made a bet and twelve young ladies of the Season were sent letters from secret admirers. The dukes got away without much reprimand, but the ladies felt some burn. Rathburne has recently acquired a ward to watch over for the upcoming Season, Miss Marlena Fast. Miss Fast isn’t all what she seems. In fact, she’s Miss Honora Truth and all those sheets she has written are starting to catch up to her now that she is the company of the Duke of Rathburne. The premise for this is fun. It’s your typical story of a rake with high societal standards falling in love with a younger woman who doesn’t have any sway in London society (which if I must confess, is one of my favorite historical romance tropes). I’m a sucker for a good tension-filled romance of the “we mustn’t, but I can’t help myself” variety. However, this was lackluster. I didn’t really buy the romance between Rath and Marlena. I wasn’t even held in suspense by what would happen when Rath found out who Marlena truly was. It was just a plotline thrown in to add some suspense to this rather dry romantic narrative that had all the passion of a raisin. Also, Grey does an excellent job at writing the most cringe inducing lines.
“He was a feast of handsome, desirous male for her eyes.”
There are so many things wrong with this sentence. For starters, “feast for her eyes” is a great example of objectification from the female point of view. It is also just a weird phrase that needs to die. But thrown in handsome and desirous and we have this weird double adjective phrase that doesn’t flow well at all and just proves that these two words are not sexy when put together. I wasn’t aware that I was reading an ACOTAR novel because there’s the illustrious word male gazing up at me awkwardly. Our heroine refers to Rath later as “his male glory”. I think you get the point, Grey’s writing ability can be a little cliché and pairing that up with an uninteresting romance creates a lackluster romance in the historical genre.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 2

Marlena isn’t a bad heroine. She is kind of interesting. She’s lived this double life as a regular young lady and a scandal sheet writer. That’s an interesting combination, but of course, she has to be different from all the other girls of the town. She has to have dirt on her nose, prefer to be in the garden, and read botany books. I don’t mind her being represented as different from all the other girls of the ton, but let’s be real, this type of portrayal sets up the narrative that being like other girls in the ton and to enjoy balls, gossip, tea parties, or anything else means that you are a bubble head (see further down for example). Outside of her attributes of uniqueness, she was your run of the mill heroine.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 2

Rath has his moments. He definitely was much more interesting at the beginning of this novel, but as the story went out the tension between him and Marlena fizzled out and I lost interest in his narrative. I can’t really tell you anything about who Rath is because all he is described as is a rake. No interests and hobbies outside of that.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 2

Justine is Marlena’s cousin and companion. She is the prime example of women who enjoy the Season being portrayed as bubble heads. She constantly going on about being the “diamond of the Season” and creates a lot of false narratives in her head. She fits into this trope of being a typical woman obsessed with the Season and I was kind of getting annoyed with her character and lack of depth. Then there’s, Veronica and Eugenia, who are the reason that Marlena started the scandal sheet and are her best friends. I really like Eugenia and her storyline was interesting. Veronica and her husband’s storyline was weird, but it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve read or even a real hinderance to this novel.

Character Scale: 2

Overall, It’s All About the Duke isn’t a horrible historical romance novel, but it’s definitely not the best one out there. I’m sure this one will be a favorite for a lot of people. I just wasn’t one of them. I will also not be reading the previous novels in this trilogy because I have no interest in the characters.

Plotastic Scale: 2

Cover Thoughts: I want that green dress.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks, for providing me with a novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Ems Loves to Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my gosh PLEASE STOP SAYING MOIST.

Moistness aside, this book just wasn’t for me. I found it awkward and not at all enticing.

[Aisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy from netgalley for an honest review. It's all about the Duke is the third book in the series by Amelia Grey. This book was only okay for me I felt like the book and the plot was really slow and it dragged out longer than I needed to. I feel like this but could have been wrapped up a lot faster.

[lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also on Romances Ever After.

I've never read any of Amelia Grey's previous works before, and It's All About the Duke was a great introduction to her writing because this book charmed from start to finish, and it's all because of the characters.

I love both Rath and Marlena. Marlena especially is totally adorable and she has my heart. She's young and innocent, but I like that she's not a pushover, and she has no problems speaking her mind in Rath's presence. I also love her loyalty to her friends Eugenia and Veronica. I mean, she started a gossip column and wrote a book for them! Although the reason for it was mainly fueled by teenage fury, I still admired her sense of loyalty to her loved ones. I also love her unconventionality, and her relationship with her chaperone, Justine. Justine can be so annoying sometimes, but Marlena is such a sweet-tempered girl, she deals with Justine so calmly. I would have been tempted to cause Justine bodily harm.

The first chapter described Rath as someone older and wiser, a reformed rake. He's a bit mellow now that his two best friends and fellow pranksters have found love and happily settled down. In the first chapter he did a bit of reflecting; he acknowledged that while he was competent with ducal responsibilities, he wasn't the perfect gentleman his father had hoped he would be and he regretted that, especially after the prank he and his friends played on the ladies of the ton a few years back. I really liked how the chapter ended with Rath feeling determined to be the perfect guardian to Marlena, to help her find a husband and marry.

"He could be a rake if he looks so deeply into your eyes you know he sees all the way to your soul."

The major reason why this book worked for me is Rath and Marlena's relationship development. Marlena especially had some notions about Rath after the whole prank that affected the lives of her friends. She had been dragging his name and the other Rakes of St. James through the mud with her scandal sheet for a few years, so imagine her surprise when they finally met and Rath wasn't a complete ogre of a man. In fact, he was a perfect gentleman??? I love seeing her feeling all sorts of conflicted because Rath turned out to be a...*gasp* nice man??? how is this happening??? and he was apparently not the shameless rake she has her whole column based upon. The more time they spent together the more she liked him, and she started to dread the upcoming Season because the only man she wanted to spend her life with was the man she wasn't supposed to fall for.

Rath was instantly charmed by Marlena from the moment they met. He had no chance; Marlena was super cute and witty, and there was a spark between them in the first meeting. Boy, that did a number on him and his senses too. Like, here is his new ward, of whom he was supposed to look after and see that she married well, and he only wanted her for himself. There is a little hint of forbidden romance in the story because of the whole guardian/ward thing, but overall it was so entertaining to see Marlena and Rath fell in love with each other despite reasons. I sighed at all the stolen moments (and kisses!) they shared.

"I know we shouldn't kissed. It doesn't keep me from wanting to."

Overall, It's All About the Duke has been a fun read, and I'm so glad I requested to read it. Amelia also wrote a HEA for Marlena's friends, and I appreciate that so much because the girls definitely deserved all the happiness. The epilogue had me smiling because it was so satisfying and wrapped up the book perfectly. I'm definitely going to check out Griffin's and Hawk's books next.

E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.

[Cocktails and Books]

I stepped away from this one because there felt like there was someone missing with Rath and Marlena. I was hoping a little time away would help. It didn't.

I didn't feel any chemistry between Rath and Marlena. Yes, they had their banter, but those conversations didn't leave me feeling like they had a romance in the making. Then there was who Marlena was and what that meant to the Rakes of St. James. I would have thought the build-up to that revelation would have been more angsty and that it wouldn't have been just Rath that discovered the secret.

In the end, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this last installment in an otherwise enjoyable series.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Musings
3.5 Stars

This is the third book in The Rakes of St. James series. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, the book description intrigued me, so I accept to read and review. This is a light regency novel that puts the reader into the glittering world of the London ton.
I struggled with the premise for It’s All about the Duke. I have a difficult time believing her previous guardian would choose a rake as her new guardian, but I held judgment. Unfortunately, I never grew more accepting.

Marlena’s character is supposed to be independent, feisty and quick-witted. For me, those characteristics were not present, so I never truly identified with Marlena and never became invested. Fortunately, I did find several secondary characters who kept me entertained and the story moving along at a decent pace.

The Duke Rathburne is a likely hero. I particularly enjoyed his dry wit and patience with Marlena’s aunt, self-absorbed, flitty character, but humorous with no ill designs toward her niece, just a bit thoughtless of Marlena’s wants and desires.

Now, for me the romance was fine, just not throbbing with sexual tension and passion. I did not feel a strong chemistry between the hero and heroine, which made it difficult to care about whether they found their happy ending.

Nonetheless, this is a decent read with several nice moments and a secondary romance with two of other characters that I found interesting. No doubt, It’s All about the Duke is well-written and flowed well. It also has a nice feel of the Regency period, which will appeal to other readers of this sub-genre of romance. Happy reading!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the premise of the story- and the characters. Amelia Grey does a very nice job of character development and tying all story ends together in the end. I think this book will be an instant hit!

My only objection was the amount of narrative that the book had, which tended to bog me down, instead of draw me into the book. Even with that- once I met the characters, I connected and picked up the book every spare chance I got. Highly recommend.

I received an arc from NetGalley.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Rakes of St. James series. The series is based on three friends (all Dukes) who play a stupid prank and later regret their actions. Personally, I thought the whole "prank" was lame - they each write a letter to several young ladies telling them that they have a secret admirer and ask them to meet them in secret - all the ladies get the same letter and the all go to meet their admirer - the dukes placed a wager to see who would get the most ladies to show up - so the ladies all show up and they are all ruined but the dukes remain unscathed. But years later, they are now trying to clean up their acts and in the previous books had female relations that they worry will be targeted because of the "prank" - it doesn't help that a gossip sheet is dredging up the "scandal" that ruined so many girls.


The Duke of Rathburn "Rath" has decided to turn over a new leaf and become the man his father had hoped he would be, he starts by agreeing to be guardian to Marlena Fast. How being a guardian will make him a better man is beyond me - but that's the story. He will find Marlena a husband and that will atone for his previous behavior - Alrighty.


Marlena is an orphan and has been shuffled around most of her life, but to those she loves, she is loyal and steadfast, so when a dear friend is "ruined" by the Rakes of St. James, Marlena takes up her quill and fights back. But now she is the ward of one of the Rakes - this is going to be a problem...

This story was OK, it is a bit on the wordy side and I found myself skimming. I thought the characters were likable, Rath is not what I would consider a Rake - more like a typical young man of the era with too much time, money and affluence - not mean, but perhaps thoughtless and shortsighted. the story moves a bit on the slow side (thus the skimming), the love scenes are warm, the secondary characters are entertaining and the ending is sweet.


This is the third book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title with no problems.


*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an Uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author. (Netgalley) I didn't know that this book was part of a series but I was not lost, so yes it can be read as a standalone I however will go back to read the rest of the previous books because I did enjoy this one. So we meet the Duke of Rathbone and he feels guilty from his past deeds and in a moment of inebriation agrees to become a guardian. When he gets reacquainted with his ward Marlene he was shocked to see how beautiful she grew up and is instantly attracted but tries to tight (not very hard). Marlene can not believe who her new guardian is because she has a secret that could destroy her. Grab a copy my friends it is truly entertaining.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting last book for the Rakes of St James

You can't miss this one! Rath has a lot to make up for. Marlene has a huge secret. He thinks she needs to be taught deportment and how to go on in the ton. She thinks the Rakes never got their due after the secret admirer letters.
And now he is her guardian. Fox guarding the hen house coming to mind?

[eyes.2c · Rating 2 out of 5]

Regency romance gone awry

I wanted to like this. Right from the beginning I wasn't engaged and almost decided not to finish but soldiered on. The slow going continued and the story held little chemistry for me. Other novels in the same trope, of rakes being punished via a wickedly wielded pen, have held more sparkle.

A NetGalley ARC

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It's All About the Duke" , was all about the Duke of Rathburne and his new ward Ms Marlena Fast, a ward whom he took on after drinking a bit too much and allowing his guilt for not being the gentleman his father wished him to be.
"Rath" , is one of a trio of three young dukes who years ago thought it would be funny to pick four each young women to send secret admirer letters to and see who would show up to a rendezvous as a wager between the three of them, never truly believing that any of these well bred women would. However some did and unfortunately it became known ending in these young women's season often being ruined. Though Rath and his fellow takes Griff and Hawk escaped with little consequence, all being dukes and young Rakes, " Rakes will be Rakes after all " .
Though time has passed , a scandal sheet writer has chosen for three years now to write almost daily about what the Rakes of St James did , that writer being Ms Honora Truth.
What Rath has no idea is that his very own new ward is Ms Honora truth, unfortunate for him since he is extremely attracted to her and unfortunate for Marlena because the mans she has spent the,last three years writing about he and his friends she finds herself attracted to ; a rake she warns her readers about, but even worse a secret she has to keep from a man who slowly is capturing her heart with every gracious and thoughtful thing he does.
Overall the storyline was engrossing the characters interesting , however a bit slow at times, still a solid read.
Arc Copy received from Netgalley.

[Dawn Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fun, fresh written true to the historical theme. Very humorous, love the flow of the book.

[Sharlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's All About the Duke is the next Regency romance in The Rakes of St. James series from Amelia Grey. Though part of the series, this novel can stand alone and the author does a good job with snippets so you are not lost if you have not read the other books.
It was a fun, enjoyable novel with like able characters. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys historical romance.set during the Regency era.

[Mamacita aka MawMaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the other 2 books, I expected better. Oh Well...

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in Amelia Grey’s Rakes of St. James trilogy. The Duke of Rathburne is the third and last of the notorious bachelors who, years ago, played a prank on twelve young debutantes which led to the girls being ostracised from society. Being dukes, and male, they never really had to suffer any consequences beyond guilt… and regular evisceration by the pen of Miss Honoria Truth, writer of a scandal sheet with a particular hatred for the three rakes.

The very last person Marlena Fast ever thought likely to become her new guardian was the notorious duke. But there he is, on her doorstep, large as life and twice as handsome, telling her he’s there to help launch her Season and help her find a husband.

How on earth will he react if he finds out her secret identity as Miss Honoria Truth?

Marlena and her friends panicking about Rath’s reactions if he should find out about Miss Truth were honestly hilarious. They were easily my favourite parts of the book, along with Marlena’s soul-searching when she came face to face with some of the people featured in her scandal sheet and discovers how nice they are. Everything about Marlena was delightful, from her fierce loyalty to her friends to her somewhat naive honesty. Frankly, Rath seemed far too old and jaded for her; his ‘becoming staid’ just read like he was bored with his old entertainments and looking for something fresh and new.

The thing that really bothers me, I suppose, is that Rath and his friends never did have to suffer anything more than a mildly guilty conscience. One of the characters in the novel being one of the debutantes whose reputation they damaged so long ago showed very clearly that actions can have major consequences, and they did do significant damage with their thoughtlessness. I have difficulty believing that not one single enraged father, brother or suitor called them out and shot them for their entitled, disgraceful behaviour.

Or perhaps that was just my wishful thinking. Realistically, men in positions of power getting away with bad behaviour without repercussions is a very current topic at the moment, and reading about it in a fictional story set 200 years ago - however realistic it might be - just feels a bit depressing, as though nothing has changed in all that time. There’s no emotional payoff for the reader, no visceral feeling of satisfaction when bad behaviour is rewarded as Rath’s was.

While this is well written, it left me feeling really kind of depressed. No antagonist was defeated, nobody got their comeuppance for behaving badly. Rath behaved exactly as he’s always done and got exactly what he always has… everything he wanted, which was something he didn’t deserve. I didn’t hate this, but I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it either. Three stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.

[Erica Chilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads

3 Stars.

I was highly anticipating this installment, after handing out a 5-star to To the Duke, with Love. While this is a continuation, and it will benefit the reader to start at the beginning of the series and read in order, there would be little to no confusion if read as a standalone.

I will admit, I struggled throughout the course of the novel with keeping my interests. I was able to read a chapter here or there until completion, and this may have affected my overall enjoyment. However, I did read the first 40% in one sitting.

The pacing was a big issue for me. It starts off molasses slow. While I enjoyed Marlena and Rath's narration, my pet peeves were popping out everywhere. Their initial meeting took almost 20% of the book, filled with conversation, inner musing/monologues breaking up dialogue, excessive description which also interrupted the flow of conversation, and eye-humping each other while thinking about how amazingly beautiful/handsome the other was.

Attraction is definitely what I expect from an initial meeting, but this was too close to self-admitting being in love. While this took a great portion of the novel, it was literal minutes of their lives.

Rath was a naughty boy in the past, he and the heroes of the previous installments. Wagering on ladies and treating them less than human. They've all learned the error of their ways, character growth. He is now picking up the duty of introducing his new ward to the ton for a season. Rath, the insulter of ladies, will be protecting one- I loved the juicy irony of that.

Marlena is an orphan, but also a grown woman. After witnessing how naughty men treated the fairer sex, she penned Miss Honoria Truth. In the previous installments, I loved the witty, feminist bent to the little ditties scattered throughout the series, and I just couldn't wait for the author to narrate a book of her own.

Marlena fell short of my expectations. I felt she was too focus on the vapid, outside package of Rath's, when I expected more from her. She was always mooning (inside her head) over how handsome he was, reminding the reader every few paragraphs, as if we could somehow forget Rath's impressive attributes. It felt shallow, as if Marlena was not the Miss Honoria Truth I'd come to love- entertainer and avenger of ladies everywhere.

In a nutshell, I'm a sucker for a guardian and his ward entanglement. Added to the fact he was a reformed reprobate and she was the one who took him to task in the media, sparks should have been flying everywhere. But it all felt forced, due to the pacing, repetition of inner monologue via both narrators, and description breaking up every conversations to be had and any and all action scenes.

I do believe it was a solid installment of the series. These are my pet peeves that made it difficult to enjoy the novel. If we don't share these same issue, no doubt you will highly enjoy it. I do recommend to fans of the author and the series.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rath has said yes to a request under the influence of too much alcohol. He will now be a young lady's ward. Marlena is an orphan and her previous guardian is gravely ill, so he can't prepare her for the season. Rath is a Duke with a reputation, but even though he's a rake he wants to make this task a success. Because of a scandal he caused years ago he's still the main target of plenty of gossip. Rath wants to do something good for a change and takes his duty to find a suitable husband for Marlena seriously. However, when he meets her he doesn't know if he wants another man to marry his ward. Rath isn't the marrying type, but will Marlena change his mind?

Marlena is a girl with secrets. Many young girls would dream of having a Duke as their guardian, but Marlena has to be careful when she's around Rath. There's something she doesn't want him to know. Rath should never discover what she's keeping from him, Marlena thinks she won't be able to handle the consequences. While sparks fly between them she knows she's getting in trouble. She desperately wants to be with the one man she shouldn't desire, but it's impossible to stop herself from falling for the gorgeous Duke. What should she do?

It's All About the Duke is a wonderful charming story. I was immediately intrigued by Rath. He might have his flaws, but deep down he's a real gentleman with a good heart. Marlena challenges him and that's exactly what he needs. She is an amazing woman, she's smart, talented and resilient. She's also a fabulous friend and her generosity knows no bounds. I love a good story about secrets and was fascinated by what she's keeping from the Duke from the beginning. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen between them and read the book in one sitting to find out if they'd get their happily ever after.

Amelia Grey has a mesmerizing descriptive writing style. I love how she makes her stories come to life. She laces them with energy, humor and entertainment. Her books are a true joy to read. It's All About the Duke is fascinating, enchanting and romantic. I loved the main characters and enjoyed every single page of their story. I like it when I'm so engrossed in a book that I don't want to put it down until I've read the last sentence. Amelia Grey has written another true gem, I absolutely love The Rakes of St. James series and highly recommend all of the books.

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s All About the Duke is the final book in The Rakes of St. James Trilogy and tells the story of Rath, Duke of Rathburne, and Marlena Fast, his new ward. Rath, ever the rake he claims to be is immediately smitten with the “innocent” Marlena. Little does Rath know, Marlena is the secret author of Miss Honora Truth’s Scandal Sheet, the gossip rag who writes all about the scandalous deeds of Rath and his two other rakish best friends.

Here is evidence of my latest attempt to find a “new to me” author I could obsess over like I have with everything written by Elizabeth Hoyt. As this book was up for review, and I saw that it could be read as a standalone, I didn’t bother reading either of the first two books of the trilogy. It didn’t take but a few chapters for me to piece together what had happened previously, and I quickly realized I had no desire to read more about the Rakes of St. James and their horrible prank with the “secret admirer letters.”

Now, back to Rath and Marlena’s story…

Pros: I enjoyed the overall story, even with Marlena’s secret. I enjoyed the banter between Marlena and Rath, along with all the over the top secondary characters. Actually, I think all the crazy characters was the best part. I laughed plenty of times at their ridiculousness. Luckily, the fall out from the secret admirer letters is mostly passed, although it does play a major role in why Marlena started, and is still, writing the things she is writing.

Cons: This book was not steamy…at all! Not even a little bit. Yeah, there is plenty of sexual tension and build up. But when Rath and Marlena finally consummate, it was a complete disappointment. Sorry, sweet, innocent kisses just don’t do it for me. I need more passion than that. Plus, I didn’t fall for the idea that Rath do such a quick 180 from being a rake, to begging Marlena to marry him after a few minutes of sex.

Cute story, but doesn’t stand out against so many of the other great historical romances out there.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s All About the Duke by Amelia Grey
Rakes of St. James #3

Three young men made a wager…
A scandalous wager – at least society said it was.
Three young dukes gained the dubious “honor” of being named…
…The Rakes of Saint James.

In the final book of the series the Duke of Rathburn “Rath” has agreed to become the guardian of Miss Marlena Fast who will be coming out in her first season with the ton. She lives with a widowed cousin, has dear friends living next door and has a secret she really doesn’t want Rath to find out about. Of course, eventually the secret does come out and there is a happily ever after for the couple and a few other couples in the book. The reader gets to see how the other two rakes and their wives are doing, too. Each chapter of the book begins with an epigraph taken from “Miss Honora Truth’s Words of Wisdom and Warning About Rakes, Scoundrels, Rogues and Libertines” – who the author of this tome and weekly scandal sheet is unknown throughout the series but revealed at the end of this book.

I had trouble with this book because I found difficulty relating to the characters and the story. I did not really engage with hero or heroine and didn’t seem to care about them as much as I would have liked to. I had this feeling that the story could have been told in about half the words. Anyway, I am sure that some will love this book and others will find it rather slow and tame.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

[Debbie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke of Rathburne and his friends caused a scandal a few years ago and several young debutantes were ruined and they became known as the Rakes of St. James. Rath is ready to make amends for the wager that ruined these woman and at the request of Mr. Olingworth, his late father’s friend who is too ill to escort his ward into society has ask Rath who decides to take on his ward who needs a husband.
Miss Marlena Fast has been secretly writing for the scandal sheets as under the name Miss Honora Truth and her prime target is the rakes of St. James, so when the Duke of Rathburne shows up at her residence she fears she’s been discovered. Marlena has watched her friend and neighbor suffer from the scandal and she blames the Rakes of St. James for her situation and secretly begins writing for the scandal sheets. There is instant attraction between the two and for Marlena it’s hard to reconcile the attraction she feels for Rath, the womanizer and heartless she rake she’s come to expect. In the story we see Rath is trying to behave like a gentleman when all he wants to do is get Marlena into bed, and she has a secret that could destroy their new found friendship and romance. An enchanting story of redemption and we find a perspective of how our actions affect others, and in return ourselves in the end. I love redeemable rogues and the woman who love them!!!
This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.