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Once Upon a Scandal #1
To Love a Scandalous Duke
Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781640633353
Driven into exile years earlier, due to family scandal, Declan Sinclair is called home, devastated to discover his brother has been murdered and he’s the new Duke of Darington. When clues point to the man he blames for both his exile and his brother’s death, Declan resolves to ruin the culprit. If only the daughter of the man’s business partner, lovely Lady Alethea Swinton, didn’t tempt his resolve.
Driven into exile years earlier, due to family scandal, Declan Sinclair is called home, devastated to discover his brother has been murdered and he’s the new Duke of Darington. When clues point to the man he blames for both his exile and his brother’s death, Declan resolves to ruin the culprit. If only the daughter of the man’s business partner, lovely Lady Alethea Swinton, didn’t tempt his resolve.
Lady Alethea Swinton has cultivated her pristine reputation in the hopes of winning her father’s praise. When her childhood friend returns, Alethea finds she’s willing to court scandal and defy her father to help the handsome Declan uncover the truth behind his brother’s death. Until she realizes Declan’s redemption will mean her family’s ruin.
324 pages, ebook
First published September 25, 2017
199 people are currently reading
1151 people want to read
About the author
Liana De la Rosa
14 books864 followersLiana De la Rosa wrangles her children by day, and writes USA Today Bestselling romance by night. For details on her current project, visit her at lianadelarosa.com or find her on social media under @LianainBloom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 15, 2023
This was quite terrible I love how books can start out fine and then turn into just the worst thing you’ve ever read. It’s been on my TBR for ages and now I know why I just never committed to picking it up.
**spoilers below**
I disliked her greatly like wow crazy he’s doing the sane thing and wanting her father to pay for what he’s done?? She said “He only cares for his own wishes and desires”??? Her father practically killed his father, definitely killed his brother, AND TRIED TO KILL HIM HOW CAN SHE BE CONFUSED ABOUT HIM wanting her father to face justice??? How is this his fault??? She’s entirely unreasonable and yet she’s still surprised every time her father is legit evil??? And YAY kidnapping idk actually she deserved it #yolo
She liters heard her father admit to trying to murder someone via hired thugs and a carriage robbery, Declan comes back and is like HEY I was nearly murdered via thugs whilst in my CARRIAGE, and she STILL didn’t get a fucking clue. “Oh I was too overwhelmed to say anything” bitch??? Okay fine but you can’t tell me you love him more than anything bc you choose your twat of a father every damn time.
Then her father just gets to stay alive and leave England??? Being with her is his revenge?? That’s absolutely disgusting to think that’s what qualifies as revenge. He’s literally evil the only way to deal with him is the guillotine just saying. Mercy is such a buzzkill.
This review really gives examples of everything wrong with this book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
**
⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*Two scenes, only one with full penetration. Pretty short and not too explicit.
**spoilers below**
I disliked her greatly like wow crazy he’s doing the sane thing and wanting her father to pay for what he’s done?? She said “He only cares for his own wishes and desires”??? Her father practically killed his father, definitely killed his brother, AND TRIED TO KILL HIM HOW CAN SHE BE CONFUSED ABOUT HIM wanting her father to face justice??? How is this his fault??? She’s entirely unreasonable and yet she’s still surprised every time her father is legit evil??? And YAY kidnapping idk actually she deserved it #yolo
She liters heard her father admit to trying to murder someone via hired thugs and a carriage robbery, Declan comes back and is like HEY I was nearly murdered via thugs whilst in my CARRIAGE, and she STILL didn’t get a fucking clue. “Oh I was too overwhelmed to say anything” bitch??? Okay fine but you can’t tell me you love him more than anything bc you choose your twat of a father every damn time.
Then her father just gets to stay alive and leave England??? Being with her is his revenge?? That’s absolutely disgusting to think that’s what qualifies as revenge. He’s literally evil the only way to deal with him is the guillotine just saying. Mercy is such a buzzkill.
This review really gives examples of everything wrong with this book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
**
⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*Two scenes, only one with full penetration. Pretty short and not too explicit.
September 7, 2017
Lord Declan Sinclair, Duke of Darington, has just returned from being away for twelve years. Lady Alethea Swinton has just returned from being away with her mother's people in Scotland. Declan's father had committed suicide when he was accused of a fraud and a lot of people lost their money. His older brother was murdered.
These are just a few of the strings to this complex tale of murder, fraud, lies, and other surprising secrets. The characters, descriptions and dialogue give the story depth and help keep your interest. The plot has been woven with a master touch to make this a mesmerizing read. You are grabbed from the first page and are unable to put it down, until the end. I loved the relationship between the twins, they not only loved each other but they trusted each other, as well. I highly recommend this wonderful book.
I received this ARC and voluntarily reviewed it.
January 25, 2023
Well look at that. I just read my first Liana De La Rosa book and loved it!! HR is my ultimate jam so this thrilled me. Loved the banter between the two mains, the mystery element to the story and the chemistry!! These two knew each other as kids and now they’re back in each other’s lives as adults and getting reacquainted — chefs kiss. I listened to the audio and enjoyed this very much! Can’t wait to read more of Liana’s books.
September 10, 2017
4.5 stars
Driven into exile twelve years earlier, due to family scandal, Declan Sinclair is called home by his elder brother Albert. On arriving back in England he’s devastated to discover his brother has been murdered and he’s the new Duke of Darington. When clues point to the man he blames for both his exile and his father’s & brother’s deaths, Declan resolves to ruin the culprit
Lady Alethea Swinton has cultivated her pristine reputation in the hopes of winning her father’s praise. When her childhood friend Declan returns, Alethea finds she’s willing to court scandal and defy her father to help the handsome Declan uncover the truth behind the deaths in his family.
A page turning roller coaster of a novel, which I found very hard to put down. The pace of this well written story was very good & the pace quickened to the climax. The characters are well developed & have plenty of depth. Declan & Allie are very likeable, their attraction sizzles & becomes hotter with each meeting. I was a little confused about the diary entries at the start of each chapter but all is revealed. I hope Finley & Fiona have their stories as they were also intriguing characters. If you like mystery, murder as well as romance then like me you’ll love this book.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Driven into exile twelve years earlier, due to family scandal, Declan Sinclair is called home by his elder brother Albert. On arriving back in England he’s devastated to discover his brother has been murdered and he’s the new Duke of Darington. When clues point to the man he blames for both his exile and his father’s & brother’s deaths, Declan resolves to ruin the culprit
Lady Alethea Swinton has cultivated her pristine reputation in the hopes of winning her father’s praise. When her childhood friend Declan returns, Alethea finds she’s willing to court scandal and defy her father to help the handsome Declan uncover the truth behind the deaths in his family.
A page turning roller coaster of a novel, which I found very hard to put down. The pace of this well written story was very good & the pace quickened to the climax. The characters are well developed & have plenty of depth. Declan & Allie are very likeable, their attraction sizzles & becomes hotter with each meeting. I was a little confused about the diary entries at the start of each chapter but all is revealed. I hope Finley & Fiona have their stories as they were also intriguing characters. If you like mystery, murder as well as romance then like me you’ll love this book.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
September 1, 2017
Lady Alethea Swinton, her twin brother, Finlay, Lord Firthwell and the second son of the Duke of Darlington, Declan Sinclair were childhood friends. Their friendship was fractured by tragedy and scandal involving their fathers. Declan disappeared from England, his absence fuelled gossips and speculations from the ton.
Declan resurface after over a decade, now the new Duke Darlington. They manage to rekindle their friendship despite their old wounds but face fresh gossips and scandals.
Allie and Declan's affection and passion for each other has grown and stood the test of time and their separation.
Friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes and Liana de la Rosa has written this triumph- against-all-odds story beautifully. The characters are interesting and the repartees are witty. There are plenty of emotions and actions in play: loyalty, friendship, power, greed, betrayal, deceit, murder, kidnapping, family drama, secrets, vengeance, forgiveness, lust and love.
This is an excellent read. Five stars.
I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley, This is my impartial review.
April 12, 2021
I read Liana De la Rosa's novella, The Captain's Midwinter Bride, and liked it enough to borrow To Love a Scandalous Duke from the library almost immediately thereafter. The romance started on a strong note, with Alethea Swinton embarrassed to find herself the subject of gossip after Declan Sinclair's unexpected return to England at the season's height. Unfortunately, it didn't sustain its strength and so it's earned 2.5 stars, rounded down. While I think the characterization is a little uneven, Alethea and Declan captured my interest from the outset as they each had distinct personalities and seemed to complement one another. I did have reservations when Declan referred to his sugarcane plantations in St. Lucia, but two thirds in, he assures Alethea that he is two generations removed from enslaved labour. Despite Declan's framing, I didn't find his grand-pére a romantic figure by any means; I simply treated the narrative (of a white, slave-owning Englishman so in love with a black fisherwoman that he manumits his entire plantation in exchange for her hand) as one that had a different meaning for the character than for me. I do wish it had come up earlier because especially as a black reader, it's uncomfortable to have Schrodinger's Enslaver as a hero.
As the relationship between Alethea and Declan progressed and the mystery unfolded, I became increasingly frustrated. On a minor note, it was hard to suspend my disbelief as the pair of them made out often and publicly, sneaked around London at night, etc. Based on their circumstances alone, and the supposed acrimony that preceded their years-long separation, I'd expect a slower burn or at least more circumspection. More importantly, though, their dynamic felt imbalanced as they each came closer to the truth. It would've lent more credence to her apparent self-sufficiency and independence because aside from a brief confrontation with Society matrons, I didn't see any evidence that Alethea can navigate the ton with effortless grace or that she could rescue either Declan, Finlay, or herself from scrapes. I lost respect for her when did little to move her, but I could perhaps have recovered it if not for Alethea repeatedly points out that as a woman, she doesn't have as much freedom of choice as a duke; however, even as a witness to the ton's cruelty to him and his mother, she never seems to consider that whiteness lends her power that Declan can't access (or can only access conditionally). At one point, she suggests that the racism doesn't compute because she's always appreciated his heritage and complexion as unique, but from my perspective, it made Alethea less prepared to support Declan in the ways he needed her to.
I hesitate to comment on colourism (incl. featurism and texturism) because I think that in the nineteenth century, as in the present, it would likely have been more difficult for a dark-skinned duke (or, for that matter, a duchess) to earn a place in Society. I think there's a risk that in representing colourism, the text might reproduce it and more so because it's not clear that the author considered these issues in particular. With every reference to Declan's "golden skin," I thought of the genre's long history of mixed-race characters with one white parent. With golden skin, dark eyes, and loose, black curls, Declan could be any duke in a Regency romance. Obviously, I don't object either to his heritage or skin tone, but to a broader pattern that exoticizes mixed-race characters and attributes their physical appeal to (their proximity to) whiteness. There are no living black characters in the text and as I recall, no physical descriptions of the deceased beyond their racial category (e.g., mulatta), so there's no real opportunity to challenge this trope. I neither want nor expect A Very Special Episode, but To Love a Scandalous Duke "felt" odd because the characters rarely address the elephant in the room even when it's shattering all the china.
I appreciate characters of colour in Regency romance and I recognize that their presence necessarily invokes difficult histories--histories that are, for the most part, suppressed in the genre as a whole because it does detract from the love story when we remember the source of a duke's wealth or a viscountess's jewellery. I don't expect characters to have "perfect" politics (or, for that matter, my politics) for any reason, including shared identity, and I think romance can explore complex issues. In fact, I enjoy it when the genre does. I simply didn't feel there was much exploration here. It is more difficult to believe, or become invested in a relationship when Alethea doesn't seem to understand the impact of racism on her partner or their potential children--when Declan acknowledges as much, but says nothing about it. To watch Declan sacrifice left me cold because as a black duke, he'd ordinarily rely . I think it's entirely possible that someone else could read To Love a Scandalous Duke and feel differently, but I was disappointed.
As the relationship between Alethea and Declan progressed and the mystery unfolded, I became increasingly frustrated. On a minor note, it was hard to suspend my disbelief as the pair of them made out often and publicly, sneaked around London at night, etc. Based on their circumstances alone, and the supposed acrimony that preceded their years-long separation, I'd expect a slower burn or at least more circumspection. More importantly, though, their dynamic felt imbalanced as they each came closer to the truth. It would've lent more credence to her apparent self-sufficiency and independence because aside from a brief confrontation with Society matrons, I didn't see any evidence that Alethea can navigate the ton with effortless grace or that she could rescue either Declan, Finlay, or herself from scrapes. I lost respect for her when did little to move her, but I could perhaps have recovered it if not for Alethea repeatedly points out that as a woman, she doesn't have as much freedom of choice as a duke; however, even as a witness to the ton's cruelty to him and his mother, she never seems to consider that whiteness lends her power that Declan can't access (or can only access conditionally). At one point, she suggests that the racism doesn't compute because she's always appreciated his heritage and complexion as unique, but from my perspective, it made Alethea less prepared to support Declan in the ways he needed her to.
I hesitate to comment on colourism (incl. featurism and texturism) because I think that in the nineteenth century, as in the present, it would likely have been more difficult for a dark-skinned duke (or, for that matter, a duchess) to earn a place in Society. I think there's a risk that in representing colourism, the text might reproduce it and more so because it's not clear that the author considered these issues in particular. With every reference to Declan's "golden skin," I thought of the genre's long history of mixed-race characters with one white parent. With golden skin, dark eyes, and loose, black curls, Declan could be any duke in a Regency romance. Obviously, I don't object either to his heritage or skin tone, but to a broader pattern that exoticizes mixed-race characters and attributes their physical appeal to (their proximity to) whiteness. There are no living black characters in the text and as I recall, no physical descriptions of the deceased beyond their racial category (e.g., mulatta), so there's no real opportunity to challenge this trope. I neither want nor expect A Very Special Episode, but To Love a Scandalous Duke "felt" odd because the characters rarely address the elephant in the room even when it's shattering all the china.
I appreciate characters of colour in Regency romance and I recognize that their presence necessarily invokes difficult histories--histories that are, for the most part, suppressed in the genre as a whole because it does detract from the love story when we remember the source of a duke's wealth or a viscountess's jewellery. I don't expect characters to have "perfect" politics (or, for that matter, my politics) for any reason, including shared identity, and I think romance can explore complex issues. In fact, I enjoy it when the genre does. I simply didn't feel there was much exploration here. It is more difficult to believe, or become invested in a relationship when Alethea doesn't seem to understand the impact of racism on her partner or their potential children--when Declan acknowledges as much, but says nothing about it. To watch Declan sacrifice left me cold because as a black duke, he'd ordinarily rely . I think it's entirely possible that someone else could read To Love a Scandalous Duke and feel differently, but I was disappointed.
July 5, 2023
Lovely start to the series!
I like the childhood friends to Lovers. But also there is drama between their families. And one might ruin the other.
4 stars
1.5 on the spice scale (but the longing is A+)
I like the childhood friends to Lovers. But also there is drama between their families. And one might ruin the other.
4 stars
1.5 on the spice scale (but the longing is A+)
September 5, 2021
3 grudging Stars. Would have given 2.5 but I enjoyed Declan, hence the extra.
The Plot
Declan returns to England after 12 years in the Caribbean (called his exile for some reason, which has not been elaborated upon in detail - there is one line somewhere in the book that lets us know he was sent away for his protection) to find that his older brother is dead or as we later discover has been murdered making Declan the 8th Duke and he starts digging into the reasons surrounding the said murder.
He reconnects with Lady Althea & her twin Finlay, Viscount Firthwell, children of the Earl of Rockhaven who was Declan's father's long time friend and business partner. "The Scandal" 12 years before where the book opens was about the fathers' friendship gone sour (to put it mildly) due to some ruinous financial investments, resulting in The 6th Duke of Darington being blamed for skimming off the top and him putting a pistol in his mouth. Heated words were exchanged between the hero & heroine's family before Declan was asked to leave.
Amidst this convoluted plot, the hero and the heroine find love, try to come to terms with their current circumstances, find the villain and live happily ever after.
What did not work
At the outset, unfortunately, the cover of the book is bad and second, more importantly, the hero, Declan Sinclair is not scandalous as the title of the book would have us believe, hence, unfortunately, it does not justify. But if I am to stretch the logic, his family is steeped in a scandal of the villain's making so I guess he may be scandalous by association and his birth, considering his mother, the Duchess was not white.
Having gotten that out of the way, the premise of the book is mostly about financial scandal navigation and murder mystery and less about the romance.
This is my first book by the author Liana De la Rosa. The prose seemed very modern to me, quite un-aligned to the 1820's era. The story went back and forth between murder mystery & blossoming romance at a dizzying alacrity, it did not feel as seamless as some of the other books I have read. The character development felt wanting, it just needed...more.
What worked I guess
Suprisingingly the romance felt believable. The friends to lovers trope was justified to a certain extent.
The Hero
Declan was a steadfast hero. He was honourable, duty-bound and felt true to the plotline. He was clear about his priorities and went about seeing to them in a very ducal fashion, he manages his business, helps the heroine when needed, converses politely in society, keeps his friendship with Finlay, all the while navigating the storm cloud of the aforementioned scandal and the villain making trouble.
The Heroine
Althea was meh-ish at best I guess. She is considered a 'Diamond of the first Water' at 26? I think not. She repeatedly pops up in scandal sheets and is revered by the ton? I think not. She loves her father dearly when most of their conversations give her anxiety? I think not. Her loyalties seemed misplaced, especially when it came to Declan, I get that she was dealing with a ton of dominos falling, but if her internal struggle was described better, I would have found her less meh. The only authentic thing about her was her relationship with her twin & why she may have fallen for Declan.
The Villian/s
They may have felt sneaky and wily but that also flatlined pretty quickly. The Vicomte's character had promise, like a bond villain promise, that sadly was not delivered.
My Recommendation
The whole thing felt lacklustre, considering a lot could have been done with the plot & characters. I may be willing to give the next book a chance but with some wariness.
The Plot
Declan returns to England after 12 years in the Caribbean (called his exile for some reason, which has not been elaborated upon in detail - there is one line somewhere in the book that lets us know he was sent away for his protection) to find that his older brother is dead or as we later discover has been murdered making Declan the 8th Duke and he starts digging into the reasons surrounding the said murder.
He reconnects with Lady Althea & her twin Finlay, Viscount Firthwell, children of the Earl of Rockhaven who was Declan's father's long time friend and business partner. "The Scandal" 12 years before where the book opens was about the fathers' friendship gone sour (to put it mildly) due to some ruinous financial investments, resulting in The 6th Duke of Darington being blamed for skimming off the top and him putting a pistol in his mouth. Heated words were exchanged between the hero & heroine's family before Declan was asked to leave.
Amidst this convoluted plot, the hero and the heroine find love, try to come to terms with their current circumstances, find the villain and live happily ever after.
What did not work
At the outset, unfortunately, the cover of the book is bad and second, more importantly, the hero, Declan Sinclair is not scandalous as the title of the book would have us believe, hence, unfortunately, it does not justify. But if I am to stretch the logic, his family is steeped in a scandal of the villain's making so I guess he may be scandalous by association and his birth, considering his mother, the Duchess was not white.
Having gotten that out of the way, the premise of the book is mostly about financial scandal navigation and murder mystery and less about the romance.
This is my first book by the author Liana De la Rosa. The prose seemed very modern to me, quite un-aligned to the 1820's era. The story went back and forth between murder mystery & blossoming romance at a dizzying alacrity, it did not feel as seamless as some of the other books I have read. The character development felt wanting, it just needed...more.
What worked I guess
Suprisingingly the romance felt believable. The friends to lovers trope was justified to a certain extent.
The Hero
Declan was a steadfast hero. He was honourable, duty-bound and felt true to the plotline. He was clear about his priorities and went about seeing to them in a very ducal fashion, he manages his business, helps the heroine when needed, converses politely in society, keeps his friendship with Finlay, all the while navigating the storm cloud of the aforementioned scandal and the villain making trouble.
The Heroine
Althea was meh-ish at best I guess. She is considered a 'Diamond of the first Water' at 26? I think not. She repeatedly pops up in scandal sheets and is revered by the ton? I think not. She loves her father dearly when most of their conversations give her anxiety? I think not. Her loyalties seemed misplaced, especially when it came to Declan, I get that she was dealing with a ton of dominos falling, but if her internal struggle was described better, I would have found her less meh. The only authentic thing about her was her relationship with her twin & why she may have fallen for Declan.
The Villian/s
They may have felt sneaky and wily but that also flatlined pretty quickly. The Vicomte's character had promise, like a bond villain promise, that sadly was not delivered.
My Recommendation
The whole thing felt lacklustre, considering a lot could have been done with the plot & characters. I may be willing to give the next book a chance but with some wariness.
Want to read
June 13, 2021Free on Amazon today! 💕
June 10, 2019
Our hero, Declan, returns to England after twelve years away in the West Indies. He left following his fathers suicide, when his family was embroiled in a financial scandal. Upon his return, he learns his brother is dead and he is now the Duke.
Growing up neighbors, Alethea harbored a young tendre for Declan. Declan’s family had suggested a betrothel between them, but it was refused by her family, as he was a second son.
This book revolves around rekindling their friendship and relationship, as well as a mystery plot surrounding Declan’s father and brothers deaths.
I loved the romance in this story. So sweet to watch these two get to know each other as adults. The butterflies and all consuming feelings of wondering about them at all times. The fun, the giggles. The giddiness.
The mystery drives much of the plot in this story but I enjoyed it. It’s all wrapped up nicely by the end of the book.
I think I would have liked a prologue maybe showing a scene from their past because of their history together. I also would have loved an epilogue to see if they remained in England or traveled to the West Indies together. But maybe we get more from them in the following book? Either way, I can’t wait to read the next story.
Growing up neighbors, Alethea harbored a young tendre for Declan. Declan’s family had suggested a betrothel between them, but it was refused by her family, as he was a second son.
This book revolves around rekindling their friendship and relationship, as well as a mystery plot surrounding Declan’s father and brothers deaths.
I loved the romance in this story. So sweet to watch these two get to know each other as adults. The butterflies and all consuming feelings of wondering about them at all times. The fun, the giggles. The giddiness.
The mystery drives much of the plot in this story but I enjoyed it. It’s all wrapped up nicely by the end of the book.
I think I would have liked a prologue maybe showing a scene from their past because of their history together. I also would have loved an epilogue to see if they remained in England or traveled to the West Indies together. But maybe we get more from them in the following book? Either way, I can’t wait to read the next story.
September 10, 2017
It's an interesting story. When a 'scandalous' returns to London after years everyone starts talking about him. There is sadness and mystery revolving around Declan Sinclair's life. By sending him away his family had tried to protect him from everything that followed the scandal of his father committing suicide. But now that he is back it appears that things are not much different. People still remember everything that happened so many years ago but more than that he is still driven to prove his father's innocence and find out the truth behind his brother's death.
Lady Alethea and her twin are Declan's childhood friend. He wants them to be just that once again. Apparently it won't be that easy. There is too much between their families. They will never be carefree children that they were once upon a time. In addition to this now that they're grown up he realizes how attractive he finds Alethea, unfortunately he has no plan to stay in London long enough to do something about that.
Alethea realizes that Dec has changed. He is no longer the same person but she still loves him as much as she always has. Only if there was a way for them to be together....
I quite enjoyed reading this book. I loved the story, I think it's perfect combination of romance and mystery. It's well written and characters are all likable. I think any historical fiction fan will enjoy this story of scandal, mystery, and mayhem.
Lady Alethea and her twin are Declan's childhood friend. He wants them to be just that once again. Apparently it won't be that easy. There is too much between their families. They will never be carefree children that they were once upon a time. In addition to this now that they're grown up he realizes how attractive he finds Alethea, unfortunately he has no plan to stay in London long enough to do something about that.
Alethea realizes that Dec has changed. He is no longer the same person but she still loves him as much as she always has. Only if there was a way for them to be together....
I quite enjoyed reading this book. I loved the story, I think it's perfect combination of romance and mystery. It's well written and characters are all likable. I think any historical fiction fan will enjoy this story of scandal, mystery, and mayhem.
May 24, 2018
I thought this book had it all: romance, mystery, humor, and (yes!) sexy times.
I loved the chemistry between Althea and Declan and enjoyed the way both characters talked with one another rather than being coy about their interest in each other. Because they shared a past together their almost immediate attraction to each other after the long separation was both understandable and convincing. This was a love story that was free of TSTL misunderstandings.
I also liked the sibling relationship between Althea and Finlay, which came across as natural and close and added veracity to Althea's devotion to her family. Could you quibble she showed too much loyalty to her father? Maybe by modern standards, but this is a novel set in a different time when family and reputation meant everything. Anyhow, I felt her internal struggle throughout the novel and it made me respect her.
I enjoy a good mystery but engaging characters are always key to my enjoyment of a book. Ms. De la Rosa does not disappoint when it comes to developing sympathetic, interesting, and compelling characters. I found Althea and Declan both people I could root for and I cared about what happened to them.
This was a sweet, fun, and sexy read and I'm looking forward to another from De la Rosa!
I loved the chemistry between Althea and Declan and enjoyed the way both characters talked with one another rather than being coy about their interest in each other. Because they shared a past together their almost immediate attraction to each other after the long separation was both understandable and convincing. This was a love story that was free of TSTL misunderstandings.
I also liked the sibling relationship between Althea and Finlay, which came across as natural and close and added veracity to Althea's devotion to her family. Could you quibble she showed too much loyalty to her father? Maybe by modern standards, but this is a novel set in a different time when family and reputation meant everything. Anyhow, I felt her internal struggle throughout the novel and it made me respect her.
I enjoy a good mystery but engaging characters are always key to my enjoyment of a book. Ms. De la Rosa does not disappoint when it comes to developing sympathetic, interesting, and compelling characters. I found Althea and Declan both people I could root for and I cared about what happened to them.
This was a sweet, fun, and sexy read and I'm looking forward to another from De la Rosa!
not-interested
August 8, 2024Note to self: not enough romance.
August 31, 2017
3.5/5. Good effort from new author. There are a few anachronistic terminologies, but not enough to really bother me too much and her prose is quite good and flows well. The start of the book was definitely quite promising and tantalising, teasing out the background story slowly. Declan, the new the Duke of Darington, has finally arrived home after leaving English shores 12 years earlier following a scandal that resulted in the suicide of his father. His older brother for reasons unknown had advised him to stay away, but had recently called him back home only to find upon his homecoming, that the brother has been killed under suspicious circumstances and that Declan is now the title holder of this ill-lucked dukedom. He is determined to solve the mystery of his brother's death, right the wrong of his father's shameful passing and restore the good name of his family. He never intended to fall for his old childhood friend, Lady Alethea, the daughter of his father's business partner and former good friend. She has her own skeletons in the family closet to fight through, but their interactions, although a bit wary at the start, never got hostile, and trust and love soon blossoms. I do like it when the main characters have a past connection, giving their relationship greater depth and interest.
My issue with this book is some inconsistencies in the plot. I don't really understand why Declan had to leave England after his father's death and remain in exile for another 12 years, considering he was only a young boy then, and since his brother had to stay behind to take over the dukedom, why couldn't Declan stay also? Why did he insist on leaving England again as soon as possible when he had been asking his brother for years to allow him to return? Alethea thought of her father as loving and doting despite the fact that he often brought her anxiety and tears in his frequent disapproval of her. She continued to defend her father against Declan's accusations, knowing that he attempted to have Declan murdered as well as forcing her to marry a man older than himself. Oh, and Alethea was described as diamond of the first water even though she must have been at least 26 years old and considered over the hill in those days. I also found little true tension between the leads as the parallel mystery plot line took the main focus of the book.
The author does have great potential. If only she continued the momentum of the first 1/3 of the book it could have been quite a terrific read. I will certainly try her books out again in the future. This is an ARC provided by Netgalley.
My issue with this book is some inconsistencies in the plot. I don't really understand why Declan had to leave England after his father's death and remain in exile for another 12 years, considering he was only a young boy then, and since his brother had to stay behind to take over the dukedom, why couldn't Declan stay also? Why did he insist on leaving England again as soon as possible when he had been asking his brother for years to allow him to return? Alethea thought of her father as loving and doting despite the fact that he often brought her anxiety and tears in his frequent disapproval of her. She continued to defend her father against Declan's accusations, knowing that he attempted to have Declan murdered as well as forcing her to marry a man older than himself. Oh, and Alethea was described as diamond of the first water even though she must have been at least 26 years old and considered over the hill in those days. I also found little true tension between the leads as the parallel mystery plot line took the main focus of the book.
The author does have great potential. If only she continued the momentum of the first 1/3 of the book it could have been quite a terrific read. I will certainly try her books out again in the future. This is an ARC provided by Netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2017
Publisher's Description:
Driven into exile years earlier, due to family scandal, Declan Sinclair is called home, devastated to discover his brother has been murdered and he’s the new Duke of Darington. When clues point to the man he blames for both his exile and his brother’s death, Declan resolves to ruin the culprit. If only the daughter of the man’s business partner, lovely Lady Alethea Swinton, didn’t tempt his resolve.
Lady Alethea Swinton has cultivated her pristine reputation in the hopes of winning her father’s praise. When her childhood friend returns, Alethea finds she’s willing to court scandal and defy her father to help the handsome Declan uncover the truth behind his brother’s death. Until she realizes Declan’s redemption will mean her family’s ruin.
My Thoughts;
I can not find other books by this author so maybe this is her debut.
Declan and Alethea have known each other since childhood.
Declan was sent away after the scandal that lead to the death of his father and the subsequent inheritance of the Dukedom by his older half brother but very young sibling.
Now years later Declan is summoned home by his brother only to find upon arriving that his brother is dead also and he is now the duke.
Declan with his mixed blood and dark coloring will never be accepted by the ton as the new duke.
Alethea has spent the last three years in Scotland where her mother died and she has only recently returned home. She is one of the few friends that Declan has and although her father pretends a friendship with the young Duke he has sinister thoughts and plans for the man.
Will this childhood friendship turn into a very adult love and relationship? Will Alethea's father allow it to happen?
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 4.0 of 5.0 flames. The build up to this relationship is sweet but becomes more heated along the way.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Driven into exile years earlier, due to family scandal, Declan Sinclair is called home, devastated to discover his brother has been murdered and he’s the new Duke of Darington. When clues point to the man he blames for both his exile and his brother’s death, Declan resolves to ruin the culprit. If only the daughter of the man’s business partner, lovely Lady Alethea Swinton, didn’t tempt his resolve.
Lady Alethea Swinton has cultivated her pristine reputation in the hopes of winning her father’s praise. When her childhood friend returns, Alethea finds she’s willing to court scandal and defy her father to help the handsome Declan uncover the truth behind his brother’s death. Until she realizes Declan’s redemption will mean her family’s ruin.
My Thoughts;
I can not find other books by this author so maybe this is her debut.
Declan and Alethea have known each other since childhood.
Declan was sent away after the scandal that lead to the death of his father and the subsequent inheritance of the Dukedom by his older half brother but very young sibling.
Now years later Declan is summoned home by his brother only to find upon arriving that his brother is dead also and he is now the duke.
Declan with his mixed blood and dark coloring will never be accepted by the ton as the new duke.
Alethea has spent the last three years in Scotland where her mother died and she has only recently returned home. She is one of the few friends that Declan has and although her father pretends a friendship with the young Duke he has sinister thoughts and plans for the man.
Will this childhood friendship turn into a very adult love and relationship? Will Alethea's father allow it to happen?
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 4.0 of 5.0 flames. The build up to this relationship is sweet but becomes more heated along the way.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
September 8, 2019
This started out promising, but as it continued, the book, especially the second half, started to fall apart. The way the plot unraveled, combined with the behavior of the characters, frustrated me. And it ended with some unanswered questions and loose ends not resolved. Overall not a bad effort for a debut, and the author has potential. I’d be interested in reading her again in the future but would probably read some reviews first.
September 30, 2017
An entertaining regency romance with a mystery and a HEA all wrapped in one. I enjoyed this second chance romance. The hero and heroine are honorable and sincere. Love rules in the end and makes this one a perfect read for a rainy day.
December 15, 2017
This is one of my favorite debut authors 2017! This story had me at the first confrontation with Declan and Alethia. When he walks up behind her and speaks in her ear, I got goosebumps. There were laughing moments and times I teared up. Unforgettable.
June 7, 2024
Not bad.
September 12, 2017
4.5 stars, this book was almost perfect and I really enjoyed the story.
Declan Sinclair, The Duke of Darington aka Dec has returned to England after 12 years. He was sent away after his father committed suicide and has been forbidden to return, until now. But this will not be a happy homecoming for Dec, he returns to find his beloved older brother Albert is dead and he is the new Duke.
Dec is determined to find his brother's murderer and clear his father's name, but when he reunites with his childhood friends, Lady Alethea Swinton aka Allie and Finlay Swinton, Viscount Firthwell, his single-minded pursuit of justice is in danger of derailment.
This story is not what I expected, I was thinking it was going to be a straight up friends to lovers story and in some senses it was, but it is so much more!
Allie is overjoyed to see Dec again, but she is cautioned by her father The Earl of Rockhaven to stay away from him as he is considered scandalous. Allie seems to crave her father's acceptance and has only recently returned to England herself - she has been in Scotland for the last three years caring for her mother - when her mother passed away, she stayed on in Scotland, only returning at her father's request. Her time in Scotland changed her, she is no longer content to be an idle lady of leisure. But she still has a strong desire to make her father happy, which seems to stem from her contentious relationship with her mother. But the pull of Dec is too great to ignore.
As Dec and Allie renew their friendship, Allie learns the reason Dec has returned and offers to help him. Dec is reluctant to draw Allie into his investigation for many reasons, the primary one being, he believes her father is involved. He tries to keep his distance and ignore his growing attraction to her, but like Allie, the attraction is too great to ignore.
The story is gripping and well written, it is packed with surprise revelations, steamy interludes, life altering secrets, ruthless villains and a little heartbreak before finally culminating into a sweet, sigh worthy HEA.
The only reason I didn't give this five stars is there are some unresolved questions, like why did Dec get sent away and why was he forbidden to return? There are also a couple of minor inconsistencies and period related errors (that may actually be corrected before the publication, this was an ARC) but were glaringly obvious to this reader. But even with these issues, I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it and look forward to reading more by this author!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
Declan Sinclair, The Duke of Darington aka Dec has returned to England after 12 years. He was sent away after his father committed suicide and has been forbidden to return, until now. But this will not be a happy homecoming for Dec, he returns to find his beloved older brother Albert is dead and he is the new Duke.
Dec is determined to find his brother's murderer and clear his father's name, but when he reunites with his childhood friends, Lady Alethea Swinton aka Allie and Finlay Swinton, Viscount Firthwell, his single-minded pursuit of justice is in danger of derailment.
This story is not what I expected, I was thinking it was going to be a straight up friends to lovers story and in some senses it was, but it is so much more!
Allie is overjoyed to see Dec again, but she is cautioned by her father The Earl of Rockhaven to stay away from him as he is considered scandalous. Allie seems to crave her father's acceptance and has only recently returned to England herself - she has been in Scotland for the last three years caring for her mother - when her mother passed away, she stayed on in Scotland, only returning at her father's request. Her time in Scotland changed her, she is no longer content to be an idle lady of leisure. But she still has a strong desire to make her father happy, which seems to stem from her contentious relationship with her mother. But the pull of Dec is too great to ignore.
As Dec and Allie renew their friendship, Allie learns the reason Dec has returned and offers to help him. Dec is reluctant to draw Allie into his investigation for many reasons, the primary one being, he believes her father is involved. He tries to keep his distance and ignore his growing attraction to her, but like Allie, the attraction is too great to ignore.
The story is gripping and well written, it is packed with surprise revelations, steamy interludes, life altering secrets, ruthless villains and a little heartbreak before finally culminating into a sweet, sigh worthy HEA.
The only reason I didn't give this five stars is there are some unresolved questions, like why did Dec get sent away and why was he forbidden to return? There are also a couple of minor inconsistencies and period related errors (that may actually be corrected before the publication, this was an ARC) but were glaringly obvious to this reader. But even with these issues, I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it and look forward to reading more by this author!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
August 20, 2022
I rarely give single star reviews, but in my opinion this was pretty poorly crafted all around. The dialog is trite, the mystery should have been exciting given the subject matter, but somehow it was just kinda made to feel tiresome. I didn't believe the characters were in love, and thought there was actually more proof that their affections were shallow than there was for the sentiments they claimed. The logic was all over the place. The heroine was a ninny. Multiple plot holes. Bah. It would have made a decent first draft I think, and to be fair, the hero wasn't as bad as the heroine, (though he still didn't particularly impress me). Overall I'm pleased to have it over.
October 11, 2017
Adored this book!!!! If you love historical romance with suspense, shocks, and twists then read this one!! Declan returns after he finds out his brother has died and he has inheritied the title and gossip ensues immediately. Lady Alethea, childhood friend of Declan's, cannot stay away even with the bad blood between families. The pull between these two was immediate. As they grow to learn who they are now they grow dangerously close and both learn dangerous secrets that could tear them apart. SIGH. The passion and understanding these two have for each other is beautiful. It is such a well down book that shocked me MANY times. I could not stop thinking about it for days after reading it! READTHISBOOK!
January 27, 2020
This book would be perfect for someone who likes their historicals with a hefty side of mystery. Declan has returned to England after a scandal sent him into exile for years, only to discover his brother has died under suspicious circumstances and the dukedom is now his. As you might imagine, Declan’s focus is on solving his brother’s possible murder and less on his budding romance with his childhood friend Alethea, which I think is why I read this one much slower than most historicals. I live for the romantic development, and it was overshadowed here by the drama and intrigue. Still, I enjoyed it enough that I’ll check out more of de la Rosa’s books.
September 25, 2017
I received this ARC from NetGalley and voluntarily chose to write a review.
This story had great potential. The first third of the book was excellent and interesting, but everything started falling apart after that.
The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were confusing at first, but they end up building to a certain event in the story, so I think they were an excellent inclusion.
My main issue with the story has to do with the inconsistencies and unanswered questions. Let's begin with the former. When Declan told Alethea about his suspicions and findings regarding his brother's death, she went on to discuss this personal matter with her friend Flora and her brother Finlay. I understand that she trusted them both, but this was not her information to share because Declan had confided in her only. Based on how smart Alethea is supposed to be, that was actually a pretty dumb and risky move. I also got annoyed with how fixated she was on pleasing her father. Not once did she actually stand up to him and that irritated me so much. She had no backbone whatsoever, even though she was constantly described as this strong and smart woman. In the end, it was only her brother who stood up to their father. Finally, I hated that she did not tell Declan about what she overheard right away, especially after hearing about how he was attacked. The final inconsistency had to do with the pacing of the story, which was a little strange. Declan was in the middle of the investigation, but then he went to the country for a romantic interlude with Alethea. So...what exactly was his priority?
The main thing that was left unanswered was why Declan was actually sent away. Not even Declan himself knew why he was exiled. He suspected that his mother was trying to shield him from the scandal. But that did not actually answer my question.
Now for the reckoning: there was no justice at all .
I am actually very disappointed because this story had so much potential. Alethea made some very dumb decisions despite being described as smart. Declan ended up being a wuss in the end. And the villains got away with everything!
Finally, maybe this was only me, but the copy of this ARC was terrible. Some chapters were aligned to the left which made it hard to read.
I do think that the author has potential. This story needed a good editor. It had all the good elements for a fun, fast-paced book. But these elements got jumbled up. The pacing got messy and the characters slowly died.
2 stars for the writing, the potential and the chemistry.
This story had great potential. The first third of the book was excellent and interesting, but everything started falling apart after that.
The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were confusing at first, but they end up building to a certain event in the story, so I think they were an excellent inclusion.
My main issue with the story has to do with the inconsistencies and unanswered questions. Let's begin with the former. When Declan told Alethea about his suspicions and findings regarding his brother's death, she went on to discuss this personal matter with her friend Flora and her brother Finlay. I understand that she trusted them both, but this was not her information to share because Declan had confided in her only. Based on how smart Alethea is supposed to be, that was actually a pretty dumb and risky move. I also got annoyed with how fixated she was on pleasing her father. Not once did she actually stand up to him and that irritated me so much. She had no backbone whatsoever, even though she was constantly described as this strong and smart woman. In the end, it was only her brother who stood up to their father. Finally, I hated that she did not tell Declan about what she overheard right away, especially after hearing about how he was attacked. The final inconsistency had to do with the pacing of the story, which was a little strange. Declan was in the middle of the investigation, but then he went to the country for a romantic interlude with Alethea. So...what exactly was his priority?
The main thing that was left unanswered was why Declan was actually sent away. Not even Declan himself knew why he was exiled. He suspected that his mother was trying to shield him from the scandal. But that did not actually answer my question.
Now for the reckoning: there was no justice at all .
I am actually very disappointed because this story had so much potential. Alethea made some very dumb decisions despite being described as smart. Declan ended up being a wuss in the end. And the villains got away with everything!
Finally, maybe this was only me, but the copy of this ARC was terrible. Some chapters were aligned to the left which made it hard to read.
I do think that the author has potential. This story needed a good editor. It had all the good elements for a fun, fast-paced book. But these elements got jumbled up. The pacing got messy and the characters slowly died.
2 stars for the writing, the potential and the chemistry.
November 29, 2017
I received this book through a giveaway from the author. All opinions are my own.
It can be hard to know what to expect from a debut author, and in my experience some debuts I’ve read in the past year or two have been good, while others have been more lackluster. With Liana De La Rosa’s debut, it is definitely the former. To Love a Scandalous Duke checks all the boxes of things I love: a fun spin on the friends-to-lovers trope, two compelling and unique lead characters, and a well-paced conspiracy plot.
Declan, the new Duke of Darington, is the type of duke that doesn’t make me want to roll my eyes: he’s a second son who found himself thrust into the position unexpectedly due to tragedy in the family, and the scandal attached to his name and background is intriguing. And through his character, De La Rosa, does explore some elements of colonialism and racism and England, which is something that is more loosely implied in most other works set in the the same time period.
Alethea “Allie” is no less interesting. She seems like someone who very much wants her father’s approval, and is caught between that and the attraction between her and Declan. And the way De La Rosa ups the stakes that makes her choose between those two is wonderfully done, and when the moment she finds out she isn’t who she always believed she was is a truly gripping moment.
Each chapter contains an epigraph from the diary of a woman who is not immediately identified, adding to the mystery of the narrative. However, once her identity is revealed, it is chilling to go back and read some of the epigraphs and see how they correspond to the big secret of Allie’s identity, and it is something I would recommend.
It can be hard to know what to expect from a debut author, and in my experience some debuts I’ve read in the past year or two have been good, while others have been more lackluster. With Liana De La Rosa’s debut, it is definitely the former. To Love a Scandalous Duke checks all the boxes of things I love: a fun spin on the friends-to-lovers trope, two compelling and unique lead characters, and a well-paced conspiracy plot.
Declan, the new Duke of Darington, is the type of duke that doesn’t make me want to roll my eyes: he’s a second son who found himself thrust into the position unexpectedly due to tragedy in the family, and the scandal attached to his name and background is intriguing. And through his character, De La Rosa, does explore some elements of colonialism and racism and England, which is something that is more loosely implied in most other works set in the the same time period.
Alethea “Allie” is no less interesting. She seems like someone who very much wants her father’s approval, and is caught between that and the attraction between her and Declan. And the way De La Rosa ups the stakes that makes her choose between those two is wonderfully done, and when the moment she finds out she isn’t who she always believed she was is a truly gripping moment.
Each chapter contains an epigraph from the diary of a woman who is not immediately identified, adding to the mystery of the narrative. However, once her identity is revealed, it is chilling to go back and read some of the epigraphs and see how they correspond to the big secret of Allie’s identity, and it is something I would recommend.
September 22, 2017
On his return from overseas, after being summoned home by his older brother, Declan finds he is now the new Duke of Darington ,and , that his brother has been found dead after being attacked by footpads in spittallfields , somewhere where a Duke would not normally be .
Alethia has recently returned from living with her mother in Scotland, and she has been reunited with her twin brother Finley.
Their past links them both , they all were best friends when they we're young , but tragedy and suspicion separated them .
Declan has is own suspicions that somehow Ally's father is involved not just in his fathers suicide but in his brothers untimely death .
They rekindle old feelings and friendships , but will they be able to live with the truth , or will the past haunt them .
I really enjoyed this story, I love a bit of suspense and whodunnit. The characters are believable and the the writing is good and keeps the story moving at a decent pace .
Would love to read further stories with the secondary characters in, maybe Finley having his own adventure x
Alethia has recently returned from living with her mother in Scotland, and she has been reunited with her twin brother Finley.
Their past links them both , they all were best friends when they we're young , but tragedy and suspicion separated them .
Declan has is own suspicions that somehow Ally's father is involved not just in his fathers suicide but in his brothers untimely death .
They rekindle old feelings and friendships , but will they be able to live with the truth , or will the past haunt them .
I really enjoyed this story, I love a bit of suspense and whodunnit. The characters are believable and the the writing is good and keeps the story moving at a decent pace .
Would love to read further stories with the secondary characters in, maybe Finley having his own adventure x
September 26, 2017
2.5 stars
Hmmm. The story had potential, and it would have been an easy 4 star read for me had it not have so many plot holes. The whole conspiracy behind Declan's family scandal was convoluted and not properly developed IMO, and I was a bit eh about how the Truth was revealed and how the Problem was solved . The last 10% was a bit too conveniently wrapped up to me.
The only A+ thing about this is the hot chemistry between Allie and Dec. I love seeing them reconnect with each other.
Overall, this could have been a lot better. I hope Torres gets his own book!
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
Hmmm. The story had potential, and it would have been an easy 4 star read for me had it not have so many plot holes. The whole conspiracy behind Declan's family scandal was convoluted and not properly developed IMO, and I was a bit eh about how the Truth was revealed and how the Problem was solved . The last 10% was a bit too conveniently wrapped up to me.
The only A+ thing about this is the hot chemistry between Allie and Dec. I love seeing them reconnect with each other.
Overall, this could have been a lot better. I hope Torres gets his own book!
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
February 16, 2018
What an absolutely delightful book!! The chemistry between Declan and Althea is sizzling and had me hooked from start to finish. The pacing was great and the characters were all so well developed. Such a fabulous debut and I'm so looking forward to this author's next book! Highly recommended :)
September 25, 2017
Received in exchange for a honest review.
You see family shine in this book. Twins stick together and believe in one another. We see love in spades.
Alethea is loyal to her dad even when it hurts to be. Even when he sees her as cattle and a chip to use to help himself. She is strong and smart. Something that in the era she is in doesn’t get promoted or seen as something to revere. Declan does. He loves her strength and independence. How fierce and passionate she is. How she helps him even knowing it could give her truths that can hurt.
Declan is a fascinating character. He holds himself high even when those around him treat him with disdain. He is on a mission to solve the mystery of his brother’s death. At one point he even hopes to get revenge but becomes the better man. A man to look up to and see that he will do what he needs to show how much he respects and loves a woman and want to keep her heart from shattering.
The story is fast paced and captivating. We see Declan the one on the outskirts of society and yet a duke trying to find his way. He loves England but doesn’t feel he can stay. He is trying to find out the truth and in the process finds love and acceptance. He finds friendships and loyalty as well. We see Alethea wanting to be given the chance to shine. Not just be someone for polite society but have a voice and find someone to love her and spend her life with not be handed off to. She finds a voice and respect with Declan. We see them support each other no matter what as they both work to solve the mystery from years ago and now. We see Declan show her reverence and respect. Treat her as an equal. We see her brother show her that same respect and confidence. Believe in her abilities and also go against societal roles and be friends with Declan. He supports the relationship between Declan and his sister even when it is scandalous to do so and a scandalous relationship. Declan shows us that the children shouldn’t pay for the sins of the parent or parents. That one should be judged by who they are. And this is what Declan and Alethea do. They love one another because of who they. The story of how they come together and not only find out the truth behind they mystery surrounding his brother’s death but also a crime from years ago and finding love with one another is sweet, captivating and intimate.
You see family shine in this book. Twins stick together and believe in one another. We see love in spades.
Alethea is loyal to her dad even when it hurts to be. Even when he sees her as cattle and a chip to use to help himself. She is strong and smart. Something that in the era she is in doesn’t get promoted or seen as something to revere. Declan does. He loves her strength and independence. How fierce and passionate she is. How she helps him even knowing it could give her truths that can hurt.
Declan is a fascinating character. He holds himself high even when those around him treat him with disdain. He is on a mission to solve the mystery of his brother’s death. At one point he even hopes to get revenge but becomes the better man. A man to look up to and see that he will do what he needs to show how much he respects and loves a woman and want to keep her heart from shattering.
The story is fast paced and captivating. We see Declan the one on the outskirts of society and yet a duke trying to find his way. He loves England but doesn’t feel he can stay. He is trying to find out the truth and in the process finds love and acceptance. He finds friendships and loyalty as well. We see Alethea wanting to be given the chance to shine. Not just be someone for polite society but have a voice and find someone to love her and spend her life with not be handed off to. She finds a voice and respect with Declan. We see them support each other no matter what as they both work to solve the mystery from years ago and now. We see Declan show her reverence and respect. Treat her as an equal. We see her brother show her that same respect and confidence. Believe in her abilities and also go against societal roles and be friends with Declan. He supports the relationship between Declan and his sister even when it is scandalous to do so and a scandalous relationship. Declan shows us that the children shouldn’t pay for the sins of the parent or parents. That one should be judged by who they are. And this is what Declan and Alethea do. They love one another because of who they. The story of how they come together and not only find out the truth behind they mystery surrounding his brother’s death but also a crime from years ago and finding love with one another is sweet, captivating and intimate.
August 29, 2017
I received this book from net galley for an honest review. Thank you!!
This novel was a nice read. The author was able to incorporate romance with some mystery. There was a twist that I did not even see coming. Discovering the truth can cause many different reactions. How those reaction and knowledge are handled is what defines who the person is.
Lady Alethea Swinton and Declan Sinclair have known each other since they were children. Their fathers had an investment plan and were friends. All that changed when Duke of Darington made "wrong" investments, which caused Declan into exile. Years later, Declan returns as the new duke and to solve the mystery of his brother's death.
Allie is a diamond of the first water in London society and has a pristine reputation. All that changes when Declan returns and brings out the woman Allie longs to be. She is smart, but knows her limitations as a woman and is frustrated by that. Declan remembers the girl Allie was, but sees her as a woman and wonders if that adventurousness is still there.
Declan tries to figure out why his brother was murdered and it involves the Earl of Rockhaven, Allie's father. Allie realizes she is in love with Declan, but her father has other plans. She tries to keep some distance between them to avoid scandal, but both her and Declan are attracted to each other like moths to a flame. Declan and Allie both discover evidence about the truth behind the investments, which outs them in awkward positions due to the feelings of love they have for each other. Allie wants to protect her brother from the scandal. Declan wants revenge on her father. This causes a divide between them. However, when Allie goes missing, Declan knows he is the only one that can find her, but will it be too late?
This novel was a nice read. The author was able to incorporate romance with some mystery. There was a twist that I did not even see coming. Discovering the truth can cause many different reactions. How those reaction and knowledge are handled is what defines who the person is.
Lady Alethea Swinton and Declan Sinclair have known each other since they were children. Their fathers had an investment plan and were friends. All that changed when Duke of Darington made "wrong" investments, which caused Declan into exile. Years later, Declan returns as the new duke and to solve the mystery of his brother's death.
Allie is a diamond of the first water in London society and has a pristine reputation. All that changes when Declan returns and brings out the woman Allie longs to be. She is smart, but knows her limitations as a woman and is frustrated by that. Declan remembers the girl Allie was, but sees her as a woman and wonders if that adventurousness is still there.
Declan tries to figure out why his brother was murdered and it involves the Earl of Rockhaven, Allie's father. Allie realizes she is in love with Declan, but her father has other plans. She tries to keep some distance between them to avoid scandal, but both her and Declan are attracted to each other like moths to a flame. Declan and Allie both discover evidence about the truth behind the investments, which outs them in awkward positions due to the feelings of love they have for each other. Allie wants to protect her brother from the scandal. Declan wants revenge on her father. This causes a divide between them. However, when Allie goes missing, Declan knows he is the only one that can find her, but will it be too late?
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