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Loving a Fearless Duchess

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Penelope is beginning her season in London as an underdog. She will compete for the attention of marriageable gentlemen along with beautiful girls with flawless beauty while she has a large scar marring hers.

Nash met Penelope years ago and experienced an instant connection with her. Defying the odds, Nash and Penelope meet and connect again. But Penelope's cousin Henry works relentlessly to break them up. He is fearful his secret will become common knowledge if she marries Nash because Henry will no longer have leverage over her.

As the only son and heir to the Duke of Somerset, Henry's future depends on the course of this relationship, a relationship he is determined to end.

"Loving a Fearless Duchess" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2018

635 people are currently reading
102 people want to read

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Abigail Agar

136 books93 followers

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5 stars
153 (44%)
4 stars
106 (30%)
3 stars
52 (15%)
2 stars
17 (4%)
1 star
14 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Profile Image for *❆ Kαɾҽɳ ❆*.
414 reviews93 followers
March 5, 2018
This was a fantastic novel! I just love how Abigail was able to create not only a story but a plot that felt so unique, so vivid, and so real.

But what I loved most about this book was the characters, they were not all black and white, good or bad, they were all imperfect, grey, something that is hardly seen in books today. Even the most hated character Henry, had his reasons for being the way he was.

Our main character is Penelope. Her mother, Edward her elder brother and Penelope have been living with her uncle Avery and his son Henry for many years, ever since her father passed away.
With no income and food running low, her uncle rescued and took them in just in time. But their sanctuary was not perfect, from the moment they started living with their uncle, her cousin has made their lives miserable.
He is constantly insulting them, but mostly picking on Penelope, making her feel so low of herself. Plus, because of him, she now has to carry a horrible scar on her face. A scar he uses to provoke her and claim she will never marry.

But he isn't the only one to share this. Now that Penelope is 20, she is now of age to seek a husband, but the girls also see her scar and assume she is no competition. For who would want a wife with a scar on full display.

And in come Nash, a man who Penelope met year ago, when she was recently nursing her scar. But Nash knew he made a connection with Penelope that very day years ago, and now they meet again and they instantly click again. But Henry is determined to destroy their relationship before it has even began. Because if they do marry, Penelope can very likely expose who he really is.

There is so much at stake for Henry but mostly for her uncle Avery. He is desperate to keep his image and reputation in tack, that even the safety of his niece is not worth destroying his reputation. Because of this, Avery is not good nor a bad person, he is always somewhere stuck in wanting to do what's right but also covers a lot up for Henry's actions.
But as time goes on, we see this crumble but will it be too late for Penelope and Nash to live a life where they can never be fearful again?

Excellent story, so complex and original, loved every page!

Received a copy from the author, for an honest review, thank you!
Profile Image for Lori Quick.
301 reviews4 followers
March 1, 2018
I loved this book. Abigail Agar did did such a wonderful job. The story was fantastic. There were so many twists and turns, I could not put it down.

Penelope and Nash meet when she was just 14. She was living with her uncle and evil cousin. They connect, then meet up again several years later in London. Henry, the evil cousin does his best to keep them apart.

The story is a bit long but we'll worth the read.
Profile Image for Kathryn Bullivant.
Author 3 books3 followers
March 1, 2018
A sweet, clean romance with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. The main characters were likeable and well developed. The story does jump back and forward in time unexpectedly in some places, which was a little confusing initially. Overall 4.5*

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Space Cowgirl.
4,133 reviews143 followers
March 3, 2018
Twists and Turns and Finding 💘Love

This is a very long, drawn out book📑, so if you love to immerse yourself into the past, into the Recency period, you will love this book📑!
The book📑 does pick up and get much more exciting towards the end.

Penelope💃💋, the young woman who is the focus of the book, was badly scarred on one side of her face, along her hairline, from a fall into rocks. She is in her last year at the marriage mart, still looking for a husband. She feels the scar keeps her from getting a fair consideration by any of the noble men.
She has another, more serious problem, a deranged stalker, her cousin, Henry👹, is the grown son of the Duke of Somerset, Avery. Henry👹 stalks her throughout the book. He blames Penelope💃 for keeping him from becoming the Duke, over her brother, Edward.

Cecelia, Penelope's mother, is Duke Avery's sister. When Cecelia's husband died, The Duke took her in, along with her two children, Penelope💃💋 and Edward. Rumors abound as to how Penelope💃💋 got her scar, but she has developed her mind. She is no vacuous debutante!

Another Duke, Nash🐺🍆🌋, has known Penelope💃💋 for years, but he's taking his time, and having a good time at the various balls and functions of the marriage mart, and with all the available young ladies. Nash🐺🍆🌋 is the most eligible, the most handsome, he's the most everything!
Twists and turns abound in the tale, along with a cast of many characters, and plenty of sneaking around, jealousy and backstabbing🔪, too.
The book is PG, except for some descriptions of Henry's sadistic torturing of animals. As a hunter and an owner of livestock and pets, I wasn't happy about the depictions, but it happens! And it was part of the book📑 to show how depraved Henry is. People treated animals atrociously in that time period. That's the way it was! This book is an overall good depiction of life among the rich during the Recency era. It wasn't meant to be a fantasy or a fairytale! Suck it up!

ARC Received from the Author, for a Voluntary and Honest Review. Thank you Ms Agar!
994 reviews10 followers
March 2, 2018
BEING STEADFAST & FEARLESS OFTEN ALLOWS REVENGE

I only gave 3 STARS because some of the writing would jump back and forth between different characters and even different times in the character's lives. It was easier to follow with further knowledge of the storyline; still at times I would have to stop and go back just to make sure which man character the plot was talking about. I did like the general storyline except regardless of any situation, with the actions of Cousin Henry, Penelope should have had a bit more apprehension to be around him, in my opinion. Yes, I think it is still worth your time to read, because it was worth mine. WARNING: N/A 16 yr & up
35 reviews
March 14, 2018
Okay

I think I was so focused on how evil the bad guy was that I didn't enjoy the main characters. Although I felt like it started with one main character and ended with another. I think I would have enjoyed this more if the characters had a little more depth as opposed to a story (if that makes sense.) I also found myself confused a couple times as the story jumped back in time. But points for having no graphic sexual content.
98 reviews
February 28, 2018
A Wonderful Book!

Abigail Agar has written a wonderful book. Penelope has had a life filled with terror. After the death of her father, her family must go to live with her uncle. From that time on their lives are a nightmare thanks to her cousin. The turns are surprising and keeps the reader intrigued from start to finish. I can't wait to read the next one!
296 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2018
I enjoyed this story of Penelope and Nash. The fact that she wasn't what society deemed a beauty made this more enjoyable for me. I'm so tired of reading of the beautiful people, male and female. It was a nice change to admire someone for what's inside.
Profile Image for The Mysterious Reader.
3,588 reviews66 followers
March 1, 2018
A beautiful complicated romance and s nicely done Regrncy book. Strong complex characters and strong complex writing. A great combination. Definitely recommended.
Profile Image for Mary Jane McLeod.
2,900 reviews6 followers
March 1, 2018
Good book

Really enjoyed the book. If you enjoy Regency books you'll enjoy this one. It's about family and love, Lord's and Lady's.
766 reviews4 followers
March 2, 2018
Enjoyed the romance, characters, and drama. Was very satisfied with the ending.
2 reviews
February 28, 2018
Although her life was full of terrorizing events, Penelope is a fearless duchess and learns to stand up for herself. There are many twists and turns along the way.
Profile Image for Kelly Tyree.
515 reviews11 followers
March 9, 2018
Loving a Fearless Duchess was such a great underdog romance. I loved it! It is also a story that helps victims take the power back and that is such a positive message.

Penelope, her brother and her mother live with their uncle and his son, Henry. Penelope's uncle took her and her family in after the death of Penelope's father. Penelope and her brother, Edward, soon realized Henry was cruel. He seemed to find pleasure in putting Penelope down. Henry was also more disturbed than people realize. He killed animals and found pleasure in it. Henry's cruelty to Penelope finally reaches the climax when he harms her in a terrible accident. Penelope is left with a scar on her face as a result of the accident. She was also threatened by her uncle to never reveal the details of the accident and that Henry was responsible for it. As Penelope is recovering, Henry killed the dog of Penelope's neighbor, Nash. Nash is the heir to the Duke of Somerset. When Nash and his father come over to confront Henry and his father, Nash meets Penelope. He sees she is recovering from an injury but he sees past that and is drawn to her eyes. They connect, but due to age, it goes no further.

Now years later, Nash is the Duke of Somerset and is seeking a wife. He sees Penelope and the two connect. Penelope is the underdog of the ton due to the scar on her face. No one expects Nash to choose Penelope, but he does. Henry and his father are determined to break them up. Henry's cruelty really knows no bounds but can Nash protect Penelope and will they have a future despite Henry's attempts to break them up?

160 reviews4 followers
March 28, 2018
Even though this is a longer book, it is very detailed and informative. Penelope, is forced along with her mother and brother to move in with her Uncle Avery and cousin Henry when she's little after her father's death. Henry is a bit titched (for lack of a better word) and likes to kill and mame just about anything. His father has always covered it up to remain in good standing with the Ton. He attempts to kill Penelope at age 14, she survives but is forced to live with a scar running along her left cheek. When she comes of age for the marriage mart she is looked down upon except for an old acquaintance she met once when younger. Nash is still taken with her and begins the process of courting her. Henry is bound and determined along with his father to not allow this to happen as it will then get out what kind of person Henry really is. Nash, Penelope and her family all scheme so they can get married as soon as possible to avoid being married off to another by her Uncle. After she marries, Henry once again is after Penelope. She develops a plan though and ultimately her Uncle is forced to put Henry away for life in the dower house without contact with anyone again. Henry escapes and kidnaps Penelope but Nash and her brother on his tail. While captive, Penelope is forced to take matters into her own hands or face her own death by Henry's hands. Can she do this so she can escape? Wonderful characters and many others that will show any kind of so-called handicap can be overlooked and love can triumph. Love Abigail's stories.
190 reviews
March 4, 2018

This story is a Winner from word one through the extended epilogue. Lady Balfour and her two youngsters Edward and Penelope are left destitute when her husband passes away. They are taken in by her estranged brother a Duke, who also has a young son Henry who is about the age of Edward. This child is the personification of pure evil and hates his cousins. As the story develops you will learn his evil deeds, and the lengths he will go to make both Edwards and Penelopes' lives a living Hell. Unfortunately his actions are shielded by his father the Duke who fears a loss of standing if his sons' actions are discovered. When Penelope finally has a chance at love and marriage with Nash, Duke of Norfolk, Henry and his father Avery will go to almost any length to break apart the budding romance in an attempt to hide Henry's nefarious past acts. The telling of these developments will have you turning pages straight through to the end and the suspense is extreme. I received a free copy in advance for a promise to leave a review, which I am happy to do.
Profile Image for Candy Briggs.
649 reviews22 followers
March 2, 2018
There is a lot going on in this story. Nash briefly met Penelope, when he went to Somerset with his dad. Several years later he met her at a ball and the connection was still there and he started courting her. Penelope's father died and she had just come out of mourning. Plus she also had her mother and brother with her. The pastor needed to send out notices to their relatives about the death. The only one Edward knew was his mother's brother, Lord Avery Stanton.
This was a little convoluted, who was who and they were related to whom. Animal torture and trying to kill someone were a couple of things brought forward.
I loved this tale, the way Nash tried to take care of Penelope, even his in-laws were well treated and respected. The characters were so in love, you could see it growing. Henry was not a nice person. He was Avery's son, who always helped keep Henry out of trouble with the authorities.
I received this ARC and voluntarily reviewed it.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
24 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2018
A Fearless Duchess

Well... I did receive this book in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a clean happily ever after. The story itself is pretty good. That being said, this isn’t really a “romantic” novel. It’s more a story about a woman who conquers an abusive relationship in her life. There are a few timeline issues caused by various character’s point of view. There were a few slow spots. The socially accepted roles of a male, a female, and of the nobility of this historical era are not adhered to at all, which at times, can be very distracting. (No Duke of the regency era is going to knowingly stand by and allow his wife’s abuser to walk around free to continuously harass his wife...) The solutions conceived were of a more modern mindset.
Profile Image for Danielle Carpenter.
1,816 reviews11 followers
March 17, 2018
This story started out well, and the plot and life of the book grew on its own. There are times in the book when I think it should just end, because it starts to run on, but then it begins to pick up again and continue almost in a new vain of thought. Penelope and Nash's story is long and drawn out at points, but it regains your interest as you learn more about the past. Henry is a psychopath in this book, but I think sociopath is more correct, because he thinks he's great in his own mind and has no conscience. I read the extend epilogue and felt that could have been put in another book and made into another love story. I actually like being left with the last line in the book. I fell in love with Nash, but Penelope left me cold. It seemed to me that she lacked the passion she should have for Nash.
Profile Image for Mary.
2,753 reviews24 followers
April 16, 2018
This is brilliant. It's romantic, sweet, suspenseful, amusing and entertaining. It goes beyond a HEA to a very enjoyable and entertaining ending. Nash is kind, charming, funny and irresistible. Penelope is strong, brave, sweet and caring. It was love at first sight for Nash, even with the bandages on her face and head from her recent accident, but Penelope was too young. 4 years later they meet again, and he is just as taken. Unfortunately Penelope has a psycho cousin who lives to torment her and wishes her ill. The storyline is full of drama, suspense and entertainment. The characters are fascinating, and the way the story unfolds is brilliant. Add this one to the top of your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
Profile Image for Pontiki.
2,497 reviews9 followers
June 10, 2018
I love underdog stories, and Penelope has a lot to overcome, certainly. She has a scar on her face, given to her by a ruthless, sadistic cousin.

But Nash sees through all the external, finds Penelope beautiful, and they fall in love. However, the cousin, Henry, and Penelope’s uncle, Avery, want to keep his violence a secret. So, they don’t want her marrying someone who will take on her defence.

Nash and Penelope outwit her relatives time and again, with the help of her brother, Edward.

The basic plot is interesting, but this story becomes convoluted and unnecessarily lengthy. It’s ridiculous that Henry, a sociopath if ever there was one, has been free, and that they’ve lived with him under the same roof as children.

This is really a 2 star book, but the unique idea of Penelope’s scar and her triumph over society, added a star for me.

An OK read.

KU
Profile Image for Our Book Confessions.
643 reviews16 followers
March 16, 2018
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review, I usually go into a book looking for positive things, but I had a really hard time finding any with this book. The third person omniscient point of view made it really hard to follow the story line, and just as difficult to connect with the characters because you only got glimpses before the point of view shifted. The writing felt as if you were being talked at instead of pulled into the lives and story. The villain and his propensities went too far to the point of hurting the story line rather than helping it. The one positive is how the male protagonist was able to help the heroine find courage in the midst of the awful and use it to help others.
Profile Image for Cayla.
1,060 reviews36 followers
March 3, 2018
Good book.

I will admit that this book is not my favorite, but it is written well. Henry turns me off....I just don't like to see such an overwhelming amount of hatred. Avery really has no idea that his son's behavior is not only criminal, but it is inhumane. Henry takes great pride in hurting people and animals. That's sick. Penelope is a wonderful character. She has so much to give and she values people. Friendship and trust mean a great deal to her. While Abigail Agar did a fine job of writing this novel, I don't think it is my ideal book to keep for future re-reads because I just can't stand Henry.
Profile Image for Sheila Lee.
1,001 reviews13 followers
March 9, 2018
I will not restate the plot nor reveal any spoilers in this review.
OMG, what a suspenseful regency novel! ABIGAIL AGAR is the fabulous author of this book who spins a tale that I couldn't put down. Her characters are well-defined and strong. As the title indicates, the heroine is fearless in the face of adversity. The hero and the heroine's brother are men of upstanding character who love fiercely. This story is a romance and nerve wracking suspense of equal proportions. The author wraps up the story with all elements of the novel in a tidy fashion. While this is the first novel by Abigail Agar that I have read, it will not be the last. Kudos for a 5-star read!
Profile Image for Richelle .
410 reviews33 followers
March 16, 2018
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It would have flowed better without the jumping back in time flashbacks. It wouldn't have changed how I felt about any of the characters or lessened our HEA. I still would have hated Henry, disliked Avery and his covering up of Henry's behavior and deeds, loved Nash and Edward, and of course Penelope. I think if we'd known the full story of what Henry did to her, we would have sympathized that much more for her and her season. We would have felt more of her triumph when walking sown the aisle. I would still recommend this to anyone who wants a good historical romance without the worry of mature content.

CONTENT
Romance - Clean
Violence - moderate
Language - none
7 reviews8 followers
July 21, 2018
I love Abigail Agar's books. The story was wonderful, full of twists and turns. Penelope and
Nash met when she was 14. She was living with her uncle and evil cousin. They meet up again
several years later. Henry, the cousin does his best to keep them apart. Penelope was badly
scared from a fall she had from a cliff. She feels the scar is hindering her from finding a
husband. She has another serious problem, a stalker. Nash meets Penelope at one of the
various balls. They developed a friendship again, and fall in love. But Henry is determined
to keep them apart. He's afraid they will figure out who he is and what he has done.
Another excellent story by Abigail Agar.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews72 followers
March 4, 2018
HATS OFF TO ABIGAIL!!!
A well written, easy to follow read that has so many twists and turns that keep your attention and focus on the main characters and the personalities that come through as the tale unfolds. With danger, stalking, lies, secrets and more nefarious deeds to uncover as surprises continue. You'll be frozen to your seat and your eyes to the pages. I fell in love with the characters although some I wanted to smach upside the head. Abigail did s wonderful job bringing this read to life.
Profile Image for Barbara Pierson.
53 reviews
April 7, 2018
A must read!

This story has romance but there is so much more. This is a well crafted tale of Penelope and her brother, Edward. Penelope is disfigured and has strength of spirit to go on despite many cruel setbacks. She finds her true love but even he is involved in her past. Penelope is a Phoenix, rising from sadness and cruelty to rise as a warm, loving, kind woman. She seems to have it all until her past thrusts through her happiness. This is a must read. Rarely do you find such an exceptional story. Read, and find out!
Profile Image for Laila Viking.
4,090 reviews30 followers
March 2, 2018
Well written story with nice storyline and plot. Likeable characters that are well described and develops nicely.
A very captivating story with surprising twists and turns and it was an emotional rollercoaster.
A story with lots of passion and chemistry between the characters. It is about two characters that have known each other for many years and meets after some years. The spark ignites and they have to fight with family and a lot more to get their HEA.
A great and enjoyable read.
1,554 reviews7 followers
March 4, 2018
This is an exciting book because it has two evil minded villlans, one a bit dense and led by his controlling wicked father. These two provide a great element of suspense, intrigue and fear throughout the book going to desperate measures to hide a secret. There is romance too and family and a mentally unbalanced fiancé. Well worth reading. It is explosive in the things that happen and the evil people involved make it a book you can’t put down.
2,060 reviews13 followers
March 8, 2018
Enjoyable Regency Romance. I loved how supportive Nash was when he met Penelope again after six years. The troubles they encountered while getting closer together, could have kept them apart but Nash was determined that she would be his. Even after their initial troubles are overcome, there are more problems to be solved. This is a great book, well worth the read. I especially loved the ending. Well done Abby.

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