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Gilded #1
Duchess by Deception
In New York Times bestselling author Marie Force's dazzling historical romance debut, the clock is ticking for a wealthy Duke who must marry by his thirtieth birthday—or lose his title...
Derek Egan, the dashing Duke of Westwood, is well aware of his looming deadline. But weary of tiresome debutantes, he seeks a respite at his country home in Essex—and encounters a man digging on his property. Except he's not a man. He's a very lovely woman. Who suddenly faints at his feet.
Catherine McCabe's disdain for the aristocracy has already led her to flee an arranged marriage with a boorish Viscount. The last thing she wants is to be waylaid in a Duke's home. Yet, she is compelled to stay by the handsome, thoughtful man who introduces himself as the Duke's estate manager.
Derek realizes two things immediately: he is captivated by her delicate beauty, and to figure out what she was up to, Catherine must not know he is the Duke. But as they fall passionately in love, Derek's lie spins out of control. Will their bond survive his deception, not to mention the scorned Viscount's pursuit? Most important, can Catherine fall in love all over again—this time with the Duke?
Derek Egan, the dashing Duke of Westwood, is well aware of his looming deadline. But weary of tiresome debutantes, he seeks a respite at his country home in Essex—and encounters a man digging on his property. Except he's not a man. He's a very lovely woman. Who suddenly faints at his feet.
Catherine McCabe's disdain for the aristocracy has already led her to flee an arranged marriage with a boorish Viscount. The last thing she wants is to be waylaid in a Duke's home. Yet, she is compelled to stay by the handsome, thoughtful man who introduces himself as the Duke's estate manager.
Derek realizes two things immediately: he is captivated by her delicate beauty, and to figure out what she was up to, Catherine must not know he is the Duke. But as they fall passionately in love, Derek's lie spins out of control. Will their bond survive his deception, not to mention the scorned Viscount's pursuit? Most important, can Catherine fall in love all over again—this time with the Duke?
319 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 29, 2019
1119 people are currently reading
3414 people want to read
About the author
Marie Force
209 books8,428 followersMarie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont and Quantum.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
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April 5, 2019
This one gets a D for "Dreadful" at AAR.
Marie Force is a very well-known and popular writer of romantic suspense and contemporary romance novels, and is now turning her hand to writing historical romance. Based on this first foray into the genre, I’m afraid I have to say that she should stick to writing what she knows best, because Duchess by Deception is simply awful; it’s based on a flawed premise and is full of more really tired clichés than you can shake a bundle of sticks at.
Derek, Duke of Westwood, came into his title at the tender age of six following the death of his parents in a carriage accident. He has grown into his role and is a dedicated young man who manages his responsibilities admirably and is genuinely concerned for the welfare of all those who depend on him – even moreso as his thirtieth birthday approaches. Because, you see, some ancestor or other put a stipulation in his will that the holders of the title MUST be married by the age of thirty, or they will forfeit it and the dukedom will pass to the next heir. And Derek, with just a week or so go to before his thirtieth birthday, hasn’t yet found a woman he wants to marry. The new crop of debutantes each Season are more vacuous than the last, (and don’t get me started on the sexism inherent in statements like this – “Is there one among them who cares about anything other than her hair or her gown or her slippers?”) – and while he isn’t necessarily holding out for a love match, he does want a wife with whom he can hold intelligent conversations and share affectionate companionship.
Okay, so now let’s rewind. Derek must marry by his thirtieth birthday or abdicate his title. Er, nope. British inheritance law doesn’t work like that. It does not allow for a peer to make any stipulations of this sort as to how his title progresses; a title is not a possession and thus is not something that can be bequeathed or have conditions attached to it. For instance, the Queen doesn’t have a say in who succeeds her (although in very, very exceptional circumstances, I daresay she could, which would involve all sorts of constitutional upheaval and acts of Parliament) and as far as I know, this goes for the peerage as well. So the novel’s plot is based on a completely erroneous premise, which, in my book, is enough to sink it without trace.
Moving on.
Derek, being the conscientious young man he is, is determined to do his duty and find a wife by his birthday, especially as his current heir is his father’s brother – Derek’s uncle – who is a grasping, dastardly individual who has always wanted the title for himself (he and Derek’s father were twins and Anthony was born second) because he deserved it. It was he who engineered the accident that killed Derek’s parents (this isn’t a spoiler, as it’s revealed in the first chapter) and he still chafes that Derek wasn’t with them, as he was supposed to have been – and so his evil plot to become the Duke was foiled. Can I get a ‘MUAHAHAHAHA’? And just in case we aren’t clear about Anthony’s ambitions, his mistress is there to hit readers over the head with a tea-tray:
Seriously? I wonder if Ms. Force has read any historical romance since the 1980s.
Anyway. While travelling back to his estate, Derek comes across a filthy boy in shoddy clothing digging in a field. Wondering why there is a filthy boy in shoddy clothing digging in one of his fields, Derek stops to ask questions, the boy bolts, Derek catches him, the boy passes out – but not before his cap falls off to reveal long dark tresses… and lo! ‘tis the heroine in disguise. Arrived at his ancestral pile, Derek’s protective instincts are on high alert, and even though the young woman is dirty and smelly, he unaccountably wants to care for her, crawl into bed next to her and “hold her until the fever broke…” So he does. (After she’s had a bath, natch.)
When she awakens and is told she’s at the Duke of Westwood’s estate, the young woman – Catherine – is immediately fearful and makes clear her dislike of peers of the realm, so Derek decides not to tell her he’s a duke, but instead introduces himself as the estate manager because he wants to know more about her. But that has to be put on hold while they get back into bed for spurious reasons and cuddling and flirting ensues. She’s just woken from a fever, they don’t know each other, they’ve barely said two words to each other and yet she comes up with things like:
To which he responds:
And then she wonders – what, exactly, was that tingle between her legs?
Jesus H. Christ on a cracker. We’re 11% into the book by this point, by the way.
In a nutshell. Catherine is running from the slobbery old bloke she’s supposed to marry and doesn’t want anything to do with the aristocracy. Two days after their first meeting, she and Derek are sucking face and then shagging (and joy of joys, she gets to say “It will never fit!”) and at the 30% mark, they’re running off to Gretna Green to get married, presumably so he can marry her without revealing his true identity, which is dumb, but no dumber than the other dumb stuff in this dumb book.
No prizes for guessing what happens next.
The writing is stilted and often unintentionally funny (see quotes above) – not what I’d expect from an experienced author – and the characters are barely two dimensional. Given Ms. Force is known for writing steamy sex scenes, the ones in this book are dull and there is zero chemistry between the leads. There’s a secondary romance that also takes off like a rocket, between Derek’s cousin (Anthony’s son) and Catherine’s younger sister, and to call the villainous Anthony ‘cartoonish’ is, frankly, to insult cartoon villains the world over.
I’ve said enough for you to realise that you should give this book a wide berth – unless you’re a masochist or just want a good laugh at the terrible dialogue. If you’ve never read Marie Force before, do yourself a favour and read the excellent Five Years Gone, or one of her romantic suspense titles. I hope she’s not going to stop writing those, because in spite of its lovely cover and less-used setting of 1902 (which is largely irrelevant to the story anyway), Duchess by Deception is terrible.
On the plus side, the lovely K.J. Charles was inspired to write a rant about how British Inheritance law works by this review :) http://kjcharleswriter.com/2019/01/31...
Marie Force is a very well-known and popular writer of romantic suspense and contemporary romance novels, and is now turning her hand to writing historical romance. Based on this first foray into the genre, I’m afraid I have to say that she should stick to writing what she knows best, because Duchess by Deception is simply awful; it’s based on a flawed premise and is full of more really tired clichés than you can shake a bundle of sticks at.
Derek, Duke of Westwood, came into his title at the tender age of six following the death of his parents in a carriage accident. He has grown into his role and is a dedicated young man who manages his responsibilities admirably and is genuinely concerned for the welfare of all those who depend on him – even moreso as his thirtieth birthday approaches. Because, you see, some ancestor or other put a stipulation in his will that the holders of the title MUST be married by the age of thirty, or they will forfeit it and the dukedom will pass to the next heir. And Derek, with just a week or so go to before his thirtieth birthday, hasn’t yet found a woman he wants to marry. The new crop of debutantes each Season are more vacuous than the last, (and don’t get me started on the sexism inherent in statements like this – “Is there one among them who cares about anything other than her hair or her gown or her slippers?”) – and while he isn’t necessarily holding out for a love match, he does want a wife with whom he can hold intelligent conversations and share affectionate companionship.
Okay, so now let’s rewind. Derek must marry by his thirtieth birthday or abdicate his title. Er, nope. British inheritance law doesn’t work like that. It does not allow for a peer to make any stipulations of this sort as to how his title progresses; a title is not a possession and thus is not something that can be bequeathed or have conditions attached to it. For instance, the Queen doesn’t have a say in who succeeds her (although in very, very exceptional circumstances, I daresay she could, which would involve all sorts of constitutional upheaval and acts of Parliament) and as far as I know, this goes for the peerage as well. So the novel’s plot is based on a completely erroneous premise, which, in my book, is enough to sink it without trace.
Moving on.
Derek, being the conscientious young man he is, is determined to do his duty and find a wife by his birthday, especially as his current heir is his father’s brother – Derek’s uncle – who is a grasping, dastardly individual who has always wanted the title for himself (he and Derek’s father were twins and Anthony was born second) because he deserved it. It was he who engineered the accident that killed Derek’s parents (this isn’t a spoiler, as it’s revealed in the first chapter) and he still chafes that Derek wasn’t with them, as he was supposed to have been – and so his evil plot to become the Duke was foiled. Can I get a ‘MUAHAHAHAHA’? And just in case we aren’t clear about Anthony’s ambitions, his mistress is there to hit readers over the head with a tea-tray:
“You ponder the fate of your nephew and the duchy you covet.”
Anthony raised an imperious brow. “It is rather impertinent for (of?) you to speak so boldly of things that are none of your concern.”
Seriously? I wonder if Ms. Force has read any historical romance since the 1980s.
Anyway. While travelling back to his estate, Derek comes across a filthy boy in shoddy clothing digging in a field. Wondering why there is a filthy boy in shoddy clothing digging in one of his fields, Derek stops to ask questions, the boy bolts, Derek catches him, the boy passes out – but not before his cap falls off to reveal long dark tresses… and lo! ‘tis the heroine in disguise. Arrived at his ancestral pile, Derek’s protective instincts are on high alert, and even though the young woman is dirty and smelly, he unaccountably wants to care for her, crawl into bed next to her and “hold her until the fever broke…” So he does. (After she’s had a bath, natch.)
When she awakens and is told she’s at the Duke of Westwood’s estate, the young woman – Catherine – is immediately fearful and makes clear her dislike of peers of the realm, so Derek decides not to tell her he’s a duke, but instead introduces himself as the estate manager because he wants to know more about her. But that has to be put on hold while they get back into bed for spurious reasons and cuddling and flirting ensues. She’s just woken from a fever, they don’t know each other, they’ve barely said two words to each other and yet she comes up with things like:
“How do you expect me to sleep with a big, rutting beast in my bed?”
To which he responds:
“Have no fear, my dear lady. Your shrewishness has caused my ‘thing’ to wither and die… I can assure you that you’re entirely safe from my fornicating tendencies”
And then she wonders – what, exactly, was that tingle between her legs?
Jesus H. Christ on a cracker. We’re 11% into the book by this point, by the way.
In a nutshell. Catherine is running from the slobbery old bloke she’s supposed to marry and doesn’t want anything to do with the aristocracy. Two days after their first meeting, she and Derek are sucking face and then shagging (and joy of joys, she gets to say “It will never fit!”) and at the 30% mark, they’re running off to Gretna Green to get married, presumably so he can marry her without revealing his true identity, which is dumb, but no dumber than the other dumb stuff in this dumb book.
No prizes for guessing what happens next.
The writing is stilted and often unintentionally funny (see quotes above) – not what I’d expect from an experienced author – and the characters are barely two dimensional. Given Ms. Force is known for writing steamy sex scenes, the ones in this book are dull and there is zero chemistry between the leads. There’s a secondary romance that also takes off like a rocket, between Derek’s cousin (Anthony’s son) and Catherine’s younger sister, and to call the villainous Anthony ‘cartoonish’ is, frankly, to insult cartoon villains the world over.
I’ve said enough for you to realise that you should give this book a wide berth – unless you’re a masochist or just want a good laugh at the terrible dialogue. If you’ve never read Marie Force before, do yourself a favour and read the excellent Five Years Gone, or one of her romantic suspense titles. I hope she’s not going to stop writing those, because in spite of its lovely cover and less-used setting of 1902 (which is largely irrelevant to the story anyway), Duchess by Deception is terrible.
On the plus side, the lovely K.J. Charles was inspired to write a rant about how British Inheritance law works by this review :) http://kjcharleswriter.com/2019/01/31...
February 6, 2019
Also posted
HERE
.
I've added a couple of edits at the bottom.
Marie Force has been a prominent and well-loved figure in the contemporary romance and romantic suspense scenes for years, and this is her move into the historical romance genre.
Did it work for me? Uh… no, not really. Ignoring the sexist opening chapter for a moment, my problem with Duchess by Deception is that it reads like a throwback to the books of the 1980s, and it doesn’t seem like Force has kept up with the changes in the genre since then.
Initially I was excited about the book’s description. Mystery unconscious woman doing suspicious things on the duke’s property? Uncommon Edwardian era setting? Sounded interesting. However, apart from some research info-dumps about technological developments, the feel of this one was no different to any century-earlier, Regency-set book (were leading strings not more an 18th century than 20th century thing? Why are they still being used in 1902?).
Also, the tired and silly trope of the hero who has to marry by a certain date or he’ll lose his title needs to be permanently retired. It’s simply not how the aristocracy works.
There is a serious case of insta-love (lust?) here. Even when the heroine is filthy, stinks, and is dressed like a boy (and unconscious!), the hero is so attracted to her he won’t let anybody else care for her.
And then when she wakes up we get lines like this:
As for the sexism? From the very first page, all the girls and women in London are referred to by terms such as simpering. (The heroine, of course, is “not like other women”.)
Naturally, every woman in the book who isn’t the heroine is “annoying”, and they fawn all over the hero.
While Duchess by Deception isn’t a horrible read, it is also a throwback to things most HR writers and readers moved on from years ago. Force will shoot to prominence in the genre simply because she comes in with an already established name as an author, but I’ve read lesser-known historical romance books by lesser-known authors that are surely as worthy of the attention.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
Edited to ask...
I can't recall: why is this series called "Gilded"? If it's referring to America's Gilded Age… well, that has nothing to do with England (where this series is set).
Editing again, because the time period mess-up is really bothering me. So many reviewers are calling this book a Regency romance, even though it's set nearly a whole century after the Regency era. A huge problem is that the author wrote it like a Regency romance, completely ignoring all technological advancements from the early 19th to 20th centuries.
Here's Paris in 1901 (yes, that's an airship), and New York in 1902 - the year the book is set. There's nothing Jane Austen about it (beginning with the fact these are *photographs* - something not yet invented in the Regency era):
I've added a couple of edits at the bottom.
Marie Force has been a prominent and well-loved figure in the contemporary romance and romantic suspense scenes for years, and this is her move into the historical romance genre.
Did it work for me? Uh… no, not really. Ignoring the sexist opening chapter for a moment, my problem with Duchess by Deception is that it reads like a throwback to the books of the 1980s, and it doesn’t seem like Force has kept up with the changes in the genre since then.
Initially I was excited about the book’s description. Mystery unconscious woman doing suspicious things on the duke’s property? Uncommon Edwardian era setting? Sounded interesting. However, apart from some research info-dumps about technological developments, the feel of this one was no different to any century-earlier, Regency-set book (were leading strings not more an 18th century than 20th century thing? Why are they still being used in 1902?).
Also, the tired and silly trope of the hero who has to marry by a certain date or he’ll lose his title needs to be permanently retired. It’s simply not how the aristocracy works.
There is a serious case of insta-love (lust?) here. Even when the heroine is filthy, stinks, and is dressed like a boy (and unconscious!), the hero is so attracted to her he won’t let anybody else care for her.
And then when she wakes up we get lines like this:
She gave him an arch look, which, along with her fever-reddened cheeks, only added to her overwhelming appeal.
As for the sexism? From the very first page, all the girls and women in London are referred to by terms such as simpering. (The heroine, of course, is “not like other women”.)
‘Is there one among them who cares about anything other than her hair or her gown or her slippers?’
Naturally, every woman in the book who isn’t the heroine is “annoying”, and they fawn all over the hero.
While Duchess by Deception isn’t a horrible read, it is also a throwback to things most HR writers and readers moved on from years ago. Force will shoot to prominence in the genre simply because she comes in with an already established name as an author, but I’ve read lesser-known historical romance books by lesser-known authors that are surely as worthy of the attention.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
Edited to ask...
I can't recall: why is this series called "Gilded"? If it's referring to America's Gilded Age… well, that has nothing to do with England (where this series is set).
Editing again, because the time period mess-up is really bothering me. So many reviewers are calling this book a Regency romance, even though it's set nearly a whole century after the Regency era. A huge problem is that the author wrote it like a Regency romance, completely ignoring all technological advancements from the early 19th to 20th centuries.
Here's Paris in 1901 (yes, that's an airship), and New York in 1902 - the year the book is set. There's nothing Jane Austen about it (beginning with the fact these are *photographs* - something not yet invented in the Regency era):
February 1, 2019
I’m going to start this review by saying that Marie Force is one of my favourite contemporary romantic suspense authors, and someone I deeply respect in the writing world.
But with that said, I really, really wish she hadn’t tried her hand at historical romance because this is a hot mess. It’s got some absolute clangers in terms of historical inaccuracies and a hero who tells continued and repeated lies to the heroine and then tries to tell her it’s all for her benefit. While refusing to allow her to sleep apart from him because ‘she’d never forgive him if he gave her too much time to think about the many ways he’d done her wrong’ and basically forcing himself on her even when she told him she wanted him to leave.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with the historical and geographic inaccuracies. Set in 1902, mostly at the Duke of Westwood’s Essex estate. However, it reads more like a Regency romance than an Edwardian one; the only thing non-Regency was ‘collar and tie’ on the gentlemen rather than cravats. The duke, Derek, and his love interest Catherine elope to Gretna Green to get married hastily… which is the first thing I scowled at. In 1856 the law was changed to stop the scandalous Scottish marriages taking place, requiring at least one member of a couple wishing to marry to be resident in Scotland for 21 days prior to a marriage. Which didn’t happen. So in 1902, no couple from England are running off to Gretna and getting married on the day of their arrival.
Which brings me to another point. In 1902, the journey from Essex to Scotland could have been managed in a couple of days, as Derek and Catherine did - but certainly not by horse-drawn carriage, which would have been a 6-day journey at least, but nobody would do it that way. Trains ran the length and breadth of Britain by that time and they would only have taken a carriage as far as the nearest station. Guess what else isn’t even mentioned in the book? That’s right. No trains. The Duke’s carriage magically transports them from Essex to Scotland with just one overnight stop.
Historical and geographic inaccuracies aside, I thoroughly disliked the plot of this book. Derek flat-out lies to Catherine about who he is and continues to do so even after they’re married until he’s caught out, which is dubious consent in my book at the very least. And then he refuses to allow her to be righteously angry because he’s afraid she won’t forgive him, which would frankly be the least of what he deserves.
Oh, and did I mention the sex? This pair are at it like rabbits within a few days of meeting, before getting married and afterwards, and not content with them, Force also writes in a romance between the duke’s cousin and Catherine’s younger sister and writes a whole separate story in which they get married and have sex too. There were so many sex scenes I started skimming them after a while. This is NOT supposed to be erotica.
I almost quit reading this at the 70% mark, but I don’t believe in critiqueing something without full and informed knowledge, so I soldiered on. Shortly after that Catherine did finally read Derek the riot act properly, saying she couldn’t reconcile the goodness she saw in him with the man who repeatedly lied to the woman he claimed to love. At which point he went off in a sulk and took off to London for three days, letting her find out about it from the housekeeper.
Guess what? The genuinely epic grovel this story desperately needed never, ever happened, Catherine decided sex with Derek was good enough to not care about his lies and when he fell ill with influenza, blamed herself for putting stress on him, and SHE apologized to HIM. Self-gaslighting was a new low even for this book.
I honestly can hardly believe a writer with as much talent as Marie Force wrote this utterly dreadful drivel. Please, please go back to writing contemporary suspense, ma’am. Or maybe get a sensitivity reader and an editor knowledgeable about the historical period you’re writing about to clean up the horrible mess of inaccuracies and dubious consent before you publish the rest of the series.
I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but I cannot possibly give this awful story any more than one star.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
But with that said, I really, really wish she hadn’t tried her hand at historical romance because this is a hot mess. It’s got some absolute clangers in terms of historical inaccuracies and a hero who tells continued and repeated lies to the heroine and then tries to tell her it’s all for her benefit. While refusing to allow her to sleep apart from him because ‘she’d never forgive him if he gave her too much time to think about the many ways he’d done her wrong’ and basically forcing himself on her even when she told him she wanted him to leave.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with the historical and geographic inaccuracies. Set in 1902, mostly at the Duke of Westwood’s Essex estate. However, it reads more like a Regency romance than an Edwardian one; the only thing non-Regency was ‘collar and tie’ on the gentlemen rather than cravats. The duke, Derek, and his love interest Catherine elope to Gretna Green to get married hastily… which is the first thing I scowled at. In 1856 the law was changed to stop the scandalous Scottish marriages taking place, requiring at least one member of a couple wishing to marry to be resident in Scotland for 21 days prior to a marriage. Which didn’t happen. So in 1902, no couple from England are running off to Gretna and getting married on the day of their arrival.
Which brings me to another point. In 1902, the journey from Essex to Scotland could have been managed in a couple of days, as Derek and Catherine did - but certainly not by horse-drawn carriage, which would have been a 6-day journey at least, but nobody would do it that way. Trains ran the length and breadth of Britain by that time and they would only have taken a carriage as far as the nearest station. Guess what else isn’t even mentioned in the book? That’s right. No trains. The Duke’s carriage magically transports them from Essex to Scotland with just one overnight stop.
Historical and geographic inaccuracies aside, I thoroughly disliked the plot of this book. Derek flat-out lies to Catherine about who he is and continues to do so even after they’re married until he’s caught out, which is dubious consent in my book at the very least. And then he refuses to allow her to be righteously angry because he’s afraid she won’t forgive him, which would frankly be the least of what he deserves.
Oh, and did I mention the sex? This pair are at it like rabbits within a few days of meeting, before getting married and afterwards, and not content with them, Force also writes in a romance between the duke’s cousin and Catherine’s younger sister and writes a whole separate story in which they get married and have sex too. There were so many sex scenes I started skimming them after a while. This is NOT supposed to be erotica.
I almost quit reading this at the 70% mark, but I don’t believe in critiqueing something without full and informed knowledge, so I soldiered on. Shortly after that Catherine did finally read Derek the riot act properly, saying she couldn’t reconcile the goodness she saw in him with the man who repeatedly lied to the woman he claimed to love. At which point he went off in a sulk and took off to London for three days, letting her find out about it from the housekeeper.
Guess what? The genuinely epic grovel this story desperately needed never, ever happened, Catherine decided sex with Derek was good enough to not care about his lies and when he fell ill with influenza, blamed herself for putting stress on him, and SHE apologized to HIM. Self-gaslighting was a new low even for this book.
I honestly can hardly believe a writer with as much talent as Marie Force wrote this utterly dreadful drivel. Please, please go back to writing contemporary suspense, ma’am. Or maybe get a sensitivity reader and an editor knowledgeable about the historical period you’re writing about to clean up the horrible mess of inaccuracies and dubious consent before you publish the rest of the series.
I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but I cannot possibly give this awful story any more than one star.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
January 11, 2019
With Marie Force’s trademark stamp of likeable characters, romance and steam by the bucketload and a Downton Abbey-esque setting, Duchess by Deception introduces us to Derek Eagon, Duke of Westwood and Lady Catherine McCabe whose feelings for one another move at a fair old clip.
I’ve never seen anything quite like the way the two of you went from confirmed bachelors to happy matrimony in the blink of an eye.”
My thoughts on this are mixed with parts I enjoyed and those less so. Overall it was an easy-going, low-drama historical romance and as the story moved along, my enjoyment increased. However it was impacted by the rapid speed at which Catherine and Derek fell for one another making it difficult to believe their feelings were real especially considering what she had experienced and some of the the narrative didn’t quite fit the period, for example endearments such as honey, don’t really belong in early 1900’s England. A little extra research wouldn’t have gone amiss either as with all the will in the world and a really fast horse, you’re not making a carriage journey from Essex to Gretna Green overnight.
My whole life, Catherine, has led to you.”
However, there’s no taking away the fact that the romance is front and centre and it’s passionate and sexy which is one of the many reasons why Marie Force is one of my most-read authors. And although I may not have loved Duchess by Deception, the setup for Deceived by Desire has me curious enough to see whether a US based story works better for me and the author writing this genre.
Copy received courtesy of Kensington via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I’ve never seen anything quite like the way the two of you went from confirmed bachelors to happy matrimony in the blink of an eye.”
My thoughts on this are mixed with parts I enjoyed and those less so. Overall it was an easy-going, low-drama historical romance and as the story moved along, my enjoyment increased. However it was impacted by the rapid speed at which Catherine and Derek fell for one another making it difficult to believe their feelings were real especially considering what she had experienced and some of the the narrative didn’t quite fit the period, for example endearments such as honey, don’t really belong in early 1900’s England. A little extra research wouldn’t have gone amiss either as with all the will in the world and a really fast horse, you’re not making a carriage journey from Essex to Gretna Green overnight.
My whole life, Catherine, has led to you.”
However, there’s no taking away the fact that the romance is front and centre and it’s passionate and sexy which is one of the many reasons why Marie Force is one of my most-read authors. And although I may not have loved Duchess by Deception, the setup for Deceived by Desire has me curious enough to see whether a US based story works better for me and the author writing this genre.
Copy received courtesy of Kensington via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
February 7, 2019
This review is for the Advanced Review Copy. It seems the finished version might be slightly different, regarding the duke's title.
Suspension of disbelief required
I will most probably be accused of being mean-spirited or petty, but the moment I saw the blurb, I knew I had to read this book. The blurb says that the duke will lose his title if he is not married before his thirtieth birthday. The thing is, this is impossible: a dukedom is a matter of birthright and no cockamamie scheme can deprive the rightful heir of his title. No one chooses who will bear the title or not, not in the past, not today. The only reason a duke might lose his title is if he dies or is accused and condemned of treason, then the next in line inherits. Case closed. It is akin to someone writing a novel set in 2019 where Barack Obama had been re-elected for a third term; if the law has not been changed, it cannot happen. I was hoping that it had been a mistake in the blurb, but unfortunately, it isn’t. The whole foundation of the story is built on quicksand. I find it disconcerting that, for an author of Marie Force’s stature, apparently no one cared enough to ensure that her novel was not based on a fallacy, when it would have taken only a few minutes of googling to fact-check first. The worst is that the story could have easily been written otherwise without fabricating this preposterous premise. The fact that Catherine was found by Derek – the duke – was entirely sufficient to make the romance happen.
The writing is good, the pace is steady, and I was pleasantly surprised that I did not fine one single typo, although the book is riddled with inconsistencies of all sorts. The romance is fine although it happens much too quickly: there is instalust and instalove, which did not feel particularly realistic for 1902. However, it was easier to digest than the rake whose miraculous metamorphosis into a perfect gentleman happens literally within 5 minutes, which is the basis for a second – it was rushed but it was a clever plot twist, and because of that, again, the preposterous clause in the will could have been dispensed with. However, I was astonished that when Catherine learns that Derek has lied about being the estate manager, she does not give in to histrionics, and that the misunderstanding did not last for ages. This was handled much better than it usually is, even when it happens a second time. Because, of course, the first time Derek had forgotten to tell Catherine about the ludicrous “clause in the will”. The reason for Catherine’s presence on Derek’s estate – her quest – turned out to be entirely anticlimactic, which I thought was a shame because it could have been more fully exploited instead of the absurd premise of the will.
Catherine is a more interesting character than Derek, but my favourite was by far Simon – Derek’s cousin and friend. There are also several sex scenes, for the most part rather uninspired. DUCHESS BY DECEPTION is the first book in the Gilded series, which sounds more like a saga than the type of series we usually see, if I judge by the last pages.
Here's a nice edifying link to click:
http://kjcharleswriter.com/2019/01/31...
Suspension of disbelief required
I will most probably be accused of being mean-spirited or petty, but the moment I saw the blurb, I knew I had to read this book. The blurb says that the duke will lose his title if he is not married before his thirtieth birthday. The thing is, this is impossible: a dukedom is a matter of birthright and no cockamamie scheme can deprive the rightful heir of his title. No one chooses who will bear the title or not, not in the past, not today. The only reason a duke might lose his title is if he dies or is accused and condemned of treason, then the next in line inherits. Case closed. It is akin to someone writing a novel set in 2019 where Barack Obama had been re-elected for a third term; if the law has not been changed, it cannot happen. I was hoping that it had been a mistake in the blurb, but unfortunately, it isn’t. The whole foundation of the story is built on quicksand. I find it disconcerting that, for an author of Marie Force’s stature, apparently no one cared enough to ensure that her novel was not based on a fallacy, when it would have taken only a few minutes of googling to fact-check first. The worst is that the story could have easily been written otherwise without fabricating this preposterous premise. The fact that Catherine was found by Derek – the duke – was entirely sufficient to make the romance happen.
The writing is good, the pace is steady, and I was pleasantly surprised that I did not fine one single typo, although the book is riddled with inconsistencies of all sorts. The romance is fine although it happens much too quickly: there is instalust and instalove, which did not feel particularly realistic for 1902. However, it was easier to digest than the rake whose miraculous metamorphosis into a perfect gentleman happens literally within 5 minutes, which is the basis for a second – it was rushed but it was a clever plot twist, and because of that, again, the preposterous clause in the will could have been dispensed with. However, I was astonished that when Catherine learns that Derek has lied about being the estate manager, she does not give in to histrionics, and that the misunderstanding did not last for ages. This was handled much better than it usually is, even when it happens a second time. Because, of course, the first time Derek had forgotten to tell Catherine about the ludicrous “clause in the will”. The reason for Catherine’s presence on Derek’s estate – her quest – turned out to be entirely anticlimactic, which I thought was a shame because it could have been more fully exploited instead of the absurd premise of the will.
Catherine is a more interesting character than Derek, but my favourite was by far Simon – Derek’s cousin and friend. There are also several sex scenes, for the most part rather uninspired. DUCHESS BY DECEPTION is the first book in the Gilded series, which sounds more like a saga than the type of series we usually see, if I judge by the last pages.
Here's a nice edifying link to click:
http://kjcharleswriter.com/2019/01/31...
June 16, 2020
I have read quite a bit of historical romance books because it’s a genre that I love but this book disappointed me so much. I read the blurb and was instantly hooked but the book seriously fell short.
Catherine was found digging a hole in Derek’s property. It is instant attraction on his part and when Cat finally gets her bearing she notices that Derek is quite a looker. He deceives her in thinking his is someone other than a duke because he wants to be “normal” for a change. They instantly fell in love and declared their feelings to each other. Like seriously!? Come on!? They went from 0 to 1000 in less than a day. When she does find out about Derek’s deception, it doesn’t even take her long to succumb to him. That was so infuriating. When she later finds out that there was a clause stating he had to be married in order to retain his dukedom, she easily forgives him after a few days. Her body wanted him more.
Derek was so infuriating as well. He mostly was think about getting laid by his wife even after he hurt her with his lies. I just couldn’t deal with these two characters. Everything happened so fast yet I felt the book was so long at the same time. I am ashamed to say that I skim read after 50%.
Catherine was found digging a hole in Derek’s property. It is instant attraction on his part and when Cat finally gets her bearing she notices that Derek is quite a looker. He deceives her in thinking his is someone other than a duke because he wants to be “normal” for a change. They instantly fell in love and declared their feelings to each other. Like seriously!? Come on!? They went from 0 to 1000 in less than a day. When she does find out about Derek’s deception, it doesn’t even take her long to succumb to him. That was so infuriating. When she later finds out that there was a clause stating he had to be married in order to retain his dukedom, she easily forgives him after a few days. Her body wanted him more.
Derek was so infuriating as well. He mostly was think about getting laid by his wife even after he hurt her with his lies. I just couldn’t deal with these two characters. Everything happened so fast yet I felt the book was so long at the same time. I am ashamed to say that I skim read after 50%.
January 15, 2019
I'm a huge historical reader and I was really excited when Marie announced she was jumping into this genre. I've loved her writing style for a long time and this book was just wonderful.
From the first page I was captivated and it didn't let up until the end. I was immersed in this world, taken through the emotions that Marie Force is known to envoke. I loved every word and can't wait for more. This was a fantastic read.
From the first page I was captivated and it didn't let up until the end. I was immersed in this world, taken through the emotions that Marie Force is known to envoke. I loved every word and can't wait for more. This was a fantastic read.
January 31, 2019
I had originally put this book down at the 60% mark after trying to read it for 5 days.
Today I picked it up again and finally finished it.
The last 40% was amazing (hense the 3 star rating).
Today I picked it up again and finally finished it.
The last 40% was amazing (hense the 3 star rating).
January 29, 2019
When I saw Marie Force had written an Historical Romance, I was immediately intrigued. I enjoyed Duchess by Deception very much. The setting, characters, plot, and language were not groundbreaking, but they were entertaining. The heroine, Catherine, is fairly typical--in need of saving, yet intelligent, educated, and independent. The hero, Derek--constricted by the aristocratic life he was born to, searching for a bride in order to meet a deadline and retain the title of the Duke of Westwood, and all it entails--is handsome, charming, very progressive, and lonely in spite of being one of the most eligible bachelors in the ton. Their meeting, and whirlwind courtship, worked in this setting while it wouldn't have in a contemporary novel.Duchess by Deception has more sex scenes than I recall from historical novels back in the day. While they weren't explicit, there is definitely more detail than those novels of my teenage years. I did find the conversations between Catherine and her sister, Madeleine regarding wedding night expectations very amusing. I was charmed by both Derek and Catherine, and felt invested and hopeful of their relationship working out in spite of a few obstacles in their path to happiness. The requisite villain, in the form of Derek's uncle, added suspense and a slight sense of danger.
I don't read this sub-genre much these days, but it dominated my early romance-reading days. I tend to read historicals with a more forgiving attitude than I do contemporaries, almost indulgent, really. I'm not sure why--maybe a sentimental feeling for the sub-genre as it was my first introduction to the world of romance novels. Duchess by Deception was a fun book to read. It brought back some happy memories for me--I think I will seek out more (contemporary) historical romance in the very near future.
July 29, 2018
First historical romance from a favorite author -- Marie Force. Beautifully written, fun-to-read and two adorably lovable main characters. The deception is delicious. The story has a little mystery to it and an easy to hate villain. You wont want to miss this one.
FULL REVIEW CLOSER TO RELEASE DATE.
FULL REVIEW CLOSER TO RELEASE DATE.
February 2, 2019
"Primogeniture (English: /praɪməˈdʒɛnɪtʃər/) is the right, by law or custom, of the paternally acknowledged, firstborn son to inherit his parent's entire or main estate, in preference to daughters, elder illegitimate sons, younger sons and collateral relatives; in some cases the estate may instead be the inheritance of the firstborn child or occasionally the firstborn daughter." copied from Wiktionary
A title CANNOT be taken away by a stipulation in a will. The unentailed portion of the ancestors money can be given away by a stipulation in a will, but never a title. This is the driving force for the plot of this book, and it keeps you from really getting into the story.
This is a well known author, this was printed by a well known publisher, therefore I'm assuming this was edited by either a content or copy editor. Both should have caught this glaring error. I'll admit these types of issues are rampant in today's historical romances, and I generally just won't read, but this is by a major author with a major publishing house! I know I've already said that....but........ugh. What must British readers think of this? I'm embarrassed for MF, and I don't even care for her books.
A title CANNOT be taken away by a stipulation in a will. The unentailed portion of the ancestors money can be given away by a stipulation in a will, but never a title. This is the driving force for the plot of this book, and it keeps you from really getting into the story.
This is a well known author, this was printed by a well known publisher, therefore I'm assuming this was edited by either a content or copy editor. Both should have caught this glaring error. I'll admit these types of issues are rampant in today's historical romances, and I generally just won't read, but this is by a major author with a major publishing house! I know I've already said that....but........ugh. What must British readers think of this? I'm embarrassed for MF, and I don't even care for her books.
January 27, 2019
4 stars
I honestly struggled a little with this book at the onset because it felt like Ms. Force was trying too hard in her historical debut. I have been enjoying her contemporary Fatal series, so I was excited to give this one a try.
Derek (Duke of Westwood) is in a predicament: he must marry by his 30th birthday or abdicate the duchy --- this was decreed by one of his ancestors, and while all of the previous dukes have met this "deadline," Derek has grown weary of the vapid "offerings" each season seems to bring by way of eligible women. The alternative to marriage would be to forfeit the dukedom which would mean his overly ambitious uncle would inherit the position and likely lay waste to Derek's progressive investment gains, not to mention his hard won battles in the parliament. The pressure is too much for Derek only a week from this deadline, so he decides to remove himself from the London scene and retire to the country to think over his options for a few days.
Catherine is out of options... On the run for a couple of weeks from a lecher her father (new to an Earldom) betrothed her to, she is desperately seeking an escape. Her grandmother left her a clue to where she could find the means to support herself. In the process of attempting to procure this means of escape, she sees a man on a horse bearing down on her. The last thing she remembers before succumbing to a fever and lack of proper hydration and nutrition is swooning in the arms of the man who accuses her of trespassing on a ducal estate.
Derek cannot believe it when he finds young man digging on his estate, and when he confronts this hooligan, the boy has the nerve to stand up to him before fainting. Upon further inspection, he realizes the boy is really a woman, and he is intrigued. He takes her to his home, and he tends to her himself, swearing his staff to secrecy as to his true identity as the woman indicates to him that she despises all things aristocracy after witnessing her father's change of disposition after assuming the title of earl. Derek assumes the identity of his estate manager in order to protect her from her heinous fiance and to ensure she will stay at the estate so that he can keep her safe.
What I liked:
--- Very likeable main characters
--- We got a 2-4-1 love match story
--- Oh the steamy goodness (level: erotica)
--- The story definitely grew on me as it moved along --- if I were to rate the first part it would be a 3; the author made it more worth my while as the story progressed; the ending would have gotten a 4.5, so I went with the 4 rating overall
What I didn't like as much:
--- There were times where Ms. Force definitely tried too hard in this debut --- mentions of the Wright brothers and a famous archeological explorer were a little too much in terms of proving the duke's commitment to progressive investments; as a devourer of historical romances, I have found that the subtle approach is better
--- Not only was there one insta-love match in this book, there were 2... though I enjoyed both of their stories, it is hard to justify the one rakish reformer, much less the two especially when it comes men of the station being described
Overall, I am excited that Ms. Force has ventured into HR land as it is my favorite romance sub-genre, and I am looking forward to her future historicals!
Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level --- 4.5/5
Violence --- not much
Language --- none of note
POV --- 3rd
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I honestly struggled a little with this book at the onset because it felt like Ms. Force was trying too hard in her historical debut. I have been enjoying her contemporary Fatal series, so I was excited to give this one a try.
Derek (Duke of Westwood) is in a predicament: he must marry by his 30th birthday or abdicate the duchy --- this was decreed by one of his ancestors, and while all of the previous dukes have met this "deadline," Derek has grown weary of the vapid "offerings" each season seems to bring by way of eligible women. The alternative to marriage would be to forfeit the dukedom which would mean his overly ambitious uncle would inherit the position and likely lay waste to Derek's progressive investment gains, not to mention his hard won battles in the parliament. The pressure is too much for Derek only a week from this deadline, so he decides to remove himself from the London scene and retire to the country to think over his options for a few days.
Catherine is out of options... On the run for a couple of weeks from a lecher her father (new to an Earldom) betrothed her to, she is desperately seeking an escape. Her grandmother left her a clue to where she could find the means to support herself. In the process of attempting to procure this means of escape, she sees a man on a horse bearing down on her. The last thing she remembers before succumbing to a fever and lack of proper hydration and nutrition is swooning in the arms of the man who accuses her of trespassing on a ducal estate.
Derek cannot believe it when he finds young man digging on his estate, and when he confronts this hooligan, the boy has the nerve to stand up to him before fainting. Upon further inspection, he realizes the boy is really a woman, and he is intrigued. He takes her to his home, and he tends to her himself, swearing his staff to secrecy as to his true identity as the woman indicates to him that she despises all things aristocracy after witnessing her father's change of disposition after assuming the title of earl. Derek assumes the identity of his estate manager in order to protect her from her heinous fiance and to ensure she will stay at the estate so that he can keep her safe.
What I liked:
--- Very likeable main characters
--- We got a 2-4-1 love match story
--- Oh the steamy goodness (level: erotica)
--- The story definitely grew on me as it moved along --- if I were to rate the first part it would be a 3; the author made it more worth my while as the story progressed; the ending would have gotten a 4.5, so I went with the 4 rating overall
What I didn't like as much:
--- There were times where Ms. Force definitely tried too hard in this debut --- mentions of the Wright brothers and a famous archeological explorer were a little too much in terms of proving the duke's commitment to progressive investments; as a devourer of historical romances, I have found that the subtle approach is better
--- Not only was there one insta-love match in this book, there were 2... though I enjoyed both of their stories, it is hard to justify the one rakish reformer, much less the two especially when it comes men of the station being described
Overall, I am excited that Ms. Force has ventured into HR land as it is my favorite romance sub-genre, and I am looking forward to her future historicals!
Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level --- 4.5/5
Violence --- not much
Language --- none of note
POV --- 3rd
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 4, 2019
Really horrid, which is not just a matter of a misstep here and there, but an appalling lack of understanding for the period chosen for the story. While Ms. Force is a gifted author of comtemporary romances, she didn't bother researching her venture into historical romance. Apparently her editors made the same mistake.
January 4, 2019
Duchess by Deception by Marie Force is the first book in her new Gilded series. Force is well-known for her romantic suspense and contemporary romance, so this historical romance is a departure for her.
Derek Eagan, Duke of Westwood, must marry before his thirtieth birthday, or he’ll lose his title and inheritance. The problem is that his birthday is eleven days away and none of the high-brow debutantes he’s met this season appeal to him.
Catherine McCabe, daughter of the new Earl of Brisbane, despises the aristocracy. She’s fleeing an arranged marriage with a viscount thirty years her senior and has no desire to be involved with any titled gentleman.
When Derek finds Catherine on his property he pretends to be Jack Bancroft, his property manager. Catherine is devastated to learn that her beloved “Jack” is actually a duke. Derek must now find a way to win back Catherine’s love, while protecting her from the danger posed by the rejected Viscount.
Marie Force has done an admirable job in her first foray into the historical romance genre. She cleverly injects references to newly-developed technology, such as electricity, motorcars, and manned flight. I found Duchess by Deception hard to put down and give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to all readers of historical romance. Those who dislike descriptive sex scenes will want to give this one a pass.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Derek Eagan, Duke of Westwood, must marry before his thirtieth birthday, or he’ll lose his title and inheritance. The problem is that his birthday is eleven days away and none of the high-brow debutantes he’s met this season appeal to him.
Catherine McCabe, daughter of the new Earl of Brisbane, despises the aristocracy. She’s fleeing an arranged marriage with a viscount thirty years her senior and has no desire to be involved with any titled gentleman.
When Derek finds Catherine on his property he pretends to be Jack Bancroft, his property manager. Catherine is devastated to learn that her beloved “Jack” is actually a duke. Derek must now find a way to win back Catherine’s love, while protecting her from the danger posed by the rejected Viscount.
Marie Force has done an admirable job in her first foray into the historical romance genre. She cleverly injects references to newly-developed technology, such as electricity, motorcars, and manned flight. I found Duchess by Deception hard to put down and give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to all readers of historical romance. Those who dislike descriptive sex scenes will want to give this one a pass.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
January 6, 2019
A relationship faster than a speeding bullet. Derek and Catherine went from strangers to love in seconds. And there is a parallel story line with Simon, Derek's cousin, and Madeleine, Catherine's sister, who also go from 0-60 in seconds! Also, they just let Anthony go when they find out everything he did. Just because they tell him to stay away doesn't mean they can trust him. He's a criminal for goodness sake!
February 10, 2019
Just awful.
Just stunningly awful.
The writing is atrocious, the plot is absurd (and also impossible, legally), and the characters are flat and uninteresting.
Also, why is this series called "Gilded?" This set in England in 1900s, and has nothing to do with the Gilded Age.
Just stunningly awful.
The writing is atrocious, the plot is absurd (and also impossible, legally), and the characters are flat and uninteresting.
Also, why is this series called "Gilded?" This set in England in 1900s, and has nothing to do with the Gilded Age.
November 9, 2019
It was a slow read, couldn’t really get into the story. It was meh 😕
January 25, 2019
Derek Egan, Duke of Westwood, is about to turn thirty, and there is the unfortunate stipulation that he must marry before his next birthday. If he does not marry, he forfeits his title as well as his inheritance. Meanwhile, Derek discovers a woman on his property in Essex. She is feverish and he takes her in with hopes of saving her life. She is mostly unconscious that first night , and then Derek makes the choice to not tell her of his title. He instructs his staff to do the same.
Catherine has a single purpose which explains why she was on the property of the Duke of Westwood. However, she is totally unaware that the man who announces himself as Jack Bancroft, estate manager, is actually the Duke. Catherine reveals to “Jack” that she is on the run due to a violent man her father plans on marrying her off to.
From the moment their eyes met Catherine and Derek were smitten with one another. Will the man pursing her locate Catherine? What’s more, how long will Derek keep his true identity and need to marry a secret from her? No doubt these revelations will bring angst to her and may just color her newfound feelings towards him.
Duchess by Deception is a love match of two people that found one another at the perfect time in their lives. Danger ratchets up when the man pursuing Catherine gets too close and Derek shows his protective nature. They marry without her knowing he is the Duke. Their story is sexy, warm and tender. There was an enjoyable side story with his cousin Simon and her sister Madeleine.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is Marie Force's first historical romance, and that is being published now! I think something that was written years ago that brings in such a romance as well as the turn of the century technology that was being developed will go far in the hands of other readers. As always, I am definitely a fan of this prolific author's work.
Many thanks to Marie Force, Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.
Catherine has a single purpose which explains why she was on the property of the Duke of Westwood. However, she is totally unaware that the man who announces himself as Jack Bancroft, estate manager, is actually the Duke. Catherine reveals to “Jack” that she is on the run due to a violent man her father plans on marrying her off to.
From the moment their eyes met Catherine and Derek were smitten with one another. Will the man pursing her locate Catherine? What’s more, how long will Derek keep his true identity and need to marry a secret from her? No doubt these revelations will bring angst to her and may just color her newfound feelings towards him.
Duchess by Deception is a love match of two people that found one another at the perfect time in their lives. Danger ratchets up when the man pursuing Catherine gets too close and Derek shows his protective nature. They marry without her knowing he is the Duke. Their story is sexy, warm and tender. There was an enjoyable side story with his cousin Simon and her sister Madeleine.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is Marie Force's first historical romance, and that is being published now! I think something that was written years ago that brings in such a romance as well as the turn of the century technology that was being developed will go far in the hands of other readers. As always, I am definitely a fan of this prolific author's work.
Many thanks to Marie Force, Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.
July 4, 2021
"Duchess by Deception" was a freebie on KU and I added it to my TBR as I've never read anything by Marie Force. After sitting for some time, I decided to read it was a bit disappointed as it was nothing that I had expected. I anticipated a slow build between the main characters and thought it was a bit rushed and underdeveloped. Having said this, it was a bit unbelievable for me but I continued to the end. This one was not that enjoyable as an HR.
January 27, 2019
I think this was a great start to the beginning of a historical series. Marie did a great job for her first historical. I think some of the good points is that the book starts out with our Hero's pov. I'm glad for the variety. The beginning sucked me in especially with the 1st few chapters. The way how the story progressed was a bit unexpected. You also get 2 love stories in 1 after the 50% mark. This story has mystery, mistaken identity, secrets, and of course romance.
September 11, 2019
2 stars for the sake of Marie Force.
The story was way too predictable which is the nice word for "boring".
The progress was very slow and the Duke was acting strange on the very first meet with Catherine. Moreover it was not making me turn the pages like other historical romance does which is a shame!!
The story was way too predictable which is the nice word for "boring".
The progress was very slow and the Duke was acting strange on the very first meet with Catherine. Moreover it was not making me turn the pages like other historical romance does which is a shame!!
January 30, 2019
Derek Egan knows the clock is ticking on his deadline, but none of the debutants catch his interest in the slightest. Returning to his Essex home for a reprieve, he catches someone digging on his property. What he finds is a woman frantic with fever and despiration. Hiding his identity, he nurses her back to health while hiding his true identity.
Catherine McCabe is running from the aristocracy after a betrothal she cannot abide. She isn’t happy to find herself caught on the land of another aristocat, but when she meets who she thinks is the property manager she decides spending a little more time in residence might help her find what she is looking for.
As their time together continues, Derek and Catherine begin a whirlwind romance. But despite the feelings growing between them, Derek continues to hide his identity: a secret that could backfire at any time.
This was a fun, light read with fun details and moments throughout. Catherine was a spitfire, with a backbone lacking many of her fellow ladies. She has definite feelings about titles and the privilege that comes with them, and is determined to keep away from anyone with a title.
Derek eschews many of the weights that typically come with the title he carries. But as the deadline for his marriage approaches he must consider whether it is worth bending his own ideals to keep the title or if he should let it go to his uncle as will happen if he isn’t married. He has his own brand of rebellion towards the institutions he is supposed to uphold, but he is a fair landlord whose people adore him.
I enjoyed every moment in this story. While aspects were on the predictable side, I enjoyed the change of pace that came with the story. I also enjoyed the addition of another young couple finding a surprising match within the pages and look forward to more from this series.
I received a copy for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Catherine McCabe is running from the aristocracy after a betrothal she cannot abide. She isn’t happy to find herself caught on the land of another aristocat, but when she meets who she thinks is the property manager she decides spending a little more time in residence might help her find what she is looking for.
As their time together continues, Derek and Catherine begin a whirlwind romance. But despite the feelings growing between them, Derek continues to hide his identity: a secret that could backfire at any time.
This was a fun, light read with fun details and moments throughout. Catherine was a spitfire, with a backbone lacking many of her fellow ladies. She has definite feelings about titles and the privilege that comes with them, and is determined to keep away from anyone with a title.
Derek eschews many of the weights that typically come with the title he carries. But as the deadline for his marriage approaches he must consider whether it is worth bending his own ideals to keep the title or if he should let it go to his uncle as will happen if he isn’t married. He has his own brand of rebellion towards the institutions he is supposed to uphold, but he is a fair landlord whose people adore him.
I enjoyed every moment in this story. While aspects were on the predictable side, I enjoyed the change of pace that came with the story. I also enjoyed the addition of another young couple finding a surprising match within the pages and look forward to more from this series.
I received a copy for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 3, 2022
Duchess by Deception features a romance between a duke and a woman fleeing an arranged marriage.
The deadline for Derek Egan, the Duke of Westwood, to marry or lose his title is fast approaching. Seeking a respite from the matching mamas of the ton, Derek heads to his country home in Essex. When he encounters a man digging on his property, he confronts him only to discover the man is actually a woman who promptly faints at his feet. Catherine McCabe is no fan of the aristocracy so when her father arranges for her to marry an older Viscount, she runs rather than marry him. When she's confronted on a Duke's estate her first instinct is to leave but the man who found her, who introduces himself as the Duke's estate manager, convinces her to stay. It doesn't take long for Derek and Catherine to fall in love but when Derek's deception is revealed, will Derek be able to make Catherine fall in love with the real him?
I struggled a lot with this book as I took an immediate dislike to Derek which never really changed as the book went on. One of my biggest problems with him was how long he lied to Catherine about who he was. I understand and agree with him claiming not to be the duke to calm Catherine down after she woke up and freaked out. That's a situation where the lie made sense as Catherine was quite ill and trying to leave despite her condition. What I couldn't agree with is how he continued the lie after the pair began to fall in love and even after they got married. Due to my dislike of Derek, I could never really get behind the romance between him and Catherine. I initially really liked Catherine and I really enjoyed how she took control of her own life rather than be forced into an arranged marriage. But with Derek, it was almost like she lost that spark. I also thought she forgave him way too easily after she found out who he really was.
There was a secondary romance in this book between Catherine's younger sister Madeleine and Derek's cousin Simon. I enjoyed their romance quite a bit more than the main one and I wish we'd gotten to see more of it. They had a ton of chemistry and they were so sweet together that it was hard not to like them.
Overall Duchess by Deception didn't really work for me although I did enjoy the secondary romance.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
The deadline for Derek Egan, the Duke of Westwood, to marry or lose his title is fast approaching. Seeking a respite from the matching mamas of the ton, Derek heads to his country home in Essex. When he encounters a man digging on his property, he confronts him only to discover the man is actually a woman who promptly faints at his feet. Catherine McCabe is no fan of the aristocracy so when her father arranges for her to marry an older Viscount, she runs rather than marry him. When she's confronted on a Duke's estate her first instinct is to leave but the man who found her, who introduces himself as the Duke's estate manager, convinces her to stay. It doesn't take long for Derek and Catherine to fall in love but when Derek's deception is revealed, will Derek be able to make Catherine fall in love with the real him?
I struggled a lot with this book as I took an immediate dislike to Derek which never really changed as the book went on. One of my biggest problems with him was how long he lied to Catherine about who he was. I understand and agree with him claiming not to be the duke to calm Catherine down after she woke up and freaked out. That's a situation where the lie made sense as Catherine was quite ill and trying to leave despite her condition. What I couldn't agree with is how he continued the lie after the pair began to fall in love and even after they got married. Due to my dislike of Derek, I could never really get behind the romance between him and Catherine. I initially really liked Catherine and I really enjoyed how she took control of her own life rather than be forced into an arranged marriage. But with Derek, it was almost like she lost that spark. I also thought she forgave him way too easily after she found out who he really was.
There was a secondary romance in this book between Catherine's younger sister Madeleine and Derek's cousin Simon. I enjoyed their romance quite a bit more than the main one and I wish we'd gotten to see more of it. They had a ton of chemistry and they were so sweet together that it was hard not to like them.
Overall Duchess by Deception didn't really work for me although I did enjoy the secondary romance.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
January 14, 2019
Even though I don't frequently read historical romances, I had to pick up this one because I truly enjoy other books that the author has written. In my opinion, Marie Force did a terrific job with her first historical romance and I truly hope she continues even though my preference will always be the contemporary novels. In this story we actually had two couples find love when they were least expecting it, in fact, three of the people had given up on ever finding love. Between the terrific characters and an engaging story line, I had difficulty putting the book down. Since the story ends with the characters discussing plans to spend the following summer in Newport, I do hope that we will see a second book in the series.
January 23, 2019
Duchess by Deception (Gilded #1) by Marie Force
Force makes a strong case for herself as a well rounded author. Duchess by Deception takes the best parts of contemporary romance and travels back in time to create a captivating tale of love lost, secrets found and new beginnings revealed. Derek and Catherine meet by chance in a time where women are nothing more than window dressing. Knowing she's destined for more, Catherine sets out to pave her own way in the world. Derek is the dream she never hoped to find. An interesting first meeting paves the way for a romance unlike any other. Can there love affair survive the secrets that they keep? Force brings a fresh voice to a timeless genre.
Force makes a strong case for herself as a well rounded author. Duchess by Deception takes the best parts of contemporary romance and travels back in time to create a captivating tale of love lost, secrets found and new beginnings revealed. Derek and Catherine meet by chance in a time where women are nothing more than window dressing. Knowing she's destined for more, Catherine sets out to pave her own way in the world. Derek is the dream she never hoped to find. An interesting first meeting paves the way for a romance unlike any other. Can there love affair survive the secrets that they keep? Force brings a fresh voice to a timeless genre.
January 1, 2019
I am not a fan of historical romance but really enjoyed this book. I loved Derek despite his lies knowing that he did it to protect her. I loved Cat for so many reasons and was so happy that they found there happily ever after. I look forward to reading more of this series.
January 29, 2019
I’m SO not usually a fan of historical romance. I’ve read a few I really liked but it’s definitely not my first, or even second, favorite genre. But this book and these characters? SO much to love. I encourage everyone to give it a try- you will not be disappointed!
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January 30, 2019I haven’t read an historical in a very long time , but I loved this story. Marie Force is truly talented in all genres. This is a great storyline and a quick read because once you start it you won’t want to put it down . I recommend this book and look forward to more Giled stories to come
January 6, 2019
I loved it and can't wait to read the second volume. Longer review to come
February 3, 2019
2.5 stars
Marie Force's first foray into historical romance and IMHO she did ok ... she would have done better if she had used a better base line ...
Duke H needs to marry before 30 or else his title and attendant properties will go to his uncle ... he is running away from a bad fiancee and ends up at his estate
he deceives her about his identity, they quickly fall in love and marry ... she uncovers his deception and the four letter word starting with S and ending with T hits the fan ...
First of all, historical accuracy; laws of primogeniture don't allow titles to be taken away ... in fact anything not entailed can be given away but the title and the principle property which is entailed to the title cannot be ... readers can accept a lot of creative license but we have our limits and something this glaring ... not so much ...
H was a great character once he meets the h; before that he is a boor who cannot find even one intelligent woman in the whole ton; all debs are supposedly stupid bimbos ... which is just plain chauvinism and misogyny ... oops ...
h starts off as an adorable character but once she knows he is a duke and not a commoner, she makes a much bigger fuss than she needed to; ultimately his title and position protected her from being hauled and made to marry her stupid fiancee!
H becomes very sick, h nurses him and that's kinda like her come to god moment; she realises she is being a childish, nasty bitch and needs to get over herself ... which is also her get out of jail card; she needed to get over herself without him getting sick ...
Overall, this could have been a lot better ....
Marie Force's first foray into historical romance and IMHO she did ok ... she would have done better if she had used a better base line ...
Duke H needs to marry before 30 or else his title and attendant properties will go to his uncle ... he is running away from a bad fiancee and ends up at his estate
he deceives her about his identity, they quickly fall in love and marry ... she uncovers his deception and the four letter word starting with S and ending with T hits the fan ...
First of all, historical accuracy; laws of primogeniture don't allow titles to be taken away ... in fact anything not entailed can be given away but the title and the principle property which is entailed to the title cannot be ... readers can accept a lot of creative license but we have our limits and something this glaring ... not so much ...
H was a great character once he meets the h; before that he is a boor who cannot find even one intelligent woman in the whole ton; all debs are supposedly stupid bimbos ... which is just plain chauvinism and misogyny ... oops ...
h starts off as an adorable character but once she knows he is a duke and not a commoner, she makes a much bigger fuss than she needed to; ultimately his title and position protected her from being hauled and made to marry her stupid fiancee!
H becomes very sick, h nurses him and that's kinda like her come to god moment; she realises she is being a childish, nasty bitch and needs to get over herself ... which is also her get out of jail card; she needed to get over herself without him getting sick ...
Overall, this could have been a lot better ....
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