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League of Dukes #1
Nobody's Duke
A widow with secrets
When the dangerous men who killed her husband in a political assassination threaten Ara, Duchess of Burghly, the Crown assigns her a bodyguard. But the man charged with protecting her is no stranger.
He's Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of a duke and the first man she ever loved. Eight years after he took her innocence and ruthlessly abandoned her, he's back in her drawing room and her life.
This time, she's older, wiser, and stronger. She will resist him at any cost and make him pay for the past.
A spy with a broken heart
She's the only woman Clay ever loved and the one he hates above all others. When Ara brutally betrayed and deceived him, leaving him with a scarred face and a bitter heart, he devoted himself to earning his reputation as one of the Crown's most feared agents.
He wants nothing more than to finish his assignment so that he can remove all traces of her from his life forever. But walking away from her for good won't be as easy as he thinks.
As secrets are revealed and danger threatens Ara, Clay discovers that the truth is far more complicated than deceit. Once she's back in his arms where she belongs, he'll wage the biggest fight of all to keep her there.
When the dangerous men who killed her husband in a political assassination threaten Ara, Duchess of Burghly, the Crown assigns her a bodyguard. But the man charged with protecting her is no stranger.
He's Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of a duke and the first man she ever loved. Eight years after he took her innocence and ruthlessly abandoned her, he's back in her drawing room and her life.
This time, she's older, wiser, and stronger. She will resist him at any cost and make him pay for the past.
A spy with a broken heart
She's the only woman Clay ever loved and the one he hates above all others. When Ara brutally betrayed and deceived him, leaving him with a scarred face and a bitter heart, he devoted himself to earning his reputation as one of the Crown's most feared agents.
He wants nothing more than to finish his assignment so that he can remove all traces of her from his life forever. But walking away from her for good won't be as easy as he thinks.
As secrets are revealed and danger threatens Ara, Clay discovers that the truth is far more complicated than deceit. Once she's back in his arms where she belongs, he'll wage the biggest fight of all to keep her there.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
2806 people are currently reading
1687 people want to read
About the author
Scarlett Scott
121 books1,568 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author Scarlett Scott writes steamy Victorian and Regency historical romances with strong, intelligent heroines and sexy alpha heroes. She lives in Pennsylvania and Maryland with her Canadian husband, their adorable identical twins, a demanding diva dog, and one zany cat.
For Scarlett's latest releases, exclusive excerpts, contests and more, visit her website, http://www.scarlettscottauthor.com
For Scarlett's latest releases, exclusive excerpts, contests and more, visit her website, http://www.scarlettscottauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
September 2, 2022
4.5 stars
Ahhhh I finally read this book and it was SO GOOD. This is a second chance romance between Ara and Clay. They were in love eight years ago, but circumstances pushed them apart and Ara married someone else. What Clay doesn't know, though, is that Ara was pregnant with his baby and raised the child as the son of her new husband. Now, Ara's husband is killed and the killers are threatening her and her son. Clay is assigned to protect Ara and old feelings come back. There was so much tension between Clay and Ara and I just loved how they had to confront their past with one another. We get flashbacks of when they were falling in love, which definitely built on the tension. I would have liked a little bit more in terms fo the actual plot beyond the romance, but overall I just loved this romance. I really enjoyed looking into their two families and how the story played out with their son. I definitely agree that if you love Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas, you would love this one!
Ahhhh I finally read this book and it was SO GOOD. This is a second chance romance between Ara and Clay. They were in love eight years ago, but circumstances pushed them apart and Ara married someone else. What Clay doesn't know, though, is that Ara was pregnant with his baby and raised the child as the son of her new husband. Now, Ara's husband is killed and the killers are threatening her and her son. Clay is assigned to protect Ara and old feelings come back. There was so much tension between Clay and Ara and I just loved how they had to confront their past with one another. We get flashbacks of when they were falling in love, which definitely built on the tension. I would have liked a little bit more in terms fo the actual plot beyond the romance, but overall I just loved this romance. I really enjoyed looking into their two families and how the story played out with their son. I definitely agree that if you love Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas, you would love this one!
August 17, 2025
Boring and repetitive. And repetitive and boring. And boring and repetitive.
Rinse and repeat.
Rinse and repeat.
October 23, 2022
Nobody’s Duke was described as having similar vibes to Again the Magic (by Lisa Kleypas) and honestly that’s all I had to hear to add this book to my tbr. 😅 And I’m so glad I got to it because it definitely delivered on those vibes plus had its own unique plot/story too! This was my first time reading a book by this author and I was so impressed…such an angsty, bodyguard, second chance romance.
When the dangerous men who killed her husband in a political assassination threaten her life as well, widow Ara, Duchess of Burghly, is assigned a bodyguard. But her bodyguard, Clayton Ludlow is no stranger to her…Clay is actually the bastard son of a Duke and was once Ara’s first love! Now it’s 8 years later and the angst between them being around one another against is sooo good. Ara also has her young son to protect and we find out early into the book that he’s actually Clay’s son but he just doesn’t know it yet. Again, the angstttt!
I loved the flashback scenes back to when they first met. Seeing Clay protect Ara and bond with her son too was so good. Clay definitely felt like he wasn’t good enough for Ara being born on the wrong side of the blanket, his father and her father were enemies and that added another layer of drama. I just loved this romance, it delivered on the romantic moments, the angst, and the steam so well! Him calling her “Ara-mine”, I’m trash when a historical romance hero calls the heroine this nickname with her name! 🥰
When the dangerous men who killed her husband in a political assassination threaten her life as well, widow Ara, Duchess of Burghly, is assigned a bodyguard. But her bodyguard, Clayton Ludlow is no stranger to her…Clay is actually the bastard son of a Duke and was once Ara’s first love! Now it’s 8 years later and the angst between them being around one another against is sooo good. Ara also has her young son to protect and we find out early into the book that he’s actually Clay’s son but he just doesn’t know it yet. Again, the angstttt!
I loved the flashback scenes back to when they first met. Seeing Clay protect Ara and bond with her son too was so good. Clay definitely felt like he wasn’t good enough for Ara being born on the wrong side of the blanket, his father and her father were enemies and that added another layer of drama. I just loved this romance, it delivered on the romantic moments, the angst, and the steam so well! Him calling her “Ara-mine”, I’m trash when a historical romance hero calls the heroine this nickname with her name! 🥰
May 10, 2022
This was EVERYTHING I could ever want from an angsty second chance romance!!! Seriously, you NEED to read this if you enjoyed Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas. There are definitely a lot of similar vibes in this.
I was obsessed with Scott’s writing from page 1, and the way she told Clay and Ara’s story was beautiful and heart wrenching. The steamy scenes were 🔥🔥🔥 as well. Highly recommend and I loved how this set up the next book in the series.
I was obsessed with Scott’s writing from page 1, and the way she told Clay and Ara’s story was beautiful and heart wrenching. The steamy scenes were 🔥🔥🔥 as well. Highly recommend and I loved how this set up the next book in the series.
July 25, 2021
When her husband is assassinated in a politically motivated attack, Araminta, the Dowager Duchess of Burghly, is also under threat. The Crown assigns her a full-time bodyguard, but the man is not a stranger to her, but rather the only man she has ever loved. Clayton Ludlow, illegitimate but beloved son of a duke, coldly abandoned her and broke her heart, after taking her innocence, eight years ago and he's the last person Ara wants to see now. But Ara is older and stronger now and capable of resisting Clay's charms and making him atone for his past mistakes.
Clay has never loved any other woman but Ara, yet he hates her too. Her brutal betrayal left him with a vicious scar on his face to match the one on his heart. Since then he has thrown himself wholeheartedly into some of the Crown's most dangerous missions, making himself a highly feared and respected agent and the only one to be trusted with this assignment.
Clay only wants to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible and remove himself from Ara's presence forever, but leaving her proves harder than he would like. When secrets come to light and danger comes ever closer, Clay learns the truth is far from what he imagined and with Ara restored to him, he will do whatever it takes to keep her forever.
I didn't like this book nearly as much as I wanted to. The flashbacks and ruminations on the past somehow became a rather repetitive for me and jarred me out of the story at times. Mostly, however, my issue was Ara. I know she'd been through a lot, but she was either raging or sobbing and it was hard to keep up with her. Also, her hatefulness toward Clay, even if he was rather rude to her in return, made her hard to stomach, especially when she was so haughty and belittling to him. The lack of communication between Ara and Clay went on entirely too long, continuing the misinformation of the past that tore them apart in the first place and leaving them still sniping at each other even at the 57% mark, only to then devolve into what is essentially hate sex. It took much too long for real, open communication to happen between these two and then suddenly, once the truth was at last revealed, everything was perfectly fine. There were no apologies necessary for how mean they were to each other, especially her awful behavior, they just went on as if nothing happened and I just didn't quite buy it. This felt like a missed opportunity to me for some real emotional bonding and a lovely heart to heart that just didn't ever come. The final drama felt a bit rushed and predictable, but I did love the steamy scenes between Ara and Clay once they progressed from trying to hurt each other to expressing genuine love and it was nice to see that their love never died even after everything they went through.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Clay has never loved any other woman but Ara, yet he hates her too. Her brutal betrayal left him with a vicious scar on his face to match the one on his heart. Since then he has thrown himself wholeheartedly into some of the Crown's most dangerous missions, making himself a highly feared and respected agent and the only one to be trusted with this assignment.
Clay only wants to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible and remove himself from Ara's presence forever, but leaving her proves harder than he would like. When secrets come to light and danger comes ever closer, Clay learns the truth is far from what he imagined and with Ara restored to him, he will do whatever it takes to keep her forever.
I didn't like this book nearly as much as I wanted to. The flashbacks and ruminations on the past somehow became a rather repetitive for me and jarred me out of the story at times. Mostly, however, my issue was Ara. I know she'd been through a lot, but she was either raging or sobbing and it was hard to keep up with her. Also, her hatefulness toward Clay, even if he was rather rude to her in return, made her hard to stomach, especially when she was so haughty and belittling to him. The lack of communication between Ara and Clay went on entirely too long, continuing the misinformation of the past that tore them apart in the first place and leaving them still sniping at each other even at the 57% mark, only to then devolve into what is essentially hate sex. It took much too long for real, open communication to happen between these two and then suddenly, once the truth was at last revealed, everything was perfectly fine. There were no apologies necessary for how mean they were to each other, especially her awful behavior, they just went on as if nothing happened and I just didn't quite buy it. This felt like a missed opportunity to me for some real emotional bonding and a lovely heart to heart that just didn't ever come. The final drama felt a bit rushed and predictable, but I did love the steamy scenes between Ara and Clay once they progressed from trying to hurt each other to expressing genuine love and it was nice to see that their love never died even after everything they went through.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
October 24, 2021
Really enjoyed this!
Yea it’s his fault lol. I know they were both deceived but at the end of the day the blame could be directed at one person and it’s the hero. I understand that he was beat up and lied to by the men the heroines dad ordered to it (the ruffians said that she didn’t want to marry him and she and her father had sent them to beat him up), his pride was wounded and he felt like shit, but why the hell would he believe that the heroine is capable of orchestrating he who thing? If he truly believed in the love he and the heroine had for each other, he definitely should have gone after her and asked for an explanation after being beaten up, but instead he fled the country? And what was worse was he left her pregnant (he didn’t know she was pregnant of course but still it happened) and the heroine, clueless to her father’s meddling, thought that the hero just jilted her, no word of explanation, like a prolonged tinder hook-up. Bless her young soul.
The heroine 100% suffered more. Falling in love, being jilted and left pregnant, being disowned by her family, and having to find someone to marry and raise there child.
It all worked out in the end though 😀
Yea it’s his fault lol. I know they were both deceived but at the end of the day the blame could be directed at one person and it’s the hero. I understand that he was beat up and lied to by the men the heroines dad ordered to it (the ruffians said that she didn’t want to marry him and she and her father had sent them to beat him up), his pride was wounded and he felt like shit, but why the hell would he believe that the heroine is capable of orchestrating he who thing? If he truly believed in the love he and the heroine had for each other, he definitely should have gone after her and asked for an explanation after being beaten up, but instead he fled the country? And what was worse was he left her pregnant (he didn’t know she was pregnant of course but still it happened) and the heroine, clueless to her father’s meddling, thought that the hero just jilted her, no word of explanation, like a prolonged tinder hook-up. Bless her young soul.
The heroine 100% suffered more. Falling in love, being jilted and left pregnant, being disowned by her family, and having to find someone to marry and raise there child.
It all worked out in the end though 😀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
Dnf’ed 50%
I abhor when heroines are condescending to the hero because of rank. Even if it disguises hurt.
This is the first SS I have found boring. The misunderstanding could have been handled in one conversation.
The stars are for the late Duke ❤️
I abhor when heroines are condescending to the hero because of rank. Even if it disguises hurt.
This is the first SS I have found boring. The misunderstanding could have been handled in one conversation.
The stars are for the late Duke ❤️
January 12, 2019
Series: League of Dukes #1
Publication Date: 1/8/19
Number of Pages: 277
This is an absolutely lovely second chance romance. Two wonderful young people who were very much in love and were torn apart by a nasty fiend. Eight years later, they get their chance to find love with each other again. The story is well written and excellently delivered. I loved both of the main characters and could absolutely feel the love they had for each other even after all that was done to them. Great read.
The story jumps back and forth in time – part of it telling the events of eight years earlier and part of it telling their current story. The main setting is London in 1882 – during the time the Irish Finians are using terrorism to gain home rule for Ireland. Many of their tactics are the same as terrorists use today.
Clayton Ludlow is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Carlisle. The duke raised Clay alongside his legitimate son. The Duke loved Clay’s mother and they all lived together as a family – leaving the Duke’s cold and unfeeling wife on her own. I didn’t understand the little I saw of Clay’s brother, Leo. He was raised in a very loving home with a woman who loved him and treated him as if he were her own. However, he appears to be very aloof and unfeeling in this book. I guess we’ll learn more about him in the next book.
Lady Araminta (Ara) Winters is the youngest child of the Earl of Wickham. She’s bright, funny, loving, and unspoiled. It is kind of hard to imagine her being so sweet given the parents she has. She had two seasons but just hasn’t found anyone who curled her toes.
When she’s out riding one day Araminta sees the most gorgeous young man running down the path. She conceals herself so she can admire him without being seen. She returns the next day and the next and the next before he finally confronts her. They spend more and more time together and fall in love with each other. They finally make plans to marry without her father’s consent and agreed to meet at dawn to leave. Dastardly deeds intervene and each thinks the other has betrayed them.
Eight years later, Clay works for an elite organization in the Home Office and Ara has just become the widow of a duke who was killed by the Finians. The Finians are now threatening Ara’s life as well and the Home Office assigns Clay to her protection. He fights the assignment, but in the end, he has no choice but to accept.
It was a wonderful time watching these two very lovely people find that their love had never died. They slowly come to realize what happened to them all those years ago and they realize that they can now have all they lost.
I definitely recommend this book!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 1/8/19
Number of Pages: 277
This is an absolutely lovely second chance romance. Two wonderful young people who were very much in love and were torn apart by a nasty fiend. Eight years later, they get their chance to find love with each other again. The story is well written and excellently delivered. I loved both of the main characters and could absolutely feel the love they had for each other even after all that was done to them. Great read.
The story jumps back and forth in time – part of it telling the events of eight years earlier and part of it telling their current story. The main setting is London in 1882 – during the time the Irish Finians are using terrorism to gain home rule for Ireland. Many of their tactics are the same as terrorists use today.
Clayton Ludlow is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Carlisle. The duke raised Clay alongside his legitimate son. The Duke loved Clay’s mother and they all lived together as a family – leaving the Duke’s cold and unfeeling wife on her own. I didn’t understand the little I saw of Clay’s brother, Leo. He was raised in a very loving home with a woman who loved him and treated him as if he were her own. However, he appears to be very aloof and unfeeling in this book. I guess we’ll learn more about him in the next book.
Lady Araminta (Ara) Winters is the youngest child of the Earl of Wickham. She’s bright, funny, loving, and unspoiled. It is kind of hard to imagine her being so sweet given the parents she has. She had two seasons but just hasn’t found anyone who curled her toes.
When she’s out riding one day Araminta sees the most gorgeous young man running down the path. She conceals herself so she can admire him without being seen. She returns the next day and the next and the next before he finally confronts her. They spend more and more time together and fall in love with each other. They finally make plans to marry without her father’s consent and agreed to meet at dawn to leave. Dastardly deeds intervene and each thinks the other has betrayed them.
Eight years later, Clay works for an elite organization in the Home Office and Ara has just become the widow of a duke who was killed by the Finians. The Finians are now threatening Ara’s life as well and the Home Office assigns Clay to her protection. He fights the assignment, but in the end, he has no choice but to accept.
It was a wonderful time watching these two very lovely people find that their love had never died. They slowly come to realize what happened to them all those years ago and they realize that they can now have all they lost.
I definitely recommend this book!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
November 5, 2019
Audio..4 stars
Story...3.75 stars
Story...3.75 stars
March 30, 2019
A little disappointed
I loved Ludlow from the previous series and I was so excited to read his story but it just missed its mark. I actually got bored with all the intimate scenes. They started around 60%, and they went on and on. Enough already. The past being interwoven between chapters was just not my cup of tea. I think it should have started with that and then brought in the reunion. but it was still good. I guess I just wanted more. They were so mean to each other for 55% of the book and it got old. The little boy, Edward, was such a great character. I loved him. I did like The end of the story when all the misunderstandings were cleared up, but it did drag a little. I hated that they were apart for eight long years hating each other. But it all worked out in the end. I read this in KU and I do really like this author when she writes about good heroes but she is not always safe. In this book you knew he had moved on but at least we didn't have the details of even confirmation. It was never mentioned really so that didn't bother me as much. He really loved her and vice versa. I will read this author again as long as her heroes don't cheat. I really do like her writing.
I loved Ludlow from the previous series and I was so excited to read his story but it just missed its mark. I actually got bored with all the intimate scenes. They started around 60%, and they went on and on. Enough already. The past being interwoven between chapters was just not my cup of tea. I think it should have started with that and then brought in the reunion. but it was still good. I guess I just wanted more. They were so mean to each other for 55% of the book and it got old. The little boy, Edward, was such a great character. I loved him. I did like The end of the story when all the misunderstandings were cleared up, but it did drag a little. I hated that they were apart for eight long years hating each other. But it all worked out in the end. I read this in KU and I do really like this author when she writes about good heroes but she is not always safe. In this book you knew he had moved on but at least we didn't have the details of even confirmation. It was never mentioned really so that didn't bother me as much. He really loved her and vice versa. I will read this author again as long as her heroes don't cheat. I really do like her writing.
December 23, 2023
My first one from Scarlett Scott and I really really enjoyed it.Both H were likable and strong characters.Quite steamy as well...I am looking forward to Leo's story as of course I adore arrogant dukes.Everything was in place,solid story and good secondary characters.Totally recommend.Nothing upsetting to any reader's sensibilities.
Aw ps:Rosalyn Landor as a narrator nailed as always!
Aw ps:Rosalyn Landor as a narrator nailed as always!
April 24, 2023
These two were done wrong by circumstances beyond their control. But their second chance is all the sweeter for it.
4 stars
3 on the spice scale
4 stars
3 on the spice scale
February 5, 2025
This is a lovers-turned-haters-to-lovers second chance romance. The animosity between the hero and heroine took up a little more than half of the book. There are also flashbacks to when they first met, fell in love, and the lie that lead to their separation and hate for one another.
Why must we wait so long for the H/h to learn the truth about who orchestrated their separation? 😩😩
Most of the steamy scenes occurred in the second half of the book. I wasn’t invested in the main couple so I listened halfheartedly to these passages. At one point, I was ready for the steamy scenes to end so we can return to the second plot — protecting the heroine and her son from getting killed.
Other tropes:
- bodyguard
- forced proximity
- secret baby (now 7 years old)
- widowed heroine
- hero is the bastard child of a Duke
- hero has a pet cat
Why must we wait so long for the H/h to learn the truth about who orchestrated their separation? 😩😩
Most of the steamy scenes occurred in the second half of the book. I wasn’t invested in the main couple so I listened halfheartedly to these passages. At one point, I was ready for the steamy scenes to end so we can return to the second plot — protecting the heroine and her son from getting killed.
Other tropes:
- bodyguard
- forced proximity
- secret baby (now 7 years old)
- widowed heroine
- hero is the bastard child of a Duke
- hero has a pet cat
December 18, 2019
The back and forth of "I hate you but I still lust you" was very tiresome.
January 7, 2019
Eight years before, they were young and in love, planning to go away to start their lives together, but assumed betrayals and brutal prejudice tore them apart. Now Clayton Ludlow bastard son of a duke is back to protect Duchess Araminta and her young son after the political murder of her husband. Will their broken hearts make his task impossible or will it re-open old wounds and further betray the love they still secretly harbor?
Scarlett Scott’s NOBODY’S DUKE is historical romance at its most frustrating, heartbreaking and heartwarming as we witness two lovers tentatively break down the walls they built to hide their pain and discover that true love can never die.
Fabulous characters, all damaged in their own way, some with secrets that they have long kept hidden and lots of action between the sheets. I loved the characters, the tension and all of their interactions. What I had a problem with? The sensual scenes became cut and paste to me. GAH! I know, I know… I can’t help it, but every scene included the same phrases, the same actions and dare I say, I got bored with the dancing in the sheets?
BUT, the rest of the story had me, lock, stock and heart strings as Scarlett Scott presented a second chance romance against the odds, as well as times.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Scarlett Scott!
Series: League of Dukes - Book 1
Publisher: Happily Ever After Books, LLC (January 8, 2019)
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 277 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Scarlett Scott’s NOBODY’S DUKE is historical romance at its most frustrating, heartbreaking and heartwarming as we witness two lovers tentatively break down the walls they built to hide their pain and discover that true love can never die.
Fabulous characters, all damaged in their own way, some with secrets that they have long kept hidden and lots of action between the sheets. I loved the characters, the tension and all of their interactions. What I had a problem with? The sensual scenes became cut and paste to me. GAH! I know, I know… I can’t help it, but every scene included the same phrases, the same actions and dare I say, I got bored with the dancing in the sheets?
BUT, the rest of the story had me, lock, stock and heart strings as Scarlett Scott presented a second chance romance against the odds, as well as times.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Scarlett Scott!
Series: League of Dukes - Book 1
Publisher: Happily Ever After Books, LLC (January 8, 2019)
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 277 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 30, 2021
LOVED LOVED THIS STORY!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING!!
There is nothing about Nobody's Duke that I didn't love. Scalett Scott has done an amazing job with all the characters and there backstories, the general plot of the story. I couldn't put it down. It moves fast. Oh and it is Hot very Sensual Love scenes.
Bastard son of The Duke of Carlisle, Clayton Ludlow and a member of the League men who are agents of the crown. Clay has been assign to protect his first love who he believes betrayed him 8 years ago.
Araminta/Ara Winters, now the widowed duchess of Burgley's life is being threaten by Irelands Fenian group. They have just murder her husband Freddie the Duke of Burgley by stabbing him in the back. Ara has a 8 year old son Edward. I love the way Freddie was written and the reason he marries Ara becomes apparent.
When Clay arrives at the Duchess home there is great tension between them. Ara believes he deserted her 8 years ago when he didn't show up to elope with her. She believes he took her virginity and thats all her wanted. Clay is shocked that Ara has a son. He sees himself in the dark haired Edward. Clay is also, jealous that Ara has a child by her deceased husband. He feels that this should be his child. But She betrayed him and had him beaten and his face cut to disfigure him.
Clay notices that Edward has dark hair and features like him. He also, notices that Freddie was Blond and Ara has Bright Copper colored hair. Hummm???
The story has everything that you would want to read in a Victorian Roamance. I love this story and will add it to my re read list.
There is nothing about Nobody's Duke that I didn't love. Scalett Scott has done an amazing job with all the characters and there backstories, the general plot of the story. I couldn't put it down. It moves fast. Oh and it is Hot very Sensual Love scenes.
Bastard son of The Duke of Carlisle, Clayton Ludlow and a member of the League men who are agents of the crown. Clay has been assign to protect his first love who he believes betrayed him 8 years ago.
Araminta/Ara Winters, now the widowed duchess of Burgley's life is being threaten by Irelands Fenian group. They have just murder her husband Freddie the Duke of Burgley by stabbing him in the back. Ara has a 8 year old son Edward. I love the way Freddie was written and the reason he marries Ara becomes apparent.
When Clay arrives at the Duchess home there is great tension between them. Ara believes he deserted her 8 years ago when he didn't show up to elope with her. She believes he took her virginity and thats all her wanted. Clay is shocked that Ara has a son. He sees himself in the dark haired Edward. Clay is also, jealous that Ara has a child by her deceased husband. He feels that this should be his child. But She betrayed him and had him beaten and his face cut to disfigure him.
Clay notices that Edward has dark hair and features like him. He also, notices that Freddie was Blond and Ara has Bright Copper colored hair. Hummm???
The story has everything that you would want to read in a Victorian Roamance. I love this story and will add it to my re read list.
July 25, 2024
⭐
1 star.
👎
DNF @ 45%.
Underwhelming/boring.
Very repetitive.
Annoying heroine.
Annoying hero.
Immature main characters.
(In many ways… but mostly how many bitchy interactions there is between both main characters.)
Too predictable/formulaic.
Zero chemistry/tension between the main characters.
Zero romance/romantic build-up.
Thin plot.
Bland and uninteresting main characters.
OTT misunderstandings and miscommunications.
July 28, 2019
...he knew his place here. He was not, and nor would he ever be a lord. He was a commoner. A baseborn bastard. He was the brawn, the fighter, and the killer. He was not what Ara had chosen. He was not a duke. He was the darkness. The reflection of what a duke could never be.
He was nobody's duke.
5+ stars!
Wow. Just wow. Scarlett Scott is an author that has been on my radar for a while now, so I finally carved out some time to read one of her novels and she did NOT disappoint! She is a master at weaving in such powerful and visceral emotions into her characters that readers cannot help but experience as they bleed through the pages of her novel. The characters and their emotional journey are definitely the main driving force in this book, and what a powerful and heartbreaking journey it was.
He had the audacity to wink then, the knave.
Her heart sighed.
He was beautiful.
And he was hers.
She decided there, in the shade of the trees, that whoever this man was, she was going to marry him.
Clay and Ara met in the woods when they were both young and naive and full of optimism. Ara was the daughter of a duke, while Clay was the bastard of a duke. Clay knew he was far below Ara, but he was still helpless to her beauty and ability to see past his title of bastard to the man he was. But Ara's father was loathe to see them happy together, so he manipulated them both into never seeing each other again.
He had feelings for her, in truth. Loathing. Anger. Rage. Betrayal. Those were the sorts of emotions she had left behind along with the scar. And just like the mark upon his flesh, they would disfigure him for his lifetime.
Fast forward eight years in which both Ara and Clay have both borne endless amounts of pain, betrayal, and heartache as they each believe that they were ruthlessly abandoned by the other. Now Ara, a Duchess, finds her life and her son's life threatened by assassins, and Clay finds himself tasked with protecting them. Neither wants to be around the other, but underneath the buried hurt, they both still care deeply for each other and yearn for answers of the past.
"What we had, Ara, did it ever mean anything to you?" he asked hoarsely.
Her expression turned stricken. "It meant everything to me."
As they attempt to piece together the events that led them down their separate paths, Ara's life is continually threatened by her husband's killers, leaving her wits frayed and her emotions raw. At the same time, Clay grudgingly struggles with his need to know why Ara betrayed him all those years ago and his need to keep her safe and close to him now. Their reunion was so hard-won that it only made their eventual reconciliation even more beautiful to read.
"You are my fate, Clay, and I am yours."
Right or wrong, it was the truth. They were inevitable. Years and betrayal could not keep them apart.
I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend this amazing and heartfelt story! Scarlett Scott has become one of my go-to authors, and I cannot wait to continue reading her novels. I'd recommend this to readers of historical romance who love strong characters and a rollercoaster love story in a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers/hero protector trope.
March 6, 2023
2.75 stars
I was burned out by the one-dimensional angst, I should've been more disciplined at dropping book I'm not enjoying, despite it been a favorite within the community. By now I know I don't enjoy when a historical romance is devoid of any sort of secondary plot / world building / character development, and that is exactly what Nobody's Duke is—a love story in a vacuum.
It is definitely a style of storytelling that's well loved: characters who are so consumed by their unrequited yearning that nothing else matters. Most readers would interpret this fatalistic emotion as deeply romantic, but I find it repetitive and one note, the same beat being regurgitated for 300+ pages (you know something is wrong when I skimped through all the intimate scenes). Especially when Nobody's Duke is set up with a premise involving an assassination attempt, in reality there's only the flimsiest construction on the why's and how's, and the hero, who's the head guard, does little to no actual act of strategic protection in the book's entirety.
I enjoy the otherworldliness when picking up a historical romance, a fantastical imagination of history with conflict and scenario unique to the setting—Nobody's Duke can be a contemporary mafia story just by swapping out everyone's outfit. Scarlett Scott CAN write, the novel is filled with beautiful passages, but its limited scope and hyper-focus on the couple makes its setting an afterthought rather than an integral part of the narrative. I will now put her in the same category as Lorraine Heath—I understand the general appeal, but what they focus on is not something I seek when picking up a historical romance.
***Romance Takeover Readathon | Spring 2023***
Prompt: Historical Romance
I was burned out by the one-dimensional angst, I should've been more disciplined at dropping book I'm not enjoying, despite it been a favorite within the community. By now I know I don't enjoy when a historical romance is devoid of any sort of secondary plot / world building / character development, and that is exactly what Nobody's Duke is—a love story in a vacuum.
It is definitely a style of storytelling that's well loved: characters who are so consumed by their unrequited yearning that nothing else matters. Most readers would interpret this fatalistic emotion as deeply romantic, but I find it repetitive and one note, the same beat being regurgitated for 300+ pages (you know something is wrong when I skimped through all the intimate scenes). Especially when Nobody's Duke is set up with a premise involving an assassination attempt, in reality there's only the flimsiest construction on the why's and how's, and the hero, who's the head guard, does little to no actual act of strategic protection in the book's entirety.
I enjoy the otherworldliness when picking up a historical romance, a fantastical imagination of history with conflict and scenario unique to the setting—Nobody's Duke can be a contemporary mafia story just by swapping out everyone's outfit. Scarlett Scott CAN write, the novel is filled with beautiful passages, but its limited scope and hyper-focus on the couple makes its setting an afterthought rather than an integral part of the narrative. I will now put her in the same category as Lorraine Heath—I understand the general appeal, but what they focus on is not something I seek when picking up a historical romance.
***Romance Takeover Readathon | Spring 2023***
Prompt: Historical Romance
January 16, 2019
An interesting premise; a H who is the illegitimate eldest son of a duke and a h who is the daughter of an Earl; the H is never the duke; his younger, illegitimate brother is
The H and h fall in love and want to marry; they are already sleeping together. They make plans to meet to marry but h's father has goons capture and torture the H while h waits for him. Eventually she is preggers and is kicked out. She stays with some family and marries a friend (who is secretly in love with another man).
They reconnect when her husband is killed and he is the investigating agent. They have a seekrit baby too ...
The premise is good and h is sufficiently strong; she stands up to the H admirably. I found H to be somewhat tiresome in his accusations. He had justifications but surely if he was so madly in love with her and she was happy to leave her cushy life for him, why did he decide she betrayed him? But then, if we solved this, we wouldn't have a story ... but TBH given the way their love and connection before marriage was highlighted, I feel the reason used to separate them was a bit flimsy.
Also, the story had shades of modernism peppered throughout which jarred me; I like my historicals to be historicals. This came through very strongly in the way they told her son he was the H's illegitimate child and also in the way selfish H was so very upset that h's son was his too. He wanted to know why she hadn't told him but maybe someone should have asked him what end result he was expecting when he was happily playing musical beds with her?
All in all, a good plot and a strong h but a tiresome and irritating H ...
The H and h fall in love and want to marry; they are already sleeping together. They make plans to meet to marry but h's father has goons capture and torture the H while h waits for him. Eventually she is preggers and is kicked out. She stays with some family and marries a friend (who is secretly in love with another man).
They reconnect when her husband is killed and he is the investigating agent. They have a seekrit baby too ...
The premise is good and h is sufficiently strong; she stands up to the H admirably. I found H to be somewhat tiresome in his accusations. He had justifications but surely if he was so madly in love with her and she was happy to leave her cushy life for him, why did he decide she betrayed him? But then, if we solved this, we wouldn't have a story ... but TBH given the way their love and connection before marriage was highlighted, I feel the reason used to separate them was a bit flimsy.
Also, the story had shades of modernism peppered throughout which jarred me; I like my historicals to be historicals. This came through very strongly in the way they told her son he was the H's illegitimate child and also in the way selfish H was so very upset that h's son was his too. He wanted to know why she hadn't told him but maybe someone should have asked him what end result he was expecting when he was happily playing musical beds with her?
All in all, a good plot and a strong h but a tiresome and irritating H ...
January 12, 2019
Nobody’s Duke is the first book in Scarlett Scott’s League of Dukes series, and I was eager for this one after enjoying the lead as a side character in Her Deceptive Duke. Note, however, that you do not need to read Her Deceptive Duke to understand Nobody’s Duke. It’s nice to have extra information on him, to see certain things, but it is not a necessary.
Although I did enjoy Nobody’s Duke, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I enjoyed Her Deceptive Duke. Her Deceptive Duke had a bit more action in it than Nobody’s Duke, leaving me to feel as though things came together a bit too easily in this one. Despite this, as a whole, I really enjoyed Nobody’s Duke.
With plenty of drama between the two characters, Nobody’s Duke will have you hooked from the very start. You’re sucked into the chemistry between the two characters, you’re left desperate to see how everything comes together, and you cannot put the book down until you see how everything plays out. You become truly invested in their story, there are plenty of things you are desperate to see, and it leaves you more than willing to devour the book.
Without a doubt, this was a great first book in the League of Duke series, and I’m eager for book two!
Although I did enjoy Nobody’s Duke, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I enjoyed Her Deceptive Duke. Her Deceptive Duke had a bit more action in it than Nobody’s Duke, leaving me to feel as though things came together a bit too easily in this one. Despite this, as a whole, I really enjoyed Nobody’s Duke.
With plenty of drama between the two characters, Nobody’s Duke will have you hooked from the very start. You’re sucked into the chemistry between the two characters, you’re left desperate to see how everything comes together, and you cannot put the book down until you see how everything plays out. You become truly invested in their story, there are plenty of things you are desperate to see, and it leaves you more than willing to devour the book.
Without a doubt, this was a great first book in the League of Duke series, and I’m eager for book two!
December 30, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
Oh Clay, This Guy Is Hot !!
This is the sort of book , where you wish you were both the love interest and the hero’s shirt .
I’ve never wanted to be an item of clothing more . Lol
Scarlett is becoming a massive favourite of mine .
Her hero’s are sexy , debonair, adventurous, loving , romantic and you need them in your life .
Her Ladies are real angels with an edge , they are perfect accompaniment and partners in crime and in passion .
This book has a great storyline, and a strong backstory running through the series of characters all from the same world and related by family or friendships.
You couldn’t do better than to curl up with this one and lose yourself for a few hours in total bliss .
Highly recommend!
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋💋
Oh Clay, This Guy Is Hot !!
This is the sort of book , where you wish you were both the love interest and the hero’s shirt .
I’ve never wanted to be an item of clothing more . Lol
Scarlett is becoming a massive favourite of mine .
Her hero’s are sexy , debonair, adventurous, loving , romantic and you need them in your life .
Her Ladies are real angels with an edge , they are perfect accompaniment and partners in crime and in passion .
This book has a great storyline, and a strong backstory running through the series of characters all from the same world and related by family or friendships.
You couldn’t do better than to curl up with this one and lose yourself for a few hours in total bliss .
Highly recommend!
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
January 3, 2019
Great romance, mystery and a surprising second chance, enemies to lovers.....again storyline.
Were introduced to Ara, the Duchess of Burghly in a sneak peek at the end of the last series and we all know Clayton Ludlow if you’re following that series. Good news, if you haven’t this is a stand alone, but I highly recommend that series.
Low and behold, we find out many things we were dying to know & im loathe to reveal them because I don’t want to spoil it. This is one of those books where reading the review could, so I’ll be brief.
Eight years ago, these two were young lovers. Something tore them apart, Clayton, who although a bastard, was raised alongside his brother Leo, the Duke of Carlisyle, goes on to work for him, in a fight against the Fenians. A Irish terror group, who has now targeted Aras husband (a husband who was in name only safety gang) and murdered him.
Clay is sent in to protect her.
Immediately they clash. Old feelings, misunderstandings and abandonment issues keep the first part of the book tense. There are a lot of feelings still there and a lot of hate.
They both believe the other betrayed them. Fireworks ensue.
Ara is hiding a huge secret that gets revealed later on, that’s in fact where the story really starts to change.
Along the way, truths are revealed and the feelings they had for each other start to reignite. That’s all I’m willing to say on the plot. I’m not a spoiler, lol!
I will say, I’m a Leo fan FOR LIFE.
The Duke of Carlyle has been my personal favorite character for many, many, many books now, and I adored every second Clay and Leo got together in scenes as brothers. I love how Scarlett Scott has evolved this very crucial character and leader who literally holds everyone’s life in his hands.
I loved Clays mother! I’m so hoping to see more of her & I’m absolutely fascinated with who on earth our Leo is going to get, because he deserves only the best. This man works so hard, I want to see him truly loved by someone, lol.
Well written second chance love story. This series continues to impress.
I received an arc. Thank you so much for the pleasure.
Were introduced to Ara, the Duchess of Burghly in a sneak peek at the end of the last series and we all know Clayton Ludlow if you’re following that series. Good news, if you haven’t this is a stand alone, but I highly recommend that series.
Low and behold, we find out many things we were dying to know & im loathe to reveal them because I don’t want to spoil it. This is one of those books where reading the review could, so I’ll be brief.
Eight years ago, these two were young lovers. Something tore them apart, Clayton, who although a bastard, was raised alongside his brother Leo, the Duke of Carlisyle, goes on to work for him, in a fight against the Fenians. A Irish terror group, who has now targeted Aras husband (a husband who was in name only safety gang) and murdered him.
Clay is sent in to protect her.
Immediately they clash. Old feelings, misunderstandings and abandonment issues keep the first part of the book tense. There are a lot of feelings still there and a lot of hate.
They both believe the other betrayed them. Fireworks ensue.
Ara is hiding a huge secret that gets revealed later on, that’s in fact where the story really starts to change.
Along the way, truths are revealed and the feelings they had for each other start to reignite. That’s all I’m willing to say on the plot. I’m not a spoiler, lol!
I will say, I’m a Leo fan FOR LIFE.
The Duke of Carlyle has been my personal favorite character for many, many, many books now, and I adored every second Clay and Leo got together in scenes as brothers. I love how Scarlett Scott has evolved this very crucial character and leader who literally holds everyone’s life in his hands.
I loved Clays mother! I’m so hoping to see more of her & I’m absolutely fascinated with who on earth our Leo is going to get, because he deserves only the best. This man works so hard, I want to see him truly loved by someone, lol.
Well written second chance love story. This series continues to impress.
I received an arc. Thank you so much for the pleasure.
January 27, 2019
4.5 stars
Araminta "Ara", Duchess of Burghly is a widow, her husband was brutally murdered by Fenian assassins and now the Duke of Carlisle, head of a government agency known as the "League" is in her drawing room telling her the same men are after her. But that is not what is upsetting her the most. No, what is most upsetting is the man he brought with him - Clayton Ludlow, his half-brother, colleague and the man that Ara loved with all her heart and who betrayed her.
Clay wants nothing to do with Ara, he refuses to take the mission and insists that Leo find someone else. Ara is just as lovely as she was eight years ago and probably just as deceitful - she ruined his life, made him believe she loved him and then turned on him, leaving him with a scarred face and a broken heart.
But when Leo refuses to let him be reassigned, Clay decides to make the best of the situation, but this time he won't fall victim to her wiles. He makes his position clear, he is not her servant and does not answer to her. She makes hers clear as well, she hates him and wants him gone. But for the sake of her son, she will cooperate - for now.
This is a very well written, emotional story with lots of secrets, heartache and a second chance at the love of a lifetime. But before these two can have a HEA, they will need to revisit the past, with all it's highs and lows, lies and betrayals, as well as their lack of faith in each other and of course, they will also have to stop the people who are trying to kill Ara. For a good portion of the book, they are angry and bitter, but thankfully the author inserts several flashbacks to when they were in love, which saves the reader from being overwhelmed by their current hatefulness to each other. The book has a little of everything, assassins, lies, heartbreak, secrets, moments of joy, true love, red-hot love scenes and wonderful secondary characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Leo's story.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Araminta "Ara", Duchess of Burghly is a widow, her husband was brutally murdered by Fenian assassins and now the Duke of Carlisle, head of a government agency known as the "League" is in her drawing room telling her the same men are after her. But that is not what is upsetting her the most. No, what is most upsetting is the man he brought with him - Clayton Ludlow, his half-brother, colleague and the man that Ara loved with all her heart and who betrayed her.
Clay wants nothing to do with Ara, he refuses to take the mission and insists that Leo find someone else. Ara is just as lovely as she was eight years ago and probably just as deceitful - she ruined his life, made him believe she loved him and then turned on him, leaving him with a scarred face and a broken heart.
But when Leo refuses to let him be reassigned, Clay decides to make the best of the situation, but this time he won't fall victim to her wiles. He makes his position clear, he is not her servant and does not answer to her. She makes hers clear as well, she hates him and wants him gone. But for the sake of her son, she will cooperate - for now.
This is a very well written, emotional story with lots of secrets, heartache and a second chance at the love of a lifetime. But before these two can have a HEA, they will need to revisit the past, with all it's highs and lows, lies and betrayals, as well as their lack of faith in each other and of course, they will also have to stop the people who are trying to kill Ara. For a good portion of the book, they are angry and bitter, but thankfully the author inserts several flashbacks to when they were in love, which saves the reader from being overwhelmed by their current hatefulness to each other. The book has a little of everything, assassins, lies, heartbreak, secrets, moments of joy, true love, red-hot love scenes and wonderful secondary characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Leo's story.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
September 4, 2020
Was looking for an angsty, second chance romance and I came across this.
angst? check.
second chance romance? check.
bodyguard/protector trope? check.
angst? check.
second chance romance? check.
bodyguard/protector trope? check.
nevermind
January 1, 2020DNF at 24%
I really wanted to like this, because I love a good second chance romance. I tried to get into it, but I couldn't.
The writing in this book is really frustrating. The characters would say one inconsequential thing and then have paragraphs of angsty memories, only to resume the conversation after all these paragraphs (and then do it all over again). Because of this, I felt like I was given too much information about the story too soon, which kind of ties in to my next gripe. Normally I don't mind a Big Misunderstanding plot, but in this case I was rolling my eyes. The hero was SO upset and thought about the heroine's betrayal SO much that I was like, all right dude. Get it together. The reader knows there's more to what happened between them in the past, so it becomes a chore to read about this betrayal over and over again. Exhausting.
I really wanted to like this, because I love a good second chance romance. I tried to get into it, but I couldn't.
The writing in this book is really frustrating. The characters would say one inconsequential thing and then have paragraphs of angsty memories, only to resume the conversation after all these paragraphs (and then do it all over again). Because of this, I felt like I was given too much information about the story too soon, which kind of ties in to my next gripe. Normally I don't mind a Big Misunderstanding plot, but in this case I was rolling my eyes. The hero was SO upset and thought about the heroine's betrayal SO much that I was like, all right dude. Get it together. The reader knows there's more to what happened between them in the past, so it becomes a chore to read about this betrayal over and over again. Exhausting.
did-not-finish
August 20, 2021
Did Not Finish at 33%
This author is frequently recommended in an historical romance group I’m a member of on FB. While I had a free trial of KU, I decided to give her a try and see what all the fuss was about. I’m going to be brutally honest. I thought the writing was subpar, boring, and frustratingly repetitive and circular. This is now the second highly recommended historical romance author (first being Sarah MacLean) I’ve read this year whose writing is so bad, I’m extremely baffled by all the hype and praise they get. What am I not seeing that all these other people are?
The premise here is that Ara and Clayton had a forbidden fling about 8 years ago, but then her father sent Clayton away and led him to believe it was Ara who wanted him to leave. The father also attacked Clayton with a knife (or sword? It was a sharp object), leaving him with a big ol’ scar on his face. Unaware of the men’s confrontation, Ara believed Clayton ghosted her. Ara was pregnant with Clayton’s child at the time, so she had to rush to find a husband and married the Duke of Burghly. They apparently had a very happy, friendly marriage but it was never consummated because Burghly was gay. The book picks up after Burghly has been murdered. Believing that Ara’s life is in danger, ‘the Crown’ assigns her a bodyguard who turns out to be none other than...Clayton!
Murder...second-chance romance...secret baby...sounds kind of intriguing, right? Well, it’s not. We don’t get to see any of these dramatic events from 8 years ago unfold on the page. Maybe they are included later in the book? But by revealing all these details early on, Scott completely eliminated all the mystery and tension around it. Why not make me wonder how Clayton got that scar on his face? Drop subtle hints that Ara’s son is Clayton’s! There are flashbacks to their past courtship, but they don’t reveal anything new, exciting, or explanatory. They just contain repetitive, uninteresting dialogue. Basically, we’re told what happened, but not shown why it happened. Reading the ‘present-day’ scenes, I had no sense of who these people are as characters and I didn’t know why they were ever drawn to each other in the first place. So, I frankly didn’t care what would happen next because the author didn’t give me anything to care about. The first third of the book is just Ara and Clayton being mad at and mean to each other. Repeatedly.
I can’t help comparing this to two books that utilize similar tropes (second-chance romance) and devices (flashbacks), but way more effectively:
Again the Magic is a second chance romance with their backstory shown on-page in the first few chapters. Through some well-chosen scenes and dialogue, Kleypas paints a vivid picture of the two main characters and how they interact with each other. While it’s no mystery to the reader what caused their rift, the story has plenty of tension in the form of well-developed emotional angst.
People We Meet on Vacation is a mix of friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance with their backstory shown through flashbacks. Sexual tension and emotional angst develop and build in both the flashbacks and the present-day scenes until the climax of the book when the cause of their rift is finally revealed.
Nobody’s Duke is a great example of why tropes aren’t everything. What’s more important is whether the author's writing effectively tells a compelling and coherent story, no matter the style of prose, tropes, point-of-view, devices, etc. I have to wonder if some readers are able to simply conjure up the appropriate feelings associated with a certain trope simply by knowing that’s what it is. Am I asking too much of the author by wanting them to conjure up those feelings for me? Nah, I don't think so.
P.S.
I've never put a gif in a book review before, but this one just seems so perfect for how I feel about not liking authors that other people love...No one is going to read this review, anyway, so I feel less guilty about the the visual clutter *shrug*
This author is frequently recommended in an historical romance group I’m a member of on FB. While I had a free trial of KU, I decided to give her a try and see what all the fuss was about. I’m going to be brutally honest. I thought the writing was subpar, boring, and frustratingly repetitive and circular. This is now the second highly recommended historical romance author (first being Sarah MacLean) I’ve read this year whose writing is so bad, I’m extremely baffled by all the hype and praise they get. What am I not seeing that all these other people are?
The premise here is that Ara and Clayton had a forbidden fling about 8 years ago, but then her father sent Clayton away and led him to believe it was Ara who wanted him to leave. The father also attacked Clayton with a knife (or sword? It was a sharp object), leaving him with a big ol’ scar on his face. Unaware of the men’s confrontation, Ara believed Clayton ghosted her. Ara was pregnant with Clayton’s child at the time, so she had to rush to find a husband and married the Duke of Burghly. They apparently had a very happy, friendly marriage but it was never consummated because Burghly was gay. The book picks up after Burghly has been murdered. Believing that Ara’s life is in danger, ‘the Crown’ assigns her a bodyguard who turns out to be none other than...Clayton!
Murder...second-chance romance...secret baby...sounds kind of intriguing, right? Well, it’s not. We don’t get to see any of these dramatic events from 8 years ago unfold on the page. Maybe they are included later in the book? But by revealing all these details early on, Scott completely eliminated all the mystery and tension around it. Why not make me wonder how Clayton got that scar on his face? Drop subtle hints that Ara’s son is Clayton’s! There are flashbacks to their past courtship, but they don’t reveal anything new, exciting, or explanatory. They just contain repetitive, uninteresting dialogue. Basically, we’re told what happened, but not shown why it happened. Reading the ‘present-day’ scenes, I had no sense of who these people are as characters and I didn’t know why they were ever drawn to each other in the first place. So, I frankly didn’t care what would happen next because the author didn’t give me anything to care about. The first third of the book is just Ara and Clayton being mad at and mean to each other. Repeatedly.
I can’t help comparing this to two books that utilize similar tropes (second-chance romance) and devices (flashbacks), but way more effectively:
Again the Magic is a second chance romance with their backstory shown on-page in the first few chapters. Through some well-chosen scenes and dialogue, Kleypas paints a vivid picture of the two main characters and how they interact with each other. While it’s no mystery to the reader what caused their rift, the story has plenty of tension in the form of well-developed emotional angst.
People We Meet on Vacation is a mix of friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance with their backstory shown through flashbacks. Sexual tension and emotional angst develop and build in both the flashbacks and the present-day scenes until the climax of the book when the cause of their rift is finally revealed.
Nobody’s Duke is a great example of why tropes aren’t everything. What’s more important is whether the author's writing effectively tells a compelling and coherent story, no matter the style of prose, tropes, point-of-view, devices, etc. I have to wonder if some readers are able to simply conjure up the appropriate feelings associated with a certain trope simply by knowing that’s what it is. Am I asking too much of the author by wanting them to conjure up those feelings for me? Nah, I don't think so.
P.S.
I've never put a gif in a book review before, but this one just seems so perfect for how I feel about not liking authors that other people love...No one is going to read this review, anyway, so I feel less guilty about the the visual clutter *shrug*
January 24, 2020
*mild spoilers ahead*
This book felt pretty thin to me; as in, the characters aren't developed that much, and a huge plot point (that someone is trying to assassinate the main character) is mostly ignored. Honestly, the book is mostly love scenes. And that's fine, but I was hoping for a little more story. Also, I hate it when the main conflict between characters is a misunderstanding that could have been solved with a five minute conversation. And if these people love each other so much, why are they so quick to assume the worst of each other? If I arranged to run away with my lover and he didn't show, I'd probably think, oh shit something must have gotten messed up with our risky plan. Not, oh I guess he didn't love me. This book also does another thing that I hate, which is describe a character's personality but not actually show them acting that way. The male love interest (I forget his name but I remember thinking is was odd - was his name Clay?) lists off the things he loves about Ara, and says something like, she's smart and brave and witty. Meanwhile all we've seen her do is flail around pining for him. If you want me to think someone is funny, you better show them being funny or I'm not buying it. If you want me to think someone is smart, show them figuring something out. Ara has a nanny that's been getting drunk on the job and she hasn't noticed it. That doesn't seem very smart. She never tries to figure out why people might want to kill her. She never tries to learn how to defend herself and actively tries to stop her son from learning self defense. So is she brave, smart, and funny? Not that I saw. As I'm writing this, I'm realizing Ara was actually a pretty bland character. And as for Clay, I spent a lot of the book annoyed with him for taking too long to realize he was the father of Ara's son and that Ara's marriage was one of convenience.
To sum up, this book was heavy on the sex scenes and light on story.
This book felt pretty thin to me; as in, the characters aren't developed that much, and a huge plot point (that someone is trying to assassinate the main character) is mostly ignored. Honestly, the book is mostly love scenes. And that's fine, but I was hoping for a little more story. Also, I hate it when the main conflict between characters is a misunderstanding that could have been solved with a five minute conversation. And if these people love each other so much, why are they so quick to assume the worst of each other? If I arranged to run away with my lover and he didn't show, I'd probably think, oh shit something must have gotten messed up with our risky plan. Not, oh I guess he didn't love me. This book also does another thing that I hate, which is describe a character's personality but not actually show them acting that way. The male love interest (I forget his name but I remember thinking is was odd - was his name Clay?) lists off the things he loves about Ara, and says something like, she's smart and brave and witty. Meanwhile all we've seen her do is flail around pining for him. If you want me to think someone is funny, you better show them being funny or I'm not buying it. If you want me to think someone is smart, show them figuring something out. Ara has a nanny that's been getting drunk on the job and she hasn't noticed it. That doesn't seem very smart. She never tries to figure out why people might want to kill her. She never tries to learn how to defend herself and actively tries to stop her son from learning self defense. So is she brave, smart, and funny? Not that I saw. As I'm writing this, I'm realizing Ara was actually a pretty bland character. And as for Clay, I spent a lot of the book annoyed with him for taking too long to realize he was the father of Ara's son and that Ara's marriage was one of convenience.
To sum up, this book was heavy on the sex scenes and light on story.
January 13, 2023
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars somewhat reluctantly.
Let me first say…the fact that I listened to this entire book in audio likely contributed to this poor rating.
Audio wears on me and I sometimes start a book in audio (if that’s all the library has or I have a long day in the car) and then finish it in e-book. That said, I think the subject matter of this book…the fact that it was a second chance romance and each party thought they had been betrayed by the other (when they actually hadn’t), which meant plot that was essentially hours of rehashing old bitterness in internal dialogue, but not actually talking to each other…was what made it super frustrating in audio.
Once they came back together it was super steamy…and perhaps I would have also liked the scenes better if I was reading along vs. audio.
The plot points (aside from the big misunderstanding) we’re resolved too quickly and it was hard for me to suspend disbelief.
I’ve seen some of my friends praise Scarlet Scott so maybe I’ll give her another shot in e-book vs audio.
Let me first say…the fact that I listened to this entire book in audio likely contributed to this poor rating.
Audio wears on me and I sometimes start a book in audio (if that’s all the library has or I have a long day in the car) and then finish it in e-book. That said, I think the subject matter of this book…the fact that it was a second chance romance and each party thought they had been betrayed by the other (when they actually hadn’t), which meant plot that was essentially hours of rehashing old bitterness in internal dialogue, but not actually talking to each other…was what made it super frustrating in audio.
Once they came back together it was super steamy…and perhaps I would have also liked the scenes better if I was reading along vs. audio.
The plot points (aside from the big misunderstanding) we’re resolved too quickly and it was hard for me to suspend disbelief.
I’ve seen some of my friends praise Scarlet Scott so maybe I’ll give her another shot in e-book vs audio.
April 15, 2023
I loved the story of Ara and Clayton! Unexpected and beautiful love story. Lot's of action and a definite page turner!
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