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The Secret Life of Scoundrels #1
Un duce pentru totdeauna
Edward Westover, duce de Swarthmore, este manat de o ura profunda fata de omul care i-a ucis din inconstienta fratele si apoi a scapat nepedepsit. Planul de razbunare tesut cu rabdare are succes deplin, asa ca toate posesiunile acestuia – dar si fiica lui – ajung sa ii apartina lui Edward. Prin urmare, se decide sa angajeze o guvernanta, s-o linisteasca pe copila si apoi sa-si vada de propriul drum. Insa are parte de surpriza vietii lui. Pentru ca noua sa pupila nu este o fetita, ci o femeie frumoasa, apriga si cu totul irezistibila… Kate Benton este stupefiata. Cine este acest barbat arogant si enervant care vine nepoftit in casa ei si preia controlul asupra vietii sale? Juramantul ei este sa faca tot ce-i sta in putinta ca sa-l convinga s-o lase in pace si sa plece de la Brambly. Si totusi, pe masura ce zilele racoroase se transforma in nopti fierbinti, Kate incepe sa intrevada crampeie de bunatate sub fatada rece a lui Edward… si o fire pasionala care ii taie respiratia. Sunt atat de multe lucruri pe care nu le stie despre trecutul misterios al acestui barbat. Oare poate risca sa aiba incredere si sa-si ofere inima acestui duce aparent diabolic?
306 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2015
142 people are currently reading
1790 people want to read
About the author
Anna Harrington
41 books772 followersI fell in love with historical romances and all things Regency—and especially all those dashing Regency heroes—while living in England, where I spent most of my time studying the Romantic poets, reading Jane Austen, and getting lost all over the English countryside.
When I read my first Regency romance in 2012, I was hooked and longed to create my own independent and spirited heroines and dashing heroes. The best part of writing historical romances is falling into history—to live in the world of Regency England through my characters, with dazzling balls, beautiful dresses, and gorgeous houses that I would otherwise never be able to experience. I love the period’s rich history and find that all those rules of etiquette and propriety can be worked to the heroine’s advantage…if she’s daring enough to seize her dreams.
In addition to earning my degrees in the U.S., I have studied theatre in London, Mexican history in Guadalajara, and Spanish in Ecuador. I am an avid traveler and have enjoyed visiting schools and volunteering with children's organizations in Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, and Mexico, and I have amassed thousands of photos I unleash on unsuspecting friends who dare to ask about my travels.
I love to be outdoors! I've been hiking in Alaska, the Andes, and the Alps, including one week spent dangling off the via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites, and I love whitewater rafting (when I don't fall in!). I earned my pilot’s license at Chicago Midway (To all the controllers in Chicago Center—I greatly apologize for every problem I caused for you and Southwest Airlines), and it is my dream to one-day fly in a hot-air balloon over Africa.
I adore all things chocolate, shamelessly dive into ice cream of any flavor, and guzzle Kona coffee by the gallon. A Doctor Who fanatic (everyone says my house is bigger on the inside), I am a terrible cook who hopes to one day use my oven for something other than shoe storage. When I'm not writing, I like to spend my time trying not to kill the innocent rose bushes in my garden.
When I read my first Regency romance in 2012, I was hooked and longed to create my own independent and spirited heroines and dashing heroes. The best part of writing historical romances is falling into history—to live in the world of Regency England through my characters, with dazzling balls, beautiful dresses, and gorgeous houses that I would otherwise never be able to experience. I love the period’s rich history and find that all those rules of etiquette and propriety can be worked to the heroine’s advantage…if she’s daring enough to seize her dreams.
In addition to earning my degrees in the U.S., I have studied theatre in London, Mexican history in Guadalajara, and Spanish in Ecuador. I am an avid traveler and have enjoyed visiting schools and volunteering with children's organizations in Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, and Mexico, and I have amassed thousands of photos I unleash on unsuspecting friends who dare to ask about my travels.
I love to be outdoors! I've been hiking in Alaska, the Andes, and the Alps, including one week spent dangling off the via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites, and I love whitewater rafting (when I don't fall in!). I earned my pilot’s license at Chicago Midway (To all the controllers in Chicago Center—I greatly apologize for every problem I caused for you and Southwest Airlines), and it is my dream to one-day fly in a hot-air balloon over Africa.
I adore all things chocolate, shamelessly dive into ice cream of any flavor, and guzzle Kona coffee by the gallon. A Doctor Who fanatic (everyone says my house is bigger on the inside), I am a terrible cook who hopes to one day use my oven for something other than shoe storage. When I'm not writing, I like to spend my time trying not to kill the innocent rose bushes in my garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
July 25, 2016
DNF at 40%
I'm surprised I made it that far. Mainly because of a TSTL heroine right out of the box of cliches. The plot, the characterisation, etc. Awful! Not to mention the conflict between the H/h.
Right, with one day to cool off, I can now explain a little further why I DNF'ed this book.
Katherine Benton's father caused a DUI, killing our hero's, Edward Westover, brother and his wife, which sets Edward on a course of revenge. It becomes clear from the beginning that Kate's father is a waste of space, the evil man of this book. He's a gambling problem. So Edward buys all of his debts and finally ruins him at a card game. In the process, he also becomes the guardian of Benton's 20-year-old daughter Kate. All that's left is the family estate, which is entailed on her and it means everything to her. And that's how Kate and Edward meet.
If I have to sum up the weaknesses of this book, it would be inconsistencies, which ultimately lead to a TSTL heroine. The story and the characters are a mess.
This is how the first 3-4 chapters go:
- The estate is all but stripped bare by Benton's need for money to feed his gambling problem. Kate is shocked that her father would give his guardianship over to a stranger. Edward offers help right from the start. Considering how much Kate cares for the estate, the servants and the villagers, one would assume that Kate should be over the moon. No, she isn't. One page, she's all 'No, no, no, no, I'll never let any man dictate my life and how I run my estate', the next, however, she admits to herself that Edward's offer would be a great relief. This back and forth goes on, over and over.
- Edward...Why Edward takes such an interest in the improvement of the estate, apart from the insta-lust he feels for Kate, remained a mystery. At least to me. He isn't sure if Kate is in on some sort of scheme with her father to defraud him. He doesn't trust her one moment, but one look at her sweet, little face, and he's certain that cannot be so. Again, back and forth.
- Although, it is being made clear that her father never was a father to her, nor a husband to her mother - scratch that - he was never anything but a downright bastard, Kate clings to a sense of loyalty, which made no sense. As mentioned above, first he's a ruthless, selfish father, but - oh, no - he is also the only living relative left. This leads to some really, really stupid decisions from Kate.
- One moment, Kate is all stubborn and feisty, the next she melts away when Edward shares his war memories with her, and back to stubborn and feisty again.
This is how it goes, at least up until 40% of the book, where I finally gave up. The writing style was mediocre at best, the characterisation rubbish, the plot full of holes. Another example? Kate runs the estate since her mother's death. Her mother died when Kate was 12 (!). Really? Kate is some sort of village doctor. All villagers go to her when they have health problems. How and where she got to know so much about medical care, we don't know? Books or some other person who taught her? Why should I care, right? I am just the silly reader who has to accept it.
There was so much wrong with this book, that I didn't care about Kate and Edward anymore. Was there anything remotely romantic? I truly can't say, because everything else was such a mess.
I'm surprised I made it that far. Mainly because of a TSTL heroine right out of the box of cliches. The plot, the characterisation, etc. Awful! Not to mention the conflict between the H/h.
Right, with one day to cool off, I can now explain a little further why I DNF'ed this book.
Katherine Benton's father caused a DUI, killing our hero's, Edward Westover, brother and his wife, which sets Edward on a course of revenge. It becomes clear from the beginning that Kate's father is a waste of space, the evil man of this book. He's a gambling problem. So Edward buys all of his debts and finally ruins him at a card game. In the process, he also becomes the guardian of Benton's 20-year-old daughter Kate. All that's left is the family estate, which is entailed on her and it means everything to her. And that's how Kate and Edward meet.
If I have to sum up the weaknesses of this book, it would be inconsistencies, which ultimately lead to a TSTL heroine. The story and the characters are a mess.
This is how the first 3-4 chapters go:
- The estate is all but stripped bare by Benton's need for money to feed his gambling problem. Kate is shocked that her father would give his guardianship over to a stranger. Edward offers help right from the start. Considering how much Kate cares for the estate, the servants and the villagers, one would assume that Kate should be over the moon. No, she isn't. One page, she's all 'No, no, no, no, I'll never let any man dictate my life and how I run my estate', the next, however, she admits to herself that Edward's offer would be a great relief. This back and forth goes on, over and over.
- Edward...Why Edward takes such an interest in the improvement of the estate, apart from the insta-lust he feels for Kate, remained a mystery. At least to me. He isn't sure if Kate is in on some sort of scheme with her father to defraud him. He doesn't trust her one moment, but one look at her sweet, little face, and he's certain that cannot be so. Again, back and forth.
- Although, it is being made clear that her father never was a father to her, nor a husband to her mother - scratch that - he was never anything but a downright bastard, Kate clings to a sense of loyalty, which made no sense. As mentioned above, first he's a ruthless, selfish father, but - oh, no - he is also the only living relative left. This leads to some really, really stupid decisions from Kate.
- One moment, Kate is all stubborn and feisty, the next she melts away when Edward shares his war memories with her, and back to stubborn and feisty again.
This is how it goes, at least up until 40% of the book, where I finally gave up. The writing style was mediocre at best, the characterisation rubbish, the plot full of holes. Another example? Kate runs the estate since her mother's death. Her mother died when Kate was 12 (!). Really? Kate is some sort of village doctor. All villagers go to her when they have health problems. How and where she got to know so much about medical care, we don't know? Books or some other person who taught her? Why should I care, right? I am just the silly reader who has to accept it.
There was so much wrong with this book, that I didn't care about Kate and Edward anymore. Was there anything remotely romantic? I truly can't say, because everything else was such a mess.
August 23, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Edward Westover, never thought that he would become the next Duke. But when his brother and his wife are killed, he is brought back from fighting the war, to deal with his grief and new responsibilities and getting justice for the man that killed his brother and friend. His plan is to ruin this man and control his finances the rest of his life. What he didn't count on is that he had a daughter, and a innocent one at that. Kate Benton, has lived in the home she inherited from her grandparents and taking care of the tenants any way she could, with an absent father most of the time. She is shocked with a Duke comes to inform her of change of circumstances and that he is now her guardian and that her own father signed away all of his rights. What she never expected was to fall in love with Edward but both of them realize that trust is key and mistakes are made where Kate will need to prove how genuine her feelings are for Edward, and Edward will need to learn to let go of the past to keep what Kate offers...
The Hero
Edward was content with his life as a soldier. He lost the woman he thought he loved to his own brother who wanted wealth and prestige more than she wanted him. Edward vowed to never fall in love again. But he is shocked when he meets the beautiful and feisty Kate Benton, the daughter of his enemy. He never thought he could have feelings for a woman ever again, but when she hurts him unknowingly, he locks away his heart for good. Edward is a man that that is prideful and strong. He does what is necessary and doesn't feel its necessary to apologize to anyone. I had such a fun time with his character---he could be quite outrageous at times, and a bit alpha at times that sends chills down the spine. But I truly loved seeing his character learn some painful truths and let himself accept love again.
The Heroine
Kate Benton is a heroine I could stand behind 100%. What I really liked about Kate was seeing her character shine through the whole story and I love how devoted she is to Edward. Now she does make some mistakes, but its more out of love than anything else so I felt more understanding on the reasons behind those mistakes. I love how true she is to the people she cares for. She has been studying healing and herbs to help her tenants who don't have a doctor nearby. What I really admired about her character was how she stands up to Edward. Even when things between them take a turn, you see how she never loses faith in him. Love that.
Plot and Story Line
Dukes Are Forever is the debut novel of a exciting series by Harrington. This was my first time trying this author out and I can tell you it won't be my last. I truly loved this book and I honestly couldn't put it down which really surprised me. I love finding these authors that write some great books you don't expect. I never know if I am going to love it or not when it comes to Regency. But Anna Harrington really did wonders with this story. The story is quite compelling and I found their chemistry quite sweet and engaging It wasn't too complicated in the beginning. They act upon their feelings, and with the hero being her "guardian" we see how they don't have to worry as much about chaperones and get to enjoy being together for a while. And man we get some sexy times going on between these two. But then their relationship goes down hill when a small secret and misunderstanding occurs. Now the hero does overact a bit, but you understand why with his history with women which isn't very good. But our heroine, is so understanding about it. She doesn't become mean or bitter or lash out cruely. She is patient with him and gives him time. I truly adore a heroine that doesn't overeact, and is more understanding even when she isn't treated the best. That shows true character and she definitely proves herself in this story.
The Cover
WHAT a beautiful cover...the dress is breathtaking. I just love the color of teal and gold here and what a classy backdrop with the stairway and flowers. I LOVE her hair too.
Overall View
Dukes Are Forever is a sweet and sassy romance that has a vibrant vibe and is truly romantic from beginning to end!!
Click On image For Buy Link
[foogallery id="23337"]
Summary
Edward Westover, never thought that he would become the next Duke. But when his brother and his wife are killed, he is brought back from fighting the war, to deal with his grief and new responsibilities and getting justice for the man that killed his brother and friend. His plan is to ruin this man and control his finances the rest of his life. What he didn't count on is that he had a daughter, and a innocent one at that. Kate Benton, has lived in the home she inherited from her grandparents and taking care of the tenants any way she could, with an absent father most of the time. She is shocked with a Duke comes to inform her of change of circumstances and that he is now her guardian and that her own father signed away all of his rights. What she never expected was to fall in love with Edward but both of them realize that trust is key and mistakes are made where Kate will need to prove how genuine her feelings are for Edward, and Edward will need to learn to let go of the past to keep what Kate offers...
The Hero
Edward was content with his life as a soldier. He lost the woman he thought he loved to his own brother who wanted wealth and prestige more than she wanted him. Edward vowed to never fall in love again. But he is shocked when he meets the beautiful and feisty Kate Benton, the daughter of his enemy. He never thought he could have feelings for a woman ever again, but when she hurts him unknowingly, he locks away his heart for good. Edward is a man that that is prideful and strong. He does what is necessary and doesn't feel its necessary to apologize to anyone. I had such a fun time with his character---he could be quite outrageous at times, and a bit alpha at times that sends chills down the spine. But I truly loved seeing his character learn some painful truths and let himself accept love again.
The Heroine
Kate Benton is a heroine I could stand behind 100%. What I really liked about Kate was seeing her character shine through the whole story and I love how devoted she is to Edward. Now she does make some mistakes, but its more out of love than anything else so I felt more understanding on the reasons behind those mistakes. I love how true she is to the people she cares for. She has been studying healing and herbs to help her tenants who don't have a doctor nearby. What I really admired about her character was how she stands up to Edward. Even when things between them take a turn, you see how she never loses faith in him. Love that.
Plot and Story Line
Dukes Are Forever is the debut novel of a exciting series by Harrington. This was my first time trying this author out and I can tell you it won't be my last. I truly loved this book and I honestly couldn't put it down which really surprised me. I love finding these authors that write some great books you don't expect. I never know if I am going to love it or not when it comes to Regency. But Anna Harrington really did wonders with this story. The story is quite compelling and I found their chemistry quite sweet and engaging It wasn't too complicated in the beginning. They act upon their feelings, and with the hero being her "guardian" we see how they don't have to worry as much about chaperones and get to enjoy being together for a while. And man we get some sexy times going on between these two. But then their relationship goes down hill when a small secret and misunderstanding occurs. Now the hero does overact a bit, but you understand why with his history with women which isn't very good. But our heroine, is so understanding about it. She doesn't become mean or bitter or lash out cruely. She is patient with him and gives him time. I truly adore a heroine that doesn't overeact, and is more understanding even when she isn't treated the best. That shows true character and she definitely proves herself in this story.
The Cover
WHAT a beautiful cover...the dress is breathtaking. I just love the color of teal and gold here and what a classy backdrop with the stairway and flowers. I LOVE her hair too.
Overall View
Dukes Are Forever is a sweet and sassy romance that has a vibrant vibe and is truly romantic from beginning to end!!
Click On image For Buy Link
[foogallery id="23337"]
February 20, 2016
1.5 stars
Started off very cliched and then insta-lust hit our hero. The technical writing was good so I hung in but the story meanders a lot and I lost interest because I have to use the word cliched again. The story takes parts from the "typical" regency historical (duke, ward, a blown out of proportion betrayal, misunderstandings) so you have a bit of been there done that, without a lot of charm or spark. The components also felt a little lost in the way they were arranged. There was a lot of sex happening and pretty soon (too soon for me as I didn't feel the character's connection and pre-martial sex could be a dangerous undertaking for regency women). This one just didn't work for me.
Started off very cliched and then insta-lust hit our hero. The technical writing was good so I hung in but the story meanders a lot and I lost interest because I have to use the word cliched again. The story takes parts from the "typical" regency historical (duke, ward, a blown out of proportion betrayal, misunderstandings) so you have a bit of been there done that, without a lot of charm or spark. The components also felt a little lost in the way they were arranged. There was a lot of sex happening and pretty soon (too soon for me as I didn't feel the character's connection and pre-martial sex could be a dangerous undertaking for regency women). This one just didn't work for me.
December 13, 2015
I was surprised when I enjoyed reading a historical romance after months of not reading any books in this genre. Anna Harrington's Dukes Are Forever is a humorous, fluffy book that gives the readers all the tingle and butterflies that can easily be described as "secondhand romance".
What's a secondhand romance?
Well, I made that shit up. You know that thing called secondhand smoking where someone smokes and the smoke was breathed in by an innocent bystander thus also giving that person the same danger that the smoking person has. Secondhand romance is like that. You saw/read a good story and you experience the same feeling the couples has but in a lesser intensity.
Dukes Are Forever gave us Kate who is such a badass without being annoying and too bullheaded. She's not a silly chit who dreams of marrying some rich sod because fuck that, she wants to be a doctor instead. Dreams before dudes, everybody.She also doesn't give a damn about Edward being the duke. Like "fuck you dude, you're not the boss of me".
Edward is also a hero who can be an arrogant alpha and be gentle at the same time. Despite holding a mean grudge when pissed, he' still such a wonderful man to Kate. I had fun seeing him put into his place by Kate and their banter is too witty and fun that I can't stop laughing in public like moron.
The secondary characters are also interesting. I'm excited to read Nathaniel and Matthew's story. Anna Harrington will be another author that will be on my radar in the future.
January 13, 2019
I did not like this book. At all. It made me low-key uncomfortable and I'm high-key disappointed in Anna Harrington—I tend to enjoy her books. But this book was just so…so…icky. I can’t remember the last time I disliked a hero so much and the heroine wasn’t much better. The power dynamics in the book (which followed the trope of a ward and guardian) made me uneasy: our hero was incredibly controlling and our heroine incredibly immature which resulted in a situation that seemed mildly emotionally abusive
Our “hero” is the Duke of Swarthmore Edward Westover who has spent the past few years of his life attempting to destroy the life of Phillip Benton who killed his brother and sister-in-law while racing his phaeton completely trashed. In order to do that, Edward has bought up all the man’s debts and, in the process, unknowingly received a ward—Benton’s daughter. When he discovers his guardianship, he goes to meet his ward assuming she is a young girl enamored by dolls.
She is not.
Kate Benton is actually 21 and has zero patience for the fact that her rights were just signed over to a man she has never met. While she thinks he is handsome, she values her freedom, her passion for medicine, and her role at Brambly House—a small estate left to her by her mother. While at first glance, Kate seems like she would be an amazing heroine she is quite honestly one of the most immature and annoying heroines ever. Honestly, for most of the book, she acted like she was twelve. She was whiney, made some terrible decisions, and just generally came across as ungrateful and incredibly irresponsible.
However, my dislike for Kate pales in response to my disdain for Edward. Ugh. What an awful controlling, boring, and manipulative man. Literally the definition of a chauvinist. He never listened to Kate’s requests, lorded the guardianship over her, and micromanaged her life like she actually was a child (which honestly she sort of acted like sometimes). However, what bothered me the most was his treatment of Kate: he flip-flopped between lusting after her and treating her like she was the devil herself (there is a term for this but I forget it right now…) through slut-shaming and accusing her of using her sexuality to manipulate him. It was just disgusting.
The result? A relationship that lacked mutual respect, trust, and, from what I could see, love. The ward-guardianship trope only highlighted the deeply disturbing dynamics in the relationship. I kept on reading, hoping it would get healthier, but it never did.
Anna Harrington, I normally like your books, but this one left a horrible taste in my mouth.
Rating: 1.5/5
Our “hero” is the Duke of Swarthmore Edward Westover who has spent the past few years of his life attempting to destroy the life of Phillip Benton who killed his brother and sister-in-law while racing his phaeton completely trashed. In order to do that, Edward has bought up all the man’s debts and, in the process, unknowingly received a ward—Benton’s daughter. When he discovers his guardianship, he goes to meet his ward assuming she is a young girl enamored by dolls.
She is not.
Kate Benton is actually 21 and has zero patience for the fact that her rights were just signed over to a man she has never met. While she thinks he is handsome, she values her freedom, her passion for medicine, and her role at Brambly House—a small estate left to her by her mother. While at first glance, Kate seems like she would be an amazing heroine she is quite honestly one of the most immature and annoying heroines ever. Honestly, for most of the book, she acted like she was twelve. She was whiney, made some terrible decisions, and just generally came across as ungrateful and incredibly irresponsible.
However, my dislike for Kate pales in response to my disdain for Edward. Ugh. What an awful controlling, boring, and manipulative man. Literally the definition of a chauvinist. He never listened to Kate’s requests, lorded the guardianship over her, and micromanaged her life like she actually was a child (which honestly she sort of acted like sometimes). However, what bothered me the most was his treatment of Kate: he flip-flopped between lusting after her and treating her like she was the devil herself (there is a term for this but I forget it right now…) through slut-shaming and accusing her of using her sexuality to manipulate him. It was just disgusting.
The result? A relationship that lacked mutual respect, trust, and, from what I could see, love. The ward-guardianship trope only highlighted the deeply disturbing dynamics in the relationship. I kept on reading, hoping it would get healthier, but it never did.
Anna Harrington, I normally like your books, but this one left a horrible taste in my mouth.
Rating: 1.5/5
July 11, 2017
I skimmed most of it, the writing style just didn't work for me.
September 27, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lNP4ow
I enjoyed the heck out of Dukes Are Forever. A man out for revenge, a guardian and his new ward (who turns out not to be a 5 year old child like he was expecting but a gorgeous 20 year old woman), attraction and fear and so much stubbornness you just wouldn't believe! *sigh* It was great. lol
Okay so the quick of it is that Edward is intent on ruining the man who killed his brother and got off scot free. And in doing so he became the ward of his daughter. He's totally thinking she's a child but dayum...nope! She's full grown, full of fire and opinionated. And none too pleased with a strange man coming into her life, bossing her around and trying to change things. And so begins a battle of attraction and frustration that nearly does them both in.
Even though they made me want to shake them so hard I liked both Edward and Kate. Boy, oh boy. Edward was a handful. A former Army colonel turned Duke who is oh so sexy and used to giving orders and having them followed. Kate though...so not gonna fall in line with that! I enjoyed Kate. She's not your average young woman. She's a passion for medicine and bucks most conventions of the time. I so felt for her. Her frustration and helplessness bled off the pages and I seriously wanted to stand up for her and give all the men in her life a good set down for how they manipulated her life to their whims. Even if they were doing things "in her best interest". Edward, at least, didn't mean to be a butthead. He really was a good guy but oh his delivery of good guy-ness left a lot to be delivered sometimes. lol
The chemistry between them--even if they tried to deny it--was oh so evident and there were a number of yummy, passionate sex scenes. My one gripe was the deflowering scene and a runaway hymen that wasn't where it should have been. Kills me. KILLS ME. That suckers not 4+ inches inside. It's first to the party, people. It does make for a more dramatic, erm, moment. But *eye twitch*
I had a good time watching these two battle and fall for one another as they got to know each other and bring her estate back to life (the estate her father had drained nearly dry). There were some misunderstandings (or more him being stubborn and not allowing discussion <--and needing a kick in the pants) plus a little danger and heartache over her family as it reared it's ugly head which made for some nice drama. I definitely want more from the series. I loved the little glimpses of Edward's best friends who had been to war with him. They sound like they're going to be a blast and oh so fascinating to see fall in love. A lovely debut into the world of historical romance. I can't wait to see what Harrington creates next!
November 18, 2015
Seeking revenge on the man who is responsible for killing his older brother and his brother's wife, Edward Westover, the Duke of Swarthmore beggars Phillip Benton who so thoroughly ruined, even has to sign all rights to his daughter over to the duke. Edward never wanted to become duke, but his brother's untimely death while Edward was away fighting the war, changes all plans Edward has for his future in one fell swoop. Now he has a to "handle" little Kate Benton.
Since her father has basically abandoned her, Kate Benton has been living life rather precariously without help of anyone. Phillip Benton continually badgers his daughter to sign the entailed home her mother's family over to him to no avail. It's all Kate has left and she won't give it up. So along with her faithful,but aging staff and her own persistence, Kate perserveres through thick and thin, until the day her world is toppled over by an overbearing man who comes to call. The pretentious man has come to claim all she holds dear and Kate is not willing to cede.
Edward is shocked to find that "little" Kate Benton is not the child he imagined, but quite a grown woman. So grown that she inspires thoughts Edward should put out of his head directly. Kate is so angry that Edward is causing such upheaval in her world that the two immediately begin to butt heads. Coming to an accord, however is a mission both Kate and Edward are game for, especially when kissing is involved. Edward's ice begins to melt the more involved he becomes with Kate, but both of their pasts will cause serious issues when Kate disobeys Edward's order to have no communication with her scoundrel of a father. After a passionate if not tumultuous night with Kate, Edward punishes her for her disloyalty by sending her away, but even without her presence, he can think of nothing else but her.
DUKES ARE FOREVER is the first book in Anna Harrington's , The Secret Life Of Scoundrels series and the first book I have read by this author. I must say, that I enjoyed this tale immensely and look forward to more from Ms. Harrington. Kate and Edward are wonderful and intriguing characters who are a pleasure to read. Their head butting is a necessary evil to their budding relationship and Edward's ignorance of the fact that Kate is still an innocent in the entire mess before them is telling. Watching the downfall and the resolution is a delight and makes the HEA even brighter. I do highly recommend DUKES ARE FOREVER.
October 18, 2021
Good read.
February 10, 2016
Waffle - could be something with maple syrup on it, or maybe it's vacillating, or maybe it's maple syrup, or maybe it's flip-flop or...
Funny, how different authors handle the revenge plot. Maybe one shouldn't read revenge plots one right after another, because it's only natural to compare. In the case of Dukes are Forever, Edward Westover is seeking revenge on the man who killed his brother and wife. Oh sure, it was a drunken accident, but it is something that Edward just cannot let go of.
Edward has bought all the debts of our heroine's father. And, her father being the stinker that he is, has signed over guardianship of his daughter Katherine to Edward. Well, Edward thinks that Katherine is a child. Imagine his surprise when he goes to the family estate with a doll in hand and instead finds someone with a bosom. Then we travel into unexplained territory.
Katherine. Why does Katherine love her father? Never, ever has this man shown her any kind of affection. He has basically deserted her and her mother. He's cruel toward her, only coming around to sell off items in the home, and now he's sold her. I'm not sure why she felt the need to try to make herself worthy in his eyes. I don't believe it's written anywhere that you must love your parents, that you must let them walk all over you and degrade you. She had been abandoned by him a long time ago; I was disappointed that she still needed his affection. She was just too needy. Not only was she needy when it came to her father, she was also rather wishy washy when it came to Edward. Let's be honest here, Edward did not treat Katherine kindly. In my opinion he was just one step above her father. But Katherine kept vacillating between being angry at him and lusting after him.
Then there is Edward's trust issue. Not only is he out for revenge, he finds it hard to trust women. Why? Because another woman broke his leddle heart and married his brother. Sure, she's dead now. Sure his brother is dead now. Sure they were killed by Katherine's father. But that doesn't matter because she broke his heart and he can never trust another. But he wants to seek revenge for the woman who made him distrust women. Doesn't make sense. He also instructs, no, he demands that Katherine not communicate with her father. Katherine being the namby pamby person who wants her father to luv her, even though he's a dog, sends her father some money. So, after Edward seduces Katherine and they humpidy-pumpity into orgasmic heave-an, Edward finds out that she has sent her father some money. What does Edward do? Well, he sends Katherine to some place called Greymoor. I'm not sure where this place was, but it was straight out of a Gothic novel, with moors, wind, and a German housekeeper named Lutz. I'm not sure why this became part of the story, except maybe to show us what a bonehead Edward was. Edward keeps her there, almost under lock and key. He is verry verry angry. She betrayed him! He can never trust her again! Anyway, Katherine's not there long because Edward has been shot and she's knows herbs and she will be able to save his life. Yes, Katherine knows the secrets of using herbs for medicine. How she acquired that knowledge is never fully explained, but all the villagers have been running to her for a long time. She's been on her own since she was twelve, so she’s evidently a child prodigy.
Edward and Katherine were the two flip-floppiest people I've seen in a long time. She's angry with him, she lusts after him, she's angry with him, she wants him, she's mad at him, oh boo-hoo, he's a war hero, she's mad at him. Why can't her father love her, she must be a horrible person, nobody luvs her. He can't trust her, he wants her, he can't trust her, maybe she didn't lie to him, she lied to him, she's so beautiful, she sent her father three coins, she betrayed him.
In the beginning this story had possibilities, but the two main characters degenerated into a waffling woman and a distrustful bonehead. This was a disappointing read for me.
The moors, don't forget the moors!
KaysBlog
Funny, how different authors handle the revenge plot. Maybe one shouldn't read revenge plots one right after another, because it's only natural to compare. In the case of Dukes are Forever, Edward Westover is seeking revenge on the man who killed his brother and wife. Oh sure, it was a drunken accident, but it is something that Edward just cannot let go of.
Edward has bought all the debts of our heroine's father. And, her father being the stinker that he is, has signed over guardianship of his daughter Katherine to Edward. Well, Edward thinks that Katherine is a child. Imagine his surprise when he goes to the family estate with a doll in hand and instead finds someone with a bosom. Then we travel into unexplained territory.
Katherine. Why does Katherine love her father? Never, ever has this man shown her any kind of affection. He has basically deserted her and her mother. He's cruel toward her, only coming around to sell off items in the home, and now he's sold her. I'm not sure why she felt the need to try to make herself worthy in his eyes. I don't believe it's written anywhere that you must love your parents, that you must let them walk all over you and degrade you. She had been abandoned by him a long time ago; I was disappointed that she still needed his affection. She was just too needy. Not only was she needy when it came to her father, she was also rather wishy washy when it came to Edward. Let's be honest here, Edward did not treat Katherine kindly. In my opinion he was just one step above her father. But Katherine kept vacillating between being angry at him and lusting after him.
Then there is Edward's trust issue. Not only is he out for revenge, he finds it hard to trust women. Why? Because another woman broke his leddle heart and married his brother. Sure, she's dead now. Sure his brother is dead now. Sure they were killed by Katherine's father. But that doesn't matter because she broke his heart and he can never trust another. But he wants to seek revenge for the woman who made him distrust women. Doesn't make sense. He also instructs, no, he demands that Katherine not communicate with her father. Katherine being the namby pamby person who wants her father to luv her, even though he's a dog, sends her father some money. So, after Edward seduces Katherine and they humpidy-pumpity into orgasmic heave-an, Edward finds out that she has sent her father some money. What does Edward do? Well, he sends Katherine to some place called Greymoor. I'm not sure where this place was, but it was straight out of a Gothic novel, with moors, wind, and a German housekeeper named Lutz. I'm not sure why this became part of the story, except maybe to show us what a bonehead Edward was. Edward keeps her there, almost under lock and key. He is verry verry angry. She betrayed him! He can never trust her again! Anyway, Katherine's not there long because Edward has been shot and she's knows herbs and she will be able to save his life. Yes, Katherine knows the secrets of using herbs for medicine. How she acquired that knowledge is never fully explained, but all the villagers have been running to her for a long time. She's been on her own since she was twelve, so she’s evidently a child prodigy.
Edward and Katherine were the two flip-floppiest people I've seen in a long time. She's angry with him, she lusts after him, she's angry with him, she wants him, she's mad at him, oh boo-hoo, he's a war hero, she's mad at him. Why can't her father love her, she must be a horrible person, nobody luvs her. He can't trust her, he wants her, he can't trust her, maybe she didn't lie to him, she lied to him, she's so beautiful, she sent her father three coins, she betrayed him.
In the beginning this story had possibilities, but the two main characters degenerated into a waffling woman and a distrustful bonehead. This was a disappointing read for me.
The moors, don't forget the moors!
KaysBlog
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2017
So Gaelen Foley says of this, "A touching and tempestuous romance, with all the ingredients Regency fans adore." And to quote Burrowes, "As steamy as it is sweet as it is luscious. My favorite kind of historical." These quotes, and the fact that another recent so-so debut HR I read was praised by Madeline Hunter, lead me to the question, "Do these established HR authors really read the debut books that they praise?"
Here's my take on this book. It's derivative, predictable, exasperating, trite and tedious and the shallow characters come straight from HR type-casting, with nothing, and I mean nothing, to make them stand out from any other shallow, predictable cardboard characters in other predictable, derivative HRs.
Why am I being so mean? Well, first because the unwarranted praise from popular, well-known authors has annoyed me. Second, because a mainstream, established publishing company read this and decided it was worth publishing in hardcopy paperback and e-book when it only deserves to be an indie e-book released for cheap. And third, maybe I'm in a bad mood because 1) my car is in the shop for its second recall service, 2) I've had a string of really bad reading choices lately, and 3) those pesky holiday pounds have made my waistbands tighter.
Not fair to this author, you may say. Whatever. The hero of this is whiny and whinging, self-absorbed and self-centered and lacking a kindness and sympathy chip. The heroine is young and naive and lacking a "discernment about others" chip. She has suffered years of unkindness, neglect and even emotional abuse from her really horrid father but she continues to want to love and support him. And when she meets our prize of a hero she decides to love him also, even when he treats her badly.
The story is full of overused romance tropes. One of my particular peeves is the "he doesn't love me" one and it is put to use here, of course, And there's misunderstanding and intransigence on the hero's part that make him one of the biggest arses I've read recently. Even straight-from-central casting common-sense Aunt Agatha can't help this story. She just underlines the predictability of the whole thing.
Here's my take on this book. It's derivative, predictable, exasperating, trite and tedious and the shallow characters come straight from HR type-casting, with nothing, and I mean nothing, to make them stand out from any other shallow, predictable cardboard characters in other predictable, derivative HRs.
Why am I being so mean? Well, first because the unwarranted praise from popular, well-known authors has annoyed me. Second, because a mainstream, established publishing company read this and decided it was worth publishing in hardcopy paperback and e-book when it only deserves to be an indie e-book released for cheap. And third, maybe I'm in a bad mood because 1) my car is in the shop for its second recall service, 2) I've had a string of really bad reading choices lately, and 3) those pesky holiday pounds have made my waistbands tighter.
Not fair to this author, you may say. Whatever. The hero of this is whiny and whinging, self-absorbed and self-centered and lacking a kindness and sympathy chip. The heroine is young and naive and lacking a "discernment about others" chip. She has suffered years of unkindness, neglect and even emotional abuse from her really horrid father but she continues to want to love and support him. And when she meets our prize of a hero she decides to love him also, even when he treats her badly.
The story is full of overused romance tropes. One of my particular peeves is the "he doesn't love me" one and it is put to use here, of course, And there's misunderstanding and intransigence on the hero's part that make him one of the biggest arses I've read recently. Even straight-from-central casting common-sense Aunt Agatha can't help this story. She just underlines the predictability of the whole thing.
May 12, 2021
Edward was an absolute douchebag- zero swoons with this guy.
I’m also not sure I much liked Kate - she clung to the idea of her father until the very end ... even after abusing and threatening to kill her... I just can’t.
Not my favorite HR for sure
I’m also not sure I much liked Kate - she clung to the idea of her father until the very end ... even after abusing and threatening to kill her... I just can’t.
Not my favorite HR for sure
February 14, 2016
It was pretty much all over for me when Edward removed Kate from her home, stripped her of her clothes, and imprisoned her for feeling sympathetic towards her own father. Without, mind you, ever explaining to her what her father had done. That he forced her cooperation with these actions by threatening to turn her elderly servants out of house and home just makes this worse -- because her willingness to stay in her new prison out of concern for her servants (and how much said servants care for her in return) only proves she's not the manipulative evil bitch he had built up in his head. And I'm not even touching on the fact that he does all this *after* he's realized he loves her. Sure you do, buddy.
It was so over the top that I couldn't get back on board with the romance after that. That said, if his remorse had at all matched his awful actions and he had questioned himself at all once he had time to cool down, I might have bumped this review up one more star. Instead 1) Kate goes running to him when she's afraid he's dying, 2) he's still mad when he awakes to see her there, and 3) he's barely remorseful even after he gets over his anger. Oh, he admits he was wrong to think she had betrayed him but he doesn't really apologize for how far he went in punishing her for his own insecurities.
Given how worried his friends and aunt were that he was losing himself to his revenge plot, I was hoping Edward was going to learn a lesson at the end about the hollowness of revenge. Instead we get an escalation in the evilness of her father to 1) underscore how Kate should have listened to Edward and 2) vindicate how far Edward went when punishing him for the accident that killed his brother and SIL. Imagine how much more nuanced the characters and story would have been had Kate's father just been a man weakened by his addictions. Edward would have realized he was overcompensating for the guilt he felt about running away before fixing things with his brother. Kate would have realized giving her father more money was just enabling his addictions and not helping at all. But, no, Kate's father is annoyingly (and unbelievably, I might add given how he acts when we first meet him) mustache twirling evil and our "hero" was right all along.
In short, Edward's friends and aunt may want us to believe he's a good man but we get very little actual proof of his redeeming qualities. As a result, rooting for Kate and Edward to be together feels like encouraging a friend to stay in an abusive relationship. Not exactly the feeling you want when reading a romance.
It was so over the top that I couldn't get back on board with the romance after that. That said, if his remorse had at all matched his awful actions and he had questioned himself at all once he had time to cool down, I might have bumped this review up one more star. Instead 1) Kate goes running to him when she's afraid he's dying, 2) he's still mad when he awakes to see her there, and 3) he's barely remorseful even after he gets over his anger. Oh, he admits he was wrong to think she had betrayed him but he doesn't really apologize for how far he went in punishing her for his own insecurities.
Given how worried his friends and aunt were that he was losing himself to his revenge plot, I was hoping Edward was going to learn a lesson at the end about the hollowness of revenge. Instead we get an escalation in the evilness of her father to 1) underscore how Kate should have listened to Edward and 2) vindicate how far Edward went when punishing him for the accident that killed his brother and SIL. Imagine how much more nuanced the characters and story would have been had Kate's father just been a man weakened by his addictions. Edward would have realized he was overcompensating for the guilt he felt about running away before fixing things with his brother. Kate would have realized giving her father more money was just enabling his addictions and not helping at all. But, no, Kate's father is annoyingly (and unbelievably, I might add given how he acts when we first meet him) mustache twirling evil and our "hero" was right all along.
In short, Edward's friends and aunt may want us to believe he's a good man but we get very little actual proof of his redeeming qualities. As a result, rooting for Kate and Edward to be together feels like encouraging a friend to stay in an abusive relationship. Not exactly the feeling you want when reading a romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2017
Ugh, what a disappointment!
I loved Kate since she was a fiery redhead with a love for science. But Edward was THE WORST and pretty much ruined everything for me. He was the type of hero I loathe: sexist, controlling, borderline abusive. Honestly, the moment I read that he distrusted all because one woman broke his heart, I was so done. Poor Kate. She deserved better. Also, Anna Harrington really needs to stop having her heroines kidnapped in the final chapters of her books because she’s used this tired trope back to back now and it’s not cute.
Oh well. At least we got cabin and desk sex.
I loved Kate since she was a fiery redhead with a love for science. But Edward was THE WORST and pretty much ruined everything for me. He was the type of hero I loathe: sexist, controlling, borderline abusive. Honestly, the moment I read that he distrusted all because one woman broke his heart, I was so done. Poor Kate. She deserved better. Also, Anna Harrington really needs to stop having her heroines kidnapped in the final chapters of her books because she’s used this tired trope back to back now and it’s not cute.
Oh well. At least we got cabin and desk sex.
December 29, 2015
It’s perhaps a bit late for Thanksgiving, but this year I am quite thankful for new authors with great stories to tell. When so many try to claim that Historical Romance is a dead genre, authors like Anna Harrington manage to stir the embers by creating stories full of the situations we all love with a fresh take on the material. Her debut book Dukes are Forever uses strong characterizations and dramas to create an entertaining read.
Please read the full review at All About Romance
Please read the full review at All About Romance
April 20, 2017
I read book 3 and 2 before this one and I'm glad I saved the best for last :p
Every since learning of his brother's and sister in law's death, hit by a drunken man in a carriage, and since his return from the war in Spain, the Duke of Strathmore have one objective: ruin Phillip Benton's life, the man responsible for Stephen's and Jane's death. Edward purchase Benton's debts so he can demand repayment on all of them. Since the man can't pay, Edward takes all of his possession, even his daughter who he thinks is a little girl. He's in it for a big surprise when he meet the twenty something beauty with a defiant attitude.
Kate Benton doesn't ignore that her father is not a great dad. He was never present and always asked for money for gambling and the like. But she don't know anything about his time in prison for killing a peer's family and when learning that her father signed a document stating that the Duke is now in charge of her, she still think there was a mistake and doesn't want to believe he would do that. Poor Kate, she'll learn soon enough that her father is even more despicable than we all thought.
But even after his plan for revenge is set in motion, Edward still feel empty inside and when his attraction for his ward begin to get in the way, he may have to find a way to keep her at bay. A woman hurt him in the past, it made him distrustful of female now, so when he think that Kate betrayed him, the kindness and tenderness he showed for her at the beginning fade for a little while.
I have a confession to make. I almost miss the opportunity of reading this book after reading a review where the hero and his action were described in a loathsome way. I didn't saw it that way. He's heartbroken and jaded but he's not unfeeling and he showed Kate compassion and gentleness. He fall in lust and in love easily with her and it's only his fear of being hurt again that makes him irrational. He's loyal and it showed perfectly well how kind he is when he makes the butler feel useful even if he knows he's better without him.
Yeah it's tough to understand how naïve the heroine can be about her father, especially since she's such a smart woman otherwise and how can she still want to defend him, but it's the only detail that bothered me. Kate is kindhearted, stubborn and she have a quick mind. There's an endearing innocence to her too. I liked the whole medical work idea and her caring for the sick villagers.
Edward's witty aunt was a good addition to the story.
I loved the instant connection between Edward and Kate. They seemed to communicate sometime without words and it felt so naturally. I loved that when she met the Duke, she saw he's suffering emotionally. I loved that Edward have fun in bickering with the heroine. I loved that he made her see the advantage of having a man in her life and it's sweet that after love they dress each other.
"And you?" she prompted, turning the conversation onto him. "A man of your age and rank, surely you should have a wife by now. Someone to host your parties and give you an heir."
"I've put myself on the self," he quipped,deadpan.
"Edward," she chastised.
Every since learning of his brother's and sister in law's death, hit by a drunken man in a carriage, and since his return from the war in Spain, the Duke of Strathmore have one objective: ruin Phillip Benton's life, the man responsible for Stephen's and Jane's death. Edward purchase Benton's debts so he can demand repayment on all of them. Since the man can't pay, Edward takes all of his possession, even his daughter who he thinks is a little girl. He's in it for a big surprise when he meet the twenty something beauty with a defiant attitude.
Kate Benton doesn't ignore that her father is not a great dad. He was never present and always asked for money for gambling and the like. But she don't know anything about his time in prison for killing a peer's family and when learning that her father signed a document stating that the Duke is now in charge of her, she still think there was a mistake and doesn't want to believe he would do that. Poor Kate, she'll learn soon enough that her father is even more despicable than we all thought.
But even after his plan for revenge is set in motion, Edward still feel empty inside and when his attraction for his ward begin to get in the way, he may have to find a way to keep her at bay. A woman hurt him in the past, it made him distrustful of female now, so when he think that Kate betrayed him, the kindness and tenderness he showed for her at the beginning fade for a little while.
I have a confession to make. I almost miss the opportunity of reading this book after reading a review where the hero and his action were described in a loathsome way. I didn't saw it that way. He's heartbroken and jaded but he's not unfeeling and he showed Kate compassion and gentleness. He fall in lust and in love easily with her and it's only his fear of being hurt again that makes him irrational. He's loyal and it showed perfectly well how kind he is when he makes the butler feel useful even if he knows he's better without him.
Yeah it's tough to understand how naïve the heroine can be about her father, especially since she's such a smart woman otherwise and how can she still want to defend him, but it's the only detail that bothered me. Kate is kindhearted, stubborn and she have a quick mind. There's an endearing innocence to her too. I liked the whole medical work idea and her caring for the sick villagers.
Edward's witty aunt was a good addition to the story.
I loved the instant connection between Edward and Kate. They seemed to communicate sometime without words and it felt so naturally. I loved that when she met the Duke, she saw he's suffering emotionally. I loved that Edward have fun in bickering with the heroine. I loved that he made her see the advantage of having a man in her life and it's sweet that after love they dress each other.
"And you?" she prompted, turning the conversation onto him. "A man of your age and rank, surely you should have a wife by now. Someone to host your parties and give you an heir."
"I've put myself on the self," he quipped,deadpan.
"Edward," she chastised.
November 24, 2015
Dukes are Forever is the debut book for this author and I thoroughly enjoyed stepping to the Regency world. We are introduced to three heroes who will each have their own story of romance and love.
Edward Westover was a Colonel in the army until he was called home from Spain because his brother was killed. He is a reluctant Duke and has grudgingly taken on the responsibilities of the dukedom along with exacting revenge on the man who is accountable for his brother’s death. While buying up Phillip Benton’s markers all over town to ruin the man, he also becomes the guardian of the man’s daughter. Believing she is a young girl, he sees about setting her up with a governess, only to find she is a young woman with ideas of her own.
Katherine Benton lives in a small village she loves. She has lived in Brambly House her whole life, a home her mother passed down to her and she vows to keep it, however there is not much left for furnishings anymore and the staff is old and few. Her father has badgered her to give him the house since she inherited it, yet she always refuses, but he seems to take anything not nailed down when he comes to visit. She is a healer in the village and many come to her for help, in another time she would have been a doctor. When Edward comes to meet her she is outraged by his arrogance, yet there is something there that intrigues her.
A delightful debut by an author I will add to my list of historical romances to read. The characters are intriguing and along with an enjoyable premise it keeps the reader turning the pages until the end.
Katherine is a wonderful heroine although at times held on to a fairytale idea of her father for too long. For her entire life, she wanted him to love her and it was hard for her to accept the type of person he really is, which gets her into trouble several times. She has a caring nature which is apparent as she uses her healing skills to help others.
Edward is more difficult to pin down; he can hold a grudge like no other and is obsessed with ruining Benton. Even when he has him under his control, he still wonders what else he needs to do to finish him. He also gets angry when he believes Katherine defies an order and takes drastic measures to punish her, I was a little put off by this turn of events but he grovels nicely by the end, which helps in my eyes. The attraction between the two is hard to deny and the chemistry is apparent, he just has to get past his issues before a happy ending can happen.
I truly enjoyed several secondary characters that are introduced, Thomas Matteson and Nathaniel Grey are both captains in the army with Edward and are great friends. They will each be feature in the next two books and I will be happy to read their stories. I adored Edward’s Aunt Augusta, she comes across as fussy and pretentious but loves Katherine and is always helping things along quietly, she has a quick wit and I enjoyed her scenes. The evil in the story is Katherine’s father, who is loathsome; a horrible person who never takes the blame for anything and only wants money and power, he basically “sells” his own daughter, but gets what is coming to him in the end. Definitely a nice debut set in Regency England with romance and a bit of danger toward the end to satisfy all who love historical romances.
Review also at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from the publisher for an honest review
Edward Westover was a Colonel in the army until he was called home from Spain because his brother was killed. He is a reluctant Duke and has grudgingly taken on the responsibilities of the dukedom along with exacting revenge on the man who is accountable for his brother’s death. While buying up Phillip Benton’s markers all over town to ruin the man, he also becomes the guardian of the man’s daughter. Believing she is a young girl, he sees about setting her up with a governess, only to find she is a young woman with ideas of her own.
Katherine Benton lives in a small village she loves. She has lived in Brambly House her whole life, a home her mother passed down to her and she vows to keep it, however there is not much left for furnishings anymore and the staff is old and few. Her father has badgered her to give him the house since she inherited it, yet she always refuses, but he seems to take anything not nailed down when he comes to visit. She is a healer in the village and many come to her for help, in another time she would have been a doctor. When Edward comes to meet her she is outraged by his arrogance, yet there is something there that intrigues her.
A delightful debut by an author I will add to my list of historical romances to read. The characters are intriguing and along with an enjoyable premise it keeps the reader turning the pages until the end.
Katherine is a wonderful heroine although at times held on to a fairytale idea of her father for too long. For her entire life, she wanted him to love her and it was hard for her to accept the type of person he really is, which gets her into trouble several times. She has a caring nature which is apparent as she uses her healing skills to help others.
Edward is more difficult to pin down; he can hold a grudge like no other and is obsessed with ruining Benton. Even when he has him under his control, he still wonders what else he needs to do to finish him. He also gets angry when he believes Katherine defies an order and takes drastic measures to punish her, I was a little put off by this turn of events but he grovels nicely by the end, which helps in my eyes. The attraction between the two is hard to deny and the chemistry is apparent, he just has to get past his issues before a happy ending can happen.
I truly enjoyed several secondary characters that are introduced, Thomas Matteson and Nathaniel Grey are both captains in the army with Edward and are great friends. They will each be feature in the next two books and I will be happy to read their stories. I adored Edward’s Aunt Augusta, she comes across as fussy and pretentious but loves Katherine and is always helping things along quietly, she has a quick wit and I enjoyed her scenes. The evil in the story is Katherine’s father, who is loathsome; a horrible person who never takes the blame for anything and only wants money and power, he basically “sells” his own daughter, but gets what is coming to him in the end. Definitely a nice debut set in Regency England with romance and a bit of danger toward the end to satisfy all who love historical romances.
Review also at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from the publisher for an honest review
February 22, 2016
Dukes Are Forever, had the makings and bones to be a 5 star review. However, I don't feel the real power of the Title of Duke come through in this story. Dukes were very elusive and rare but very powerful and above the law. Common people had no defense against a Duke or most of the upper peerage. Even though the story is fictional I expect authors to stay true to times and this fell short.
Colonel Edward Westover, Duke of Strathmore is seeking revenge for the death of his brother Stephan the prior Duke of Strathmore and his wife Jane. Phillip Benton a mere Mr. killed Edwards brother The Duke and his wife in a phaeton carriage accident. Benton was driving drunk and hit the carriage that Stephan and his wife were in killing them instantly. Benton was later release from jail and the incident was declared and accidental death. No Way would this have happen!!. The Magistrate would have had to take Bentons case before The King Prinny in this story. You couldn't kill a Duke and get away with a slap on the wrist. Impossible!! So the newly minted Duke Edward set out to destroy Phillip Benton financially. He buys up all his debts and then beats him in a card game taking the rest of what he has. But Benton outsmarts the Edward time an again. The property he thinks he now owns from Bentons is really owned by daughter Katherine.
Edward goes to claim his new holdings and finds out his new Ward is an adult women and a beautiful one at that. They eventually fall in lust and love. Both of them have been betrayed by love Edward by Jane who weds his brother instead of him and Kate by her father who never loved her or her mother and only stole from them and abused them. I liked Edward but he was just to weak Not enough Alpha male for my liking. He even lost the duel he was fighting with an older over weight bald Baron. "Pathetic". The Baron outsmarted him by getting the blackmail money and not running away as he agreed too,but turns and shoots Edward. Then he runs. Edwards seems to think he won the duel but I am sorry dude you lost First Blood an all that. Katherine/Kate was just too forgiving of the horrors and crimes her father committed.
Well I guess all is well that ends well, but I wanted to see Benton drawn quarter, hanged and beheaded for his crime instead he gets and easy end. Edward and Kate get there HEA. This was a short but sweet story despite the things I didn't like about the story!!
Colonel Edward Westover, Duke of Strathmore is seeking revenge for the death of his brother Stephan the prior Duke of Strathmore and his wife Jane. Phillip Benton a mere Mr. killed Edwards brother The Duke and his wife in a phaeton carriage accident. Benton was driving drunk and hit the carriage that Stephan and his wife were in killing them instantly. Benton was later release from jail and the incident was declared and accidental death. No Way would this have happen!!. The Magistrate would have had to take Bentons case before The King Prinny in this story. You couldn't kill a Duke and get away with a slap on the wrist. Impossible!! So the newly minted Duke Edward set out to destroy Phillip Benton financially. He buys up all his debts and then beats him in a card game taking the rest of what he has. But Benton outsmarts the Edward time an again. The property he thinks he now owns from Bentons is really owned by daughter Katherine.
Edward goes to claim his new holdings and finds out his new Ward is an adult women and a beautiful one at that. They eventually fall in lust and love. Both of them have been betrayed by love Edward by Jane who weds his brother instead of him and Kate by her father who never loved her or her mother and only stole from them and abused them. I liked Edward but he was just to weak Not enough Alpha male for my liking. He even lost the duel he was fighting with an older over weight bald Baron. "Pathetic". The Baron outsmarted him by getting the blackmail money and not running away as he agreed too,but turns and shoots Edward. Then he runs. Edwards seems to think he won the duel but I am sorry dude you lost First Blood an all that. Katherine/Kate was just too forgiving of the horrors and crimes her father committed.
Well I guess all is well that ends well, but I wanted to see Benton drawn quarter, hanged and beheaded for his crime instead he gets and easy end. Edward and Kate get there HEA. This was a short but sweet story despite the things I didn't like about the story!!
March 8, 2017
Omg. Well, some fellow reviewers did warn me, but I thought, "How bad could it be?" I made it to about page 80. I don't know if it was so much that the characters were corny or just way over dramatic in their thoughts and reactions. The heroine woke up the first morning after the hero had arrived to claim the residence and his guardianship over her. She was going to sneak down the stairs and hide all day to avoid him (and everyday going forward until he left the premises), not wanting to "risk another argument like they had had the night before". I was thinking, wait, what argument? Did I miss something? So I flipped back a page and... so she had barely snapped at him and walked out of the room. (that was the horrible row she was referring to....). Ok.... so this heroine sneaks downstairs, plans on finding a book to read while hiding somewhere. She walks into the library, and Oh no! The hero is already sitting at the desk going over the estates accounts.
"My apologies for disturbing you" - Kate
"Not at all." He stood graciously and moved out from behind the desk to greet her. "Did you need me?"
She bristled at the man's audacity.
The guy couldn't blink without her getting bent out of shape. She kept referring to him in her thoughts as a villain, a scoundrel, etc. But nothing in his actions supported that at all. As far as I read, he was patient and polite with her.
Then you have this hero over on his side beating himself up because this heroine was getting under his skin, and that she could drive a saint to fury. How? He had known her less than 24 hours with minimal conversation to have already formed that opinion. So a lot of what I read was the over dramatic inner dialogues of the main characters, but nothing whatsoever to support these descriptions from actions that you read about. Seemed silly, corny and filled pointless drama.
"My apologies for disturbing you" - Kate
"Not at all." He stood graciously and moved out from behind the desk to greet her. "Did you need me?"
She bristled at the man's audacity.
The guy couldn't blink without her getting bent out of shape. She kept referring to him in her thoughts as a villain, a scoundrel, etc. But nothing in his actions supported that at all. As far as I read, he was patient and polite with her.
Then you have this hero over on his side beating himself up because this heroine was getting under his skin, and that she could drive a saint to fury. How? He had known her less than 24 hours with minimal conversation to have already formed that opinion. So a lot of what I read was the over dramatic inner dialogues of the main characters, but nothing whatsoever to support these descriptions from actions that you read about. Seemed silly, corny and filled pointless drama.
May 22, 2016
'Dukes Are Forever' by Anna Harrington is book one in the "The Secret Life of Scoundrels" series.
This is the story of Edward Westover, Duke of Strathmore and Kate Benton.
Edward has been called home because his brother and sister in-law was killed in a Carriage accident. Kate's father was the person that caused the accident by drinking and racing. So Edward as sworn to get revenge by taking everything away from that man and ruing him. Once he has done that Edward finds out about Kate's existence. Edward was trick somewhat into taking over her guardianship which Edward thinks he is taking on a small child. But he finds out that she is a full grown, head strong women.
Kate knew her father was struggling with money and that every time he came to see her he would take things with him. But she really had not ideal how bad he was. Her father didn't love her mother and Kate as sworn never to marry unless she is in love.
Kate and Edward end up butting heads a lot as they kind of said themselves when they aren't fighting they are making love.
I overall loved this book. I know that it is the regular Historical Romance Story but I love those type of stories.... it is the foundation of romance books. There was one part I was tempted to give a less star when the Edward did something really mean to Kate and I didn't feel he every made up for it or acknowledge that he wronged her. But I just couldn't less my love for this book.
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This is the story of Edward Westover, Duke of Strathmore and Kate Benton.
Edward has been called home because his brother and sister in-law was killed in a Carriage accident. Kate's father was the person that caused the accident by drinking and racing. So Edward as sworn to get revenge by taking everything away from that man and ruing him. Once he has done that Edward finds out about Kate's existence. Edward was trick somewhat into taking over her guardianship which Edward thinks he is taking on a small child. But he finds out that she is a full grown, head strong women.
Kate knew her father was struggling with money and that every time he came to see her he would take things with him. But she really had not ideal how bad he was. Her father didn't love her mother and Kate as sworn never to marry unless she is in love.
Kate and Edward end up butting heads a lot as they kind of said themselves when they aren't fighting they are making love.
I overall loved this book. I know that it is the regular Historical Romance Story but I love those type of stories.... it is the foundation of romance books. There was one part I was tempted to give a less star when the Edward did something really mean to Kate and I didn't feel he every made up for it or acknowledge that he wronged her. But I just couldn't less my love for this book.
Please follow more reviews at the below sites:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sally.mae.39...
http://booklikes.com/
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
March 6, 2016
Oh Edward, so I understand why, but still, why? He is angry at a man, and the man deserves it. He buys all his debts, and the one good thing he is pushed into is taking that man's child as a ward. So yes that was good, so she would not be out in the streets. Still, revenge...
And he does try, taking a doll to the kid and everything.
Haha, there is no kid, just a 21 year old woman who loves her father. Why? I do NOT know. Her father was an ahole, who took everything of value, sold it, and left poor Kate alone and in debt. But it's hard to stop loving family even if they are aholes.
The rest is obvious;
Oh my ward is hot? Damn. Is she in her father's pay? Will she destroy me? She can't be trusted. All women are bad. But she is beautiful.
Where is my father? Why do I have a Duke as a guardian? Oh he is pretty. No, do not look at him. I will become a doctor. But he is so handsome. One kiss wont kill me.
They dance around each other. There is lots of smexy time (we all know I skim that, but for you who want lots then here it is.) There is drama, and there is a happily ever after.
I'd read more by her.
And he does try, taking a doll to the kid and everything.
Haha, there is no kid, just a 21 year old woman who loves her father. Why? I do NOT know. Her father was an ahole, who took everything of value, sold it, and left poor Kate alone and in debt. But it's hard to stop loving family even if they are aholes.
The rest is obvious;
Oh my ward is hot? Damn. Is she in her father's pay? Will she destroy me? She can't be trusted. All women are bad. But she is beautiful.
Where is my father? Why do I have a Duke as a guardian? Oh he is pretty. No, do not look at him. I will become a doctor. But he is so handsome. One kiss wont kill me.
They dance around each other. There is lots of smexy time (we all know I skim that, but for you who want lots then here it is.) There is drama, and there is a happily ever after.
I'd read more by her.
Read
December 18, 2015DNF @ 49%, so I won't be rating this one.
The only thing that drives Edward is anger and revenge, which (IMHO) can lead to an interesting plot. But not long after he meets Kate, that anger disappears and suddenly he's consumed by her instead. I felt like the ball was dropped never to be recovered. We traded anger for lust? On top of that, Kate is managing (what's left of) her estate all by herself, and when Edward announces she his now his ward and restoring the estate, she is resistant. I understand that she's been managing the property for a long time, but she is destitute and if I'm supposed to believe she's been resourceful up until this point, I need to see it at this point. It would have made more sense to me if she'd recognized that while she might not like it, she needed Edward. She had a solid head on her shoulders, and I think that would've been more indicative of her character. Due to the inconsistencies and slow pacing, I won't be finishing this one.
The only thing that drives Edward is anger and revenge, which (IMHO) can lead to an interesting plot. But not long after he meets Kate, that anger disappears and suddenly he's consumed by her instead. I felt like the ball was dropped never to be recovered. We traded anger for lust? On top of that, Kate is managing (what's left of) her estate all by herself, and when Edward announces she his now his ward and restoring the estate, she is resistant. I understand that she's been managing the property for a long time, but she is destitute and if I'm supposed to believe she's been resourceful up until this point, I need to see it at this point. It would have made more sense to me if she'd recognized that while she might not like it, she needed Edward. She had a solid head on her shoulders, and I think that would've been more indicative of her character. Due to the inconsistencies and slow pacing, I won't be finishing this one.
June 26, 2019
Well this was a sweet surprise, with an angsty H who feels he's been betrayed and he determines, never again. He's not a man-ho, has been celibate for some time and this all fits in with his character. The h is delightful, overly sheltered, naive yet easy to like. The story is well paced, with a few adventures giving them the opportunity to learn more about each other. Some things didn't ring true, such as their mutual carelessness about the risk of pregnancy and their stubbornness. A little annoying but I enjoyed this book.
January 1, 2023
The story was well-written, the author did a wonderful job of developing the plot without over complicating it.
While I believe in love at first sight, Dukes Are Forever went too fast for me. There was no sexual tension build up which is an aspect of historical romance I love.
While I believe in love at first sight, Dukes Are Forever went too fast for me. There was no sexual tension build up which is an aspect of historical romance I love.
March 29, 2016
3.5 Stars
Dukes Are Forever is the debut historical romance for Anna Harrington. I requested it from Netgalley due to the beautiful turquoise/gold cover and the fact that it is a guardian/ward romance. I love that theme and have struggled finding recent examples of it. I definitely saw potential in this story and enjoyed it despite some misgivings.
Edward Westover is an army colonel whose life is changed forever when his older brother and his wife are killed in a carriage accident. The accident was caused by the drunken antics of Philip Benton so, when Edward returns to England with the title of Duke of Swarthmore, he vows revenge. Over time, he accumulates Benton's debts and even gains guardianship of the man's daughter. Edward is prepared to make sure the Katherine Benton is healthy and taken care of, but is not ready for the reveal that she is not a child, but a beautiful young woman.
While vengeful characters aren't usually my preference, I liked Edward. I felt for him when he found out what had happened to his brother and understood why he was so determined to seek justice. Once he learned the truth about Kate and the state of Brambly House, he couldn't hide his generous nature and tried to help. There was one moment where he found out that Kate was hiding something from him and he reacted terribly. I was not a fan of his solution to the problem at all and I'm still not sure whether he apologized enough by the end. I'm still muddling over my overall opinion of him though all the other aspects of him were decent.
Kate was likable enough as well. She was devoted to Brambly House, its servants, and the villagers nearby. Her mother's disastrous relationship with her father has made her wary of marriage so she is happy to keep living her life independently. Her big flaw is her loyalty to her father despite the fact that he deserves none of it. I understood her desire to finally get him to love her, but I thought she held on to her idealized image of him too long. I wish there had also been more time to developing her work as a healer. I loved the idea and wanted to see more examples as well as learn about how she got into that field.
Kate and Edward are two very stubborn people who are thrown by their attraction to one another. They banter back and forth and are determined to one up each other. But, as they spend time working on improving Brambly, they begin to connect and the chemistry moves beyond just the physical. There is a time of separation that I think hurt the development of the romance since their reunion was overwhelmed by external drama rather than actually talking about their problems.
For a debut, I found Dukes Are Forever to be entertaining and worth my time. Anna Harrington's writing was clear and the plot was well-paced. While I didn't always agree with the characters' actions, they were well-written and their motives were explained. I am excited to check out more in this series especially after the interactions I read with Edward's friends, Nathaniel and Thomas, who will be getting books soon.
I received a free copy of this book from Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dukes Are Forever is the debut historical romance for Anna Harrington. I requested it from Netgalley due to the beautiful turquoise/gold cover and the fact that it is a guardian/ward romance. I love that theme and have struggled finding recent examples of it. I definitely saw potential in this story and enjoyed it despite some misgivings.
Edward Westover is an army colonel whose life is changed forever when his older brother and his wife are killed in a carriage accident. The accident was caused by the drunken antics of Philip Benton so, when Edward returns to England with the title of Duke of Swarthmore, he vows revenge. Over time, he accumulates Benton's debts and even gains guardianship of the man's daughter. Edward is prepared to make sure the Katherine Benton is healthy and taken care of, but is not ready for the reveal that she is not a child, but a beautiful young woman.
While vengeful characters aren't usually my preference, I liked Edward. I felt for him when he found out what had happened to his brother and understood why he was so determined to seek justice. Once he learned the truth about Kate and the state of Brambly House, he couldn't hide his generous nature and tried to help. There was one moment where he found out that Kate was hiding something from him and he reacted terribly. I was not a fan of his solution to the problem at all and I'm still not sure whether he apologized enough by the end. I'm still muddling over my overall opinion of him though all the other aspects of him were decent.
Kate was likable enough as well. She was devoted to Brambly House, its servants, and the villagers nearby. Her mother's disastrous relationship with her father has made her wary of marriage so she is happy to keep living her life independently. Her big flaw is her loyalty to her father despite the fact that he deserves none of it. I understood her desire to finally get him to love her, but I thought she held on to her idealized image of him too long. I wish there had also been more time to developing her work as a healer. I loved the idea and wanted to see more examples as well as learn about how she got into that field.
Kate and Edward are two very stubborn people who are thrown by their attraction to one another. They banter back and forth and are determined to one up each other. But, as they spend time working on improving Brambly, they begin to connect and the chemistry moves beyond just the physical. There is a time of separation that I think hurt the development of the romance since their reunion was overwhelmed by external drama rather than actually talking about their problems.
For a debut, I found Dukes Are Forever to be entertaining and worth my time. Anna Harrington's writing was clear and the plot was well-paced. While I didn't always agree with the characters' actions, they were well-written and their motives were explained. I am excited to check out more in this series especially after the interactions I read with Edward's friends, Nathaniel and Thomas, who will be getting books soon.
I received a free copy of this book from Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2015
Title: Duke's Are Forever
Author: Anna Harrington
Publisher: Forever
Series: The Secret Life of Scoundrels # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Duke's Are Forever" by Anna Harrington...
My Thoughts...
This novel was quite interesting in all of its drama and emotional storyline with so much going on in this historical romantic setting. The author will gives the reader a story that will have lots of 'passion and even love scenes' with these two main characters...Kate and Edward. For Kate we find her to be a independent heroine and Edward a powerful aristocrat. Wow, what all will happen as these two take this journey together. Where was Kate's father and why had a 'Duke' become her guardian? After they meet will they be able to fight the attraction that have for each other? Will Kate ever get the true sense of what all her father had done to her? We find that a lots will come out as we read "Duke's Are Forever" and we see Kate and Edward falling for each other. However, when Kate doesn't obey Edward's order to to have no communication with that father of hers....things change very quickly for these two. And after a night together Edward ....well, I don't want to spoil it ....I want the reader to pick up this good read to see what happens next for these two. Be ready for a read that will have the two main characters head butting through most of of the read that will helps make this one interesting Regency world read.. Now, why is this? I liked how this author gave the reader a real intriguing read of seeing the story that is 'seductive, imaginative and a bedazzling' that come to a good resolution showing a delightful happier ever after ending.
I received a copy through NOR in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Anna Harrington
Publisher: Forever
Series: The Secret Life of Scoundrels # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Duke's Are Forever" by Anna Harrington...
My Thoughts...
This novel was quite interesting in all of its drama and emotional storyline with so much going on in this historical romantic setting. The author will gives the reader a story that will have lots of 'passion and even love scenes' with these two main characters...Kate and Edward. For Kate we find her to be a independent heroine and Edward a powerful aristocrat. Wow, what all will happen as these two take this journey together. Where was Kate's father and why had a 'Duke' become her guardian? After they meet will they be able to fight the attraction that have for each other? Will Kate ever get the true sense of what all her father had done to her? We find that a lots will come out as we read "Duke's Are Forever" and we see Kate and Edward falling for each other. However, when Kate doesn't obey Edward's order to to have no communication with that father of hers....things change very quickly for these two. And after a night together Edward ....well, I don't want to spoil it ....I want the reader to pick up this good read to see what happens next for these two. Be ready for a read that will have the two main characters head butting through most of of the read that will helps make this one interesting Regency world read.. Now, why is this? I liked how this author gave the reader a real intriguing read of seeing the story that is 'seductive, imaginative and a bedazzling' that come to a good resolution showing a delightful happier ever after ending.
I received a copy through NOR in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2015
A sweet and salty romance. Anna Harrington is an author that will be on my radar regularly in the future. I requested an ARC if Dukes are Forever in exchange for an honest review. Ms. Harrington's work is a cross between Gone with the Wind and Beauty and the Beast. In Kate she found a character that was not a weakling but was forced to endure having little to no control over her circumstances. I liked her because her personality was one of a fighter. She would not let herself be taken advantage of. Didn't like Edward, AT FIRST. The hotheaded temperament he had made him come off as a jerk to me. His emotions led him to make some questionable choices. I did not like how he tried to railroad Kate. Dukes are Forever was wild, seductive, imaginative and bedazzling. I enjoyed it and look forward to hearing more from this author.
December 4, 2015
3.5 STARS
After reading this book and enjoying it so much i went to the author's page and tried looking for her other books only to see this was her debut novel..shocked is an understatement of how i felt. I enjoyed this book, it was so well written and it kept me engrossed till the last page. What i had a problem with was that it seemed as though the H and h didnt have alot of conversations, the idea that they had a conversation was implied but the actual conversation was not seen, also our h was just too familiar with the duke soon after meeting him, you'd think she'd be awed and a little frightened that someone she has never heard of is taking guardianship of her but nope...she didn't really care, she felt 'a connection'. Besides that, i enjoyed everything else.
After reading this book and enjoying it so much i went to the author's page and tried looking for her other books only to see this was her debut novel..shocked is an understatement of how i felt. I enjoyed this book, it was so well written and it kept me engrossed till the last page. What i had a problem with was that it seemed as though the H and h didnt have alot of conversations, the idea that they had a conversation was implied but the actual conversation was not seen, also our h was just too familiar with the duke soon after meeting him, you'd think she'd be awed and a little frightened that someone she has never heard of is taking guardianship of her but nope...she didn't really care, she felt 'a connection'. Besides that, i enjoyed everything else.
March 7, 2021
Edward, Duke of Swarthmore is seeking revenge on Philip Benton. When he wins all of Benton's possessions, that includes guardianship of Benton's daughter. However, his new ward is not a young girl as he had been expecting, instead he meets a stubborn but irresistible woman.
took a while to get into, which surprised me bc in the previous AH books I've read she's been pretty consistent & I can tell from the first chapter how I'm going to feel.
I really did enjoy this once I got it but I will say we got a bit of an exaggerated moustache twirly villain near the end that wasn't my fave.
took a while to get into, which surprised me bc in the previous AH books I've read she's been pretty consistent & I can tell from the first chapter how I'm going to feel.
I really did enjoy this once I got it but I will say we got a bit of an exaggerated moustache twirly villain near the end that wasn't my fave.
January 2, 2021
Îmi place mult perioada (1700-1800), mă fascinează rochiile acelei vremi și mă încântă umorul pe care îl regăsesc în majoritatea acestor romane. Așa am ajuns și la cartea de față. Avem o fată cuminte și un bărbat serios, cu prestanță și rang - un duce. Sentimentele sunt greu de stăpânit... Dar oare e mai puternică iubirea decât dorința de răzbunare?
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