He broke her heart once… Now he is getting married to her sister!?
Charlotte, the modest, book-lover brunette daughter of Earl Warwick, was definitely the ugly duckling in her bombshell-dominated family. When the gentleman of her dreams is issued to wed her older sister, Charlotte is truly devastated. Getting caught with him in a compromising position may be a devious way to prevent their marriage, but surely it was all an accident. Or was it not?
With a preference for blondes, Kenneth Blackmore, Duke of Rutherford, could have any lady he wanted begging on her knees. Many a woman has cried for him, but only a plain-looking brunette that Kenneth truly cared for. Even if that meant staying away from her forever…
Now intended for a loveless union with Charlotte’s sister, Kenneth no longer has to fear for his family’s curse. But when fate’s wicked games condemn him to marry Charlotte instead, he must soon find a way to break the spell.
For being in love with his wife can be very dangerous…
A scandal brought them together, another one will tear them apart…
"Defying the Dashing Duke" is a Historical Regency romance novel of more than 80,000 words (around 440 pages). STANDALONE, no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Ella Edon is an American author of steamy Regency romance books. She started pursuing her childhood passion for putting stories to paper after experiencing two of the most life-changing experiences of her life.
Her books have received rave reviews for the romance, the character’s depth, the intrigue and the turmoil they have.
She lives in New Orleans, Louisiana with her loving husband and candy-sweet daughter. Before she started writing Regency romance, Ella was working in a call center, despite the fact that she majored in English Literature. However, her restless spirit led her to chase her dream and now she is devoted to sharing her stories with the world.
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Kenneth & Charlotte, childhood friends, wed after she fell off the steps inside his library & he broke her fall. She landed in his arms. Several people observed them in this compromising position.
Kenneth was morose, distant, and verbally abusive for much of the story. Dashing? No. More so a taciturn, boring, handsome man. And preoccupied w/ the manner of his mother's death. Quiet, reserved Charlotte stepped out of her comfort zone to call him out on his negative behavior. Ken feared he'd become jealous then murderous as he surmised his relative had done. Where was the logic?
The pace was too slow at times & I jumped ahead. Readers may ask: was Kenneth worth Charlotte (or any woman's) effort? A hero in the truest sense?
I downloaded this on a whim and having never read this author before I was pleasantly surprised. I thought its was fresh take on a childhood friends/I have loved you for years romance. Charlotte's character was a bit over shadowed at the beginning by her sister, it seemed the author put more thought and attention on Louisa rather than Heroine. Charlotte eventually came into her own and I really loved her kind and gentle nature. The reason it was not a 4 or 5 star is that for how long this book is the ending was abrupt. Kenneth's apology to Charlotte was weak and disappointing, there was no groveling and I hate when a heroine forgives automatically (make him work for it girl!). The intense drama from was a bit much and almost like an afterthought.
Honestly, I cannot even begin to say what compelled me to finish this story. There was absolutely NOTHING likeable about Kenneth or the way he verbally and emotionally abused poor Charlotte throughout this novel. Despite his ridiculous belief that he was "cursed" to harm her the way he believed his father hurt his mother, there was no reason for him to treat her so hot and cold (especially after he made the effort to open up to her partway into the story).
I also don't understand the reasoning behind the title of this story at absolutely NO point does doormat Charlotte defy her husband, or anyone else for that matter. In all honesty, this title would make more sense if the book were about her sister who has turned down countless suitors and refuses to marry.
Speaking of our two main characters - much of this story could have been culled out if one, they had just spoken to one another instead of assuming things. And two, if they would stop repeating the same things over and over again (which realistically is on the author and lack of a good editing). Seriously, there is no reason I need to read what is essentially the same three paragraphs over and over again just worded slightly different on the same topic, especially when that topic has already been hashed over by our disagreeable leads.
But despite those issues, the thing that sealed the one star rating for me was how the author choose to wrap up one of the MAJOR story-lines in a way that was entirely too convenient and completely unbelievable. I'm still shaking my head over that one.
A decent read..although the plot couldve been much better..the ending was abrupt. And what i hated the most was the hero had been tramatized all his life. And then one fine night he takes some opium And voila he has an epiphany, as to who the real murderer was... but when the time came to seek revenge, he forgave the murderer way too easily... which did not sit well with me...
I did like this but i find the whole trope of "man thinks his bloodline is cursed so he has to be cruel to his wife he loves so she doesn't love him" a bit tiring. I just find myself not satisfied with the man apologizing.
Enjoyed reading Charlotte's and Kenneths story. There was so much deal with on Kenneths side. And I'm so glad he finally found peace and found the truth. Though I don't think it was any better. At least he had some type of reconciliation
This is a very intriguing book. The past childhood of both our main characters has shaped their adult Lives. Charlotte and Kenneth become the best of friends after he lost his mother. He spent more time at her house than his own. They enjoyed a lot of the same things, reading being the best. Spending time outdoors with others. They could talk about anything and everything and did. Kenneth had a very bad childhood his mother was murdered, and his father was a cold, hard man who never wanted him around. As they grow up, Kenneth bargains to see Charlotte as a young Lady instead of his childhood friend. After seeing his parents and what happened he knows he can’t love anyone due to his father and his actions. Charlotte had always loved Kenneth and hoped maybe one day he could feel the same. Then he was just gone, no word, no explanation, nothing. She was devastated. Many years later he returns now with his full title, and to the estate he hates, Rutherford Hall. When his uncle and Charlotte's father come up with the plan for him to marry Charlotte’s older sister to join the families, she is shocked. Kenneth agrees knowing he will never love Louisa and neither wants to marry so they can spend time mostly apart, making them both happy. Till fate steps in and causes a sandal that only marriage to Charlotte will save her. As these two try to figure out the other, deal with many secrets, misunderstanding and passion. Both will be hurt, others will be found out, and maybe they can find happiness ever after. You will have to get a copy to find out. There is much more to this story for you to find out. You will not be able to put it down. Don’t be too hard on our couple at first you will cheer one and hate the other then everything changes. What a story... I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it. Don't miss this one...
ONE BLOCK BUSTING ADVENTURE!!! Perfect! Ella pegged every essence and sentiment, touching my heart with each nuance, hooking you from the start and reeling you in for the duration, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Satisfaction is an understatement, this baby comes packing a punch that's sure to please, putting our characters through their paces, catapulting this baby to staggering heights. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this bad boy into a roaring tempest, catapulting it into a tailspin with astonishing results. Twixt, twined and tightly woven, imparting the explosive ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it's simplicity and awe-inspiring in it's depth, drawing our characters closer than they could have ever anticipated. Rolling with the drama, intrigue, tension, turmoil, revelations, secrets, mounting suspense and precarious situations along with a boatload of trouble, you have one prize winning experience. Cognizant of the instant realization and charged atmosphere, showcasing the intimidating trials and challenging tribulations, along with a bevy of shocking twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. The characters, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuinely charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and depictions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Incredible job Ella, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
I always look forward to Ella Edon’s latest historical Regency romance and I was not disappointed with, ‘Defying the Dashing Duke’. I was definitely transported into “the epic world of the Regency Era Ladies, Governesses, and Bluestockings” and as usual I was taken “on a suspenseful journey full of passion and true love!” This was a wonderfully written novel with great characters and a storyline which had me hooked from the start until the very last page. I was fully immersed in the Regency era thanks to the authors detailed descriptions. When Kenneth Blackmore, Duke of Rutherford, and the man of Charlotte’ dreams is issued to wed her older sister Charlotte is devastated. Charlotte has always been seen as the ‘ugly duckling’ in her family being both modest looking and a brunette and also a book lover. Being the Earl of Warwick’s daughter if she were to be caught in a compromising position with Kenneth then he would have to marry her and not her sister but can Charlotte be that devious. Meanwhile Kenneth is used to having any lady he wants and doesn’t mind leaving them crying, however, the only lady he has ever had real feelings for is a very plain looking brunette. Fearing his family’s curse he swears to stay away from Charlotte and is fully intent on a loveless union with Charlotte’s sister. When, what Kenneth believes to be fate means he has to marry Charlotte instead he is desperate to find a way to break his family’s spell, “For being in love with his wife can be very dangerous”. A thoroughly enjoyable read which I recommend.
When I read reviews I want this list of questions answered so that I can know if a book should be to my liking. Since these questions aren’t usually answered in reviews I figure it’s my job to do so. Happily Ever After? Absolutely Does the hero treat the heroine badly in the beginning? No, but yes - a little. But in the middle of the story, very yes. Does the heroine treat the hero badly in the beginning? No If the answers for 2 or 3 are yes, then do they make appropriate amends for their bad behavior? Yes, the reconciliation was very satisfying Is this book Christian? No Are there sex scenes in this book? Yes If there is sex, are the sex scenes explicit? No Is the heroine a virgin? Yes Is the heroine sexually assaulted? No Is the hero a virgin? No Is there non-romantic drama (as in a kidnapping, murder, feud, or other intrigue that isn’t centered on romance)? Yes Is the end satisfying? Yes Is the book “icky” to modern ideals or sensibilities? (As in, a 15 year old marrying a 30 year old was acceptable in 1815 but might make a modern reader uncomfortable) A little, one character is almost forced to marry against their will.
This book was so good. I usually hate when there is even a hint of the hero being cruel towards our heroine but in this book it makes sense. The author is excellent at giving the readers the reasoning behind the character’s actions which makes the less desirable scenes easier to read.
I don’t mind the “I am poison for you therefore I shall be deliberately toxic toward you” trope so much, but this dude actually had me thinking, ok, maybe you should remove yourself from her forever because you actually ARE absurdly jealous for no reason and I am not sure I trust you. He’s super cruel to her. Problem I think is that they don’t have many pleasant moments together on the page. Unfortunately the author seems to enjoy writing scenes with the heroine and her sister more than between the H/h. There just isn’t a lot to value compared to all the meanness. Like, this dude actually seems unwell, mentally, not due to trauma but like...yeah man maybe you did inherit irrational violent jealousy and maybe you are a danger to her. Only reason I could excuse him a bit is that they’re both just kids, he’s 22 and she’s 19. Which is nice for a historical, since that’s much more the usual age and age gap for the period.
This book is a tale of a love, betrayal, and murder. The primary characters, Kenneth and Charlotte, were friends as children. Kenneth, as a young boy, found his Mother murdered and the man who killed her escaping through a bedroom window. Because he is certain that his Father killed his Mother in a jealous rage, he swear to never fall in love with anyone. As he grows older, and dinds rage within himself over another young man giving Charlotte flowers, he determines to leave her in order to keep her safe from his temper. But fate has a way of changing the best laid plans. The author did a beautiful job with the character development and the storyline was great. I was enthralled from start to finish. Also, glad to see that there were far fewer spelling and grammatical errors to distract from the story.
A heartbraking love story which makes you sad and sometimes frustrated as the plot evolves, but the 'happyly-ever -after' end is redeeming. Kenneth, is devastated when he discovers his mother's death. In addition, the idea that hus father is the criminal and consequently he is cursed with bad blood makes his life a living hell. In that moment he loses both his mother and his father, and thusly grows into an insecure and equally tormented young man who thinks that in order to protect the people he loves he must stay as far away of them as possible. But fate has other plans and in the end Charlotte, his childhood love, becomes the safe harbour he dreams of. I loved this book and I warmly recommend it.
The story line was good, a little drawn out in some ways but still enjoyable. the author writes well and the characters are good. However, the two things that bothered me was the formatting and ending or lack there of. I find when reading a book with this type of formatting much negative space that my mind searches for something else to see or do and I continually stop reading. The other is the author asking you to to webpage to read the epilogue. I understand they do this to be able to send newsletters to you, but doing it this way bothers me, my opinion only.
From her early memories of her life, Charlotte thought of Kenneth most of all. He was her best friend, her confessor, and the boy of her dreams. When his mother died, he practically lived at her house, since being home only reminded him of all he'd lost. Now grown and ready to marry and start a family, Charlotte is on the verge of accepting a proposal from another man when she finds herself compromised unexpectedly. You won't want to miss this sad, sweet story! Enjoy!
This was a wonderful story revolving around the two main characters Charlotte and Kenneth. Having loved each other since they were children, Kenneth is continually troubled by personal demons that brings about a tumultuous relationship between the two. I won't give away any more details but I found this story to be riveting and I read this book in one sitting which I rarely do because it was so interesting and I wanted to know what happened next in the story. Brilliant writing yet again from this author, can't wait to see what she writes next! 😁
Defying The Dashing Duke is a beautiful love story.. it starts out a bit of a rollercoaster ride of emotions for the main character Charlotte. For she has been in love with the male main character Kenneth since she was a young girl.. In this story you will find love and romance, caring and compassion, broken hearts and mystery.. you will also find highs and lows from an emotional rollercoaster. All in all I loved reading this book .. I can't wait to see what Ella has next up her wonderful sleeves
The storyline was awesome, the characters well-developed. My main issue with the entire writing was the fact that the author constantly used the wrong title for several of the characters. Throughout the story, Charlotte was addressed as "Lady Blackmore" when in fact she was a Duchess and her title was "Your Grace". At another point the reader sees the Duke calling the Earl "Your Grace", when in fact he should have been called "My Lord". Seeing this throughout the entirety of the story was quite irritating and disappointing.
Lady Charlotte Warwick is the lesser beauty of the four Warwick sisters, at least that's what Charlotte believes. However, her childhood friend, Lord Kenneth - the future Duke, has thought of her as the ideal woman, especially after the tragic death of his mother, and the realization that his blood is dangerously tainted. A wonderful plot filled with raw emotions, interesting characters and a beautiful happy ending. I'm looking forward to reading more about the Warwick sisters.
Another Fantastic story From Ella Edon.with friends,sadness and unrequited love thrown in.This was a book I read with relish.Arranged marriage turned upside down,but right.Characters in this story had to overcome a lot of grief but did so in the end.As for the ending never saw that coming.So sad.The Extended Epilogue is also a bonus in reading from this Author.Well done and all who read this.Hope you enjoy it to.
Yes, yes, yes for the Wicked Warwick wifes series. After reading the 3rd book in the series I thought the best place for a review is right at the beginning. As this book.and the ones following is a stand alone read but so much more appreciated reading the whole series. Hot and sensual with a lovely romance to each book, leaving that happy contented feeling after reading a good book. Recommended
The words and conversations were sharp. I could felt it as much as the characters did. The whole story is a huge emotional upheaval. I was stunned when the final ball dropped. I did not expect that tragedy at all! There were indeed a lot of things that happened behind closed doors. Special mention to the Warwicks! I certainly love how their family dynamics work!
This is one of the best stories so far. The relationship between the main characters Charlotte and Kenneth keep you guessing through out the story. This book includes murder, secrets, mystery and a family curse. Wow! You are continually questioning whether there will be a HEA or not. This is an Excellent read and makes you wonder if there is a story for Louise in the making. Fingers crossed!
Like father like son Isn't that how the telling goes Only this son is convinced his father murdered the love of his life So what happens when the son inadvertently ends up marrying his childhood love? Will the sins of the father befell the son of will be push away love from fear of killing the only woman he ever loved
Perfectly charming and heartwarming characters. Just enough romance! Interesting plot that kept me thoroughly engaged throughout. Enjoyed every minute of it!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
5 STARS worth of intense romance & interwoven feelings that go with it. Kenneth & Charlotte, definitely love each other but they each are the type to keep their feelings slightly dampened.
A love story for romantics & anyone who enjoys deep love. Great book, with terrific characters. Recommend
Kenneth and Charlotte were childhood friends. When Kenneth’s Mother was killed he was 8 and lost his childhood. He also decided that his father, a powerful Duke, killed her out of jealousy and determined that he would never get so involved with anyone to let jealousy direct him. Years later he returns to his childhood home and is convinced by his uncle that he needs to marry and have an heir. He is ready to propose to Charlotte’s sister when they accidentally are seen in what might be a compromising situation. This is their story. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
Did like the book though it was honestly a little too cheesy for me at times. There was just one time in here where the main was forceful to having his way EVEN THOUGH it was quickly dropped. Just thought I’d bring that up. So if you’re not okay with that happening wouldn’t pick it up even though it’s not fully graphic by any means. But also doesn’t mean it’s not important to bring up so. 🤷♀️
I enjoyed this story, however a little disappointed that identifying the murderer was too easy. However the story was a good read for a Summer afternoon
This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable. Great suspense and drama with wonderful world building. Can't wait to read what the author brings out next. Recommend reading.