Duke for Hire

by Nicola Davidson

As her fiery clergyman father chases away all suitors, Miss Ada Blair is resigned to spinsterhood. Yet while she can’t wed, bedding might be another matter. One man meets all her requirements for a discreet and expert pleasure tutor—Jasper Muir, Duke of Gilroy—but he insists on a very wicked contract…

Duke for Hire was previously published in the anthology Duke I'd Like to F.... It contains explicit sex scenes/language.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Novella, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Erotica

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2021

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Nicola Davidson worked for many years in media and government communications, but hasn't looked back since she decided writing erotic historical romance was infinitely more fun. When not chained to a computer, she can be found ambling along one of New Zealand’s beautiful beaches, cheering on the All Blacks rugby team, history geeking on the internet, or daydreaming. If this includes dessert—even better!
Her books have appeared in USA Today, NPR, and Entertainment Weekly.
Keep up with Nicola’s news on Twitter (@NicolaMDavidson) Facebook (Nicola Davidson – Author) Instagram (nicoladauthor) or her website www.nicola-davidson.com

Reviews

[Hannah B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨These cinnamon rolls made *icing*✨

Elevator Pitch: (Almost) 30-year-old Ada seeks to be ravished by 40-year-old discrete and dirty duke Jasper. Both are sexy cinnamon rolls and just want to fuck (for the price of one schilling per *icing*) but to also fall in love (obviously they don’t know it yet).

THIS STORY WAS SO CUTE WHAT THE FUCK AND HOT BUT LIKE THE CUUUUUTENESS. This was my favorite story in the anthology and I need to grab my own kindle copy. I found it to be the perfect length, while also just so full of ooey-gooey melty moments between our two love muffins. It was low angst and high heat.

The story is dirty and delicious and I loved the sex. I loved that we were made promises about the bedroom soon comings and those promises most definitely came! Hello monsieur derrière dildo. Most books (if they even reference ass play) don’t actually go there so this was fun and so sexy. These two fit together so well.

It was also hilarious and I grabbed so many quotes to embroider on pillows with sparkly thread. My favorite line was about the man being a talking clock, how modern! My heart was bitch slapped by him wanting to learn how to make a bed. He was also so taken with her spectacles, bought her the cutest gift, and had a very cute relationship with his brother. Seriously everything about Jasper made me want to cancel my plans and risk it all. Ada thought along those same lines because she didn’t even notice the beautiful library she met him in because he himself was a beautiful feat of architecture.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

[emtee · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Read as part of the Duke I'd Like to F... anthology)

She’s a 29 year old virgin, a vicar’s daughter, bullied and stifled by her overbearing father and self conscious of her height and curvy girl figure. He’s the instantly smitten, sexy and kind hearted duke she “hires” to relieve her of her virginity and indulge her sexual curiosity. In his company she blossoms and finds the freedom to be herself, be adventurous, and the gift of being loved and desired just as she is. Lots of dirty talking hotness and a beautiful HEA.
Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Eliza]

Well, shit. Not sure how to review this because I'm too busy clutching my pearls....

[Amanda books_ergo_sum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so unputdownable!

Our still-a-virgin-at-30 vicar’s daughter Ada hired our starchy Duke Jasper to dick her down at the beginning of the story and we did not look back!

The steam! I just finished a Nicola Davidson series set in a sex club (also an Emmy rec) and THIS novella was steamier.

I want so badly to be like “first Jasper and Ada did this 🔥, then they did THAT 👀, and then..” but I don’t want to spoil any of it. Just know that Nicola Davidson is operating on a whole other level when it comes to historical romance steaminess 🥵

But the secret sauce of this story was how compatible Jasper and Ada were. Ada was the type of nice and straightforwardly rational person with freak in the sheets potential. And our starchy Duke was the kind of honourable grump who thinks his heart is untouchable. Hah!

Also, it had a microtrope I love: when the couple can’t just hang out whenever they want and instead have to accidentally-on-purpose run into each other, speak in coded language, and stare intensely at each other while keeping their cool.

This story was so heartwarming that my smile muscles were hurting. And it contained the steamiest scene I’ve ever read in a historical (really, need I say more?). I was just blushing, smiling, and heart-eyes-ing the whole time I was reading.

[Tanya Sridhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of the anthology very inelegantly titled Duke I'd Like to F...

Ok did not expect to find this book so delightful. I was expecting to roll my eyes throughout this one (mainly due to the title) but instead found the writing humorous, the characters extremely likeable and the steam level pretty on point too.



The plot is simple; innocent country miss Ada is thirty, plump and daughter to a stuffy vicar. She wishes to get rid of her pesky virginity and the stoic, tall and handsome Duke of Gilroy is the perfect person to assist her. She propositions him for a one month affair and he readily agrees. You know where this is going, eventually feelings appear and we get to read about the transformation from passion to love.

While the story could have been longer so we get more interaction between them to really sell me on the "love" part, the story is still thoroughly enjoyable as a novella. It is witty, lovely and sexy all at the same time. But there is a fair use of modern language that might not fit with the time, especially dirty talk but I overlooked it as it didn't exactly ruin the experience. Additionally, I'm not sure any innocent miss from a random countryside would know so much about bedsport, or be so experimental the first few times, hence I think this is more on in improbably side from a historical accuraccy perspective. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

I love love loved that they were older MC's, we rarely get that. H is 40 and h is 30. And I loved their banter and conversation. Ugh so cute.

Really enjoyed this and want to check out more from the author.

Leaving you all with this stellar one liner from our hero Jasper, The Duke of Gilroy in his declaration of love to Ada. A man who can get it. Like anytime. Specifically from me. Ugh

"I'll walk beside you, never in front."

[Aou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredible but short and nice.

[carmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The power this book could've held if it was a full standalone novel instead of a novella... It would've been delicious. Also, I swear this has one of the best marriage proposals in historical romance ever.

actual rating: 2.5 stars

[shaira ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

jasper muir, ever the self awareness king 😙 ew, did i seriously just say king?

seriously tho, i actually enjoyed this one quite a fair bit. it did get quite cheesy towards the end but the heart of the *plot* was pretty damn hot; just how i prefer them to be ☺️

[kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Miss Ada Blair is 30 and ready for fun! So she "hires" Jasper Muir, Duke of Gilroy, as her "pleasure tutor" and proceeds to get BONED.

1. Ada's godmothers are an older lesbian couple who draft up "The Grand Cock Plan" to assist Ada in getting laid, and then proceed to offer her ideas for the sex contract she and Jasper draw up. Suggestions include (but are not limited to): clamps, feathers, blindfolds, and leather dildos "for backsides".

1.5 Leather dildos....can't be a good idea. The hygiene. Ouch.

2. Jasper is an older hero who for some reason or another doesn't think he can fall in love. Obviously he's wrong. But he is pretty into Ada from the moment he sees her, so that's nice!

3. But after their second (?) time meeting up to do the beast with two backs, Ada lets slip that she loves Jasper (during the act). Which: do you though? That's pretty fast: it's not insta-love, and while Ada and Jasper have had a few conversations that set the stage for ~feelings, having it happen so quickly really just. Didn't work for me.

4. I also was kind of morbidly amused by the fact that Jasper and Ada spend this time writing up their sex contract and then knock out everything on the list by their second session. Like: efficient? I guess?

[Rellim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful, sexy, funny & erotic novella. My first experience with Nicola Davidson’s writing, but I’m definitely going to read more of her work.

While Ada is a virgin in search of a temporary lover, she is unreserved and has a lot of requests for her companion to fulfill. Jasper, as a Duke, is expected to marry and produce heirs. He has no interest in either one so finite flings suit him well… until he meets Ada.

I just adored how much fun these two had, both conversationally and sexually. A great match and despite the short amount of time together, I felt their HEA.

[Karen Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine and hero were a bit corny.

[Marie Andersson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella! 💜❤️It was very hot! 🥵🥰😍

[Nhi Nguyễn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Ada Blair was a dutiful daughter of a stern and imposing vicar. She spent nearly 30 years living modestly under her father’s roof, taking care of the household as a free servant without having her own dreams and wishes regarded and respected by her father. As she was reaching her 30th year, Ada decided enough was enough; she would satisfy her natural womanly need and find a mature, discreet man to be debauched and give away her virginity. With the help of her two lesbian old friends, Ada started to execute the long-drawn-up Grand Cock Plan. This led her to Jasper Muir - Duke of Gilroy, whom she eventually hired as her lover for sexual pleasures for a month.

Jasper was no stranger to drafting contracts for secret trysts, and as he laid eyes on Ada for the first time, he knew immediately he would agree to her proposal for a month indulged in carnal pleasures. I loved how Jasper behaved in such a thoughtful and considerate manner, when even for a purely sexual relationship, he still cared enough to pay attention to details and to bring Ada’s the most comfort.

And for a woman whose thoughts and desires had long been suppressed by her father like Ada, being with Jasper was liberating and warm at the same time. He acknowledged Ada’s curiosity to learn about the physical aspect of sex, and encouraged her to come up with her own terms about what she would want to enjoy during their trysts. He allowed Ada to voice her own opinions, and empowered her to take the lead in their sexual relationship. I hope I will meet someone like Jasper one day, who is both caring and encouraging.

What started out as a deal between two consenting adults soon blossomed into love - the kind of love that pushed Ada to blurt it out during a moment of climax. But for Jasper, who was used to being an emotionless Duke, it was an unfamiliar and scary terrain to walk on as he learned to realize that same love for Ada as Ada’s for him. After 40 years spent loveless with only sexual affairs with countless mistresses, Jasper now finally experienced the kind of love that his brother blissfully enjoyed with his wife, and everything changed for the better for both him and Ada.

In terms of sex scenes, this novella delivered plenty. But I was not particularly impressed with Ada and Jasper’s first time making love to each other. It was Ada’s first time having sex, it was her giving her virginity to Jasper, but it was depicted so quickly that I didn’t feel anything extremely sensual or steamy. But the sex scenes got better as Ada and Jasper spent more time together in their secret location. There were uses of sex toys and some kinky stuff, but it was not too heavy for me.

Overall, this was a great historical romance read that delivered some hot sex I really enjoyed. I wish it were written into a full-length novel, though, so that I could see more of the development in Ada and Jasper’s emotional connection. Since this is a novella, the romance developed a little too quickly for a normal and lasting relationship, but we have to accept this fact, don’t we?

[VeeBlueberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the story. Short yet jam-packed with sexiness, sex toys, meddling godmothers, and little tidbits of love (maybe).

The plot is almost perfect I only wished that the story is a bit longer so it could provide more time for the main characters to develop deeper affections towards each other. The book itself is lovely and sexy. I just feel that the love between the characters was rushed. Great book, nonetheless. I enjoyed reading it

[India (IndiaReadsALot) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicola bestie I'm so sorry for this to be our first book together. I needed this to have an extra 100 pages and for the elderly lesbians to be in basically every scene. I actually felt that this had a great premise and interesting characters but due to the nature of the page count nothing was given time to develop so it all felt very flat and one note.

[Eleonora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful surprise. I loved the sapphic godmothers and even the duchess. There were some very funny moments.

[Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this story in the Duke I'd like to f anthology and really liked it!
The author has a really unique writing style and if you're looking for high steam historical romances or erotic romances, Nicola Davidson is great.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, man.
How do you do it Nicola? This book has is all, a virgin spinster, and experienced and dirty duke, all the steam and great plot, no notes.

[Carissa Janes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in the DILF anthology. I really liked the idea of this book and Ada was forthright in asking for what she wanted when she hired the Duke. Her companions were also highly entertaining lol

[Rika · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited at the first part of this story bc it seemed like it would be really fun but damn, it kinda sucked. the characters felt like caricatures and not like real people, the language kept taking me out of the period and I often felt like I was reading contemporary rather than regency, and yeah I just flipped through to get to the end of it because I was so bored

[Leedemort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read as I loved it so much the first time around that I wanted to pick it up again and relax with a story I already know. It was just as fun as the first time. I knew this would make me smile. Loved the banter between Jasper and Ada and how much fun they had together.

[natt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh another insta-love but done correctly🙂‍↕️
If only it were much longer😫 as it’s not enough of them. They need more of their chemistry shown👏👏 I NEED TO SEE THEM GO ON DATES, ROMANTIC WALKS, AND GIVE EACH OTHER MEANINGFUL GIFTS😫😫
Duke jasper can have anything he wants😌😌like despite his 40year old age, he’s hot. But why are all the dukes 40-41 yrs old? Like what about 43? 38? Or 49?? Bruh…
Ada is a queen, she knew what she wanted and eventually got it😝 thank goodness for those two nice old ladies who kindly directed her to a pleasurably future. They carried.
Especially jaspers mother?? She carried most of all👏👏😫
Like finally a mother whos actually present in the sons life 😭 I love the family dynamic in this one 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Ada the queen, the virgin at 30 yrs old, hires jasper, a duke, to be a pleasure tutor, so she can finally flourish in the world of pleasure😝😝 and ofc they have this amazing energy, almost like it’s fate GASP🫨 and ofc jasper is drawn to Ada first sight 😮😍😋 they have this amazing day together in this dusty cottage and boom, feelings are already developing, Oml. But then, gasp, Ada is actually sort of trapped by her evil father 😧😑😡(exaggerated), so they have to keep it as an affair secretly 😶, BUT THEM ALL OF A SUDDEN, during one of their “sessions”, GURLY BLURTS OUT THE “I LOVE YOU”😱😲😰😳😭😭😭 this completely takes them by surprise and they discuss it, it’s so simple, they take communication to a higher standard. She knows he won’t say it and blah blah blah he’s in denial but mother steps in helps BOTH of them, Ada arranged marriage by father, but mother saves her, literally abducted her💀💀, and boom Ada angry, jasper realized he loves her and they finally frick on the office desk but quickly decides against it as their old age is finally hitting😭😤😱😳😫🤯😍😋😧🫨🫡😗🥰😍😉🤩🤩🥳🥳 and happily ever after 🎆🎇

“Forgive me,” he said with a grin. “I would remain there with you all afternoon, however my forty-year-old back does not appreciate such an angle.”
Ada laughed and eased herself into a sitting position. “This was beyond wonderful, but I shall quietly admit to preferring a soft bed to a wooden desk. Or a door. I am nearly thirty after all.”

Finally, a book actually showing their age🙄🙄 but it completely caught me off guard😭😭

Dukes and their old age, luckily this one wasn’t in deep denial and traumafied 🙃

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasper (Gilroy) & Ava. This was a fun novella. The 2 godmothers stole the show though. I was dying laughing at them. Ava is the vicar's daughter. At 30, her dad doesn't really want her to marry as he doesn't want to lose his housekeeper. She meets up with her 2 godmothers (they are lovers and have no filter when it comes to bedroom stuff) and while resigned to being a spinster decides she doesn't want to be a virgin anymore. Jasper is a Duke and is at his country estate for a month. He is known for his discretion and experience in the bedroom (even out in the country). She approaches him and they make a contract for him to be her lover for a month. Now after 1 "night" together, he's so intrigued by her that he desperately wants to meet up with her again (her dad is keeping her on tasks that don't allow her to get away). He finds her at the country fair working a booth for the vicarage. The godmothers distract her dad which allows Jasper and Ava to share a passionate kiss in the storage tent behind the booth. They set up another meeting at their little love shack and she accidently lets it slip that she loves him. uhhhhhh okay! Her dad is on to him and arranges Ava's marriage to this guy that is new to town (I think he will work with the vicarage somehow but IDK) who is willing to live with her dad as a married couple. NIGHTMARE! When she meets her fiancé she runs from the house and jumps in the carriage coming towards the vicarage for a visit. It was his mother. She had met with her 2 godmothers and she's super fun too. They go to the Duke and he cannot deny that he loves her too. They marry. HEA. This was short but sweet. Good sex scenes and side characters that made this book fun to read.

[Mephala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a pleasure to read this novella when it was part of Duke I'd Like to F... anthology (sadly no longer available in an ebook format), and this review is just a slightly edited paragraph I had already wrote while it was published in 2020.



Duke for Hire by Nicola Davidson was such a wonderful treat to read!

I was already familiar with books by this author so I knew this short story would be good and deliciously steamy, but I didn’t anticipate how much I’d LOVE it.

It was ridiculously fun and light, with such likable characters and beautifully written banter I couldn’t put it down. The chemistry between the sheltered vicar daughter Ada, and well-know expert in giving all manner of pleasures, Jasper, the Duke of Gilroy, was delicious and scorching hot. Oh, how wonderfully they were together. The sex scenes were steamy and intimate, but how the main couple was with each other outside the bedroom added even more heat to their relationship.

Nicola Davidson really knows how to write well developed characters, and even in a short form as a novella, romance between the main couple never felt awkward or rushed. It was wonderfully romantic and fun to read.

Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the absolutely glorious pair of characters, the honorary aunts to Ada - Ruth and Martha. Still madly in love with each other in their “advanced age”, still causing all sort of mischief. Always supporting the heroine with their love and witty remarks. I so loved them!

4,5/5 stars

[Susan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Another truly lovely novella - gentle and heartwarming, Ada and Jasper are ideally suited. She is uncomplicated, sincere and open and he is considerate, kind and frank. Neither of them play games or act coy. Ada is 29, tall and plump and has been bullied by her father all her life, used as his unpaid housekeeper he chases away any potential suitors - she has accepted that she will live her life as a spinster but wants to lose her virginity and to know about physical love. She approaches and propositions Jasper, who is 40, handsome, taller than Ada and a sought after Duke - he is dispassionate and emotionless, even towards his mother and loving brother, all his sexual liaisons are conducted after signing a contract to ensure there are no mistaken illusions; however, it is clear early on that his relationship with Ada has developed in an entirely different way and is creating a change within him despite having signed a contract with her too. Their connection is passionate, extremely hot, sultry and graphic and there is an honesty about it, no game playing or second guessing. Jasper finds Ada beautiful, appealing and enjoys her curves. The book is humorous and witty, with amusing conversations between Ada and Jasper as well as Jasper’s mother, his brother and Ada’s godmothers - who are hilarious. It is a short book but loses nothing in the reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be checking out further books by Nicola Davidson.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Beginnings!
Ada Blair is the daughter of a Clergyman and rather than continuing to be the quiet, under-the-thumb daughter of her father, she decides that to take control of her life and get what she really wants.
Her choice of a partner in her new venture is Jasper Muir, the Duke of Gilroy and he is not interested in marriage but will help her out as long as there is a contract.
Well, the rest is pure magic with the two of them not meaning to fall in love, but falling head-over-heels. No half-measures there!
The story is shortish but is written with so much detail that I didn't mind that at all and what impressed me was that there are no loose ends for Ada and Jasper's tale.
I enjoyed the participation of all the characters - the good and the not too nice as their antics meshed together so well.
This is a story I would be very happy to recommend.

[Ramona Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duke for Hire by Nichola Davidson

Miss Ada Blair is resigned to spinster hood because her clergyman father has chased away all procedures. She's almost 30 years old and decides she wants to have an affair so she'll know what lovemaking is all about. Lord Jasper Muir, Duke of Gilroy is the perfect man for her to have her affair with. Miss Ruth Lacey and Miss Martha Kinloch who live together in perfect harmony, elect to go with her to hire the Duke to be her lover. She hires him for a shilling each time he makes love to her. They sign a very naughty contract. And she loses her virginity. It's a lovely book but if you don't like detailed sexual explanations, you shouldn't read it if they don't bother you, I recommend that you read it...

[Cyn's Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. About to turn 30 and an unpaid servant in her father's house with no hope of marriage, Ada decides her virginity must end. I loved the boldness coupled with vulnerability that Ada displayed while propositioning Jasper, Duke of Gilroy. The respect and forthright nature that this couple had was a joy to read. Jasper learning how to do menial tasks in an effort to take care of Ada was really wonderful, especially since he had no idea why he felt the need to do it. Yeah, I loved Jasper and Ada together, such a great couple.

[Bookgeekinscrubs · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ just for The Grand Cock Plan! Ada’s liberation is a win for all of us! I just love a book with smut that has an excellent Plot!
I dont usually love instalust, cos everything will be in a rush but in this Nicola Davidson did good!
My favourite part is when Jasper was so transfixed with Ava’s Renaissance figure, he was speechless while Ava thought he find her backside too big & dimpled, her thighs too thick. Marvellous i tell you, Marvellous!

[Nicole Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars, this was such a fun, steamy, and sweet historical romance novella where Ada and Jasper set up an affair that's supposed to last for a month but obviously things don't go quite as planned 😌 definitely has the guy obsessed trope who's also like "i just need to get her out of my system" HAHA for sure