Series & Title: Rebellious Brides, Book 4: The Duke Who Ravished Me
Author: Diana Quincy
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: April 17, 2018
Genre: Historical, Romance
ARC Received From: Loveswept via NetGalley
Reviewed For: Loveswept
An impulsive kiss between a libertine duke and a mysterious governess sparks a blaze of desire--and intrigue--in this breathtaking Regency romance from the award-winning author of Spy Fall.
Adam Fairfax, the Duke of Sunderford, happily enjoys a different woman (or two) every night--or he did, until his wards landed on his doorstep. Ever since Sunny took in the seven-year-old twin girls and their prim and proper governess, Isabel Finch, his love life has been a shambles. But, as time goes by, Sunny catches himself getting lost in Isabel's haughty blue eyes, or following the curves beneath her unbecoming dress. An unexpected kiss ignites a passion that shocks him into realizing how thin the line between love and hate can be.
If Isabel's hidden past were revealed, she could lose everything. Oddly enough, only when "Sinful Sunny" is near does she feel safe--or safe enough to speak up in defense of the girls. The duke's decadent lifestyle is a disgrace, and clearly he considers Isabel a nuisance. Still, she can't help admiring his sculpted cheekbones, strong-cut jaw, and tousled chestnut hair. When their lips meet, it's almost as if he could kiss the secrets right out of her. Worse, she's tempted to let him. . . .
I haven't read any of the other books in this series but I didn't need to to understand the synopsis. Sunny's enjoyment of women is written into the first chapter, as is the mood killer that sets the tone and provoked questions from me I wasn't sure would get answered. Would he change? Would he accept them? Would he continue with his parade of women with the children in the house? Would he change?
For the first half of the book, I feared I would end up staying on the fence about Sunny, waffling between liking and hating him. A man like Sunny didn't seem capable of changing. But, as I understand it, his friends did so why not him?
Perhaps he just needed a reality check, a dose of responsibility, and a woman willing to challenge him to rise to the occasion (no pun intended) instead of shirking his duty in favor of the pursuit of fleshly pleasure.
It wasn't a matter of did he want this because it was obvious he didn't. He was neither pleased nor wholeheartedly welcoming of his wards and their governess when he first met them. His corner-of-the-mouth snide remarks of Isabel swung me more towards hating him. Aside from being different from the women he bedded, she'd done nothing to deserve what he said.
Both Sunny and Isabel's pasts are scattered throughout the story. The truth is harsher than words can accurately describe but I liked that they weren't heavily dwelt on either. Revealing their respective pasts served as a means of getting to know one another better, of understanding why they were the way they were. And they, the characters, made more sense because of this.
The twins are darlings. They were what Sunny needed, dashes of life and sunshine and goodness he himself hadn't experienced before. They were Isabel's rocks, her purpose, her life. They were the catalyst these two adults needed to come together and find a life beyond what they believed they deserved.
The biggest question I wanted answered was would he change? I can say it felt like he did. It was magnificent and amusingly satisfying to watch him fall from his sinful throne to his knees in front of the only woman his heart, soul, mind, and body wanted. And that ending? That twist was well-written and perfectly timed. I certainly didn't see it coming yet it fit right in.
I will wholeheartedly admit that this story may not be to everyone's liking. Sunny is not an easy man to like, and Isabel hides too much in the shadows of her past. But if you hang in there and push through, I believe you'll find the story worth reading. I did and I had major doubts at the beginning I wouldn't.
Diana Quincy is an award-winning former television journalist who decided she'd rather make up stories where a happy ending is always guaranteed.
Fans of Madeline Hunter, Lisa Kleypas and Sabrina Jeffries will love Diana's Regency world of dashing dukes, irresistible rogues and the headstrong, determined women who capture their hearts. New York Times bestselling author Grace Burrowes says SEDUCING CHARLOTTE is "Sweet, steamy, and thoroughly enjoyable...Equal parts action, passion and fun."
Growing up as a foreign service brat, Diana lived in many countries and is now settled in Virginia with her husband and two sons. When not bent over her laptop or trying to keep up with laundry, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and dreams of traveling much more than her current schedule (and budget) allows.
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