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A review by rjordan19
The Worst Duke in London by Amalie Howard
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a little bit – about 8%, or Chapter 3
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, maybe a few months in the future?
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form (though it’s very late)
Why I chose this book: It won our January book of the month for Ton and Tartans FB group and I had an old NetGalley ARC languishing on my kindle...(shame, shame)
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
So, maybe for maximum enjoyment, you would like the series in order. Effie (our heroine here) has some minor page time in the first two books (the hero is not mentioned) and in this story, the friends from prior books do participate as side characters. But overall the romance is very stand alone and it will be fine to pick up out of order.
Basic plot:
Gage can’t turn down the opportunity to be debt free – all he must do is distract and court the Lady Evangeline. That can’t be that difficult, right?
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (I don’t see a year, but book 1 in the series is 1865)
- London countryside setting
- Ten Things I Hate About You retelling
- heroine runs a shelter for lost and starving animals
- hero needs an heiress
- Scottish / English hero
- The Destitute Duke and Lady Ghastly
- size difference – he’s taller
- masked night of fun during ladies’ choice masque – a naughty ton party…
- pugilist hero
- higher steam with a slight slower burn (no action until halfway in!) – 5ish full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 21, hero is 28
First line:
Lady Evangeline Raine adored the country.
My thoughts:
I didn’t realize until after I started this, that I have read the whole series so far! Go me – and this is definitely my favorite one of the series so far.
I will have to rewatch the movie sometime soon and see if I can find more easter eggs in the retelling of it. I love Ten Things I Hate About You so much, but also adore Clueless – and I watched Clueless right before reading book 2 and was a bit disappointed in that rendition so I didn’t want that to happen again.
I thought this story was so good – except for the big secret. This is why I hate secrets. It looms over the story for me and I just fret, waiting for it to rear it’s ugly head. Because of course no one is going to be open about it. No. They are going to find out in the worst way and feel utterly betrayed. And then not listen to each other. But other than that, I really enjoyed this book!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.2
Favorite book: The Wolf of Westmore
Quotes
“Enough, pup,” he said in a low, commanding voice. “Calm down or you’ll land yourself back in the mud. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
Evangline stared as her persnickety pet gave a tiny whine and rolled over onto her back, exposing her mud-covered belly. That little hussy! Though Evangline didn’t blame the dog. At the sound of the duke’s velvet command, she wanted to roll over.
---
Her pale eyes glittered with purpose, and good God, Gage suddenly wanted to bottle some of that passion. How was she even real? She’d been stuck in mud for who knew how long, lost her boots, and still had the wherewithal to smile and think about her bloody strays. He stood and held out a hand, and before she could attempt to stand on her own, he swept her up into his arms.
---
Evengeline startled, her lips parting in invitation, chin tilting up, before she could grasp hold of herself, and he didn’t hesitate as his mouth closed the distance to hers, his tongue sweeping in torture hers with a punishing, velvet swipe that had her mind reeling.
He stank of soot and ash, but beneath it, the taste of him emerged like the most wicked of flavors. Rich, delicious, intoxicating. Heavens, she’d never felt anything like this kiss – the abrasion of his stubble, the sleek slide of his tongue, the scrape of his teeth – all the sensations coalescing into unadulterated need.
As if in agreement, a thick arm banded about her waist and yanked her into his lap, making her sharply aware of every hard inch of his body. And he was hard everywhere. His chest, his legs, his groin. Breath ebbed from her as her core pulsed with desire.
---
“Hardly,” Evangeline muttered. “He’s a nuisance.”
“A sultry-as-all-hell nuisance who’s marching over here like a possessive Viking about to toss you over his shoulder and car you back to his ship for plowing,” Briar said out the side of her mouth. “Or perhaps take you to the ground and have his way with you right here.”
“He’s a Highlander, not a Viking, and no one’s plowing anyone, you hussy,” she bit out, ducking her head to hide her fiery blush. If not for that heated kiss they’d shared, the idea would not be so damned titillating. Or start a wicked rhythm between her legs. Evangeline did not want to be carted or taken. Or plowed.
Did she?
---
She was utterly adorable in her confusion, eyes so wide and blue, they were nearly translucent. “I thought you wanted to go back to Scotland.”
“How could I?” he whispered. “You’re here.”
“Gage.” Her expression was full of uncertainty...and so much hope his heart squeezed.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental abandonment – the heroine’s mother left the family (her husband and two daughters)
- some remembrances of social ruin and bullying of heroine by a man during her season
- remembrance of death/possible murder of hero’s brother
Author content warnings? discussion of animal welfare and off page maltreatment, animals in dangerous on-page situations, abandonment by a parent as well as the death/murder of a family member are mentioned in dialogue. Drug use like morphine and cocaine-laced wine is discussed. Consensual sex agreement and a visit to a sex club. Harlot, trollop, light-skirts used. Intimate scenes described on page. Offensive language is used in the narration as well as in dialogue.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: condoms used
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? Side characters from prior books in the series are pregnant, mention of difficult childbirth for one couple in the epilogue but no on page children or pregnancy for the mains
31% - kiss
47% - kiss
50% - 🔥 mutual masturbation
”Spread your legs,” he bit out. “Touch yourself. Show me how you do it when you’re alone. I’ve thought of nothing else since you said it.”
56% - 🔥 the heroine orgasms from the hero removing her glove?? that soon after turns into a handy for him and fingering for her in a dark alcove
”You are a fucking goddess,” he whispered.
74% - 🔥 oral for her in the carriage, followed not too long after her on top (v loss for both), followed by missionary
“Go and hold the bedpost so I may unlace you,” he rasped.
Had any other whispered command ever sounded so erotic? That rumbling Scottish burr sank into her bones and spread heat “everywhere.”
“Now, Evangeline,” he said when she didn’t move.
Devil take it, the way he said her name – the steel draped in silk – made her embarrassingly wet beneath her skirts. She licked dry lips, feeling his eyes drop there, a hiss escaping him as though he wanted to do debauched things to her mouth. He would. She knew it as well as she knew that she was never going to forget tonight for as long as she lived. Gulping pas the lump in her throat, she moved toward the bedpost and did as he instructed.
“Good girl.”
80% - 🔥 sex against a door
Instead her fingers went to the ties of her cloak.
She let it fall. “I needed to see you.”
Nude, except for her shoes and a pair of black gloves, she cataloged every heartbeat of his reaction, watching him blink in disbelief, those sensuous lips parting on a ragged breath as he took her in, desire flooding those angular cheekbones with a ruddy flush. That telltale muscle flexed to life in his cheek.
93% - 🔥 doggy
Without argument, she complied. “Like so?”
“Yes.” He took hold of himself beneath his kilt, nearly growling at the exquisite sensitivity of his shaft. “Now lift your skirts and show me that lovely arse of yours.”
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a little bit – about 8%, or Chapter 3
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, maybe a few months in the future?
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form (though it’s very late)
Why I chose this book: It won our January book of the month for Ton and Tartans FB group and I had an old NetGalley ARC languishing on my kindle...(shame, shame)
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
So, maybe for maximum enjoyment, you would like the series in order. Effie (our heroine here) has some minor page time in the first two books (the hero is not mentioned) and in this story, the friends from prior books do participate as side characters. But overall the romance is very stand alone and it will be fine to pick up out of order.
Basic plot:
Gage can’t turn down the opportunity to be debt free – all he must do is distract and court the Lady Evangeline. That can’t be that difficult, right?
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (I don’t see a year, but book 1 in the series is 1865)
- London countryside setting
- Ten Things I Hate About You retelling
- heroine runs a shelter for lost and starving animals
- hero needs an heiress
- Scottish / English hero
- The Destitute Duke and Lady Ghastly
- size difference – he’s taller
- masked night of fun during ladies’ choice masque – a naughty ton party…
- pugilist hero
- higher steam with a slight slower burn (no action until halfway in!) – 5ish full scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 21, hero is 28
First line:
Lady Evangeline Raine adored the country.
My thoughts:
I didn’t realize until after I started this, that I have read the whole series so far! Go me – and this is definitely my favorite one of the series so far.
I will have to rewatch the movie sometime soon and see if I can find more easter eggs in the retelling of it. I love Ten Things I Hate About You so much, but also adore Clueless – and I watched Clueless right before reading book 2 and was a bit disappointed in that rendition so I didn’t want that to happen again.
I thought this story was so good – except for the big secret. This is why I hate secrets. It looms over the story for me and I just fret, waiting for it to rear it’s ugly head. Because of course no one is going to be open about it. No. They are going to find out in the worst way and feel utterly betrayed. And then not listen to each other. But other than that, I really enjoyed this book!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 5
Average rating: 4.2
Favorite book: The Wolf of Westmore
Quotes
“Enough, pup,” he said in a low, commanding voice. “Calm down or you’ll land yourself back in the mud. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
Evangline stared as her persnickety pet gave a tiny whine and rolled over onto her back, exposing her mud-covered belly. That little hussy! Though Evangline didn’t blame the dog. At the sound of the duke’s velvet command, she wanted to roll over.
---
Her pale eyes glittered with purpose, and good God, Gage suddenly wanted to bottle some of that passion. How was she even real? She’d been stuck in mud for who knew how long, lost her boots, and still had the wherewithal to smile and think about her bloody strays. He stood and held out a hand, and before she could attempt to stand on her own, he swept her up into his arms.
---
Evengeline startled, her lips parting in invitation, chin tilting up, before she could grasp hold of herself, and he didn’t hesitate as his mouth closed the distance to hers, his tongue sweeping in torture hers with a punishing, velvet swipe that had her mind reeling.
He stank of soot and ash, but beneath it, the taste of him emerged like the most wicked of flavors. Rich, delicious, intoxicating. Heavens, she’d never felt anything like this kiss – the abrasion of his stubble, the sleek slide of his tongue, the scrape of his teeth – all the sensations coalescing into unadulterated need.
As if in agreement, a thick arm banded about her waist and yanked her into his lap, making her sharply aware of every hard inch of his body. And he was hard everywhere. His chest, his legs, his groin. Breath ebbed from her as her core pulsed with desire.
---
“Hardly,” Evangeline muttered. “He’s a nuisance.”
“A sultry-as-all-hell nuisance who’s marching over here like a possessive Viking about to toss you over his shoulder and car you back to his ship for plowing,” Briar said out the side of her mouth. “Or perhaps take you to the ground and have his way with you right here.”
“He’s a Highlander, not a Viking, and no one’s plowing anyone, you hussy,” she bit out, ducking her head to hide her fiery blush. If not for that heated kiss they’d shared, the idea would not be so damned titillating. Or start a wicked rhythm between her legs. Evangeline did not want to be carted or taken. Or plowed.
Did she?
---
She was utterly adorable in her confusion, eyes so wide and blue, they were nearly translucent. “I thought you wanted to go back to Scotland.”
“How could I?” he whispered. “You’re here.”
“Gage.” Her expression was full of uncertainty...and so much hope his heart squeezed.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- parental abandonment – the heroine’s mother left the family (her husband and two daughters)
- some remembrances of social ruin and bullying of heroine by a man during her season
- remembrance of death/possible murder of hero’s brother
Author content warnings?
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
31% - kiss
47% - kiss
50% - 🔥 mutual masturbation
”Spread your legs,” he bit out. “Touch yourself. Show me how you do it when you’re alone. I’ve thought of nothing else since you said it.”
56% - 🔥 the heroine orgasms from the hero removing her glove?? that soon after turns into a handy for him and fingering for her in a dark alcove
”You are a fucking goddess,” he whispered.
74% - 🔥 oral for her in the carriage, followed not too long after her on top (v loss for both), followed by missionary
“Go and hold the bedpost so I may unlace you,” he rasped.
Had any other whispered command ever sounded so erotic? That rumbling Scottish burr sank into her bones and spread heat “everywhere.”
“Now, Evangeline,” he said when she didn’t move.
Devil take it, the way he said her name – the steel draped in silk – made her embarrassingly wet beneath her skirts. She licked dry lips, feeling his eyes drop there, a hiss escaping him as though he wanted to do debauched things to her mouth. He would. She knew it as well as she knew that she was never going to forget tonight for as long as she lived. Gulping pas the lump in her throat, she moved toward the bedpost and did as he instructed.
“Good girl.”
80% - 🔥 sex against a door
Instead her fingers went to the ties of her cloak.
She let it fall. “I needed to see you.”
Nude, except for her shoes and a pair of black gloves, she cataloged every heartbeat of his reaction, watching him blink in disbelief, those sensuous lips parting on a ragged breath as he took her in, desire flooding those angular cheekbones with a ruddy flush. That telltale muscle flexed to life in his cheek.
93% - 🔥 doggy
Without argument, she complied. “Like so?”
“Yes.” He took hold of himself beneath his kilt, nearly growling at the exquisite sensitivity of his shaft. “Now lift your skirts and show me that lovely arse of yours.”