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A review by rjordan19
To Ensnare a Duke by Vivian Murdoch
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- 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: A touch
Perspective: first person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: Fairly soon in, about 7% or so (chapter 3)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the couple
Epilogue: Yes, but it’s not about the main couple – it’s more of a lead in (prologue) to the next couple
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format (thank you!!!) I am just really late in writing my review...
Turning toward Augusta, I beam down at the woman who has connived to leg-shackle me. “She has agreed, though she has no choice. Her heart and mine are of one accord.” Dipping my head lower, I continue where only she can hear me. “I hope you are well aware of what you're doing, you little minx. You wanted me so desperately, and now you have me. Every. Depraved. Inch.”
Should I read in order?
You could, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Each book is very focused on that couple. There is some minor page time with other characters from the series. If you’d like to read in order, start with The Duke’s Christmas Rejection, but know it ends on a cliffhanger and their HEA hasn’t been written as of yet. (If that bothers you, start with The Duke’s Unwilling Bride, which is book 1)
Basic plot:
Augusta is drawn to Benedict, but also can’t help fighting him on everything he demands.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period
- brother’s best friend
- brat
- omegaverse elements (a society system of alphas, betas, omegas, heat cycles, mating bites and knotting…)
- slow burn!
- heroine dressed as a lad (brief)
- bet (while playing cards)
- compromised heroine
- musician hero – he plays the piano passionately
- lightest feeling of taboo/forbidden love – the hero is like an older brother to the heroine and calls her ‘little sister’
- kinks include brat/punishment dynamics, figging, spanking, praise, edging, knife play including marking
- higher steam – 6ish full scenes plus other partials/punishment scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 18, I didn't see hero mentioned but I think it's just a bit older than the heroine. I would guess maybe mid 20s
First lines:
Alone. That’s where I find myself at The Rose and Thorne on such a desolate evening.
My thoughts:
Things I’ve been absolutely loving about Murdoch’s writing in this series:
- it’s angsty!
- it’s character driven!
- I like that she can steamy yet also feel like a slow burn (gives such great tension)
- lots from the hero’s POV
- her intimate scenes take time – they are detailed and emotional and also explicit at the same time
I’ve had an awakening recently and it’s that brat is MY THING. I just love brat elements – love love love. And I haven’t really come across is in historical romance so I was super excited to see this at play here. This book had a lot of things going for it that I like (many listed above) – I really loved the slower bun of this one. Lots of great tension building – maybe a bit TOO much as I wanted more by the end of the book 😆 I do think that is a minor complaint about this one. The hero seemed really upset with the heroine’s behavior and hadn’t really ‘accepted’ it enough for me by the end of the book, so his turn around and the HEA felt a bit too soon. I wanted to see him solidify in his acceptance of how she behaves by the end – he was feeling so uncertain about their relationship most of the book.
Overall though this is probably my second favorite of the series. There’s something about book 1 that I think I still loved just a touch more, (I think they are both compromised heroine though??? which is a fave for me) I’ll have to reread it sometime and assess. But still loving this series!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4.88 stars (what can I say, I love her dark angst!)
Favorite book: The Duke’s Unwilling Bride but this was a close second!
Quotes
Mmm
Still though, his light brown eyes settle on me, and for a moment, I find myself robbed of air. Even though I place my hand against my chest, I cannot will breath to fill my lungs. What in the all the heavens is wrong with me? The man has the nerve to smirk as he runs his thumb along his bottom lip.
----
As he gets ready to punish…
Eventually, he stands up straight. I crane my neck to watch him loosen his cravat and pull it from his shirt. With that one motion, everything in me clenches. I don’t understand it, and yet, it makes me crave him all the more.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of parental loss and grief
- fire of a bawdy house on page
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: No
Hows the consent? It’s overall good – there’s some darker elements here, but both are wanting the sex acts – the hero is definitely controlling and pushy about bedroom things.
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!) I don’t believe it’s discussed?
11% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure (interrupted) but then she continues
Almost there. Tears spark behind my eyelids as everything clenches. So close. So very, very close.
28% - 🔥 spanking (punishment for being out on the unsafe streets) that ends with a hero self pleasuring after she’s gone
Still though, it can’t hurt to imagine her kneeling in front of me, her eyes sparkling as I teach her how to take me in her mouth.
40% - 🔥punishment scene – heroine in the corner, then figging, spanking, heroine self pleasure in front of the hero
“Good girl,” he groans as he slips one of his hands into his lap. “Release for me. Let me see your pleasure.”
55% - gagging of heroine while hero straddles her face down on the bed and confronts her about her behavior, then anal play, followed a bit later by introduction of anal dilators (this whole time he forbids her to come)
“You will hear me now, Augusta. Only good girls get pleasure from my hands, my mouth, and my cock upon their lovely quims. Have you been a good girl?”
67% - 🔥 heroine is blindfolded, anal play, heroine self pleasure with hero stopping her (edging), while he self pleasures
“You’re doing so good for me,” he groans softly, his hot breath washing over my clit. “God, but I cannot wait to taste you. I bet you are just as divine as I imagine. Now stroke yourself. Touch your slickened flesh so that I may lap it off your fingertips.”
80% - 🔥 light fingering, spanking, anal, fingering for her
“When will you ever know your place,” he finally roars.
For a moment, very real fear slithers through my veins as he leans forward, his eyes wild, and his demeanor unhinged.
“My place. And where exactly is my place?”
“Under me.” Those two words spoken on a soft growl do more to me than I dare let on.
90% - there are some scenes of the hero jerking off while the heroine is sleeping and leaving a semen present on her bed 😂
97% - 🔥 knife play and bondage, missionary, mating bite
I don’t stop. I can’t stop. Each thrust becomes erratic as I force myself past the tight ring of her entrance. Once I’m fully seated, I sink my teeth into her delicate skin.
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: first person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: Fairly soon in, about 7% or so (chapter 3)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the couple
Epilogue: Yes, but it’s not about the main couple – it’s more of a lead in (prologue) to the next couple
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format (thank you!!!) I am just really late in writing my review...
Turning toward Augusta, I beam down at the woman who has connived to leg-shackle me. “She has agreed, though she has no choice. Her heart and mine are of one accord.” Dipping my head lower, I continue where only she can hear me. “I hope you are well aware of what you're doing, you little minx. You wanted me so desperately, and now you have me. Every. Depraved. Inch.”
Should I read in order?
You could, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Each book is very focused on that couple. There is some minor page time with other characters from the series. If you’d like to read in order, start with The Duke’s Christmas Rejection, but know it ends on a cliffhanger and their HEA hasn’t been written as of yet. (If that bothers you, start with The Duke’s Unwilling Bride, which is book 1)
Basic plot:
Augusta is drawn to Benedict, but also can’t help fighting him on everything he demands.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period
- brother’s best friend
- brat
- omegaverse elements (a society system of alphas, betas, omegas, heat cycles, mating bites and knotting…)
- slow burn!
- heroine dressed as a lad (brief)
- bet (while playing cards)
- compromised heroine
- musician hero – he plays the piano passionately
- lightest feeling of taboo/forbidden love – the hero is like an older brother to the heroine and calls her ‘little sister’
- kinks include brat/punishment dynamics, figging, spanking, praise, edging, knife play including marking
- higher steam – 6ish full scenes plus other partials/punishment scenes
Ages:
- heroine is 18, I didn't see hero mentioned but I think it's just a bit older than the heroine. I would guess maybe mid 20s
First lines:
Alone. That’s where I find myself at The Rose and Thorne on such a desolate evening.
My thoughts:
Things I’ve been absolutely loving about Murdoch’s writing in this series:
- it’s angsty!
- it’s character driven!
- I like that she can steamy yet also feel like a slow burn (gives such great tension)
- lots from the hero’s POV
- her intimate scenes take time – they are detailed and emotional and also explicit at the same time
I’ve had an awakening recently and it’s that brat is MY THING. I just love brat elements – love love love. And I haven’t really come across is in historical romance so I was super excited to see this at play here. This book had a lot of things going for it that I like (many listed above) – I really loved the slower bun of this one. Lots of great tension building – maybe a bit TOO much as I wanted more by the end of the book 😆 I do think that is a minor complaint about this one. The hero seemed really upset with the heroine’s behavior and hadn’t really ‘accepted’ it enough for me by the end of the book, so his turn around and the HEA felt a bit too soon. I wanted to see him solidify in his acceptance of how she behaves by the end – he was feeling so uncertain about their relationship most of the book.
Overall though this is probably my second favorite of the series. There’s something about book 1 that I think I still loved just a touch more, (I think they are both compromised heroine though??? which is a fave for me) I’ll have to reread it sometime and assess. But still loving this series!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 7
Average rating: 4.88 stars (what can I say, I love her dark angst!)
Favorite book: The Duke’s Unwilling Bride but this was a close second!
Quotes
Mmm
Still though, his light brown eyes settle on me, and for a moment, I find myself robbed of air. Even though I place my hand against my chest, I cannot will breath to fill my lungs. What in the all the heavens is wrong with me? The man has the nerve to smirk as he runs his thumb along his bottom lip.
----
As he gets ready to punish…
Eventually, he stands up straight. I crane my neck to watch him loosen his cravat and pull it from his shirt. With that one motion, everything in me clenches. I don’t understand it, and yet, it makes me crave him all the more.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of parental loss and grief
- fire of a bawdy house on page
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
Hows the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!)
11% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure (interrupted) but then she continues
Almost there. Tears spark behind my eyelids as everything clenches. So close. So very, very close.
28% - 🔥 spanking (punishment for being out on the unsafe streets) that ends with a hero self pleasuring after she’s gone
Still though, it can’t hurt to imagine her kneeling in front of me, her eyes sparkling as I teach her how to take me in her mouth.
40% - 🔥punishment scene – heroine in the corner, then figging, spanking, heroine self pleasure in front of the hero
“Good girl,” he groans as he slips one of his hands into his lap. “Release for me. Let me see your pleasure.”
55% - gagging of heroine while hero straddles her face down on the bed and confronts her about her behavior, then anal play, followed a bit later by introduction of anal dilators (this whole time he forbids her to come)
“You will hear me now, Augusta. Only good girls get pleasure from my hands, my mouth, and my cock upon their lovely quims. Have you been a good girl?”
67% - 🔥 heroine is blindfolded, anal play, heroine self pleasure with hero stopping her (edging), while he self pleasures
“You’re doing so good for me,” he groans softly, his hot breath washing over my clit. “God, but I cannot wait to taste you. I bet you are just as divine as I imagine. Now stroke yourself. Touch your slickened flesh so that I may lap it off your fingertips.”
80% - 🔥 light fingering, spanking, anal, fingering for her
“When will you ever know your place,” he finally roars.
For a moment, very real fear slithers through my veins as he leans forward, his eyes wild, and his demeanor unhinged.
“My place. And where exactly is my place?”
“Under me.” Those two words spoken on a soft growl do more to me than I dare let on.
90% - there are some scenes of the hero jerking off while the heroine is sleeping and leaving a semen present on her bed 😂
97% - 🔥 knife play and bondage, missionary, mating bite
I don’t stop. I can’t stop. Each thrust becomes erratic as I force myself past the tight ring of her entrance. Once I’m fully seated, I sink my teeth into her delicate skin.