Why Dukes Say I Do
Manda Collins
St. Martin’s, Jul 30 2013, $7.99
ISBN: 9781250023834
The Duke of Ormonde holds a knife to the throat of his wife Perdita while her sister Lady Isabella Wharton and their friend army Widow Georgina Mowbray try to talk him out of killing his spouse. Having survived the torment of an abusive spouse, Isabella muses that once she hoped her younger sibling’s marriage would be different; but instead proved the same brutality as hers. Mowbray shoots the enraged duke who also falls on his knife dead.
One year later Isabella’s godmother blackmails her into leaving London to coax her grandson the new Duke of Ormonde to end his rustication and do his duty in town. Knowing the scandal would ruin her loved ones and herself, Isabella travels to Yorkshire where she expects to meet a country bumpkin version of her late husband and late brother-in-law. Instead, Trevor Carey enjoys his life managing his estate and caring for his family and his contented tenants. Still Isabella persuades him to visit his grandmother. As they travel together, accidents pile up and notes threaten his companion. When they are caught together in a compromising position, they become engaged, but first must deal with the unknown adversary(s) as danger mounts with each incident.
The key to this strong historical romance is Lady Isabella as she slowly changes from keeping her distance to opening up her heart (starting with his sisters). Fast-paced with a strong mystery enhancing a wonderful romance, readers will appreciate this taut timely thriller as women have no rights unless bestowed by a man.
Harriet Klausner
Manda Collins
St. Martin’s, Jul 30 2013, $7.99
ISBN: 9781250023834
The Duke of Ormonde holds a knife to the throat of his wife Perdita while her sister Lady Isabella Wharton and their friend army Widow Georgina Mowbray try to talk him out of killing his spouse. Having survived the torment of an abusive spouse, Isabella muses that once she hoped her younger sibling’s marriage would be different; but instead proved the same brutality as hers. Mowbray shoots the enraged duke who also falls on his knife dead.
One year later Isabella’s godmother blackmails her into leaving London to coax her grandson the new Duke of Ormonde to end his rustication and do his duty in town. Knowing the scandal would ruin her loved ones and herself, Isabella travels to Yorkshire where she expects to meet a country bumpkin version of her late husband and late brother-in-law. Instead, Trevor Carey enjoys his life managing his estate and caring for his family and his contented tenants. Still Isabella persuades him to visit his grandmother. As they travel together, accidents pile up and notes threaten his companion. When they are caught together in a compromising position, they become engaged, but first must deal with the unknown adversary(s) as danger mounts with each incident.
The key to this strong historical romance is Lady Isabella as she slowly changes from keeping her distance to opening up her heart (starting with his sisters). Fast-paced with a strong mystery enhancing a wonderful romance, readers will appreciate this taut timely thriller as women have no rights unless bestowed by a man.
Harriet Klausner
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