Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Avon (2016), 384 pages
Description
James, the scandalously uncivilized Duke of Harland, requires a bride with a spotless reputation for a strictly business arrangement. Lust is prohibited, and love is out of the question. Charlene Beckett, the unacknowledged daughter of an earl and a courtesan, has just been offered a life-altering fortune to pose as her half-sister, Lady Dorothea, and win the duke's proposal. All she must do is: Be the perfect English rose (Ha!)Breathe, smile, and curtsy in impossibly tight gowns (blast Lady Dorothea's sylph-like figure)Charm and seduce a wild duke (without appearing to try)Keep said duke far, far from her heart (no matter how tempting) When secrets are revealed and passion overwhelms, James must decide if the last lady he should want is really everything he needs. And Charlene must decide if the promise of a new life is worth risking everything... including her heart.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheLustyLiterate
4/4.5 Stars | Hot Steam
Tempted by its delightful heroine-in-disguise premise and the mouthwatering prospect of an uncivilized duke, I couldn’t wait to read Lenora Bell’s Avon debut, HOW I WON THE DUKE. And—oh my swooning stars—how I adored it! Brilliant, uproarious, deliciously sensual, and
Worldly, arrogant, untamed, ruggedly sexy, and wickedly delectable, the colossal Duke of Harland branded my heart the instant “His Disgrace” launched daggers at his wall littered with the demure illustrations of marriageable debutantes. Perfectly piratical through and through, James steals every scene he inhabits as he repeatedly and unrepentantly shocks and scandalizes his invited flock of young and bejeweled prospective duchesses and their perpetually huffy and ruffled mamas. It was so much rollicking fun to watch the unkempt duke’s hasty, unorthodox, and hilariously passionless plan supremely backfire the moment he laid his lust-filled eyes on “Lady Dorothea,” aka Charlene.
Already brusque and unhinged prior to her arrival, James’ sudden, acute attraction to Charlene rapidly transforms him into a thunderous, primal beast—barely restrained, frustrated, and starved for her touch. Gratifyingly, as he gets to know her, his heated interest evolves from an inconvenient thorn in his inflamed libido into a full-blown, blinding obsession. James finds himself not only anguished to discover and devour every inch of her succulent curves, he increasingly desires and admires her surprising strength, warmth, nonconformity, and inspiring compassion for those less fortunate. She’s flat-out glorious, and I effortlessly fell in love with her just as James did. They make a riveting pair whose timeless connection and simmering chemistry is enviable, fabulously provocative, and immensely satisfying to read.
I treasured Charlene and James’ winning romance and am now counting down the days until the second Disgraceful Dukes novel, IF I ONLY HAD A DUKE, releases this August. Dorothea and Garrett’s story sounds like my next heavenly escape!
Bottom Line: Lenora Bell’s astonishing debut is not to be missed!
Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Tempted by its delightful heroine-in-disguise premise and the mouthwatering prospect of an uncivilized duke, I couldn’t wait to read Lenora Bell’s Avon debut, HOW I WON THE DUKE. And—oh my swooning stars—how I adored it! Brilliant, uproarious, deliciously sensual, and
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utterly marvelous, I couldn’t put it down! Every sumptuous minute I spent blithely immersed in Charlene and James’ vivacious tale felt like a precious gift. Cannily penned with dazzling wit, artistry, confidence, and command, Lenora Bell’s stellar first novel is a captivating pager-turner that enchants and entertains from its buoyant start to its blissful conclusion.Worldly, arrogant, untamed, ruggedly sexy, and wickedly delectable, the colossal Duke of Harland branded my heart the instant “His Disgrace” launched daggers at his wall littered with the demure illustrations of marriageable debutantes. Perfectly piratical through and through, James steals every scene he inhabits as he repeatedly and unrepentantly shocks and scandalizes his invited flock of young and bejeweled prospective duchesses and their perpetually huffy and ruffled mamas. It was so much rollicking fun to watch the unkempt duke’s hasty, unorthodox, and hilariously passionless plan supremely backfire the moment he laid his lust-filled eyes on “Lady Dorothea,” aka Charlene.
Already brusque and unhinged prior to her arrival, James’ sudden, acute attraction to Charlene rapidly transforms him into a thunderous, primal beast—barely restrained, frustrated, and starved for her touch. Gratifyingly, as he gets to know her, his heated interest evolves from an inconvenient thorn in his inflamed libido into a full-blown, blinding obsession. James finds himself not only anguished to discover and devour every inch of her succulent curves, he increasingly desires and admires her surprising strength, warmth, nonconformity, and inspiring compassion for those less fortunate. She’s flat-out glorious, and I effortlessly fell in love with her just as James did. They make a riveting pair whose timeless connection and simmering chemistry is enviable, fabulously provocative, and immensely satisfying to read.
I treasured Charlene and James’ winning romance and am now counting down the days until the second Disgraceful Dukes novel, IF I ONLY HAD A DUKE, releases this August. Dorothea and Garrett’s story sounds like my next heavenly escape!
Bottom Line: Lenora Bell’s astonishing debut is not to be missed!
Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member bookworm2bookworm
If I had only one word to describe this story it would be "fun". And that's very good for a debut. I thought the above blurb was a perfect peek into the story. It's what attracted me to this new author.
I usually gravitate towards brooding and dark heroes/heroines, so once in a while I'd look for a
This is a first book in a Disgraceful Dukes series and in it we meet James, Duke of Harland, who is in a dire need of a bride. But not just "any" bride. He has a list of her atributes, and there are four ladies that he's about to meet and see which one fits his "bill".
My heart went out to Charlene, our heroine. She is one of those strong and determined women that take on themselves too much. She is stuck between a rock and a hard place. In order to help her family, she accepts an offer to pass herself off as her half-sister Dorothea and trap a Duke in a marriage for that sibling. This wasn't a light decision she made, and I sympathized with her inner battle as she realizes that the price she's to pay for this just might be too high.
I also loved the secondary characters. They all were interesting, entertaining and pure fun. From James's friends to the four women vying for Duke's attention.
I highly recommend this debut and I'm looking forward to the next story If I Only Had a Duke in which the "real" Dorothea gets her happily ever after, and then there's Blame It on the Duke!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publishe
I usually gravitate towards brooding and dark heroes/heroines, so once in a while I'd look for a
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bit of lighthearted fun in my romance and this is just such a story.This is a first book in a Disgraceful Dukes series and in it we meet James, Duke of Harland, who is in a dire need of a bride. But not just "any" bride. He has a list of her atributes, and there are four ladies that he's about to meet and see which one fits his "bill".
My heart went out to Charlene, our heroine. She is one of those strong and determined women that take on themselves too much. She is stuck between a rock and a hard place. In order to help her family, she accepts an offer to pass herself off as her half-sister Dorothea and trap a Duke in a marriage for that sibling. This wasn't a light decision she made, and I sympathized with her inner battle as she realizes that the price she's to pay for this just might be too high.
I also loved the secondary characters. They all were interesting, entertaining and pure fun. From James's friends to the four women vying for Duke's attention.
I highly recommend this debut and I'm looking forward to the next story If I Only Had a Duke in which the "real" Dorothea gets her happily ever after, and then there's Blame It on the Duke!
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publishe
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LibraryThing member ladypembroke
The plot was mildly ridiculous, but the characters more than made up for it. You really rooted for them.
LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts
This is my first from this author and it made me look forward to seeing how her others are. It wasn't perfect but I enjoyed watching their story unfold. There are implausibilities built in, but there are also little details that seemed to ground it, so I didn't mind. This was fun, I laughed fairly
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Language
Original language
English
Physical description
6.75 inches
ISBN
0062397729 / 9780062397720