Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Avon (2008), Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Description
She thought she was the luckiest woman in London . . . Surviving on a seamstress' income and a steady stream of fantasies, Prudence Bosworth has always longed for love and romance. Then she inherits a fortune from the father she's never seen, with the stipulation that she wed in one year. Prudence is determined to marry for true love, and after seeing firsthand the splendid chivalry of a certain duke, only one man will do . . . Rhys de Winter, the Duke of St. Cyres, hides his cynicism behind a quick wit and an even quicker smile. He must marry an heiress, and as luck would have it, the pretty little seamstress-turned-heiress is exactly what he needs. But he never expected to fall for Prudence, and when his shocking deception is revealed, he will stop at nothing to win her back . . . even if it means renouncing every last one of his wicked ways.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member aromagik
Half way through & he's still a jerk & she's a ninny. Pass.
LibraryThing member theshadowknows
The Wicked Ways of a Duke returns to familiar territory for Guhrke - at least for a long while it seemed a lot like The Marriage Bed to me - only here we get to see the whole sad story of betrayed love and lost innocence enacted before our very eyes, rather than having it considered in retrospect
The first half of the book - the wooing part - was kind of like watching a train wreck for me. One part fascinating, two parts horrible - not out of any moral sensibilities outraged by the hero's blatantly devious machinations. He's very good at playing the poor girl. He’s a consummate actor and crafty plotter, so I was more impressed by his evil skills than scandalized. It also helps that, even though he manipulates Prudence with more deliberate, elaborate intent than John from The Marriage Bed, Rhys is also a lot more accessible and human than John, and I can tell from the start that his fall is inevitable, if not imminent. And a hard one it will be too. (With John, such comeuppance is a big question mark. But why am I rattling on about John and The Marriage Bed… back to the review.) Of course there are also hints at Rhys’ tortured past to tug at my heartstrings and make me appreciate the act he puts on, not only for Prudence, but for everyone, including himself, so that he can keep the past and its dark secrets at bay.
So it’s established I like Rhys. Too bad I can’t say the same about Prudence. Blech. With regards to Rhys’ wooing of said milquetoast, really where's the fun in victory over such an easy target? For most of the book Prudence is such a push over, a Mary Sue goody two shoes doormat mooning over her white night and so so happy that she's found twue wuve. She's gullible and silly and i just wanted to shake some sense into her, she so got on my nerves. And at the same time I felt sorry for her, that she's so naïve. Is she really supposed to be 28?? Add in her bland personality (in a nutshell, she's "sweet," that's it) and she's completely outmatched, intellectually and in terms of maturity, by a hero who is also very charming, debonair, and oh so wickedly witty. The fallen angel type. Usually that description is used far too liberally throughout romance novels, but here it suits Rhys, particularly since his well hidden/smothered romantic side is so believable. Even while he's busy with all his scheming, you can tell that Rhys is falling for Prudence, if only because she is the epitome of goodness and innocence, sweetness and decency, an ideal that has been completely lacking from his own life.
Then, on page 250 the book does a complete 180, switches gears, and knocks me off my feet. I'm reading a different book, not what I thought I was reading. It becomes more than a boring, one-sided farce of a romance and starts to shine. How could this have happened? Well, I got a better idea of why Rhys is so tortured, and it's enough of a reason, and handled sensitively enough to make him more than your average rake. (Maybe his big secret was obvious, but I didn’t completely catch on till this point.) It also helped me understand why he would be paired with a heroine like Prudence, why she appeals to him, why she's even perfect for him, maybe. She's still annoying, still cloyingly sweet, still just a prop for the emotional upheaval and healing undergone by Rhys, but for a long while now, the book has been all about Rhys for me, so I don't mind, even if it makes for an unbalanced story and romance.
But the book barely rises above the morass of mediocrity before, about 50 pages later, it slips back in, overcome by its tired plot. We have a train wreck with which to proceed, after all, re: their love is based on lies and the truth will out. Through a fortuitous circumstance that’s as awkward as can be, Prudence finds out about Rhys’ duplicitous courtship, and then oh the screaming, the melodrama, the pain and horror, the lies lies lies! By now I am sick of the book, and I'm just slogging through because I've made it this far so I might as well finish. In past books I've read, Guhrke has done some nice turn abouts for heroines who wake up to their pathetic state, grab life by the horns, and change themselves for the better, making the hero come to heel, so to speak, in the process. But here I could care less for Prudence's half assed, belated efforts to grow a backbone and brains. It's too late in the game for her "awakening" to be remotely believable or meaningful, and it's not like she's not going to take him back anyway. Not to mention it's just as much her fault that Rhys got up on that pedestal in the first place. It seemed like each of them fell in love with impossible ideals. However, the reality beyond their rose colored glasses is never explored once everything is out in the open, so I, in turn, can’t believe in their happily ever after.
Nor did I like the fundamental premise that brings Prudence and Rhys together: her miraculous inheritance, which of course comes with stipulations in the will that dictate the plot. It seemed contrived to begin with, (even though Guhrke tries to play around with it a little in the end) and the issue of money was never more than superficially addressed - the cursory (albeit dire) warnings not to let money change her for the worse are really unnecessary because there's no danger of Prudence being anything other than a "sweet," innocent child.
I'm so disappointed because for a moment things were looking up for The Wicked Ways of Duke. But it's far too brief a moment to salvage the pages of mush that came before, or the mundane, slap dash resolution that came after. 3 stars, but only for the readable prose. I really am a sucker for how Guhrke writes, and I'll be reading the next in this series, ever hopeful.
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as the characters recover from the lies ten years down the road in an attempt at reconciliation. In effect, Rhys de Winter, the Duke of St. Cyres, impoverished and debt-ridden, pursues Prudence Bosworth, a former working girl turned million dollar heiress. He takes advantage of her and encourages her love, all the while keeping his own heart inviolate. A right sneaky bastard, no? The first half of the book - the wooing part - was kind of like watching a train wreck for me. One part fascinating, two parts horrible - not out of any moral sensibilities outraged by the hero's blatantly devious machinations. He's very good at playing the poor girl. He’s a consummate actor and crafty plotter, so I was more impressed by his evil skills than scandalized. It also helps that, even though he manipulates Prudence with more deliberate, elaborate intent than John from The Marriage Bed, Rhys is also a lot more accessible and human than John, and I can tell from the start that his fall is inevitable, if not imminent. And a hard one it will be too. (With John, such comeuppance is a big question mark. But why am I rattling on about John and The Marriage Bed… back to the review.) Of course there are also hints at Rhys’ tortured past to tug at my heartstrings and make me appreciate the act he puts on, not only for Prudence, but for everyone, including himself, so that he can keep the past and its dark secrets at bay.
So it’s established I like Rhys. Too bad I can’t say the same about Prudence. Blech. With regards to Rhys’ wooing of said milquetoast, really where's the fun in victory over such an easy target? For most of the book Prudence is such a push over, a Mary Sue goody two shoes doormat mooning over her white night and so so happy that she's found twue wuve. She's gullible and silly and i just wanted to shake some sense into her, she so got on my nerves. And at the same time I felt sorry for her, that she's so naïve. Is she really supposed to be 28?? Add in her bland personality (in a nutshell, she's "sweet," that's it) and she's completely outmatched, intellectually and in terms of maturity, by a hero who is also very charming, debonair, and oh so wickedly witty. The fallen angel type. Usually that description is used far too liberally throughout romance novels, but here it suits Rhys, particularly since his well hidden/smothered romantic side is so believable. Even while he's busy with all his scheming, you can tell that Rhys is falling for Prudence, if only because she is the epitome of goodness and innocence, sweetness and decency, an ideal that has been completely lacking from his own life.
Then, on page 250 the book does a complete 180, switches gears, and knocks me off my feet. I'm reading a different book, not what I thought I was reading. It becomes more than a boring, one-sided farce of a romance and starts to shine. How could this have happened? Well, I got a better idea of why Rhys is so tortured, and it's enough of a reason, and handled sensitively enough to make him more than your average rake. (Maybe his big secret was obvious, but I didn’t completely catch on till this point.) It also helped me understand why he would be paired with a heroine like Prudence, why she appeals to him, why she's even perfect for him, maybe. She's still annoying, still cloyingly sweet, still just a prop for the emotional upheaval and healing undergone by Rhys, but for a long while now, the book has been all about Rhys for me, so I don't mind, even if it makes for an unbalanced story and romance.
But the book barely rises above the morass of mediocrity before, about 50 pages later, it slips back in, overcome by its tired plot. We have a train wreck with which to proceed, after all, re: their love is based on lies and the truth will out. Through a fortuitous circumstance that’s as awkward as can be, Prudence finds out about Rhys’ duplicitous courtship, and then oh the screaming, the melodrama, the pain and horror, the lies lies lies! By now I am sick of the book, and I'm just slogging through because I've made it this far so I might as well finish. In past books I've read, Guhrke has done some nice turn abouts for heroines who wake up to their pathetic state, grab life by the horns, and change themselves for the better, making the hero come to heel, so to speak, in the process. But here I could care less for Prudence's half assed, belated efforts to grow a backbone and brains. It's too late in the game for her "awakening" to be remotely believable or meaningful, and it's not like she's not going to take him back anyway. Not to mention it's just as much her fault that Rhys got up on that pedestal in the first place. It seemed like each of them fell in love with impossible ideals. However, the reality beyond their rose colored glasses is never explored once everything is out in the open, so I, in turn, can’t believe in their happily ever after.
Nor did I like the fundamental premise that brings Prudence and Rhys together: her miraculous inheritance, which of course comes with stipulations in the will that dictate the plot. It seemed contrived to begin with, (even though Guhrke tries to play around with it a little in the end) and the issue of money was never more than superficially addressed - the cursory (albeit dire) warnings not to let money change her for the worse are really unnecessary because there's no danger of Prudence being anything other than a "sweet," innocent child.
I'm so disappointed because for a moment things were looking up for The Wicked Ways of Duke. But it's far too brief a moment to salvage the pages of mush that came before, or the mundane, slap dash resolution that came after. 3 stars, but only for the readable prose. I really am a sucker for how Guhrke writes, and I'll be reading the next in this series, ever hopeful.
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LibraryThing member Shy
The heroine, Prudence, comes into an inheritance from the father she never knew. Going from struggling seamstress to a very wealthy heiress, but with certain stipulations that need to be met or the money is passed off to others. She must marry within a year and to a man the trustees approve of. So
Enters the Duke, Rhys needs to find an heiress fast, for after inheriting the Dukedom he also inherited even more debts. But Rhys is a cynic who unlike Prudence doesn’t believe in marrying for love; all he needs is wealthy wife. Also Rhys did not have a happy filled childhood, but I won’t go into that, and even though it haunts him, it’s really only discussed in detail once and quick at that.
Rhys and Prudence meet early on in the book, she as a seamstress, and him on the hunt for his next duchess. Lucky for him he came off as a gallant in Prudence’s eyes and again later that night, a true hero, which Rhys uses to his advantage later on.
Prudence was a strong heroine, except for her naivety, which I admit was annoying at times. Rhys manipulated her pretty good, and ends up falling in love with her, but alas he realizes too late and she doesn’t believe him.
The only real complaint is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, but the epilogue had a funny surprise. Also it might have to do with the series if you want to call it that, but if you’ve read And Then He Kissed Her you might notice that both Emma and Prudence are propose too in the same room, and there was something else that struck me as very similar scene wise, but I can’t remember what it was. I would recommend this, I read it in four hours.
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her neglectful aunt and uncle enter the scene only all too eager to give Prudence (who is no youngling, thank goodness) the best, bought with her money of course. Enters the Duke, Rhys needs to find an heiress fast, for after inheriting the Dukedom he also inherited even more debts. But Rhys is a cynic who unlike Prudence doesn’t believe in marrying for love; all he needs is wealthy wife. Also Rhys did not have a happy filled childhood, but I won’t go into that, and even though it haunts him, it’s really only discussed in detail once and quick at that.
Rhys and Prudence meet early on in the book, she as a seamstress, and him on the hunt for his next duchess. Lucky for him he came off as a gallant in Prudence’s eyes and again later that night, a true hero, which Rhys uses to his advantage later on.
Prudence was a strong heroine, except for her naivety, which I admit was annoying at times. Rhys manipulated her pretty good, and ends up falling in love with her, but alas he realizes too late and she doesn’t believe him.
The only real complaint is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, but the epilogue had a funny surprise. Also it might have to do with the series if you want to call it that, but if you’ve read And Then He Kissed Her you might notice that both Emma and Prudence are propose too in the same room, and there was something else that struck me as very similar scene wise, but I can’t remember what it was. I would recommend this, I read it in four hours.
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LibraryThing member aromagik
Half way through & he's still a jerk & she's a ninny. Pass.
LibraryThing member aromagik
Half way through & he's still a jerk & she's a ninny. Pass.
LibraryThing member cranberrytarts
I had some issues - namely that the heroine had major self-image issues and the author kept referring to her as "plump" when she was described as anything but, and also the hero was a complete ass for the first 1/2-3/4 of the book.
However, the author really turned it around for me. I was surprised
However, the author really turned it around for me. I was surprised
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at how much I enjoyed both characters at the end, and how glad I was to see them fall in love. I almost put the book down because of my frustrations, but I'm glad I finished it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
The Wicked Ways of a Duke
1 Star
This is one of my very rare one-star reviews and it all comes down to the hero. There is absolutely nothing appealing about him, and as such, the romance falls completely flat.
Rhys de Winter, Duke of Cyres, is financially and morally bankrupt. In addition to being
The previous book in this series is excellent, but this one is truly awful.
1 Star
This is one of my very rare one-star reviews and it all comes down to the hero. There is absolutely nothing appealing about him, and as such, the romance falls completely flat.
Rhys de Winter, Duke of Cyres, is financially and morally bankrupt. In addition to being
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self-absorbed, elitist, and lazy, he is also a liar, a cheat, and a thief. It is completely anathema to me how the heroine, Prudence Bosworth, could possibly entertain the notion of forgiving him, and the fact that she does makes her stupid and pathetic. The previous book in this series is excellent, but this one is truly awful.
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Awards
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (Winner — 2008)
Language
Original publication date
2007-12-27
Physical description
384 p.; 4.19 inches
ISBN
0061143618 / 9780061143618
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