Escaping the Duke by Melanie Rose Clarke
Publisher & Release: Dragonblade Publishing, June 17, 2021
Setting: Regency England
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 269 Pages
Heat Level: 1 Flame
Rating: 4 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
Ignore powerful dukes who sabotage your plans.
Welcome to book 1 in the debut series The Secret Crusaders from the talented Melanie Rose Clarke!
Priscilla Livingston has dedicated her life to social causes, fighting to right the cruel injustices the world ignores. Under the guise of a lord, she sends messages to Edmund Hawkins, the powerful Duke of Bradenton. He doesn’t know his informant is a lady, even as he investigates to uncover her identity. When her father demands she find a husband, she cannot choose Edmund, who would demand total surrender.
But when he catches her spying, she may not have a choice.
Edmund is intrigued by the beautiful lady caught snooping through a dangerous lord’s home. Lady Priscilla may act the perfect duke’s daughter, but fiery mystery burns beneath the flawless façade. He sees the passion she cannot hide, the spirited woman who would make the perfect duchess. He will discover her every secret.
Then he will make her his.
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Escaping-Duke-Secret-Crusaders-Book-ebook/dp/B094WYQ55K
Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Add to Goodreads & BookBub:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58080197-escaping-the-duke
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/escaping-the-duke-the-secret-crusaders-book-1-by-melanie-rose-clarke
Excerpt:
“What a gracious honor, Your Grace. How I wish I could say yes, but all my dances are taken.”
Instead of disappointment, challenge lit his eyes. Focused. Unrelenting. Unstoppable.
“You appear to have several spots remaining.” He pointed to her card, which was hanging at an angle to reveal empty lines.
“I left those blank on purpose. I have something to do.”
“I see. If you don’t mind my asking, what do you have planned?”
Investigating. “I get a little tired after dancing and need a rest.” She batted her eyelashes. “Besides shopping, resting is my favorite thing to do.”
The duke’s eyes lit again. The schemes that worked so well with other men had little effect on the clever lord.
“That something you have to do is dance with the duke who was gracious enough to ask.” Her mother snatched the card off her wrist, her lips stretched in a smile so wide, it looked as if her face might crack. She handed the card to the duke. “Take as many dances as you would like, Your Grace.”
Priscilla fought not to grab the card back. Of course as a gentleman, he would just hand it back to her–
He scribbled his name across two lines.
Vikki’s Musings
Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Escaping the Duke by Melanie Rose Clarke. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this Regency romance prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.
Escaping the Duke is a well written debut novel with engaging characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing is good and kept me involved from the first page to the last. I enjoyed the light banter between the characters a great deal.
Priscilla, daughter to a duke, is a quirky woman determined to right the wrongs that plague the poor of London. She forms a sewing group, but the topic discussed have nothing to do with needlework. While she’s a bit of a do-good type, she has plenty of backbone and is not afraid to speak her mind.
Edmund, Duke of Bradenton, has all the qualities I enjoy most in a hero. He too, wants to help the downtrodden by backing bills that will make their lives easier. While he could easily come across as too good to be true, he has such a charming side, it makes up for that.
As a couple, Priscilla and Edmund are ideal for each other, and I could see them having a convivial union. While the romance is a slow burn and based on mutual interests instead of blinding passion, I enjoyed their love story. I’m all for keeping one’s card tight to one’s chest, but I did get a bit frustrated with her big secret. That went on too long, and I would have liked a less abrupt ending. It felt rushed to me.
If you enjoy traditional Regency romances with enchanting characters and a lovely plot, then you will love Escaping the Duke as much as I did. I’m amazing by the talent and potential Ms. Clarke shows in this delightful novel. Happy reading!
Author Bio:
Melanie Rose Clarke has wanted to be a writer since she was a little girl. Sixteen years ago, she married her own hero, and now she creates compelling stories with strong heroines, powerful males and, of course, happily every afters. She writes historical (regency) romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense and women's fiction.
Melanie is a three-time Golden Heart® finalist. Her manuscripts have earned numerous awards in writing competitions, including several first-place showings. With over two decades of professional writing experience, Melanie has written thousands of pieces for businesses and individual clients. She has worked in advertising and marketing, and her freelance articles on the web have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
She writes amidst her five beautiful children, her dream come true. Besides writing, she loves to read, exercise and spend time outdoors. She is a member of Mensa.
Social Media:
Website: https://melanieroseclarke.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MelanieRoseClarke
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MelanieS_Clarke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanieroseclarke/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/melanie-rose-clarke
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21196556.Melanie_Rose_Clarke
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