Customer Reviews

To Deceive a Duke (Mills & Boon Historical Romance)

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Before starting this book, I would recommend reading the first in the series, To Catch A Rogue. I started this one first after reading the synopsis of both and thought this sounded like the more interesting of the two. Immediately after I started, finding that the basis for Edward and Clio's relationship is set up in the previous novel, I felt as though I was missing something. I stopped this book and read the other and then came back to this one. My instinct was right for my preferences; I prefer this relationship more than the one between Calliope and Cameron and found myself hanging on to the brief encounters between Clio and Edward in the previous novel. But I recommend reading To Catch A Rogue first as you better feel the intensity of Clio and Edward's relationship from the start.

All in all, it's what I expect from this genre. The writing style is good, the plot is intriguing. I like the fact that it's not set in England during "The Season" as that seems to get played out a little. For those who are fans of Austen, especially Pride & Prejudice, don't be surprised to seem some glaring references to Austen's work. I've noticed several unmistakable "steals" from Austen's novels in the two McCabe books I've read so far. I've enjoyed her work, however. She seems to add a little more imagination than your average Regency period romance. I do recommend it. It's been a good time killer.

This entertaining if grossly implausible Regency romance follows on from To Catch a Rogue (Historical Romance) and is the second in a series of stories about the four "Chase Muses" - the four daughters of Sir Walter Chase, eminent scholar and archaologist, all of whom are named after classical Greek muses.

The four sisters are:

1) Calliope ("To catch a Rogue")
2) Clio (This book)
3) Thalia
4) Terpsichore (known as Cory and still a child at the time of the first two books)

The first novel in the series told the story of the eldest sister, Calliope, and her romance with Cameron, Lord Westwood. At that stage, the second sister, Clio, had become so angry with those collectors who were looting historic antiquities from their natural settings that she became "The Lily Thief" who stole them back, working with an Italian nobleman, Marco Count di Fabrizzi, to return them to their proper settings.

Clio's career as the "Lily Thief" came to an end after she was caught by Edward Radcliffe, Duke of Alverton who she (wrongly) suspected of stealing artworks, and in the process knocked him out by toppling a marble statue on top of him. This event from the previous book is revisited in the prologue of this one.

The story continues six months later in Sicily. Calliope is on her homeymoon as the new Countess Westwood, while the rest of the Chase family are on an extended trip to the island where Sir Walter is excavating the ruins of an ancient villa from Greek or Roman times and Clio is excavating those of a nearby farmhouse.

And who should turn up but first Marco, and then Edward, Duke of Alverton? Clio soon realises that something suspect is going on: but is the Duke one of the villains, or is he the person who is trying to catch them?

Clio finds him to be almost two people in one body: sometimes he is "the Duke," the most arrogant human being on the planet, who drives her into a rage, and at other times he is "Edward" whose company she greatly enjoys - so much that she has difficulty behaving like a proper young lady ...

Some serious problems on the credibility front - many of the characters have very modern attitudes to antiquities, for instance, which were unheard of in the Regency period. But this is a very entertaining novel, and I can recommend it if not taken too seriously.

Amanda McCabe delivers another solid, entertaining read that follows the adventuring-loving Chase sisters in the sun-soaked Italian countryside in their pursuit of ancient ruins.

To Deceive a Duke seamlessly picks up where To Catch a Rogue left off. Rogue was the story of the oldest Chase - Calliope (Cali) that also introduced her younger sisters Clio, Thalia and Cory - a.k.a. the Chase Muses - a family of educated, aristocratic young women dedicated to the antiquities and addicted to adventure.

Readers join the fiercely independent Chase women; Clio and younger sister Thalia accompanied by their widower father, Sir Walter Chase, now temporarily ensconced (from their native England) in Santa Lucia, Italy to excavate and preserve a site of ancient ruins as part of their lifelong quest to unearth and protect Greek and Roman antiquities. Cali, now wed to Lord Westwood, is on her honeymoon. As Clio works to put her past behind her in favor of more acceptable pastimes, Thalia emerges as a talented writer and actress.

Both sisters are charmingly brought to the forefront with their own distinctive voices, and personalities and of course, secrets, woven into the plot. While hard-working, determined Clio enjoys the darker side of adventure and mystery, Thalia, an irreverent, creative spirit sparks the interest of Count di Fabrizzi whose mysterious appearance at the side of the Lily Thief in the previous novel, left readers to wonder and wait.

As the Chase family settles in, the enigmatic Edward Radcliffe, Duke of Averton, arrives in Santa Lucia in pursuit of antiquities, a nobler principle and Clio. His unexpected appearance creates tension for both Clio and the reader as we try to unravel his purpose and reconcile his eccentric public persona with his private, more refined side.

Drawn together by a common passion for ancient artifacts and each other, Edward has traveled from England to protect Clio and his mission both of which become unavoidably intertwined.

Mystery mixed with Italian superstition and impending peril are heightened as fellow Britons descend upon Sicily for a brief season, partaking of theatre and all that is Italian. Presented to readers are the flamboyant Lady Riverton and her companion, Ronald Frobisher while the dashing Count di Fabrizzi is re-introduced to readers.

McCabe has skillfully blended the first `Chase' book with the second incorporating romance and intrigue with danger while allowing the full development and exploration of the characters of Edward and Clio. Thalia is a delightful contrast to her sister with a seemingly irrepressible soul leaving us wanting to see more of her. (Good news - there's a third book!).