The Duke's Dilemma (Signet Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Nadine Miller (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Regency Romance | Publication Date: February 1, 1996

Despairing of competing with her lovely and well-connected cousin for the attentions of handsome Duke of Montford, Miss Emily Haliburton is amazed when the duke prefers her womanly charms to her cousin's social status.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Signet (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451186753
• ISBN-13: 978-0451186751
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,064,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only Nadine Miller worth reading, May 14, 2000

By 

Dr W. Richards "wmr-uk" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Duke's Dilemma (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

As anyone who's seen my reviews of her other books, I am not a fan of Nadine Miller; in fact, I would never buy another book by her. But this is actually the first book of hers I read, and on the strength of that I went out and bought several others.

THIS is a great book - and I still want to know what's happened to Miller since she wrote it!

Jared, the Duke, has decided that it's time to marry, and so he's asked his elderly female relations to gather together several possible brides for him (shades of Emma Jensen's Best Laid Plans here). One of the possibles has brought with her a cousin/companion, Emily - a slightly overweight, plain little mouse of a woman, and certainly not someone who would be thought to attract a Duke; only she doesn't meet the Duke. She meets someone who calls himself Jared, and who seems to be an ordinary local farmer - but who, judging by his strong resemblance to the Duke, must be a half-brother. Emily has absolutely no doubt that he is not the Duke, however - he couldn't be. He's charming and rogueish and fun to be with, while the Duke is top-lofty and disapproving.

An entertaining and occasionally heart-wrenching story follows, in which the Duke gets himself more and more deeply entangled in a mess entirely of his own making.

There are also some great secondary characters here, including Jared's heir and his secretary, Edgar Rankin - I would have liked a book with Edgar as the hero, since there was clearly a story here, strongly hinted at in conversations between Jared and Edgar. Those two had a 'past,' and I wanted to know more.

Highly recommended, even if I can't recommend any of Miller's subsequent books!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great read, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Duke's Dilemma (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

I laughed out loud when reading this book. For me, that is the greatest compliment. The duke has a dilemma. Should he marry the woman he loves or should he marry the woman who is "right" for him? Of course, he chooses true love over societal dictates. The minor characters make this book ever so more enjoyable, especially the duke's secretary, his cousin, and of course his dotty old aunts. The characters push the plot forward with outrageous humor. I've read this book several times and I laugh every time.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, heartwarming, credible characters, great story, February 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Duke's Dilemma (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It features two refreshingly different characters from those in usual Regencies: a heroine who is most definitely not a simpering, shallow schoolroom miss, and a hero behind whose jaded sophistication lies an intelligent but lonely spirit.

Emily is from an impoverished and decidely un-tonnish background, and seems to face a future either as a perpetual companion to selfish and demanding distant relations, or living quietly in the country, perhaps as the wife of a vicar. She is at present companion to her beautiful cousin Lucinda, who may be about to receive a proposal from the very rich Duke of Montford. On a visit to the Duke's country estate, during which the Duke will make his choice of bride, Emily meets a well-spoken but rough countryman named Jared, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the arrogant Duke - and therefore must be an illegitimate half-brother - and who ignites in her stirrings of passion she never realised she possessed.

The Duke finds Emily intriguing, but is aware that she is completely unsuited to be his bride. Despite the disapproval of his secretary - who threatens to woo Emily for himself - Jared continues his masquerade until the worst happens: he unintentionally ruins Emily's reputation. Only when he cannot find her does he realise how much he cares for her.

This is a lovely and well-crafted story, which I will definitely keep and re-read. All of the characters in the book are extremely well-drawn, and of the minor characters the most interesting is Edgar Rankin, the Duke's secretary and friend. It is surprising that Ms Miller has not returned to the character of Rankin in another book: he definitely deserves to have his story told. There are hints in this book of an intriguing past shared by the Duke and Rankin; and it would make a wonderful finish to this story were Rankin to find an intelligent and loving bride of his own, particularly someone who would provide a friend for Emily.