Customer Reviews

How to Tempt a Duke

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I will not summarize this book, since previous reviewers have already done so. I can't believe the rave reviews this book has received. The entire "romance" was spoiled for me for most of the book. The heroine could not stand any physical contact from the hero the first 1/2 of the book because she had been raped by the hero's cousin. I'm sorry, I read romance to escape reality and this ruined the entire book for me. I had to share this with others who feel like I do. I wish someone had mentioned it in other reviews so I would not have spent my money and time on this book!

In 1814 after fighting for several years on the continent, Captain Rafael Daughtry is coming home to begin his duties as the Duke of Ashurst since his uncle and his cousins mysteriously died while he was fighting Napoleon. Family friend Charlotte Seavers is a bit aghast with Rafe's younger out of control sixteen years old twin sisters, Nicole the ring leader and Lydia for the stunt they pulled on letters to and from Rafe, but is elated her childhood buddy is finally returning home safe and sound.

Neither Rafe nor Charlie initially recognizes one another as childhood memories overwhelm adult senses. However, he needs her to help him somewhat control and chaperone his siblings. As he falls in love with Charlie, she has always loved him; but conceals her secret as to why she distrusts men even her beloved Rafe.

This is an engaging amusing Regency romance starring two likable lead characters and a terrific support cast starting with the irresistible impish sisters. The breezy brisk story line also contains a serious mystery subplot as well as Charlie's related secret. Fans will enjoy this witty historical and want a future tale or two (in a few years hence) starring the terrible terror twins.

Harriet Klausner

This book introduces you to the Daughtry Family - Rafe, the eldest brother and his two twin sisters Lydia and Nicole.

Rafe has returned from the Pennisula to assume the title of Duke after the deaths of his uncle and cousins. He brings his friend Fitz with him. He finds that his childhood friend Charlotte is in charge of the estate and that she has a secret that she doesn't want to divulge. Rafe and Charlotte (Charlie) fall in love and learn to trust again.

This story was both funny and bittersweet(Lydia/Fitz). The mystery plays out and is resolved. I'll be honest, I was in tears at the end, but anxiously looked forward to the future for all these characters.

This is definitely a good read!

I'll skip the summary and get right to the problems that I had with the story. First I think that some authors can mix romance and mystery and have a successful story. We know there is a mystery because of how Rafe became a duke. I don't think that Ms. Michaels is one of those authors. My second problem was that she would skip over weeks at a time and tell us how Rafe and Charolette relationship was progessing. I don't want to be told I want to read for myself how their childhood affection is blossoming into love. My next problem was that I felt too much time was spent on Rafes twin sisters. They were not interesting or orginial. There was Lydia the shy bluestocking and Nicole the trouble maker. Nicole was conniving and selffish overall a terrible character. Another big problem was Charolettes relationship with her parents. There were obivious issues besides the one mentioned in the book but Charolette never spoke to her parents or rather her father about them. We know that there are problems but they are not resolved or even discussed; it felt incomplete.

Lastly, I didn't feel the connection between Charolette and Rafe. The author would skip over several weeks and tell us that they were getting closer. Well like I said before I want to read that for myself. I felt that they only fell in love because they comfortable with each other. I didn't see any passion. How can there be passion when for 3/4 of the book they hardly touched.

I do not recommend this story.

I actually liked this book. It had just enough humour/romance/passion for a light read. I'm obviously not going to look at it as a deeply intense erotic & emotional affair like say Lisa Valdez's "Passion" but it stands good on its own. I particularly liked the characters Charlotte and Rafe. Their banter was natural and witty, and them being childhood friends was very believable. I was swept along by their romance and really felt for them by the end. I teared up during a particular part, the author was very good at wrenching sympathy, even for secondary characters. I don't think I've ever felt so much for a secondary character before. So the emotion is definitely there, with passionate endearing characters, perfect dialogue and interesting plot. For me this is a keeper.

A newly and unexpectedly named duke returns changed from war to a childhood friend changed by hidden scandal. The childhood friend is set up as the chaperon for the duke's unmarried twin sisters. Minor adventures and metaphorical fireworks ensue. I liked it well enough for what it is, but there was too much emphasis spread across unnecessary secondary characters who weren't well developed or all that likable but who will, of course, have subsequent books of their own. There was also some (in my mind) unnecessary character death, and the hidden scandal, while rightfully painted as icky and traumatic, could have been handled better and could be triggering to assault or abuse survivors who read the book.

Though it spends too much time on the sisters and glosses over the relationship between the two main charactors. Lastly the Duke's mother would not be the dowager Duchess as her husband was not the duke. She also would not be Lady Daughtry but would have the name of the last husband she married not the first.

I thought the "Duke" character was much more likable than most similar characters in the genre. Both the hero and heroine were vulnerable and admirable. The description of war was also more realistic than most Regency romances. There were some weaknesses and gaps in the plot, but I truly enjoyed reading a book where the main characters actually LIKED each other, tried to protect each other without a lot of stupid misunderstandings, and were both sympathetic.

The title, cover, and jacket description don't really give an accurate expectation of what the book is about. This was one of the most human romance novels I have ever read.

The writing was amazing, it had humor, passion, friendship, love and heartbreak. Rafael comes home from the war to find his uncle the Duke and his two evil cousins had died. Rafael was done the Duke! As he fell in love with his Charlotte his childhood friend the heartache and evil of the real world crept in... A bitter-sweet story, it brought a tear to my eye and heartache that something's never change.... I would recommend this book, Enjoy!

Here are a few book patiently waiting on my reading list; To Wed a Wicked Earl,Surrender of a Siren: A Novel and The Laird Who Loved Me.

I have read other books by this author in the past and enjoyed them. This book was a major disappointment.

The characters were types from this genre and never well developed and the book was nothing but a lot of hackneyed Regency conventions and unpleasantness. The only potentially interesting character was killed off.

So glad that I did not waste more money on the sequel.