Customer Reviews

Never Kiss a Duke

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Let me start off by saying that I really wanted to like this book. It has an original and interesting premise. Adrian St. Ledger, the duke of Trent has been asked to investigate the death of Mr. Burwell, an English traitor working for the French. He was killed shortly after leaving the establishment of Mrs. Emmaline Stanhope, presently working as a marriage broker but known to dabble in fortune telling. Adrian visits Emmaline and acts as if he is need of a wife. Unfortunately, his crass and unsophisticated social skills show themselves and Emmaline knows this is going to be no easy task. She insists upon lessons in gentlemanly conduct to soften his demeanor and make him more marriageable.

While I know you can't help who you fall in love with, Adrian really doesn't show any redeeming qualities. I couldn't figure out what Emmaline saw in him. I'd think that to qualify to be a hero in a romance Adrian would at least have to be, well, likeable. This guy wasn't. Of course a man is only as good as the woman behind him and Emmaline has issues also. She is constantly whining about Adrian lying to her when she is living a lie(she tells all her clients she's a widow to keep them at bay-she's really an innocent). Also when Adrian talks to her in his scornful manner, she lets him! At one point before some hanky panky he says "come the hell here". She does! Adrian keeps stating that he has to have her. He wants to make her his mistress and wonders what the going rate is. Oh my, what a romantic fool! Then when the tables finally turn and Adrian for whatever reason starts to resemble a man a love, it's Emmaline who turns mean spirited and throws his words back at him.

The rest of the plot, as to how they go about finding out who killed the traitor, is implausible and outlandish. Actually, the best part of the book was the secondary romance between Emmaline's Aunt Heloise and Adrian's man of affairs Mr. Gibbons. They were two mature characters who were meddlesome in a fun way, and in a healthy romance! As a matter of fact, I believe if the story were told from their point of view it might of worked! They knew how to have a good time. Pass this one up.

This is truly a wonderful book. In my opinion it is Ms. Putman's best work to date. It has been a while since I have bought a book that I enjoyed as much as this one. It held me captivated from the beginning to end. Adrian and Emmaline are truly wonderful characters who deserved to find true love and with no one but each other. One thing that I loved about these characters is that when they first meet, they are not attracted to each other, but it grows and is developed gradually. Also, the secondary characters are wonderful. Especailly Emmaline's aunt. I don't think anyone who buys this book will be disappointed.

I'm sorry to say that this book almost put me to sleep. I'm not quite sure what the problem was, but something was definitely off. The novel is set in London 1811 with the heroine, Emmaline, trying to support herself and an aging aunt by means of a marriage broker service. Unfourtenely her first paying customer dies near her doorstep under suspicious circumstances. Enter Adrian, the duke of Trent who has been reluctantly recruited to determine if the lovely Emmy had something to do with the death. A love-hate relationship quickly develops between Emmaline and Adrian, and the supporting characters (Emmaline's ex-actress aunt and Adrian's man-of-affairs) do everything they can to throw the couple together.

Individually I found all the characters likable (especially the canary) and the plot interesting, but as a whole the book was uninspiring. There was no nail-biting tension, no steamy passion, and no real reason to turn the pages. I sorry to say this was a yawner.

In 1811 London, Adrian St. Ledger, who recently became the Duke of Trent, visits marriage broker Emmaline Stanhope insisting he needs a wife. In reality, Adrian has come to Emmaline's shop investigating why one of her clients, Mr. Burwell, died in an apparent suicide just after leaving Emmaline's shop.

Emmaline is immediately attracted to the handsome customer. However, she wonders about her chance at success when he seems more interested in the bones of extinct animals than that of a warm loving female. She begins to doubt her abilities, but decides he needs lessons in courting a woman. That endeavor soon turns into a deep love between them. However, though he believes she is innocent, he still must prove that his beloved was not involved with the Royal Mail coach running over Burwell.

Fans of humorous Regency romances will gain much pleasure from the works of Eileen Putman. Her latest tale, NEVER KISS A DUKE, is amusing yet filled with passion due to the marvelous interplay between the lead couple. The story line includes an element of intrigue that turns this historical romp into a fast-paced tale. Readers will want to read NEVER TRUST A RAKE which is also a delightful historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

The main reason I enjoyed this book was the Duke. He made me laugh. It was nice to read about a hero who had a few flaws. Yes, the heroine was a little flakey, but all the characters were, and they were likable too. It's nice to be able to find a book that leaves you with a smile when you're done.

I devoured Eileen Putman's NEVER KISS A DUKE in one afternoon. I didn't plan on it--I just read the first couple of pages while waiting for a computer reboot, but then my work never got done because I couldn't put the book down! I spent a wonderful afternoon with Emmaline and Adrian.

I know some people say they didn't like Adrian but I did. I loved the way he was so out of his element when he was around Emmaline. He was so rigid and in control, yet couldn't stop himself from nibbling on her fingers given the chance. He couldn't explain his behaviour to himself which tormented him to no end and put him in the position of losing some of the control that was so vital to him.

I love strong, intelligent characters and Emmaline and Adrian fit the bill. The best compliment I can give Eileen Putman is that I will be searching out her back list and waiting eagerly for her next release.
~sue
Sue Waldeck
Road to Romance
http://www.roadtoromance.dhs.org

The book's plot had a lot of potential. The main male, Adrian, however, never really developed in the book. He was a very flat, two-dimensional character. Despite the "tension" between the two main characters, there wasn't a true spark and it left me feeling uninspired.

England 1811, Adrian St. Ledger is enlisted to find a traitor - Emmaline Stanhope is the suspect. Adrian has sealed off all emotions since childhood. Burying a dark secret deep inside, Adrian fights to keep himself from emotional realities. He desires Emmy and the story line is engrossing as these two find that love does indeed overcome all obstacles. The emotional detail and plotline keeps one firmly attached to the book until the end! The secondary romance between Emmy's aunt and Adrian's butler is an added bonus. A keeper!! Marilyn, The Regency Lover's Cafe

I read Ms. Putnam's book, "Never trust a Rake" and thought that it was without question, one of the worst books I have ever read. This follows right behind and I shall not bother reading another of her books again! This was a romance with zero chemistry and not very likeable characters. Adrian, the Duke of Trent, was weirdly cold. Sad childhood sort of thing. Emmaline is desperate for money and hires herself out as a matchmaker. A man who just hired her dies on her front step and the government asks Adrian to investiage as this man was a spy. So he pretends he needs her services to find a bride. The story does not work because of a) no chemistry and b) how could there be chemistry with a man who gets out of bed each morning and steps into ice water? Even when the reader finds out why he thinks he is so cold, in the end, it did not make sense or really explain his weird coldness. The sex? blah...In the end, who cared???

OK. This book doesn't give us anything new...sullen Duke...girl that makes him believe in the power of love...but all the same I really enjoyed it. I thought there was a nice chemistry between Adrian and Emmy...and the romance between Gibbons and Heloise added an additional interest. Yes... it was a bit trite...but an enjoyable read none the less.