The Duchess of Love [Kindle Edition]

Sally MacKenzie (Author)

Book Description

A DUKE IN DISGUISE…

The day was as hot as the pond was inviting. It’s not as if anyone in Little Huffington was going to happen upon a secluded vale on the Duke of Greycliffe’s lands. And Venus Collingswood didn’t want to get her shift all wet. It was the perfect setting in which to plan her lovely bookworm of a sister’s betrothal to the mysterious new duke arriving seven days hence. If only she had a suitable accomplice…

Andrew Valentine, Duke of Greycliffe, never thought arriving at his own household a week early would cause so much trouble. The housekeeper thinks he’s his own cousin. Actually, the chance to not be the duke for a while is a pleasant opportunity indeed. It might even help him interrogate the delectable little nymph he’s discovered swimming in his pond—if he can manage to get a word in edgewise…

Praise for the Novels of Sally MacKenzie

“Naked, noble and irresistible!” —Eloisa James

“The romance equivalent of chocolate cake...every page is an irresistible delight!” —Lisa Kleypas

“A perfect night’s read.”—Romantic Times

31,000 Words

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sally MacKenzie is the USA Today bestselling author of funny, hot, Regency-set novels, including the Naked Nobility series and the Duchess of Love series. The Naked King, the seventh book in the Naked Nobility series, was named one of ALA Booklist's top ten romances for 2011. Her books have been translated into Czech, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. Sally graduated from the University of Notre Dame in the first class of women. A native of Washington, D.C., Sally now resides in suburban Maryland with her husband. Abby Craden works in all aspects of voice-over and can be heard in numerous commercials, animation, video games, and audiobooks. AudioFile magazine has awarded her an Earphones Award as well as named her One of 2012's Best Voices. Abby is an award-winning stage actress and a resident artist with the prestigious theaters A Noise Within and the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Los Angeles. She also works in film and can be seen in the Emmy Award–winning documentary Bloody Thursday. Abby hails from the East Coast and currently lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• File Size: 319 KB
• Print Length: 114 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books (April 24, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006MLL01E
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,516 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Duchess of Love~ April 24, 2012

By Lisa Wolff

Format:Kindle Edition

This was a short, fun, sweet novella that I really enjoyed. Venus Collingswood decides to go for a dip in her neighbors lake one last time before the new owners arrive in a few days. Besides, her dog is having fun in the water and it is blasted hot out. Just as she is about to dive in, she slips and is grabbed up by some very strong arms....male arms of a man just as unclothed as she is. Quite a fun interaction occurs and even though the man identifies himself as the new duke, Venus thinks he is jesting as he seems much to young and decides he must be the cousin instead. As Andrew Valentine, Duke of Greycliffe, is hoping to just be himself, not his title, he sees no harm in letting her think this for the time being. Naturally, problems arise as to him hiding his true identity and it puts the happiness of not just Venus in jeopardy, but that also of her sister.

This is a quick prequel novella to a new series that will feature Venus as an adult matchmaking for her sons and I found it delightful! It is a wonderful mix of humor, sassiness, love, and warmth with just a touch of heat at the end. This was my first read of Sally MacKenzie and if she can make a few hours fly by as fast as she did with this novella, I think I am in for a treat for her full length novels! This is a perfect afternoon treat for a spring day that is sure to leave a smile on your face and I am anxious to see more of Venus and Drew!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a NOVELLA May 13, 2012

By L. Frase

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I happen to be a fan of novellas, but I didn't realize this was a novella. I just went back and looked, and yes, down below all of the reviews it says that this ebook is 31,000 words. The publisher needs to place this statement after the description, not the reviews. That being said - I liked this little story, although there were a couple of things that I rolled my eyes over -mainly the character's names. Venus and Aphrodite? Really? Okay...moving on. The story was humorous and the characters well developed in a short amount of time, but I had a hard believing that Venus could go from angry to in love in the space of a couple of paragraphs. Beyond that, I found the novella entertaining and a fun read. I like this author's style and the humor she adds to her books (although I think the "naked" meet ups are a bit overused at this point -time to come up with something new).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars If a high school girl wrote a regency romance... December 19, 2012

By Diana

Format:Kindle Edition

This is probably one of the lowest caliber romance novels I've ever read. From the naming of the characters Aphrodite, Venus, Mr. Valentine... cheesy. Honestly, this reminds me of what a high school girl would write for her creative writing class. It lacks any depth, there is no real plot and it was so deeply predictable that it wasn't even entertaining. It is also incredibly short. I was shocked when I realized I was halfway through the book. I read the entire thing, start to finish in around an hour.

This shouldn't be a book, this should be the synopsis before you write the book.

More About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Sally MacKenzie writes funny, hot, Regency-set books for Kensington Zebra. Her Naked Nobility series concluded (at least for the time being) with The Naked King, which was named one of ALA Booklist's top ten romances for 2011; now she's hard at work on a new "Duchess of Love" series which debuted with an e-original novella, "The Duchess of Love." The first novel in the series, Bedding Lord Ned (the print version includes the novella), received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. The second book, Surprising Lord Jack, releases in March 2013. Her books have been translated into Czech, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. Sally graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame in the first class of women. She's a Cornell Law School dropout, former federal regulation writer, recovering parent volunteer, mother of four grown sons (and mother-in-law to two daughters), and a Masters swimmer. A native of Washington, D. C., she still resides in suburban Maryland with her husband.
Visit her online at her web site www.SallyMacKenzie.net, her blog sallymackenzie.blogspot.com, on Twitter @Sally_Mackenzie, or on her Sally MacKenzie Facebook fan page, www.facebook.com/sallymackenziebooks.