Customer Reviews

What the Duke Desires

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lillian Mayhew's mother committed suicide after Simon Crathorne's father (the Duke) raped her - now Lillian wants revenge. Simon's father is dead but she wants to drag his good name through the mud so like her families was. The problem with her revenge plan is that when she meets Simon she finds an honest, handsome, kind man who she finds herself falling in love with... While they are falling in love/lust Simon is discovery the layers of his father deceit. Some great plots twists that I wasn't expecting Enjoy ! Looking forward to the Billingham Bastards series; The Unclaimed Duchess(2) due out August 2010 and Caleb's Story (3).

If you enjoy this genre I would also suggest; One Week As Lovers, Royal's Bride and looking forward to Nothing Denied: A Novel (this author's other pen name).

When Lillian Mayhew decides to avenge her mother by exposing a secret about the late Duke of Billingham, she doesn't initially realise the consequences. She decides to go to a house party that the new duke, Simon Crathorne, is hosting in order to gather evidence about his father's misdeeds.

Simon has organised the party in order to find a bride but none of the young ladies appeal apart from the rather unsuitable Lillian - unsuitable as her family aren't important enough. But whilst the house party is going on Simon is also putting his father's paperwork in order and is beginning to discover there are things about his much loved father that he didn't previously know. As he and Lillian get to know each other and strike up a bond of friendship, there are secrets that could cause a rift between them. And then there's the biggest secret of all that will turn Simon's life upside down.

This was a very enjoyable read. It perhaps started a little slowly and it wasn't easy to like Lillian because of her task to destroy a family because of what a dead man had done, but as she learns about Simon she is able to put her vengeance behind her (phew!) and instead explore the possibility of a new life. I particularly liked the surprising part of the plot where Simon discovers why his mother has behaved so oddly toward him - it was well handled in the book and was an interesting and entirely plausible series of events.

This was a good read, not particularly strong on historical detail or dialogue but with some good characters and a sturdy plot.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2010

I have been working my way through the Romance genre, and I have read many authors. This book is not high on my list. It is about a woman who seeks revenge against the family of a man who purportedly raped her mother, causing the mother to commit suicide. The suicide has occurred more than five years before Lillian (the daughter) goes to the ducal estate of Simon (the son of the rapist). Lillian goes to the estate to find proof of Simon's father's villainy. The father is now dead. Come on now people, proof after five years with no DNA in the Regency, Victorian, now what is the era this book is set in? We don't really know, and the book does not adequately clue us in with descriptions of the characters or their surroundings. In the course of Lillian's puny investigations, she meets Simon, and you can guess the rest of the plot, although the author has thrown in a plot twist to add drama. She shouldn't have bothered. In any case, I found nothing to endear me to either character. The plot was plodding and the prose was stilted. No one talks that way in any era, even our own. The book did not sparkle or slip into my heart. Don't bother with this title.

I really like Jenna Petersen's style of writing and I think this is her best book yet. Great characters, complex emotional development and a few surprises along the way together with a romantic and sexy love story. I read romance to make me happy and Petersen always rings my bell without ever being sappy or shallow. This is the best romance I've read this year. Simon is a truly noble hero facing hit after hit as he discovers what his father really was. Lillian is a good woman trying to do the right thing and discovering that the "right thing" is not such a simple thing to determine. On top of that there are a terrific set of secondary characters. I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy.

When her disturbed mother committed suicide, Miss Lillian Mayhew held the Duke of Billingham responsible. She would have liked to destroy the late Duke, but by 1816 she settles for shredding his reputation as a paragon of society.

As the new duke, Simon Crathorne needs to find someone to marry who would be appropriate as his duchess and who does not drive him insane with pap. He has several acceptable candidates, but he is attracted to the inappropriate Miss Lillian. She encourages him and soon has him assisting her on finding proof that his father was a cad. When she achieves her goal, she runs into a minor obstacle; she is in love with the son of the person whose reputation she has lived to destroy.

Filled with ardent twists, WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES is a strong character driven Regency romance starring two wonderful lead protagonists. Lillian learns sometimes you get what you wish for while Simon wishes for Lillian although he forgives too easily. With one final spin that will stun the audience as much as it does Lillian and Simon, Jenna Peterson provides her fans with a super historical as the late paragon left behind several transgressions.

Harriet Klausner

I had the opportunity to attend Jenna's workshop in Raleigh, NC and was thrilled to meet her. This historical, set in Regency England, is full of twists and turns and heroes galore. She has given us two lost souls. Lillian Mayhew is angered by something Simon Crathorne, the Duke of Billingham's, father supposedly did to her mother. Jenna weaves their immediate passion into a story filled with desire and shocking secrets. I loved the story and the characters. A worthwhile addition to my personal library!

This book is a must read. You can read synopsis in other reviews on this book. I just thought it was great. I can't wait for the next one in the series. I love all of Jena's books. I highly recommend this book.

I really wanted to love this book because I think the premise is great. But I felt it to be an average read mainly because I didn't like the heroine, Lillian. I felt she lacked an intensity that was merited considering the reason she wished to get revenge against Simon. The way Lillian falls for Simon with little or not resistance just didn't ring true. I also couldn't get my head around how and what proof of her mother's rape Lilian expected to find. Having said that, I look forward to seeing how the series unfolds.

I'm reading this book...for the second time! I love the twists and turns Jenna has given to this book! Of course the damsels in distress! Of course the gentleman is titled, entitiled, and hot! But this one gives us a few curves to the left when you this it's heading for the right! Fascinating read. Highly recommended!

I wasn't too sure about this book when I started it. Lillian Mayhew is visiting the new Duke of Billingham, Simon Crathorne, with her friend Lady Gabriela. Lillian is there with the sole purpose of extracting revenge against Simon but her hatred is really directed to his late father. The previous duke had done a horrible act against Lillians mother which caused her to commit suicide. As she heard her dying fathers wish to seek revenge, though this was said to her brother, not her, Lillian sets out to diminish the late dukes perfect, honored reputation any way she can. But as she arrives and is greeted by the most handsome man, she is thrown for a loop when he introduces himself as Simon.

As the sparks fly between Simon and Lillian, and everyone from Simons mother to best friend, Rhys, tell him that this is a match that can never happen (the scandal of the suicide, she has no money!), Lillian keeps feeling drawn to him and him to her. The real turning point, for me, to make this book a good read was when Simons discovers the secrets of his late father. They are some major secrets that have been hidden his entire life. They transform this dashing man into a devastated, humble man and made me really love him. Throughout all this, Lillian is by his side but still never revealing her secret. When she finally, finally, reveals her true reason for being there, Simon is heartbroken but chooses to stay with her. Lillian flees back home for a bit until we get the happily ever after.

Even though the first half or so was just ok, the second half was excellent. It has heartbreak, sorrow, love, joy. It will make you tear up, smile, and want to smack Lillian. The epilogue leads right up to the next story, The Unclaimed Duchess and I have started it already as I was so intrigued to continue with this story and see all the fall outs waiting to happen. I hope there is more to come in this series. 4 stars