To Ruin the Duke (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A disreputable duke

All of London is abuzz with the shocking exploits of Thornton Matherton, Duke of Wyldehaven, a man as sinful and wild as his name. He plays fast and loose with money, drink, and women. Or does he? An impostor has tarnished Thornton's good name, and the real duke will not rest until he has proven his virtue.

A righteous lady

Abandoned by her aristocratic father when she was a child, Miranda Fontaine despises the nobility. Despite her distrust, she visits the Duke of Wyldehaven on an urgent mission. Determined to keep a deathbed promise, Miranda will do whatever it takes to pin down the notorious duke . . . even if it means seducing him herself.

Passion's ruin

Desperate to escape the web of deceit and clear his name, Thomas cannot bear the distraction of Miranda's supple skin and alluring eyes. Her beauty will be his undoing . . . and her bed will be the site of his most wicked ruin . . .

About the Author

Debra Mullins is the author of several historical romances for Avon. Her work has been nominated for the Golden Heart and RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers. In 2003, she won the Golden Leaf Award from NJ Romance Writers for her book A Necessary Bride. A native of the east coast, she now lives in California.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (May 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061577855
• ISBN-13: 978-0061577857
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #175,615 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but wanted more emotional depth, June 30, 2009

By	Melissa (USA) - See all my reviews

To Ruin the Duke has a sad but well written opener, Miranda's best friend is dying after giving birth to her illegitimate son. Miranda is heartbroken but promises to take care of her friend's baby and to find the boy's father the Duke of Wyldehaven so the boy can have his place in society.

A few months later Wylde, the Duke of Wyldehaven is attending the funeral of a deceased friend in London when he discovers that an imposter is about the town running up bills, getting in fights and carousing about London smearing his good name. Wylde has been in mourning for the loss of his wife and child for two years and this is his first extended stay in London as he has cloistered himself at his ducal estate.

Miranda confronts Wylde about the baby while he is in London and he is astounded at Miranda's claim that he has fathered a child. He knows he was not the one to do so and questions Miranda's honesty then throws her out of his home. Later he sees her masquerading as an Italian Contessa at a musical soiree and is completely enchanted with her voice.

Wylde wants Miranda for a mistress but she will have no part of the arrangement. Miranda's mother was a mistress and her father a nobleman and Miranda saw the life her mother lived after she was cast aside by her lover. Instead she plans to earn her money through her voice.

The two leads argue about the paternity of Miranda's charge constantly with Wylde refusing to acknowledge the baby as his and Miranda deeming Wylde as a dishonorable rogue. In the meantime Miranda is getting threatening notes from an anonymous enemy and Wylde is hot on the trail of his imposter.

This novel moved along at a steady pace but the leads didn't have a lot of emotional conversations and their feelings were on the back burner for a long time. They desired one another but did not act upon their feelings for a long while. The mystery with the imposter was rather easy to figure out, in fact Wylde does so about three quarters way through the book. I wanted more emotional depth to the leads. By far the best parts of this book are the beginning, when Miranda is mourning over the loss of her friend and the end, when Wylde recounts the tragedy of his wife and child's death.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, yet predictable, May 31, 2009

By	R. Phillips (MS USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The heroine in this story promises her dying friend that she will care for her friend's newborn baby boy and that she will find the boy's father and give the boy his birthright. The alleged father, our hero and a Duke, denies the child is his because he has been in mourning for 2 years and not even in London where the child was conceived. The hero thinks the heroine is just an opportunist, and the heroine believes the hero must be a terrible man because he refuses to acknowledge his own son. The hero is drawn to the heroine like no other woman but needs to focus on finding a man who is pretending to be the Duke and is ruining his name all over town. Nevertheless, sparks fly between Miranda and the Duke as they work through this conflict and search for the impostor.

This was an enjoyable read, albeit predictable without really any surprises. It is a quick and easy read for a lazy afternoon. The characters are likable enough and the story entertaining enough to recommend but I'm not sure it will be one you remember.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nineteenth century identity theft, May 29, 2009

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Miranda Fontaine finds the aristocracy useless though she is one of them; albeit from the wrong side of the sheets as her mom was a famous actress. Her opinion of the Ton is further affirmed when her best friend Lettie dies holding her hand while giving birth to the illegitimate son of Lord Wylde. Miranda promises her dead friend she will force Duke Thornton Matherston to claim the newborn James as his.

Thornton has begun hearing rumors of his scandalous behavior as an out of control Wylde who is a womanizing, drinking, and gambling rogue. When Miranda confronts him with his son, he denies siring any offspring. She believes his insistence as evidence mounts someone is impersonating him. They begin to investigate, but as they fall in love, the truth instead of setting them free leaves them in peril.

This entertaining historical romance focuses on identity theft as someone steals the Duke of Wyldehaven's name and destroys his reputation while seemingly having a grand old time. The story line is fast-paced once the heroine challenges the Wylde Duke and never slows down until a final confrontation. Fans will enjoy Debra Mullins delightful nineteenth century romance that showcases the twenty-first century concept of identity theft is not confined to modern day society.

Harriet Klausner