Never Kiss a Duke (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "A woman of modest beauty, independent means, and a tireless passion for marital, er, relations..." (more)
Key Phrases: dower house, gray gaze, death card, Miss Alcott, Lady Ainsford, Sir Harry (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Highly emotional, sensually provocative and written with delectable wit, this novel will delight Ms. Putman's legions of fans!" -- Romantic Times, July 2000

I could not put this book down. NEVER KISS A DUKE will be a joy to recommend to my customers! -- Nancy Michael, Once Upon A Time

NEVER KISS A DUKE is the granddaddy of all Cinderella stores. Extraordinary! A solid gold keeper! -- Suzanne Coleburn, The Belles and Beaux of Romance, June 5, 2000

Product Description

A Man Who Won't Marry

Pretending to be in search of a wife, Adrian St. Ledger, the duke of Trent, enters Emmaline Stanhope's marriage broker shop, suspecting she's involved in a plot against the Crown. However, the lovely and exasperatingly independent Emma's not at all what he expected. And when she insists he needs instruction on how to court a woman, then offers herself for practice, his cool distance quickly dissipates. Yet marriage is the last thing Adrian will ever risk.

The Marriage Broker

Emma had abandoned her childhood dreams of finding Prince Charming long ago, having learned she can't count on anyone but herself. And if finding wives for busy men is the only way to keep a roof over her head, she'll happily match-make -- for others. But Emma never expected to meet a man whose aloof eyes reveal such hidden passion. And when Adrian takes her in his masterful arms, she hpes the kissing never ends -- and that a duke may turn out to be a prince after all.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (July 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380802902
• ISBN-13: 978-0380802906
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,674,422 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I really wanted to like this one, but..., February 26, 2001

By	WHoosierBookie "whoosierbookie" (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book, July 13, 2000

By	T. Beck "nonsb" (ATTALLA, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The very best in romance, July 4, 2000

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

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