Duke Of My Heart by Kelly Bowen
Dear Reader,
The book you are about to read is one that I treasure. In a world of humorous, mysterious, adventuresome, and fluffy historical romance, Duke of My Heart by Kelly Bowen is unlike any I had ever read before; and that is only part of why I made it a front-row-centre spot on my Keeper Shelf.
From the first page, I was hooked. I was at the cottage with little to do thanks to an injury, but my restlessness was cured by London, February 1819. Welcome to the Regency period. Napoleon’s defeated, parliamentary reform is getting gutsy, and fashionable ladies can glide through doorways without fear of getting stuck. What a time to be alive! And what a time to be Ivory Moore, scandal solver extraordinaire.
“The silk was the color of sin.”
Marketing professionals everywhere are applauding that opening line. I, on the other hand, wondered if this book was really for me, as I tend to lean more towards the fluffy. However, not one to judge a book by its first line, and early into my Canadian romance reading quest, I kept going. By page two, I was captivated. The scene described in the book’s synopsis – naked dead earl, a woman with “such nerve” and all – launches you into the Season for Scandal series. And MY WORD what a stunning synopsis, by the way. Anyway. Rest assured that if it appeals to you, you may confidently clear your schedule because you’ve got a book to read. Now.
Our heroine is Ivory Moore, an expensive problem solver with Chegarre and Associates, possibly my favourite fictional heroine of all time. And our hero is Captain Maximus Harcourt, a.k.a. the Duke of Alderidge a. k. a. the duke of my heart as well as Ivory’s. Max is alarmingly short a sister in Chapter One, lucky for him Ivory is exceedingly good at finding lost sisters, especially when their disappearance involves a dead guy tied to her bed. Both accustomed to being in charge of an operation, Ivory and Max butt heads until they agree to disagree later and focus on finding Helen now.
The London that Kelly Bowen takes us to is one I hadn’t visited in previous historical romances (and there have been a LOT, you guys). It’s murkier than a gaming hall, darker than a brothel, bold, rich, scandalous of course, and at the same time, utterly charming. You’ll get to meet a clever cast of characters who will steal away into your heart and leave you with a staggering book hangover. Well, that’s what happened to me! Great news: the entire Season for Scandal series is ready and waiting for you, right now, just go back to that link near the top of this post for more info.
As enveloping and swoon-worthy as the journey to love in Duke of My Heart is, the intrigue and whodunnit is equally arresting. Come for the romance, stay for the scandal. Or maybe it’s the other way around? You’re about to find out.
Love! From the True North
HEA Canada: A CanLit Romance Hub 