Veena’s review of  The Duke In My Bed (The Heirs Club of Scoundrels, Book 1) by Amelia Grey
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 30 Dec 14

Of late I’ve been finding that authors and genres I used to enjoy are no longer having the same impact. The jury is still out with regard to who or what has changed, but, as I pondered over that, I came across this delightful regency romance from a new-to-me author.  The plot is not necessarily new and the end is somewhat inevitable, but the pattern and sequence of events and the dialogue captured my interest and held it from beginning to end.

Bray Drakenstone is a very proper, stiff-in-the-upper-lip duke. Like all rich and titled young men, he’s had his share of wild escapades. A bet gone wrong ends up with a deathbed promise to marry a young lady, sight unseen. For two years the ton has taken an interest in his forthcoming nuptials, and now it seems the prince regent has involved himself in the outcome as well. Bray has never been interested in doing the expected, but the beautiful and innocent young lady captures his emotions from the first. Unfortunately, she is definitely not interested in his guardianship of her sisters, nor his hand in marriage.

Miss Prim and Proper, as Bray calls Louisa, is a vicar’s daughter who is horrified at his rakish reputation and his manner of speech. In her opinion, he is definitely not fit to serve as guardian to her sisters, let alone be a husband to her. Poor Louisa, who’s laughed at when she goes to the courts of chancery to have his guardian ship revoked. She just doesn’t get that almost anyone in society would give their eye teeth to be in the shoes she wants to discard.  Of course, her dislike is a challenge to this powerful high blood who’s never backed off or lost a challenge yet.

I find his relationship and repartee with his mother very refreshing, especially since he’s been pretty much kept at an arm’s length from his family. He’s fascinated with the Prim family, even if he doesn’t know how to react to the artless affection Louisa’s sisters offer him. Louisa has the world at her feet from the ton’s perspective and yet neither riches nor title mean anything to her.  It is the man himself who tempts her with his sweet seduction that opens her eyes to the wonderful possibilities between a man and a woman.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to more stories from this author as the series continues.

Grade: A

Summary:

HERE COMES THE GROOM

As a notorious member of the Heirs’ Club, Bray Drakestone can’t resist a challenge from one of his well-heeled colleagues—especially when it involves money and horses. But the friendly wager takes an unexpected and deadly turn. Bray is forced to agree to marry one of his challenger’s five sisters—sight unseen. Now gamblers all over London are placing bets on whether Bray will actually go through with it…

THERE GOES THE BRIDE

Miss Louisa Prim, the eldest sister, doesn’t care a whit what the reckless rogue at the Heirs’ Club promised her brother—she has no intention of marrying the future Duke of Drakestone. Bray, however, sees her rejection as another challenge. He bets that the fiery Miss Prim will not only agree to marry him, she will propose to him! With four sisters behind her, Louisa knows she can’t lose. But why does her opponent have to be a divinely handsome scoundrel? And so sweetly, irresistibly seductive…

No excerpt available.