Stevie‘s review of The Truth About Love and Dukes (Dear Lady Truelove, Book 1) by Laura Lee Guhrke
Historical Romance published by Avon 28 Mar 17
I thoroughly enjoyed Laura Lee Guhrke’s previous late-Victorian-set series, and was very keen to see what she’d come up with next in roughly the same era. No American heiresses this time, however, just a man overwhelmed by the rapidity at which events happen around him and a woman keen to speed up progress in order to make her own way in life without having to rely on a man. And who can blame her when the men in her life have so far proved distinctly unreliable?
Irene Deverill has taken over the editorship of her family’s newspaper, following her grandfather’s death, her brother’s absence over a family quarrel, and her father’s descent into a permeant state of drunkenness – though not before he nearly bankrupted the business. Out of desperation Irene turns from publishing serious news and worthy advertisements to printing gossip pieces, advice columns, and fashion items – and in doing so recovers at least part of her family’s wealth. Her success seems about to backfire on her, however, as one wealthy gentleman removes his advertising revenue from her paper’s income, and an angry duke arrives on the doorstep.
Henry, Duke of Torquil, considers himself to be the only sensible member of his large, rambunctious family, his only deviation from society’s expectations being a short-lived marriage to a woman from an entirely unsuitable background. Long-since widowed, Henry knows he will eventually have to remarry and produce an heir but is presently more concerned with finding suitable matches for his younger sisters – a task made infinitely more difficult when his mother elopes with an Italian artist. Fearing the total loss of his and their reputations and prospects as a result of this latest scandal, Henry seeks out the persons he believes responsible: the advice columnist, Lady Truelove, and her publisher. Finding them to be one and the same, Henry makes a deal with Irene: either she prevents his mother from marrying such an unsuitable fellow, or he will ruin her paper for good.
Irene goes to stay with the family in order to fulfil her part of the deal, still returning home regularly to ensure the newspaper is running smoothly, but soon makes two realisations. Firstly, she sees that Henry’s mother is actually happy with her artist and likely to remain so, even if she has ignored Irene’s advice about locking up the better part of her finances where her beau can’t touch them. Secondly, Henry might be opinionated and exasperating, but she does rather like him. The only problem is how she can keep her newspaper and independence while ensuring that everyone else gets a happy ending too.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and was really cheering for Henry’s mother to get the second marriage she deserved, as well as for Henry and Irene to settle their differences. I’m now keen to see where this series might take us next.
Grade: B
Summary:
Dear Lady Truelove… I have fallen in love, truly and completely in love, for the first time. The man whom I hold in such passionate regard, however, is not of my station. He is a painter, a brilliant artist. Needless to say, my family would not approve…
Henry, Duke of Torquil, wouldn’t be caught reading the wildly popular “Dear Lady Truelove” column, but when its advice causes his mother to embark on a scandalous elopement, an outraged Henry decides the author of this tripe must be stopped before she can ruin any more lives. Though Lady Truelove’s identity is a closely guarded secret, Henry has reason to suspect the publisher of the notorious column, beautiful and provoking Irene Deverill, is also its author.
For Irene, it’s easy to advise others to surrender to passion, but when she meets the Duke of Torquil, she soon learns that passion comes at a price. When one impulsive, spur-of-the-moment kiss pulls her into a scorching affair with Henry, it could destroy her beloved newspaper, her career, and her independence. But in the duke’s arms, surrender is so, so sweet…
Read an excerpt.
