The Duke of Her Desire by Sophie Barnes
Series: Diamonds in the Rough #2
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: December 26, 2017
Date Read: February 17, 2018
Length: 384 pages
Source: Edelweiss
★★★☆☆
He was only supposed to keep an eye on his friend’s sister . . . now he’s about to lose his heart . . .
When Thomas Heathmore, Duke of Coventry, agrees to steer his friend’s inexperienced younger sister through society, he doesn’t expect the lady in question to be so infernally stubborn. Amelia Matthews seems to have little interest in balls or suitors at all. Instead, she intends to open a school, and against his better instincts, Thomas offers to help. Yet somewhere along the line, Amelia ceases to be a simple responsibility . . . and becomes an undeniable temptation.
Since her brother inherited a dukedom, Amelia’s prospects have transformed. But though she’s long been secretly infatuated with Thomas, she refuses to heed the arrogant aristocrat’s advice. If only it were as easy to ignore his heated touch. And as Amelia soon learns, the ton is a minefield, where one moment’s indiscretion can unleash a scandal—or entice her to surrender everything to the duke of her desire…
I liked this book. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, A Most Unlikely Duke, so I was really excited to read more of the series. I didn’t love it and I don’t think I will remember much about it long term but it was a nice enough story. I thought that this was a pleasant read and am glad that I read it.
Thomas, the Duke of Coventry, agrees to watch over his friend’s sisters while he is away. Amelia and Juliette are still trying to fit into society after living in poverty most of their lives. Amelia has other dreams and hopes to open a school for children where she used to live. Of course, she starts this process while her brother is away and Coventry jumps into to help. She is still keeping social commitments and considering potential husbands at the same time.
This was a really tame historical romance. I actually don’t remember ever reading one quite this innocent. I don’t need a lot of heat in this kind of story to find it enjoyable but I found it rather surprising. I really didn’t feel a whole lot of chemistry between this pair and I do wonder if part of that could be because most of the book was rather chaste until the story got closer to the end. I don’t think that you need sex in a story to have chemistry but it just seems that something was missing between this pair.
I did find both Amelia and Thomas to be interesting characters. Thomas has quite the story which I was very eager to learn more about as the story progressed. Amelia’s quest to run a school was ambitious and really showed what kind of person she was. I was probably most entertained by everything that went wrong with the preparations for the school. I liked that they both seemed really committed to the cause.
This was a book that I liked in the end. It was a nice enough read and a nice way to spend a bit of time. It wasn’t my favorite in the series but it was an acceptable installment. I am actually not sure if I will be picking up the next book in the series or not at this point but I would like to read more from Sophie Barnes in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Avon Books via Edelweiss.
About the AuthorBorn in Denmark, Sophie Barnes spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish, and Romanian. But, most impressive of all, she’s been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.
When she’s not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.
i feel lucky to be not in the ton, where there are mines involved. hahaha though good story sounds like girl power is great even back then
I don't think I would have done well in this time period.
I agree that you don't need sex in a book for their to be chemistry, and I've read authors (Erin Knightley for one,) who don't have sex in their historical romances and they've done it wonderfully where the chemistry was still leaping off the page. Having said that, sex was such a taboo topic, and it just adds that extra element of 'Oooh, are they supposed to be doing this?' that makes it fun.
I'm sorry this one was a miss for you. I've never read this author before. Great review!
This book just seemed to be missing something but I am not really sure what it was. I did like the book but it wasn't a favorite.
While this wasn't a favorite, I am glad you ultimately ended up enjoying it.
I am glad that I read it but probably won't remember a lot about it in a few months.
Sounds like it was at least an enjoyable read. Seems like you've been on a romance kick lately. Did you grab any thrillers from the latest First to Read drop?
I did review some mystery thrillers last week with This Fallen Prey and A Death in Live Oak. I had too much of that genre so this week is romance. I did grab a YA book that looks promising from First to Read. Hopefully, I can get to it!
Awww innocent, I think I'd like it
I don't mind the innocence but more chemistry would have been great.
It's always sad when a book doesn't meet your expectations, especially when you loved the first one! Hopefully your next read will be amazing!
Do You Dog-ear?
This one was a bit of a let down but it was still a good read.
I don't read many historicals these days but thank you for the review.
I only read them every once in a while but do enjoy them from time to time.
I am sorry this one did not live up to your expectations. It is good to know it somehow redeemed itself in the end.
It was okay but it seemed to be missing that extra spark that would have made it great.
I'm impressed that that dude (on the cover) managed to get skinny jeans 100+ years before their invention – lol! 😉
🙂
This does sound like a nice read though too bad it wasn't quite as amazing as the first book. I haven't read any Sophie Barnes but these sound like characters I'd really enjoy reading about so I'm adding this series to my TBR.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series. This was just seemed to be missing something for me.