The Rigid Duke

Darcy Burke

Mar 2022 · Matchmaking Chronicles Book 2 · Zealous Quill Press

About this ebook

As a refinement tutor, Mrs. Juno Langton helps young ladies develop the skills and confidence to secure an advantageous marriage. Her cheerful disposition never wavers no matter how challenging her assignment. When a house party provides an opportunity to match her difficult charge with a duke, Juno will go to any lengths to satisfy her employer and ensure the young lady’s future. Too bad the duke is an unsmiling, rigid grouch, albeit an irritatingly handsome one.

The Duke of Warrington dislikes social gatherings and despises the Marriage Mart which makes it nigh impossible to find a wife. He plans to secure his future duchess at a house party, but she’s being managed by a thoroughly meddlesome—and provocative—Mrs. Langton, who is determined to find his better nature. He’ll do anything to avoid her sunny charm and room-brightening smiles, but she’s breaking through his shell and the only way he can think to keep her quiet is to kiss her. He must marry the young lady, not desire the companion.

But now he’s rethinking his wife choices.

Ratings and reviews

Great fun! What a wonderful way to while away an afternoon! Thoroughly enjoyable take on the grumpy/sunshine trope. Minimal drama and lots of tasteful heat. Never fail author!

I really like this new offering by the author in her new series, Matchmaking Chronicles. Dare, the curmudgeonly Duke of Warrington, meets his match in widowed Mrs. Juno Langton, a successful refinement tutor. The young miss she has been hired to prepare for the marriage mart, has a meddling mother who is intent on seeing her daughter married to a Duke. When Dare, with his mother’s encouragement, decides to attend a house party, he meets Juno and her new charge, Marina. Juno and Dare are complete opposites. He can’t understand why he is attracted to her. She isn’t afraid to “chew him out” on several occasions. In one instance, the Duke replied, “I don’t recall the last time someone provoked me to laughter.” Despite Juno’s endeavors to secure a match between Marina and the Duke, it was not to be. Sometimes oil and water do mix and that is what occurred in this novella. Juno was full of cheer, charm and grit and was able to get the grumpy Duke to smile and even laugh. She made him feel whole. He knew he was rigid but he wanted to change for her and make her his Duchess. I recommend this read. It had a good writing style, was very character-driven, and the story was quite engaging. Heat level: intimate episodes, moderately hot. My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC I received of this work.

The Rigid Duke is a magnificent historical romance by Darcy Burke. Ms. Burke has once again entertained and delighted this reader with this well-written book. This is a fairly quick read, perfect for those with limited reading time. Juno is the companion of Marina and is tasked with prepping her to find a husband. Alexander, Duke of Warrington is attending a house party specifically to make a match with Marina. Juno and Alexander's story is packed with drama, humor and spice. I enjoyed every page of this book and look forward to my next book by Darcy Burke. The Rigid Duke is book 1 of the Matchmaking Chronicles Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Bookfunnel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.