My Darling Duke

Stacy Reid

Dec 2019 · The Sinful Wallflowers Book 1 · Sold by Entangled: Amara

About this ebook

“Lush, beautifully written, and deeply romantic, My Darling Duke will sweep you off your feet. My heart was lost to this couple from the very start.” —Amalie Howard, author of The Beast of Beswick

Miss Katherine Danvers has always been a wallflower. But now, with her family on the brink of financial ruin, she finds herself a desperate wallflower. To save her family, she’ll do anything. Luckily, she has the perfect plan...

She’ll impress the ton by simply announcing she is engaged to the reclusive and mysterious Duke of Thornton, Alexander Masters, and secure strong matches for her sisters. No one has heard from the duke in years. Surely he’ll never find out before her sisters’ weddings, and she can go back to her own quiet life.

Soon, though, everything is out of control. At first, it’s just a few new ball gowns on the duke’s accounts. Then, it’s interviews with reporters eager for gossip. Before she knows it, Katherine has transformed herself into Kitty Danvers, charming and clever belle of the ton—with everyone eager to meet her thankfully absent fiancé.

But when the enigmatic Alexander Masters suddenly arrives in the city, dashing and oh so angry, he demands retribution. Except not in the way Katherine expected...

Each book in the Sinful Wallflowers series is STANDALONE:
* My Darling Duke
* Her Wicked Marquess
* A Scoundrel of Her Own

Ratings and reviews

Oh my! With such a tormented, broken hero, it is no wonder I was completely captivated by every word in this book. When Kitty is in desperate need to help her family she makes a wicked decision, sure that she is safe from her lie being discovered. At least by the man she has unknowingly pulled into her deception. Alexander lives a lonely life. He has no hope for the future and lives with the memories of horror as his constant companion. But when he learns about Kitty and the con that she is pulling on London’s society, rather than anger he is intrigued. And soon he is stepping out of the shadows of his home and back into society where Kitty offers the sweetest kind of hope that can never be fulfilled. ’He wanted to know more...everything about her until this perplexing hunger was sated. And suddenly he needed to possess her more than his next breath.’ While Kitty was an interesting heroine, it was Alexander that ruled this story. My heart ached for him and all that he had suffered, continues to suffer. I wanted, needed, him to have a happy ever after. And yet I wasn’t ever sure that was going to happen and if so, what it was going to look like. This is a pretty angsty read with Alexander’s and Kitty’s relationship being the focal point for the drama. Though there is a lot of push and pull from Alexander, it was completely understandable. While you won’t find your standard alpha hero here, you will find a man who struggles with not only what is currently happening to him, but what the future holds. I’m looking forward to reading more about Kitty’s friends and learning what wickedness they get themselves into.

My Darling Duke by Stacy Reid Sinful Wallflowers #1 Wallflower friends who have been out for awhile determine to create their own futures by doing what they would never do if diamonds of the first water. This group of friends decide to be a bit scandalous and in so doing forge their own futures...or at least guarantee their families a future. In book one of the series we meet most of the women but hear the story of how Katherine “Kitty” Danvers scandalously claims she is affianced to the Duke of Thornton. When he shows up at a ball she is not sure what will happen but puts her game face on and they meet together in a quiet room to...evaluate. At first I thought this would be a predictable silly story though I have always enjoyed this author’s books...it was predictable in that there is a HEA but unpredictable in the fact that some big issues were discussed and handled with delicacy...well...a bit of steamy delicacy. This book made me think and care and fall for the two main characters while wondering what would happen in book two of the series. What I liked: * The willingness of the wallflowers to move forward with their lives – even if it means scandalous * Kitty – she was willing to do what it took to provide security for her family. I also just liked her strength and willingness to honestly go for what she wanted * Alexander – a man of strength and honor who put his sister first and paid the price for it. He is a good man and once he finally realized what he really wanted – he went for it. * The story – I cared about the outcome and enjoyed reading how the two managed to come together...eventually. * The willingness to tackle a story with real issues that needed to be overcome for the HEA to occur What I didn’t like: * Alexander’s dithering and lack of self-worth – at times * The doctors’ negativity * Having to say goodbye to Katherine and Alexander Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Amara for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4-5 Stars

I loved reading Kitty and Alexander’s amazing story in My Darling Duke by Stacy Reid book 1 in Sinful Wallflowers series. Katherine, “Kitty”, Danvers might be a wallflower but she would do anything to save her family, after the death of her father. She has a devilish plan; a perfect plan. She will announce that she is engaged to the reclusive and mysterious Duke of Thornton, Alexander Masters, and secure strong matches for her sisters. After all, no one has heard from the duke in years. Most likely he would never find out and once her sisters are married off she can go back to her quiet life. Life doesn’t work quite as Kitty had planned. First she’s called on by one of the duke’s solicitors who moves the family into better quarters and allows her access to the duke’s accounts. Then there are inquisitive reporters eager to interview her for their gossip rags. Before she knows it she has become the center of society with everyone wanting to meet her absent fiancé. Unexpectedly, Alexander Masters arrives in the city wanting to meet this bold woman. Upon meeting, Alexander appears quite angry and demands retribution; but not the way Kitty expected. Kitty was a character after my own heart. Kitty cared about others before herself as evidence by her masquerade. Alexander had been injured in a fire and fall, ten years prior; the burns disfiguring half of his body. One could not help but be moved by him, yet people were repulsed by his scars and he embarrassed when his legs would not work. Not Kitty, she was empathic; wanting to take away his pain and hurt. These two were a perfect match. Ms. Reid wrote an emotional, love story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, sexual chemistry, humor, wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters giving Kitty and Alexander a chance to have a forever love. I highly recommend My Darling Duke to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

About the author

Stacy is an avid reader of novels with a deep passion for writing. She especially loves romance and adores writing about people falling in love. Stacy lives a lot in the worlds she creates and actively speaks to her characters (out loud). She has a warrior way, never give up on her dreams. When Stacy is not writing, she spends a copious amount of time watching Japanese anime and playing video games with her love, Du’Sean Nelson. stacyreid.com