Eileen Aberman-Wells
The Devil’s Own Duke by Lenora Bell, book two in her Wallflowers vs. Rogues series, is a mixture of tropes that creates a wonderful story. Lady Henrietta Prince is dedicated to turning her family vineyards into a profitable sparkling wine business. Ash Ellis, a gaming den owner, claims to be the heir to her father's title. These two have an instant spark, at least until Hetty learns who Ash is. In order to save her vineyard, Hetty is forced to marry Ash, vowing that he will never have her trust or love. Ash and Hetty are a very sweet couple who loved to butt heads. Both were very stubborn and were determined to stick to their conventions about what they wanted in their marriage. It was enlightening to see them both discover how wrong they were. Early in their marriage they begin to realize that there is room in their hearts for love, a love they both deserve. There's wine tasting, child saving and an evil villain that come to play an important role in the story. Despite not having a perfect marriage, but Ash and Hetty are able to work out their problems because they end up loving each other. Ms. Bell wrote an emotional and wonderful story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, amusing banter, and strong characters, giving Ash and Hetty a chance at true love and a forever together. I highly recommend The Devil’s Own Duke to other readers and look forward to the next book in the series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
abad wallflower
“The Devil’s Own Duke” by Lenora Bell was delicious like sparkling wine! Lady Henrietta Prince, a vinter, was in a role reversal with her father. The Duke of Granville needed to marry for an heir, so Hetty had a ball for him to choose his next duchess that night. When the clock struck midnight, while kissing Ash Ellis aka The Devil’s Own Scoundrel, she heard footsteps and they went chasing after her father through the garden. Her father did not want to marry any of the ton members and Ash revealed his play. The gaming house co-owner was the long lost heir to the dukedom and Hetty would fight his claim while her father rejoiced! I loved the animosity and chemistry between Hetty and Ash! It was hilarious how her father got them married. The warning stares from her fellow bluestockings to him were entertaining. When she first met his cat, it not only showed he had a type, but what an angsty scene! I loved that Ash had qualms when it came to Hetty from the beginning. She was adamant about keeping Rosehill Park where her family vineyards were located to honor her mother’s legacy, produce and make a profit, and put English wine on the map. He had other plans for bigger profits. Although he saw her wine business as a passion project instead of profitable, he still placed a challenge to showcase her product. I love reading about anti-heroes. Ash may not always be honorable, but when his secrets were out, love did conquer all and Hetty chose him. His devastating “down-bringing” and her moral compass had her wanting to be partners for his passion projects and for the greater good. Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Moon Fox
I'd say that this one was a 60/40 split for me. For the most part I genuinely enjoyed it but I did have some issues with it. To start I found the story fun and easy to read. In my opinion there was quite a bit implausibility in play here. Somethings I found could simply ignore or let go but others though really bugged me. Despite that detail, I liked the characters and enjoyed their chemistry. This is my volitional, forthright review.
