A Duke in Shining Armor: A Difficult Dukes Novel

Loretta Chase

Nov 2017 · Difficult Dukes Book 1 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

Not all dukes are created equal. Most are upstanding members of Society. And then there’s the trio known as The Dis-Graces.

Hugh Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley, will never win prizes for virtue. But even he draws the line at running off with his best friend’s bride. All he’s trying to do is recapture the slightly inebriated Lady Olympia Hightower and return her to her intended bridegroom.

For reasons that elude her, bookish, bespectacled Olympia is supposed to marry a gorgeous rake of a duke. The ton is flabbergasted. Her family’s ecstatic. And Olympia? She’s climbing out of a window, bent on a getaway. But tall, dark, and exasperating Ripley is hot on her trail, determined to bring her back to his friend. For once, the world-famous hellion is trying to do the honorable thing.

So why does Olympia have to make it so deliciously difficult for him . . . ?

Ratings and reviews

3.5 stars - rounded Olympia Hightower is not your average deb: winner of the dubious title, Most Boring Debutante for the seventh year, this bookish young woman is far from the expected. Literate and book loving, older and not wholly excited by her upcoming marriage, she’s a heroine that many of us would befriend, even as others in her situation find her odd. Now off the shelf, she’s due to marry the Duke of Ashmont, a notorious rake and one of the 3 dubbed the “Dis-Graces”, a marriage not even remotely intriguing to her, but because of her family’s desperate need for money, and her being a dutiful daughter – the marriage is on. Right up until she escapes out her window. Hugh, Duke of Ripley is yet another of the Dis-Graces, and a good friend to Ashmont. He sees Olympia trying to run – and while tarred with the rake’s brush, he seeks to protect her and deliver her to a female relation, allowing Ashmont to come and plead his case. Hugh is a wonderfully compassionate man, he wants to make Olympia see sense, but there is something in her personality and her love of literature that calls to him: a side he’s hidden from even his closest friends. Slowly but surely their feelings and regard start to develop: a sort of mutual admiration society springing up between them. Hugh isn’t truly a rake, even though he is in a highly improper situation: his goal is to deliver the bride promised to Ashmont, and he truly struggles with his own feelings for her, and hers for him. A bit uneven in pacing: early on the story is slow to develop and contains plenty of background and back and forth from Olympia, that actually was frustrating as it seemed to be the one worry she had: not her reputation when leaving, not being in the company of a rake – but her feelings about marriage. Fortunately though, the fun of the road trip as they are hunted, Hugh’s honest regard for her intelligence and conversational ability, and even the fun they are having with most of the rigid constraints of society falling to the wayside. Finally the connection between the two becomes apparent and spoken, with honest regard and a clear purpose that allays the fears and hesitations and allows their relationship to stand out. Full of unspoken and dreamed of passions, steam and plenty of heartfelt conversations, the story is a good introduction to the series and promises intrigue and interest for the other Dis-Graces. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

3.5 stars A Duke in Shining Armor, is an entertaining fictional story, and the first book, in Loretta Chase’s Difficult Dukes Series. Lady Olympia Hightower is about to become the new Duchess of Ashmont. She should be ecstatic. But, instead of basking in all of the luscious benefits that will come with her new title, Olympia’s been drowning her fears with alcohol. The problem, according to Lady Olympia, is that the Duke of Ashmont, is as handsome as an angel, and she, was practically on the shelf. Lady Olympia has been passed over, year after year and was considered by most men, to be bookish and boring. So, what would a man like the Duke of Ashmont want with her? That’s the question she needed to figure out before marrying the handsome devil. When Hugh, the Duke of Ripley came knocking at her door, she knew that her time was up. Lady Olympia took the only escape she could think of, out the window. The Duke of Ripley was given the responsibility of making sure his best friend’s wedding went off without a hitch. Hugh was pretty sure, though, that Lady Olympia, escaping her own ceremony, was going to put a damper on his friend’s day. So, without giving it much thought, Hugh hoisted himself up and climbed out the window, to be about the business, of fetching the soon-to-be-new Duchess of Ashmont. When Hugh took on the mission of bringing Lady Olympia back to the wedding, he fully expected a challenge. What he didn’t expect, though, was that his challenge would include stuffing his growing attraction to Olympia, and keeping his hands to himself. Although I enjoyed reading this book, I didn’t find it realistic or emotionally captivating. However, if you are looking for a light historical fiction romance, this may be the perfect book for you. Thank you, Avon Publishing and Edelweiss, for my advanced review copy.

When I see a book by Loretta Chase, I know that it will be a story worth reading. Lady Olympia Hightower is twenty-six years old and in her seven seasons has not managed to become betrothed. Image her surprise when she receives an offer from the young, wealthy and utterly gorgeous Duke of Ashmont? Her parents are almost desperate for funds to support her brothers and Olympia being the practice sort, accepts him. What she comes to find out is that Ashmont is a wastrel of the worst sort and hangs out with several gentlemen of the same ilk. On the day of her wedding, the groom is totally inebriated and Olympia decides she has to escape. Climbing out of a window, she is followed by Hugh Ancaster, the Duke of Ripley who is a friend of the Ashmont's and has been tasked with standing up as his best man. What follows is a whirlwind journey with Hugh, at first trying to get Olympia back to the wedding. But as fate often has different ideas, an attraction begins between the two. Of course there is a lot of adventure and many entertaining moments that will keep you turning the pages! You will love this book as I did and will be looking forward to the next in the series!

About the author

Loretta Chase has worked in academe, retail, and the visual arts, as well as on the streets—as a meter maid—and in video, as a scriptwriter. She might have developed an excitingly checkered career had her spouse not nagged her into writing fiction. Her bestselling historical romances, set in the Regency and Romantic eras of the early 19th century, have won numerous awards, including three from the Romance Writers of America. They have been published in a great many different languages, which she wishes she could read.