Review: A Duke by Any Other Name (Rogues to Riches #4) by Grace Burrowes
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Series: Rogues to Riches #4
Author: Grace Burrowes
Published April 28th 2020 by Piatkus Books
Goodreads Synopsis
A difficult duke, a determined lady and too many secrets . . .
Nathaniel, Duke of Rothhaven, lives in seclusion, leaving his property only to gallop his demon-black steed across the moors by moonlight. Exasperated mamas invoke his name to frighten small children, though Nathaniel is truly a decent man -- maybe too decent for his own good. That's precisely why he must turn away the beguiling woman demanding his help.
Lady Althea Wentworth has little patience for dukes, reclusive or otherwise, but she needs Rothhaven's backing to gain entrance into Polite Society. She's asked him nicely, she's called on him politely, all to no avail -- until her prize hogs just happen to plunder the ducal orchard. He longs for privacy. She's vowed to never endure another ball as a wallflower. Yet as the two grow closer, it soon becomes clear they might both be pretending to be something they're not.
Goodreads
Review
In the fourth instalment of the Rogues to Riches series, the eldest Wentworth sister finds her place in society, while hiding in the Yorkshire countryside. Althea hated being in society. Considered a spinster now, she has been ridiculed ever since she entered polite society, for her accent, her upbringing, just about everything. She has had enough, and runs to her estate in the Yorkshire Moors, refusing to return to London before she has polished herself up. Her closest neighbour is the reclusive Duke of Rothhaven, who only leaves his home at night. But when her pigs get into his property, she is intrigued and keeps returning to Rothhaven again and again. Nathaniel has a reason for being secretive, and no matter how he feels about Althea, he can't afford to forget why he is so remote. Will they both be able to find what they're looking for, and help one another, or will their secrets come back to hurt them?
I've been intrigued by Althea since we first met her, and was happy when I realised this was her story. She suffered so much as a child with her abusive father, and when Quinn left to work, she was the eldest and bore the brunt of his anger. She had to do so much to try and protect Constance and Stephen, and it's really affect her. Joining society later in life, with her past haunting her every move, she was ridiculed by the other ladies. They were clearly jealous, as she was the sister of a wealthy duke, so had better marriage prospects, but it led to her wanting to shun society. While hiding in the Yorkshire Moors, she realises she does want to marry, and have children, but to do so, she needs to remould herself into the perfect society lady. Meeting Nathaniel, she begs him to be her tutor, so she can return in time for the new season, but he keeps her at arms length until she breaks down all of his walls. Nathaniel was the youngest son, who loved his elder brother, Robbie, until he was injured and later sent to 'school'. When he was pronounced dead, Nathaniel became the heir, and later the duke. He's always felt like it shouldn't be his title, and when he finds Robbie, in a wicked asylum, he needs to protect him, and his title. Impersonating a peer is a capital offence, and if anyone was to find out, it could ruin them all. I loved Nathaniel's care for his brother, which was just like Althea's love of her own family. They were made for each other, honestly, and they deserved to be happy, finally, after suffering for so long. I'm really glad they dealt with the villain in the way they did, and that the next book seems to be Robbie and Constance's story - who apparently have already met.
Dates Read:
November 29-December 2, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
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