Review: My Darling Duke (Sinful Wallflowers #1) by Stacy Reid

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My Darling Duke
Series: Sinful Wallflowers #1
Author: Stacy Reid
Published December 31st 2019 by Entangled: Amara

Goodreads Synopsis
Miss Katherine Danvers is a desperate wallflower. Her family is on the brink of financial ruin, and it is up her to save her mother and sisters from a life of indignities. So she transforms herself into the incomparable Kitty Danvers, the fiancée of the enigmatic and reclusive Alexander Masters, Duke of Thornton—once dubbed the mad, bad, and dangerous catch of the Season.

Ten years ago, society and the woman Alexander Masters loved called him a monster, after a tragic accident left him scarred and confined to a wheelchair. His heart exists in cold, lonely exile, until he learns he has a fiancée—a deceptive, clever, and utterly intriguing woman he's never met. Miss Danvers will now learn the consequences of engaging herself to the beast, for Alexander is determined to make her his. Soon, they are involved in a chase, a clash of wills, and though he once vowed to never love again, he burns for the enchanting Miss Danvers. And denying his heart may cost him an exquisite love that happens only once in a lifetime.
Goodreads

Review
My Darling Duke sees wallflower Katherine Danvers, take the ultimate step in order to protect her family. She knows that as the oldest, it was her job to marry well, and push her younger sisters towards their own matches, but a handful of seasons have left her decidedly on the shelf, and her family situation is looking fraught. For nearly ten years, the Duke of Thorton has eschewed society, and is a recluse at his Scottish estate. Kitty claims to be his fiancee, leading to her and her sisters being invited to more and more society events, and it seems her family may be saved. However, when the duke hears all about it, he's not overly pleased, and arrives in London, complete with mask and wheelchair, to first meet his blushing bride, and make her pay. After the fire that left his parents dead, and himself covered in scars and announced unable to have children, Alexander has kept himself away from everything. Only his younger sister keeps him going, and he knows that with his cousin as his heir, there's no reason for him to appear in public anymore. When he hears all about Kitty's actions, he's intrigued, and wants to meet her, and when he forces her to travel to his estate, he soon finds himself more and more in love, and could even decide to change his views on marriage.

This book just hooked me from page one! Kitty was a character I wholly loved, who knew that with her father dead, and her family living in Cheapside, she had next to no chances, but didn't want her sisters to suffer, so would lie to all, and face the inevitable scandal once it arrived - hopefully with her sisters already suitably situated. Her voice throughout the book was perfect, with her being both vulnerable and strong, and her and Alexander's every interaction was pure chemistry. She fell for him, and hard, and he did too in return. Alexander didn't want to let anyone in, let alone Kitty, but she broke through all of his defences, especially when she showed him she wasn't scared or a simpering miss he could push around. She brought out the best in him, and even restarted his feelings of lust and arousal that he didn't think was possible anymore. The inevitable angst was heartbreaking, but I knew it would be sorted because the two of them were just so in love, nothing could stop them. I'm really looking forward to Her Wicked Marquess, which I think will be Charlotte and the Marquess of Sands story, and hopefully we'll see Kitty and Alexander again.

Dates Read:
July 15-16, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

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