ARC Review: The Duke Heist (The Wild Wynchesters #1) by Erica Ridley
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Series: The Wild Wynchesters #1
Author: Erica Ridley
Published February 9th 2021 by Forever
Goodreads Synopsis
A NYT bestselling author kicks off a new Regency series of "irresistible romance and a family of delightful scoundrels" as a woman looking to recover a stolen painting accidentally kidnaps a duke instead. (Eloisa James)
Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable—a curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd. When the only father she's ever known makes a dying wish for his adopted family of orphans to recover a missing painting, she's the first one her siblings turn to for stealing it back. No one expects that in doing so, she'll also abduct a handsome duke.
Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is tortured by his father's mistakes. To repair his estate's ruined reputation, he must wed a highborn heiress. Yet when he finds himself in a carriage being driven hell-for-leather down the cobblestone streets of London by a beautiful woman who refuses to heed his commands, he fears his heart is hers. But how can he sacrifice his family's legacy to follow true love?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
The Wynchester siblings may not be blood, but they're family, and since the Baron Vanderbean adopted them, they've been inseparable. Their father now gone, they plan to honour him by recovering his, and their, favourite painting, which was stolen by the late Duke of Faircliffe. The new Duke, Lawrence Gosling, appears to be like the rest of the ton, eschewing the siblings, and rebuffing their every request to discuss the artwork. However, Chloe, the de facto leader of the Wynchester's, have heard that Lawrence intends on gifting the painting to Miss York, a wealthy heiress, who he needs to marry to save his destitute estate and title. Well, all of the plans go awry, and as Chloe escapes with what she thinks is the painting, she ends up discovering that the carriage she's commandeered contains the Duke himself. Used to being forgotten, and not seen, Lawrence sees the true Chloe, and it's difficult for her to remember she's getting close to him just to find the painting. As it becomes more obvious that both are falling, and falling hard, will Lawrence be willing to sacrifice what he thinks is right, for love?
Well, this was just fantastic! I honestly was not expecting to love it so much. I woke up early one morning, and decided to start my review copy, and within 3 hours I had finished it. I was hooked from the moment I met Chloe and Lawrence, and I needed to know what happened to them. Chloe spent most of her childhood in an orphanage in Whitechapel, alone, hungry, and lucky to be alive, and more importantly than not, forgotten. When she's spotted by the Baron, who helps her and then offers her a home, she's wary, and asks that her closest friend, Thomasina - Tommy - be allowed to come too. This starts her and her new family with the Wynchester's, and she will do anything for them. She's come to terms with being forgotten, and uses her wallflower appearance to get close to others to learn the truth - like where their treasured painting will be - but she does want someone to see her, and that's exactly what Lawrence does. For Lawrence, he's got his own hang ups from his youth. His father was a drunk and profligate gambler, who's reputation after the death of his wife brought ridicule to the title, and to Lawrence himself too. Leaving the estate in tatters, Lawrence is surviving just enough for one final season, selling off prized possessions to live off, and hoping to marry the heiress with the largest dowry by season's end to save Faircliffe. They had a kinship that was lovely to see, and even from the first meeting, when Lawrence was accidentally kidnapped, the chemistry was palpable. The angst was heartbreaking after they were so clearly made for each other, and I was just about cheering out loud at the final pages of the book. Lawrence and Chloe are just perfect, and I hope we see much more of them - and that they have a large family - in the subsequent books. I'm really intrigued by Tommy's story, I think her and Philippa could be fantastic together!
Dates Read:
Rating
5 Stars
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