ARC Review: Discouraging the Duke (Dukes Done Wrong #1) by Alexa Aston
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Series: Dukes Done Wrong #1
Author: Alexa Aston
Published July 16th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing
Goodreads Synopsis
Welcome to the new world from Alexa Aston—Dukes Done Wrong.
Accused of something they never did. Five boys banished from their homes in disgrace, to the place where they find the brothers of their heart—and build new family ties that will last a lifetime.
A lonely army captain who suddenly finds himself a duke. A gentleman’s daughter running an estate, because her father no longer can. Two lonely souls whose sparks are undeniable...
Miles Notley returns home as the new Duke of Winslow after being sent away for accidentally killing his younger brother when he was ten years old, an act his older brother committed—and denied. With his brother’s death, Miles finds himself in unfamiliar waters. He has no idea how to run an estate, much less be a duke. Until he meets an intriguing young woman.
Emery Jenson came to Wildwood ten years ago with her parents, hired to be the estate’s steward and housekeeper. She has taken on more responsibility as her father’s mind grows weak and now runs the ducal country seat. When the new duke shows up, she schemes to hide her father’s deficiencies, believing the Duke of Winslow won’t remain long since the Season is in full swing and he will need to claim a bride and provide an heir.
But Miles isn’t going anywhere. He becomes captivated not only by Emery’s charm and confidence but admires her skills in making Wildwood a profitable estate. Miles decides no one but Emery can be his duchess—and he is up for the challenge, ready to convince the blunt beauty in the battle of wills that they can both come up winners—if she will only say yes.
Will Emery, who thinks she has found her place in the world and urges Miles to now find his, discover that the best place she can be is at the Duke of Winslow’s side?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
When he turned 10, Miles Notley, second son of the Duke of Winslow, expected to have a fantastic birthday, especially with his little brother, Tony. But, it soon turned to devastation when his eldest brother, Ralph, shot and killed Tony, and laid the blame on Miles. Ralph, as the heir and golden child, was immediately believed, and so Miles was exiled to the Turner School, along with 4 other second sons, who had all been blamed for crimes by their elder brother, and exiled in similar ways. Dubbing themselves the Terrors, they became a family, and even now, four of them serve in the Peninsula for the King's army. But Miles is soon dispatched home following the deaths of his father and brother, as the new Duke of Winslow. He arrives home to find Wildwood in the capable hands of the estate steward and housekeeper, the Jenson's, as well as their beautiful daughter, Emery, who seems to be the glue holding the place together. But Emery is hiding a secret - her father is unwell, and with his mind gradually going, she's taking on more and more responsibility, to the extent that she is the steward, in all but name. Thinking that the new Duke will only stay at Wildwood for a couple of weeks, before heading to London to find a bride at the upcoming season, she in for a shock when the military man who appears in front of her states he's there to stay, and to discover more about the estate. Miles soon realises that Emery is everything he could ever want, and the perfect duchess to manage the estate and tenants, and he'll stop at nothing to make her see the truth of it all, and agree to marry him.
I loved this book! I recently ready Alexa's Dukes of Distinction series, and when I saw she had a new series coming, and the first book was available to review, I jumped at the chance to read it. Discouraging the Duke was the perfect introduction to the new Dukes Done Wrong series, and definitely whet the appetite for more. Both of the main characters were flawed, and had secrets, but they were strong, and capable, and truly cared about others, and more importantly, about each other. Because of his banishment, Miles barely knows anything about the estate, or his people, and the first thing he does when he returns is get rid of the old butler, who'd always hated him, and sent his mother to live at the Dower House, where she couldn't interfere in his running of his estate. He is happy to see that some of the old retainers and tenants he remembers from childhood are still around, and he promotes Thomas, the footman who was always kind to him, to butler. This, and his other actions, really endears him to the residents of Wildwood, and when he gets closer to Emery, who is universally loved by all, he's well on his way to being a fantastic Duke, much unlike his brother and father before him.
Emery's been on the estate for over ten years, and helped to nurse the old duke in his ill health, before his death. When his eldest son inherited, Ralph came on to Emery, and she hit him, and thought she'd have to flee the estate from his rage. Luckily for her, he died from a drunken horse accident, and she was safe to help her parents run the estate. But keeping the truth of just what she did from Miles was hard, especially as her father was declining so rapidly. Her feelings for Miles, too, weren't helping. She was more than attracted to him, and it was clear he reciprocated the feelings, but they were from very different stations in life. He's a duke, and she's the daughter of his housekeeper and estate manager, albeit an estate manager who's father was a viscount. There couldn't be anything that came from the relationship, at least in Emery's eyes, but for Miles, who's life had never been 'normal', he cared more about those who were kind, and caring, and strong, like Emery, to care what the ton might say if she was his Duchess. He had no intentions of going to London, to take part in all the society balls and events, and wanted to be at home, with the woman he loved, and with his people. They truly were perfect for each other, and there were so many touching moments in the the book, it was easy to pick it up, and read in one sitting. I can't wait for book 2!
Dates Read:
July 18, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
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