ARC Review: Delighting the Duke (Dukes Done Wrong #4) by Alexa Aston
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Series: Dukes Done Wrong #4
Author: Alexa Aston
Published October 27th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing
Goodreads Synopsis
An army major whose soul is stained by war. A lonely bluestocking who failed miserably during her first Season. Two strangers who bond over an injured kitten . . .
Aaron Hartfield is forced to leave the army and return to England to claim a title he never wanted when his brother is killed in a scandalous duel. Hart’s friends convince him to attend the Season in order to find himself a duchess and provide an heir—but he has no interest in making a love match.
After a disastrous come-out, bluestocking Olivia Knight retreats to her uncle’s vicarage in the country for five years. With his death, she returns to London and finds her father and loathsome cousin planning to choose a husband for her. Olivia is interested in a man’s character, while her relatives want her to secure a wealthy peer with a lofty title.
When Hart meets Olivia, he realizes no one else will do as his duchess, but he keeps silent, wanting her to grow in confidence and receive the attention she deserves before he offers for her.
Will Hart wait too late and lose his chance with the blossoming Olivia—or will he speak up and find a lasting love with the ugly duckling who has turned into a beautiful swan?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
The fourth Turner Terror to inherit an unexpected title, Aaron Hartfield, or Hart as he's better known, is more at ease on the battlefield than he is at home as the new Duke of Mansfield. When his younger brother was killed by his elder one, Hart was blamed and sent away from home, never allowed to return. But following the death's of all his family member's, he's the only one left, and luckily has his friends to support him. But on one of his first days in London, he meets the beautiful Lady Olivia Knight, rescuing an injured kitten, and he's smitten. But Olivia is newly returned to London too, and after her disastrous debut, she's worried about her reintroduction. But her thoughtless father and scapegrace cousin are determined to marry her off by the end of the Season, and they don't care what she says in the matter. Hart knows he needs Olivia to be his duchess, but will he be able to bolster her confidence enough, without losing her forever?
This series just gets better and better as the story progresses. I know it's book 4, and we do have a lot of the backstory to contend with, but I feel as if you could really read this book as a standalone. I love that we see the couples from the previous books, and there's lots of mentions of the 5th Terror, Finch, who's book will be next. But all in all, I loved the couple we saw here. They were perfect for each other, and really accentuated the good in each other, without overpowering. Olivia had had an awful childhood with her vindictive mother, who bullied her cruelly over her weight, so when she debuted, she was larger than was in fashion, and was treated abominably. Luckily, she had her aunt and uncle, who she fled to, and they cared for her like true parents should. Now that her aunt is dead, and her uncle sick, her father finally cares about her enough to bring her home, but only to sway the gossip, and marry her off ASAP. I loved seeing how Olivia grew so much in the book, from being quite vulnerable at the beginning, to discovering herself, and finding friendship and love unexpectedly. Hart was a really good love interest, but didn't stick with me as much as Olivia did. However, he was right for her, and the way he knew he wanted to marry her, but wanted her to see herself how everyone else did, and grow in confidence and strength first, was astounding. I really rooted for them, and was pleased with how there story turned out!
Dates Read:
October 24, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
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