ARC Review: A Most Unusual Duke (Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde #2) by Susanna Allen
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Series: Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde #2
Author: Susanna Allen
Published December 28th 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Goodreads Synopsis
Bridgerton meets Werewolves Within in this sparkling shapeshifter Regency romance mixed with humor, steamy chemistry, and fantasy.
The Duke said he'd never get married...
The Prince Regent insists his cousin and fellow bear shifter, Arthur Humphries, the Duke of Osborn, take a mate to ensure the continuation of their species. After all, Arthur is an Alpha, so he must set a good example. The duke would very much prefer to continue his comfortable bachelor lifestyle, but the Prince Regent is not a bear to be poked.
Beatrice, the widowed Marchioness of Castleton, is in possession of a powerful secret. She knows all about Shifters, her horrible late husband being one of them. At any moment, Beatrice could reveal the secrets of the Prince and those like him—unless the Prince can make sure she marries another Shifter.
A marriage between the Duke of Osborn and Beatrice is far from ideal for either one, but at least they won't fall in love...right?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
When the Prince Regent calls you to court and says you will marry, not many would be able to argue, not even the powerful Duke of Osborn. Cousin to the Prince, and a fellow bear shifter, he is told to marry the widowed Marchioness of Castleton, a human but who's late husband had been a shifter himself, and reclaim his lost home. Neither Arthur nor Beatrice want the marriage, and agree to do it only in name. But as they arrive at the duke's estate, they find it in ruins, and Beatrice does whatever it takes to bring it to scratch, even when it leads to her falling for her new family, and new husband. Arthur is still reeling from the murder of his father years ago, and loss of his sleuth, and is wary to return home and see the neglect. However, Beatrice soon makes him see the good in it all, and he finds himself wishing they were vera amorum - or are they?
This book may have been even better than the first one, in my opinion. We briefly met the characters from A Most Unusual Duke in A Wolf in Duke's Clothing, and the hint of the wedding was enough to make me unbelievably glad I had this book ready to be read. Both of the main characters had strong story arcs, and I loved seeing the growth and development of each person. Beatrice had a horrendous first marriage, and was sort of blackmailing the Prince Regent with the knowledge of the shifters, to be able to have some semblance of power at court. But George had had enough of that, so decided she must marry, and to his cousin, Arthur, a fellow shifter, and one who should be able to take her in hand. He also had an ulterior motive, to get Arthur motivated to take his sleuth and home back from the interloper who killed his father and fought for dominance. Both had been unbearably hurt and scarred by their pasts, and it was a marriage fraught with lack of communication and trust to start off with. Luckily, they soon found a common ground, and when more of Arthur's family and people descended on the estate, as well as a little help from Alfred and Felicity, they were able to turn their budding friendship to something more. I really enjoyed this book, and hope this isn't the last in the series - there's definitely a story there about Alfred and Arthur's friend, Alwyn, Duke of Llewelyn, who had been locked in a menagerie and is acclimatising to freedom again.
Dates Read:
August 20, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
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