Deceiving the Duke
Series: Gems of London #1
Author: Elizabeth Ellen Carter
Published February 4th 2022 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Hate brought them together. Will love tear them apart?

Welcome to book 1 in the exciting new series from USA Today Bestselling Author Elizabeth Ellen Carter.

William Musgrave, Duke of Auchen, is dying. When he goes to his grave, he will take with him the opportunity to right a wrong that has left Lady Ruby McAllister impoverished.

Ruby has the contract that pledged her father a one-third share in a successful Scottish textile mill. But Auchen never made good on his promise before Ruby's father died. Now Ruby has lost her beloved Strathaird, home to the McAllisters for centuries. Her only hope is to confront the duke before he dies. And her chance comes when a vacancy arises for a new night nurse in his London household.

Standing in her way is Seth Musgrave, the duke's estranged son, who despises his father for deriding him as an imbecile. In truth, Seth is the driving force behind his father's successful enterprise. William Musgrave has heeded no one in his life except for his wife. She died twenty years ago, but Ruby hears him call for her in his nightly delirium.

What if Ruby answered his call, pretending to be the only woman who could ever persuade the duke to do the right thing?

How long can Ruby keep her secret when Seth is trying to distract her with his kisses? And what if Seth learns the woman he’s falling in love with is deceiving the Duke?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lady Ruby McAllister needs to get the ageing Duke of Auchen to right the wrong he has done against her family. Because of Auchen's actions, Ruby's family have lost their ancestral home, and she is out for revenge. However, arriving at his home in London, she sees a duke on the verge of death, and works her way into becoming his night nurse. Thinking she can convince him to right his wrongs before his death, perhaps even using the memory of his late wife against him, Ruby sees no way for her plan to fail. That is, until the duke's estranged son, Seth, arrives and catches her eye.

I found this to be an okay book, but not a favourite of mine. Ruby was an alright main character, but she made some questionable choices at times. I did like how much she cared about her family, and wanted to help them and reclaim her ancestral home. Seth was very much similar to Ruby. Though an Earl, and heir to the dukedom, his father had thrown him out, and Seth spent most of his time with his workers at the textile mill. He only returned home to speak with his father before his death, but meeting Nurse Campbell (Ruby, in disguise), he finds himself softening to his father's actions, and wanting to reconcile before it's too late. I wish there wasn't as much secret keeping in the book as there was, but it was somewhat understandable. I think I'll likely continue with the series, but it's not going to be high on my TBR.

Dates Read:
June 20-21, 2023

Rating
3 Stars