Duke of Arrogance
Series: Dukes of Distinction #4
Author: Alexa Aston
Published May 6th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
A woman spurned by the ton . . .

A duke harboring an appalling secret . . .

Life radically changes for Arabella Jennings, the daughter of an Oxford don, when her father becomes the Earl of Barrington. She’s an intellectual who would rather be discussing Shakespeare’s works but now finds herself navigating the vicious waters of Polite Society.

Jonathan Sutton’s twin dies, making him the new Duke of Blackmore. Pledging to live for both himself and Arch, Jon becomes one of London’s leading rakes, breaking rules and bedding women as his brother would have done had he lived.

Jon meets Arabella the first night of the Season and decides this woman, so different from every conquest he’s made, might help him from the abyss he’s sunk into.

Can a bluestocking with a quick wit tame the disreputable Duke of Arrogance—and save his soul?
Goodreads

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

For Jonathan Sutton, he never expected that he would become Duke of Blackmore at the age of sixteen. As the second son, 7 minutes younger than his twin brother, he always thought Arch, the golden child would inherit, and not for years. But, after his brother contracted syphilis and died, causing his father to have a stroke and also pass, he was left alone in the world, with only his 6 year old sister, Elizabeth, for company. His moniker in the ton is the Duke of Arrogance, but after Elizabeth's debut last year, he has tried to curb his excesses, and become more respectable. However, he still hasn't considered marriage, not even when three of his best friends have found happiness; that is, until he meets Lady Arabella Jennings in a library. Arabella was born as plain old Miss Jennings, the only daughter of a fourth son, and was more than happy with her lot in life, especially when it awarded her the opportunity to help her Oxford don father with his lectures, and embrace her own studies. Now finding herself as the daughter of a newly inherited Earl, she makes her debut in her twenties, and immediately makes a number of mistakes, and faux pas. But, with the help of Jon and his friends, she starts to make her way in society, but may be at risk of losing her heart. Can Jon find it in himself to be open to love, or will his pass come back to haunt him?

As the fourth book in the series, I already felt like I knew Jon from meeting him in previous stories, but I absolutely loved him as the hero this time around. He had had a difficult childhood, and had to grow up quickly that it had irrevocably changed him. He only had Elizabeth and his friends to keep him grounded, but now nearly thirty, and with his friends settling down, it's time for him to consider his future. Arabella was a lovely heroine too, who was lucky in the fact that her father had allowed her a well rounded education, better than most women her age, but finding herself a 'lady', without knowing the ways of the ton, it was difficult for her to make friends or even go about her business in her new society. Meeting both Jon and Elizabeth was a godsend, and though there are moments of angst that were perhaps unnecessary, but all in all, I enjoyed the book, and can't wait for the final instalment.

Dates Read:
May 1, 2021

Rating
3 Stars