Misleading a Duke
Series: The Wallflowers of West Lane #2
Author: A.S. Fenichel
Published September 29th 2020 by Lyrical Press

Goodreads Synopsis
Finishing school failed to turn them into proper society ladies. Now these four friends vow to remain single until they find suitors worthy of their love and devotion...

Betrothed to a man she has barely met, Lady Faith Landon calls upon her three best friends—the self-proclaimed Wallflowers of West Lane—to help uncover the secrets of her mysterious fiancé. Her suspicions are aroused when she learns that he has recently returned from France. Is he a traitor to his country? The truth is quite the opposite. Nicholas Ellsworth, Duke of Breckenridge, is a secret agent for the English Crown who has just completed a risky mission to infiltrate Napoleon’s spy network.

After his adventures, Nicholas craves the peace and quiet of the country and settling into domestic bliss with his bride. Until he discovers Faith’s deceptive investigation. How can he wed a woman who doesn’t trust him? But a powerful spark has ignited between Nicholas and Faith that could bring about a change of heart. Faith seizes her second chance to prove to Nicholas that they are a true love match but his past catches up with them when three French spies come to exact revenge. Surviving rather than wooing has become the order of the day.
Goodreads

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

After her friend had suffered through a horrific marriage, Lady Faith Landon had no intention of marrying the man her mother had engaged for her without knowing a little about him. With the other Wallflowers of West Lane, they spied on Nicholas, the Duke of Breckenridge, who took great offence to it all. Now, Faith needs to make up for it all, and organises for both herself and Nicholas to be holed up alone at a country estate, to learn more about each other, and decide whether marrying is right for them. Nicholas knows a lot about keeping secrets, being an spy an all for his king, but someone spying on him doesn't sit right. He wants to imagine that that life is behind him, but when some old 'friends' discover he was spying on them, against Napoleon, and want their revenge. Will Nicholas and Faith manage to make it through the appearance of three French spies, and overcome their own differences in the meanwhile.

Now, one thing I will say about this book, is that it jumps right into the action. The official synopsis made it seem as if this book would show Faith and the Wallflowers spying on Nicholas, but that all happened in the first book, The Earl Not Taken, which I haven't read, so I felt like I was missing something for a good few chapters. I enjoyed Faith and Nicholas as a couple, but do think that if the spying aspect hadn't been in, nor the involvement of the three french spies come for their revenge, the book would've been lacking much of a plot. Faith was perfect for this book, and her strength of character than came through again and again, in a multitude of situations, made me really care for her. Nicholas was a bit of a mystery, and still is when it comes to his childhood, but I liked seeing his own vulnerabilities through his injuries, and his past spying life. I am intrigued enough by the rest of the wallflowers to want to read the next book, so I guess we'll see what I think of that when the time comes.

Dates Read:
August 3-5, 2020

Rating
3 Stars