In the coldest flint, there is fire…
Bound by duty, Casper Brook, the eighth Duke of Rothwell, has forever spurned frivolous pleasures, his restless emotions remaining buried beneath toil and command.
Yet when a titian-haired minx perches upon his ducal desk and claims to know the whereabouts of his one burning obsession, a game of wits and passion ensues…
Fire ignites from a spark…
Miss … spark…
Miss Evelyn Pearce possesses naught but a frail young sister and an ebony-black cat. Left destitute by her baronet father’s spendthrift ways, fate and talent hand her the opportunity to seek escape from the dangerous alleys of London town.
The cold Duke of Diamonds holds the key, and all Evelyn must do is resist his not-so-cold kiss…
A dance of flaming desire…
A passion forged on secrets can never be satisfied, but as guises fall and plots unravel, will the duke’s controlled façade shatter to reveal his searching heart within?
Regency romance with warmth and wit. This book contains sensual scenes.
From the bestselling author of Amazon No.1 Regency Romance, Let Sleeping Dukes Lie, comes a new series…
1 – The Duke of Diamonds – Out now!
2 – The Rake of Hearts – Out soon
3 – The Earl of Spades – Out soon
4 – The Prince of Clubs – Out soon
more
Evelyn “Evie” Pearce is in trouble. When her father, Sir Henry Pearce, a painter of some renown died and left her and her sister Artemisia penniless, she did all she could to keep them off the streets. But when Artemisia became ill, Evie borrowed money from a moneylender and the debt has skyrocketed to a sum that she can’t possibly repay. When she meets with Filgrave to ask for more time, she is given her choices, repay the debt or Filgrave will force both Evie and her sister to work in his brothel until the money is repaid. This is unacceptable to Evie and she hatches a plan to defraud a duke and get enough money to pay her debt and leave London.
Known as the Duke of Diamonds, because he is cold, hard and rich, Casper Brook, the Duke of Rothwell, owns a painting by Sir Henry titled The Veiled Fall of Innocence – he is obsessed with the model in the painting and would love to see her face – so when a “Mrs. Swift” comes calling and claims to have the painting’s twin – The Fall of Innocence Unveiled – the one that is rumored to show the model’s face – Casper is interested, but he knows Mrs. Swift is lying to him. He should be disgusted by her, but he can’t seem to forget her. When they meet again at a ball (Thanks to Evie’s friend Matilda) Casper decides to play along – he agrees to meet her to view the painting, where he plans to reveal her lies and get back to his life.
But things do not go as planned and when he views the painting he is confused – it looks like Sir Henry’s work, but the face is wrong – Casper doesn’t immediately buy the painting, but tells her he will let her know his decision. When Evie doesn’t hear from the Duke, she is beyond desperate, she plans to bolt with her sister but is caught by Filgrave – things look dire, but they are saved by Casper. Casper takes them back to his house and from there, things get very interesting…
This was a well written, fast paced, very entertaining story with delightful characters, witty banter, secrets, lies, fabulous secondary characters, warm love scenes and very sweet HEA. I did feel like the final confrontation with the villain was a bit rushed and somewhat anticlimactic – but overall, I really enjoyed the story and I would be happy to recommend the book. This is the first book in the series, so this is the perfect place to start if this author is new to you and I’m sure you will be hooked and like me, eagerly awaiting the next installment!
The Duke of Diamonds is the first book in The Games of Gentlemen series, and it is an engaging and chemistry-laden historical romance! Destitute and poverty-stricken after the death of her penniless father, Evelyn struggles to make ends meet and has a sickly sister to care for and protect. With an unsavory moneylender pushing for repayment, Evelyn is desperate. She decides to forge a painting in her famous father’s name and sell it to the wealthy duke who already owns and loves its companion piece. This is a super risky plan, and if she is caught, Evelyn could face serious sentencing.
Casper Brook, the Duke of Rothwell, loves the painting he acquired years ago. I mean, he really loves it. He feels a connection with the woman in the painting and even speaks to her. Needless to say, he is intrigued when Evelyn claims there is a companion piece. Casper is fairly certain Evelyn is lying, but he’s too intrigued by her and the painting she speaks of. Will Casper find out about her lie? Can they resist their feelings for each other? Can Evelyn pay back the moneylenders before it’s too late?
Known as the Duke of Diamonds, Casper is an uptight proper duke who has a hard time expressing his emotions. He is very aware of what is expected of him as a duke, but he struggles to be himself amid these strict societal rules. However, this changes when he meets Evelyn. Getting to know Evelyn changes Casper for the better, and Evelyn teaches him a lot about love, embracing his feelings, and opening up to others. Both have great character arcs. I thought their stories were engaging and compelling, and I liked that, though they came from very different situations, they had a lot in common. The chemistry between Casper and Evelyn is off the charts from the beginning, and I loved how their relationship progressed. They both seem unable to resist each other, and their banter is fabulous!
I also love that Casper and Evelyn share a deep love of art. Their discussions and analysis of different pieces and artists are fantastic! Talking about (and to) art is one of the few times where Casper doesn’t seem so reserved and closed off. With her and talking about art, Casper can be himself. Underneath that composed and proper exterior is a passionate, kind, and generous man, and his love of art is infectious, as is Evelyn’s.
Like Windsor’s other books, the minor characters are as delightful as the protagonists. Evelyn’s sister is so sweet and supportive, and their friend Flora is hysterical. Casper’s rakish younger brother is so charming, but there is more to him than meets the eye. I love that he is the focus of the next book in the series! Casper’s uncle is another wonderful addition to the story. All of these characters offer love, words of wisdom, encouragement and support, a bit of levity, and other wonderful dynamics to the story.
Some suspenseful situations arise as nefarious money lenders demand repayment from Evelyn. Their lewd suggestions in lieu of payment and hints of what will happen to her if she can’t pay, as well as her sister’s weakened state, add a sense of urgency to the plot.
This is an entertaining start to The Games of Gentlemen series, and I think it is a great story for readers of historical romance. The characters are unique and interesting, and the love story is wonderful! Thanks so much to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Action packed, swoon worthy, angst filled and romantic. Awesome dialogue, wonderful characters, solid moral personalities and a realistic storyline. An excellent read. I highly recommend it.
A hard, cold, workaholic Duke keeps a tight rein on his younger brother and his own life. His drive to keep the dukedom profitable gives him little time for pleasure, except for his fascination with a painting. Evelyn is doing everything she can to keep she and her sister from the last measure of survival. Her only hope is deceiving the Duke with a painting painted by her and not her dead father. The Duke wants to know her secrets. When a Duke falls in love the lies don’t matter. Laugh out loud and painful tears, a well written book that inspires you to read the next book in the series.
The Duke of Diamonds Is A Gem!
This most enjoyable story unfolds in a charming writing style with lively, well-crafted characters. When Evelyn’s boldness collides with Casper’s cold control, it sparks no shortage of romance, passion, and humor. The epilogue was short and sweet, and I found myself wanting to know more about Evelyn and Casper’s happily ever after. I am looking forward to the rest of this series.
As with all of Emily Windsor’s books, this books was fantastic from start to finish. I love being able to glimpse characters from previous books and get to know the new characters in this one. I laughed, I frowned (not due to the writing), and I think I even melted a little. Wonderfully written with characters you want to know for real. Loved it!
THE DUKE OF DIAMONDS is the first book in the Games of Gentlemen series. Each is expected to stand alone, but with interacting characters. I, for one, do not want to miss any of the books in this series.
From the opening, we know that Casper Brook is obsessed with the lady in a painting that he can only see from the back. He is intrigued and half in love with the mystery of her. There are rumors that there is companion piece to this painting that shows the face of his determined fallen angel.
Miss Evelyn Pearce is bold, passionate, and determined. She is taking care of an ailing younger sister, trying to protect her from their diminished and diminishing circumstances. She is a painter who has learned at the side of her father who was a master, and she has a plan.
Casper and Evelyn are two sides of the same coin. They are yin and yang, male and female, painter and aficionado, one is in falling financial circumstance and the other is rising. I love the power struggle between them that is about them fighting their passions as much as it about them negotiating the art deal.
This is the first book I have read from Emily Windsor and I am so glad I picked it up. She has me hooked on her characters and I can’t wait to continue this series.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: THE DUKE OF DIAMONDS
Series: The Games of Gentlemen #1
Category /Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: Emily Windsor
4.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1c2
Evelyn Pearce is truly desperate. When her artist father died, he left only debts, nothing for Evelyn and her younger sister, Artemisia, to live on. Evelyn barely ekes out a living by painting scenery for a local theatre, and that only provides enough for rent for a squalid room and a few sad vegetables to eat. When Artemisia becomes seriously ill, Evelyn falls even further into trouble by now owing money to a heartless man who’s quite willing to take his payment in the form of sexual favors from the sisters. Evelyn knows that the Duke of Rothwell paid a hefty price for one of her father’s paintings, in fact, it’s one that she modeled for. Her father had intended to paint a companion portrait, but only got as far as the rough drawing. Evelyn, who is talented in her own right, believes that she can create the second portrait, and sell it to the duke.
Casper Brook inherited his ducal title when he was only seventeen. He also discovered that his father was living on credit, not paying his servants, and neglecting his tenants. The family was in dire financial straits, but Casper worked tirelessly for the last thirteen years to make his dukedom prosperous again. Somehow, along the way, he lost his joy and sense of fun, and now lives a no-nonsense life on a strict schedule. His only indulgence is the portrait of the young lady who totally captivates him. Though the portrait only shows the smallest portion of her face, Casper feels her strength and determination, and is half in love with her. When he is approached by a woman claiming to own the companion portrait, he immediately senses a scam, but decides he has to take a chance.
Thus begins the cat and mouse game between Evelyn and Casper. While Casper admits that the new portrait looks like the work of her father, it just isn’t quite right. And, in his opinion, neither is Evelyn, who is definitely being deceitful. He’s determined to find out the truth about her, but until she’s ready to confess, he’s happy to spend time in her company. As Casper learns a little more of Evelyn’s sad situation, and how very ill her sister is, he shows his true colors by providing a temporary home, medical care, and food for them. The icy duke also comes to see how much he’s changed over the years, and how he was quashing the spirit of his own younger brother.
THE DUKE OF DIAMONDS is a lovely story which never fails to entertain, even while touching your heart. Evelyn is truly a desperate woman, and while I’m not a fan of scam artists, I couldn’t help but think how desperate I would be if a beloved relative was near death, and I had no other means of helping. The chemistry between this couple is definitely steamy, and their battle of wits is just charming. I love how Evelyn brought light and fun back into Casper’s world, and how he brought stability and security to hers, while they shared an unexpectedly passionate romance. THE DUKE OF DIAMONDS makes for excellent reading for those who enjoy stories with warmth, wit, and plenty of heart.
Miss Evelyn Pearce learned to be an artist at her father’s knee. Now he is gone, she and her sick little sister are in debt to a wicked money lender. Evelyn works at a theater painting scenery but nobody will buy her art because she’s a woman. With the situation worsening she can only think of one way out.
Casper Brook, the Duke of Rothwell has worked hard and ruthlessly to repair the family finances that his father gambled away. He has a lot of people, family and tenants relying on him, so he guards all he is responsible for strongly. He does however also have a love of art, and one painting in particular. The model in it is almost an obsession.
This is an exciting and at times emotional historical romance. We meet many fascinating characters that I’m sure will feature in the coming books in the series. I particularly loved our strong females. Our author gives us a glimpse of the seedier side of London and it’s inhabitants.
A very entertaining book and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Great fun.
Beautiful & witty – an amazing start to a new series!
This is a story of survival, perseverance, trust, & love. I absolutely adored Evelyn & Casper (Duke of Rothwell). The witty banter between these two, as well as their internal monologues, are so funny! I enjoyed watching Evelyn & Casper grow – to see their true selves revealed as years of hardships & uncertainties surface, & layers of mistrust slowly melt away.
Their interactions are witty, sensual & simmering…often involving a battle for control. Not having control leads to a sense of vulnerability, which neither can afford… Both have been through a lot, but can they learn to trust each other & allow love to grow?
The supporting characters are HILARIOUS! Rarely does a book cause me to literally laugh out loud, but I did so several times while reading this one.
I have been extremely impressed with Emily Windsor’s books. She is such a talented author who appeals to every sense & makes you feel as though you’re in the story. I did not want this story to end! It was fantastic & I can’t wait for the next in this series!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the author. This in no way affected my opinion of this book, which I read & reviewed voluntarily.
The Duke of Diamonds is the first book in a new series by Emily Windsor.
Evelyn Pearce is desperate. She’s running out of time to pay a moneylender back, her sister is sick and she has no money to pay rent or buy much food. Determined to find a way out, she devises a plan to deceive Casper Brook the Duke of Rothwell (AKA The Duke of Diamonds). She knows he has possession of a painting that her deceased father painted of a young girl. He paid a lot of money for it. She decides to sell him the twin to that picture that she herself has painted not her father. He probably wouldn’t figure out that she painted it and he has all kinds of riches and can afford to lose some money for a fake.
Casper is obsessed by a painting he bought years ago. He’s heard there is a twin to it and would like to own it as well. When Evelyn comes to him saying she has this painting, he instantly knows she’s not being truthful, but he has to know. He finds Evelyn to be a beautiful woman and is attracted to her. He is determined to find out the truth behind this painting. He finds that he desires her very much for herself and doesn’t care that she’s deceiving him. She wants to tell him the truth but is afraid of the consequences when the truth comes out.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series. I received this book as an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.
The Duke of Diamonds
Emily Windsor
https://m.facebook.com/AuthorEmilyWindsor
Release date 04/02/2020
Publisher Senara Press
Blurb :
A lady intent on deception…
A duke who knows every trick in the book…
A passionate obsession with fiery consequences.
With a coldness to match the diamonds that adorn his cravat, Casper Brook, the eighth Duke of Rothwell, possesses all a nobleman could desire…almost.
So when a seductive minx perches upon his desk and claims to know the whereabouts of his one deepest obsession, temptation beckons to uncover all her secrets.
With a boldness to match the red flame of her hair, Miss Evelyn Pearce possesses naught but an ailing young sister and an ebony-black cat…almost.
So when she perches upon a duke’s desk and claims to know the whereabouts of his one deepest obsession, temptation beckons to forget all in his embrace.
Her plan to deceive a duke of ruthless reputation is audacious, but in true society, weren’t all dukes buffle-headed with jovial smiles and far too many acres?
Plots unravel, guises fall and deceiving the flawless Duke of Diamonds has sparkling consequences…
My review :
Will her deceit be the end of their burgeoning attraction …
This is my introduction read to Mrs Emily Windsor’s work, and nothing better than a first in a series, even if I suppose some of the side characters are from previous stories, like the dark duke of Rakecombe from Let Sleeping Dukes Lie.
Mrs Emily Windsor with Casper and Evelyn shows the wide range of her talent, she has two people masquerading for whom they are not to save their own.
Evelyn tried everything she could but month after month, she is left more destitute than prior. So when her debt is asked to be paid without delay or she would find herself and her ailing sibling in worse circumstances, at her wits end she uses the last trick she has in her possession.
But everything changes when she quickly discovers her target number one is no more the cold ruthless man he presents to the ton.
Her moral whatever her needs refuses to rob a good man.
The Duke of Rothwell as he is seen by society came to exist when facing destitution, he had to take the mantle and slowly rebuilt his family’s estates and business. But in the process, he lost himself. So immersed to save his inheritance, he became a driven man with one motto, to never again face the same issue. His only respite is art, and a paint draws him more than any other one.
He is obsessed by the woman on the painting, he understands her duality as he shares the same feeling.
Casper is a loving man but he buried his true self when he had to step in his father’s shoes much too early to save what could be then restore the balance. Then to never face a similar situation, he has built a new legacy but is unable to relish control and trust another. Here lies his troubles when Evelyn enters his life and crashes his so ordained life.
Their relationship starts as a battle of wits and relinquishing power. He wants what she offers but knows she is not who she appears, she wants his money but is unsettled by the man behind.
Up to them to understand what real answer they are seeking.
I am now intrigued by the stories to come as I suppose The Prince and the Prizefighter will have theirs.
On a humorous note, the cat thing scenes were hilarious.
This a 4.5 stars tale as my only reservation is there was what I really dislike, a woman rendered brainless and knee weak because of a man. Hopefully Mrs Emily Windsor grants her some wits to fight her lust-induced-mind.
I was granted an advance copy by the author. I also preordered my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
The Author :
https://www.amazon.com/author/emilywindsor
https://facebook.com/AuthorEmilyWindsor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily-windsor
https://www.goodreads.com/EmilyWindsor
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LadyofWindsor
https://uk.pinterest.com/EmilyWindsorBks/
First time reading this author. Great read with likable characters and interesting storylines.
This story seemed slow at the start because of the character development needed for the story, but it did not disappoint! I look forward to reading the rest of the series and more from this author!