When a Duke Loves a Woman

You know you’re about to be wowed when you sink into a story by the terrific Lorraine Heath. Her latest in the Sins for All Seasons series, “When a Duke Loves a Woman,” is no exception. It’s a story steeped in emotion and filled with dialogue that is both smart and sexy.

When thugs leave the Duke of Thornley stabbed and bleeding in the alley behind Gillian Trewlove’s tavern, the independent miss doesn’t think twice about helping him to safety. It’s only later, when he’s recuperating in her bed, that Gillie realizes the consequences of her hasty decision.

As a business owner, she has no time to play nursemaid. But what’s more is that having this man — a duke who is decidedly handsome, strong-willed, and is no stranger to action — alone with her in her flat could lead to the most intimate kind of trouble. Gillie ought to know: she and her brothers are each believed to be the result of dalliances without matrimony.

What follows is the tale of “when a duke loves a woman” and what he will do to have her.

The problems Gillie and Thorne face are grounded in the realities of their era along with their stations in life. Thorne hails from a long line of dukes who must marry for land, not love. From the rough areas of Whitechapel where Gillie was raised to the balconied ballroom of Coventry House where Thorne must choose a bride, they each get a glimpse of the other’s world — and wonder if they could ever combine the two.

Favorite moments: The scene where Thorne first sees Gillie in her tavern … Gillie and Thorne’s outing along the streets of Whitechapel is another true treat, filled with surprises … and when Thorne reads to Gillie? Pure magic.

3.75 Stars

The Sins for All Seasons series tells the stories of six ‘siblings’ raised by Ettie Trewlove in the rookeries of London. These were all abandoned children left on her doorstep, poor illegitimate babies, and she took them all in and loved them. Though the children are not related by blood, they are raised as siblings and they all share a love of their Mum, Ettie Trewlove. I have not read the first book in the series, but I don’t feel that detracted from this book. The book is well written and well plotted, but it is highly improbable, so leave all you know about the social norms of this time period in the closet before you begin to read.

Gillian ‘Gillie’ Trewlove was left on Ettie Trewlove’s doorstep when she was only hours old. There were no clues about her or her parents. Ettie already had four boys to raise, but couldn’t help but love the sweet little baby girl dropped on her doorstep. Ettie was careful to raise Gillie so that she understood what could happen to a young girl in the rookeries. She dressed her as a boy and she taught her to stand up for herself and to defend herself. Those lessons served Gillie well as she matured and came to own her own tavern in Whitechapel. Everybody loved Gillie who is a strong, self-confident, generous, caring woman who gives back to the community with food and care. I enjoyed Gillie and it was nice to see her come to embrace her femininity.

Anthony Coventry, the ninth Duke of Thornley is thirty-six years old and became a duke at the age of fifteen. His parents were stiff, cold and unloving – so how would he ever recognize love if he saw it? At the urging of his best friend and to fulfill a deathbed promise he made to his father, he had finally agreed to marry the woman everyone had planned for him to marry. Then, she left him standing at the altar. Thorne is a very honorable man and he is very, very embarrassed by what happened. He has to find Lavinia – just to assure she is alright and to find out why she felt that she needed to run rather than just talk to him. Boy, was that a mistake. She had fled to Whitechapel and after getting totally foxed, he headed after her. Now, he is lying in a filthy alleyway in Whitechapel with his life’s blood flowing out of him from at least three stab wounds. He knows he is about to die – then, he hears the voice of an angel.

I loved both Gillie and Thorne and I believe that they could and did love each other. I just find it very hard to believe that a duke – even today – would defy everything in his social class and marry an illegitimate tavern owner from the rookeries. Then, to expect that it would all be forgotten socially just because he was a duke and his mother could influence opinions. No – I enjoyed the story, but it was definitely not believable. Cinderella was more believable since she was actually the daughter of a nobleman.

Also, I had a puzzled frown on my face whenever Thorne’s age was mentioned. It didn’t take anything away from the story – just something about it puzzled me. It didn’t bother me enough to plow back through the book to figure it all out, but – the book plainly states that he is thirty-six. At one point it mentions that he inherited the dukedom when he was fifteen. At another point, there is a conversation with his mother (speaking about his father) when he says “It’s been nearly a dozen years since his passing.” If you add those – he’d be twenty-six and not thirty-six.

I enjoyed the read, but I did find myself skimming parts of it as it seemed a little slow. The characters were lovable and I liked them all – especially Robin and Gillie’s brothers.

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

Gillian Trewlove was abandoned on a doorstep as a baby and taken in by the woman who lived there, so she knows all about the importance of the kindness of strangers. So when a man is left badly beaten and stabbed outside her tavern, Gillie is quick to help him, even if he is a ridiculously gorgeous man who has no business being in Whitechapel, much less healing in her bed.

Antony Coventry, the Duke of Thornley, has had an exceptionally trying day. He started out being left at the altar, then his attempts to ensure his former betrothed’s safety ended in his being beaten by a group of thugs and rescued by a woman. Once he’s recovered some of his strength thanks the care he received from Gillie Trewlove, she agrees to help him search for his runaway bride. The more time Thorne spends with Gillie, the happier he is to have been left at the altar, but he knows high society would never accept an illegitimate duchess. Despite the obstacles, Thorne soon learns exactly where his priorities lie and how far he’s willing to go to secure happiness.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. This had a good narration and I loved the idea of the heroine saving and caring for the hero. I adored Gillie’s no-nonsense attitude and her independence, especially since she also showed herself to be capable of compromise. I enjoyed Thorne as a hero as well, although his inexperience with love meant that he almost screwed things up in the end and left me to wonder about him just a smidgen too long. Nevertheless, I loved Gillie and Thorne’s relationship development and thought they were lovely together. I didn’t like this one quite as much as Mick’s book, but it was still great and I’m proceeding on to Finn’s story next.

Great story….looking forward to and will order the books about her brothers when they come out!

I loved this story. Gillie is so strong and independent. Thorne is great. They make great compromises to make their love work.

“When a Duke Loves a Woman” by Lorraine Heath
A Sins for All Seasons novel.

Loved this story. This was Gillie’s story. I read Mick’s story before… and hope the next is Finn’s story, but Aiden’s and Beast’s stories will be welcomed in their turn.
This was an audio book download from my state library.

Happy sigh. When a Duke Loves a Woman is a satisfying read for me. It has everything I love in a historical romance novel: strong central characters in Thorne and Gillie, a fascinating story that hasn’t been done a million times before, a balance of fast-paced action sequences and sweet quiet moments, an interesting group of secondary characters you’d want to get to know more, and a slow build-up of attraction strengthened by time spent together and meaningful conversations shared with honesty.

I love that Gillie saved Thorne and he took care of her when she was in need; that there’s no deception or revenge plot, just a seemingly insurmountable obstacle of class difference that they were able to conquer together later on; that Gillie and Thorne remained true to who they are, just with more knowledge of each other’s worlds – no trying to change for the other. I appreciate that characters are drawn with light and shade, not cardboard cutouts; and that there are social messages but they’re not forced onto the readers.

I smiled, I teared up, I loved along with Gillie and Thorne. Five stars.