A Duke With A Secret:Robert Deverall, Duke of Blackstone, is cursed. Or so he thinks. Inheriting a dukedom bankrupted by his dissolute grandfather, father, and elder brother has made him determined that the male line will end with him. He refuses to allow any one else to suffer at the hands of a Deverall man. When he meets his childhood friend, Lady Harriet Cornwall, he is determined to stay … determined to stay away from her, despite the fact she makes his heart sing and his body ignite. When the two are caught in a compromising position, he has no choice but to marry the wild, independent Harry. But will his determination never to have children, and his fears about his famiy line, destroy their chance at love?
A Lady Determined to Unmask the Duke:
Lady Harriet Cornwall is determined to marry and quickly. After all, she loathes the uninspiring parties a proper unmarried lady can attend. No, she longs to be just like her mother, a beacon of culture, literature, and fun. And like her mother, she longs for a large family. When she meets Rob again, she can hardly believe the transformation from mischeivous boy to sardonic and mysterious man. In the breath of a single dance, her heart is lost. From their very first kiss, she knows he is the one for her. But he has a dark secret. Will he push her away as he has done to everyone else? Or will she be able to coax her dark duke back into the light to find love?
more
I was determined to Get Things Done this Friday, but decided to treat myself first to a few scenes from A Duke For the Road. Oops… It has humor, steam, bromance, snappy repartee, a duchess with derring-do, a duke fallen on hard times (who also has derring-do, and great taste in friends)…. There went the afternoon. What a lovely way to start a series!
As a young girl, Harriet was allowed to tag along behind her brother and his friend, Rob. In her first season, she realizes he’s the man for her. He’s crippled by debts left by his older brother and father. His mother suggests he marry well, and includes Lady Harriet on her list of suitable ladies. Well paced and entertaining story.
Afraid of love
Lady Harriet and her brother grew up with Robert, Duke of Blackstone. She’s always considered him a friend. When Rob returned from the war, his father is a drunk and consumed by drugs and the worst of woman. Cursed by the behavior of his father and brother, he decides not to marry and have children. With no money, Rob makes a dangerous decision that could get him hanged. He has to marry for money. It’s just a matter of who. Once he kisses Harriet and more, he’s forced to face the consequences and marry her. As his fear takes over, Harriet decides to force him to decide which life he wants. A life with love and family or a life in darkness. A great series of the Five Dukes who became comrades during the war and support each other in their secrets.
Great friends will keep kicking you in the head until it’s pointed in the right direction – just what Rob needed. Harriet/Harry is a wonderful, thinking, woman. Glad it all works out in the end 😉
I enjoyed reading this book.
A Duke for the Road by Eva Devon is the first book in The Duke’s Secret Series. This is the story of Robert ‘Rob’ Deverall, Duke of Blackstone and Lady Harriet ‘Harry’ Cornwall.
Rob’s father was a drinker, rake and loss their money easily and his brother wasn’t much better. They both died fairly young leaving him with the Title and the bills. Rob’s father once told that they were cursed to die young and that he better get himself an heir soon. But after their death’s Rob did go to try to build up the money for the Title doing things that broke the law but swore to never have children. But Rob did need to marry for money and planned on marrying someone he couldn’t have feelings for. When he meets Harry again, his friends sister and childhood friend, he has a hard time keeping his feeling under control. Rob knows he must try to keep from Harry because of his friend and him not wanting to be with someone he could have feelings for. But when they get caught… it is marriage that they are headed too.
Really enjoyed their story…I couldn’t put the book down! Loved it!
A Duke for the Road by Eva Devon
The Duke’s Secret Series Book One
Robert Andrew Edward Deverall, future 4th Duke of Blackstone and First Lieutenant of His Majesty’s Army had a rot of a father. He found how rotten after the old duke died and left Robert deep in debt. And told that he would end up the same as his brother, father, and other male ancestors. He found a unique way to pay the debtors—but even so, it looked as if he’d have to sell himself in marriage in the end.
Lady Harriet “Harry” Cornwall, sister of the Duke of Harley, was quite excited about her first Season. Even more excited about reading the newssheets about the Gentleman Highwayman. Seems his female victims swooned over being robbed by him. Dancing with her brother’s and her childhood friend was pretty exciting too.
Rob knew he needed to marry for money. He also knew he’d marry someone he didn’t care about. So he had to ignore how Harry was no longer that little girl—but now, a beautiful siren. Besides, a man couldn’t marry his friend’s little sister. It just wasn’t done.
Great story and the other background characters are wonderful too. I can’t wait to read more in this series!
**Sexual content
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2017/10/eva-devon.html
Enjoyed it so much.some women can be Heroes. She’s got great deductive skills. Must be hard to keep up appearances for your family. I haven’t found a book I haven’t worked from this author.
When I see a book by Eva Devon, I know that it will win my heart and be a keeper. She has a gift for writing stories that will captivate the reader, bring the characters to life, and make you feel their emotions. This is the start of a new series involving four men, destined to be Dukes who have come together through fighting in the war and bonded, with each holding secrets. Robert the Duke of Blackstone, had not thought to inherit but due to the debauchery and deaths of his father and older brother has been left with a destitute estate. Desperate for funds, he becomes a “gentleman” highway robber who only focuses on those with money to lose.
But all things must come to an end and he promises his mother to marry a heiress to pull them out of poverty. Of course, Lady Harriet Cornwal, his best friend’s sister, is the one woman he cannot have but she draws him out at every meeting. Harriet has her own plans to marry quickly so that she can be like her mother and have a large family steeped in the arts and culture of the times. Yes, a definite bluestocking, but one who is truly strong and amazing.
As fate would have it as it often does, they meet and spend time together and yes, share a kiss, Harry knows she loves Rob and always has, but how to get through his barriers? Have him see her for who she is and not be afraid of their emotions and her brother?
I was captured by the first page and could not put this book down once I started. Drawn into the world of Rob and Harry, my heart ached for Rob and the burdens he put on himself and I loved Harry and her straightforward talk and humor. Turning the last page I could only think about the other books to come in this series and I cannot wait!
Eva Devon has done it again with her amazing A DUKE FOR THE ROAD. #1 in a new and promising series, THE DUKE’S SECRET.
Masterfully written, well crafted with well developed, flawed characters. The storyline is absolutely delicious. A definite romp through Regency England. Secrets, an abduction, highwayman, danger, suspense, mystery and a powerful romance, kept me turning pages from the first page to the last. Love, love, loved these characters, so strong, independent and determined, they captured my heart. Another must read by Eva Devon, who never fails to amaze me. Powerful and compelling. Can’t wait to read more of the DUKE’S SECRETS series.