An enchanting historical romance from the 2018 RITA award-winning author that New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean calls “a charming, clever, and engaging storyteller.” Named to All About Romance’s “The Best of 2018!” Duke. Scoundrel. Titan of business. August Faulkner is a man of many talents, not the least of which is enticing women into his bedchamber. He’s known-and reviled-for … his bedchamber. He’s known-and reviled-for buying and selling companies, accumulating scads of money, and breaking hearts. It’s a reputation he wears like a badge of honor, and one he intends to keep.
Clara Hayward, the headmistress of the Haverhall School for Young Ladies, on the other hand, is above reproach. Yet when she’s reunited with August all she can think of is the way she felt in his arms as they danced a scandalous waltz ten long years ago. Even though her head knows that he is only back in her life to take over her family’s business, her heart can’t help but open to the very duke who could destroy it for good.
“Where have you been all my life, Kelly Bowen? If Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, and Lisa Kleypas were to extract their writing DNA, mix it in a blender, and have a love child, Kelly Bowen would be it.”-HeroesandHeartbreakers.com
good.
“Where have you been all my life, Kelly Bowen? If Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, and Lisa Kleypas were to extract their writing DNA, mix it in a blender, and have a love child, Kelly Bowen would be it.”-HeroesandHeartbreakers.comgood.
“Where have you been all my life, Kelly Bowen? If Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, and Lisa Kleypas were to extract their writing DNA, mix it in a blender, and have a love child, Kelly Bowen would be it.”-HeroesandHeartbreakers.comgood.
“Where have you been all my life, Kelly Bowen? If Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, and Lisa Kleypas were to extract their writing DNA, mix it in a blender, and have a love child, Kelly Bowen would be it.”-HeroesandHeartbreakers.commore
I was fortunate to get a sneak peek at this one, and I came away with a roaring case of premise-envy. The Duke of Hostile Takeovers crosses paths with the lady who turned his head ten long years ago–well, somebody’s head was turned, or possibly two somebodies. Sure as God made high perch phaetons, Clara is the headmistress of the school August has in his tycoon acquisition cross hairs. (WHY didn’t I think of this premise? WHY?) Kelly has a gift for humor and heat, and her repartee sparkles. All manner of life lessons happen on the way to the HEA, and August and Clara ended up taking over my heart. I hope we see more of The Haverhall School for Dunderheaded Dukes–for Young Ladies, rather!
Kelly Bowman never disappoints and this book is no exception. All the books in this series are wonderful!
As always, a spectacular read. Wholly enjoyable and I didn’t want it to end.
I have yet to read a Kelly Bowen I do not like.
This is a very entertaining book. It has two likeable characters, unexpected twists and includes social issues as part of the plot. It was interesting to read about what happened to families of persons who were sent to debtors prison and how the very poor survived during that period. It was also interesting to read how a wealthy family could have dealt with the loss of their wealth, although obviously what’s presented in the book would have been an unusual approach with all family members undertaking such diverse livelihood solutions. I enjoyed this book and recommend it for all persons who like a light historical romance with some hot sex scenes.
August Faulkner, Duke of Holloway, learned how harsh life can be when he was young and his father was thrown into debtors prison. It was a lesson he would never forget and he has forged ahead with securing a financial future for himself and his sister Anne. August has a knack of buying run down businesses, reorganizing them and making them profitable. Because of his past, he never has enough and has a ruthless reputation when it comes to business. With so much success behind him, he harbors one regret in letting Miss Clara Hayward slip through his fingers in his youth. When Anne enrolls in Haverhall School’s summer program, August comes face to face with his greatest regret.
While I enjoyed this story and it kept my interest throughout, I thought Clara was more of a modern heroine instead of a young woman in Regency England. Her ideas of what young ladies should or shouldn’t do would have not been very well received among the ton. I also did not understand why Clara was labelled a wallflower in her youth. There was one scene in a ballroom when she meets August, but in another scene her parent’s parties were the “it” place to secure an invitation to. There was a slight twist in the book that didn’t really surprise me and there are also a few plot questions left unanswered. While this wasn’t my favorite story, I do enjoy Ms. Bowen’s writing so I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This was my first Kelly Bowen, and though I was already determined to binge the entire series, I was enamored of her writing style enough to resolve to add her to my Must Read Author list. Clara and August were such dynamic characters and I loved the second chance romance aspect of their story. I really liked how August is introduced to us as a loving and doting (if not a bit oblivious) brother and how fiercely independent and feminist Clara is. I also really loved how well developed their backstories are – it made them so much more relatable and likable. A Duke in the Night is a great first book in a series, as it introduces us to the other Hayward siblings as well as hints at some of the issues/plot points that will be explored in the following books. Clara and August’s HEA is so well earned and well written and I immediately jumped in to book 2…
I enjoyed reading this book. With every page, I had to keep reading. I loved the power the women in this story held. They weren’t helpless and didn’t need saving. This book is definitely a must read!
I’m loving everything Kelly writes and this isn’t an exception. Intelligent heroine who is also a woman before her time in many ways. She makes the hero work to have her and doesn’t immediately fall at his feet. Lots of witty banter and steamy sex scenes.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading Clara and August’s story. Two strong, interesting, flawed people with much to learn and share. A very good read.
4.5 Stars!
Apparently, this book isn’t as well-loved by readers as much as other books by this author, but I thought it was wonderful. An independent and progressive heroine falls for a Duke who’s also a ruthless businessman set on owning her legacy. August was a favorite, even if at first he came across as inflexible and high-handed. His respect and blatant admiration for Clara won me over quickly. That and his love for his sister. Although he has been ruthlessly successful in business, it came from having seen his family also impoverished during his childhood. Clara and August are fully realized with thorough back stories and current circumstances that kept me turning pages. Both intriguing and romantic, this was a great introduction to this author’s work.
On a recent flight to Scotland I read a wonderful regency romance by Kelly Bowen, A Duke in the Night. Elegantly written, this strong feminist story line with a more mature heroine (for a change) was both intriguing and well done. This second chance romance has emotional highs with well-developed characters that can carry the story through to the end. Clara and August are characters you want to spend some time with.
I really, really liked this. Awesome story! It was entertaining and sweet with great characters. This was my first time reading Kelly Bowen and it won’t be my last.
This is my first time to read a book by Kelly Bowen and I am so glad that I did. I thought her story telling was masterful. I loved her characters and their depth. I am looking forward to reading more by Ms. Bowen. My only criticism is that I’m not sure how the title fits the story. A Duke in the Night? O well. It won’t stop me from reading the next book in this series.
I really enjoyed this book. I was a little hesitant at first and thought I wasn’t going to like August’s character, but I was falling in love with him as much as Clara. August and Clara are such lovable characters. They are strong and stubborn and so damn perfect for each other. I loved the way the author used the expectations put on their gender to create a tension between the characters that ultimately leads to the reasons why they fall in love. Let me explain.
August is a very driven businessman. His drive to buy failing businesses is his passion. He also wants to create a life of luxury for his sister so she will want for nothing. But at the same time he doesn’t quite understand her and her ambitions and aspirations. He can’t see what makes her happy because of his desire to give her all the things she never had before and sadly because she is a woman. Clara runs a school where she teaches young woman to explore those hidden dreams that are not accepted in society or by their gender. Like being a female physician, businesswoman, artist, etc. These things are the topic of lots of conversations between Clara and August in his need to understand his sister and the woman he can’t stop thinking about.
I loved how they each got under ones skin and how Clara could strip August of all his sense when around her. The woman made him speechless and fumble over his words. Her intellect was refreshing. Lots of times I wanted to smash their heads together and scream “tell each other how you feel.” It was clear their was a burning desire between them and strong feelings that had not been voiced. But once they slowly gave into the attraction I was beaming like a schoolgirl. I couldn’t get enough of them together. Hot stolen moments and tender kisses. I really couldn’t get enough of it.
I ended up really liking this book and enjoyed the story tremendously. I will definitely be reading more by this author and of this series.
A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen is the First book in The Devils of Dover series. This is the story of August Faulkner and Clara Hayward.
August had a hard childhood…so much so that he lived on the streets for a while. Now in the present day he is all about making money, enjoying women and keeping his sister safe. Clara family has fallen on hard times and she is trying to do what she can to things going. August and Clara had met about 10 years ago and shared a dance that was hard to forget but time did not take away their attraction. Now its time for their story to start.
Really enjoyed getting the chance to read this book.
A single dance, ten years before between two young people. The girl, a young wealthy wallflower thought of as too different, and a young man attempting to impress other young men, both surprised each other with the pleasure of that one waltz. Ten years later each held it as a fond memory.
The young man, August Faulkner, became the Duke of Halloway, and a business tycoon with a reputation for rather cut throat type business deals. The girl, Lady Clara Hayward, moved on to become the the headmistress of an elite school for well bred young ladies.
They meet again because August has purchased Clara’s school, unbeknownst to her, and he is pursuing the shipping business she and her two siblings own before it becomes known that it has financial problems. August and Clara remember that night, long before when somehow in each of them a fire was lit that burned for each other. The story becomes more interesting with the business intrigue, the things this particular headmistress is teaching her students, and the relationship between these two. The additional characters add to the story, and I can see several have stories of their own.
This book is a heated page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and highly recommend. It is the start of a series I am looking forward to reading.
I’ve never read a book by Kelly Bowen, but after this one, it won’t be the last. August was a “take no prisoners” type of hero who when he set his mind to something, nothing and no one was going to change it. He did things his way and flourished at it. Then we have Clare, a heroine possessing a steel spine as well as the strongest will as any heroine that I’ve read about recently. As I read, I was waiting to see which one would bend to who, and I wasn’t disappointed in the way things ended! I’m also sure at some point we’ll get to find out what Harland had been up to! Now the wait begins for Roses story and I can’t wait for everyone else’s!!!
I believe this was my first book by Kelly Bowen and I did enjoy it. However, all-in-all, I wouldn’t really class it as a Regency – it ‘feels’ much too modern. It is more like a modern story dressed up like a Regency. I’m giving it 4-stars because I really did enjoy the story. The heroine, Clara Hayward, is very much a contemporary woman, forward-thinking, ‘experienced’, etc. and all of the people surrounding her are very ‘modern’.
August Faulkner, Duke of Holloway, never expected to be a Duke. His father was in debtors prison and August, as a boy of fifteen, spent two years living on the streets. That experience hardened him and he was determined to provide for his sister – not just provide for her, but assure, beyond all measure, that she would never, ever be in reduced circumstances again. August learned to make money and became ruthless in buying businesses and making them successful. He has no room for anything in his life other than the acquisition of money and property. He’s not a bad man, he just has no time in his life for relationships.
Clara’s family is now in reduced circumstances, but they have managed to keep it quiet. The ton still thinks that they are enormously rich. Clara owns and is headmistress of, Haverhall School for Young Ladies. She treasures the school because it was left to her by her mother – but – in order to keep their shipping line afloat, she has to sell it. She doesn’t know that August is the one who has bought it.
Buying the school just whets August’s appetite. He always does a thorough check on the people and businesses he’s planning to buy and when he was checking on the school, he also learned that the Hayward’s were in financial difficulties and thought he’d buy a share of their shipping line. He’s totally shocked when they turn him down.
When August’s sister sneaks off in the middle of the night to attend a summer school in Dover, August takes off after her. He wanted to go to Dover anyway to meet up with the Hayward’s. August definitely gets his eyes opened as he learns more and more about what this school is teaching. Definitely NOT what you’d find in the Regency era!
August and Clara are definitely attracted to each other and have been since they first met ten years ago. They go through a lot of slips and slides before they get their relationship off the ground. Lots of excitement with soldiers, kidnappings, misunderstandings, etc. before they finally get their HEA.
One thing that seemed to be left hanging was – what happened with August’s sister and his man-of-business? They were in love – but no resolution in this book.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
“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.”