The Dark Duke they call him.And he certainly matches up to his name. From his looks to his constantly furrowed brow, Miss Beatrice Edgerton is under no illusions as to the status of their arranged marriage.It will be very much one of convenience. With him conveniently providing the title her family so desperately wants and her family bringing in plenty of money for his dilapidated home. She is … dilapidated home. She is simply grateful he is younger than her first husband.
Lord Morton, Duke of Hartwich, is only a little perturbed by the vibrant Beatrice. After all, he sets her straight from the very first day of their marriage–this is one of mutual benefit. In one way only. She can expect no affection or romance from him.
Because, frankly, he is incapable of such things. Being a one-legged duke with a slightly dark past brings enough challenges without him having to worry about a wife too. His days of concern for anyone are long gone.
Unfortunately, It is not only the duke’s dark demeanor she has to deal with. Someone is trying to cause trouble for them but they cannot fathom who or why.
Grace is determined to make the best of the situation, even whilst spending Christmas with the duke alone in the eerie Hartwich Hall. Why, perhaps she might even be able to change the duke’s mind about their relationship.
Especially after they share a fiery kiss…or three…
If you love Regency romance with some heat, brooding dukes, and an arranged marriage at Christmas, be sure to get your copy today!
more
Adam was a recluse who lost his leg and those he loved. He only married Bea for her dowry to save his estate. Bea had a terrible first husband and hoped for something better the second time around, but Adam was surly and kept pushing her away. Can she heal his heart and find a way in while dealing with a dangerous thief who is terrorizing the estate? There were plenty of funny, sexy, romantic, and scary moments in this historical romance.
This is Miss Beatrice Edgerton who is arranged to be married to The Dark Duke Lord Adam Morton, Duke of Hartwich’s story. They where not meant to fall in love! They will both do anything to save the other. I enjoyed reading this book.
As the story opens Bea is about to be married for the second tome, another arranged marriage after the first husband had passed. Her father though wealthy, is not titled, and the Duke is in sore need of funds to keep his estate afloat. His expectations are truly a marriage of convenience, but Bea has other ideas. As Adam realizes his resolve is difficult to maintain he is gruff, distant and often unpleasant, not to mention the pain he often experiences from missing part of his leg. Slowly Bea is getting closer to him but he has even more emotional pain than physical. I couldnt put this down until finished as it was a sad yet sweet story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Beatrice Edgerton is not at all excited about her pending nuptials to Lord Morton, the Duke of Hartwich. Rumours had it that he had a temper and a dark past, so much so that people referred to him as the Dark Duke. But Bea’s family wants a title and the Duke needs the money that will come with the marriage to help his estate.
Adam needs to marry, but had hoped for a quiet, undemanding lady that would obey him and not expect much from the marriage other than the title. Bea is not that lady. She perturbs him at every turn and awakens desires within Adam that he would rather than ignore. Besides, what woman, especially one as beautiful as Bea, would want a physical relationship with a one-legged man?
As Christmas draws near there is someone causing trouble at the estate. A horse is stolen in the dead of night, Bea is assaulted and there have been sightings of a strange man in the woods near the manor. As Adam is trying to find the culprit, Bea is trying to draw Adam into the Christmas spirit and convince him that she wants to be a true wife.
Samantha Holt has turned out another good book, I really enjoyed it and hope others do as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE FANTABULOUS EXPERIENCE!!!
Smokin’! Samantha mastered the breeze, spun the thread, weaving a cocoon so intricately and tight, drawing you deeper into this tangled web as this piece of perfection falls into place beautifully. Satisfying is an understatement, you get it all with this baby. A tumultuous wild ride with a bevy of inadvertent contingencies that combine this baby together one piece at a time. Sparks fly as drama, intrigue, mystery and suspense ensues in epic proportions. Add turmoil and distress along with perplexing situations giving way to triumph propels this jewel into a tailspin with challenging impacts. Diving head first, witnessing the trials and tribulations that tests our characters in ways they never saw coming. The chemistry is intense, sizzling and palpable. The characters are authentic, genuine and realistic with depth and qualities that blend into amazing personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions you have no problem picturing each scenario creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Fantastic job Samantha, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Lovely read
I am a big fan of Samantha Holt I’ve enjoyed many of her books. A Whole New Duke makes number forty one and I have yet to be disappointed. A Whole New Duke was a sweet story of how an arranged marriage can lead to love. Bea was no stranger to an arranged but having been married to a much older, cold and distant man she still had not experienced a true loving marriage. And if the groom, Adam, Lord Morton had his way she wouldn’t. He never intended to marry but fully intended to keep Bea at arms length. Thank goodness Bea saw beyond his Dark Duke facade. She was just what he needed. Her sister Pip was such a delightful character I would love to read her story. Throw in a little mystery and a little spice and you got a read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Hurt and pain can be chased away with love!
Ms. Holt has again written a must-read book. Miss Beatrice Edgerton (Bea) is getting married not for love but for convenience and she is marrying the dark duke. This not just a romance but there is a bit of mystery and suspense added in too. Adam Morton, Duke of Hartwich believes he is defined by his handicap and he has become a recluse. Christmas is a bad time for the duke is it possible it will be different this year? I loved all the characters Bea’s sister was a joy. I loved every minute I spent reading and I highly recommend this must-read gem. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Romance, mystery, drama, passion: what more could you want? Samantha Holt has done it again. She paired a vivacious young lady with a staid “Dark Duke” amputee and created magic. Throw in a little humor and a healthy dose of romance and you have a best seller. This is definitely a must read book!
I have to admit that I sat up all night reading this book because I did not want to put it down and just had to see how the dramatic mystery was solved. Bea and Adam were both wounded souls who needed healing and they were able to find that love has remarkable healing properties if one is willing to allow it into their hearts!
Bea had been married to a much older man and then widowed at an incredibly young age. She is only twenty-one when this story takes place and her parents have arranged a second marriage to a Duke whom she has never met.
Why she allows her parents to do this is never explained since it is mentioned that her first husband had been wealthy but he did not have a title. There was no mention of any relatives claiming his estate and fortune so Bea should have had enough money to live independent of her parents. Whether it was out of love to ensure that by marrying a Duke her parents would then have the connection needed to grant them access to the upper class of society is rather vague and when that is mentioned she seems reluctant to fulfill that for them.
Bea was not a meek, mild-mannered widow though! She was intelligent and had no trouble challenging Adam from the very beginning of their marriage in order to create a meaningful relationship with him.
Adam was injured as a child and lost one of his legs. How much of the leg was lost seems to fluctuate at times in the story and the reader is left to use their imagination in some of the scenes. It is mentioned that he had an artificial leg but a full description is never given and once again the reader has to use their imagination to fill in the blanks. There was so much insecurity and self-conciousness on his part and he used the isolation of his estate on the moors and an aloof attitude to hide behind, removed from the society he never felt he belonged in.
Pip was the younger sister to Bea and she was an absolute little charmer. So bubbly and her joy in life became infectious to everyone she interacted with, including Adam!
The dramatic suspense-filled mystery was really quite good. I really did not figure out who the culprit was and the action-packed drama kept my interest completely.
The issues I listed regarding Bea and Adam were the only reason this did not get a five-star rating. If those things were fleshed out a bit more this would be an excellent book. I will still read anything Samantha Holt publishes!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I found this marriage of convenience romance to be quite enjoyable. I liked both these characters a lot. Bea was very spunky and determined. I thought the lightness of her character was a perfect foil for the darkness that seemed to cloak Adam. My heart ached for Adam. He had suffered so many losses and tragedy that it was no wonder he had such a gruff exterior and that he had felt the need to build walls around his heart. The entertaining storyline quickly pulls you in, the characters quickly steal into your heart and the engaging blend of drama, humor, emotions and danger make this sweet holiday themed romance a wonderful gift for readers to enjoy.
an arranged marriage with a hero that is hard to like at first as he is grumpy and tempered and a heroine with positive and optimistic approach to life, trow in some mystery and you got a interesting plot with good pace to the story, nice character development especially on his side and a happy ending.
I missed some of the background story on both, I wanted to know more about her first marriage about his secluded life. There were some things that didn’t make sense, like the liberty they talked around their staff. I also usually prefer that the conflict is between the two characters and not an out side event but I did enjoy this story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Samantha Holt writes another beautiful story that captures the heart. Bea is marrying for a second time in hopes of a better life this time. She is a vivacious young women who has lots of determination and poise. Adam is an imperfect duke in the eyes of society. He has only one leg and is considered a grouch and a recluse. Bea works her way into his life and his heart and changes his outlook. They are plagued by some scary events which also works to bring them closer together. The story is enhanced by the character of her younger sister Phillipa who is bold and brings joy.
3 ½ Stars! Sweet and clean! Stand-alone told in dual POV with HEA. Sweet marriage of convenience with a little mystery. Bea wants this arranged marriage to be better than her last one. Adam has spent his life far away from society and wants a marriage in name only. I liked that Bea was able to adapt to her new surroundings and distract the dark duke.
Beatrice Edgerton is under no illusions as to the status of her arranged marriage. It will be very much one of convenience. With him conveniently providing the title her family so desperately wants and her family bringing in plenty of money for his dilapidated home. She is simply grateful he is younger than her first husband. After all, he sets her straight from the very first day of their marriage–this is one of mutual benefit. She can expect no affection or romance from him.
Adam Morton, Duke of Hartwich, is known as the Dark Duke being a one-legged duke with a slightly dark past brings enough challenges without him having to worry about a wife too.
The author is a must read for me so I expected to really like the book but I think this is one of her best books, I read it in a sitting, finishing it well into the nigh, I was drawn in from page one when Bea was getting ready to marry Adam without having met him to the last. A lovely read of Adam emerging from the darkness, thrown in was a mystery surrounding the tattooed man. I loved both Adam & Bea. He was bad tempered, moody & gradually fell hard. She was a breath of fresh air at Hartwich captivating everyone. They were like chalk & cheese but once they’d kissed their attraction grew in leaps & bounds. I loved their story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Adam Morton, Duke of Hartwich has had more than his share of losses in his life; the loss of his leg when he was only 7 yrs. old, the loss of his cousin, & the loss of hid parents at Christmastime. All of these things have made him a tough, hard, serious, recluse – the village near him have nicknamed him the Dark Duke. He now needed to find a wife of convenience to give him an heir to continue the dukedom.
Miss Beatrice Edgerton is being pushed in to a marriage to the Duke of Hartwich which will bring her family the respectability & inclusion in to society that her Mother so desperately craved. A contract was drawn up between the duke & Bea’s father whereas he would give the duke money to help restore his dukedom & in exchange Adam would marry Bea.
After the wedding & Bea getting settled in her new dilapidated home, Adam informs her that she should never expect affection or romance from the marriage. But, Bea will not settle for that & the battle begins between them along with some villainous mysteries to solve. This was a fun, romantic story & with some suspense added in to round it out. Adam & Bea were both so endearing & you wished for the darkness to lift from Adam & hoped that Bea would not give up on him. The secondary characters were so lovable; especially the stern housekeeper, Mrs. Howard & Bea’s vivacious little sister, Pip & they really added some humor to the story.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
Excellent love story of a young Duke who has suffered major losses in his life and has turned rather bitter to the world. Enter Bea whose father has entered into a contract with Adam to marry his daughter in exchange for money to help rebuild his estate and an entry into society. Bea is not docile and forces Adam to acknowledge her and along the way love blossoms. There is a HEA but danger is near and Bea has to be rescued. This is a beautifully written love story that is a great read and one that I would highly recommend.
The Dark Duke is what most people call him.
He certainly matches up to his name, from his looks to his constant frowning countenance Miss Beatrice Edgerton is under no illusions as to the status of their arranged marriage.
It will be very much one of convenience for him at least. He has conveniently provided the title her family so desperately wants and her family bringing in plenty of money for his dilapidated home.
The man is fortunately younger than her first husband and although he wants nothing to do with her in the marriage bed Beatrice can not help but be intrigued. She most definitely wants more than a marriage in name only although that is what she seems to have received.
I loved this book. It is perhaps the best one I have read recently by Samantha Holt. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down. It contains a blossoming love and a bit of danger.
I gave this book a well deserved 4.5 of 5.0 stars. The plot and character development is very well done.
I received a Digital ARC via Booksprout and am leaving a voluntary review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A marriage of convenience….I can’t even imagine what it was like having to marry a stranger and all because of money and/or title! That is how Beatrice finds herself married to the “Dark Duke” but she is young and full of hope that she can make her marriage work, even though Adam tries everything to resist her. Just as they start to grow closer to each other, someone is out to cause trouble and danger abounds.
My heart went out to Adam, having cut himself off from having any kind of relationship just because he’s only got one leg and is terrified of showing his stump in case he’s rejected. He doesn’t bargain for Beatrice, though, as she tries to break the ice that has encased his heart for years. I loved Beatrice, so full of life and determined in her ways.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it has become one of my favorite books by Samantha Holt. I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.