Includes an exclusive bonus short story!
The first book in the new series Desperately Seeking Duke from USA Today bestselling and RITA award-winning author Caroline Linden.It’s no love match… rake. Defiantly she helps Cathy elope with her true love, and takes her sister’s place at the altar.
It’s not even the match that was made…
Perched on the lowest branch of his family tree, Max has relied on charm and cunning to survive. But an unexpected stroke of luck gives him an outside chance at a dukedom—and which Tate sister he weds hardly seems to matter.
But could it be the perfect match?
Married or not, Bianca is determined to protect her family’s prosperous ceramics business, even when Max shows an affinity for it—not to mention a dangerous ability to intrigue and tempt Bianca herself. And when Max realizes how beautiful and intelligent and desirable Bianca is, he’ll have to prove he’s no rogue, but the passionately devoted husband she craves…
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He’s calculating and self serving.
She’s a spitfire.
The premise is that a dukedom is at stake and there’s several potential heirs.
Max is one of those potential heirs, but so far, he’s lived a self serving, calculating life of saving his own behind.
This time, he plans to wed a biddable girl and secure a comfortable living and home, That particular girl is Cathy, who runs off with another man and leaves behind her younger, fiery sister Bianca to wed Max.
I really liked Bianca, who was fiery and worked in the family’s pottery business and knew it inside out, except she had to wed Max since her father gave him a quarter of her business. Men.
Obviously, she doesn’t take to him right away, although Max finds her desirable.
Equal parts Pride and Prejudice and the Taming of the Shew, it was an enjoyable Sunday afternoon read, though I found I really did not ever warm up to Max. He was very hard to connect with, as he was so self serving and arrogant.
About a Rogue was another great story by Caroline Linden. I don’t want to give away the whole story but I will say that the main characters are well developed and yet still show some personal growth as the story develops. I also appreciate that this story is about two people who both work instead of lead a life of leisure. They have purpose in life and both love their families enough to sacrifice for them.
That being said I was a bit aggravated with Bianca’s prejudice against Max from the first moment she met him. While completely believable I must admit the prejudice was real and sparks heat because of all the tension in the world today, even though today’s tension is due to race and not necessarily social background. I love that she did open up and evolve as she got to know Max though. Max, to me, was a wonderful guy who rose up above where he started in life and did it without hurting others. I love that he was observant and willing to work for what he wanted. I was tempted to see him win on the ancestry deal but at the same time, I am most curious to read about the highlander and the Frenchman who also have a claim to the dukedom. It left enough of a tease into the future books to come (I HOPE) and I am eagerly anticipating the next books by Caroline Linden.
The short story that comes with this book was AMAZING. It didn’t linger but focused on the supporting staff for Bianca and Max and shows a glimpse into history for those that normally stay behind the scenes in historical romance novels. I greatly enjoyed the love that blossomed and how endearing it was to watch them come together.
I received a free copy of this book for review. My opinion are my own.
This book is the first in Caroline Linden’s Desperately Seeking A Duke series which is about three different common men who may be the heir to a dukedom and how that changes their lives. This book is about the rogue Max who tries to better himself by shunning his wild ways and marry into a successful pottery business run by a man and daughters. His marriage is a business arrangement that becomes much more when he is forced to marry the bold sister, Bianca. Max’s business acumen impresses Bianca enough to lower her guard and fall in love with him. I can’t wait to read the next in the series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for my honest review.
The sparks will and do fly in this one. Mainly coming from a very resentful Bianca. For the most part Max keeps his calm in situations that would normally rile a whole lot of other people. I did admire his patience even knowing he has so much on the line. Although Max has secrets and one particular dangerous one that doesn’t come out until later. He has also learned many things in the School of Hard Knocks. He never knew until later how much those things would help him in his current setting.
Bianca was fiery, skilled and determined to continue her family’s business success. She had a whole lot to offer with her creative color mixtures. She also has some great ideas but her father doesn’t really see their value and often overrides her ideas. That is something that Max sees and encourages. It just made it harder for her to hate him as much as when they started out. I did get a kick out of how for the longest time even after their marriage she thought of him as “That Man.”
There is really good world building when it came to the pottery business and the different ideas to improve it. The descriptions were good.
There were other good supporting people like Bianca’s older sister Catherine, Aunt Frances Bentley, Lawrence (valet and more to Max) and Jennie (young ladies made to Bianca.
Although this story had some good moments, some tenderness, wooing and humor it was also kind of slow at times.
It does have some surprises and revelations towards the end that make things more interesting.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
A number of unfortunate accidents has left the dukedom of the Duke of Carlyle in search of the next duke. The family solicitor found two distant relatives as possible choices. One is Maximilian (Max) St. James, and Captain Andrew St. James. The current duchess offers them 500 pounds and they are to return to the castle in 6 months showing that they have become a more refined gentleman. If so, they will be given 1,500 pounds per year as long as they remain respectable and sober. In addition, they must find a wife.
The Tate family has been in the pottery business for 3 generations with Samuel Tate as the current owner. He is the father of 2 daughters, Bianca and Cathy. Samuel has met Max St. James who shows interest in the business and the daughters. Cathy is a sweet, biddable young woman and Bianca is more outspoken. Samuel has matched Cathy to marry him but she is in love with the curate. At the last minute before the ceremony, Cathy flees to marry her curate and Bianca steps in and marries Max.
Bianca has told Max in no uncertain terms that theirs is a marriage of convenience. She agrees but shows her how he is learning more and more every day about their pottery business. As they spend more time together, it is inevitable that Bianca is charmed by Max and thus begins to melt her coldness to him. Can they have a good marriage?
This is a strange novel. I felt that there were several plots put together and wasn’t sure that they were necessary. Max’s relationship with the Duchess of Carlyle and her insistence that he become a respectable person I suppose is why he chose to marry and settle down. In addition, there is a mini-story at the end about the servants view of the marriage. That could have been good, but it was simply a rehash of what I have just read and seemed to be added for filler. I enjoyed learning about the pottery business but I felt that the book was overlong.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About A Rouge, by Caroline Linden, will be available for purchase at booksellers on 6-30-2020. This story is book 1 in Ms Lindens new series Desperately Seeking Duke. I feel like this series is off to a good start. Bianca and Max are well fleshed out characters and could be modern day people if not for the historical setting & arranged marriage. Bianca flies off the handle a lot, Max tamps down his anger. When they finally have a fight it’s epic. Scares the servants. I loved the plot, it was different and appealing. I became invested in Bianca & Max and rooted for their HEA. Max is charming and scared of going back to his old awful life. Bianca has never been afraid a day in her life. She can be a tad bit overwhelming. There’s a bonus short story and it’s super loveable.
#CarolineLinden #AboutARogue #DespperatelySeekingDuke #Netgalley #AvonBooks #HarperCollinsPublishers #historicalromance #romance
almost forgot to review this book that I read a week ago. Anywho lets get to it. so the death of the Duke of Carlyle dies and he was the heir, now his family has no clue what to do they need to find the closest relative take care of the order unfortunately for them the members the that can possibly take over are not really ones you would want. One of them was Maximilian St. James and his reputation was of a rogue/rake. Max does have interest but he needs to remedy his reputation and get married and show that he can handle the estate. Max shows interest in Caroline and her father Mr. Tate is the owner of the best ceramic manufacturer, he feels Caroline would be the best because she is biddable but that is not going to be the case since he ends up marrying Bianca. I hated that for him she was not nice, I did not like her and felt like she needed to grow up and wanted to know why she hated Max. I wish he would have had someone better.
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions (less)
I really enjoyed the story of Bianca and Max! A true enemies to true love story. Watching Bianca change her attitude and opinion of Max as she gets to know him and the changes he made in his own mind were great. Loved the ending! Thank you for the advanced copy, it is truly worth the read!