A lovestruck lady charms the duke of her dreams during an expedition on the high seas in this sexy, swashbuckling novel from USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans. Alexander Sylvester Bracken, Duke of Bedford, has a mission: sail to the Mediterranean and track down Lady Hestia Cary’s missing father. It is a straightforward task, but for two rather vexing complications. First, the sea holds … complications. First, the sea holds painful memories; second, for her own safety, Hestia is to accompany him. As Alex battles the demons of his past, he must also resist Hestia’s surprisingly skillful attempts at seduction. After all, Alex has sworn to leave her untouched, and he intends to honor that vow—until he can properly ask the Earl’s blessing.
Ever since His Grace rescued Hestia from the arms of a Turkish pirate six long years ago, her heart has belonged to Alex. So when he agrees to help find her father, Hestia is thrilled. Although Alex tries to hide it, there’s passion in his eyes—and a frisson of desire in the air—whenever they meet. On board ship, miles from home, Alex won’t be able to deny her any longer. But with scoundrels lying in wait, she may not live to tell the tale of her conquest.
Look for the enchanting Disgraced Lords series from Bronwen Evans:
A KISS OF LIES | A PROMISE OF MORE | A TOUCH OF PASSION | A WHISPER OF DESIRE | A TASTE OF SEDUCTION | A NIGHT OF FOREVER
And don’t miss her novels in the Imperfect Lords series:
ADDICTED TO THE DUKE | DRAWN TO THE MARQUESS | ATTRACTED TO THE EARL
Praise for Addicted to the Duke
“Regency romance fans looking for something just a bit different will adore this one from [Bronwen] Evans.”—Library Journal
“I would happily recommend this book and am looking forward to the next installment!”—Flippin’ Pages Book Review Blog
“No stranger to adventure, Ms. Evans knows how to thrill readers with her courageous heroes and tempting heroines. This time around she steps up her game and sets the action on the high seas. A wounded warrior battles his inner demons while fighting against the advances of a sexy siren on the quest for answers. As the mystery unfolds the seduction begins. Bronwen Evans doesn’t do dull and Addicted to the Duke explains why.”—I Love Romance
“Ms. Evans combines high seas adventure with sizzling romance that will keep you turning pages long into the night. Her books just keep getting better and better.”—Ashlyn Macnamara, author of What a Lady Requires
“I was glued to the pages of Alex and Hestia’s story, from the first page to the last.”—My Book Addiction and More
Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
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Lady Hestia has loved Alex since he saved her after she was kidnapped in the Mediterranean, but Alex keeps pushing her away. Vengeance against the same villain who captured him and kept him prisoner for two years is his focus. He doesn’t feel worthy of this beautiful woman. Hestia won’t give up. When another villain comes into play only a powerful love can change his mind. Absolutely a must read!
Opioid addiction is not a modern issue. It was prevalent in many ages including the early 1800’s when the opium trade was a big money making trade. Unfortunately its addictive properties were not fully understood. Laudanum was used indiscriminately for everything from migraines to teething. It is in this atmosphere this story takes place. It features a faulted hero, one who knows his shortcomings though they are not his fault. At the tender age of sixteen, Alex saved Hestia from the clutches of the wicked Turkish pirate who had held Alex in captivity for two years. It was during his captivity that Alex became addicted, first as a cruel type of torture and then as a means of survival. Four years later, Hestia needs his help to find her father who was last in the area ruled by Alex’s tormentor. It doesn’t help that Hestia has been in love with Alex ever since he saved her. He has strong feelings for her, but denies them. He feels he is not good enough for her, that his last is too dark to involve an innocent like Hestia.
Like Ms. Evans’ other books, Addicted to the Duke is fast paced, full of danger, villians, and several surprise twists. All of which keep the reader interested and quickly turning the pages. This is the first book in a new series. I am looking forward to reading the next in line.
Alexander Sylvester Bracken, Duke of Bedford, has a mission: sail to the Mediterranean and track down Lady Hestia Cary’s missing father. It is a straightforward task, but for two rather vexing complications. First, the Mediterranean & the Greek islands hold painful memories; second, for her own safety, Hestia is to accompany him. As Alex battles the demons of his past, he must also resist Hestia’s surprisingly skillful attempts at seduction. After all, Alex has sworn to her father leave her untouched, and he intends to honour that vow.
Ever since His Grace rescued Hestia from the arms of a Turkish pirate Sultan Murad four long years ago, her heart has belonged to Alex. So when he agrees to help find her father, Hestia is thrilled. Although Alex tries to hide it, there’s passion in his eyes and the air almost crackles whenever they meet.
Another very well written, engrossing page turning novel. The characters are so well portrayed. The pace of the book keeps you riveted & I read into the small hours to finish it. The author also take you through a gamut of emotions from laughter to tears. Alex is flawed & must fight his demons from his capture & two year captivity; Hestia is a strong levelheaded woman who knows what she wants. The chemistry between them sizzles & finally combusts. Alex’s struggle from opium addiction & abuse is well written & I really felt for him & all he’d been through. As I’ve come to expect from the author a powerful, brilliant masterful romance & I’m now waiting for more in the series.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
‘Addicted to the Duke” by Bronwen Evans is the First book in the New Series “Imperfect Lords”. This is the story of Alexander Sylvester Bracken, Duke of Bedford and Lady Hestia Cary.
Hestia was kidnapped with she was 16 years of age and was going to be raped and taking as a slave if not for Alex. The man that was going to hurt Hestia was once his captor..the man got Alex hooded on drugs and went along with allot of what that man used to do as his slave. But no more and he is now there to save Hestia. About 4 years later we find Alex is now the Duke of Bedford and tries to avoid Hestia. Alex knows that Hestia has feelings for him but feels she is to good for him. So he has been pulling away from her until he is called to her house. There he learns her father is possibly dead and that Hestia and her Aunt want his help finding her father. Hestia explains that her father’s heir is saying that her father is dead and he is now taking over. In addition with her father’s death she inherits money from her mother’s estate. Which has put her in danger of being forced to marry or killed. Alex has agreed to go look for her father and she is planning to go with him.
It was hard for me to put this book down. I wanted to see how their story would play out.
This was another great story by Ms. Evans.
Do not miss any of this author’s book.
Wonderful reads.
A really different twist in the damaged character. I have loved this author all along. It was amazing
Excellent book. She is one of my favorite authors, and I enjoy reading each book she writes!
too graphic with crass, coarse sexual terms
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Mmmm not a good book for me 🙁 I struggled to get into the story and started skim reading from 30%. One of my favourite tropes in romance is the forbidden trope, where the H/h is expected to keep away from the other for whatever reason but they still end up together. The blurb was quite appealing as it had an adventure on the high seas as well as, touched on a few sensitive topics of drug addiction, abduction, slavery and rape so this book may not be suitable for those who are sensitive to these issues. Major kudos to Bronwen for venturing into these sensitive issues, as I do appreciate this isn’t an easy feat.
Alexander Sylvester Bracken, Duke of Bedford, was captured when he was twenty-one and held captive as a slave by Murad – a Turkish pirate. Alex suffered many atrocities at Murad’s hands and also picked up an addiction to opium. Alex manages to escape and forge a life for himself but is filled with many demons which he tries to exorcise by losing himself in numerous, countless, faceless women. Lady Hestia Cary was kidnapped by this same pirate when she was sixteen and if it wasn’t for Alex coming to her rescue she would have suffered a fate worse than death at the hands of Murad.
Fast forward six years and ever since Alex saved her life, she has never stopped loving or yearning for Alex but Alex keeps his distance even though he loves her too. Unknown to Hestia, Alex has promised Hestia’s father than he would never court her or seek her hand in marriage. Now Hestia’s father is missing and Lady Hestia has sought out Alex to help her find him and bring him back home. It would have been an easy mission to accomplish if he didn’t have to take Hestia along with him for her own safety. Away from home and stuck on a ship together, awareness of each other runs high and inhibitions and promises are not heeded and Alex and Hestia cannot deny each other any longer.
What a great adventure it sounded like! And really the storyline and plot had great potential, but Bronwen’s writing style was difficult to get into and didn’t flow well in my opinion. There were lots of anachronistic phrases and words and also many repetitions of inner thoughts of the H/h which I found really jarring. Hestia was too whiny and lovestruck in a childish way and I wasn’t enamoured by her at all. She came across as rather silly to me. Alex is definitely a very very tortured hero who is battling an addiction, but I just couldn’t muster a kinship with him no matter how hard I tried. The addiction was mentioned numerous times which was repeated too much and I felt like it took away from the intensity of Alex’s suffering rather than enhance it. Both Hestia and Alex fighting their feelings for each other was annoying and haphazard, rather than heat filled yearning. I really liked the fact that, Bronwen was brave enough to touch on sensitive topics and it definitely is highly commendable, but sadly it just didn’t do enough for me to not be bored.
*Thank-you Bronwen Evans, Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept for the ARC.
Bronwen Evans’ writing often deals with the darker subjects in life. Because the writing is so intense I sometimes have to take a break from the book just to ‘settle’. This book also deals with darkness — addiction and forced captivity — but it isn’t as dark as some of her books. During the time period of this book, little was understood about opioid addiction. People freely smoked opium and doctors freely prescribed laudanum for just about any ailment, so it was easy to become addicted. The addiction in this book was an addiction forced upon our hero during his 2-year captivity by Sultan Murad Bayezid.
Alexander Sylvester Bracken, Duke of Bedford was captured by Murad when he was about 20 years old and was forced into opium addiction for the entertainment of Murad. While he was under the influence Alex was coerced into many acts which caused him shame and humiliation. Once he escaped captivity he felt unclean and unworthy and he used sex and alcohol to control his addiction.
Ms. Evans writes so compellingly that you can feel Alex’s craving for opium and how hard it is for him to fight that craving.
Lady Hestia Cary was sixteen when she was captured by Murad’s pirates. Fortunately for her she was rescued within four days by Alex. While she was unharmed because she had not yet been turned over to Murad, she suffered nightmares afterward. She also fell in love with Alex and thought maybe he loved here too. Lady Hestia is a very loving and strong young lady and I think you’ll admire her strength and tenacity.
This story shows Alex and Hestia dealing with their pasts while enduring the hardships and danger of trying to save Hestia’s father from his conniving heir who wants to murder him and Hestia. Alex and Hestia’s journey into love, acceptance and redemption is a wonderful one and I just know you’ll enjoy it.
“I requested and received this 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.”