Falling for a duke in disguise! Never welcomed into society circles, Rosalind Allen gave up her marriage prospects long ago–life has taught her she’ll only get hurt. So she’s shocked when an encounter with a mysterious stranger makes her long to reconsider… Little does Rosalind know that her mystery man is Leo Beauchamp, Duke of Cheriton, traveling in disguise to evade the ladies of the … evade the ladies of the ton! Impoverished Rosalind is the first woman to captivate Leo–but can he persuade this wary Cinderella to trust him with her heart?
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This is the first book in The Beauchamp Betrothals series and the second book I’ve had the pleasure of reading from author Janice Preston and definitely not the last! I’ve been looking forward to reading this book since I first met our hero Leo Beauchamp, the Duke of Cheriton in the book From Wallflower to Countess.
Leo Beauchamp the Duke of Cheriton is a wealthy and powerful man, a widower with three older children and head of a large extended family. Leo’s first marriage was not a happy one and being a duke and a catch on the marriage mart he has a very difficult time with trust. Rosalind Allen has accepted she will never marry and have children of her own, content in helping raise her younger siblings for the last 14 years. Rejected by her mother’s family in society she has no love for the ton.
Leo intrigued me from a previous book and I was so happy to hear he had his own story and 2 series based on his family with The Beauchamp Betrothals & the The Beauchamp Heirs! I absolutely adored Leo and Rosalind together and the fact that they were both a little older than the norm for regency couples, Leo just turning 40 and Rosalind being 30 made their story even more special. Leo and Rosalind were very strong characters in charge of their perspective families. Secrets, misunderstandings and villains come between these two but eventually their love for each other overcomes the many obstacles between them. We have a fabulous cast of secondary characters and an absolutely perfect ending! I loved this story and would highly recommend it!
I’m always on the lookout for classic Regency romances and Janice Preston is a delightful find. I’m so pleased to have discovered her, and very much enjoyed Cinderella and the Duke. I’m working my way through book 2 in the series and can’t wait for the 3rd. It’s always such fun to add another author to my must-buy list!
Wonderful book page turning and many twists and turns of the storyline . The characters were so intriguing you just fall in love with Leo and Rosalind, on how Rosalind fights her love for Leo and Leo fighting it to but also trying to help Rosalind admit she loves him.
Janice Preston is a wonderful author with characters that come to life with adventures that have you from the very beginning
Since I read Mrs Janice Preston last release, Daring To Love the Duke’s Heir, I was very eager to read about his siblings story but also his own father.
I ordered the prequel series to this book but was unable to find a moment to read any until today.
I’m in between two reads, an advance copy that left me shaken and a new release tomorrow I do not want to pass on.
So I have a few hours free to enjoy a book I know will cheer my mood.
Rosalind and Leo are very flawed characters, their stubbornness and need to control others life have a cost.
Sure, it is easier for Leo, as a male and a duke, it was engrained in him since his birth while Rosalind, having been shunned by her own blood and flesh, she became this managing self by necessity and for need to feel she is worthy of people’s attention. Sacrificing her own future to assure her siblings one. Sure at time, she matured as a rather selfish mother hen, unable to see she must let them go, as they are all grown up.
Leo, after having been betrayed by his late wife is weary of lying women, and matchmaking mamas.
By meeting under false identities, they are running straight to deception that even their sizzling chemistry will have problem to overcome.
Their forged existence and the unsaid things between them will lead to misconceiving and miscommunications, and in its wake they will be left distrust of the other.
When they meet again, it will not be an easy task to clean the slate as their stubbornness and pride will rise to a top-notch level.
It will be up to them to decide what they want and if they can surmount their past disbelief.
A beautiful tale of two headstrong beings who clash head until they accept they need each other.
One of my favorite tropes. A thirty year old spinster has taken care of her siblings with no life of her own, meets a charming gentleman in the country. Calling herself a widow to hide from her stepfather’s wicked heir, she will do anything to protect her family. The gentleman has his secrets, too. Their passion for each other can’t be denied, until everything starts to unravel. A strong lady not afraid to give her opinion goes toe to toe with an imperious Duke. Another one I stayed up all night to read! A keeper!
I truly adored this story. Rosalind Allen has spent her 30 years serving and loving her family. She has given up on her own personal happiness to secure happiness for her brothers and sister. Leo Beauchamp, Duke of Cheriton is a widower with three children who keep his life busy. When he meets Rosalind, he finds himself unexpectedly attracted to her. I enjoyed the complexity of the story. This book is the first in the Beauchamp Betrothals and I believe they need to be read in order to grasp the depth of each story. Highly recommend.