Molly Clare is living her dream. Being a guest in a gorgeous villa while she explores Rome is everything she could’ve hoped for and more. The man who owns the villa is equally charming—and entirely too tempting. At least, that’s what he appears to be. The truth of who and what he really is…well, that’s infinitely more complicated. Lord Hugh Farley is living a nightmare. Ruined by rumors of … rumors of indiscretions he didn’t commit and betrayed by his own family, his only option was to leave London. But any hope he had for a quiet Roman exile is destroyed when she arrives. Molly is everything he’s ever wanted…and nothing he can have. But keeping his mind—and hands—off her quickly proves impossible.
Can Molly and Hugh find a way to clear his name and build a future together? Or is their happily ever after nothing but a fantasy?
“Kiss Me, Duke, book 5 in the League of Unweddable Gentlemen series, is a hot and sexy, friends to lovers, holiday historical romance full of twists, turns, and oh-so-spicy secrets. Download your copy today and let the binge-reading begin!”
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I’ve always enjoyed reading Tamara Gill’s stories of love and romance. The League of Unweddable Gentlemen series Is a wonderful series with well written tales of love showcasing characters that leap off the pages. “Kiss Me Duke” is such a tale, well written and filled with a passionate romance that has much to overcome.
Hugh was absolutely the perfect hero, kind, selfless and forgiving! Molly appeared to be quite a progressive, independent and adventurous young woman of 28, already a spinster. Theirs was was an instant attraction filled with amazing chemistry followed by a whirlwind courtship and marriage. Hugh was so in love with Molly but before he could gather the courage to reveal to her his secret someone else did.
There’s always going to be conflict where there are secrets involved. I wanted to grab Molly by the shoulders and just shake her silly. She immediately believed the worst of Hugh but his love for her was so great and he was so forgiving.
I enjoyed the story immensely, particularly the author’s descriptions of Rome and Naples which were exquisite. It was as if I was there taking a grand tour. Her imagery is amazing, the dialogue was done well, befitting the story. The plot was believable and interesting. While I would have hoped that Molly had been more supportive of Hugh, the story emphasized just what an incredible character Hugh was. You don’t want to miss this beautiful story.
Thank you so much Tamara for this awe inspiring story of true love and forgiveness.
Good Start, But then the Heroine…
I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this book, when we meet our fiercely independent heroine as she first arrives in Rome. She knows she is a spinster, unmarried at 28, but she has always wanted to visit Italy, so with the help of her friends and parents, she does so. Her sense of excitement is palpable, and I thought she had the makings of a great romantic heroine. The hero was not supposed to show up while she was a guest at his Roman villa; he was meant to be at his vineyard in Naples, but an important letter calls him back to Rome. I quite enjoyed their whirlwind romance in Rome; the author’s descriptions of their sightseeing put me right there, which I found a lot of fun. They seemed well suited and had good chemistry.
Unfortunately, the book quickly went south for me when the heroine discovers the hero’s secret. Essentially, his family hung him out to dry, making him the scapegoat and sending him to the Continent to start over rather than admit his older brother (and heir to the dukedom) ruined a young woman of the gentry. The heroine’s response to this was over-the-top and melodramatic—and not in a good way. She seemed independent and sensible at the start of the book, but she became a completely different person when she found out. She would not listen to the hero at all and didn’t take time to cool off before heading back to England; she also had people she could ask about it, like their mutual friend (who did know the whole story). Yes, the hero should have been upfront with her earlier on, but the way his family and society had ostracized him made him shy away from complete honesty, which was completely understandable. She should have appreciated what she already knew of his character, taking that into account, but she wasn’t willing to do so. It grated on my last nerve that she didn’t believe him until she got proof from other people; then it was 100% turnaround and back to being all lovey-dovey. I felt sorry for the hero. He deserved a woman who was more understanding and not nearly so flighty. I thought he forgave her far too easily. I started out so liking the heroine, but she can turn into a completely different person, and not a good one.
There are a fair number of steamy scenes in this book. In general, I like well-done intimate scenes, but it felt like there were too many too close together, and they were perhaps a little too graphic at times for a historical romance that is not listed as historical erotica. After they got married, it seems like that was all they did until the big conflict arose. I feel like that took away from what could have been time for a romantic growth arc or deeper characterization.
There was actually a pretty huge plot hole, too. The entire book takes place within the year of 1829. At the start of the book, the author does not state the month, but we know it is December at the end. The author goes into great detail about how incredibly hot Rome is, particularly in the afternoon, which suggests that the book starts in late spring or early summer. Yet the baby conceived within the story is born before Christmas. So he would have had to have been conceived in late February or early March, which certainly does not go along with the weather described in the early parts of the book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I loved reading this. It’s well written and the characters are very vivid.
Pleasantly original. Loved the characters and the passion was on . Loved all the scenes abroad in Rome. First book I’ve read by Tamara Gill and I will definitely be picking up more!
I love this series!
Entertaining and interesting characters. Lots of twists and turns to keep you hanging on until the end. Great dialogue and interaction between characters. Love a good historical romance. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great depiction of Rome and Molly’s fascination with the city and Hugh’s villa. I loved the passion and attraction between these characters, but the underlying deception makes the romance take an inevitable turn. So much pain could have been avoided if honesty and communication prevailed.
Loved the book very interesting story. The chemistry between Hugh and Molly was great.
Miss Molly Clare has wanted to go to Rome for so long and her friends helped get her there. She was staying a month and she had been loaned a villa for that length of time. She wanted to see it all.
The man who lent the villa was supposed to be out of town for the month she was there.
Lord Hugh Farley, youngest brother to the Duke of St. Albans, had been forced by his brother and mother to take the blame for the scandal. Miss Laura Cox had loved “Hugh”, became pregnant, and died in childbirth, unfortunately, the baby died a few days later. Her parents loved her very much and were devastated. Hugh had some business to attend to and came home early. He received a letter from his brother’s steward. His brother and his valet had been killed in a carriage accident and now he was the duke. His sister, Susan, also wrote and gave the details of what had happened. He never wanted to see England again.
It was a touching story but also a tragic one. He fell in love with Molly and they married. They went to Naples where he had a vineyard. They spent their honeymoon there. You could read the love that flowed between the two. But when she found out who he really was she ran back to England leaving him in Rome. It is a complicated tale. The characters are gripping and satisfy. The writing is entertaining and intriguing. It is also easy to read and hard to put down. There was so much to love about this book. It is definitely worth the time.
I received this ARC from the author and publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.
Really enjoyable story. Keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering if they will get their happy ending. She goes to Rome on a dream trip and stays at a Villa of a hot man who is their because he was falsely accused of things he didn’t do by people who should have loved and honored him. They get closer and more intimate and eventually get together. But when you don’t tell the truth right away it will always come around to bite you in the end. And it does for him. Do they work it out? Read the book. Highly recommended. I received a review copy and voluntarily review it.
This is the fifth book in the League of Unweddable Gentleman series. A very entertaining and enjoyable read, to be sure! Although this book is part of a series, it can certainly be read as a standalone. Molly and Hugh’s story begins in Rome. Their attraction to each other is immediate and their relationship grows fast. But Hugh is keeping a secret – one that could destroy his and Molly’s relationship. This is such a beautifully written story and written in such a way that you can feel the emotions right along with the characters. The pain and betrayal that Molly initially feels, and the torture and guilt that Hugh feels and of course the love and warmth they both feel upon embarking on their relationship. All these emotions really pulled me into the story and I became invested in Molly and Hugh’s outcome and the HEA that they deserved. Ms. Gill did a wonderful job with this story and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
How could I resist the title “Kiss Me Duke” and with Tamara Gill’s artul writing, it lived up to it’s name! On a visit to Rome, Molly Clare has been invited to stay at a villa in London while the occupant is away. What she doesn’t expect if for the the man to come home early!
Hugh Farley had been relegated to Rome a few years back due to a scandal that broke out about London. He had become to enjoy being away from the gossipy Ton and enjoyed the beautiful city. When he is called back to Rome after having travelled away, he finds himself enchanted by Molly and begins to take her around.
Could it be almost love at first sight? But he has secrets and when they come out, will Molly believe him innocent? Another wonderful story by this talented author not to be missed!
The fifth book in the League of Unweddable Gentlemen series a well written story that held my interest until the end. This is Molly Clare and Lord Hugh Farley’s story, I enjoyed seeing their love story come together even with everything against it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Little Lies…
ADULT Late Regency, Georgian Era Romance and Adventure.
Seizing the Day…
Henry, the Duke of St. Albans, is killed instantly when he wrecks his curricle during a race. His younger brother, Lord Hugh Farley , ostracized by English society, becomes the new Duke, a job he was never trained for.
A few years before, Hugh had to take the fall for another of Henry’s indiscretions, the ruination of a young lady, for the good of his family and the Dukedom. Hugh is banished from the ton, and sent to Italy to live in a villa in Rome under the assumed name of Hugh Armstrong. He also has a vineyard in Naples. So all is not lost for him except his life in England.
Molly Clare , a young, slightly bohemian woman with progressive ideas, is able to visit Hugh’s Rome villa for a month with the help of Hugh’s friend, the Duke of Whitstone , supposedly during Hugh’s absence to Naples. With the unfortunate demise of Henry, Hugh is recalled to Rome. Molly and Hugh were never supposed to meet.
In those days it was inappropriate for a young woman of quality to stay in an unmarried man’s home, even though she has a chaperone. Molly doesn’t care, she is instantly infatuated with Hugh, and he with her. He hasn’t been around an English woman in a long time.
Hugh keeps up the ruse of his assumed name when he meets Molly, even though he already knew he was the new Duke of St. Albans!
ARC Provided by Bookfunnel
I a!so got this ebook with KU.
Author Gill does a great job with Molly and Hugh’s exploration of the ancient sites in the city of Rome. Can imagine in those days there was little guarding of the ancient sites, and tourists could probably go into the ruins at will. I know that indiscriminate taking of artifacts from the sites was rampant.
Good story. Loved the descriptions of the sights in Italy. I received an arc of this book.
Molly and Hugh – INSTANT connection. The attraction was immediate for both the characters. I decision Hugh made in his past caught up with him and put his relationship with Molly in jeopardy. Fortunately, A happy ending was in store for the dynamic couple. It was a great read and I could not put it down. I will definitely go back and read earlier books in the series.
Wonderful story, sumptuous setting, lovely characters. The perfect storm for a perfect book. Can a confirmed old maid find love in the city of Rome? Molly didn’t ever see herself marrying, she wanted to see the world and Rome is the starting off point. Her host is supposed to be gone but shows up unexpectedly and so do the fireworks. The chemistry is great and I loved the story as well as the glimpses of Rome. Well done.
Tamara Gill’s latest, Kiss Me Duke, transports you to the Rome, Italy and her detailed descriptions make you feel as though you are in Rome yourself. I love that she once again has a strong female character who is willing to take a risk. Molly is on a “grand tour”, her last chance to venture out in the world. She sees herself as on the shelf at 28. She knows she would never settle for a marriage without love and if it did not find her, she was ok with being on her own. Through friendly connections, she is staying a villa that belongs to Hugh Farley (Armstrong). Once a part of the ton, family and scandal forced Hugh to flee London and he has been living in a self-imposed exile for ten years. He, too, has given up on finding love. However, the moment these two meet their attraction is instantaneous, and soon they create their own magic. Unbeknownst to them both, they have ties to a shared past that can pull them apart forever.
I loved Hugh’s character. He is passionate and honest and loves Molly deeply. Unfortunately, Molly learns of his past and is shattered. No matter how Hugh pleads, she cannot find it within her to believe him and she flees back to London. Hugh swore never to return to London but vows to get Molly back. After a while, I got frustrated with Molly but I did understand her anguish. She wants proof that things are not as they appear but it is an impossible task for Hugh to prove his innocence. Eventually, the proof he needs comes from an unlikely source.
Kiss Me Duke was a quick, enjoyable read. Now I know want to go back and read her friends stories!
Lovely characters, but lacked that bit of depth to the story I enjoy from this author.
This is a well woven story with secrets from both main characters. It has a romantic seating in the city of Rome. Attraction and love begin and then, the secrets start from both Molly & Hugh. My main problem with this story is how Molly supposedly believes she loved Hugh, but then begins to believe everything others are saying about him. This did not fit in with the story, at this point in my opinion. I would encourage you to read the story and see what you think about how the story line works. Spoiler alert!! It does have a happy ending!!