USA Today bestselling author Loretta Chase continues her Difficult Dukes series with this delightful spin on Shakespeare’s classic, The Taming of the Shrew.This time, who’s taming whom… exasperated father, hoping a husband will rein her in, has ruled that her beloved sister can’t marry until Cassandra does.
Now, thanks to a certain wild-living nobleman, the last shreds of Cassandra’s reputation are about to disintegrate, taking her sister’s future and her family’s good name along with them.
The Duke of Ashmont’s looks make women swoon. His character flaws are beyond counting. He’s lost a perfectly good bride through his own carelessness. He nearly killed one of his two best friends. Still, troublemaker that he is, he knows that damaging a lady’s good name isn’t sporting.
The only way to right the wrong is to marry her…and hope she doesn’t smother him in his sleep on their wedding night.
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This was a well-written, entertaining book. Cassandra Pomfret and The Duke of Ashmont have had an unfortunate encounter, damaging her reputation. The book was hard to put down and I didn’t want it to come to an end! I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
This story had it’s moments and I wanted to like it more than I did but it just didn’t really grab me. On the plus side, the story did have depth in both the people and the settings so I did give it some points there.
The duke was an unusual mix of angelic, charming ways with just a touch of the “demonic” anger that would show up from time to time. That was a surprise, as was when he smiled what they called the Death Smile that caused people to scatter when it appeared.
Keeffe,the ex-jockey, was an interesting touch when it came to being a mentor, and friend to Cassandra even in his role of groom.
Hyacinth was the beautiful sister who had more going on in her head than just beauty and a good nature.
Humphrey Morris was the duke’s friend and a man head over heels for Hyacinth; as are so many other gentlemen. His chances are slim being a third son and all. But things could change in that are.
There is a twist at the end caused by Humphrey’s mother. A “snake “who tried to appear as a family friend, even though Cassandra’s mother knew her true nature. I like how that was dealt with and that there was a H.E.A.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
Ugghhh. I really had a hard time connecting with the characters in this story. I read and loved the first book in this series, this one was so flat. The characters were boring (and I really liked Ashmont in the first book and his lines really stood out in this story). Cassandra was so demeaning. I hate that this story did not garner more one-liners and sympathy for me. I have high hopes that the next book will be amazing.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
4 Stars!! This is book 2 in the ‘Difficult Dukes’ series. I didn’t get to read book 1 first but I understood pretty much everything, so it can be read as a standalone! An intelligent bluestocking that try’s to help others and if not for the fact that she’s a woman, would do even more good, and an arrogant Duke that’s done nothing but pranks, drinking or whatever HE wants his whole life, wasting all of his opportunities to do good for others. I loved how the main female character, Cassandra, didn’t let the main male, the Duke of Ashmont, get away with anything, or any other man for that matter! If it’s one thing I hate in a book, it’s a weak female! I’d have hated to be a woman back then, as I’m NOT a quite, dutiful little lady! This book had me entertained and I read it pretty fast! I’d definitely recommend this book! I can’t wait for the other books in this series.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley!*
1833
Miss Hyacinth Pomfret, 18, daughter of Lord deGriffith, has everyone admiring the debutante. Her older sister, Cassandra, 26, has recently returned from the continent where she fled after being involved in a political dispute. Lord deGriffiths is a powerful member of the House of Commons. Today. Cassandra is in the House where she is once again challenging Mr. Titus Owsley, causing pandemonium, and resulting in her father’s ire. He then threatens to disallow Hyacinth her season if Cassandra continues with her ways. In addition, Hyacinth cannot marry until Cassandra has married.
Lucius Wilmot Beckingham, the sixth Duke of Ashmont is a handsome man. His fiancé Lady Olympia Hightower, has just broken off their engagement to marry his best friend, the Duke of Ripley. Lucius is furious and has challenged him to a duel. Awaiting the start of it, Lucius and some of his friends have been drinking heavily and are quite drunk.
Driving to see her old governess is Cassandra, her maid, and her tiger, Keeffe. When Lucius drunkenly fires a pistol, her horses rear up and overturn the carriage. While her maid has some lacerations, Keeffe has some injured ribs. Cassandra is uninjured but quite angry with Lucius! Taking him to an inn closely she gets a doctor for Keeffe who is now running a fever. As he begins to sober up, Lucius realizes how stupid he has been and that he could have killed Ripley.
Lucius realizes that he has lost control of his life and is intent on turning himself around to prove to Cassandra that he is a good man and hopefully she will agree to marry him. Thus starts his venture to make great changes that are not easy for him to do. Poor guy.
This book had a promising plot but I found it to be too intense with the heroine trying to mold the hero into someone else. This is OK up to a point, but I found it grating and emasculating to Lucius. In addition, the length of the book could have been shortened significantly. Not a favorite.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Cassandra Pomfret holds strong opinions she isn’t shy about voicing. But her extremely plain speaking has caused an uproar, and her exasperated father, hoping a husband will rein her in, has ruled that her beloved sister can’t marry until Cassandra does. Now, thanks to a certain wild-living nobleman, the last shreds of Cassandra’s reputation are about to disintegrate, taking her sister’s future and her family’s good name along with them. The Duke of Ashmont’s looks make women swoon. His character flaws are beyond counting. He’s lost a perfectly good bride through his own carelessness. He nearly killed one of his two best friends. Still, troublemaker that he is, he knows that damaging a lady’s good name isn’t sporting. The only way to right the wrong is to marry her…and hope she doesn’t smother him in his sleep on their wedding night.
I just loved the blurb & the book itself didn’t disappoint I found it to be a hugely entertaining read. Well written with strong likeable characters. I loved Cassandra but adored Ashmont & how he change throughout the book. I loved the chemistry between the pair & their verbal bantering was also brilliant. I devoured the book as I was engrossed from cover to cover & read it with a smile on my face & the ending was the icing on the cake
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase is a delightful read! Cassandra Pomfret is outspoken and determined, two things that make her thoroughly unmarriageable. When a series of mishaps ends up with her being thrown together with the Duke of Ashmont, one of London’s most disgraceful dukes, she wants nothing to do with him or his disreputable habits. Ashmont, however, sets out to woo the prickly Cassandra and win her heart.
Somehow this is the first of Loretta Chase’s books I’ve read, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The story started off a little slowly, with lots of references to other characters and events (this is the second book in a series) and so I was a little thrown off, but quickly caught up and was able to greatly enjoy the book.
It’s often said in historical romance that “reformed rakes make the best husbands”, but I haven’t seen many books tackle the reformation quite as head-on as this one does. From Ashmont’s point of view we see him striving to overcome his ingrained habits to be a better person, and to be the person Cassandra needs him to be. We (and Cassandra) see him doing the work to turn himself around, and so the happy-ever-after is especially gratifying.
I would definitely recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the book preceding this, as well as the next one when it is available.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for my honest feedback.
Loretta Chase is an instant purchase for me. I love her writing which is fun, witty, and entertaining – just what I need to escape the stress of real life. Book 1 was fantastic (on my all-time favorites list) so I was excited to read Book 2 and was not disappointed. An enjoyable read! Get it!
I was provided with an advance reader copy by NetGalley. My opinions are freely given and are my own.
This book was a delightful return for Loretta Chase. I loved each and every character in the book – well, except for the two nasties – who weren’t the nastiest nasties I’ve ever read. The writing is excellent, the story is tightly developed, and the characters are fully developed and totally relatable. Although the book is part of a series, it can totally be read as a standalone with no problem.
Lucius Wilmot Beckingham, the Duke of Ashmont, leads a totally hedonistic lifestyle. Getting to know other people – really know them – especially women, just never occurred to him. That is how he came to lose his former betrothed – at the altar – when she ran away – that was in the first book of the series, A Duke in Shining Armor. Unfortunately, his best friend, Hugh Ancaster, the Duke of Ripley, ended up with the runaway bride and he and Ashmont fought a duel over it.
Cassandra Pomfret is a very unique young lady – and a sore trial to her parents. She doesn’t mean to be a trial, but she can’t help being who she is. She’s very intelligent, politically savvy, socially aware, and just can’t keep her opinions and thoughts to herself as young ladies are expected to do. She is never partnered for dances at balls and is known as Lord deGriffith’s Gorgon, Cassandra Prophet of Doom, and Medusa. To make matters worse, those opinions she expresses are said very plainly and directly. She knows she’ll never marry, but she will do some good in the world through the Andromeda Society during those times when her father hasn’t banished her to the continent to live with her grandparents.
While attending a meeting where the blowhard Mr. Titus Owsley, a member of the House of Commons, is making a presentation on the Sabbath Laws he is trying to have passed, Cassandra stands up and – Heaven Forbid – questions him. Her father is livid and delivers a strong lecture to her about her actions reflecting on their entire family – especially her sister Hyacinth. Then, he decrees that Hyacinth’s season is now over and she will not be attending any functions at all until Cassandra is wed.
Cassandra needs to get away – at least for a little while – so she heads out toward Putney, driving her own phaeton and accompanied by her groom/tiger Keeffe, and her maid Gosney. Everything was going along swimmingly until they approach the Green Man Inn and she sees two men tumble through the door. The men are in a brawl and all of the other men surge out onto the street as well. They are followed by an obviously drunk man who raises a pistol to the sky and fires. Her horses spook and take off into a field where the phaeton bogs down and throws all of the inhabitants crashing to the ground. Her tiger is badly hurt, but Cassandra and Gosney are only slightly injured.
The idiot with the gun? Well, that was none other than Ashmont. He was absolutely, totally falling down drunk and Cassandra was livid. She let him know it too! She and Ashmont had a history together – from childhood. She’d had such high hopes for the man he could become and he’d turned into one of the Dis-Graces along with his friends, the dukes of Ripley, and Blackwell. Now, he’d not only badly injured her tiger, but he was also causing her total ruination since she was unchaperoned and would have to stay until her tiger recovered enough to travel. Her phaeton is broken beyond repair and her maid took off on the first mail coach to come through the village. So, neither she nor Ashmont was having a good day. You see, he’d just had a duel with his best friend that morning.
Things go from bad to worse and Ashmont asks her to marry him in order to save her reputation. She, of course, refuses, but as more events occur – they end up making a pact that they’ll pretend to be betrothed and she can call it off after the season ends. Ashmont is totally shocked when he eventually realizes that he really wants to marry Cassandra. He decides he’ll do whatever it takes to win her – and – OMGoodness – he does some spectacular things. You are going to love him!
I absolutely adored Ashmont’s transformation. Once he realized what he’d been, he worked so very hard to become better and to win Cassandra. I also absolutely loved Cassandra and her family. It was wonderful to see a loving, supportive family who is actually open and honest with each other. Too often, our books are filled with the other kinds of families.
I thought Cassandra and Ashmont were absolutely perfect for each other. There is witty banter, humor, blackmail, a few love scenes, and an absolutely to-die-for ending. I hope you’ll read it and love it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.