Enjoy another witty, emotional historical romance book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erica Ridley’s fan-favorite Dukes of War regency romance series!
Captain Xavier Grey’s body is back amongst the beau monde, but his mind cannot break free from the horrors of war. His friends try to help him find peace. He knows he doesn’t deserve it. Just like he doesn’t deserve the … doesn’t deserve the attentions of the sultry bluestocking intent on seducing him into bed…
Spinster Jane Downing wants off the shelf and into the arms of a hot-blooded man. Specifically, the dark and dangerous Captain Grey. She may not be destined to be his wife, but nothing will stop her from being his mistress. She could quote classical Greek by the age of four. How hard can it be to learn the language of love?
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I loved this book. Captain Grey and Jane’s story was one I couldn’t put down! In fact I read it in one sitting! It’s that good! I won’t give away any details because I hate when people do that, but if you like take charge, go for what you desire heroines and heroes who try to do the right thing no matter the personal cost then this is a book for you.
I enjoyed this Regency romance.While I received this free as part of the Exclusive Jewels Vol 3, I voluntarily chose to review this. I’ve given this a 4.5* rating. This is not for the under 18 readers.The hero is a war bitter man and a heroine with a longtime crush on him. After much foolishness on the heroine’s part, which were very brazen of her, and the antics of the demon cat, there was lots to keep turning the pages for.
Erica writes the best books!
There were times I laughed out loud and other times sad. No matter what war, what generation, many suffer terrible scares and struggle to overcome nightmares. It was romantic how these two finally come together, each finding hope, strength and love in the other.
Love it when the hero finds brains beautiful!
Jane Downing, a spinster at age twenty four in 1816, has decided that she deserves one night of passion to remember all of her days. She sets her sights on Xavier, a Captain an war hero, the most handsome man she knows. When Jane’s brother leaves on business for two weeks, Jane packs a trunk and heads to Chelmsford where Xavier lives. This book is a delight! Jane must take her brother’s cat from hell, Egui, with her as no servant would look after it. The cat’s antics and misbehavior create a counterpoint to the friendship that grows between her and Xavier. Due to a snowstorm, the two are isolated at Xavier’s home for the better part of a week. Xavier is determined not to despoil Jane and to return her to London with her reputation intact. This book was wonderful, and I’d recite it even to someone who usually avoided romances.
I was embarrassed for the h. I didn’t hate the book, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
I loved the insight inside the characters and their completed character arc
This book was good at showing the assumptions people place on each other. She made assumptions about him based on him being a soldier without really knowing the man. She had to learn & grow about reality versus fantasy.
Enjoyed this book. I appreciate genuine, more to real life women, and celebrating those who are outside society’s expected norm.
I loved that she had a definite mind of her own. Would recommend almost any of Erica Ridley’s books! Amazing author.
Dukes of War Complete Collection book 3
Our hero, Captain Xavier Grey, has returned from the war hating the things he had to do which has left him mentally injured & feeling he does not deserve to or to be loved. Our heroine, Jane Downing is a bluestocking spinster & has become tired of being completely forgotten by everyone she meets. She has had a crush on Xavier for a few years & follow him to his cottage to convince him to take her maidenhood. They get snowed in together along with the demon cat she brought with her & they discover & share things about themselves.
I really enjoyed this book & Erica writes with such humor, romance & great characters that I found myself laughing or smiling at the events between Xavier, Jane & the demon cat. I highly recommend this book & the whole series – all the stories & characters have been wonderful!
Engaging romance explores the hidden cost of war.
Xavier came back from the war physically fine, but so emotionally scarred that he all but withdraws from the world. Plain Jane Downing has accepted that she’s all but invisible to her peers, and while she welcomes the benefits of spinsterhood she knows she’s missing out on something very important.
Xavier was a fascinating character, so broken inside from what he was compelled to do for his country that he fears he’ll never feel whole again, will never be the man Jane thinks he is. Jane was a little too short-sighted in my opinion, but she does redeem herself once she realizes the depth of Xavier’s conflict. The devil-cat was an interesting addition, completely unlike any cat I’ve ever known.
I loved the climactic ending – it was a little over-the-top, but it was exactly what Jane needed to feel her own redemption in society’s eyes. Most of the action takes place with these two stranded together in a snowstorm, so there’s not as much interaction with the crossover characters as there is in the other books in this series.
I have read a number of books by Erica Ridley, They are all great in their own way. This one is Hilarious with a Soldier, Captain Xavier Grey who has seen and done things in the war he can’t forget. Add a wild, crazy cat to the mix. Then Jane Downing, a wallflower who everyone seems to forget or just not see in the first place. At 24 Jane figures she will never marry and after meeting Captain Grey, she decides to take matters into her own hands.
She is a bookworm, has read some of just about everything. Including books a young lady should never see yet alone
read and re-read (nasty little book has Pictures too).
When her brother has to go out of town on business, Jane decides it the only time she can be gone without
anyone knowing. She travels to Captain Grey’s cabin, planning on seducing him into teaching her all about love.
Poor Xavier is shocked. On top of having a unaccompanied maiden on his doorstep, with a crazy cat, their is also
a Hugh snowstorm starting!
What follows is so funny, Xavier trying to do the right thing and save her from ruin. Jane trying to do all the wrong things for the first time in her life, and of course the Cat tearing up everything he can get his craws and teeth in.
As the storm blows outside, both find out things about the other, and learn many things are not as they seem.
This book does have lot’s of sexy talk, and a love scene both fit the story line.
With all the fun, and batter between the two strangers their is a very serious side too.
The ending is wonderful, not what you would expect and perfect..
Do give this book a read, it’s one I know I will be reading again and again.
All the books in this series can be as stand alone, but much better read in order.
I liked the heroine who took steps to ensure her destiny.
The good Captain is recovering from the mental stress of war and his involvement in it. He has a very low opinion of himself.
Jane Downing is tried of waiting for a man to notice her, in fact she has already picked out her victim. What could possibly go wrong?
What Jane wants, Jane gets
Lovely and sometimes funny regency romance between a war hero with a wounded soul and a spinster bookworm with the soul of a goddess. I love a heroine who sets out to get what she wants instead of waiting for others to give it to her!
Loved it!
I felt like this book wasn’t as well written as the others in the series and contained more sexy scenes.