Having witnessed the roguish ways of men, Miss Jane Harcourt has decided she is better off to remain a spinster. Working as a governess has brought her fulfillment, but when she finds herself suddenly without a position, Jane begins to fret. When her cousin alerts her that a Duke is seeking a governess for his son, Jane is overcome with joy. That is until she finds out that this is a man who is … is believed to have killed his wife, a man known as the Duke of Fire.
Michael Blackstone, Duke of Hayfield, knows all too well the rumors surrounding his wife’s death. For years, he has remained isolated inside his home with his son, allowing his misery and the guilt of her death to consume him. When the latest in a string of governesses leaves their home, he sends word in hopes of finding anyone who would risk being in his employ.
Desperate for employment, Jane agrees to work for the man she fears, but when she meets the Duke she is left to wonder if there is any humanity left within him. As times progresses, Jane begins to see a different side of the infamous Duke of Fire, for she sees a man who is overcome with guilt and grief—a man so lost, he is losing his mind.
For Michael, Jane has brought more than excellent teaching inside his home, she has also brought hope into an otherwise dark life. Finding the woman intriguing and enjoying her company, his feelings for her begin to grow, although he fears his love will never be returned.
Although she is afraid, Jane allows herself to fall for the broken Duke despite not knowing if her love will be enough to save the man from himself…
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Prepare to get caught up in an adventure of the heart. The Duke of Fire is a new beginning for two lonely hearts who never quite fit in. She’s the girl with who wants to be loved. He’s the man who needs to be loved. Forced into a life of solitude by rumors, Michael is determined to do right by his son. Jane enters his life at just the right time to heal his broken heart and stumble into danger. When dark and light collide, can a happy ending be found? Monroe draws you in by the heart and keeps you intrigued all the way through.
Young Samuel was the star of this story. I don’t know who I liked less Jane or Michael. The concept of the story held merit but the characters for being educated and supposedly smart were easily fooled. Like who was scheming was obvious from the start. But what pissed me off was how easily Jane and Michael we’re convinced of things. If someone told them the sky was red they would have believed them but then they would think not possible. What upset me most is the blatant disregard for proofreading. There was a “her” where there should have been a “him”, signed instead of sighed, etc. You get the point.
A great cross between a Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast tale.
A Regency Romance with a Gothic Flare
As a governess, Miss Jane Harcourt understood from personal experience how the peerage treated a servant. Although she did not understand their attraction to her, still she again was leaving a position because of the Lord in charge. Was there any place she could teach her charge and not be accosted by her employer.
As a duke, Michael Blackstone, the Fourth Duke of Hayfield understood from personal experience how much guilt and despair a man can endure and still survive. Although he faced each day for the sake of his son, still he wondered how much time he had left before madness overtook him. Was there any place he could find peace.
As I read The Duke of Fire by Jennifer Monroe, I was reminded of the Gothic novels I was so fond of as a teenager. As with the novels from my youth, this one had a likable but vulnerable hero who’s attracted to a wise and strong heroine. Some would call the plot predictable because the villain is so obvious. Still the suspense of the plot is just how the villain is going to slip up and be found out. Thankfully, good overcomes evil and the made-for-each-other couple realize their happily-ever-after, even when such an ending in real life would be most improbable. Then again, this is romantic fiction.
Content: This well written stand-alone novel is clean and sweet. It is suitable for any age reader.
After fending off lewd advances from her employer, Jane Harcourt leavers her post as a governess without a reference and finds herself desperate for a new position. Michael Blackstone, the Duke of Hayfield, needs a governess for his son, but with rumors abounding that he’s responsible for his wife’s death, few want to work for him, especially since he is also badly scarred and appears to be going mad. With no other opportunities available to her, Jane accepts the position and soon finds that the duke is not what she’d imagined and the two begin to grow ever closer. However, there are sinister individuals manipulating them and working to poison them against each other and their machinations may be too much for the couple to overcome.
This book had some awkward wording that had me rereading (although I did read an unedited advance copy, so most of that will probably be better in the final) and some of the heroine’s inner monologue was a bit too sweet and unbelievable for me. There were several misused words that also led to some confusion and rereading. Jane disappointed me with how quick she was to judge the duke based on gossip before she’d even met him and this seemed wholly at odds with the sweet girl her inner monologue had set her up to be. In fact, I found her to be rather a hypocrite at first, vowing not to listen to or spread gossip and then regularly referring to the duke as a murderer, despite the fact that the only evidence of this came from gossip. Despite this, she improved as she opened her mind and this eagerness in her to be this sweet person became key to the plot later on. We have some very well-drawn villains here that made the whole thing delightfully dark and made up for the fact that this is a clean read (normally a dealbreaker for me). Once I got into the story, I didn’t want to put it down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A wonderful story of love and intrigue. The Duke’s son was a real treat! Good read.
Very engaging story.
At first glance it started out like another book. However, it turns into its own fascinating tale of one women trying to do right by others.
Miss Jane Harcourt accepts a job working for a man believed to have killed his wife—the Duke of Fire, a man consumed with guilt over the circumstances of his wife’s death. While caring for the duke’s son, Jane can’t help falling for the Duke, who believes he is losing his mind…but the reader gets the sense that things are not what they seem. This storyline and these characters kept my interest.
Somewhat predictable.
Quite enjoyable, interactions of people very realistic
It was a sweet, caring story that warms the heart.
A clean well written entertaining story of love winning over regardless of the obstacles. Original in its story line. Love the characters, Great atmosphere of the period.
Good book, enjoyed reading it!
Loved this story but hated all of the typo’s that got in the way of the flow. Fire your editor.
This was a interesting story. Jane is a lovely women that is needed to help Michael become the man he once was. Add in Samuel and some plot twist and you have an amazing tale.
Loved!!
Shows you can have a Regency Rom with out open door bedroom scenes.
Good regency romance
A transparent plot with a no surprise there villain, and a hero who disappoints mightily, because he is so gullible. The best character is the boy, Samuel. Incorrect use of pronouns is cringe worthy to an English major.