The 7th highly anticipated book in the 1797 Club series from USA Today Bestselling Author Jess MichaelsMatthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tyndale, once loved a woman, but she died in a tragic accident he felt responsible for. Since then, he’s been playing pretend that he isn’t broken inside, even as he’s seen as London’s most sought after bachelor. He decides to drown his sorrows at the notorious … drown his sorrows at the notorious Donville Masquerade where he encounters an alluring stranger who he spends the night with.
Mrs. Isabel Hayes was married once to a man who did not inspire passion and she’s been curious ever since. She has no intention of taking a lover at the Donville Masquerade, but to watch the activities there, just as she has been for weeks. But once the masked stranger pursues her, she is swept away.
Soon Isabel recognizes her lover for who he really is and realizes a terrible truth. She is the cousin of the woman he once loved and lost, and her family blames him for what happened. Driven by the passion they’ve shared, but also repelled by the stories she’s heard, Isabel continues the affair, trying to find the truth. But once Matthew realizes her identity, will he pursue her for what they’ve built, or only because she reminds him of what he lost? And will he survive to share a life with her at all?
Length: Full-length novel
Heat Level: Unbridled passion and a lot of it.
This book is part of a series (The 1797 Club), but can be read as a standalone book.
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The heroes get more complicated, the heat level rises and the emotions run deep enough to swim in, but the one constant in a Jess Michaels’ novel is the heart never lies. Actions may masquerade, but emotion reveals all. Matthew and Isabel have tip-toed around their feelings for years. Matthew gave his heart in the past and that act ended in guilt and tragedy. Isabel will relinquish her body, but refuses to let anyone into her heart. Love never ends well for her. Until a flirtation at a masquerade sets these two broken souls on a course that begins with chance and could end in devastation. Past and present collide when identities are revealed. The bumps are brutal, but salvation is only a heartbreak away. Life is not always a fairytale, but never lose hope and fate might deliver a happy ending.
I really enjoyed this installment of the 1797 Club – I will admit, second love romance is not my favorite trope and I am rarely satisfied with the “love” between the hero and heroine, but I am pleased to say, I did finish this book feeling like Matthew and Isabel were soulmates and were “meant to be”.
Matthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tyndale has been mourning his late fiancée for the last three years, he has watched his friends find love and is convinced his chance for love died with Angelica. His friend Robert, the Duke of Roseford tells him he needs to start living again and badgers him into accompanying him to the Donville Masquerade – a pleasure club. He agrees to go, but plans to slip out once Robert is occupied. But when he notices a woman being harassed, he steps in and is shocked to feel an immediate attraction – more intense than he has ever had for ANY woman.
Isabel Hayes, is a widow living with her uncle, she has snuck out to the club to feel passion – she is not indulging, just watching. When Matthew saves her from unwanted advances, she is grateful and surprised to admit ~ aroused. They dance and share a kiss, shaken by the feelings, she bolts.
Days later, they both return to the club, neither can forget the connection they felt. This time, they take things further and make love, but when Isabel sees Matthew’s face while he is readjusting his mask, she is horrified and again runs. Isabel is stunned, Matthew is her late cousin Angelica’s fiancée and the man her uncle is convinced murdered her! She is torn, she cannot believe the gentle, considerate lover she met is capable of murder and decides to return to the club – to investigate him (that’s her story and she is sticking to it!). When they meet again and spend another night of passion, she begins to probe him for information. She leaves not sure if he is grieving or guilty. She sneaks back into her uncle’s house and is confronted by him, Her uncle Fenton says it is time for her to remarry and they will begin looking for a new husband at the Callis’ ball.
At the ball, Isabel’s uncle pairs her with a friend of his, a man 25+ years her senior, she is dishearten, she was already married to one older man and was unhappy, she certainly doesn’t want to marry another.
Matthew is at the ball and sees Fenton, he is going to leave to avoid an ugly confrontation, but then he sees his mystery lover speaking to him and learns who she is – he confronts her and asks if their meeting was a trap – she swears she didn’t know who he was when they met – he kisses her and leaves – angry and aroused. He goes home and tells himself to stay away from her, but his base self urges him to chase her and catch her. Her uncle is out for blood and tells Isabel. She decides that she must warn him and then will stay away.
When they meet again, she tells him to be wary of her uncle, he brushes off her warning, Fenton has been harassing him for years and nothing has ever come from it. When things become heated, they are caught together by her uncle and several other people. Isabel stands up to her uncle in his defense, but Matthew says they will marry.
Her uncle is thrilled that Tyndale is involved in a scandal, he tells Isabel that he had to sacrifice her in order to make everyone see that Matthew is a villain. She is sure her uncle has gone mad from the grief of losing his daughter, but she will not be a party to hurting Matthew, she tells her uncle Matthew is innocent of murder. She will marry Matthew, to protect him.
Matthew’s friends are sure Isabel is in cahoots with her uncle and beg Matthew to reconsider marriage, but he is not sure, he knows that he wants her and has never felt anything like the feelings she invokes in him with any other woman, including Angelica. His friends meet her and make it clear that they do not trust her. Personally, I felt that Helena was especially cruel, I understand protecting a friend, but her interaction with Isabel went beyond warning her and charged into just plain mean and hurtful, without true cause.
They marry and at the wedding feast, Fenton becomes unhinged and makes hateful accusations, Isabel again defends Matthew and tells her uncle he is no longer welcome. Over the next few days, Isabel and Matthew forge a relationship, not just hot sex (although, there is plenty of that). Matthew begins to think they could have a true marriage and maybe love. When they are called to Ewan’s home for the birth of his child, things change for them. His friends seem to welcome her into their set, Helena apologizes to her and Matthew knows that he wants her with him always.
It seems like they are well on their way to their HEA, when Fenton finally makes his move and Matthew realizes that he loves Isabel and it might just be too late to tell her.
This book is well written, flows nicely, has really HOT love scenes (YES!!) wonderful characters, a lot of emotion, a truly demented villain, an almost too good to be true heroine, cameos with the other dukes and their wives and a truly lovely ending with an epilogue. While I did feel that Matthew loved Isabel completely, I can’t like some of the story points involving Angelica.
I would be happy to recommend this book and while I would suggest reading the series in order, this book could be read as a stand alone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
Since the death of his beloved fiancé in a tragic accident, one he blames himself for, Matthew Cornwallis, the Duke of Tyndale, has presented a mere façade to the rest of the world. He is considered a great catch but inside, his pain remains unhealed. When his friends cajole him into joining them for a night at the scandalous Donville Masquerade, he’s shocked to find himself fiercely attracted to a stunning stranger.
Since being widowed by her much older husband, Isobel Hayes has been curious about passion. She ventures to the Masquerade merely to watch, something she’s been doing for weeks, but when she’s rescued from unwanted attentions by a handsome stranger in a mask, she is swept up by his allure.
When the mask slips and Isobel recognizes the face of the man she’s spent a passionate night with, she’s horrified to recognize him as her late cousin’s former fiancé. Knowing her uncle blames Matthew for his daughter’s demise, Isobel continues to meet him, partly to satisfy her body’s newly awakened needs, but also to learn the truth. Once Matthew learns her identity, Isobel wonders if she’ll be too much of a reminder of his painful past to continue their relationship, especially considering she wasn’t forthright with him from the start. With her uncle growing increasingly unhinged, Matthew’s life may be in as much danger as their future together.
This was an interesting story with a fairly nuanced plot. Matthew’s pain was heart-wrenching and doubly so given that he was also hurt by Isobel’s (albeit brief) deception. But this introduced the opportunity for forgiveness and some excellent development played out between Matthew and Isobel. I loved that, although there were significant issues both between them and from outside sources, Matthew and Isobel handled everything in a mature way and ultimately banded together to take on the world. I also loved how Matthew’s friends all rallied around him and were so protective of him, even from Isobel at first. This was a moment for Matthew to shine as well, as he allowed no one to disparage Isobel and this gave her an opportunity to find her place in their group. It was lovely that Isobel wound up being protective of Matthew as well, defending him from her uncle even though she knew it would ruin her relationship with a family member. The pacing of this story was a little slow, but it was very enjoyable, emotional, and satisfying to see Matthew work through his pain and find happiness at last. Anyone looking for a story with emotional depth, character development, and plenty of steam should enjoy this one.
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My Least Favorite Of The Series
Plots involving masquerade balls generally don’t interest me. The illicit setting sets a tone that hinders the sense of romance. Still, I persisted because I didn’t want to skip an installment in this series. As suspected, Matthew and Isabel’s encounters at the masquerade did little to cast them in a romantic light. It might have had they shared one kiss, but things went much further than that. Fortunately, the rest of the story was interesting, and it had a great ending.
We’ve all been told of Matthew’s heartbreak in the previous novels in the series. I was so excited to learn that Matthew was finally going to get his chance at love. If you’re not up to date on his past, Matthew’s fiancee died some time before this series began. I was surprised to learn it wasn’t that long before. I knew it would take a special circumstance to bring love back to his doorstep.
Mrs. Isabel Hayes was forced into an arranged marriage once and fears she will be forced again soon. Her one escape is becoming a voyeur at a Donville Masquerade. One night she is brought into the pageantry without her consent, but a masked stranger saves her. It takes some time but once she realizes the man who brought forth a desire like no other is her late cousin’s betrothed, she has already fallen too hard. Isabel’s uncle and current benefactor blames Matthew for her cousin’s death. How could she fall in love with such a man? Because she knew long before meeting the man that he had nothing to do with her cousin’s demise.
This novel stands out from the rest of the series for more than one reason. I loved the idea of the masquerade! While our ladies in this series haven’t been angels, Isabel is the first to know their is some pleasure to be had even with the wrong partner. I loved that Isabel is a widow who takes it upon herself to find her own bliss if only for a few moments from behind a mask. The thought that Matthew found her because his friend forced him to go was as charming as it is sinful.
I could go on for hours about my love of this novel, but I would hate to spoil the experience for you. If you’ve loved this series so far, you will be enraptured by this Duke of Hearts. If you are any kind of romance enthusiast, one click this novel now. I guarantee you won’t be sorry.
I received this book for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Book 7 of this great series did not disappoint was a very good read could not put it down. This story is about Matthew “The Duke of Tyndale” I can’t say my favorite as I love all the Dukes in this series. Matthew has a broken heart due to the death of the beautiful Angelica the woman he was to marry, though it happened several years in the past he still mourns her loss. His friends decide it’s time he has some fun in his life and take him to “The Donville Masquerade” which is really a sex club, where anything goes and does. There he meets a Miss Swan a beautiful petite dark haired widow, of course that’s not her real name and everyone is wearing masks to hide their real identity. Isabel Hayes is a young widow who was married to a much older man, she has desires that plaque her so she comes to the club to watch others living out their fantasy’s and when she meets Matthew she soon finds out what it’s like to have a young handsome man make love to her. The story takes off with lots of twists and turns and surprises. They soon find that they can’t stay away from one another, but will the memory of Angelica come between them. Well that’s all I can say you must read this book for yourself, I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did. This is such a great series by Jess Michaels “The Duke of Hearts” sure won mine.
So I was not sure if Matthew would rank up there with my favorites but he is lovely, kind, gentle, loyal, and damn sexy. I did want to kick him in the rear a few times with his downtrodden attitude about his dead fiancé but in these times he also reveals his gentleness which I find refreshing for a male character in a story. What can I say about Isabel, she takes the bull by the horns and goes after what she wants – passion. Who can fault a woman for that? Take it and own it. Matthew and Isabel are wonderful characters who lust first and then realize that love sneaks up on you when you least expect it. As always, the others of the 1797 Club are there when Matthew needs them. Yeah, camaraderie at its finest.
Ms. Michaels’ you added one of my top favorites into this story – Marcus Rivers, sigh!
A complimentary copy was provided by the author through NetGalley.
The Duke of Hearts by Jess Michaels is book Seven in The 1797 Club series. This the story of Matthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tyndale and Isabel Hayes. I have read the previous books in this series but feel this can be a standalone book.
Matthew is lost his fiancée in a accident that he feels guilty about and hasn’t been able to move on. His good friend Robert talks him into going to the Donville Masquerade and to start living again.
Isabel is a widower whose husband was not a passionate person so she is curious of the pleasure house Donville Masquerade and goes there to watch. But on one outing she meets Mathew with them having masks on they don’t know who the other is. But on another encounter she does see who he is and is shocked that he was once to marry her cousin. Isabel family feels that he is to blame for her cousin’s death. Wanting to find out more about what happens she tries to meet Matthew again. But her Uncle feels it is time she remarries and goes to present her to the town there she meets with Matthew again and he finds out who she really is.
But can these two move forward past what has happened and how her family is feels about him?
Matthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tyndale I’ve been reading about him for a few books, how his fiancé drowned a few years ago and he feels guilty, he’s grieving with a broken heart. So glad to see this Duke brought back to life by Mrs. Isabel Hayes. Isabel’s first marriage was an arranged one with a much older man in a loveless and uncaring marriage, he has since died and left her a widow and destitute. Isabel finds herself looking for excitement in her life when she hears about a place called Donville Masquerade, which is a club where basically anything goes. Masked for the night Matthew and Isabel unexpectedly meet at the Donville Masquerade virtual strangers and all her fantasies come to life as he’s irresistibly drawn to her and the passion sizzles!!!
She’s torn between her loyalty to her family and her growing attraction to Matthew. Matthew doesn’t know what to believe she’s guilty of deception, he so wants to believe Isabel is innocent of everything, but he doesn’t believe in coincidences either. Isabel unwittingly becomes a pawn in her uncle’s revenge plot, Matthew doesn’t know what to believe and they’re both caught up in her Uncle’s hatred of Matthew and his need for revenge.
A captivating story of two people who desperately need saving and a story filled with romance, passion and intrigue as all the Dukes and their wives rally around Matthew and keep Isabel at arm’s length until she proves her worth and trustworthiness with their friends heart. 5 STARS!!! This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.
Another story by Jess Michaels to grab the heart. The hero, Matthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tydale has been despondent ever since his fiance Angelica Winter died in what he felt like was his fault. His friends at the 1797 club have been trying to get him back out into the world and he agrees to go to the Donville Masquerade with his friend Robert. Encountering a lady being accosted, he rescues her and they share a kiss. Isabel Hayes has been married once to a man with no passion in their union. Meeting Matthew for a second time brings them together and they become lovers. But she soon realizes that he was the man engaged to her cousin Angelica and has only heard from her uncle how he caused the death of his daughter. It seems a fated meeting, as can often be the case and she wants to believe Matthew is innocent, but when he finds out who she is, the story takes a turn. Can the real truth come out and can Matthew forgive himself and the two find happiness? I loved this story of Matthew and Isabel, both so deserving of happiness and love. Although part of a series, this can be read as a standalone, but I encourage you to read them all!!
The Duke of Hearts by Jess Michaels
1797 Club #7
Love the series and thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Widowed Isabel Hayes lives with her uncle but after a loveless arranged marriage to an older man and knowing she has the same to look forward to in the future she takes her life into her own hands…at least a little bit…and attends and exclusive club where masks are worn and hedonism thrives. More a voyeur than a participant she is saved from a lecherous lord by Matthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tyndale. The two meet a few more times and when the masks come off both are surprised and perhaps not in a good way.
Matthew and Isabel definitely feel a spark that grows into a conflagration when they are together but with a huge trust issue hanging over their heads and her uncle bent on revenge it takes calm minds to sort through the issues they face.
I think what I liked the most about this book was the fact that Isabel was not a shrinking violet. She stood up for what she felt was right and was willing to ask for what she needed. It took Matthew a bit of time to come around and embrace his future with both hands but when he did…the two were a match made in heaven.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Matthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tyndale, was engaged to Angelica Winter, but she died in a tragic accident he felt responsible for. For three years he’s been pretending that he isn’t broken inside, even as he’s seen as London’s most sought after bachelor. He’s persuaded by Robert Smithton, Duke of Roseford to go tot the notorious Donville Masquerade where he encounters an alluring stranger who is being accosted. Mrs. Isabel Hayes was married once to a man who did not inspire passion and she’s been curious ever since. She has no intention of taking a lover at the Donville Masquerade, but wants to watch the activities there. Then one night she’s accosted & a gorgeous stranger rescues her. Soon Isabel recognizes her lover for who he really is and realizes a terrible truth. She is Angelica’s, cousin and her family blames Matthew for what happened then Matthew recognises her.
This is the seventh book in the series & whilst it could be read by itself to fully appreciate the 1797 Club I’d recommend reading in order, you won’t be disappointed. This is yet another engrossing, captivating, riveting book, I was totally lost in it. The characters are wonderful Matthew has featured in earlier books but his true nature is highlighted in his own story & he is everything you want from a hero. Isabel is strong, loyal & hopelessly drawn to Matthew. The attraction between the pair sizzles from their first meeting & even though they have to endure some trials & tribulations their passion never wavers. I also loved that the other Dukes feature which builds the world of the club & enjoy catching up with them. I now have to wait a few months for Hugh’s story & from the teasers throughout this book I await with bated breath. This is another brilliant book in the series that goes from strength to strength.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Series: 1797 Club #7
Publication Date: 5/22/18
This series just gets better and better. I have always wanted to know more about Matthew and his story since the series began. We have revenge, love, loss, guilt – you name it. The story, as always, is excellently written, well plotted and the characters are so likable and relatable that you’d love to have a nice chat with them over dinner.
Matthew Cornwallis, Duke of Tyndale, has only been going through the motions of living for the last four years – since his fiancé died. All of his friends in the 1797 club are more and more worried about him because he just can’t seem to come back from his grief. Finally, one night, his friend Robert drags Matthew to the Donville Masquerade, which is a club where basically anything goes. Robert hopes Matthew will find someone to share a few hours of pleasure with and Matthew intends to stand against a wall until he can leave. How surprised is he when he rescues a damsel in distress and is intrigued by her. When she runs away after he kisses her, he knows he has to see her again and find out more about her. Since both of them are masked, he has no way of recognizing her. What if he knows her? What if she is the wayward wife of an acquaintance? Is she a servant? Surely not, she spoke too well and was dressed in fine clothing.
Mrs. Isabel Hayes was in an arranged, loveless and uncaring marriage and at the end of it, she was basically destitute – except for the good graces of her uncle. He took her in and supported her. He’s becoming more and more determined to find another match for her as he sinks further and further into his madness from grief. His only and much-loved daughter died four years ago. Isabel has done all she can to bring him out of his grief, but he just sinks further and further into it. She has heard nothing for four years except how much her uncle hates Tyndale because he murdered his beloved daughter. Isabel doesn’t know any of the facts, but she has to think her uncle must have some basis for his beliefs. So, she panics when she discovers that the masked man she has just been intimate with (at their second meeting) is none other than Tyndale himself.
As Isabel unwittingly becomes a pawn in her uncle’s revenge plot, Matthew doesn’t know what to believe. Isabel has deceived him – and she admitted it – but now – she wants him to believe her when she tells him that she isn’t a part of her uncle’s plot. Can he believe her? His friends say no. He is just so drawn to her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I definitely hope you will as well. There is also a good set-up for Hugh – who I assume will be the next book. Then – there is the wonderful introduction to Ewan’s new baby – that is such a wonderfully loving and heartwarming scene – just sigh worthy!
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”