The Duke She Despised

A DUKE AND A HOUSEKEEPER IN DISGUISE
Filomena Marlowe travels to Scotland to prepare Kinmarty Castle for Christmas. Her cousin was married to the previous Duke who died in India and is arriving at the castle with her children. Her feelings for the new Duke are not in his favor. His negative comments ten years ago ran off the only suitor she hoped to marry. Taking the job as the housekeeper, she hides her true identity. Andrew McDonald is the new Duke of Kinmarty. He never wanted to be the Duke.
A misunderstanding finds him hiding his identity from the new housekeeper. Neither one expected to fall in love. What happens when they reveal their real identities? A favorite trope during a favorite holiday just has to have a happy ending.

I loved, loved, loved this book! Andrew and Filomena were so sweet together. Every time they spoke I held my breath because I was rooting for them from the very beginning.

Ms. Field gives us wonderful characters in this story. Even the secondary characters are darling and funny. Filomena is made of stern stuff, but she has made her mistakes. Andrew is funny, lovable, and he has made mistakes, also.

I found myself turning the pages so fast. I loved the dialogue in this book, especially between Andrew and Filomena. Lots of good tension, and I could feel Andrew’s deep love for Filomena. Wonderful story!

What an interesting story this was! Both the hero and heroine were hiding things and keeping secrets which made for a very intriguing storyline. This is a well-written and entertaining story that has strong characters. I enjoyed watching Filomena and Andrew get past their misunderstandings and see their connection grow. A very enjoyable read. This is my first time reading something by Ms. Field, and I very much enjoyed it. I will be looking for more of her books to add to my TBR list!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Careless words spoken during a drunken moment carried weight that would last years and prevent a young woman from making a successful match amongst the ton. Years later, though those words still carry weight, she’s managed to make a life for herself even if she is now a widow. The man is heir to a dukedom he didn’t want but has come into due to his brother’s untimely death. With his brother’s wife and children soon to be arriving from India, the old castle needs to be put to rights before they get there. The housekeeper that’s arrived to make the castle more welcoming is none other than the woman he publicly scorned all those years ago. She believes and treats him like the duke’s new factor; who is he to correct her assumption?

Except she doesn’t know who he is and he has no idea who she is either.

Though they’ve never met, Andrew and Minny know each other “well” thanks to Andrew’s tirade before his brother’s wedding. The relationship they forge now as they ready the castle is new, refreshing, and exhilarating. It elicits unexpected but welcome emotions and feelings in both.

But is all of it part of their masquerade? Or is it all real? When the truth is revealed, is everything they’ve done now to get to know one another strong enough to offer up forgiveness so they can remain in this happiness together?

This was a case of mistaken identity romance set in a time when a woman’s reputation could be ruined by the bitter words of a stupid man. There’s satisfaction in watching how far that man falls as the woman he deliberately ruined reveals her character is nothing like he claimed. Yet there’s also great anxiety in knowing he’s living a lie, that all he’s achieved with her now could be lost when the truth comes out. But their relationship won’t survive another storm if they don’t show their real selves to one another now. The pace, the characters, the plot, everything, all of it made this story an enjoyable read and a great introduction to this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A well written story of two people keeping secrets from each other. I enjoyed seeing Andrew MacDonal the new Duke of Kinmarty, and Filomena/Minny Marlowe get their happy ending. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Will their secrets destroy it all?
A misguided statement when drunk caused a family that was ripped apart for both sides of the family. One side will be able to apologize for what was done but the other has to face what was done and now make amends. It was a good story Minny pretended to be a housekeeper so she could be there for her best friend and cousin. It was hard because the man who caused her so much pain was her employer. You know what fate will play a hand and upset the apple cart. I liked the characters but a couple of the characters were over the top. I hope you take a chance on this one it was worth reading. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

This is the 1st book I’ve read written by Alina K. Field; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

Filomena Grant (“Minny”) tried to comfort her cousin Penelope, newly married to Evan MacDonal, despite his family’s opposition. Penelope told Minny that Andrew MacDonal, Penelope’s new brother-in-law, had slighted both Penelope and her at his club calling them social-climbing upstarts and twists; and he made sure others around him had heard the nasty remarks. Using her dowry for passage, she and her new husband were going to India to take advantage of an opportunity and to avoid Evan’s brother. Minny would be alone and Andrew had ruined her chances of a match now. No other gentleman would seek her out after what he said. She was humiliated.

Now a young vicar’s widow, Minny Marlowe accepted a job as housekeeper at Kinmarty Castle, where she heard from an innkeeper along the way there that the new Duke had let the old Duke’s factor go after embezzling all the money, and they were all laughing at the reputation of the dukes who enjoyed the charms of their housekeepers! Minny swore she would take a poker to one that even tried! Without even a butler being hired yet, she would have to manage the entire staff of footmen and maids at the duke’s castle on her own. Trying to stay warm as she walked to the castle, she didn’t see the rider who bowled her over into the snow! Yet her only thought was to hurry because she had to make Kinmarty ready for the widowed Penelope and the children for Christmas. The lane curved and the castle, when she saw it, was magnificent!

Andrew MacDonal, new Duke of Kinmarty, tossed aside his neckscarf and discussed the state of the ledgers with his friend, the Honorable George Lovelace. He didn’t want to be the Duke; this was Evan’s role – but Evan was dead now from a fever. George reminded him he would need a wife now as well to produce an heir. A knock sounded at the door. He thought it was that embezzler again, so he didn’t put on his scarf and answered with two days of beard growth making him look unkempt. He found an attractive woman standing there, asking to come in since no one answered at the servants’ door. She assumed him to be a servant as well, and he didn’t correct her. He would be the new factor, Mr. Andrews, who could spar with the witty woman where the duke or a footman could not. And she wouldn’t be here long since he would be selling the place. He took her to the study to introduce George and let her assume he was the duke since she had not seen Andrew for 10 years. How was this trickery going to turn out? If she finally recognized him, or if his sister-in-law did, he would be in a very awkward situation! And what would Minny do when she eventually discovered that the man she was falling in love with was actually the Duke she despised?

This was a clever story line with a switch of identities to amuse the reader. I enjoyed the fact that Andrew saw the castle as an ugly burden, whereas Minny saw its beauty as she helped in restoring what she could. Grab your copy if only to see the exciting reveal of identity that should produce quite the fireworks display!

With both the hero and heroine hiding secrets and pretending to be someone they’re not, it made for quite an interesting story! I really enjoyed Alina K. Field’s way of writing, lots of action, humour and passion.

Filomena has never met Andrew MacDonal but she’s hated him for years, blaming him for ruining her chances at a respectable marriage because of his disparaging comments he had made about her. When she learns that he’s now a Duke and in need of a housekeeper, she shows up on his doorstep. She has no intention of telling him who she really is! The only problem is, she has no clue what the Duke looks like so when she first meets him, he pretends he’s the Duke’s factor! Oh the consequences of both their lies!!!

Well written and very entertaining. I definitely do recommend this book!

I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Double Hidden Identity! Double the Fun!
Mr. Andrews and Mrs. Marlowe are both hiding their true identities! They were so much fun to watch as their relationship developed. I had to keep reading to see what came next – digging themselves deeper into their hidden identity or discovery! The characters were wonderful and believable. Ms. Field’s writing style moves the story along using action and dialogue. This was such an enjoyable read. I highly recommend The Duke She Despised.

I received an advanced reader copy from Bookspout. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.