USA Today Bestseller!From USA Today bestselling author Sophie Jordan comes a scandalously sensual romance in her beloved Rogue Files series.“Deliciously sexy!”—Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author An urgent dilemma… To save her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she … her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. Only one problem remains: finding a tutor…
A scandalous solution…
Other men deprive themselves of pleasure for propriety’s sake. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, would much rather be depraved. He slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian’s proposal—that he train her without taking her virtue—is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.
And a most unlikely duchess…
When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can’t tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another. But can he bear to give her what she demands—a real marriage?
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What better way to earn a living than to become a mistress? Well, that depends… Is that the only option? Marian Langley felt it was when she was left with supporting herself and her siblings after her father passed away. Beautiful and only knowing how to be a gentlewoman, when she is approached by the local blacksmith for her hand, she comes to a rash decision, or maybe the only one she felt she had left.
How’s a virgin to learn to be a cortesan though? Go to one of the most seductive rakes in town, Nate, aka the Depraved Duke. Would he take her on?
But even rakes are not always what they seem and as he tries to discourage Marian, but in the end, he cannot stay away.
A delightful story full of Marian’s sharp wit, goodness and then her passionate nature as Nate teaches gives her lessons that had the heat level rise and I had to turn on the fan!
Prepare to not be able to put this one down one you start and sigh as you turn the last page.
When you’ve read one book about a girl needing training by a man, you’ve read them all. It does seem to be a common trope within the historical romance novels. Sophie Jordan brings a flair of cute romance to it all. I disliked the sudden-ness of it all. He proposes permanent mistress and then marriage so quickly. I didn’t find the romance had a whole lot of development time. Regardless, enjoyable book.
Marian Langley is the oldest of her siblings. She returned after her father’s death to take care of her 2 sisters. Her father was a well respected doctor and she was a governess but now they live in poverty and have creditors knocking on their door. Mr. Lawrence, a rich, Blacksmith wants to marry her but he turns Mari’s stomach. So to save her starving sisters, Mari decides to become a mistress. But not just any mistress, she plans to become the most sought after, the most skilled, so that she can keep her independence and set her own terms. Only she needs a tutor and the Duke of Warrington comes to mind.
Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington is a loner and prefers to slake his desires with professionals who only want his money. Marian’s proposal that he train her without taking her virginity is astounding but intriguing. Marian is not his type so he will not have a problem keeping his word until the first lesson finds them spinning out of control.
Nate and Mari are enjoying the lessons to much when Marian is blackmailed into an engagement by the awful Mr. Lawrence. Nate impulsively steals her away for himself. Neither wanted to marry especially Nate, but he knew if Mari had to give up her freedom that he was the better choice. Nate is such a loner he doesn’t know how to be a husband much less have a family around. Will he be able to give her what she wants… a real marriage?
Pretty good read. Couldn’t put it down. Needed to see what happened. Marian wanted to help her family after her father died. So she approached Nate to teach her how to become a mistress as that is her plan to save her family from all the creditors clamoring at her door. She will be a mistress, Needless to say, Nate decides to assist and of course things for both progress from there to a HEA. Really enjoyed. My first book by Sophie. Going to search for more. Love her writing style.
Really enjoyed the story
Marian is desperate. Since her father’s death there has been very little money to support her sisters and her brother. The only thing she has to sell is herself, but she needs to learn the art of seduction to become a mistress and find a rich benefactor. The only man in the village to teach her is the depraved duke. Only once the lessons begin the objective starts to change. A totally delightful, funny romance with a few moments on the edge. A definite 5 STARS read!
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Erica –
Spoiler-Free Review
The Duke’s Stolen Bride is the fifth installment in The Rogue Files series. While loosely connected to the overall series theme, it can easily be read as a standalone independent of the series with little to no confusion.
I’ve been super busy, so I’ve saved this novel as a treat to read during my nightly bubble baths. I have to admit, sometimes I got too involved and stayed in the water too long and ended up looking like a prune. It’s not shocker for me to admit I’ll fangirl over Sophie Jordan’s historical romances. What is a shocker is that I’ve read this series piecemeal, somehow skipping the first and the third books in the series. Once I get a chunk of uninterrupted free time, I plan on doing a series read, including rereading this novel.
Marian is a logical heroine who is willing to sacrifice for the security of her family. After her father’s passing, the loyalty runs deep for her sisters, so deep she’s willing to become a courtesan to support them. The only obstacle in her path is that she needs someone to tutor her in the art of seduction without stealing the last bit of her innocence.
Nate is bored and looking for distraction, and Marian is exactly what he needs to make life interesting again. He easily jumps at the chance to train her, which sparks many banter-filled, tension-filled interactions, which I found unexpectedly hilarious with their dry wit. Marian is inexperienced, yet Nate comes off as the immature one, lending to the artful balance between the pair. The lessons turned smoking hot, causing me to blush more than a time or two.
Without spoiling the plot points, Marian is thrust into an untenable situation. Nate comes to her rescue, but not in the typical damsel in distress fashion. Once what is done can’t be undone, the push-pull slowly evolves into something more substantial between the pair.
Overall, there wasn’t a ton of angst, the conflicts were resolved easily and quickly, leaving behind a light, flirty, fun, hot read, perfect for a few stolen moments in the bathtub.
I highly recommend Sophie Jordan and all of her historical romance novels to fans of the genre.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a well written historical romance novel with likable, engaging characters, a heart warming romance, and a happily ever after ending. It is an excellent addition to Ms. Jordan’s “Rogue Files” series.
The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan is book 5 in The Rogue Files Series. This is the story of Marian Langley and Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington. I have read the previous books but feel you can make this a standalone book. Marian is trying to help her family by deciding to be a courtesan. When she goes to a former courtesan she leads her to consider Nathaniel for her ‘teacher’. Nathaniel isn’t on board at first but he does go forward to ‘help’ her. But they start to have feelings for each other then Marian is confronted by a man who threatens her and of course her family if she doesn’t marry him. Once Nathaniel had no plans to marry but Nathaniel steps in to take Marian but of course nothing goes easy.
You’ve got a duke whom everyone seems to think is a Very Bad Man and an orphaned young woman in charge of her three younger siblings, and the two meet when she hides under his table in a pub, trying to evade the coal man. So far, so good.
The rest of the premises is the problem.
Marian needs money, so she decides to become a … mistress?
I get that Marian wants to control her destiny. You go, girl. I get that she does not want to be beholden to any man, least of all the smarmy suitor who stalks her. But a mistress? Marian? She’s still a virgin, for goodness’ sake. When she meets with an experienced mistress who urges her to get “tutored” by the duke, the story further unravels. The problem is that Sophie Jordan doesn’t really sell this arrangement. It feels forced and contrived, and you might roll your eyes more than a little.
And yet I enjoyed getting to know Nathaniel, the dastardly duke. He is the more compelling character, and his story arc isn’t nearly as dopey. I wanted much, much more of him and much, much less of Marian and her “I’m going to sustain my family by being a mistress!” ethos.
The sex scenes are hot. Nathaniel is hot. Marian’s plotline is ridiculous. Read this one for Nathanial.
Former governess Marian Langley now finds herself in dire straits since her father’s death. She and her three younger siblings are left with nothing and she’s responsible for their care. Marian decides to do the only thing she can think of to earn the necessary funds and maintain her freedom: she will become a sought-after mistress. For that she needs a tutor and who better than the depraved duke himself.
Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, is fine with seeing to his needs with paid professionals, the more impersonal the better. When Marian proposes he tutor her whilst leaving her virtue intact, Nate finds himself agreeing to the entertainment, until their simple lessons threaten his careful control and he sends her away.
Marian fights her growing attachment to Nate, but soon the jig is up when a loathsome man threatens to expose her and ruin her family unless she marries him. Nate never wanted to remarry after losing his wife in childbirth, but neither can he bear to see Marian with another man. But once they are married, Nate still may not be able to give his whole heart and Marian will settle for nothing less.
I was unsure about this one at first, mostly because Marian frustrated me. Her refusal to communicate with her siblings exacerbated some of her problems, and yet I could also see where she was coming from, though a lot of her reasoning was rather nonsensical. Nate was aloof and not that likable until suddenly he was. The last 25% or so made this book for me and now I find myself looking forward to the next in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Marian Langley & her two sisters are struggling to survive & she decides that to save her impoverished family, she will become a mistress not just any mistress but intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. She needs to find a tutor. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian’s proposal that he train her without taking her virtue is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.
When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can’t tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another.
I had mixed feelings about this book, one the one hand I liked the premise of a young almost destitute woman resolved to become a courtesan, on the other whilst there was definitely an attraction & lust between Marian & Nate I didn’t feel it went beyond that. Nate’s reaction to Marian’s engagement seemed to be she’s mine no one else will have her & felt like it was a dog with a toy that he only wanted when someone else tried to take it. That said I did find it a quite compulsive read & found it hard to put down. So I’m sitting on the fence with this one
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The Duke’s Stolen Bride
The Rogue Files series #5
Sophie Jordan
https://m.facebook.com/sophiejordanauthor/
Release date 10/22/2019
Publisher Avon
Blurb :
An urgent dilemma…
To save her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. Only one problem remains: finding a tutor…
A scandalous solution…
Other men deprive themselves of pleasure for propriety’s sake. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, would much rather be depraved. He slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian’s proposal—that he train her without taking her virtue—is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.
And a most unlikely duchess…
When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can’t tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another. But can he bear to give her what she demands—a real marriage?
My review :
How a woman breaking all the rules will be able to find her happily ever after.
I do have read the entire series less one book, lost somewhere on my shelves, but will read it too. When I closed the previous book THIS SCOT OF MINE, I was so eager to read Marian’s story, I preordered it as soon as it was announced.
My first remark is the blurb tells too much about the story, it nearly sums up the whole story, so where are the surprises while reading this book?
I confess I felt like robbed of a part of my fun.
Marian had her up and down with me, she is a caring woman, ready to sacrifice her future for her family, but she was also very judgmental at the beginning about the duke, when he has the perfect profil as a future employer if she really did decide to engage in the world oldest profession business.
Hopefully from haughty and picky, she revised her opinion of him, when she realized he was the best option she has.
Also I found her rather puerile at the beginning, for a 24 years old woman, her reactions to her environment and situation lacked of thoughts, and some were very childish moves, as if she had procrastinated until she was faced with an unmovable wall.
I suppose it was probably the case of many women during these times, still for all her daring and cleverness, she was quite slow on the uptake.
I loved Nate, despite everything he thinks about himself, he is a good man. After the upbringing he had, and the loss of his late wife and their still-born child, it does not offend me, he prefers to not engage his heart and engages in sexual Congress with professionals.
He was more the Broken or Hollow Duke to me than the Depraved Duke. After a life of pain and loss, he could have turned worse.
Still, he let himself be entranced by the lively and determined Marian.
Even if it is not my favorite read in this series, part of my pleasure stolen by the few twists in the plot left to discover while reading it, I devoured it in few hours, turning the pages avidly. I would have liked to see them married a bit longer, for them to get to know really the other, to try to heal each other wounds until their reached their epiphany.
So do not deny yourself an entertaining read, Mrs Jordan mixed the perfect components for a page-turning sensual tale of second chances.
4.5 stars
And now I am curious about Marian’s sister, Charlotte.
I was granted through Edelweiss an advance copy by the publisher Avon. I previously preordered my own copy.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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