“Terrific storytelling with lots of wit, derring-do, and tugging on the heartstrings!” – Grace Burrowes, NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author“Locke seamlessly blends hints from classics like The Count of Monte Cristo, Pride and Prejudice, and Arthurian legend into an utterly enjoyable Regency romance.” – Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize____From RITA® Finalist and USA Today Bestselling Author … Finalist and USA Today Bestselling Author Margaret Locke comes The Legendary Duke, the second in her Put Up Your Dukes Regency historical romance series.
For a Knight to win the Princess, he first must slay his dragons…
A tragic event in his youth led Gavin Knight’s mother to whisk him to Rome, where he lived a simple but secluded life—until, on her deathbed, she revealed who he truly was: the Duke of Cortleon.
Now twenty-nine, Gavin has returned to England, determined to learn what happened all those years ago. Despite charming his fellow lords and ladies alike, the new Duke disregards any notion of nuptials, as his honor first demands resolution–and retribution.
Then he meets Lady Elinor Greene.
For seven years, renowned beauty Elinor has refused all proposals, fearing marriage would curb her freedom. But when her family falls on hard times, Nelle must sacrifice herself to save them by marrying a man of means. A wealthy widower seems the logical choice, a passionless union perfect.
Until she meets the Duke of Cortleon, and learns one Knight can be legendary.
Soon Gavin and Elinor must each decide which quest is worth more: that for honor, or that for love…
_____________
While second in the series, The Legendary Duke can easily be read as a standalone novel – especially because this story turned out to take place before that of The Demon Duke. (Oops.)
Loosely based on the Arthurian legend Gawain and the Green Knight, The Legendary Duke provides adventure, mystery, desire, and betrayal in this satisfying blend of Regency historical romance with a hint of medieval flavor … and Arthurian Easter eggs pop up throughout!
You don’t have to give a hoot about Arthurian legends to fall for this love / hate triangle for the ages, however; that’s just an added bonus for geeks like me.
_________________
Category: Regency Historical romance
Length: 108,000 words / 400 pages
more
Terrific storytelling with lots of wit, derring-do, and tugging on the heartstrings!
Absolutely loved this book .
What brilliant concept weaving The Green Knight / Gawain tale into this romance.
Grips from the start with a murder witnessed by the son. And so the take begins and as it unfolds you continue to read to see what happens next ..thoroughly engrossing ..well done Margaret .
As this is my first book by Margaret I believe she is a keeper on my bookshelf.
Brilliant! This has to be one of the best books I have read all year! The Legendary Duke by Margaret Locke is book 2 in the Put Up Your Dukes series. As some of you might not know Margaret was up for a RITA this year for Demon Duke book one in this series and I can imagine this book will also be up for a RITA. It would be so deserved. If you are a regency lover as I am you MUST read this book. It is one of those book you can wait to see how it will end and sad when it does end. I can’t wait to read the next in this series. Margaret has created such wonderful characters, Nelle and Gavin, you cannot help but fall in love with both. The descriptions are so vivid you feel and see everything in your mind. Though in a series, Legendary Duke can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you read Demon Duke to get the real feel of the story and the Dukes. This book is a real page turner and has scandal, duty, honor, revenge, murder, nightmares, memory loss, true friends, evil, madness, kindness, giving, orphans, coldness, masks, house parties, betrothed, death, grief and so much more. I highly recommend you read this book, you won’t be disappointed!!
For anyone to move on from their past and their grief, one must confront whatever haunts them before achieving their truest desires…
What must Gavin Knight, Duke of Cortleon, do now?? Upon learning from his mother that he is the true heir to the Cortleon fortune and title, Gavin is forced to return to English society. But a deadly secret still haunts his waking moments- the massive, green-clad man who murdered his father in cold blood. Though Gavin was only a child and doesn’t remember much from that day except the giant, he vows that while he is in England that he will seek revenge and retribution against the man that destroyed Gavin’s whole world. Yet how can he find the “green monster” when the siren Elinor Greene waltzes into his world and envelopes his every waking thought?
Elinor- a bewitchingly beautiful young woman- has no desire to marry a man. She would much rather keep her freedom and work with the women of the Foundling Hospital, tending to the orphans and other children that society deems unworthy and beyond help. But when her family demands that Nelle finally accept a proposal and save them from financial ruin, she must force herself to deal with the horrid advances of Lord Bertie Ashvere. Yet when Nelle meets the Duke of Cortleon, she learns just how legendary love can truly be.
Can Gavin and Nelle fight their battles alone, or will they realize that they need each other to help fend off the dragons of past and present?
I. COULD. NOT. PUT. THIS. BOOK. DOWN!! I finished it in less than a day, it is that AWESOME!! <3
This is a magical story in which you can just lose yourself. Wonderful characters abound. Nelle and Gavin totally rock!
As a young boy, Gavin Knight fled with his mother to the continent, after he witnessed the murder of his father. Several years later upon his mother’s death, he learns he is the Duke of Cortleon. Gavin returns to England, determined to find the murderer and avenge the death of his father. All he can remember is the man was a giant green man.
Lady Elinor (Nelle) Greene, has no plans to marry and wishes to continue her work on behalf of the Foundlings Hospital. Due to straitened circumstances, Nelle’s parents plan to wed her to a wealthy older gentleman. Nelle is opposed to this, but because of her love for her family, knows this may be the only option.
There is obvious chemistry between Gavin and Nelle when they are together, but Gavin has no plans to marry until after his quest to find his father’s murderer is successful. Their wonderful story and how they found their happily ever after is an emotionally gripping tale filled with intrigue, madness, revenge, honor, scandal, wit, and most of all, love.
Kept me guessing most of the way, liked strength of female character, complexity of male main character…
What a mystifying and emotional story that gets a little heated in more ways than one! The book, “The Legendary Duke” is a heart-pounding, luring story, closely based on the legend of “Gawain and the Green Knight.” The tale is filled with love, betrayal and murder. You will be entranced by the vivid descriptions of the beautiful castles while Lords and Ladies roam their well-maintained landscapes in England during the early 1800s.
Gavin returns to England from Rome after his Mother reveals, from her deathbed, where he came from and that he is Duke of Corleon. Finding answers to what happened many years ago has Gavin vexed, but being distracted by the alluring beauty, Lady Elinor, has his heart pounding with fascination.
This is my first book by Margaret Locke. Even though this is not my preferred genre, the story held my interest because it was so well written. This is book 2 of the “Put up your Dukes,” historical romance series. Maybe reading book 1, “Demon Duke” would have given me an introduction to the story, but it read well as a stand-alone. If you enjoy a scandalous mystery and have no issue about a bedroom scene, then this story will keep you reading long into the night.
~This e-book was given to me through a giveaway by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.~
A well-written and ambitious regency romance built upon a complex Arthurian legend. Enjoyable and interesting retelling of an old tale.
Very interesting book. I liked the main characters and the story, although it was certainly a bit sad for a while. I like it enough that I’m planning to buy other books in this series and check out her other works. She modeled it after an Arthurian legend and I really enjoyed her explanations at the end. Good dialog and interactions between the characters.
I liked the love story and the author got accross the feel of the regency era but Gavin’s quest to find his father’s killer could have been less drawnout and had more action – it seemed repetative and didn’t capture your imagination. The middle chapters dragged.
Great period piece. Interesting characters. A good quick read.