On the surface, Cromwell Stone and Huxley Brigmore loathed each other. From their school days at Eaton to their ascension as peers of the realm, the two dukes could be counted on to be on opposite sides of an argument. However, only a trusted few knew that the passion they shared was deeper and more forbidden than whose horse would win at Newmarket. Not only did they go through women like they … changed their cravats, they did it together.
Lady Sophia Hodges’ obsession with tarot cards and the spirit world would have labeled her as odd, if not for the fact the Queen shares her interest. While searching for a connection with her dead mother, she narrowly avoids a scandal with Cromwell Stone. She blames that erotic manuscript she’s been reading in secret for giving her such unnatural curiosities. When Sophia is powerless to stop her father from gambling away their livelihood, and even less able to stop him from arranging a marriage to Stone, she consults her tea leaves and sees a future rife with passion and other confusing portents.
Little did her father know, she secretly loved another duke. Huxley Brigmore never even looked her way, but she had fallen for him ever since he chased off a gang of ruffians who had been about to accost her. Now, she was going to marry his arch enemy, Stone, and be hated by default.
Only it doesn’t work out quite that way as it seems both men are intent on pursuing her and fulfilling every naughty fantasy a well-bred virgin shouldn’t even be having. When the tarot leads the three of them to try to solve a mystery surrounding Huxley’s family, they face peril and forbidden passion in an attempt to find the perfect future.
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Guest Review by mom, romance fanatic, and (someday) published author Summer Raines!
Ooohh boy! If you’re in the market for a steamy ménage, look no further. This historical erotica is about two dukes teaching a virginal lady that she can relish erotic pleasures… and she’s an ardent student. We’re talking panty melting heat on these pages!
This book is written by Lorna James, which is the pseudonym of USA Today Bestselling author Jamie K. Schmidt and award-winning NYC publisher, Lori Perkins. These two naughty ladies definitely know how to write a good story.
Cromwell Stone and Huxley Brigmore have appeared to hate each other since their days at Eaton. The two dukes are always on opposite sides of any argument and often exchange blows over their opinions. What most people don’t know is that there is one area where they find common ground. Women.
Lady Sophia Hodges is obsessed with tarot cards and the spirit world. Even though the Queen has expressed an interest in all things mystical, Lady Sophia still hears whispers of how odd she is among the other ladies of the ton. The other women cruelly play jokes on her and no one believes that she will ever earn a suitor.
During an event, Miss Hodges goes on a search for a connection to her dead mother, but she only finds Cromwell Stone. Before she knows it, she’s telling him about the erotic manuscript she’s been reading. He demands that she disclose details, or he will tell her father that she’s been reading it. She manages to escape the situation before she does something to cause scandal.
When Lady Sophia’s father admits that he has lost everything they have during gambling on horse races, she prepares herself for life as a pauper. But when her father informs her of how he’s decided to solve this quandary he’s created, she panics.
She has been betrothed to the duke who knows her dirty secret- that she reads and enjoys erotica. To make things worse, she’s been in love with his archenemy, Huxley Brigmore, for years. She deals with her feelings for Huxley by worshiping him from afar, but that seems impossible to continue if she’s married to a man that Brigmore hates.
Miss Hodges is left with only one option- she consults her tea leaves. She’s enthralled to see passion in her future, but there are also many other puzzling omens. Lady Sophia thinks that if she turns down Stone’s offer for her hand, he’ll tell everyone about her inappropriate reading material. If people found out, no one would ever take her as a wife and her family would be destitute.
Sophia is confused when the announcement of her engagement seems to provoke Huxley into pursuing her also. The two men seem to take turns getting her alone to satisfy most of the wicked fantasies a well-bred virgin should not be having. And what’s more confusing is that Stone continues to catch Huxley touching his fiancée, but doesn’t seem dismayed.
Following where her tarot cards lead, the three get pulled into a mystery surrounding Huxley’s family. Together they have an adventure fraught with peril while discovering new levels of intimacy and ecstasy in their search for a consummate future.
I’ll fess up. I tolerate ménage romances with no problem, but it’s not my go-to choice. However, I LOVED this book. It’s so cool to see a heroine who is sexually empowered. In case you’re looking for something specific in your threesome themed books, I’ll let you know that this has no M/M action.
Here’s what I hated about this book: Lorna James is launching a female dominants (girl power!) series. There’s an excerpt from the first in the series, Dominating the Duke, at the end of this novel. It was amazing, but it doesn’t come out ‘til January! How am I supposed to wait that long to find out what happens? SO unfair.
I’m aware that I sound pathetic and fangirly, but I’ve found an author that will make me choose to purchase ménage and domination themed books. I’m very impressed! 5-stars for this enchanting tale.
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from the author, free of charge.
And don’t forget to check out the Romance Rehab blog for more rants, raves, and fun romance-y stuff: http://www.romancerehab.com/
“I fear that I am wicked…”
“Darling, I’m counting on that…”
Lady Sophia Hodges knows she’s not like the other ladies of the ton. Having an appetite to try new and exciting adventures, Sophia discovers a book that is not to be judged by its cover. Rather than religious writings, Sophia is swept into an erotic fantasy that has her heart racing and her body begging for more.
Duke Cromwell Stone is a man known to take his pleasures and consequences be damned. But when he stumbles upon Lady Sophia and her naughty book, he is determined to introduce this young novice to his world of sensuality…a world that includes his best friend and known rival, Duke Huxley Brigmore. Together, Stone and Huxley awaken Sophia to the pleasures of the flesh and open their hearts to a love like no other.
This was my first read from author Lorna James, and I look forward to reading future releases. I’m in total agreement with her character Lady Sophia in this book “Why didn’t they throw library parties, where everyone wore comfortable clothes and read books?” That sounds like a dream come true to me! Two Dukes are Better than One is an entertaining M/F/M erotic read with a historical setting and a touch of a paranormal element. Enjoyed and would recommend.
**Received ARC from NetGalley for honest review**
I got an eARC from Netgalley for giving an honest review of the book. And honestly, it was great. Easy reader, fun, lighthearted with a bit of naughty and mystery thrown in. The characters are easy to like even if there isn’t a whole lot of back story. I relate to the heroine of the book, she is just trying to be herself in a world full of judgement. The guys, don’t give a flying crud about what people think. Mesh to two, or in this case 3 and throw in some drama and you got virgin, fun, mystical, spicy little novella.
This was a fluffy, fast and fun erotic read. If you want to pass some time reading some hot menage action, you’ll enjoy this book.
If you really enjoy the historical aspects of erotica stories, you won’t find much of that here. The time period didn’t seem ver.y real to me. I just found it hard to believe that the naive, virgin heroine would tell a duke who is basically a stranger how she was enthralled with a story about two men pleasing a woman . Someone she really didn’t know, and she was in love with someone else? Also, the supernatural aspect just didn’t seem to belong here. But as I stated, if you want enjoyable erotica with not much of a story, don’t hesitate to read this. I’ll give this author another shot.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own
I liked the concept of an historical erotic romance set in London during the 1800’s. Very taboo to have a menage relationship during that time so I was excited to read this story. But this story was just ok for me. The little mystery and the whole tarot card and spiritual stuff that the Sophia was involved in was a bit much to me. The story was definitely sexy and I really liked the characters, it just seemed like the story was a bit too short and kind of felt rushed at times.