TITLE: Surrendering to the Duke
AUTHOR: Stevie Sparks
SERIES: Lords of Desire
SERIES ORDER: 1
PUBLISHED DATE: 4/10/2023
GENRE: Historical Romance (time period: early 1920s)
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
- references to past physical and sexual assault
- violence
- references to mercy killing
- references to war
(for more clarification, you can check out the Trigger Warnings listed on Stevie Spark’s website by clicking here.)
BLURB:
His brother's wife. He loved his brother's wife.
After losing his heart to Emmeline, the one woman he could never have, Michael committed himself to a life in the army, fighting for King and country in the Great War.
...Until his brother died, and Michael returned to Scarlett Castle as the Duke of Foxcotte.
Fed up with her lack of grandchildren, Michael's mother hatches a plan to bring Michael and Emmeline together in a marriage of convenience. However, whilst Michael agrees to court Emmeline, they both secretly long for something more passionate than a business arrangement. But Michael could have never imagined that hidden trauma lurked beneath Emmeline's emerald eyes.
Michael and Emmeline soon ignite a flame that threatens to consume them both as they learn that all relationships come with risks both wanted and unwanted. Will their marriage of convenience be successful? Or will Emmeline's traumatic past catch up to her and sweep her away?
If you're looking for a steamy historical romance novel, then Surrender to the Duke today!
Surrendering to the Duke is a historical romance novel of approximately 99,000 words with no cheating between the MMC and FMC, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA. It contains adult language and scenes that are simply scandalous.
“Emmeline surrendered to him, baring her soul, trusting that he wouldn’t let her fall.”
MY REVIEW:
Surrendering to the Duke is a super steamy, emotional historical romance (set in the early 1920s) that will tug at your heart strings, and have you rooting for Emmeline and Michael from beginning to end!
Emmeline is a widow raising her daughter Theodora with the help of her mother- and sister-in-laws at Scarlett Castle. Orphaned at a young age, and then abused by her aunt and uncle, Emmeline has never known love. Even her marriage to her deceased husband, Theo (the Duke of Foxcotte), was prefaced with him telling her that he cannot love her, but he would keep her safe.
Michael has always loved Emmeline, but when he catches her in his brother’s arms, he resigns himself to a life of servitude under the King, until it’s time to come back home to take over as Duke.
When Theo’s mother, the dowager, hatches a plan of a marriage of convenience to his brother, Michael, the new Duke of Foxcotte, Emmeline proposes a courtship between the two so that they might learn to love each other.
I absolutely loved this story! This might be one of my top 2023 stories I’ve read so far this year! The easy going chemistry between Emmeline and Michael was felt from the very beginning! I loved how we got to witness their friendship turn into courtship, and then turn into a scorching hot romance! Michael had a tricky road to navigate when it came to claiming Emmeline’s heart due to her past trauma and I loved how patient he was with her (and how loving he was towards Dora), but when he’s given the green light…whoa boy, this man has skills!! (Let’s just say, he loves going downtown to eat, and he has a thing for “good girls” 😉)
In addition to the romance, I loved getting to know Michael’s family (his mother, Mary; and his sisters Annabelle and Effie) and can’t wait to see what Stevie does with their characters! I am VERY interested in reading Despising the Duke which is the second book to release in the series (comes out September 10th) that features Annabelle and the Duke of Aylesbourne. Stevie gave us enough breadcrumbs during this story to make me salivate for theirs! What could the Duke of Aylesbourne have done that made Annabelle despise him so? And how much hate s3x is involved? 😈
Interested in reading this story? Check it out on Amazon where you can either buy it or rent it through KU!