What the Duke Desires (The Duke's Men, #1) in Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn

Jun 24, 2013 Pj Ausdenmore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance-historical, read-2013

Review posted at The Romance Dish. http://www.theromancedish.com/2013/06...

Experience has taught Lisette Bonnaud the inadvisability of depending on a man. The illegitimate daughter of an English viscount and his French actress mistress, Lisette's papa promises time and again to marry his mistress but never follows through. He makes a lot of promises to Lisette and her brother, Tristan as well but they never seem to come to fruition either. And when he dies, Lisette's half-brother, George Manton, Review posted at The Romance Dish. http://www.theromancedish.com/2013/06...

Experience has taught Lisette Bonnaud the inadvisability of depending on a man. The illegitimate daughter of an English viscount and his French actress mistress, Lisette's papa promises time and again to marry his mistress but never follows through. He makes a lot of promises to Lisette and her brother, Tristan as well but they never seem to come to fruition either. And when he dies, Lisette's half-brother, George Manton, the viscount's elder legitimate son (readers will remember him as a young bully in Twas the Night After Christmas) makes certain the then fourteen-year-old Lisette and her mother are cast from their home without a penny and puts a price on Tristan's head for taking a thoroughbred horse that was rightfully his. Only with the help of the younger legitimate son, Dom are Lisette, her mother and her brother, Tristan able to escape to France.

England, twelve years later...

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, has known for years that his older brother is dead though many seeking to cash in on the Dukedom over the years have claimed to be the kidnapped heir. Max is stunned to receive a note from Tristan Bonnaud claiming that he has proof that Peter lives but before he can verify the claim, Tristan disappears and an enraged Max arrives at Dom's home, site of Manton Investigations, demanding to know his whereabouts. With Dom on a case in Scotland, only Lisette is there to weather the confrontation with the Duke who is sure Tristan is running a scam and determined to see him pay the price for it. Lisette may be beautiful but she also possesses the same iron will and intelligence as her brothers and is not the least bit impressed with the peer in her foyer. Though she hasn't heard from her brother in months, she knows without a doubt that he would never try to scam the Duke and isn't about to let the arrogant man ruin the life for which Tristan has worked so hard. The arrogant, aloof Duke has finally met his match.

Returning to England after her mother's death, Lisette Bonnaud lives with her brother, Dom, managing the office of his company, Manton Investigations but what she really wants is to become one of his agents. She's smart, capable and certain she can do the job as well as any man. She's also unconditionally loyal to her brothers, Tristan and Dom. Tristan has a good life and a good position in France. She's not about to let an arrogant Duke go haring off in a temper and destroy that. The only way she'll give him any information about Tristan is if he agrees to let her go with him. She's certain that, together, they will be able to find her brother and uncover the truth. She and the Duke pose as an ordinary husband and wife for the journey to Paris; in her mind, a simple and effective solution. Reality, however, turns out to be far more complex as pesky emotions like desire...and affection...begin to creep in. They both know that a match between a Duke and the illegitimate daughter of a viscount is doomed. Lisette isn't about to put herself in another man's control and Max has his own reasons for not offering marriage but sometimes what the head knows, the heart refuses to acknowledge.

Sabrina Jeffries brings us another fast-paced, engaging, historical romance filled with danger, passion and unforgettable characters. Loosely tied to her Hellions of Halstead Hall series, readers of those books will note references to familiar characters such as Jackson Pinter, Gabriel Sharpe and, of course, our hero, the Duke of Lyons. They will also not be one bit surprised that Lisette's half-brother, George Manton is still a bully, just older, richer and more powerful - not a good combination for Lisette, Tristan and Dom. This is not a sequel, however, and you do not need to have read those books before reading What the Duke Desires.

I really fell hard for Max. While there are times I wanted to whack him over the head for his dukely arrogance, he won my heart with his caring and protection of Lisette's honor. Max also carries some heavy burdens and my heart broke for him as he struggles with his feelings for Lisette, determined to not subject her to the misery and heartache his own mother faced during his father's final days. He's a complex man who has held himself apart from love and affection and has fears that form a shield around his heart. It will take a very special woman to tear those walls down and convince him to take a chance on love.

Lisette is one of my favorite Jeffries heroines - smart, strong and independent, with a clear understanding of her place in the world and the touch of vulnerability that comes with that place. Her insight, caring and willingness to risk her heart regardless of what a future with Max might bring spoke to my heart and her ability to hold her own with her duke and not let his natural arrogance take over, without undermining his masculinity, had me cheering her all the way.

What the Duke Desires is going to my keeper shelf to await the next two books in the series. Here's hoping that wait won't be too long!

~PJ
The Romance Dish ...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Nina Reads Too rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Synoisis:

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke's brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan's sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posing as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends
Synoisis:

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke's brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan's sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posing as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends with Lisette, the easier it is for Max to see that the line between dukedom and desire is easier to cross than heimagined . . .

Review:

As always, Miss Jeffries give us lovable characters, funny and adventurous plots. This time she introduced us to Bonnaud family.

Lisette Bonnaud is the illegitimate daughter of Viscount Rathmoor and sister to Tristan and half sister to Dom. Lisette and her family lives is impacted and changed by the death of her father. Tristan flees from England as a result of stealing a horse from his half-brother George. Years later, after the death of Lisette's mother, her half-brother Dom opened a detective agency where Lisette acts as a secretary/file clerk. She dreams of being a detective which her brother Dom does not approve on. On the morning after Dom leave for Scotland, Lisette is visited by Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons. Max was sent a mystery note from Tristan regarding his long lost brother. He is convinced that Tristan know where is brother is or is hiding something. So begin Max and Lisette journey to find Tristan and Max's brother.

The chemistry with Max and Lisette is very sexy and hot. They are immediately drawn to one another. However, Max believe that his family is cursed with mental illness which he will become crazy (or as the brits call it mad.) So, Max tries to resist Lisette's charms. Many of the scene between Lisette and Max are comical, sexy and down right good.

I couldn't put this book down. At the end of the book, I wanted more of the Duke's men. I can't wait to read more about these character including Dom. Was it just me or were there spark flying with Jane and Dom?

Thank you, Sabrina Jeffries and Edelweis for the ARC.

*I received an ARC from the publisher via edelweiss ...more

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Jun 24, 2013 Dawn rated it really liked it

Shelves: jeffries-sabrina

I loved this book. You can read the storyline from the summary. What I liked about it was watching Max and Lisette fall so hopelessly in love without giving up their own agendas. Max was determined to find his long-lost brother and Lisette was equally compelled to protect her brother. There were many times when those two were at odds with each other. But, thankfully, all's well that ends well, to quote Shakespeare (as Lisette's butler routinely does).

We have a terrific HEA which focused on the ...more

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