Review

An unconventional duke, a lady masquerading as a servant, and a not-so-innocent offer…

Mark Smythe, Duke of Strattington longs for the days when he was just a man. Then Isabella Smith enters his world; a strange beautiful woman who captures his interest and attention. He’s drawn to everything about her, and when the pair is discovered in a compromising position there’s only one thing he can offer to the nursemaid.

Lady Isabella Masters has been running from her past for years, ever since the fateful encounter with the man her brother wants her to marry. Now, her employer is headed to London for the King’s coronation, and Isabella has no choice but to follow. When she meets Mark in the stable of an inn, she believes he's anything but a duke. A few more nighttime encounters and she can’t stop herself from falling into his arms. Yet, dreams of safety and marriage with Mark are rudely ripped from her as he offers her protection in the most tantalizing, but indecent form.

Lavinia Kent’s latest novel took me off guard, and not exactly in a good way. Kent presents the hero as a duke, but one who doesn’t know how to be a duke. For me this was an immediate downer. I love dukes—arrogant, overbearing, quizzing glass dukes. Mark was nothing of the sort, more of a tender puppy of a duke. Yet, there were moments he took the attitude of a duke and I had hope. Kent plays up this ducal yet not ducal aspect of Mark, and even the heroine views him as two separate people.

Isabella on the other hand is a confounding heroine. Her character involved a lot of twisting and turning. At times I wanted to scream and tell her to just get on and out with it. This frustration would usually turn me off of a story, but like with Mark, I held on to the idea that things would get better, and they did.

By the end both characters redeemed themselves in my eyes, but you’ll have to read to decide. Many of Kent fans will be pleased with What A Duke Wants as it wraps up the Master’s family stories which originally started in Bound By Temptation. I will also say there were some surprises along the way involving certain characters, and Kent does a fabulous job of leaving me anxiously waiting for Annie’s story.  

Overall the story was a good read and fans of Kent’s previous novels will not be disappointed, but for those who love a true duke this may not be one for you.

Reviewed by Landra