A bride wasn’t in his plans . . .
The last thing Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry, expects to see after sleeping off a night’s drunken shenanigans is a woman being auctioned in the village square. Before he can think about the ramifications, he buys her, thinking he’s winning the girl her freedom. Instead, he discovers he’s bought a wife.
A duke wasn’t in hers . . .
Alyse Bell is almost rid of the shackles that bound her in a name-only marriage, but the day her friend promised to purchase her in a wife auction, he vanishes, leaving her to face a mob of unsavory bachelors intent on owning her body and soul. But the appearance of a wicked, wealthy stranger changes her path forever.
The road to ruin . . .
Marcus doesn’t know what to do with the impertinent chit who clearly isn’t duchess material! Insisting their marriage isn’t legitimate, they leave for his estate in Scotland, hoping to devise a plan to get rid of each other. However, on a journey fraught with misadventure, their attraction grows and Marcus realizes he’ll do anything to keep this fiery woman for his own.
Release Date: Jul 24, 2018
Series: The Rogue Files
Book: 3
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon Books
Price: $6.99
My first foray into Sophie Jordan’s Historical romances did not leave me disappointed.
This story had something immediate to recommend it, a bride sale. Now, according to the author she stumbled upon the truth of this type of event in her research previously. I still find the concept fascinating. A woman could be auctioned off like an animal to the highest bidder. Add in a pompous Duke, who from previous stories (I’ve been told) is not a nice guy, waking up face down in feces… oh, this made for an excellent, auspicious story. I eagerly dug in, one for the premise and two because I wanted to see how the heck buying a bride would turn to love without it becoming a Stockholm scenario.
I’m happy to report the heroine is not someone to fall for the hero just because he purchased her. No, Alyse Bell is very much against staying with the Duke as his wife or any extended period of time. She wants to go to London, but the hero is traveling far away from London and Alyse has to go along for the ride.
The hero, Marcus, is this juxtaposed creature with extreme opposites. On one hand he believes himself above everyone else due to his station as a duke. On the other, he rescues Alyse out of pure disgust that she’s being sold. How do you reconcile the rescuer with the boorish ass? It’s an interesting combination to say the least. Several times I thought this pair quite unlikely.
What did I enjoy the most? Every time Alyse saw Marcus’ naked body… oh, yeah. He happens to sleep naked, which is quite entertaining. This is a woman who’s physically innocent and pure, sharing only the barest of kisses with a childhood friend. So a nude, perfect specimen of male is definitely scandalous.
Her exact words were something like “Her gaze locked on his manhood. So very…very.”
If you want something low angst, with a semi-alpha hero trying to figure out to not fall for this woman who’s supposedly so far beneath him I recommend this story. I laughed a lot and loved reading a historical romance not set in London. Traipsing through the Scottish countryside is far more entertaining.
For readers who’d enjoy it if Katharine Ashe and Tessa Dare books got together and had a baby.
~ Landra
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this sounds like a fun read