Everything he had ever known was a lie…
Sebastian, Duke of Hasford, has a title, wealth, privilege, and plenty of rakish charm. Until he discovers the only thing that truly belongs to him is his charm. An accident of birth has turned him into plain Mr. de Silva. Now, Sebastian is flummoxed as to what to do with his life—until he stumbles into a gambling den owned by Miss Ivy, a most fascinating young lady, who hires him on the spot. Working with a boss has never seemed so enticing.
Everything tells her he’s a risk she has to take…
Two years ago, Ivy gambled everything that was precious to her—and won. Now the owner of London’s most intriguing gambling house, Ivy is competent, assured, and measured. Until she meets Mr. de Silva, who stirs feelings she didn’t realize she had. Can she keep her composure around her newest employee?
They vow to keep their partnership strictly business, but just one kiss makes them realize that with each passing day—and night—there’s nothing as tempting as what is forbidden…
Release Date: Jan 28, 2020
Series: Hazards of Duke
Book: 1
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon Books
Price: $5.99
Sebastian is use to living a life of privilege until the truth his mother hid from him comes out. He is not the Duke and he is just a mere commoner. His cousin is the real Duke and all Sebastian asks of his cousin is to ensure that his sister is taken care of.
Struggling with the news, Sebastian finds himself trying to drown out his sorrows at the gambling club where he meets Ivy, the owner. He is intrigued by this strong, independent woman.
Ivy’s focus is on running the club and taking care of her younger sister, Octavia. She wants Octavia to go on to be a proper lady and shields her from most of the activity at the club. Octavia is not having it and she wants to decide what her future should look like. I love the dynamics between the two sisters. I get that Ivy wants the best for her sister but she sometimes contradicted herself by sharing so much even the intimate details with her.
There is immediate chemistry between Ivy and Sebastian. Ivy’s constant tug and pull is a bit tiring. I wanted her to stand firm in her decision whether Sebastian should have been her lover or partner.
This is not a bad start to the series. I end up liking this more than I had thought I would. Once, Sebastian moves into the club with Ivy the pacing of the story shifts. I think the story fizzled out more towards the middle end. There is no real conflict or angst between the characters. The daily flow and hustle of the club is interesting but not enough to hold the rest of the story.
Overall, I’m eager to see where this series goes. I will read the next book.
~ Samantha
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