A devil’s bargain burns the hottest….
For years, fiercely independent Gwen Cully has worked as the village blacksmith, keeping her family’s business going. But when a local rival threatens her livelihood, Gwen has nowhere to turn … until a devastatingly handsome fugitive takes shelter in her shop and sparks fly.
Unrepentant rogue Kellan Fox’s entire existence has been a dangerous game of deception that leads him into a fight for survival—and straight into the arms of a tall, fiery beauty. When Gwen protects him from an angry mob of villagers, Kellan sees the perfect solution to both their troubles. A marriage—in name only—that will last a single year.
Only a marriage of convenience can’t hide their searing attraction. It glows hotter than Gwen’s forge and reaches deep below the tempting mask Kellan wears for the world. With every sizzling glance and scorching kiss, Gwen surrenders more of herself to the molten passion she finds in Kellan’s strong embrace. But can she ever truly trust her heart to a scoundrel?
Release Date: Aug 23, 2022
Series: Duke Hunt
Book: 3
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon Books
Price: $5.99
Tropes: Working Heroine (Blacksmith), Anti-hero/Villainous Hero, Marriage of Convenience
Imposter Kellan Fox hides in Gwen Cully’s blacksmith shop, trying desperately to escape the village mob hunting him. Unable to stop the angry townspeople from attempting to hang him, Gwen stakes her own reputation by declaring she loves him. Choosing matrimony to save his neck is an easy choice for Kellan, but they both see advantages to a short-term marriage of convenience. Gwen doesn’t trust Kellan easily, but it’s hard to keep things platonic when their attraction burns as hot as her forge.
This is the third book in The Duke Hunt series, but this story can mostly stand alone. There is helpful information in the previous stories about the town and the neighboring dukedom (Kellan’s father was pretending to be the new duke). The heroine from the first book makes an appearance.
I absolutely loved Gwen! She is working as a village blacksmith, keeping her family’s business going despite losing her father and uncle and having to deal with a smarmy competitor setting up shop. She’s strong and capable, but also vulnerable. She feels the sting of criticism that she’s “manly” and different than other women. She loves herself, but she doesn’t realize how badly she needs someone to stand beside her…not as a champion, but as an equal, a helpmate. I connected to that completely!
After losing his mother, Kellan grew up running swindles with his father. This time, his father went too far and left him behind to face the consequences. Kellan needed to work on himself, and Gwen gave him that second chance. He tried to prove himself worthy and worked to gain Gwen’s trust. I loved when she punched him and told him not to be a baby.
~ Leslie
Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Google Play