When Seducing a Duke
Kathryn Smith
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Buy *When Seducing a Duke* by Kathryn Smith online

When Seducing a Duke
Kathryn Smith
Avon
Paperback
384 pages
September 2009
rated 3 of 5 possible stars

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Despite some quite significant flaws for this reader, When Seducing a Duke is actually a reasonably enjoyable read. Although not particularly inventive, the story held my attention watching the interaction between Rose Danvers and her guardian, the Duke of Ryeton.

Her first action is seducing him, but only as a lady of mystery at a masked event. She knows he's not interested in her as herself, so she has to pretend to be someone else. The thing is, the reader is aware that the Duke is looking for someone just like Rose - she fascinates him, but he promised her father to leave her alone. When her identity is discovered, their relationship has to change. Can Rose help the Duke move back into society, and can she trust that the rake has really reformed?

I don't suppose this author was aiming for a historically accurate book - at least I hope she wasn't, as she missed rather dramatically. The usual Americanisms appear throughout this book in the language. Manners are also a bit suspect at times - people having cream and sugar with their tea? And what is it with weird names in books at the moment? Our main male characters in this book are named Greyden, Archer, Kellan and Branton. Eh? Never heard of any of those names; they sound most un-English, as does the fact that once our heroine marries, she introduced herself as Rose Danvers Kane, retaining her maiden name, which simply wasn't done.

These irritants aside, the conversations between hero and heroine and hero and his brother are full of earthy Anglo-Saxon. It's hard to know exactly what lovers said to each other but I somewhat hope people chose rather nicer words than those spoken here. The hero's past is fairly unedifying, and the heroine admits herself that she is often selfish, but the two are a good match for each other. Parts of the book are good, parts slow, but overall it doesn't feel like a historical romance I could believe in due to the inaccuracies. Still, it's probably worth the read for those who don't mind earthier entries in this genre.



Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox, 2009

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