Her Duke at Daybreak
by Wendy LaCapra
Publisher: Pronoun
Release Date: October 17, 2017
Reviewed by PJ
Infamous for his
pedigree of madness and murder, the reclusive Duke of Ashbey believes he cannot
feel until a mysterious woman unlocks a world of sensation in a single,
shattering moment of connection. He casts a desperate bid for more.
Recent widow Alicia
Stone has long been reviled as the chief impediment to a love affair that captured
the nation’s imagination. Publicly, she settled for respectability’s cold
comfort, but, secretly, she longs to experience what she never found with her
famous husband—uninhibited passion.
When a devilish duke
proposes a discreet three-night assignation, Alicia shocks herself by
accepting. But will their explosive union cost them both far more than they
bargained?
I've been waiting two years for a new book from Wendy LaCapra. After being captivated by her debut trilogy, I admit both my anticipation and expectations for her new novel, Her Duke at Daybreak were pretty high. The fact that I've already read the book twice, fallen in love with these characters and their story the first go-around then even more deeply the second time clearly illustrates that I shouldn't have worried about having those expectations met.
One of the things I most enjoy about LaCapra's writing is the depth she gives her characters. Ashbey and Alicia are vividly brought to life as complete, complex characters dealing with a multitude of emotions. These two are like opposite poles of a magnet drawn together. Ash has fully embraced the darkness of his life, feeling neither joy nor despair, simply...not feeling. He shoulders the blame for acts that were not his own, convinced that he will only bring death and destruction to those unfortunate enough to be close to him. Yet, even knowing that, he cannot bring himself to stay away from the goodness, the light, the sheer rightness that Alicia brings into his life for three days. Their first meeting jolts him into awareness for the first time in years. Suddenly, he's feeling everything but with each encounter, the feelings grow, becoming too wonderful...too much. He yearns to keep her with him always but his past has taught him it will not last and that when it ends, Alicia will be the one to suffer.
The yearning these two have for one another! It was impossible for me not to have a deep emotional response to it and pull for them to find a way out of their predicament and into a loving, lasting relationship with one another.
The pace of this story flows beautifully. The love scenes (and there are many during the three days) are sensual and hot in some places while achingly tender in others but the sex never feels gratuitous. I really liked both Ash and Alicia, though by the time Ash's friends have their "let us tell you how it really is" moment with him I was ready to impart a little knowledge upon him myself...most likely with a good whack upside the head.
I loved watching Alicia blossom into the sensual woman she had always dreamed of becoming but I especially appreciated the woman she already was. I liked her strength, her kindness, her straight-forward approach to life. She easily could have been portrayed as the bitter, abandoned wife with her late husband and his mistress cast as the villains in this scenario. LaCapra took a different path and it made the story all the better for it.
I'm intrigued with Ash's two childhood friends who have key roles in this book. I'm hoping they will be the heroes of the next two books in the series.
If you enjoy complex, character driven stories with deep emotion, plenty of sizzle, and well-earned happy endings, I highly recommend Her Duke at Daybreak by Wendy LaCapra.
Excerpt #3
He concentrated on the pressure of her lips. Hers
was a perfect mouth. Soft. Inviting. Tasting of sweetness, and promise, and
light. Her lips traced a path to his chest. There she paused, pressing her ear
against his heart.
A small gesture. Artless and honest and painfully
poignant. It was all he could do not to clasp her there.
“What do you hear?” he asked.
“Strength.”
He did not deserve this angel. If he’d been a
better man, he never would have coaxed her to come. If were a good man now, he
would set her free.
“I’m not good,” he said aloud.
“I know.” She rose onto her
knees with a sinful smile. “That is precisely why I came.”
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Have you read any of Wendy LaCapra's books?
Do you enjoy sizzle in your historical romances?
What's the last romance you read that made you yearn?
Wendy LaCapra has been reading romance since she
sneaked into the adult section at the library and discovered Victoria Holt
& Jane Aiken Hodge. From that point
on, she dreamed of creating fictional worlds with richness, intrigue and
passion. Her stories have placed in several contests, including the 2012 Golden
Heart® and her debut series, a trilogy about three Ladies who refuse to play by
society’s rules, was released by Entangled Scandalous. She lives in NYC with
her husband and loves to hear from readers. For new release and sale alerts,
sign up at http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews
Purchase Links:
I haven't read any of Wendy's books, but would really love too. I do enjoy some "sizzle" in my books. The last book that I read was Julia Quinn's "When He Was Wicked". I laughed, cried and yearned and at the very end, I literally sobbed my eyes out.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very emotional book for me too, Diane. Did you read the version that includes Quinn's Second Epilogue?
DeleteYes, I did. I was lucky enough to find it with the second epilogue. It was John"s Mother's letter that did me in. :-(
DeleteI haven't read any of Wendy's books yet but that will change. I too like a little sizzle. Just finished Last Christmas in Paris by Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor. I became very emotional reading it and used almost a whole box of tissues. I get very emotional sometimes. :)
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com!