Tour Review - - One Fine Duke

One Fine Duke
by Lenora Bell
School for Dukes - Book 3
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: July 23, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

Ready.

Raised in the countryside by her overprotective uncle, Miss Mina Penny’s dream of a triumphant London season is finally here. She determined her perfect match long ago: Rafe Bentley, the wickedest rake of them all. There’s only one very large, very unyielding obstacle: Rafe’s brother Drew, the reclusive Duke of Thorndon.

Aim.

This was supposed to be simple. Duke goes to London. Duke selects suitable bride. Love match? Not a chance. But when Drew meets Mina, she complicates everything. How can a lady armed with such beauty and brains fall for his irresponsible degenerate of a brother? Drew vows to save her from heartbreak and ruin, no matter the cost.

Desire!

But Mina is no damsel in distress. She’s daring, intuitive, passionate…and halfway to melting Drew’s cold heart. And although Mina thought she knew exactly what she wanted, one breathtakingly seductive kiss from Drew changes everything. Now Mina must decide between long-held dreams and dangerous new desires. Could her true destiny lie in the arms of a duke?

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this new book by Lenora Bell. It's filled with likable protagonists, witty banter, emotional depth, and feel-good, laugh-out-loud humor that had me smiling from beginning to end. Mina is everything I would have wanted (but probably wouldn't have had the courage) to be had I lived in Regency England. And Drew? Seriously swoon-worthy. He's sexy as all get out but also dealing with severe, long-term PTSD from a traumatic incident in his youth. I wanted to hug him one minute and have my wicked way with him the next. Kind of like Mina does. These two have some incendiary chemistry between them. I love how Mina challenges Drew and how he supports her. I love how they work together to vanquish their enemies and gain the life together that neither knew they wanted...or needed. They're one of my favorite romance couples this year.  I adored them, both individually and as a couple. 

Bell is at the top of her game in this novel. Adventurous, witty, heart-tugging, and oh-so-sensual. It's going straight to my keeper shelf where I have no doubt it will be visited again and again.   

Have you read any of Lenora Bell's books?

Do you have a favorite?

What's the last book that made you laugh out loud?

One randomly chosen person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, July 17, will receive a print copy of One Fine Duke. (U.S. only)

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Excerpt:

“There he is, Wilhelmina,” Grizzy whispered, staring reverently across the crowded ballroom. “The Duke of Thorndon.”

Holy hell he’s handsome, thought Mina.

Jaw-dropping-on-the-floor handsome. Drool-on-your-lace-fichu handsome.

Distract her from her plan with his brother, handsome.

Her uncle had been right. Thorndon was a fine figure of a man. Objectively speaking, the finest she’d ever beheld. 

Tall as a doorframe, with a face hewn from the same granite as the rugged Cornish coastline.

A face rendered seductive by contrasts: sharp cheekbones and curved, sensuous lips. Gleaming ebony hair brushed his collar. His eyes were a light, gold-tinged brown—the only warm thing about him. 

He owned this ballroom. Literally. And he owned everyone in it by dint of his oversized presence and the cold, unsmiling arrogance scrawled across his face. 

He didn’t even follow the dictates of fashion, preferring plain black attire to the white pantaloons and gaily-colored waistcoats of the other gentlemen.

Why should he follow the dictates of fashion? Everyone should follow him.

“When you’re introduced to Thorndon, pray speak as seldom as possible,” Grizzy whispered. “Attempt to appear biddable and do try to recall my decorum lessons. Remember, no one in London knows anything about you, thank the Lord.”

Mina had seen several polished, elegant young ladies staring at her, nudging each other and whispering. She was an outsider, a usurper, her proper place in the social hierarchy not yet established. 

They needn’t worry. She had no designs upon their prize duke. And she was about as unpolished as a debutante could be—as rough as an un-sanded plank. If anyone touched her they might get splinters.

She longed to shed her country skin swiftly and emerge as the sophisticated social butterfly her mother had been. But she knew that it would take time, observation, and experimentation.

Her first flirtatious conversation, first kiss, first taste of brandy, first adventure…it was all ahead of her. 

She couldn’t wait to taste it all.

  

Lenora Bell is a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of historical romances. A teacher with an MFA in Creative Writing, Lenora has lived and worked on five continents. She currently lives in New Zealand with her carpenter husband and two tiger-striped rescue kitties. She loves hearing from readers! Sign up for her mailing list to hear about new books, sales, and giveaways.