Review - - Hazardous to a Duke's Heart

Hazardous to a Duke's Heart

by Sabrina Jeffries

Lords of Hazard - Book 1

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Napoleon’s war has ended, and English captives detained for years in a French fortress are finally released. Returning to a London he no longer recognizes, and facing astonishing changes in his own family, Lord Jonathan Leighton learns he has inherited a dukedom. But the new nobleman carries the guilt of having wronged his late mentor. Now, he vows to fulfill his promise to find a suitable match for the man’s daughter, Victoria—even if it takes offering a nonexistent dowry to spark her interest in matrimony . . .
 
Sharp-witted Victoria would just as soon sculpt the Greek god who has come to take charge of her future. In fact, she has her sights set on founding a school for women artists. As Jonathan matches wits with the talented beauty, revelations from his past—and their connection to her father’s demise—threaten to unveil both of their closely held secrets and thrust them into a danger they can only escape together.

PJ's Thoughts:

Sabrina Jeffries launches a new series featuring Englishmen returning from France after eleven years held captive. As you might imagine, there are emotional issues to work through as each hero finds his footing amongst all the changes during their absence.  

When Jon left for his grand tour, he was young, arrogant, and carefree. Eleven years later, a much more sober man returns to responsibilities, family obligations, and a debt to repay to the tutor who didn't make it home. When he agreed to find the man's daughter a husband he had no idea what he was in for. I love when a hero's well-laid plans for his heroine are blown to smithereens in an instant. 

I adored Tory. In her, Jeffries created a character who had my whole-hearted support, respect, and affection. The banter between her and Jon sparkles. I love her determination, her vulnerability, and her fierce protection of the secret she's keeping. The chemistry between this couple is undeniable and the feelings deepen as Jon struggles with what his heart wants and what his conscience demands. 

Jeffries does a good job of introducing the lead characters of the next two books, giving readers a taste of what we're in for without allowing them to outshine the main couple. There's also a mystery that will unfold over the course of the series and an unexpected twist in this book that caught me by surprise. I'm eager to discover how it will all play out over the course of the series.