Her Duke at Midnight
by Wendy LaCapra
Mythic Dukes - Book 3
Publisher: Wendy LaCapra
Release Date: April 2, 2024
Reviewed by PJ
A governess and her secret take an invincible duke by storm...
The Duke of Hurtheven will stop at nothing to protect those he loves. So, when a mysterious new governess captures his godchild’s affection, he vows to uncover her secrets. Instead, she sets him aflame.
Miss Hera Bythesea accepted a governess position to secure the character reference she needs to reclaim her secret child. But she did not count on Hurtheven—curious, relentless, and temptation in human form.
In Hera's world, Hurtheven faces a challenge his power and wealth cannot solve. But for the love of unwed mother and child, he’ll undertake any Herculean Labor.
PJ's Thoughts:
I waited six years for this third and final book in Wendy LaCapra's Mythic Dukes series. It stands to reason that my expectations were high. I'm happy to report that those expectations were not only met but exceeded in another compelling, immersive, historical romance journey from this talented author. It's also a testament to the enduring impact of her characters that after six years I didn't have to reread the first two books in the series to refresh my memory. Ash, Chev, Pen, and Alicia, as well as their own emotional journeys to love, continue to live rent free in my mind. And, I have no plans to evict them anytime soon.
That's one of the things I most enjoy about LaCapra's writing: the depth she imbues in the characters she creates. There are no cardboard cutouts here, no surface characters lacking emotional layers. LaCapra takes the time to fully develop these characters on a page who end up feeling more like real-life friends. She gives them complex layers, repressed emotions, tangled back stories, and current challenges. She then skillfully - with humor, poignant emotion, sparkling banter, steamy chemistry, endearing qualities, personal reckoning, and the help of a few good friends - guides them to the best versions of themselves and to the love for which they've been waiting a lifetime. It's an immersive experience I never tire of and one I look forward to repeating with each new book. As with the earlier couples, I fell in love with Hurtheven and Hera, fell into their story with all of my emotions on display, and read their entire book in one day.
The supporting cast in this book is vibrantly depicted, richly nuanced, and vitally important to the overall story. Scenes featuring Hurtheven and Hera with Ash and Alicia's children, in particular, are filled with laugh-out-loud humor, sigh-worthy emotion, and a looking glass view into the tender parts of our intrepid hero as well as the strength, courage, and fears of our heroine. Fans of the first two books will no doubt enjoy this look into the extended HEA of those couples. Those new to the series should be able to enjoy Her Duke at Midnight on its own, however, for a complete understanding of the strength - and history - of the friendship among the three dukes, plus the nuances of the various romantic relationships, I recommend reading the three stories in order. The first two are Her Duke at Daybreak (novella) and His Duchess at Eventide (full length novel). Click on the titles to read my reviews.
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Have you read Wendy LaCapra?
Who are the fictional characters currently living in your mind?
What's the last book you read in one day?
One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, April 3 will receive (from me) a Kindle set of the three books in the Mythic Dukes trilogy.
Wendy LaCapra has generously offered a signed print copy of Her Duke at Midnight to one randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, April 3.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
