Series: Dukes Behaving Badly #2
Genres: Fiction, General, Historical, Romance, Victorian
Published by HarperCollins Publication Date: June 30th 2015
Pages: 384
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He was once happily bedding and boxing, but in the newest Duke's Behaving Badly novel, Nicholas Smithfield has inherited a title and a bride . . .
To keep his estate afloat, the new Duke of Gage must honor an agreement to marry Lady Isabella Sawford. Stunningly beautiful, utterly tempting, she's also a bag of wedding night nerves, so Nicholas decides to wait to do his dutyβeven if it means heading to the boxing saloon every day to punch away his frustration.
Groomed her whole life to become the perfect duchess, Isabella longs for independence, a dream that is gone forever. As her husband, Nicholas can do whatever he likesβbut, to Isabella's surprise, the notorious rake instead begins a gentle seduction that is melting every inch of her reserve, night by night . . .
To his utter shock, Nicholas discovers that no previous exploits were half as pleasurable as wooing his own wife. But has the realm's most disreputable duke found the one woman who can bring him to his kneesβ and leave him there?
I liked the premise of this one (man inherits a title he didn’t know he could get and a wife he wasn’t sure he wanted). Β I likedΒ how Isabella and Nicholas came together. But I wanted more heat between both the characters.
Nicholas and Isabella were forced into a marriage that neither of them really wanted. Β But you could tell from each interaction the two had, the potential for an excellent match was at hand…despite the circumstances that got them where they were. Β I adored how these two characters got to know one another, through games and twenty questions. Β It was Nicholas’ way of easing Isabella into married life and ensuring that the woman who has intrigued him is comfortable with him. Β I applaud him for not pushing her, when he could have. Β But it felt like their was no chemistry between the two. Maybe it was because they spent so much time in their heads contemplating what they should say or do rather than living in the moment. Β It was almost like whatever scene they were in together stopped while they had their inner monologue. Β It took away from their courtship and the burgeoning relationship.
This being said, I still enjoyed PUT UP YOUR DUKE. Β The characters were charming and likable, despite incessantly talking to themselves. Β The mystery around the previous Duke, Isabelle’s parents involvement with said Duke and how that played out was entertaining and kept me engaged.
Shannon
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