For today’s Thursday give away, I am delighted to be able to offer up an advance review copy of Juliana Gray’s A Duke Never Yields
Here’s the official blurb:
Impatient with the strictures of polite British society, Miss Abigail Harewood has decided to live life on her own terms—and the first thing she requires is a lover. When the commanding Duke of Wallingford arrives on the doorstep of her leased holiday castle, she thinks she’s found the perfect candidate: handsome, dashing, and experienced in the art of love.
But tempting Wallingford into her bed proves more difficult than she imagined. Restless and dissatisfied with his debauched life in London, the formerly rakish duke is determined to spend a year chaste. But as Abigail tries her best to seduce him, Wallingford finds his resolve crumbling in the face of her irresistible charm…and her alluring secrets.
This book has been getting all sorts of praise, including a starred review from Kirkus (which does not hand those out generously), all of which is entirely deserved. This book is my favorite so far of the Affairs by Moonlight trilogy– and that’s saying a lot. There is a distinct Oscar Wilde air to the witty dialogue and the author even manages to make sense out of one of the plot twists in Love’s Labor’s Lost
Even though this is the third in a trilogy, you can absolutely read it as a stand alone.
So, for an advance review copy of A Duke Never Yields
What else should a duke never do?
(Somehow, I feel like Miss Gwen would have very strong opinions on this point.)
The winner will be announced on Sunday.
A duke should never be without a fine pair of tight buckskin breeches
Or highly polished Hessian boots!
A duke should never be seen with an unmarried lady inside a carriage without the lady’s chaperone! How shocking that would be :p
Duel with a drunk second!
Leave the house with a sloppily tied cravat. Simply not done, good man.
Have any sort of dialogue that is not witty and erudite.
share
Play cards with reprobates. Always leads to trouble.
Be without a good valet!
Bow to the strictures of society – that is for people of less exalted birth!
Betwixt his heart by tethering himself too strictly against who he is. Or at the very least, not to compromise his sudden new sense of principle by the wayward yearnings of his previous Rakish self!
A duke should never betray confusion, no matter how bizarre the situation.
Never underestimate a lady!
kiss and tell!
a duke should never spit in mixed company
A duke should never be ugly and impoverished.
Or a duke should always be rich and handsome.
A duke should never be caught in a compromising situation!
Marry for money…unless he plans to spend a novel falling in love with his wealthy bride…
Marry for money…unless he plans to spend a novel falling in love with his wealthy bride!
A duke should never forget proper manners especially in the presence of a lady.
A duke should never eat the last ginger biscuit ….
Well, a Duke should never lie and he should never tell, either…
A duke should never attempt to share a drink with his very strict butler!
Skinny dip in a Las Vegas hotel.
You’re so funny! The winner! IMHO.
A duke should never resist temptation!
Break his word.
A duke should never be on the wrong end of Miss Gwen’s pointy umbrella.
A duke should never get too lofty about his high station in life. (Or if he does, he must make sure there’s a witty heroine around to take him down a few notches!)
A duke should never swear in the presence of a lady!
Question a woman’s judgement.
Gamble away his fortune!
a duke should never kiss and tell