The Duke Buys a Bride (Rogue Files Series #3)

by Sophie Jordan

Overview

A bride wasn’t in his plans . . .

The last thing Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry, expects to see after sleeping off a night’s drunken shenanigans is a woman being auctioned in the village square. Before he can think about the ramifications, he buys her, thinking he’s winning the girl her freedom. Instead, he discovers he’s bought a wife.

 

A duke wasn’t in hers . . .

Alyse Bell is almost rid of the shackles that bound her in a name-only marriage, but the day her friend promised to purchase her in a wife auction, he vanishes, leaving her to face a mob of unsavory bachelors intent on owning her body and soul. But the appearance of a wicked, wealthy stranger changes her path forever.

 

The road to ruin . . .

Marcus doesn’t know what to do with the impertinent chit who clearly isn’t duchess material! Insisting their marriage isn’t legitimate, they leave for his estate in Scotland, hoping to devise a plan to get rid of each other. However, on a journey fraught with misadventure, their attraction grows and Marcus realizes he’ll do anything to keep this fiery woman for his own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062463654
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/24/2018
Series:	Rogue Files Series , #3
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	79,032
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country, where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she’s the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of more than fifty novels. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she’s not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and streaming anything that has a happily ever after.

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2018
Waking up in a dung-ridden stable after decimating the local taproom in a remote North Country village, all Marcus Weatherton, Duke of Autenberry, wants to do is leave town. Then he sees a young woman being auctioned off by her husband in front of a crude, rowdy crowd, and he does the only thing he can think of to save her—he buys her and finds himself with a wife. But Marcus doesn't want a wife (he doesn't believe the whole thing is legal, anyway), and capable, well-educated Alyse Bell has no interest in being a duchess. Instead, Marcus offers her the position of housekeeper (with a good wage!) at Kilmarkie House on the Black Isle off the Scottish coast, and she accepts, setting the stage for an adventurous journey north. Details on the English custom of wife selling and commentary on Scottish marriage law add fascinating historical appeal in this clever spin on a classic plot. VERDICT A surfeit of humor, a zippy pace, and a cast of well-defined and intriguing protagonists make this a delicious late-summer read. Jordan (Beautiful Lawman) lives in Houston.

Library Journal

06/04/2018
Jordan’s solid third Rogue Files Regency romance (after The Scandal of It All) immediately grabs readers with its historically accurate but startling premise. In small Collie-Ben, Scotland, an unhappily married man who can’t afford divorce might auction or sell his wife to another man who wants her. Alyse, up for auction, expects to be purchased by a childhood friend who promised to marry her—but he fails to show up. Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry, happens to be in town and is disgusted to find a woman up for sale. Fearing for Alyse’s potential fate, he buys her but tells her they are not married; instead, he plans to set her up as the housekeeper of his Scottish estate. However, as they travel to their new home, they find that maintaining professional distance is much more difficult than expected. Readers hoping the original concept will lead to an original plot arc are in for disappointment. However, the likable characters and well-written sensual scenes carry the day. Jordan’s enjoyable novel will keep series fans hooked. Agent: Maura E. Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Assoc. (July)

Publishers Weekly

With Alyse, Jordan crafts a fiery, lovable heroine who craves more affection and opportunity than life has given her. The author matches fire with fire... The bedroom scenes are Jordan’s forte, with the overwhelming desire of the characters blazing off the page.” — Entertainment Weekly

“A surfeit of humor, a zippy pace, and a cast of well-defined and intriguing protagonists make this a delicious late-summer read.” — Library Journal

“[DUKE BUYS A BRIDE] immediately grabs readers with its historically accurate but startling premise. … likable characters and well-written sensual scenes carry the day. Jordan’s enjoyable novel will keep series fans hooked.” — Publishers Weekly

“The author’s sly humor softens what could be a grim situation for the purchased bride and turns it into a grand adventure … muddy, messy, and very romantic” — Kirkus Reviews

“Readers will root for Marcus and Alyse to reach their destination and their true hearts’ desires” — BookPage

“Clever and creative writing make THE DUKE BUYS A BRIDE shine and sparkle … Sophie Jordan demonstrates once again her ability to weave exciting, original, and oh so romantic, tales!” — Fresh Fiction

From the Publisher

With Alyse, Jordan crafts a fiery, lovable heroine who craves more affection and opportunity than life has given her. The author matches fire with fire... The bedroom scenes are Jordan’s forte, with the overwhelming desire of the characters blazing off the page.

Entertainment Weekly

Clever and creative writing make THE DUKE BUYS A BRIDE shine and sparkle … Sophie Jordan demonstrates once again her ability to weave exciting, original, and oh so romantic, tales!

Fresh Fiction

Readers will root for Marcus and Alyse to reach their destination and their true hearts’ desires

BookPage

2018-05-29
A duke tries to free a poor woman from a bride auction, but they both have trouble letting go.Marcus, the fifth Duke of Autenberry, has just woken up in jail in a small Scottish village after a night of debauchery. Alyse Bell is about to dissolve her marriage of convenience to her late father's friend so they can both marry other people. When Alyse's fiancé stands her up, her current husband uses a legal loophole to auction her off to the highest bidder in the town square. While Marcus watches the auctioneer extol Alyse's virtues in a thick regional dialect—"She can work yer farm, run a 'ouse, and care fer bairns"—he thinks of how best to save the young woman from slavery. And the answer is that he can't. So he buys her himself. Instead of a forced marriage, he offers her a job as housekeeper at Kilmarkie House on the Black Isle. It's nowhere near London, where she wants to go, but at least she'll get to see some dolphins. As the two strangers travel to the estate together, their close proximity puts them in danger of turning their fake marriage into a binding contract—or worse, true love. With a country setting and a hero with rough hands, this Cinderella story really emphasizes the cinders. Luckily, they're hot. Alyse doesn't dream of fancy balls and beautiful gowns; she dreams about having a choice about where she lives and what she does with her life. The author's sly humor softens what could be a grim situation for the purchased bride and turns it into a grand adventure.The down-to-earth duke is the highlight of this muddy, messy, and very romantic road trip through Scotland.

Kirkus Reviews