Publishers Weekly
12/13/2021
Jordan’s deliciously scandalous second Duke Hunt romance (after The Duke Goes Down) returns to a vision of the Regency era where sin is in. A spinster at 26, farmer’s daughter Mercy Kittinger is burdened with raising her 17-year-old sister, Grace, and cleaning up after her good-for-nothing twin brother, Bede, whose idea of a good time entails losing the family house and lands in a London gaming hall. Mercy’s not about to let her livelihood go without a fight, so she makes her way to town to confront Silas Masters, the hall’s attractive owner, and get their assets back—through seduction and theft if necessary. To say their first meeting is explosive is putting it mildly, but the real trouble starts when the unflappable and rather stubborn Silas follows Mercy home and shows no sign of leaving. While Silas tends to avoid romance thanks to a complicated past, Mercy captures his interest beyond all reason. Though familiar fare, the decadent seduction scenes and sex-positive message are sure to draw readers in, and the realistically drawn characters and passionate love story will hold their interest. This is a treat. Agent: Maura E. Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Assoc. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
A powerful aphrodisiac upends a battle of wills between a taciturn colonel and a prickly herbalist . . . Interesting premise and likable characters shine.” — Kirkus Reviews on The Duke Effect
“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 on The Duke’s Stolen Bride
“Sexy, racy, and simmering with heart-pounding sensuality and pent-up passion, Jordan’s latest romp is just plain fun; a delightful addition to her rogue-rich series.” — Library Journal (starred review) on The Duke’s Stolen Bride
“Depravity is no match for true love in this sweet and steamy read.” — Kirkus Reviews on The Duke’s Stolen Bride
“Immediately grabs readers with its historically accurate but startling premise...The likable characters and well-written sensual scenes carry the day. Jordan’s enjoyable novel will keep series fans hooked.” — Publishers Weekly on The Duke Buys a Bride
Entertainment Weekly on The Duke’s Stolen Bride
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 on The Duke’s Stolen Bride
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.
Kirkus Reviews
2021-11-16
The friends-to-lovers trope is inverted in the second installment of The Duke Hunt series.
When Mercy Kittinger visits The Rogue’s Den, a London gaming hell, to steal back the voucher promising the Kittingers' farm and home, which her brother gambled away, owner Silas Masters catches her in his room. Acting as if she was there to seduce him, she realizes she indeed wants to do just that. After a passionate night of lovemaking, she sneaks away before he awakes, voucher in hand, believing she’ll never see him again. When Silas realizes Mercy stole from him, he's angry but still determined to find her. He arrives at her country home and demands to stay until she knows whether or not she is with child. As they wait, a friendship naturally develops in the forced proximity. They have both experienced loneliness and had difficult childhoods that forced them to become responsible at a young age. Now, they discover the joy of companionship and support while their attraction continues to sizzle. Mercy and Silas are both soft-hearted people with tough exteriors. They are highly deserving of one another, and the ways they care for each other as their feelings grow are lovely. Big conflicts near the end don’t fit with the introspective tone of the rest of the book, but they're exciting nonetheless. The country setting is a nice change of pace from the typical ballroom-set historical romances.
A satisfying romance between hardworking characters who ease each other’s loneliness.
