Release Day Review of The Duke (Devil's Duke, #3) by Katharine Ashe

Title: The Duke: A Devil's Duke Novel
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Devil's Duke (Book 3)
Format: Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Avon (September 26, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0062641727
ISBN-13: 978-0062641724
Author's Website: http://katharineashe.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am also an Avon Addict which means I love the books that Avon publishes enough to volunteer to read as many ARCs and books as they can send my way. So you'll be seeing a lot of books reviewed by me from this publisher. Please note, however, that if I don't like a book, it will be truthfully reflected by a low rating.

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Once upon a time there was a young girl who dreamt up her perfect man, and when she grew up she found him only to discover he was a frog in disguise. Luckily, a man she thought to be a frog turned out to be a prince, er, duke, among men. This is their story.

This is the third book in the Devil's Duke series. It can be read as a standalone and you won't feel you missed anything. It is a rather unconventional romance because when Gabriel first meets Lady Amarantha Vale she's engaged to marry someone else. It will be another five years before they get their shot at a happily-ever-after.

I absolutely loved the relationship between Gabriel and Amarantha, but it took quite some time for these two to finally get together. Amarantha's first marriage was not a happy one and it left her not wishing to remarry. Gabriel still harbors bad feelings for Amarantha because she didn't wait for him. Then there was the little matter of Gabriel's cousin, Jonah, and what he did. If someone had done something like that to me I'd be furious with them. Yet Gabriel and Amarantha just sort of let bygones be bygones. I was rather surprised by this.

When we're first introduced to Amarantha she's young and optimistic about life. She wants to save the world and isn't afraid of hard work or about getting her hands dirty. Meeting Gabriel throws her for a loop. She, in turn, throws Gabriel for one too.

Gabriel has done things he isn't proud of. Amaratha makes him want to be a better man. I like how at the end we see just how profound an effect she's had on his life since their first meeting. After all she's gone through, Amarantha needs for Gabriel to prove himself to her. He does so with flying colors, but Amarantha's trust doesn't come easily. Too much has happened and she's a bit stubborn.

Overall, I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 roses. There was a whole lot of chemistry going on between Gabriel and Amarantha and I loved watching these two interact. While I felt there were was one too many hurdles in this couple's path, I enjoyed the story. The ending had a huge twist that kind of snuck up on me. There was so much going on that I hadn't foreseen, and I may need to go back and reread parts to find all the bread crumbs. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of the Devil's Duke series:

Early Review of The Pirate and I (Devil's Duke, #2.5) by Katharine Ashe

Title: The Pirate and I: A Novella (Devil's Duke)
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Devil's Duke
Format: Paperback; 192 pages
Publisher: Avon Impulse (August 22, 2017)
ISBN-10: 006264176X
ISBN-13: 978-0062641762
Author's Website: http://katharineashe.com/
Notes:  I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am also an Avon Addict which means I love the books that Avon publishes enough to volunteer to read as many ARCs and books as they can send my way. So you'll be seeing a lot of books reviewed by me from this publisher. Please note, however, that if I don't like a book, it will be truthfully reflected by a low rating.

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Once upon a time a boy liked a girl and a girl liked a boy, but neither of them let their feelings be known. Then one day the boy disappeared and as days turned into months followed by years it was feared he'd met with foul play and had died. Now, years later, while on a trip to Scotland for a once-in-a-decade international event--the meeting of the Society of Perfumers. Esme Astell finds herself in the middle of a police chase. When asked which way the man being sought went, she makes a split second decision and lies. When the young scoundrel whom they were chasing thanks her with a kiss, she realizes it's Charles Brittle, the boy--now a man--she'd held a tendre for all those years ago. He's in trouble and needs her help.

This was a very fun and sweet novella that I wish had been longer. As is the fate of many a novella, things get resolved much too easily and quickly. I would have liked a little more conflict and the romance to have been drawn out a little longer, but what can an author do? There are page/time constraints on novellas.

Esme and Charles are an unconventional couple. She has aspirations of becoming a world-renowned master perfumer and Charlie? Well, let's just say his life took a bad turn and he's now trying to get himself out of the situation he finds himself in--beholden to a pirate. He'll need Esme's help to do it.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I loved watching these two come together and fall in love. I adored Charlie and admired Esme. By the end, I got the feeling there wasn't much this duo couldn't achieve. I laughed, I grinned, and shook my head a great deal while reading. This is a great story to indulge in if you're looking for something sweet, funny, and quick to read. On the Lisarenee Romance Reading Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I very much enjoyed this one.

Order of the Devil's Duke series:

Early Review of The Earl (Devil's Duke #2 / Falcon Club #5) by Katharine Ashe

Title: The Earl: A Devil's Duke Novel

Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Devil's Duke (Book 2) /  Falcon Club (Book 5)
Format: Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Avon (October 25, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0062412752
ISBN-13: 978-0062412751
Author's Website: http://katharineashe.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am also an Avon Addict which means I love the books that Avon publishes enough to volunteer to read as many ARCs and books as they can send my way. So you'll be seeing a lot of books reviewed by me from this publisher. Please note, however, that if I don't like a book, it will be truthfully reflected by a low rating.

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Zenobia is a modern girl living in a world that isn't quite ready for her. She's a Women's and Human's Rights activist who champions the underdog, and her lack of position as a women in the world has never been more clear. Her sister, Amarantha, has gone missing and she doesn't have the means to find her. Oh, she has accumulated a significant little nest egg over the years as the pamphleteer known as Lady Justice, but she doesn't have the skills or connections to find her. Desperate, she contacts a man whom she never saw herself going to for help--Peregrine, a member of the now defunct Falcon Club. Over the years Zenobia, under the guise of  the Lady Justice, has publicly argued against many of the club's political views and policies which tended to favor the upper class alone. Now she needs their help because what they excel at is finding missing people. She's even desperate enough to agree to a meeting with the man. You see, the identity of Lady Justice is a secret, but she's desperate enough to reveal it in order to find her sister. That decision, will change everything because when she'll find out who the mysterious Peregrine is, she realizes it's someone she knows.,,

This is the second book in the Devil's Duke series and the fifth book in the Falcon Club series. You can read it as a standalone, but I recommend you read one or two of the earlier books in the Falcon Club series to know how all the secondary characters relate to one another. It will make things more enjoyable to see how the Falcon Club and Lady Justice interacted with one another, and how Falcon Club met its demise.

I liked the situation Ms, Ashe created by having two very headstrong individuals face-off with one another. I also adored Colin even though there were moments when I shook my head at his backwards views on women, He really came through in the end, however, and I enjoyed that Zenobia was able to change his mind about matters. Additionally, there was a very touching and moving scene at the end that I loved. I did, however, have a hard time warming up to Zenobia, There were moments in the book when I really didn't like her very much. While she is a smart and strong individual, at times she appeared to be a tad bit too cold, calculating, and set in her ways. There was a love scene where I just wasn't feeling the love, the heat, or the chemistry between these two. She kind of took on the role usually reserved for male rogues. Eventually she won me over because I came to the realization her indifferent/frosty attitude towards Colin was a coping mechanism to protect her heart.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. It was fun and reminds us just how far women have come in the world. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public.

Order of the Devil's Duke series:

Order of the Falcon Club series (according to Katharine Ashe's website):


Please note that 'How to Marry a Highlander' and 'The Scoundrel and I' are both Novellas.