Falling Into Bed with a Duke by Lorraine Heath Published by Avon on October 27th 2015
Genres: Historical, Romance
Pages: 372
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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In the first in a dazzling new series, New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath introduces the Hellions of Havisham—three charismatic rogues destined to lose their hearts...
After six unsuccessful Seasons, Miss Minerva Dodger chooses spinsterhood over fortune-hungry suitors. But thanks to the Nightingale Club, she can at least enjoy one night of pleasure. At that notorious establishment, ladies don masks before choosing a lover. The sinfully handsome Duke of Ashebury is more than willing to satisfy the secretive lady's desires—and draws Minerva into an exquisite, increasingly intimate affair.
A man of remarkable talents, Ashe soon deduces that his bedmate is the unconventional Miss Dodger. Intrigued by her wit and daring, he sets out to woo her in earnest. Yet Minerva refuses to trust him. How to court a woman he has already thoroughly seduced? And how to prove that the passion unleashed in darkness is only the beginning of a lifetime's pleasure?
I go in waves with historicals. I read them like a fiend, then I start to chafe at the restrictions on women and the courting rituals and I avoid them for a while. Then I start to think of the courting rituals and restrictions as the best kind of foreplay and I go back to glomming on them.
Right now I’m glomming. I haven’t read anything by Lorraine Heath before, and wow, have I been missing out. I was charmed by this one from the beginning. Minerva (I love that name) has had six seasons and she’s decided that she’s done. The only men who have shown any interest in her are fortune-hunters, so down on their own luck that all they want is her dowry. These men were incredible. They couldn’t even be bothered to pretend they wanted anything other than that dowry. Minerva has no interest in marrying because of her age or her dowry or for any reason other than love. And given how outspoken she is, and how many of her own opinions she has and very much enjoys discussing, most of the men in her circles have overlooked her or downright dismissed her as a termagant (a word I didn’t know, but Heath used several times here. It’s quite fitting).
Since she’s decided to officially stop courting husbands, and since several of those opinions she’s forever expressing is that women should be able to act on their desires as easily as men can, she sets out to experience one night in the infamous Nightingale Club. One night of masked pleasure, one night to discover exactly what all the fuss is about and exactly what she’ll be missing out on for the rest of her life. At the Nightingale Club, all the women wear masks while the men do not. So Minerva has no trouble recognizing the Duke of Ashebury when he selects her to be his companion for the night. He doesn’t know who she is, though.
And, actually, that first night, not much happens between them. A scorching kiss, but that’s it. Once he discovers that his lovely Lady V is a virgin, Ashe informs her that he doesn’t deflower women and sends her on her way. He can’t quite get her out of his head, though. He can tell she’s a member of the aristocracy, but that’s all he can deduce. With no idea who she is and no way to find out, he has no choice but to break his own rule about never selecting the same lady twice. He goes back to the club again and again looking for her. And Minerva goes back, too, since she never actually got the night of passion she was after.
A deliciously fun game of cat and mouse ensues. In quick order, Ashe thinks he might know who is mysterious Lady V is, but he can’t quite catch her. Just as the two of them are beginning a real relationship, some information comes to light that Ashe knows may cause Minerva to dismiss his attentions. Ashe has to do everything he can think of to make sure Minerva knows he really does love her.
This was everything I love about historicals. It was sweet, sexy, and fun. The banter between Minerva and Ashe, especially when he was trying to trick her into admitting she was Lady V, was a joy to read. This may be the first Lorraine Heath book I’ve read, but it will definitely not be the last.
About Lorraine Heath
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies “won’t half make you cry.”
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero–Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her “dual” nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA’s RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers. Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult with her son under the name J. A. London.
