Wednesday, August 24, 2016

4 stars-- A Duke to Remember (Season for Scandal #2) by Kelly Bowen

Oh my. Bowen totally rocked this one. From start to finish I was seriously smitten with A Duke to Remember.

The quick of it is that a duke has died and his heir? Well, most think him long dead since he disappeared as a child. Everyone but his sister and his mother who are being made out to look crazy. So it's come to Elsie and her team to hunt down the long lost heir and help him claim his title from a cousin who will stop at nothing to claim it himself.

Ahhh! Yall! Elsie was one of the most awesome heroines I've read in a long time. This lady was kick ass! She was a tracker for the British army, is a crack shot, throws herself into danger (but knows how to handle herself, no TSTL heroine here!), she's a master of disguise and maybe a wee bit diabolical. She says it like it is and does what needs doing. Kicks ass and takes names and does it all without breaking a sweat. I freaking loved Elsie. Yes. I totally have a girl-crush. lol And Noah. Gah. I liked him too! He's a quiet sort and tends to avoid most people. Gets his words mixed up and blushes when he's nervous or flustered. And he's a survivor. Went through hell and pulled himself out of it and made something of his life. I was totally in his corner.
Elise was smirking at him. "If you recall, I did suggest you take them off earlier (wet boots) to avoid such difficulties. Yet you chose not to listen to the voice of reason."

"Yes, well, that particular voice of reason had just thrown herself off a bridge," Noah pointed out. "The presence of reason was debatable."

"I didn't throw myself off anything. It was a controlled leap. Why must I keep saying that?" she muttered, but there was laughter dancing in her beautiful eyes...
They were amazing together, too. They each had things going on that others would judge them for--her unladylike behaviors and his troubles with speech--but to each other it was nothing. Not detractors but just what made them them and no big deal. I loved that. There's some nice chemistry and a little bit of sheet time as she tries to convince him to come back home and claim his title.

Other than the romance I really loved the people in both of their lives. His friends and housekeeper and the people she worked with. They added a nice additional little element and I'd be lying if I said they all didn't peak my interest. It's an interesting group of people with very interesting talents and I hope they'll each have their stories told.

The suspense/drama was nicely done. His cousin is basically trying to eliminate him for good so that he can inherit the dukedom. So some danger and scheming to keep him safe and get society to accept him as the rightful heir even though he's been missing for over a decade. It was just a lot of fun.

All in all... I'm impressed. Bowen put together a riveting tale that sizzled with excitement and intrigue.

Elise deVries is not what she seems. By night, the actress captivates London theatergoers with her chameleon-like ability to slip inside her characters. By day, she uses her mastery of disguise to work undercover for Chegarre & Associates, an elite agency known for its discreet handling of indelicate scandals. But when Elise is tasked with locating the missing Duke of Ashland, she finds herself center stage in a real-life drama.

Noah Ellery left the glamour of the London aristocracy to pursue a simpler life in the country. He's managed to avoid any complications or entanglements—that is, until he lays eyes on Elise and realizes there's more to this beautiful woman than meets the eye. But when Elise reveals her real identity—and her true feelings for him—the runaway duke must confront the past he left behind . . . to keep the woman he loves forever.

  
*covers link to Amazon

Challenges: Pick Your Genre (historical) | New to You (series) | Goodreads

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