The Irish Duke

March 1, 2010
As children, James Hamilton, Lord Abercorn asked for the hand of Louisa, daughter of the duke of Bedford. Though she refused him, Abercorn never loses hope of marrying her, despite her later vow never to wed or bear children. As she grows more beautiful, Louisa earns the admiration of men and the envy of her insecure sister, Georgy. When Georgy's irresponsible behavior embroils the entire family in scandal, Louisa is forced to marry the handsome Abercorn, setting them up for a turbulent journey toward regaining trust and, inevitably, falling in love. Henley (The Decadent Duke) is a historical romance veteran, and her skill shows on every page, despite her dedication to formula; her heroine is typically willful, beautiful, talented and innocent, while the hero is a patient, faithful variation on the charming rogue. Henley's satisfying balance between romance and sexuality will help genre fans overlook the contrived plot.