The Unexpected Duchess

March 17, 2014
Bowman (the Secret Brides series) launches the Playful Brides series of theater-themed Regency romances with a charming take on Cyrano de Bergerac. Lady Lucy Upton and Derek Hunt, the Duke of Claringdon, can’t quite conform to polite society’s expectations. Lucy’s clever tongue and unladylike bluntness has left her on the shelf, and her parents all but disowned her. Derek, a lowly soldier’s son, received a dukedom for his military actions against Napoleon. Derek promises his gravely wounded friend Julian that he will take care of Julian’s beloved, Lady Cassandra Monroe—which Derek takes to mean that he should marry her. When Lucy is caught feeding dialogue to the more demure Cassandra, Lucy and Derek embark on entertaining verbal skirmishes that lead to heated physical encounters. Some unnecessary repetition of their conflicts and a thoroughly unsurprising twist are only minor detractions. Regency fans can anticipate more racy antics in future installments, which will focus on Lucy’s beloved friends. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Starred review from April 15, 2014
Sharp-tongued Lady Lucy Upton is determined to save her friend from an unwanted courtship by the newly minted Duke of Claringdon, but she never expects that standing up to him will draw the arrogant--and handsome--man her way. War hero Derek Hunt would much rather be with his men on the battlefield than in a ballroom, but since having a dukedom bestowed on him for his service, following orders means staying put and boosting morale on the homefront. Before leaving the war zone, however, Lord Hunt made a deathbed promise to his best friend that he would marry Lady Cassandra, a quiet, easygoing young woman who would make a perfect bride. However, once he starts to pursue her--to her mother's delight--he's continually thwarted by her friend, the infamous Lady Lucy: "Apparently the lady had a rapier for a tongue. She jabbed with nouns, riposted with verbs....By all accounts, she was a master. One who could rip an overzealous beau to shreds in mere seconds." Lady Lucy is a nuisance but an intriguing one. "He was a man used to having...orders carried out immediately and here was this slip of a young woman who not only refused to snap to attention but she also seemed to enjoy antagonizing him. He had to reluctantly admit, it fascinated him." Hunt finds himself falling for Lucy, who won't admit to her own feelings for him; and Lady Cassandra's family takes exception to his change of direction, leading to some challenging obstacles to their happiness. Bowman gives playful nods to Shakespeare and Cyrano de Bergerac in this appealing start to a new series. Lucy is the Regency shrew to Hunt's gentle-warrior hero who falls for her quick wit, then recognizes the wounded girl behind the virago mask. A fun, smart comedy of errors and a sexy, satisfying romance.

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Starred review from April 15, 2014
Lucy Upton knows she can talk; the problem is that Derek Hunt, Duke of Claringdon, just won't listen! Lucy's friend, Cassandra Monroe, simply can't find the words to let Derek know she has no interest in him as a potential husband. Because Lucy has no trouble at all in speaking her mind, she offers to provide Cassandra with the clearest possible language for letting Derek know, once and for all, that his offer of matrimony is not welcome. However, no matter how many times Lucyeither channeling her words through Cassandra, or speaking as herselftells Derek to go away, the infuriating man continues to court Cassandra. Lucy knows that Derek has had more than his share of success on the battlefields of Europe, but this is one battle he simply isn't going to win. Rising historical fiction star Bowman builds on the potential she displayed in her first Regency-set trilogy (the Secret Brides series) with The Unexpected Duchess, which launches her new Playful Brides books. This novel's engaging characters, snappy banter, and judicious infusion of smoldering sensuality will have readers clamoring for the next installment in this smart and sexy series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)