A Devil of a Duke

Starred review from March 26, 2018
Rich with scandal and sensuality, Hunter’s second Decadent Dukes Society Regency (after The Most Dangerous Duke in London) features a fabulous heroine, a secretary with a criminal secret who falls for a man far above her station. Handsome Gabriel St. James, Duke of Langford, is well known for his disregard of London high society’s opinion of him, but he starts taking his ducal responsibilities more seriously after the eccentric Lady Farnsworth publishes a letter chiding him for his misbehavior. When he meets an elusive woman at a ball and enjoys a passionate interlude with her, he is intrigued and makes plans for a future assignation. What Gabriel doesn’t realize is that the object of his affection is Amanda Waverly, Lady Farnsworth’s secretary and an expert thief from a family of rogues. As Gabriel falls further under Amanda’s spell, he is entranced by her quiet beauty and how she seems to care more for him than his wealth or title. Meanwhile, she’s stealing valuable items to ransom her kidnapped mother. Scintillating love scenes are plentiful in this page-turning tale, which is enhanced by a cast of memorable characters and smart, witty protagonists. Agent: Pamela Hopkins, Hopkins Literary.

Narrator Rosalyn Landor uses her skill to polish an unremarkable story into a shiny bauble worth admiring. A devilishly handsome duke must work with a secretary who has a mysterious past to stop a gang of thieves, and possibly find true love as well. Landor's excellent narration turns uninspired dialogue into passionate declarations of love and creates dramatic tension out of hackneyed turns of phrase. Even the most minor characters are fleshed out through her choices of accent and timbre, which help to create a completely believable world. There's no question that Landor's outstanding work enhances this audiobook. K.M.P. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine