Never Deceive a Duke
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $1.99
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
A scandal-shrouded Duchess and the ruthless heir to her late husband’s title are drawn into a dangerous game of desire, secrets, and betrayal in glittering Regency London. As suspicion and irresistible passion ignite between them, one forbidden romance could destroy them both—or finally set them free.
They call her the Porcelain Princess…
Elegant, aloof, and devastatingly beautiful, Antonia, Duchess of Warneham, has become one of the most admired—and most whispered about—women in London society. Twice married. Twice widowed. Surrounded by glittering ballrooms, titled suitors, and endless speculation, Antonia has learned the hard way that marriage is nothing more than a gilded cage. Now, she is determined to protect both her freedom and her heart at any cost.
But when her husband’s sudden death is declared suspicious, scandal descends upon the duchy like a storm. And with it comes the arrival of a dangerously compelling stranger: the duke’s long-lost heir.
They call him a cold-hearted bastard…
Raised far from the glittering world that cast him aside, Gareth Lloyd has built an empire in London’s docklands with ruthless ambition and hard-earned power. Brooding, fiercely intelligent, and utterly irresistible, Gareth has no interest in aristocratic titles or the family that abandoned him long ago. Yet overnight, he finds himself thrust into the heart of the ton—as the new Duke of Warneham.
And the one temptation he cannot avoid is the widow he was never meant to desire.
Behind Antonia’s polished grace lies a woman of fierce passion and dangerous secrets. Behind Gareth’s hardened exterior is a man who has never truly belonged anywhere…until her. As suspicion, scandal, and simmering attraction ignite between them, the pair are drawn into a seductive battle of wills that threatens to consume them both.
Filled with breathtaking romance, slow-burning tension, glittering society intrigue, and irresistible chemistry, this sweeping historical romance is perfect for fans of Bridgerton, where every stolen glance hides a scandal—and every kiss could ruin them forever.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Carlyle's second Neville family novel (after Never Lie to a Lady) revisits the wounded hero story line and adds a touch of mystery. Through a twist of fate, Gareth Lloyd, part owner of Neville Shipping, discovers that the title of duke of Warneham has now fallen to him. It's a bitter inheritance for Gareth, who as a child was sentenced by the old duke to a hardscrabble life aboard ship. Reluctantly, Gareth visits his new country estate, Selsdon Court, only to discover the duke's beautiful widow, Antonia, still in residence. Passion flares between the emotionally damaged pair as Antonia reveals her grief over the death of a young daughter, and Gareth faces anti-Jewish sentiment among the upper class (an atypical touch that works well). The author's natural, concise writing style, attention to historical detail and fully formed characters make her world spring to life, and her plot never flags; Carlyle even finds room for a dose of mystery, as Gareth's friend, Kemble, investigates the poisoning death of the previous duke. As usual, Carlyle doesn't disappoint.
