Anything But a Duke
The Duke's Den
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4.0 • 11 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Self-made man Aidan Iverson has seen more closed doors in his thirty years than he’s ever cared to count. As a member of the elite Duke’s Den, he has all the money he could possibly need but the one thing he can’t purchase is true power. If roguish Aidan can’t buy his way into society’s hallowed halls, he’ll resort to a more extreme measure: marriage.
Brought up to be a proper lady, the only thing Diana Ashby desires is to be left alone to the creation of her own devices. But when her dreams are crushed, she must find another way to secure the future of her invention. Knowing his desire to enter her world, Diana strikes a deal to arrange Aidan’s marriage to the perfect lady—as long as that lady isn’t her. She doesn’t need any distractions from her work, particularly of the sinfully handsome variety.
As Diana and Aidan set out to find him an aristocratic match, neither are prepared for the passion that ignites between them or the love they can’t ignore.
In the Duke’s Den, can happiness ever be a winning prospect?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Carlyle's memorable second Duke's Den Victorian romance (after A Duke Changes Everything), a budding scientist and a wealthy businessman discover they are a perfect match. Diana Ashby wishes to avoid marriage until she can gain recognition for her inventions. When she happens upon a gentleman being attacked, she chases away the ruffians and assists the victim, and they share a brief, unforgettable kiss. A year later, Diana is invited to present her household cleaning system invention at Lyon's, a gentlemen's club in London, where she hopes to find a backer. One of the investors she meets is Aidan Iverson, the man she assisted. Aidan agrees to fund her invention if she can help him find a noble bride. Orphaned at a young age, Aidan has achieved great wealth through his business successes, but some doors have been closed to him because of his lack of familial connections. Diana introduces him to marriageable young women, but none holds the appeal that she does. Aidan must decide whether the love he feels for Diana is more important than his future bride's noble blood. Fans of historical romance with strong, intelligent heroines will adore this novel, in which emotionally vulnerable, highly motivated characters complete the sensuous story.
Customer Reviews
Delightfully Intrepid Heroine
I received an ARC of this book to read through Edelweiss+ in exchange for a fair review. Anything But a Duke by Christy Carlyle is the second book in her Duke’s Den series. This one could be read as a stand-alone, but I did enjoy reading the first one and recommend it.
Aiden Iverson is a self made man, abandoned in a workhouse as a child he has become a successful business man who provides funding to inventors. He and Diana first meet when he is attacked by a couple of thugs and she comes running to his rescue umbrella in hand. Diana Ashby has no interest in marriage, she likes in make things that are useful and has hopes of saving her family from ruin with one of her inventions. She seeks financing from Aiden and offers to help him find a blue-blooded bride in exchange for his help, however they have a chemistry between them that cannot be denied no matter how much they try to be practical. I very much enjoyed this story. Medium Steam Publishing Date April 30, 2019
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