Not the Duke's Darling
Includes a bonus novella
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4.3 • 18 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Maiden Lane series comes the first book in a new series that "marries her irresistibly witty writing style with an intrigue-steeped plot," (Booklist) perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James.
Freya de Moray is many things: a member of the secret order of Wise Women, the daughter of disgraced nobility, and a chaperone living under an assumed name. What she is not is forgiving. So when the Duke of Harlowe, the man who destroyed her brother and led to the downfall of her family, appears at the country house party she's attending, she does what any Wise Woman would do: she starts planning her revenge.
Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe, is being blackmailed. Intent on keeping his secrets safe, he agrees to attend a house party where he will put an end to this coercion once and for all. Until he recognizes Freya, masquerading among the party revelers, and realizes his troubles have just begun. Freya knows all about his sins-sins he'd much rather forget. But she's also fiery, bold, and sensuous-a temptation he can't resist. When it becomes clear Freya is in grave danger, he'll risk everything to keep her safe. But first, he will have to earn Freya's trust...by whatever means necessary.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hoyt (the Maiden Lane series) falters with this historical trilogy launch set at an English house party in 1760. It opens with a rousing chase, but that's deceptive: matters proceed sluggishly among four plot lines and three perspectives. Christopher Renshaw, Duke of Harlowe, was best friends with Freya Stewart de Moray's older brother, Ran, until a melee left Ran's fianc e dead, Ran mutilated, Christopher banished, and Freya swearing vengeance on him. Freya became a member of the covenlike Wise Women. On their behalf, she has disguised herself as a dowdy companion to gentlewoman Arabella, covertly promoting feminist causes. She's using the party to stalk Christopher and investigate a murder as, for other reasons, is Freya's childhood friend Messalina Greycourt. Christopher, meanwhile, is being blackmailed by another guest with his dead wife's correspondence. Then there's the urgent requirement to marry off Arabella, for whom spinsterhood looms. All this plot is worked through in just over 300 pages, and scant attention is paid to emotional and character development. (The remaining page count is a charming novella by Grace Burrowes.) The first kiss is worth the wait, but overall, it's a forgettable outing by Hoyt.
Customer Reviews
3.75 stars—entertaining
3.75 stars--NOT THE DUKE’S DARLING is the first instalment in Elizabeth Hoyt’s adult THE GREYCOURT historical, romance series. This is Freya de Moray, and Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe’s story line.
Told from several third person perspectives including Freya and Christopher NOT THE DUKE’S DARLING follows the childhood friends /enemies to lovers/ brother’s best friend relationship between Freya de Moray, and Christopher Renshaw. Years earlier Freya’s brother was accused of a heinous crime, and in the ensuing melee was beaten and maimed without benefit of proof. Fast forward to present day wherein Freya will come face to face with her past,a man who stood by and watched as her brother nearly lost his life. Enter Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe, and the man with whom Freya will fall in love. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Freya and Christopher, and the potential fall-out as Freya is targeted for her connection to a group known as the Wise Women.
Freya de Moray is a titled lady but our heroine prefers to remain in the background as she endeavors to help those who are unable to help themselves. A feminist before her time, Freya’s actions make her a target by the men who hope to destroy anyone who goes against the norm, or in Freya’s case, a strong-willed, stubborn woman who is willing to risk her life to save the life of someone else. Christopher Renshaw returned from exile the Duke of Harlowe but his inability to let go of the past found our hero struggling to make sense of mysterious stranger who despised his presence from the first time they met. Having no recollection of what he had done Christopher would soon come to realize that the woman with murder in her eyes, is someone from his past. Estranged from family and friends, Christopher is desperate to uncover the truth behind Freya’s appearance.
The relationship between Freya and Christopher is an enemies to lovers/ best friend’s little sister trope that finds our couple at odds over their future together. Christopher is hoping for his happily ever after but Freya refuses to be bound to any man as a servant or bed mate. Marriage is not out of the question but our heroine prefers her independence over servitude, an independence and strong-will that has placed a target on her back. Christopher considers Freya his equal, and in this, he too, is ahead of the times. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters as Elisabeth Hoyt introduces the players and key figures in her Greycourt series. We are introduced to Freya’s former best friend Messalina Greycourt, and her sister Lucretia. Many of the characters have several names, nicknames and titles, as well as the mention of innumerable others, such that there is much confusion throughout the story.
NOT THE DUKE’S DARLING is a story of family and betrayal; friendship and loss; second chances and love. The premise is entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are strong and sassy. There are a number of sub-plots including secret societies and witch hunting, murder and confinement, blackmail and estrangement, all wrapped up in an historical romance love story
Not The Duke’s Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt
Wonderful book; forward thinking heroine, strong, forward thinking hero. So well written, I got lost in the story and characters. Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favourite authors, I own every book she’s written; this new series didn’t disappoint me. LOVED IT!
Excellent New Series
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for a fair review review. Not The Duke’s Darling is the first book in what looks to be an awesome new series “The Greycourt Series” by Elizabeth Hoyt. The story is enemies to lovers at its best although our poor tortured hero Christopher Renshaw, Duke of Harrow is not quite sure why the fiery Miss Stewart holds him in such low esteem as he does not recognize her as Freya De Moray younger sister of his childhood friend Ran. Freya’s life changed dramatically at the age of 12, the night Ran was accused of murdering her best friends sister and he was almost beaten to death. She has vowed revenge on the friends who abandoned him that night and struggles against the attraction she feels for Christopher as she has more important things to accomplish such as finding out how the wife of a peer died under mysterious circumstances. The house party she attends in order to solve the mystery is turning out to be quite dangerous to both her heart and her life. Quite Steamy. Published December 18, 2018 #NotTheDukesDarling #ElizabethHoyt #ForeverGrandCentralPublishing #HatchetteBookGroup