Incorrigible flirt Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellsbourne is in need of a duchess. En route to greet a potential bride, he encounters a most intriguing and captivating widow who completely distracts him from his task. However, she disappears before he can deepen their acquaintance. Acton begrudgingly goes to meet his bride, unaware she and the widow are one and the same.
When Persephone Barclay’s younger sister is compromised, Persephone must wed before the scandal spreads. Her parents scramble to present her to the Duke of Wellsbourne; except he’s precisely the kind of rogue she has now vowed to avoid. Taking flight to avoid a match, Persephone runs straight into her would-be betrothed and pretends to be someone else. But dash it all, the duke proves to be irresistibly charming! If she remains in his company, she’ll end up in the wicked scoundrel’s clutches.
Even worse, her second attempt at escape lands her in increasingly poor circumstances. With nowhere to turn and her safety at risk, she may have to accept help from the one man who threatens her resolve—and her reputation.
Review:
A new series from Darcy Burke! (Cue the excited flailing and cheers)
When her younger sister Pandora is “ruined” by a rake, Persephone and her friend group (read: the heroines for the rest of the series!) come up with a list of “rogue rules” that will–hopefully–keep them all safe from suffering a similar fate.
Though the girls’ parents have their own plan for “fixing” their family’s situation–marrying Persephone off to the son of a friend of her mother’s ASAP. Persephone, who had already determined that she would probably stay a spinster for the rest of her life, would rather not…plus, her supposed groom-to-be has a reputation, and Persey is determined to stick to the “rules” from now on.
When Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellsbourne encounters a feisty woman travelling alone at a inn, he is intrigued. But when he realizes that she’s also the woman he’s been traveling home to meet as a potential bride, he knows he can’t leave her to fend for herself.
Persephone doesn’t want to be rescued–but circumstances are against her, and she might not have a choice after all. Acton’s a rogue, though, and she has rules–but rules are made to be broken, aren’t they?
Persephone and Acton’s story was just lovely–watching both of them as they became (very reluctant, at least on Persey’s part) friends and then *more* was so much fun. I can’t wait to see the rest of their friend group as they find their HEAs–hopefully even Pandora gets the happy ending she deserves!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.