When the Wicked Duke dares the Duke of Colehaven to find a suitor for an unmanageable ward, Cole immediately accepts. He’s on a winning streak, and besides, how unmarriageable can a pretty young lady be? He appoints himself bodyguard and duenna, only to discover his own desires may be the greatest danger of all.
Supposed wallflower Diana Middleton lives a double life, bringing dishonest businessmen to justice. Shaking off a meddling duke should be child’s play. Yet the more they lock horns, the more she wants to lock lips. Her scandalous secrets would derail his political career. But surely there’s no harm in one little seduction…
Meet the unforgettable men of London’s most notorious tavern, The Wicked Duke. Seductively handsome, with charm and wit to spare, one night with these rakes and rogues will never be enough…
Review:
The Wicked Dukes Club series starts off strong with One Night for Seduction! I really enjoyed Cole and Diana’s story. I loved that she wasn’t content with her lot in life and (literally!) invented her own vocation (a “covert agent out on the streets avenging misapplied mathematics,” LOL)–and I also loved that he soon became one of the few people in England able to see through the disguises and smokescreens she put up to see the true Diana. It took him a little longer than it should have to realize her real reasons for not wanting to marry; but eventually he does, and thank goodness–the two of them are very clearly MFEO 😉
It’s really easy for a romance that starts off as a wager to go off into squicky territory, but thank goodness this one didn’t. As soon as he realized he was developing feelings for Diana, Cole ended the wager, even though it meant breaking his decade-long winning streak. A true gentleman 🙂
Ms. Ridley did a fantastic job of building relationships here–not just between Cole and Diana, but also between Cole and his friends (fellow “wicked dukes”), Cole and his sister Felicity (I can’t wait for her book!), and (more tentatively) Diana and Felicity. The easy camaraderie between people who have known each other for years was fun to read, as was the banter between Diana and Cole. This is my favorite book from this author yet; I can’t wait to see what she does with the rest of her share of this series!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.