My Darling Duke

Sinful Wallflowers Series, Book 1

By: Stacy Reid

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

Miss Katherine Danvers has always been a wallflower. But now with her family on the brink of financial ruin, she finds herself a desperate wallflower. To save her family, she'll do anything. Luckily, she has the perfect plan....

She'll impress the ton by simply announcing she is engaged to the reclusive and mysterious Duke of Thornton, Alexander Masters, and secure strong matches for her sisters. No one has heard from the duke in years. Surely he'll never find out before her sisters' weddings and she can go back to her own quiet life.

Soon, though, everything is out of control. At first, it's just a few new ball gowns on the duke's accounts. Then it's interviews with reporters eager for gossip. Before she knows it, Katherine has transformed herself into Kitty Danvers, charming and clever belle of the ton - with everyone eager to meet her thankfully absent fiance.

But when the enigmatic Alexander Masters suddenly arrives in the city, dashing and oh so angry, he demands retribution. Except not in the way Katherine expected....

Contains mature themes.

©2020 Stacy Reid (P)2019 Tantor

Breathy slow burn several hours too long

The first chapter had me cringing and thinking there was no way I’d stick with the whispery, weirdly enunciated, almost Moaning Myrtle narration. Yet, with every chapter, the at once prim and also sultry narration grew on me. By the end, I thought the narration very fitting, enough that, combined with the story, I’ve wish-listed the next book to await a sale.

The story proceed in reverse; I very much liked the opening chapters, with Katherine’s false engagement and then Alexander’s sparring over her deception. The switch from London to Scotland delivered a fresh Beauty and the Beast take. But, the pacing got slower and frustratingly, needlessly more angsty with every chapter. This story could have resolved at 8 hrs, but there is a predictable conflict prolonging the HEA another 3 hrs. I was at 4 ⭐️ “Great” until the final 3hrs dragged me down to 3 ⭐️ “Good.”

Random disappointments: there were too many times her “stomach unfurls” or “something stirred within him,” other than some kisses and finger-action this book is nooky free until the single scene/HEA in the final 30min, and there were at least three references to her quim that fizzled the sizzle right out of my regency loving soul.

Fantastic

This book was incredible ad the Narrator was chosen perfectly! I will be purchasing all her books in the future!

One of my favorite romance books

Chapter twoooo.. this narrator almost ruined it for me. She struggled with the male voice and hasn't really mastered the female's either.

Brazen Wallflower

I listened to the whole series and they were wonderful. The wallflower friends went after the men they wanted and let nothing stand in their way. The rakes they fell in love were swoon worthy men and passion blazed in these stories. Well done and well narrated.

Slow Burn, Tears, Anticipation

This story is a slow burn romance that keeps you wondering what's going to happen next.