A Duke Changes Everything

The Duke's Den

By: Christy Carlyle

Narrated by: Karen Cass

In the first novel in Christy Carlyle’s sizzling Duke’s Den series, three men, intent on making a fortune, discover irresistible opportunities....

Nicholas Lyon gambled his way into a fortune and ownership of the most opulent, notorious gentlemen’s club in England. But when Nick’s cruel brother dies, he inherits a title he never wanted. The sooner Nick is rid of the estate that has always haunted him, the sooner he can return to the life he’s built in London. But there’s one obstacle - the exquisite Thomasina Thorne.

When the new heir to the Tremayne dukedom suddenly appears in Mina Thorne’s life, she’s flustered. Not only is he breathtakingly handsome, but he’s also determined to take away her home and position as steward of the Enderley estate. If Mina learns what makes the enigmatic duke tick, perhaps she can change his mind - as long as she doesn’t get too close to him.

With each day Nick spends with Mina, his resolve weakens as their colliding wills lead to explosive desire. Could she be the one woman who can help him finally bury the ghosts of his past?

©2018 Christy Carlyle (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Slow start and yet ANOTHER traumatized hero to be healed, but very few worn out embarrassing sex scenes meant to be erotic.

Good characters. Slow open had advantage of listener understanding why the couple would get along and what the barriers might be. Less stress on the first night discomfort of virginity and chomping or biting nipples ( which seems to be a redundant and distasteful part of so many romance novels who don’t have the knowledge or skill to write about it) but almost no mention of bathing, food, details of clothing, or any real knowledge of horses. It fell short here, but the author was good about sharing the characters unspoken thoughts and feelings, which helped the listener. The artificial extension of the story by using the excuse that the proposal was inadequate, added 2 or 3 15 minute chapters, and didn’t really help the story. It became a little boring. Too little detail in the closing to call it a good happy ending. Just an adequate one.

Mediocre story

Narration was ok but the story dull and not believable. Characters did annoyingly stupid things over and over

Good narration

Good narration. Really enjoyed this one. Don’t think I’ve read this author before, but I’d pick her up again.

Duke Change

Love even though there was a disfigurement of the main character and his love interest was of a different class.

Entertaining listen

I've listened to all the books in this series and loved each of them. I especially like how Ms Carlyle has made common ladies the heroin of her books. I've read regency romances for over 50 years and find this new style refreshing. In this book the hero and heroin were both commoners - of sorts.
Christy Carlyle and Karen Cass are both new to me....but not for long. I'll certainly be listening to more of their books.

Wonderful performance

The cadence of speech, inflections, tone moderations - I heard every character - thoroughly enjoyed listening - absolutely fantastic.

THIS REVIEW IS A GENEROUS 3 STAR

Narration was Just Okay!!

I am giving "A Duke Changes Everything" a very Generous 3 stars.

Nicholas/Nick Lyon's was the 2nd son of a cruel father who physically and mentally abused him in horrible ways. Talbot Lyons Nicks father was the Duke of Tremayne now he is dead and so is Nicks older brother, the heir to the Tremayne Dukedom. Nick has suddenly become the new Duke of Tremayne. He never wanted to be Duke or to ever go back to his ducal estate Enderley . It holds so many horrible memories. His mother took him one night and they ran away to France to hid from the abuse they both suffered at the hands of the Old Duke. Nicks mother died when he is 16 and he travels back to London and becomes a very rich owner of Lyon's Gentlemen's Club.


Thomasina/Mina Thorne takes over her fathers job as Stewart of the Enderley Estate after his death. She has been made aware that there is a new Duke and is worried she will be sacked because she is a women.


Nick arrives at Enderley to find that his Stewart is a she and not a he. However they work together and he lets her keep her job. They start to become close and Nicks treats his tenants and staff with compassion and care. His initial intent had been to lease Enderley and sale of all the furnishings and paintings anything of value. Mina gradually changes his mind and Nick stays longer and longer. Him and Mina start to fall in love. But of course neither will admit it to one another.

The sex and the romance are Sorley Lacking in between this couple!!

If this review sounds boring its because the story was basically boring. Nick let Viscount Calvert who owed him money walk all over him and in the end he let him get away without paying the money back to the club. Another Viscount Lyle and his son Gregory also talked down to Nick who is a Duke. WTH?? Dukes were respected and revered. No low title like a Viscount would ever treat a Duke like Viscount Lyle and Calvert treated Nick. But was even worse they got away with it. Nick just Kowtowed and bowed down to them. I don't think the author understands how the aristocracy worked. A Duke is one of the highest titles in the land just under a Prince. Viscounts are at the bottom of the aristocracy. A viscounts children were Mr. and Miss they did not even carry the title of Lord and Lady. So why give them so much power over a Duke? A real Duke would have shut them down. Nick was just to passive and paid off these low titled people to get along with them. That did not work for me. He need to act more Alpha Male and Arrogant like a Duke towards these lowly titled men.

The other think that was not made clear to me is was Mina a virgin or did Gregory relieve her of her virginity? That part of the story was not clear. Gregory tells Nick that he was the first one to have her. But Mina said she stopped Gregory before it went to far. When Nick and Mina finally made love it was as generic as ice water and Nick didn't mention that Mina was a virgin.


The end of the story was not good at all. Nick decides to turn his Profitable Gentlemen's Club into a club for inventors. OK it takes a lot of time and money to invest in inventions. So I guess Nick and his partners plan on going broke. Because the way this epilog is written about investing in inventions is just all kinds of ways wrong. They could have keep the gentlemen's club for revenue and opened up and office to interview investors. That way there income could stay secure or turn the gentlemen's club into a Luxury Grand Hotel. I wouldn't want the author Ms. Carlyle to handle my money. I would be broke LOL!!
But overall it was an Okay read. But I won't be continuing with the series "Duke's Den" It doesn't feel like a Historical Romance to me.

Okay Story, good narration!

This was an okay story, but a a great narration.

This book went from a gaming hell's owner being forced into a Dukedom and finding out his steward is a woman to the same Duke turning his gaming hell into a place for inventors. Kind of all over the place a little bit. I did love Mina's character more than Nicholas. She was smart, witty, clever, and beautiful. He was stubborn and at times a pushover.

It wasn't a bad story it was just okay.

As for narration, that is what kept me listening. The narration was excellent. I really enjoyed Karen Cass, She did a great job on the male voices and had a fantastic reading voice.

Good story

This was a good read. Mild on the spicy side. Characters are likable and believable.

Loved this one!

This is a winner... it has a dark side, dark dark! Yet its quick witted, interesting and fun... it's a Regency romance so you know HOW it will end... but the ride there is worth it. I got tired of the scarred nobleman stories about a hundred books ago, yet this wasn't that old tale at all.

Karen Cass did a FABULOUS job! I listen to 95% of the books I 'read', and I hate it when I just can't bring myself to listen to a great book with a BAD narrator. Some of my least favorites are still hired, I guess no one listens to previous work before hiring them. I love it when a narrator gets everything right and doesnt make those awful mistakes that turn me off from a book. This lady is awesome!!