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Duke Most Wanted (Heiress Brides)
written by Celeste Bradley
Studio : St. Martin's Paperbacks
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Release Date : 2008-04-29
Publisher : St. Martin's Paperbacks
Released : 2008-04-29
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780312939700
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 12 reviews)
List Price : $6.99
Our Price : $2.98
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Product Description |
Sophie Blake’s grandfather willed his fortune to the first of his granddaughters to marry a duke. Since her cousin, Deirdre, will seal the deal any day now, the quiet, bookish Sophie can sit back and enjoy her time with the only man she truly adores: Graham. No matter that the part charmer, part scoundrel has absolutely no designs on her! Sophie is content to engage Graham in lively conversation, beat him at cards. . .and probe at the darkness hiding behind his rakish smile. Then Graham unexpectedly gains a title, an estate in near ruins and a mountain of debt. If there is any chance of survival he must find a rich wife—quickly. As his hunt for a bride begins, Sophie realizes that she isn’t even in the running. Suddenly no longer content to be a wallflower, Sophie gets a stunning make-over and becomes the belle of the ball. Lots of heads are turning…including Graham’s. But this beauty has secrets of her own. Will she be his salvation or seal his fate? |
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Great until the plot twist |
This is a book that begins very well. Sophie and Graham started to be friends in the last book, and Bradley develops very well the transition from friendship to love.
It's also well written the development of Graham's character, because he becomes a Duke after the sudden and unexpected dead of his father and brothers --it's a very hilarious scene, although there's nothing laughable about death, but it was written in such a way....
Graham must grow up fast, considering the sorry state the finances and the properties of the dukedom are in.
The only 'but', and a very big 'but' is a plot twist towards the end of the book, completely unexpected, illogical and out of place. It almost seems as if the author felt the necessity to put a 'big misunderstanding', 'conflict' or 'something' to complicate the HEA.
It's a pity, because until that, the book was really great, and the twist ruins it.
The only 'good' thing about it, it's that it doesn't drag eternally and doesn't cause lots and lots of problems. At least it gets resolved pretty quickly.
Despite this, Duke most wanted is the book I enjoyed most in a trilogy as easy to read as to forget.
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Not My Favorite of the Series |
This third and final book of Celeste Bradley's Heiress Brides trilogy focuses on the last of the three cousins and granddaughters of Hamish Pickering who have tried to win the sizeable Pickering Trust by marrying a duke. Sophie Blake is plain, bookish, and awkward, which suits her fine as she never assumed she would marry; coming to London only to escape the drudgery of Acton. Everyone knows her beautiful cousin Deidre has very nearly won the prize having married a man who will soon inherit the title of duke. Instead Sophie can simply sit back and enjoy the company of Graham the only man she's ever felt completely at ease and comfortable with.
Out of the blue, Graham the fourth son of a duke gains the title along with a mountain of debt and an estate so neglected it would take a miracle to bring it back from ruin. Graham needs to find a wealthy wife ASAP. Sophie who has fallen in love with Graham, knows she can save him but he's never looked at her romantically and she can't tell him the conditions of winning the Trust or she would forfeit it. With the help of a kindred spirit, Sophie gets a dazzling makeover that makes her a star attraction, but the only one she wants to attract is Graham.
*** This last of the series could almost be called a Cinderella story, where a fairy godmother appears to turn the ugly duckling into the proverbial swan. Sophie had not come to London with any intention of marrying, least of all to such a lofty noble. From the very first book there was always a hint that Sophie was hiding a secret and the twist towards the end of the story was somewhat of a surprise, though several statements led me to guess the outcome earlier.
The author took a gamble with Sophie and what started out as a very pleasant read where one tends to want to champion the underdog, i.e. the ugly duckling, Sophie's character comes into question when her very big secret was revealed. Sophie and Graham's romance was so natural progressing from a comfortable friendship to love that her lies to Graham were a bitter pill to swallow, not only for Graham, but for the reader as well.
The recurring character of Lementeur was a delight, his beautifully described couture creations and advice on how Sophie should conduct herself were captured both vividly and at times with great amusement. Bradley also brought to a nice conclusion the miss-adventures of the nefarious solicitor Wolfe who tried his best to prevent any of the cousins from winning the Pickering trust and cutting off his monthly stipend.
Bottom line: While the last of book of a trilogy is usually the best (i.e. save the best for last) this didn't happen. On the whole, each book of the trilogy is stand alone and entertaining but this series is nowhere near as exciting as previous Bradley series (The Royal Four, or Liars Club) have been.
Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
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Duke Most Wanted |
Sophie Blake never really joined the quest to inherit her grandfather's fortune. As her cousin, Dierdre seems to be the winner, the bookish and reticent Sophie is able to relax and enjoy her translations and her time with the very handsome Graham.
When Graham unexpectedly inherits his father's title and an estate consumed with debt, he knows he must marry a rich bride. Although Sophie never envisioned herself married to Graham she cannot bear for him to wed anyone else. So Sophie puts her books aside and enters the battle for her fortune and her man.
Duke Most Wanted is my favorite in this trilogy, which is saying a lot because I loved them all! I identified with the plain and bookish Sophie and long for a Graham of my own.
Celeste Bradley rounded up this trilogy with a Cinderella styled romance that filled my heart with joy. Duke Most Wanted is most wonderful. The Heiress Bride trilogy is an engaging trio sure to please historical romance fans!
Annmarie
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed |
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Hated the surprise ending |
I really enjoyed this book until the surprise ending.
This is an ugly duckling into a swan story. I always enjoy what I call the great make over. I love it when the hero suddenly sees his friend in a new light for the first time and then....
Then the author has to go and destroy it all with a surprise ending out of no where. It compeletly changed the way I viewed the heroine, and not for the better. I found my self really disliking the heroine at the end of the book. |
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Funny.... but A few problems |
This book started off pretty good. It was funny, witty, and the characters were interesting. I laughed out loud many times! Sophie was my favorite character because I liked the fact that she was A woman that went after what she wanted. Who did she want? [Graham] and she also wanted the fortune that her grandfather willed to the first of his granddaughters to marry A duke, and since Graham just secured that title, with the help of A friend she became the woman who could fufill those two desires.
Graham was A likable hero but I didn't buy into the fact that he was A rake and his character was not developed enough. I really didn't understand the conflict he had with his family and I felt that his hatred towards them was unreasonable.
The twist in the end was shocking. I was not expecting it. I thought that it gave the story A nice surprise, but what bothered me was that Graham was not able to forgive Sophie until the fortune was secured. I wish that he would have proven himself to still want her without the fortune.
There was only one love scene and the sensuality was five out of ten. I started to lose interest in the book close to the end and I found myself rushing to the finish but it was not A bad book, especially if you love to laugh. |
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