Sunday, June 30, 2019

Review - No Ordinary Duke

Title:   No Ordinary Duke
Author:  Sophie Barnes
Series:  The Crawfords #1
Genre:   Historical Romance
Publisher:   Sophie Barnes
Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages:  294
Date of Publication:  October 30, 2018
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
He’s everything she’s trying to avoid…But somehow precisely what she needs…

Caleb Crawford doesn’t want to be a duke. He’d much rather build houses for a living. So when fate disrupts his peaceful life and burdens him with the responsibilities of a newly inherited title, he does what any sensible man would do by fleeing London, disguising himself as a laborer, and seeking refuge with three young spinsters who need his help with a leaky roof. 

Ruined by a marquess who promised her the world, Mary Clemens has sworn to avoid marriage forever. Instead, she intends to live out her days with her friends and the orphaned children they’ve taken into their care. But when Mr. Crawford comes knocking, Mary finds herself in real danger of risking heartbreak all over again. Especially when she discovers that he’s not at all what he seems.


MY THOUGHTS:

Caleb Crawford spent ten years away after resisting the demands of his father. However, he also left his mother and brothers. All Caleb wanted to do was to build houses for a living. In order to do so, he had to strike out on his own. However, due to the tragic deaths of his father and older brother, Caleb has inherited the dukedom and all the riches and responsibilities that go along with it. After some months, Caleb needs a break, so he takes the opportunity to escape London to act as a laborer at one of his friend's estate. This brings him into contact with Mary Clemens.

Mary and her two friends, Cassandra and Emily, have formed an unlikely family. They are three women ruined in society and now care for several orphaned children. Mary's reasons for living in the country were due to heartbreak, so she has resigned herself to forever be on her own. Meeting Caleb begins to change that however.

Caleb keeps his identity a secret. Working with is hands is just what he needs right now. However, Caleb is quite drawn to Mary. Could she be the woman of his future? In wondering about how far to take his growing feelings, Caleb knows that one day soon he must resume is responsibilities.

No Ordinary Duke is the first book in the Crawford series. It is quite a touching read as both Caleb and Mary have problems with nobility. It is not the life Caleb ever thought he would live, and Mary had been hurt by a former Marquess, and has thus formed a great dislike for the upper class. What a treat watching these two come to terms with their desires and expectations.

The next book in this series is More Than a Rogue, which is Emily and Griffin's story. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Denmark, Sophie Barnes spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She's lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian. She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor's degree from Parsons. But, most impressive of all, she's been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion: writing. When she's not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


No comments:

Post a Comment