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Monday, September 17, 2018

ARC Review: When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath

Series:     Sins for All Seasons #2
Pub. Date:Aug. 21, 2018
Publisher:Avon
Length:400 pgs
Source:Publisher


When a Duke Loves a Woman is the second installment of the Sins for All Seasons series, which focuses on a band of bastard offspring who were left on the doorstep of Ettie Trewlove in the slums of Whitechapel. These members of the commoner class are being paired off one-by-one with a member of the nobility as we navigate the social issues between the class separation.

Our heroine in this installment is Gillie - the sole illegitimate daughter that was raised by Ettie Trewlove. Growing up, Gillie was forced to dress as a boy to stay safe and obtain work through the slums, but now she has done well for herself. Gillie owns a tavern - The Mermaid and Unicorn - where she doles out kindness, compassion and pints. But while Gillie has a soft heart, she is in no way a pushover. People know better than to cause trouble around her establishment. At least, they do until a duke is attacked in the alley adjoining the tavern.

It's in this alley that Gillie comes to the rescue of our hero, the Duke of Thornley ("Thorne"). Thorne has been abandoned at the altar, and now nearly killed by ruffians as they stole a precious family heirloom. But Thorne is rescued by an angel with a pixie cut, and he is undeniably drawn to her. Thorne was a good hero. While he was somewhat oblivious about his betrothed and the reasons she fled, he was seeking to protect her reputation and make sure she was okay. He went through a bit of personal growth as he got closer to Gillie and spent some time in The Mermaid and Unicorn.

The relationship between these two unfolded at a nice pace with the book - not too fast and not too slow. I would say that Gillie was more reluctant than Thorne, but I understood given the difference in the way each lived. I enjoyed the cameos by Gillie's brothers, Mick, Aidan and Beast. And there was some foreshadowing about who will be our next hero and heroine. I am looking forward to that story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Avon.

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