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Wedded by Scandal #1
Accidentally Compromising the Duke
England, 1817. Miss Adeline Hays is out of options. Determined to escape marriage to a repugnant earl, Adeline plans to deliberately allow herself to be caught in a compromising position at a house party with the much kinder man she’d hoped to marry. Instead, Adeline accidentally enters the wrong chamber and tumbles into the bed of the mad duke.
Edmond Rochester, the duke of Wolverton, is seeking a wife to care for his two daughters. A young lady of sensibilities, accomplishment, and most importantly, one who he is not attracted to—a complete opposite of the bewitching beauty who traps him into marriage. But despite the lust he feels for his new duchess, Edmond is resolved to never allow them intimacy, refusing to ever again suffer the tormenting loss of a loved one.
Edmond Rochester, the duke of Wolverton, is seeking a wife to care for his two daughters. A young lady of sensibilities, accomplishment, and most importantly, one who he is not attracted to—a complete opposite of the bewitching beauty who traps him into marriage. But despite the lust he feels for his new duchess, Edmond is resolved to never allow them intimacy, refusing to ever again suffer the tormenting loss of a loved one.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2016
About the author
Stacy Reid
113 books3,239 followersI am an unapologetic romance lover. I read it. I write it. Enough said. Well..I also have a warrior way "Never give up on my dreams." I spend a copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from Walking Dead, watching Japanese anime and playing video games with my love, Dusean.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 899 reviews
July 10, 2018
Accidentally Compromising the Duke is the first book in my new series Wedded by Scandal. I was lazing on the couch with my head in hubby's lap watching Pride and Prejudice for the gazillion time, and I said, "Poor Jane, she is so in love with Mr. Bingley. I would have just compromised him instead of waiting."
My hubby asked, "Wouldn't that have been scandalous and as bad a Lydia running away with Wickam?"
And I was like "Oh yes," and then spent a long time talking about scandal and mishap back in the Regency era to his distress. (He says I talk a lot.)
Hubby said, "You should write a new series about such scandals where the hero and heroine are forced to wed."
I jokingly said, "Hmm and what would we call them?"
Three hours later we had the titles and the idea for all three books outlined and the rest is history!
See...this is why it is good to have the love of my life watch Pride and Prejudice with me for a gazillion times. :)
I hope you guys love Adel and Edmond as much as I do!
Book two and three, WICKED IN HIS ARMS and KIDNAPPING THE MARQUESS will also be released this year!
Happy Reading.
Stacy
My hubby asked, "Wouldn't that have been scandalous and as bad a Lydia running away with Wickam?"
And I was like "Oh yes," and then spent a long time talking about scandal and mishap back in the Regency era to his distress. (He says I talk a lot.)
Hubby said, "You should write a new series about such scandals where the hero and heroine are forced to wed."
I jokingly said, "Hmm and what would we call them?"
Three hours later we had the titles and the idea for all three books outlined and the rest is history!
See...this is why it is good to have the love of my life watch Pride and Prejudice with me for a gazillion times. :)
I hope you guys love Adel and Edmond as much as I do!
Book two and three, WICKED IN HIS ARMS and KIDNAPPING THE MARQUESS will also be released this year!
Happy Reading.
Stacy
April 11, 2021
“Losing your love would destroy me. Never stop loving me, Adeline.”
“Never,” she vowed, tipping to kiss the corner of his lips. For the first time since Edmond could remember, he felt whole.
Accidentally Compromising the Duke was such a riveting story from beginning to end! This is only the second book I've read from Stacy Reid but I’m already loving her distinctive characters and compelling writing style.
❅ Plot ❅
The story begins with Miss Adeline Hay’s outrageous ploy to shake off an unwanted marriage and in doing so, ends up in a very compromising situation with Edmond Rochester, The Duke of Wolverton. Edmond, who is still mourning the loss of his late wife but also in need of a wife for his two daughters, offers her hand in marriage to save her from the scandal. Although the plot line wasn’t particularly unique, Reid manages to repackage this story in a very refreshing way!
❅ Characters ❅
Adel (21) was such a likeable character. She was so brave and daring – unafraid to go after what she wanted, even if it meant putting her heart and pride on the line. At times, I worried for her, but I really admired her courage! She also showed herself to be an extremely caring person and I especially loved the way she treated Edmond’s daughters, Rosalie and Sarah.
“Our mamma is in heaven,” Sarah suddenly whispered.
Adel smiled gently. “So is mine.”
They gasped. “Do you think they are friends?”
“Most certainly.”
Edmond (30) came across as a very selfish and cold brute, sometimes even grossly negligent of Adel’s feelings, but as readers get to know more about his past he definitely becomes easier to sympathize with. It was clear that he wanted to protect Adel and his daughters, but he just didn’t know how, which is exactly why Adel was perfect for him! (Just FYI, this book does have a dead spouse trope, but the Hero doesn’t pine after his late wife, it’s more about the grief and self-hatred he harbors as he feel responsible for her death)
❅ The Romance ❅
“I love you with all my heart, and I thank God every day that I accidentally compromised you.”
The chemistry between Adel and Edmond was sizzling hot! This was definitely a very steamy read. I loved the push and pull between them and when Edmond finally gave into to his love and lust for her, it was amazing! Seeing him smile because of Adel and truly beginning to live again moved me! They had so much to work get through and trust to build, but it was so wholesome at the end. The epilogue had me crying happy tears; I was so happy for Adel and Edmond!
❅ Other thoughts / Critcisms ❅
Unfortunately, the secondary characters weren’t particularly likeable in this book. Adel’s best friend, Evie, was basically scum of the earth, as was her love interest (side eyes book three). Adel’s father and stepmother were also incredibly frustrating.
But I would say my main problem with this book was that Adel was too placable. I wish she had been less forgiving – I know it sounds bad being too nice isn’t always a good thing either! There were two instances where I felt like she forgave too easily… But that’s just a personal preference!
All in all, I officially count myself a Stacy Reid fan. She wove such a wonderful tale of second chances and dream come trues, and I look forward to carrying on with this series. If you’re looking for a quick romantic story with emotional depth, I highly recommend this book!
Rating: 4/5
(Thanks to Laura for this wonderful BR-binge read sesh! I had so much fun hating on Evie and crying over Axel and Eddie with you! 💕🥺😭 Check out her review here)
May 2, 2023
3.5 Stars
‘Tis uncanny how akin this was to The Duke and I.
Fortunately, this turned out to be far more delightful and much less distasteful for the characters were not completely imbiciles like Simon and Daphne, and the romance positively was sweet and steamy. Furthermore, the single parent element made all the difference for me personally even though the children only made an appearance for like a couple of times.
Comparison & Contrast: (Spoilers)
There you go. I guess what I’m saying is this book gave me flashbacks to the horror that was The Duke and I, but in a good way because in my opinion Accidentally Compromising the Duke took all that was wrong with that Julia Quinn’s book and flipped it into this heartwarming, beautiful, and emotional tale of love, healing, and second chances.
In sum, go read this instead of The Duke and I.
(Note: Originally Read in 2021, but Shelved on the “2017 Reading Challenge”)
‘Tis uncanny how akin this was to The Duke and I.
Fortunately, this turned out to be far more delightful and much less distasteful for the characters were not completely imbiciles like Simon and Daphne, and the romance positively was sweet and steamy. Furthermore, the single parent element made all the difference for me personally even though the children only made an appearance for like a couple of times.
Comparison & Contrast: (Spoilers)
↠ Both Daphne and Adeline must marry soon because, well, they’re women; and as such, society demands it. Daphne’s problem is that she is too amiable and not enough desirable. Meanwhile, Adeline’s problem is that her father is adamant she marries an earl of his choice with whom (unfortunately) she already has a couple unpleasant encounters she would rather never repeat.
↠ Both Simon and Edmond are ✧ tortured ✧ heroes. Whereas Simon is single and has no business looking for a wife ever, Edmond is a widower desperate for a wife to care for his two children. While Simon’s tortured status has to do with some unresolved daddy issues, Edmond’s is caused by the death of his late wife that he feels guilty for.
↠ They all end up marrying each other. Simon and Daphne’s relationship starts with a fake courtship that mutually benefits both of them until they’re caught by Daphne’s overprotective brother Anthony, who never approves of Simon because he knows the man is no husband material. Meanwhile, Edmond and Adeline wind up married after they’re caught in a compromising position.
↠ Both couples have a “pickle” with having children of their own. Simon never wants an heir because he has no wish to continue his father’s wretched bloodline. In comparison, Edmond doesn’t want another child because the last one died with his mother during labor. An unfortunate incident that he (and his late wife) blames himself for. He’s terrified that Adeline will suffer the same fate.
↠ Both couples have drunk sex, which later causes drama and temporary separation. Simon and Daphne’s intercourse is rather rapey and manipulative with Daphne taking advantage of Simon’s drunken state. Meanwhile, Edmond and Adelines is more consensual and passionate. Edmond is drunk because he’s having a tough day, and Adeline willingly offers herself to him because she wants to comfort him.
↠ They all eventually get back together. I don’t remember how Simon and Daphne resolve their drama, but Edmond leaves the house, his kids, and Adeline (mind you, she’s pregnant!) for six weeks. He ultimately gets his head out of his arse and comes crawling back to Adeline. Doing it by admitting to his foolishness, professing his love, and making some grand gesture I don’t consider grand at all.
There you go. I guess what I’m saying is this book gave me flashbacks to the horror that was The Duke and I, but in a good way because in my opinion Accidentally Compromising the Duke took all that was wrong with that Julia Quinn’s book and flipped it into this heartwarming, beautiful, and emotional tale of love, healing, and second chances.
In sum, go read this instead of The Duke and I.
(Note: Originally Read in 2021, but Shelved on the “2017 Reading Challenge”)
May 17, 2021
So our heroine was caught in a compromising act with a duke, Edmond, and they agree to a marriage of convenience. Sounds promising already. I really enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting. But here I am a few days later, reviewing it, and it saddens me to say that not much stayed with me.
I can make a list of the things I liked about the book, the main characters, Rose and Sarah, the house staff, it was a cute story overall. And would’ve deserved 4 stars (even if it wasn’t memorable) if I didn’t have a few issues with the secondary characters. The best friends.
So the Duke’s best friend – who he rarely ever mentions or see until the end of the book – badmouthed our heroine (something about the duke is too good for her) and later when sees him (after marrying the duke), she never mentions it-not even to the duke, as if the incident didn’t happen in the first place. I found it to be totally unnecessary if it’s going to be shrugged off.
Another issue I had was with her best friend, Evie. It’s funny that I was thinking when I first met her, she “seems like a good friend, I’m glad Adeline has a bff”.. until she betrays her trust to save her ass from a marriage she doesn’t want. Evie’s father wanted her to marry Edmond (his reputation says that he’s mad and probably killed his wife) so she tricks Adeline to avoid marrying him. Does it matter that her bff might marry a wife killer (regardless if it’s a false rumor or not)? No. It’s okay as long as she doesn’t marry him herself. What a selfish bitch. But you see, it’s all fine because Adeline later fucking forgives and thanks her. Dear, she betrayed your trust, REGARDLESS WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME, she can never be trusted again!!
Our heroine was too forgiving! To the point of nativity. She’s strong and strong-willed and I genuinely liked her but I did not appreciate this aspect of her personality at all. How she even forgave her father who wanted to marry her to a man who physically harmed her… is beyond me.
I didn’t like how Adeline was always going after the duke as if she doesn’t have feelings herself and he’s the only one who’s wounded… Don’t get me wrong I cared about him a lot but I wished he chased her a bit too.
One last thing, the plot wasn’t at all surprising. It’s not that one expects something shocking in the second half of historical romance, “the obstacle” between the MCsm but this was so ridiculous (not of its importance but obviousness) that it never occurred to me because surely it won’t be that.
These might sound like big problems but really, I did have a good time reading this book and these things didn’t bother me enough to dislike it. I recommend it if you’re looking for a very light historical romance read with likable main characters and some hot scenes. Also, I'm definitely checking out Reid's other hist romance if she has any. I might also continue with this series but I can't read the second book because it's about the best friends.
I can make a list of the things I liked about the book, the main characters, Rose and Sarah, the house staff, it was a cute story overall. And would’ve deserved 4 stars (even if it wasn’t memorable) if I didn’t have a few issues with the secondary characters. The best friends.
So the Duke’s best friend – who he rarely ever mentions or see until the end of the book – badmouthed our heroine (something about the duke is too good for her) and later when sees him (after marrying the duke), she never mentions it-not even to the duke, as if the incident didn’t happen in the first place. I found it to be totally unnecessary if it’s going to be shrugged off.
Another issue I had was with her best friend, Evie. It’s funny that I was thinking when I first met her, she “seems like a good friend, I’m glad Adeline has a bff”.. until she betrays her trust to save her ass from a marriage she doesn’t want. Evie’s father wanted her to marry Edmond (his reputation says that he’s mad and probably killed his wife) so she tricks Adeline to avoid marrying him. Does it matter that her bff might marry a wife killer (regardless if it’s a false rumor or not)? No. It’s okay as long as she doesn’t marry him herself. What a selfish bitch. But you see, it’s all fine because Adeline later fucking forgives and thanks her. Dear, she betrayed your trust, REGARDLESS WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME, she can never be trusted again!!
Our heroine was too forgiving! To the point of nativity. She’s strong and strong-willed and I genuinely liked her but I did not appreciate this aspect of her personality at all. How she even forgave her father who wanted to marry her to a man who physically harmed her… is beyond me.
I didn’t like how Adeline was always going after the duke as if she doesn’t have feelings herself and he’s the only one who’s wounded… Don’t get me wrong I cared about him a lot but I wished he chased her a bit too.
One last thing, the plot wasn’t at all surprising. It’s not that one expects something shocking in the second half of historical romance, “the obstacle” between the MCsm but this was so ridiculous (not of its importance but obviousness) that it never occurred to me because surely it won’t be that.
These might sound like big problems but really, I did have a good time reading this book and these things didn’t bother me enough to dislike it. I recommend it if you’re looking for a very light historical romance read with likable main characters and some hot scenes. Also, I'm definitely checking out Reid's other hist romance if she has any. I might also continue with this series but I can't read the second book because it's about the best friends.
August 13, 2020
The second I read this synopsis, I knew I had to read it. I love a plot about a woman seeking out being ruined to save her from an unfavorable marriage. In this one, though, she goes into the room OF THE WRONG MAN and is ruined by the "mad duke" instead of the guy she actually wanted to marry instead. I really loved Edmond's character and how he just wanted a mother for his two daughters. The chemistry between Edmond and Adeline was everything and I loved how they instantly were attracted to each other when Adeline accidentally crawls into his bed. Adeline's relationship with the two girls was fun and I enjoyed how Edmond and Adeline grew closer.
The ending wasn't as engaging as the beginning was, but the romance was super cute and I couldn't put this book down. Trigger warning for loss of a loved one and loss of a child.
The ending wasn't as engaging as the beginning was, but the romance was super cute and I couldn't put this book down. Trigger warning for loss of a loved one and loss of a child.
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 29, 2021DNF at 66%.
I don’t know why I was forcing myself to read something this boring. These two characters had no personalities whatsoever and the plot? Non-existent. Or was the fact that my guy was brooding the plot?
Meh.
I don’t know why I was forcing myself to read something this boring. These two characters had no personalities whatsoever and the plot? Non-existent. Or was the fact that my guy was brooding the plot?
Meh.
April 19, 2018
4.5 STARS!
Lady Adeline has decided that drastic measures are in order. Not only does her father refuse to consider the suit of the man she esteems, but worse, he is insisting that she accept an offer of marriage from the loathsome Earl of Vale.
After 3 years of mourning his beloved wife, Edmond, Duke of Wolverton, has come to the realization that even if he hates the idea of marrying again, his daughters need a mother.
As the title suggests, these two are thrown together and are married two days later . . . but of course the journey was just beginning.
Gah! It's been a while since I've read a book so filled with emotion. I swear, I was blinking back tears - in a good way - for much of the story. It's a testament to how good the writing was that my jaded soul didn't find the whole thing eye-roll worthy, lol. Instead of sappy, I found it heartwarming. Instead of cloying, I found it sweet.
Though, of course, there were two main characters, Adeline was the star of the show. Her quirkiness, down-to-earth warmth, and resilience in the face of the whirlwind changes in her life and Edmond's ensuing chilly facade really made the story worth reading.
And even if Edmond and his demons got to be a bit much for me near the end, he wasn't without his charms. There were quite a few swoon-worthy moments that left me in a puddle . . . because, really, who doesn't love a tortured hero?
Accidentally Compromising the Duke is absolutely worth your time and money!
Anticipation and nerves cascaded through her in equal measure at the notion of acting in a manner that was improper, potentially ruinous, and without any doubt, utterly scandalous.LOVED it!!!
Lady Adeline has decided that drastic measures are in order. Not only does her father refuse to consider the suit of the man she esteems, but worse, he is insisting that she accept an offer of marriage from the loathsome Earl of Vale.
After 3 years of mourning his beloved wife, Edmond, Duke of Wolverton, has come to the realization that even if he hates the idea of marrying again, his daughters need a mother.
As the title suggests, these two are thrown together and are married two days later . . . but of course the journey was just beginning.
Gah! It's been a while since I've read a book so filled with emotion. I swear, I was blinking back tears - in a good way - for much of the story. It's a testament to how good the writing was that my jaded soul didn't find the whole thing eye-roll worthy, lol. Instead of sappy, I found it heartwarming. Instead of cloying, I found it sweet.
Though, of course, there were two main characters, Adeline was the star of the show. Her quirkiness, down-to-earth warmth, and resilience in the face of the whirlwind changes in her life and Edmond's ensuing chilly facade really made the story worth reading.
And even if Edmond and his demons got to be a bit much for me near the end, he wasn't without his charms. There were quite a few swoon-worthy moments that left me in a puddle . . . because, really, who doesn't love a tortured hero?
Accidentally Compromising the Duke is absolutely worth your time and money!
May 2, 2021
This was an enjoyable and quick read but I don't think it will be particularly memorable for me in the long run.
✅ THE BOOK KICKED OFF WITH A BANG and I was easily able to sympathize with Adel. I felt her frustration with all of the side characters and could definitely understand her desperation to get out of her shitty situation
🆗 THE LACK OF DRAMA was pleasant because sometimes the conflict in HR feels too contrived, but at the same time, I felt like things came together too nicely for Adel. Edmond's mother immediately loved her, Edmond's daughters immediately loved her, even Edmond fell into love quite quickly
❌ I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED the romance would be quite insta-lusty from the description, but for some reason, I didn't expect it so was a little disappointed with the lack of slow burn. It still took a while for them to get together, but there was no doubt as to their feelings from the beginning
🆗 I SAW MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN this story and The Duke and I, mostly around the whole hero doesn't want children plotline. I felt like this version was actually more realistic and I enjoyed it more than in Bridgertons.
✅ THERE WERE ONLY 250 PAGES which was part of the reason why I picked this up. I wanted something short and sweet that I could read in one sitting and this was exactly that!
Like most HR books, this was a very cute and fluffy read that leaves you feeling happy. Even though it's not a new favorite of mine, I did enjoy it and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and swoon-worthy read.
✅ THE BOOK KICKED OFF WITH A BANG and I was easily able to sympathize with Adel. I felt her frustration with all of the side characters and could definitely understand her desperation to get out of her shitty situation
🆗 THE LACK OF DRAMA was pleasant because sometimes the conflict in HR feels too contrived, but at the same time, I felt like things came together too nicely for Adel. Edmond's mother immediately loved her, Edmond's daughters immediately loved her, even Edmond fell into love quite quickly
❌ I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED the romance would be quite insta-lusty from the description, but for some reason, I didn't expect it so was a little disappointed with the lack of slow burn. It still took a while for them to get together, but there was no doubt as to their feelings from the beginning
🆗 I SAW MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN this story and The Duke and I, mostly around the whole hero doesn't want children plotline. I felt like this version was actually more realistic and I enjoyed it more than in Bridgertons.
✅ THERE WERE ONLY 250 PAGES which was part of the reason why I picked this up. I wanted something short and sweet that I could read in one sitting and this was exactly that!
Like most HR books, this was a very cute and fluffy read that leaves you feeling happy. Even though it's not a new favorite of mine, I did enjoy it and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and swoon-worthy read.
March 25, 2021
This has one of my FAVORITE first meetings in a romance. Adeline sneaks into a room to get compromised with a sweetheart of hers to avoid an unwanted marriage, starts getting hot with him, then realizes that it's the wrong man! I loved this and I'm such a huge fan of Stacy Reid.
December 28, 2020
This book is currently (2/12/2020) on sale for $0.99 - I highly recommend!!
https://amazon.com/dp/B01FD8AKJE
4.5 stars
This is another one of my faves that I had to re-read (I am on a re-reading steamy HRs tear in case you hadn't noticed!)....
Adel is desperate to avoid being wed to a horrible older man who groped her and battered her upon their first meeting, then claimed that she had been compromised so he would "do the right thing" by her and marry her. If that weren't bad enough, the man she wanted to marry (who wants to marry her) has been rejected by her father too many times and is ready to give up. Faced with a lifetime of misery married to a horrible man, Adel makes a desperate choice: enlist in her best friend's (Evie) help at the house party hosted by Evie's family by obtaining a room key for her preferred groom's room and being "caught" by the lady of the house; thus, forcing her father to accept her choice for a husband.
Edmond, the Duke of Wolverton (aka "The Mad Duke"), has never recovered from the loss of his wife 3 years earlier --- she died trying to birth his heir (who also died in the process), and he has felt guilty ever since. But he has 2 young daughters who need a mother, so he has resigned himself to finding a bride for that purpose alone. He wants a woman who is not fresh from the schoolroom and one to whom he is not attracted as he does not wish to ever engage his passion (which may lead to the engagement of his heart) ever again. He has been negotiating with the house party host to marry his daughter (Evie!) as the later is in need of funds that the duke will provide in exchange for a bride to care for his daughters. When he meets her, Evie is devastated to learn that her father has bartered her away as she loves Wolverton's best friend --- she cannot imagine being married to the duke and having to see her lost love for the rest of her days, so she gives Adel the "wrong key" which lands Adel in the lap (literally) of "The Mad Duke." While Edmond does need a bride, he did not want one he was attracted to, and Adel inspires passions that even his beloved deceased wife never did. How will he be able to keep his hands off of her to be sure to prevent the loss of a second spouse? And will Adel allow him to keep her at arms length?
What I liked:
--- Edmond/Duke of Wolverton/Mad Duke was very swoon-worthy --- his "madness" was really his dedication and devotion to his late wife (sooo unfashionable in those days) and his refusal to bow to convention
--- Adel was feisty and gave zero f's as we would say these days --- she was going to get hers when it came down to it
--- Solid plot with some good character depth-building
--- Oh the steamy goodness!!
What I didn't like as much:
--- A little too much angst on the part of the Duke --- get on with life, man! :)
Overall, a really good read that I enjoyed just as much the 2nd time around.
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic --- brief description of Lord Yuckington groping Adel; some flashbacks of the blood from when the duke's first wife died
Language --- not egregious (an f-bomb for shock factor at one point)
POV --- 3rd
(*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all)
https://amazon.com/dp/B01FD8AKJE
4.5 stars
This is another one of my faves that I had to re-read (I am on a re-reading steamy HRs tear in case you hadn't noticed!)....
Adel is desperate to avoid being wed to a horrible older man who groped her and battered her upon their first meeting, then claimed that she had been compromised so he would "do the right thing" by her and marry her. If that weren't bad enough, the man she wanted to marry (who wants to marry her) has been rejected by her father too many times and is ready to give up. Faced with a lifetime of misery married to a horrible man, Adel makes a desperate choice: enlist in her best friend's (Evie) help at the house party hosted by Evie's family by obtaining a room key for her preferred groom's room and being "caught" by the lady of the house; thus, forcing her father to accept her choice for a husband.
Edmond, the Duke of Wolverton (aka "The Mad Duke"), has never recovered from the loss of his wife 3 years earlier --- she died trying to birth his heir (who also died in the process), and he has felt guilty ever since. But he has 2 young daughters who need a mother, so he has resigned himself to finding a bride for that purpose alone. He wants a woman who is not fresh from the schoolroom and one to whom he is not attracted as he does not wish to ever engage his passion (which may lead to the engagement of his heart) ever again. He has been negotiating with the house party host to marry his daughter (Evie!) as the later is in need of funds that the duke will provide in exchange for a bride to care for his daughters. When he meets her, Evie is devastated to learn that her father has bartered her away as she loves Wolverton's best friend --- she cannot imagine being married to the duke and having to see her lost love for the rest of her days, so she gives Adel the "wrong key" which lands Adel in the lap (literally) of "The Mad Duke." While Edmond does need a bride, he did not want one he was attracted to, and Adel inspires passions that even his beloved deceased wife never did. How will he be able to keep his hands off of her to be sure to prevent the loss of a second spouse? And will Adel allow him to keep her at arms length?
What I liked:
--- Edmond/Duke of Wolverton/Mad Duke was very swoon-worthy --- his "madness" was really his dedication and devotion to his late wife (sooo unfashionable in those days) and his refusal to bow to convention
--- Adel was feisty and gave zero f's as we would say these days --- she was going to get hers when it came down to it
--- Solid plot with some good character depth-building
--- Oh the steamy goodness!!
What I didn't like as much:
--- A little too much angst on the part of the Duke --- get on with life, man! :)
Overall, a really good read that I enjoyed just as much the 2nd time around.
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic --- brief description of Lord Yuckington groping Adel; some flashbacks of the blood from when the duke's first wife died
Language --- not egregious (an f-bomb for shock factor at one point)
POV --- 3rd
(*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all)
March 7, 2023
I really wanted to like this historical romance novel. It sure started off so solidly, which seemed very promising. Alas, after 60%, the story lost its appeal. The plot became too thin along with the slow pace, and the rest of the book was ruined by reckless sex scenes that didn't have any emotional connection at all.
June 18, 2019
5 'compromising' stars
Edit: I don’t know why I originally rated this book 4,5 stars. It is absolutely brilliant, so I'm changing my rating to 5 ⭐
This is my first read by Stacy Reid. I added this book because of that awesome title (and the cover is gorgeous too *chuckling*), but I have no idea why it took me so long to actually start reading it. Accidentally Compromising the Duke is wonderful, romantic, cute and fluffy. It reminds me a little of Tessa Dare's The Duchess Deal. Adeline is in need of a husband to avoid unwanted marriage with an earl. Edmond, the Duke of Wolverton, is in need of a wife or more correctly in need of a mother for his two daughters. She seeks a love match. He doesn't want to feel love ever again. And then they are caught in a compromising position. Their marriage should be a disaster, but somehow they realize that they suit each other.
I liked both Adeline and Edmond. I noticed that in historical romances I often find female characters too stupid and/ or male characters too assholish. But in this book, they were both likable. Adeline is a strong-willed lady who fights for what she wants. She is determined that she will make this marriage work and she is prepared to stand her ground - even telling her duke that he is an idiot. Certainly justified on some occasions, if I may say so. Edmond Elias Alastair Rochester, the Duke of Wolverton (I just love his name) is still grieving the loss of his late wife who died during childbirth. He wants to keep distance between Adeline and himself, but he soon realizes that the presence of his new Duchess, is soothing for his soul. He may not be the best father and husband but he is trying. And despite his regal and dignified behavior, it is not beneath him to play pantomime with his daughters. That was so adorable.
The story is light and amusing with many funny situations, however, it does have a serious tone too. One of the most precious moments in the book is when Adeline is talking with the girls about their deceased mother. She is slowly making a bond with them and giving girls time to accept her as a mother when they will be ready.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I'm most anticipating Evie and Westfall's book. Evie is Adeline's friend and Marquess of Westfall is a friend of Wolverton and Ravenswood. The sparks are flying and I expect some angst as well. I hope that Viscount of Ravenswood, Evie's brother will also get his book because he got me intrigued for sure.
Edit: I don’t know why I originally rated this book 4,5 stars. It is absolutely brilliant, so I'm changing my rating to 5 ⭐
This is my first read by Stacy Reid. I added this book because of that awesome title (and the cover is gorgeous too *chuckling*), but I have no idea why it took me so long to actually start reading it. Accidentally Compromising the Duke is wonderful, romantic, cute and fluffy. It reminds me a little of Tessa Dare's The Duchess Deal. Adeline is in need of a husband to avoid unwanted marriage with an earl. Edmond, the Duke of Wolverton, is in need of a wife or more correctly in need of a mother for his two daughters. She seeks a love match. He doesn't want to feel love ever again. And then they are caught in a compromising position. Their marriage should be a disaster, but somehow they realize that they suit each other.
I liked both Adeline and Edmond. I noticed that in historical romances I often find female characters too stupid and/ or male characters too assholish. But in this book, they were both likable. Adeline is a strong-willed lady who fights for what she wants. She is determined that she will make this marriage work and she is prepared to stand her ground - even telling her duke that he is an idiot. Certainly justified on some occasions, if I may say so. Edmond Elias Alastair Rochester, the Duke of Wolverton (I just love his name) is still grieving the loss of his late wife who died during childbirth. He wants to keep distance between Adeline and himself, but he soon realizes that the presence of his new Duchess, is soothing for his soul. He may not be the best father and husband but he is trying. And despite his regal and dignified behavior, it is not beneath him to play pantomime with his daughters. That was so adorable.
The story is light and amusing with many funny situations, however, it does have a serious tone too. One of the most precious moments in the book is when Adeline is talking with the girls about their deceased mother. She is slowly making a bond with them and giving girls time to accept her as a mother when they will be ready.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I'm most anticipating Evie and Westfall's book. Evie is Adeline's friend and Marquess of Westfall is a friend of Wolverton and Ravenswood. The sparks are flying and I expect some angst as well. I hope that Viscount of Ravenswood, Evie's brother will also get his book because he got me intrigued for sure.
February 15, 2020
4.5 STARS
Edmond Elias Alastair Rochester, the Duke of Wolverton, is in need of a wife or more accurately he is in need of a mother for his two young daughters. Miss Adeline Hays, in contrast is trying to do all she can to not be forced in to a marriage with an abusive and horrid nobleman, her father and status hunger stepmother wish her to marry. I hated how her protests and fears feel on deaf ears when it came to her father, that is one father who should be ashamed to look in the mirror. I really wanted to see a scene where Edmond gave him an epic set down, alas that didn’t happen, but I do like the fact that Adeline tells him off a little. In her attempt to avoid a marriage that would be a nightmare, Adeline decides to create a scandal and thus a marriage to the man who has been courting her – she may not love him but she at least likes him, unlike the man her farther would force on her. However, due to a friend, Adeline ends up in the room/bed of Emond, and before she can leave, they are caught, and so the two are wed.
The Duke has no desire to love again, the fear of losing another woman he loves meaning he is keen to ensure that Adeline and he have a union that is not complicated by affection/love. However once wed, he finds him unable to stay away form his darling wife, she draws him in and fascinates him. Their marriage should be a disaster, but somehow, they realize that they suit each other and discover a passion that only grows, but before they can gain their HEA Edmond needs to conquer the fears that have him pushing away the only woman who has truly made him laugh since his father’s death.
Adeline I really, really liked as a leading lady – she is no simpering miss. She is kind-hearted, strong-willed and not afraid to take a chance. There are some lovely moments in this book filled with emotion. The attraction and romance between Edmond and Adeline was depicted well and the heat between the two sizzled off the page.
This book was a surprisingly delightful little treat, I found myself absorbed by the main characters, this is so staying in my re-read pile!
Edmond Elias Alastair Rochester, the Duke of Wolverton, is in need of a wife or more accurately he is in need of a mother for his two young daughters. Miss Adeline Hays, in contrast is trying to do all she can to not be forced in to a marriage with an abusive and horrid nobleman, her father and status hunger stepmother wish her to marry. I hated how her protests and fears feel on deaf ears when it came to her father, that is one father who should be ashamed to look in the mirror. I really wanted to see a scene where Edmond gave him an epic set down, alas that didn’t happen, but I do like the fact that Adeline tells him off a little. In her attempt to avoid a marriage that would be a nightmare, Adeline decides to create a scandal and thus a marriage to the man who has been courting her – she may not love him but she at least likes him, unlike the man her farther would force on her. However, due to a friend, Adeline ends up in the room/bed of Emond, and before she can leave, they are caught, and so the two are wed.
The Duke has no desire to love again, the fear of losing another woman he loves meaning he is keen to ensure that Adeline and he have a union that is not complicated by affection/love. However once wed, he finds him unable to stay away form his darling wife, she draws him in and fascinates him. Their marriage should be a disaster, but somehow, they realize that they suit each other and discover a passion that only grows, but before they can gain their HEA Edmond needs to conquer the fears that have him pushing away the only woman who has truly made him laugh since his father’s death.
Adeline I really, really liked as a leading lady – she is no simpering miss. She is kind-hearted, strong-willed and not afraid to take a chance. There are some lovely moments in this book filled with emotion. The attraction and romance between Edmond and Adeline was depicted well and the heat between the two sizzled off the page.
This book was a surprisingly delightful little treat, I found myself absorbed by the main characters, this is so staying in my re-read pile!
April 12, 2024
This time heard the audio book!
4.5 Stars on a re-read. Although I do still love this story, I think Edmond could have reacted a bit better.
Highlights...
- Stacy Reid's craft is on display in full regalia in this book. God, she is so talented with her writing that you feel every emotion she is trying to convey.
- Excellent version of the "compromised" trope.
- Adeline was the best aspect of this story. She was strong, tenacious, courageous, loving, sweet, sensual, and just brilliant. I was yelling at the book, asking her to give up and let Edmund wallow away in his misery until he came to his senses. But no, thank God, she did not listen to me.
- Edmund redefined staid and stoic brought on by the "dead wife in childbirth along with the heir that I demanded self-blame syndrome" (which doesn't really roll off the tongue, but who cares...). Fortunately, under all that icy facade was smouldering, molten lava of hotness. I found him to be so sexy that my husband judged me for it. His journey from indifferent to asshole to welcoming to sweet to sexy to awesome to asshole again to awesome grovelling, was deftly handled by Ms Reid IMO.
- The romance was so sweet. In a line, they fell in love because she brought him out of his shell & showed him happiness, and he cared for her at every turn (apart from the asshole behaviour instances, which technically were also brought on by worry) and because she was so loving with his daughters.
- Their chemistry was ridiculously hot!
*Though his late Duchess is perpetually in the background, she did not overpower Adeline's character, which is a real threat in the "I loved my dead wife" trope. Loved that.
My Recommendation
This story is a great amalgamation of some of my favourite tropes written exceedingly well. I heartily recommend this story and this series, except book #3, which sucked.
4.5 Stars on a re-read. Although I do still love this story, I think Edmond could have reacted a bit better.
Highlights...
- Stacy Reid's craft is on display in full regalia in this book. God, she is so talented with her writing that you feel every emotion she is trying to convey.
- Excellent version of the "compromised" trope.
- Adeline was the best aspect of this story. She was strong, tenacious, courageous, loving, sweet, sensual, and just brilliant. I was yelling at the book, asking her to give up and let Edmund wallow away in his misery until he came to his senses. But no, thank God, she did not listen to me.
- Edmund redefined staid and stoic brought on by the "dead wife in childbirth along with the heir that I demanded self-blame syndrome" (which doesn't really roll off the tongue, but who cares...). Fortunately, under all that icy facade was smouldering, molten lava of hotness. I found him to be so sexy that my husband judged me for it. His journey from indifferent to asshole to welcoming to sweet to sexy to awesome to asshole again to awesome grovelling, was deftly handled by Ms Reid IMO.
- The romance was so sweet. In a line, they fell in love because she brought him out of his shell & showed him happiness, and he cared for her at every turn (apart from the asshole behaviour instances, which technically were also brought on by worry) and because she was so loving with his daughters.
- Their chemistry was ridiculously hot!
*Though his late Duchess is perpetually in the background, she did not overpower Adeline's character, which is a real threat in the "I loved my dead wife" trope. Loved that.
My Recommendation
This story is a great amalgamation of some of my favourite tropes written exceedingly well. I heartily recommend this story and this series, except book #3, which sucked.
April 19, 2023
Edmond is a widower of 3 years. His wife and son died in childbirth, and he blames himself for their deaths. He realizes that his other children are lonely, so he decides to marry so they can have a mother.
Adeline was attacked by an Earl and now her father is trying to force her to marry her attacker. In order to escape that fate, she hatches of plan to have herself caught in the room of a man that she cares for who previously offered for her hand. But she finds herself in the wrong room.
Adeline was alright, but Edmond was an ass most of the time. I felt bad for him, and he had some good moments, but I don't think that the good completely made up for the bad. The relationship was very imbalanced because Edmond was so closed off for most of the book. And the relationship that they had seemed more lustful than loving until the very end.
Adeline was attacked by an Earl and now her father is trying to force her to marry her attacker. In order to escape that fate, she hatches of plan to have herself caught in the room of a man that she cares for who previously offered for her hand. But she finds herself in the wrong room.
Adeline was alright, but Edmond was an ass most of the time. I felt bad for him, and he had some good moments, but I don't think that the good completely made up for the bad. The relationship was very imbalanced because Edmond was so closed off for most of the book. And the relationship that they had seemed more lustful than loving until the very end.
October 6, 2017
***** Late review ---
My first read with Stacy Reid. I am not sure how to rate this book. There were some of the things I liked and some of the things I hated also. From the title and blurb, anyone could have guessed the scenario and that’s exactly what happens here.
Adeline was strong. She was a heroine who accepts the situation in her own term. She took initiative to avoid her abuser fiancé. I wasn’t mad with Adeline because she tried to create a scandal with a man because they already liked each other. Things didn't go as planned and she had to marry Edmond but still, she tries to work on her marriage...
Adeline relation with her two stepdaughters was good. They didn’t start to call her mother immediately. The relationship between them was friendly and surprisingly refreshing.
The things I hated-
My first read with Stacy Reid. I am not sure how to rate this book. There were some of the things I liked and some of the things I hated also. From the title and blurb, anyone could have guessed the scenario and that’s exactly what happens here.
Adeline was strong. She was a heroine who accepts the situation in her own term. She took initiative to avoid her abuser fiancé. I wasn’t mad with Adeline because she tried to create a scandal with a man because they already liked each other. Things didn't go as planned and she had to marry Edmond but still, she tries to work on her marriage...
Adeline relation with her two stepdaughters was good. They didn’t start to call her mother immediately. The relationship between them was friendly and surprisingly refreshing.
The things I hated-
April 14, 2022
This is the second time I read this book and I still have the same opinion. I love widower stories. I love seeing them suffering but overcoming wherever happened in their first marriage.
Spoilers ahead if you hadn't read this book already.
I saw many reviwers saying that the hero should just get over his fear of childbirth, but really, what would you do if the woman you love died giving birth, didn't tell you the doctor's warnings about having another child, and worst of all, blaming it all on your before dying? I personally wouldn't marry again either. Plus he was guarded much before he had met his first wife.
I loved the heroine. She's one of my favorites for the simple fact that she is a doer. She saw a lot of love between her parents and I didn't think it out of reality for her to want at least some affection for her own marriage.
This book reminded me how much I disliked Evie and Richard from book 3. They were truly horrible to the heroine. Both in equal measure.
4.5 stars.
Spoilers ahead if you hadn't read this book already.
I saw many reviwers saying that the hero should just get over his fear of childbirth, but really, what would you do if the woman you love died giving birth, didn't tell you the doctor's warnings about having another child, and worst of all, blaming it all on your before dying? I personally wouldn't marry again either. Plus he was guarded much before he had met his first wife.
I loved the heroine. She's one of my favorites for the simple fact that she is a doer. She saw a lot of love between her parents and I didn't think it out of reality for her to want at least some affection for her own marriage.
This book reminded me how much I disliked Evie and Richard from book 3. They were truly horrible to the heroine. Both in equal measure.
4.5 stars.
March 15, 2022
3.5 stars
This book started so strong for me and I adored the heroine, Adeline. She’s trying to get out of a marriage her father and stepmother is setting up so while trying to compromise herself with Mr. Atwood, who she wants to marry, she ends up in the room of someone else. A Duke. The Duke is a bit tortured and IMO it took way too long for him to come around. I was trying to be understanding, but I was frustrated with him through a lot of the book. The ending was sweet and I’ll definitely check out more in this series. I love Stacy Reid’s writing!
This book started so strong for me and I adored the heroine, Adeline. She’s trying to get out of a marriage her father and stepmother is setting up so while trying to compromise herself with Mr. Atwood, who she wants to marry, she ends up in the room of someone else. A Duke. The Duke is a bit tortured and IMO it took way too long for him to come around. I was trying to be understanding, but I was frustrated with him through a lot of the book. The ending was sweet and I’ll definitely check out more in this series. I love Stacy Reid’s writing!
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Madeleine Leslay
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 8h 45m
November 30, 2018
I’m not a fan of the dead spouse trope so I’ve put this book off for a long time. When it came up on a reading challenge I bit the bullet and jumped in, hoping to just get it over with. However, I actually enjoyed it. The problem for me with dead spouses is the sense that the heroine is second best. While Edmond certainly loved his first wife, it is made clear that what he feels for Adeline is much more. There is some comparing in his mind and he hates that he has done so but I do believe that is a realistic action.
I actually liked this hero. He’s so cold and withdrawn but watching Adeline with his daughters and feeling the pull she has on him brought him out of the past and into what could be a beautiful future. The conflict was absolutely heartbreaking. The battle he struggled with had merit. Watching him deal with the devil and come out victorious was wonderful.
I loved Adeline. She initially has the appearance of being weak and malleable but her early actions certainly speaks of someone who is made of steel and determination. The way she dealt with Edmond’s unbending manner was perfect. I fell in love with her even as the hero did.
Secondary characters do not play a large part in this story and the children were hard to distinguish despite their age difference. The three year old spoke like an adult and I was disappointed we didn’t get more childlike behavior as well as more time with both of the girls. The heat level is extreme and it’s obvious this couple have a sizzling chemistry.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
I actually liked this hero. He’s so cold and withdrawn but watching Adeline with his daughters and feeling the pull she has on him brought him out of the past and into what could be a beautiful future. The conflict was absolutely heartbreaking. The battle he struggled with had merit. Watching him deal with the devil and come out victorious was wonderful.
I loved Adeline. She initially has the appearance of being weak and malleable but her early actions certainly speaks of someone who is made of steel and determination. The way she dealt with Edmond’s unbending manner was perfect. I fell in love with her even as the hero did.
Secondary characters do not play a large part in this story and the children were hard to distinguish despite their age difference. The three year old spoke like an adult and I was disappointed we didn’t get more childlike behavior as well as more time with both of the girls. The heat level is extreme and it’s obvious this couple have a sizzling chemistry.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
March 8, 2022
So.. this surprised me with how deep and moving it was. Seeing a man traumatized this way and falling in love again was really beautiful.
Also, it's a single dad, marriage of convenience, starchy Duke romance, so we are set up for success.
4.5 stars
3 on my spice scale
Also, it's a single dad, marriage of convenience, starchy Duke romance, so we are set up for success.
4.5 stars
3 on my spice scale
May 7, 2017
I'm so conflicted on some of the things about this book. There were some things I hated and others I liked. And when it came to characters, there were some I hated and felt deserved the worst fate ever, but even with the ones I liked, there were things I didn't like about them or wish had gone differently.
In the beginning, I liked how things went down. I like the forced marriage trope, but I was a little apprehensive when I read the synopsis, thinking that she'd decided to compromise the male protagonist on purpose. However, it's made clear that the man she was hoping to compromise had feelings for her and had previously proposed (but her father rejected him because he wasn't a high enough title for him), but ends up compromising Edmond accidentally, which I was relieved about. I also liked that, after things went down, he didn't take it out on her. Far too many heroes vent their anger on the heroine and apologize for it later. Yeah...no, thanks. I get it, sure, but I prefer the route that was taken for Edmond.
The other thing I really liked was that, after they marry, Edmond tells Adel that there's no planned consummation. She gets angry at him here, taking him to task about marry her and not telling her this previously because how unfair it's to her in regards to wanting her own children. This was an issue I had with Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros, in which the hero had the same plan, but he neither told the heroine about it, nor did she confront him about this. I absolutely hated that it was never brought up. The other difference between that and this is that, in this, Edmond doesn't choose to marry her and leave this out. They're forced to marry because of the compromising position, so it's either allow her to be ruined or marry her.
Oh, and the hero's been celibate since his wife died three years ago. I loved this! (The thing I didn't like, though, was that it's still mentioned how he'd had a few lovers before his first wife. He married her at 18...why couldn't that just have been his first experience considering how young he was? And considering that the heroine's a virgin--surprise!--I would've preferred there to be no mention at all. I would've also preferred there to be no mentions of his experience with his previous wife. Had Adel not been a virgin, I wouldn't have minded, tbh.)
Now. To things I wasn't a big fan of. So, how did Adel even "accidentally" compromise the guy, right? Well, her friend, Evie, is roped into helping her compromise the man of her choice, James, Atwood. The house party will be at Evie's parents house, so she can sneak Adel a key to Atwood's room. Adel wanted to do this asap because her parents had promised her to another man, the earl of Vale. He'd assaulted Adel and, instead of helping her, her father and step-mother promised her to the man. So, I could understand her reasoning and her desperation. After she's given the key and goes to the room, it turns out that it's not Atwood's room, but Edmond's.
An accident, surely? Nope. Earlier in the day, Evie finds out that Edmond has made a proposition to her father, which he didn't bother to tell her about for weeks. After Edmond informs Evie of it, she freaks out because he's considered to be "mad" and is said to have been responsible for the death of his first wife. So what does she do? Instead of declining the proposal, she sneaks Adel the room key to Edmond's room instead of Atwood's. What a horrible person, right? Well, not for long, according to Adel, at least. After Adel sees her again near the end of the book, she not only reassures her that things are perfectly fine for her (and that her "mad" and supposedly murderous duke hasn't killed her yet), but she also thanks her. Yes...thanks her.
I mean...that's great that things worked out for Adel...but seriously? At the heart of it, this person was willing to sacrifice you into a lifetime commitment for their own benefit. It doesn't matter that it worked out in the end because no one knew that it would. The actual result doesn't play into a person's initial decision. It's great that it worked out, but what if it hadn't? All that they knew about this dude was that he's rumoured to be "mad" and is said to have been responsible for his wife's death, that's it. And this girl, who you thought was your bff and who you'd confided in and enlisted to help you in your time of need, willingly took that opportunity to throw you to the dogs for this reason. She didn't want to marry that mad duke, so why not sacrifice someone else, right? Oh yeah, lest we forget that Edmond never threatens her to accept his proposal. Seeing her hesitation, he just provides her with reasons why this union might be beneficial to her and her family (and not in a threatening manner), one of which is financial.
But what does she do? She threw Adel under the bus. Oh, and did I forget to mention that, in their original plan, only Evie's mother was supposed to catch Adel with Atwood. Evie took it upon herself to also send a note to Vale, who made a louder ruckus, which caused other people to then show up. So not only was this girl willing to throw Adel under, but she wanted the world to bear witness to her shame so she'd be completely free. The other part of Evie's excuse is that she was actually in love with Edmond's friend, so she couldn't marry Edmond. Ummm...did she forget that Adel also fancied herself in love with someone else and wanted to marry him? So it's fine to sacrifice someone else's love, so long as she's able to benefit in the end.
This...this is not a person you thank, this is a person you cut off and never speak to again. She was in love with someone else, but so was Adel. She could've rejected Edmond, but instead chose this method. And recall, because I don't think this can be hammered home enough, that marriage was a permanent and lifetime commitment. And what if he did turn out to be dangerous? Abusive? And was actually responsible for his wife's death? There was no option of divorce in this situation for Adel. And Evie didn't even know if Edmond would accept Adel! He could've easily left her in her ruined state and gone off to marry someone else. Evie didn't know what would happen.
This is not a person you ever, ever, ever speak to again, much less forgive and thank afterwards!
Not only that, she also looks fondly upon her parents at the end, even thinking about planning trips with them. Girl, these are the people who planned to wed you to your attempted rapist. The friend situation is bad enough, but omg this. Oh, and the other thing here was her father in general. Her father is the one shouting at her and forcing her into marriage, but apparently it's the step-mother's fault? Sure, the step-mom was super evil, but why shift all the responsibility onto her? Adel is always looking at it as her step-mother's fault, saying that she wishes her father "would not bend so easily to the demands of his wife."
He's the one who's the lord of the manor and the one who has all the power according to the law. He's the one who's shutting Adel down in this situation and is all to happy to go greet her attempted rapist. Is a man so fragile and weak that he can't even be held responsible for his own words that he's saying to you in private, outside an audience with his wife? Why make the woman the source of all problems in the household when the man is perfectly capable of taking responsibility?
And this thing with her parents, I was hoping that Edmond would become aware of it and stand up for her. But it never happens. And then she's talking casually about meeting up with them.
The other thing is, I don't understand why Edmond's friend Westfall (the man Evie was interested in) didn't like Adel. After being found in a compromising position, she makes an appearance at one of the house party's events the next day. She sees Westfall there and...
But...why? I don't understand it because it's never explained why he does this. I thought it would be elaborated on it at a later point, but she never really meets Westfall until the epilogue, and then it's like it never happened. I thought maybe Edmond would hear about this and take his friend to task, maybe. I just seemed so unnecessary since it's never addressed, either whether he'll come to regret these words, or why he never utters them in the first place.
I also didn't like how hard she worked for Edmond. He's got a chip on his shoulder because of his past (his wife died in childbirth), and I can understand that, but Adel didn't have a super happy upbringing, either. But it's Adel, who's obviously "nothing like any other young lady [Edmond] had met before ... she was different, but in the most refreshing way," who works the whole book to break down Edmond's walls.
When he gets into a rut, it's his mother (who I thought was a good character at times because she wasn't the horrible monster-in-law caricature that most books have), who's always telling Adel to "go to him." She always tells Adel to go comfort Edmond nearly every time they have a scene together. Edmond is never told by his mother to go to Adel and comfort her.
Even when he screws up near the end and needs to make amends, Adel is quick to forgive him. Edmond, when he gets pissed, neglects her for weeks while she's pregnant, which happens just after he says rude things to her before walking away. And his grand gesture, while sweet, is used as an excuse to make him not grovel for weeks on end. Throughout this entire book, Edmond never has to work has hard for Adel, while she spends the entire book doing so.
That's not to say that I don't sympathize with him and what he went through. I do. But it's terribly unfair for us to have to spend the entire book with Adel comforting Edmond and winning him over, while he doesn't have to do the same for her. She's suffered too because of her family. Why is his pain and suffering valued above hers? He's allowed to maintain a cold distance for most of the book while she isn't, along with her rolling over and forgiving nearly every person who's wrong her.
Lastly, I also didn't like the sheer predictability of it all. And that's not a knock at the genre, just at this book in particular. Yes, in romance you know the two characters will end up together, which is the nature of genre romance. However, the conflict still tends to be up in the air because you never know what it is that will happen. In this book, you find out early on that his wife died in childbirth after a difficult labour. And what do you think the conflict of this book will be? Any guesses?? Oh. Yeah. She gets pregnant and has a difficult labour. It's not even just that it's mentioned what happened to his wife, it's that the fear of pregnancy looms over the entire book, so you know it's going to happen.
So, while I liked the premise and I felt that it had potential, I didn't like the execution so much. I think this might be appealing to someone else, because I didn't think it was terrible, but it wasn't for me. Also, if constant mentions of the heroine blushing, the heat climbing up her neck, chewing/biting her lip, her nervousness, or widening her eyes a lot is something that doesn't appeal to you, this might not be the book for you either. (Because it happens, like...a lot.)
In the beginning, I liked how things went down. I like the forced marriage trope, but I was a little apprehensive when I read the synopsis, thinking that she'd decided to compromise the male protagonist on purpose. However, it's made clear that the man she was hoping to compromise had feelings for her and had previously proposed (but her father rejected him because he wasn't a high enough title for him), but ends up compromising Edmond accidentally, which I was relieved about. I also liked that, after things went down, he didn't take it out on her. Far too many heroes vent their anger on the heroine and apologize for it later. Yeah...no, thanks. I get it, sure, but I prefer the route that was taken for Edmond.
The other thing I really liked was that, after they marry, Edmond tells Adel that there's no planned consummation. She gets angry at him here, taking him to task about marry her and not telling her this previously because how unfair it's to her in regards to wanting her own children. This was an issue I had with Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros, in which the hero had the same plan, but he neither told the heroine about it, nor did she confront him about this. I absolutely hated that it was never brought up. The other difference between that and this is that, in this, Edmond doesn't choose to marry her and leave this out. They're forced to marry because of the compromising position, so it's either allow her to be ruined or marry her.
Oh, and the hero's been celibate since his wife died three years ago. I loved this! (The thing I didn't like, though, was that it's still mentioned how he'd had a few lovers before his first wife. He married her at 18...why couldn't that just have been his first experience considering how young he was? And considering that the heroine's a virgin--surprise!--I would've preferred there to be no mention at all. I would've also preferred there to be no mentions of his experience with his previous wife. Had Adel not been a virgin, I wouldn't have minded, tbh.)
Now. To things I wasn't a big fan of. So, how did Adel even "accidentally" compromise the guy, right? Well, her friend, Evie, is roped into helping her compromise the man of her choice, James, Atwood. The house party will be at Evie's parents house, so she can sneak Adel a key to Atwood's room. Adel wanted to do this asap because her parents had promised her to another man, the earl of Vale. He'd assaulted Adel and, instead of helping her, her father and step-mother promised her to the man. So, I could understand her reasoning and her desperation. After she's given the key and goes to the room, it turns out that it's not Atwood's room, but Edmond's.
An accident, surely? Nope. Earlier in the day, Evie finds out that Edmond has made a proposition to her father, which he didn't bother to tell her about for weeks. After Edmond informs Evie of it, she freaks out because he's considered to be "mad" and is said to have been responsible for the death of his first wife. So what does she do? Instead of declining the proposal, she sneaks Adel the room key to Edmond's room instead of Atwood's. What a horrible person, right? Well, not for long, according to Adel, at least. After Adel sees her again near the end of the book, she not only reassures her that things are perfectly fine for her (and that her "mad" and supposedly murderous duke hasn't killed her yet), but she also thanks her. Yes...thanks her.
I mean...that's great that things worked out for Adel...but seriously? At the heart of it, this person was willing to sacrifice you into a lifetime commitment for their own benefit. It doesn't matter that it worked out in the end because no one knew that it would. The actual result doesn't play into a person's initial decision. It's great that it worked out, but what if it hadn't? All that they knew about this dude was that he's rumoured to be "mad" and is said to have been responsible for his wife's death, that's it. And this girl, who you thought was your bff and who you'd confided in and enlisted to help you in your time of need, willingly took that opportunity to throw you to the dogs for this reason. She didn't want to marry that mad duke, so why not sacrifice someone else, right? Oh yeah, lest we forget that Edmond never threatens her to accept his proposal. Seeing her hesitation, he just provides her with reasons why this union might be beneficial to her and her family (and not in a threatening manner), one of which is financial.
But what does she do? She threw Adel under the bus. Oh, and did I forget to mention that, in their original plan, only Evie's mother was supposed to catch Adel with Atwood. Evie took it upon herself to also send a note to Vale, who made a louder ruckus, which caused other people to then show up. So not only was this girl willing to throw Adel under, but she wanted the world to bear witness to her shame so she'd be completely free. The other part of Evie's excuse is that she was actually in love with Edmond's friend, so she couldn't marry Edmond. Ummm...did she forget that Adel also fancied herself in love with someone else and wanted to marry him? So it's fine to sacrifice someone else's love, so long as she's able to benefit in the end.
This...this is not a person you thank, this is a person you cut off and never speak to again. She was in love with someone else, but so was Adel. She could've rejected Edmond, but instead chose this method. And recall, because I don't think this can be hammered home enough, that marriage was a permanent and lifetime commitment. And what if he did turn out to be dangerous? Abusive? And was actually responsible for his wife's death? There was no option of divorce in this situation for Adel. And Evie didn't even know if Edmond would accept Adel! He could've easily left her in her ruined state and gone off to marry someone else. Evie didn't know what would happen.
This is not a person you ever, ever, ever speak to again, much less forgive and thank afterwards!
Not only that, she also looks fondly upon her parents at the end, even thinking about planning trips with them. Girl, these are the people who planned to wed you to your attempted rapist. The friend situation is bad enough, but omg this. Oh, and the other thing here was her father in general. Her father is the one shouting at her and forcing her into marriage, but apparently it's the step-mother's fault? Sure, the step-mom was super evil, but why shift all the responsibility onto her? Adel is always looking at it as her step-mother's fault, saying that she wishes her father "would not bend so easily to the demands of his wife."
She slipped in through the entrance, her heart squeezing when she spied him with a magnifying glass, peering at some plant. “Father,” she said softly.
He lowered the glass and faced her. For a wonderful second, pleasure suffused his face, before he became guarded. With a pointed glare behind her, he spoke, “Why have you traveled this far without a chaperone? Where is your mother?”
Stepmother. She bit back the instinctive rebuttal. “It is a short journey here, and I urgently needed to speak with you, Papa.” She moved farther inside. “Lord Vale arrived a few minutes ago and I—”
“Excellent,” her father said, with a wide smile. “I must go and greet him. Come along, I am certain he will want a few dances with you.”
“No!” She gritted her teeth. “Though I miss the pleasure of dancing, I cannot consent to—”
A heavy sigh filled the air. “You are to wed the earl, Adel. He has secured an invitation to Lady Gladstone’s house party solely to court you. It shows me how much he esteems you and wishes to secure your affections.”
“Have you gone mad?” she demanded faintly. Surely her father couldn’t be so cruel? He knew of Lord Vale’s licentious character, of the atrocious way he had behaved toward her. “He attacked me, Papa.” She winced at the pleading note in her voice. Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin and stepped forward. “I cannot marry a man who has so little regard for my welfare. He left bruises on my arms. He is a despicable cad.”
Her father, Sir Archibald Hays, glared at her. “You will accord the earl the respect that is indeed due to him, young lady.”
How could he have forgotten her tears and fright? It still lived with her, though days had passed. “Papa…Lord Vale attacked me.” It was not that she desired her father to do something frightful like challenge the earl to a duel, but she expected some outrage on her behalf. She expected him to protect her, and his stance now shattered the naive belief she’d held onto that she was the most important person in his world. Her stepmother now had that honor, and as a viscount’s daughter, Lady Margaret’s wish was to see their family’s meager social connections strengthened. It seems Adel’s father was willing to sacrifice his daughter’s happiness to please his wife.
His face flushed in what might have been discomfort, before scrunching into a frown. “Pish… Passion…you are very beautiful, Adel, you look very much like your mother.” For a second his features softened and regret gleamed in his gaze. Then he cleared his throat and continued, “It is expected that as your intended, Lord Vale may have gotten a bit carried away. I visited his estate yesterday before traveling down and he explained to me, apologized for his slight indiscretion. I accepted his generous offer for your hand.”
Slight indiscretion? “You are trivializing my pain.”
He gently placed the magnifying glass on the table. “You are twenty-one, Adel. This is your fourth outing, our coffers are nigh empty and we cannot afford another season for you. The earl is making amends for his actions by offering marriage. I only want what is best for you, my dear.”
He's the one who's the lord of the manor and the one who has all the power according to the law. He's the one who's shutting Adel down in this situation and is all to happy to go greet her attempted rapist. Is a man so fragile and weak that he can't even be held responsible for his own words that he's saying to you in private, outside an audience with his wife? Why make the woman the source of all problems in the household when the man is perfectly capable of taking responsibility?
And this thing with her parents, I was hoping that Edmond would become aware of it and stand up for her. But it never happens. And then she's talking casually about meeting up with them.
The other thing is, I don't understand why Edmond's friend Westfall (the man Evie was interested in) didn't like Adel. After being found in a compromising position, she makes an appearance at one of the house party's events the next day. She sees Westfall there and...
The assessment so startled her, she glanced in the direction of the voices and witnessed three gentlemen staring at her. She recognized the Marquess of Westfall amongst them. He insolently caressed her length with his tawny golden eyes, and a smile tugged at his lips, drawing her gaze to the mess of scars running from his forehead down to his chin on the left side of his face. His manner was so bold and outrageous Adel flushed. She had no idea what Evie saw in the reprobate.
“Beauty?” The marquess drawled. “I doubt Wolverton touched the chit. She was simply being a mercenary bitch, and will no doubt expire from shock when he ignores her.”
A sob clawed from the depths of her being and spilled from her throat at the blatant insult.
Mercenary bitch.
His eyes flared and gleamed with something similar to regret, then an expression of icy disdain settled on his face. The men with him appeared so shocked by his vulgarity that it left them silent.
“That is very unsporting of you, Westfall,” one of the men muttered, looking discomfited. “Perhaps Wolverton will offer for her.”
“Why ever would he do such a ghastly thing?”
Tears pricked behind her lids, and she gave Westfall her back and walked away. Westfall was Wolverton’s closest friend. Had the duke shared with the marquess his true opinion of her mistake? Adel so badly wanted to scamper away and plead with her father to depart the house party. Surely her presence would only fan the embers of scandal more. Surely out of sight would be out of mind.
“I wonder if he will take her to be his mistress.”
“I’ve been told she was already his soiled little dove.”
But...why? I don't understand it because it's never explained why he does this. I thought it would be elaborated on it at a later point, but she never really meets Westfall until the epilogue, and then it's like it never happened. I thought maybe Edmond would hear about this and take his friend to task, maybe. I just seemed so unnecessary since it's never addressed, either whether he'll come to regret these words, or why he never utters them in the first place.
I also didn't like how hard she worked for Edmond. He's got a chip on his shoulder because of his past (his wife died in childbirth), and I can understand that, but Adel didn't have a super happy upbringing, either. But it's Adel, who's obviously "nothing like any other young lady [Edmond] had met before ... she was different, but in the most refreshing way," who works the whole book to break down Edmond's walls.
When he gets into a rut, it's his mother (who I thought was a good character at times because she wasn't the horrible monster-in-law caricature that most books have), who's always telling Adel to "go to him." She always tells Adel to go comfort Edmond nearly every time they have a scene together. Edmond is never told by his mother to go to Adel and comfort her.
Even when he screws up near the end and needs to make amends, Adel is quick to forgive him. Edmond, when he gets pissed, neglects her for weeks while she's pregnant, which happens just after he says rude things to her before walking away. And his grand gesture, while sweet, is used as an excuse to make him not grovel for weeks on end. Throughout this entire book, Edmond never has to work has hard for Adel, while she spends the entire book doing so.
That's not to say that I don't sympathize with him and what he went through. I do. But it's terribly unfair for us to have to spend the entire book with Adel comforting Edmond and winning him over, while he doesn't have to do the same for her. She's suffered too because of her family. Why is his pain and suffering valued above hers? He's allowed to maintain a cold distance for most of the book while she isn't, along with her rolling over and forgiving nearly every person who's wrong her.
Lastly, I also didn't like the sheer predictability of it all. And that's not a knock at the genre, just at this book in particular. Yes, in romance you know the two characters will end up together, which is the nature of genre romance. However, the conflict still tends to be up in the air because you never know what it is that will happen. In this book, you find out early on that his wife died in childbirth after a difficult labour. And what do you think the conflict of this book will be? Any guesses?? Oh. Yeah. She gets pregnant and has a difficult labour. It's not even just that it's mentioned what happened to his wife, it's that the fear of pregnancy looms over the entire book, so you know it's going to happen.
So, while I liked the premise and I felt that it had potential, I didn't like the execution so much. I think this might be appealing to someone else, because I didn't think it was terrible, but it wasn't for me. Also, if constant mentions of the heroine blushing, the heat climbing up her neck, chewing/biting her lip, her nervousness, or widening her eyes a lot is something that doesn't appeal to you, this might not be the book for you either. (Because it happens, like...a lot.)
April 1, 2024
Read: 3/30/24
4.5 stars
SR does it again! These characters reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. Though not deformed, the H was beastly acting. He is so careful never to be vulnerable ever again, but he underestimated the h.
Problem or should've been one:
I hate when marriages aren't consummated because of some stupid reason by the H (The Duke and I). Luckily, I didn't feel this way about this book. Maybe it's because the book is shorter.🤔 The author didn't drag this troupe for hundreds of pages.
I highly recommend this book!
4.5 stars
SR does it again! These characters reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. Though not deformed, the H was beastly acting. He is so careful never to be vulnerable ever again, but he underestimated the h.
Problem or should've been one:
I hate when marriages aren't consummated because of some stupid reason by the H (The Duke and I). Luckily, I didn't feel this way about this book. Maybe it's because the book is shorter.🤔 The author didn't drag this troupe for hundreds of pages.
I highly recommend this book!
April 6, 2021
✨ 4 stars ✨
🌸 Summary 🌸
Adeline Hays finds out about her father and stepmother's plan to marry her off to the horrible Earl of Vale and in a desperate attempt to escape this engagement she decides to compromise herself by visiting the bedchamber of a man that she knows wishes to marry her - but instead she enters the wrong room.
Edmond Rochester, Duke of Wolverton, lost his wife 3 years ago and had decided it was time to remarry in order to give his two young daughters the chance of having a mother. The last thing he expects is for Adel to turn up to his bedchamber in the middle of the night believing him to be someone else. After being discovered they marry hastily and despite Edmond feeling immense attraction to Adel he refuses to act on his feelings.
🌸 Review 🌸
I actually really love Stacey Reid's writing style and it made this book such a quick read because I was so engaged with the characters and the story. I found that there was some overlap with the other book of hers that I've read (My Darling Duke) and although I didn't enjoy this one as much it was still a decent read!
Adeline:
I loved Adeline's character, she made such a great heroine and I enjoyed reading about her interactions with both Edmond and his little daughters so much!
Adeline was also so patient with Edmond, sympathising with his loss and understanding his concerns, but at the same time she knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go for it - I really liked that about her character.
Edmond:
Edmond was dubbed by society as the "Mad Duke" (classic) but in reality he was just a private man who still harboured guilt over the death of his wife. I loved reading about him developing his feelings for Adeline and I especially enjoyed how he became closer to his daughters. It definitely took me longer to love Edmond's character, because whilst I could understand his feelings of guilt and fear, he often did not take Adeline's feelings into account and he definitely made some questionable choices (typical vanishing act).
That being said I was really emotional when he finally accepted his love for Adeline and his character development was so great I loved seeing the gradual changes in him.
Final comments:
The thing that bothered me the most was the supposed "best friends". Whilst My Darling Duke had some great secondary characters, I struggled a lot more in this book to make connections. I was definitely not the biggest fan of both Adeline's supposed best friend Evie and her proposed love interest, Edmond's best friend, the Marquess of Westfall. Honestly, every time either one of them was present in a scene I just wanted to skim the page...
Overall though this was an enjoyable read and I think I will probably eventually finish this series (maybe skipping out Evie's book...💀)
Thanks so much Ren for reading this with me - loved our ✨productive✨ buddy-read weekend!
Axel + Eddie 5eva 🤠
“You are everything I have ever dreamed of and more, and I have been so afraid that I will lose you, but I have come to my senses.”
🌸 Summary 🌸
Adeline Hays finds out about her father and stepmother's plan to marry her off to the horrible Earl of Vale and in a desperate attempt to escape this engagement she decides to compromise herself by visiting the bedchamber of a man that she knows wishes to marry her - but instead she enters the wrong room.
Edmond Rochester, Duke of Wolverton, lost his wife 3 years ago and had decided it was time to remarry in order to give his two young daughters the chance of having a mother. The last thing he expects is for Adel to turn up to his bedchamber in the middle of the night believing him to be someone else. After being discovered they marry hastily and despite Edmond feeling immense attraction to Adel he refuses to act on his feelings.
🌸 Review 🌸
I actually really love Stacey Reid's writing style and it made this book such a quick read because I was so engaged with the characters and the story. I found that there was some overlap with the other book of hers that I've read (My Darling Duke) and although I didn't enjoy this one as much it was still a decent read!
Adeline:
I loved Adeline's character, she made such a great heroine and I enjoyed reading about her interactions with both Edmond and his little daughters so much!
“She is kind and thoughtful, fearless where she should be wary...and I can see her core of strength. Even if I had not married her, she would not have crumpled under society's disdain.”
Adeline was also so patient with Edmond, sympathising with his loss and understanding his concerns, but at the same time she knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go for it - I really liked that about her character.
Edmond:
Edmond was dubbed by society as the "Mad Duke" (classic) but in reality he was just a private man who still harboured guilt over the death of his wife. I loved reading about him developing his feelings for Adeline and I especially enjoyed how he became closer to his daughters. It definitely took me longer to love Edmond's character, because whilst I could understand his feelings of guilt and fear, he often did not take Adeline's feelings into account and he definitely made some questionable choices (typical vanishing act).
That being said I was really emotional when he finally accepted his love for Adeline and his character development was so great I loved seeing the gradual changes in him.
Final comments:
The thing that bothered me the most was the supposed "best friends". Whilst My Darling Duke had some great secondary characters, I struggled a lot more in this book to make connections. I was definitely not the biggest fan of both Adeline's supposed best friend Evie and her proposed love interest, Edmond's best friend, the Marquess of Westfall. Honestly, every time either one of them was present in a scene I just wanted to skim the page...
Overall though this was an enjoyable read and I think I will probably eventually finish this series (maybe skipping out Evie's book...💀)
Thanks so much Ren for reading this with me - loved our ✨productive✨ buddy-read weekend!
Axel + Eddie 5eva 🤠
June 18, 2016
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
'Accidentally Compromising the Duke' by Stacy Reid is book one in the "Wedded by Scandal" series. This is the story of Adeline Hays and Edmond Rochester, the duke of Wolverton.
Adel is on the marriage mart and she has in mind a friend named Mr. Artwood for a husband. Mr. Artwood has even offered for her but her parents have set in mind a 'Lord' for her. Lord Vale is the actual man who they think would be her husband. But after a forced kiss Adel knows she won't marry him. So along with her best friend they set to have her found in Mr. Artwoods room. But her friend has set is so that she is found in Edmond's room.
Edmond's wife has died about three years ago and now he is trying to find a women to marry to be a mother for his two daughters but he has no other use for her. Edmond wants a wife that he can feel nothing for but when he is caught with Adel he knows he will have to marry her or she will be turned away from society. But Edmond mind is set on not loving her or getting to know to much about her...Adel. Can Edmond out run love? I think not.
Loved this book!! I could not put it down...one read sitting for me!
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'Accidentally Compromising the Duke' by Stacy Reid is book one in the "Wedded by Scandal" series. This is the story of Adeline Hays and Edmond Rochester, the duke of Wolverton.
Adel is on the marriage mart and she has in mind a friend named Mr. Artwood for a husband. Mr. Artwood has even offered for her but her parents have set in mind a 'Lord' for her. Lord Vale is the actual man who they think would be her husband. But after a forced kiss Adel knows she won't marry him. So along with her best friend they set to have her found in Mr. Artwoods room. But her friend has set is so that she is found in Edmond's room.
Edmond's wife has died about three years ago and now he is trying to find a women to marry to be a mother for his two daughters but he has no other use for her. Edmond wants a wife that he can feel nothing for but when he is caught with Adel he knows he will have to marry her or she will be turned away from society. But Edmond mind is set on not loving her or getting to know to much about her...Adel. Can Edmond out run love? I think not.
Loved this book!! I could not put it down...one read sitting for me!
Please follow more reviews at the below sites:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
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http://booklikes.com/
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
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February 21, 2022
This one was so fun! At first, I was worried because they spent so long building up her and him getting forced to marry. But it quickly became really cute. And then the pacing sped up a bit and gave me some whiplash but it was okay. Overall, it was the two things that made me give a less than perfect rating.
December 1, 2021
3.5 STARS
Predictably good HR between a cold stern duke (widower, single dad) in search for a wife in name only and a desperate wallflower needing escape from an arranged marriage with an awful suitor.
The mistaken identity meet-cute, the marriage of convenience, the angsty dynamic between a brooding hero and a passionate heroine, the sweet new found family moments, witnessing the Duke reacquainting with his daughters, the crumbling of the Duke's impenetrable wall of ice, the playful banter : all was quality good fluff. I really enjoyed myself. Additionally the seggs was quality good and the lovemaking passionate on the pages.
Some spoilerish nitpicking, as always : Was the heroine resilient or just too forgiving? Eh. She gets hurt by literally everyone in this book but saintly manages to forgive all. Bless her good little golden heart.
-Her best friend for literally throwing her into a trap to save her own arse.
-Her father for deliberately forcing her into marrying an abusive and potential rapist suitor.
-Her mother in law for selfishly pressing her into hurtful situation after hurtful situation as a mean to climb the social ladder.
-Her former gentle suitor, Mr Atwood, whom she begs for help, for scampering away at the slightest ruffle of scandal, leaving Adeline to fend for herself.
-The Duke's best friend, Westfall, cuts her publicly calling Adeline a mercenary bitch but she never acknowledges it neither does she later demands an apology.
-Her husband, the Duke, for abandoning her to her own devices (in a rather petulant departure), pregnant, when she refuses to leave the estate's premises on behalf of sparing his sensibilities.
-also repeatedly, her husband Edmond, as they navigate his coming to term with his attraction for Adeline—for whom he swore to never become intimate with. The book was continuously asking Adeline to take the brunt for her husband's misgivings.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some resulting angst from a few situations above, mostly when related to the Duke and Adeline, but there was just too much shite piled onto the heroine, already fighting for her man's attentions.
Speaking of which, Edmond could have done a better job at groveling.
I did enjoy the story as a whole, the plot is centered around on major conflict, which is predictable AF but works nonetheless and there is no mistaking the chemistry on page between our love interests. The author did a great job pairing Edmond with Adeline.
I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
Predictably good HR between a cold stern duke (widower, single dad) in search for a wife in name only and a desperate wallflower needing escape from an arranged marriage with an awful suitor.
The mistaken identity meet-cute, the marriage of convenience, the angsty dynamic between a brooding hero and a passionate heroine, the sweet new found family moments, witnessing the Duke reacquainting with his daughters, the crumbling of the Duke's impenetrable wall of ice, the playful banter : all was quality good fluff. I really enjoyed myself. Additionally the seggs was quality good and the lovemaking passionate on the pages.
Some spoilerish nitpicking, as always : Was the heroine resilient or just too forgiving? Eh. She gets hurt by literally everyone in this book but saintly manages to forgive all. Bless her good little golden heart.
-Her best friend for literally throwing her into a trap to save her own arse.
-Her father for deliberately forcing her into marrying an abusive and potential rapist suitor.
-Her mother in law for selfishly pressing her into hurtful situation after hurtful situation as a mean to climb the social ladder.
-Her former gentle suitor, Mr Atwood, whom she begs for help, for scampering away at the slightest ruffle of scandal, leaving Adeline to fend for herself.
-The Duke's best friend, Westfall, cuts her publicly calling Adeline a mercenary bitch but she never acknowledges it neither does she later demands an apology.
-Her husband, the Duke, for abandoning her to her own devices (in a rather petulant departure), pregnant, when she refuses to leave the estate's premises on behalf of sparing his sensibilities.
-also repeatedly, her husband Edmond, as they navigate his coming to term with his attraction for Adeline—for whom he swore to never become intimate with. The book was continuously asking Adeline to take the brunt for her husband's misgivings.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some resulting angst from a few situations above, mostly when related to the Duke and Adeline, but there was just too much shite piled onto the heroine, already fighting for her man's attentions.
Speaking of which, Edmond could have done a better job at groveling.
I did enjoy the story as a whole, the plot is centered around on major conflict, which is predictable AF but works nonetheless and there is no mistaking the chemistry on page between our love interests. The author did a great job pairing Edmond with Adeline.
I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
March 29, 2020
In order to avoid a marriage to a lecherous man, Adeline comes up with a plan to compromise herself with someone more suitable. Unfortunately, she went in the wrong room and became discovered with the an elusive duke. This was such a good book! Adeline, was a willful, strong heroine. Edmond tried to avoid all emotional entanglements after losing his wife but wanted a mother for his daughters. Those two had a lot of barriers to overcome and they certainly had off the charts passion! I couldn’t put this one down. You could just feel the love between them. ☺️ I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
August 2, 2020
Es un libro 5 estrellas?
ABSOLUTAMENTE NO.
Se las voy a dar?
TOTALMENTE SI!!!
Jajaja es de esos libros que tu sabes que no van a cambiar tu vida pero que no sabías que necesitabas leer hasta que lo hiciste.
Entretiene, divierte, emociona y más. La verdad no hay nada que no me gustara así que le regalo mis estrellas y mi amor. Me gustó mucho y a pesar de que es la primera vez que leo a la autora, lo seguiré haciendo porque me enamoré de su pluma.
ABSOLUTAMENTE NO.
Se las voy a dar?
TOTALMENTE SI!!!
Jajaja es de esos libros que tu sabes que no van a cambiar tu vida pero que no sabías que necesitabas leer hasta que lo hiciste.
Entretiene, divierte, emociona y más. La verdad no hay nada que no me gustara así que le regalo mis estrellas y mi amor. Me gustó mucho y a pesar de que es la primera vez que leo a la autora, lo seguiré haciendo porque me enamoré de su pluma.
August 5, 2020
Este libro tiene todo lo que a mí me gusta.
Un Duque, frío, torturado.
Viudo.
Single Dad
Y un matrimonio por conveniencia.
ME ENCANTÓ.
No tengo nada malo que decir de él, es todo lo que necesitaba.
Un Duque, frío, torturado.
Viudo.
Single Dad
Y un matrimonio por conveniencia.
ME ENCANTÓ.
No tengo nada malo que decir de él, es todo lo que necesitaba.
January 18, 2024
Adeline is determined to escape marriage to a man who basically assaulted her, so she plans to be caught in the bedroom of the nicer but less influential man who wants to marry her. Instead, she ends up in the room of a notorious duke who is looking for a mother for his daughters but still grieving the loss of his wife. There is instant passion between them and he offers to marry her, but while she hopes for love he never intends to have anything more than a platonic marriage.
I really enjoyed this. Adeline is a bold and brave character which is fun. The hero is tortured by the past and feels responsible for his wife's death in childbirth. There are ups and downs but I liked seeing them come together. One thing I will say though is his fears of another wife dying in childbirth aren't unrealistic for the time. The author is trying to walk this line of taking seriously the poor conditions for women, while also glossing over it enough that we're okay with Adeline wanting to have children. She does a decent job of it, but it's never going to be perfect and I could see it not hitting right for some readers. And in general, childbirth trauma may not be what everyone wants to read. Overall, I enjoyed this historical though!
I really enjoyed this. Adeline is a bold and brave character which is fun. The hero is tortured by the past and feels responsible for his wife's death in childbirth. There are ups and downs but I liked seeing them come together. One thing I will say though is his fears of another wife dying in childbirth aren't unrealistic for the time. The author is trying to walk this line of taking seriously the poor conditions for women, while also glossing over it enough that we're okay with Adeline wanting to have children. She does a decent job of it, but it's never going to be perfect and I could see it not hitting right for some readers. And in general, childbirth trauma may not be what everyone wants to read. Overall, I enjoyed this historical though!
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