The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke

We therefore have things such as electric lighting at the Opera House and railroad travel. It is an historical novel but is set in 1894 so there are some modern conveniences most of us are not used to finding when we read novels set in the Regency Period (which is much more prevelant in my experience). Several things were different about this book.

Let's all hear it for the idea of 'rake marries an heiress for her money'! Suddenly all the responsibility for the title and lands with all that implies falls into the lap of one who doesn't want it but must find a way to save it. He has spent the last ten years living in Italy and spending every penny he had. Cyres (at 33) has just become Duke after the death of his uncle.

And believe me, he was NOT thinking about Prudence! As you will know from reading the description of this book, St. Very early on we get the full force of his character when he rescues a serving girl from the unwanted attentions of another member of the peerage (with Prudence looking on) and then later winds up with the serving girl in his bed. Cyres (pronounced sincere - thanks, Ms Guhrke!)is a rogue from his head to his toes. But Prudence is a very practical woman, she knows there will never be another meeting between the Duke and the seamstress. Rhys de Winter, the Duke of St.Cyres comes to her rescue at a time when she needs a little outside help. She reminded me of a perfectly normal woman and I actually could not find any fault with her for believing what she was told. She is the type person who always sees the best in people and makes the best of any situation she is in. Prudence knows that she is not considered to be a beauty and that the only way for her to have a 29' waist is for her to be laced into her corset so tightly she can just barely breath. She works as a seamstress at Madam Marceau's and has managed to work herself into the position of head seamstress after eleven years of hard work. She saw herself as a burden for the financially strapped family and after one too many disagreements took herself off to London to make her way in the world. Her aunt and uncle took her in after her mother died but Prudence and her aunt and cousin always had problems. Prudence Bosworth is a 28 year old 'girl bachelor' who has been on her own in London since the age of 17. Why then did I give this book only three stars? It didn't give me any of those exciting, breathless moments I enjoy so much in a romance novel. Laura Lee Guhrke is one of my favorite authors of historical romance.

The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke