The Reluctant Duchess
By Sharon Cullen
- Release Date: 2015-11-10
- Genre: Historical Romance
Description
USA TODAY BESTSELLER • Perfect for fans of Mary Balogh and Eloisa James, Sharon Cullen’s seductive new historical romance ignites as a shy country girl and a hotheaded duke surrender to dangerous temptations.
Lady Sara Emerson was jolted out of her dull provincial life by her cousin’s murder. Now that the killer seems to be targeting her, Sara seeks help from the man who was once her cousin’s fiancé, Gabriel Ferguson, Duke of Rossmoyne. With his towering frame and fiery personality, Ross cuts an intimidating figure. Living under his protection, however, has its own hazards—like the sudden urge Sara feels to take their relationship in new, exquisitely inappropriate directions.
Dazzled by the social graces of his betrothed, Ross never noticed her shy, blushing cousin. Looking at Sara now, though, he’s drawn to her lovely eyes and calm disposition. Funny how a year away from the hustle and bustle of the ton changes a man. But Ross has no intention of allowing a woman to interfere with his plan to return overseas. He will simply capture the murderer and set sail once again. The problem is, with her beguiling lips and heavenly touch, Sara makes him never want to leave home—or his bed—again.
Look for all of Sharon Cullen’s delightful historical romances:
The All the Queen’s Spies series: WED TO A SPY | BOUND TO A SPY
The Secrets & Seduction series: THE NOTORIOUS LADY ANNE | LOVING THE EARL | PLEASING THE PIRATE | HIS SAVING GRACE | SEBASTIAN’S LADY SPY | THE RELUCTANT DUCHESS
The Highland Pride series: SUTHERLAND’S SECRET | MACLEAN’S PASSION | CAMPBELL’S REDEMPTION
Praise for The Reluctant Duchess
“Riveting . . . The true depth of the characters is revealed through dialogue that eschews Austen-style witticisms for thoughtful discussion and quiet but determined clashes of will. Intense romance and intriguing mystery make this a tale to be savored.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Cullen allows the suspense to ebb and flow naturally between finding clues and hitting dead ends. She wisely uses the downtime to develop two strong main characters. Ross’s ability to see past Sara’s shy reserve and his admiration for her courage and strength will have readers rooting for the couple’s success. Highly recommended for historical romance buffs who prefer a little mayhem in the mix.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Many readers will enjoy this lively Victorian tale starring a protective hero and a quietly stubborn heroine.”—Anne Gracie, award-winning author of The Spring Bride
“The Reluctant Duchess is a tale replete with sizzling tension and high stakes, as could only come from the pen of Sharon Cullen.”—Ashlyn Macnamara, author of What a Lady Requires
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
Reviews
These two are adorable together
4By glhinceI’m a fan of Cullen’s Secrets & Seductions series, using spies and romance to wind a tale. In this story, we meet Sara, reeling from her cousin’s murder and now receiving some threatening letters of her own. She turns to Gabriel, Duke of Rossmoyne, her cousin’s former fiancé for help, and the stage is set. Sara was an interesting character: less sparkly than her cousin, she is a shy and calming presence, not demanding of bow and scrape. When his fiancé was murdered, Ross told Sara’s family they could turn to him for assistance, and now it appears that the murderer is targeting Sara. So, he takes action, moving Sara into his home and contacting his friend who specializes in investigation. Ross is brash, forward moving and not always careful with his words: all fitting of a man of his title and station. He’s not uncaring however, he just wants to be at sea and not tied down to the constraints of society and the tonne. These two are adorable together: we find a solid sense of Sara through interior monologue and concise observations. She’s truly the lynchpin in the story, even as Ross brings some flash and the occasional kerfuffle. He’s intrigued by Sara the more they get to know one another, and that reliance becomes one of desire and enjoyment of one another, rather than a dependence for protection. Twists and turns with plenty of questions surrounding the threats and why, this is a wonderful story that will leave you wanting more. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.Try it -- You'll like it
5By Pompie1999I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in order to review it. This is my first Sharon Cullen novel, but it won't be my last. I really liked it. Gosh, this one has it all. A handsome duke, a spunky heroine, a grisley murderer, love, discord -- you name it and it is in here. Two years earlier the cousin of Lady Sara Emerson was viciously murdered. The murderer was never apprehended. Now, Sarah has begun getting threatening letters. She doesn't know where to turn for help because her aunt and uncle (parents of the cousin who was killed) have split up because of all of the trauma surrounding the murder. Finally, she decides to turn to her cousin's fiance - Gabriel Ferguson, Duke of Rossmoyne. The duke does all he can to protect Sara, but it isn't easy because they are trying to keep the letters secret and parents, friends, etc. keep trying to take Sara out to different events. Their journey to love is a sweet and exciting one. Buy the book, you'll love it.Loved It!
5By KPMe1Sharon Cullen has become one of my favorite historical romance authors and this book is a shining example of why. The descriptive writing truly takes you back to the time in history that each of her stories visit. The characters are so vivid and realistic that you truly feel that you've traveled through time and are getting to catch a glimpse into the parlors and homes of the people in the books. I love the strength that Sara possesses, she's not a flighty, fainting woman, she's so strong and won't allow convention or anyone get in her way to finding the truth. She does show fear and vulnerability and you find yourself captured in the adventure, the mystery and the hunt. The love story is fascinating, two such different characters and worlds colliding and finding their way through the darkness, coming together to right a horrible wrong. It's truly the stuff that dreams are made of.Lovely and Well Written Tale
4By Book Obsessed ChickAfter the violent murder of her cousin, Lady Sara Emerson begins receiving letters from the alleged perpetrator. Not knowing any other way to solve the mystery of who is sending the letters, Sara seeks out her deceased cousin's fiance, Gabriel Ferguson, the Duke of Rossmoyne. When Ross discovers the goings on he takes Sara into his protection in order to get to the bottom of his lost love's murder. Sara is nothing like Meredith, but that doesn't stop Ross from noticing Sara for who she is. Sara places her trust in the foreboding duke and even under the cloud of danger, their attraction for one another quickly comes to the surface and Sara being in danger is not something that Ross will accept. The loss of one woman was enough, the loss of Sara is just not a possibility. But there is someone out there who threatens their safety and like it or not, Sara and the duke must find out who it is. The Reluctant Duchess is a lovey tale by Sharon Cullen. This well written story is compelling and intriguing. Both Rossmoyne and Sara are interesting characters full of life and personality. The mystery fuels their romance, the danger only adding to it. I enjoyed The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen and think you will too.
