Once upon a Duke

The Dukes' Club, Book 1

By: Eva Devon

Narrated by: Hugh Bradley

Everything is going swimmingly for Kathryn Darrell. She's got an annuity of a hundred thousand a year, her lecherous, heart-breaking husband has had the good graces to pop off, and best of all, she has her freedom - something she has every intention of reveling in to the fullest. And who better to revel with than Ryder Blake, the infamous Duke of Darkwell?

Ryder Blake, Duke of Darkwell, known as the Duke of Debauchery, is certain he will never love again. His heart lies buried with his wife and he has vowed to never give more than his body to a woman. But when Kathryn shows up on his doorstep, quite literally, demanding he show her the ways of London, he finds that his heart longs to love once again.

©2014 Maire Creegan (P)2016 Maire Creegan

Absolutely love it

Love this book while it’s not comedic it will pull a rueful Laugh or smile from you when you least expect it.

Good Story

I truly enjoy this author. However, though I dont cringe at the sex scenes even with lots of detail, it seemed like WAY too much of the last third of book was taken up by them. I mean lots of detailed sex for 3-4 full chapters if they were all combined. I say this even though the whole "live for sin" plot was essential to the story. Maybe three of the sex scenes could have been removed or shortened & perhaps replaced by other strategic conversations that would bring us to the climax (pun intended) of his 1st wife's birthday & make it more dramatic instead of occurring just in his head? In fact, it might have been better. We modern readers easily & wrongly (I think) conclude that the H is bipolar as we read thecstory clues, his internal dialogues, & descriptions of his seasonal shifts. So the wrap up in the end doesn't feel 100% real without medicine when his resolution is just saying goodbye & learning to let go, which is more healthy grief. A few key conversations might pulled us out of true psychological concern by the reader (you can't will or decide yourself out of bipolar) & more into rooting for his grief process & freedom.

Other than that, I think the reader can empathize with both H & h, the H dealing with grief & guilt; the h dealing with disillusionment, lonliness, & self value. Both crave freedom & connection.

It is a worthy story & is well-written as it begins with us readers seeing the debaucheries in London through her curious inexperienced eyes & feel her craving for some kind of connection free of rejection or control. By the end, we see the Hero's dissatisfaction with debauchery London as it is contrasted in detail with his something "realer" with the heroine. Sin with her is just different.

Great Teaser

I loved this book. I found it refreshing and bold. I additionally loved the narrator. I thought his voice exchanges were pure. Great read.

What a voice!

Take a sexy albeit tortured character and add a sexy voice and you a success!

Heat? Oh yes! It’s a sex driven plot.
Narrator, yummy!

Didn’t like very much

Disappointed. I usually love Eva Devon’s writing but this one didn’t work for me. There just wasn’t any energy to the story and no chemistry between Ryder and Kathryn. Part of my dislike could be contributed to the narrator and the way he kept mispronouncing Imogene. I cringed every time he said it and it was used a lot. I recommend a pass on this one.