The Duke

A Novel

By: Anna Cowan

Narrated by: Hannah Bristow

A sapphic regency romance about the duke who fears nothing—until the woman she never forgot walks through the door and brings her to her knees.

Set in a world of powerful female nobles and the women who love them...

Kate, Duke of Howard, is known throughout Europe as a merciless autocrat not to be crossed. Consumed by a bitter rivalry, she avoids society and has vowed never to trap a woman into marriage with a monster like herself.

The beautiful, ambitious courtesan Celine Genet once threw herself on the mercy of the visiting Duke of Howard. She was desperate to escape the guillotine. But after a night of searing passion, the duke left her to the ravages of Revolutionary Paris and didn’t look back. Now Celine is in London and in possession of a dangerous letter that proves the Duke of Howard committed treason as a child - and possibly even murder.

Celine wants a titled husband in return for keeping the duke’s secret, leaving Kate no choice but to parade her around the most fashionable ballrooms. But as Celine takes society by storm, Kate finds herself growing fond of the woman set on destroying her. And as their attraction mounts, Kate faces an impossible choice: keep her childhood secret, or win the woman she loves.

Anna Cowan's The Duke is an utterly unforgettable, riveting romance featuring two women who, separately, are a danger to each other, but together, could be the most powerful duo London has ever seen.

"Gorgeously written and desperately hot... Hands down, my favorite romance of the decade." —Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House

"The Duke is Georgette Heyer quadrupled and queered, flipping the erotic appeal of a cold-hearted alpha into an alternate England in which women can be dukes and marry whom they please. I loved and envied the way it combined the originality of My Lady Jane, the luxury of Bridgerton, and the smutty, fabulous sex of Fingersmith." —Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author of Viscount in Love

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press

Breathtaking

Lush, sexy story in a world that shows society could have been made with room for us.

Excellent writing and narrator.

I can't say enough about this wonderful story. I didn't want it to end and hope there is a follow up book. It was dark at times but also very bright at times. What both MC's went through to get to be together was remarkable. The sex scenes were well done but intense. If you want a good listen I would highly recommend Kate and Celine's story.

Moving

The spice is very hot. The voice acting is over the top good, and so is the writing. The main characters are so compelling individually and together. There's visceral feminism and sapphism and really moving emotional realism.

Jane Austin has nothing Anna Cowan!!

Dang. This is the queer romance I’ve been searching for in all of those cishet novels, and the nes modeled after. 🔥🔥🔥 Love everything about this beautiful novel. The sex was so tastefully erotic too. 🔥🔥🔥

Imaginative and Refreshing

Historical fiction with a sapphic twist that works surprisingly well, works without feeling contrived. Fun and Stimulating banter and a believable and sympathetic main character. The sex scenes sizzle. I cannot wait for another one.