The Truth About Dukes

By: Grace Burrowes

Narrated by: James Langton

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

A new duke and a woman with a secret in her past get a second chance at love in this delightful and charming Regency romance from the New York Times best-selling author of the Windham series.

Robert Rothmere is hiding a past no duke should have endured, but he's not hiding it well enough. Sooner or later, his enemies will learn that he spent years locked away at a private asylum. To get their hands on his wealth, they'll try to send him right back to his worst nightmares. If Robert is to foil their schemes, he needs to marry a perfectly proper, blessedly boring, deadly dull duchess, immediately - and he knows exactly which quietly delightful lady he'd love to entrust with that role.

Lady Constance Wentworth has cultivated a reputation for utter forgettability. She never speaks out of turn (in public), never has a daring thought (that she admits aloud), and never comes close to courting scandal...as far as anybody knows. Her path crossed Robert's years ago, though, and she's never forgotten the extraordinary lengths he traveled to keep her safe when she hadn't a friend in the world. She longs to be his demure duchess...but little does he know that to marry her would be utter madness.

©2020 Grace Burrowes (P)2020 Forever

Critic reviews

"Sexy heroes, strong heroines, intelligent plots, enchanting love stories...Grace Burrowes's romances have them all." (Mary Balogh, New York Times best-selling author)

"Grace Burrowes writes from the heart--with warmth, humor, and a generous dash of sensuality, her stories are unputdownable! If you're not reading Grace Burrowes you're missing the very best in today's Regency Romance!" (Elizabeth Hoyt, New York Times best-selling author)

"An unusual pair of smart and worldly but reticent lovers; a modern sensibility about themes of consent, class, and disability; and a surprising and adventurous plot make Burrowes's latest Rogues to Riches Regency satisfyingly relatable nerdy escapism...will warm readers' hearts to the core." (Publishers Weekly, starred review, on When a Duchess Says I Do)

An original and heartwarming story…

Robert Rothmere is a Duke with epilepsy. His father sent him away as a kid to a place that was supposed to treat him, but ended up scarring him with the terrible ways the doctor in charge had of “treating” the residents. Lady Constance Wentworth met the future Duke at this desperate time in his life, and offered him hope and kindness that ended up saving his life in the long run. They are brought back together after his brother and her sister decide to marry.

This story is well-written and filled with intrigue, insights, and surprises. These protagonists are flawed but delightful, and full of compassion after surviving so many challenges. Because of this, they are wise beyond their years. There is strong family support for each of them both separately and together. The entire story just leaves listeners feeling warm and satisfied from hearing a well-told tale!

Adversity Grows into True Love

The historical view of epilepsy is accurate. The machinations of greedy people continue today. I enjoyed the love & reuniting of family! Another very good book by Grace Burrows.

Loved this book!!

This was a topic that many authors would not have written about but Grace has made it moving and beautiful and heartbreaking and loving and just WOW! I am sure that I will be reading it again because there was such hope and love, and family that I want to visit with them again. I loved it! Thank you Grace, you sure can write wonderful stories that touch my heart!

Slow but sweet

There is a slow and rather predictable plot but because of Robert’s condition it did require a slower pace story to be believable.

Well-written, well-developed characters

Was so excited to read Robert's story. As with all the books in this series I was not disappointed. Robert came to life in this book, He makes a great hero. I love how Grace Burrowes brings the story's hero to the forefront yet allows previous heroes to take a step back....but still be heroic characters. This book is filled with strong characters, lots of romance, tasteful sex and just a little mystery for challenge

Refreshing subject matter for Regency romance

I really loved how this book tackled the subject of epilepsy and guardianships and the stigma associated with insanity. It was really well addressed. I appreciated the romance between the two, and how it had started years ago and quickly rekindled. They were both very empathic characters. The one thread that was left dangling for me was how does the community respond to this local couple who had instigated such negative acts. In the previous book we saw the lady thwarted at the party, but that was far more benign than the husband plotting to control the duke. I'd would have liked more about them - did they end up moving or how did they reform after this.

Best in the Series (so far)

I love these characters and am delighted to have them continue in the books. This story is especially interesting because it deals with more controversial issues. As always, there are several situations that the characters are navigating. I had a bit of dread knowing what they were facing and had to remind myself that there was going to be a happy ending.

The Best Story in the Series So Far!

This book is the 5th in the “Rogues to Riches” series, and it’s the best one in my opinion. This story of Robert and Constance is beautiful and moving. The author does a wonderful job of depicting the “not so pretty” events in the main characters’ lives, and she does it with grace. I’m looking forward to reading Stephen’s story!

Masterpiece Theater needs to snap this up

This makes Poldark or Bridgerton seem dull by comparison. I stayed awake far too long because I had to hear the ending. The absolute nail biting suspense of whether our hero would be found incompetent and stripped of everything due to epilepsy was handled so skillfully without any modern anachronisms sneaking in. So much more satisfying than perfect people!

Last hour saves

How little med research n trials have progressed in 200+ yrs. Story is Dull & slow for most of book. So very predictable. Interesting for research into epilepsy n 19th century med investigation and so little change in jurisprudence.