The Scoundrel Falls Hard
The Duke Hunt #3
Sophie Jordan
★★★☆☆
🖤🖤🤍🤍🤍
For years, fiercely independent Gwen Cully has worked as the village blacksmith, keeping her family's business going. But when a local rival threatens her livelihood, Gwen has nowhere to turn ... until a devastatingly handsome fugitive takes shelter in her shop and sparks fly.
Unrepentant rogue Kellan Fox's entire existence has been a dangerous game of deception that leads him into a fight for survival--and straight into the arms of a tall, fiery beauty. When Gwen protects him from an angry mob of villagers, Kellan sees the perfect solution to both their troubles. A marriage--in name only--that will last a single year.
Only a marriage of convenience can't hide their searing attraction. It glows hotter than Gwen's forge and reaches deep below the tempting mask Kellan wears for the world. With every sizzling glance and scorching kiss, Gwen surrenders more of herself to the molten passion she finds in Kellan's strong embrace. But can she ever truly trust her heart to a scoundrel?
The Plot
Cullen and his dad have been pretending to be the new Duke of Penning and his son, but when their scheme is unconverted, Cullen’s dad leaves him to face the angry mob. Gwen can not watch the townspeople hang Cullen and desperately declares that they are in love. Free from the rope around his neck, Cullen and Gwen agree to get married in name only for one year and then go their separate ways, but the feelings between them are too hot to ignore.
This is an excellent bad boy redeemed story and Gwen is the perfect heroine to help Cullen better himself. They both are lonely and need each other at a desperate time in their lives. The fates intervened and forced them together in a very unique way! There are several undying plots that wove wonderfully into the story; the other blacksmith harassing Gwen into marriage, Cullens despicable father causing strife between Gwen and Cullen and the townspeople’s lack of trust in Cullen. It all kept the story moving along and interesting, but never stealing focus from the developing love between Cullen and Gwen.
The Heroine
Gwen Cully is the towns blacksmith but since her father and uncle died, she has been trying to do everything by herself…and failing. She is working nonstop, losing business to the new blacksmith that moved into town, and is realizing just how lonely it is by herself. Gwen has always felt out of place as a female blacksmith, a tall woman, and a spinster, but Cullen makes her feel like a beautiful woman and slowly makes herself vulnerable to Cullen. She is fiercely independent but is happy to have Cullen stand beside her and be a helpmate.
The Hero
Kellan Fox was raised by his father, a trickster, and has lived his whole life from one scheme to the next, but when his dad pretends to be the Duke of Penning, Cullen knows he has gone to far. He is ready to leave that life behind, so when his dad runs away without him and Gwen offers him a way out with marriage, he sees the blessing for what it is…a way to start fresh. And for the first time, someone sees him as someone worth redemption. And he works hard to gain Gwen’s trust and for her to return the love he feels for her. I thought he was just adorable and so sweet.
The Steam
Honestly, not a lot of steam…I kept thinking….oh, here is comes, but then someone would interrupt them and cool the heat between them!
Stand Out Moment
When she saves him from the crowd determined to hang him for his crimes! When she saves him from the crowd determined to hang him for his crimes!
Final Thoughts
I thought this was a very unique historical romance, the plot was original, had me hooked on the characters and felt the emotions between Gwen and Cullen.
Tropes
Bluestocking heroine, Virgin heroine, Fake relationship, Stuck together, Marriage of convenience
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