The Duchess and the Orc

TITLE: The Duchess and the Orc

SERIES: Orc Sworn #4

AUTHOR: Finley Finn

RATING: 

STEAM: 

THE SYNOPSIS
He’s a massive, mocking, murderous monster. And there’s only one thing he wants from her...

In a world of recently warring orcs and men, Maria is desperate for escape. She’s trapped in an opulent prison, tainted by rumours of madness, and wed to a cold, vindictive duke who hungers only for war.  But with no family, no funds, and no hope, there’s nowhere left to run — except for the one place even a duke can’t reach. The place where women almost always meet their doom…Orc Mountain.

It’s a grim, deadly fortress, filled with fierce, bloodthirsty beasts — and the first orc Maria meets is the most terrifying of them all. A huge, hostile, hideous brute, hardened by hatred and war, who instantly accuses her of foul trickery, and threatens her with death —. But this orc also wants something. Something that kindles deep in his gleaming black eyes, in his rough, rugged scent, in the velvet heat of his voice. Something that just might grant Maria his safety… but only if she grants him everything in return.

Her defeat. Her dignity. Her devotion…And surely, a duchess wouldn’t dare make such a shameful deal with the devil — or would she? Especially when surrender might spark yet more war... or bring the mighty Orc Mountain to its knees?

THE REVIEW

Maria is desperate to escape her horrible husband so she makes a plan to go to Orc Mountain, offer herself to an Orc for year, and then have her freedom. She even plants letters behind to be sure to humiliate her awful husband when they find out she would prefer an Orc or him! But, after being ignored, belittled and untouched for years, she finds freedom and fulfillment in the mountain. 

Simon is the Enforcer of Orc Mountain who is trying to change the brutal ways of his clan, Skai, who is known for its harsh treatment of their mates. So, after bumping into Maria on the road, he uses her to prove to his clan that you can successfully find and keep a mate without those ancient ways. 

Together they manage to challenge those ancient Skai ways with some success until Simon is challenged as Enforcer and Maria’s deception comes to light. 

Book Four was different in that Maria choose to seek out the Orcs whereas in other books it was more forceful. After four books, it was a nice change of plot. Also, after watching Simon in previous books, it was also fun to see Simon find his woman!

TROPES

Paranormal Romance, Monster Romance, Alpha Hero, Pugilist/Fighter Hero, Aggressive Heroine, Damaged/Tortured Heroine, Heiress Heroine, Outdoor Steam, Desk Steam, Monster Steam, Fling to Love, Betrayal Trope, Hidden Identity, Secrets & Lies, Four Star, Five Flame

Paranormalromance, MonsterRomance, AlphaHero, Pugilist/FighterHero, AggressiveHeroine, Damaged/TorturedHeroine, HeiressHeroine, OutdoorSteam, DeskSteam, MonsterSteam, FlingtoLove, BetrayalTrope, HiddenIdentity, SecretsandLies, FourStar, FiveFlame