Scoundrel of My Heart

in , , , by Duchess Bethany, January 28, 2023

TITLE: Scoundrel of My Heart
SERIES: Once Upon a Dukedom #1
AUTHOR: Lorraine Heath
RATING: 
STEAM: 

THE SYNOPSIS

She is desperate to wed a duke...
Lady Kathryn Lambert must marry a titled gentleman to claim her inheritance and has finally gained the attention of a duke. Yet she is unable to forget the scandalous second son who aided in her achievement—or his betrayal.

He wants what he can never possess...
Lord Griffith Stanwick is tormented by the bitter truth that as a “spare,” he will never be able to give Kathryn what she yearns to possess. But when his father is found guilty of treason, Griff detours into the dark and dangerous corners of London, haunted by memories of the woman lost to him forever.

Love not to be denied...
As the duke’s courtship intensifies, Kathryn discovers Griff has become a man to be reckoned with. When old passions flare and new desires ignite, she must decide if sacrificing her legacy is worth a lifetime shared with the scoundrel of her heart.


THE REVIEW


Lord Griffith Stanwick is the unwanted second son of a Duke. He lived most of his life with the reality that no one cared about him or needed him and he drowned his sorrows in gambling, drink or women. But he secretly held a desire to start a club for spinsters, second sons and children of wealthy merchants; those who other clubs doors are closed to. 


The only daughter of her parents, Lady Kathryn Lambert was given an inheritance that will be hers if she marries an aristocrat before her 25th birthday, her grandmother’s beloved seaside cottage. She is determined to gain the cottage and desperate to marry quickly! 


Griff is Kathryn’s best friend, Althea’s brother, so they grew around each other, always teasing one another and poking at nerves. But one summer, while Kathryn was staying with Althea, something changed. Griff was no longer teasing and rude to her; he was attentive and helpful. In fact, he wanted to help her gain the attention of the Duke of Kingsland who was looking for a duchess. But with one fiery kiss, everything changed between them permanently. 


Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the kiss that upended their lives, Griff’s father was hanged for treason and their whole family turned outcasts overnight. This is where the time leap occurs. Months pass before we are brought back to the story and now Kathryn is being courted by the Duke of Kingsland and Griff is no where to be seen. 


There is obviously more to it than that, but the not knowing was the best part of discovery! So there won’t be any spoilers here! 


When Griff and Kathryn are finally reunited months later, emotions are high and sexual tension abounds! But their circumstances have both changed and they aren’t the same people who had just discovered their feelings for each other. Again, no spoilers! 


But, I will say, GOD I love Lorraine Heath’s stories! She can make me feel angsty but in a good way, sad but optimistic, passion but underlying love all within a chapter of her prose! I know when I open one of her books, I will be lost to its allure until it’s closed at the end. And I was. I binged this book faster than any other recently. I loved Kathryn. I loved Griff. I loved the Duke of Kingsland (and can’t wait to read his love story!). It was everything. Just read it. I promise you won’t regret it. 


TROPES

Historical Romance, Victorian Era, Seaside, Ton Society, Gaming Hell, Beta/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Damaged/Tortured Hero, Disabled/Wounded/Scared Hero, Gaming Hell Owner, Rake Hero, Self-Made Hero, Unworthy Hero, Working/Merchant Class Hero, Second Son/The Spare, Must Do Her Duty Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Angst Romance, Best Friends Sibling, Friends to Lovers, Class Difference, Hero Falls Hard, Second-Act Breakup Romance, Loss of Nobility/Riches to Rags, Nursed Back to Health, Outdoor Steam, Time Leap, Five Star, Three Flame



HistoricalRomance, VictorianEra, Seaside, TonSociety, GamingHell, Beta/CinnamonRollHero, Damaged/TorturedHero, Disabled/Wounded/ScaredHero, GamingHellOwner, RakeHero, Self-MadeHero, UnworthyHero, Working/MerchantClassHero, SecondSon/TheSpare, MustDoHerDutyHeroine, VirginHeroine, AngstRomance, BestFriendsSibling, FriendstoLovers, ClassDifference, HeroFallsHard, Second-ActBreakupRomance, LossofNobility/RichestoRags, NursedBacktoHealth, OutdoorSteam, TimeLeap, FiveStar, ThreeFlame

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