The Duke Gets Desperate

A Novel

By: Diana Quincy

Narrated by: Vaneh Assadourian, Timothy Campbell

Diana Quincy returns with a steamy affair between an Arab-American woman who inherits a run-down castle in the English countryside and the duke who asserts the castle is his, in the first book in a brand-new Victorian historical romance series.

Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, inherits his spendthrift father’s title and can finally restore the family castle to its former glory. But at the reading of the will, Strick is stunned to learn that his father has secretly disentailed him, leaving the family manor—home to twelve generations of dukes—to Strick’s American stepmother. Everyone knows Strick detests the dowager duchess, and when she dies mysteriously, damning rumors start to surface.

When Raya Darwish unexpectedly inherits her glamorous late cousin’s castle in the English countryside, she clashes with the charismatic young duke who insists the castle is rightfully his. The estate is practically bankrupt, so she must find a way to work with the duke in order to save both of their futures.

The two cannot stand each other, but mutual disdain soon gives way to desire. When questions arise about how her cousin died, Raya cannot help wondering if Strick’s sudden unbridled passion for her is part of a scheme to get his castle back...

It’s fine

I was excited about the premise of this one, but the execution was just okay. There weren’t a ton of big feelings, and the plot seemed to overtake the romance, even though there wasn’t all that much going on. I love a savvy FMC who isn’t easily duped, but not when it means she’s constantly imagining threats and betrayal on the thinnest evidence. And the constant miscommunication! Overall, it’s a bit plodding, a bit annoying, but otherwise fine. Oh and the narration had pretty inconsistent volume from chapter to chapter.

I'll never recover from this book.

OKAY SIRRR

The tension! The banter! The loathe to love road was exquisite!! I devoured this book in a day because there was absolutely no putting it down. The audiobook narration was fantastic!

Raya and Strick have every reason to hate each other and not one is enough to keep them apart. This was instantaneously delicious! It had me squealing and kicking my feet with every interaction they had. The way this man worshipped her! The scene in where he covers her in jewelry?? I died. Dead. Deceased.

This was my first book of Quincy’s and I now need to go through her entire backlist!

Ruined by the female narrator

Not at all romantic, money obsessed woman and arrogant man. The female narrator destroyed the sex scenes with her harsh business-like manner voice. What a disappointment.