Who Needs a Duke

Fated for a Rogue (Wayward Dukes' Alliance, Book 9)

By: Amanda Mariel, Wayward Dukes

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Amidst Regency England's matchmaking frenzy, the charitable Lady Catherine Breckenridge and the charismatic Duke of Bedford enter a counterfeit romance, unraveling their convictions as they navigate the fine line between pretense and passion.

Lady Catherine Breckenridge has dedicated herself to charitable pursuits, shunning the allure of romance and marriage. Yet, her family has other plans. As Catherine edges toward her 22nd year, her kin's determination for a timely union grows resolute. Unexpectedly, salvation arrives in the form of a well-known rogue, the Duke of Bedford.

Charles De Vere, the dashing Duke of Bedford, possesses both charm and fortune, entitling him as one of England's most eligible bachelors. Despite his unsavory reputation, he finds himself besieged by eager mothers and their marriageable daughters at every society gathering. However, this season, he unveils a masterful strategy.

When the Duke proposes a clandestine alliance to Lady Catherine, her pragmatic nature sees the wisdom in his scheme. While he may be a rogue, he's also a trusted confidant of her brother. Moreover, she remains steadfast in her conviction to resist any rogue's enchantments. Neither harbors matrimonial intentions, and their hearts bear no inclinations toward each other. Their plan appears impeccable—until fate casts an unexpected twist.

Indulge in a world of forbidden passions, strategic alliances, and a love that defies conventions.

©2023 Amanda Mariel (P)2023 Amanda Mariel

Catherine & Charles

Part of the Wayward Dukes' Alliance/ Fated for a Rogue series. Lady Catherine Breckenridge and Charles De Vere, Duke of Bedford come up with a plan to keep themselves from getting married. I enjoyed seeing them with all the ups and downs they went through get a happy ending. The story is well worth reading and listening to. Stevie Zimmerman's narration brings this story to life.

Another Great Addition to the Series

This was another great addition to the series. Amanda Mariel has created characters that are endearing and will keep you entertained. The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing this story to life and making it a fun listen.

I have received a copy of this audiobook and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Delightful

This was a quick, delightful, well-written story which I enjoyed immensely. The development of the relationship between Charles and Catherine was so sweet and unexpected (for them at least), and I found it adorable how they tried to NOT fall in love with each other because of their pretenses. It was delightful (beyond the dozens of mentions of "marriage minded misses and their mamas"--that was a bit irritating). The narration of the audiobook was excellently done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Fun Family Interaction ... and Budding Affection

Like far too many Regency romances, this book's heroine desires not to wed so she can pursue her own wants and desires. This trope is severely overused in Regency, reflecting more of our own modern sensibilities for independence than being true to what was the reality of the Regency Era. But I won't harp on that. This heroine's supposed reason is that she wants to dedicate her life to what would be considered an unladylike pursuit, directly helping orphaned and underprivileged children. Her own brother has forbidden her to do so, and she fears a husband would also keep her from this supposed passion of hers. You might notice I have used the term “supposed” several times. That's because the author didn't really *show* us much of this motivating aspect of the heroine's personality. It is mentioned here and there, but I don't recall there being even one scene in the main part of the book where we actually saw her at an orphanage or any other way working with underprivileged children! That is certainly a lapse when it is supposed to be such a motivating force.

However, the interaction between the hero and heroine, as well as them with her family, was fun to read. The hero also happens to be the best friend of the heroine's brother, and both men are part of a secret wicked club of gentlemen who are bound to have as much illicit pleasure as they desire and consciously avoid the parson’s noose. As you might imagine, this brother does not quite believe the ruse that the hero and heroine have set up: a fake betrothal so that he will not be bothered by husband-hunting mamas and debutants, and she can put off her family who are trying to make her find a husband this season. It's clear they have some growing affection and appreciation for each other from the earliest pages, but, of course, both deny it, partly because neither knows the other’s true feelings … even though their ruse starts to look more real than fake. I particularly loved the brother’s response to all this. It was funny to watch how protective he was of his sister and how he did not hesitate to call his best friend to accounts. Despite some wobbles and bobbles, like the important one listed above, I found this story an enjoyable read.

Charles and Catherine

Neither Charles nor Catherine are ready to marry, yet both are being pushed towards marriage by their family and society expectations. Brilliant idea, they pretend to be engaged, effecting removing them from the marriage market scene. As an affianced couple, they need to spend more time together to uphold their ruse. This leads to them actually falling for each other, and making the ruse a reality. There are parts I would like to read more about, such as example of her involvement with the orphans. However, as this is a short novella, I understand not everything can be expanded on. I enjoyed the brother’s response throughout the story. This was a fun read. The narration was well done. I received a free copy of this audiobook via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.