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What the duke desires
386 pages
A delightful, banter-filled romp through Paris where a fake marriage slowly melts into very real desire.
What it feels like
Reading this historical romance feels like embarking on a thrilling, flirtatious carriage ride across the English Channel. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, seamlessly weaving a light family mystery with the delicious tension of the fake marriage trope. As the guarded duke and the spirited heroine navigate their ruse in Paris, the atmosphere shifts from playful suspicion to a swoony, deeply felt intimacy. The prose is sharp and witty, prioritizing sparkling banter and emotional vulnerability over dense historical detail. It is a perfect escape for readers who delight in road-trip romances, forced proximity, and watching two people who think they are just playing a part slowly realize they have found exactly what they desire.
- Mood
- swoony
- intriguing
- suspenseful
- Tone
- romantic
- witty
- adventurous
- playful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- fake relationship · healing past grief · uncovering family secrets · crossing social boundaries
- The writing
- Engaging and accessible, balancing sharp, flirtatious banter with tender emotional introspection.
- The arc
- Moves from guarded suspicion and lingering grief to passionate vulnerability and deep mutual trust.
- Who it's for
- Fans of historical romance who love the fake marriage trope combined with a light mystery and plenty of witty road-trip banter.
Content notes
- kidnapping
- grief over a missing sibling
- family estrangement
About the book
"Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke's brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan's sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posing as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends with Lisette, the easier it is for Max to see that the line between dukedom and desire is easier to cross than he imagined."--Publisher's description.
Description from Open Library.
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