The Duke of Her Desire
Diamonds in the Rough
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4.2 • 183 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
He was only supposed to keep an eye on his friend’s sister . . . now he’s about to lose his heart . . .
When Thomas Heathmore, Duke of Coventry, agrees to steer his friend’s inexperienced younger sister through society, he doesn’t expect the lady in question to be so infernally stubborn. Amelia Matthews seems to have little interest in balls or suitors at all. Instead, she intends to open a school, and against his better instincts, Thomas offers to help. Yet somewhere along the line, Amelia ceases to be a simple responsibility . . . and becomes an undeniable temptation.
Since her brother inherited a dukedom, Amelia’s prospects have transformed. But though she’s long been secretly infatuated with Thomas, she refuses to heed the arrogant aristocrat’s advice. If only it were as easy to ignore his heated touch. And as Amelia soon learns, the ton is a minefield, where one moment’s indiscretion can unleash a scandal—or entice her to surrender everything to the duke of her desire . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Barnes's perfectly crafted second Diamonds in the Rough historical (after A Most Unlikely Duke) mixes romance and risk in Regency England. Thomas Augustus Heathmore, Duke of Coventry, agrees to watch over the Duke of Huntley's sisters, Lady Amelia and Lady Juliette, while Huntley is away. The forthright and admirable Lady Amelia captures Thomas's attention when he discovers her on a dangerous outing in the grimy neighborhood of St. Giles, where she has purchased a building to turn it into a school for poor children. Thomas realizes that Amelia, unlike the other women he knows, cares much more about how her wealth can benefit others than about how she might enjoy it herself. Amelia is also drawn to Thomas, who is interested in sponsoring groundbreaking legislation that would permit illegitimate children to inherit property and titles. Her lust for him runs up against his stoutly honorable intentions, and the sexual tension builds. Appealing protagonists, immense emotional intensity, and a thread of suspense combine to make this a standout.
