Give the Devil His Duke

A nice enough story but I agree with the other reviewer. The first half a chapter three was off-putting and unnecessary to the story. A decent editor would have crossed it out.

Fairly nice writing style, but there were a few typos, not enough research was done on period dress which kept breaking the immersion, lots of repeating/rehashing previous events to the point the book could’ve been half as long, and Giles calls Franny “sweetheart” so many times his bedroom voice sounds like a serial killer.

Lady Francesca Stanhope comes to London to confront her uncle about the shabby way he has treated her and her mother since her father died ten years ago. While waiting for the opportunity to talk to her uncle, she is sponsored by Lady Crump. She is not fashionable, and is teased and laughed at by other young ladies, as well of the Duke of Bassingstoke. Giles wants to redeem the family’s reputation after a horrid scandal created by his father. That scandal is the reason Francesca and her mother are ostracized. It seems that any interaction between Giles and Francesca is fodder for gossip in the scandal sheets, and they are soon the center of another scandal. When her cousin jilts him and elopes, Giles proposes to Francesca. It doesn’t matter that he is attracted to her, he needs this to quell the scandal. Things become unpleasant when Francesca discovers his reason for marrying her. Is their marriage ruined? Who continues to feed stories to the scandal sheets about them? This is a wonderful beginning for the Drop Dead Dukes series. The story is interesting and the main characters are strong. There is some tension, some twists and surprises, and a mystery. The romance can definitely be defined a slow-burn. Even though they didn’t get off to the best start, there is a happy ending.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

4.5 Stars! I really enjoyed this book. It’s the first in a new series ‘Drop Dead Dukes’. The main characters are Giles Drew, The Duke of Basingstoke and Lady Francesca Stanhope. I loved Francesca from the beginning. Giles, however, I didn’t really care for, until the last few chapters of the book. I didn’t care for a ‘sexy times’ scene that included Giles & 2 other women. That just made me dislike him even more and I kept thinking, ‘they really need to burn that bed’. I wish the history between Giles & Francesca’s family’s was explained a bit more. Shame on all of them AND “the ton” for how they never helped Francesca & her Mom. Other than my dislike of the main male character, I loved this book. This seems like a really interesting series and I’d highly recommend this book! I can’t wait for the rest of the series! Anna Bradley is such an amazing author! She gets me so invested in fictional characters that I laugh, cry and get angry over their fake stories! Seriously, who does that?!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

Give The Devil His Duke is the first book in the Drop Dead Duke series and it was absolutely everything I want out of a historical regency romance. Colorful characters, an action packed and entertaining plot filled with humor, snarky banter, mystery and excitement. This stunning Duke will steal your heart as he tries to do what’s right not only for his family but for Francesca as well. But hold on to your seat as this spirited, strong, as well as beautiful, Lady Francesca will have you cheering her on as she puts the Duke in his place. But most importantly, the romantic and scorching heat between these two is off the charts!

Lady Francesca Stanhope at the age of twenty-one, had just returned to London after ten long years, living with her mother in a small cottage in Ashwell, Herefordshire, since being shunned and blamed by their family for a scandal.
Lady Crump a loyal friend to Francesca’s mother Lady Maria Stanhope was sponsoring Lady Francesca for a season. But Lady Francesca was not in London to dance, or capture a husband, but to try to remain invisible, until she could talk with her Uncle Edward and hopefully obtain some money that would help her mother’s worsening health issues.

Giles Drew the Eighth Duke of Basingstoke, is everything a proper aristocrat ought to be.
At least in the eyes of the ton, he’s charming, honorable, a man without vice, and a paragon of the highest principles. But to try to repair his family’s position after his father’s destructive behavior, he decides to marry Susannah Stanhope. But when a notorious scandal sheet publish details of his questionable behavior. Only one bride can salvage his reputation. Beautiful and penniless Lady Francesca. But will Giles make the right decision?

“How could I tell you, Francesca, that when I saw you in the garden that night, with those blue eyes and all that dark hair tumbling about your shoulders, I thought by some magical stroke of luck, I’d secured the hand of the most beautiful lady in London?”

So entertaining with snarky banter, and Francesca frequently putting Giles in his place had me constantly smiling. And when the scheming, selfish, egotistical relatives who were so mean spirited, received their due from the town I was dancing in my seat. This is such a fantastic start to this new series. You will not want to put this down. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

I received an early copy and this is my honest review.