Falling Into Bed with a Duke by Lorraine Heath

November 10th, 2015 Kimberly Review 46 Comments

10th Nov
Falling Into Bed with a Duke by Lorraine Heath
Falling Into Bed with a Duke
by Lorraine Heath
Series: The Hellions of Havisham #1
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
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Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne Flame

In the first in a dazzling new series, New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath introduces the Hellions of Havisham—three charismatic rogues destined to lose their hearts... After six unsuccessful Seasons, Miss Minerva Dodger chooses spinsterhood over fortune-hungry suitors. But thanks to the Nightingale Club, she can at least enjoy one night of pleasure. At that notorious establishment, ladies don masks before choosing a lover. The sinfully handsome Duke of Ashebury is more than willing to satisfy the secretive lady's desires—and draws Minerva into an exquisite, increasingly intimate affair. A man of remarkable talents, Ashe soon deduces that his bedmate is the unconventional Miss Dodger. Intrigued by her wit and daring, he sets out to woo her in earnest. Yet Minerva refuses to trust him. How to court a woman he has already thoroughly seduced? And how to prove that the passion unleashed in darkness is only the beginning of a lifetime's pleasure?

historical ROMANCE smartfunny SWOON

Falling Into Bed with a Duke is the first novel in Lorraine Heath’s all new Hellions of Havisham series. Humor, strong characters and a little mystery romance made this devilishly good tale delightful. I love discovering hellions and strong opinionated heroines who know exactly what they want ..or maybe not. Lorraine Heath writes characters that you connect with and root for. Come meet Minerva and Ashe..I dare you not to fall for them.

Coffee dates with Falling Into Bed with a Duke

  • First date: We meet Miss Minerva Dodger who after six-seasons has come to terms with being a spinster. Despite her large dowry or because of it, Minerva is determined to remain single unless she meets a man who meets her qualifications. 1. He must not be in it for the money. 2. He must respect her opinions and treat her as an equal. 3. He must LOVE her. I adored Minerva she is confident, strong and sharp. She is more concerned with current events that the social gossip of the ton.  She knows what she wants and when she announces she will go to the Nightingale Club to enjoy one night of pleasure I am not at all surprised. At this point, I am all in, because you just know mischief and romance will ensue.
  • Second date: All the ladies at Nightingale wear masks to hide their identity; the men do not. Ashe, The Duke of Ashebury, one of the notorious Hellion of Havisham is intrigued by the masked Minerva, and invites her to a night of pleasure. Their first encounter is interesting and Ashe soon wants more. He is determined to discover who she is. This added a little Cinderella mystery. The two of them have encounters during social events and I enjoyed their engaging discussions, and banter. She of course knows who he is and he is quite confident that the masked lady and the spinster Dodger are one and the same. The dance these two begin is delicious to watch.
  • Third date: Things are heating up between the masked lady and Ashe as their dance continues. The budding romance between Minerva and Ashe is sure to curl your toes. Heath adds some complications that may throw the identity reveal into a wicked spin. All of which had me flipping the pages and curious about the outcome. Ashe has a secret and I loved that Heath weaved in this disorder. She showed the impact it has on a strong, intelligent man. Passion and emotions from the characters had me swooning, smiling and crossing my fingers. Seeing the growth in Minerva as Ashe tries to woo the Lady Dodger was delicious. Minerva’s parents were positively delightful and a breath of fresh air for Regency London. We see growth and acceptance as we move towards the end of this date. Heath provided a eulogy that will delight and satisfy readers.

My first dates with the Hellions of Havisham series ended with a smile and has me looking forward to my next date; The Earl Takes It All scheduled to release in April of 2016. Historical romance fans looking for a strong heroine, a delicious plot and a hero who will make you swoon should add Falling Into Bed with a Duke to their TBR pile post-haste.

Excerpt

The Duke of Ashebury was on the hunt for a pair of long, shapely legs. Standing casually with a shoulder pressed to a wall in the front parlor of the Nightingale Club, he observed with a jaundiced eye those who entered. The ladies wore flowing silk that caressed their skin as a lover might before the night was done. The shimmering fabric seductively outlined the body, hinted at dips and swells. Arms were bared. Necklines were low, the silk gathering just below a tasteful showing of cleavage designed to entice. People murmured and sipped their champagne, while exchanging heavy-lidded gazes and come-hither smiles.

The flirtation that occurred within these walls was very different from that found in a ballroom. No one here was searching for a dance partner. Rather, they wanted a bedding partner. He appreciated the honesty on display, which was the reason that he often stopped by when he was in London. No pretense, no ruses, no duplicity.

He had already claimed a bedchamber, the key nestled in his jacket pocket, as he wanted no one to disturb what he had so painstakingly set up. His needs were unique, and he knew that within these walls, they would be kept secret. People did not discuss what occurred at the Nightingale Club. For most of London, its existence was something spoken about in longing whispers by those who knew it only as myth. But for those familiar with it, it served as a sanctuary, liberator, confidant. It was whatever one needed it to be.

For him, it was salvation, bringing him back from the brink of darkness. Twenty years had gone by since his parents’ deaths, yet still he dreamed of mangled and charred remains. Still, he heard his mother’s terrorized screams and his father’s fruitless cries. Still, his behavior when he’d last seen them taunted him. Had he known that he’d never look upon them again—

With resolve, he shook off the haunting musings that sent a chill down his spine. Here, he could forget, at least for a few hours. Here, the regrets didn’t gnaw unmercifully at him. Here, he could become lost striving for perfection, for the ultimate in pleasure.

He had merely to determine which lady would best suit his purposes, which would be willing to concede to his unusual request without protest. It bothered him not at all that the ladies wore domino masks. He cared little for their faces, understood their need for anonymity. Their concealment worked to his advantage as he’d discovered that ladies were more comfortable with his request when they were assured it would remain their secret—and his not knowing their identity made them bolder than they might have been otherwise. They liked being a little naughty as long as they weren’t caught. He couldn’t catch them if he didn’t know who they were.

Still, he had one cardinal rule he always observed: never the same lady twice.

The ladies brought their own masks, seldom changed them, as the façade became their calling cards, as effective at identifying them as the ones handed over to butlers in the early afternoon when they were making proper visits. The woman in the black mask decorated with peacock feathers had a scar just above her left knee from a tumble she’d taken from a pony as a child. The blue mask, black feathers had two delightful dimples in the small of her back. The green mask outlined in yellow lace possessed bony hips that had proven a challenge, but he’d been pleased with the results when their time together was finished. But then he’d always embraced the challenge of discovering the perfection in imperfection.

The three glasses of scotch that he’d enjoyed were thrumming through his veins. The din of intimacy was calming. The muscles that had been so tense earlier were relaxed. He was in his element here, or he would be in short order. As soon as he found that for which he was searching. He wouldn’t settle for less than what he wanted; he never did. If one sure thing could be said about the Duke of Ashebury, it was that he knew his own mind. That he was stubborn when it came to acquiring what he needed—or wanted. Tonight’s endeavors straddled the line of both what he needed and what he wanted. All needs would be met before dawn. Then, perhaps, he could be glad to be back in London.

Lifting his glass for another sip, he watched a woman wearing draping white silk and a white mask with short white feathers walk hesitantly into the room as though she expected the floor to drop out from beneath her at any moment. She wasn’t particularly tall, but based on the way the silk moved over her flesh with each graceful step, it was obvious that she possessed long, slender legs. He wondered if she was meeting someone, already had an arranged assignation. Some ladies did—it was one of the reasons that the men didn’t wear masks. So they were easily identifiable if their paramours wanted to meet them here. Another reason was that men simply didn’t bloody well care if anyone knew that they were in the mood for a good tupping. Even the married ones were brazen with their presence.

The woman in white appeared to have dark hair, gathered up in an elaborate style that no doubt required an abundance of pins. He couldn’t be absolutely certain of the exact shade because the lighting in the room—only flickering candles—enhanced the mood of secrecy as well as creating an ambiance for intimacy while providing a gossamer disguise for some distinguishing characteristics that were easily identifiable by color: hair, eyes, even the fairness of skin. Perhaps she moved slowly because her eyes were adjusting to the dimness. Gentlemen not yet spoken for did not swarm to her side. But then that was the rule here. Seduction happened slowly. Ladies needed to hint at an interest.

But then, if this was her first time, she might not be aware of the subtle rules. He was fairly certain he’d never seen her before. A connoisseur of the body, he would have remembered the elegance of her movements, the way the cloth glided over her skin, outlining her form. Slender legs, but meat where it counted. No bony hips there.

With one long swallow, he finished off his scotch, relishing the realization that the hunt was over. He’d thought he wanted a tall woman. He’d been mistaken.

He wanted her.

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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46 Responses to “Falling Into Bed with a Duke by Lorraine Heath”

  1. Ksenia

    Wonderful review, Kim! I mostly read contemporary, but I pick up Historical Romance from time to time. This sounds good.

  2. Bookworm Brandee

    I quick added this to my tbr, Kimberly. I love the sound of Minerva – I’m a sucker for an historical heroine who knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to share it. And Ashe seems like her perfect match. Great review!

  8. Cyn

    Yay, glad you enjoyed this one! I really liked Minerva! This was definitely a cute read. Awesome review, Kim! I can’t wait for the next book, too!

  11. Quinn's Book Nook

    I’ve heard really good things about this book and I”m so glad you enjoyed it. I definitely need to look into it. I’ve never read Lorraine Heath.

  12. Ramona

    Sounds like Minerva makes a great character. I like the sound of this romance 🙂 (I do have a weakness for dukes, lol)

  14. Heidi

    Historical books in general are so hit and miss for me, but I do like the sound of the characters in this one.

  15. Rosa

    I also love strong opinionated heroines! Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite characters ever. So, this book seems really interesting!

  19. Jenny

    YEAH KIM!!!! I so loved this one too, Minerva was definitely one of my favorite historical romance heroines ever. I just loved that she knew what she wanted and refused anything less than love for herself. I definitely can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next with this series:)

  20. Nick

    I love that Minerva has this list of qualifications for the men! And she seems like a smart cookie who knows what she wants. And I love the whole masked identity thing. I bet it’s fun when things are finally revealed. 🙂
    I read my first few Lorraine Heath novels and really enjoyed them! Can’t wait to read this one. 🙂

  21. Mary Kirkland

    I can’t even imagine living in that time period. You’re a spinster if you aren’t married by a certain age..good grief. Thanks for the review.

  22. Lover Of Romance

    I am so excited to read this one. I ordered this online, and just waiting for it to arrive! I was tempted to get it in e book, but the paperback format is so PRETTY, I just would love to have this on my shelf. Great review. I can’t wait to read this one, because Heath is so fabulous and one of my top authors to read especially when it comes to historical.