One should never judge a duke by his cover.

As far as London society knows, Giles Drew, the Duke of Basingstoke, is everything a proper aristocrat ought to be. But when a notorious scandal sheet publishes details of Giles’s questionable bedroom antics, only one bride can salvage his reputation.

Prim and penniless, Francesca Stanhope has resigned herself to a season full of the ton’s snickering—until the Duke of Basingstoke’s dizzying courtship transforms her fate. Yet wedded bliss quickly turns into a clash of wills as Franny realizes her handsome duke is a devil in disguise.

But beneath the newlywed’s skirmishes lies scorching heat. And while each attempts to tame the other, the truth is that this unconventional union may be all either could ever desire . . .

Titles in the Drop Dead Dukes series include — Give the Devil His Duke —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

NetGalley ARC

Title:  Give the Devil His Duke
Series:  Drop Dead Dukes #1
Author:  Anna Bradley
Genre:  Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published:  July 25, 2023
Publisher:  Kensington Books
My Rating:  4

Give the Devil His Duke begins the Drop Dead Dukes series with a complicated family history for Giles and Francesca.  Scandals from the past (and present) add to those complications.  In trying to right a wrong, Giles will stumble along the way as his plan goes way off course when his intended bride elopes with her true love.  Now it’s up to Giles to fix a very bad impression he gave to the one woman who he really could spend a lifetime with… and that is not going to be easy at all.

Franny and her mother have been living in destitute conditions ever since her father’s death and her uncle coming into the title.  One pompous, cruel man blames the wrong person over a scandal and his brother’s death.  Franny has come to London, been offered a season by a family friend, and wants nothing to do with finding a husband but to beg her uncle to provide better for her mother, who is now in ill health.  Unfortunately, what Franny wants and what she gets are two far different things.

Give the Devil His Duke is well-written, emotionally engaging, and at times, chuckle-worthy.  It’s a good book.  There are some scenes that simply didn’t fit (for me) and definitely guided my opinion of Giles.  Yes, he redeemed himself and explained away my hesitation, but by that time, I really didn’t care much for him.  I did adore Franny; she’s such a stubborn, feisty lady and definitely could handle Giles in her own way.  I enjoy seeing beneath the surface of a character beyond what they show to the world at large.  And Franchesca is far more than her “prim and proper” surface.  Together, eventually, she and Giles fit together well.  It will just take a bit of time to get beyond what is being tossed their way as roadblocks.

Will I continue the series?  I’m really not sure; that depends on the synopsis of the next book.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available in print, audio, or for your favorite e-reader