Along Came a Duke

Fun book, with a slight Cinderella theme. Tabitha is a vicar's daughter who, upon the death of her father, was taken in by her aunt and uncle. They didn't want her, but she was part of the deal that enabled her uncle to take over the vicar's position. Tabitha has spent the last several years as her relatives' servant. That all changes when she is left a huge fortune - as long as she marries the man her late uncle picked for her, a paragon of virtue named Mr. Barkworth. Tabitha is informed of this on the same day she told an insufferable and rakish Mr. Preston that she had no wish ever to get married. Her relatives quickly have her on the road to London and the promise of a speedy marriage.

Mr. Preston, who is actually the Duke of show more Preston, met Tabitha when he and his friend Roxley had an accident while participating in a bet. Preston has quite the reputation for reckless behavior, and this is just one more example. His latest antics have caused him to be shunned by society, and his aunt and uncle to try to convince him to mend his ways.

From the moment that Preston and Tabitha meet, there are sparks between them. Tabitha is a spirited young woman who has had a hard time of it but accepts it and moves on. I loved the first meeting between her and Preston, where she has no trouble pushing back against his arrogance. For his part, Preston is amused by her and finds himself unable to forget her. A chance encounter on the road has them sharing a private dinner. I loved this scene as Preston teases Tabitha and she gives as good as she gets. We also get some insight into the past that affects Preston's behavior as an adult. Tabitha knows that she isn't being wise, but there is something about Preston that she can't resist.

Their next encounter is two weeks later. Preston hasn't been able to forget Tabitha. He is stunned when they meet again, and he learns of her upcoming betrothal. He is dismayed by what he sees as her relatives' attempts to turn her into another "Bath miss" and is determined to save her from such a fate. I loved his appearance at the same function that night. His outrageous behavior is great fun to watch as he pokes at the so stuffy Barksworth. I loved seeing Preston's protectiveness as he tries to save Tabitha from a miserable marriage without realizing why he feels so strongly about it. In spite of his rakish reputation, there is a very sweet side to him also. I loved the scene with the bluebells. Tabitha can't help but compare the two men, and each encounter makes it more obvious which she would rather be with. The tension picks up when Preston learns the details of the betrothal and becomes determined to save Tabitha. His methods are effective in one way, but she isn't in the clear quite yet. There is still excitement to come as Preston finally realizes why he's so protective of Tabitha. The final scenes are great fun as both Preston and Tabitha do what they must to get the future they want.

I liked Tabitha from the start. She is feisty and independent even while stuck with her miserable aunt and uncle. I enjoyed her quick wit as she traded barbs with Preston over dinner and again in London. I would have liked to see her stand up to Barksworth and her relatives a bit sooner, but she did come through in the end.

I wasn't as sure about Preston at first. He came across as spoiled and uncaring, especially when it came to the bet that started the book. I ached for him as his past was revealed and felt that maybe there was some hope for him after all. Tabitha's effect on him was huge as she inspired him to change.

I also enjoyed the supporting characters. Preston's friend Roxley is a terrific friend and is there to support him when he's most needed. I had to laugh at his fear of his Aunt Essex and the lengths he took to avoid her. I'm looking forward to seeing his story. Preston's aunt was quite a force to be reckoned with, and I really enjoyed seeing her try to save him from himself. I'm also looking forward to seeing how Preston's uncle deals with the results of the prank that Preston and Roxley have played on him. I also liked Tabitha's friends, Harry and Daphne. Harry is forthright, and some of the things she says and does are pretty amusing. There is a history between her and Roxley, and I look forward to finding out more about it. I wasn't sure about Daphne at first because of her support of Barksworth, and her dislike of Preston. As that seems to be the result of some kind of family feud, I have a feeling that she has some surprises in store for her. show less

"Along Came a Duke", and he was hiding his broken heart behind outlandishly rakish behavior. Christopher Seldon, Duke of Preston, is paving a path to Hell with less than good intentions. Miss Tabitha Timmons, a ward of some very selfish and demanding relatives, stands to inherit an unexpected fortune upon her marriage to a respectable suitor. Once Preston meets Tabby, he determines that she deserves so much more than life has handed her so far, and he decides to save her from a miserable fate. However, Tabby is no meek miss, accepting her lot without a thought for her own happiness. She has spirit, intelligence, and a beauty all her own. How could Preston not be drawn to her? As the two of them bicker, banter and bluster through one show more escapade after another, they also fall in love. Each of them comes into their own, and then they both realize that they want to grab all the happiness their hearts can hold. The game's on in this delightful Regency romance from author Elizabeth Boyle, with great humor and a poignant love story. Most enjoyable!

Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine show less

Read for Fun (Paper Copy)
Last Book Finished in 2013!
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50

First Thought when Finished: Along Came a Duke was a brilliant beginning to this series!

Overall Thoughts: Confession: I read this one after reading the third one in the series. Totally doable if you are so inclined to go against the grain. I will say this, it made me love the 3rd couple even more and made me wish I had done it in order. There was a plus side though, reading out of order made me laugh at times during Tabitha and Preston's "courtship". Poor Preston had no idea what he was up against. To know what they are like further down the line just made me laugh and go "poor schmuck you are so hooked". I would overall show more recommend reading these in order but it is quite OK if you don't. Tabitha is probably my favorite leading lady of the 3 in the series. She is the one I could identify with the most. For a spinster, she has spunk. I loved her banter with Preston and felt she held her own. The end will make you squee with delight and want to grab the next one immediately.

Final Thoughts: Just plain delightful to read! show less

Exceptional. Great characters, solid plot.

Tabitha Timmons, yet another spinster from Kempton, is the unlikely recipient of a fortune and needs a trustworthy friend badly.

Preston, the Duke of Preston, stumbles into her life at just the right time and needs all his ducal authority to straighten out this mess.

I loved the characters, their motivations were so believable, which made the final conclusion satisfying. I adored the richness of the friendships between Tabitha and Preston and between Tabitha and her friends from Kempton.

Very satisfying, warm fuzzies galore.

Poor orphan Tabitha finds herself being rushed into an arranged marriage by her mean guardians and a group of scheming blackguards out to get their hands on the huge inheritance she has been left by a distant relative. On her way to London to meet the man chosen to be her husband, she and her entourage stop over at an inn where she enjoys a friendly late-night meal with someone she later discovers is the notorious Duke of Preston. The relaxed meal with a witty and intelligent woman reminds Preston of the dinners he enjoyed in his country seat, before an epidemic took away all of his family.

Hearing that Tabitha is about to be trapped into marriage, Preston plots to scuttle the arrangement, for both altruistic and selfish reasons.

An show more enjoyable read, spoiled only by too many long-winded tells that slow down the dialogue and the action, and a slightly forced race-against-the-clock climax at the end.

The publisher's teaser at the end advertised a second book in the series which focuses on a totally bland and almost irrelevant character in [b:Along Came A Duke|12833037|Along Came A Duke (Rhymes with Love, #1)|Elizabeth Boyle|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332816737s/12833037.jpg|17983300]. However much I might have enjoyed this book as a light, fun read, I won't be pursuing the series. It's a personal thing — if a character is a complete nonentity in one book, it seems pointless to make him or her the protagonist of another. show less

Lighthearted and humorous, filled with stuff only a comedy of manners could provide. The London "ton" is eager to marry Tabitha off...but why so much haste? And of course a handsome Duke shows up to throw everyone, including Tabitha, into a tizzy. Excellent and fun read.

I LOVE this book. At first I was hesitant about it for some reason, maybe it didn't pick up the way I wanted to. But I ended up loving every single character and the whole story.