Falling Into Bed with a Duke

Read for Review /Listened for Fun (Avon, Audible)
Overall Rating : 4.25
Character Rating : 4.50
Story Rating : 4.00

Audio Rating : 4.50 (Not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished: Minerva from Falling in Bed with a Duke just became my favorite leading lady in Lorraine's connected series. I feel kinda bad because she knocked her mom down to 3rd!

Overall Thoughts:I freaking loved Minverva. I liked her brass and matter-of-fact way of looking at things. I also love that she is not a classic beauty. I already loved her parents but I was so glad to see them support her in every way. I have to say I liked her spirit too. Spinster or not--I am not sure I would have had the fortitude to visit the Nightengale. Ashe though I both show more loved and at moments really wasn't sure if he was good enough for her. At one point in the story, I was yelling at him to use his words! Since I both listened to and read this book (yep twice y'all)--the second time around I yelled at him louder LOL. Though I never doubted his awesomeness the second time around. If you like historicals with peculiar leading ladies then I think you will love Falling Into Bed with a Duke!

Audio Thoughts
Narrated By Helen Lloyd, Rich Cope/Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Normally Helen is paired up with James but I actually really enjoyed her narration with Rich. I think this is the first time I have listened to him and he did an excellent job. Helen always does an outstanding job. If she or Susan are narrating Lorraine's stuff, I know it will be excellent. I highly recommend this on audio.

Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It DONE Reviews show less

Falling into Bed with a Duke
4 Stars

Minerva Dodger is sick of suitors more interested in her dowry than her personality. Set on spinsterhood, she is nevertheless determined to lose her virginity. Thus, she dons a mask and attends the infamous Nightingale Club quickly catching the eye of Nick Lambert, Duke of Ashebury, who just as quickly discerns her real identity. Can Nick get past Minerva's defenses and convince her that he wants more than a few nights of passion?

Series note: This is a continuation of Heath's Scoundrels of St. James/Gentlemen of St. James series. Chronologically it fits in after [b:The Duke and the Lady in Red|22864442|The Duke and the Lady in Red (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, #3)|Lorraine show more Heath|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1410993308l/22864442._SY75_.jpg|42431510], but I read it after [b:Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses|33230906|Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, #4.5)|Lorraine Heath|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497321169l/33230906._SY75_.jpg|53941233], and it made no difference to the story.

Minerva and Nick's romance is lovely overall, and Heath manages to incorporate the often annoying keeping secrets trope without too much angst.

Nick is an appealing hero and his obvious love for Minerva more than compensates for his keeping his need to marry for money a secret. Minerva is simply delightful. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take the necessary steps to get it. They have excellent chemistry and their banter is very entertaining.

Overall, a good beginning to the series and I look forward to the other Hellions' books. show less

I'm not sure if this whole series is going to be a spinoff of the Scoundrels of St. James, but this first book involves the daughter of Jack Dodger and Olivia Lovingdon from [b:Between the Devil and Desire|4838188|Between the Devil and Desire (Scoundrels of St. James, #2)|Lorraine Heath|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322214817s/4838188.jpg|4903440]. It's been so long since I read that book, that it took a a while to recognize the character crossover. It's not absolutely necessary that you read that book before this one, but it would give you some background on the characters if you did read it.

So Jack and Olivia's only daughter is a headstrong lass named Minerva. She has passed six seasons without finding a husband... and her blunt show more speech earns her the reputation as a termagant and shrew. I loved Minerva. She was quite sensible, not afraid to voice her opinion, had great ideas for business and investments, and was a good gambler. One of Minerva's quite sensible ideas is that women should not have to deny their urges when men flaunt them so openly, and this idea leaves her to the exclusive and secretive Nightingale Club, where ladies go to seek pleasure.

At the Nightingale Club, Minverva meets the mysterious Duke of Ashebury, one of a group of boys who were orphaned young and raised by a madman. Ashebury is a member of the Nightingale Club, but he never selects a woman more than once. But that is before he meets the intriguing lady in the white mask. I liked Ashebury just as much as Minerva. Though I tend to enjoy those broody heroes with tragic pasts.

This story had everything I most look for in a historical romance - a broody hero, a unique heroine, past tragedy, likable secondary characters, seduction, steam and romance. I am looking forward to reading about the rest of the Havisham Hellions... but I anticipate that Lockley may be my favorite.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 3 flames. show less

I love that this book gave a lot of attention to Minerva’s insecurities - this definitely hit on some favorite tropes! Overall a good read, even if the angst was resolved pretty easily.

Falling Into Bed with the Duke is the first book in the Hellions of Havisham series, The Hellions are three rougish gentleman known for their wild ways. The first book focuses on the Duke of Ashebury aka Ashe. Ashe has no desire to fall in love. He beds a woman once before moving on. However, his attention is captured by the mysterious Lady V. The more he's around her, the more obsessed he becomes with her.

Minerva aka Lady V is what one might call a spinster. She's a magnet for men who only want her for her dowry. Minerva only wants to marry for love. However, she's a realist. She knows that she may never find someone. So, she takes matter into her own hands: She goes to the Nightingale Club to seek a lover and is known only as Lady V. show more At the Nightingale Club, women wear masks to hide their identity, thus protecting their reputation. At the club women are allowed to be free--sexually. When Minerva and Ashe meet, sparks fly. But the more Ashe pursues Minerva, the more she doubts his true feelings.

Lorraine Heath has written several series including Scoundrels of St. James and The Lost Lords of Pembroke. Fans will be thrilled with this new series. The characters are great. The men are brooding, flawed, and charming. The women are independent, smart, and clever. In particular, I really liked Minerva. She wasn't deluded by any false pretexts by her 'suitors.' She was willing to fall in love but not settle for less than her worth. I also really like the support of her friends and family.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's funny, smart, and sexy. It's getting a little chilly outside and I'm glad I had this book to warm me up!

Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2015/11/review-falling-into-bed-with-duke.html#... show less

3.5 stars, can't *quite* round up. This was worth reading and enjoyable though. The characters were likable, but shy of lovable (for me). The actual falling in love part was very close to the end (and nearly blink and you'll miss it) and then it was over. But I did like that the heroine had a good head on her shoulders, that the hero had a hobby and appreciated actual qualities of the heroine and not just her looks, and I liked how supportive her parents were of her.

Minerva goes to a night club in an attempt to have at least one intimate experience to last her for the rest of her life. She meets the Duke of Ashebury who likes to take pictures of healthy body parts in order to dislodge thoughts of his parents who died in a train wreck. Ashe becomes enamored of Minerva as well as her alter ego "Lady V". He eventually realizes he wants to marry her but she'll always believe that he's marrying her only for her dowry. To prove that's not the case, he asks her father to remove her dowry. The plan works and they marry.