Review – What A Duke Wants by Lavinia Kent

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: NetGalley

What woman would refuse a Duke’s kiss?
Running from a dark secret past, Isabella Masters craves peace and stability, a life far from the prying eyes of society. She does not dream of landing a lord.

But in the arms of a stranger with magnificent eyes, she loses herself in one breath-stealing kiss— only to discover she has been misled by a reluctant Duke. Angered but enthralled, she dares not submit . . . though her passionate heart begs her to.

He cannot wed her . . . but he must not lose her. Only one possibility remains— one too scandalous to consider . . . yet too tempting to resist.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I had the pleasure of being able to read this book while on vacation in London, so I have to admit to being in the spirit of historical regency romance books while I read this one.

Isabella is on the run from her past, hiding out as a wetnurse for families in the country, but when the woman she is working for is called back to London, Isabella starts to worry that her past will catch up to her, and that the life she has made for herself with fall apart. She meets a man along the journey and hopes for the first time that maybe she can make a small life for herself.

But what Isabella doesn’t know is that Mark is really a Duke posing as a commoner. He inherited from his uncle and doesn’t know the first thing about being a Duke. What he does know is that he wants Isabella, in whichever way he can have her. But as their secrets start to unravel, will the unlikely pair overcome her past and his position?

I’m the first to admit that at times I find myself getting bored with the historical romance genre, there are a few authors who can still rope me in and keep me begging for more. After reading this, I might have to add Kent to that list. I adored this story. Sure there were a few things that didn’t jive with me, but overall it was a great read.

I loved Isabella, especially since she was so slowly revealed to us. She was one of those characters who kept peeling back layers of her past and her feelings and kept coming more and more evolved as a character. I really enjoyed every part of her, especially as she dealt with Mark being a Duke, and facing her family once again. It was so well done and I loved that.

Like Isabella, Mark was an exception character as well. He started off so depressed and almost disappointing. He was unsure of himself, hating his new position, and just going with the flow of everything. I wanted to shake him up a bit, but as his friendship with Isabella went on, and he really learned how to become a Duke he became so much more. I loved watching him figure out HOW to become a Duke, and how he was so ready to scorn society at the chance to have it all with Isabella.

Their romance felt special to me, maybe because it happened in such obvious parts. First they became friends when Isabella thought he was a simple servant for the Duke. The two were able to both let go of everything except themselves and just be real together. They built a foundation that turned out to be real and solid. Then, after Isabella found out his secret they started building a sexual relationship while working out their trust issues. Those moments were hot and steamy, but also romantic to watch Mark shed his duties and go back to being her friend. Then they came together as a matched pair, even and ready to take on the world. I loved it.

All in all I really enjoyed this one. It did have a bit of a slow start for me, but once it picked up, the romance and passion between Isabella and Mark swept me away and kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible. The love story in this one might just be a new favorite.
I give What a Duke Wants a B+

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