Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke

Michelle McLean

Blurb:

Bookish Arabella Bromley never gave a fig for society’s rules—until her sister ran off with a man below her station. Now Arabella is desperate to restore her family’s ruined reputation to favor amongst the ton. She’ll have to marry quickly and well. But in order to carry off her plan, Arabella needs a duke… and she has just the rakish fellow in mind.

The Duke of Whittsley has an ungentlemanly tendency to disregard the rules. Unfortunately, a sense of mischief doesn’t excuse a high-ranking noble from family duty—especially where it concerns producing a son. And that’s where he can’t quite resist Arabella’s distinctly outrageous plan: if he saves her family, she’ll give him an heir.

Now the deal’s been struck. They have one year to achieve their goals and ten iron-clad rules to keep them on track. Like long, scorching kisses and ensuring they’re both exquisitely satisfied. And the only thing that could ruin their plan is the one thing they never planned on: love.

Themes: Historical

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

One of my favorite historical romance tropes is the marriage of convenience, it always leads to so much angst and passion, and this new stand-alone romance from Michelle MacLean is no exception. Arabella is desperate to restore her family honor after her older sister runs away with someone well below her station, mainly to protect her younger sister’s chances at a good match. She never saw herself marrying, too happy with her books and quiet life, but in order to make her sister’s life better she’ll do what it takes. Enter Silas, the Duke of Whittsley, the one man that she knows she can resist, but that has the power and name to shepherd her sister to a satisfactory match. Silas has no interest in marriage, but Arabella’s bravery in approaching him with her outlandish plan intrigues him and he soon finds himself engaged to the sweet, sexy and sassy woman that he can no longer resist. As they spend more and more time together, working to find a match for her sister, they soon discover that their plans to keep their marriage completely one of convenience are no longer convenient—or enough for either of them. Will they be able to convince one another to change the rules and allow in the love they’ve discovered or will their marriage be over before it ever starts? I LOVED this story; there was so much sass, banter, and hilarity that I found myself laughing out loud more than once. Arabella is the kind of woman that does whatever it takes for her family, even seemingly sacrificing her future, but I loved watching her find her footing with her man and in society once she determined it was a necessity. She was daring, feeless, sassy, and clever as she moved through the chess game she began with her new fiancé and ultimately lost her heart to the man she never imagined was her perfect match. Silas has had a difficult past, and he never wanted a woman in his life or future, but he finds he cannot resist the sweet and valiant Arabella, and soon he can no longer deny hos sensual he finds her either. HE has always lived his life by his own terms, not really much caring what society thinks of him, but once he had to worry about Arabella and Anne he grows up considerably and becomes and even better man. I enjoyed the subtle passion that built between these two and how loving they were in their private moments. I am looking forward to more of Michelle’s historical romances as they always include laughter, adventure, and the sassy heroines that so much of history forgets to include in our pasts!