The Duke's Last Word

Author: Sophie Leigh Fox
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Love Most Ardently #1
Pages: 127
Release Date: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Mellow & Mayham Publishing

For Love or Money, Who Will have the Last Word?

Miss Wilhemina Rose Middleton is a fiercely independent country gentleman’s daughter with a quick temper and cutting tongue to match. Willa dotes on her widowed father, Sir Edgar. But when he wagers their estate on a game of cards, she becomes the clause in a contract that would force her to marry against her will or risk financial ruin.

James, Duke of Heighbury, is a man of means and title who is accustomed to having the last word in business and courtship. Looking to gain a wife in order to save his inheritance from a conniving cousin, James agrees to save Sir Edgar from losing Middleton Grange, contingent on a marital match with Willa.

Can the affable and charming Duke convince Willa that marrying him would bring her happiness and security? Or will his selfishness and greed backfire on his plan to champion her hand? Can a loyal and unpretentious daughter overcome her willful resistance to leave her father and marry James? Or will the Duke of Heighbury always have the last word?

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Reviewer: Trixi Oberembt

Miss Wilhemina Middleton is a fiercely independent country gentleman's daughter, with a quick temper and a cutting tongue to match. James, Duke of Heighbury, is a man of means and a title who is accustomed to having the last word. Will these two make a match of it or choose to remain single in spite of the dire consequences?

I love Regency fiction, arranged marriage troupes, and witty banter between the hero and heroine. This ticked all those boxes for me! A little background here: James and Willa met in a ballroom a year ago, where he snubbed her rather publicly. So there's already animosity between these two—which, for me, makes a great background for that witty/sarcastic banter I love so much.

She doesn't have a high opinion of him in the first place, so he has to work extra hard to paint himself, or rather, his character, in a better light. His flirtatious manner only incites her temper more. But these two are running out of time to save themselves from financial ruin by joining in matrimony. Their refusal to see eye-to-eye will result in disaster unless something changes.

The journey Fox takes us on to get to the eventual happily-ever-after was a whole lot of fun for me. I didn't know how she would ever get these two together, and it was completely satisfying how she did!

Though this is a shorter novella-length story, there is still plenty of action and depth of character to please my palate. These two certainly tried my patience, but it was so worth it in the end. I can't wait for the next installment of the ‘Love, Most Ardently’ series!

I received a complimentary copy from the author through Interviews & Reviews and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

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