The Duke I Tempted

· NYLA
4.6
22 reviews
Ebook
340
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

He’s controlled. Meticulous. Immaculate. No one would expect the proper Duke of Westmead to be a member of London’s most illicit secret club. Least of all: his future wife.

Having overcome financial ruin and redeemed his family name to become the most legendary investor in London, the Duke of Westmead needs to secure his holdings by producing an heir. Which means he must find a wife who won’t discover his secret craving to spend his nights on his knees – or make demands on his long scarred-over heart.

Poppy Cavendish is not that type of woman. An ambitious self-taught botanist designing the garden ballroom in which Westmead plans to woo a bride, Poppy has struggled against convention all her life to secure her hard-won independence. She wants the capital to expand her exotic nursery business – not a husband.

But there is something so compelling about Westmead, with his starchy bearing and impossibly kind eyes -- that when an accidental scandal makes marriage to the duke the only means to save her nursery, Poppy worries she wants more than the title he is offering. The arrangement is meant to be just business. A greenhouse for an heir. But Poppy yearns to unravel her husband’s secrets – and to tempt the duke to risk his heart.

"An astonishingly good debut...The whole book is a breath of fresh air, both a complex, layered story and a soaring romance with two very real people at its heart." -- The New York Times Book Review

Author’s Note: Dear readers, please be aware this is an angsty, twisty book written in the style of a gothic romance, and there are some dark moments along the path to a happy ending for our characters. No spoilers here, but if you are a sensitive reader please do consult the reviews before diving in. Yours, Scarlett

2018 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart ® Winner for Best Historical Romance

"Desert Isle Keeper...The alliance is unexpected, fascinating and a refreshing departure from typical Regency romances, and I never wanted The Duke I Tempted to end." -- All About Romance

"Peckham’s meticulous character work pays off in spectacular, grandly romantic fashion and The Duke I Tempted ends with particularly cathartic and hard-won happily ever after." -- BookPage

"Gothic romances are tempestuous by definition, but this one is dramatic even by those heightened standards...If you want something to speed your heart and stop your breath as you read beneath the covers, with only the meager flashlight beam warding off the enveloping night — then you have a rare treat in store." -- The Seattle Review of Books

"A one-sitting, late-into-the-night read, The Duke I Tempted ran away with my heart." -- Book Ink Reviews

Ratings and reviews

4.6
22 reviews
Lori Dykes
July 31, 2018
This was an unexpected story with a topic I have not read. But with this being the first book by this author I thought I would go ahead and finish once I started. Archer, the Duke of Westmead has overcome a lot and become a wealthy investor in London. Needing to marry and have a heir, he really wants to keep his secrets and deep scarred heart well hidden. Poppy Cavendish is a botanist who is know for garden designs but needs funds to expand her nursery business. When Poppy takes a commission to decorate a lavish garden setting for the ball of Archer's sister, she ends up staying with them until she can get the project finished. As she and Archer interact, there is a great attraction but Archer is has such low self esteem, he is convinced Poppy would not care for him and his secrets. But you can never overestimate the power of love and these two have an interesting journey getting there.
12 people found this review helpful
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Kamaleswary Arumugam
December 3, 2019
My first book from this author and I absolutely loved the writer's style and prose. This was such an entertaining read, it was hard not to gobble it up in one sitting! Both HH are so passionate, there were unexpected twists and turns, not your typical historical romance, the BDSM elements not my cup of tea but there was so much sexy heat you couldn't put it down as you really want to get to the end to find out if they got their HEA.
10 people found this review helpful
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Kim Quinn
April 17, 2020
only about 1/3 of the way through and I LOVE IT! 😙 Will come back and write more when done, but, 💜
2 people found this review helpful
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About the author

Scarlett Peckham is a four-time Golden Heart® finalist in Historical Romance who writes steamy stories about alpha heroines. Her Secrets of Charlotte Street series follows the members of Georgian London’s most discreet – and illicit – private club. She splits her time between London and Los Angeles and when not writing can be found on Twitter and Instagram @scarlettpeckham.

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