WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES (The Duke’s Men #1) by Sabrina Jeffries-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 18, 2013

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, accepted long ago that his kidnapped brother was dead. When a cryptic note from investigator Tristan Bonnaud claims otherwise, Max seeks out Tristan’s sister, Lisette—and is infuriated to learn that Tristan has also mysteriously vanished. Have the siblings perpetrated an elaborate hoax? Or is the fiercely protective beauty as innocent as she claims them to be?

Fearful that the powerful Duke will destroy Tristan’s career in his zeal for the truth, the clever Lisette convinces Max to accompany her to Paris in a joint search for their loved ones. But their journey takes a seductive twist when they pose as an ordinary husband and wife—not an English Duke with a tarnished family name and the illegitimate daughter of a viscount—and discover an exhilarating passion free from the damning secrets of the past. With the line between danger and desire enticingly blurred, they discover that some mysteries, like those of the heart, are answered tenfold in the bliss of a true and trusting love

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REVIEW: WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES is the first storyline in The Duke’s Men historical romance series by Sabrina Jeffries with the introduction of Maximilian Cale aka The Duke of Lyons and the woman who will steal more than his heart but his soul and the very air that he breathes-Lisette Bonnaud.

The storyline focuses on the Duke’s search for the man who claims to know the whereabouts of Max’s missing and presumably dead brother and how this search will bring Max up close and personal with Lisette. When it is discovered that Lisette’s brother Tristan is also missing, the couple will embark on a cross continent journey that will force Max and Lisette to pose as husband and wife to ensure her reputation stays intact.

There is much family background history revealed throughout the storyline including the introduction of Lisette’s brothers and extended family of Maximilian Cale. Lisette is more than conscience and aware of her lack of social standing within society and therefore entering into any sort of relationship with the Duke, she fears will tarnish his reputation. And the Duke’s family history, although most of it not public knowledge, has the man denying his feelings for the woman with whom he has fallen in love. A history of secrets, betrayal and lies will be revealed forcing Max to walk away from a future with Lisette. When spiteful and heartbreaking words are exchanged, Max knows he has damned himself to a life without the woman he loves.

The sexual tension within the storyline was hit and miss due to the continuous battle of words between the couple and, in particular the Duke’s (Max) occasional snippy attitude and highbrow manner. His constant need to use words in anger, against Lisette, made him a difficult character at times to embrace even though Lisette was more than willing to forgive the man every time. In many novels, the back and forth banter fuels the sexual pressure but there was something missing in this particular story. Max’s attraction to Lisette was cooled with thoughts of his own family secrets, and Lisette knew that her mother’s reputation would push away any thoughts of a future with the Duke as her own reputation by tarnished by association. Whenever the couple appeared to make headway in their relationship, painful memories and potential legal liabilities would interfere.

Most of the storyline focuses on the developing relationship between Max and Lisette and, the build-up to discovering the truth behind the Duke’s missing brother. The big reveal and identity of everyone concerned read like a who’s who in the family tree. There were so many different branches the family tree started to look like a forest-but for the trees.

What The Duke Desires is a fast-paced introductory storyline that reveals the tainted history behind two different families, yet very similar on many levels. Money does not make one immune to gossip and disease, and a life of struggle will soften a woman’s heart towards a man who has lived an entire life built on a lie.

Copy supplied by the publicist.

Reviewed by Sandy