How to Tame Your Duke by Juliana Gray – a Review

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Description:
Three intrepid princesses find themselves targets in a deadly plot against the crown—until their uncle devises a brilliant plan to keep them safe…

England, 1888. Quiet and scholarly Princess Emilie has always avoided adventure, until she’s forced to disguise herself as a tutor in the household of the imposing Duke of Ashland, a former soldier disfigured in battle and abandoned by his wife. When chance draws her into a secret liaison with the duke, Emilie can’t resist the opportunity to learn what lies behind his forbidding mask, and find out what adventure really means…

The duke never imagines that his son’s tutor and his mysterious golden-haired beauty are one and the same. But when the true identity of his lover is laid bare, Moreland must face the demons in his past in order to safeguard both his lady—and his heart.

Review:

How to Tame Your Duke by Juliana Gray is the first book in her new Historical Romance series. Early on we are introduced to the three sisters, (Louisa, Stefanie and Emilie), who will be part of each book in this series.  They are princesses on the run from a plot to overthrow their German principality crown, as their father has been killed.  Their uncle, the Duke of Olympia, puts together a plan to separate them in disguise, until it is safe. 

How to Tame Your Duke is Emilie’s story. She travels in disguise as a man, Mr. Grimsby, to Duke of Ashland’s estate to tutor his 16 year old son.  What ensues is a different and fun story that builds into a wonderful romance.  I loved Emilie, both as herself and as Mr. Grimsby.  Her friendship with Freddie, the duke’s son was fun. 

Duke Ashland is our hero in this book.  He stays on his estate, as he does not like to travel, since he lost his hand, and was badly scarred on the right side of his face during war time.  His wife left him years ago, when he came home from the war, leaving him to take care of his son alone.  Emilie was shocked when she first saw Ashland, looked at his perfect handsome profile, and then to see his flawed side.  But as time goes on, Emilie finds herself becoming attracted to Ashland, but of course, she is unable to show any feelings, as they see her as Mr. Grimsby.

Until Emilie goes on her day off to the hotel nearby to relax as herself, but under another assumed name.  To her shock, she sees Ashland at the hotel, and discovers why he visits there weekly.  Emilie is mistaken as the woman Ashland was waiting for, and comes face to face with him in his room.  He also is under an assumed name, and when he meets Emily, he immediately begins to fall for her, as she treats him not like the other woman, whom he will not let see his face.  Their liason begins tentatively at first, as Ashland has no idea that this Emily, is Grimsby, and what starts out only as her reading to him in blindfold, to a full fledged sexual affair after a few visits, that Emilie cannot stop meeting Ashland.

What follows is a wonderful romance that builds in time,  and the obstacles in the way that could cause danger to Ashland, that prevents Emilie from pushing more for this relationship; not to mention her at some point revealing who she is.  It was a fun and interesting story, as Ashland becomes embroiled in Emilie’s situation, and the danger involved.  But true love will always suffice in romance, and though Gray keeps this open for the next few books, we do get a happy solution to keep us coming back for more.  A wonderful and different type of romance by Juliana Gray.  I look forward to the next book in this series, which belongs to Stefanie.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher