The Worst Duke in the World (Penhallow Dynasty 5) by Lisa Berne-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date January 12, 2021

A wayward duke must choose: will he be the bad hero in a love story gone awry, or the brave and clever hero who risks everything for true love?

The acclaimed Penhallow Dynasty series continues in this fresh, fun, funny tale!

Life’s no bowl of cherries for Anthony Farr, the Duke of Radcliffe. Duty demands he remarry to provide a spare to go along with the heir — and eligible ladies keep trying to finagle him into a proposal. All he wants is to be a good father to his 8-year-old son, see the Duchess (his truly terrific pig) win first prize at the harvest fête, and stay single. Even if that makes him a Bad Duke. Maybe the Worst Duke in the World.

Then Miss Jane Kent, a long-lost relation of the illustrious Penhallow family, arrives in the neighborhood and is promptly befriended by the Duke’s son. Jane, Anthony comes to realize, is smart and fun and also very kissable and dazzlingly desirable. Still, that’s not enough to melt his resistance to marrying again. He made a stern promise to himself, and promises must, of course, be kept.

But what if that’s just his head talking, and his heart… is saying something entirely different?

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REVIEW:The Worst Duke in the World is a lovely historical romance written in the 1817 period. The romance is thrilling, but light and more innocent and stumbling at first. I, personally, won’t do spoilers and tell readers all about the book. I’ll just give you the basic set up and tell you what I found delightful about this novel.

Anthony Farr is the Duke of Radcliffe. He was the second son and was not particularly wanting the title. His brother passed away in an accident. When he became twenty-one, his father betrothed him to the woman who was betrothed to his brother, Selina. They hated each other and only had sex to create an heir. Anthony was miserable in this marriage, except for the birth of Wakefield, his son. When Selina died a few years later, he felt free and intended never to marry again. His sister Margaret was married to Selina’s brother, but he also died early. She was put out of her husband’s house by the son of his previous marriage and went to live at Hastings with Anthony. She pretty much tries to run the household and tries incredibly hard to marry him off again.

Jane Kent is a kind but poverty-stricken woman who has found a letter in her grandmother’s trunks and has come to Surmont Hall to see if there is any truth to the letter. This gives quite a twist to this story. While waiting to be received, the older Penhallow woman is talking with her son, and comes upon Jane. After looking at her she says “Titus” and almost faints. (No, I’m tempted, but I won’t spoil it!)

Jane meets Anthony as he visits with Gabriel Penhallow, Mrs. Penhallow’s second son. Then she meets his son Wakefield while taking lessons in everything with the vicar, Mr. Pressley. She and Wakefield become instant friends and I fell instantly in love with the effervescent Wakefield. When Wakefield invites Jane over for a visit, the fireworks start for real.

That’s the setup! My favorite character in this intriguing novel is Wakefield. The others are quite well done as well, however, Wakefield has my heart! He’s about eight and the most wonderful little scamp I’ve encountered. Well done, to author Lisa Berne. The building romance is wonderful, but the fears of the horrible marriage he had keep Anthony from being able to try again, or at least for now. Jane grows attached to both Anthony and Wakefield. Anthony is in love, but not being as brilliant as Wakefield, it takes him longer to realize it. My advice is to grab a good glass of your favorite beverage and cuddle in for an excellent read!

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Georgianna S