"The Duke of Dark Desires" Review

"The Duke of Dark Desires"
by Miranda Neville
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: Dec 30, 2014

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Wanted: Governess able to keep all hours . . .
Rebellious Julian Fortescue never expected to inherit a dukedom, nor to find himself guardian to three young half-sisters. Now in the market for a governess, he lays eyes on Jane Grey and knows immediately she is qualified—to become his mistress. Yet the alluring woman appears impervious to him. Somehow Julian must find a way to make her succumb to temptation . . . without losing his heart and revealing the haunting mistakes of his past.

Desired: Duke skilled in the seductive art of conversation . . .
Lady Jeanne de Falleron didn't seek a position as a governess simply to fall into bed with the Duke of Denford. Under the alias of Jane Grey, she must learn which of the duke's relatives is responsible for the death of her family—and take her revenge. She certainly can't afford the distraction of her darkly irresistible employer, or the smoldering desire he ignites within her.

But as Jane discovers more clues about the villain she seeks, she's faced with a possibility more disturbing than her growing feelings for Julian: What will she do if the man she loves is also the man she's sworn to kill?

My Review:

This was a very enjoyable historical romance. The plot and time period were just different enough to stand out from the pack of historical romances. A lot of times with romances, I find the 'mystery' plots so forced and over the top. However, in this book, I genuinely cared about just who was truly responsible for what happened to Jane's family, something that Julian had always blamed himself for. I also was on pins and needles waiting for the moment that Jane and Julian would discover each other's true identities.


I looooove this cover, and I think it captures the book so well. It's a bit dark, but not grim, and definitely beautiful as well. The cover captures Julian's character especially well. Julian wears all black, he's a bit of a grouch, and wants everyone to think he is horrible, but he isn't the least bit horrible at all. His relationship with his three young sisters proves that he's a caring, tender person.

I loved the three girls so much, each of them had a distinct, well-rounded personality, and they were never used for their cute factor. The girls were their own characters, not just children thrown in to move the story along. Family was such an important part of the book, and both Jane and Julian had such great relationships with the three girls. It was wonderful to see their relationships grow.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Bottom Line: I loved this historical romance, the lead characters were strong yet tender, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. This one definitely stands apart from other books in the genre.

Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.