Review: Falling in Bed with the Duke by Lorraine Heath

Series: Hellions of Havisham Book #1

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 372

Rating: 4.5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Historical Romance,

Publisher: Avon

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

After six unsuccessful Seasons, Miss Minerva Dodger chooses spinsterhood over fortune-hungry suitors. But thanks to the Nightingale Club, she can at least enjoy one night of pleasure. At that notorious establishment, ladies don masks before choosing a lover. The sinfully handsome Duke of Ashebury is more than willing to satisfy the secretive lady's desires—and draws Minerva into an exquisite, increasingly intimate affair.

A man of remarkable talents, Ashe soon deduces that his bedmate is the unconventional Miss Dodger. Intrigued by her wit and daring, he sets out to woo her in earnest. Yet Minerva refuses to trust him. How to court a woman he has already thoroughly seduced? And how to prove that the passion unleashed in darkness is only the beginning of a lifetime's pleasure?

 

Review

I love Lorraine Heath and historical romance. Reading a historical is like going home for me. And it was great to see Minerva’s story and more of Dodger. The sequel bait was pretty heavy in this one.

Minerva is a great independent character. It’s a common one for historicals, but it doesn’t always work. I think she’s great because she’s practical about her situation. And it doesn’t hurt that her family is very supportive of who she is and her decisions. Her decision to seek out the sexual experience she’ll never have is a common trope, but I liked how logically she went into it. And Ms. Heath really worked on that part. The Nightingale Club was well developed as Minerva’s thought processes.

Then there’s Ashe. He has so much of my catnip. He has some psychological issues he’s dealing with. And he reminds me of heroes I used to read about. He does that thing where he clearly cares about Minerva but doesn’t realize what he’s doing. Ms. Heath used his interest in photography very well. It informs the way he views and interacts with the world.

These two had great chemistry. And I liked how Ashe had to court her after seducing her. It was cute to see them both struggling with their mutual attraction. There was a little bit of lying on Ashe’s part which I’m not a huge fan of. And honestly it felt kind of unnecessary to me. Maybe if it had been developed better it would have made more sense.

I’m happy to be back in this world and am excited to read the next book when it comes out next year. It’s probably going to be more of an angsty one.

Thanks for reading!

Holly