Unwrapping a Review of THE OTHER DUKE, a Notorious Flynns novel by Jess Michaels

Jess Michaels is embarking on a new adventure — she’s going full indie – and her first foray into this new world is a fabulous way to start. THE OTHER DUKE, book one in the Notorious Flynns series is everything I expected from this talented author. Releasing tomorrow, and on Wednesday, the lovely Jess will be visiting with me to explain why she writes. I hope you'll join us.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Blurb for THE OTHER DUKE:

For years Serafina McPhee has been engaged to marry the heir to the Duke of Hartholm and for almost as long, she has been struggling to find a way out of that engagement. When he suddenly dies, she does not mourn but thrills at the idea that she will be free. Unfortunately, best laid plans go awry when the next in line for the title, her intended’s cousin, Raphael “Rafe” Flynn is forced to take over the engagement. But Serafina knows Rafe’s reputation as a libertine and wants nothing to do with him, either, even if he is devastatingly handsome.

She proposes an arrangement: she will agree to the marriage and provide Rafe with his heir and spare. Once she has done her duty, he will let her go. Rafe is intrigued both by her beauty and by her utter disgust with the idea of being his bride. Women normally fall at his feet, not cringe away from him. However, since their arranged marriage is not something he can escape, he agrees to her terms.

But when he finds out on their wedding night the truth about her torture at the hands of his predecessor, he finds himself driven not just to fulfill his bargain with his new bride, but to introduce her to desire. While they move closer together, surrendering to wicked pleasures, dangerous emotions may violate every agreement they’ve made.

 ~*~                  ~*~                   ~*~                  ~*~                   ~*~

When the Duke of Hartholm, her dreaded fiancé – Cyril – dies in a carriage accident, Serafina McPhee is torn between jumping for joy and putting on a respectable mask of mourning for Society’s accusing eye. But when she learns she must marry the man inheriting the Dukedom, she sets a plan in motion to keep her freedom, her privacy, and her sanity. She simply doesn’t expect her new husband to be so charming, caring, and incredibly handsome. As one of the Notorious Flynns, she hopes Raphael Flynn would eagerly accept a marriage in name only so he might continue his notorious lifestyle.

Rafe Flynn isn’t happy about taking on the title of Duke of Hartholm nor the bride accompanying the title, but he is pleased the bride forced upon him by an ironclad contract is beautiful. When she offers him an arrangement, which allows him his essential freedoms other than siring an heir and spare, he eagerly accepts. What he doesn’t expect is to find his wife in name only so desirable, so intelligent, or so in need of someone to treat her as she deserves. Will a marriage built on a contract like no other survive against the turbulent emotions threatening to tear it apart or will it become a romantic marriage with love at its core? 

Somewhat predictable in its storyline, THE OTHER DUKE by Jess Michaels is still a sweet, romantic story with wonderful characters, both good and bad. Rafe and Serafina are a delight together, she all prim and proper as the wife of a Duke should be while Rafe, so unused to the restrictions of a title, brings a casual lightness to their activities. And their exploration of sexuality for Serafina’s benefit is downright sexy and natural. Jess writes erotic romance better than most but in THE OTHER DUKE, she brings ingénue naturalness to the scenes.

The secondary characters, from the evil Dowager Duchess to the familiarity of the new Duke’s servants, and of course, Crispin – the incorrigible brother who wants his brother and best friend free to carouse with him – truly bring the story to life. While Rafe and Sera deal with a marriage filled with unexpected thrills and diversions, someone wants the new Duke gone from this world. Never a dull moment when it comes to historical romance by Jess Michaels, and her Notorious Flynns are definitely going to be a fun ride.

Even though a bit predictable in its forced bride scenario, THE OTHER DUKE, book one in the Notorious Flynns series by Jess Michaels is one I highly recommend reading if you love full rich characters, a sweet love affair which blooms before your eyes, and an underlying sinister plot the lovers need to overcome if their love can flourish. Jess doesn’t disappoint and just as her other series are worth reading, so is the Notorious Flynns. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Annabelle’s story, THE SCOUNDREL’S LOVER. 

Happy Reading Everyone!

THE OTHER DUKE, a Notorious Flynns novel by Jess Michaels, the Passionate Pen, releasing January 13, 2015, available in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

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