Friday, May 10, 2019

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of ANYTHING BUT A DUKE, a Duke's Den novel by Christy Carlyle

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon (in fact, I've got a copy of this one too, and hope to bring you my review as well) but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of ANYTHING BUT A DUKE, a Duke’s Den novel by Christy Carlyle, published April 30, 2019.


Blurb for ANYTHING BUT A DUKE:

Self-made man Aidan Iverson has seen more closed doors in his thirty years than he’s ever cared to count. As a member of the elite Duke’s Den, he has all the money he could possibly need, but the one thing he can’t purchase is true power. If roguish Aidan can’t buy his way into society’s hallowed halls, he’ll resort to a more extreme measure: marriage.

Brought up to be a proper lady, the only thing Diana Ashby desires is to be left alone to the creation of her own devices. But when her dreams are crushed, she must find another way to secure the future of her invention. Knowing his desire to enter her world, Diana strikes a deal to arrange Aidan’s marriage to the perfect lady—as long as that lady isn’t her. She doesn’t need any distractions from her work, particularly of the sinfully handsome variety.

As Diana and Aidan set out to find him an aristocratic match, neither are prepared for the passion that ignites between them or the love they can’t ignore.

In the Duke’s Den, can happiness ever be a winning prospect?

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Connie’s Review:

London - 1845

Diana Ashby is off to attend a scientific lecture presented by a past tutor she had. Her interest lies in being an inventor and she spends most of the day in her workshop. Her father had been the second son of a baronet which had afforded her a good education. However, the man had not managed the family funds well and now they are in need of money.

Diana’s twin brother, Dominick, tends to spend most of his time gambling and drinking himself into a stupor. While her mother has tried to be understanding of her desire to be an inventor, she now tells her that it is time that she marries a wealthy man.

Aiden Iverson is looking for what might have happened to his mother, or even who she was, before abandoning he and his sister at a workhouse. Today, Aiden is a very wealthy man because he worked hard and invested wisely. He is also the third owner of Lyon’s Gentleman’s Club. Yet even with all of his money, his lack of nobility ends up with doors shut in his face. Thus, his friends tell him he needs to wed a noble bride.

Lyon’s holds events that allow inventors to display their inventions and if Lyon’s is interested, they may offer investment money. When Diana shows a household vacuum system to them, she is furious when the unit is dropped and broken, thus not allowing her to demonstrate it. But she is very persistent and asks Aiden to visit her workshop so she can demonstrate it there. He is unsure if he wants to invest in it because he usually goes with much larger projects, such as bridges. So, when she learns from him that he needs to marry a titled lady, she promises to introduce him to her friends. If it results in marriage, he will then fund her invention.

Both Diana and Aiden are strong, intelligent, and hard-working, In addition, they are attracted to one another yet Diana feels that her situation does not fulfill what Aiden seeks. Is that true or are they both holding back?

I really enjoyed this story and found the plot to be a bit unusual, but very well crafted. I am sure that readers will like this book.

Copy provided by Edelweiss and Goodreads in exchange for a fair and honest review.

ANYTHING BUT A DUKE, a Duke’s Den novel by Christy Carlyle, Avon Romance, available now in ebook, print, and audiobook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks

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