General Fiction (Adult) | Multicultural Interest | Romance
Diana Quincy returns with a steamy affair between an Arab-American woman who inherits a run-down castle in the English countryside and the duke who asserts the castle is his, in the first book in a brand-new Victorian historical romance series.
Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, inherits his spendthrift father’s title and can finally restore the family castle to its former glory. But at the reading of the will, Strick is stunned to learn that his father has secretly disentailed him, leaving the family manor—home to twelve generations of dukes—to Strick’s American stepmother. Everyone knows Strick detests the dowager duchess, and when she dies mysteriously, damning rumors start to surface.
When Raya Darwish unexpectedly inherits her glamorous late cousin’s castle in the English countryside, she clashes with the charismatic young duke who insists the castle is rightfully his. The estate is practically bankrupt, so she must find a way to work with the duke in order to save both of their futures.
The two cannot stand each other, but mutual disdain soon gives way to desire. When questions arise about how her cousin died, Raya cannot help wondering if Strick’s sudden unbridled passion for her is part of a scheme to get his castle back...
3.5 STARS
The beautiful picture on the book cover and the plot information caught my attention and I was hoping for a really good story. Unfortunately I ended up with mixed feeling about it. I didn't feel like it lived up to all the promise. But I did give a better rating because of the parts I really liked. First off I REALLY liked Raya even though she had some foolish moments as well. But she was an intelligent woman who fought to be who she was even though so many people disapproved of that. In the beginning Anthony was one of those people but as time goes on he begins to appreciate her spunk and her enterprising ways. Not so much her stubbornness but they both find they really enjoy the verbal sparring. But in the beginning they are both annoyed at that fierce passion that keeps flaring up between them.
Raya's Auntie Majida was quite the colorful, bold woman who was quite the chaperone of her niece's reputation. She had quite the personality.
On the downside, I found some of it kind of silly at times and also filled with a lot more of their sexual antics and language that I would have liked.
The twist and the ending was something that I did like though. So that helped nudge up the way I rated this book.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
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