BOOK- A DUKE BUT NO GENTLEMAN

BOOK REVIEW- A DUKE BUT NOT GENTLEMAN-In the last opulent days of the eighteenth century, a friendly wager turns into a heated feud that spans decades…and a love affair like none other. What does it take to tempt a lady… London, 1792. The Duke of Blackbern and the Marquess of Norgrave are boyhood friends who will still compete at anything. Racing, drinking, gambling, even seduction--until Lady Imogen Sunter crosses their path. Achingly beautiful, and innocent, she has no understanding of the jaded gentlemen who are courting her for favors--of how far they are willing to go to get what they want…In this game of seduce and destroy? Fighting for Imogen's affection should have been no more than their usual spirited rivalry. But when Blackbern discovers his feelings for Imogen have deepened, all bets are off. Norgrave, driven by his own demons, won't forsake his pride--and with one shocking act of betrayal that threatens Imogen and Blackbern's newfound desire, Norgrave will set the course for a generation of Regency bad boys who will go down in history as the Masters of Seduction...in A Duke But No Gentleman by Alexandra Hawkins. AMAZON

At times I found this to be kind of a dark story.   The friendship between  Blackbern (Tristan) and Norgrave was kind of twisted.   The two men fit the description of depraved for sure.  In the beginning of the story I was wondering how on earth this man, Blackbern, was ever going to be the "hero" of the story.  Things did begin to turn around but some of the situtations could be uncomfotabe for some readers.  The book did keep me interested though. 

I liked Lady Imogene, but "girl what were you thinking?".  She just blithely goes off, alone with a man she doesn't really know. She might have been adventurous and innocent but come on, that just wasn't done in the times she lived in.  No maid, nothing.   I was relieved that there were a few times that she was in the company of other people so that made it more believable.   Blackbern and Norgrave drew her away from people so many times, without much resistance on her part.  Even though she had been warned more than once about their reputations.  These were no boyish pranksters. There was a romance that develops in the story but for anyone looking for a clean read, this is not it.

One thing that was kind of funny was that Imogene's mother,  was often called The Dragon by Blackbern.  It also shows that their were lighter and some charming moments in the book as well.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.