Desperately Seeking A Duke (Heiress Brides)

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I love Phoebe she made me laugh and Raf makes the book come to life, they were suited for each other. I loved this couple most of all they are fun.

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Desperately Seeking A Duke (Heiress Brides)

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Phoebe Millbury and her two cousins, Deidre and Sophie were in contention for a fabulous inheritance, from their deceased grandfather Hamish Pickering - only if one of them were the first to snag a duke as a husband. After a scandalous incident in her earlier years, Phoebe was as anxious as the others but secretly desired to please her cold and distant father, "the vicar". However, in trying to project herself as an innocent debutante, Phoebe was tempted beyond measure by the devilishly charming and oh, so handsome rake Rafe Marbrook. With one look Rafe set fire to Phoebe's imagination, before they even touched at the first ball she attended.

The very next morning her Aunt informed her that she had received a proposal of marriage from a Marbrook, the Marquess who would soon be a Duke. As her aunt repeated the long titled gentleman's name, the only name registering in Phoebe's confused mind was that of Marbrook and her acceptance was immediate. However, what she soon discovered was that she had just agreed to become the bride of Rafe Marbrook's older legitimate brother Calder.

*** First of all, after reading other reviews I don't think the people who say Phoebe's acceptance of a mistaken proposal was as ludicrous as it sounds without examining Phoebe's motivation. Why didn't she just admit the mistaken identity? As the author pointed out, for the most part, Phoebe had lived her life without love and warmth from her father "the Vicar". She had made a disastrous mistake as a young teenager and this was the first time she had gained her fathers admiration, why he'd even smiled at her. The `vicar' had actually told her she'd made him proud! No matter that her heart was breaking, Phoebe simply could not deny her father's happiness and his long sought after approval.

Rafe could not believe that his half-brother had gone ahead and snapped Phoebe up before he'd had a chance to even pay her a morning call. Rafe knew his half brother Calder to be an efficient, cold, methodical and immovable man, but other than pointing Phoebe out from across a ballroom, Calder had not even spoken to her. And so, once more Calder had gotten the prize leaving Rafe standing empty at the gate. The author laid the groundwork with Rafe's emotional feelings of inadequacy and losing to his brother once more.

The author used Phoebe's self deprecating humorous dialogs to herself as well as entertaining antics throughout the story that often proved to be to be uproariously funny. Into this fun filled mélange of supporting characters the readers get glimpses of the other two cousins, Deidre - a concoction of beautiful sophistication; and Sophie, tall, plain, slender and studious whose personalities are hinted at and can only invite the readers to look forward to their stories. There is also a sliver of what I suspect is an interesting little side romance going on with the stately butler.

Bottom line: Celeste Bradley delivers a funny laugh out loud Regency filled with sensual romantic trysts, engaging characters, warmth, and laughter.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com