Defended by a Duke

3.25 / 5

Voice & Style

Polished, professional author style. At times lackluster and overly expository. Some clunky dialogue.

Characters & Plot

None of the characters feel rounded. MCs from other books in the series are supporting characters in this one, which is a plus that adds to reader enjoyment. The plot moves along at a brisk pace.

Period Authenticity

Setting is an unobtrusive backdrop without any serious inaccuracies.

Merit in Sub-genre

3.5 in its spicy historical romance sub-genre. Better than average.

Editing

Professionally edited. Some tiny punctuation errors. Top 10% for editing quality.

Sensuality

Sensuality is a constant undercurrent between the MCs. Explicit, tasteful lovemaking scenes after marriage.

Book Description

Duty to his country keeps him from the arms of the woman he craves with every breath—his bride.

On the day he marries the woman of his dreams, Richard Harwood, the 6th Duke of Bentley, is summoned by his wife’s cousin, who has been gravely injured. The cousin, the powerful and wealthy Earl Devere, believes the attempt on his life is tied to his fledgling investigation into a potential stock fraud endorsed by men at the highest levels of government. If the stock scheme is as corrupt as the cousin suspects, it could bankrupt the kingdom. The Duke of Bentley is taxed with determining the legitimacy of the stock offering. But he must tell no one of his suspicions, not even his bride.

In her first Season, lovely Emily Beresford, has the good fortune to win the heart of the kingdom’s most sought-after matrimonial catch, the handsome Duke of Bentley. From the moment they met, the two have been hopelessly in love. So why does this man she adores abandon her on their wedding night?

Bentley’s inquiries keep stealing him away from this woman he craves with every aching breath, his wife. These same inquiries endanger him—and his adored duchess.

Pam’s Take

With some Three dozen Regency romances under her belt, Cheryl Bolen has made the short, breezy read a specialty. Defended by a Duke is Book 6 in her Beresford Adventures and follows the same entertaining formula as the rest of the series, blending a fast-moving romance with an element of intrigue/crime that raises the stakes for the MCs.

Hero, Richard Harwood is a reform-minded Whig who sees himself as “too entrenched in his bachelorhood to ever wed.” As the Duke of Bentley, he is a matrimonial trophy beset by unwanted ball invitations and bored with the social scene. His friend Lord Devere snared the only bride worth having, Bentley decides with chagrin, just moments before he encounters Devere’s spirited cousin, Emily Beresford.

Dual viewpoint reveals them instantly smitten. For Emily, the duke is “The One.” Wealth and rank aside, his heartthrob looks, powerful muscularity, and reputation for treating his servants like human beings are a winning combo. While she is used to hearing her looks described as “wholesome,” to Bentley, she is “The Stunner.” Smart, beautiful, and on the same page as him about social issues. A day later, they are driving in Hyde Park and the romance is heating up with a physicality that foreshadows the more explicit love-making readers expect of Ms. Bolen’s books.

Along with their sexual chemistry, they discover a shared interest in utilitarianism and progressive causes. What’s not to love?

Just when it seems their future together is secure, a murder attempt on Lord Devere ruins what should have been a blissful honeymoon. There unfolds an intrigue plot centered on a stock swindle, which Bentley starts investigating. Uncertain of herself and worried about her new marriage, Emily turns from a smart, strong woman into a weeping, whiny, mistrustful wife who then becomes embroiled and endangered as she tries to keep tabs on her husband.

Character development is not a strength of this short novel, but as entertainment, Bentley and Emily make for an attractive couple. MCs from the other stories in the series play support roles in this one, which is a plus for readers who enjoyed their stories. The politics of the time are a theme, more so than in other titles in the series. And because the romance had developed so fast and the intrigue plot spanned two thirds of the book, I felt that Emily and Bentley’s story was short-changed. However, that’s a matter of personal taste. Readers who enjoy intrigue and adventure may be appreciate the mix.

The unrealistic abundance of dukes in Regency romances is a cringe-factor for me, but it’s a popular trope and I can’t fault any author for pleasing her readers. While the Regency setting is a backdrop, not a major element, it is well handled. Ms. Bolen is a seasoned professional who has done her research.

Comparing apples with apples, in the sensual historical romance sub-genre, Defended by a Duke earns 3.25 stars from us.

We thank the author, Dragonblade Publishing, and NetGalley for an advance copy of Defended by a Duke. Cover image courtesy of © Dragonblade Publishing, 2023. Review by Pam Baker © 2023 The Regency Chronicle.