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The Duchess Hunt Audiobook Summary

New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath continues her Once Upon a Dukedom series with this lush love story of a duke who discovers what he desires in a wife may not be what he needs…

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess. However, restoring the dukedom–left in ruins by his father–to its former glory demands all his time, with little room for sentiment. He places an advert encouraging the single ladies of the ton to write why they should be the one chosen, and leaves it to his efficient secretary to select his future wife.

If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can’t imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer.

But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he’s willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he’s hunting for has been in front of him all along?

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The Duchess Hunt Audiobook Narrator

Kate Reading is the narrator of The Duchess Hunt audiobook that was written by Lorraine Heath

When multiple New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her create believable characters–characters often described as “real people.” The daughter of a British beauty and a Texan stationed at RAF Bovingdon, Lorraine was born in England but soon after moved to Texas. Her dual nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.

About the Author(s) of The Duchess Hunt

Lorraine Heath is the author of The Duchess Hunt

The Duchess Hunt Full Details

Narrator Kate Reading
Length 10 hours 15 minutes
Author Lorraine Heath
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date September 28, 2021
ISBN 9780062952028

Subjects

The publisher of the The Duchess Hunt is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Fiction, General, Historical, Romance

Additional info

The publisher of the The Duchess Hunt is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062952028.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Heather K (dentist in my spare time)

October 19, 2021

I've read a number of books by Lorraine Heath, but The Duchess Hunt is my favorite by this author to date. Just swoony, historical romance perfection. I see some mixed reviews from my friends, but am 100% #teamtheduchesshunt. I found it incredibly hard to put down, and more moving and intense than expected. It's a slow-burn, colleagues-to-lovers romance with a number of small twists and turns to keep the excitement going. It's a relatively long story, but it won't feel that way for readers. This story is great for fans of unrequited love, class differences, and some beautiful groveling (yes, I said it- give me that grovel-porn!). There is just so much to love about this story. I recommend reading the first in the series prior to this one, just for a little background info, but it isn't at all necessary. Maybe it was just my mood, but this book pushed all the right buttons. Thank you for an extremely satisfying read, Lorraine Heath.*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok

Jessica

October 21, 2021

I absolutely love the trope where the one love interest is trying to help the other love interest find someone to marry. Automatically there is so much tension and angst! But in this one, both the hero and heroine are pining after one another from the beginning and I was obsessed with them. Penelope is Hugh's assistant and has been working for him for over a year. Now, he needs a wife and she is helping him with his list of potential wives. That means she has to go to balls with him and the tension is everything! He gets jealous when men show interest in her and she can't deny her feelings for him. I just loved how protective Hugh became over her and how he didn't know what to do about his growing feelings for her. Both Hugh and Penelope are hiding secrets from one another that come to light at the end of the book. Hugh's reaction to her secret is very frustrating, but I did enjoy how they both dealt with their secrets coming out and found their way to be with one another. It was also really interesting watching Penelope's dynamics with the other staff, especially as it was clear that Hugh was treating her differently...Overall, I loved this book! I highly recommend if you love historical romances!

Hannah

September 21, 2022

✨These urges have urges.✨No this epilogue killed me. Leave it to Lorraine. Save for want of a little more dirty talk and adventure in the bedroom (or picnic blanket or carriage), this book was absolutely delicious and perfect and just what I needed, wanted, wished for on an obliging shooting star.I’ve said before, Kingsland can get it. And what happened class? He got it. I’m such a sucker for a character that is so unbuttoned they bathe clothed. This book gave us TWO of those honeybuns. They were both so meticulous, uptight, and devoted to their work. Now if that’s not my kink I don’t know what is. I loved watching them start to realize that had feelings for each other. There was also a sick scene and King was DISTRAUGHT. Another kink? Check. Mate. The tension between King and Pettypeace was perfection. Their urges had urges. The sex was a bit vanilla but the plot and characters won me over ten-fold. And there WAS sex, just not very long or graphic. Pettypeace did get herself off in a carriage which was great. Side note: there was a scene where King called her his right hand. To which she should have brought back up during a sex scene while getting HIM off like his right hand. Just saying. Far in the future epilogues always leave me in shambles. I always think about these couples in romances as evergreen because they are (for the reader), but when the epilogue is like they’re old or they have ancestors, I get EMOTIONAL. Or more emotional. I’m always emotional. Therefore, this epilogue destroyed my sensibilities and I cried TWO times. Yes I’ve already read this book again. Another kink. Overall, I can’t believe this book was so good! I mean I can but I’m still impressed by how unprepared I was. I do wish King would have handled her secret better but he groveled well. His disapproval and lack of steam were my only qualms but I’m already over them. I’m also probably reading this book again. Thus, this is probably a 4.75/5 but it made me cry so it wins back the .25 lost by his lack of sense. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

Shawna

October 19, 2021

5 stars - Historical RomanceI loved this so much! It's such a moving, passionate, and swoony romance! *Sigh*I loved Hugh and how (view spoiler)[clueless he was to his feelings, especially when everyone else (except Penelope) seemed to know exactly how he felt about her. (hide spoiler)] I was frustrated with Penelope and how long she kept her secret, but I understood her fear and reluctance. I loved the Duke's mother. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Kate Reading, sounded like actress Judi Dench when she read her parts, which was fabulous.

Pepa

November 03, 2022

5 estrellitasReseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2022/...Seguramente son excesivas, pero lo he disfrutado tanto, es una trama que me encanta!! y si él, me ha gustado, ella me ha encantado. No es la primera vez que la autora repite este argumento: mujer que ha de encargarse de encontrar esposa al protagonista y, como no, termina casado con ella. Pero, con esta trama tan sencilla, y unas tramas secundarias que añaden algo de salsa al tema.... no podía parar de leer y eso, hace que se las merezcaOjo, aquí contamos con el gusto personal que hace que le añada esa estrellita para redondear.

Julie

September 16, 2021

The second book in Lorraine Heath’s Once Upon a Dukedom series, The Duchess Hunt focuses on the Duke of Kingsland and his secretary Penelope Pettypeace. For eight years their relationship has been strictly professional. However, when the duke tasks Penelope with finding him a wife, Penelope knows she will do what she must to find him the perfect match, even if it breaks her heart. When a blackmail note threatens all they have worked for, Penelope and Kingsland must face their pasts and decide if they should risk revealing their feelings for each other.Penelope is fantastic! She is smart and independent, secure in her position as King’s secretary. I love her confidence and her fierceness. She is not easily intimidated, and, much like King, she excels at her job. King is a man who likes to be in control. He is hugely successful and powerful, but he struggles to let people in. Both have secrets from the past that threaten to ruin their well-controlled and structured lives. I like how their secrets are slowly revealed throughout the story. They are tortured by their pasts, but the closer they become, the more willing they are to trust each other with their innermost secrets. I found this part of the story really interesting and unpredictable. I was surprised when their respective secrets were revealed and didn’t expect either.Penelope and King respect and admire each other, and they have worked together for eight years. They know each other well, but solely on a professional level. They both love each other, but their reluctance to cross the boundary that has been in place for almost a decade stops them from expressing their feelings. This leads to a lot of angst and sexual tension, which is fantastic. There’s so much yearning, since Penelope has loved King for years, and King is so unaware of and confused by his feelings. It takes him a long time to realize just how much he’s taken her for granted, but once he does, he does everything in his power to change. I loved their love story and how their relationship deepened and changed, and I wholly rooted for them even though social expectations, arranged engagements, secrets, blackmail, and more stand in their way.You know those love stories where the characters always refer to each other by their last names as a way to keep each other at a distance and maintain some semblance of formality? Then, when they finally use each other’s first names, it’s an epic moment – passion-filled and romantic and swoon-worthy? This book does that so well! It’s the type of romance that I find myself sighing deeply when reading because of the sheer beauty of it. I felt myself swooning a time or two, and the first time Kingsland said “Penelope,” I definitely fell in love with this couple a little more. The depth of their feelings and their longing for each other is lovely.Other characters in the story are equally interesting, and I’m hopeful that some of them will be featured in upcoming books in the series. King’s friends The Chessman and a couple of the women that King and Penelope meet are intriguing, and I’d love to learn more of their stories. Something else I really like about this series is the epilogues, which take place years after the conclusion of the story. I always wonder what happens to my favorite characters after the story ends, and Heath provides us with the answers in these books. It’s wonderful to see how their stories, and other characters’ stories, progressed and changed.This is a wonderful historical romance with dynamic characters and strong messages about love, trust, and forgiveness. Plus the love story is swoon-tastic! Even though this is the second book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, Scoundrel of My Heart, the first book is also fantastic, and I highly recommend it! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Lorraine Heath, and Avon for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Lisa (Remarkablylisa)

July 19, 2022

4.5 stars!!! I'm a bit sad that her conflict wasn't as prominent as I wanted it to be but lorraine heath tells an angsty love story featuring unrequited love.

Audrey

June 01, 2022

I thought it was adorable how Hugh (King) wasn't even aware that he liked her but kept escalating the things he would do that might not seem romantic but were very considerate tasks that reflected his feelings for her: for example, moving her office to someplace nicer when before. Regarding her office: "It might have served sufficiently for someone else but not for her." Another example immediately following that is when he makes plans to hire her an assistant (how much work does she really have? lmao. He's making his dukedom sound like a huge factory or business.) because "she was much too valuable for things that required no thought." Thoughts while reading I'm SO looking forward to the Kingsland ball. (view spoiler)[ My prediction is that Hugh (why do I keep on wanting to write Hunt?) will announce that Pettypeace will be his bride. That would be a good twist. Also, I can't wait for her to go to a ball. I live for ball scenes in Regency novels, and I wish I could go to one, even a Regency-theme ball today. I was right, and the proposal scene even managed to bring a few tears to my eyes! (hide spoiler)]This book reminds me of "The Raven Prince" where the heroine is the lord's employee/secretary, a little plain, and the two fall in love. Honestly, in regency sort of HR (1874 is probably a little too late to be considered the regency period), I prefer the more glamourous ones with balls. Damn, she's 28 & never been kissed (besides when she was 8 & 16)! I think the author went a little too far with the virgin thingp.200~ Damn, he didn't just propose a secretary-with-benefits sort of thing!Like others were saying, it took them 8 years though to realize their feelings for each other? And why now? That first threatening letter was actually really creepy and reminded me of Riverdale. I had to resist peaking over my shoulder (it late at night when I was reading that bit). Penelope's past comes back to haunt her. I didn't get why other reviewers didn't like how King handled the situation; I didn't see anything wrong in what he did. Maybe I missed something, and I should reread it? (view spoiler)[ I thought maybe she was a prostitute for a little bit to provide money for her family, but then I found out she was a virgin, so that was off the table. I would have never guessed that she posed nude for a photographer and those photos became part of a collection of pornography. A man she was acquainted with, George Grenville, recognized her from his pornography collection. The problem was solved more easily than I'd imagined, with Hugh being notified by the maid and him overhearing Grenville's words. Hugh picked up the photos from G's house and burned them. It was cute how the author made up how in 2021, the 15th duke collected the last remaining photo of Penelope and burned it. (hide spoiler)] I would have liked to know Penelope's real last name, though, unless it was Hart. Or was that her new fake last name??Both characters were a little uptight & maybe slightly boring (not in the bedroom), but together, they were perfect for each other.Also, someone needs to give Lorraine Heath's cover artist a raise because that cover is absolutely beautiful!!! (Her covers are always nice, but this one in particular... I love the color palette.)

i_hype_romance

October 06, 2022

I loved Penny and Hugh's story. She is inobtrusive to everyone but him... and when he finally takes notice of the woman who has been his faithful secretary, he cannot look away. Penelope has secretly nursed her tendre for her forthright, demanding employer for years. She has a past she is trying to bury, and can't afford to hope for more than a brief dalliance if he ever sees her as more than an efficient, indispensable means of keeping his life in order. From the moment he brushes her curls behind her ears for the first time, and notices the verdant green of her eyes behind her spectacles, she invades his every waking thought. But holding this enigmatic, elusive woman is far easier than tethering her to his side by ties greater than duty. When he tasks her with finding him the perfect wife she applies all of her formidable skills to doing just that. A library encounter over a snifter of brandy, a moonlight sickbed vigil, an ill-advised dance that only heightens their awareness of each other all of these stolen moments coalesce into luminous, fragile feelings that leave both of them adrift. This is one of my favorite Heaths so far, perhaps rivaled only by Once More My Darling Rogue. I cannot wait for the release of the next book in the series!

Lover of Romance

January 27, 2022

First ImpressionsThe Duchess Hunt is a story that I was highly anticipating so much. In the previous book, “Scoundrel of My Heart” really built up the focus of the hero for this book. By the end of Scoundrel of My Heart you just want him to find his happy ever after. So I was so excited to delve into this book and get his story. It has a mix of unrequited love, forbidden love, class difference, and Boss and Secretary tropes. So pretty much some of my favorite tropes to read in romance but most especially a historical romance. I was really intrigued with the setup of the story and seeing the slow-built chemistry that is developed between Hugh and Penelope. I knew from the first chapter that this book would be rough on the emotions as we see how much Penelope has fallen for Hugh and he is kinda blind to it for quite a while. But I was also intrigued to see how this would work out for them. It definitely had the depths that you have come to expect from Lorraine Heath but it was a slow-paced read which I wasn’t expecting especially after the first book “Scoundrel of My Heart” kept me on my toes. So be aware before moving forward.SummaryHugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is looking for a duchess. After what happened the last time, he is going to make sure he finds his duchess and someone that will fit the role perfectly and won’t get emotionally attached as his pride was hurt losing the woman he started to care for to another. He puts his secretary in charge of finding his duchess and will make his decision on the night of the ball he has in the plan for. Penelope is determined to find the perfect wife for Hugh, she may have been loving him from afar but if she is anything, she is efficient at her job and will prove herself to Hugh despite having secret yearnings for his touch and his heart. Hugh starts to take interest in Penelope but as the chemistry builds slowly between High and Penelope, there is a threat to them both. Someone that knows a secret and will blackmail them with it. As both High and Penelope have secrets in their past they would rather stay hidden, they aren’t ready for what is to come or the hidden desires that erupt between them. Will Hugh find that the love of his heart has been by his side this whole time or forsake it all for the sake of keeping up the pretense of being a proper Duke?What I LovedThere was so many things to actually really enjoy about this book. The first I want to mention is the depth of the character growth. I just loved both Hugh and Penelope individually. They had such distinct personalities, and both are so efficient and capable at what they do which is also makes them a great team. They are so sync with each other and its pretty interesting to see how despite the practicality of their relationship in the past, there is something more deeper which is building between them. I did find that the this took some twists and turns I actually didn’t see coming. I do love how this author developed the plot in this book. It definitely keeps the interest of the reader to see where the story will take Hugh and Penelope. I was fascinated by how secretive they both are of their pasts, but especially Penelope. She is tight lipped about anything personal about herself. But when she starts to be more open with Hugh, this is were the relationship really takes its delightful turn into something deeper between them. I was intrigued b the complexity of their bond and seeing the intricate layers that form. Lorraine Heath has such a talent in developing these type of aspects within her stories and it really is evident within this one here.What I Struggled Withso I had ONE major issue with this book, and the pacing is just so SLOW! I am not sure if this is just me, but in some of her books especially her more recently published works, the writing just doesn’t engage me like her writing used to for me. I wanted so much to enjoy this one more because the romance was so delightful but it took me days to actually read this one, and i just wanted to get through it and I never like that feeling especially from a favorite author. After the first book, and being so engaged, I was expecting this book to completely blow me away, and the pacing really affected my true enjoyment of this one here, unfortunately.Overall ViewThe Duchess Hunt is a sweet softly built romance that develops a class difference romance into a complexity of emotion and passion that will curl your toes and leave you eager for more delicious treats from this author. You won’t be disappointed upon the reading of The Duchess Hunt.

ChasingLeslie

September 25, 2021

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess and has already chosen the wrong fiancée once. Instead, he leaves the task to his very efficient secretary, Penelope Pettypeace. She is determined to find the perfect bride for her employer....even though Penelope herself has feelings for Hugh.This is the second book in the Once Upon A Dukedom series. While this book can stand alone, the first book is excellent and helps set up Hugh's bride hunt.Hugh and Penelope are likeminded individuals: serious, focused, and trying to outrun their past history. I really enjoyed how Hugh depended on Penelope and valued her even before he realized his attraction. There is a slow burn while they try to avoid muddying their working relationship. Without getting into spoilers, I will say that I liked that there were surprises and how those reveals played out.Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, MatchmakingSteam Rating: 4.5 (a good number of scenes, but not very long/detailed)* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheDuchessHunt #NetGalley

Amarilli

March 16, 2022

CERCO UNA DUCHESSA TRANQUILLA E SILENZIOSA; PRESENTE QUANDO HO BISOGNO DI LEI E ASSENTE QUANDO NON NE HO.Invece ogni donna sognava un uomo che fosse presente anche quando non si accorgeva di non averne bisogno.Con il secondo volume, la Heath sposta la narrazione dai "rovinati" fratelli Stanwick, per concentrarsi proprio su Kingsland, il quasi-antagonista del primo capitolo. E dico quasi perché in realtà già in precedenza aveva riservato parecchie sorprese.In ogni caso, Hugh Brinsley-Norton, Duca di Kingsland, nonostante sia stato stato piantato in asso al primo tentativo, ha deciso di riprovarci con gli annunci sul giornale per trovare la duchessa perfetta.Ha bisogno di un erede, ma non vuole neppure perdere tempo ed energia per sciocchezzuole borghesi come corteggiare, innamorarsi e poi darsi da fare per piacere a una potenziale dama. Così delega la faccenda alla sua fedele segretaria, Miss Pettypeace.E che Pettypeace non sia proprio la solita dipendente lo capiamo subito: dopo aver sbaragliato la concorrenza di molti segretari maschili, s'è fatta assumere per la sua sfrontatezza, ha mantenuto saldo il ruolo per la sua tenacia, e gli stessi investigatori del duca non sono mai riusciti a risalire alla sua vera identità.Pettypeace è una presenza silenziosa da ben otto anni, non si è mai lamentata, non ha mai deluso il duca, investe in azioni (e qui la Heath ci spiega che, all'epoca, era l'unico investimento di cui le donne potevano conservare la proprietà) e riesce a destreggiarsi tra affari e incombenze più frivole, come appunto selezionare i curricula inviati dalle aspiranti candidate.Ci vorranno un fratello scapestrato del duca, l'iscrizione a un club particolare, la scoperta di segreti del passato, un ricatto, un cambio d'abiti e pure una sveglia duchessa madre per far rinsavire King sulle vere intenzioni del suo cuore.Come al solito, la Heath riesce a coinvolgermi appieno: ritroviamo i personaggi delle altre serie (Trewlove), c'è sempre un pizzico di originalità e ironia, e in più anche una certa parte hot (chi non lo vuole un duca focoso?).Una serie calibrata e riuscita: al prossimo turno tocca a Marcus.

Amrit

May 31, 2022

I - this needed content warnings. Damned if it didn’t. This went to an unexpectedly dark place. Worse still, that dark place was not explored with the weight that it merits. I was 100% not expecting that reveal - it didn’t mess with me, but I can imagine it would smack somebody else clean in the face. Having said that, the last paragraph of the epilogue gets a star just for itself. That was heart wrenching and I can only wish we could envision a similar ending for so many people in the same position - except the fucking internet makes that extremely difficult. I love epilogues that feature far off descendants as a testament to the love and family the couple created together - those are always so wonderful. So the epilogue was a double victory, really.

b.andherbooks

October 31, 2022

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland has tasked his steadfast secretary Penelope Pettypeace with finding him his future Duchess, but increasingly becomes distracted by Pettypeace as he realizes what finding a wife will do to *their* relationship.Pettypeace herself has secretly loved the Duke for most of her employment with him, but has kept it carefully hidden away like the leather notebook in her secret pocket. She'll find him his duchess AND will start considering finding some companionship of her own, even if it is just anonymous liaisons at the new club for second sons and commoner women.But when a secret blackmail letter reveals both Pettypeace and King have secrets, their search for a Duchess is put on pause and gives them an opportunity to try a short term arrangement, for just giving into their sexual tension.This was fun and swoony, the secrets bit was a little overwrought but I enjoyed the character development!CW: exploitation of a minor (view spoiler)[Pettypeace, to pay the bills and take care of her family, agrees to pose for nude photos when she's very young, a child. She is threatened by the villain in the story to expose her secrets to the Duke and society. (hide spoiler)], drinking, fighting

Christie«SHBBblogger»

September 27, 2021

Title: The Duchess HuntSeries: Once Upon a Dukedom #2Author: Lorraine HeathRelease date: September 28, 2021Cliffhanger: noGenre: historical romanceIf there existed a more unpleasant task in the world than selecting the woman who was to marry the man you loved, Penelope Pettypeace certainly couldn’t imagine what it might be.Sometimes you open up a book and the very first line of the book is so attention grabbing that you're immediately compelled to read more. I experienced that with The Duchess Hunt and continued to be pulled in the deeper I went. Likewise, I was intrigued by both main characters from the start. Hugh was shrewd, intense, a bit aloof, but far from cold. He was an enlightened man for that time because he had no qualms about hiring a female as his right-hand woman. Not only that, but he views at her as his equal in intelligence and competency. Getting into his inner thoughts early on, you notice that after eight years of working closely together, he's more intrigued by her than he allows himself to acknowledge. He frequently pulls himself back from his awareness of her as a woman, mainly because of the power dynamic between the two of them, and that caused a tug of war between his heart and his head. I really enjoyed the angst as it built in momentum during his inner struggle. What was funny was that his latent feelings for her were glaringly obvious to not only the reader, but his mother and closest friends as well. The only one who seemed to be in the dark (or denial) for much of the book was the hero. Penelope was aware of her own feelings, but completely unaware of his. Blast her impertinent heart. Why did it always have to leap with joy whenever her gaze fell on him? Why did it have to yearn for what it could never possess?If Penelope Pettypeace had any inkling that the Duke who employed her had any feelings for her other than professional, she just might have run. Though she has been secretly in love with the man for years, she isn't really the person who allows herself to get close to people because of her past. She's a very private person who has been burned badly because of the secret she holds, which ironically could be the thing that sparked Hugh's curiosity to look at her more than surface deep. She has an air of mystery about her that presents an appealing puzzle to a man like him. The more he unveiled, the more curious he became. He was desperate to know everything. She’d always been an important part of the business side of his life, but it seemed at some point today a shift had occurred in his world, and he could no longer relegate her to only a portion of it.Hugh is an investor, problem solver and astute businessman. The fact that he has known Pettypeace for so long and knows very little personal information about her makes him appreciate even the smallest insight as a gift. And the way he secretly craved being able to make her smile and laugh was the sweetest. It was these small details that made me root for the two of them and feel that they were made for each other. As well, it was refreshing to read a romance where the couple was so similar in personality rather than complete opposites. They were both on the same wave length to the point that they could even finish each other's sentences and anticipate what the other would want or need. He put his complete trust in her abilities to handle his business empire if he had to travel in search of new opportunities. More importantly, he believed that she knew him so well, that she could even handle the tedious task of finding him a suitable wife better than he could. I will say that once the two of them started to explore their interest in each other a little bit, it felt a bit odd that they continued their discussions of her quest in finding him a wife. They were being a bit willfully ignorant about reality. The reality was that he was behaving jealously at the thought of her dancing with another man, he was possessive, and protective over her when she got sick. Then he would turn those thoughts off like a light switch and pretend that everything was casual until his permanent partner was found. They both also had very big secrets that they held back from sharing with each other for the majority of the book. Once his secret came out, I'm not going to lie, it made me uncomfortable. I couldn't quite wrap my head around how this was so casually explained away because to me, I think there needed to be something much more drastic pushing Hugh to do something like that. Up until this point, the book was easily five stars, but this plot point did detract from my enjoyment. Then Penelope's secret was outed and while is was quite tragic, my sympathy wasn't completely there for her because she continued hiding it from him until the bitter end. I understand the shame that went along with it but there was a lack of trust on her part that was disappointing after he opened up to her with his massive secret. The chemistry and drawn out anticipation over this couple made this romance really enjoyable for the most part. While there were some issues I had with the plot, the dynamic between Hugh and Penelope made up for a lot. I also really liked the detail that Lorraine Heath put into the epilogue, and thought it was an interesting way to close the story. If you're looking for a historical romance that's a little different from the common opposites attract, this could be the right book for you. FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

Niki (mustreadalltheromance)

October 04, 2021

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, can no longer put off his need to marry, but his focus has long been on restoring the dukedom his father ruined and he has no time for frivolous courtship. He does the expedient thing and places an ad asking ladies of high society to write a letter extolling the reasons they should be his duchess and places his secretary in charge of making the selection.Penelope Pettypeace can’t conceive of a more awful undertaking than selecting a bride for the man she loves. Still, her employer is a good man, even if he is clueless, and she’s determined to find someone who will appreciate him.When an anonymous note threatens to reveal disastrous secrets, King confronts the situation with Penelope in tow. Soon he realizes he wants her by his side and no one else, and he’s willing to risk everything he’s built to keep her with him as he slowly realizes his perfect match has been right beneath his nose all along.I was so unsure of this book at first because I thought we might be heading for some other woman drama that I would want no part of, but I’m happy to say that didn’t really happen here. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a heroine who pined for her hero while also being so strong, independent, and efficient and I couldn’t help but like her for it. Hugh, I wanted to shake for being so oblivious and yet he was still very charming in his own oblivious way. Both Hugh and Penelope had secrets they wanted to keep hidden but I loved that they were able to confide in and rely on each other. I’m still not really sure exactly when Hugh stopped seeing Penelope as just a secretary and began appreciating her as a woman and developing feelings for her, but that inexplicability never really bothered me. Hugh’s gradual self-realization made for an interesting read and the need to know their secrets kept me turning pages after my bedtime. I was rooting for these two and I really wound up loving their story, especially as it features one of the best grand romantic gestures I’ve ever read. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

Frequently asked questions

Listening to audiobooks not only easy, it is also very convenient. You can listen to audiobooks on almost every device. From your laptop to your smart phone or even a smart speaker like Apple HomePod or even Alexa. Here’s how you can get started listening to audiobooks.

  • 1. Download your favorite audiobook app such as Speechify.
  • 2. Sign up for an account.
  • 3. Browse the library for the best audiobooks and select the first one for free
  • 4. Download the audiobook file to your device
  • 5. Open the Speechify audiobook app and select the audiobook you want to listen to.
  • 6. Adjust the playback speed and other settings to your preference.
  • 7. Press play and enjoy!

While you can listen to the bestsellers on almost any device, and preferences may vary, generally smart phones are offer the most convenience factor. You could be working out, grocery shopping, or even watching your dog in the dog park on a Saturday morning.
However, most audiobook apps work across multiple devices so you can pick up that riveting new Stephen King book you started at the dog park, back on your laptop when you get back home.

Speechify is one of the best apps for audiobooks. The pricing structure is the most competitive in the market and the app is easy to use. It features the best sellers and award winning authors. Listen to your favorite books or discover new ones and listen to real voice actors read to you. Getting started is easy, the first book is free.

Research showcasing the brain health benefits of reading on a regular basis is wide-ranging and undeniable. However, research comparing the benefits of reading vs listening is much more sparse. According to professor of psychology and author Dr. Kristen Willeumier, though, there is good reason to believe that the reading experience provided by audiobooks offers many of the same brain benefits as reading a physical book.

Audiobooks are recordings of books that are read aloud by a professional voice actor. The recordings are typically available for purchase and download in digital formats such as MP3, WMA, or AAC. They can also be streamed from online services like Speechify, Audible, AppleBooks, or Spotify.
You simply download the app onto your smart phone, create your account, and in Speechify, you can choose your first book, from our vast library of best-sellers and classics, to read for free.

Audiobooks, like real books can add up over time. Here’s where you can listen to audiobooks for free. Speechify let’s you read your first best seller for free. Apart from that, we have a vast selection of free audiobooks that you can enjoy. Get the same rich experience no matter if the book was free or not.

It depends. Yes, there are free audiobooks and paid audiobooks. Speechify offers a blend of both!

It varies. The easiest way depends on a few things. The app and service you use, which device, and platform. Speechify is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks. Downloading the app is quick. It is not a large app and does not eat up space on your iPhone or Android device.
Listening to audiobooks on your smart phone, with Speechify, is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks.

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