Never Deny a Duke by Madeline Hunter book review

I wrote in an earlier review that these books are like a gift - just waiting to be unwrapped by the reader. This book is the 3rd book in The Decadent Dukes Society trilogy. I loved them all! I know it’s going to be a late night for me if I get a Madeline Hunter ARC or it’s release day. I finished this one at about 2am. It was just impossible to stop.

I think what made this book different was that it has an English Duke (Eric Marshall, the Duke of Brentworth) and Davinia MacCallum who is Scottish and is supposed to be a Baroness. Part of the story takes place in Scotland. It is tied into the 1745 uprising and the Battle of Culloden, which is when Davinia’s family lost their land to the English. Davinia petitions the King to have her title reinstated and her estate returned. Problem is that Brentworth is the current landholder and does not want to give it up. He sort of brushes off the demands of the King, which is kind of a funny scene in the book, because what aristocrat doesn’t jump at the King’s bidding???

Brentworth is really tightly wound and very discreet with everything. His friends make fun of him for that. Davinia is a writer for Parnassus and part of the Parnassus Club. It didn’t seem like she was on the hunt for a husband. She liked her independence and she was surrounded by good friends. She was also well educated by her father and did not want to give any of her time up that she spent helping people. Her goal was to get her land back and restore her estate. She managed to get an audience with an assistant to the King, but she didn’t feel like she got anywhere. So, she went directly to Brentworth to try to sort things out with him. Ha! This led to some witty and humorous dialogue that was fun to reread.

What a great couple. Eric and Davinia are well matched. Not only do they have great conversational compatibility, but they also are certainly not lacking in the physical chemistry department. I love how in some parts they cannot keep their hands off of each other. *fans self*. I love the historical accuracy, the detailed setting, the descriptive language about the food, clothes, and estates. I don’t know if the author has had an authentic carriage ride, but it sure seems like it with how the rides were described. All in all, I loved this book! A happy and satisfying ending. I highly recommend it for fans of historical romance.