The Most Dangerous Duke in London (Decadent Dukes Society Book 1)

Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton is a member of London’s elite Society of Decadent Dukes. He is scandalous, dark and brooding, and is out for revenge. Clara Cheswick is the gorgeous daughter of his family’s sworn enemy. So of course he is attracted to her at first sight, but why? I absolutely loved this book. I didn’t want to put it down. In the beginning I was thinking to myself that I shouldn’t “like” Adam, but I couldn’t help but do so. Clara is one of my favorite type of female characters. She is strong, intelligent and independent. She knows what she wants and isn't going to let a male, no matter how attractive, take over her life. The story line came across as very true to life. You could picture the characters perfectly, from Clara’s domineering grandmother, insecure brother and innocent sister to Adam’s fellow “Dangerous Dukes” who support their friend no matter what. The setting goes from country houses to London to horse races at Epsom. It’s a fast paced story with some interesting twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Epilogue Whore Alert: No epilogue, but there are more books in the series, so hopefully we will get updates on Adam and Clara.

If you've read Hunter's "Ravishing in Red," the plot of "The Most Dangerous Duke" will feel familiar. It's basically the same story with the genders flipped. In "Ravishing," the heroine's father commits suicide to protect the family from rumors of his treason; in "Dangerous," it's the hero whose father commits suicide because of rumors of treason. "Ravishing" is by far the better book -- it's one of my favorites by Hunter, and its story and characters are much better developed. This book just feels as though it rushes to a conclusion, and the last 30 pages are missing. All that said, this book isn't bad. As someone else noted, Hunter's worst books are far better than most romance novels. She's a good writer, she always provides a solid plot, her female characters are mature and smart, and she doesn't do The Big Misunderstanding. There's a sophistication to her romances that put them in a class all their own. So, compared to what else is out there right now, "The Most Dangerous Duke in London" is definitely a solid 4 stars.

FINAL DECISION: Fabulous start to a new series. Didn't go in the direction I expected and I ended up loving Adam. Motives are mysterious until all is revealed which built suspense and interest. Loved these two together. THE STORY: Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, has returned to England after years in France following his father's death. Adam has returned for revenge and to find out who set the events in motion which led to his father's death. He is also in pursuit of a wife. He discovers Lady Clara Cheswick, the daughter of his family's longtime enemy. Lady Clara has no intention of agreeing to Adam's determined pursuit of her as she is independent and spending her time managing her own property and interests. Then there is the also the question of what Adam's true motives are. OPINION: This book was more intimate and personal than I expected from the description. Really focusing on the developing relationship between Adam and Clara, the reader is left questioning what Adam's motives are. Clara is a woman who desire for independence even if that means upsetting conventional behavior and roles for women. Having inherited property of her own, Clara plans never to marry but instead publish a paper for women -- written by women. She is independent but isn't willing to toss away all convention. That creates tension as she tries to exist both in and outside of society's expectations. She also struggles with her relationship with her family. While she doesn't always feel close to them, her loyalty to her father makes her suspicious of Adam's motives -- perhaps rightfully. Adam is mysterious through much of the book. By the end of the book, however, I loved Adam. In the book, people wonder what Adam's motives are for returning to England...and the reader is left to wonder as well. By not cluing readers in to Adam's thoughts on the matter, the story has more tension and mystery. And the story needs that mystery because this book is truly driven by Adam's reasons for returning to England and what his plans are. This book feels more intimate and personal because the focus of the book is truly the relationship between Adam and Clara. Can Clara trust Adam? Why is he pursuing a relationship with her? Does he truly intend to marry her? Why? What I ended up loving about this book is that the answers are more complex than a simple narrative. WORTH MENTIONING: Oh, I can't wait for the other two upcoming heroes. There are some good stories to be told there. CONNECTED BOOKS: THE MOST DANGEROUS DUKE IN LONDON is the first book in the Decadent Dukes Society. STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars. NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

(3.5 stars) If you have never read a Madeline Hunter book before, I think you might like this one much more than I did. Hunter writes well, is relatively careful in historical details, doesn't have an excess of anachronistic behavior and dialogue, and often supplies some good chemistry between the H and h. She began releasing HRs in 2000 and I very much enjoyed her medieval books and also several of her series set in the 1800s, such as The Seducers and the Rarest Blooms. In addition to the romance between H and h in her books, there's always an element of mystery or intrigue and I've always appreciated that. Well, this one, the first in her new Decadent Dukes series, is no exception. Many of the trademark aspects of a Hunter HR are here: 1) "Dangerous", studly, sexy, somewhat brooding male with several studly, sexy friends (It's a series, folks; gotta set up the next books) with whom he has a great, close bond. 2 ) A lovely, albeit a bit prickly and independent-minded (but sexually of limited experience) heroine, who is an independently wealthy heiress and has an occupation (secret) that shows us readers that she has a brain. She and a group of like-minded, free-thinking women publish a journal (anonymously). 3) The mystery here involves the hero's late father, who committed suicide after being accused of treasonous activities. This caused the hero and his French-born mother to flee to France to escape gossip and censure in England. But now he's back to discover the truth about his father and to uncover who was responsible for his father's betrayal and disgrace. There are problems and distrust between the hero's and the heroine's families that go back years. In addition, the hero suspects the heroine's late father of being the one responsible for his father's disgrace. When H begins pursuing h, it's not clear if it's real attraction or a desire for revenge. OK, fair enough. That makes for an interesting romance. Compared to many of the mediocre messes being published as HRs nowadays, this one is a "tour de force". But compared to other Hunter books, it is not. Here are my criticisms: 1) This book is too short, with only 296 pages. This made for a shallow, less compelling mystery and a romantic attraction that became too serious too soon. 2) The heroine is independent and somewhat abrasive and her own woman, yet all the hero has to do is touch her or kiss her and she melts into a stupid puddle. By page 30 he has declared his intention to marry her and sets out to seduce her. There's lots of kissing and fondling and by page 101 they're having an open-air intense make-out session on a picnic blanket. That will lead to you-know-what very soon. Say, girl, have a bit more self-respect and play a little harder to get, why don't you. 3) There's nothing really "dangerous" about this duke, nor do all three duke friends seem particularly "decadent", in the same way that there was nothing "wicked" about the three brothers in Hunter's previous trilogy. I'm tired of this type of marketing of romances that hypes the sex in a romance and tries to imply some kinkiness when it's just about people enjoying some consensual sexual activity. I'm glad I got this for free with the Amazon Vine program. Yet, despite all my gritching, I may be interested in checking out the next book of this series. The heroine in it may be a jewel thief. Could be interesting, although even that type of plot has been done before in one way or another in other HRs I've read.

The Most Dangerous Duke in London introduces Madeline Hunter's latest series, the Decadent Dukes Society. An intriguing plot, strong lead characters plus a steamy romance build an unforgettable story of desire for revenge versus a thirst for love. The Duke of Stratton, Adam Penrose, meets his match in the willful beauty, Clara Cheswick. Adam seeks revenge for a terrible wrong he believes was committed by Clara's family. But the more he interacts with Clara, the more he realizes there are emotions stronger than revenge. The brooding Adam reminds me of the lead male in Book 1 of Hunter's Seducer Series. Once you pick it up, it's nonstop until the book is finished. My only complaint is the Dangerous Duke lacks an Epilogue. There are a few issues mentioned in the last chapter that would be well served by an Epilogue. All is all, it is an excellent read! The characters are introduced for the next two Duke books and those books are sure to be as captivating as The Most Dangerous Duke in London.

This is the first book in the new "Decadent Dukes Society" series, about heirs to dukedoms who became friends. Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, has returned to London after a long stay in France with his French mother. He exiled himself when his father killed himself in disgrace for reasons that aren't entirely clear to Adam. He's made a name for himself dueling over insults in France, and now he's returned to London to find out the truth. But first, the family with whom his has a longstanding feud is eager to make peace. The Cheswicks and Penroses had previously argued over ownership of some land, but there may also be some other skeletons in the family closets. To end the feud and avoid Adam's challenging her grandson, the head of the Cheswick family, the Dowager Countess of Marwood, suggests that Adam marry her granddaughter. The girl offered to him is only 16 and therefore not of interest, but Adam is interested in the oldest Cheswick, 24-year-old Clara, whom her brother dubs a shrew. Clara's father allowed her to avoid marriage and granted her some degree of independence along with her inheritance. Adam pursues her, but Clara really isn't interested in marriage. She's too involved in publishing a lady's journal and doesn't need a man trying to control her. But her attraction to Adam leads to an affair, and then love. Will they ever really be happy if they don't find out the truth about their families' true history? Madeline Hunter's writing style has made her one of my favorite authors since I first read By Arrangement, still one of my very favorite romances of all time. (In fact, it may be time for another reread.) I slightly preferred her medievals to her regencies, but I'm very likely to enjoy anything she's written. Like the introductory novels in her other series, This one sets up characters we'll be following in subsequent books. Three friends who are all dukes and have distinctly different personalities are introduced. This book's hero, Adam, is all about revenge and learning the truth about what brought about his father' death. Langford is the playboy, while Brentworth seems serious and reliable (but I'm betting still waters run deep there). To be honest, I was much more interested in the truth of the mystery than the romance. The romance was fine, but will be familiar to Hunter's regular readers; she's done the "family history" thing before. But this one has a few unexpected twists that make it well worth the read. BOTTOM LINE: I love Madeline Hunter's writing, and the family drama and mystery provide an added component to the romance. I'll look forward to the next book in the series, A Devil of a Duke,which will release next year and focus on Adam's friend Langford. NOTE: Review is cross-posted to Tessa's Books and Tea Room.

DECADENT DUKES SOCIETY by Madelline Hunter Superb! This one had me laughing one minute and knotted my stomach the next. Hunter is an accomplished artist of the Regency genre, and her first book in the Decadent Dukes series shows her artistry at top form. Adam Stratton is a young duke with a wounded past. His father was labeled a traitor during the Napoleonic wars, and when the British high society "ton" turned against him the Duke of Stratton put a bullet through his brains to atone the undocumented treason and end the family scandal. Now his son Adam, the new Duke of Stratton, returns from France seeking revenge. But he falls in love with the haughty, independent elder daughter of the one man who pushed the vicious rumors about Stratton's family. To fix that mess, aurhor Hunter takes us on a romp that never seems to lack points of ecasty and despair. Loved this one. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

What's an on-the-shelf, independent spinster of a girl to do when a handsome, wealthy and dangerous duke focuses his marital sights unrelentingly upon her? Apparently, resist his overtures and run in the opposite direction. Madeline Hunter takes us along on this quest as the volatile, forever dueling (according to rumor) Duke of Stratton woos and ultimately wins Lady Clara. The romance sizzles off the page. She may not want to marry him, but she's certainly not averse to accepting his kisses. And aren't we the lucky recipients of that hotness? As always, Hunter delivers the goods. The characters are engaging. The storyline grabs the reader's attention and does not let go. The secondary characters have interesting back stories. Even the characters who are not physically present in the story are given enough depth to engage the imagination. It was refreshing to note that there were no typically contrived perils for the heroine. The action was character driven. The characters talked to one another rather than making assumptions based upon rumor and prejudice. On the way to HEA, along with our dear couple's maddening romance, we meet Adam's closest friends and fellow Decadent Dukes. As always with Madeline Hunter's work, I highly recommend this book. If you love a well written historical romance with adult relationships and witty, erudite repartee, this is the novel for you. I say, must we really wait a full year for the next installment?

ich bin erst bei 11%, aber ich halt's schon nimmer aus! Duelle waren in England 1822 schon sehr lange verboten; selbst wenn niemand starb, suchte man sein Heil danach am Besten in einem längeren Auslands- oder zumindest Landaufenthalt. Ein "townhouse" in London lag und liegt nicht hinter einer langen Auffahrt und hat eine große vordere Terrasse. Wir sind hier nicht in den Südstaaten! Aaaarrrrrgh! Alles sehr modern gedacht und amerikanisch geschrieben (oder was auch immer, jedenfalls nicht der Zeit und dem Ort entsprechend, die angegeben sind!) ich schau mal, wie weit ich es schaffe - ihr lest von mir! Oktober 2019: Nein, ich hab es nicht mehr ausgehalten - meine Lebenszeit ist mir zu kostbar für solchen M**t. Lieber les ich Georgette Heyer zum 10. oder Sue London zum 5. Mal, egal welches Buch!

I adored this book, so much so that I almost but not quite, missed work. I did however count down the hours till I could pick up where I’d left off & continued reading into the wee hours of the morning. Clara was perfect, strong feisty generous & passionate. Adam her equal in all those ways & more. How could one not be sad to leave this pair behind.

It was a delightful story from start to finish. I enjoyed the characters and lack of tedium throughout the storyline. Well done. I'm rereading the series now that I have the 3rd book to look forward to.

Une jolie histoire d’amour avec en toile de fond des secrets de famille cachés et un honneur à laver. On passe un bon moment avec ces personnages attachants.

I enjoyed this well written story. Duke Adam returned to England to try to discover why his father was regarded as a traitor. Adam was considered to be the most dangerous Duke due to the number of duels he had fought. His family had been at war with a neighburing family and when he received an invitation to meet the Dowager he was intrigued. The Dowager wanted him to marry her granddaughter, Emilia. This would be a way to settle the dispute between the families but when he met her older sister Clara he decided she was more attracted to her. Clara was very determined not to marry and wanted her independence. She ran a ladies' magazine and felt that a husband would stop this. Adam made it clear that he wanted Clara and she was made it equally clear she did not believe his interest. Was he only interested in her because of the family feud? Was he only trying to solve the mystery surrounding his father and to clear his name? This story had a very unexpected resolution? Will Clara relent eventually. Read on and enjoy.