CINDERELLA AND THE DUKE

A proposition leads to an unexpected connection in this debut Regency romance.

At the age of 27, Julia Beaumont is resigned to spending her life as a spinster in Kent, England. When she was 14, her father died, leaving her as the primary caretaker of her stepmother, Constance, and stepsister, Susannah. Constance is especially dependent on her, denying Julia opportunities to attend social functions where she might meet eligible men. A failed elopement when Julia was 17 served to cement her status as an unmarriable woman. Gregory Carter, the Duke of Ashworth, is a devilishly handsome man accustomed to having any woman he desires, married or single (“Over much of the past ten years, he’d solidified his reputation as London’s most devastating rake”). His conquests have formed a club devoted to discussing their exploits, while the married women’s husbands regularly challenge him to duels. When Julia and Gregory meet at the Weatherford ball, it is hardly love at first sight. After Julia rescues Gregory from another unhappy husband, he impulsively kisses her. Startled, she flees the ball, leaving behind one of her shoes. Intrigued, Gregory goes to her home to return the shoe and receives a surprise when Julia proposes a marriage of convenience. The arrangement will offer Julia freedom from Constance while protecting Gregory from betrayed husbands. The situation is ideal until a man from Julia’s past and an invitation to attend the queen’s ball force her and Gregory to consider if their unconventional beginning will have a true fairy-tale ending. Drake’s romance is a sparkling take on “Cinderella” with nuanced lead characters and a fast-paced narrative replete with plenty of sexual tension. Julia is an amiable hero, devoted to her stepsister but determined to escape from a life caring for Constance. Julia’s intelligent and headstrong nature is complemented by Gregory’s temperament. He’s a man whose pursuit of hedonistic pleasures masks a sensitive nature and a fear of following in his parents’ footsteps and ending up in an unhappy marriage. The strong supporting characters include Susannah, a talented musician seeking more out of life than marriage, and Julia’s former suitor Lucas Campbell.

A charming love story perfect for Bridgerton fans.