World Famous Comics: Duke Most Wanted (Heiress Brides)
Duke Most Wanted (Heiress Brides)
By: Celeste Bradley Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: St. Martin's Paperbacks Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 352 Publication Date: April 29, 2008 Release Date: April 29, 2008
Sophie Blake’s grandfather willed his fortune to the first of his granddaughters to marry a duke. Since her cousin, Deirdre, will seal the deal any day now, the quiet, bookish Sophie can sit back and enjoy her time with the only man she truly adores: Graham. No matter that the part charmer, part scoundrel has absolutely no designs on her! Sophie is content to engage Graham in lively conversation, beat him at cards. . .and probe at the darkness hiding behind his rakish smile.
Then Graham unexpectedly gains a title, an estate in near ruins and a mountain of debt. If there is any chance of survival he must find a rich wife—quickly. As his hunt for a bride begins, Sophie realizes that she isn’t even in the running. Suddenly no longer content to be a wallflower, Sophie gets a stunning make-over and becomes the belle of the ball. Lots of heads are turning…including Graham’s. But this beauty has secrets of her own. Will she be his salvation or seal his fate?
Enjoyable with a carefree sexy Hero This was my favorite book of the Heiress Brides. The characters were well developed, very likeable, the plot quite interesting with a surprise at the end.
Sophie is the last unmarried cousin of the Heiress brides. She feels she is plain and ugly, in fact has been told so by her "chaperone" and is tall and coltish. She never aspired to enter into the race with her cousins to be the first to marry a Duke and receive the inheritance. There is a man though that she is absolutely enthralled by, Graham, a fourth son of a Duke, who knows he will never inherit the title because there are so many waiting in line before him.
I liked Graham's effortless charm, his wit and his carefree attitude. Sophie who is incredibly serious minded and bookish needs someone like Graham and he needs her to keep him focused and grounded. Graham is totally unaware that Sophie has any feelings for him other than friendship.
Their lives change dramatically when Graham inherits the dukedom when his father and brothers all die. Graham discovers that his estates need money and must marry quickly. Sophie knows she can provide funds if they marry, however she cannot tell Graham about the will or she loses the inheritance. Therefore she needs to win him. She turns to a dressmaker, an early "What not to Wear", gown designer and she is changed into a graceful lovely woman. Graham is stunned but still must marry for money.
He is about to ask a rich widow as his bride but Sophie has something to say about that. Sophie is fearless in her new role but she also needs some protection from herself too which causes Graham to step into protector role. Their romance is sweet and the way they go about engaging in everything from flirting to lovemaking is atypical.
There is a plot twist toward the end of the novel I never saw coming but I felt it added flavor and depth to the story. I have always been a fan of Celeste Bradley and she finishes up her trilogy quite nicely.
Great until the plot twist This is a book that begins very well. Sophie and Graham started to be friends in the last book, and Bradley develops very well the transition from friendship to love. It's also well written the development of Graham's character, because he becomes a Duke after the sudden and unexpected dead of his father and brothers --it's a very hilarious scene, although there's nothing laughable about death, but it was written in such a way.... Graham must grow up fast, considering the sorry state the finances and the properties of the dukedom are in. The only 'but', and a very big 'but' is a plot twist towards the end of the book, completely unexpected, illogical and out of place. It almost seems as if the author felt the necessity to put a 'big misunderstanding', 'conflict' or 'something' to complicate the HEA. It's a pity, because until that, the book was really great, and the twist ruins it. The only 'good' thing about it, it's that it doesn't drag eternally and doesn't cause lots and lots of problems. At least it gets resolved pretty quickly.
Despite this, Duke most wanted is the book I enjoyed most in a trilogy as easy to read as to forget.
Not My Favorite of the Series This third and final book of Celeste Bradley's Heiress Brides trilogy focuses on the last of the three cousins and granddaughters of Hamish Pickering who have tried to win the sizeable Pickering Trust by marrying a duke. Sophie Blake is plain, bookish, and awkward, which suits her fine as she never assumed she would marry; coming to London only to escape the drudgery of Acton. Everyone knows her beautiful cousin Deidre has very nearly won the prize having married a man who will soon inherit the title of duke. Instead Sophie can simply sit back and enjoy the company of Graham the only man she's ever felt completely at ease and comfortable with.
Out of the blue, Graham the fourth son of a duke gains the title along with a mountain of debt and an estate so neglected it would take a miracle to bring it back from ruin. Graham needs to find a wealthy wife ASAP. Sophie who has fallen in love with Graham, knows she can save him but he's never looked at her romantically and she can't tell him the conditions of winning the Trust or she would forfeit it. With the help of a kindred spirit, Sophie gets a dazzling makeover that makes her a star attraction, but the only one she wants to attract is Graham.
*** This last of the series could almost be called a Cinderella story, where a fairy godmother appears to turn the ugly duckling into the proverbial swan. Sophie had not come to London with any intention of marrying, least of all to such a lofty noble. From the very first book there was always a hint that Sophie was hiding a secret and the twist towards the end of the story was somewhat of a surprise, though several statements led me to guess the outcome earlier.
The author took a gamble with Sophie and what started out as a very pleasant read where one tends to want to champion the underdog, i.e. the ugly duckling, Sophie's character comes into question when her very big secret was revealed. Sophie and Graham's romance was so natural progressing from a comfortable friendship to love that her lies to Graham were a bitter pill to swallow, not only for Graham, but for the reader as well.
The recurring character of Lementeur was a delight, his beautifully described couture creations and advice on how Sophie should conduct herself were captured both vividly and at times with great amusement. Bradley also brought to a nice conclusion the miss-adventures of the nefarious solicitor Wolfe who tried his best to prevent any of the cousins from winning the Pickering trust and cutting off his monthly stipend.
Bottom line: While the last of book of a trilogy is usually the best (i.e. save the best for last) this didn't happen. On the whole, each book of the trilogy is stand alone and entertaining but this series is nowhere near as exciting as previous Bradley series (The Royal Four, or Liars Club) have been.
Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
Duke Most Wanted Sophie Blake never really joined the quest to inherit her grandfather's fortune. As her cousin, Dierdre seems to be the winner, the bookish and reticent Sophie is able to relax and enjoy her translations and her time with the very handsome Graham.
When Graham unexpectedly inherits his father's title and an estate consumed with debt, he knows he must marry a rich bride. Although Sophie never envisioned herself married to Graham she cannot bear for him to wed anyone else. So Sophie puts her books aside and enters the battle for her fortune and her man.
Duke Most Wanted is my favorite in this trilogy, which is saying a lot because I loved them all! I identified with the plain and bookish Sophie and long for a Graham of my own.
Celeste Bradley rounded up this trilogy with a Cinderella styled romance that filled my heart with joy. Duke Most Wanted is most wonderful. The Heiress Bride trilogy is an engaging trio sure to please historical romance fans!
Annmarie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Hated the surprise ending I really enjoyed this book until the surprise ending.
This is an ugly duckling into a swan story. I always enjoy what I call the great make over. I love it when the hero suddenly sees his friend in a new light for the first time and then....
Then the author has to go and destroy it all with a surprise ending out of no where. It compeletly changed the way I viewed the heroine, and not for the better. I found my self really disliking the heroine at the end of the book.
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