Love Letters From a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle

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So…..it started with a visit to the book fair at the Emerald City RWA conference. I decided to pick up a book from Elizabeth Boyle and get it signed, so that I could give it away to one of you guys! Oh, and read it before I gave it away so that I could share my thoughts. The book I picked up was Lord Langely is Back in Town. I’ll share my thoughts about it in a few weeks, but I had the opportunity to have a short chat with Ms. Boyle about romance novel models in puffy shirts vs leather vests (puffy shirts win btw). When I got home, I raced through it, reminding myself of how much I enjoy Elizabeth Boyle’s books, and how long it had been since I had read one. I got busy and gathered up a selection of the previous books, and started to read and review.

Today we are starting with Love Letters From a Duke, not the beginning, but one of my favorites of this series. This book lays a good grounding of the characters and the history involved in this series. And yes, I have a bunch of Elizabeth Boyle books to giveaway when I’m done with my reviews. Oh yes, I also read and reviewed these books out of order 🙂 I hope you enjoy my thoughts about this great book!

Love Letters From a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle
ISBN: 978-0-06-0784034
Release: August 28, 2007
Publisher: Avon Historical Romance
Source: I purchased this book to read and review

Though she can’t afford the coal to heat her drafty Mayfair mansion, Felicity Langley still clings to her dream of marrying a duke–one she’s had since her very first curtsy. After all, she’s been all but promised to the very proper and very lofty Duke of Hollindrake for the last four years. Now all she has to do is meet him. But what Felicity doesn’t realize is that she has already met her duke—he’s the rather unfashionable yet altogether too-handsome man who has just turned up at her doorstep. And Felicity has just mistaken him…for her new footman!
By rights, Thatcher should immediately set this presumptuous chit straight and tell her he has no intention of following through with a betrothal his grandfather—the previous duke—arranged. But he’s quickly smitten by Felicity’s delightful determination, her irrepressible charm…and her breathtaking beauty. Yes, she’d wed him in an instant were his true identity revealed—but Thatcher’s vowed to marry only for love. So begins his deception and his conquest of this uncommon woman who doesn’t believe in romance, but is about to find her heart and passions set aflame by the unlikely servant she’s sworn to resist.

Yet another excellent novel by Elizabeth Boyle! This is a book in the Bachelor Chronicle series and this one features Felicity Langley and the Duke of Hollindrake. Felicity is the creator of The Bachelor Chronicles, a notebook with information on all the eligible men in society. This is a project that Felicity started while at school, and it is a work in progress as it were. She has determined that she is going to marry the Duke of Hollindrake, and thinks she has been corresponding with him for years. She has, in fact, been corresponding with his grandfather, as he has been off serving his country. She has become more and more certain as the years have passed, and the correspondence has continued that she wants to marry her duke.

Thatcher, the new Duke of Hollindrake, returns to England after the death of his grandfather to find out he is engaged to Felicity Langley. Intent on dissolving this sham engagement, he shows up at her door, only to be mistaken for an applicant for a footman. He’s not certain whether to be annoyed or intrigued, but he takes the position and starts an illustrious career as a footman to the most doggedly determined woman he has ever met.

I don’t want to give away much, if anything of this story, because it is totally delightful from beginning to end! Thatcher is a wonderful character, that is totally deserving of the role of hero. Felicity, as I’ve already said, is determined, but really, she would put a bull-dog to shame! She is determined to marry a duke – specifically the Duke of Hollindrake. In order to meet him, she has acquired a house, but has no staff, no money and no appropriate clothes, but she marches forward, braving her way though all obstacles.

This book is filled with action, humor, and delightful characters. It grabs hold of you and makes you finish reading it, even if you have to read into the wee hours to do so! Pick up a copy of this book, and enjoy a rollicking good read!!

Buy a copy of Love Letters From a Duke (Bachelor Chronicles)