One Night with the Duke by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Product details
Web ID: 16836384Such a Fun Historical Romance!
***3 stars! “You have a kind heart, Eliza.” I snort. “I think perhaps you do too, under all of that brooding.” First I would like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publish) and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book! I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and give it an honest review. This was a book I had been hearing about for quite a while and had on my list of books that I needed to read; while it wasn’t what I expected it to be, it was a very interesting read! I really enjoyed the plot of this book; a brooding duke and an independent young woman with a bit of mystery. I found that I really liked the mystery aspect of the book, it was one of the things that drew me in at the start. While reading the book, I was trying to piece together the mystery as I read along and I felt as if it always kept me guessing and wondering. Eliza and Johnny were both very interesting characters that I thought to be well suited for each other. Their romance was very intriguing and they had the most wonderful wit and banter together which also made their scenes very fun to read. I adored how bold and proud Eliza was, she was clearly a young woman who knew exactly what she wanted. Reading their relationship slowly build as they continued to discover more about each other was very captivating. While this book was not what I expected it to be, there were a lot of fun and intriguing aspects that kept me interested throughout the whole story. If you’re looking for a slow-burn and mysterious historical romance that is a quick read, then this is definitely a book I’d recommend!
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
regency romance w/mystery elements
One Night with the Duke by Jodi Ellen Malpas is a Regency romance with mystery elements and the first book in the Belmore Square series. Eliza Melrose and her family are new money recently moved to London from the countryside. Now, Eliza must act like a lady now that she is expected to take her proper place in society. Things get a little more interesting when the scandalous Duke of Chester moves back into his family's home which has been long abandoned. Eliza is determined to figure out if the rumors about a rakish duke who murdered his entire family are true. I liked the idea of this plot, but I had a really hard time getting into the first 25% of this book. Some of the plot felt quite contrived at times. There were also multiple characters who kind of seemed like the same person and didn't have enough distinctive characteristics by themselves. The whole book is from Eliza's perspective, and it might have been nice to have some chapters from Johnny's. Some of the language spoken by characters feels pretty modern here, so the publisher blurb that mentions this would be good for fans of Bridgerton seems very on the nose. I'll probably continue on with this series even though I didn't really connect with any of the characters here and the primary romance fell a little flat for me. This series feels like it will be good as light fluff for me to read in between heavier books. Tropes in this book include: arranged marriage, class difference, damaged hero CW: murder (off-page), physical abuse (off-page) I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fun read!!
What a charming read! I really liked Eliza, the heroine. She was a strong character set in a time where women were docile. She was opinionated, loyal and honorable. She stuck her neck out for others and that made me like her even more. Johnny, the Hero, was mysterious with a darker edge to him. He becomes obsessed with Eliza that made for an exciting read since she is betrothed to another. We learn his true story at the end and I can say that I love how everything came together. This is a setting with a large group of side characters that I enjoyed and will want to read again in the next book of the series.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Regency Romance Royalty!
One Night with the Duke (Belmore Square #1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the author's first dive into a regency-style romance novel, producing more than satisfactory results. Which will no doubt be echoed by fellow readers when it is their turn to spend (more) than one night with this captivating novel. The craving has been here within me since finishing <b> The Resurrection (Unlawful Men #3) to quench my Malpas thirst, and I knew from reading the blurb alone that One Night with the Duke would be the book for the job. I am most grateful to be given the opportunity to read this book in advance, and I am especially honoured that this is my first ever Jodi Ellen Malpas ARC read. I could think of no better way to pop that bookish cherry than with a read in a brand new series. Simply fantastic! Without a shadow of a doubt, Jodi has nothing to fear with dipping her toes into this new genre in which she has not yet written within. Writing within the unknown--even if you have read plenty of the genre yourself--is always nerve-wracking, but it is down to the skill of the author and their ability to spin and craft a story which makes all the difference. Jodi has that skill and ability in spades. The flawlessness and excellent execution of this story did not give away that this was her first time writing such a novel, but rather showed instead that she is capable of standing among those who have been established within the genre for however long they been in it. There is no air of inexperience from either the novel or from Jodi. Her debut into the bookish regency ton, was a resounding success. One Night with the Duke kept flawlessly to the classic elements of the regency genre we all know and love, without falling into the pitfalls of modernising the genre. It did not plague us with situations and circumstances within the modern age put into the time period, neither did it include any up-to-date terminology. Everything about this novel from its time-period appropriate & accurate social situations, dramatic twists and turns, taking-us-to-the-edge-suspense, and an added dash of something extra which put this read to the cream of the romance crop. Steam. Jodi as in her unique way, brought the steam to the fictional realm of Belmore Square. Where I won't reveal how or why--as it would be unfair to those who have yet to read this novel--, I will disclose this. Even on today on the hottest day of the year for England, did it even come close to the heat and steam generated by the Duke and Miss Melrose. A few times we were brought to the edge, but when it really mattered that all important climactic moment was only the more satisfying. For fans of Jodi who have loved the succulent steam in her other books, you simply must pick this one up as well! This isn't just a read that will have you on the seat or the edge of, you will be off your seat and right there with the characters as they show us what they are made of. Needless to say, I did not read those scenes just the once. For one simply never goes just one round with the Duke. The Duke and Miss Eliza Melrose have swiftly risen through the ranks to become two of my favourite all-time Jodi Ellen Malpas main characters. Where they both mix and mingle within the same social circle, they are as alike as they are dissimilar. Eliza is not a simpering wallflower of a woman who bends to society's will. Thanks to Jodi's writing and injection of humour and quick-wit, she is a woman who knows what she wants, how she thinks and isn't afraid to do what needs must. The Duke is as complex as they come. His brooding, alluringly mysterious nature and past ensnares Eliza to the fruit that is dangling so close to her face, but dare she take a bite out of the forbidden? And will the consequences be too much to tempt her to have one night with the Duke? What Miss Melrose and The Duke have here is more than simple chemistry. They are as right for each other as night and day, and I can only commend Jodi for writing two characters who will no doubt be someone's favourites that they can champion as I did myself. One simply cannot get enough of this awe-inspiring first novel in Jodi's brand new Belmore Square series and everything within its pages. The unpredictable journey to discover who The Duke is, was and will be with Eliza on his tail, filled with emotional upheaval, shocking revelations and societal ton dramatical events, does not make you--or I--feel that we were merely reading this from the pages of a book. We were in this story with all the players on the road to a conclusion to please all. And please it did. As I am only able to give this book five stars as a rating, I would like to say that here and now this is not simply just a five-star read. What you're looking at here, ladies and gentlemen, is a one-hundred star read all the bookish ton must read. Thank you to Jodi Ellen Malpas for not only providing us with a knockout read, but a read that has become a must read for all & a personal top read of 2022. Fin...for now ;)
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com