The Duke's Indiscretion

Colin Ramsey, 3^rd Duke of Newark, has been in love with opera singer, Lottie English, for three years before he makes a move. A well known rake, he spends many evenings at the opera house. Lottie knows about his conquests, and turns his patronage down because she’s no ordinary singer. Colin needs a wife and calls on Lady Charlotte Hughs’ brother to ask for her hand. The Earl of Brixham, Charlotte’s brother seems nasty, but nobody else appears to have noticed. Readers will understand why she would pursue Colin after his offer. Colin has no idea she’s really Lottie, but the following day she decides to enlighten him. The idea of getting both his fantasies in one lures Colin in, but it all begins to fall apart after his seduction of her.

The original premise of a Duke working for the crown and needing a wife began well. For the readers to believe a rake would wait three years to seduce a singer is very un-real. No rake would behave this way and no Earl would allow his sister to lead a second life of scandal. Why didn’t he recognize her as Charlotte after studying her so long? The fact he wants to keep her double life hidden is enough to make the tale wrong and he’d never agree to marry her in that time of strict rules.

The layers of mystery were good and the sexual seductions scenes were beautifully written and believable so a shame the story falls short of readers expectations. The story did not grab this reviewer who has a liking for historical books and expects them to reflect the era.

August 2007