Reviewer: Tracy The Duke Can Go to the Devil by Erin Knightley
Series: Prelude to a Kiss #3
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: July 7th 2015
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In the new novel from the bestselling author of The Earl I Adore, May Bradford isn’t afraid to play devil’s advocate when it comes to a duke.…
After her mother’s death, May’s sea captain father sends her halfway around the world to live with his stodgy sister in England. The summer festival in Bath made for a lovely distraction, but now she can’t wait for her father’s return so she can leave this country, its suffocating rules, and one infuriatingly proper nobleman in particular behind.
Because he is the Duke of Radcliffe, William Spencer’s whole life revolves around his duties. He never steps foot outside the bounds of proper behavior, and he expects the same of those around him. With her devil-may-care ways, May vexes him nearly as much as she tempts him, but there’s something about her that he just can’t resist. He knows he’s falling hard for her, but with lives that are worlds apart, will they ever be able to find any common ground?
Tracy’s review of The Duke Can Go to the Devil (Prelude to a Kiss #3) by Erin Knightley
Meli-li Bradford aka May has spent her life on the high seas and travelling from one country to another. She’s love every moment of it. Now, however, she’s stuck in England with her aunt who is not a fan of May’s and she wants nothing more than her father to come home from his voyage and take her away from it all.
May meets some good friends that make the time in England much more bearable. Then she meets the Duke of Radcliffe and she’s disgusted with the man. She feels he is a pompous ass and isn’t afraid to tell him exactly that. William isn’t pleased with May either and feels that she’s an uncouth and improper woman. Of course despite their irritation at each other they seem to become friends. It’s a strange friendship filled with arguments, but laughter as well.
William decides to invite May and her mother to his estate and tells himself that it’s because he doesn’t want her to be bored and he can show her more of the England that he is so proud of. He really just wants to spend more time with her as she lights up his dreary life a little bit. The pair end up falling in love but when May finds out some bad news about her father’s work and William’s part in all of it the two may have to part forever.
TDCGttD was a sweet novel in some instances and not so sweet in others. The not so sweet parts were mostly when I was reading about May. She pretty much spoke her mind no matter what and I really loved that about her. Did she jump to some strong conclusions without having all of the facts? Yeah, she did but she always apologized if she did so.
William was such a stick in the mud. He was so worried about scandal and proper behavior that he’d never allowed himself to live. He started doing that because of May and he found that he couldn’t help but love her. I really enjoyed seeing him loosen up, that’s for sure.
There were some slow parts in the book were not a lot was happening that I found tedious. Unfortunately that happened a couple of times and it almost seemed like filler to make the book longer. I just wanted the story to move along. Luckily those parts weren’t too long and I as saved from the tedium.
Overall it was a good story. The story had no sex in it – only a few heated kisses but that was perfect for the story. I’m happy that the author didn’t try to add that in as it just wouldn’t have fit.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5
This title is available from Signet Eclipse. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.