Wanted: Governess for duke’s unruly children
Edgar Rochester, Duke of Banksford, is one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in England, but when it comes to raising twins alone, he knows he needs help. The only problem is the children have chased away half the governesses in London. Until the clever, bold, and far-too-enticing Miss Mari Perkins arrives.
Lost: One heart to an arrogant duke
Mari knows how to wrap even the most rebellious children around her finger. But their demanding, wickedly handsome father? He won’t be quite so easy to control. And there’s something else she can’t seem to command. Her heart. The foolish thing beats so wildly every time the duke is near.
Found: A forbidden passion neither can deny
As his employee, Mari is strictly off-limits. But what if she’s the one breaking all his rules? In the game of governess versus duke, how can Edgar maintain his defenses when the only thing he wants to do is let the tempting beauty win?
This book was breezy and sweet, with the perfect amount of repressed desires, saucy repartee, and lovemaking by the seashore. It tackled issues like consent and workplace romances (Regency style!). Edgar broke the titled-man-of-leisure mold by pursuing an actual skill, working in a foundry and dreaming of designing a more efficient fire engine. If there’s anything sexier than a wealthy, gorgeous Duke, it’s a wealthy, gorgeous Duke with skillz.
Napoleon Dynamite, Female Expert Source
The heroine Mari (rhymes with starry, she’ll have you know) is a spunky survivor who doesn’t take no for answer or put up with her boss’s misguided BS. She can charm anyone, from an aloof Duke to his rebellious offspring. Just like Mary Poppins, except she also gets laid. Winning! Find it on Amazon.
Keep reading for our interview with Lenora Bell and enter for a chance to win a copy of What a Difference a Duke Makes and a $15 Amazon gift card!
Interview with Lenora Bell
TN: A lot of your books revolve around Dukes. What is it about Dukes that we find so romantic and swoon-worthy?
LB: A Duke is a Prince is a billionaire is a rockstar is a…code word for a powerful, sexy alpha male with a not-so-secret heart of gold. I think most modern historical romance heroes owe a debt to the original wealthy, brooding bad boy, Mr. Darcy. Readers love to cheer and swoon when the arrogant hero falls hard for an intelligent, outspoken heroine.
TN: One thing I loved about What a Difference a Duke Makes was the fact that Edgar had an actual skill! What was your inspiration behind Edgar and his foundry? And will there be more Dukes with day jobs in your School for Dukes series?
LB: My father is a carpenter and so is my husband. I have a thing for men with skills who work with their hands (and it doesn’t hurt if they rock the Carhartts like Jason Momoa). In What a Difference a Duke Makes, I had my Duke turn his back on society and go underground as a foundry worker. I’d love to write a carpenter hero some day…or maybe a carpenter heroine?
TN: What are a few titles on your To Be Read list?
LB: My TBR pile is SO HUGE right now because I’m on deadline and I haven’t had enough time for reading. At the top of my stack right now I have Eva Leigh’s Counting on the Countess, Alisha Rai’s Hurts to Love You, Alyssa Cole’s A Princess in Theory, Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, Pintip Dunn’s Seize Today, and I just received an ARC of Eloisa James’s Too Wilde To Wed!
TN: What’s your favorite kind of heroine? Hero?
LB: I love heroines and heroes who, from the first pages of a book, embark on an urgent journey of emotional, intellectual, sexual, and spiritual awakening and transformation.
TN: You were recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article about office romance novels, consent, and #metoo. What responsibility, if any, do you think the romance genre has in light of the Times Up movement? Should this be the end of alpha males, dubious consent, and boss fantasies? Can romance readers have their escapist fiction while still supporting the crackdown on sexual harassment?
LB: I don’t think the alpha male is going anywhere, but I think he needs to change. The hero of today can still be powerful and confident, but he is deeply in touch with his emotions, the impact he has on others, and cognizant of his own cultural biases and privileges. He’ll never be threatened by powerful take-charge women, and he wants to build an equal partnership based on respect and love. Also, as a romance novelist, it’s part of my job right now to write intimate scenes where the consent is super explicit…and super hot!
Lots of other writers have covered this topic so eloquently in recent months. I would urge readers to follow authors Sarah MacLean and Courtney Milan on social media for in-depth discussions.
