It’s been awhile since I’ve said I couldn’t put down a regency romance novel. Probably since Sarah MacLean’s latest, to be honest, but here we go: I couldn’t put down For the Duke’s Eyes Only by Lenora Bell. The second in the School for Dukes series, this story has adventure, sex, funny dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments and so.much.more.
Does it have a rogue Duke?
Oh yes it does. Daniel, The Duke of Ravenwood, is a fortune-seeking antiquities hunter who warms his bed with a different woman every night and spends his time tracking down artifacts to keep (or sell) just because he can.
Or so everyone thinks. It turns out Daniel has a secret that keeps important people, especially women like Lady India Rochester, at a far distance.
Does it have a single, slightly too old, not traditionally beautiful but breathtaking nonetheless, heroine?
Of course it does! And Lady India Rochester is not your traditional regency romance heroine, but more on her in a bit.
So far it sounds like any old regency romance story, right? Not so fast…
What makes For the Duke’s Eyes Only different?
It’s feminist as hell.
Yes ALL (or most) regency romances are feminist, but this book takes it to the next level.
Firstly, Lady India Rochester is a badass working lady. Well, she’s not exactly paid for her work and she’s the wealthy sister of a Duke herself, but she’s smart, educated archaeologist who spends her time getting dirty on digs in Egypt
She is not spending her weekends at balls, gossiping with other girls.
She has no interest in falling in love, spending her life with a man or doing much of anything except discovering Cleopatra’s burial place.
She’s the perfect feminist heroine!
There’s a rekindling of our main characters
While not unique to this story, it’s not one we read every day in our regencies. The prologue sets the stage for our two lovers who meet (and are betrothed) as children. And then it all falls apart.. until one day, 15 years later…
That Good Old’ Fashioned, Slowly-Built sex
There is hate kissing. It leads to heavy petting. Then there is female-led pleasure. Turns out, she’s NOT A VIRGIN. He always make sure she has an orgasm. And then there’s that trip to Paris, with bedrooms that share a wall. And more angry kissing. Leading to angry tearing off of clothes. It’s perfect.
I couldn’t put this one down!
