Ebook344 pages4 hours
It's Hard Out Here for a Duke: Keeping Up with the Cavendishes
By Maya Rodale
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
()
About this ebook
A newly minted duke is determined to have the beautiful commoner he will never forget in this sexy Regency romance series finale.
When American-born James Cavendish arrives in London tomorrow, he’ll become the Duke of Durham. Some might be ecstatic at the opportunity. Not James. He’s a simple man, fond of simple pleasures. And right now, nothing could be more pleasurable than spending his last night of freedom with a beautiful stranger.
One wild night, Meredith Green, companion to the dowager Duchess of Durham, said yes to a man she thought she’d never see again. Suddenly, they’re living under the same roof, where Meredith is expected to teach James how to be a duke—while trying not to surrender to temptation a second time.
For a duke and a commoner, marriage would be pure scandal. Yet nothing has ever felt as right to James as having Meredith in his arms . . . and in his bed. Soon he must choose—between a duty he never desired, and a woman he longs for, body and soul . . .
When American-born James Cavendish arrives in London tomorrow, he’ll become the Duke of Durham. Some might be ecstatic at the opportunity. Not James. He’s a simple man, fond of simple pleasures. And right now, nothing could be more pleasurable than spending his last night of freedom with a beautiful stranger.
One wild night, Meredith Green, companion to the dowager Duchess of Durham, said yes to a man she thought she’d never see again. Suddenly, they’re living under the same roof, where Meredith is expected to teach James how to be a duke—while trying not to surrender to temptation a second time.
For a duke and a commoner, marriage would be pure scandal. Yet nothing has ever felt as right to James as having Meredith in his arms . . . and in his bed. Soon he must choose—between a duty he never desired, and a woman he longs for, body and soul . . .
Author
Maya Rodale
Maya Rodale began reading romance novels in college at her mother's insistence. She is now the bestselling and award-winning author of smart and sassy romances. She lives in New York City with her darling dog and a rogue of her own.
Read more from Maya Rodale
Seducing Mr. Knightly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Tale of Two Lovers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Duchess by Design Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Some Like It Scandalous: The Gilded Age Girls Club Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tattooed Duke Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Alice and Gabby's Excellent Adventure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels, Explained Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Three Schemes and a Scandal Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to It's Hard Out Here for a Duke
Related ebooks
One Night with an Earl Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Never Trust a Scoundrel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Temptation of Grace: A Witty and Steamy Regency Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Little Bit Wicked: A Forbidden Love Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Tempt an Earl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Catch a Devilish Duke Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Three Schemes and a Scandal Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRules for a Rogue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hazards of Hunting a Duke Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heiress for Hire Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Beguile a Duke Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Duke's Wicked Wife Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Escaping His Grace Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Wicked Wallflower Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Taming of Lord Scrooge Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Capture a Duke Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never Kiss a Notorious Marquess: A Witty Victorian Historical Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What the Duke Desires Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Compromising Willa Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Marquess and the Maiden Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One Tempting Proposal Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Duke of Dark Desires Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lady Gone Wicked Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One Night Scandal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Woo a Wicked Widow Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secret of My Seduction: Scandalous, #7 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Devil's Mistress Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Best a Marquess Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What A Lady Wants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When Good Earls Go Bad Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Royalty Romance For You
Bred By The King In Public: Dominant King Erotic History Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5To Have and to Hoax: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Marry and to Meddle: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Seven Years to Sin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5These Old Shades Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pride and Pleasure Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Swoon and to Spar: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cold-Hearted Rake: The Ravenels, Book 1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Love and to Loathe: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dancing at Midnight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unlaced Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Bit of Rough Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Simply Wicked Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Simply Sinful Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Smallest Man: the most uplifting book of the year Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Devil’s Submission Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wild Irish Girl: Lady Sydney Morgan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBound To Please Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Scales and Sensibility Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Not To Bare Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Make Me Love You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Matchmaker Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Simply Sexual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Submitting to the Marquess Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fallen Angel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Lady's Code of Misconduct Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sisters of Sea View (On Devonshire Shores Book #1) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Bargain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for It's Hard Out Here for a Duke
Rating: 4.111111111111111 out of 5 stars
4/5
9 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Great finale to the series. Do not read these books out of order as Rodale sets up each story and overlaps them in the later books. I really enjoyed finally getting to know the Duke. I honestly wasn't sure how the story would end, either. If lust at first sight is your catnip, this OTP is a fun read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The last book in Maya Rodale's Cavendish series focuses on James Cavendish, the new Duke of Durham. After the 3 books about the Duke's sisters (with mixed results), it was refreshing to have a book focusing on the male.Meredith Green, companion to the Duchess of Durham, allows herself one wild night of freedom and ends up having a one-night stand with a handsome stranger whom she will never see again. (Not a very realistic plot point for a woman from the 19th century, but let's suspend disbelief for the sake of the story...) James Cavendish allows himself a wild night before submitting to his new ducal duties. To the dismay of both parties, they discover that they will be living under the same roof but can't do anything about their attraction for each other.The book focuses on the attraction that James and Meredith have for each other and the conflict they face in trying to place duty over desire, as James is the Duke, and Meredith is a commoner barely above the rank of servant. At moments I could really feel the emotional pain that both of them felt at having to deny their attraction for the sake of duty. James has to find a proper bride so as to produce an heir; Meredith owes her entire life to the Duchess and is determined to be her companion to the end.The book resolves itself just shy of becoming tedious with the duty-versus-desire plot. James is genuinely likable with this American mannerisms and refusal to bow easily to a role he never had any desire to assume. Likewise, Meredith is likable with the flashes of fire underneath her prim and proper outward appearance.This book was enjoyable if not riveting, a solid novel by Maya Rodale. I'm looking forward to her next series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Oh, this series!Ms. Rodale has been torturing us with the heated glances between James (aka The Duke) and Meredith (his aunt's companion) for three books now, and finally, finally we get their story!For the most part, James and Meredith's book was all that I hoped for and more--though to be honest, there was a tiny little voice in my head screaming, "but you're the duke!" (because, hello, he's the duke. Isn't doing what you want supposed to go along with that???) throughout a good 50% of the book--still, all the angst and longing associated with forbidden love vs love of family and duty is absolutely there. Plus, we see all three of the Cavendish sisters through their loving but exasperated brother's eyes, which is a whole lot of fun...and did I mention tons of angst and longing between James and Meredith? Yes? ;)This entire series takes place concurrently, with each book dealing with a different sibling and allowing us to see the events through their eyes this time--as such, each would work either as a standalone or as good a place to start the series as any. Spoiler alert, though--the whole series is fantastic, and it really is impossible to read just one. I dare you to not need to "keep up with the Cavendishes" once you get started!(But...why are there no more siblings? WHY???)Rating: 4 stars / A-I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Book preview
It's Hard Out Here for a Duke - Maya Rodale
_@e book_preview_excerpt.html |ˎF寰7rЍY$AЫ2R)@Ҝ4wg9t.ת>7{%sιF(2=ǹ/_5*^jǡK|W^51O4Ucw}M|nc;jTv>U)Va4?V}MO/a9y)MT]Bwx
LU}qSljtkwFiXp8p 24LOSum?v Nu4`!X}y>U;U/a瑱xkcq0e:X@uƹ=ܹ9+׆gLúkm?k^,ȕƾGǎXcю'%8XX4\[kQ҅O4mOo\s{$O_)7L E:
KFڹ]7p@d,ܫ=DwNPȓ"[g37fm1w
daNT}ya5{Lk<}M0:Lzjߟ>>U﹛~-|iC±:Zp)ɀ\GUՇ
;ሏ$5w/f8,?B^o#r\!7/9͛fؘ,uNrVM",g(aS즾OZ8qb1% 6sw!9-Խ?K3lW8tٓ":轞˛*sv% c4O