Anything But a Duke: The Duke's Den

· The Duke's Den Book 2 · Sold by HarperCollins
4.4
14 reviews
Ebook
368
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Self-made man Aidan Iverson has seen more closed doors in his thirty years than he’s ever cared to count. As a member of the elite Duke’s Den, he has all the money he could possibly need but the one thing he can’t purchase is true power. If roguish Aidan can’t buy his way into society’s hallowed halls, he’ll resort to a more extreme measure: marriage.

Brought up to be a proper lady, the only thing Diana Ashby desires is to be left alone to the creation of her own devices. But when her dreams are crushed, she must find another way to secure the future of her invention. Knowing his desire to enter her world, Diana strikes a deal to arrange Aidan’s marriage to the perfect lady—as long as that lady isn’t her. She doesn’t need any distractions from her work, particularly of the sinfully handsome variety.

As Diana and Aidan set out to find him an aristocratic match, neither are prepared for the passion that ignites between them or the love they can’t ignore.

In the Duke’s Den, can happiness ever be a winning prospect?

Ratings and reviews

4.4
14 reviews
Gaele Hi
May 3, 2019
The second book in this series focuses on Aiden, friend to both Nick from A Duke Changes Everything and Rhys, who’s story is yet to be told. These three are rich and determined, if not always ‘palatable’ to the tastemakers in London society. As we learned from Nick’s story, it is more a matter of finding a woman who both intrigues and accepts them, with the ability to rein in their most ‘common’ impulses. And that, in itself makes for an interesting clash of wills between the two. But Aiden, a self-made man with a desire for an aristocratic match and all the trappings that entails. He’s got the riches, his partnership with Nick in the gambling clubs has brought that, but the ‘self-made man of business’ so revered in today’s world was seen by the aristo classes as nothing more than an up-jumped commoner: a merchant and useful only when and if he can be controlled by his desire to be ‘accepted’ into the lofty world of the tonne. Diana Ashby is from the world Aiden so wants to be a part of, and as a ‘woman of marriageable age’ is the perfect target for his plans. Not being born to a title isn’t too much to ask, if one can marry into the family and thus gain the entrance into those hallowed levels. But she wants no part of marriage or even romance, she has more important things to do. Diana is an inventor, smart, clever, determined and utterly her own woman, unconcerned with the whims and wishes of society and the constraints with which they would bind her. But, perhaps there is a happy middle -she can help Aiden find the entrance to society, and a bride, and she can walk away unscathed and unmet by the altar. He will invest in her ideas: giving her some respectability and cache as an inventor of note, a goal her father never achieved. She agrees to help him and pushes his very distractibility and their obvious compatibility to the side to continue her work. Oh this was fun – both Aiden and Diana are wonderful together and feel like the perfect match, even as she has no desire to be married. Moments when they are together sparkle, and the burn is there, even as both tend to ignore it as their eyes are on different goals. Much of the book is involving us with a family that Aiden never knew he had, and their struggles and needs push the conflicts and the connection with Diana further along. I do wish more of their relationship and times together in quiet moments were more frequent, but from the start the intrigue between the two, and their obvious match for one another in intelligence and determination is evident and clear. It’s going to take some doing (and plenty of thought) for their connection to come to fruition, but like all of Carlyle’s books, the read is a wonderful one and very entertaining. The usual angst, struggles and distractions appear, without huge swathes of heat and steamy moments on the page, but the underlying burn felt by them both is clearly present and encourages readers to cheer on this couple to a very happy, and quite fitting end. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
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Janet B
April 29, 2019
4.25 Stars Aidan Iverson doesn’t know who his family is but he's a self made man, risen from the streets after running from the workhouse. He’s a part owner of the elite Duke’s Den, he has all the money he could possibly need. If roguish Aidan can’t buy his way into society’s hallowed halls, he’ll resort to a more extreme measure: marriage. Brought up to be a proper lady, the only thing Diana Ashby desires is to be left alone to the creation of her own devices. Aidan & Diana first meet when he’s being attacked by two ruffians, she rushes to his aid brandishing her umbrella & screeching like a banshee, they steal a kiss before parting. Now several months later Aidan turns down the opportunity to invest in Diana’s invention. Diana agrees to be a matchmaker for Aidan. I fell hook, line & sinker for Aidan he’s hardworking, honourable, driven & simply lovely. He’s desperate to find his family especially his sister Sarah who he left behind, as he wants to belong. Diana loves to be left alone in her workshop with her inventions. Both of them don’t particularly want to marry, however whenever they meet sparks fly & they complete each other. There’s no great dramas, no spies or kidnappings just a lovely romance of trust, sharing & completing each other My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
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Lori Dykes
April 30, 2019
March 1845 London A delightful story set in the Victorian Era when industry and inventions were taking off and there was one such woman Diana Ashby. She knew she had a duty to her family to marry but the words coming from a friend of her brother's she had just turned down "Spinster. Alone. Aberration." went through her mind but she felt there was more. All she wanted was to find an investor for her invention and do what her father could not. Aidan Iverson only wanted to find out about where he came from and why he and his sister were left at and ophanage. He had scapped his way up and now was as rich as the gentry, but he was not accepted by then. Longing to marry a noblewoman and be accepted he has not had any luck. He and Diana met once before when she ran off some ruffians who were attacking him. So the two come back together when she asks for his help in getting funding for her invention and she agrees to help him find a suitable wife! Christy Carlyle has written a captivating story that brings two wonderful characters together who were truly meant for each other. Full of engaging banner with humor, heartfelt emotions and a spark between these two that cannot be denied! Really enjoyed this tale and highly recommend it to you! I read this through Eidelweiss
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About the author

Fueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, USA Today bestselling author Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there’s nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.

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