Review of Her Night With the Duke

Blurb: Desire knows no reason...

When Lady Delilah Chambers finds herself stranded at a country inn on a rain-swept evening, she’s forced to fend off a group of ruffians with the help of a handsome gentleman. Irresistibly drawn to each other, Leela and the stranger spend one reckless night in each others’ arms—and then go their separate ways. But the very next day Leela receives the shock of her life when she meets the duke who is set on wedding her beloved stepdaughter.

When it finds two destined hearts...

One night isn’t enough with a woman as fierce, fiery, and brilliant as Leela. Elliot Townsend, Duke of Huntington, cannot believe his good fortune when their chance encounter leads to an unforgettable evening of passion. Yet Hunt’s luck runs out when he is introduced to his prospective mother-in-law. Dowagers aren’t supposed to look like this... 

Leela and Hunt are determined to keep each other at arm’s length, which should be easy enough for two intelligent adults with reputations to uphold. The problem is all logic is lost when it comes to a passion that refuses to be ignored.

Review: Lady Delilah Chambers enjoys a single night with a gorgeous gentleman at a country inn, and she thinks to never see him again. Yet when she's introduced to her stepdaughter's new beau, she finds herself face-to-face with her lover. As the Duke of Huntington, Elliot Townsend wants to have a respectable duchess and produce heirs. He didn't expect to fall for the exotic and beautiful widow, Leela. They're determined to stay away from one another, but the fates keep pushing them together. Will Leela and Hunt cast society's expectations away and find happiness or will they walk away to do their duties?

This is the first book in the Regency romance series, Clandestine Affairs. It starts with a hot and steamy night at a country inn. No closed doors here! We're then thrown right into the story. Leela is the stepmother (a very young stepmother at 27) to Victoria (age 18) who is being courted by the Duke. Leela and Victoria are very close, like sisters, as Leela was married off to Victoria's father when she was just 17. Their relationship is one of the highlights of this book, as well as Leela's relationship with her mother's family. It's warm and wholesome, and it gives her strength.

Hunt respects Victoria, but his feelings for Leela are so much more powerful than he can handle. The tension between them is fantastically tight, and it isn't just this one matter that is keeping them apart, but it is a big one. Leela is a female main character that I can greatly respect. She's intelligent and knows her own mind. She travels and has written her own travel memoir. (Not a surprise I can empathize with a writer!) She's a rare gem in this genre being of Arab ancestry, and Hunt hits the perfect Mr. Darcy notes. The last third of the book does drag on, but we eventually get our happily ever after.

I'm already reading the second book in the series, and I like it even more. The FMC is a cousin of Leela's and she's a bonesetter. It's fascinating to see this aspect of 18th century London.

You can find Diana Quincy on her site and buy the book here.