[YF1]∎ Download Free The Wicked Duke Wicked Trilogy Madeline Hunter 9780515155181 Books

The Wicked Duke Wicked Trilogy Madeline Hunter 9780515155181 Books

Download As PDF : The Wicked Duke Wicked Trilogy Madeline Hunter 9780515155181 Books

The Wicked Duke Wicked Trilogy Madeline Hunter 9780515155181 Books

FINAL DECISION: While this book can be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading all of the series. This book is an exquisitely crafted conclusion to the wicked trilogy. The romance of Lance and Marianne gradually evolves from attraction to friendship to love. The Percival Mystery retains reader interest and acts as a catalyst in Lance and Marianne's relationship while simultaneously never overpowering the romance or character development. A definite keeper for the romance reader. In my opinion, a must read novel.

THE STORY: Lacelot Hemmingford, Duke of Aylesbury, has suffered for nine months as suspect in his older brother's mysterious death. His past penchant for women, drink, and general mayhem does nothing for his case. Horace Radley, magistrate, makes an offer that the open case will be resolved if the Duke marries his unsuspecting niece, Marianne Radley. As events conspire to bring about this marriage, we witness the couple's relationship evolve from curiosity and attraction to become "... a periodic friendship, shared at odd moments and meals." Lance is somewhat surprised that he "... always felt calmer, happier, afterward." Once Marianne becomes aware of the reason for their marriage denouement of the murder becomes essential to each for very different reasons.

OPINION: For me, this was an exquisitely crafted novel that excelled in character development, pacing, and plot development. Marianne's integrity and Lance's humanity are believably revealed through their interactions with others and each other. As readers, we witness Marianne's self confidence and independence develop at the same time we see Lance begin to embrace a mature relationship and his role as Duke. Added enjoyment can be found in the continued interplay among the three brothers.
Although I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed this book so much I purchased the ebook for future re-reads.


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The Wicked Duke Wicked Trilogy Madeline Hunter 9780515155181 Books Reviews

The story is mostly predictable, and the opening sequence completely unnecessary, having virtually nothing to do with the actual story line, but the end of the mystery of Percy's death was a surprise and completely gratifying. The love story happened in the usual way of romance novels, driven more by sexual attraction in the beginning, then evolving into mutual love and respect. It was a fun read, perfect for the beginning of summer.
Love Madeline Hunter and her books, but cannot give a five star rating to The Wicked Duke. The cover art is scrumptious and the first two books in the Wicked trilogy were great, so perhaps my expectations were too high. I purchased the edition and the audio edition, as you do (ha). This narrator voiced our hero such that I was picturing an old toad, instead of the hunk on the cover art. Very disappointing. I was also disappointed in our heroine's character. SPOILER ALERT STOP HERE. How could she have anything to do with someone she thought had raped Nora?
The Wicked Duke is the third in the Wicked Trilogy by Madeline Hunter. Lancelot Hemingford, Duke of Aylesbury, is in exile in the country, bored out of his mind and soul-weary, suspected of poisoning his older brother Percival, and living a bitter half-life under threat of arrest. His younger brothers are happily married – unreasonably so, as now they refuse to have any sort of wicked fun with him at all. Everything has lost its flavor for Lance. Brothels leave him cold. Gambling halls have lost their appeal. The business of running a Duchy is burdensome. And he absolutely refuses to enter, let alone inhabit, his dead brother’s rooms, because he hated Percy with every fiber of his being, and if anybody had cause to kill the former Duke of Aylesbury, it was Lance.

Marianne Radley is the niece of Lance’s neighbor, Horace Radley, a conniving opportunist who holds the key to either convicting the probably-murderous duke, or setting him free once and for all. All Marianne seeks in life is to provide comfort and care for her mentally ill cousin, the haunted but sweet Nora Radley, but she ends up the pawn of her uncle in a distasteful scheme to trap the wealthy Duke of Aylesbury into marriage in return for a pronouncement of his innocence.

But it’s a trap that Lance doesn’t necessarily mind falling into. Because in Marianne, he finds a woman who is his match in spirit, fire, and pleasure, a woman who refuses to be used by the men around her. She has a strong moral center and an even stronger will, and when someone she loves is threatened, she isn’t afraid to stand up and fight for what’s right.

Madeline Hunter creates beautiful love stores, exquisite sensual dances, and witty back-and-forth dialogue between her characters. More importantly, she weaves incredible stories of family and friendships. The interplay between Lance and his brothers Ives and Gareth are strong. You can feel the love, camaraderie, and the strength of will in these men. Ives and Gareth may be younger and untitled brothers of a duke, but they give him no quarter. They keep him straight, give him strength when needed, and a beat-down when he needs that, too. Marianne is refreshing, dignified, and quick with a comeback, and the love story between Marianne and Lance is the perfect balance between sweet and steamy.

I have read every single one of Madeline Hunter’s novels. (Several multiple times.) She is unequivocally my favorite romance novelist, and one of my favorite novelists in general. Why? Because she’s smart. Her characters are also smart. She manages to engage the intellect as well as the heart. She does her research and is a master of the Regency era, its manners and mores, and the rules by which its aristocracy lived. Many of her novels inform the reader about important issues in feminist history, the role of women in marriage, and how women in various social strata were treated. A recurring theme is the sometimes wretched difference between men who took advantage of how society let them dominate the women around them, and the men who treated women as equals. I’ll let you decide which kind of man Lancelot Hemingford, the Duke of Aylesbury, is.

If you like The Wicked Duke or the other two books in her Wicked series (Gareth's and Ives' stories,) I highly recommend you find and read Madeline Hunter’s other Regency Romance series the Seducers Series (of which The Romantic is my favorite, though I love them all,) the Rothwell Series, the Rarest Blooms Series, and the Fairbourne Quartet. And for a retreat into the medieval era, she has several books set in the more distant past, when men were even fiercer, and the women were almost magical in their sensuality.

~Rebecca Lane Beittel
Madeline Hunter is an author who is forever confounding me. I think that I don’t much like arrogant rakish heroes, and I know that’s what she writes. I pick up a new book by her, I read the blurb, and I think it doesn’t really sound like something I’ll like.

Then I start reading.

When I finally return to what insists on calling itself the real world, I discover that she’s done it again. I shouldn’t sympathize with Lance, but I do. I should tell Marianne not to dissolve into a puddle so easily, but I don’t.

Ms. Hunter is like her heroes. She seduces me every time.
FINAL DECISION While this book can be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading all of the series. This book is an exquisitely crafted conclusion to the wicked trilogy. The romance of Lance and Marianne gradually evolves from attraction to friendship to love. The Percival Mystery retains reader interest and acts as a catalyst in Lance and Marianne's relationship while simultaneously never overpowering the romance or character development. A definite keeper for the romance reader. In my opinion, a must read novel.

THE STORY Lacelot Hemmingford, Duke of Aylesbury, has suffered for nine months as suspect in his older brother's mysterious death. His past penchant for women, drink, and general mayhem does nothing for his case. Horace Radley, magistrate, makes an offer that the open case will be resolved if the Duke marries his unsuspecting niece, Marianne Radley. As events conspire to bring about this marriage, we witness the couple's relationship evolve from curiosity and attraction to become "... a periodic friendship, shared at odd moments and meals." Lance is somewhat surprised that he "... always felt calmer, happier, afterward." Once Marianne becomes aware of the reason for their marriage denouement of the murder becomes essential to each for very different reasons.

OPINION For me, this was an exquisitely crafted novel that excelled in character development, pacing, and plot development. Marianne's integrity and Lance's humanity are believably revealed through their interactions with others and each other. As readers, we witness Marianne's self confidence and independence develop at the same time we see Lance begin to embrace a mature relationship and his role as Duke. Added enjoyment can be found in the continued interplay among the three brothers.
Although I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed this book so much I purchased the ebook for future re-reads.