BILLINGHAM BASTARDS BOOK 1: WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES
Jenna Petersen
ISBN: 978-0061470820
October 27, 2009
AVON
Historical Romance/Regency  
Mass Market Paperback

Upon the death of his father and assuming his new title Duke of Billingham, Simon Crathorne has one primary duty to fulfill –  find the proper wife to beget an heir and continue his family’s dynasty.   Out of all the eligible debutantes who were invited to his country party, he desires only one – one who may be the most unsuitable bride of all.

Lillian Mayhew is motivated by revenge and wheedled her way into being invited to the Billingham house party.  Her purpose was revenge in finding the proof to expose a devastating secret about Simon’s distinguished late father and salvage her family’s reputation.  However, from the moment she meets her rakishly handsome and uncommonly kind host, Lillian begins to question if she can destroy his world so callously. Lillian once wanted nothing more than to destroy his family —  now she wants nothing more than another of his kisses.

 ***  In the beginning of this new series, I applaud Ms. Petersen in advance because she is starting it out with a big bang!  I’ve read much of this author’s work and must say that she just gets better and better! Petersen fleshed out her characters with purpose and motivation – especially Lillian who had been snubbed because of a tragedy that led to her mother’s suicide.   Five years later Lillian had not known the reasons but upon her father’s death, the whispered truth was revealed.  When Lillian’s brother, and only living relative, turned to drink rather than revenge, Lillian picked up mantle to prove to the world how the revered elder Duke of Billingham was in truth, a fraud and a monster.

Ms. Petersen then fashioned Simon , the present Duke of Billingham, to be all that is honorable and fine; a son who loved and admired his father beyond all being.  Kind and considerate,  Simon was intent on doing his duty in marrying well and begetting an heir to carry on the good name of his forebearers.  However, one look at Miss Mayhew and Simon was struck blind towards any other.  Simon couldn’t help himself or his feelings, knowing full well that marriage between them was an impossibility. 

In plotting out this wonderfully sensual romance the author filled the story with some brilliant twists and turns which led me to read this book non-stop, cover to cover!  Secrets galore were revealed with some marvelous emotional scenes which led to fabulous revelations and sets up the series to continue with highly anticipated intrigue and new adventures.   Ms. Petersen continues to raise the bar with her adventuresome and sensual historical romance novels and makes it easy to highly recommend What The Duke Desires as one very fine novel and suggest to all they put Ms. Petersen on their auto-buy author list.  I am definitely going to be watching out for future volumes in this new series.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

Reviewed By:

I started reviewing books many years ago - but my love of reading began as soon as I could read and that’s a long time! From my very first library card, I would spend my summers at the local library rather than outside playing. My tastes ran from every horse book I could find, to dog books, then gothic romances, and now historical romances with the Regency period having a very close spot in my heart. [Many of my friends, who really know me, say I was born in the wrong era - they’re probably right.] Now that I am retired, and busier than ever, I read almost all genres with the exception of hard core erotica, horror and anything involving more than one sex partner! I am loyal to my tried and true favorite auto-buy authors but love discovering the newer authors as well. I was once a very impatient person, but now retired, and with a book, an audio, or my Kindle by my side - I am the epitome of infinite patience to sit and wait for whatever comes next be it for the light to change, a doctor’s appointment, or a commercial break on the television!

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