I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm by Kelly Bowen - Review

I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm
(The Lords of Worth #1)
by Kelly Bowen
Published: December 16, 2014
by Forever

Where Secrets Smolder...

Calm. Cool. Collected. Gisele Whitby has perfected the art of illusion—her survival, after all, has depended upon it. Years ago, to escape an abusive husband, Gisele "disappeared." Now she must risk revealing her new identity to save another innocent girl from the same fate. But she needs a daring man for her scheme, and the rogue in question shows a remarkable talent . . . for shattering Gisele's carefully constructed façade and igniting her deepest desires.

...Passion Ignites.

This isn't the first time Jamie Montcrief has awakened naked and confused from a night of drinking. It is, however, the first time a stunningly beautiful woman offers him payment afterward. Gisele has a business proposition for him, a mission involving cunning thievery and a brazen rescue. How can he say no to a plot this dangerous . . . and a woman this delectable?

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My review:

This is no weeping-willow, damsel-in-distress historical romance. Gisele is an amazing take-charge kind of heroine. Gisele was being abused by her husband, so she took matters into her own hands and faked her step-daughter's and her own death to get them away from him. Gisele then took this further and started helping other abused women fake their deaths to get a new start at life. But now Gisele's husband, the Marquees of Valence, is remarrying for money, and Gisele can't just stand by and let another woman experience the pain she did. However, she needs someone who can slip into the social scene of the royalty of London to help her stop the marriage. In comes Jamie Montcrief. And he is even better than Gisele originally imagined, because he grew up in a royal family. 

Kelly Bowen did a great job with her debut historical romance. Gisele is an amazing heroine; probably one of my favorites from an historical romance. In addition to Gisele and Jamie's love story, we get an awesome story of a kick-ass heroine who is trying to save someone else, and I was interested in following along to find out what would happen just as much as I enjoyed the romance. The main characters were well developed as were the secondary characters, especially Eleanor, the Duchess of Worth, and the writing style was engaging and easy to follow. I really enjoyed this novel, and I would gladly read another one by Kelly Bowen. I would recommend this author and this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance. 

About the author:

Kelly Bowen grew up in Manitoba, Canada. She worked her way through her teenage years as a back country trail guide and ranch hand. She attended the University of Manitoba and earned a Master of Science degree in veterinary physiology and endocrinology.

But it was Kelly's infatuation with history and a weakness for a good love story that led her down the path of historical romance. When she is not writing, she seizes every opportunity to explore ruins and battlefields.

Currently, Kelly lives in Winnipeg with her husband and two boys, all of whom are wonderfully patient with the writing process. Except, that is, when they need a goalie for street hockey. 

Find out more at KellyBowen.net.