REVIEW: Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath

Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath is the first book in the new Once Upon a Dukedom by Lorraine Heath. We met the hero Lord Griffith “Griff” Stanwick in his sister’s book Beauty Tempts the Beast which is part of the Sins for All Seasons. I was so glad to see him get his own book and a happy ever after. This is one of my favorite historic romance authors and I always look forward to her books. This one did not disappoint at all, it flowed smoothly and was full of emotions. It was a “best friend’s brother” troupe which can be monotonous, but the author pulled it off beautifully with all her plot full of twists and turns.

Griff was the second son of the Duke of Wolfford’s and as the spare, there were no expectations for him. He was mostly ignored by his family and had no purpose in life except to be the backup in case something happened to the heir. He felt drawn to his sister’s best friend Lady Kathryn Lambert since he saw her the first time and tried to keep his distance by constantly irritating her. After his father is found guilty of treason, his life in society was lost. The Stanwick family lost everything, and they found themselves living in poverty. He finally scraped enough money together to start the club of his dreams, The Fair and Spare. A club for the second sons, wallflowers, and others who have been overlooked by society. He was never able to get Kathryn out of his thoughts even though he knew he could never have her.

Kathryn loved her late grandmother’s seaside cottage and to inherit it she had to marry a titled gentleman. As it happens, the Duke of Kingsland is looking for a bride. He places an advert requesting daughters of peers to write to him and tell him why he should consider them. Kathryn had a hard time writing a letter and finally decides not to write a letter, but secretly Griff writes the duke a letter recommending her. Meanwhile, Kathryn and Griff have come to know each other better and Kathryn starts to doubt her idea of marrying for her beloved cottage. However, Griff and his family disappear when his father’s disgrace becomes known. When Kathryn hears of Griff’s club, she rushed to him to confront him about the wager he made involving her. She must decide what is more important, marrying a man with a title to acquire her beloved cottage or convincing the man she loves to marry her.

I adored the characters which had depth and were interesting. I enjoyed seeing characters from previous books and series. We also got introduced to some new characters that I hope to see in future books. This was an incredible book, and it started the series off with humor, romance, suspense, twist and turns, and amazing characters. Hopefully, we will finally find out what the oldest Stanwick sibling has been doing that was so dangerous in the next book.
 

Book Info:

Publication: March 30, 2021 | Avon | Once Upon a Dukedom #1

She is desperate to wed a duke…

Lady Kathryn Lambert must marry a titled gentleman to claim her inheritance and has finally gained the attention of a duke. Yet she is unable to forget the scandalous second son who aided in her achievement—or his betrayal.

He wants what he can never possess…

Lord Griffith Stanwick is tormented by the bitter truth that as a “spare,” he will never be able to give Kathryn what she yearns to possess. But when his father is found guilty of treason, Griff detours into the dark and dangerous corners of London, haunted by memories of the woman lost to him forever.

Love not to be denied…

As the duke’s courtship intensifies, Kathryn discovers Griff has become a man to be reckoned with. When old passions flare and new desires ignite, she must decide if sacrificing her legacy is worth a lifetime shared with the scoundrel of her heart.