REVIEW: Why Do Dukes Fall in Love? by Megan Frampton

In Why Do Dukes Fall in Love? (Dukes Behaving Badly #4) by Megan Frampton, Michael, the Duke of Hadlow, has begun to think he’s never going to find a suitable secretary. He’d probably have more success tasking his dog Chester to take care of his daily affairs than the mumbling, daft applicants he’s interviewed thus far. But then Mrs. Edwina Cheltam walks into his study and changes his world. In more ways than one. Soon Michael finds himself looking forward to conversations with his intelligent new secretary. And ultimately hoping that he can entice her into a more physical relationship. Perhaps even marriage.

“I am not most men.” He stated it plainly, aware it was absolutely true and also that it could be seen as arrogant. Which he definitely was.
She looked back at him, a wry smile on her lips. “I admitted that before. Are you asking for a compliment?” It sounded as though she was…teasing him? He’d never been teased before. That he knew of.

Widow Edwina was out of options when she was hired by Michael. Thankfully he was gracious enough to let her six-year-old daughter Gertrude live on the premises, for she might not have much money–thanks to her deceased husband and his brother–but she wouldn’t leave her daughter behind. Surprisingly, Edwina enjoys her days working diligently for taskmaster Michael. And it warms her heart to see how well he gets along with Gertrude. But when he offers Edwina a chance to be romantically linked, in secret of course, she knows she should resist. But as long as they both keep their emotions locked away, what could it hurt?

She pushed him against the door and put her hands on either side of his arms, trapping him, even though she knew he was allowing her to do so.
…”Well?” he said, inclining his head. “You have me. What do you want to do with me?”
And she pushed herself up on her tiptoes, leaned into him, and placed her mouth on his.

Why Do Dukes Fall in Love was an absolute pleasure to read. Author Megan Frampton kept me chuckling, had me smirking over Michael’s attitude (and attitude adjustments–courtesy of Edwina) and of course rooting this couple on to find a way to make their romance work.

“…It isn’t practical, you said that yourself. I should find a woman of my own class who can fit into my world. But I don’t want to. I don’t want to live in my world without you. I want to make my world one where you are. All the time.”

The Dukes Behaving Badly series has been highly entertaining so far. And this latest installment gave us another rather offbeat hero and a strong-minded heroine to keep him in line. I loved watching how Michael changed after Edwina and Gertrude entered his life. He was a great example of a grumbly, set in his ways, antisocial aristocrat who definitely had a good heart underneath all the arrogance. Frampton did a fantastic job of describing Michael’s emotions. Especially the wonder he felt over, well, having feelings. Something he’d kept bottled up for basically his whole life. So watching as he experienced joy, passion, heartache and a deep love for Edwina was magical.

Edwina was a great heroine. She stood up for herself in a strong but respectable way and was a wonderful mother. I appreciated that she loved to think and work hard and that she was grateful to Michael for taking a chance employing her as his secretary. Edwina wanted to be valued on her merit not her obvious beauty. And she didn’t take entering into a relationship, even just a casual one, with Michael lightly. She trusted herself to do the right thing. I think that spoke of how smart and independent Edwina truly was. I loved that she knew her own mind and was her own advocate, protecting herself and her young daughter as best she could.

Like the name of the series suggests, the dukes we’ve met along the way don’t always act properly. Michael was no exception. He was very blunt and always honest, had a fantastic dry wit, but when it came to the bedroom he was commanding and had a wickedly dirty mouth. Not that Edwina (or I) minded. Their romantic scenes were steamy, showing the combustible chemistry between them, but there were still some tender and sweet moments that were uber romantic. Plus Frampton included a nice humorous undercurrent in the storyline that kept things mostly upbeat.

There was so much to love about Why Do Dukes Fall in Love. Set in the Victorian era with an inquisitive six-year-old, the duke’s traitorous canine companion, and a burgeoning romance between boss and employee, this historical was one lively tale I think readers will thoroughly enjoy.

Book Info:

Publication: Published July 26th 2016 | Avon | Dukes Behaving Badly #4

In Megan Frampton’s captivating new Dukes Behaving Badly novel, we learn the answer to the question:

Why do dukes fall in love?

Michael, the Duke of Hadlow, has the liberty of enjoying an indiscretion . . . or several. But when it comes time for him to take a proper bride, he ultimately realizes he wants only one woman: Edwina Cheltam. He’d hired her as his secretary, only to quickly discover she was sensuous and intelligent.

They embark on a passionate affair, and when she breaks it off, he accepts her decision as the logical one . . . but only at first. Then he decides to pursue her.

Michael is brilliant, single-minded, and utterly indifferent to being the talk of the ton. It’s even said his only true friend is his dog. Edwina had begged him to marry someone appropriate–—someone aristocratic . . . someone high-born . . . someone else. But the only thing more persuasive than a duke intent on seduction is one who has fallen irrevocably in love.