{Rakes of St James Review} To the Duke, With Love by Amelia Grey

To the Duke, with Love (The Rakes of St. James, #2) by Amelia Grey
Published by St. Martin's Press on December 5th 2017
Pages: 352
Buy on Amazon, Amazon Australia, Available with KU Subscription
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There may be times when a gentleman is desperate to gain a lady’s attention, but a gentleman would never resort to desperate measures to obtain it.―A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady

Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn is guardian for his sweet, younger sister. Due to his misguided past as one of the infamous Rakes of St James, Hawk is hoping to avoid the Season by securing a match for her before it begins. He has the perfect gentleman in mind, but for one infuriating―and unexpectedly intoxicating―obstacle: the intended groom’s own sister, Miss Loretta Quick.

Having narrowly avoided her own arranged marriage to an unacceptable nobleman, Loretta is determined that her dear brother―a gentle, good-natured soul―should marry for love. Matching wits with Hawk may be her greatest challenge yet. . .until she realizes it may also be her greatest pleasure. For the young duke’s irresistible charm has not only begun to crumble her stubborn resolve, it has claimed her heart in true love as well. . .

I received To the Duke, with Love (The Rakes of St. James, #2) for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sloane “Hawk” Knox, The Duke of Hawksthorn has enemies. People he thinks might ruin his young sister, Adele, to get their revenge. His solution? Arrange an engagement to the best candidate before the season begins.

Miss Loretta Quick fled from her own arranged marriage and won’t let her younger brother marry for anything but love. When Hawk arrives on her doorstep on the verge of a winter storm when her brother isn’t even in residence, she reluctantly lets him stay to explain his proposition. One thing that throws the whole night into utter chaos is the arrival of a sick beggar boy at Loretta’s kitchen door. Hawk doesn’t trust the boy but his pull toward Loretta has him giving in to her wishes to help the boy.

Hawk and Loretta eventually agree to let Adele meet with Paxton Quick to see if they might like each other enough for marriage. What starts as a mission to wed their siblings quickly turns into a game of desire for Hawk and Loretta.

I though Hawk and Loretta were both too stubborn to see any side other than their own in the beginning. As the time they spend together grows longer, the fiery passion erupts to a point where Hawk will fight family and friends to find a way to be with Loretta. The addition of the beggar boy to the story was an interesting twist I didn’t anticipate, but rather enjoyed the obstacles he presents. The twists and turns toward love are not easy, Grey makes the journey a worthwhile one. Hawk and Loretta are feisty and have a passion that explodes when the two join forces. They became one of my favorite historical romance couples as the novel ended in an unexpected perfection.