{Historical Romance Review} The Duke’s Accidental Bride by @EvaDevonAuthor

The Duke's Accidental Bride by Eva Devon
Published by Entangled: Amara on August 1, 2022
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Pages: 150
Source: Netgalley
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Never trust a rake to find you a husband…
Lady Jaqueline Peabody is extremely vexed. Her nemesis, the Duke of Stone, has just ruined her life by matching her sister with a perfect gentleman. Except the gentleman in question has little in the way of income. With the family fortune in tatters, it means Jacqueline is tasked with marrying well—and must bid adieu to her dreams of a lovely spinsterhood with her pianoforte.
James Haven has a respectable title and a rogue’s reputation. After all, love and passion can lead only to disaster. While he’s eschewed marriage for himself, he enjoys great success with matching London’s most eligible ladies and gentlemen. So if Jacqueline needs a wealthy husband, he’ll find her one. Love need not apply!
Only, James is having the devil of time finding the perfect husband for the spirited female. And certainly not because he’s falling for Lady Jacqueline, who heats his desire and dares to stand slipper-to-boot with him. Ridiculous. But, when scandal erupts, Jacqueline’s hopes for the perfect husband might be replaced by the perfect rake…

I received The Duke's Accidental Bride for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Lady Jaqueline “Jack” Peabody is a force to be reckoned with. James Haven, The Duke of Stone, learns this lesson when Jack climbs a tree in breeches in the middle of the night to tell him how he has ruined her life. After James’ matchmaking abilities found Jack’s sister a husband of little means, Jack blames him for her new duty to save the family and fill their coffers when she is forced to marry a wealthy husband. Once James agrees to help her find a husband, he thinks he can wed her to someone who will die shortly after the I do’s to give Jack the freedom she craves. This plan does not go well.

James has sworn off marriage due to medical issues his father experienced and which he would never want to inflict on a wife or children. Jack will do anything to save her family, even after she realizes she’s always been in love with James.

Devon creates a hauntingly beautiful story. The pain James suffered as a child had me wanting to reach through the pages and hug him. Jack’s devotion to her family is incredibly brave and emotionally gripping. Their forbidden passion boiled to the surface so many times, yet they resisted, for awhile.

This is a brother’s best friend/childhood friend/second chance romance all rolled into one. While it took an extraordinary set of circumstances to make Jack the new Duchess of Stone, the build up is an exquisite climb.