Full Description

Duke to Die For

What is a roguish young nobleman supposed to do with a shockingly lovely young ward?
The Duke of Blakewell believes he'd better marry her off as soon as possible, before he gives in to temptation himself...

But Henrietta doesn't want a husband— she wants her independence...
Sure that she carries a curse that killed her previous guardians, Henrietta just wants the duke to sign over her inheritance before something terrible befalls him...

In a moment of passion, they become scandalously entangled, and suddenly the duke must take Henrietta's curse seriously, and she must take drastic measures to save the one man she could love...

Praise for Amelia Grey's Regency romances:

Affaire de Coeur:
"Each new Amelia Grey tale is a diamond. Ms. Grey... is a master storyteller."

Booklist:
"Witty dialogue and clever schemes… Grey's vivid characters will charm readers."

Romantic Times:
"This beguiling romance steals your heart, lifts your spirits, and lights up the pages with humor and passion."

Library Journal:
"Readers will be quickly drawn in by the lively pace, the appealing protagonists, and the sexual chemistry that almost visibly shimmers between."

Rendezvous:
"Such a tantalizing and funny read, you won't be able to put it down."

A Romance Review:
"If you like Amanda Quick, you will absolutely love Amelia Grey… Fun, fast-paced, and very sensual."

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

One

My Dearest Grandson Lucien,

You would do well in life to heed Lord Chesterfield's wise words: "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

Your loving Grandmother,
Lady Elder

Lucien Trent Blakewell, the fifth Duke of Blakewell, strode through the front door of his town house, taking off his riding gloves.

"Your Grace, I'm glad you're home."
"Not now, Ashby," Blake said, tossing his gloves, hat, and cloak into the butler's hands without breaking his stride. "I don't have time." He'd stayed too long at the shooting match, and now he was running late.

One of his cousins was racing a new horse in Hyde Park at four o'clock, and the other had a high-stakes card game starting at six. Blake didn't plan on missing either event. But in order to make both, he had to finish reviewing at least one account book for his solicitor. The poor fellow had been begging for them for over a month.

From the corridor, Blake walked into his book room. Piled high on his desk was the stack of ledgers, numerous miscellaneous correspondence, and invitations he'd left unopened for weeks.
He shrugged out of his coat, loosened his neckcloth, and sat down at his desk with an impatient sigh. There were times when being a duke was downright hellish. Grudgingly, he opened the top book, determined to make a dent in the work he had to do.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Grace," Ashby said from the doorway.

Blake didn't bother to glance up from the ledger he was thumbing through, trying to find where he'd left off the last time he looked at it… which was too many days ago to remember. He still hadn't become completely used to hearing himself called 'Your Grace,' even though his father had been dead almost two years.

It was a time-consuming task, keeping up-to-date with all his holdings and property, not to mention the details of the various businesses in which his father had invested over the years. His solicitor constantly sent documents for him to sign or account books to check. And, last year when his grandmother had passed on, her estate had added more responsibilities to his already full desk of unattended paperwork.

His new role in life had certainly curtailed his once daily and quite enjoyable activities of riding,
fencing, and late afternoon games of billiards and cards at White's or one of the other gentlemen's clubs he belonged to. He was not accustomed to being on anyone's schedule but his own.

The butler cleared his throat.

"Yes, Ashby, what is it?" Blake finally said when it was apparent the man wasn't going to leave him alone until he had his say.

"There's a young lady here to see you, sir."
That got Blake's attention. He glanced up at the tall, thin, and immaculately dressed butler, who wore his long graying hair held neatly away from his sharp face in a queue.
"A young lady, you say?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Who is she?"
"Miss Henrietta Tweed."
"Tweed," Blake said aloud as he thought about the name for a moment. He couldn't place it. "Who is with her?"
"Just her maid."
"No other chaperone?"
"None that I saw."

That was odd.

It was unusual for a young lady, or any gentleman, to call on him without making prior arrangements—and altogether inappropriate for a lady to do so without a suitable chaperone. Blake shrugged. On another afternoon he might have been intrigued by this strange request to see him, but not today. He didn't have time to entertain anyone.

"Just take her card and send her away."
Blake picked up his quill, dipped it in the ink jar he'd just opened, and returned his attention to the numbers in front of him.

"I tried that, Your Grace. She says she doesn't have a card."

The quill stilled in his hand. That was most curious, too. A woman without an appropriate chaperone and without a proper calling card. For half a second he wondered if one of the ladies he'd met earlier in the day at Hyde Park had followed him home. And there were other possibilities. It was rare, but he knew that sometimes a lady of the evening would be bold enough to seek out a titled man in hopes of bettering her station in life by earning a few coins or becoming his latest mistress.

Blake's interest was piqued once again, though he had to admit almost anything could take his mind off accounts and ledgers.

He glanced back up at the butler. "What does she look like?" he asked, thinking that would help him determine if she warranted interrupting his work. Ashby's chin lifted and his eyebrows rose slightly.

"Like a young lady."

Sometimes Blake wished he hadn't kept his father's annoying butler. The old man could be downright impudent at times. But Ashby kept the household and the sizable staff running in near-perfect order. The butler's work was testimony to the care with which his father had trained the man. That, and that alone, was what kept the aging servant at his job.

"Did she say why she wanted to see me?"
"Not exactly, Your Grace."

In exasperation, Blake laid down the quill he had just picked up. "Ashby, what the hell did she say?"
Unflustered, the butler replied, "She said you were expecting her."

"Was I?" Blake asked. Since Blake had turned off his father's secretary a few months earlier, the
butler had tried to help him keep up with his social calendar, but so far neither one of them was doing a good job.

"Not that I'm aware of, Your Grace. She also said that her trunks were on the front steps."

Blake made a noise in his throat that sounded like a mixture of a grunt and a laugh. He must have been in too big a hurry to notice her luggage when he came through the front door.

"What the devil?" Blake said. "I'm expecting no one, especially a young woman with baggage and no proper chaperone. She obviously has the wrong house." He rose from his chair. "Did you question her about who she is looking for?"

"Yes, Your Grace. She said the Duke of Blakewell was expecting her."
"That's not bloody likely when I have no recollection of knowing anyone by the name of Tweed."
"She also suggested that I should speak to you at once so that you could clear up what she called my obvious confusion."

That sounded rather impertinent coming from someone who was apparently befuddled herself. No doubt the quickest way to handle this situation was for him to take a moment or two to speak with her.

Blake looked down at his paper-cluttered desk. His eyes centered on the open book in front of him, and he swore softly to himself. Reviewing the latest entries would have to wait again.

"Show her to the front parlor and say I'll be in to see her."
"Right away, Your Grace." Ashby turned stiffly and walked out.

Blake marked his place in the ledger with a dry quill. He hastily retied his neckcloth and reached for his coat. No doubt the woman had him mixed up with someone else. The sooner he dealt with the waif and sent her on her way, the faster he could get back to checking the balances in the accounts book so he wouldn't miss the race or the card game. For the most part he got along quite well with his cousins, but they would be unforgiving if they felt he'd slighted them.

When Blake approached the doorway to the drawing room, he saw a short, rotund lady with her
back to him warming herself in front of the low-burning fireplace. It took only a glance at the fabric of her cloak and bonnet to know that she was not a lady of means.

What was Ashby thinking to allow her entrance into the house?

"Miss Tweed," he said, striding into the room, determined to set her straight and then have a word
with his errant butler.

Reviews

Reviews

Armchair Interviews Heather Durow
After two years, Lucien is still adjusting to his new title of the Duke of Blakewell, after the passing of his father. He has acquired the new title and everything that comes with it–including Miss Henrietta Tweed. With no previous knowledge of this enchanting young lady, Lucien is shocked to find her at his door and claiming that, at nineteen, she is his new ward. Being behind on his correspondence, Lucien was unaware that Miss Tweed would be his new responsibility. How could he possibly handle this, especially when he is finding himself extremely attracted to her?!

Headstrong and determined, Henrietta must convince the Duke to let her take control of her inheritance so she will not be in need of a guardian. Obviously, it is for the Duke’s own good. With her as his ward, he is in grave danger. Not from Henrietta, but from the curse she is convinced has followed her since the death of her parents twelve years ago. Every guardian she has ever had has met an early death, seemingly by accident. Henrietta is determined to free herself from this curse without losing yet another guardian.

Lucien, finding it harder and harder to stay away from the intoxicating Miss Tweed, comes to the conclusion that the best thing for both of them is to marry her off as soon as possible. But with his burgeoning feelings for her, it’s going to be difficult to let her go, especially to any of the so-called suitors that keep showing up at his door.

Amelia Grey’s A Duke To Die for is a charming historical romance that keeps the reader enthralled and unable to stop reading. Henrietta and Lucien are two amazingly detailed and wonderful characters that one can’t help but fall for. Along with great supporting characters, this book is funny, seductive, and a great light read. I can’t wait for more from Ms. Grey!

Armchair Interviews agrees.

The Romance Studio Maura Frankman
Lucien, Duke of Blakewell may be disorganized but he would remember if he had a ward. Apparently his father was the last of a long list of potential guardians left by Henrietta Tweed’s father before his death. Each of the guardians has now passed on leaving Henrietta to the last name on the list, his. Henrietta is convinced that she is cursed and does not want her new guardian to be the next victim. Lucien is entranced by the young woman, but is not yet ready to marry, so his hope is to marry her off quickly. Since she is beautiful and possessed of a fortune, that should be no problem, that is, if he is only willing to let her go.

I loved this story of the handsome disorganized duke and his ultra neat ward. Ms. Grey has a gift for giving us memorable characters with very real quirks and faults, unlike some of the perfect people found in this genre. Blakewell is usually late and very disorganized and Henrietta is his opposite, since the only control she really has over her life is in the small details. The other characters are equally interesting, particularly Blakewell’s two cousins and his former mistress, although I was intrigued by the little seen Duke of Rockcliffe also. I enjoyed the adventures they had, especially the balloon ride with Gibby’s flirt. I also liked the realism of Henrietta’s allergy attack on the carriage ride in the park with Lord Waldo even if the dog in question showed up a little early in it’s history, a spaniel would have been a better choice overall. Westies weren’t called such until the mid nineteenth century and are known to be a good choice for people with allergies, though not someone with an allergy as severe as Henrietta’s. I have been waiting a long time for Ms. Grey to release another story and was definitely not disappointed here. This romance has great characters, a strong heroine, humor, excitement and great love scenes, I couldn’t ask for anything more!

Overall rating: 4.5/5
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Maura Frankman

Library Journal
Caught off guard when beautiful Henrietta Tweed arrives claiming to be his ward, Lucien Trent Blakewell, the notorious Duke of Blakewell, has no choice but to take her in, as all her former guardians are dead, and he is the last one on her late father’s list. Finding her a husband is the logical plan, but Henrietta has other ideas. Once the Duke stops resisting his feelings for her, he gets some ideas of his own. A heroine who thinks she’s cursed, a hero who is afraid of heights, and an upbeat plot (which includes balloon rides, among other things) sweep readers along at a lively pace in a lusciously spicy romp that is the first in the author’s "The Rogues’ Dynasty" series. Florida-based Grey (A Taste of Temptation) also writes as Gloria Dale Skinner.

Booklist
After receiving the news that he is now the guardian of Miss Henrietta Tweed, Lucien Trent Blakewell realizes he has two options: take control of her affairs himself or agree to sign over control of Henrietta’s fortune to the lady herself. Lucien refuses to believe Henrietta’s wild claims that she carries a curse that delivered an untimely death to her five previous guardians, but taking on the duties of guardianship would definitely put a dent in Lucien’s busy social calendar. Since Lucien does believe that no woman can manage her own financial affairs, giving Henrietta control of her own money is also out of the question. Which leaves Lucien with only one other solution: find his charge a suitable husband. Grey expertly imbues her latest neatly crafted Regency historical—and the first in a new series—with intriguing danger, sharp humor, and plenty of simmering sexual chemistry.

Long and Short of It Reviews Dandelion
When the rakish fifth Duke of Blakewell’s unexpected and shockingly lovely new ward arrives, she claims to carry a curse that has brought each of her previous guardians to an untimely end. As she tries to persuade him to release her to manage her own fortune, and he tries to find her a suitable husband, they become scandalously entangled. When several potentially deadly accidents befall the Duke, Henrietta is the only one who can help him…


I love a good historical romance, and this story didn’t disappoint. It has all the standard elements historical readers will expect: a hero who’s a bit of a rogue; a heroine who’s sweet and beautiful but smart enough to stand up for herself; minor characters who chide the hero and support the heroine; and a few simpletons who are there for comic relief. Oh, and a grand season of balls and courting in high society London! Ms. Gray develops her characters and the setting very well, and the tension that rises between Duke of Blakewell and his ward Henrietta Tweed is perfectly timed and tuned.

Though he’s supposed to be her guardian, Blake finds himself inexplicably drawn to Henrietta, and she to him. The problem is a curse: as a child, Henrietta lost her parents in a horrific accident, and ever since then, she’s believed she carries a curse to all who watch over her. True enough, Blake does suffer a few accidents of his own in this story, but while Henrietta believes the doom is her doing, he tries to convince her that’s it just part of living an adventurous life. In the meantime, he does the duties of a guardian as well as he can, even asking a former mistress to prepare Henrietta for the Season of courting, so she can find a husband. The only problem? Blake and Henrietta would much rather spend time stealing kisses and falling in love than finding another man to marry her off to.

This story moves along at a brisk pace. I enjoyed all the minor characters, especially the various dukes and lords who try to win Henrietta’s hand, and the widow whose hot air balloon venture threatens to rob one of Blake’s best friends of all his money. The subplots serve the main plot well – however, one of my chief criticisms of this story is that, after all the stumbling blocks Blake and Henrietta encounter early on, the climax is not nearly as powerful as I would have liked. After the scene in which they confess their mutual love, there’s nothing else that really keeps them apart, other than Henrietta’s belief in her curse. Even this is easily fixed, and the story ends while I was still waiting for a larger black moment to separate the lovers.

There are also snippets of advice letters to Blake from his grandmother that open every chapter; I did not find these particularly relevant or interesting and in fact stopped reading them about halfway through the book. However, don’t let these minor flaws keep you from picking up this book. It’s a lovely story, told in the true tradition of historical romances, with a hero and heroine you’ll fall in love with from the start. Ms. Gray’s writing is strong and her attention to detail spot-on. A Duke to Die For deserves a place on every historical romance reader’s list!

Medeival Bookworm Meghan Kawka
Miss Henrietta Tweed arrives on the Duke of Blakewell’s doorstep with little but her clothing, her maid, and assurances that she is now his ward. The young and scandalous Blakewell has never even heard of her, but her story is so preposterous he decides it must be true, and in any case he is so behind on his correspondence that he can well believe a letter was sent ahead of time. All Henrietta wants is for her fortune to be signed over to her; she is nearly 20 and has experience managing money, but Blakewell is convinced that he needs to do his best by her and marry her off. When he realizes that he can’t get enough of her company, his plans take an abrupt shift.

I’m always pleased when I discover a new romance author I’ll like, and I suspect I have found one here. While this book doesn’t push any boundaries of the genre, it is a book that can be read in a day with a great deal of pleasure. Both characters are interesting, particularly Blakewell. He’s quite convinced that he’s a determined rake only to discover that he actually has a crush on his ward for possibly the first time in his life. At least, that’s how I saw it.

Henrietta, meanwhile, has never had the opportunity to get to know a young, virile man before and despite her intelligence, seems very impressed by him. My favorite segments of the book are their conversations when their words are followed immediately by their thoughts:

“All right, maybe you should start by telling me about your parents’ death. Do you mind?”

Yes. Don’t make me remember.

…

“I haven’t talked about them in a long time.” - p. 217

I like the interplay between their presented personalities and what they’re really thinking. I enjoyed the struggle to articulate their feelings for each other and watching them coax honesty from one another.

As far as the plot was concerned, I also could easily believe that Henrietta thought she was cursed. If she was told it at the impressionable age of 7 and then lived to watch guardian after guardian die, she logically might begin to wonder, no matter how clever she was.

I also enjoyed the interplay among Blakewell’s family. None of them are closely related but ties of affection are clear. I’m very much looking forward to the forthcoming novels featuring Blakewell’s two cousins. I loved the snippets at the beginning of each chapter quoting Lord Chesterfield from Blakewell’s grandmother’s letters. Apparently, Lord Chesterfield actually existed and many of these quotes are his from advice letters to his son. If they’re not, the characters question the quotations in the chapter, because many of these quotes were floating around at the time and could easily have been attributed to him. They were all relevant and the note of history really added something for me.

All in all, this is a very enjoyable romance, and I would recommend it to any romance fans seeking out a new author. For Amelia Grey fans, surely you already know what you’d be missing by not picking up A Duke to Die For.

Blog Critics Robin Kavanaugh
In Amelia Grey’s A Duke to Die For, Miss Henrietta Tweed has a problem. She’s a young, unmarried lady in Regency England whose guardians keep dying on her. If that’s not bad enough, she thinks it’s a curse an old witch placed on her that has led them each to their demise.

When she finds herself again without a guardian, she is sent to seek out the Duke Lucien Trent Blakewell, who is last on her late father’s list of those contracted to take responsibility for Henrietta until her 21st birthday. She expected an old, arrogant aristocrat who would try to marry her off as soon as possible. When she finds instead a handsome young playboy instead, Miss Tweed hopes to coax him into signing her inheritance over to her so that she can take her own future in hand and not have to rely on strangers.

What amounts to perfectly reasonable hopes in 2009, is anything but in 19th century England, especially in a romance novel. Blakewell finds himself immediately taken with his new young charge and equally conflicted. His idea of taking on a ward is finding a governess to manage a little girl. Henrietta is a full-grown and very eligible young lady who stirs his appetites in all sorts of inappropriate ways. He decides the only way to keep his control around her is to get her settled with a husband as soon as possible.

The two butt heads when Blakewell tells Henrietta in no uncertain terms that he will not sign her inheritance over to her because women could not be trusted to manage money, that she would be properly introduced to Society and married off to the most “worthy” gentleman who comes calling. Henrietta is infuriated with him, but soon comes to worry for his safety as he falls victim to the same type of deadly accidents that claimed her other guardians. She does not want to have another death on her conscience.

Though Blakewell thinks nothing of this so-called curse, he does start to think twice about his plans for Henrietta. As his attraction to her grows and his ability to resist pursuing her affections diminishes, his jealousy over the attention she gets from the gentlemen of the town drives him mad. As a result, the two embark on an intriguing little adventure that brings them closer with every turn of the page.

I’m the kind of reader who likes a good suspense tale with my romance novel, and though Grey certainly delivers with A Duke to Die For, I would have liked a more intricate weave of plot elements throughout the story. Grey does an excellent job in building the romantic tension between Blakewell and Henrietta, and presenting a cast of characters that I expect we’ll see in her future novels.

A Duke to Die For is a fast and fun read. Grey’s writing style is fresh and expressive, bringing you right into the minds of the characters she so obviously built with love. This first novel in her The Rogues’ Dynasty series sets the tone, and I look forward to seeing where she takes her cast next.

Marta’s Meanderings Marta Hoelscher
A Duke and his ward and lots of accidents pretty much describes this book. It was such a fun story. I definitely got caught up in this story because it was very realistic and the storyline kept moving at a pretty good pace. There were no sighing women and overbearing men, just well written realistic characters. It has plenty of romance and sexual tension, as well as a fun plot. This book is definitely one to add to your list whether you just like romance or historical romance.

Books are Life Shana Haynes
The first of a brand new series The Rogue’s Dynasty will absolutely have you drooling in anticipation for the next book. With the mystery of the ‘curse of death’ that seams to just happens to follow Henrietta around the Duke of Blake well will have to keep a close eye on his new ward and quit possibly fall in love himself.

With romance, mystery, history, and witty humor this is the perfect book for anyone looking for good relaxing and intriguing book.
Henrietta her self was a young woman of deep courage. I found myself envisioning that I was her, because of her stand-up-and-defend-herself-when-other-women-won’t kind of personality. Her innocence yet understanding brought her all together as a girl you would love to be friends with, and a woman that any man would love to have… as his own.

I was feeling as giddy as a school girl who gets her first doll when ever I read into Blake’s own thoughts and motives. This chiseled out of stone carved man and would have any woman gawking at him anywhere he went. A rouge -the most notorious one- of his time had every woman wanting, weather it be for his looks, title or inquisitive mind.

I expect many more excellent and drool worthy stories out of this series in the near future. I would defiantly give this book a roaring rating of 9!

Confessions of a Romance Book Addict Dani Atwater
The main thing in the story that caught my attention the most was “the curse.” Curses intruge me, not that I think they are positive things or that I would wish one upon someone because I sure wouldn’t want one bestowed upon me but, they just make the story more mysterious and I like that. Curses are one of those kinds of things where you are not sure what exactly will happen or when, it’s basically a mystery.

I really enjoyed how Amelia had Lord Chesterfield’s (a character) wise quotes throughout the book, they were quite interesting. She also did an excellent job at explaining what each character looked like in great detail. I felt I was actually seeing the characters through her eyes. I especially LOVED the description of Henrietta’s ball gown for her debut at Lady Windham’s party, the dress sounded absolutely beautiful.

Blake and Henrietta’s love for each other was… indescribable. You could just see how the two were perfect for each in so many ways and how when they looked at one another, thought about one another, and talked to one another their eyes, thoughts, and words showed how much they were falling in love with each other throughout the story. Now when I say undescribable I mean that when you see two people fall in love whether it be in a book or in real life you can’t entirely try to explain that love to someone else. I know that there is a definition for the word “love” but, that doesn’t give it much justice does it?

All in all, this book was a good read. If you enjoy historical romances then I’d definately recommend you pick up this novel. I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens to Blake’s cousins’ Race and Morgan and how they find love. Race’s story releases in October 2009 and is called A Marquis To Marry and Morgan’s story releases in April 201o and is called An Earl To Enchant. You can read more about each of their stories HERE.

Love Romance Passion Keira Gillet
A Duke to Die For is an amusing romp across land, air, and ballrooms. It combines one randy and obscenely jealous duke, the best kind, and one beautiful, forthright but tragically cursed miss. Match made in heaven – or at least on paper.

It was nice to see an heiress story where the money is not needed at all by the hero. It’s just like a really, really big bonus… and who wouldn’t want that? Very refreshing and many props to Grey for writing it that way.

It all begins when the beautiful and intelligent Miss Henrietta Tweed shows up out of nowhere on the Duke of Blakewell’s doorstep claiming that she is his ward. Blake is flabbergasted and can’t believe that he is now a guardian for anyone let alone a young female of marriageable age. So what does he do? He decides to put her through a London Season in order to marry her off, which while not working perfectly with Henrietta’s plans at least ensures he won’t be affected by the curse that follows her like a plague.

Spoilers follow be wary:

Blake’s opinion on the curse as being complete poppycock is true. I expected the mystery behind the curse would be more than plain dumb luck coupled with a bunch of circumstantial happenings. I kept waiting for a person to be responsible for everything in an attempt to get the Henrietta’s huge inheritance. After all it made sense to me on that level. It would also explain everything and allow Blake to ride to the rescue.

However the non-curse self-fulling curse makes for an interesting twist as it were also. But how does an intelligent girl fall for it? Well, I suppose it isn’t completely unlikely for her to completely hoodwinked if you think about the time period where there are still many elements of lingering superstition. Henrietta was also seven, an impressionable age, when she was first told about the curse by an irrational old ninny who looked like a witch. By the time evidence stacks up, doubt is already firmly entrenched. In time, following the deaths of all of her guardians save Blake, she’s utterly convinced that the witch woman was right and that she is indeed very cursed. It’s a good thing Blake has a plan to show her that she’s not or they’d never be able to establish a happily ever after.

The Book Faery Farrah Kennedey
I love a romance stories from the Regency period. The passion that comes with the romance when it’s supposed to be “forbidden” since women are supposed to be innocent and men who entice are considered rakes and rogues. The stolen kisses and intimate touches when nobody seems to be around brings more heat to the story. The thing I like about romance is that even though we all know it ends the same where the boy gets the girl, the story in between is what makes it different. The curse that seems to follow Henrietta and her Guardians is what makes this one different while an older gentlemen is about to invest in a hot air balloon venture with a lady who wishes to turn riding hot air balloons into a traveling business. I’ve read many romance novels from the Regency period and several of Grey’s novel’s but I don’t recall ever reading one about hot air balloons and curses. A Duke to Die For was a fast read filled with great passion. For the one who loves a good romance without too much passionate scenes, this one’s for you. Not too tame yet not too wild…

Fresh Fiction Audrey Lawrence
Bewitching, beguiling and unbelievably funny!

Lord Chesterfield certainly would have something to say about the situation Lucien Trent Blakewell, the fifth Duke of Blakewell, now finds himself assessing. It was so preposterous, it had to be true! A beautiful well born young lady with no relatives and no place to go comes to one the most notorious rakes in all England and asks him to be her guardian!

Coming from a large and very extended family himself with two close male cousins, Lucien finds it hard to believe the tale that the demure, but confident Miss Henrietta Tweed is telling him. As she outlines the need for a responsible Duke to care for her, his eyes can’t help but be bewitched by her lush blonde hair and her full and beautiful lips.

Expecting to meet an older and more mature person, Henrietta finds Lucien to be the most handsome, but infuriating man she had ever met. After telling him the dark secret of her curse, doesn’t he realize the danger he is in? If he insists on participating in dangerous activities, how can she protect this virile man from being the "next Duke to die". Not only does she not want to be alone again, but she also finds her heart and body desiring to be in contact with him. How dare he think he should just marry her off to the first suitor that comes along?

Amelia Grey starts off her new trilogy, The Rogues’ Dynasty, with an absolutely enchanting and addictive tale that just makes you want to keep on reading! While the plot flows in a relative straightforward manner, it is made even more intriguing and humorous by Grey’s interweaving of the character’s secret thoughts along with their witty dialogue and spoken comments to the other. The use of the attributed quotes from Lord Chesterfield and the letters from his decreased grandmother are very effective and really help set a caring and warm family environment that nurtures the transformation of the Duke as he comes to terms of how he feels about Henrietta. I can hardly wait until I can get my hands on the rest of this series! Enjoy!

CK2’s Kwips and Kritiques Marilyn Rondeau
Lucien Trent Blakewell, the fifth Duke of Blakewell has been enjoying life to the fullest and along with his two handsome bachelor cousins. The mama’s of the ton would consider it a triumph to catch any one of them for their marriageable daughters. However, when young Miss Henrietta Tweed arrives on Blake’s doorstep announcing that she is his ward and he her new guardian, Blake can hardly believe it. Very determined and cool-headed, Henrietta has also come armed with papers for him to sign so that she can be in charge of her own life, fearing she carries a curse that has caused the untimely deaths of her four previous guardians. Henrietta doesn’t want to be the cause of yet another death, especially when this new guardian is one of the most handsome men she’s ever seen!

Ms. Grey has continued to build an extensive fan base providing her readers with smart, witty and totally entertaining Regency novels. As in her previous works, she keeps a lively pace going with charming heroines and delightfully well-intentioned heroes crafting them with chemistry that zings. Inserting just the right amount of humor within her scenes and dialogs, she keeps the story moving forward as she shows how Henrietta is convinced she is “cursed”.

Using Blake’s eagerness to do right by Henrietta in finding her a husband adds to the humor as Blake realizes that he’s “grown accustomed to her face” as well as her organizational skills, and can’t stand the thought of any other man kissing or bedding her, for that matter, then himself! While not an original plot, as this has been used over and over, Ms. Grey puts her own spin and stamp on it making it a sweet and tantalizing story.

Bottom Line: Amelia Grey is a rare talent and A DUKE TO DIE FOR is proof of that!

Romance Junkies Dottie
Lucien Trent Blakewell, the Fifth Duke of Blakewell, has been having trouble keeping up with all the time-consuming tasks he has to do. First, his father passed away two years ago, leaving him the title, making it necessary to keep up-to-date with all his holdings and properties, not to mention the details of the various businesses in which his father had invested. Then last year, his grandmother died; her estate added more responsibilities to all the untended paperwork he already had. Therefore, his new role in life curtailed his once enjoyable activities of riding, fencing and games of billiards and cards. In addition, he has had to forego the activities, which made the scandal sheets refer to him as the Devilish Duke, the kind of man against whom fathers safeguard their daughters.

Miss Henrietta Tweed, nineteen-years-old, is the daughter of Sir William Tweed. Her father had provided a list of guardians for her in the event of his death. The Duke of Blackwell was at the end of the lengthy list of guardians. Her parents died when she was very young. She has gone through each of the guardians on the list, except one, as each one has died, leaving her to believe there is a curse. Therefore, she doesn’t know how it feels to have a family, staying in one place for a significant amount of time. Now, she is down to the last name on her list of guardians, the Duke of Blakewell. When originally named in the will, the duke was Lucien’s father. That is now Lucien’s responsibility. She has seen pictures of him and she thinks he looks like Adonis.

When Henrietta appears at his door as his new ward, Lucien is dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe that anyone would name him as guardian of such a beautiful young tion. He soon begins having accidents and though she cares for him deeply, she knows she must marry and get away from him beforelady. She explains that her guardians are cursed, each dying while she is under their control. So she advises him to sign over her inheritance to her and let her go on her way. However, Lucien does not believe in curses and he thinks that nineteen is too young to be on her own. So he calls upon his old friend Constance to see Henrietta through the Season and to help her find a husband. Lucien soon finds he cannot bear what he has set in mo the curse kills him. Jealous of her suitors, he dissuades them and avoids them, when possible. Will the curse kill him next? Can the curse be broken?

Deliciously sensual, A DUKE TO DIE FOR is a witty, fast-paced historical romance. With this tale, storyteller extraordinaire Amelia Grey grabs you by the heart, draws you in and does not let go. This story will be remembered long after the last page is read and the book is closed. Filled with humor, witty dialogue, sensual love scenes, romance, appealing secondary characters and a clever plot, this Regency romp is sure to be a winner. Be sure to add A DUKE TO DIE FOR to your ‘to buy’ list. Do not miss it!

Booklist
After receiving the news that he is now the guardian of Miss Henrietta Tweed, Lucien Trent Blakewell

realizes he has two options: take control of her affairs himself or agree to sign over control of Henrietta’s

fortune to the lady herself. Lucien refuses to believe Henrietta’s wild claims that she carries a curse

that delivered an untimely death to her five previous guardians, but taking on the duties of guardianship

would definitely put a dent in Lucien’s busy social calendar. Since Lucien does believe that no woman

can manage her own financial affairs, giving Henrietta control of her own money is also out of the

question. Which leaves Lucien with only one other solution: find his charge a suitable husband. Grey

expertly imbues her latest neatly crafted Regency historical—and the first in a new series—with intriguing

danger, sharp humor, and plenty of simmering sexual chemistry.

— John Charles

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Specs / Support

Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 6.88 in
• Width: 4.19 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 6.00 oz
• Page Count: 384 pages