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What the Duke Desires
What the Duke Desires
What the Duke Desires
Audiobook10 hours

What the Duke Desires

Written by Sabrina Jeffries

Narrated by Corrie James

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke's brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan's sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posing as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends with Lisette, the easier it is for Max to see that the line between dukedom and desire is easier to cross than he
imagined . . .
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 18, 2013
ISBN9781452682693
Author

Sabrina Jeffries

Sabrina Jeffries is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of several Regency-set historical romance series, including the Royal Brotherhood, the School for Heiresses, the Hellions of Halstead Hall, the Duke’s Men, and the Sinful Suitors. When she’s not writing in a coffee-fueled haze, she’s traveling with her husband, caring for her adult autistic son, or indulging in one of her passions: jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, music, and costume parties. With more than nine million books in print in twenty languages, the North Carolina author never regrets tossing aside a budding career in academics for the sheer joy of writing fun fiction and hopes that one day a book of hers will end up saving the world. She always dreams big.

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When Lisette's father dies suddenly, and she and her two half brothers and her mother (her fathers mistress) gets kicked out of their home by their fathers heir and their eldest brother, they run to France, knowing that its the only safe place they can go to. Now years later, Lisette and her brother Dom have returned to England, where Dom has been working on setting up his investigating business, with his sister aiding him. But then Dom is called away on a case up in Edinburgh, and Lisette is left on her own. Then the Duke of Lyons comes knocking on her door, insisting on the location of her other brother, Tristan, who knows the location of the Dukes brother, but Tristan has disappeared. So to safeguard her brother, so goes with Maximillian in search of her brother. On their journey they are forced to pretend to be husband and wife, and as they are alone, a desire builds between the two, a desire that threatens to consume them both.What The Duke Desires is the first book in the "Duke's Men" series, which is the most recent series by this author. Sabrina Jeffries is a favorite of mine, when it comes to romances, and has been for many years. Many of her titles are at the top of my list as favorites. So I knew I was going to fall in love with What The Duke Desires and I was right, I could barely put this one down, and I haven't read a story so fast in quite a while, I was so immersed with the story I could barely put this down last night to go to bed. What The Duke Desires is a book I found through my local library. What The Duke Desires is a story that is set in Regency England, but most of the book is set in France. When I started reading this book, there is quite a overwhelming feeling of emotion from the beginning. We get introduced into the Bonnaud family, and as this is the first official book of the series, I felt like it did a well job in setting up the series, and I loved seeing these two together. There was such a sizzling connection between this couple from the very beginning.Maximillian, is the type of hero that gives you tingles. Max, is a Duke, and ever since his older brother disappeared as a child when he was a boy, he has been raised to that position. He is very arrogant, commanding, and must get his own way at all times. So when he meets Lisette he is astounded that a little piece of a woman would even think of standing up to him. I love the scenes, especially in the first meeting, definitely will give you giggles and balls of laughs. As their connection deepens, the plot thickens, and tensions rise, and passion erupts.A Delightful romance that will take you breath away. I loved the style of this story and especially the way this series began. I couldn't help but fall in love with Lisette and Max and their families. This story was intoxicating and addicting, a love story that is intense at times, and sweet at others. The heat in this story isn't way hot, but isn't light either. I felt like it had the perfect balance, that is my favorite style of sensuality. A remarkably written romance that stole my heart!!! BREATHTAKING!!! A Must read for historical romance lovers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What the Duke Desires is the first in the new "Duke's Men Series". The main character in this book is Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons and his search for his missing older brother. Max became the heir to the dukedom when his older (kidnapped) brother, Peter was reported to have died in a fire. For years he mourned his brother's death. He received a note from an aquaintence, Tristan Bonnaud stating that Peter was actually still alive. Max somehow missed Tristan w he failed to show up at their arranged meeting. So Max bulldozed his way into Tristan's half-brother, Dominick Manton's, house looking for answers. It is there that he met Lisette Bonnaud, Tristan's sister. She has been helping her brothers with their business and is afraid that the Duke and his anger will cause problems for her brother, So, she gives him only enough information to get him interested and then demands to be taken along. Her plan is to protect her brother from the Duke's anger. This is where all the fun begins. This is another well written Sabrina Jeffries historical romance. The characters are strong with a well developed story line that will keep the reader focused and reading well into the night.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I got this book through FIRST READS, thanks to the author for signing it for me as well as thanks to the person who sent this to me. This book was fun! Our main characters Max and Lisette are wonderful, the heat between them palpable. Max may be overbearing at times but he is sweet and loyal to his friends, bringing the reckoning to his enemies and will search until the end of the earth for his brother. Lisette is loyal to a fault, and her sassy, reality-seeking ways are intoxicating, she will do anything for her those she loves. The way these two characters fall in love is near breathtaking and achingly poignant because of Max's hangups and Lisette's view of men. Together these two make a powerful duo and to see them in action is one of the funnest things I've read in awhile.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Well written and very fun. Odd couple, concealed identities, road trip antics, enemies to lovers, family secrets, missing persons- really, what's not to enjoy? I don't usually describe things as being a "romp" but I think this qualifies. =P
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is one of those stories that needed all my attention in order for me to follow who's who and what's what.

    The story was highly complex, for me at least, and I had a hard time following it for at least first 20-30 pages, but eventually I got into it and enjoyed the rest of it.

    Ms. Jeffries did a good job in fleshing out the characters fully and the plot was well put together, but the pace was a bit too slow for my liking. In the end, I must admit that I got into the story fully and am looking forward to the series.

    Melanie for b2b
    Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Listened for Fun (Audible)Overall Rating: 4.25Story Rating: 4.50Character Rating: 4.00Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thoughts when Finished: What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries was one of those historicals that had it all: travel, romance, great characters, and a leading lady to root for!Overall Thoughts: Likable characters, a bit of intrigue, a headstrong leading lady who wasn't a member o society, a little history, and a whole lot of banter made this a very enjoyable read. I have to admit that Lisette was my favorite character and it took awhile until I thought Max was good enough for her. In the end, I was rooting for them and looking through my book stacks to see if I have more in this series!Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Corrie James / Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins This was my first Corrie James narration and I was really impressed. She handled different accents very well and her voices were very distinct. I am going to listen to her again.Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Captivating, intriguing, and oh so seductive, What the Duke Desires captures you from the moment you open the book, and doesn't let go even after the story ends … I can't wait for the next book in this series!

    Lisette Bonnaud is a beautiful, intelligent and witty illegitimate daughter of a viscount and a French actress. She is kind-hearted, stubborn, unwaveringly loyal to family and a heroine one can't help but love. After seeing the pain her mother went through with the English aristocracy, she wants nothing to do with any stuffy English lords.

    Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, has had it with impostors trying to impersonate his missing brother. He is tired of being lied to and has walled off his heart with an iron gate. When he receives a cryptic message that his missing brother may have been found, he is determined to get to the bottom of what he believes will be yet another false lead. What he encounters however is a beautiful, willful, enchanting woman who won't tell him a thing about his lead unless he takes her along with him to uncover the mystery.

    As Lisette and Max travel to France in hope of finding answers, they can't ignore the growing sparks that turn to flames between them. Will Lisette be able to put her distrust of the aristocracy behind her? Will Max let someone close enough to know his secrets?

    Like all of Sabrina Jeffries novel, this one is exceptionally well written. The characters are captivating, the story exciting, and romance sizzling! A must read!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great narration by Corrie James.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very good book with some great interactions between Max and Lisette. Lisette's brother Tristan sent Max a note claiming he has information about Max's presumed dead older brother, but never showed up at a scheduled meeting. Max shows up at Lisette's home and family investigation agency threatening dire things if Lisette doesn't tell him where Tristan is. She doesn't know but will help Max find him, as long as she goes with him. They travel disguised as husband and wife and have a hard time keeping their hands off each other. Both have secrets that make them unwilling to engage their hearts, but they may not be able to resist. I loved Lisette. After the death of her father she, her brother and her mother were kicked out of their home by their legitimate half-brother who hated them. He also accused Tristan of horse-stealing, causing him to have to flee England for France. Her other half-brother was also cut off by the heir and he took care of Lisette and her mother. He also started his detective agency. Lisette would like to work as one of the detectives but her brothers won't allow it. Neither is there when Max comes pounding on the door, threatening Tristan if he doesn't get some answers. Lisette will do anything to protect Tristan and refuses to tell Max where he is unless she can go along to make sure Max doesn't ruin things. I loved the way that she has absolutely no trouble standing up to Max. He may be a duke but that doesn't matter to her. She doesn't put up with his arrogance, but she doesn't put him down either. I laughed when she told him "You got off on the wrong foot. I merely watched you shove it into your mouth." She also is attracted to him, but having seen what happened to her mother when her father would marry her, she has vowed that she will never put herself under the control of a man. There are a lot of sparks between them, but they know that a match between them is impossible. Once they are on the road together they start getting to know one another. Lisette sees that Max hides a lot of pain and is eventually able to get him to talk about it. I loved the way that she was willing to risk her heart even if she couldn't be with him. She tried to protect him from her brothers and from being hurt by her circumstances.Max had become the heir when his older brother was kidnapped and later died. Many people have tried to convince him that they were his brother so he is wary of anyone who claims to have such information. He is furious when Tristan makes such a claim but then disappears before Max can talk to him. When Max confronts Lisette he is definitely acting like an arrogant duke and makes several really obnoxious remarks. He is surprised when Lisette stands up to him, which makes him actually stop and listen to her. He isn't at all happy when she won't tell him where Tristan is and doesn't want to give in to her demands that she go with him on the search. He doesn't really have a choice and they take off together for France, posing as an ordinary husband and wife. This is fun to watch as Max has never been ordinary in his life and it is a real eye opener for him. He also discovers a strong attraction to Lisette that begins to grow into more. But he refuses to allow himself to let love enter a relationship. He watched his mother suffer when his father went mad and will not put anyone else through that. He is convinced that he is doomed to follow in his father's footsteps. I really liked the care that Max took to protect Lisette's reputation throughout their trip. He really wanted to have more with her but was afraid of what would happen years later. I liked the way that the two of them were able to work so well together to track down Tristan and get to the bottom of the mystery. The ending was fantastic and I loved the way that Max came to the rescue.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My rating: 4 of 5 starsWhat the Duke Desires is a Pocket Books publication. This is a June 2013 release. Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC copy of this book. Maximilian Cale, The Duke of Lyons, received a note from Tristan Bonnaud explaining that he may have evidence that the Duke's older brother, Peter, is still alive. When the Duke arrives to meet Tristan, Tristan never shows up. Infuriated, The Duke sets out to find Tristan. This leads him to Tristan's sister, Lisette. When the Duke makes demands on Lisette, insisting she reveal to him where her brother might be, she stands her ground. She agrees to help the Duke on the condition she be able to travel with him to France. So, they pretend to be husband and wife and set off for Paris. On the way to France, the Duke and Lisette have many disagreements, but also find they can't keep from kissing each other every chance they get. As they arrive in France and locate Tristan, they find he is working as an investigator and he does indeed have information about Peter. Intrigue sets in when they seek to discover if the man Tristan located is really Max's long lost brother. To make it even more interesting, Lisette and Tristan's evil half brother is hot on their trail, trying to have Tristan arrested for thievery. The differences in classes would normally prevent Lisette and Max from being married. Lisette is the daughter of a Viscount, but her mother was a French actress and they never married. For Max though, he doesn't want to marry anyone he is really in love with due to a family trait he fears he may be afflicted with. The agency that Tristan works for and his boss, Eugene Vidocq, was a real detective agency and a real detective, and he was well ahead of his time when he actually did hire female agents. I really enjoyed this novel. I always like to read historical romances that go off the beaten path of Regency Period rules and society strictures, seasons and so on. This one featured two adults that were willing to put the other first over their own wants and desires. Sure, they have misunderstandings and hurt each other before they are able to resolve the issues that might be keeping them from having the HEA they deserve, but they each have the sense to see past it and forgive each other. This one was a real pleasure to read. I was in a really good mood by the time I turned the last page. Overall a solid A
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    AT THE DUKE DESIRES by Sabrina Jeffries is an exciting Regency Historical Romance set in 1816-1828 England. #1 in the "Duke's Men" series. Fast paced and filled with passion, secrets, a bit of danger,family, betrayal,madness,romance and love. What a delightful way to begin a series. Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons and Lisette Bonnaud, an illegitimate daughter of a viscount are on a mission to find Lisette's missing brother, and Max's kidnapped, long to believe dead brother. What they find is passion and love. Well written with Ms. Jeffries' usual style,her engaging,charming,although,battered, characters and her interesting,intriguing plots,you can not go wrong reading one of her stories. An interesting and intriguing story where passion sizzles and love holds fast. A must read! Well done indeed! I can hardly wait for the next in the "Duke's Men". This was a personal buy.RATING: 4.5HEAT RATING: MILDREVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A duke from an infamous family and the illegitimate daughter of a viscount have to pretend to be a "regular" married couple in order to solve a mystery involving both of their families? I'm so in. The outcome of this book will be fairly predictable given the genre, but it is entertainingly written by Jeffries. I definitely do enjoy her writing style and voice. What I really liked about this one, though, is that so many aspects of the story were outside the norm. Max’s reasons for not wanting to marry for love made a bit more sense (while still being utterly ridiculous, of course. But at least he had good intentions at heart) than the usual Regency romance hero’s. Lisette was a heroine after my own heart, wanting to be an investigator when she was so clearly not at all suited to be one. I’ve wanted to be a spy since I watched my first episode of Scarecrow and Mrs. King back in the 80s, but someone as oblivious to their surroundings as I tend to be clearly would never make it–Lisette and I are clearly kindred spirits. But hey! I totally called the source of the madness in his family, so points for me. I liked the way Jeffries wrapped up the loose ends in this one–the mysteries in Max’s family’s past, where Tristan had disappeared to, and just who it was that he had found were all believable but not immediately obvious plot twists.The only sticking point in the book is that George come off as a rather two-dimensional villain. He clearly will have a recurring role in the series, though, so perhaps future installments will flesh his character out a bit more to give us more justification for his actions. There’s a ghost of a set-up for future books in the series here, but none of the elaborate “here’s where the future books are going to go” bits that have been taking up so much space in the other series books I’ve been reading lately. (Honestly. Spend more time on the current H/h and less on setting up future books, please! If we like the current ones, we’ll buy the next in the series–I promise. No need to hit us over the head with premature details.)In a nutshell: What the Duke Desires has a likable hero and heroine, believable but not obvious plot twists, and is a solid start to her new series. 4 1/2 out of five stars.