The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife (The Boscastles)

by Jillian Hunter

Book Overview

From London's ballrooms to its sizzling bedrooms, award-winning author Jillian Hunter spins a seductive dance of desire and breathtaking romance. Lord Griffin Boscastle has no intention of ending his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345503953
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.9" x 4.1"

Customer Reviews

The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife

It's been two years since Harriet Gardner was caught thieving in the home of one of the notorious Boscastles. Rather than having her arrested, Harriet is taken into Emma Boscastle's academy for young ladies as a charity case. Hard work, sweat, and tears turn Harriet from a thief of the streets to a gentlewoman and instructress at the academy. All of Harriet's hard work threatens to come crashing down when she meets Lord Griffin Boscastle. The devilishly handsome duke infuriates and arouses Harriet, making her want to break every rule she's ever learned. Griffin Boscastle, Duke of Glenmorgan, has come to his cousin's academy to drop off his niece. Griffin has never wanted the responsibilities of the title he unexpectedly inherited, especially not the duty of taking a wife. Yet something about Miss Harriet Gardner makes Griffin feel more alive than he has in ages. And when his aunt hires Harriet to be her companion, the temptation of living with the woman he desires becomes too much to resist. Society would never find a woman known in London's slums as the "Duchess of St. Giles" to be a proper duchess. But then again, when has a Boscastle given a fig what society thinks? The wicked Boscastle clan is out in full force in this delightful story by Jillian Hunter. The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife has become one of my favorite stories in an altogether charming series about a family of rakes, rogues, vixens, and mischief-makers. Griffin is your typical Boscastle male. He's dashing, loyal, seductive, and protective. You can't not fall for him, so it's no surprise Harriet does. As for Harriet, she might just be my favorite of Ms. Hunter's heroines. She's street smarts combined with kindness and gentility, making her a likeable and somewhat unusual heroine. There's also her affinity for Mary Shelley's Frankenstein which makes her character call to me. She fits right in with the oft-unruly Boscastle clan, many of whom appear in The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife. One of my favorite things about Ms. Hunter's Boscastle series is that every book makes me feel like I am visiting with old friends. I finished The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife eager for some of the as-yet unmarried Boscastles to find their happily ever after, Charlotte Boscastle in particular. Yet those new to this series need not fear they will be lost; each book fully stands on its own. The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife is a fast-paced adventure of a tale. It's packed with romance, tenderness, and fun. I adored every bit of this book and cannot wait for Ms. Hunter's next Boscastle story. Pure entertainment! Shayna Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Harriet did not disappoint

4.5 Ok, I know the story is on the light side of historic, but reviewing from the perspective, I really enjoyed it. When I noticed that this story's heroine was the grown up Harriet from "The Devilish Pleasures of a Duke", I was interested. Harriet was taken in by the Boscastles from surviving the life of a street urchin from the dangerous area of St Giles in London. She was a great character in Emma's story and made for a unique and charming older heroine in this fast paced love story of a Duke with "baggage". Their unlikely romance was a page turner.

Review for "The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife"

Hunter pens another sensual Boscastle tale with "The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife." Set in London 1818, Griffin Boscastle, the Duke of Glenmorgan, arrives at the Scarfield Academy for Young Ladies to enroll his teenaged niece, Edlyn. Accompanying him is his aunt, Lady Powlis. Enter Harriet Gardner. She's one of the head mistresses to the academy. When she opens the door and discovers the handsome Duke, she's immediately drawn to him - and overwhelmed. Against the backdrop of a furious storm, Harriet escorts him to a room where the fireplace was not properly prepared. In order to prevent a fire, Harriet makes a mess of herself, throwing ash and soot all about. She's embarrassed; the Duke is chagrinned. In fact, Griffin find her refreshing and true to herself. Griffin has just recently inherited the Dukedom. His brother, Liam, died in a riding accident. Griffin feels guilty about his brother's death since it was him who suggested the riding challenge to his brother. His guilt brings out the moodiness in him. Despite his moods, it's Harriet who intrigues him. After Harriet takes a job as a companion to Lady Powlis, Griffin has a hard time ignoring the sparks between them. During a disastrous outing where Griffin takes his intended, Lady Constance Chatterdon, to the park, he realizes that it's Harriet who he wants to be with, despite her lack of pedigree. Unable to keep her growing feelings for the Duke at bay, Harriet and Griffin soon begin having a secret affair. However, before Griffin can ask Harriet to marry him, a family crisis arises that not only tests his mettle, but his spirit, leaving him to wonder if he's worthy of Harriet. Hunter's writing is easy to read and she immediately takes the reader to London, 1818. She does a nice job tying in the Frankenstein novel, evoking storms, gray clouds, and a dark ambience into the story, especially with the character of Edlyn. Both Harriet and Griffin are rich and complex characters. Harriet is a character from a previous novel, "The Devilish Pleasures of a Duke." Since then, Harriet has risen from the gutters of London through her own grit and determination, and has made a lady of herself. Her evolution is heartwarming and inspiring. Griffin embodies the dark Boscastle charm, but he's also haunted by his ghosts. He wants to do the right thing, but he soon realizes that sometimes doing the right thing means going against conventions. Watching how Harriet's love brings out the best in him is a treat for the reader. Hunter's descriptions deliver. She captures not only the feel of historical London, but her character's emotions as well. Her love scenes are graphic, yet tasteful. The story is considered sophisticated for romance readers. Overall, "The Wicked Duke Takes a Wife," is a wicked story about the power of love.

Great Book!

I very much enjoyed reading this book, I enjoyed it so much the first time I had to read it again for a second time. The characters are wonderful and easy to like. Griffin, the duke, is the typical handsome, black haired, blue-eyed devil. Harriet (vision of an Irish princess) is the beautiful, witty, young paid companion to the duke's nagging but lovable aunt Lady Powlis. Edlyn, the gothic niece, is a strange character, but one the duke loves and cares for non the less. Harriet is comical and sassy and practically falls in the love with duke at first sight. Griffin is intrigued with Harriet from the start, he appreciates her sassy nature. The author makes mention to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as Harriet's favorite read. This is fitting to the story, because Harriet views Griffin in some ways as a monster/beast looking for a companion in love. All the while Harriet is hoping she is the companion he is in search of, as Lady Powlis is snipping, pushing, and scheming her own agenda for Harriet and Griffin.

wonderful "Wicked" Regency romance

In 1818 the Boscastles found Harriet Gardner on the mean streets of the London. They cleaned her up and arranged for her to teach at the Scarfield Academy for Young Ladies. After the death of his brother fourteen months ago, Griffin Boscastle became the duke, a position he detests though he does ducal quite arrogantly well. He escorts his niece Edlyn and his pest of an aunt to the school where he unceremoniously dumps her on Harriet. The rake stays longer than he has to because Harriet's ripping off his skin intrigues him. However, when his thoughts begin veering towards long term, he considers flight rather than fight. Instead he decides to use Harriet to find him a suitable wife while also asking her to keep his niece safe from an unknown adversary trying to harm her. However, he never expected Harriet to risk her life to keep Edlyn safe. Already beyond lust, Griffin falls into love, but Harriet keeps kicking the rogue to the curb hiding how she really feels. With a nod to Frankenstein, the latest Boscastle "Wicked" Regency romance (see A Wicked Lord at the Wedding) is a wonderful tale with a strong suspense subplot enhancing the prime story line. Sub-genre readers and the students at the academy will appreciate the pompous conceited duke and the street smart teacher who tears his skin with sarcastic witty retorts while falling in love. Harriet Klausner