This one made me laugh out loud quite a lot, always something I enjoy in a romance novel. ( )

Desperately Seeking a Duke
3 Stars

Synopsis
Three cousins are in competition for the same inheritance - the first to marry a duke will inherit a fortune. Vicar's daughter, Phoebe Millbury, is at a disadvantage due to a romantic scandal in her youth but then she meets Rafe Marbrook and accepts his proposal. The only problem is that it is Rafe's older brother, Calder, who is in line for the dukedom and whose proposal she has unknowingly accepted. Will Phoebe abide by her duty or give in to her heart's desire?

Review
Light and fluffy.

Rafe and Phoebe are sweet together. However, the fact that they seem to fall in love in 5 minutes, which is apparently enough time for him to give up his rakish ways and for her to agree to marry a complete stranger, stretches the imagination.

The pacing is also off. The beginning is engaging but the story seems to lose momentum for the rest of the first half. The climax beginning in the second half is then rushed followed by a resolution that is unnecessarily drawn out and tedious - the twist at the end is cute though.

The secondary characters are the highlight. Rafe's cold, dark and brooding brother, the bumbling villains, the besotted butler and the avaricious aunt all round out a compelling cast who add some wit and banter to an otherwise simplistic plot. ( )

A delicious Regency read!! Engaging characters and an entertaining plot line. Nice amount of steam to keep the story popping!

I love a lively historical with all the pomp and circumstance! Really enjoyable read!

A fun series. ( )

Ridiculous, but fun. ( )

I totally enjoyed the relations ship entre the hero and heroine, they were friends first. Haven't read this sort of relationship in regency recently if ever. ( )