Naked Duke [Mass Market Paperback]

In some ways this book seems to be a throwback to the 70's/80's bodice ripper-type books. Extremely naive virgin, sleazy, psycho villain and rape, so you are forewarned. But the book also has some nice humour, some charming moments between the h/h and the hero is not an overbearing alpha male, so it's a bit of a mixed bag.

Sarah Hamilton is an American who has traveled to England on the death of her father. She is to locate her uncle, the earl of Westbrooke, but she has gone quite as far as she can this day and is desperate for a room at an inn before continuing on to her uncle's home. She is directed to a room by a rather drunk gentleman (who he turns out to be is rather funny) but she's grateful to sink into a bed and sleep. She wakes to find herself in bed with a man - both of them naked - and soon, with an audience! The gentleman, who turns out to be the duke of Alvord, tells her that she has been thoroughly compromised and now must marry him! Coming from America where she did not really mix with society, she can't see why such drastic action is necessary. Nothing happened afterall! But everyone around her seems to agree and so she agrees to consider marriage to James, the naked (very handsome and charming!) duke.

James has been considering marriage lately as he feels some pressure to get himself an heir. Lately there have been one too many strange "accidents" leading James to conclude that his cousin Richard is trying to kill him in order to grab the dukedom for himself. James cannot let that happen for Richard is unstable, selfish and cruel. He will not let his lands and his people fall into Richard's hands. And now this beautiful young American has just fallen into his lap, so to speak. He has the perfect excuse to marry her quickly, but she is reluctant. They agree to get to know one another, to let him court her until/unless the story of what happened at the inn gets out. If that happens marriage is definite.

And so, Sarah is launched into society (along with James' younger sister Lizzie) and he does his best to charm her and convince her to marry him, though he knows that this may put her in danger. For Richard is desperate that James not marry and certainly does not want him to have an heir. As Richard gets more desperate, James becomes more worried and more determined to keep Sarah safe. But who is in more danger - Sarah or James? Can Richard be stopped before someone gets killed?

This is a mix of charming romance, culture clash and dark suspense. Though I liked Sarah's character overall and admired her more republican attitudes toward the aristocracy, I don't think I've come across a more clueless virgin in years! She's the daughter of a physician but has no clue where babies come from! If that type of virgin drives you crazy you may have a hard time with her. Richard is without doubt a very dark character who does some very evil things. And I haven't read a book in years that contained multiple rape/attempted rape/near rape scenes, so again, if that type of thing creeps you out you are forewarned. But James is entirely yummy! He's very charming, sweet, good natured, witty and warm. He's the real star of this book IMO.

Bottom line, this is a pretty good debut that shows promise for this author in future. I can just feel books coming for James' friends Major Charles Draysmith and Robbie Hamilton, who also happens to be Sarah's cousin and the new earl of Westbrooke.

I agree with the other reviewer that said that this book is not what one would expect based on the catchy, titillating title and light-hearted summary on the back cover, but "The Naked Duke" is a very readable Regency romance with an engaging hero and reasonably good heroine.

Miss Sarah Hamilton, in compliance with her father's deathbed wish, has traveled from Philadelphia to England (*very* improbably--completely *alone*) to visit her uncle, the Earl of Westbrooke. Exhausted, she stops for the night at an inn near her uncle's estate and is nearly turned away by the innkeeper (as a presumed whore) because of her solitary, disheveled state. When a semi-drunk gentleman offers her a open room, she believes that it is a case of mistaken identity (and, of course, she is right!), but is too grateful for the shelter to investigate exactly *whose* room she is taking. When she awakens the next morning, she finds a naked and amorous man in bed with her and her screaming protest brings them quite an audience. Her bedmate turns out to be the Duke of Alvord, who offers her marriage since he has unwittingly compromised her. She, of course, refuses his offer because he is young, handsome, charming, rich and titled and she is penniless and alone in a strange country with a ruined reputation and no references or employment. (Ha! No really, she has some other reasons for refusing his amazingly generous offer, but they make just about as much sense as that!)

James, the Duke of Alvord, is a really good hero--a gorgeous paragon really (except for his rakish reputation and the problem of his evil cousin Richard who keeps launching murder attempts against James in an effort to usurp the dukedom.) Sarah is an okay heroine but a bit inconsistent--by turns stunningly naive and improbably competent (has *no idea* how babies are made, but *does* know the basics of dirty street-fighting....) James is crazy about her (although he spends more time fantasizing about getting her back into his bed than he does talking to her.) Richard, the evil cousin, is a pretty one-dimensional psychotic villain and insane rapist (no redeeming qualities *at all*!) All the villains in the book are homosexuals or bisexuals (a not very PC move by the author.)

The plot moves along pretty well, but takes some dark turns (so be warned--Richard is *really* a bad guy!) I found Sarah's repeated refusals of James's offers of marriage and insistence that she would look for employment to be ultimately annoying, and the details of James's sexual history (Sarah's real reason for rejecting his proposal is James's reputation as a rake) to be inconsistent with the rest of his behavior in the book. The dialogue is generally witty, but with many, many modern phrases (except for Sarah's cousin Robbie, who seems to be the only one in the book talking "Regency-speak" like an escapee from a Georgette Heyer novel.)

In summary, this is a quick, enjoyable read with a really great hero and some very clever dialogue.
Recommended to Regency romance lovers, particularly to those who like a good bodice-ripping villain.

When her father dies, American Sarah Hamilton travels to England hoping to meet up with her uncle, an Earl. When she arrives at an inn, too late to impose on her uncle, she decides to spend the night--only to be mistaken for a whore and to awaken in the morning having spent the night with a very handsome, and very naked, duke. Now, her reputation is in ruins and James, Duke of Alvord is pressured to offer for her hand in marriage. But she's a good republican. Couldn't everyone just sort of forget about that one night--a night where she's pretty sure nothing happened--and help her get a decent job as governess?

James is not immune to the attraction of a beautiful woman, but there's something about Sarah Hamilton that sends his senses into overdrive. Persuading her to kiss him isn't too hard, but Sarah continues to resist his efforts to persuade her to marry him. When James' evil cousin Richard discovers that James is considering a wife, and potential heirs, Richard becomes a menace to both Sarah and James.

Sarah and James try to work through misunderstandings that are encouraged by Richard--while Richard unleashes one plot after another aimed at destroying Sarah--or murdering his cousin. Although misunderstandings drive them apart, though, the deep passion each feels for the other continue bringing Sarah and James back together.

Author Sally MacKenzie combines humor and suspense in her debut-novel, a regency-set historical. Innocent Sarah, with her ignorance about exactly what it takes to become pregnant makes for a charming fish-out-of-water in sex and status-obsessed London. James makes her perfect foil. MacKenzie's engaging writing keeps the reader entertained as she foils Richard's evil plots.

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