This is the fifth book in the series. Sadly, I picked up and put down this book several times. I got to 51% and couldn't go on any longer. It moved entirely too slow for me,. It may have gotten more fast pace later but I do not know. I am giving it a 3-star rating because the story and characters were fine and it may have ended on a high note. I wouldn't say not to give it a shot.

One night, a carriage and a mysterious lady. Raven, the Duke of Ravensmere, a man bound to his tragic past, escapes into a foreign carriage – in it sits a young lady, a passionate young lady. He doesn’t know that Samantha is a widow with a secret of her own. He doesn’t know that their kiss, to deceive his persecutors will lead to more.
I think this was my first Samantha Masters book and I really enjoyed reading it. I have not read any other books from this series, so you can say that this is quite a standalone.
In contrary to others I really enjoyed the male main lead with his sometimes a little too pompous way of being and sometimes being a little over the top but he is gentleman who tries to be somebody he isn’t to be what the better society wants him to be – a murderer, rough. He tries to be a recluse and cold as eyes because of his past but he is not, not when me meets Samantha.
I also liked Samantha and her past, her secret isn’t easy to deal with when you are a young and little educated (compared to today) woman. She had to deal with it and this probably wasn’t easy for her over the years.
I highly recommend it. Read it within a day on the beach.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

One Night with a Duke is the fifth book in The Duke. This book follows Raven and SamathaIn this novel we focus on Raven and Samantha who were both married but have lost their partners. I must admit that the book started with a great feel but soon after, I found that the conversation between the two was quite stilted and at times unnatural. I must admit that towards the end, I did enjoy the story. The story was quite interesting but the characters were difficult to like.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

My first book from this author. I must say I love the way she writes she makes her characters come alive.love the intrigue, danger and steamy romance between Raven and Samantha.I would for sure look out for more of this author books I enjoyed this one very much

Very good plot. I didn't feel the connection between the characters.

This was a fine quick read for a rainy afternoon. It was rather sappy, both outside and in the book. With mildly interesting characters, and a plot that I wasn't enthusiastic about but still was interested enough to keep reading to the end, I give this book three and a half stars.

One Night with a Duke is set in 1800s London and is the fifth installment of The Duke Series. In this novel we focus on Raven and Samantha, both widows. But Raven, years later, still mourns for his lost wife and unborn child; whereas Samantha feels mostly freedom, but also has a secret she’d rather keep hidden about her two week marriage.

Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by this novel. I love historical romance novels and at first I had high hopes because the beginning was faced-paced and intriguing, but after that it just tapered off. Very little about the characters or plot really interested me and more times then not they just bugged me.

One of the things that really got me was the characters openness with each other on extremely personal matters. After meeting someone for the first time there are just some things you don’t talk about. Raven and Samantha were too open with each other for my liking and it made their romance feel like it was being forced along.

With all that being said, the novel wasn’t a total bust. The batter back and forth between Raven and Samantha was actually amusing, the first couple times, after a bit it did get old. And after the seventy-five percent mark (because I was reading the kindle edition) it did pick up and kept my interest until the end of the novel. My mind was blown by the last portion, but at the same time waiting until seventy-five percent of the novel is done to get the reader's attention is...unacceptable?

A buy book. Arguably deciding on which end of the spectrum, you will either love this book or hate it. It does not seem to have middle ground for many. I liked the book. I enjoyed the characters being so very different and the may - december relationship between the hero and heroine to my reading was engrossing and really perfect for the book! I enjoyed the set up of the plot line and the way it was explained to give you an idea of what type of book and how it became to be. I was caught by certain elements of the story and sincerely enjoyed reading it from start to finish. The author is undoubtedly gifted in writing.

For the negative, a little too much at times and a little too rushed at others. But all in all a good summer read. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

First time reading this author and I found that it started off ok but the story and character development didn't keep my attention. The hero was not somebody that I liked very much .
I received an ARC copy of this book from netgalley.

Okay, I really really like historical romances and read a lot of them but this one? Well, let's just say that it left me breathless. Unfortunately not in a positive way. Everything felt a bit rushed, the heroine and the hero had a tendency to overshare and sometimes they overwhelmed me with their torrents of words.

Add a rather pompous and not very likable hero and top it off with some happenings that were just a bit too much like when the worst happens and its description leaves me a bit incredulous. Actually, I ended up looking up how much blood a human's body contains and if those things happening might be even remotely possible. I might be a nit-picker but when I found the doctor looking for internal wounds in improbable places and such, well, let's just say that I couldn't concentrate on the story anymore because those discrepancies were just too irritating.
I really wanted to feel with Raven and Samantha but as I couldn't even like him most of the time, it was very hard and unfortunately, I wasn't very successful.

I actually had the pleasure of reading back to back historical with dukes and I was lucky this one was exceptional it was so good I loved the romance the intrigue just all around really good

this book was fun to read, I liked the characters and the story line was very good. Real world situations made it believable. At times it felt a little stiff to me. It was well worth a read if you like a little bit of mystery and crime and a lot of romance.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It started out with a very interesting beginning, my attention fully engaged. The chemistry between the 2 sizzled from the start. The problem was, that first encounter, lasted 8 chapters. The book seemed to drag on in spots. I did like the storyline, as well as the subplot. I just thought it to wordy.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher "The Wild Rose Press" via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I truly enjoyed this story. I found the build up of the relationship believable making it more real to me as a reader. Who doesn't love two stubborn main characters?

I initially truly liked this book. The couple meet quickly and are sizzling from the start. The story heats up, with multiple characters and interesting plot lines, then became bogged down. The subplot became annoying and distracting and detracted from the overall story.. the book began to seem over long and dragged out. And the H began to annoy me, when he had seemed like such a strong character initially. And truly, who would name their child after his first wife? No one.

Publisher's Description:

The Duke Series, Book Five

Reclusive, cold as ice, the politically powerful Raven, Duke of Ravensmere, denies love after the tragic deaths of his duchess and baby. He is bound by his vow never to allow love to enter his heart again. Samantha Winston permits him to seek refuge in her carriage in a time of need, and what started as a kiss in the name of safety, becomes something more pleasurable and not so safe after all. In spite of every caution, his interest escalates into unexpected desire.

Samantha, a young widow with a secret, irreverent and high-spirited, has constructed impenetrable walls against all men. When she and Raven meet again, strong wills clash. Political intrigues and a dreaded nemesis place his life at risk, and Samantha finds herself in a dire predicament. All the while, passion soars.

Can Samantha’s barriers fall with more kisses? Can Raven be released from his deathbed vow?


My Thoughts:

This is book #5 of this series but the first one I have read.

Samantha has a secret. Even though she is widowed she is an inexperienced maid.

Raven promised his wife on her deathbed that he would never love another. His loss of his wife and baby has hardened him. After his chance encounter with the lovely Samantha can he possibly hold to this promise made so long ago?

When these two meet, sparks fly. even though their first meeting is caused by the duke's need for refuge from ruffians who mean him harm. A less than promising beginning makes for an unusual start to this story. .

I read in this author's editorial review that she had cut this story by 57,000 words, but it is still a long one with a page count: of 452 pages and a word count of: 112,815. This is why I can not rate it higher. It seems drawn out with maybe too much detail.

I think although part of a series, this book can easily be read as a standalone title.

I actually really liked this May - December romance story. The storyline is a good one if maybe too long and the characters are well developed. There is a decidedly heated nature to this book with heated kisses and a couple of very passionate encounters. The cover design is probably not the best as it was not what attracted me to request this book to read.

I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5 flames.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher "The Wild Rose Press" via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.