Clara is a very proper headmistress who runs a secret summer program for young ladies who want to learn skills that society tells them are not for them--from architecture to science. When the academy's next door neighbor--August, a snobby duke with whom she once shared a dance--finds out that his younger sister has enrolled in Clara's program, he's less than pleased. Also, he wants to purchase the school building and expand his lands. A battle of wits begins between the two, as they fight against a growing attraction and battle for what they believe is right.

Bowen's characters have excellent chemistry and this is an entertaining story about women who want more out of life and are willing to do whatever it takes for a chance.

I've enjoyed many of Kelly Bowen's books. This one is no exception! A Duke of the Night just showcases Bowens' many talents when it comes to delivering a refreshing and romantic historical romance. Oh, what a treat. I can't wait to read more from this author! I recommend A Duke in the Night to all readers of romance.

A Duke In The Night is the first offering in romance maven Kelly Bowen's The Devils Of Dover series.
And a veritable dream for those looking for an absolutely brilliant leading lady. Capable in every way.
Yet, not beyond allowing herself to be vulnerable for love.

Yes folks...
Clara Hayward is everything that a lady of the ton ought not be. Opinionated, forthright, learned, and a career woman.
Yes.
She is headmistress of the Haverhall School For Young Ladies.
A school that the cream of the crop the world over are clambering to send their girls to.
A school that teaches girls to use the talents and brains with which they are blessed to make a lasting mark upon the world.
A school that values its young charges not for the size of their doweries, or the beauty of their form. But for the passion of their hearts.
A school that it now seems has become the latest acquisition of one August Faulkner. The twelfth Duke of Holloway.
A man hell-bent on acquisition, power, and wealth building.
A man very much changed from the one that had danced Clara across a crowded ballroom some ten years earlier.
The only man bold enough to dare try claiming the one thing that Clara Hayward holds most dear.
Her heart.

This book boasts more turns of fortune than the New York Stock Exchange on a bad week.
With Clare's family so desperate to save the last vestiges of their once great import empire. That they sell of the school that Clare founded.
To none other than the one man that Clare has had a crush on for ten years.
The one man that she never thought that she would see again.
And the one man, strangely enough, that she can't seem to be rid of.

Watching the very progressively minded Clare befuddle, bemuse, excite, and incite August at every turn. Just might be the most fun that one can have while reading.
The fact that he starts out believing that he and his money are the answers to everyone 's problems.
Seeing him further schooled by both the students and the situations that he is presented with.
Priceless!

This book is so much more than a romance. Spotlighting issues such as socially imposed gender roles versus proficiency and love for a job or task. Specifically as applied to women of the time.
There is also the secret that haunts August's past. Driving him in his pursuit of wealth.
And his almost obsessive need to protect those around him.

But the star of this show by far.
The romance!
The sparks that fly from the pages when Clara and August are together. So much so that you never want their trysts to end.

In short...
If you are looking for an intelligently written, female positive, captivatingly romantic read. That you won't won't to put down. Look no further than A Duke In The Night.
You'll be glad you did.

*I would like to thank Forever and Netgalley for allowing my the privilege of reading this book in exchange for my honest

I really, really liked this. Awesome story! It was entertaining and sweet with great characters. This was my first time reading Kelly Bowen and it won’t be my last.

I loved Clara, who she was, and what she was trying to accomplish. She was a strong, independent woman and I liked how she held herself and encouraged others. I really liked August as well, learning his history and how protective he was of his sister. He was such a man of the times and I liked him seeing certain things in a new light and expanding his view. He and Clara were great together. There's a bit of challenge there, excellent chemistry and a building passion. I liked their verbal sparring, the challenges in front of them, and how it all played out.

There was a good introduction and I was all in. It was a great series starter. I really enjoyed the storytelling, the build and details. I thought the story had a steady pace. It was light with a bit of drama happening. Honestly, it was Clara and her attitude and what she was trying to accomplish that had me smiling through the entire thing. She was a great heroine.

I enjoyed the secondary characters introduced and the side stories happening and how it was all connected. It was just a solid story that I totally enjoyed. It's had an entertaining vibe happening. Really great read!

A great start to a fiery new romance series, combining steamy romance with a moving plot, as our heroine helps the hero to learn what it costs women in their era to forfeit all their dreams outside of marriage. The characters grow and change with each other in a compelling way.

A typical romance with an atypical heroine. This one is more independent and educated than the times allow as a teacher and owner at a school. A handsome and ruthless in business Duke buys her school and the two go from there. Heat in a couple of scenes but not a lot of banter or chemistry throughout. This historical romance is light on the history but satisfactory with the romance.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

A Duke in the Night is the first book in The Devils of Dover series by Kelly Bowen. August Faulkner is a man of many talents, not the least of which is enticing women into his bedchamber. He’s known—and reviled—for buying and selling companies, accumulating scads of money, and breaking hearts. It’s a reputation he wears like a badge of honor, and one he intends to keep. Clara Hayward, the headmistress of the Haverhall School for Young Ladies, on the other hand, is above reproach. Yet when she’s reunited with August, all she can think of is the way she felt in his arms as they danced a scandalous waltz ten long years ago. Even though her head knows that he is only back in her life to take over her family’s business, her heart can’t help but open to the very duke who could destroy it for good.

A Duke in the Night is a historical novel that takes a little more of a look at characters hat have or are currently struggling financially. August and his family have been completely destitute- and through his hard work and smart choices he has brought them back to being more than just surviving, he has what amounts to a business empire. Clara and her family are currently struggling. When they come together again, not exactly by chance, they rekindle an attraction that they have both been trying to ignore. Money, lies, and the expectations for women in general (and August's younger sister in particular) keep raising tempers and conflicts between the two. Add in a suitor that has less that noble intentions and lots of realizations on August's part and it is a book that offers romance and some intrigue along with equality. I live that while August seems so ruthless and composed, he really is a soft touch that worries about those that cannot care for themselves or have fallen on hard times. It is his desire to help and protect that actually fuels his drive. I loved his character's duality and heart. Clara is smart and determined, and very much apologetically herself. There was a good bit of humor and fun in the story and I caught myself giggling at a few of the shenanigans and misunderstandings between characters. I liked her and her siblings, and the way they view the world. I am hoping that the siblings of both Hope and August are the stars of the next books in the series, because I liked them as much as the main players. I have not seen a historical romance with this amount of a push for equality and awareness before, at least not that I remember. While it was done well, I do think that it occasionally came close to the line that would have felt more preachy than entertaining.

A Duke in the Night is a solid historical romance with a social messages interwoven in the story. There is humor and a good character building. I was an entertaining read, but I will admit to while loving the concept and characters I had a hard time getting fully engaged in the read.

Dark sexy fun! I love this author and the seductive and interesting worlds she creates.

Kelly Bowen is becoming one of my go-to authors for historical romance. I think this one is my favorite from her to date! It’s got an independent heroine and a hero who has pulled himself up from the streets to financial success. August is shrewd, but he has so much to learn. And thankfully, not only is Clara there to teach him, he’s not too stubborn to grow.

These two have a history. Many years ago, he asked her to dance on a dare, but was shocked by how captivating her found her. Now, he finds himself back in her orbit because she has something he wants. And sentimentality won’t stop him from doing what needs to be done.

Clara runs a school for young ladies. She doesn’t know it, but August has purchased the building she uses to teach her classes. Not only that, he has his sights set on buying her family’s shipping company too. Lucky for him, his younger sister enrolled in her summer session in the country, giving him an excuse to ingratiate himself into Clara’s life.

Clara’s school provides more than just a standard ladies’ education. She gives exceptional young ladies an opportunity to live their dreams outside the confines of society. The nearness of August Faulkner threatens her hard fought reserve. But why fight it? She can enjoy his body without giving him her heart.

Right?

I enjoyed this book tremendously. Clara is so comfortable in her own skin. I loved her confidence and how she worked to make a difference in the lives of other young women. She is in command of her mind, body, and spirit in a way few heroines in HR are. Her family is great, so supportive of one another. Their school is awesome, and it’s punctuated by the fabulous old ladies who help bring levity to the scenes.

August is a cunning businessman, but what I love about him is his ability to see past his preconceptions… how he really listens to what Clara has to say, even when she challenges him.

The only thing I didn’t love was the Big Secret that lasted throughout the story. (And the fact that Clara made any sort of apology after it was revealed.) Big Secrets are my least favorite trope, but there were too many great things going on for it to ruin the story.

The dialogue is witty and made me laugh out loud at times. Like when Clara’s brother asks her and August to ride ahead together to meet him at a restaurant:

“I am honored that his Lordship entrusts me with your safety and well-being.”
“I’ve been ensuring my own safety and well-being for almost thirty years, Your Grace. I’m a capable woman, not a capricious lapdog. I promise not to throw myself out of a moving equipage after a squirrel. At least while we are traveling at high speeds.”

The romance is fantastic and so are the family relationships both among Clara’s siblings and August’s with his sister. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

Rating: A-

A wonderful start to a new series by Kelly. August Faulkner, Duke of Holloway is a man with one goal in his life, make as much money as he can so he and his sister never have to worry about the poverty they endured as children.
August has built an Empire that encompasses many different Industries. He has no time for soirees, ladies or anything that would get in the way of securing businesses and properties that are failing. he takes them apart and rebuilds them into more profitable Enterprises
He has been trying to buy a building in London that ran a school for young ladies. He wants the building and will do anything to get it. He doesn't care what happens to the students or the owner of the building, emotion holds no sway with his decisions.
Clara Hayward is the owner and instructor of the Haverhall school for young ladies. It is not the usual kind of ladies finishing school. Clara is a lady with different views on what woman need to survive in a man's world. Her school gives young ladies the chance to realize their dreams of having the same opportunities as men. Whether you want to be a doctor, painter or just be in charge of your own life without the interference of men.
When Clara's brother tells her that she will have to sell the building to help the family out of financial difficulties she is devastated but her brother says as soon as they are back on solid ground he will buy her a new building.
Clara and August met years ago for one dance that left them attracted and confused at the same time. He also wants to buy the families failing shipping business. He is sure Clara's brother will be happy to sell and make their lives more comfortable. He couldn't be more wrong.
August is frustrated and doesn't understand the emotional hold that Clara and her brother have toward their shipping business. The more time that he spends with Clara the more he is confused, he life has no room for sentiment. Now they can't seem to stay away from each other. As their feelings develop they both are keeping secrets that could destroy their budding romance.
Like most men, August doesn't realize his feelings and Clara is being stubborn because she feels that if she falls in love with August she will be comprising the way of life that she thought she wanted.
A beautiful love story that takes both August and Clara on a journey that will change everything and put their lives on the path to a HAE.
Kelly is an awesome author with phenomenal talent. I have all of her books and recommend all of them highly.

Podcast episode link to show notes below.

I was so excited for this new series by Kelly Bowen. I always enjoy her writing and this new offering isn’t the exception. A DUKE IN THE NIGHT was a fun ride and introduction to what I’m hoping will be a very entertaining series packed full of female empowerment.

It is not often that we meet a heroine like Clara. She’s very comfortable in her own skin and her own life choices. She doesn’t need a man to complete her and has no problems with being a spinster. And when the time comes, she’s also confident enough to ask for what she wants while keeping a level head to protect herself from any repercussions. She’s also running her business, a school that aims to teach young women that they can aspire to be more than what society dictates should be their interests. Basically, you’ll just admire the hell out of her!

In comparison, I think August Faulkner didn’t stand out as a drool-worthy hero as much as I would’ve liked. However, his personality is the perfect match for Clara. He’s a ruthless businessman, stopping at nothing to get what he sets out to ensure his family’s financial protection for generations to come. He had to learn that the hard way from his past. He’s had to sacrifice a lot to get to where he is at, but she certainly has her work cut out for her when it comes to his acceptance of new female roles.

I loved that these two had history from so many years ago. In a way Clara was the one that got away for August because life dictated it so. After he was enthralled by her, life threw a big curveball his way and he had to shift his focus to the more important task of digging his family out of a hole. His interest in a woman had no place in that. But it was so satisfying to see two people that sacrificed so much finally get what they always wanted, even all those years later. I think it was even better because life has taught them both so much which just made their relationship stronger than it could’ve been then.

While this was a very entertaining read with lots of great banter, I thought it lacked a little extra to keep me glued to the pages as much as I wanted. But I’m definitely very interested in this new set of characters and can’t wait to keep diving into this series.

A Duke and the night is a sweet book. I love the relationship between August and Clara. I feel like both the characters grew as people. I also love the relationship between August and his sister and the way they grew as siblings. This book was a great easy fun read.

August Faulkner is a man of many talents besides being a Duke. As a young boy he lived by his wits and only by chance, did he inherit a dukedom when a tragedy happened to wipe out the many family members who were closer in line to inherit than he. Having lived a most destitute childhood he swore he would never be in that poor again. He is relentless in buying and selling companies from the mismanagement of aristocratic families who now censure his actions. So he now makes his transactions less noticeable by using middlemen which is how he managed to acquire Haverall School for Young Ladies.

Clara Hayward, the headmistress of the Haverhall School for Young Ladies, on the other hand, is above reproach. Yet when she’s reunited with August, all she can think of is the way she felt in his arms as they danced a scandalous waltz ten long years ago. Even when her head tells her he shouldn’t be trusted, her heart can’t help but open to the very duke who could break it for good!

*** I was totally swept up in this love story between August and Clara. He was not a romantic, and sometimes abrasive but I couldn’t help but believe that there was some good in him that Clara recognized in spite of the hurt he dealt her so many years ago. Naturally his reputation over the last ten years preceded him and even though her passion was electrified by his presence Clara’s head was on straight and kept herself aware of the rumors of his womanizing and his behavior.

Just as Clara couldn’t help herself from her attraction to August, he was having similar feelings himself which he basically refused to let blossom. August knew he wanted Clara (just like anything else he obtained for himself) but he was having trouble identifying the reason why! It’s a guy thing! However, just as I thought he would really screw it up, he came to Clara’s rescue and finally realized what he had almost lost.

Loved this book!

Marilyn Rondeau

~~Reviewed by AnnMarie~~

A Duke in the Night is the first book in The Devils of Dover series by Kelly Bowen.

Clara Hayward is a teacher. During her normal classes, she teaches the normal curriculum. In her summer classes, however, she teaches women to look past class and expectations and to see themselves and others as equals. To see the person and not their standing in society. She wants them to experience a taste of the vocation they would have if they were allowed, be it a landlord, a doctor, a landscape gardener etc and arranges for them to have it.

One of Clara’s summer school students is the sister of August Faulkner, the Duke of Holloway. He doesn’t know that she has gone to Dover to take part in the classes, and it’s one of the reasons he goes tearing off after her. He is terribly overprotective of her. The other is that he remembers Clara and a lost opportunity 10 years ago with her. He treated her badly and has felt bad about it ever since. Sadly he doesn’t just want to renew his acquaintance with her. He has heard that her family are struggling financially. It’s his aim in life to make sure that he and his sister never have to suffer financially ever again, and despite being rich he is always on the lookout to make more money. He wants to buy Clara’s brother’s shipping business which is floundering. He wants to make a profit on it and knows he can. He just needs to get Clara to introduce him to her brother and the rest he thinks will be easy.

So, he finds himself in Dover where he realises that not only is he going to have problems with buying the shipping business, but he’s also going to find himself fighting a huge attraction to Clara. He has his secrets, ones that will surely come between any hope of a future with Clara if she were to find out. The fact that she too is attracted to him only makes matters worse. Perhaps he could fight his attraction to her if it was onesided, but he can’t fight so hard knowing that it isn’t.

I enjoyed this nice fresh approach to seeing another side of a Regency-era woman. OK, perhaps our heroine could come across as way too modern for the era, but who is to say that a very forward-thinking woman like her didn’t exist then? I like to think she did. I also like that Clara is a straight thinker and can see two sides to a story. She’s a no-nonsense woman and I like that.

There were jilted men, kidnappings, shootings, as well as the light-hearted side of this romance and I was happy to never find myself wanting to skip pages or skim through long drawn out descriptions of rooms, or scenery in the book. The story captured my attention and kept it from beginning to end. I hope the next book will be about August’s sister because it’s obvious she has romance in mind with August’s man of business. Reading their story will be just as wonderful as reading this one I am sure.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers’ copy of this book.

What a smart historical romance!
The details were fascinating; from the specific scene in the Elgin marbles to the extra information about investments and business instead of just saying shipping.
The heroine is well educated beyond her time and quietly sets about to share this with others. The hero is ambitious and needs to learn what makes him and others happy. She asks difficult questions and makes him account for his actions.
The intelligent, manipulative dialogue was pleasantly surprising. It contributed to the great first kiss and the honest comments as it went on. The bedroom details...well, nothing sensual actually happens in a bedroom. Those looking for a virginal romance will be disappointed. I was impressed that the characters actually used old school pregnancy protection.
I was thankful that the low points lasted only a few days in the story instead of months of wallowing. I respect decisive action especially when it involves feelings.

I want to read it again!

Sexual content, biblical profanity, attempted rape
I received a free ARC from Netgalley.

A Duke in the Night is the first story in Kelly Bowen’s brand new The Devils of Dover series and I really liked it a lot. I did a combo of reading an ARC and listening to it. Both I enjoyed immensely. This story revolved around two very complex characters that had brought a lot of baggage into the relationship. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming watching August and Clara work through each others preconceived notions of one another.

To read a story involving strong and smart characters with plenty of flaws, is refreshing and checks that box of “relatable” every time.

I must praise the prose as well in this story. It’s another thing that contributed to my enjoyment of it.

“
The wide copse of trees and brush in front of August had become a portrait of gilded foliage as the sun began its descent, a low fence running just to the north creating shadows the color of dark amethyst across the tall grasses. The sky was now awash in brilliant, almost blinding color, dotted with crimson-and-topaz-lined clouds.

For all of you out there that have never read this author, I’d urge you to do so and you may as well grab this one to start.

For the fans of this author, I would say it’s worth getting the Audible because the narration of Ashford McNab is spot on.

Melanie for b2b

I’ve been looking for a new-to-me must-read historical romance author ever since I binge read everything written by Elizabeth Hoyt over a year ago. So when I came across a A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen and realized it was the first book in her new series, I figured it was a perfect opportunity to get a taste of her writing in hopes of finding a new author to binge read.

A Duke in the Night tells the story of August Faulkner, a duke, and Clara Hayward, headmistress and owner of the school August has secretly purchased. Ten years ago, August attempted to embarrass Clara at a ball when he asked her to dance. Instead, August was really the fool. Now, after some bad investments, Clara’s family is struggling to hold on to their shipping business and pay their debt. August is ready to swoop in and take advantage of the Haywards’ bad situation. When August’s younger sister sneaks away to attend Clara’s summer-school, August follows and…well, you’ll have to read and find out for yourself!

Things I Liked:

Clara was NOT A VIRGIN!! She was intelligent and witty and determined never to make herself vulnerable for a man. Of course she had to soften a bit for August in the end, but she never sacrificed her principles.

The banter between Clara and August was great. She never hesitated to put him in his place and the sexual tension was absolutely enhanced.

I loved the idea of a “secret” school to teach and train young women that they can be and do whatever they want, that they are not defined by who their family is and where they come from.

Thing’s I Didn’t Like…much:

The story was soooo sloooow to start. Too much information dump on the shipping business and I struggled to find interest in the first quarter of the book.

The title does not fit the story. Seriously, I spent way too much time trying to figure out how “in the Night” was significant to the story. I’m still at a loss.

Overall, the story was kinda boring and predictable, where I was hoping for something a bit more scandalous.

While I don’t think I have discovered my next favorite author, I am definitely interested in reading more of this series since I loved the premise so much. But I’m not yet convinced to go buy up the rest of the author’s backlist.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical romances with a strong, non-virgin heroine.

Favorite Quote: “I am not going to accept less of you, Clara Hayward. I will have you, and you will have me.”

August Faulkner is not only a man with a keen sense of business. Not only a man whose father was in debtor’s prison for years. He is also a duke. An inherited title, but a self-made man of wealth. August finds businesses that are crumbling, buys them, breaks them down and rebuilds. He leaves the former business owners angry but he buys them fairly and has no remorse for what he leaves behind. When he hears that the Hayward shipping business is in trouble, he starts to sniff out a new venture. But he needs to get close to the Hayward brother who is now in charge of the shipping since his parents have died. And in order to get close to the brother, he decides to get close to the sister.

Clara Hayward first met August ten years ago when he dared to ask her to waltz. Clara never fit in with society – wealthy, and a lady – but extremely intellectual and considered a wallflower. More so, the men were too scared of her intelligence to deem her worthy of their attention. But that waltz with August that night found two souls who dared each other for more. But when the waltz ended, so did that few minutes of intense chemistry and they went their separate ways. Clara is now the headmistress for Haverhall School for Young Ladies, a school where the best of the best fight to get in. Unfortunately for Clara, she must sell the school to help her brother finance the family’s failing shipping business. And guess who buys it?

When August’s sister leaves a note saying she is leaving for the summer to attend Haverhall, August rushes to Dover to find out what in the world his sister is doing, and to get close to Clara, so he can woo her brother’s shipping business. When he sees Clara again, that passion comes back but he is also entering into her world – where woman can learn to make their own choices and August is up for quite the life lesson.

August is a flawed hero – at least if you compare him to a modern man. He thinks women need to be cared and protected against anything in the outside world. He doesn’t understand why his sister, who has great ambitions for running hotels, doesn’t appreciate it when he buys her the finest dress or the best necklace. He doesn’t understand why she wants to care about business or anything outside the home. Clara is all too familiar with the frustrations of being a woman and staying in the good graces of society, which is why she opened her school. She teaches the girls painting, and dancing, and all of the things a woman needs to learn to stay in society. But in the summer, she picks select girls to really live out their fantasies. They shadow physicians, and landscape gardeners – and as in August’s sister’s case – hoteliers. August continually bumps heads with his sister and Clara over the fact that a woman would want anything more than being protected by a man. His journey to come out of this mindset is very well done and not rushed.

The romance in this one made me smile. From that one dance all those years ago – where Clara knew he was dancing with her on a dare from his friends, and she stared directly in his eyes and gave him the dance of his life – he has been searching for that passion from a woman ever since. Their banter and sexual tension is delightful in this one.

“You have that many abominably asinine requests?” Clara knew she should simply nod and smile politely, but somehow he was drawing her into this…banter that she has no business participating in. And it was exhilarating.

“You might be surprised.” He grinned, and her pulse immediately skipped.

“You know,” she said, returning his grin, “I don’t think I would.”

Something shifted in his eyes. Something hot and possessive. Something that made her knees weaken and an ache settle low in her belly and her breasts. “There she is,” he murmured almost inaudibly.

Clara doesn’t let August get away with anything in this book, and I really enjoyed her. She is also not afraid to show him that she is attracted to him and to admit they have something good together.

“Do not put words in my mouth, Miss Hayward. Because that’s not who I see when I look at you.” The force of his words made her eyes widen. “I see an intelligent woman, the same one who once put an ignorant buck in his place and taught him that things are rarely as they seem. I wish I had understood that then.”

“And what would you have done differently if you had?” she asked quietly.

“I would have asked you to dance again.” August reached for her hand and caught it, bringing it up between them, his thumb sliding over her bare knuckles. “I wish I had asked you to dance again.”

She was silent for a long minute, a gut-wrenching, electrifying mix of desire and longing flitting across her usually unreadable features.

Her fingers tightened on his. “I wish you had too,” she said, and August felt the breath leave his lungs.

A great balance between the romance and Clara’s life at the school along with some family drama. It’s sexy and fun. A delightful romance! Very much looking forward to the next book.

Grade: B+