Love, action, romance and laughter! This book has a bit of everything. The writing is wItty and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Strong and well-conveyed characters add to the reader's enjoyment. You have the hero with a tragic past and a stong female lead that learns to trust the hero and brings out the best in him. The pace of their love is perfect for this reader.

Wonderful debut novel. Highly recommend. Five stars!

This book was great! It's been sitting on my ARC list for a while, and I've been making time recently to go through my backlist. I loved how spunky Sophie was. It was clear that she cares for the orphanage she runs. My one thing is I would have liked to see more of her in that setting. I would have loved to read more about her interacting with the children. I also would have liked to see more of both her and Devlin interacting with Nicholas.

While I understand where he was coming from, I also wanted to scream at Devlin to get his crap together and realize how much he loved Sophie. Is it too much to ask for characters who know they love each other and are willing to fight for one another before the last 10% of the book? I get that it's a common trope in romance, but I would really love more characters that are in love and fighting 'the system' or a common enemy instead of each other.

I really enojoyed this book! Devlin and Sophie are interesting characters. The mystery added to the story with the creeoy villain adds a great element to the story.

I love historical romance novels that have humor and romance in them. This is Ms. Michaels debut book. I loved it. Lady Sophie Wolcott had me in stitches all throughout the story with her mischievous ways. I think this story has one of the best “meet cutes” that I have read.
“She rolled into a slightly more dignified position and lifted a hand to rub her temple, finding her gaze held captive by the most wickedly handsome man she’d ever seen. From this angle, all of the shadows were cast from his face. Gleaming white teeth flashed sinfully against bronzed skin, and dark stubble covered his jawline in a manner that was frowned upon by the majority of Society but gave him an air of dashing danger.”
This story has romance, humor and murder in it. Highly recommend.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This story is about a duke that must wed a woman determined to stay single. I did enjoy the story a great deal and will have to look for more by this author.

I have not enjoyed a book this much in ages! This book was absolutely enthralling! It was full of romance, action and suspense! It played with my emotions and shocked me quite a few times with it's twists. VERY well written, VERY complex plot, moved at a beautiful pace, great characters that are wonderfully developed and interesting. This book is guaranteed to have you glued to it right up until the end. LOVED IT!!!!!

Lady Sophie is spying on a certain peer of the realm whom she hopes to marry one day when disaster strikes. Not only must Sophie witness her beloved proposing to another, but now she's literally fallen at the feet of the Devil Duke, Devlin Markham. That's what Sophie gets for hanging around in a tree! Sophie wants to believe her heart is crushed, but she cannot deny some attraction to Devlin.

A couple of years later, Devlin is ordered by the Queen to marry. The only woman he'd even consider is Sophie so he sets out to make her his. Devlin could have some serious competition, but he is willing to go to great lengths, even if it means paying an exorbitant amount to fund the orphanage she oversees. Devlin has no idea the adventure he's in for in order to win Sophie's hand.

I am reviewing THE DEVILISH DUKE courtesy of NetGalley. I would rate it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Author Maddison Michaels is new-to-me, but I quickly fell in love with her style of writing, eye for detail, and characters in THE DEVILISH DUKE. This is definitely my kind of historical romance! Steady-paced and a thrill a minute. There's murder, mystery, love, passion... enough to keep any reader enthralled. Clara certainly leads Devlin on a merry chase, but the end result makes it all worth the while. I cannot wait to read more by Ms. Michaels.

These two are a ton of fun together.  Sophie is spirited, sassy, and not only willing to stand up for herself but for Devlin too.  Which makes her all the more attractive to him.  Devlin embraces his “devil” moniker but he isn’t truly as bad as they make him out to be.  Instead he’s got some pretty big walls thanks to an awful childhood and it will take a strong woman to get past them.  Lucky for him, Sophie is up to the challenge. 

I do kinda wish there had been more (or maybe better) clues about who the killer was so the reader had a better chance of figuring it out.  It was tied up nicely, with a logical motive, a clever villain, and an exciting ending.  But I felt like I was given details only as I needed them so there was little chance of guessing what would happen ahead of time.  That isn’t necessarily bad but it could be frustrating for those who like to be more involved in solving the whodunit. 

I read somewhere that Michaels is a new author but she proves herself to be quite the writer.  Nicely paced, great characters, excitement, romance, danger … she brings it all and does it well.  I’m definitely going to keep my eye on her – I think she’s got a great future ahead of her!

The Devilish Duke is the debut novel of Maddison Michaels...an author I will definitely be reading again in the future.

It's 1855 London and Sophie Wolcott is hiding in a tree spying on the man she thinks she loves as he proposes to another woman. Devlin Markham and his latest conquest are fooling around right below her, until Sophie's tumble from the tree ruins their little interlude. And that's how Sophie meets the Devil Duke.

About a year later, Devlin returns to London determined to make Sophie his wife, even if he has to resort to blackmail. Sophie will do almost anything to save the orphanage she supports. No, it's not a love match, but neither of them really believe in love...yet.

Pro: The cover. Just look at it!

Pro: Good mix between humor and suspense. The opening scene was absolutely hilarious and there are many other lighthearted moments. Then, suddenly the "bad guy" would do a terrible thing and you would get his or his victim's POV. It was a little shocking at first because those scenes were so graphic, but I'm okay with that.

Pro: I loved the banter between Sophie and Devlin. Plus the sexual tension. But, mostly, I was a sucker for the witty banter.

Maybe Pro/ Maybe Con: Low on the sexy scale. I guess that depends on what you prefer.

Con: Predictable. I didn't fall for any of the red herrings. The bad guy was who I expected (I'm good that way), but I had not figured out the motive. No way would I have ever thought that would be his reasons.

Looks like the next book in the series, The Fiancé Fiasco, is scheduled for release later this year. I will definitely be adding it to my wishlist.

Who doesn't love a devilish duke? Especially one who has a butt like the guy on the cover of this book!? And there is nothing I like more than a businesslike marriage of convenience that quickly skates over the edge into pleasure.

Anyhow, I hugely enjoyed this Victorian romance and found the mystery that is skillfully woven throughout the story an added bonus. Excellent chemistry between Devlin and Sophie and just enough bickering and tension to keep me turning pages, but not make me want to throttle either of them.

Michaels writes a fast-paced and well-conceived story and I was glad when Devlin and Sophie got their happily ever after, but sorry the story had to end!

The Devilish Duke by Maddison is a historical romance reader's dream! A bookish near-spinster with spunk and grit, a sexy duke and a mystery, the plot couldn't get any better!
Devlin and Sophie first meet when she was spying into a window to watch the man she believed herself in love with propose to another woman. Sophie quite literally fell into Devlin's arms and the attraction began.
Devlin has sunk a great deal of his fortune into a business deal, but the queen won't sign off or agree until he settles down. He suggests that he will marry respectable blue stocking-ish Sophie within a month. Now he just has to make that happen.
Sophie is the benefactress of an orphanage and is distressed that a former orphan who entered service has gone missing. She can't find this young woman and other strange events are happening in and around her home. Her mail is missing, footmen disappearing and an employee found dead.
In order to win Sophie, Devlin wins the orphanage in a card game. If Sophie will marry him, she can run the orphanage and he will foot the bills, but he wants her to marry him within the month. Of course, Sophie agrees to the marriage and sets out to solve the mystery of her friend's disappearance.
Devlin is known as a first-class rake whose reputation may be a bit exaggerated. He doesn't want to fall in love, doesn't really want to marry, but knows he has to. He chooses Sophie because she is a woman who he respects and is attracted to.
There is a ton of chemistry between these two. Sophie is scared to fall in love with a rake and of marriage, her parents were horrible examples of what a marriage should be. They begin to quickly form a true friendship that is leading to love. There are some steamy scenes between them and the mystery will keep the reader engaged.
Highly recommended, will definitely read more from this author.

The Devilish Duke by Maddison Michaels is an absolute delight! Hooked from the get-go, Ms. Michaels delivers a knockout read that incorporates romance, suspense, strong characters, defined world and a gripping storyline; A+ all the way!

Please note that an ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.

I am new to this author but she certainly did not disappoint. Her characters were lovely and I enjoyed the suspense and passion in this book. Look forward to seeing more from this author!

I love this book. I couldn't put it down until I finish the whole thing. I love The Reluctant romance made to be a convenient marriage that turns into something more. The Mystery of the murderer was well done. Definitely looking forward to reading more.

I enjoyed this book. The chemistry between the 2 main characters you could see right from the beginning. There was some romance and humor and a mystery to go along with it. My only negative comment would be it got a little lost in the middle. But all in all I would recommend it as a very good read.

This is an amazing debut, I fell in love with Devlin Markham, Devil Duke of Huntington from the moment I met him when the charming Lady Sophie Wolcott fell from a tree and made her acquaintance with him and here starts a journey with suspense, fabulous banter and a slow and steady sensual pull from two people who never meant to fall in love, do yourself a favour pick this one up and have a very enjoyable time and trip back to Victorian England you will not be sorry.

Lady Sophie is single and four and twenty some would say on the shelf already and she is happy to stay that way, after the man that she felt she loved married someone else, her father was a rake and broke her mother’s heart and so Sophie throws all of her energy into the orphanage where she helps orphans learn to read and acquire positions. But meeting the Devil Duke is about to upend her life in many ways and when she is convinced to marry Devlin to save the orphanage and mystery abounds regarding one of her charges from the orphanage he is the man to turn to.

Devlin is a man that goes out and gets what he wants in life, he has secrets that have been kept for many years and has the worst reputation in the Ton as a rake, and he in in trade would you believe and when he wants Queen Victoria to sign off on a deal her answer is get married first. There is one woman that has taken his interest after meeting her in a situation not normal for Ladies of the ton but their easy banter makes him think that he could live with her, plan settled he is out to get her anyway he can, never realizing what will happen with his emotions.

This is a fast paced incredibly good story one that I fell into from page one MS Michaels has written a story that bought Devlin and Sophie to life on the pages as well as the other characters, the mystery, the sensual pull and the dialogue, murderers after revenge their business marriage starts to change and seeing Devlin cope when Sophie stands up to him, oh my what a story I loved it and truly I highly recommend this one. Thank you MS Michaels this one is a keeper and I do hope there are many more to come.

I really enjoyed Devlin and Sophie’s story. The chemistry between the two was really hot and their banter kept me entertained through the book. The mystery component of the book was a little average as I could guess on the villain’s identity from early on in the book. But the character of the villain was quite dark and really well written. He gave me the shivers in every single scene. I would definitely recommend this book and would be on the lookout for the next book from this author.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I received this book from NetGalley for a honest review. This was a wonderful story with the two Mc trying to resist being in love. The Devil Duke as he is called has quite a reputation but is strangely attracted to Sophie. Sophie just wants to obtain funds for her charity to keep the orphanage afloat. This story had some mystery with lots of twist and turn. Fabulous read.

A fantastic story by Ms. Michaels. It is a captivating and solid story which kept me hooked from page 1. Such interesting and likable characters. Exceptional