This is the penultimate book in the Dukes 1797 Club series .
Having read all the previous books I was looking forward to this latest offering - but have to say I found it lacking something ……… perhaps the drama , the spark between the protagonists .

Katherine, Lady Gainsworth and Robert, the Duke of Roseford have a past, a past he doesn't remember, a past with consequences .

After the death of her older husband Katherine wants to re-enter Society …… but the nature of his death( whilst in bed together ) has meant that she will have a difficult time … most of the Ton are scandalised .

On her first foray to a Ball she finds herself subject to whispers and stares …… some , the Rakes and Libertines see her as fair game and bets are laid to see who will be the first to conquer her . First in the queue is Robert ………. bored with his life and seeing all his friends happily married he feels a little lost and decides that Katherine will be a good diversion .
He immediately hits a snag as he first approaches her - Katherine gives him a set down …… he cannot understand why but it makes him more determined to be the one who wins the bet .
At the Ball Katherine is thrown a lifeline , an old friend has spoken well of her to one of the 1797 Dukes Club wives ,Isobel , and she approaches her and offers the hand of friendship . Katherine knows without this help she has little chance of being accepted back into Society so accepts gratefully .

Katherine and Robert keep being thrown together , with Robert pressurising her she is determined to leave London for a few days , especially as she is told of the wager , and accepts an invitation to a House Party .
Unbeknownst to them both Robert is also invited to the same Party ………….they can no longer escape each other and the growing true attraction between themselves . Secrets are shared and perhaps there is some hope of a future together .
All comes crashing down when Katherine hears Robert talking to a rake at the party about the wager …...she is crushed and immediately leaves to return to London …..her heart breaking once more .

Can Robert , who has realised that he loves her, convince Katherine to give him another chance …. he will not give her up without a fight .

This was overall an enjoyable read and I look forward to the last book in the series … Kit's story .
However as I said previously this booked lacked a little something and so I feel only able to give it 4 stars
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Here we go again with one of those amazing members of the 1797 Club! This has been a great series that I look forward to as each book is released. This one is about Robert Smithton, Duke of Roseford and Lady Katherine Gainsworth. Katherine is finally out of her mourning period for her late husband and is ready to reenter society. But society is hard on her when they whisper about how her husband had died in bed with her. That starts a bet to see which gentleman can bed her first. Yes, crass I know but in those times and gentlemen being what they were!
Robert, one of the worst rogues there is approaches her to be his lover. What he has forgotten is they have a history together and she hates him. But of course Robert does not give up and keeps pursuing her.
All I can say is Jess Michaels has really brought these characters alive and I could feel the tense moments and angst as these two try to come together. Prepare to feel a whirlwind of emotions and heartfelt sighs. Although part of a series, this can be read as a standalone, but trust me, you want to read them all!! Cannot wait until the next story

What a life Katherine Montague has lived due to her despicable father and first husband. Now she was free to live her life as she pleased. Katherine had met Robert a few times and she blames him for her marriage. I did wonder if this was fair. They are thrown together at a house party. Robert has always been one to seek pleasure but seeing his friends together and their love, is it possible for him to change his long held beliefs? I loved the friendship that the duchesses offered Katherine and the way the duke’s looked out for Robert. This was an enjoyable read, very steamy at times. I look forward to reading about the last of the friends. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been waiting for Robert’s book with excitement and trepidation. I am not a fan of man ho’s and Robert is a prolific one – so I wondered how Jess Michaels was going to manage to redeem him for me. This book is well plotted and well written – and I was surprised to find that I had more issues with the heroine than I did with the hero. I enjoyed the book, but I can say that it was my least favorite of the series so far.

Your heart just has to bleed for the misery that was the life of Miss Katherine Montague. Her father was a cruel and vindictive man who constantly berated her, caused scenes, called her a whore, etc. Her father saw sin in everything she did – and then punished her for it. Then, he married her off to a man twenty-five years her senior who was just as cruel, hateful, and vindictive. So, she blamed Robert for all of that. What? Katherine is an intelligent woman so I don’t understand her blaming Robert rather than her father for ruining her life. Yes, Robert was on the balcony with her when her father found them. However, Robert was already there when she came out, he didn’t seek her out. To me, that just isn’t enough for the deep hatred she felt for Robert and she hung onto it way too long. Actually, she didn’t ever have a grand epiphany and realize that it was her father she should hate and not Robert who was both oblivious and innocent.

Robert Smithton, Duke of Roseford, presented a mask of himself to the world. His seductions and debaucheries knew no bounds. He’d never force a woman to do anything, but with his handsome looks, wit, and charm he’d never have to. All of that masks a deep hurt that he has never shared with anyone – not even his brothers in the 1797 club. He loves pleasure, but he never allows a woman to get close. He was feeling more and more like he was losing his friends in the 1797 Club because they were all marrying and didn’t approve of some of his scandalous actions. “Once upon a time, he would have said those men had thrown away their freedom. But it was hard to feel that way now when their joy was so clear. So sharp. Like a knife to the gut.”

I enjoyed the book and really felt for both of the characters and wanted them to find their HEA. However, I did find that I thought her reasons for ‘hating’ Robert were totally unfounded and without merit and thus took away from the story.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

I have many Jess Michaels books; however, this is the first one I have read. I was worried about starting a series with book 9, but this one stood alone with no problem. There was enough about the other dukes to pique my interest, but not ruin their stories for me when I go back to read them. And read them I will, for I absolutely loved this book!

At first I did not particularly care for either Katherine or Robert. Katherine appeared to be a bit icy and standoffish; Robert seemed to be an utter jerk. But the more I got to know them, the more their true selves began to show. Katherine had been deeply hurt by first a harsh father, and then by the talk of the ton after her much older husband died while they were having relations. She was taught that normal female urges made her a wanton. Robert had his own tragic past, which molded him into a libertine in order to avoid any chance for his heart to be entangled. It was beautiful when the two of them came together and both blossomed. It was also very, very steamy.

This was such a wonderful story. I can't wait for the next book, plus I must go back to read all about the other dukes and their beloved duchesses!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

**ARC provided via NetGalley* for an honest review**

You can't go wrong with a Jess Michaels book. Part of the 1797 Club series, the Duke of Desire is another sure fire winner. Compelling main characters, intriguing plot and steam galore. This is a must read for fans of historical romance.

The Duke of Desire by Jess Michaels
The 1797 Club #9

You know that series that you have on your bookshelf or stored in your ereader that you would not part with and that you tend to reread from time to time? I do believe this is one of those for me. I am hoping it will end up in a boxed set so that I can download all ten books at one time and then take them out to savor over and over again. Why? Because these stories are just that good! The boys, now men, who form the 1797 Club as youth while away at boarding school have become friends for life and are there for one another no matter what. Sometimes they may argue or not see eye to eye BUT they are closer than brothers that share the same blood and highly regarded as a force to be reckoned with.

Robert Smithton, Duke or Roseford is a self-proclaimed and publically known libertine and a hedonist to the core. His friends in the 1797 Club know there is a heart of gold hiding inside of him but so far they have been unable to bring it forth except periodically. He is there for his friends but can’t see himself being other than what he is and really has no desire to change even though all but he and another in the club are now happily married with families of their own.

Katherine, Countess of Gainesworth, was once Miss Montague and out for her second season when her father determined that it was in her best interest to marry someone older and pious rather than being allowed the liberty of falling in love and with a man of her own choice – a man she could love and be happy with. A few years later she is suddenly widowed in a scandalous way. She does her time of mourning and then takes her first step into society only to find that the scandal surrounding her husband’s death may preclude her from really socializing with and being part of the group she has wanted to rejoin for such a long time.

The first time she is out for the evening the whispers begin, sordid stories are shared about, noses are looked down, women hiss and some men make wagers hoping to win the prize for bedding Katherine first. One of those men is Robert – a man Katherine has demonized for years – a man she blames for her father’s decision to marry the man she did not want.

This is the story of the woman who managed not to be broken despite a father and husband trying to mold her to their beliefs about what a “good woman” should be like and it is also the story of a man who always thought that love was not for him for reasons he has not previously shared with anyone. The two end up at a ten-day house party in the country and find that perhaps they might have a reason not to avoid one another. As they spend time in one another’s company Katherine sees more of the “true” Robert and Robert begins to feel the ice around his heart thawing. There are of course ups and downs, problems to overcome and truths to seek within themselves before Katherine and Robert arrive at their so deserved happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

2.5 stars rounded up.

Katherine, Lady Gainsworth and Robert, the Duke of Roseford have a past, too bad he doesn't remember it.

Katherine is finally out of mourning for her late husband and is ready reenter society, but her reemergence is under a black cloud. Her husband died while they were in bed and most of the ton is shunning her. Those who aren't are rakes and rogues bent on bedding her. Enter Robert, the biggest rogue of them all, he makes a bet with one of his roguish friends that Katherine will be his lover. His plan hits a bump when he approaches her and is stunned by the venom she directs at him.

Katherine hates Robert, she blames him for ruining her life and when Isabel gives her the heads up about the wager, she hates him even more. But Robert isn't willing to give up and pursues her. When a miscommunication has them both invited to the same house party, things begin to heat up between them - she might hate him, but she still wants him.

They grow closer and some secrets are shared, she begins to think that she was unfair in her judgement, until she overhears him talking to the friend he made the bet with. She is crushed and when he tries to explain, she finally reveals why she hated him for years and leaves. Robert is heartbroken and disgusted with himself. He isn't sure what he can do to win her back or if he even deserves her. But when he gets advice from an unlikely source and admits he loves her, he knows that he will not give her up without a fight.

The book was well written, but it just didn't work for me, I failed to feel a real connection between Katherine and Robert, I didn't really feel like her reason for hating him was justified and his reasons for being a rake just felt contrived and vague. I didn't hate the book, but it is my least favorite of the series and I wouldn't recommend it. That said, the previous books in this series have consistently been 4 & 5 stars reads for me, so to have read 9 books in a 10 book series before finding one that didn't catch my fancy is quite impressive!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

This is the first book I’ve read in Jess Michael’s 1797 Club series. Actually, it’s my first Jess Michael’s book all together. I really enjoyed it and am adding the author to my auto-buy list.

An encounter with a drunken Duke of Roseford leads Katherine to be unwillingly married to the old Earl of Gainsworth. She is left widowed and with a reputation when the old Earl dies during sex. When she re-enters society, she and the Duke meet again and sparks fly. But Katherine’s not ready to forgive him and he has no memory of his part in her forced marriage.

Ms. Michaels has created two very complex and compelling characters. You can’t help but root for them and get pulled along in all the twists and turns along the way.

Katherine is a widow. She hasn’t had a good time with men, her father, her husband, neither are worth mourning. In fact, she has just finished the official mourning period for her husband after his unexpected death. Katherine’s reentrance into society is fraught with gossip and innuendo, and she’s just a bit fragile.
Robert is a duke, one of a group of loyal friends and their wives, who is bored. He watches as his friends fall in love, marry, and begin families, and continues to convince himself he wants no part of that kind of life. He is a rake to his core, yet he too has his frailties.
But a wager, a past meeting, and a sharing of untold secrets between two people may change them both.
This story is a heated historical romance that also adds emotion to the story between the two characters. I enjoyed it, and enjoy the series and highly recommend it. I am looking forward to Kit’s story.

Robert Smithton, Duke of Roseford is known for his lusty appetites and his cold, cold heart. Still thanks to his title and his fortune, everyone wants him and he’s bored of it all. He wants something, but he cannot place what exactly that is. Until he meets Katherine, the Countess of Gainsworth.
Katherine was in an arranged marriage to an old man who died when they were making love, She is just returning to Society. Although scandal follows her, so does interest, as the men of Society wonder about her prowess if it could kill a man. When Robert begins to pursue her, she is horrified. After all, she blames him for the circumstances that sent her into her loveless marriage in the first place. When Katherine ignores him, Robert only pushes harder and ultimately she begins to wonder if revenge is a dish best served through desire. They find themselves at James & Emma's house party both thinking they’d gone there to avoid each other.
This is the ninth book in this brilliant series & is another keeper. It could be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I'd recommend reading the whole series, all the Dukes of the 1797 club have had enthralling stories. Robert hides behind the face of a libertine & only as he falls in love does he reveal his secrets. Katherine also has her secrets & hides her hurt & low self esteem behind her society face. Together they find each other the ability to love. It’s an engrossing read of enemies to lovers to friends, the story is well paced & doesn’t lag at all, the characters are well rounded & throughout the series it’s been so satisfying to still engage with the others in the club & how both the Dukes & their wives all band together to help others in need. Robert & Katherine are physically attracted to each other but it's their conversations which are sometimes funny & other times very moving as they open up to each other.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Duke of Desire is the ninth book in Jess Michaels The 1797 Club series. I think it’s a good series and that you will enjoy this book more is you have read the other books as you will understand the friendships and interactions in this book better. Katharine Countess Of Gainsworth has just re-entered society after her year of mourning her husband. As a widow she is something of a scandal because her husband met his demise in her bed. Robert Smithton, Duke of Roseford bon vivant and libertine catches sight of her across a crowded ballroom and foolishly makes a bet that he will be her lover. Both of these characters had hellishly awful fathers and they are damaged by that. Robert uses humour and licentiousness to keep people away but somehow Katharine is able to see past that. Katharine has been shamed as a wanton by both her father and her husband and Robert is able to make her understand that desire is not abnormal. I very much enjoyed enjoyed reading this book and do recommend it. Quite Steamy. Publishing Date September 18, 2018 #TheDukeOfDesire #NetGalley

Another great read from Jess Michaels,. This is the story of Roseford, Robert. He’s lived a life of pleasure, wandering through the 1797 club, disdaining marriage, with a heart hardened against Love. Unbeknownst to him, he played a role in the marriage of a young Lady, Katherine, to an older gentleman, who though appreciative of her lusty nature in the bedroom, berated her outside the boudoir, then died in the throes of passion with her. She is now re-entering society and is the subject of gossip and wagering regarding her sexual prowess and who she will take as a lover. Robert, who doesn’t really recall their prior interactions, is instantly attracted to her and claims she will be his. She is attracted to him, but wants to be all that is proper, and definitely doesn’t want an affair with him, or does she?
A story full of passion, and a great outcome for the Duke of Roseford. I received a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is another keeper from Jess Michaels. It was good as usuals to see the Other Dukes interact and the camaraderie between all the wives. The steam level is pretty HOT between Robert and Katherine. It was burning the pages, literally. Awesome story. Great characters development. A big thump Up.
I received this ARC for an honest review. Thanks to the publisher.

Jess Michael’s 1797 Club series is one you want to read as soon as each book is released. The Duke of Desire is no exception. Robert, Duke of Roseford, may have been the most difficult to write due to his hardness toward marriage. He lives for pleasure only. Yet, as he sees his friends marry and seem to move away from him, he chaffs at the bonds he believes they may be putting on him to join them in marrying. He finds other friends with which to spend his decadent days. The duke’s ‘club’ continues to try to keep their friendship with Robert regardless of their marriage state. Their wives have their own duchesses group who have become great friends and are all gentle and kind and love their husbands with abandon.

Years earlier, without his knowing it, Robert ruined a young lady, Katherine, now Countess of Gainsworth, in her father’s pompous eyes. Katherine continued to blame Robert for her marriage to Gainsworth. Now as a widow, she has her freedom, but is concerned with the scandal of how her husband died during sex with her. She becomes the target of peers who want to see who can bed her first. Robert even makes a bet that it will be him. He is immediately attracted to her.

The duchesses, who have all had their own scandals, decide to take Katherine under their collective wing. One even tells Katherine about the bet on bedding her so she can protect herself. Through miscommunication between one of the dukes and his wife, both Robert and Katherine are invited to the same house party in the country. What unfolds is a special love story with the right amount of sensuality to bring these two to their knees. Each realize, as they get to know the other, that they both have extremely difficult circumstance from which they have come. Your heart breaks for them as they try to work through those situations to finally find their HEA. It is truly a romance you do not want to miss.

This is the 9th book in the 1797 Club series and it is beautiful story full of humour, romance and self discovery. Robert is a notorious rogue who hides his own insecurities behind a facade of flippant sexual innuendo. Katherine has been emotionally abused by her father an deceased husband. Together they learn to trust and come alive, winning each other’s hearts.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

If you like a lot of spicy sizzle with your story, then this sensual love story is for you.
This standalone HEA romance, 9th in the 1797 Club Series, has romance, scandal, forgiveness, self-discovery, great friendships, and lots of sizzle. Robert, the Duke of Roseford, is a rake of the first order and learns what love is with Katherine, the Countess of Gainsworth. Both are broken in their own ways and find solace and healing in each other’s arms. The author does a beautiful job of bringing the hero and heroine together, along with a great cast of supporting characters and some intense moments and angst; it made me cry at some points. A bit of caution-there may be too much sizzle for some.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Publisher's Description:

Robert Smithton, Duke of Roseford is known for his lusty appetites and his cold, cold heart. Still thanks to his title and his fortune, everyone wants him and he’s bored of it all. He wants something, but he cannot place what exactly that is. Until he meets Katherine, the Countess of Gainsworth.

Married to an old man who died when they were making love, Katherine is just returning to Society. Although scandal follows her, so does interest, as the men of Society wonder about her prowess if it could kill a man. When Robert begins to pursue her, she is horrified. After all, she blames him for the circumstances that sent her into her loveless marriage in the first place.

When Katherine ignores him, Robert only pushes harder and ultimately she begins to wonder if revenge is a dish best served through desire. What she finds when she touches him at last is pleasure unlike any she’s ever known, and a connection she does not wish to feel. Now she must decide if she wants revenge or happiness and Robert must determine if love is worth fighting for.

My Thoughts:
I am going to miss this series with only one more book to come after this one. It has been seriously a long time since I found a series so compelling that I could hardly wait for the next book. Jess Michaels has totally entranced me with this one.

With a past between Robert and Katherine that our Duke does not recall and the animosity felt by Katherine toward Robert for that unfortunate time in her life, it would seem that our Hero and Heroine have either much or nothing to gain.

Katherine can not help but to hold Robert responsible for her marriage to a much older man whom she never loved. He was after all the reason her pious father forced her to marry a man who was even older than himself.
She has finally returned to society to find herself the subject of gossip and speculation.
Robert is immediately attracted to Katherine but his intentions are far from honorable....at least to begin with.

This second from final book in this wonderfully written series is not to be missed. Although they are much better read in the order in which they were released each book including this one can very well stand on it's own.
I loved Robert the Rake's story. If anyone could tame this misbegotten rake it is surely Katherine.
I gave this book 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development. We had met Robert previously in other books in the series but our heroine is new to us.
The obvious attraction and heat between our couple ranks 4 of 5 flames. Katherine may not like the man to begin with but she most definitely desires him.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I loved Robert and Katherine's story!

Robert is the reason that Katherine had to marry her husband, so now that she is a widow, there is no way she will allow him to seduce her. But what you mind wants and what your body craves can be two very different things. She soon gives into his seduction and finds pleasure that she didn't know was possible. Could this end up being more than just an affair?

I loved watching these two find their way with each other and to their HEA! The next book in the series is the last. I'm excited for it to come out, but not for this series to end as I have throughly enjoyed it!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
There is nothing better than a series , one that every time there’s a new book released you know you have to read it .
The Duke Of Desire is one such book .
I’ve been waiting for Robert’s story out of all of the Dukes , he is such a difficult one to imagine settling down and finding a Hea .
I shouldn’t have worried, Jess Michaels has written a brilliant story with Robert and Katherine , it had me in tears and anxious at some points .
It’s no spoiler but my sobbing part came with this sentence:

“Please don’t revert to my title“ his voice cracked. “please don’t”

A wonderful addition to this awesome series .
Kits next . Time will go slowly till my next fix of the 1797 Club.
I received an advance copy of this book, all thoughts are my own, and I chose to submit a review