This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. While, there was a disturbing villain in the story, there is much love and good stuff. And, of course, happiness for all in the end. Well written and a continuation of the Turner Terrors so you know it is good.

This is the second book of the Dukes Done Wrong series. The second Turner Terror finds love. I have said it before, but it bears saying again...If it's a book about a Duke written by Alexa Aston, it goes to the top of my TBR pile!

This book should be read in order of the series, as Emery and Miles from the first book play an important part of this story also. This is a love at first sight for both the heroine and the hero, although they really don't realize it. Wyatt is a newly named Duke who thought Meadow would immediately accept his proposal the day after meeting him, but Meadow definitely make him work for his Happily Ever After!

The blackmail plot is a unique storyline, and it should be noted it has to do with pedophilia as that may be a trigger for some. Meadow is a strong heroine and I loved seeing Wyatt and she come to know each other.

I definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series.

Deflecting the Duke is the second in a series about 5 friends who are disinherited and blamed for a family trauma.

Wyatt Stanton inherits the Dukedom of Amesbury after his evil brother dies in a drunken accident. While initially reluctant, he very quickly adjusts and begins his pursuit of Meadow, a virgin widow.

I didn't love Wyatt and Meadow's initial interactions, they were sort of awkward and not in the hero meets heroine way. But after some initial arguing, they fall into a courtship. I loved that Meadow rejected Wyatt and made him work for her. That was honestly the best part of the book.

Also, the villain storyline was different and definitely well-deserved. Overall, I really liked this book. It was also nice to see Miles and Emery from book 1 and how their HEA is progressing.

I really enjoyed the main romance between Meadow and Wyatt. It was sweet, spicy, and lots of fun to read.

Unfortunately, the side conflict gets unexpectedly dark and deals with a very distressing subject matter that, to be honest, I didn't really want as part of my romance reading. It's too triggering of a topic and casts a pallor over what would otherwise be a pleasant diversion. It's hard to reconcile the contrast in tone.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I loved this! I loved Wyatt's story and development. Meadow was a little annoying at first but I came to enjoy her pretty quickly. I will definitely be going back to read the first book in the series and will read the rest as they come out too.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

When he was sent away from home, accused for setting the fire which killed multiple horses in a locked stable, Wyatt Stanton is glad to see the back of his father, and wicked older brother. He's found his family at the Turner School, and has made a name for himself in the military. Now Duke of Amesbury, following his father and brother's deaths, he knows he needs to fix the estate, and do right by the staff and tenants who suffered under his predecessors. He also needs to find a wife, and soon, in order to beget and heir and a spare for the estate, but he doesn't want a dewey faced debutante, fresh out of the school room. His friend, Miles, Duke of Winslow, and his new wife, Emery, agree to help Wyatt in learning the ropes of being Duke, and finding his partner. But as soon as he spots Meadow, Lady Selfridge, he will marry her, and no one else. When Meadow was enjoying her first season, her father sold her to the elderly Lord Selfridge, who treated her like a prize, and hid her in the countryside. Now widowed, and alone apart from her cousin, she wants to marry again, and have a family, but never thinks she would be good enough to be with Wyatt. And when the wicked Lord Kibbard comes out of the woodwork, and starts to blackmail Meadow over a vile possession her late husband owned, Wyatt will do anything to save Meadow, and punish Kibbard.

I think I might have liked this book even better than the first. Meadow was a truly fantastic main character, and the perfect fit for Wyatt, who was brash and gruff when they first met. The power of being duke had gone to his head, and he expected Meadow to fawn over him, and accept his abrupt proposal immediately, but she made him work for it. Their romance grew naturally, and I liked to see them both become more real with each other, and see their softer sides. The blackmail plot, and what it was about, was sickening, and I'm so glad that Kibbard got his punishment in the end, and that Wyatt and Meadow were able to rescue the children who'd suffered so much! I'm looking forward to book 3.

Deflecting the Duke is book two in author Alexa Aston’s newest series
Dukes Done Wrong. This series centers around five men —Wyatt Stanton, William Finchley, Aaron Hartfield, Miles Notley, and Donovan Martin — who met as boys after each was accused of a heinous action and deemed to be unfit to remain in polite society. Though from unrelated families meeting each other at The Turner Academy, where they were all sent to live - formed a life long bond stronger than relationship by blood. They dubbed themselves “The Turner Terrors,” and now as adults they remain a chosen family. These men would do anything for each other.

In this story the MC are Wyatt Stanton and Meadow Selfridge. Wyatt is the second son, the spare, and until he was ten years old he grew up in a household devoid of love and no attention was spared for him unless it was by his father —The Duke of Amesbury— when he was being punished. After being accused of a heinous act, that was actually done by his older brother the Duke’s heir, Wyatt was sent to live at Turner Academy. He was instructed to never show his face in polite society again, he was no longer even the spare in his fathers eyes, he would live at Turner Academy and then serve in the military. Imagine Wyatts surprise when thanks to English primogeniture laws and the death of both his father and his older brother, Wyatt was being called home from the military, to take his place as The Duke of Amesbury.

Meadow Selfridge she has lived a sheltered life, even more sheltered than what was normal for women of society in the early 1800’s. She married quickly after her debut, so quick she only enjoyed 2-weeks of the season, before her father announced she was to be married to a man she hadn’t met. Meadow found out her fathers haste was due to the fact she had been sold to Viscount Selfridge by her father, who perpetually was in debt, thanks to his love of gambling. Sold. Married to a man some 40-years her senior in exchange for money. There was no celebration. No wedding breakfast. No honeymoon. Meadow was whisked off to her new husbands country estate and left there for six years. Oh her husband visited at times but not to spend time with her, no she was relegated to an item on a shelf, one that her husband only wanted to own but not interact. Now though this would change. Her husband was dead. So now at age 24 Meadow finds herself a widow and still a virgin. She vows to herself this will change. She is heading to London and with the help of her cousin Meadow hopes to find a suitable man to marry. She wants a man who will show her attention, make her feel important, and one who wants a lot of children.

The attraction between Wyatt and Meadow is instant. The chemistry is palpable. However Wyatt has always been a bit brash and once he sets his mind on anything, he acts. It served him well in the military. It’s not going to serve him as well on the marriage mart. Meadow has decided she wants to be courted, wooed a bit, made to feel adored — in short, she is going to make Wyatt work for it! It’s a good thing Wyatt is determined and he has the art of seduction on his side. The emotions start to grow between Wyatt and Meadow; once Wyatt realizes he loves Meadow it’s game over. Thankfully by this time Meadow has been wooed enough and gotten to know Wyatt. She loves him as well not to mention the seductive way he plays her body.

So it seems to easy, right? Happy couple. Happily ever after.

Nope. Meadow has a secret she has been hiding from Wyatt. A secret that can ruin her and him by association. That’s not all though, because Wyatt knows she is hiding something and he is using his former military training in espionage to find out what.

One has to wonder if these two will get their HEA or if some secrets are too much to overcome, even if it’s a love match!❤️❤️

5 Stars ⭐️| 4 Flames🔥

I can’t wait for the next book!!!

I loved this book. Alexa Aston sweeps me away, yet again, with this book.. I adore the author and this book was as wonderful as the first in the series. I’m dying to hear what happens to the Terrors next. I know it’s the build up in the sereis, of course, but the mystery of a Finch, has me on tender hooks, I can’t wait for the next installment in this series by the amazing author.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion and honest review.

Unexpectantly becoming a duke, Wyatt heads to London to find a wife to give him heirs. After being married to an elderly man, widow Meadow, heads to London to have a season she never had. Instantly attracted to each other, they must fight off their insecurities to find true love. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

Deflecting the Duke follows Wyatt Stanton, a spy-turned-duke, and Meadow Grant, a widow, both of whom want children and are looking for a spouse. Wyatt falls for Meadow pretty quickly and offers for her hand in marriage. However, Meadow wants to be courted, and Wyatt must work to prove that he is the perfect match for her.

Meadow and Wyatt are fantastic protagonists. Well-developed and interesting people who show strength and bravery, both Wyatt and Meadow have tragic pasts. In childhood, Wyatt was accused of burning down a stable, killing two dozen horses, and was abandoned by his family. Meadow was often ignored by her parents and then treated as a possession and something to be collected rather than as a person. However, neither lets their terrible trauma define them. Instead, they fight for their happiness.

Wyatt and Meadow have a fantastic romance! Meadow is a woman who knows what she wants. She didn’t have the option of choosing her first husband, as she was sold to him to pay her father’s gambling debts. So, when Wyatt comes on strong and quickly asks for Meadow’s hand, Meadow turns him down, much to his astonishment. It is rare for someone to say no to a duke, but Meadow wants to weigh her options, and she wants to be sure she is making the right decision.

Meadow and Wyatt both want children, but neither expect a marriage built on love. However, they can’t deny that their feelings for each other are strong. And I love that Wyatt has to work to earn Meadow’s love. It shows Meadow how strongly he really feels about her, and it gives them time to really get to know each other before committing to each other. This makes for a swoon-worthy romance and many delightful (and a few spicy) scenes of courtship. It also takes Wyatt down a few pegs, which is good because for a little bit he let his new title get to his head.

In addition to the romance, Meadow becomes embroiled in a horrible situation involving pornographic pictures collected by her late husband. Meadow faces manipulations, blackmail, kidnapping, potential ruin, and more, which makes her reluctant to commit to Wyatt. She doesn’t want to tarnish his reputation. However, she doesn’t account for Wyatt’s passion for her. An ex-military man, Wyatt proves capable of helping anyone in precarious situations and is intolerant of abuse and threatening behavior.

I also love the friendships, especially the one between the Turner Terrors. The found family trope is one of my favorites, and the bond that these boys, now men, developed is wonderful. The fact that they were all shunned and disowned by their families yet found kindness and acceptance at the school they attended together proves that family isn’t always the people you are bound to by blood. Meadow also develops new friendships and maintains a great friendship with her cousin, which helps her gain confidence and self-assurance.

I’m loving the Dukes Done Wrong series, and though this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. However, if you did read the first book, you’ll be pleased to know that the protagonists, Emery and Miles, have pertinent roles in this story as well. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Dragonblade Publishing, and Alexa Aston for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

In the beginning of the book Wyatt comes of as a royal pain in the ass. Becoming a Duke when he never wanted to be kind of went to his head for a minute.
Meadow is the belle of every ball she goes to after becoming a widow. Not all are there to marry her. I love how she makes Wyatt work for her affections.
I enjoyed most of the book. However was disgusted by the ending. I skimmed through most of it. I found that helps not to lessen my feelings about the book.

A beautifull story about a man who been abandon as a kid to a school for troubled boys from his family but at the end he became Duke after his horrible brother dies . He want to marry and have his family but does not believe in love . When she debut her father sold her to an older Lord for his gaming debts . Now widow she is looking to marry for love . It is love at first sight for both of them even if they don't realise it . He asks her to marry him after 2 days and she tells him that he must win her . A man who was her late husband friend is blackmails her about something terrible .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wyatt Stanton served as a spy for Wellington until he receives word of his brother’s death. Reluctantly, he returns to England as the Duke of Amesbury and to Amberwood, a place he was banished from after his brother falsely accused Wyatt of burning down the family stables with over two dozen horses inside.

Meadow Grant’s father sold her to Lord Selfridge so he could pay his gambling debts. Once he possessed her, Selfridge lost interest and moved on to other things. Now a widow, the resilient Meadow is ready to make her own choice this time and find a husband who yearns for children as much as she does. Though attracted to the Duke of Amesbury, he is far too arrogant and conceited for her tastes, even if he does kiss well. Meadow wants to be courted, though, and Wyatt is up to the challenge, relentless in his pursuit, even liking how Meadow makes him work to earn her favor. Will these 2 end up happily forever?

This is book 2 in the series and I haven't read the first one. It is a stand-alone so I don't think that I am missing much although there seems to be some minor reference to the first book at times.. Overall, it's a fun book. I like the characters. Their backgrounds are interesting and adds to the drama. I like the ending. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC.