This conclusion to the Once Upon a Dukedom series (which was a spinoff from the author's Sins for All Seasons series) features a strong, older heroine, a hero seeking justice, and plenty of intrigue. Both main characters are not exactly what they originally appear to be, which they each slowly discover as they get to know each other. Lorraine Heath's character development is second to none, and it was good to re-visit characters from previous books. Recommended.

Wow! I’m a huge Lorraine Heath fan, so it is no surprise that I loved this book! All of her books a fabulous and this one is no exception! Marcus and Esme have an incredible love story! I love Lorraine’s books because her characters are interesting and well developed but there is also always an element of grit and reality to them that has you relating to their many dimensions thus making you that much more invested in their love story. It’s not all ballrooms and gossip with afternoon tea (not that there is anything wrong with that, but I love her darker plots with twists and turns that don’t always land you where you expect a romance novel to go).

When a stunning “Ice Princess” who happens to be a secret agent of the crown and an tall, dark, and dangerously handsome disgraced heir to a Dukedom seeking to restore his family’s honor join forces to solve who is behind the plot to assassinate Queen Victoria how could it not be good?!! Their chemistry is off the charts and they are so equally matched. They yearn for each other from the first page resulting in so many deliciously steamy moments. Marcus and Esme are both tough as nails, they have a witty repartee with one another and so much flirting it made my heart flutter, but they are also so vulnerable to one another. Their love is fire but also tenderness and mutual respect and admiration. This book is not only action packed in the bedchamber but on the streets as well! It has an element of a political thriller/bond movie to it. Lots of cool gadgets and fighting villains. Honestly, this book would be such a good movie! I couldn’t put it down because I wasn’t sure how it was all going to play out. I knew there would be a happy ending because that is a nonnegotiable in romance but I was never quite sure how many twists and turns it was going to take to get there. I love how Lorraine creates a whole world and brings back characters from her previous book series and weaves them into her new stories, as well as gives you a peek into the characters who will star in her next series. When Esme was telling Marcus about her surgery, I KNEW it was going on to be Dr. Graves who was her physician, and at the end how she had King and Penelope at the ball with the Chessmen hinting that the Chessmen are next to find love! Once I start a Lorraine Heath book, don’t expect to talk to me until I’m done reading it because I’m deep in her stories. I recommend all of her books, but this is certainly one of her best!! Certainly one of my favorites!

I’m sure this series will work for some fans of the author. However I couldn’t connect with the writing style or characters in any of the books. So this is a DNF from me. In order to fully appreciate the series, I needed to feel connection, which I didn’t find here.

It has been a while since I've read the first two books in Lorraine Heath's Once Upon a Dukedom series so it took me a few chapters to remember who everyone was and what had happened previously. The main male protagonist, Marcus, is known as Wolf in the previous books. I remember being intrigued by his character and wanting to know more about what he was really up to since it was all pretty cloak and dagger. This book delivered on that, though I didn't find his as compelling as I had hoped. However, his love interest was a different story. I loved Esme! I am here for a woman in her early 30's being the main character. Down with debutants! Esme is fierce and capable and a perfect leading lady. I could read a whole other book about her and what she was up to before Marcus showed up. So while I didn't 100% love everything about this story it was still really enjoyable.