Quite enjoyed this one - I hadn't read the first two in the series but it was not important to this storyline. We meet Sophie and Seamus (Shay) as young people - Sophie is promised to Shay's older brother, John. There's a slightly muddled backstory about mothers who ran away, besmirched family names and a marriage contract with a HUGE penalty clause. Anyway - all being said, Sophie is promised to John. John is not happy about this and continues life much as usual, carousing and generally not being terribly pleasant. Shay goes off to fight as a mercenary (where he meets the other dukes in this series, I believe... a very duke-heavy mercenary force it seems!). He returns for John's wedding to Sophie, but disaster strikes the day before and everything goes badly wrong - Shay is very badly injured and he cuts off all contact with Sophie.

Later on, Sophie has agreed to marry a chap named James who we are led to understand is Inoffensive. The day before the wedding, Shay (now the Duke) shows up and insists Sophie honours the marriage contract. If not, he will enforce the penalty clause. So they get married and then he tries to make himself as scarce as possible. Guilt about his brother, evil uncle...etc.

There are an unfortunate number of "gottens" in this book. If this sets your teeth on edge, give it a miss. I managed (heroically) and in the end quite enjoyed the story. I may look up another of these dukes.

Read an ARC from Netgalley.

Seamus (Shay) Douglass, the Duke of Malvern was a minor character in the two previous books in this series. His appearances left the reader wondering what his story was. This book is his story. Although Sophie Winter was promised to his brother, they became and maybe a bit more. Shay's brother is killed in the fire that also left Shay with physical and emotional scars. In order to save Sophie, he forces her to marry him. For many chapters as Sophie adapts to her situation, I just wanted to shake the daylights out of Shay and yell - get over yourself! Finally he does but enter the evil uncle to try to destroy their happiness. In my opinion the first two books (& I loved both) just were leading up to this one, the best on in the series. A definite must read!

Another winner from Anna Harrington, Really, I just love this series. Harrington delivers on Historical Romance tropes while somehow making the stories and characters feel fresh, The Duke of Malvern, Shay, feels like he doesn't deserve anything anymore, and especially not love. It's inconvenient for him then that he ends up marrying the woman he has always loved, Sophie Winter. He tells her that he married to protect her (true, but also not the whole story), and that he can't love her. He blames himself for his brother's death, and his body is badly burned as a result of the fire that killed his brother. What I love about this book is Sophie: she's a plucky heroine who is loyal, smart, and unstoppable, She is determined to make her marriage to Shay work. Along the way, it's clear that Sophie and Shay have tons of chemistry, and care for each other. There's also a whole subplot of your typical Historical Romance drama (relative tries to steal the Duke's fortune through nefarious means). Overall, this is a quick and totally satisfying read. I couldn't ask for more.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anna Harrington's "The Duke’s Only Desire" is a delightful Regency romance that earns a resounding 5 stars. This novel captivates from the very first page with its compelling plot, intricately woven with themes of love, secrets, and passion. Harrington masterfully crafts her characters, particularly the enigmatic Duke and the spirited heroine, whose chemistry ignites the pages.

The narrative flows smoothly with a perfect blend of witty dialogues, emotional depth, and unexpected twists that keep readers eagerly turning pages. Harrington's attention to historical detail immerses you in the Regency era, enhancing the authenticity of the setting and making the story all the more engaging.

"The Duke’s Only Desire" is a testament to Harrington's prowess in the romance genre, beautifully balancing romance with a touch of mystery. It’s a must-read for fans of historical romance who appreciate strong character development and a plot that tugs at the heartstrings. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an enchanting and heartfelt read.

OMG!!!! I love love love Anna Harrington! I’m a huge fan of her books and this one is not an exception!
I devoured this book in less than 12 hours. I couldn’t stop reading! The chemistry, the longing the aghast! Such an emotional roller-coaster! I’ve read all of Anna’s books and this is definitely one of my favorites. It’s sexy, but so sweet at the same time. I adored them. Such a beautiful par!
I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved the first half of this book. She was engaged to his brother, they sent letters to each other instead, it turned into this Beauty and the Beast situation. Lots of pining, lots of yearning. It was melodramatic, in a fun way!

I was even ready for forgive the fact that we never got any of the letters on-page (a crime, tbh). And that our heroine, though extremely likable, was being the “I’m a Cool Mom” version of a duchess (which I was kinda rolling my eyes at).

But then the second half of the book went in an evil uncle, impending court case direction. And I just didn’t care enough about it. A lot of my favourite romance plot elements felt ‘settled’ at that point and the story started to drag, for me. And then, the way things ended with Ruby wasn’t my fav.

A tortured, scarred hero in penance and a sunny heroine feature in “The Duke’s Only Desire”, by Anna Harrington, a story about pain, grief and redemption.
I liked the characters and their relationship and romance: the honest communication between them, the trust, the fondness, passion and sensuality.
The romance has sweet and heartwarming scenes. It developed pretty quickly. There are also a lot of sex scenes.
Initally Shay sees himself as a monster, a beast, and is resigned to a life of loneliness and penance, but with Sophie’s encouragement, empathy and compassion regains some hope and confidence.
I liked that the scars exposure didn’t take that long with Sophie.
I felt Shay’s guilt and the intrigue plotline were a bit repetitive.

The Duke's Only Desire is the third book in The Dukes of Darkness series.

Shay Douglas is the second son of the Duke of Malvern and secretly in love with his brother's betrothed, Lady Sophie Winter. Desperate to stop his brother from marrying Sophie, they get into a fight. John who is drunk passes out on the ground and Shay leaves him lying there. As he walks away, he looks back to he sees the building has caught fire and races back to save his brother only to collapse from the smoke.

Ten years later, Sophie is about to marry a man she believes is a good man. Before the announcement can be made at the party, Shay arrives to claim Sophie as his bride. According to the iron clad contract made by her grandmother, Sophie is to marry the Duke of Malvern. The agreement does name John or Shay, just the title. If she does not go through with it, her family has to pay a large sum to get out of it. Sophie's father does not have the money, so Sophie must marry Shay.

Shay feels guilt over his brother's death and claims this will be a marriage in name only. Sophie will have to find a way to get through to Shay to help him get past his guilt and scars.

This was a fun story to read. The characters were strong and likeable. It is a wonderful addition to the series.

I love this series so much! It's filled with adventure, intrigue and romance that sweeps you off your feet. This time around we have a second chance romance between a scarred MC and a fierce FMC.

Sophie and Shay were perfection. Their romance is filled with angst, mutual pining and an undeniable connection. These two formed a friendship when they were younger and that connection was just as strong when they meet again as adults. I really liked how Sophie fought for Shay and was determined not to let him push her away. If you like a broody hero, Shay fits the bill. These two had great chemistry and I found their romance to be very romantic.

I really enjoyed the mystery/adventure element too. Certainly kept me guessing.

A great read! Can be read as a standalone.

This book was great. I loved both of our lead characters. Our Duke of darkness is created around his own trauma and whispers around his past. But one thing was alway true, Sophie has always loved him. Honestly I wish the previous books had MFC like her I would have enjoyed them so much more, I was not going to read more by this author after this book because of the previous two books in this series but if this is the type of book she is capable of I’m am going to have to dig into her back catalogue. It was angst, romantic, the mystery/drama was good and I loved that their was no third act break up. They dealt with the issue together! The steam was good too but they were just so loving to one another. His denial of his love of her was so sweet. Sir, you kept tabs to keep her safe all these years and still thought that you could love her? Poppycock. And I loved his valet to. I want him to have the happiest of ending. The only thing I wish really ended differently was the ending with Ms. Cole, I wanted her to return. Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sophie and Shay meet when Sophie is 12 and her aunt visits Shay’s father, the duke of Malvern, to broker a marriage agreement between Sophie and the duke’s heir, Shay’s elder brother John. John is a cruel man, insults the young girl but Shay stands up to him to protect her. They start corresponding and develop feelings, but of course they can never marry; she’s promised to John. But at the night before the wedding, John and Shay get into a fight and John eventually dies in a barn fire. Shay blames himself, is overcome with guilt, so he pushes Sophie away and doesn’t want to talk to her anymore. Of course she is hurt but later you understand that he didn’t felt he was deserving of her. Five years later she’s about to get engaged to another man but Shay finds out and lays claim to her and marries her the next day.
Sophie initially is hurt but I liked that she immediately took charge and demanded answers. She didn’t took no for an answer and learns the man she was supposed to marry, is also a horrible man. So she recognizes the old Shay behind his mask of rejection and indifference and guilt; the once who cared for her. I liked that she immediately decides to fight for her marriage. She starts by seducing him but winning his heart is an altogether different battle.
The speed in which these two get physical was a bit off putting to me, especially since Shay was trying to keep Sophie emotionally at arm’s length. And I think the amount of spice was too much.
Both Sophie and Shay slowly grow closer, even more after the arrival of a villain. He makes it even more necessary to close ranks and fight for everything that is dear to them.
I liked that Sophie kept proving to Shay that he was a good guy, kept communicating with him and never gave up on him. Shay really was a good guy; he might have been hurt but he was always taking care of Sophie. This was not only a love story but a big part of the book was their fight against the villain.
This is a fast paced book with a emotionally and physically scarred hero, a fierce and loving heroine, lots of twists, turns and problems to overcome and of course a happily ever after.
Thank you Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for providing an advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed it; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sophie's marriage to the Duke of Malvern has been arranged for years, but in the lead up to the wedding, it's clear that the one she wants is not Malvern, but instead his younger brother, Shay. The feelings are far from unrequited, and while both of them have no way of breaking the contract that binds Sophie to his brother, Shay makes it clear to Malvern that he will not tolerate Malvern hurting Sophie. The day before the wedding, the brothers fight and it ends in a fire that kills Malvern, and leaves Shay horribly scarred and reeling from the guilt of his brother's death (granted, his brother was no peach). Five years later, Sophie is newly engaged when Shay arrives to tell her that the contract signed years ago didn't specify which Duke of Malvern, and he now holds the title. Once the two are married, they face plotting family members, self-loathing, and a barrage of other issues, but the love they had for each other years ago still burns bright.

This was so much fun, and deserves so many cheers for avoiding defaulting to silly misunderstandings that separate Sophie and Shay. Their problems are very real but once on the same page, they work together to find solutions. I'm a big fan of romances that let the couples actually take on their external issues together rather than being forced apart by the narrative. Shay is such a good hero because while he is troubled from the fire, he is never cruel to Sophie or the people around him. It's easy to understand why Sophie fell for him and continued to love him despite his disappearance from her life for so long.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Sophie Winter was betrothal to John Douglass who was the heir to the Dukedom of Malvern. When he dies in a tragic fire she believes the contract is no longer valid.

Shay Douglass is the second son of the Duke of Malvern and brother of John Douglass. He is secretly in love with Sophie and blames himself for the death of his brother.

When Sophie is about to make a big mistake by marrying a fortune hunter, Shay enforces the marriage contract stating that she is to marry the Duke of Malvern which is him. Sophie is not happy that Shay has come back into her life since she believes he abandoned her after the fire. Shay does not feel that he deserves to have a happy marriage but is determined to save Sophie. Will they both be able to move from the past to embrace a future together?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!! It was such an emotional roller coaster with all the twists and turns before Sophie and Shay got to their happily ever after. I liked both Sophie and Shay’s characters and really felt what they were going through in their journey together. The secondary characters were absolutely wonderful and really added to the story. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

Sophie from the age of 12 was meant to marry the heir of the Duke of Malvern . But when she met the heir John and his younger brother Shay the younger brother was the one who was polite and friendly to her . After a terrible accident and the Duke's death now Shay is the Duke of Malvern and because he is covered with burn scars he has no desire to marry Sophie , When Sophie is getting engaged he appears and demand they marry or he will have to bankrupt her father . Even though he loves her he blames himshelf for the death of his brother so their marriage will be only in name . Sophie at first is angry with him but she realises that he loves her and will do everything to heals his scars that run into his soul and together they will fight his enemies .
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

I loved "The Duke's Only Desire"! Sophie and Shay are such dynamic characters and you are rooting for them the entire time. I read this in one sitting and could not devour it fast enough. Fans of Mary Balogh who want a faster pace and more spice will love this book. 10/10!

Lady Sophie Winter and Shay Douglass had a connection from the moment they met. But she was already contracted for marriage to his older brother...until a terrible accident changed everything. Years later, Shay returns to enforce the old marriage contract that weds her to the Duke of Malvern...now him.

This is the third book in The Dukes of Darkness series. The previous heroes show up briefly, but this story can stand alone.

This was another interesting book from Harrington! At only twelve years old, Sophie is contracted into a betrothal to the future Duke of Malvern, to occur when she turned 18. Shay's older brother, John, was a mean-spirited drunk who was angry about the marriage and planned on treating Sophie badly just because he could. But Shay showed Sophie kindness and the two struck up a friendship, writing letters back and forth for years. After John's accidental death, Shay retreated into solitude, blaming himself. But when Sophie is about to become engaged to a scoundrel, Shay steps in with the original contract.

Even though the leads very much wanted to be together, Shay spent a lot of time punishing himself and trying to stay away. Just when I had about had it with his moping, the book took an interesting turn. I was glad to see "something else" bring the couple together instead of pushing them farther apart.

Tropes: Sibling's Suitor, Arranged Marriage, Beauty & Beast/Scarred Hero

Steam: 4

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review

This book was a mix of highs and lows for me. On one hand, the romance between Sophie and Shay had some really tender moments, and I enjoyed the exploration of guilt, redemption, and fighting for happiness. The characters had depth, and their journey felt genuine in many ways.

However, the story leaned heavily into drama—almost too much for my taste. Every time things seemed to settle, another crisis appeared, which made the pacing feel a bit uneven. While I appreciate emotional intensity, it sometimes felt like the characters were drowning in conflict without much room to breathe.

The writing itself was solid, and the romantic tension was well done, but the overload of dramatic twists made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the story. It’s not a bad book by any means—it has some great moments—but it didn’t completely win me over. Decent, but not unforgettable. I'm giving it 3 ⭐.

If you are as fond of a scarred hero and a second chances love story as much as I am, this is an amazing book for you. The story is about Sophie and Shay, who find their way to happiness, despite inner and outer turmoil in their lives. The writing is fantastic and very engaging and there is just the right spiciness to the novel. It kept my attention from start to finish and was very original, with no tried and true or tired angles to it.

Sophie meets Shay the second son of a Duke when she was a child and her grandmother betrothed her to the next Duke.
She grows up dreading her marriage.but she continues to write to Shay in the Army and their friendship happens easily.
A tragic event on the eve of her wedding leads to guilt and recrimations.
As Shay later attempts to save her from a horrible engagement and wedding, the two of them must come to grips with their feelings and new circumstances.
Emotional and wonderful, absolutely loved it.
Series has been easy to read and become engrossed in the lives and loves of the Dukes.

This was a great book. Well written with lots of character depth. I went through a bunch of emotions reading this book, I was sad, I was excited, I was happy with the ending. The hero Shay is just so guilt ridden and I loved his valets spunk. The heroine deserved her happiness and boy did she fight for it. She was a terrific firebrand. Great read.

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