Emerson has received some letters that refer to the murder of her cousin two years previous, and it seems that the killer is after Emerson now. Emerson is shy and pretty tongue ties around strangers. What is she going to do now that the killer is after her?

Emerson turns to Gabriel Ferguson, Duke of Rossmoyne, who also happened to be her dead cousin’s fiancé. Gabriel, AKA Ross, is determined to help Emerson find out who the killer is as well and sort of takes her under his wing. Ross is pretty much a jerk when we first meet him, but as time goes on you realize that there is more to him beneath the surface.

Ross has just returned from, India where he had gone to mourn the death of this fiance'. Ross and her were the one couple everyone wanted to be like. They had it all! When Ross and Meredith were with Emerson, she just always sat there and listened to their conversations because Emerson was intimidated by Ross. Now that Ross is helping Emerson with the letters, she is beginning to feel more comfortable with him and is getting to where she can talk to him.

I thought that Ross and Emerson made a good couple and as time goes on, we get to see them grow closer and closer together. I thought this story flowed really well except for some slow parts. I am glad that I stuck with this one though. Will Ross and Emerson find who is writing these letters to Emerson? You need to read this one to find out!

THE RELUCTANT DUCHESS - Sharon Cullen

MORE THAN A ROMANCE - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - The Duke of Rossmoyne is used to being in charge. But ever since his fiance was murdered and they were unable to find her killer, he has felt guilty. When Meredith's cousin Sara comes to him for help, he finds himself getting involved again in a mystery. And when he gets to know Sara better, he realizes he's falling in love with her.

Writing - 4 stars - Cullen immediately drew me into the story. I was expecting a typical Regency romance (which is not a bad thing), but this book turned out to be so much more. The mystery caught my attention right away, and even before I knew the characters, I was interested in discovering more about Meredith and her death, as well as Sara's letter-writer. Cullen is a new-to-me author, and I very much like her easy-to-read writing style and enjoyable characters.

Characters - 4 stars - The duke, as is typical of his rank and the time period, is strong and masterful and used to getting his own way. He is powerful and immediately proceeds to try to solve the mystery. But we also see his vulnerable side as he recognizes his guilt over Meredith's death. Sara, on the other hand, is not used to being in the limelight--she's quiet and unassuming, but with a surprisingly strong core of steel. She stands up for herself and doesn't flinch when disagreeing with the duke. They make a good match, but Sara doesn't see herself that way; she only sees herself as Meredith's shadow--a nervous and shy girl unused to attention. Montgomery, from Scotland Yard, is a good secondary character. He is dogged and determined, yet kind and friendly. He's a good intermediary between the two of them.

Title - 3.5 stars - The title gets a little ahead of itself. There is no indication that Sara will be considered as Ross's duchess anytime soon, although it's clear after a while that this is where they are headed, despite everyone else's discouragement.

Cover - 4 stars - Lovely cover, showing a beautiful lady in a flowing gown. The pink color is light and pretty and not the typical bold look of many books of this genre. A good depiction of Sara.

Overview - 4 stars - Interesting mystery and nice predictable romance. I didn't expect the mystery portion of this story when I first started reading it, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. I always love a simple Regency romance, but this book added quite a bit more spice and interest. The mystery wasn't complicated, but it helped propel the story forward and kept me turning the pages. The characters are enjoyable, and I especially wanted to see them get together. They have surface differences, but underneath they share the same values and beliefs, making them an excellent pair. I haven't read this author before, but I will definitely look for more from her.

I liked this book, but it seems to be in a pretty crowded market of naughty dukes and duchesses. I've been noticing a lot more of those these days. I did like the writing style and I'd definitely read something else by this author!