#Review: THE DUKE OF CHARM by Alexa Aston

 

  4 of 5 stars

George, the Duke of Colebourne, is best friends with West and his sister Lady Samantha Wallace and has always had a fondness her, but when his feelings for her turn more serious, he runs away and proposes to another woman. Samantha has been in love with George for as long as she can remember and is crushed when he tells her, he's set to marry another. To hide her disappointment she marries another and that sets in motion a chain of events that will change her life. Five years later they are thrown together at a house party, but Samantha is no longer the naive young woman she once was and is determined to never marry again. Can George convince her that he's changed and wants to dedicate his life to her now?

I really enjoyed this story. Ms. Aston does a brilliant job of teasing out the details of Samantha's unhappy marriage, but Samantha is no wilting wallflower and through her own determination, she flees her inlaw's home in the north. George aka the Duke of Charm was indeed a charming rogue and it takes him years to realize he's been in love with Samantha all along. I enjoyed Samantha's refusal to immediately fall under George's spell. Of course, they end up with their own HEA and I enjoyed the epilogue years in the future. My only little criticism is that there was no mention of her brother West once he leaves the house party. I understand he'll get his own book, but would have loved even a 1-sentence tease of what was to come.

I voluntarily read this advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.