Two Lady Scoundrels and a Duke by Tessa Candle

Two Lady Scoundrels and a Duke Series: Parvenues & Paramours series Book #5
on October 13, 2019
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 142
Goodreads

A second chance at love for Christmas—all she has to do is rob a duke.

Her fall from grace leaves Katherine Blake dirt poor and friendless save for a stray dog. Some Christmas this will be. She cannot even pay the rent, and the nasty, insinuating land agent is getting more suggestive every time he visits. The worst part is watching Dog and her three French hens suffer alongside her, because she cannot scrape together enough food to get them through another winter.

Robbery is a desperate scheme, but what choice does she have? Then, under a frozen fairy moon, the blasted Duke of Foxleigh shows up to ruin her life all over again…

An unhappy choice lies before the discontented Duke of Foxleigh. Shall he stay in London and endure a miserable Yuletide, plagued by his scheming ex-mistress, or shall he accept his friend’s invitation and spend Christmas at Blackwood Estate in good company, but subjected to the relentless spectacle of everyone else’s beatific domestic happiness? When a snowstorm threatens to halt his carriage ride to the country, he begins to think he made the wrong choice. Then a group of highwaymen drive him off the road, entirely. Merry ruddy Christmas, Foxleigh. Here’s your knock on the head!

Being held up a second time is beyond the pale, but when he awakens in the ramshackle cottage of a strangely familiar woman, he realizes his robber is really his savior, and none other than the long lost love of his life, Katherine. It is a miracle, and he intends make the most of his second chance, but then his ex-mistress shows up to ruin his life all over again…

Four falling turds, three French hens, two curdled loves, and a duke (in a pear tree).

Two Lady Scoundrels and a Duke (In a Pear Tree) is a Steamy Regency Romance Christmas novella and Book 5 in the Parvenues & Paramours series. You can read it as a standalone, but you will want to read more. Bedroom doors wide open—but not until the characters have earned it.

You will love this book, because you crave that witty Regency dialogue but still want strong, unconventional heroines and a peek into the boudoir. Is that too much to ask? Of course not! Go get your rollicking Regency Escape now…

Two Lady Scoundrels and a Duke is book five in the Parvenues & Paramours series by Tessa Candle.This story was hilarious. I loved the heroine Katherine Blake and her lively wit. She is facing horrific circumstances and making the most of them.  When she comes upon the hated hero of the story, Foxleigh injured and sliding off his horse, she realizes that she recognizes him from long ago.  “Perhaps to gainsay her compliment, the steed lifted his tail and dropped four balls of filth that narrowly missed the duke’s head. Katherine laughed. “A little to the left.” Foxleigh totally deserved it, but then she reminded herself that he was injured. She wished she was a better person, but it was humorous, after all.” There is a steamy scene in the story. But I really enjoyed the villain – Marie Dubois. In some ways, she almost stole the show. Marie is a malicious harpy with no conscience. Perhaps Ms. Candle will consider a romance with Marie as heroine perhaps reformed in some way down the road. I enjoyed the hero Foxleigh, but the women stole the show. Bravo Ms. Candle for another Regency romp well done. I was given an ARC.