THE DUKE'S DISASTER by the lovely Grace Burrowes appears to be a standalone Regency romance, although with a brother-in-law and a twin brother, I can see the potential for this to develop into a series! As with so many Burrowes books, the heroine has some significant anguish and heartbreak in her life that initially prevent the two from finding happiness. While they could have much more easily reached their Happily Ever After if they'd simply talked to each other earlier and more openly, this tender romance does finally show the couple's happy accord with one another, leaving me to sigh gustily as I turned the last page.

Noah Winters, Duke of Anselm, is pragmatically searching for a wife. He proposes to the enchanting Marliss Hallowell, but she turns him down to marry another. Instead of looking around for a similar well set up debutant, he inexplicably and promptly proposes to Miss Hallowell's companion, Lady Araminthea Collins. Thea has been a companion for years after the early death of her father the earl, while her younger wastrel brother lolls around drunkenly gambling and her little sister Nonie is in need of launching in society. I had a hard time buying in to the concept that Noah would propose to a companion rather than looking for another chit to marry, even if she is the daughter of an earl- this feels disingenuous. Thea accepts his proposal in order to escape being continued predations by young noblemen, and also to obtain Noah's promised monetary settlement on her sister Nonie. Noah is a charming, if not very exciting, duke who tries hard to do the right thing. And I do enjoy Thea's ability to stand up for herself and make the best of difficult situations.

There is a big misunderstanding between Noah and Thea that awkwardly occurs on the wedding night, and details about the backstory come out in drips and drabs, continuing the tension and suspense all the way until the end of the tale. The couple are determined to have a civil marriage, however, and their growing closeness as they try to find a way to rub along together leads to a sweet and slow- blooming love that will satisfy the romance reader. There is a lovely warmth and realness to the characters that makes me invested in their marital success. Burrowes again presents us with a couple worth falling in love with in The Duke's Disaster.

Book Summary

Noah Winters, Duke of Anselm, exercises the pragmatism for which he's infamous when his preferred choice of bride cries off, and her companion, Lady Thea Collins, becomes his next choice for his duchess. Lady Thea's mature, sensible and even rather attractive-what could possibly go wrong?

As a lady fallen on hard times, Thea doesn't expect tender sentiments from His Grace, but she does wish Noah had courted her trust, lest her past turn their hastily arranged marriage into a life of shared regrets. Is His Grace courting a convenient wife, or a beautiful disaster?