Having grown up on her father's ship and in some of the world's most exotic places, Miss May Bradford is not thrilled when her father ships her off to his sister's in England after the death of May's mother. With her aunt constantly lecturing her on propriety, May can't wait until her father comes back for her and they leave the dreaded country on their next adventure. When May meets the exceedingly proper Duke of Radcliffe, things don't go so well, leading May's aunt to lock her in her room until she apologizes to the Duke.

William Spencer, the Duke of Radcliffe, lives his life according to the propriety expected of someone of his station. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman who doesn't even know the meaning of the word, but there's something about May that draws him. No matter how improper he considers her, William finds himself still seeking out her company at every turn. Though she's everything he said he didn't want in his life, William finds himself falling for May anyway, but with May's insistence she's just waiting for her father to come get her so she can leave the country William loves, will there be anything he can do to convince her some things are worth staying for?

Erin Knightley, where have you been hiding? THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL, the third book in the Prelude to a Kiss series, captivated me from the get go. I love how unconventional and strong May's character is and remains throughout the book, unlike a lot of times where the character starts off quirky and quickly morphs into the kind of girl the hero wants. I also love the verbal sparing between May and William. Sparks fly off the pages from the moment these two meet and you won't be able to contain your laughter. The build up of the romance between the two will delight readers. The addition of secondary characters who are as fascinating as the mains left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the first two books in this enchanting series. THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL may be my first foray into the world of Erin Knightley but it certainly won't be my last. I'm counting down until the next book in this series comes out.

Book Summary

After her mother’s death, May’s sea captain father sends her halfway around the world to live with his stodgy sister in England. The summer festival in Bath made for a lovely distraction, but now she can’t wait for her father’s return so she can leave this country, its suffocating rules, and one infuriatingly proper nobleman in particular behind.

Because he is the Duke of Radcliffe, William Spencer’s whole life revolves around his duties. He never steps foot outside the bounds of proper behavior, and he expects the same of those around him. With her devil-may- care ways, May vexes him nearly as much as she tempts him, but there’s something about her that he just can’t resist. He knows he’s falling hard for her, but with lives that are worlds apart, will they ever be able to find any common ground?