Erin Knightley has crafted an excellent enemies to lovers story. The book's cover hints at the story as it depicts our well-dressed, not a hair out of place, dignified hero and our free-spirited, slightly daring, smiling heroine. The scenes which feature the back and forth banter between William and May are superbly written and contain the correct amount of passion and desire. The couple truly cannot reach common ground--they annoy each other--but they can't stay away from each other either. Is it passion? Lust? Desire?

The romance builds as the May visits William at his country estate. William sees how caring May is as he watches her playing with his younger brother and sister. He observes May as she listens to his siblings and is surprised and charmed by her actions. Even though May annoys him, teases him and verbally spars with him, he is captivated by her. The build up to the couple's first kiss is perfect. The author made the reader want to see these two give in to their feelings and experience their first kiss.

Kudos to author Erin Knightley for creating an original series. The Prelude to A Kiss series is set in Bath and features a series of musical programs. Each story within the series has characters that are multi-faceted and well defined. As a reader, it's refreshing to read a novel filled with interesting characters with different interests. I enjoyed reading THE DUKE CAN GO TO THE DEVIL because the characters are original and you know opposites attract! William feels May is a scandal waiting to happen. May helps William see there is more to life that duty and that his duties do not have to define him. Her actions show him the importance of family. The ending of this novel is superb and has a few twists and turns. William and May have many obstacles to overcome. Loved the epilogue with Charity, Sophie and May. The epilogue was heartwarming, perfectly written, and made me cry.

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?