Camden Rothermere, the future Duke of Sedgemoor, has no use for love. He's seen how the emotion has destroyed many lives, including his own parents. So now that his friend's younger sister, Penelope, is nineteen years old, he decides that she's the one he'll marry. After all, he's known Pen all her life, and he likes her better than any other female. She won't expect any messy emotions from him, and they should have a satisfying marriage. Little does Cam realize that Pen has been in love with him forever, and would like nothing better than to be his wife - but not on those terms. Cam's matter of fact proposal leaves her cold, and when he can't say anything more than that he "likes" her, Pen decides to turn him down. A life with him without his love would be unbearable. In order to avoid seeing him constantly, Pen takes off for the continent with her aunt, where she travels for nine years, creating a scandalous reputation for herself.

For those years, Cam has kept track of all Pen's exploits. He tells himself that he's lucky she refused him, as the last thing he needs is a notorious duchess. He's spent years living an exemplary life, trying to offset the scandals his parents created. Now he believes he has found the perfect woman, and is close to proposing. Then he receives an urgent request from his friend Peter, Pen's older brother. Pen' s aunt has died, and left her stranded. Peter was to meet her and escort her home, but took ill himself. Now he's dying, and has requested that his old friend Cam find her and escort her back home. It's the last thing Cam wants to do, but he agrees.

Pen's love for Cam never diminished, so she's horrified at having to face him again. On their journey home, they discover an intense sexual attraction, but Pen is determined not to become entangled with him. As can be expected, they are discovered travelling together unchaperoned, and rather than cause a scandal, Cam finally convinces Pen to marry him, to save HIS reputation.

Anna Campbell has taken a familiar trope, that of a person who won't love, and written a story with a little different twist. Despite his refusal to love, Cam is still an engaging hero. He is honest, protective, caring, and honorable. He treats Pen admirably, and supports her. Pen is determined to protect herself, and never admit her love. She's impulsive, and makes a decision that has near disastrous consequences, but it came from her heart. There was a secondary romance involving Pen's younger brother, Harry. While it was integral to the plot of the book, I found it a little distracting, as it encompassed much of the story. I'd have preferred to see those pages devoted to the main characters.

WHAT A DUKE DARES is Book three of the Sons of Sin Series. You don't have to have read the first two to enjoy this one, it stands on its own, though the two couples from those books make appearances here. This book is engaging, sometimes heartbreaking, but thoroughly enjoyable on the way to a well deserved happy every after. Your really can't run from love. WHAT A DUKE DARES is a winner.

Book Summary

A REPUTATION AT RISK

What woman in her right mind would say no to marrying the dashing Duke of Sedgemoor? Miss Penelope Thorne, that's who. She's known Camden Rothermere since they were children-and she also knows she'd bring nothing but scandal to his name.

Cam can hardly believe Penelope turned down his proposal. But if she wants to run off to the Continent and set the rumor mill ablaze, he can't stop her. Then her brother's dying request sends him to bring home the one woman he thought he'd finally gotten over.

The only way they'll both get back to London without their reputations in tatters is to pretend they're married during the journey. That means kissing like they mean it and even sharing a bed-until it becomes hard to tell where the game ends and true desire begins . . .

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