Nash, the Duke of Malvern is completely against marrying because he doesn’t want to turn out like his father. When his father dies and his grandmother compels him to marry, he reluctantly agrees. But it has to be to someone he could never actually care for. Ana Maria, until recently treated like a servant in her own home by her stepmother, is exactly the woman Nash doesn’t want because he could come to care for her. When she implores him for lessons on self-defense so she can continue her charitable works, however, he might find he doesn’t have a choice.

This title had Megan Frampton’s usual unique hero and heroine, and I enjoyed reading about and getting to know them both. I loved Nash in the first book in the series and loved him again in this title!! Beastly heroes are my absolute favorite and Megan Frampton does an excellent job writing these brooding men. I liked Ana Maria, too, and found her background interesting if a little odd. I can’t remember from the first book why Sebastian or their father didn’t keep Ana Maria’s stepmother from treating her the way she did.

I did think Nash’s constant refrain of wanting to marry someone he couldn’t care for and how Ana Maria wasn’t that woman because he could grow to love her got tiresome. I completely understood his motives so I didn’t need to be beat over the head with them. Aside from that, I liked the way these two characters came together in an unconventional way. Much as I love historical romances, sometimes the ballroom and drawing room settings get old.

Book Summary