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Lydia Lloyd
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When the Duke Loved Me (The Rake Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Lydia Lloyd (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
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They are both pretending to be someone else for the night...

When Catherine Forster asks a handsome stranger to lead her out of the ballroom and into the Tremberley gardens, she hopes to glimpse its renowned Roman ruins…and maybe steal a kiss. But when she and her delectable escort are discovered in a scandalous embrace, Catherine is horrified to learn that she has been kissing John Breminster, heir to the man who ruined her family.

Given that the Forsters are his sworn enemies, John had no choice but to walk away from Catherine that night. But he has never been able to forget their close encounter—and, even years later, still longs for her touch. Worse, when his father dies, John, now the Duke of Edington, finds himself with a problem that only Catherine can help him solve.

Catherine agrees to aid him in his quest…for a price. On their journey, they soon begin to give into temptation, even as they uncover troubling revelations about the past. Will John and Catherine overcome this shared history? Or will its secrets tear them apart forever?

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Rake Chronicles
  2. Print length
    408 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    August 28, 2023
  6. File size
    1578 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lydia Lloyd writes high-heat historical romance set during the Regency period. She enjoys creating love stories between roguish heroes and complex heroines that are driven by authentic conflict and steamy encounters. Lydia holds a PhD in nineteenth-century British literature and, when she isn't writing historical romance, works as a teacher and scholar.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BWPRGV65
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing (August 28, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 28, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1578 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B0CGTPZN15
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Lydia Lloyd

Lydia Lloyd

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Lydia Lloyd is a writer of steamy historical romances set during the Regency period. She likes to write complex heroines with strong desires, heroes who are both roguish and emotionally intelligent, and plots driven by high-quality conflict. In her other life, Lydia holds a PhD in nineteenth-century British literature and works as an academic and teacher.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
111 global ratings
Enjoyable Debut
5 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable Debut
When the Duke Loved me by Lydia LloydSetting:Hampshire, England 1815Characters:John BreminsterCatherine ForsterHenriettaArielTropes:Compromised Heroine (Mild)Rake HeroF Boy turned Husband MaterialGoodreads:🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟. 5 rounded to 5 🌟Spice:🌶 🌶Review:This was a lovely debut novel. I enjoyed that the storyline was a little chaotic because it gave me bodice ripper energy, but with a modern sensibility. John and Catherine was enjoyable leads, but I honestly was more connected to Henrietta and hope she gets her own book soon.Content Warnings:Rakeish behavior/ dubious intentionsMild Slüt Shaming
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Top reviews from the United States

Melinda Greathouse
5.0 out of 5 stars Great debut
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2023
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This is an enemies to lovers, road trip, rake/Bluestocking romance that also feels very instalust. I’d really have liked a bit more backstory as far as their prior relationship, but overall I really enjoyed this debut from Lydia Lloyd, and I’ll definitely read the rest of the series.
2 people found this helpful
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Jessica W
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining debut!
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2023
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I was so excited to see that one of my favorite historical romance bookstagramers had a book releasing soon. Lydia Lloyd is the Queen of compiling research on historical romances and the history aspect of them. So I was pleased to read that her heroine, Catherine is a bit of a history buff herself. Our book has a promising opening with John and Catherine each secretly seeking something outside of their normal lives (John pretends to be a vicar to break from his duties as a Duke, Catherine too conceals her identity). Amidst their instant attraction and beginning of a make out session, their identities are revealed and they are none other than family rivals. Why rivals? John’s married father had an affair with Catherine’s aunt and was caught in flagrante. This destroyed John’s parents’ marriage and also the reputation of Mary Forster, Catherine’s aunt who by association destroyed her family’s name. Seem a little confusing? It was at first for me too.

The story then book then jumps to 7 years in the future. Both John and Catherine have secretly been lusting over one another (which I found to be a LOOOOONG time for feelings of lust without interaction to exist) and they must pair up due to a stipulation in the late Duke’s will. For me this is where the chemistry really started to take off. If you take enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, spiciness is bound to happen, right? There seemed to be many plot points driving this novel and I think it confused me initially, but I really enjoyed the time John and Catherine had to spend together. There is a scene where Catherine is at the modiste that is 🔥🔥🔥, and several hot intimate scenes between them—you always want what you can’t have right?
I appreciated Catherine as a heroine who has had to do a LOT on her own to live past her family’s tainted scandal. She is still generous and thoughtful even though if anyone deserves a break, it’s her. As a hero, John ran hot and cold to me. He seemed a bit like a man unsure of himself which translates into him not being my favorite type of hero. There are so many tropes and I loved coming across recognizable ones, but maybe they distracted from the story just a bit. I think this is an enjoyable debut and know there is bound to be more interesting stories from amongst John’s friends, The Rank Rakes. I look forward to reading more from Lydia Lloyd.
I received this Advanced Copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
One person found this helpful
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overflowingwithreviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I'd hoped
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2023
Sadly, I did not love this like I thought I would. This isn’t a story of a second chance romance in its truest sense, but it’s similar in that the hero and heroine part ways only to meet again many years later down the road. Second chances are one of my absolute favorite tropes, and I feel the same way about enemies to lovers, but the beginning was so abrupt that I had a very difficult time justifying the rabid sense of pining when they meet again, particularly on behalf of the hero. I’m a simp for serious pining, but I wish we could’ve seen more interaction between John and Catherine to account for why these feelings were so intense. The general plot also seemed a bit convoluted as well; it could’ve been more linear with a similar theme and still had the same desired outcome. Despite this, the prose itself was exceptionally well done. If you can take the leap of faith in the beginning regarding the intensity of the feelings, it is a fairly solid story with plenty of steam. I am curious as to how book 2 goes, and am hoping I enjoy it more.
2 people found this helpful
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Writer's Block
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Debut!
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023
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I love historical romance, especially with strong women leads, so this book was right up my alley! Enemies to loves, smoldering sex scenes, and a beautiful author voice really made this a delightful read.
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NataliaB
4.0 out of 5 stars a flashback to my favorites ever regency books
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2023
This book was a flashback to the first regency romance I’ve read. Writers like Jo Beverly, Johanna Lindsey or Maya Banks, Books so well researched, neatly written and with the right pace for each plot twist. The only objection I have , I did not like the Duke very much, if it were not for the fact that Catherine falls in love at first sight, I would not have understood what the appeal was
.
The double point of view helps a little, but I was too m much into the family mystery to worry about the duke. Catherine seemed very relatable for the time, and her story touched my heart.
.
This is a regency romance that goes more to the angst side. The gender difference and the privilege of men favored by the monarchy and the noble society of the time and the difficulties that a woman has to go through to have recognition and be the owner of her economic future without being condemned to social ruin.
.
After having suffered a family scandal and having lost her father, Catherine is welcomed into Lord Wethersby's house and raised as one more daughter, but luck is not on her side when she meets a handsome vicar and instantly falls for him only to discover minutes later that he is her family's sworn enemy.
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Seven years later, while Catherine tries to do everything possible to keep her adoptive family afloat financially with her writing, Jhon reappears in her life to propose a deal that is difficult to pass up.
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Jhon needs to find her aunt so he doesn't lose part of the inheritance his father left for him and his sister and the only person capable of helping him is the one he left behind seven years ago and he can't stop thinking despite having all the reasons to hate her.
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Catherine accepts the deal, since it is the only way to earn enough money to get her family out of ruin, but with this deal she is condemned to spend a lot of time near the person she hates most.
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This is an enemies to lovers,with a mystery to solve and several plot twists that make you keep turning page after page almost addictively
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Sara
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic debut!
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024
This is classic historical romance goodness with a modern sensibility. Can't wait to read more from this author!
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Top reviews from other countries

Spider
5.0 out of 5 stars Very sexy victorian romance
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
I loved this. It's well-written and very easy to read, I flew through it. It's at the sexier end of historical romance (but not erotica). It's a fun story, all the elements of it work really well. I recommend it a lot.
One person found this helpful
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Birgitta
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet first book in the series
Reviewed in Germany on October 6, 2023
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I liked that you were immediately drawn into the story. The hero and heroine are very much attracted to each other and of course you quite knew the ending soon but it was a fast and delicious reading.
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Abbey (bookish_and_m.e._)
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Debut
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
If you're a fan of a trope heavy historical romance the Lydia Lloyd's debut will be one for you.

Catherine Forster and John Breminster meet one night at a ball and end up sharing a passionate kiss by the Roman Ruins. But not all is as it seems as Catherine discovers that John is not a vicar but the heir to the family that ruined hers.
Fast forward John is now the Duke of Edington as has never forgotten that night in the Temberly gardens. In order to protect his sisters reputation is has to find the woman at the centre of the family feud with the Forster, Catherine's long lost Aunt.
Enlisting her help on this quest comes as at a price and may be one temptation too many!

This book had all the fav tropes that you come to expect with this type of historical romance: enemies to lovers, insta love, quests, one bed, rake / bluestocking, carriage shenanigans etc.

While I would have preferred more relationship development between Catherine and John; they really couldn't deny their attraction to each other and jumping right back in despite the time between their last meeting. Overall, it was a fun, easy-read debut and I'm looking forward to the next instalment.
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