Book Review - The Duke's Counterfeit Wife

The Duke's Counterfeit Wife by Louise Allen

* Thank you to Mills & Boon, I was gifted this in exchange for an honest review because I am a #MillsAndBoonInsiders

Synopsis:

A feigned marriage. A very real attraction… When their ship is commandeered, Nicholas Terrell, Duke of Severton, saves stranger Sarah Parrish by claiming she’s his wife! She’s more valuable if their captors believe she’ll bring them a duchess’s ransom, but now Nicholas is compelled to share a cabin with his distractingly beautiful faux bride… Outspoken Sarah enchants him like no debutante ever has. Yet, as a lady’s companion, Sarah’s completely unsuitable for a duke. So surely a real match between them is impossible?



My Review:

When her father’s shipping business goes to ruin and ultimately costs him his life, Sarah Parrish is left with no option but to take a job as a lady’s companion. She and her maid, Millie, make the journey to their new destination via ship. Whilst on board she meets the attractive, Nicholas, Duke of Severton, who is there researching a possible investment into the shipping business.

What should have been a short, simple journey takes a dangerous turn when one morning they wake up to discover that the ship has been taken over by pirates. Nicholas makes a split decision to protect himself and Sarah, by revealing that he’s a Duke and Sarah is his wife. He tells the pirates that instead of killing them, they could hold them to ransom. Eventually the pirates agree, imprisoning them in a cabin.

During their forced proximity Sarah and Nicholas set about plotting their escape. Once they get away from their captors, Sarah then discovers that there is a connection between the pirates, a mysterious cargo onboard, and the man who caused the ruin of her father’s business. Set on revenge and gaining back her families fortune, Sarah persuades Nicholas to let her accompany him while he gets to the bottom of the situation, even if her reputation as a lady may be questioned. Despite their difference in class, the two gradually grow closer as mystery and danger force them together.

The Duke’s Counterfeit Wife isn’t your traditional Mills and Boon regency novel, there was a lot of adventure alongside the romance, which made for an exciting read. I loved how feisty Sarah was. She stood up to Nicholas on many occasions, even though regency women were supposed to know their place. I liked how their attraction and romance was a slow build, it certainly wasn’t love at first sight! My favourite character was Millie, Sarah’s maid. She made me laugh and her character definitely had some tales to tell! If you like historical romance and adventure, then this is the book for you!

You can buy a copy here

Comments