A Duke for Hire: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (The Devil's Masquerade Book 1) Kindle Edition by Violet Hamers

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Seraphina needs a husband, and she needs one fast. Her solution is brilliantly desperate: hire an actor to play the Duke of Merryvale, a notorious recluse. Her goal? Look interestingly enough to finally get some attention—before her mother can publicly scandalizes her for her failure.

The plan, naturally, goes sideways when the real Duke, Hugo, shows up. Hugo is everything his reputation warns: formidable and feared. But Seraphina doesn't see the monster; she sees the man. She is entirely unafraid of him, and that fearlessness immediately impresses Hugo.

Seraphina's life is a constant escape act. Just as she navigates the Duke's dangerous presence, her parents try to sell her off to a terrible old suitor. This is a classic Beauty and the Beast dynamic, but the taming is not gentle. Seraphina heals Hugo with kindness, love, and a scorching intensity.

This is a steamy story that cuts right to the heart of trauma. It explores how the actions of others can define our ability to trust and relate. Ultimately, though, the story insists that we have the power to choose our own path—and our own love. It's an intense, passionate read.