Along Came A Duke (Rhymes with Love, #1) by Elizabeth Boyle

• Title: Along Came a Duke: Rhymes With Love
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Format: Paperback, 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (May 29, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0062089064
• ISBN-13: 978-0062089069

Author's Website: http://www.elizabethboyle.com/

"Sir, I will have you know, I never intend to go seeking a husband and am quite content with that notion." There, she'd managed her mind, and fortified by her first success she continued unabashedly, "Marriage offers no benefits to a lady, save leaving her a servant to a man's fickle whims and his selfish demands."

What a difference a day or even a few hours can make...

Tabitha Timmons was the daughter of a Vicar. When he passed, she was taken in by her Uncle and his wife. They hadn't done so out of the kindness of their heart, however, she was part of a package deal. Her uncle would only be allowed to take over the vicarage if he agreed to take her in. Unfortunately, they didn't treat her like family, they treated her more like a maid and had her doing the cleaning and cooking and anything else that caught their fancy.

Just days after making her passionate declaration that she would never seek a husband, Tabitha was on her way to London to get married. Her uncle on her mother's side of the family had passed away and she was his only living heir. He'd left his vast fortune to her with only one stipulation, that she marry by the age she reached her majority and, if she wasn't already married, that she wed the man he'd chosen for her prior to his death--Mr Reginald Barkworth.

It seemed all had been decided for her and her new fate set. If not for a chance encounter between Tabitha and Preston, the man Tabitha had made the aforementioned declaration to, things may have turned out very differently. For on her way to London to meet her betrothed, along came a Duke (Preston) that should have scared Miss Timmons away, but decidedly didn't.

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This was a deliciously delightful read. I just adored the chemistry between Preston and Tabitha. The attraction between the two was undeniable and Preston's initial reaction to that attraction was priceless. I loved watching Preston realize his feelings for Tabitha after most of those closest to him already did. His actions had me laughing myself silly, grinning from ear to ear, and shaking my head wondering, "What does he think he's doing?" I loved how Tabitha didn't miss a beat and just did her best to smooth over his deliberate bad behavior. It's always fun to watch a man go a little crazy about a woman.

Tabitha was fun and, as I insinuated, cool under pressure. She started out the book in a bad position--under her aunt's and uncle's thumb, but proved to be smart and resourceful. I enjoyed the witty banter she and Preston shared and how she wasn't intimidated by his position or his bad reputation. I loved how she saw past the illusion he'd constructed around himself and saw to the heart of the man who resided underneath. I also liked the added dimension Reginald Barkworth, the man she came to London to marry, brought to the story.

Overall, I loved the book and gave it 5 out of 5 roses. It has a charming blend of humor, wit, and romance with a dash of suspense mixed in. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earns a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I highly recommend this one who loves humorous romances that leave you with a smile on your face.