FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE is Book 1 in Lorraine Heath's Hellions of Havisham series. It's not necessary, but reading BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND DESIRE before reading FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE will give you some context, since the hero and heroine of that previous book are the parents of the heroine in this new story. Having read both, and being a fan of that earlier series, adds richness to this romance for me. WHEN THE DUKE WAS WICKED is another key book to check out because that story involves the heroine's brother and best friend.

Although I usually don't look for stories involving good girls who take a walk on the wild side, Lorraine Heath creates a charming and sexy romance between two people who wouldn't normally mix. Minerva Dodger is a delightfully outspoken young woman whose large dowry attracts men more than her looks, and the Duke of Ashebury -- known as Ashe to his friends -- is something of an adventurer who avoids virgins. The Nightingale Club makes a wonderfully mysterious and romantic setting for Ashe and Minerva's first meeting. I adore the use of masks and that Minerva's identity remains hidden at first. The way the story unfolds with Ashe slowly piecing together the hidden identity of his enigmatic and captivating Lady V, combined with his being forced to take another look at a woman he wouldn't normally have been interested in, makes for a fascinating tale.

I'm happy that FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE is told from alternating perspectives. I like both Minerva and Ashe. This is a romance in which the hero is divine and the heroine is intelligent -- a recipe that yields delightful results. As with other characters created by Lorraine Heath, they are complex and not what you might expect. It's great how the characters are able to form a connection over Ashe's photography, something that is very personal to him. Minerva and Ashe are both caught by surprise when it comes to love. The gradual shift in their feelings makes the intimacy more intense and the romance hotter.

I love discovering all the delicious layers in FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE and getting to know these characters better. There is no villain in FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE. The focus is Ashe and Minerva. Any conflict is primarily due to Minerva's insecurities. I am anxious about how Edward's story will work out, and excited to see what's in store for Locksley. I eagerly await the next installment in Lorraine Heath's Hellions of Havisham series.

Book Summary

In the first in a dazzling new series, New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath introduces the Hellions of Havisham—three charismatic rogues destined to lose their hearts . . .

After six unsuccessful Seasons, Miss Minerva Dodger chooses spinsterhood over fortune-hungry suitors. But thanks to the Nightingale Club, she can at least enjoy one night of pleasure. At that notorious establishment, ladies don masks before choosing a lover. The sinfully handsome Duke of Ashebury is more than willing to satisfy the secretive lady's desires—and draws Minerva into an exquisite, increasingly intimate affair.

A man of remarkable talents, Ashe soon deduces that his bedmate is the unconventional Miss Dodger. Intrigued by her wit and daring, he sets out to woo her in earnest. Yet Minerva refuses to trust him. How to court a woman he has already thoroughly seduced? And how to prove that the passion unleashed in darkness is only the beginning of a lifetime's pleasure . . . ?