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The Runaway Duchess by Joanna Lowell is my fifteenth book of the year and the second book in the Duke Undone series. This was my book club’s book of the month. We are meeting in a week and if you would love to join let me know. It’s all online!
In The Runaway Duchess, pretty and pampered, Lavinia Yardley always dreamed of becoming a duchess. But family disgrace forces her into marriage with the most vile duke in England, and she finds herself desperate for a way out. When a rustic stranger mistakes her for globe-trotting botanist Muriel Pendrake at a train station, Lavinia has a split second to decide whether to submit to her fate or steal someone else’s.
Neal Traymayne spent his youth traveling the world as Varnham Nursery’s most daring plant hunter. Now he runs the nursery and is ready to settle down with a like-minded wife who’ll fit right in with his large, happy, down-to-earth family. His correspondence with Muriel Pendrake proved they’re the perfect match. Odd that the woman in the flesh seems more like a society belle than a scientist.
As they tramp the Cornish moors together, Lavinia and Neal discover a wild and rare desire. But this blossoming love is rooted in lies, and when the real Muriel Pendrake shows up, they can’t hide from who they are. The truth may wither their hopes of happiness, or it may bloom into the sweetest love of all.
This wasn’t my top pick for our book club. I like historical fiction romance books but I wasn’t sure I would love this one. The Runaway Duchess was a little slow going. I had trouble connecting with Lavinia. She was snotty and rude to start so it made it difficult to like her. I liked Neal but he was a saint compared to Lavinia. As the book progressed (no spoilers), Lavinia started to become more likable she did things that were sweet. The romance was hot and steamy which was a bonus for the book. I will say the end of the book wrapped up a little to convenient. While this is a second book in the series, I did not need to read the previous book.
Have you read this book? I hope you give it a chance.
The Spinny Bookworm Mama 