No Ordinary Duchess

A series of unexpected rendezvous between a steely heir to a dukedom and a spirited book lover animate the solid third Georgian romance in bestseller Hoyt’s Greycourt series (after When a Rogue Meets His Match). Julian, whose years of living with his abusive uncle have taught him to remain unemotional and detached, meets Elspeth, an endearingly naive yet self-assured gentlewoman, while both are hiding out in a private library. As Julian valiantly seeks to protect his family from his uncle’s wrath and Elspeth doggedly searches for a journal she believes will restore the secret organization of women in which she and her sisters were raised, their lives intertwine. Elspeth thaws Julian’s icy exterior, persistently fighting his hurtful attempts to force her away from him due to his deep-seated shame and feelings of unworthiness. Their will-they-won’t-they comes to a head when they are trapped together at his country house during a storm, and their relationship blossoms through touching conversations and irresistibly kinky sexual interludes. While a few distracting subplots clutter the narrative and the ending arrives abruptly, Hoyt offers a refreshing perspective that deconstructs Georgian society’s toxic views on sexuality and delivers a subtle but poignant message of self-acceptance without sacrificing her signature sensuality. There’s lots here to enjoy. (Dec.)