I didn't fall in love with these characters or this plot, but the writing was solid. It held my attention and kept me curious how things would turn out, and I chuckled at parts. I liked it more than the first book in this series, and I'm pleased to have read it. ( )

Not a standard Regency.

The male lead, Langford, the duke of the title, is conventional, but Amanda, the female lead, anything but. She provides all the spice, all the adventure in the book.

Recommend. The crux of the romance is the gradual revealing of Amanda's true background to the duke. The denouement is well done, plausible, but not as developed as the rest of the book. ( )

Gabriel is well-known for his liaisons and exploits, but when a mysterious woman attempts to seduce his brother at a masquerade ball, he finds himself obsessed with finding her again.
Amanda is living two lives--one as a respectable if not eccentric role as a secretary to a powerful woman; the other as a thief.
When Amanda uses Gabriel to steal a relic, can he save her from the consequences and for himself?

Amanda Waverly, secretary or thief? Or is she both? She was born into a life a crime, forced to become a thief due to her parents' training. Amanda is striving to keep her identity a secret, all while trying to escape that life by serving as a secretary to a responsible lady in society. However, the pressure to keep stealing is constantly facing her.

Fortunately, her employer, Lady Farnsworth, a publisher of a lady's journal, has a wonderful influence on her. What Amanda doesn't expect, however, is to run into Gabriel St. James, Duke of Langford. Amanda manages to trick the duke into participating in a theft, all while keeping her name a secret. How long can this go on? Who will end this farce?

While the two spend time together, one thing is undeniable, and that is their powerful attraction to one another. Throwing caution to the wind, they engage in far more than a begrudging friendship. The story shifts back and forth between their affair, her secret and Gabriel having to choose honor and decency over his own heart.

This was a sensitive story, especially since both Amanda and Gabriel went through so many changes, and the result could have been more than disastrous. It was enjoyable to be reminded of Gabriel's friends with the other two Dukes and how they helped him to see how he actually felt. This entry in the Decadent Duke series had a satisfying ending.

Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion. ( )

Madeline Hunter doesn't know how to do simple. Her stories are enduring, complicated, mesmerizing works of art. A Devil of a Duke is a tale of risk that seduces the heart, even as it stirs the soul. Amanda and Gabriel will have readers on the edge of their seats. What would you do for love?


She's fighting to escape her birthright...

Amanda was born into a family of thieves. Desperate to escape the family trade with the help of her mother, she set about rebuilding her life and striving for something better than the family legacy. Now a respectable woman, circumstances are pulling her back in to the world she fought to escape.


He's working to redeem himself...

Gabriel is a duke. He doesn't care about his reputation, but he does care about the welfare of his people. So when his title is called in question, he decides to try to do better. When he loses his heart and mind over a beautifully mysterious woman, is when his resolve starts to unravel. He has a choice to make and his heart is at the center of both. ( )