Denying the Duke

'Denying the Duke' by Callie Hutton is Book Three in the "Lords and Ladies in Love" series. This is the story of Patience and Alex. I have read the previous books in this series but feel this can be a standalone book. Patience and Alex met when she was 16 and he was 21 and fell quickly into young Love. They made promise to each other that they would be together in three years. Alex is the second son of a Duke and needed to start a life and make he own way in the world. So he asked that Patience wait for him for three years until he can settle enough money to take a wife. But, Alex later learned at dinner that night Patience hand in marriage would be given to his older brother. Patience too learned after that promise to Alex that her father had planned all along to marry her to the oldest son. Alex up and left that night of the dinner never to talk to Patience again until 4 years later when Alex returns to take of the Title of Duke after his brother's death. Only then after returning does he learn that Patience never married his brother. But he has changed greatly from the young man he was to a more jaded person today. Along with Patience who was once a innocent carefree girl who at one time her father all but ignored. But after her refusal to marry Alex's older brother her father and his brother made her life terrible. Alex and Patience learn that the once brothel between her and the older brother now might have to be met with Alex and her. Both are shocked at the information. Can they use the feelings they once had to move forward past the hurt and anger that they have lived through.? Wow this book takes you in with just the first few pages of their young love. I didn't want to put this book down at all! Series Order:Book #1 Seducing the MarquessBook #2 Marrying the Wrong EarlBook #3 Denying the Duke"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

Oh, to be young and naive. Patience and Alex thought love would be enough, but there were other plans at play. Callie Hutton never heads in the direction, I think she'll go. From heartache to tempting fate, she keeps her thoughts close to the vest and keeps readers guessing what's going to happen next. Denying The Duke plunders through a war, betrayal and heartache to create a courageous tale of love's power and life's hope. With the heart involved. ease is never to be expected only hoped for.

Alex and Patience…sigh! What a delightful couple they were! Patience is promised by her parents to Cyrus, the Duke of Bedford’s heir apparent and older brother of Alex. But Patience falls in love with Alex during their first meeting and learns to loathe and fear his older brother Cyrus. When the betrothal is announced, Alex, as second son, takes off for military service. Four years later Alex comes home after the death of his father and his older brother and becomes the Duke of Bedford, only to find that Patience had never married Cyrus, that he had died before the marriage could take place. The rest of the story is about Alex wooing Patience despite her reluctance to be wooed because she doesn’t understand how he could have left her behind when he went to the military. Also, a fours years’ separation changed both of them. It was a run romp of a romance!