The Duke's Suspicion

Botanist Erica Burke dreams of travel somewhere she won’t be scorned for her scientific interests. Instead, a storm strands her with cool and commanding Major Tristan Laurens who's now the Duke of Raynham after his father & brother Percy died in an accident. Tristan is torn between his duties as an intelligence officer and his responsibilities as a duke. A brief return to England to set his affairs in order is extended by bad weather and worse news someone is after the military secrets he keeps. He needs to see Erica's journal, which she closely guards. Erica guards her journal as fiercely as she guards her heart, fearing to reveal a side of herself a man like Tristan could never understand. This is the second book in the series but it could be read on its own. I’m always excited when the author has a new book because they are well written with lovely characters & with a story that’s well paced & riveting, I've read all of her books & I've not been disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Tristan & Erica are delightful, they are attracted to each other from their first meeting in the cottage but secrets, misunderstandings & complications threaten to derail their budding romance. I look forward to more in the series by this relatively new but an author who is on my must read list. My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This was a highly charged story with fantastic, compelling characters that held me spellbound until the last page. Erica, a lovely Irish botanist, was traveling with her sister and brother law to their estate in England. in her absent mindedness, she realized she left her beloved journal containing her botany studies, inside the Inn. Turning from the coach and going back to get it, she wound up being left. So she set off on foot for the long walk to her sister's estate. But as often happens, it started pouring rain and she took shelter in a deserted cabin on her way. Major Tristan Laurens, an intelligence officer, was on the way to his estate to straighten out his affairs, haven recently inherited a dukedom. He had taken shelter as well and was surprised when beautiful Erica barged in! This is when everything starts to get interesting! Tristan is has been given instructions to find a spy who has been stealing military secrets and that carries around a journal! Could it be that easy? She carries a journal that she is guarding with her life! These two were really a pair! A brooding Duke and an almost scatterbrain lady ( really due to her intelligence!) bring humor to the story as well as a almost palatable spark alighting between them! This tale had a little of all that a romance should. A mystery, intrigue, humor and of course a budding romance. This is the first book I have read by this author and I truly cannot wait to read more. Her prose is delightful and the plot and detail shows her imagination is amazing. I have not read the first book in this series so this can be read as a standalone, but I hope to remedy that post haste!