ChasingLeslie's Reviews > Second Duke's the Charm

The wedding-night death of her repulsive older husband has left Tess Townsend with a title, and her virginity still intact. Shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom but, when the woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Duchess, Justin sees a solution: a pleasurable marriage of convenience that will suit them both.

This is the first book in a new series about three close friends who secretly run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency. First up is Tess, the beauty. Tess was bartered off in marriage by her father, and saved by her husband's timely death. She attends a masked house party, hoping for a little flirty fun, but gets more than she bargained for when her fling turns out to be the new duke. I loved the set up for this story and the execution was great, too. There was wonderful chemistry between Tess and Justin, and just enough of the investigative story to balance the romance. Two thumbs up for the higher steam!

Tropes: Widow, Secret Virgin, Disguised Character/Masquerade, Unexpected Inheritance, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Crush, Working Heroine

Steam: 5

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.