This story has everything. Friends who become enemies, a naively innocent heroine, darkly handsome men, romantic obsession that leads to dark love and anger. Alexandra Hawkins' A Duke but No Gentlemen was a disturbing read for me. Am not a fan of manipulation of innocents and questionable sexual situations. This book will linger with the reader, but it just was a little too much for me. ( )

DNF. I tried but this novel's characters couldn't hold my interest. The abruptness of the beginning didn't help at all either. Sorry.

Masters of contempt.

Lady Imogene Saunter is a young woman entering her first season. Little does she envisage that she'll will become involves with two dissolute rakes. The Duke of Blackbern and the Marquess of Norgrave place bets against each other over everything including who will be the first to deduce Imogen. Both men are licentious members of the ton. Norgrave, is a twisted nefarious blackguard whose does little to keep his towering rages or his sadism control. Blackbern is as much a cad, except he falls in love with Imogene, who's a starry- eyed young thing looking for love and adventure.
The rules of the time were very strict and Imogene courted disaster. Admittedly she didn't know that the Marquess of Norgrave was an outgoing sadistic knave who uses women and then throws them away. The more innocent the better.
Tristan, the Duke of Blackbern falls in love with Imogene and now he has to head off Norgrave, his childhood friend and longtime companion in dissolute pursuits.
However, in a rage at being 'bested' by Blackbern in their competition for Imogene's affection, Norgrave attacks Imogene, the woman he has supposedly become protective about. Brutality and rape are Norgrave's tools of seduction. Imogene confesses to Blackbern that maybe, in some twisted sense and against her will, the interaction with Norgrave was charged. Unfortunately, the idea that Imogene at some level enjoyed the situation appears to be perpetuated here.
These are two disturbing Regency knaves, contemptuous of women, who have crossed the line. They may be touted as Masters of Seduction but they are unconscionable sexual predators.
Blackbern does redeem himself through his love for Imogene that transcends the treatment she has suffered at Norgrave's hands. He doesn't judge her or push her away as most would in these times in this social strata. A hard story to be comfortable with as it deals with the darker dissolute side of regency times, and of all times where predators abound.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

A DUKE BUT NO GENTLEMAN by Alexandra Hawkins is an exciting Regency Historical romance. #1 in “Masters of Seduction”, series. I would call this story an intriguing gothic romance. Be warned, this story is NOT for the faint of heart! They are many horrific scenes involved.

Fast paced with, rakes, scoundrels, seduction, passion, scandal, scandalous behavior, a wager of a scandalous nature, romance and finding your HEA.
While some will find this tale offensive, others will not, it is, to me, a tale weaved with offensive and delicate issues,such as rape, as well as the possibility of love. The reader will find a wide range of emotions, from angst, to sadness, to disbelief, to understanding, tears and yes, joy.
Ms. Hawkins has written a tale that will either hold the reader in rap attention or totally disappoint the reader into throwing the book down or eagerly continuing reading to find out what the ending holds for all the characters involved, such as I did. Will the characters find their HEA, redemption, forgiveness, healing or continue on their merry way without consequences to their actions?
I implore the reader to continue to read this story to its ending to see what happens, even though the tough stuff to its conclusion, you will be glad you did, I believe. The good outweighs the onslaught of evil. I applaud this author in her topic matter, this had to be a tough one to write for many reasons.
Have I intrigued you, or turned you off of, “A DUKE BUT NO GENTLEMAN”, I hope your answer is intrigued? While, difficult at times to read, a truly rewarding story. I look forward to the next installment in this wickedly seductive series.

*Received for an honest review from the publisher via Net Gallery*

**Cross-posted on My Book Addiction Reviews dot com**

Rating: 4
Heat rating: Hot to Wild ride
Reviewed by: April , courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )

**This book may be a trigger for victims of rape and or domestic violence**

This was a hard book to rate and review. When both male characters were introduced I found nothing to really like about either one of them. In just about every book of this genre we are usually given the male lead being a rouge and a reprobate, but it's always glossed over. Well, not in this book. Within the first chapter we learn how free they are with their encounters. Of course one of the men is much worse than the other, but it takes a chapter or two to figure out which is which. At times, I thought it was a little too much. Just using women as entertainment and discarding them swiftly.

Imogene was your typical heroine from this genre; young, beautiful, and desired by many. Her first meeting with Blackbern was a little creepy, IMO. He came on a little strong and she just ate it up while appearing shocked. Their courtship takes a little bit to get into, but it gets to the point of being, dare I say it, sweet.

I did not care for Norgrave at all. He was just a horrible person. And considering what he did to get even with Blackbern, he is one character I wish I could have done without. Of course, then we wouldn't have this book.

This was darker and more emotional then most books that are historical romance. I almost stopped reading it at one point, but decided I really needed to see where it went with the plot. I think I might try the next in the series or I might try one of the author's other books to make sure I didn't just start this author on a hard book to read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. ( )