The Unexpected Duchess
(Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read)
Bestselling author Valerie Bowman sets the stage in Regency England for her Playful Brides series, where couples' misadventures on the way to the altar are witty, romantic romps based on some of the world's most beloved plays. The first installment, The Unexpected Duchess, is inspired by Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac.
IN THIS BATTLE OF WITS
Lady Lucy Upton's tongue may be too sharp to attract suitors but her heart is good, and when her painfully shy friend Cassandra needs help she devises a brilliant scheme to help her discourage an unwanted suitor, the Duke of Claringdon. Lucy will hide behind the hedgerow and tell Cass just what to say to discourage the Duke of Claringdon...but it turns out that he's made of sterner stuff than either of them anticipated. And Lucy is shocked to discover that tangling with the tenacious man is the most fun she's had in ages.
KISSES ARE THE BEST WEAPON
Lord Derek Hunt made a promise to his dying friend to marry the demure Cassandra, and for a man who wants nothing more than peace and quiet after the horrors of war, she'll make the perfect bride. If only the impudent Miss Upton will let him court the girl! Doing battle is the last thing on his mind, but bantering with Lucy behind the bushes is too tempting to resist. And in The Unexpected Duchess, the spoils of this war just may be true love...
Valerie Bowman's Secret Brides novels are:
"Intriguing [and] engaging."—Publishers Weekly
"Too delightful to miss!"—Lisa Kleypas
"Sparkling...witty...engaging." —RT Book Reviews
If you are having problem transferring a title to your device, please fill out this support form or visit the library so we can help you to use our eBooks and eAudio Books.
Valerie Bowman. (2014). The Unexpected Duchess. St. Martin's Publishing Group.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)Valerie Bowman. 2014. The Unexpected Duchess. St. Martin's Publishing Group.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)Valerie Bowman, The Unexpected Duchess. St. Martin's Publishing Group, 2014.
MLA Citation (style guide)Valerie Bowman. The Unexpected Duchess. St. Martin's Publishing Group, 2014.
| Library | Owned | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Digital Collection | 1 | 1 |
OverDrive Product Record
- readingOrder
- 1
- images
- cover:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-100/2390-1/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img100.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- thumbnail:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-200/2390-1/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img200.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- cover150Wide:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-150/2390-1/D81/021/05/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img150.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- cover300Wide:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/2390-1/D81/021/05/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img400.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- cover:
- formats
- identifiers:
- type: ISBN
- value: 9781466839427
- name: Adobe EPUB eBook
- id: ebook-epub-adobe
- identifiers:
- identifiers:
- type: ASIN
- value: B00G1K7A9W
- name: Kindle Book
- id: ebook-kindle
- identifiers:
- identifiers:
- type: ISBN
- value: 9781466839427
- name: OverDrive Read
- id: ebook-overdrive
- identifiers:
- otherFormatIdentifiers
- type: ISBN
- value: 9781250042071
- mediaType
- eBook
- primaryCreator
- role: Author
- name: Valerie Bowman
- title
- The Unexpected Duchess
- seriesId
- 883392
- dateAdded
- 2016-12-01T19:38:11.993Z
- contentDetails
- href: https://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=141&titleID=1437005
- type: text/html
- account:
- name: Sacramento Public Library (CA)
- id: 1151
- sortTitle
- Unexpected Duchess
- crossRefId
- 1437005
- series
- Playful Brides
- id
- D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B
- starRating
- 3.7
OverDrive MetaData
- isPublicDomain
- False
- formats
- fileName: TheUnexpectedDuchess_9781466839427_1437005
- partCount: 0
- fileSize: 3342122
- identifiers:
- type: ISBN
- value: 9781466839427
- rights:
- type: Copying
- value: 0
- type: Printing
- value: 0
- type: Lending
- value: 0
- type: ReadAloud
- value: 0
- type: ExpirationRights
- value: 0
- name: Adobe EPUB eBook
- isReadAlong: False
- id: ebook-epub-adobe
- onSaleDate: 4/29/2014
- samples:
- source: From the book
- formatType: ebook-overdrive
- url: https://samples.overdrive.com/unexpected-duchess?.epub-sample.overdrive.com
- fileName: TheUnexpectedDuchess_1437005
- partCount: 0
- fileSize: 0
- identifiers:
- type: ASIN
- value: B00G1K7A9W
- name: Kindle Book
- isReadAlong: False
- id: ebook-kindle
- onSaleDate: 4/29/2014
- samples:
- source: From the book
- formatType: ebook-overdrive
- url: https://samples.overdrive.com/unexpected-duchess?.epub-sample.overdrive.com
- fileName: TheUnexpectedDuchess_9781466839427_1437005
- partCount: 0
- fileSize: 0
- identifiers:
- type: ISBN
- value: 9781466839427
- name: OverDrive Read
- isReadAlong: False
- id: ebook-overdrive
- onSaleDate: 4/29/2014
- samples:
- source: From the book
- formatType: ebook-overdrive
- url: https://samples.overdrive.com/unexpected-duchess?.epub-sample.overdrive.com
- keywords
- value: smart heroines
- value: Royal
- value: friends to lovers
- value: fun
- value: relationship
- value: HEA
- value: royalty
- value: Duke
- value: Humor
- value: Viscount
- value: nobleman
- value: Erotic
- value: happily ever after
- value: aristocratic
- value: marriage
- value: love
- value: love story
- value: heir
- value: lover
- value: estate
- value: countess
- value: Wedding
- value: aristocracy
- value: mistaken identity
- value: Steamy
- value: nobility
- value: light
- value: Bride
- value: Sensual
- value: engagement
- value: affair
- value: sweet
- value: enemies to lovers
- value: Intimacy
- value: sexy
- value: duchess
- value: cyrano de bergerac
- value: witty banter
- value: great characters
- value: upton
- value: historical romance series
- value: sassy humor
- value: bestselling regency romance authors
- value: classic literature retelling
- value: Cyrano de Bergerac adaptation
- value: historical romantic comedies
- value: inspired by plays
- value: intelligent romance novels
- value: regency era period
- value: romance series for english majors
- value: traditional regencies
- value: witty romantic stories
- creators
- role: Author
- fileAs: Bowman, Valerie
- bioText:
Valerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes Regency-set historical romance novels aka Racy Regency Romps! Since her debut in 2012, Valerie's books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She's been an RT Reviewers' Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas calls them, "Too delightful to miss!"
Valerie has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in history from Smith College. By day, she is a technical editor at a computer software company. By night, she combines her love of writing, history, and romance to craft stories about people falling in love.
Originally from Rantoul, Illinois, Valerie lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her family including her two rascally dogs. When she's not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV or PBS. - name: Valerie Bowman
- imprint
- St. Martin's Paperbacks
- publishDate
- 2014-04-29T00:00:00-04:00
- isOwnedByCollections
- True
- title
- The Unexpected Duchess
- fullDescription
Bestselling author Valerie Bowman sets the stage in Regency England for her Playful Brides series, where couples' misadventures on the way to the altar are witty, romantic romps based on some of the world's most beloved plays. The first installment, The Unexpected Duchess, is inspired by Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac.
IN THIS BATTLE OF WITS
Lady Lucy Upton's tongue may be too sharp to attract suitors but her heart is good, and when her painfully shy friend Cassandra needs help she devises a brilliant scheme to help her discourage an unwanted suitor, the Duke of Claringdon. Lucy will hide behind the hedgerow and tell Cass just what to say to discourage the Duke of Claringdon...but it turns out that he's made of sterner stuff than either of them anticipated. And Lucy is shocked to discover that tangling with the tenacious man is the most fun she's had in ages.
KISSES ARE THE BEST WEAPON
Lord Derek Hunt made a promise to his dying friend to marry the demure Cassandra, and for a man who wants nothing more than peace and quiet after the horrors of war, she'll make the perfect bride. If only the impudent Miss Upton will let him court the girl! Doing battle is the last thing on his mind, but bantering with Lucy behind the bushes is too tempting to resist. And in The Unexpected Duchess, the spoils of this war just may be true love...
Valerie Bowman's Secret Brides novels are:
"Intriguing [and] engaging."—Publishers Weekly
"Too delightful to miss!"—Lisa Kleypas
"Sparkling...witty...engaging." —RT Book Reviews- seriesId
- 883392
- reviews
- premium: False
- source: Booklist (Starred Review)
- content:
"Engaging characters, snappy banter, and judicious infusion of smoldering sensuality will have readers clamoring for the next installment in this smart and sext series."
- premium: False
- source: Kirkus (Starred Review)
- content: "A fun, smart comedy of errors and a sexy, satisfying romance."
- premium: False
- source: Romantic Times (4 1/2 Stars; Top Pick!)
- content: "Smart, witty, sassy and utterly delightful!"
- premium: False
- source: Publisher's Weekly
- content: "...a charming take on Cyrano de Bergerac."
- premium: False
- source: Fresh Fiction
- content: "Fun, engaging romance with great characters!"
- premium: True
- source:
- content:
March 17, 2014
Bowman (the Secret Brides series) launches the Playful Brides series of theater-themed Regency romances with a charming take on Cyrano de Bergerac. Lady Lucy Upton and Derek Hunt, the Duke of Claringdon, can’t quite conform to polite society’s expectations. Lucy’s clever tongue and unladylike bluntness has left her on the shelf, and her parents all but disowned her. Derek, a lowly soldier’s son, received a dukedom for his military actions against Napoleon. Derek promises his gravely wounded friend Julian that he will take care of Julian’s beloved, Lady Cassandra Monroe—which Derek takes to mean that he should marry her. When Lucy is caught feeding dialogue to the more demure Cassandra, Lucy and Derek embark on entertaining verbal skirmishes that lead to heated physical encounters. Some unnecessary repetition of their conflicts and a thoroughly unsurprising twist are only minor detractions. Regency fans can anticipate more racy antics in future installments, which will focus on Lucy’s beloved friends. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
- premium: True
- source:
- content:
Starred review from April 15, 2014
Sharp-tongued Lady Lucy Upton is determined to save her friend from an unwanted courtship by the newly minted Duke of Claringdon, but she never expects that standing up to him will draw the arrogant--and handsome--man her way. War hero Derek Hunt would much rather be with his men on the battlefield than in a ballroom, but since having a dukedom bestowed on him for his service, following orders means staying put and boosting morale on the homefront. Before leaving the war zone, however, Lord Hunt made a deathbed promise to his best friend that he would marry Lady Cassandra, a quiet, easygoing young woman who would make a perfect bride. However, once he starts to pursue her--to her mother's delight--he's continually thwarted by her friend, the infamous Lady Lucy: "Apparently the lady had a rapier for a tongue. She jabbed with nouns, riposted with verbs....By all accounts, she was a master. One who could rip an overzealous beau to shreds in mere seconds." Lady Lucy is a nuisance but an intriguing one. "He was a man used to having...orders carried out immediately and here was this slip of a young woman who not only refused to snap to attention but she also seemed to enjoy antagonizing him. He had to reluctantly admit, it fascinated him." Hunt finds himself falling for Lucy, who won't admit to her own feelings for him; and Lady Cassandra's family takes exception to his change of direction, leading to some challenging obstacles to their happiness. Bowman gives playful nods to Shakespeare and Cyrano de Bergerac in this appealing start to a new series. Lucy is the Regency shrew to Hunt's gentle-warrior hero who falls for her quick wit, then recognizes the wounded girl behind the virago mask. A fun, smart comedy of errors and a sexy, satisfying romance.COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- premium: True
- source:
- content:
Starred review from April 15, 2014
Lucy Upton knows she can talk; the problem is that Derek Hunt, Duke of Claringdon, just won't listen! Lucy's friend, Cassandra Monroe, simply can't find the words to let Derek know she has no interest in him as a potential husband. Because Lucy has no trouble at all in speaking her mind, she offers to provide Cassandra with the clearest possible language for letting Derek know, once and for all, that his offer of matrimony is not welcome. However, no matter how many times Lucyeither channeling her words through Cassandra, or speaking as herselftells Derek to go away, the infuriating man continues to court Cassandra. Lucy knows that Derek has had more than his share of success on the battlefields of Europe, but this is one battle he simply isn't going to win. Rising historical fiction star Bowman builds on the potential she displayed in her first Regency-set trilogy (the Secret Brides series) with The Unexpected Duchess, which launches her new Playful Brides books. This novel's engaging characters, snappy banter, and judicious infusion of smoldering sensuality will have readers clamoring for the next installment in this smart and sexy series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)
- popularity
- 679
- links
- self:
- href: https://api.overdrive.com/v1/collections/v1L1BWwAAAA2I/products/d8102105-4c96-4913-9ede-f10613cc0f9b/metadata
- type: application/vnd.overdrive.api+json
- self:
- id
- d8102105-4c96-4913-9ede-f10613cc0f9b
- starRating
- 3.6
- readingOrder
- 1
- images
- cover:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-100/2390-1/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img100.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- thumbnail:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-200/2390-1/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img200.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- cover150Wide:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-150/2390-1/D81/021/05/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img150.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- cover300Wide:
- href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/2390-1/D81/021/05/{D8102105-4C96-4913-9EDE-F10613CC0F9B}Img400.jpg
- type: image/jpeg
- cover:
- isPublicPerformanceAllowed
- False
- languages
- code: en
- name: English
- subjects
- value: Fiction
- value: Romance
- value: Historical Fiction
- publishDateText
- 04/29/2014
- otherFormatIdentifiers
- type: ISBN
- value: 9781250042071
- mediaType
- eBook
- shortDescription
Bestselling author Valerie Bowman sets the stage in Regency England for her Playful Brides series, where couples' misadventures on the way to the altar are witty, romantic romps based on some of the world's most beloved plays. The first installment, The Unexpected Duchess, is inspired by Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac.
IN THIS BATTLE OF WITS
Lady Lucy Upton's tongue may be too sharp to attract suitors but her heart is good, and when her painfully shy friend Cassandra needs help she devises a brilliant scheme to help her discourage an unwanted suitor, the Duke of Claringdon. Lucy will hide behind the hedgerow and tell Cass just what to say to discourage the Duke of Claringdon...but it turns out that he's made of sterner stuff than either of them anticipated. And Lucy is shocked to discover that tangling with the tenacious man is the most fun she's had in ages.
KISSES ARE THE BEST WEAPON
Lord Derek Hunt made a promise to his dying...- sortTitle
- Unexpected Duchess
- crossRefId
- 1437005
- series
- Playful Brides
- publisher
- St. Martin's Publishing Group
- bisacCodes
- code: FIC027000
- description: Fiction / Romance / General
- code: FIC027050
- description: Fiction / Romance / Historical / General
- code: FIC027070
- description: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
