[book review] Jodie Ellen Malpas - One Night With The Duke (Belmore Square Series #1)

- August 21, 2022

Loving is painful, Eliza.

I've been excited for "One Night With The Duke" since Jodie announced it on her social media.

And once more the queen of steamy romance did not disappoint me. I'm still baffled that she managed to not make this a cheap copy for all Bridgerton fans but gave it her own voice and wonderful protagonists and ending.

A woman with her own mind is a dangerous creature, sweet Eliza.

The story is written from Eliza's POV, a young girl who moved from the countryside to London and the famous Belmore Square after her father - head of a newspaper - makes some money.

Eliza is rather displeased with the new life because for her it's just a golden cage. Before she wrote for her father's newspaper and everyone - her brother, her sister, her mother and her father - seemed happy and carefree. But now, with the new money and status, there are lots of challenges for the family. And for Eliza it's simply a cage. One she can't dare to escape since she's already promised to a man she doesn't love. Courting begins and he only thing that changes her life is the showing up of young Duke of Chester, Johnny Winters, who was supposedly dead and had burned his family alive. A murderer in Belmore Square? Well not only is he a supposed murderer, he's also dashingly handsome and Eliza - despite her better judgement - is immediately enthralled by him. And so is he, showing up unexpectedly and pulling her deeper and deeper into his darkness. Into a place full of desire, lust and fascination for the broodingly handsome young Duke.

But one night with the Duke is all there ever will be for a woman, will it?

Desire and fear. What a delightfully potent mix. I can attest to that. Except my fear is served for something entirely different from every other person that fears Johnny Winters. He has my heart and I am terrified I will never get it back.

I absolutely loved Eliza as the strong, independent female lead. She's clever and not in need of a man. Certainly not one like her betrothed.

I also loved Johnny as handsome, swoon-worthy (let's name it which one of Jodie's males isn't?) lead in this with dark secrets and a mystery that is brilliantly entwined in his history. He also reminded me strongly of our beloved Lord of the Manor, Jesse Ward ;) Which made it even better in my honest opinion.

To be honest I had a suspicion on the whole mystery with his dead family, but I certainly did not see that ending at all! Loved it nonetheless and it made me love this start of her new Belmore Square Series even more!

As I said, I absolutely loved it! We not only had the hot, steamy and swoon-worthy scenes JEM is known for, but also funny moments, mysterious moments and oh-moments. Like usual Jodie Ellen Malpas blew me away with another hot new series. A slow burning romance, strong characters and a wonderful secret in the end.

Now I'm just impatiently waiting for my physical copy to show up to devour once more into the world of the handsome Duke and brilliantly, headstrong Eliza.