The Hazards of Hunting a Duke (Desperate Debutantes, Book 1)

What can I say she has written another great novel!! Hot and Sensual the way I like them those authors that think you can write romance novels without the spice are wrong. They need to learn from London. She makes reading her novels so fluid and smooth pulling you right into the time period, the places and the people. The beautiful way she describes the love scenes, the beautiful Ball Gowns and the Estates and their Gardens is amazing; she makes you feel like you are their. London has NEVER ( so far) let me down!!!! This is a must read! Very Well Done!!!

Oh my anyone that does not see this book as a beautiful love story well I just do not understand them. Someone discribed this couple as miserable and depressing. Truly I just did not see them that way at all. From the very first moment Jared met Ava there was something between them - even if it was just a chemistry. You could feel it. Of course they both had their hidden reasons for marrying. Poor Jared had been jerked around so much his entire life by his cold father the Duke he was just trying to marry someone that he might actually be able to tolerate, rather than the cold pathetic woman that the Duke had selected. And Ava was just trying to have some say so in her future before her horrible stepfather returned from France and then would accept the proposal of a man Ava could not tolerate. However, once these two married slowly things began to change. Ava fell in love. Jared, was actually a pretty good husband. Even though Ava did not realize it he had not further contact with his mistress and he intended to be faithful. He did not understand love, and felt that perhaps he was incapable of giving Ava the love she wanted. But as this couple learns to deal with each other they truly do come together and actually begin to have many more good days than bad. Of course Ava wants 100% of Jared's love and it seems for awhile that he just cannot deliver. It does take Jared awhile to come to his senses but the process for one so devoid of love most of his life would not be easy to recognize love when it finally touches him. Jared basically is a good and caring man. And I truly found this to be a very deep and moving love story. If this is the beginning of a trio of books I hope the other two are as good. This one is a complete keeper!!

I am so glad I bought this. I was hesitant to read this due to the overwhelming reviews that said this book was not as good as her past novels. I must say that Julia London does not disappoint in this one. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the emotions I felt in her first novel, The Devil's Love. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series. For the rest of you who think that this was not "up to par", I think that maybe you should have started with Abbey and Michael's story and read her books in order. Then maybe, there might have been a true appreciation for this book. LOVED IT!!!!!

I liked this book. I have read literally hundreds of regencies. And I think you must agree that many regency heroines do pretty stupid things.I liked Ava. She was not stupid. She's everything a regency heroine should be: intelligent, lovely, loyal, and kind. There was a lighthearted tone to this book that I enjoyed. The banter and flirting between Ava and Jared were very well done. The situtation with the household staff she recruited was comical. She was typical of girls of her class who were encouraged to marry "up." When she agreed to marry Jared, she was virtually destitute. She loved her sister and cousin (they in turn loved her which reflects Ava's worthiness) and she wanted to provide for them. How better than to marry the heir of a duke? Now, the hero. Typical regency hero: handsome, rich, and a hottie. But he was not cruel as many of them are; he was indeed conflicted. He had real issues with his father and the early loss of his mother. He didn't believe he even knew what love was. Wow. Now I'm flashing back to that notorious interview of Prince Charles and Princess Diana where he said (the cad!) "whatever 'in love' means." Sorry to digress. This is not an intense Lisa Kleypas-type historical regency. There's a little angst but the good hearts of both the hero and heroine win out in the end. After reading the first reviews posted, I thought "What?" I actually reread the book to determine if I was that much off-base. I'm happy to say I'm not. As a veteran reader of hundreds of historicals and regencies, I think this is an enjoyable read. I'm giving it 5 stars because I think the extremely low rankings of other reviews are very unfair. There was misuse of the word exacerbated (should have been exasperated)and Miss Pennebacker was misnamed as Miss Downey at the end of the book (sloppy editing no doubt). The denouement seemed rushed but I really liked the interplay (verbal and physical) between Ava and Jared. I look forward to the other 2 books in The Desperate Debutantes trilogy.

Our story begins in March, 1819. Lady Ava Fairchild is heartbroken when Aunt Cassandra dies. Then her stepfather, Lord Downey, absconds with the fortune and disappears for a year. Ava, her younger sister, Phoebe, and her cousin, Greer, are left in the cold hands of Downey's sister. No money is left for their care. Their time in Society seems to be over. But Ava soon has enough of it and decides to hunt down the rake Jared Broderick. Jared is the Marquis of Middleton and heir to a dukedom. He would be the ticket to their freedom. Jared is sick of hearing his father, the current Duke of Redford, harp on about settling down and begetting an heir. To shut him up, Jared chooses Ava. Of course, his father is not happy since he had another lady in mind. After all, Ava has no money at all to bring. Yet Jared does not care. Their marriage would be one of convenience. She would give him an heir and stay out of his life otherwise. In return, he would care for her, her sister, and her cousin. However, Ava soon decides that she does not want a marriage of convenience, she wants passion. So now Ava is out to win her husband's heart, with a bit of help from her unusual maid (former lady of the night). ***** Author, Julia London, takes a realistic situation of the time and turns it into a wonderful romance that will bring a blush to your cheeks and warmth to your heart. Since Ava's maid is a former lady of the night, the bedroom scenes are very steamy. Ava is a very strong heroine that will do anything to help the ones she loves. Her strength and determination is a wonder to behold. The whole plot sounds so simple, yet I found myself unable to put the book down for even the shortest of time. I never got bored or wanted to strangle one of the main characters. No sappy people, well written, and downright enthralling. Highly recommended! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.