The Naked Duke

This book came in a timely manner and is a great read. I would recomend it for those who love a little romance and a lot of laughs.

I thought this book was great. I read this book in one day. I was impressed to learn that this was the author's first book. When I first tried to buy this book I couldn't find a copy anywhere under twenty bucks. Now I see it starting as low as two dollars. What gives?

Miss Sarah Hamilton arrives in England from Philadelphia. She really didn't want to return to her father's home to live with her uncle, the Earl of Westbrooke, but she had no choice: it was her father's dying wish. Bone weary and tired from the long ocean journey, she stops for the night at the Green Man Inn, hoping to rest and make herself more presentable the following morning. Little does she expect to awaken with a handsome man lying in bed beside her -- and a naked one at that. ... James, the Duke of Alvord, spends some time in a disussion with his friends, Major Charles Draysmith and Robert Hamilton, the Earl of Westbrooke, known to James as Robbie. When he retires for the night in his usual room at the Green Man, he hears a noise and, suspecting his cousin Richard of again laying a trap to kill him, he whirls around, only to find a beautiful woman asleep in his bed. Suspecting his friend Robbie of finding the girl as a means for him to spend time forgetting his pending marriage to Charlotte, a woman he would rather forget, he removes his clothes and snuggles up close. But it's obvious the woman is exhausted. He decides to sleep and see what happens in the morning. ... Unfortunately, his aunt, Lady Gladys Runyon, arrives the following morning and discovers he is not alone. Gladys learns the identity of the young woman, and realizes that Sarah and Robbie are related. Gladys quickly explains that Robbie is the current Earl, then insists that James and Sarah marry, since they have been found in a compromising sitution. James must protect Sarah's reputation at all costs. The idea is quite appealing to James, who is attracted to the beautiful red-headed Sarah. ... What follows is an exciting romance, complete with an intriguing plot that includes attempts on James' life by his cousin, Richard, who yearns to be the next Duke of Alvord. This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and one that kept me turning the pages. I heartily recommend The Naked Duke to anyone who loves period romance with a mysterious element. And you can be sure I'll read her latest release, The Naked Marquis.

I am truly grateful I paid no heed to a review likely written by someone who had not read the whole book, or I would have missed a delightful read. From the first page, The Naked Duke caught my attention. Ms. MacKenzie had a good beginning hook. When Sarah awoke to find a naked man beside her,I laughed aloud at James reaction and her whacking him with her pillow, attempting to knock him off the bed. James is an Alpha hero, with streaks of a caring, Beta male - an intriguing combination. He could be truly dangerous when protecting a loved one or himself, yet charm the dickens out of you with his clever dialog and the way he treats Sarah. All romances must have a bit of a dark side, else how would there be a "dark moment" or "climax" for the story? You cannot have a tale that ambles safely along, no hills or valleys, no hindrance to the courtship. Sarah is an American who doesn't like the ways of the British aristocracy. She fights being forced, because of the scandle at the Inn, into becoming a Duchess. Especially marrying a man with a "checkered" past. That past turned out to be a great twist to the story, by the way. Richard, James' obsessed cousin, fills the role of villain. He made my skin creap, and I was mightily pleased when he met his "dastardly" end! The author drew the story threads together at the end in a most satisfactory way. I smiled a lot while reading the book, and laughed at some of the situations. Ms. MacKenzie's dialog and narrative were very well done. I'll be looking forward to her next novel. I hope it isn't long in coming. June Ulrich

Miss Sarah Hamilton, a very proper Philadelphian, couldn't wait to have her journey end. If she thought traveling by ship was bad, squeezed into a fully loaded carriage wasn't any better from the fetid air coming from her fellow passengers mouths and bodies. Finally arriving at the Inn near her uncle's home, the Earl of Westbrooke, she was truly looking forward to a clean bed and chance to clean up before presenting herself on his doorstep. Unfortunately, the innkeeper taking one look at her scruffy appearance thought she was `in the profession'. If not for an amiable drunken lord she would never have gotten a room, but after a bath she tumbled into the bed and was out like a light. Sarah didn't wake up until she heard a commotion at the door to her room and saw several onlookers, laughing and pointing fingers at her and - oh my God, a naked and exceptionally good looking man in her bed! James, the Duke of Alvord, was in fact, quite delighted with his beautiful bedmate and though he'd not take advantage of the sweet thing who was sleeping so soundly when he'd arrived - was about to do just that before the interruption. Though his bedmate did not look, smell, or act like most whores, as she was pummeling him with a pillow and ordering him from her bed. Once he discovered that she was, not only the product of mistaken identity on the part of his best friend's good intentions, but related to said friend - James, was not at all adverse in doing the honorable thing by marrying the spirited American beauty. The only problem was - she was not about to marry a duke! **** I have to admit - I am truly enjoying these newer authors who are debuting in the regency romance genre who delight us with some fresh new slants and spicy, original and enchanting stories. Sarah was a truly likeable heroine and James was well met, though he was an absolute little devil with his double entendres that leant spice and humor to the dialogs. What I was not expecting, though it added another layer to this excellent debut, was the drama injected with James' very evil cousin Richard. The secondary plot of Richard trying to wrest the dukedom by eliminating James was extremely dark and based upon the cover artwork and the cover description, quite a surprise and very well done. Based on this, I must say to all you lovers of romance - we just might have a new star in the making! This is definitely a new author that one should take a closer look at. ---[...]