Title: The Naked Duke Author: Sally MacKenzie Publisher: Zebra Books
Genre: Historical Romance Publication date: February 2005 ISBN: 0-8217-7831-5
Page Count: 317
Rating: Reviewer:Christine Ventura
What is it about a duke that sets our hearts a-flutter? Is it his stunning good
looks? His fiercely possessive nature? His slightly boyish charm? His
illustrious good name and magnificent fortune?
Ladies, when it comes to setting hearts a-flutter, James Runyon, the Duke of
Alvord, definitely delivers. He has it all—good looks, charm, a great fortune
and the world at his feet.
But proper Miss Sarah Hamilton is not convinced. Even though it is imperative
that they marry each other immediately, having found themselves in a very
scandalous situation—she was not very keen on the idea of marriage. Especially
since she wasn’t very sure about him and the world in which he was an
unparalleled leader.
It is up to James to convince Sarah that marriage—their marriage—is not going to
be a mistake, and instead, probably the best thing that has ever happened in
both their lives. For they might have stumbled upon and found the most elusive
thing in the world of the elite—love.
One of the most original stories I have read in years, The Naked Duke is
a marvelous piece of literature that teaches one about trust, love and just a
little bit of scintillating scandal.
I must say that I have a definite fondness for American heroines—they have a
fresh, dashing and charming appeal that the English women just don’t have. It’s
their independence and daring, I suppose. And their ability to be scandalous
simply by being from the colonies. Well, Sarah Hamilton definitely shows these
traits and much, much more! I particularly enjoyed her wordplay with James
regarding the British aristocracy’s primogeniture and her amusing blunders
regarding titles and addressing the peers of the realm. Miss Mackenzie
made fantastic and humorous points about these issues that really make one think
about them in a different light.
Romantic, exciting and just a little bit suspenseful, The Naked Duke is a
real keeper! I envision a very long and successful writing career for Ms.
Mackenzie. This book is only her first novel— imagine how smashing her other
books will be… especially since writers only get better and better over time?
