Taming the Duke (Harlequin Historical) [Paperback]

Dalton Warfield, Duke of Wexton, has a prized stallion who suffers from hysteria after being shot at. Alicia is his only hope for curing him else he has to put him down. Alicia thinks his offer is part of a cruel joke - after all, it was his mother who caused her ruin. But an unattractive ultimatum from her father forces Alicia to accept the duke's offer.

Dalton has no idea of his mother's involvement in Alicia's ruin. In fact, his relationship with his mother has been strained ever since he walked in on her with his uncle when he was 12. The dowager has also been pressing Dalton to marry Lady Elizabeth, a whining shrew whom Dalton has no plans in offering for. Upon learning of Alicia's reason for spinsterhood, and that his mother was responsible, Dalton decides to turn the tables.

He makes Alicia an offer of marriage. Although she sees right through Dalton's plan to shock his mother, she knows that marriage to a wealthy duke will provide funds for her family's failing estate as well as dowries for her two younger sisters. She agrees and, at the final ball of the season, Dalton announces his engagement to Alicia, which enrages his mother and Lady Elizabeth.

What begins as a marriage of convenience soon turns to love as Dalton falls for his new bride as she continues to work with his horse. Alicia, however, thinks that his words of love and passionate nights together are just for show until she gives him a son. The plot soon thickens when the mystery gunman who shot at Dalton's horse returns to finish the job. Now that Alicia's life is at risk, Dalton hires an investigator who's findings lead to the dowager's past indescretion, blackmail and a terrible secret that may widen the rift between Dalton and his mother or, with the gentle influence and patience of Alicia, heal it.

This was an absolute WONDERFUL book! I had a hard time putting it down because I had to keep finding out what was gonna happen next. If you're a lover of the regency era, get this book!

Dalton Warfield has heard of Alicia's ablitity to care for injured horses so he asks for help in caring for his horse, Bashashar, who was seriously hurt in a shooting incident. The only catch is that Alicia must come to Dalton's home to care for the horse. That means that Alicia will have to face Dalton's conniving mother and endless members of the Ton who turned their back on her and cast her aside. Alicia agrees and soon moves into Dalton's cottage. Dalton, seeing Alicia as a means of getting out of marrying money-hungry Elizabeth, proposes marriage. She agrees that after she bears Dalton a son, her life will be her own and she will be free to do as she pleases. Soon Alicia and Dalton marry, against his mother's wishes. Things become complicated though when each fall in love with the other. And after catching Alicia embracing his friend Justin Sykes, Dalton begins to think that the rumor of Alicia and Justin just might be true. Will he ever be able to really trust her? And will the mystery of who shot at Dalton ever be revealed?

This novel was absolutely wonderful. The story and it's characters kept me reading late into the night until I had it finished. I found myself glued to the pages to find out who shot at Dalton and his horse. I also was interested as to whether or not Dalton and his mother could ever put the painful secret between them behind and begin a normal relationship with one another. If you're looking for a great Regecy romance, this is one you can't pass up! Jackie Manning has another winner on her hands.

Gennie Bailey-Rogers