Review – The Truth About Love and Dukes by Laura Lee Guhrke

Dear Lady Truelove . . . I have fallen in love, truly and completely in love, for the first time. The man whom I hold in such passionate regard, however, is not of my station. He is a painter, a brilliant artist. Needless to say, my family would not approve . . .

Henry, Duke of Torquil, wouldn’t be caught reading the wildly popular “Dear Lady Truelove” column, but when its advice causes his mother to embark on a scandalous elopement, an outraged Henry decides the author of this tripe must be stopped before she can ruin any more lives. Though Lady Truelove’s identity is a closely guarded secret, Henry has reason to suspect the publisher of the notorious column, beautiful and provoking Irene Deverill, is also its author.

For Irene, it’s easy to advise others to surrender to passion, but when she meets the Duke of Torquil, she soon learns that passion comes at a price. When one impulsive, spur-of-the-moment kiss pulls her into a scorching affair with Henry, it could destroy her beloved newspaper, her career, and her independence. But in the duke’s arms, surrender is so, so sweet…

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The Truth About Love and Dukes: Dear Lady Truelove

My Review:

After one youthful passionate and defiant act, Henry Cavanaugh, Duke of Torquil, transformed himself into the perfect aristocrat. As a young man of nineteen, he was burning with desire for Elena, a shopgirl far below him socially. Since there was no other way to have her, he married her and kept her hidden away from his family and society. Soon he discovered that the “love” he felt for her was merely lust, and it burned itself out. After two years of marriage, Elena died, leaving Henry determined to control his carnal side, and to live his life properly and for his dukedom.

Irene Deverill is granddaughter to a viscount, but her mother was disowned when she disregarded her family’s wishes to marry Irene’s father. After Irene’s mother died, her father went into a tailspin, drinking and running the family publishing business into the ground. Irene picked up the pieces of the business and started a scandal sheet which contains society gossip and an advice column by “Lady Truelove.” This wildly successful column attracted Henry’s widowed mother, who wrote a letter anonymously, but with sufficient detail to let everyone know it was she. It seems that the widowed duchess is considering marrying a younger man, a painter who is well known as a fortune hunter. When “Lady Truelove” advises the duchess to follow her heart, Henry’s wrath falls upon the paper, and he storms into their office and confronts Irene.

Irene has nothing but scorn for aristocrats, and she’s not intimidated by the irate duke. She’s a strong woman, a suffragette, the sole support of her family, and I admired her tremendously. Despite his fury, Henry has not felt such desire for a woman since his reckless marriage. Though I found Henry initially comes off as toplofty and arrogant, he’s really trying to do what he believes is right and not make mistakes. This couple is bound to clash, yet they have an intense attraction which leads to a passionate affair. As the story unfolds amidst the backdrop of Henry trying to convince his mother not to marry, he and Irene manage to fall in love. Henry is torn, and reliving his past, and quite honestly, Irene has no desire to become a duchess if Henry should ask. It would seem that they are doomed to part. THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE AND DUKES is a satisfyingly steamy and romantic story that bridges the gap between two different worlds, and shows how compromise can lead to a happy every after. I loved the flow and character development in the book, and enjoyed the read greatly.