The Trouble with Being a Duke by Sophie Barnes

The Trouble With Being a Duke by Sophie Barnes
Series: At the Kingsborough Ball #1
Published by Avon on August 27, 2013
Genres: Historical Romance, Romance
Pages: 371
Format: Paperback
Source: Advance Reader Copy, Avon Addicts
Goodreads

Sometimes happily ever after…

Anthony Hurst, Duke of Kingsborough knows the time has come for him to produce an heir. But first he must find a bride. When he meets the most exquisite woman at his masquerade ball, he thinks his search is over…until the breathtaking beauty runs off. With few clues other than her figure, her scent, and the memory of her kiss, Anthony must find his mystery lady.

…needs a little bit of help.

Isabella Chilcott can scarcely believe it: she is finally at the Kingsborough Ball. As a child, she dreamed of dancing a waltz here and now, thanks to a gorgeous gown she’s found in the attic, Isabella is living her fairytale fantasy. And she’s waltzing with the Duke of Kingsborough himself! But she must escape before he discovers her secrets…for she is not who she pretends to be, and falling in love with Prince Charming is the last thing she can allow herself to do…

This book starts off with a promising plot, and a new twist on the Cinderella tale. A duke sees a lady at his ball, she’s gorgeous, intriguing, and very obviously wasn’t invited. And yet. . .there’s something about her.

It isn’t until the end of the ball that someone comes up and asks him not just about the girl, but about her dress. You see that gown was made for their daughter who went missing many years ago, and the gown is identical. So now the duke has an even bigger mystery on his hands than just who she is.

Isabella is just the daughter of a carriage driver. Her parents have worked for a year to get Mr. Roberts to propose to her, and while Isabella knows she’ll have to marry him, she figures just once, she’d like to do something amazing. So she dons the gown she finds in the attic and sneaks into the Kingsborough Ball. Just looking is enough for her, but after several dances and being introduced to many of the Duke’s family, she finds she could grow to like the Duke of Kingsborough.

The identity of Isabella is discovered rather quickly, which I liked, but I didn’t like how slow the plot became after that. The romance is also very slow, and the obstacle in their path is moveable. I also didn’t like how the duke was constantly painted in a bad light for every way he tried to court Isabella. There is a small hiccup in their relationship later on due to a jealous miss, but even that wasn’t used to its full potential.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance with not much in the way of action, then this is your book.

***ARC courtesy of Avon Addicts