The Duke Heist

by Erica Ridley Narrated by Moira Quirk

Overview

Travel to the Regency era with a New York Times bestselling author's novel of "irresistible romance," in which a woman looking to recover a stolen painting accidentally kidnaps a duke instead (Eloisa James).

Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable-a*curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd. When the only father she's ever known makes a dying wish for his adopted family of orphans to recover a missing painting, she's the first one her siblings turn to for stealing it back. No one expects that in doing so, she'll also abduct a handsome duke.

Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is tortured by his father's mistakes. To repair his estate's ruined reputation, he must wed a highborn heiress. Yet when he finds himself in a carriage being driven hell-for-leather down the cobblestone streets of London by a beautiful woman who refuses to heed his commands, he fears his heart is hers. But how can he sacrifice his family's legacy to follow true love?

"Erica Ridley is a delight!" -Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series

Editorial Reviews

Julia Quinn

Erica Ridley is a delight!

Eloisa James

Erica Ridley's love stories are warm, witty and irresistible. I want to be a Wynchester!

author of My Last Duchess Eloisa James

Irresistible romance and a family of delightful scoundrels.”

From the Publisher

"Erica Ridley is a delight!"—Julia Quinn

"This entrancing Regency...is a knockout."—Publishers Weekly

“Schemes, heists, and forgeries abound in this charming series starter. This unconventional and quirky Regency will have readers falling for the plucky family and rooting for Chloe and Lawrence to buck tradition.”—Library Journal

“Ridley’s motley crew of Wynchester siblings is as charming as it is unforgettable, signaling more great romance ahead. The Duke Heist is everything a Regency romance fan hopes for.”—BookPage

"Erica Ridley's love stories are warm, witty and irresistible. I want to be a Wynchester!"—Eloisa James

Kirkus Reviews

2020-11-18
A young lady attempts to steal a painting but finds she’s nabbed a duke instead.

Most young women trying to sneak into Regency society long to be seen, but Chloe Wynchester is the opposite: She strives to be invisible. She and her siblings, an eclectic group of six orphans adopted by the late Baron Vanderbean, use their unique talents “doing good works beneath people’s noses.” Though most of their missions are altruistic, her latest aim is personal: to liberate a painting that was significant to Bean and is precious to his adopted brood, stolen from them by Lawrence Gosling’s father, the previous Duke of Faircliffe, who had sold it to Bean years ago because he needed the money. She hatches an elaborate plan to steal it back, but the plot is upended when she accidentally kidnaps the duke instead. The timing couldn’t be worse, from Lawrence’s perspective, as he’s sacrificed nearly everything he has to rebuild his family’s reputation and is about to complete his task by proposing marriage to a woman with a large dowry. As his kidnapper, Chloe is all too visible to Lawrence, who assumes she’s a social climber. Needing some reason to keep seeing Lawrence as she searches for the still-missing painting, Chloe convinces him to give her lessons and help her find a wealthy suitor. The attraction between them grows with each lesson, especially when he learns that she’s an avid follower of Parliament and can match him argument for argument. Their first kiss leaves both certain of their chemistry, but Lawrence is still Chloe’s sworn enemy even if he doesn’t know it, and he’s also still set on restoring his dukedom, so even as they fall in love, both struggle to abandon what they’ve always believed and who they pretend to be. There are plenty of steamy scenes, but the emotional center of the book unfolds as Lawrence and Chloe come to care for each other and, for the first time, experience being seen and loved for who they truly are. Though slightly bogged down with exposition, the story is a charming introduction to a new series, and readers will look forward to seeing the next Wynchester meet their match.

A delightful historical romance featuring a new family of nonconformists to fall in love with.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177195957
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	02/09/2021
Series:	The Wild Wynchesters , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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