| | |  | Amazon Kindle | Home » » » Sins of a Wicked Duke (Historical Romance) | | | | | | | Description: | | She works to live . . . One would think the last place a beauty like Fallon O'Rourke could keep her virtue was in the Mayfair mansion of London's most licentious duke, the notorious Dominic Hale. Yet Fallon—who's endured nothing but lecherous advances since her father's tragic death—is perfectly safe there . . . disguised as a footman! Beneath the notice of the dark-haired devil with his smoldering blue eyes and sinful smile, Fallon never imagines her secret will be discovered. But how long can her deception last when she begins to wish she is one of the many women traipsing in and out of the sinful rogue's bedchamber? He lives to sin . . . Most men envy the duke, never suspecting his pleasure-loving ways are a desperate attempt to escape, however briefly, the pain of a past that's left him with a heart of stone. Only one woman can break down his defenses. Only one woman can win his love . . . if she reveals her secret and succumbs to the sins of the wicked duke. | | | Product Details: | | | Average Customer Rating:
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58 of 60 found the following review helpful:
 Loved it!!!Mar 31, 2009
Okay, I admit I'm a huge fan of historical romance in general and Sophie Jordon in particular. Once again, she's written a wonderful, original story I couldn't put down.
The beautiful Fallon O'Rouke has been in service since leaving school. Unfortunately, she's finding it impossible to keep both a position and her virtue in a world where men of privilege expect more than housekeeping from comely servants. After fleeing the insistent son of her latest employer, Fallon decides to apply for her next position disguised as a young man, only to find herself in the employ of the Duke of Damon, the most notorious rake in London.
Dominic Hale has come by his reputation honestly, flaunting his libertine behavior most outrageously. Lately, however, he's become restless until even alcohol and women in copious quantities and combinations no longer distract him. His thoughts keep drifting to a lovely red-h aired woman he'd met briefly one evening. Now his new valet's obvious disapproval is ruining the little pleasure Dominic still takes in his vices.
Being Dominic's valet gives Fallon the chance to see behind the duke's public mask . As her attraction to him grows, poor Dominic is puzzled that he cares what the naïve young man thinks of him. He never suspects the valet is really the red-haired beauty he can't forget. Then one night in the dark, a case of mistaken identity changes everything for both of them.
One of the things I love about Sophie Jordan's's books, is her heroines are as charming and flawed as her heroes. Fallon is smart and feisty but she carries around a grudge that taints her view of the world in general, and male aristocrats in particular. Determined to earn her independence, she sees betrayal where there is only benign neglect and as a result becomes her own worst enemy.
Dominic, unlike most heroes labeled wicked, truly is unrepentant and determined to live down to the worse of his shocking reputation. Still, he has his own eccentric code of honor that makes one cheer him on and fall under his spell. And of course he's VERY hot.
As in all Ms. Jordan's books, "Sins of a Wicked Duke" is a rich, original story that goes beyond the ballrooms of the ton. Fallon is a servant who must work to survive. Dominic is a duke with past that tortures his present. Their story is compelling, romantic, sexy and ultimately heart-warming. I love everything Ms. Jordan writes and this is another not-to-be-missed historical romance!
19 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Another Must-read!Apr 01, 2009
By Alyssa Goodnight
"Novelist"
Her father dead a world away, Fallon O'Rourke spends her formative years at Penwich School for Virtuous Girls, where the headmaster takes perverse delight in attempting to beat the sass and spirit right out of the statuesque, fiery-haired miss. He fails miserably, and so it is no surprise that the virtuous Fallon cannot seem to hold a position for any length of time among the blue-blood households that would employ her. She attracts the sort of attention that demands she defend herself and subsequently finds herself sacked time and again. With no other options she chops off her hair and garners a position as a footman in the home of the notorious Demon Duke.
Having endured a painfully strict childhood himself, Dominic Hale, Duke of Damon, credits it--at least in part--for his nickname. Of course it doesn't help that he spends his days soused in liquor and sin, a different woman parading through the house each night. But he has come to terms with his life, the numbness and the loneliness, and refuses to answer to anyone. When the agency sends a disturbingly disapproving footman to his home, he can't quite figure why he is so affected by the lad--until he discovers the lad is a lass and sets his sights on seducing her. Let the battle of wills begin.
Sins of a Wicked Duke is pure Sophie Jordan, with its irrepressible emotional pull and pull-out-the-stops sexual tension. Don't be surprised if, while you're cheering for Fallon's stand as a virtuous woman, you're simultaneously thrilling over the eventuality that Dom will topple it--and her. Right into his bed.
14 of 15 found the following review helpful:
Oh yeah!! Sophie's back with a WINNER!Apr 05, 2009
By R. Phillips
I struggled through this author's last book so I was so pleased when I picked this one up and couldn't put it down! The chemistry between the hero (a duke) and the heroine (a commoner) is just right as is the tension between the two. They are both strong characters who are a bit hardened by their childhoods - both lost parents at young ages and both suffered subsequent abuse. They meet as the heroine is trying to figure out how to survive on her own and only wants a home, and the hero is lost in numbness and emptiness and doesn't know how to feel alive anymore. This story is well written and grabs you from the start. Yes, the heroine has a stint as a male, but it in no way is the overriding theme of the book. When you finish, it will just seem like a small part. The book was over way too soon and has me anticipating this author's next release, (the last release is the only one by this author that I didn't recommend - the others are great reads). You love and care about all of her vivid and well-defined characters. 4.5
36 of 46 found the following review helpful:
 I Disliked The CharactersApr 14, 2009
By Catherine
After reading multiple enthusiastic reviews at multiple sites I decided to pick this book up. Unfortunately this book didn't work for me nearly as well as it did for those other happy readers. The description of the book sounded promising and the details mentioned by the reviews were ones that I usually like. For some reason it just didn't come together for me in this book. I spent most of the book with one eyebrow cocked struggling to believe in the characters and their motivations.
For some reason I could never bring myself to like Fallon. I know that her pity party of one was supposed to make me feel for her, but it didn't work. I found her whiny and the type of person that would cut off her nose to spite herself. Her father died years ago following the demands of his employer. Fallon is unwilling to move past it and has a hatred for all noblemen (because her father's employer was one). The employer had paid for her to go to a school after her father's death, but that only deepened Fallon's dislike of him. The school she was sent to had a sadistic headmaster who got his jollies out of beating the girls enrolled there and watching them suffer.
This sounds like a nice background for character growth and the realization that it is narrow minded to blame a large group of people for the actions of one man. Unfortunately I didn't see that happen until the last few pages. When it finally did happen I didn't believe it. It seemed like she stayed mired in her bitterness the whole book until the author realized the end was coming up and had Fallon play lip service to character growth so that she and Dominic could get their HEA.
Very little was ever made out of the fact that Fallon was a servant and Dominic was a duke. I know it was brought up a few times by Fallon to explain why they could never be together but it seemed like lip service. When they finally got together in the end the class difference was ignored in a way that I found laughable. I know that Fallon blamed her looks and the fact that she wouldn't put out for not being able to keep a job, but I really don't believe that. She seemed to have no awareness of the fact that she was a servant and what that meant to her standing in the world. The girl couldn't keep her mouth shut and her rudeness contained if you stapled her lips shut. I think that was the real reason she couldn't keep a job.
Dominic was a pretty bland character. He was made out to be this dissolute rake that still managed to be sexy to Fallon. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. Usually there is something about the rakes that wallow in darkness that fascinates you even as their actions repel you. He didn't have that spark. Because of this lack I couldn't understand what Fallon was so fascinated by. She apparently saw something in him that fascinated her enough to look past his skeezy behavior. I wish I had seen it too.
One last point... I really dislike the fact that Fallon's charade lasted for so long. It made the rest of their relationship seem really rushed. It seemed like the minute Dominic saw she had breasts he worshipped her. Very irritating. I don't know if I'll try this author again. If the rest of her books are styled in this manner I don't think they'll work for me.
15 of 18 found the following review helpful:
 JUST BAD WRITTING!!!Sep 18, 2009
By Edwina "I Love books"
"Edwina "I Love Books'"
I have never read a book that ended with so many unanswered questions, such as What happen to the dying grandfather, did he die? where did they decide to live? what happen to Reverned Simmons?, one minute she was talking to him and next she was married to Dominic. I don't think I missed any pages. I also agree with some of the other reviewers about Fallon for a servant she sure had a smart mouth. This story had no character development, not story line and no romance at all!! Just bad writting.
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