To Ruin the Duke

by Debra Mullins

Book Overview

A disreputable duke

All of London is abuzz with the shocking exploits of Thornton Matherton, Duke of Wyldehaven, a man as sinful and wild as his name. He plays fast and loose with money, drink, and women. Or does he? An impostor has tarnished Thornton's good name, and the real duke will not rest until he has proven his virtue.

A righteous lady

Abandoned by her aristocratic father when she was a child,...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061577855
• ISBN13: 9780061577857
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

To Ruin A Duke

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"To Ruin the Duke"

The book starts out with Miranda's best friend Lettie dying and giving birth to a son. Lettie named him James. She told Miranda: "You must take care of my son." Miranda swears that she would make certain that James will get what he deserves--A place in society with his father. Miranda arrived unannounced at the Duke of Wyldehaven, to inform Wylde that Lettie had died giving birth, and he has a son named James. The Duke denied that he was the father, and claimed to be unacquainted with Lettie Dupree. I liked the heroine and hero. Wylde and Miranda were a perfect match. Miranda grew up in a small town. Her mother, Fannie Fontaine, was a famous actress who disappeared from London rather suddenly. Miranda's mother named a friend the trustee of an investment account in Miranda's name. Miranda never knew her father. Wylde, the Duke of Wyldehaven, had his own demons to content with when his wife and child died. He retreated in the country, but came back to London to a friend's funeral. Wylde discovered someone was impersonating him as the Duke of Wyldehaven, running up bills and causing malicious mischief around London. The story line moved pretty fast. There were moments that had me guessing. At the end, all the pieces came together nicely. To Ruin the Duke had amazing plot that kept me intrigued throughout. I highly recommend "To Ruin the Duke" Debra Mullins

Entertaining, yet predictable

The heroine in this story promises her dying friend that she will care for her friend's newborn baby boy and that she will find the boy's father and give the boy his birthright. The alleged father, our hero and a Duke, denies the child is his because he has been in mourning for 2 years and not even in London where the child was conceived. The hero thinks the heroine is just an opportunist, and the heroine believes the hero must be a terrible man because he refuses to acknowledge his own son. The hero is drawn to the heroine like no other woman but needs to focus on finding a man who is pretending to be the Duke and is ruining his name all over town. Nevertheless, sparks fly between Miranda and the Duke as they work through this conflict and search for the impostor. This was an enjoyable read, albeit predictable without really any surprises. It is a quick and easy read for a lazy afternoon. The characters are likable enough and the story entertaining enough to recommend but I'm not sure it will be one you remember.

nineteenth century identity theft

Miranda Fontaine finds the aristocracy useless though she is one of them; albeit from the wrong side of the sheets as her mom was a famous actress. Her opinion of the Ton is further affirmed when her best friend Lettie dies holding her hand while giving birth to the illegitimate son of Lord Wylde. Miranda promises her dead friend she will force Duke Thornton Matherston to claim the newborn James as his. Thornton has begun hearing rumors of his scandalous behavior as an out of control Wylde who is a womanizing, drinking, and gambling rogue. When Miranda confronts him with his son, he denies siring any offspring. She believes his insistence as evidence mounts someone is impersonating him. They begin to investigate, but as they fall in love, the truth instead of setting them free leaves them in peril. This entertaining historical romance focuses on identity theft as someone steals the Duke of Wyldehaven's name and destroys his reputation while seemingly having a grand old time. The story line is fast-paced once the heroine challenges the Wylde Duke and never slows down until a final confrontation. Fans will enjoy Debra Mullins delightful nineteenth century romance that showcases the twenty-first century concept of identity theft is not confined to modern day society. Harriet Klausner