The Duke's Undoing - Book Review

GG Vandagriff is the author of The Duke's Undoing. It's published by Orson Whitney Press and is available now.

Here's a little about the author, GG Vandagriff.

GG Vandagriff is the author of thirteen books. A genre hopper, she writes mysteries, thrillers, historicals, women's fiction, and non-fiction. (See the list of her publications on her Amazon Author Page). The Duke's Undoing is her first Regency romance, written after the manner of Georgette Heyer and Candice Hern. She has been reading Regencies since she was a teen, and writing this one was the most fun she's had in years. She advises that your read it with something chocolate close at hand.

Book Description

Meet the Duke of Ruisdell, the unlikely hero of this traditional Regency Romance, after the manner of Georgette Heyer and Candice Hern. The duke has just returned wounded from the Napoleonic wars. He is weary, cynical, and very bored. Known as the worst rake in England, he finds he has no interest in upholding that distinction, when his friend, the Marquis of Somerset, proposes a bet: "Five thousand guineas says that seducing Miss Elise Edwards will cure your ennui." Because his friend has just lost a packet to him, he agrees that the bet be posted in White's famous Betting Book.

The following day, while walking in Green Park, he spies a mysterious young woman, veiled, and obviously grieving. A disembodied voice, sounding strangely like that of his late adjutant, informs him, "The jig is up. That is the girl you are going to marry!" He scoffs, but is nevertheless intrigued by something about the slight figure. He even sketches her and asks if he can be of assistance to her. She declines his offer kindly.

At the opera that evening, he is captivated by a beauty across the Opera Hall. He hears the same voice, saying the same thing. The marquis informs him that the woman in question is Miss Elise Edwards. When he meets her, he recognizes her voice as that of the woman in the park. Now she is surrounded by a surfeit of ex-fiance's, one of them dangerously unbalanced. Ruisdell discovers an actual bond between them which renders him honor bound to protect her.

Thus begins a train of unstoppable events--dangerous, humorous, devilish, and amorous--that carry his life along at such a pace that the duke soon knows not whether he is on his head or his heels. And then there is that bet . . .

Enjoy this delicious romance that will carry you back to the Regency period in English history, where manners were dictated by strict rules of fashion. It is the Jane Austen era, populated by gentlemen and ladies of leisure. These books are best enjoyed with a box of chocolates, and are guaranteed to enliven any boredom (ennui) that you may be experiencing!

My Thoughts:

At first, I couldn't seem to get into this book. It seemed to move too slowly; however, it picked up by about the fifteen page or so. I liked the action and danger as much as the romance it contained. 


I will be reading more books from GG Vandagriff. She succeeded in keeping my attention with the action, suspense, and romance throughout the book!

Disclosure: Many thanks to GG Vandagriff  for the opportunity to review The Duke's Undoing. I received a complimentary copy of this e-book for purposes of facilitating this review.