A shy wallflower meets her dream man–or does she?–in the next book in New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James’ Wildes of Lindow series.

Miss Viola Astley is so painfully shy that she’s horrified by the mere idea of dancing with a stranger; her upcoming London debut feels like a nightmare.

So she’s overjoyed to meet handsome, quiet vicar with no interest in polite society — but just when she catches his attention, her reputation is compromised by a duke.

Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, will stop at nothing to marry Viola, including marrying a woman whom he believes to be in love with another man.

A vicar, no less.

Devin knows he’s no saint, but he’s used to conquest, and he’s determined to win Viola’s heart.

Viola has already said Yes to his proposal, but now he wants her unruly heart…and he won’t accept No for an answer.

This next installment of The Wlides of Lindow Castle series is everything we have come to expect from both this series and this author.  This family is so incredible and I love getting to know each unique personality.  Not all of its members are related by blood; some have been adopted due to acquaintance, some became part of the family as step-children, and some married into the family.  No matter the circumstances of their induction they are all loved and treated as if they were born a Wilde.  I know you all know this already, but I am making a point to bring it to your attention because this is Viola’s story and the family dynamic plays an important role in her life.  I adore these characters and thanks to the author’s awesome writing I was able to really relate to Viola and her struggle with finding her place in the family.  I am getting so much joy and excitement from this series that I don’t want it to ever end!

Viola Astley, step-daughter of Hugo Wilde, Duke of Lindow has been part of the notorious Wilde family since she was two years old.  After all that time you would think being a Wilde would be so much a part of her that she would forget that she wasn’t born into the family.  Sadly, it is glaringly clear just how much she isn’t a Wilde.  All of her siblings are beautiful, successful, courageous, and well-liked by society.  If you ask her, Viola is none of those things, she is small all over with ordinary eyes, useless, afraid of everything, and painfully shy.  Will an enlightening encounter with an “exceptionally rude” duke shake up her world and change her view of herself?

Devin Elstan, Duke of Wynter, is more interested in sitting at home at his desk working on equations than being out at society functions.  However the dukedom requires him to produce an heir.  To make that happen he needs to find a wife.  The best place to find a worthy future duchess is at a ball, and what better ball than one being thrown in honor of a duke’s daughter?  Certain his title insures he will have no issue attracting the lady of his choosing, he intends to hide himself from the rest of the husband hunters in the library until it is time for him to dance with her.  It’s in that very library where he unintentionally insults then meets the host’s step-daughter who contrary to her reputation as shy, is “funny and sweet. Brave” and who he cannot stop thinking about.

I enjoyed this book more than I can explain and it is a true credit to this series and this wonderful author!

Danielle