Frankly, what the Duke desires most is to be left alone. However, Simon Crathorne, the new Duke of Billingham, must comply with the demands of his title and his calculating mother that he find a suitable wife to produce an heir. Therefore he becomes the reluctant host to a two-week house party at his family’s estate where the loveliest ladies from the area (attended by their maids and chaperones, of course) hope to catch the attention of the handsome new Duke.

The young ladies at the house party all delight in the opportunity—with the exception of Lillian Mayhew, an impoverished orphan with a disgraced family name, a drunken lout for a brother, and no place in society. Lillian more-or-less crashes the party with her invited friend Gabby, and a forged note begging her inclusion. Against the snooty Dowager Duchess’s better judgment, she obliges the request, but keeps a watchful eye on the unsuitable Miss Mayhew. Naturally, Simon is immediately drawn to Lillian despite her unsuitability.

A problem arises when she returns his attentions. Lillian’s intention is to expose the late Duke for his deceptive nature and bouts of violent behavior (which included raping Lillian’s mother five years earlier). When Lillian finds herself falling in love with Simon and believing in his innate goodness and ignorance of his father’s actions, she feels torn between wanting to destroy the Crathorne family and wanting to leave the past in the past.

In Jenna Petersen’s latest historical romance, she presents two intriguing characters, both of whom carry emotional baggage from their parents. Set at a house party full of oddball guests, the story takes place just before, during, and after the two-week time frame. The novel will keep readers interested, and the attraction between the two characters feels genuine.

In some ways What The Duke Desires mirrors Petersen’s earlier novel, Her Notorious Viscount (also reviewed on Myshelf.com) in which an orphaned young woman with a wayward brother has been ostracized by society, but still manages to attract the attentions of a titled gentleman. This time, however, the heroine comes across as strong and quite likeable, making the book slightly more enjoyable than Her Notorious Viscount. The author reveals several clues throughout the novel that hint at a surprise ending—actually a couple of surprises—that make What The Duke Desires a highly compelling read from the first page to the last.