The Way To A Duke's Heart
The Truth About The Duke Series #3
Caroline Linden

Avon Books
August 2012/ ASIN: B007HBH6B6
Historical Romance
Amazon

Reviewed by Cheryl Green

Having never forgiven his father for not giving him his blessing to marry the woman he loved, Charlie, the Earl-apparent of Gresham must now sort through his father's affairs to discover a blackmailer. The blackmail letters began arriving a year before his death. Now Charlie must discover who this blackmailer is and prove himself the rightful legitimate heir to the dukedom. It seems his father was married twice and somehow forgot to divorce his first wife before marrying a second time. Charlie and his two brothers are on the verge on losing everything if this blackmailer can't be stopped.

Tessa Neville and her companion, Eugenie Bates, are in Bath, England, on business. A passing remark Tessa makes to Eugenie is overheard by the Earl of Gresham - that is enough to ruin the one week stay. To make it even worse, he was staying in a suite right across the hall from Tessa.

Charlie finally is able to track his brother Gerard down and gets the name of the blackmailer - Hiram Scott. Meanwhile, Tessa is having a meeting about a potential investment for her brother, Viscount Marchmont. While he got the title, she got the beauty and the brains. She needs to decide if the Somerset Coal Canal is a worthy investment.

The Earl of Gresham is returning to the hotel and hears Eugenie instruct the maid, Mary, to deliver a letter from Mr Hiram Scott to Tessa. Before long, Charlie and Eugenie are having tea. He needs to find out what she knows about this Mr. Scott. How lucky for him that Mrs. Neville turned out to be the beautiful woman who thought him indolent!

Some questions to ponder: Will Charlie expose the blackmailer before his distant cousin, Augustus, makes a claim to the estate? Does Tessa have anything to do with the blackmail scheme, or is she just an innocent bystander? Will Charlie be the one to make Tessa recant her vow against men?

This is the first book I have read by Caroline Linders and it will not be the last. Ms. Linders has woven a wonderful tale filled with intrigue and romance. I visited Bath many years ago and it was wonderful to pay another visit through Ms. Linder's words.

Reviews of other titles in this series

One Night in London #1