Isabella Masters, posing as a nursery maid, is running from her past, from a secret that could send her to the gallows, when she comes across a handsome man at a coaching inn. She suspects that Mark is the estate manager for the Duke of Strattington, and as such, can offer her a life of stability. Isabella allows her mind and her desires to run away with her as she begins to dream of marriage to Mark, even though they've just met. When her passions get the best of her and she winds up unemployed, she looks to Mark to protect her and take her away from the dangers that follow her. Can she count on him or is he merely toying with her affections?

Mark is the new Duke of Strattington and he never meant to deceive Isabella into thinking that he is anything other than a peer, or that he would marry her. Instead, he plans to make the beauty his mistress, but is a bit puzzled as to the protocol. He makes mistake after mistake, mainly from following the advice of his valet, and soon finds that Isabella isn't quite what she seems either. What's a duke to do when the very woman he wants is being endangered by her past?

What a Duke Wants is a Regency-era historical romance that pits truth against love. The lead characters both have secrets and insecurities to hide that make them pose as something they are not and lead them into trouble. Isabella is a gently bred woman without many options as to how to support herself since she's run away from her family. Mark is learning the ropes of being a duke and discovering all of the pitfalls and strictures that await him as a leader of society. Unfortunately, this book seemed as though we entered in halfway through the story; I was disappointed to feel like I spent the entire book catching up with what was happening - and there was a lot happening. Isabella and Mark's romantic relationship didn't ring true for me, either, and the author leads readers through a might-convoluted plot to reach the denouement. The Regency setting and secondary characters were well crafted and authentic, but weren't enough to redeem this book for me. Three Angels.

Reviewed by: Michelle B.