There are a whole selection of Caroline Linden's historical romance novels and a novella on sale. The group of them make up the whole “The Truth about the Duke” series. It seems it takes a few books to get to the center of the truth, when dukes are involved anyway.
This novella won the 2012 RITA® for Best Romance Novella. It's normally $1.99, but is currently .99c US.
A single lady in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a suitor Margaret de Lacey has accepted her unmarried state with dignity, if not delight. She had no suitors when she was young and starry-eyed, though regrettably poor, and it's unlikely any man will court her now that she's older, wiser, and still just as penniless.
Until, that is, her brother unexpectedly inherits the dukedom of Durham and settles an enormous dowry on her, making her the most eligible heiress in town. No gentleman in London is more in need of a wealthy bride than Rhys Corwen, Earl of Dowling. He contrives an introduction to Margaret because of her dowry, but she swiftly sets him right: no fortune hunter will win her heart or her hand.
Far from put off, Rhys is intrigued. Interested. Entranced. And soon the only thing he needs more than Margaret's fortune . . . is her love.
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This is the first book after the novella in the “The Truth about the Duke” series. It's currently $2.99 US. And honestly, what in heaven's name is the model doing on that cover? It looks like she's trying to avoid sneezing by lifting up one side of her skirt.
A bargain that was all business . . . and pure passion.
Neither wealth nor beauty will help Lady Francesca Gordon win custody of her young niece Georgina, saving the girl from a cruel stepmother; she needs London’s top solicitor for that. But when Edward de Lacey, son of the powerful Duke of Durham, hires away the one man who can do the job, Francesca decides Edward himself must champion her case . . . if only she can melt the dashing lord’s stony heart.
Edward has reason to be guarded, though. London’s tabloids have just exposed a secret that could ruin his entire family. When Francesca offers a unique chance to undo the damage, Edward is forced to agree to a partnership . . . and now, each moment together feeds the flames of his scandalous longing for the passionate widow. But when Georgina disappears, fate will test them both . . . and leave their love hanging in the balance.
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Blame it on Bath is $2.99.
A marriage of convenience . . . or of destiny? Gerard de Lacey is determined to find the man who is blackmailing his family, but with his inheritance and status at risk, a hasty marriage to a wealthy bride also seems in order—just in case things take a turn for the worse. Charismatic and capable, Gerard knows he can win the hand of any lady he chooses.
Still, he's not expecting a rich widow to find him and propose the very thing he wants: a marriage of convenience.
Katherine Howe's first marriage was one of dreary duty. Now that she's being pressured to marry her late husband's heir, she's desperate for a better option. Gerard de Lacey, with his sinful good looks, charming manner, and looming scandal, fits her needs perfectly. The fact that she's nursed a secret affection for him only makes it better—and worse.
Because Gerard will likely marry her for her fortune—but can he love her for herself, as she loves him?
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This book is 75% at $1.99, and is book #4 in the series (or three, if you count the novella as a .5, which some lists do) (How is a novella half a book, anyway? I don't get that. Anyway).
Charles de Lacey, Lord Gresham, is running out of time, running from his responsibilities, and running from love. Destined to be a duke, Charles de Lacey has led a life of decadent pleasure, free of any care for propriety or responsibility. It comes as a terrible shock to learn that he might be stripped of everything, thanks to his father's scandalous past. He has no choice but to find the blackmailer who would ruin him—and his only link to the villain is a woman who may be part of the plot…
To save his fortune and title, he vows he'll stop at nothing—in fact, he's all too eager to unravel the beautiful, tart-tongued Tessa Neville. She intrigues him and tempts him like no other lady ever has. With only his heart to guide him, and keenly aware that his entire future is at stake, Charles must decide: is she the woman of his dreams, or an enemy in disguise?
“what in heaven’s name is the model doing on that cover? It looks like she’s trying to avoid sneezing by lifting up one side of her skirt. “
Or trying to see how her butt tattoo came out :->
I got a little annoyed having to wait so long for the truth, but Linden writes great heroines, so it was worth it. I especially like the first book in the series with Francesca and Edward.
So many marriage-of-convenience plots! I admit I kind of like that trope. Anyhoo, anyone have any suggestions for one of these sale books that would be fun for a first time Linden reader?
I read the Way to a Duke’s Heart and struggled to finish. The pacing was incredibly slow, the sexual tension lacking, and the hero and herione spent most of the book walking, drinking lemonade and discussing canals. It was a major let down. I finished it, but it was tough.
As for the lady in pink… she seems to cavorting with a ghost…
A bunch of Caroline Linden’s other Harper Collins titles are also discounted to 2.99 at ARe ( so I assume they are discounted at other stores too.)
I’ve got all of these except The Way to a Duke’s Heart, read your post & thought great $1.99 that’s approx £1.25. Amazon UK quote £4.49 so offer appears to be only in the US.
Perhaps that’s the long-hidden truth about the duke: he’s secretly a tattoo artist. Which would be a plot twist absolutely no one would see coming.
Joanna, I’m working on finding out more about UK and European ebook deals for y’all. It can be tricky for me to find them, but I am working on it – stay tuned!
I would totally read a book about a secret tattoo artist Duke. I mean, dukes have been secret pirates, secret spies, secret secrets, secret paupers, and secret valets – so why not a secret tattoo artist duke, right?
Found one!! The Tattooed Duke!! by Maya Rodale… I’ve not read it but found it when I was searching the other day.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/…
maybe I should read a little bit better… he is not an artist, he just has a tattoo
@Raine: It’s an awful book! Maya Rodale’s first two books in the writing girl series were good, but the others not so much.
@Elyse: I agree it was slow and I struggled too. Lately it seems to me the last book is almost always the weakest of the lot in many Historical series. I don’t get it!
I read “One Night in London”, about the middle brother, Gerard, and got hooked enough that I want to read the rest. I thought the resolution of the heroine’s main conflict/problem was touching and realistic. I can’t really say why she’s apparently mooning someone on the cover, however.
The Tattooed Duke is not very good, it’s true. There’s another tattooed hero in the same series that’s even worse. IIRC, he gets a poppy tattoo *on his face* in honor of his wife, whose name is not, in fact, Poppy. But it’s the thought that counts, right?
I like Caroline Linden’s books much more, although I too was not crazy about the one with the canals, and I never particularly care for novellas.
Perhaps the model on One Night is tired of confining her vestigial tail.
Thanks so much for this, I downloaded all four books and devoured them in a weekend. I loved them! It’s best to read them in order. Now I’m off to download some more Linden titles.