Duke in Hiding

4 Hearts Reviewed by Prime

For me MJ O’Shea has been one of those authors who I’m always hit and miss when it comes to enjoying their books. However, I am more than happy to say that Duke In Hiding is one of those stories that I absolutely loved. I got it in the first place because I thought that it felt like some Georgian/Victorian aristocratic drama/romance that has been set in modern times with a MM story line. The only real type of MF romance that I read is of the Georgian/Victorian variety. I also loved that in this book there is the direct reference to Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights and her moody hero Heathcliff.

Duke In Hiding is exactly what the title and blurb says.

Heath is the moody English aristocrat (see, Bronte reference!) who goes to small town New Hampshire in order to get away from a potentially deadly situation after an attempt is made on his life. This is where he meets Theo, a landscape gardener who also doubles as a bar tender until his summer workload picks up. Needless to say, the guys start off on the wrong foot because of a certain duke’s moody behavior. Yet from the start there are intense sparks of attraction between the guys.

I think my only criticism is that the ending seemed a little rushed. There was a lot for Theo to comprehend at the end and he seemed to just let it happen and accepted everything without much of a fight. I don’t really mean fight in the literal sense. I just felt that perhaps it needed to occur on a longer time frame. However, I loved these guys. Theo was a good buffer for Heath’s gruffness in the same way Jane Eyre smoothes out Edward Rochester’s rough edges in Jane Eyre (I know, wrong Bronte sister but you get the point and I couldn’t help myself).

After reading such great reviews, I was excited to read about Heath and Theo. So I was a little disappointed for a while. The guys were cute with their banter when first meeting, but the first half of the book was slow and repetitive. The second half was much more enjoyable and I learned to love the main characters and their love story.

Heat Level: # 2 flames out of 5
Story Rating: # 4 stars out of 5
Narration Score: # 4 stars out of 5

I have read or listened to quite a few of the Dreamspun Desires books. These are all stand alone books written by some amazing authors. Each book is unique, but they all have that feel good HEA feel to them. This book is no different. The plot of this story is about Heath Blackwood who appears in the tourist town of Maplehurst, New Hampshire. He has been sent to the quiet town to hide out until the authorities capture the person threatening his life. While there he meets bartender and local Theo Brody. At first the two although attracted to each other, do not hit it off. As a matter of fact Theo struggles to keep from hitting the guy. As time goes on the chemistry gets hotter between the landscaper and the Duke. The story is pretty fast paced, and it kept my interest till the end. As previously mentioned, this book has a HEA ending. Even in the short time span we get to know the characters and see how they develop. The narrator did an excellent job of telling this story. There were many characters and he had a distinct voice for each character male and female.

SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5 Categories
PLOT:4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 4 Stars
ENDING: 5 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4 Stars
Narration: 4 Stars


Review Copy of Duke in Hiding Audible provided by the Dreamspinner Press LLC. for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club

This story is a classic romantic story. Theo is falling for the new guy in town. But while Heath is honest about his growing feelings there is a lot more he hasn't shared. It all gets a very dramatic reveal that leaves Theo reeling. But sometimes love makes the extraordinary normal and makes the ordinary even better.

Theo wonders how he can be attracted to someone and loath them as well, he has never felt the way newcomer to town Heath makes him feel when he walks into the bar where Theo works. Heath manages to insult several things Theo holds dear in one single sentence.
Theo soon finds out that though Heath may be prickly, he can be charming as well, and with that sexy body and accent, Theo is willing to overlook the prickly times! As the two get to know each other better they find that though they are opposite in almost every way, they have a connection that can't be denied!
There are things about Heath that Theo doesn't know, and when he finds out will it be a deal breaker? Or is Theo far too invested in his prickly Brit to turn back?
Grab this book, you will be in love with Theo and Heath just as I am! Thanks MJ for your second great addition to this line of books!