Rhys Sheffield, the Duke of Worthington is a handsome playboy, during one of his get togethers with friends while there a friend declares he is looking for a wife but wants to be able to find one who will love him for himself and not for his money or title (this is the lead man from book 1) his friends offer up suggestions to help with his effort and during that discussion a bet is formed that 3 of the 4 gentleman can disguise themselves as servants at their 4th friends upcoming house party if they can do manual labor without quitting or being discovered by more than one or two other party guests they will win the bet (I believe it was around 1000 pounds).
No one believes that Rhys is capable of lasting the full party as a servant... he likes to drink, eat, sleep until the after noon and gamble away loads of money he isn't the type to be able to do manual labor, he's a pampered Duke with servants he couldn't possibly do the work of one. Rhys is offended that even his friends think that he isn't up to the challenge... game on! He will be the best groom that anyone has ever seen and win the bet.
Lady Julianna Montgomery is a guest at the house party while she is already engaged she is looking out for her younger sister and trying to help her find a suitable husband, maybe they will be able to find one at this very party.
Julianna loves horses and shortly after arriving to the party goes to see the stable where she runs into Rhys... what's he doing working with the horses and sleeping in the stables of all places, she is surprised to see him and learning about this bet he has with his friends she sets out to make his life difficult... he deserves it he did break her heart after all she thought they were on their way to forever love but just when she thought he would propose he left abruptly then never returned only sending a letter telling her she would be better off without him what is that even about she at least deserved to hear it from him in person!
**Possible Spoiler**
I thought for sure that the letter was going to be from someone else because there is talk during the book that Julianna's dad doesn't like Rhys, it turns out that there is a twist to the story and it was sent from him but there is some additional things going on there.
End of spoiler**
Handsome Rhys gets right to work enjoying Julianna's tasks and maybe even tempting her in the process taking off his shirt (so he doesn't get too sweaty of course).
Julianna begins with trying to make Rhys lose his bet even though she keeps his secret from the other guests... in the process she might be realizing that she still likes (maybe even loves Rhys) but she's betrothed to another man what is she going to do? Oh and she finds out that her husband to be is coming to the house party this adds a bit of extra drama.
Running into Rhys has had old feelings coming to the surface and she realizes that maybe she wants more for herself than to be the perfect daughter and a obedient wife to a bland man with no personality. Rhys believes Julianna only wanted to be with him for his title and with him out of the picture just went for the next best title.
Julianna also irritated me in places that she was willing to go through with marriage to a man she didn't want to be with to spite Rhys because he wasn't stepping up to declare himself in a grand gesture to her and ask her to stop the engagement... even if our lead male never stepped up to get his lady she should have ended the engagement with the guy she didn't want to be with she still had other options as a beautiful Duke's daughter with a decent sized dowry.
I plan to continue reading this series, I thought the story was ok as far as historical romance novels go but it was pretty repetitive and a lot of the plot was based on Miscommunication and no communication.
*dukes *historical romance *banter *enemies to more *second chance romance *some spice (lighter)
*miscommunication/misunderstanding/lack of communication *house party *hidden identity
*happy ending with a cliffhanger for cross over story line
*female lead engaged to another man when some kisses and other things were going on with male lead
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