The Good, The Bad and The Duke, by Janna MacGregor

A very enticing storyline from the Regency Period of England. The young Duke of Southart, Paul, is trying to deal with his grief as well as the new responsibilities of being the Duke of Southart.

His grief is from the death of his father and his brother. He is grieved. Not so much for his father but very grieved for his brother’s passing.

From his younger days he has been a free spirit whom spent his time gambling, seducing women and just generally acting poorly. But now he must reform his ways and establish himself as the Duke of Southart and thus gain respect from the community as he takes his place in society.

Then there is Lady Daphne Hallworth, a young woman who is dealing with her own grief and her own issues of society. Her sister has died and Lady Daphne is cut to her core with grief.

Both the Duke and Lady Daphne want to do something to honor their lost siblings. The Duke wants to establish a hospital to help fight the diseases that are decimating the population of England. Lady Daphne wants to open a home for unwed mothers.

The Dukes desire is “Noble,” but Lady Daphne’s desire to open this home is against all societal acceptance. But that is all the more reason to open a home.

The underlying current of the story is that Lady Daphne and the Duke of Southart have known each other their entire lives. The lady has loved the Duke the whole time. But the Duke has been blinded by his own misguided youth.

Will they both establish the charities they want to? Will they find love in each others presence? Will they be able to overcome the grief and issues of societal mistakes that seek to unravel their reputations?

The research is well done, the writing handles all the Regency decorum well and the love that grows between the two is very much true to life.

They are a few scandalous things that MacGregor includes, such as the sexual promiscuity of the time. But while that seems out of place it really isn’t. Sex has always been something that brings ruination to many a decent person.

All in all this is a delightful story, I trust you will enjoy it.