The Duchess Hunt by Jennifer Haymore

Simon Hawkins, Duke of Trent and Sarah Osborne's book





The Duchess Hunt (House of Trent book 1)


By: Jennifer Haymore

Book Blurb:
Simon Hawkins, duke of Trent, is no stranger to scandal. Rumors and innuendo have darkened the House of Trent for decades, and it has fallen to Simon to restore his tattered family name. He lives by a strict code of honor, but when he is called home to investigate his mother's disappearance, the distinguished duke will tangle with temptation. For there waits the only woman he has ever loved--and the last woman he should desire...

Sarah Osborne has spent her life dreaming of Simon's touch. But dukes do not long for lady's maids--or so Sarah believes, until a stolen kiss sparks a passion that could be her ultimate undoing. As the couple begins a forbidden romance, a cunning enemy plots to destroy the duke and everything he loves. Now, caught in a blackmailer's web, Simon faces an agonizing choice: sacrifice his family's future or break Sarah's heart.

 

I'm so upset! I simply LOVED The Duchess Hunt BUT I just realized AFTER I read it that it is part of a series and this story is only book 1...which was just recently published. That means I now have to wait and wait for the entire series to be finished. I'd rather read a series all in order because I hate to wait for books one at a time. I am far too impatient. 

I loved the story. I love looooved the story. There is an awesome romance combined with a mystery. 
Sarah was a child when she first encountered the ducal family but she was not a priviledged member of society. In fact, she was the family gardiner's daughter. She was rescued from a prickly prediciment when she was just a child by the duke himself. Simon was just a teen at the time; a mere child in his own right. As Sarah became familiar with the entire family, the eccentric Duchess welcomed Sarah into their home with open arms and she was even educated right along Simon and his siblings. 

The reason for my love of The Duchess Hunt is because Simon and Sarah are just so romantic. Their love is forbidden due to the levels of their stations and yet it is evident how deeply they love each other. Even with years apart as they grew older, their hearts still seem to belong to each other. It is all very romantic. I found as the reader I was getting very swept up in their emotions and when Simon tries to move forward with a "proper" wife, I felt as though he was cheating on Sarah. It was maddening and it just felt so wrong when he'd kiss another lady.  My heart was breaking. 

I loved the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Simon's mother the duchess. I had a few idea swirling around in my mind of what happened but as the story progressed further along, all my ideas were trashed. I honestly have no idea what happened and I will keep reading the series because I need to know what happened to the duchess. 

Teasers: illegitimate brothers, idiots, blackmail, Gretna Green rescue