Review: The Way to a Duke's Heart by Caroline Linden

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?

The Way to a Duke's Heart is the conclusion of the Durham Dilemma trilogy.  When we first meet Charles de Lacey, Lord Gresham, first-born son and heir, in One Night in London, he has a nonexistent relationship with his father and could seem to care less about losing his name and his fortune.  He has the most to lose of the three brothers, yet he's content to let Edward and Gerard solve the problem.   Edward and Gerard meet their respective wives, however, and force Charlie into accepting responsibility and getting to the bottom of this mystery.  And just as Charlie has a solid lead, he meets the beguiling Tessa Neville, a woman unlike any other.

 An angry woman was one thing, but an armed angry woman was another. 

Tessa is a plain-spoken, intelligent woman.  She has no use for flattery or witty banter; get to the point and get there quickly.  Because of her intelligence, she is acting on her brother's behalf in a business transaction with Mr. Hiram Scott, a man who Charlie believes is the blackmailer.  Charlie aligns himself with Tessa, and never lets go.

Watching Charlie and Tessa maneuver around each other was quite fun.  Neither wants to be attracted to the other, yet they cannot deny it.  The Way to a Duke's Heart was a very satisfying end and I will be sad to see the de Laceys say good-bye. 

(A very special thank you to Avon Books, Harper Collins, and Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC of The Way to a Duke's Heart.)