"The Duke Gets Desperate" in the series "Sirens in Silk" by Diana D.M. Quincy follows the story of Raya, who inherits a castle from her late cousin and ends up entangled with Anthony, the Duke of Strickland, who is determined to win the castle back. The enemies-to-lovers storyline is filled with mystery, tension, and attraction, as Raya and Anthony navigate their growing fondness amidst external and internal conflicts. beautifully portrays Raya's Arab American heritage and her sharp business acumen, creating a dynamic and engaging historical romance with a unique setting and well-developed characters.

Characters:

The characters include a strong-willed independent heroine and a duke grappling with societal expectations, with supporting characters providing humor and depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by elegant and thoughtful prose, blending historical language with modern humor and captivating cultural descriptions.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features an enemies to lovers dynamic, where the heroine inherits a castle from her cousin, leading to romantic tension amidst financial struggles and a surrounding mystery.

Setting:

The setting is a nineteenth-century English castle, which serves as a key location illustrating cultural intersections.

Pacing:

The pacing features a balance of tension build-up, slow burn romance, and interspersed mystery elements to maintain reader interest.

Notes:

The story features an Arab American heroine named Raya Darwish who inherits a castle in England.

Anthony Cary, the Duke of Strickland, initially believes the castle should have been his inheritance.

Raya is portrayed as a strong-willed, independent woman with business acumen.

The plot involves a hate-to-love romance dynamic between Raya and Anthony.

The setting includes elements of historical romance, such as a crumbling castle and societal expectations of women.

The story incorporates a mystery involving the death of Raya's cousin, which adds suspense to the romance.

Quincy actively highlights Arab culture and perspectives throughout the novel.

Raya faces prejudice as a foreign woman in England, but her cultural background does not become a source of conflict.

The novel includes humorous moments, such as witty banter between the characters and snappy comments from Raya's aunt.

It explores themes of trust, independence, and learning to ask for what you want in a relationship.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of violence and murder, which could be distressing for some readers.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central focus of the book, characterized by strong chemistry and tension between the lead characters.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

Diana Quincy returns with a steamy affair between an Arab-American woman who inherits a run-down castle in the English countryside and the duke who asserts the castle is his, in the first book in a brand-new Victorian historical romance series.

Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, inherits his spendthrift father's title and can finally restore the family castle to its former glory. But at the reading of the will, Strick is stunned to learn that his father has secretly disentailed him, leaving the family manor-home to twelve generations of dukes-to Strick's American stepmother. Everyone knows Strick detests the dowager duchess, and when she dies mysteriously, damning rumors start to surface.

When Raya Darwish unexpectedly inherits her glamorous late cousin's castle in the English countryside, she clashes with the charismatic young duke who insists the castle is rightfully his. The estate is practically bankrupt, so she must find a way to work with the duke in order to save both of their futures.

The two cannot stand each other, but mutual disdain soon gives way to desire. When questions arise about how her cousin died, Raya cannot help wondering if Strick's sudden unbridled passion for her is part of a scheme to get his castle back...

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The Duke Gets Desperate

Diana D.M. Quincy

Book 1 in the series:Sirens in Silk