Daring and the Duke

Author: Sarah MacLean
Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards, book 3
Publisher: Avon (June 30, 2020)
Mass market paperback, 371
Romance, Adult Romance, Historical Romance
Goodreads

Summary
Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best, until the man she once loved returns.

Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back… and make her his duchess.

Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she’s built, the life she’s claimed…and the heart she swore he’d never steal again.

Review
This was an amazing conclusion to The Bareknuckle Bastards series! This book has it all – childhood sweethearts, second chances, enemies to lovers, a bit of mistaken identities (sort of), redeemed hero…

Ewan has been an antagonist in the past two books in the series, so I was really looking forward to seeing how Sarah MacLean would turn him into a romance-worthy hero. Wow, am I ever impressed at what an amazing job she did getting me on board the Ewan Express right from the get-go. I really can’t say more without spoilers, but this book had my clutching my chest trying to keep my heart from hurting so much, and it was mostly because of Ewan’s sections. I love a good anti-hero/redeemed villain story and wow, Ewan. *fans self*

Grace is also amazing. The previous books had her sort of flirting around the edges of the stories, and it was awesome to finally get to really know her as a character. My only regret is that the cover of the book shows her in some floofy yellow dress. I really wish we’d gotten her in one of her gorgeous tailored jacket with brightly colored silk lining to match the corset underneath and tailored trousers. She wears a dress literally like ONCE in the book, come on. Grace is this amazing, strong, independent woman with this deep well of strength, and I adore her.

Daring and the Duke is the third and final book in The Bareknuckle Bastards series. While it could technically probably be read as a stand alone, you’re really better off if you read this one in series order. You really won’t get the full emotional punch of this one if you read it out of order.

A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.