Anyone But a Duke

October 15, 2019
An American "dollar princess" seeks refuge on a long-lost duke's country estate after having been rejected on the marriage mart only to find him alive and well. Sarah Bumgarten, the youngest daughter of a prominent Nevada mining family, is expected to follow in her sisters' footsteps and find a husband among England's aristocracy. After enduring an earl's very public rejection, Sarah retreats to the vacant, neglected country estate of Arthur Graham, the Duke of Meridian, her sister's brother-in-law. Finding Betancourt in disrepair, spunky Sarah, surrounded by a bevy of beloved animals, puts her formidable skills to work refurbishing it. Her temporary refuge eventually becomes the home she has always dreamed of, until the duke's shocking return. Six years prior, Arthur, was a shy naturalist who allowed his greedy uncle to run Betancourt. He had been awakened to both the possibility of love and to his ducal responsibilities by Sarah's older sister, Daisy, only to find his hopes dashed when his younger brother stole her away. He had fled England for far-off lands, enduring a series of misadventures, which changed him completely. Now "he had come home to find [Daisy's] younger sister--the very image of Bumgarten energy and vitality--had taken up residence in the heart of his lost inheritance." Sarah and Arthur work together to shield Betancourt from his greedy relatives and other enemies, getting to know and admire one another in the process. Arthur's elaborate adventures off the page strain credulity, and too many subplots and too little character development hamper the effectiveness of the romance, but Krahn's prodigious talent still draws the reader in. A busy historical with lots of action to sustain an otherwise tame romance.

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from October 21, 2019
The enchanting third Sin & Sensibility Victorian romance (after The Girl with the Sweetest Secret) is a series high. After a public rejection in London, Sarah, the youngest Bumgarten sister, retreats to the empty country estate of her brother-in-law, Ashton Graham, but after the Graham family land is targeted by thieves, the retreat becomes less than idyllic. When Arthur Graham, Ashton’s brother and the sixth Duke of Meridian, returns to England after years abroad, he’s surprised to find Sarah commanding his family home. A mysterious attacker injures Arthur upon arrival, and Sarah, not recognizing the Duke, nurses him back to health. Hoping to get to the bottom of who attacked him and why his brother is absent, Arthur takes on a fake identity to investigate. Working together to defend the property, Sarah and Arthur are instantly drawn to each other, but Arthur’s lie stands between them. Sarah is a delightful heroine, and fan favorite Uncle Red is back to provide comic relief. Witty banter, strong chemistry, and a dollop of mystery propel this charming romance. Agent: Gail Fortune, Talbot Fortune Agency.

December 1, 2019

Still smarting from a public rejection, Miss Sarah Bumgarten seeks refuge at the estate of her newly married sister, who's away in America with her husband, the duke. Sarah finds comfort in tending to the land's neglected animals and tenants, but a threat to her beloved dog from a band of n'er-do-wells has her throwing punches in defense. She's not alone: a mysterious man named Michael, claiming to be a friend of the family, arrives in time to help her fend off the ruffians. When Michael is attacked, Sarah tends his wounds, unaware that he is actually Arthur, the rightful heir to the estate. Arthur has endured years of suffering as a captive in foreign lands, and now he's ready to claim his birthright. Seeing how Sarah lovingly cared for the estate in his absence causes Arthur to fall hard, and he's determined to defend her and those under his protection from all who threaten. VERDICT RITA Award-winning author Krahn (The Girl with the Sweetest Secret) provides just the right amount of suspense and tenderness; readers will be charmed by this attractive couple.--Kathryn Howe, Saint John Free P.L., NB

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2019
Sarah Bumgarten has absolutely no use whatsoever for men. After being publicly humiliated by the man she thought was going to propose to her, Sarah left London and built a new life for herself as the self-appointed steward of Betancourt, her brother-in-law the duke of Meridian's, estate. Sarah discovers, however, that men can be useful when a stranger intervenes after she and her beloved dog, Nero, are attacked by a band of ruffians. Sarah finds herself able to truly express her gratitude when one of the tenants at Betancourt brings the same stranger, now suffering from a gunshot wound, to Sarah for treatment. But while Sarah tends to the stranger's wounds, she finds herself plagued by the same question she had when she first encountered him: why does he seem so darn familiar? Krahn wraps up her Sin & Sensibility series with another humor-laced historical romance that gets top marks for originality in plotting and for gifting readers with a one-of-a-kind heroine with grit and gumption to spare.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)