The Duke’s Guide to Correct Behavior: A Dukes Behaving Badly Novel

Marcus, Duke of Rutherford is not really a duke; he inherited his title and money on a fluke, without being prepared for his station. Lily Russell is not really a governess; she worked as an accountant in a brothel and started her own business finding work for women in need. Lily goes to the Duke of Rutherford’s house when he asks for a governess for his illegitimate daughter, Rose. Shortly after taking the job, she falls in love with the duke, though the attraction seems mostly physical.

The book opens on Marcus and his friends after a night of partying and philandering. His devil-may-care attitude makes his sincere attempts to connect with Lily… well, insincere. The narrative never shirks an opportunity to describe the wide expanses of the Duke’s chest or the chiseled planes of his face. The pair collaborate on ways to raise Rose, but without her, the characters have no compatible goals. Chemistry between the two was severely lacking, and opportunities to develop chemistry were missed in lieu of describing their physical characteristics. The Duke’s Guide to Correct Behavior is a great guilty-pleasure read if you don’t seek a story with depth or meaning.