Book Review: Destiny With a Duke by Alexa Aston

About the Book:

Title: Destiny With a Duke

Author: Alexa Aston

Series: Dukes Done Wrong #5

Page Length: 264

Publication Date: Nov. 18, 2021

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing

Synopsis: A vicar trying to save his own soul. A widow who yearns for children. A darkness that can only be dispelled with the healing power of love . . .

William Finchley carries a secret from childhood which he has never shared with anyone, not even his closest friends. When his brother commits suicide, Finch becomes the new Duke of Sommersby. He attends his first Season with no plans to ever wed—until he meets Lady Pemberton, an optimistic, brave widow.

Victoria Samuel, Lady Pemberton, returns to Polite Society after a year of mourning a husband who was murdered by a whore. She yearns for children, which is the only reason she faces the gossiping ton, hoping to find a husband of good character.

Finch and Victoria are drawn to each other but Finch believes he is too broken and undeserving of love, even after he weds Victoria and then abandons her. Only when the mother he believes betrayed him shares with Finch how he should take a chance on the healing power of love does Finch decide to let his heart speak to Victoria.

Will Finch’s courageous actions win Victoria back—or will she reject him, plunging him into eternal darkness?

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

Destiny With a Duke is the fifth and final book in the Dukes Done Wrong series, and it is Finch’s story. I was so excited to finally read about the mysterious Finch, as he is the one Turner Terror who never revealed what happened to him when he was a child. As Finch becomes the new Duke of Sommersby, he attends his first season with the support of the other Turner Terrors and their wives. Finch has no plans to wed until he meets Lady Pemberton, who has just returned to polite society after the death of her husband a year ago. Finch and Victoria are so drawn to each other, but will Finch take a chance on love?

Finch’s story is probably the most heartbreaking of all the Turner Terrors, and there are parts of the story that deal with difficult and hard to read subjects. Topics including death, murder, child abuse, and more could trigger some readers, so I would strongly suggest checking out the content warnings before reading the book. Finch deals with feelings of unworthiness, especially when it comes to committing to Victoria. He is scarred and scared, and he has built a very large wall around himself. No one knows of his past, not even the Turner Terrors, and Finch finds it impossible to open up about what happened to him. I like that Victoria helps him find ways to heal from the past and thinks her advice and support are the catharses for his emotional journey.

Victoria was in a loveless and childless marriage, and she longs for children. I love Victoria! She is so kind, wise, and honest, and I how that she takes charge of her life. For so long, Victoria’s life was dictated by either her father or her husband, and this is the first time she has the freedom to make her own choices. With that freedom comes a confidence and determination that Victoria embraces.

Victoria fits in so well with the Turner Terrors and their wives, and they readily welcome her into their continually expanding family. All of the protagonists from the previous books have secondary roles in this story, and their relationships are great models for Finch. He and Victoria see the love matches that all of his “brothers of the heart” made, and both wish for that as well. However, prior to meeting each other, neither Finch nor Victoria think this will happen to them, especially Finch.

The romance between Victoria and Finch is almost instantaneous. They feel such a strong connection from their first meeting, and the attraction is strong. Their love story is a bit different from the rest in the series since Victoria is the slightly more experienced partner, and Finch has no past experiences with women. Victoria is the first and only person to interest Finch, and it’s fascinating to see him try to reconcile his conflicted feelings, especially when other men show interest in Victoria. It’s clear that Victoria and Finch care deeply for each other. However, his fear, doubt, and past are Finch’s constant companions, and he finds it difficult to move past them. I love how Victoria advises Finch and how Finch listens to her wise words. They have a mutual respect and admiration that helps them both find peace, acceptance, and happiness.

I enjoyed this story and thought it was a great conclusion to the series. Like all of the books in the series, the characters are compelling, and the love story is wonderful. A novel about healing, learning to love yourself, starting over, and finding happiness, Destiny With a Duke will appeal to readers of historical romance. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Dragonblade Publishing, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.