⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. Two disillusioned people, who are supposed to be enemies, find love amidst a curse in this delightful romance.

Henry Lewis, the Duke of Carlisle, has never met a wager he won’t take or a bet he won’t make. Unfortunately, he was cursed by a witch at the age of thirteen, so his luck ends when he turns thirty. In a last attempt to win back his dwindling fortune, Henry wagers it all to the devious Marquess of Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury has been trying to ruin the Carlisle family for years, and when Carlisle puts the last card on the table, Shrewsbury has his revenge. Carlisle is left penniless and homeless. He retreats to his mother’s home only to find the marquess has banished his daughter to live on the nearby estate, an estate her father won from Henry.

Lady Katherine Malfort was born with a birthmark on her face and kept hidden away by her family. She wants to study painting in Paris, a demand which angers her father and results in her banishment to Carlisle Hall. Katie is used to being alone, but she finds some solace in the friendship of the Duchess of Carlisle. Until her son, the duke, arrives. Not only does Katie have no respect for a man who would disregard his mother and gamble away his family’s home, she’s angry at the way he’s neglected the estate and the tenants. For Katie, Carlisle can’t leave soon enough. For his part, Carlisle wants to know why the marquess has a vendetta against him. He believes the answer is hidden in the library at Carlisle Hall and needs Katie to help him search it. She agrees, but only if he’ll make amends for his neglect of his tenants. Searching the library and aiding the tenants put Henry in Katie’s presence more than she’d like. She can’t deny her attraction to the handsome duke, but she knows he will never see her as anything other than the marked daughter of his enemy. And even as their relationship grows, can she ever really trust a gambler? Henry sees Katie for the rare woman she is, but can he trust the daughter of his enemy?

MY THOUGHTS

Henry and Katie were both captivating characters. From the start, Henry saw her for the brilliant person she was, underneath the birthmark that she was taught to be ashamed of. Katie kept her promise of standing by Henry and never leaving him to fight his demons on his own. It was amusing and charming to see Henry trying to make sense of the curse and the witch.

Henry’s gambling addiction was portrayed extremely well. We could clearly see and understand his obsession and how strong a hold it had on him, the push and pull between his compulsion and his conscience. It ruled his thoughts, until he discovered the wildfire of attraction burning between him and Katie. If they weren’t kissing each other, they were thinking of kissing each other. The story never implied that Henry’s addiction was miraculously solved, but that it would be possible for him to manage it in the future with help.

There was a spot in the middle that slowed down somewhat, but overall the pacing was just right. I cannot wait to read Rory’s story and see how the curse situation gets resolved. If you like steamy historical romance with down-on-their-luck characters, then this is the series for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Historical Romance
Published: April 12, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Misfortunes Favorites