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Emma V.Leech
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Dying For A Duke (The Regency Romance Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Emma V. Leech (Author), Gemma Fisk (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,700 ratings
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The first book of the exciting new Regency Romance Mysteries series. From Emma V Leech, the multi-award-winning, Amazon Top 10 romance writer behind the Rogues & Gentlemen series.

Miss Skeffington-Fox is about as far from the cool-headed sensibilities of Lord Rutland’s betrothed as you can get. But she just may be his only hope.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Extremely well written with superb characters and a plot which has many twists and turns. It reminded me of Georgette Heyer's 'The Grand Sophy' with more spice." ~ Amazon customer review

Introducing the darkly handsome Earl of Rothay, imperious, straight-laced, and morally rigid.
Mr. Benedict Rutland gained his title far too young. With frivolous parents and the responsibility of a large family of younger siblings, he spent his youth clawing the family fortune back from the brink of bankruptcy.

Now a man in his prime and financially secure, he is betrothed to a strict, sensible and cool-headed woman who will never upset the balance of his life, let alone disturb his emotions... But then Miss Skeffington-Fox arrives.

Brought up solely by her rake of a step-father, Benedict is scandalised by everything about the dashing Miss. But as family members begin to die, and heirs in line for the dukedom fall away at an alarming rate, all fingers point at Benedict, and Miss Skeffington-Fox may be the only one who can save him.

An homage to the queen of the Regency Romance, Georgette Heyer.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Emma weaves her magic throughout the book with enough twists and plots to keep you on your toes. I thought to read few chapters a day but ended up reading the entire book within one night! The book is that captivating, interesting and the characters make you laugh, cry and ponder, all at the same time! When the plot thickens, you start becoming a sleuth yourself... your mind races, your heartbeat quickens, and you can't wait to read the last pages to unravel the mystery. That is Emma for you! Full thumbs up, as many stars as we can give and a Must Read!" ~ Amazon customer review

**** Warning: This book contains a most scandalous Miss and, on occasion, is highly likely to include some mild sweating or descriptive sex scenes. **** The Regency Romance Mysteries series can be enjoyed as stand-alone novels or as part of the wider series. If the full series appeals, the suggested – but by no means essential - reading order would be: • Book 1: Dying for a Duke • Book 2: A Dog in a Doublet • Book 3: The Rum and The Fox Happy reading! And please do leave a review if you can – it would mean the world to hear what you enjoyed most about the book.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Regency Romance Mysteries
  2. Print length
    326 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 24, 2017
  5. File size
    4.8 MB
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  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B073RT8D2T
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (July 24, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 24, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,700 ratings

About the author

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Emma V.Leech

Emma V.Leech

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Regency Romance Author, Emma V Leech is the award-winning writer of six series with many more to come! Selected in the AMAZON UK Kindle Storyteller Awards four years running with Flaming June, A Scent of Scandal and The Last Man in London from Rogues and Gentlemen. For To Follow her Heart, To Ride With the Knight and To Hunt the Hunter from the Bestselling Girls Who Dare series, and for Dare to be Wild, from the Bestselling Daring Daughters series.

To keep up with new releases, sign up for Emma's newsletter on her website. Copy and paste the following address - https://www.emmavleech.com/

ROGUES AND GENTLEMEN: Regency Romance. Sexy, tumultuous, and desperately romantic, Rogues and Gentlemen will have you wishing for your own pirate, smuggler, earl, or duke to carry you off into the past.

GIRLS WHO DARE:

Regency Romance. Twelve book series. Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen.

THE DARING DAUGHTERS:

Their mothers dared all for love. Just imagine what their daughters will do. This in an ongoing next generation series in the Girls Who Dare world.

THE REGENCY ROMANCE MYSTERIES: Historical Romantic Suspense. If you prefer your Regency Romance with a little dash of mystery and murder, these are the books for you. Dashing heroes and wicked villains abound, and of course, a plucky heroine who won't sit about looking ornamental until she's rescued

THE FRENCH VAMPIRE LEGEND: Paranormal Romance. This is a dramatic and heart-wrenching story of courage and sacrifice and a love that nothing ... not even time, can tear apart.

THE FRENCH FAE LEGEND: Paranormal Romance. With close to sixteen million online reads to date the award-winning Dark Series is one of Emma's most successful works. An epic saga set between modern-day France and the Fae Lands - a historic version of our own world, where only love is more powerful than magic.

ABOUT EMMA:

As an accomplished romance author, Emma won the world’s largest online writing competition ‘The Wattys’ two years running, first with The Darkest Night, and then with her short story, A Dark Imperfection, A Les Fées Novella. Her third published novel, The Dark Prince has been touted as one of The Top 50 Self Published Books Worth Reading in 2015 and is #2 on the list of the Top 50 Indie Books in 2015 as well as being hailed as "An enchanting fantasy with a likeable heroine, romantic intrigue, and clever narrative flourishes." by Kirkus Reviews.

Emma's novels have garnered attention worldwide, and fans who continue to clamour for more through email, Facebook, and Twitter.

When she's not writing she strives to live as far from the real world as possible. but otherwise, she can be found in Darkest Dordogne, South West France with her husband, three children, assorted cats and a wild imagination

www.facebook.com/EmmaVLeech

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EmmaVLeech/ for Emma's reader's group

www.emmavleech.com for more info and free stories

Twitter Emma V Leech@ladameblanche

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,700 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the interesting plot and the surprising climax of the book. They found it entertaining, thrilling, and satisfying. The characters were described as wonderful, charming, and three-dimensional. Many readers praise the writing quality as well-written and talented. They also mentioned that the book was hard to put down. However, some customers felt the editing needed improvement and there were editing issues. Opinions differed on the pacing - some found it fast-paced and enjoyable, while others felt it was slow.

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PlotEnjoymentCharacter developmentWriting qualityCharmDifficulty to put downPacingEditing quality
95 customers mention "Plot"80 positive15 negative

Customers enjoy the plot. They find it entertaining with a good idea for a storyline. The story flows well and the dialogue is good. Readers appreciate that the plot is not too twisted as to be unbelievable. It's a fast-paced whodunit mystery with lots of action.

"...When the plot thickens, you start becoming a sleuth yourself... your mind races, your heartbeat quickens and you can't wait to read the last pages..." Read more

"...The characters are well defined. Phoebe is attractive and very active. At times, I felt she inserted herself in places which she should not have...." Read more

"...written, with humor, angst, sweetness, and spice, in a story filled with romance, mystery, and danger...." Read more

"It was a good idea for a storyline. Personally, I felt things moved a little quickly, especially for the time period it was set in...." Read more

78 customers mention "Enjoyment"78 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the story thrilling and engaging with wonderful characters. The ending is satisfying and the book is described as a delightful Regency romp with a murder mystery. Readers are eager to read more.

"...Her bold acts, her wit and her mischievousness capture your attention like anything! Benedict was a goner the moment she stepped in his view...." Read more

"...I really love these characters, and it was a fun yet suspenseful read. Highly recommended." Read more

"...the issues aside, it was a brief but of entertainment and good for a light read with a bit if romance, murder and mystery if you can look past the..." Read more

"...However, I do recommend the book for a quick and fun read. Sexual situations (mild) may offend some readers" Read more

54 customers mention "Character development"50 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the lead female character witty and charming, with a strong personality. The heroine is three-dimensional and not stupid. Readers appreciate her bold acts, wit, and mischievousness.

"...Her bold acts, her wit and her mischievousness capture your attention like anything! Benedict was a goner the moment she stepped in his view...." Read more

"...The characters are well defined. Phoebe is attractive and very active. At times, I felt she inserted herself in places which she should not have...." Read more

"...Great characters that are so well developed and life like...." Read more

"The story was entertaining and the dialogue was good. I like an offbeat heroine and Phoebe Skeffington-Fox is certainly different from the usual..." Read more

33 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find the characters witty and adorable. The dialogue is good, with strong and funny characters. Readers appreciate the romance, suspense, and even comedy elements.

"...Her bold acts, her wit and her mischievousness capture your attention like anything! Benedict was a goner the moment she stepped in his view...." Read more

"...There is also humor, a warm and loving family as well as romance. The characters are well defined. Phoebe is attractive and very active...." Read more

"This book is smartly written, with humor, angst, sweetness, and spice, in a story filled with romance, mystery, and danger...." Read more

"...riddled with mechanical errors - dropped words, bad grammar, confusing sentences. It needs a more thorough edit - spellcheck is simply not enough." Read more

7 customers mention "Charm"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's charm. They find the characters charming, attractive, and colorful. The book offers intrigue and romance with a nod to Georgette Heyer and Kathleen Woodiweiss.

"...The characters are well defined. Phoebe is attractive and very active. At times, I felt she inserted herself in places which she should not have...." Read more

"Giving a great nod to Georgette Heyer, and possibly a curtsy to Kathleen Woodiweiss, this delightful Regency romp, complicated by a murder mystery,..." Read more

"...The lead female character is witty and charming with a strong personality...." Read more

"I was so happy to meet Ben and his lady. THEY WERE SUCH A CHARMING PAIR. THE MURDERS WERE INCIDENTAL BUT, I KNOW, NECESSARY...." Read more

5 customers mention "Difficulty to put down"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and hard to put down.

"The book was a fast paced who dunit mystery read! It was hard to put down...." Read more

"Truly loved this book. Could not put it down. Couldn't wait to see what was happening next. Every different personality.. Thank you...." Read more

"Amusing, exciting and hard to put down! Ben and Phoebe meant for each other, once Ben accepts the fact. Read." Read more

"I love Emma's work. Always entertaining and hard to put down." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it enjoyable and fast-paced, with a good mystery that makes their mind race and heartbeat quicken. Others find missing commas and similar issues annoying and distracting.

"...you start becoming a sleuth yourself... your mind races, your heartbeat quickens and you can't wait to read the last pages to unravel the mystery...." Read more

"...However, I do recommend the book for a quick and fun read. Sexual situations (mild) may offend some readers" Read more

"...Even though I found these missing commas and similar problems mildly annoying and distracting, I have to say that I still enjoyed the book a lot...." Read more

"Very enjoyable, fast paced with a good mystery...." Read more

6 customers mention "Editing quality"0 positive6 negative

Customers are unhappy with the editing quality. They mention there were some issues and it needed a more thorough edit.

"...Although I enjoyed the book, there were some editing issues that distracted me on occasion...." Read more

"...There were a lot more editing problems with this book than with "Dog in a Doublet"...." Read more

"...It needs a more thorough edit - spellcheck is simply not enough." Read more

"...The only reason i didnt give it 5 star was because there was some editing issues and somethings just didnt fit in with the time period but beside..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Varsha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Missing this would be your loss!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    It is not possible to explain how much I enjoyed and envied Phoebe, the vivacious and courageous leading lady! Her bold acts, her wit and her mischievousness capture your attention like anything! Benedict was a goner the moment she stepped in his view. And Sylvester... I don't want to say any more than that...go read it... you will love them all as much as I did for sure!
    Emma weaves her magic throughout the book with enough twists and plots to keep you on your toes. I thought to read few chapters a day but ended up reading the entire book within one night! The book is that captivating, interesting and the characters make you laugh, cry and ponder, all at the same time! When the plot thickens, you start becoming a sleuth yourself... your mind races, your heartbeat quickens and you can't wait to read the last pages to unravel the mystery. That is Emma for you!
    Full thumbs up, as many stars as we can give and a Must Read!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Texanne
    4.0 out of 5 stars A QUICK MYSTERY AND A FUN ROMANCE
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Benedict Rutland is an earl with a great deal of responsibility. When he was 19 he inherited his title along with a family filled with people who have no concept of money. Now, Ben has become engaged to a woman who is serious, narrow minded and generally a very cold human being. His family dislikes her, but Ben believes that she is exactly what he needs to manage the family and his fortune.

    Ben's mother has invited a young lady to come and have her debut in London.

    Phoebe is the step- daughter of Ben's uncle. She has been raised following the army during the Napoleonic war. She is a free spirit who enjoys keeping Ben off balance. She teases, she jokes and she endears herself to everyone in the family. Phoebe becomes especially close to another of Ben's uncles, Sylvester, who is a duke.

    Ben begins to realize that he has made his life small and serious and dull. His fiance encourages that kind of Ben and Phoebe wants to see Ben look at life and enjoy every minute.

    Ben's family has lost two of the men in line to inherit Sylvester's title of duke. The first death appeared to be an accident but from the knife in the chest, it is evident the second one is a murder. When a Bow street runner comes to investigate, all the clues point to Ben as the villain.

    This is a fast moving story with a great deal of action. The plot is filled with all the information needed to solve the mystery. There is also humor, a warm and loving family as well as romance.

    The characters are well defined. Phoebe is attractive and very active. At times, I felt she inserted herself in places which she should not have. But, she has a kind heart, she falls in love with almost all of Ben's family and she makes friends with nearly everyone she meets.

    Ben starts out as a stick person. He sees no humor in anything. But, when he starts seeing Phoebe for who she is, he unbends and becomes a more human gentleman. It is apparent to him that he has allowed all his responsibility to influence his entire being.

    The secondary characters add a great deal to the story. It is pretty evident who are not very nice people. But, recognizing that fact does not detract from the story.

    Ms Leech is a new to me author. I look forward to reading more of her books.
    Helpful
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  • CJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book is smartly written, with humor, angst, sweetness, and spice, in a story filled with romance, mystery, and danger. I really love these characters, and it was a fun yet suspenseful read. Highly recommended.
    Helpful
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  • Kathy Walker
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good premise..
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    It was a good idea for a storyline. Personally, I felt things moved a little quickly, especially for the time period it was set in. But then again, people often decided they were in love or married after the most superficial of interactions without really getting to know one another, so perhaps it was more fitting that the pace was quick as far as the emotions developing. One of the biggest issues I had was it really, really needs a good proofreader or editor. The author seems to have lost track of the familial relationships several times, the most recent one I read sticking in my mind of the now Marquess' youngest sibling greeting his new wife as his Aunt rather than as his new Sister in Law. It was very jarring each time this happened, pulling men out of the world of the story. My other major issue is that the book's format upload seems to have lost the first page or two (or more) of each chapter in the Kindle edition I got.

    As I said, the storyline was a good idea, it could have been developed much more. The multiple murders taking place so quickly in succession would, and should, have created more of a tension, and suspicion, than it seemed to. It also seems odd to me that the author would cut out what could have been an interesting dichotomy so quickly after the, at the start of the book, Marquess' murder. Though it was too easy to lay blame there, it would have diverted suspicion from the true villain for a little while. As it was, I had already figured out who the murderer was by that point.

    On the good side, the issues aside, it was a brief but of entertainment and good for a light read with a bit if romance, murder and mystery if you can look past the mentioned editing problems. So I will stand in the middle with 3 stars for this one. If the author decides to do a re-write, I would be interested in reading it.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • V. Schafer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Amazing adventure and so well written. Intriguing plot that does not stall out but keeps up twists and turns to the end. Great characters that are so well developed and life like. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good Regency romance with the bedroom door open which doesn't take from the plot.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • arrowboy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Nett - wenn man bereit ist einige Klopper zu übersehen
    Reviewed in Germany on January 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Ja, ich habe die Geschichte in einem Rutsch gelesen. Ja, einige Stellen haben mir gut gefallen. Ja, ich fand Phoebe gut gezeichnet (Ben ging so). Und, ja, ich werde noch ein weiteres Buch der Autorin probieren.

    ABER:

    - der Anfang ist fast 1:1 von Gorgette Heyers "Grand Sophie" geklaut - überflüssigerweise
    - die Autorin hat keine Ahnung von Erbschaftsfolgen und Titeln in der Zeit
    - abgesehen von diversen Grammatikfehlern, wechselt auch schon mal der Name eines Entführers kommentarlos
    - wozu zwei Wolfshunde, die auf Pfeifen herbei kommen, wenn sie nur zur Schockung der Verwandschaft, aber nicht zur eigentlichen Geschichte beitragen?
    - ein Whudunit macht nur Sinn, wenn nicht am Ende fast alle anderen ermordet wurden
    - Mordmotive sollten wirklich Sinn ergeben (dabei würde es helfen, wenn die Autorin das mit der Erbfolge in der zeit verstanden hätte)
    - Phoebe und Ben bekommen zwar eine sorgfältige (wenn auch nicht immer logische) Charakterzeichnung, aber die anderen Charaktere (mit Ausnahme von Sylvester) springen quer durchs Gartenbeet und verhalten sich selten ihrem Alter angemessen. Die 17-jährige Cecily benimmt sich nicht altersentsprechend und ihre Entscheidung würde von keinem betitelten Großvater akzeptiert, wenn sie erst eine 17-jährige Enkelin ohne Einführung in die Londoner Gesellschaft gewesen wäre.

    Alles in allem eine nette Geschichte, wenn man es schafft alles zu vergessen, was zu der Zeit Usus war.
    Report
  • Kate
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
    Reviewed in Canada on March 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Emma Leech is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. A fast paced plot, humour and a happy ending. Her stories are so engaging, I hate coming to the end.
    Report
  • MRS W MOTT
    5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Oh my one of the very best storylines I've had the pleasure to read. Twists and turns to keep the suspense going and oh such amazing character's . I love how the story gave hints but kept the intrigue to the very end
    Report
  • SK
    1.0 out of 5 stars Pathetic
    Reviewed in India on June 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The author made a valiant attempt to create a charming, witty and attractive heroine and failed MISERABLY. Each and every character is drab and lifeless and Phoebe (the supposed heroine) is the most insipid of all. The author has made an absolutely pitiful effort at making her interesting by making her very ill-mannered. Seriously, her behavior is just TASTELESS and what makes it cringy is the fact that the readers are supposed to be impressed by it. It's very difficult to read a book when the so-called protagonist gives such disgust.
    Also, a few chapters in and you can tell who does it.
    Don't read it. Seriously, don't.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Winner!
    Reviewed in Australia on June 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The action is non-stop,the heroine is determined,brave and intrigued by the situation she finds herself in.Murder and mayhem are combined seamlessly with humour and great characterisations of the players.Highly enjoyable.
    Report

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