Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
Historical Romance
November 30, 2010
Paperback, 416 Pages
St. Martin’s

Reviewed by Mandi

Blurb: THEIR ENGAGEMENT WAS A FAKE.

Most women would not be pleased to be labeled a spinster. But Lady Poppy Smith-Barnes isn’t most women. In fact, Poppy has invented an imaginary fiancé, the Duke of Drummond, to deter unwanted suitors. A very useful fellow, this duke, until the real Drummond turns up and uses Poppy’s ploy to trap her in a betrothal.

WILL THEIR PASSION MAKE IT REAL?

A good spy flies below the radar. Which is why being named one of the Prince Regent’s “Impossible Bachelors” is so inconvenient for Nicholas Staunton. Every society female will be out to ensnare him. Nicholas needs a fiancée—and Poppy’s ruse is the answer. How could he have known she’d be a brazen, sensual siren with an irresistible taste for adventure? Now nothing less will do than to convince his fiery Poppy to revoke her spinster status…for good.

I’m stealing the blurb from the back of the book for this one. The plot is somewhat convoluted and I could go on and on setting up the book. In a very comical scene, the proud “almost spinster” Poppy who has rejected countless suitors, gets a marriage proposal from a Duke who she thought didn’t exist. Because she thought he didn’t exist, she used him as an excuse to decline all of her past marriage offers.

Nicholas, aka the Duke of Drummond, works for the British Secret Service, and now that Prinny has declared him an Impossible Bachelor, his name will be plastered all over England. Needing to keep a low profile for his job, he needs a bride quick. What he doesn’t know is he is proposing to a very stubborn lady.

Meanwhile, the Russian prince Sergei and his twin sister Natasha are in England, and Poppy has had a huge crush on him since she was 15. She wants to pursue this prince, not be engaged to some Duke. Nicholas has plans for the prince though. The prince has in his possession a portrait that Nicholas needs for his Service work and he soon finds himself aided by the very stubborn Poppy.

I love Poppy. She is so darn proud to be independent and still single. She wants to marry for love, and has stood her ground. When the debacle with Nicholas happens and she is forced into the engagement, she is so mad that this man whom true love does not exist is to become her husband. But when Nicholas flirts and she gives into some physical temptations, she becomes quite the vixen – much to her own disappointment.

She looked down her nose at him. “All right. But I’m not accustomed to people threatening me, staring down my bodice, baldly confessing they’re after my money, and having secrets. I find the whole situation quite reprehensible.” She leaned closer. “And in the oddest way…invigorating.”

I think the romance is really cute and Nicholas is very endearing as he gives Poppy a hard time, and she gives it right back.

I didn’t love the spy plot though. Nicholas is a spy, going after this very silly, conceited Russian prince. Poppy becomes involved and it just was a bit too silly. They have to pretend to like the prince to stay on his good side, all the while the prince is trying to make Poppy become his mistress. The princess is very spoiled and after Nicholas. It just kind of rambles on and the two Russian siblings are too over the top for my tastes. They were funny at first, but it becomes too much.

Kieran Kramer does write very funny, light historicals. The books have a big, loud presence with strong heroes and heroines. Although the spy storyline wasn’t my favorite, I still really like this author’s voice.

Rating: C+

Recent Reviews:
All About Romance – C+
Book Lovers Inc – 4.5/5
Goodreads

This series includes:
When Harry Met Molly
Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right
Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage – April 26, 2011

Author’s Website.