Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart by Tammy Andresen
Historical Romance
Released: May 24, 2016
Self Published

Reviewed by Sheena

With her mother gravely ill, Piper Baker’s situation grows desperate in a world unfriendly to women. Time and money dwindle to naught, and marriage is Piper’s lone option. Although potential suitors circle her skirts, none but Barrett Maddox, Duke of Manchester, captures her heart, after he saves her from a band of thieves. It is just her luck that the man Piper wants is the only one she cannot have.

For wealthy, titled bachelor Barrett Maddox, the first rule in life is to avoid marriageable virgins, at all costs, and he has been successful thus far. That is, until he rescues the delectable, auburn-haired Piper Baker. For some unfathomable reason, or in a temporary fit of insanity, he agrees to broker a match for the unfortunate lady, in the target rich New York society. While he easily thwarts inept suitors, can Barrett keep his hands to himself?

Entangled in a web they conspired to create, Piper and Barrett are left to wonder if there is anything more reckless than love

“There is no one better for me than you. I can’t be without you…”

Piper is a pretty young woman who is in the most unfortunate of circumstances.  She must align herself with a suitable man and marry if she wishes to survive.  Lovely as she is, finding a suitor is not the problem, finding a gentleman with whom she does not become immensely bored with is the crux of  her issue- simple as it seems.  As a matter of fact, the novel overall, has a very simplistic feel to it.  Almost too simple, creating a kind of non committal apathy as I read. I wasn’t particularly drawn to Piper.  She is not exactly the kind of heroine that draws you in to root for her, though you don’t exactly want her to fall into destitution…it just sort of wouldn’t completely bum you out if she were to do so.  I fared somewhat better with Barrett Maddox, who was your card carrying, totally believable salacious rake.  Not interested in marriage, content to live his life a playboy taking a mistress as he pleases, Barrett was a rogue who brought the story to as much life as it could muster.   The most interesting aspect of the plot is Barrett’s plight – as he is promised to a long time family friend should he not marry a woman he loves by his 30th birthday (sorry, errrm, I just didn’t buy into Piper and her sick mom’s illness and financial straits).  This too is rather ridiculous, the way I see it, if he is content to marry a friend at 30 if he doesn’t make a true love match and he could care less about love, why not just marry a woman who hasn’t been “ruined” per-say but with a reputation innocent enough to become engaged?  All of the push and pull was for naught, because Piper should have been the perfect answer to his problem- yet he pushed her away- even as drawn to her as he was.

Bizarre.

Especially since upon meeting during a dramatic rescue, where Barrett saves her from a gang of neer do wells, their connection is electric, instant! But they shun their feelings away and what was initially insta-love turned into, last-resort-and-maybe-on-our-death-beds-shall-we-confess-our-love.  Talk about frustrating.  They both could solve one another’s problem, and go figure, they are totally attracted to one another, but they continue with the farce of finding a match for Piper when her true man is by her side all the while.

Despite his rake tendencies, Barrett is a good man, despite his desire to show evidence to the contrary.  I liked how he truly wanted the best for Piper, wanted her to have her independence and not to have to rely on the security of marriage and when tragedy strikes and Piper’s sick mother passes, he comes up with a plan that really tugged my heart.  Barrett takes her under his wing to weed out inappropriate suitors.  He then arranges for her to have a surprise “inheritance,” enough money where she can truly design a life for herself without the worry of finances forcing her into a loveless marriage.  Piper is beyond thankful for her windfall, however, clueless to Barrett’s interference.  As a result, she is free to follow her heart and with the pressure of marrying for security alleviated, she is able to explore her connection with Barrett.

If only he were able to motivated enough to get out of his familial promise to marry his family friend, Penelope.

If only he were ready to give up the charade and accept and act on his hot and heavy feelings for Piper.

If only these two would crap or get off the pot so I could put this book down.

If only….you get my drift. If you don’t, I can circle back and go on for hours at all the missed opportunity with these two!

Barrett and Piper had their share of romantic and very steamy moments, so much so that this novel as a whole is very sugar and spice. Sweet but sensually appealing- which is no small feat considering the disconnect I had really liking most of the characters.  Unfortunately, nothing douses romance more than a heroine who devalues herself and Piper was so ready to just give up and take what she could get from Barrett that she basically offered to give up any hope of getting married jut to have a chance with him- for as long as HE cared to bed her.

“I want to be your mistress, I can’t live without you…I just need to ask you one thing…I don’t know how this usually works but I am hoping you can help me invest my inheritance so when you are done with me I can provide or myself.  I won’t be able to marry.”

Record scratch. What. Where is the sassy heroine with independence who knows her worth? Will she please stand up!? This was at 57% and while she sort of redeemed herself, I could not help but judge her big time throughout the rest of the novel. Of course, Barrett was noble and turned down her offer, finally confessing his own love, which kind of made things even worse!

I can’t help but feel rather indifferent about this novel.  To it’s core, it is a sweet, romantic read during one of my fave time periods to indulge in.  But the characters kind of got in the way of the plot, their actions, turned me off more than they appealed to me, and good thing it is a stand alone, as I would not be inclined to read more about any of these characters.  Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart is an adequate way to pass the time and perhaps there is an audience who likes broken bird heroines, I prefer my protagonists to be more like the phoenix instead.

Grade: C-

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