Wow drug addiction goes back many years. I loved the fact the although Alex had an abusive past hesia still loved him great story line very refreshing

Another excellent read by Bronwen Evans Alex & Hestia jump off the pages they seem so real. I became so connected to them and their plight that it was as if I had known them in real life. I am hoping the next book is Stephen's story!

He saved her from certain ruin and torment. From that day on, young lady Hestia Cary was in love and determined that someday the Duke of Bedford would be hers. Little did she know the torment and personal hell Alex had lived through and how it had scarred his very soul. Even her father would stand against any chance of them being together, not that the Duke had shown any interest in her… until the day both of their greatest nightmares has returned and even the closest of allies could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. When there is no one to trust, one must trust in one’s own heart and the hope for a future that has seemed unattainable.

Bronwen Evans’ ADDICTED TO THE DUKE is another journey back in time where ladies were to be treated as delicate creatures in the purist sense, yet one event, not of their own doing will cause the tongues of London to wag in scandal. Hestia has weathered the storm through her impeccable comportment, but the only man she wants is a scoundrel, an addict and a man with dark secrets that few know. The reality of the true Alex is buried beneath his reputation and to avoid his darkest nightmares to surface, that is just fine with him, until the one woman he cannot have needs him to step up to the plate and be the man he was always meant to be, a man who can overcome his past to fight for his heart and his future.

Truly a pleasant read, not too dark, not to angst-filled with characters that ring true and a plot that would do any Victorian tale proud. Quick, romantic and peppered with international intrigue.

I received an ARC edition from Loveswept in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Imperfect Lords - Book 1
Publisher: Loveswept (June 13, 2017)
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 391 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

I always give honest reviews in return for ARCs and this holds true here. Bronwen Evans has such a flair for telling a story. Aside from a wonderfully written tale, this is also relevant in today's world with the addiction problems going on. It is such an insidious thing when something takes over your life but it can be turned around if you have the strength and support around you. Good read.

Alexander Bracken is the Duke of Bedford. When he was a younger man, he and a friend decided to fight Barbary pirates. That adventure ended with Alex being taken captive by Murad, a man who enjoys torture and degradation for anyone who comes near him. Alex became addicted to opium and there were other issues which made him feel as though he is not deserving of life. He is rescued from captivity by an Earl who believes that Alex is a damaged soul.
Alex is asked to go back to to Murad's Island to rescue 16 year old, Lady Hestia Carey. She is the daughter of the man who was Alex's savior.
Hestia is rescued and falls in love with Alex. It is made clear that Alex is never to consider becoming a part of Hestia's life.
He is a damaged soul.
When the Earl is reportedly killed, his heir, who happens to be a criminal, plans to take over any thing he can. Among his plans is the possibility of marrying Hestia or if that does not work out she could end up dead. She has a dowry that is a large amount of money. And money and power are important in life.
In order to find the missing Earl and to provide safety for Hestia, Alex sets sail to once and for all take care of Murad. Hestia is sailing with him because that is a way to keep her safe.
The theme of this book is addiction and how it can take over a life. For Alex it is opium, for Hestia it is Alex.
There was a time when opium was considered an everyday part of medicine. There was little knowledge of addiction or what it could do to a person's life. This story points out that opium was a powerful drug which could do a great deal of damage.
There is adventure in this story. The action is well written and the feeling of danger is at the forefront. The reader is given a sense of fear felt by Alex and Hestia when they are in jeopardy. The complete power of the pirates is evident in every bit of action which involves them. There is no fear because they feel they are omnipotent.
At times I was ready to slap both Alex and Hestia. He was willing to believe that he had no value to the world. But, in passing we are told he is taking care of his estate and his younger siblings. He is also admired by men who know him well and those same men respect him. Hestia dithers. I understand angst, but at times it seemed repetitious for me. She had overcome the scandal of being kidnapped by being strong. I wanted to see more of that power in her dealings with Alex.
Ms Evans is a very talented author. She creates atmosphere and character development beautifully. Her books are always well plotted and there is action.
This book seemed to be darker than her other books I have read. It is still a book that is quite well written and populated by characters who are always interesting to meet.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

Imperfection has never been so perfect in the character of Alex! And Hestia? Well, let's just say his goddess of hearth always reminds him that there is no place like home, and his home is in her arms. Their relationship, a love which both attracts and pushes away, keeps you turning the pages to get that happy ending. So much suspense with conflict beyond your imagination! Definitely putting Bronwen Evans on my must read list!

I've read other books by Ms. Evans and this book, though dark, is enjoyable. Dealing with the subject of addiction and the power to overcome it, is a timely issue, but in the Regency period, not much was known about the addictive properties of opium and laudanum. I could feel the struggle Alex, Duke of Bedford, was facing every day. Captured by a Turk during the war and held for 2 years, Alex was addicted to opium and Murad's sex slave. When he rescues sixteen-year-old Lady Hestia from the same evil Turk, she falls hard for him. Relationships become even more tangled because it was Hestia's father who had rescued Alex from Murad years earlier and when Alex returns Hestia unharmed to her father, he extracted a vow from Alex to never offer for his daughter.

This story is not the usual Regency romance. Most of the book takes place on the high seas where Alex and Hestia cannot hide from each other. I did get a little tired of Alex's internal dialogue about not being good enough for the innocent Hestia. Romance, redemption and vanquishing an enemy makes this story an very enjoyable read. It doesn't take place in the ballroom so many of the tons rules are not restricting the hero and heroine. There were a couple of excellent twists that caught me by surprise.

This was an entertaining adventure about a woman, Hestia, who has been in love with Alex for the past 4 years, ever since he saved her from Turkish Pirates. Alex has done everything he could, except marry someone else, to push Hestia away, going as far as to let her catch him with another woman in a very compromising way. He does not believe he deserves her due to the fact that he had been held captive by the same Turkish pirate, who kidnapped Hestia, for two years, having to do things he is ashamed of doing in order to survive. But when her father is presumed dead by a cousin in order to claim the title, Alex is the only man she can think to go to for help. He agrees to help her find her father and they set off for the Mediterranean to face both of their demons and their attraction for each other. Alex has ulterior motives for helping Hestia, he was to seek vengeance from the man who enslaved him, though he keeps that a secret from Hestia. He has every intention of fighting his desire for Hestia but being on a confining ship for weeks on end inevitably leads to passionate encounters. Hestia wants to win Alex, but she comes to realize she really doesn't know who Alex is and he refuses to enlighten her about himself and what he went through while enslaved. She sets out to prove to him that love can heal and the past does not have to control the future.

I enjoyed the story, it had highs and lows in the emotional turmoil category, though my one frustration was that as Hestia learned that Alex didn't truly care for her the way she thought he did (supposedly) she comes to the conclusion to step back only to wake the next day ready to fight for him again. It was like one minute her heart breaks at finding out he loved another woman (going as far as to call out the other woman's name in a drug induced state) and coming to realize he didn't love her and never did to back to being optimistic about her chances to win him. I would have loved for her to actually stick to the notion that he didn't love her, but rather was in love with another woman, and to let him come to realize he did and fight for her. She seemed to be the only one truly fighting for a relationship and the few moments when he realizes how much he cares for her, he doesn't act on it (when he thinks he is going to lose her to men from his ship who try to kidnap her). I wanted Alex to at some point fight for her, but she, in the end, rescues him from the Turkish pirates and is strong for the both of them, which is cool in a way, but I needed the two characters to be a bit more equal in the ability to fight for one another. I understand the demons Alex faced and I understand why he thought he was unworthy of her love, but he seemed to only show his passion and love for her while they were having sex. Afterward he kind of steps back into an aloof manner.

With this said, I did love the story and their adventure. The characters were strong and the plot was enjoyable. The conflict and villains were formidable but not over the top. There were surprises and twists along the way that did keep me turning the pages to the very end. The ending was great and the epilog gave me both the nice wrap-up to the story and teased me about what is to come next. I liked it.

A DNF for me. The story and language were just too overwrought and dramatic. Sorry! Thanks for the ARC.

A Very good Historical Romance.
Alex didn't think he was a good man because of his past. but Hestia knew the real Alex.
Good drama, action,angst and romance.
Very enticing story full of passion and drama.
Really enjoyed reading.

This was a good read. The Duke is an interesting character with a dark past. Lady Hestia has been through a lot & wants the Duke for herself. She fell in love with him when he rescued her a few years back, & she's determined that he will see her as an equal & as a lover. Seeing these two go back & forth made for good reading. Highly recommend reading this to see how their story ends up.

Alex proves that there are far more dangerous things that one could be addicted to. Hestia tries a couple of times to think differently about Alex. She realizes that he might not ever return her affections, so pretty much why bother. Then he goes and does something wonderful, and it's addiction all over again. When you put your mind to something you can overcome any obstacle might be a good moral for this book. Both Alex and Hestia prove just how truly strong they are and how remarkable they are together.

Alexander Sylvester Bracken, Duke of Bedford, has a mission: sail to the Mediterranean and track down Lady Hestia Cary’s missing father. It is a straightforward task, but for two rather vexing complications. First, the Mediterranean & the Greek islands hold painful memories; second, for her own safety, Hestia is to accompany him. As Alex battles the demons of his past, he must also resist Hestia’s surprisingly skillful attempts at seduction. After all, Alex has sworn to her father leave her untouched, and he intends to honour that vow.
Ever since His Grace rescued Hestia from the arms of a Turkish pirate Sultan Murad four long years ago, her heart has belonged to Alex. So when he agrees to help find her father, Hestia is thrilled. Although Alex tries to hide it, there’s passion in his eyes and the air almost crackles whenever they meet.
Another very well written, engrossing page turning novel. The characters are so well portrayed. The pace of the book keeps you riveted & I read into the small hours to finish it. The author also take you through a gamut of emotions from laughter to tears. Alex is flawed & must fight his demons from his capture & two year captivity; Hestia is a strong levelheaded woman who knows what she wants. The chemistry between them sizzles & finally combusts. Alex’s struggle from opium addiction & abuse is well written & I really felt for him & all he’d been through. As I’ve come to expect from the author a powerful, brilliant masterful romance & I’m now waiting for more in the series.

This is the second book of Bronwen Evans I have read, and I am not impressed. I had many issues with this novel, consent being a big one.

To begin, there were many scenes throughout the novel that seemed jumpy. I had to reread several passages to confirm that the author is just being jumpy. It made it hard to follow.

Another issue is the sex. I love a good sex scene, but the ones in this novel are quite ridiculous. The first one lacked consent. That is never acceptable but wasn't even the worst part. What in the world is wrong with the characters if they are willing to have sex just after killing a man and his dead body is just hanging out in the corner. How does that equate to sexy time?

Another issue I had was the notorious bad guy telling his whole plan before it goes down scenario. This is just dumb. It would have been better as a mystery, without the breakdown.

Overall, I was not impressed with the novel, but did manage to finish it. (I mostly finished it so that I wouldn't feel guilty moving onto other novels.) I'm not sure I'll request any from this author in the future.

This book was okay but felt familiar and the plot has been done a million times. I love historical romance but I'm tired of reading about rakes who get their jollies by womanizing and whoring, and the women who for some reason love them. Lot of unbelievable action and plot points. I was hoping for something more fresh and original. Thank you NetGalley for letting me take a look!

Wow, what a serious yet romantic story. I will need time to process this story further. Some books just make you think about them and this is one of those stories. Must read!

3.5 Stars
A historical romance that touches on a social issue not only from the time period the story takes place in, but one that's an issue today (nice touch). The MCs are likeable, as are some of the supporting characters, even if some are a bit static. The ship as a setting was a nice change from typical romance novels too. This book was the first I have read by the author, and it kept my interest enough to give the next one a try. For historical romance fans.

Net Galley Feedback

Loved this story and how it dug more indepth with drug addiction. I wish Alex didnt fight so hard against loving Hestia when it was obvious they belonged together. I also wished they would have discussed what happened to Alex and how they worked thru it. How can a woman be with a man that has been with another man and not wonder or have questions?

I've read other books by Bronwen Evans so was looking forward to this one. Sadly, was disappointed in the story though the premise was good.felt the characters were not developed enough to be believable.

The good: The writing was top notch. I learned a lot about opium and laudanum addiction in the Regency era. Many writers touch on this subject in passing, but they don't bother to educate us at all. Evans appears to have done extensive research.

The bad: It focused a little TOO much on the addiction aspect, which prevented me from engaging more in the story. It almost took over the story. Did not like the name Hestia (how do you even pronounce that?), even though I realize names that sound weird by today's standards were once common.

Overall: Well written, good story, and I'll be looking for the next in the series.