This was my first Diana Quincy novel, and I really enjoyed it. Leela is a fierce heroine, and I absolutely loved her introduction at the inn. I pretty much instantly shipped her and Hunt. Hunt surprised me with his rich character development over the course of the novel. Leela shines from page one, and that remains throughout the book.

I'd recommend this for fans of historical romance and am looking forward to reading more by Quincy.

Just a wonderful read. The plot is somewhat familiar, a torrid one-night encounter at an inn, and the shocking revelation the next day that the heroine has slept with the likely fiancé of her stepdaughter. He behaved abominably, since he was on the way to propose marriage. She, on the other hand, was footloose and fancy free. Yet both act honorably from that point on, seeking to do the right thing despite their own happiness.
Leela — Delilah Chambers, the Dowager Countess of Devon — is a unique heroine, daughter of the Mad Marquis and an Arab mother, she is caught between worlds. She resolves society's disdain by creating her own world, traveling, writing popular travel books and separating herself from her late husband's family. Her stepson can't stand her (because he is attracted to her) and she is only back at her old home to lend support to a beloved stepdaughter, Victoria.
It is Victoria to whom the Duke of Huntington is as good as pledged; he meets Leela at an inn, with both stuck because of bad weather. She has taken out a trusty night to stop ruffians and he comes to her aid. It is one of the best meet-cutes ever. She is strong, smart, sassy and very nearly invincible. Until she spends one night with Hunt, or Elliot Townsend as she first knew him. He and Lady Victoria continue on their way to their inevitable union, despite the sizzling attraction between duke and dowager. How that near-disaster of a marriage is avoided is just one twist in this rollicking book. You will not be able to put it down. (I reviewed an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions mine.)

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
Diana Quincy is a new-to-me author, but I will definitely be reading more of her books.
Her Night with the Duke opens when the Duke of Huntington (Hunt) and Delilah, Countess of Devon(Leela)find themselves stranded in a seedy inn during a downpour and the sparks between them lead to a steamy night together. Neither of them realizes the other's true identity(he a duke, she a widowed countess), which leads to complications when they get to their common destination and find out that Hunt's soon-to-be fiancee is Leela's stepdaughter Tori.
I found the characters, particularly the women, to be complex, fleshed out, and believable. I especially liked the relationship between Leela and her stepdaughter Tori. Leela's background as a woman of English/Arab heritage and her strong calling as a writer of well-received travel books highlights the way she has burnished her independence and melded her two worlds.
The chemistry between Leela and Hunt is scorching, but her need for independence and his need for respectability, not to mention the conflict about Tori, creates an intriguing and ultimately satisfying story.

Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy is the first in a new series titled: Clandestine Affairs. This is a wonderful historical romance that kept me entertained from beginning to end. I have to admit that this is my first book that I have read by this author, and she has most definitely made me a fan.

I loved Leela and Hunt. The chemistry was there, and their interactions before they found of who one another really was, and thereafter during their "predicament" was excellent. I loved Leela as a character best of all. She was smart, independent, no nonsense, stubborn, bold, likeable, and a good person over all. She experienced many obstacles and adversities growing up, so one can completely understand her hesitancies and hang-ups. However, I am glad that she was able to adjust those prejudices as the story went on. I enjoy dynamic, complex, and wonderfully written characters. It seems it is hard to find those types of characters and also like them at the same time. Ms. Quincy most certainly accomplished that goal for me. Fellow readers will love this story. It is so much more then what I was expecting.

I loved the plot, the obstacles placed in front of the characters, and the changes/growth that occurred during their journeys. I also enjoyed the ending and can't wait to see another character from this excellent cast staring in the next installment.

I can't wait to read more from this series, and from this author. I highly recommend.


5/5 stars

Thank you to NG and Avon/HarperCollins for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I had never heard of this author before, but when Avon sent me an e-arc, I thought the cover was really pretty and decided to give it a shot.

When the book started, I really loved Leela's character. She is a widowed duchess, wears pants, and does not let society define her role just because she is a woman. When she first meets Hunt at an inn, their chemistry was through the roof and I was living for their romance. Of course, after their own night together, they learn that he is actually betrothed to her step-daughter, who is more like a best friend because she is only two years younger than her. That makes this a forbidden romance and the angst was KILLING ME. Leela wanted her friend to be happy, but both Hunt and Leela are finding it harder and harder to ignore their feelings for one another.

I loved the forbidden romance and the angst, but what sealed the deal for me was the groveling Hunt had to do for the last 20% of the book. Both Leela and Hunt are such strong-headed characters, so neither one of them would easily give into each other. Hunt does something that hurts Leela and she definitely makes him work for it to win her back. I loved it. I also loved how Leela is half-Arabic, so she feels like she really doesn't belong with either part of her identity; society doesn't see her as good enough for them and her mother's Arabic family sees her as too good for them. It was sad watching her try to understand her identity and feel like she really didn't belong anywhere.

If you can't tell, I absolutely loved this book. And I think Griff gets the next book, which has my dying. Gah. I can't wait to read more from Diana Quincy!

Melt-your-Kindle hot and a great romantic story. A delicious historical romp. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

going into this book, i didn’t think that i would like it because it didn’t seem like my kind of historical romance but i was pleasantly surprised

How Scandalous!

In all honesty though, I enjoyed the book. There was a passionate scene at the beginning and then the end but the middle just pertained to the story. The author definitely enjoys a strong female lead. I found both ladies to be strong and they found even more strength in themselves throughout the book. It was interesting to watch the Duke struggle with following Leela around and wanting more of her when she was more focused on her career (so to speak).

In my opinion, there was a little too much back and forth between the Duke and Leela. The last scene of them arguing (before the grand reveal of the finale) could be deleted from the book and the book still maintain the love and power it holds. It is like watching a soap opera and the whole time they are so close to getting together and then breaking apart and back and forth. I became very frustrated with the 2 of them because neither wanted to concede for the other, both were set in their ways.

Every lady deserves a good Duke in their life.

To say I was excited when I got approved for this book on Netgalley is an understatement. I've been excited to read Her Night With the Duke since I first saw the book. The idea of a book where the two characters have an immediate connection only to have something really big come between them, while still wanting each other, was appealing. And I have to say, that immediate connection was scorching hot! If you are looking for a historical romance with hot sexy times, look no further.

Especially exciting was the books heroine Leelah. Historical romance is (generally) very white. Meanwhile Leelah is of mixed Arab and English heritage, with her mother from an immigrant merchant family and her father an English noble. I loved how part of the book was the reader learning how Leelah had reconnected with her heritage and family. I also really liked the scenes when we get to see how important that extended family is.

While I loved Leelah every moment, I had to look at Hunt sideways from time to time. While both characters seem committed to keeping apart once they learn he is courting her stepdaughter, Hunt is, shall we say, a little less so. He's pretty quickly trying to think of a way out of his commitment. As a romantic, I want Hunt to break things off and get together with Leelah, but as a realist, it has to be acknowledged how bad that would be for Leelah's stepdaughter. Luckily, with some romance novel magic, our heroes manage to make their way together.

I really loved this book and these characters, and hope to see more of them in later books!

Elliot Townsend, Duke of Huntington, likes an ordered life. He detests chaos and plans every aspect of his life so when he is forced to stay at a seedy inn on the way to London because of torrential downpours, he is not prepared for the encounter with a young woman also forced off the road due to the storm. His reaction to Leela is visceral and unexpected. After a torrid night together, Hunt travels on to the young woman he has decided to marry, but he can't stopped thinking about Leela. Two world are about collide when Leela travels to her step-daughters house party and finds out that her intended husband is Hunt. It's a nightmare for Leela who will never do anything to upset Victoria even though she can't stop thinking about Hunt.

I loved how this book started with a chance encounter that changed three lives forever. Both Hunt and Leela's characters were well fleshed out and their anguish and guilt came across loud and clear. How could fate have been so cruel? I applaud Ms. Quincy for weaving a dramatic, exciting and very romantic story that was so compelling I read the book in one sitting.

A strong romance with an engaging heroine. I like that she can wield a knife, and stands up for herself. The two of them get together SUPER quickly in the beginning, and the Duke's feelings move a bit fast for me for it to seem realistic, but this is a good read. Steamy sex scenes, and I liked the discussions of women in the publishing industry.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Not that I was expecting to hate it, I was just wondering how this was going to be. OK yes I thought the worst and didn't get that. We meet Delilah and can I say "you go girl, you do you", she was the perfect heroine. Here she marries at 17, become step mom to a 9 year old and a 19 year old, who has a crush on his new mommy. She is a widow and just 26 year old, and is now traveling and having her own life, but you know that woman back then were reliant on someone and that would be her stepson, who hate and wants her at the same time-ewww. She was never really accepted in society since she was not born privileged but had working parents and she was from a mixed household, yes not what society approves. While on her way to see her stepdaughter and is stuck in an inn she going to have a little fun and has a ends up have a night to remember. That great time turns into her worst imagination since the man she just enjoyed happens to be the man who is about to marry her step daughter and she loves and wants the best for her. What to do what to do, well everything you think, think again and grab the book and Enjoy!

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

The premise of this book is that Leela, Countess of Devon, is traveling to visit her stepdaughter, Tori, and meet her betrothed but she has to stop at a country inn where she almost gets accosted. Elliot Townsend comes to her rescue and they agree to spend one night of passion together. She finally makes it to the estate, and she learns that Tori's betrothed, the Duke of Huntington, is none other than Elliot Townsend who she made love to.

This trope almost never works for me because it almost always feels wrong, but somehow Diana Quincy pulled it off. There was so much tension and pull between Leela and Hunt, and even when they weren't together I felt how much they wanted to be together. I loved the banter, too. It was so entertaining. Leela was a strong woman who would cut someone with a knife, and I love that she was partially Arab. She was so multi-faceted. I could feel for Hunt when he was hurt and he closed himself off. I mean, these characters truly felt real. Bonus, there is a second side love story! This doesn't happen in books much these days, but I was so excited for 2 couples to find happiness! This was a solid 5 star read for me.

Action packed romance !! The main F lead is absolutely amazing she is strong and independent. Taking the reins of her life traveling and earning her own income. Overcoming a family who tries to shun her out all but 2nd lead female, who also takes her own future and leads her own life. Lady of mixed race overcoming that alone and than losing her husband that was not a love match as well and a few other staggering moments , she really is a fierce Amazing character.

I was afraid of how this book was going to be. I've never read any books by Diana and so I was and am happy I got the opportunity. But with that being said from the back cover and the begining I was scared of affairs and scandel. I don't do well with books that have any kind of affair. This however did not have anything to where I would say leads to it.

The whole book was written with excitement and romance and even some sexual content which all of the above had me enthralled. The story line was not in anyway boring or leaving you with a sense of wondering what ifs or what will be. It was written so well and had you consistently happy with all turns of outcomes.

The main M lead from the get go was in love and he does not pull back on that through out the whole book. He was completely open. There was of course the twists and turns for him being betrothed to another so of course there's all that sticky situation, but in the end it was well excited and had me enjoying him thoroughly. You also get a snippet of another character his friend and I am hoping to have his own romance book especially since he was mentioned into some detail.of his personal life.

Overall the whole book had tons of romance, tons of drama and alot of happiness. You've got alot of stressing moments for the main F and yet she is so powerful she over comes them all which just is so amazing and makes you so happy. I highly suggest this book it had me up for hours and hours in the night so much I finished it in one day!

3.5 stars. Leela and Elliot spend a night of passion together when they're stranded by a storm and forced to share a room. They go their separate ways as strangers the next morning...only to meet again later that day, where it's revealed that Elliot is nearly engaged to Leela's sweet, shy stepdaughter, Victoria. The two pretend they've never met, but can't stop thinking about each other. But Leela doesn't want to hurt Tori, and Elliot really doesn't want to start a scandal, since he's trying to prove that he's not the scapegrace his late older brother was.

This was an interesting premise and I enjoyed the story. Quincy injects just enough frustration and tension into the plot. But I have some reservations. I was a little surprised that a non-Arab (as far as I could tell from her acknowledgements) author would choose to write about a character of Arabic descent (Leela), in this time of #ownvoices. I'm not Arab myself, and it seemed like she handled the character sensitively--no descriptions of her "exotic" looks or "almond" eyes. And Leela herself was raised in England and is only getting to know the Arab side of her family. But it just doesn't sit right with me that a character's story is being told by someone who (apparently) doesn't share her heritage. If Quincy is in fact of Arab descent, I apologize and withdraw my concern.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

Diana Quincy is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. When the Duke of Huntington travels, he has learned to travel as plain Elliot Townsend. But, what happens when Lady Delilah Chambers finds herself in trouble and only Elliot to help rescue her...why a night of passion of course. Leela and Elliot agree to share one night of passion and never see one another again. But what happens when they both end up at the same house party. Readers with enjoy this book and won't want to put it down.

What happens when a Duke who wants to avoid scandal meets an attractive woman and it is lust at first sight? What is said woman is the stepmother to his proposed fiancé? All this and more in Diana Quincy’ latest novel.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

How much can one night change your life?
Lady Delilah Chambers and Elliot Townsend, Duke of Huntington, find themselves stranded at the same ramshackle inn during a horrible rainstorm. Huntington is a Duke, known for getting into trouble and causing scandals. Lady Delilah a widow, traveling with her family. They are instantly attracted to each other and give in to one night of anonymous passion. But things turn sour when they meet again the next day and its revealed that Leela is actually the stepmother of Hunt’s prospective bride.
This was my first time reading Diana Quincy, and it certainly won't be my last. While I was a little skeptical in the beginning, once the story started to reveal itself, it turned out to be a fun, romantic story, with an entirely different spin then most romance books I've read, I ended up absolutely falling in love with the characters and the story!

One night can change your life. Leela has finally found her freedom. She maybe widowed but she’s traveling and finding her family. Being trapped by weather with a man she is attracted too isn’t the worst thing right ?

Huntington is a duke. He’s know for following the rules and no scandals. He’s ready to settle down but he has found himself impossibly attracted to a woman he’s just met. One night and he’ll be on his way. Right?

What happens when that woman is his future betrotheds step mother ?

It was a very good read and I enjoyed both characters very much. The story itself was interesting and kept my attention. I liked it quite a bit.

England - 1814

Sheltering during a storm at The Black Swan Inn, Elliot Townsend, the Duke of Huntington, a man known for being careful, is shocked to find himself staring at a woman demanding a room from the innkeeper. She and her servant, who is clearly not English, are in the same predicament that Elliot is in, but the innkeeper isn't impressed until the woman produces a hefty money pouch. Elliot watches the change in the innkeeper's demeanor, as well as those in the crowded bar room. But the comments offering rooms they would share with her, show a different atmosphere altogether.As Elliot rises, hand on his gun, to assist the woman, she spins around and produces a rather impressive curved dagger. Elliot offers to share the parlor with her, as a friend, and she surprisingly accepts.

Delilah (Leela) Chambers is no ordinary Englishwoman. She's the daughter of the late Marquess of Brandon and her mother was the daughter of Arab merchants in Manchester. Also, in her own right, she is the widow of the Earl of Devon. She and her Arab servant were on their way to her step-daughter's potential betrothal when they were waylaid by the storm. The girl's older brother, Edgar, despises Leela, and the feeling is mutual. Now, here she is with a strange man that she is terribly attracted to, and Leela isn't embarrassed to admit it to him. They spend a passionate night, but he is gone in the morning before she awakens.

Upon arrival at Lambert Hall, Leela must prepare for the festivities, although she knows her late husband's son has not included her in anything pertaining to the gathering. Leela is close to her step-daughter, at any rate, and wouldn't miss this important part of her life for anything. But then she discovers who it is Edgar has hopes to wed Victoria to - the very man Leela spent the night with. Their meeting becomes very awkward.

Leela has something else she cannot reveal to anyone. All the ton has been raving about a travel book, Travels in Arabia, and no one knows that Leela is the author. Women of a certain class just do not write books! But now, her publisher, who assumes she is a man, has accepted the second book, and she is ready to deliver her third in the series shortly. Everything is very complicated now with Victoria's soon-to-be announced betrothal, and the fact that her own step-mother bedded her future husband. She is still very much attracted to him, and it's becoming more and more obvious that the feeling is mutual.

A complicated, poignant, and emotional story ensues. Leela's marriage was happy, but not fulfilling. She always knew how much Edgar hated her, and her mixed heritage confused both her and others. Elliot, always trying to overcome his late brother's awful reputation, finds himself in love with the wrong woman. Or is she truly not for him? He abhors the thought of a scandal, but his heart is steering him straight into trouble.

The first book in the The Clandestine Affairs series, HER NIGHT WITH THE DUKE is a unique premise with wonderful characters.