Review: Duke by Day, Rogue by Night (Nelson's Tea Trilogy #1) by Katherine Bone

From Goodreads.com 

Constance Danbury is fleeing an arranged marriage to lecherous Lord Burton, a man who has blackmailed her father and is nearly twice her age. Her escape takes her aboard a merchantman bound for Spain, where she hopes an aunt will help her procure funds to save her father’s dwindling reputation. But fate intervenes. Constance is captured by a pirate with a wit and stubbornness to match her own, and a secret he’ll do anything to keep. 

Nobleman Percival Avery is a member of Nelson’s Tea, an elite group whose members are first sons from every tier in society. Undercover, he disguises himself as a pirate to infiltrate the gang of cutthroats responsible for his sister’s death. But when his vessel attacks a merchantman with valuable cargo, Percy is forced to choose between vengeance and saving the life of his commander’s niece, Constance Danbury. Mutiny is sure to obliterate his well-laid plans. It also aligns him with the one woman sure to see through his disguise. Forced to play the fop by day to outwit his enemies, he masquerades as a rogue by night in order to avenge his sister’s death – and to win his true love’s heart.

                                                    

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My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

 Duke by Day, Rogue by Night paints a beautiful picture of love, loss and what could be. Ms.Bone has a way of writing that draws you in to the point that you are transported to her world completely. You care about her characters. You can see their world as they see it. You actually care about what happens to them. Do they find love? Do they overcome their loss?

There were so many different aspects to this novel from Percy's double life as both a Duke and a Rouge and the evil men behind the tragic death of his sister, to Constance's  impending marriage to a much older scoundrel, that made this novel a gripping page turner. This was a book in which the action begins straight away, and does not let up until the very (surprising) end.

This novel held a lot of firsts for me. It was not only the first novel I've read by Katherine Bone, it is also the first novel I've read that contained pirates (shame on me I know). It was also the first novel in which a character leading a double life has seemed that real to me. Usually, the "two halves" are generally so much alike I'm beating my head into the wall trying to figure out how it is the other characters haven't figure it out yet. However, this is not the case here. In Duke by Day, Rogue by Night, the characters of  Percival Avery and Thomas Sexton are (in appearance) enough to fool most anyone. Thomas is murdering one-eyed pirate and sexual fantasy all rolled into one. Percival Avery, however, is most commonly referred to as a (two-eyed) Popinjay. It was easy to see by Ms.Bone's use of descriptions how it was this man was able to fool so many people.

Speaking of the characters - you either loved them, hated them, or were unsure of them. And while this may lead people to believe that they were one-dimensional, trust me when I say they were anything but. Each and every one of the characters you meet has clear motives when it comes to acting the way that they do. 

After reading this novel, I absolutely cannot wait to read more by Katherine Bone! 

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Duke by Day, Rogue by Night (Nelson's Tea Trilogy #1) is available from Amazon.com

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not reflected upon my review in any way.