The Duke Undone

March 1, 2021
An alleyway meet-cute leads to a bargain struck between an aspiring artist and an infamous duke. When Lucy Coover literally steps on a naked man lying unconscious in a Shoreditch alley, all she can do is find him some help before moving on--but the majestic Adonis refuses to leave her mind's eye, and before she knows it she's rendered his striking form on her canvas. Five months later, Anthony Philby, seventh Duke of Weston, is surprised by his own slumbering countenance looking back at him from a painting. Tracking down the mysterious L. Coover proves little difficulty, although Weston hadn't anticipated that the person who created such a scandalous depiction of him is actually a woman. But he has more than the issue of Lucy to contend with; he's counting down the minutes until his 30th birthday, when his inheritance will be fully awarded. Staying scandal-free long enough to make it to that date is at the forefront of his priorities, but every second that Weston spends in Lucy's company he finds himself more and more enchanted by the fiercely expressive painter. When the two strike a deal--she'll help locate his wayward sister, he'll rescue her aunt's shop from being condemned--their lives become inextricably entwined. Lowell's prose is vivid and evocative, and issues such as class inequity, women's rights, and alcohol addiction complement the intense on-page evolution of the love story. Some elements may be too neatly resolved, but those looking for a happy-ever-after for complex and passionate characters will be very satisfied here. A new voice in historical romance that will keep readers riveted.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from April 1, 2021

Art student Lucy Coover has found her muse, a nude man passed out drunk in an alley. She paints his likeness as Endymion in her first masterpiece. Anthony Philby becomes the new Duke of Weston when his elder brother unexpectedly dies, but his inheritance depends on his staying sober and respectable. When he discovers Lucy's painting of him naked and drunk, he confiscates it to avoid a scandal that would cost him the dukedom. Rather than return the painting, Anthony agrees to use his position to stop the destruction of Lucy's impoverished neighborhood, while Lucy agrees to find Anthony's long-lost sister. Working together to salvage Lucy's home before it's too late, they lose their hearts to each other, but Anthony's addiction and an unjust system may be their undoing. VERDICT Impeccably researched, Lowell's latest emphasizes justice. This love story tackles weighty issues but remains suspenseful and spellbinding. --Eve Stano, Ball State Univ. Muncie, IN

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.