Review: A Duke at Midnight by Emmi West

   

Print Length:  314 pages

Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing (April 8, 2025)

From Goodreads.com: It’s close to midnight when Rosalie, a seamstress of impeccable reputation, sets out to deliver an eagerly awaited bodice. A simple errand, until she steps into the wrong room.

Instead of her client, she finds a man. A very large, very brooding, and very enticing man. Before she can even protest, she tumbles into his arms. And most scandalously, into his bed. How on earth did she end up there?

What she does not yet this is the Duke of Blackbourne, London’s most insufferable, detestable, and inconveniently handsome rogue.

By morning, rumors swirl, scandal brews, and Rosalie’s once-loyal clients vanish like mist.

At the height of her misfortune, he returns. The Duke. The… scoundrel! The cause of all her troubles who still makes her knees weak.

But not to apologize. Not to explain. No, the Duke has something far more outrageous in

Marriage. He needs a son. Immediately.

                                                         *******************

My Rating: 1 star out of 5

To put it bluntly, this book was was sixty-seven chapters of absolute absurdity. To be fair, the chapters were short (in fact I feel several of them could have either been combined into other chapters or removed entirely and it wouldn't have changed the plot at all). 

First we have Rosalie, who really should have known better than to be delivering a corset to a courtesan at midnight. And if she were so dumb to do it herself, then she should have immediately declared her purpose to the (blind and just how did that work anyway) doorman so that he could have rung for someone to come and collect it for her. But she didn't, and then to make matters worse she didn't push the Duke away when he accosted her in the bedroom, nor did she make it clear that she was not who he thought she was. So when she was found out, she really had no one to blame but herself. 

Then we have the Duke, who despite having been staying in London since his return somehow didn't hear the rumor that he had killed his best friend? Seriously? He claims that he hadn't heard it because "everyone who knew him understood the absurdity of this claim", but wouldn't that be more of a reason for them to oh I don't know, let their friend know these horrible accusations are being said against him?

Of course, they decide the best thing for the both of them would be to marry. For purely selfish reasons of course. The Duke wants an heir (sooner rather than later thank you very much), and Rosalie wants to be able to look down on her former clients that have now snubbed her for what she did. Actually, she wants to protection of his name so she doesn't have to worry about losing her home and business since none of the ladies of the ton want to associate with her anymore, but I digress. The main stipulation the Duke places on her is that she will not fall in love with him, nor will he ever love her. In fact, if she does develop feelings for him and he finds out, he will move her poste haste into separate living accommodations, or as he so eloquently puts it "an immediate separation of bed and board."  Now while Rosalie isn't worried about falling in love with this ogre of a man, she does fret to herself about who she will be able to give her love to if not her husband. Oh.... I don't know madam. Your future CHILDREN maybe? Geeze. 

What follows is a back and forth that goes exactly how you would expect. They have sex. Rosalie finds herself falling in love with her husband despite trying hard not to. The Duke, and now that I'm thinking about it does he have a name? I honestly don't think he was referred to as anything other than the Duke, Duke, my dear boy, or Blackbourne. Even his chapters are titled Blackbourne and not his given name. Errrr, where was I? Oh yeah. The Duke is off trying to solve the mystery of who killed his friend. Which honestly really wasn't much of a mystery at all if we're being honest. 

Some random filler stuff happens, apparently the Dowager Duchess (who is the Duke's GRANDMOTHER by the way), holds secret meetings where she and her friends learn how to defend themselves which Rosalie finds out about and joins. Rosalie learns how to make snaps (although she calls them buttons that come apart and can be rejoined), and sews pants for the ladies to wear during practice. She gets kidnapped, the Duke rescues her, they admit their love for one another and they live happily ever after. 

All in all, it wasn't the worst way to spend my time, but I doubt I will be seeking this author out anytime soon.