Lily Boscastle is happily engaged, anticipating a beautiful wedding and the life she had planned. But when she sees her fiancé in an altercation where someone dies -- and no one believes her -- she rejects the marriage, despite how it will destroy her reputation.

And it definitely does that. Lily finds herself with no alternatives but to seek employment to support herself. She takes a position as housekeeper to the Duke of Gravenhurst, an unusual man she met at a party. Of course, his audacity and spirit tempted her at the party, but Lily resisted because of her engagement.

Now, she finds herself employed as the duke's housekeeper, with nothing to keep her from indulging in the attraction. But Lily has scruples and morals, despite what society thinks, and instead of focusing on kissing Samuel Charles Aubrey St. Aldwyn, she wants to find out what's going on in his odd household. Strange noises at night, behavior that is far outside the norm and a mysterious (maybe a little crazy?) aura around the duke stirs Lily's curiosity.

Ms. Hunter's Boscastle series is one of the few historical romance series that I read. You'll find lively characters, unusual plots and an underlying sense of fun (who can resist the Boscastles and their daring reputations?). But these are not lighthearted books lacking depth. You'll find yourself falling in love with well, many more Boscastles than you could ever marry... If you haven't found this series, A DUKE'S TEMPTATION is a great place to start. The duke is an unusual character, well-matched by Lily.