Poppy Fairchurch is a shop girl new to London doing her best
to take care of her sister when the Duke of Autenberry walks
into the shop and Poppy falls in love. When he is nearly hit
by a carriage Poppy rushes to his rescue, and while the duke
lies in a coma his family mistakes Poppy for his betrothed.
Not wanting to worry anyone Poppy plays along, and hopes
that perhaps the duke will come to love her when he awakens.
However, the duke's half brother, Struan McKenzie, is
suspicious and when Struan and Poppy are together a real
connection is found. Poppy must decide if she should marry
the duke of her dreams or the man who is quickly stealing
her heart.
WHILE THE DUKE WAS SLEEPING by Sophie Jordan is a historical
romance with a unique plot. Poppy isn't the typical
debutante heroine of historical romances, but rather a plain
shop girl who saves a duke's life, and gets mistaken for his
betrothed. She is intelligent and strong-willed, and her
personality shines throughout the story. Struan,
half-brother to the duke, is dangerous yet caring, and has
vulnerabilities that lead to tremendous growth of character.
He is the unique hero that perfectly fits the unexpected
heroine. Together they have a passionate and steamy love
affair, and an understanding with similar backgrounds that
make them the perfect couple.
The duke's family is a mixture of witty and charming
characters from his sister to his stepmother. Their love and
open minds will have readers loving them right from the
beginning. Poppy's sister is also humorous and full of charm
and will delight readers. Jordan describes the countryside
in a magical way that will leave readers feeling as if they
are enjoying the holidays with Poppy and Struan. The
dialogue is believable and the plot moves along at a good
steady pace. Readers will have a hard time putting down
WHILE THE DUKE WAS SLEEPING.
Shop girl Poppy Fairchurch knows it’s pointless fantasizing
about the Duke of Autenberry. Still, dreams can’t hurt
anyone . . . unlike the carriage Poppy spies bearing down
upon the unsuspecting duke. After she pulls him to safety,
the duke lapses into a coma and Poppy is mistaken for his
fiancée. But one person isn’t fooled: his arrogant and much
too handsome half-brother, Struan Mackenzie. Soon Poppy
isn’t sure what she wants more . . . the fantasy of her duke
or the reality of one smoldering Scot who challenges her at
every turn.
. . . is not who you think.
An illegitimate second son, Struan may have built an empire
and established himself as one of the wealthiest men in
Britain, but he knows he will always be an outsider among
the ton. Just like he knows the infuriating Poppy
is a liar. There’s no way the haughty Duke of Autenberry
would deign to wed a working class girl. It doesn’t matter
how charming she is. Or tempting. Or how much Struan wants
her for himself.