Genre Fiction
![Vanessa Riley - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_vanessa_riley.jpg)
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby: A Multi-Cultural Historical Regency Romance (Rogues and Remarkable Women)
Named a "Must Read" by Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Vulture, NPR, Woman's World and more, the first installment in award-winning author Vanessa Riley's swoon-worthy Rogues & Remarkable Women series is now available in mass market! This groundbreaking, empowering, sexy Regency romance featuring a recently widowed Afro-Caribbean heiress and a dashing Duke is perfect for the Bridgerton binge-watcher and fans of witty historical romance by authors such as Julia Quinn, Evie Dunmore, and Eloisa James.
"Smart and witty . . . the perfect historical read." -Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author
It's challenging for a widow, especially one who's fallen from grace, to find true love again-or perhaps for the very first time.
When headstrong West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questioned her English husband's mysterious suicide, she lost everything-most devastatingly, her newborn son, Lionel. Falsely persecuted, she risks her life to be near him, disguising herself in order to be hired as her own son's nanny. But working for his unsuspecting new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington, has perils of its own. Especially when Patience discovers his strictness belies an ex-rake of unswerving honor-and unexpected passion . . .
A wounded military hero, Repington is determined to resolve his dead cousin's dangerous financial dealings for Lionel's sake. But that's a minor skirmish compared to dealing with the forthright, courageous, and alluring Patience. Somehow, she's breaking his rules, and sweeping past his defenses. Soon, between enemies and obstacles, they form a fragile trust-but will it be enough to save the future they long to dare together?
"Vanessa Riley at her finest." -Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author
"I was delighted. Readers on the lookout for Black or disabled characters in historical romance will not want to miss this." -New York Times Book Review
"One of the best historicals I've read in years." -Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
"Expertly crafted romance." -Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
"Smart and witty . . . the perfect historical read." -Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author
It's challenging for a widow, especially one who's fallen from grace, to find true love again-or perhaps for the very first time.
When headstrong West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questioned her English husband's mysterious suicide, she lost everything-most devastatingly, her newborn son, Lionel. Falsely persecuted, she risks her life to be near him, disguising herself in order to be hired as her own son's nanny. But working for his unsuspecting new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington, has perils of its own. Especially when Patience discovers his strictness belies an ex-rake of unswerving honor-and unexpected passion . . .
A wounded military hero, Repington is determined to resolve his dead cousin's dangerous financial dealings for Lionel's sake. But that's a minor skirmish compared to dealing with the forthright, courageous, and alluring Patience. Somehow, she's breaking his rules, and sweeping past his defenses. Soon, between enemies and obstacles, they form a fragile trust-but will it be enough to save the future they long to dare together?
"Vanessa Riley at her finest." -Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author
"I was delighted. Readers on the lookout for Black or disabled characters in historical romance will not want to miss this." -New York Times Book Review
"One of the best historicals I've read in years." -Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
"Expertly crafted romance." -Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Vanessa Riley's Rogues and Remarkable Women Novels
"A sparkling love story with deep wells of faith and feeling...It's refreshing to read historical romance that reflects the true diversity of the era...A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby is about overcoming trauma, a testament to love forged in adversity-a love that both leaves space for and hastens healing. Riley knows how to spin a yarn built on faith and trust, that lilts along with the gentility and reserve of her characters." -Entertainment Weekly
"Readers on the lookout for Black or disabled characters in historical romance will not want to miss this." -The New York Times on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Smart and witty...Vanessa Riley delivers the perfect historical read." -Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Riley loads her expertly crafted romance with intrigue, droll banter, and steadily building passion." -Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"With strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and deeply emotional stories, Vanessa Riley is a magnificent voice in historical romance-one not to be missed!" -Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Riveting from the first sentence to the last. Vanessa Riley's lyrical voice shimmers in this emotional, uplifting tour de force." -Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Get your fill of scandal, misunderstandings and a secret society to boot." -ELLE Canada on An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler
"Move over, Bridgertons. There's a new set of scandalous aristocrats waiting to take London society by storm."
"A sparkling love story with deep wells of faith and feeling...It's refreshing to read historical romance that reflects the true diversity of the era...A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby is about overcoming trauma, a testament to love forged in adversity-a love that both leaves space for and hastens healing. Riley knows how to spin a yarn built on faith and trust, that lilts along with the gentility and reserve of her characters." -Entertainment Weekly
"Readers on the lookout for Black or disabled characters in historical romance will not want to miss this." -The New York Times on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Smart and witty...Vanessa Riley delivers the perfect historical read." -Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Riley loads her expertly crafted romance with intrigue, droll banter, and steadily building passion." -Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"With strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and deeply emotional stories, Vanessa Riley is a magnificent voice in historical romance-one not to be missed!" -Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Riveting from the first sentence to the last. Vanessa Riley's lyrical voice shimmers in this emotional, uplifting tour de force." -Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
"Get your fill of scandal, misunderstandings and a secret society to boot." -ELLE Canada on An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler
"Move over, Bridgertons. There's a new set of scandalous aristocrats waiting to take London society by storm."
Readers Top Reviews
Ana OKindle S. A
I liked the plot of the book. I liked the main characters (maimed war hero, biracial heroine, and a cute baby). I like that it was set in the regency period. I think overall these elements had the potential to produce something interesting and different for a regency romance and I was interested to see how that would pan out. Sadly this did not happen for me. It’s as if the writer decided that the improbability of all the elements together gave license for the book to just be. There were a lot of inaccuracies in language, regency practices, just to name a few. The language was wrong, certain scenes were too unlikely for the period. I know its fiction but I think the writer should have respected the period. This book could have been written for any era. I had to check several times to ascertain I was reading a historical romance. I was looking forward to reading the whole series but I will not be doing so now.
Shannan HarperAna
A great new series by Vanessa Riley. After her husband commits suicide, Patience Jordan get's locked up by her husband's cousin. After getting free, she receives help from The Widow's Grace, a regency organization that aids widows, to get her newborn son back. Her son is in the care of another cousin, Busick Strathrom, The Duke of Remington, who will do anything to make sure the young man is safe, even his own mother, if she appears dangerous. Using disguises and going undercover, Patience pretends to be a nanny in order to look out for her son, as well as find the documents that prove that she is mentally fit to raise her son. The banter between the two main characters was cute. I enjoyed the story as well as the flow of the entire book. and the interactions with baby Lionel was my favorite part I definitely will be reading more books from this author. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Diane DShannan Ha
The series title says it all: Rogues and Remarkable Women. I don't think I've read a book with such interesting characters in a while. The Duke, a wounded war veteran tries to run everything like a military drill. He has moved in to Hamlin Hall as the guardian of little Lionel Jordan. He asks his former women how to care for a baby, puts everything on a schedule including crawling training for a 3 month old. He has an amputated leg that he keeps secret and has a "troop" of soldiers - all of whom are also war-wounded. Patience is a strong women who has had to endure a lot since her husband died. Her husband's uncle kept her prisoner before sending her to Bedlam to try to take control of the estate for money. She got out, and has been sneaking into the house dressed as a footman to nurse her baby. Once the Duke arrives to take control she goes undercover as the nanny. The relationship between the two is touchy at first - neither can trust the other but they have the baby's well being in common. In addition to getting to know each other there is a mystery occuring with the uncle at the heart of it. When the Happily Ever After comes it is well worth it,
Y. WilsonDiane DS
This is a amazingly well written book that spoke to the discrimination that Patience faced due to the color of her skin. It also highlighted how widows and women were taken advantage by those in power. Patience definitely endured a great deal. It must have been frightening to be placed in an asylum without an hope of being rescued. To leave one's homeland and go off to a foreign country where everything is so different and to have the man you love slowly become indifferent to you is heartbreaking. I admire Patience's bravery, her strength of character, the depth of her love for her son and Jemina. The Duke, was an admirable man, honest, loyal and brave. He could be obsessive with his adherence to schedules, but it was his way of maintaining some semblance of control. It was apparent that his war wounds had left him weakened and lacking some control over his body. Patience and the Duke are well matched. They are of equal temperament (stubborn) and both loved Colin and will protect baby Lionel. I will definitely read more books by this author.
PaperbackY. Wilso
I loved this book. A lot happened it. Patience Jordan was locked up after her husband Colin died by his cousin. She escaped by dressing up like a young man. She travels to another land and gets help from The Widow's Grace, a regency organization that aids widows. Her goal is to get her son back. Her son is in the care of another cousin, Busick Strathrom, The Duke of Remington. Patience gets a job as a nanny to be near her son. She also has to prove that she is fit to raise her son. As Busick gets to know Patience, he realizes that the cousin who had her locked up is a criminal. It is great that the protagonist got his due. I love stories with a happy ending.
