The Duke Gets Desperate

If you’re looking for a new historical romance series to dive into, look no further than The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy. The first in her Sirens in Silk series, it’s about an Arab American woman who unexpectedly inherits a castle in Yorkshire… much to the chagrin of the duke who was supposed to inherit it. It’s an enemies-to-lovers story with healthy doses of both mystery and a working class mindset. 

Special thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Summary

Anthony Carey, Duke of Strickland, was upset two years ago when his father passed away and left the family castle—part of the Strickland legacy for some 400 years—to Deena, Strick’s stepmother. Now Deena has died unexpectedly and left the castle not to Strick, but to her American cousin, Raya. Naturally, Strick and Raya do not get off on the right foot, and while Strick tries to accumulate enough money to buy the castle back and Raya turns her enterprising mind to making the castle profitable, they have to live in close proximity to one another. They’re enemies at first… but their growing attraction is hard to ignore. Also hard to ignore are the rumors about Deena’s untimely death. Was it truly an accident, or was there foul play involved? Could Strick have had something to do with it? Is there anything he wouldn’t do to get his castle back? Romance and mystery collide in this diverting series-starter. 

Review

I’ve read a lot of historical romances in the last several years, and I’ve been eager to find more diversity in them. The Duke Gets Desperate, the first in Diana Quincy’s Sirens in Silk series, is the first I’ve read starring a character of Arab descent, but it won’t be the last! 

Anthony Carey, Duke of Strickland, is shocked and angry when his recently departed stepmother, Deena, who inherited the family castle after his father’s death, leaves the castle to a stranger. That stranger is Deena’s cousin Raya, an Arab American who just arrived in England. She had intended to visit Deena, but after her sudden and suspicious death, Raya only made it in time for her funeral. Naturally, with Strick angry and ready to lash out and Raya no pushover, the two do not get off to a good start. They hate each other, but with Strick still living in the castle he grew up in, despite Raya’s new ownership, they see each other a lot. The close proximity gives them plenty of time to bicker… and maybe to harbor their secret attractions to each other. 

The enemies portion of The Duke Gets Desperate is rather believable. They really do not get along! Especially with Raya’s enterprising mind and endless moneymaking schemes meant to save the nearly bankrupt castle—all ideas that Strick is initially quite resistant to. They butt heads constantly. The switch from enemies to something more is a bit sudden, and I do wish that transition had been smoothed over. Regardless, once these two do get together, the fireworks are real! They have such a realistic relationship full of contradictions and mistrust. Even as romantic feelings blossom, they have numerous miscommunications and make a lot of negative assumptions about each other—the meaning behind what they said, the cruel plans they may secretly have. Fortunately, none of their miscommunications are drawn out, but there are a lot of spats that the two have to work through. 

While Strick and Raya figure out their feelings for each other, there is still the matter of the castle. Raya got burned by her own family back in the US, and although this castle she’s inherited is in dire financial straights, she’s determined to turn things around. Strick can’t afford to buy his castle back, though he does look into his options. Meanwhile, Raya is a delightfully enterprising woman! She’s full of ideas to make the castle profitable, from paid castle tours to weaving the goats’ hair into sellable products. There’s no end to her business ideas and her excitement over money. Her employees at the castle are rather reluctant to do anything she says, but winning over Strick would help in that matter. 

Indeed, in addition the the castle employees being resistant to their new mistress, there is also an undercurrent of the bigotry and racism aimed at not only Raya, but also at her late cousin, Deena. I appreciate how these topics are addressed here. Raya’s Arab heritage and coloring are a big part of why some are bigoted towards her, but her being American is also distasteful to some of the English characters here. 

On top of the castle business and tentative romance, there’s also a real mystery afoot: Was Deena’s death truly an accident, or was something more sinister at play? Could the duke himself have been behind her untimely demise? Although the mystery plays a secondary role here, I love how it continues to lurk in the background and how it plays a role in the novel’s climax. 

Final Thoughts

The Duke Gets Desperate is a fast-paced and enthralling read, filled with business acumen, a hint of mystery, and plenty of enemies-to-lovers steam. I enjoyed the characters and how they navigated their unexpected circumstances.

This is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading the next Sirens in Silk books. I’m anticipating love stories for Strick’s two friends, Guy Vaughan and Basil Trevelyn, Earl of Hawksworth… the latter is maybe giving me Persuasion vibes! 

Get the Book

You can buy The Duke Gets Desperate here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy
Series	Sirens in Silk (#1)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Romance
Setting	Yorkshire, England
Number of Pages	384
Format I Read	Paperback (ARC)
Original Publication Date	September 26, 2023

Official Summary

Diana Quincy returns with a steamy affair between an Arab-American woman who inherits a run-down castle in the English countryside and the duke who asserts the castle is his, in the first book in a brand-new Victorian historical romance series.

Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, inherits his spendthrift father’s title and can finally restore the family castle to its former glory. But at the reading of the will, Strick is stunned to learn that his father has secretly disentailed him, leaving the family manor—home to twelve generations of dukes—to Strick’s American stepmother. Everyone knows Strick detests the dowager duchess, and when she dies mysteriously, damning rumors start to surface. 

When Raya Darwish unexpectedly inherits her glamorous late cousin’s castle in the English countryside, she clashes with the charismatic young duke who insists the castle is rightfully his. The estate is practically bankrupt, so she must find a way to work with the duke in order to save both of their futures.

The two cannot stand each other, but mutual disdain soon gives way to desire. When questions arise about how her cousin died, Raya cannot help wondering if Strick’s sudden unbridled passion for her is part of a scheme to get his castle back…