A Wicked Bargain for the Duke is a light and endearing story with plenty of laughs ready for you in waiting. This is an author I have enjoyed over the years, she has a quirky sense of writ, and it displays quite well on the page. I was eager to see what this author would deliver in this one, and I wasn't nervous that it was the third in the series (when I haven't read the first two) although now that I have read this one, I am wanting to pick up the first two books.

In A Wicked Bargain for the Duke, we have a story that features a writer in hiding, Lavinia, who is overprotective of her younger sister. But when the Duke of Hasford, sets his sights on Jane who is in love with someone else. So in her endeavor to protect her sister, she ends up in a comprising position with Thaddeus and they will have to marry. Lavinia isn't the woman that Thaddeus wanted originally, and he has certain standards of what he wants for his family. Lavinia agrees to his certain "standards" but when sparks fly in and out of the bedroom, there is so much more than just this agreement. But with both hearts so prideful, who will fight for the other first and let go of preconceived notions on what marriage should be?

I was deeply saddened to give this book such a rating, but I really needed to. I had the hardest time getting into this book and so the first half was a battle and as this is an author I do endeavor to support and I received this as an ARC, I wanted to see this one all the way through. I will say that I was happy when the second half turned out so much better than the first half. It could have been my mood, not really sure why I struggled so much. But I did enjoy this story and I always love a good marriage of convenience. There was some "modern feminism" thrown into this story, it didn't bother me too much as it wasn't too "soap box", it felt a bit more genuine in the way it was implemented into the story so bravo to this author for that. But it also had me rolling my eyes in some portions. I did love the redemption at the end and seeing a hero fight for the heroine. Just wanted more from the heroine, I was expecting much more than I received from her, I love a lady that will fight for her man just as fiercely as the man will.

Overall while I had some issues, I found this story to be quite enjoyable and kept me entertained, it had a sense of smexy playfulness that I have always be endeared to with this author, looking forward to delving into the other books in the series.