Count on Jess Michaels for an intriguing seduction. Falling in love just got much more complicated. From family duty to far reaching secrets and an all encompassing love, The Duke of Nothing is romance at it's finest moment. Is honor worth giving up on a heart's desire? Baldwin and Helena are on a mission to find themselves and perhaps discover a never ending love. Pleasure is only a romance away. ( )

Nothing ventured-nothing gained!

I really enjoyed this story. Baldwin Undercross, Duke of Sheffield is burdened with crushing inherited debts. Not to mention his own contribution to the problem. These debts he's kept secret from his family, and more to the point, his closest friends. Marriage to an heiress is the only thing that will save the family estates, the tenants' livelihoods, and turn Baldwin's fortunes around.
The American heiress might be the very thing! And Baldwin had already met her and been impressed! Only he'd met Helena Monroe, the heiress' companion--not the heiress.
What a to do!
Add to this a house party that Baldwin never wanted, given by his sister, that is proving far too expensive, draining what little resources available at every turn. Ice sculptures indeed!
Will Baldwin ever come through? What of his doomed relationship with the companion, a woman he's come to admire, the woman who's captured his heart? It seems Baldwin has only two choices--marry the heiress or lose all!
There's a lot going on here and it all meshes well.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

Baldwin, Duke of Sheffield, has been keeping a secret from his family and friends. Due to his father's gambling, he is pretty much broke. The only solution is to marry an heiress, and the most eligible is an American. However, he meets her cousin (and poor companion), Helena, first and the two form a relationship despite knowing it will never come to anything.
I've read all the books in the series. It started out great, but I didn't like the last one as much as I didn't think the couple had chemistry. This one is terrific. Baldwin and Helena are a wonderful couple. They each help the other with their problems, and there's a lot of heat between them as well as some real understanding.
The Duke of Nothing is a very enjoyable read, and it's always great to meet the other Dukes and their wives. ( )

The Duke of Nothing by Jess Michaels
The 1797 Club #5

Ten teens at boarding school form a club to assist one another as they grow into their positions of being dukes one day - The 1797 Club - this series is already plotted out to have ten volumes starring the ten original members of the club. Over the years a bond stronger and closer, in some ways, than that of blood brothers is formed. In each book of the series we find out what has become of the members of the club and who they will find their HEA with.

Baldwin Undercross, Duke of Sheffield, is living a lie. He is pinching pennies, pretending his finances are not disastrous and being pushed by his mother to marry an heiress to put the estate to rights. His father had a gambling addiction that depleted the coffers and his life, after his father’s death, has not been easy. At least his sister is married to a duke and safe financially but still…his burden is great and rather bothersome…made even MORE bothersome when he meets and falls for Helena Monroe and she does NOT have the money to offer as a dowry that he so desperately needs. Who is Helena? She is the cousin and lady’s companion to THE HEIRESS of the season. Both were brought to England so Charlotte can snag a title. Charlotte’s father is an uncouth lout that is really not good for any woman to be aligned with and especially heinous to Helena.

Both Helena and Baldwin have secrets that are shared eventually. The two do fall in love but whether or not duty & money or Love and lack of finances will win is what this book is all about. A fun read with believable H/h duet…I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series…so nice to know that there ARE more books to look forward to reading :)

Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars ( )

I received a copy of this book to read from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This book is book 5 in Jess Michaels series 1797 Club. The Duke of Nothing can be read as a stand-alone. This was the first book in this series that I read but the other characters with their own stories appear in this book so now I want to read more about them. Baldwin Undercross (yes his name makes me giggle) Duke of Sheffield has inherited a dukedom and a huge pile of debt from his father. For the last 5 years he has been trying to find a way to pay back the debt and when we meet him he is at a low point and feels the only way to get out from under the enormous weight of his obligations is to marry a heiress. Helena Monroe is the poor relation to an American heiress with an enormous dowry. Shunned by her family she is forced to depend on her ruthless uncle and spoiled cousin for a roof over her head. These two each burdened with secrets that will prevent them from being together fall in love while counting stars on a darkened terrace. The story is quite steamy. Publishing Date is January 16, 2018 #TheDukeOfNothing #NetGalley ( )