Reviewed by Christie
TITLE: Duke in Hiding
AUTHOR: M.J. O’Shea
NARRATOR: Rusty Topsfield
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 5h 8m
RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2016
BLURB:
Every gentleman has something to hide.
Meeting Heath Blackwood, a gorgeous English farmer, is probably the most exciting thing to ever happen to small-town landscaper Theo Brody, who has lived in quiet Maplehurst, New Hampshire, all his life. The sexy and secretive Brit shakes the foundations of his orderly world as they are swept up in a springtime romance neither can resist.
But Heath’s secrets run deeper than Theo ever imagined. He’s actually Heathcliff Pierrepont Blackwood, Duke of Kingston, in hiding from recent death threats. Suddenly there’s more separating them than the Atlantic Ocean, and Theo doubts he’ll ever fit in with English nobility. Though Heath and Theo are opposites in almost every way, their love might bridge the gap—if they’re willing to take the risk.
REVIEW:
Duke in Hiding was sweet and funny, sarcastic at times yet light hearted, and simply lovely. The audiobook was exactly what I needed to hear after listening to a string of heavier, more angsty stories. Honestly, if you’re in a rut and not sure what your next audiobook listen or ebook read should be, try your hand at this book. It was a refreshing change, that’s for sure.
Life has not been very kind to Theo, and he has worked very hard to get where he is now. His landscaping business is only a few years old, and not profitable enough for him to make it his sole source of income. So, Theo works a few nights a week at the local bar as a bartender, then spends his days usually ankle deep in dirt and mud helping to beautify the yards of the residents in the small, close knit (and very nosey) town of Maplehurst.
One night, near closing, a very handsome and sexy stranger comes in and shakes things up for Theo. Heath is seemingly very high brow and comes off as quite pius, especially with his delicious British accent and the way he carries himself. It didn’t help things that when asked for his drink order, Heath ended up complaining about the swill Americans call beer. Well, this royally pisses Theo off and brings out all of his sarcasm and makes him a bit verbally feisty. But, Theo’s attitude (and gorgeous physique) intrigues Heath, which makes him decide to stop by the local bar every night, to get to know the bartender better.
While trading barbs and quips back and forth, the two do end up getting to know each other. And, the more they get to know, the more their mutual attraction grows. Which poses a problem for Heath. You see, Heath is in Maplehurst hiding from a death threat he received in his own bedroom at the family estate, and he fully expects to go back home to England within only a few days or week’s time after the culprit is caught.
But, we all know how inconvenient love can be sometimes, don’t we? Yeah, Heath and Theo get swept up and carried into the vast ocean that is love. The problem here is that Heath still has not told Theo that he is not a mere farmer, but actually a duke in hiding.
Will their love for each other be enough to weather the storm that will be unleashed when Theo inevitably finds out who Heath really is? Good thing that question is answered when you read/ listen to the book. And, in all honesty, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Rusty Topsfield does an excellent job narrating Duke in Hiding, especially when navigating and performing the different accents. Hat’s off to you, sir, for a job very well done! M. J. O’Shea, I can’t wait to read/ listen to more from you in the near future!
RATING: 
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