In A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase, bookish Olympia finds herself running from her wedding only to be chased by her fiancé’s best friend, the rakish Duke of Ripley, in this delightful romp. Their witty banter and sizzling chemistry make for a wild, irresistible ride!

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Olympia doesn’t quite know how she got in this situation, but she think that her laced tea might have had something to do with it. Yet, her, the bespectacled girl voted the most boring in the tonne has somehow managed to get one Duke to propose to her and be running away from the wedding with another Duke. And not just any Duke either, but the Dis-Graces, the trio of wild and rakeish Dukes no longer accepted into any respectable lady’s ballroom.

It’s been a while since I have read anything by Loretta Chase and when I saw the blurb for A Duke in Shining Armor I decided that I had to give it ago; there’s nothing I like more than a rake and wallflower type of story. Now, after reading it I am glad I gave it a try as although it isn’t my favourite by Chase it was still a lot of fun. Right from the start this tale of a wedding gone awry puts a smile on your face, it’s witty with some very likeable characters.

Oympia, our heroine is usually a very sensible, and many would say boring girl; however, when we first meet her she’s drunk as hell and trying to climb out of a window. As the story goes on, the more I like Olympia, when not drunk, she’s a sensible, clever and take-charge kinda gal. And with out hero, not the “poor” bridegroom, but his best friend Ripley, that’s exactly what’s required to manage, his reputation as one of the Dis-Graces is well deserved. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two, it was witty and charming with an undertone of sexual tension, perfect for a light-hearted historical romance.

Now, you may have guessed that there is a jilted bridegroom in this book, and I know a lot of people, including myself, hate the idea of cheating. But, don’t fear although eloping with the best man isn’t the sign of a faithful bride and running off with your best friend’s affianced isn’t the sign of a great friend…Chase handles the whole situation very well. Lets put it this way, if the groom spent more time thinking and less time drinking this may have gone differently.

A Duke in Shining Armor was a good addition to the historical romance genre, especially if you are looking for something lighthearted and fun, I will definitely continue to follow this series.

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