The duchess hunt : Once upon a dukedom series, book 2

One of Amazon's Best Romances for October 2021 New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath continues her Once Upon a Dukedom series with this lush love story of a duke who discovers what he desires in a wife may not be what he needs... Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess. However, restoring the dukedom#8212;left in ruins by his father#8212;to its former glory demands all his time, with little room for sentiment. He places an advert encouraging the single ladies of the ton to write why they should be the one chosen, and leaves it to his efficient secretary to select his future wife. If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can't imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer. But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he's willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he's hunting for has been in front of him all along? A duke entrusts his secretary with the task of selecting his new duchess. Penelope Pettypeace is the rarity of rarities: a woman employed as a personal secretary to a high-ranking member of the aristocracy. She's a consummate professional even though she's been secretly in love with Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, for years. King is aware that he must take a bride and have heirs, but he has no interest in courtship. He decides on a more direct route and places an advertisement inviting London's eligible young women to write letters describing their qualifications for the role of duchess. King asks Penelope to choose the best candidate, unaware of her feelings for him; he also refuses to admit that his hyperawareness of Penelope is a sign that his feelings for her are more romantic than professional. Things change between them when a mysterious threatening letter appears in the mail. King has no choice but to reveal a terrible secret about his past, not knowing Penelope has a secret of her own that might ruin her if it comes to light. "Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess. However, restoring the dukedom--left in ruins by his father--to its former glory demands all his time, with little room for sentiment. He places an advert encouraging the single ladies of the ton to write why they should be the one chosen, and leaves it to his efficient secretary to select his future wife. If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can't imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer. But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he's willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he's hunting for has been in front of him all along?"--FantasticFiction.com