by Tessa Dare
First published 2019
Gabriel Duke earned his title through ruthless ambition, climbing from London's slums to become the Duke of Ruin. He wants revenge on high society, but first he must deal with his new neighbor's zoo. Lady Penelope Campion fills her home with wounded creatures: a three-legged dog, a cursing parrot, kittens, a goat, an otter, and a hedgehog. When Gabriel demands she remove the animals, Penny strikes a bargain. She will give them up if he finds each one a loving home. Gabriel agrees, thinking the task simple. He discovers otherwise. The cold-hearted duke who built his fortune on calculated moves finds himself covered in fur and overwhelmed by adorable chaos. Worse, he becomes enchanted by the quiet spinster who challenges him at every turn. Penny sees past his fearsome reputation to the man beneath. She decides to rescue him too. Gabriel must choose between his plans for vengeance and the woman determined to save his soul.
Genres: animals, romance, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: London
Period: 19th-century
369 pages · Kindle Edition · Avon