{"product_id":"the-unexpected-duchess-9781250844613","title":"The Unexpected Duchess","description":"\u003cp\u003eBestselling author Valerie Bowman sets the stage in Regency England for her Playful Brides series, where couples' misadventures on the way to the altar are witty, romantic romps based on some of the world's most beloved plays. The first installment, \u003ci\u003eThe Unexpected Duchess\u003c\/i\u003e, is inspired by Edmond Rostand's \u003ci\u003eCyrano de Bergerac\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eIN THIS BATTLE OF WITS\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLady Lucy Upton's tongue may be too sharp to attract suitors but her heart is good, and when her painfully shy friend Cassandra needs help she devises a brilliant scheme to help her discourage an unwanted suitor, the Duke of Claringdon. Lucy will hide behind the hedgerow and tell Cass just what to say to discourage the Duke of Claringdon...but it turns out that he's made of sterner stuff than either of them anticipated. And Lucy is shocked to discover that tangling with the tenacious man is the most fun she's had in ages. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eKISSES ARE THE BEST WEAPON\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLord Derek Hunt made a promise to his dying friend to marry the demure Cassandra, and for a man who wants nothing more than peace and quiet after the horrors of war, she'll make the perfect bride. If only the impudent Miss Upton will let him court the girl! Doing battle is the last thing on his mind, but bantering with Lucy behind the bushes is too tempting to resist. And in \u003ci\u003eThe Unexpected Duchess\u003c\/i\u003e, the spoils of this war just may be true love... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eValerie Bowman's Secret Brides novels\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eare\u003c\/b\u003e: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Intriguing [and] engaging.\u003ci\u003e--Publishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eToo delightful to miss!--Lisa Kleypas \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSparkling...witty...engaging. \u003ci\u003e--RT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e St. Martin's Griffin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/29\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781250844613\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 368\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.65lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.01h x 4.25w x 0.81d","brand":"Valerie Bowman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41573935448245,"sku":"9781250844613","price":18.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_0c0a2c05-890f-4c0e-8338-75f4d8ab2564.jpg?v=1643687226","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-unexpected-duchess-9781250844613","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}