Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

Out of the whole series, this book is one of the better ones. Think Batman but set in the 1700s. 

Same premise. 

Maximus Batten, Duke of Wakefield, is an orphaned as a boy and has vowed revenge. He also vowed to bring pride into the house of Wakefield in honor of his fallen father. So, that means, he needs an appropriate wife of particular lineage.

And….this is a perfect way to introduce an impoverished heroine who just happens to be the paid companion of his targeted wife to be. Artemis Greaves was gently born, but life has led her to a life of quiet poverty. Even though her cousin was a much better prospect, Maximus is sinking fast like a lead weight. Maximus now has to fight off what he really wants, for the sake of what right for the family as dictated by society and culture of the day.

Pssst...that’s not exactly original. And you’ve read at least 20 books with the same story lines....

If the author is kick ass and the editor is also, then the story line will always be new to me. 

It was heartbreaking to see Artemis fall in love knowing that Maximus’s obsession with restoring his family’s honor would always keep them apart.

It was equally heartbreaking to see Maximus intentionally hurt the woman he loves when his instinct is screaming at him to do otherwise.

Yep, plenty of feels in this one. Oh, and there’s a villain. It didn’t feel like it was thrown in as Maximus was as obsessed as finding his parent’s killers as he was with keeping Artemis.

 All in all a deeply satisfying novel.