Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath | Re-read Audiobook Review

---

[book-info]

MY THOUGHTS

 

TIMES READ

I have read this book multiple times already but this is the first time I listened to it via audiobook.

 

WHEN I FIRST READ

I purchased the paperback way back when it was released in 2011.  Of course, my copy was left in the Ph where all my physical books are (yes, I’m pretty sad about that).

 

ORIGINAL REVIEW

I wasn’t really reviewing books back then so I haven’t really written an actual review for this book but I remember that I LOVED it so much.  Initially, I was a little iffy about the plot which sort of follows the “indecent proposal” trope and I didn’t know how to deal with the “infidelity.”  Fortunately for me, I fell in love with Ainsley!  Because Ms. Heath added in Walfort’s (Jayne’s husband) infidelities while they were married, and that it was Walfort’s plan to have Jayne and Ainsley fall in love as a way to atone for his sins, I felt comfortable with the plot.

 

WHAT I REMEMBER

Hottie mc-hottie Ransom Seymour, the Duke of Ainsley!

Urinary catheter.  This was mentioned in the book and as a nurse, I feel like this was the only book that I read that mentioned a catheter.

 

WHY I WANTED TO RE-READ

Waking Up with the Duke is one of the first books that I read written by Ms. Heath and I was instantly hooked.  I loved how she wrote in Ainsley and Jayne’s

 

HOW I FELT AFTER RE-READING

The audiobook really brought it to a new level.  I love Ms. Flosnik’s voices and feelings as she read the book and the conversations between the MC’s.

 

WOULD I RE-READ THIS BOOK AGAIN

Definitely!  If I recall, this book really brought me to tears!

 

MY REVIEW

Due to an accident that left Walfort paralyzed, Ainsley had blamed himself for his cousin’s condition.  Wanting to appease his guilty conscience, he agrees to Walfort’s mad scheme:  that he father Jayne’s child which Walfort will claim as his own.  That is if Jayne agrees.

For three years, Jayne has blamed Ainsley for her husband’s accident and resulting condition and has been harboring hatred toward him.  Backed into a corner, she reluctantly agrees to Wafort’s plan and spends one month with Ainsley.  Little does she know that Ainsley had been harboring secret feelings (that he hasn’t acted upon) toward Jayne and that she would fall deeply in love with him.

Conflict comes when Jayne, already a few months pregnant with Ainsley’s child, sends for him because Walfort is dying.  Truths and secrets and betrayals are revealed and Jayne is left emotionally scarred.

What I love most about this story is that it felt believable.  I love the slow development of Jayne and Ainsley’s love and that both of them really struggled with their feelings and their loyalty to Walfort.  Although Walfort was written as an unfeeling, unfaithful cad, he was still someone that I felt sorry for – a little bit, mind you.  He did redeem himself a little in the end but still, what he did to Jayne was immature on his part.

All the characters were very well fleshed out and I felt as if I knew them, that I could relate to them.

Will I be re-reading this book again?  Definitely!

---