Cursed & Cherished: The Duke's Wilful Wife

Love's Second Chance Series: Tales of Lords & Ladies, Book 2

By: Bree Wolf

Narrated by: Anna Parker-Naples

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A dashing duke. A headstrong heroine. And a battle of wills.

Edmond Dunsworth, Duke of Cromwell, is bankrupt. The solution to his problem: a wife with a sizable dowry.

Not worried in the least, Edmond takes his pick. After all, what woman could resist his charms?

However, when his choice lands on fiery Anna, he realizes he may not be able to conquer his wife's heart with a charming smile alone.

Anna Hanford, a merchant's daughter, is faced with a difficult choice: allow her sister to marry the duke and see her happiness shattered...or marry the duke herself.

Determined to ensure her sister's future, Anna makes her choice. After all, isn't marriage just a minor inconvenience in life?

Unfortunately, her new husband proves to be more than an inconvenience...but an enticement instead.

Will Anna be able to resist him? Or will Edmond manage to conquer her heart after all?

This tale by a USA Today best-selling author will make you smile and chuckle at Edmond's different attempts to entice his wife while making you wish to hit stubborn Anna over the head for resisting his charms.

©2016 Sabrina Wolf (P)2017 Tantor

The shrew

I cannot stand to read another novel with a heroine who spews bile for no other reason than contrariness and fear. I get that we are supposed to love the hero in heteronormative romances, but must we hate his love interest. It makes me uncomfortable. I expect more finesse from female authors. Do better.

Cursed & Cherished: The Duke's Wilful Wife

Wow, hard to believe a man would wait so long to consummate a marriage at that time in history, but perhaps men were different then due to social norms. I loved Anna's character even though she harbored anger and distrust until she was able to resolved the reason why. Her strong, indomitable spirit proved she was much more than just a pretty decoration. To say the Duke had his hands full would be putting it lightly. Loved the book tho! 😍

DNF...Immature wife with anger management issues

It is rare that I dont finish a book, but I was too irritated and frankly disgusted by the heroine's childish and abusive behavior. All because she is unhappy with her arranged marriage, H is cruel to her new husband, gives him no chance to redeem himself, and seeks to physically protect herself from this man who has given little to no reason to fear him. She blames all of her problems on him without taking any responsibility for the choices she herself has made. She is encouraged and supported by her best friend who is horribly jaded by her own family issues. I'm sure the heroine ultimately redeems herself and finds love with her husband, but I couldn't bear listening to anymore of her childish behavior to get to that point.

My MOST favorite book in ALL THE LAND! 💖 :)

I just finished listening to my favorite book of my ENTIRE LIFE!! I am so grateful that a dear friend lead me to Bree Wolf's books just a month ago and I've already devoured several of them but this one has me absolutely giddy!! It had me laughing out loud and the 1st time I started it, I listened until 6:00 in the morning!! 😂 I had NO idea how much time had passed because I was so entertained. Lol! I was so glad I had already listened to "Forgotten and Remembered" so I knew Edmond's true fun loving character and some of the other references to the characters Bree tells in her story but I fell in love with Edmond in "Forgotten and Remembered" because he's such a happy person with a good heart. But then Anna's story had me love her tale and the combination of the two had me reeling!! I have also never been happier with an ending in a book than I was with this one! I am so impressed with Bree's ability to tell a story that has so much heart, love, true romance, tenderness in all relationships and feelings that are what makes us human! But then to have stories that all intertwine so beautifully and yet are breathtaking on their own is completely impressive! I am passionate about writing this long review because when I was first looking into the other reviews to see what others thought of Bree's books, I was surprised at the serious lack of comments so here's one that will help you to know that it's SO worth it!! Anna Parker Naples presentation of this book was SPOT ON! She nailed it!! 😘 I didn't like the voice she gave Frederick in "Despised and Desired" (I read them out of order not knowing the true order of her books until I saw the list on her website) but mostly because the voice she gave him made him sound kind of whiney. So if that holds you back from continuing, I urge you to press on because the story is still wonderful and I think Anna Parker Naples is trying to add variety to each character which is very much appreciated!! I am SO SO SOOOOOOO hoping she reads more of Bree's books ANNND I am crossing all my fingers and toes that there are more of her books added to Audible SOON!! Bree Wolf - - you're a rock star 🌟💃🌟 PLEASE keep writing!! You have a gift!! 🥰

Incongruent story with good nattator.

New author for me. Story seemed very disjointed with lots of inconsistencies. We are initially shown that Anna is a strong person who sees quickly to the heart of the matter and likes honesty in dealing with people. Then she lies to her fiance, cannot see that he is trying to reach an understanding with her and lets the man-hating Henrietta form her opinions for her rather than think for herself. Narrator did a good job however. DNF @ Chapter 13.

Couldn't stand it.

This was a DNF for me, and I do my best to get through the books I start. I just couldn't get over the behavior of the FMC. She acts as the victim, when she is a conniving shrew, who doesn't even want to get to know the husband she chose to marry knowing everything that a marriage entailed. And to say "if you touch me I am going to kill you?" just after getting married? that killed it for me. No thank you. She could have taken the time to get to know the man, but she chooses not to. I won't waste my time to get to a two page HEA after suffering through the stubbornness of an ignorant hardheaded woman. Too much dislike of the FMC and the secondary character Henrietta, to keep going. Sorry.

The narrator was good, though.