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The Duke of Spice
She’s the strong heroine. He’s the villain. They’ve just got married.
Robert Tolley, the Duke of Saffron Walden doesn’t much care for the rule book. He will do whatever it takes, legal or otherwise, to get what he wants. Everything of course, except get caught.
With her family’s reputation for creating outrageous scandals, Lady Victoria Kembal is doing her best to maintain her slim chances of securing a respectable marriage. She spends her days quietly reading cookbooks and cutting restaurant reviews out of the newspaper.
When the Duke of Spice and Lady Victoria lock horns over the quality of restaurants in London, the feisty daughter of the Duke of Mowbray is determined that she won’t be the one to back down.
But Lady Victoria’s ill-conceived plans to get even with the Duke of Spice quickly unravel when he catches her stealing from his garden in the dead of night.
Victoria’s relief at hearing the villainous duke won’t be handing her over to the authorities is however short lived. He has a worse punishment in store for her. She is to become his duchess.
For Victoria and Robert, marriage is only the beginning of their troubles. The Duke of Spice has long been stealing from the corrupt East India Company and their agents are now hot on his trail.
A morally gray hero and his strong willed wife must now figure out how to stay alive while at the same time coming to terms with their growing desire for one another.
Robert Tolley, the Duke of Saffron Walden doesn’t much care for the rule book. He will do whatever it takes, legal or otherwise, to get what he wants. Everything of course, except get caught.
With her family’s reputation for creating outrageous scandals, Lady Victoria Kembal is doing her best to maintain her slim chances of securing a respectable marriage. She spends her days quietly reading cookbooks and cutting restaurant reviews out of the newspaper.
When the Duke of Spice and Lady Victoria lock horns over the quality of restaurants in London, the feisty daughter of the Duke of Mowbray is determined that she won’t be the one to back down.
But Lady Victoria’s ill-conceived plans to get even with the Duke of Spice quickly unravel when he catches her stealing from his garden in the dead of night.
Victoria’s relief at hearing the villainous duke won’t be handing her over to the authorities is however short lived. He has a worse punishment in store for her. She is to become his duchess.
For Victoria and Robert, marriage is only the beginning of their troubles. The Duke of Spice has long been stealing from the corrupt East India Company and their agents are now hot on his trail.
A morally gray hero and his strong willed wife must now figure out how to stay alive while at the same time coming to terms with their growing desire for one another.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2024
10 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Sasha Cottman
49 books247 followersBorn in England, but raised in Australia, Sasha has a love for both countries. Having her heart in two places has created a love for travel, which at last count was to over 55 countries. A travel guide is always on her pile of new books to read.
Sasha lives with her husband, her university student daughter and a cat who demands a starring role in the next book. She has found new hiding spots for her secret chocolate stash.
Sasha lives with her husband, her university student daughter and a cat who demands a starring role in the next book. She has found new hiding spots for her secret chocolate stash.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 22, 2024
I do love a good historical and this one ticks all of the boxes, a Duke who is a little different from the usual Dukes and a feisty heroine who knows what she wants, will they ever be able to make a lasting relationship with secrets and maybe some scandals? Come along and meet Lady Victoria Kembal and Robert Tolley, The Duke of Saffron Walden for an exciting adventure.
With the Kembal family scandal hopefully behind Lady Victoria, her mother goes all out to find a husband for her, she accepts that this is what is needed for the family there are a few that have been selected and it is now time to meet them, Victoria is happier when she is checking out food reviews and reading cookbooks, food is her joy, when she meets The Duke of Spice at a dinner the sparks fly and chemistry ignites, Victoria then does something that she had never thought she would which lands her in the kitchen with The Duke of Spice and passion awakes.
Robert is not your conventional Duke he is determined to bring a company down anyway he can even stealing but when a young Lady Victoria does her best to have him sacked as food reviewer for the paper he goes after her as well, only that doesn’t work out the way he thought it would either, because after a very sensual time in his kitchen he now finds himself married to Lady Victoria Kembal and he must hide his secret before he is caught.
This book is an adventure and a half of pure sensual fun and drama as the East India Company agents come after The Duke of Spice and Victoria is there, will they both be safe, will they find love and happiness or will everything turn upside down, one thing is for sure their hearts are opening up to love if they can open up to each other.
I did love this one it is witty, steamy, sensual and a fabulous read, one that I highly recommend to any lover of historical romance, one with a difference, a must read.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
With the Kembal family scandal hopefully behind Lady Victoria, her mother goes all out to find a husband for her, she accepts that this is what is needed for the family there are a few that have been selected and it is now time to meet them, Victoria is happier when she is checking out food reviews and reading cookbooks, food is her joy, when she meets The Duke of Spice at a dinner the sparks fly and chemistry ignites, Victoria then does something that she had never thought she would which lands her in the kitchen with The Duke of Spice and passion awakes.
Robert is not your conventional Duke he is determined to bring a company down anyway he can even stealing but when a young Lady Victoria does her best to have him sacked as food reviewer for the paper he goes after her as well, only that doesn’t work out the way he thought it would either, because after a very sensual time in his kitchen he now finds himself married to Lady Victoria Kembal and he must hide his secret before he is caught.
This book is an adventure and a half of pure sensual fun and drama as the East India Company agents come after The Duke of Spice and Victoria is there, will they both be safe, will they find love and happiness or will everything turn upside down, one thing is for sure their hearts are opening up to love if they can open up to each other.
I did love this one it is witty, steamy, sensual and a fabulous read, one that I highly recommend to any lover of historical romance, one with a difference, a must read.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
August 20, 2024
Robert Tolley, the Duke of Saffron Walden aka the Duke of Spice doesn’t much care for the rule book. He is battling to stop the East India Company’s monopoly on spices. Lady Victoria Kembal is doing her best to maintain her slim chances of securing a respectable marriage after her parents The Duke & Duchess of Mowbray had a scandalous split the year before. She spends her days quietly reading cookbooks and cutting restaurant reviews out of the newspaper. When the Duke of Spice and Lady Victoria lock horns over the quality of restaurants in London, the feisty daughter of the Duke of Mowbray is determined that she won’t be the one to back down. But Lady Victoria’s ill-conceived plans to get even with the Duke of Spice quickly unravel when he catches her stealing from his garden in the dead of night. He has a worse punishment in store for her. She is to become his duchess.
The third Kembal sibling to find love & another well written engrossing romance. I loved both Robert & Victoria & loved their banter & how they locked horns, also they shared a love of food. There was a lovely mix of romance, conflict, skulduggery & humour. Robert had got himself into quite a mess & I wondered how he would dig his way out of it & Victoria showed what a strong, intelligent woman she was. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & love the Kimbal family & hope the other siblings have their stories
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The third Kembal sibling to find love & another well written engrossing romance. I loved both Robert & Victoria & loved their banter & how they locked horns, also they shared a love of food. There was a lovely mix of romance, conflict, skulduggery & humour. Robert had got himself into quite a mess & I wondered how he would dig his way out of it & Victoria showed what a strong, intelligent woman she was. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & love the Kimbal family & hope the other siblings have their stories
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
August 16, 2024
I found this to be a fun read. A love story based around my favorite subject, food. In this story Victoria seemed to lead everyone, including her parents. The book is an easy read that’s filled with endless entertainment, romance, and steamy scenes. Robert, immediately knew what he was getting into with Victoria and he was very happy about it. I believe that the readers will enjoy this book.
November 21, 2024
This is my 15th book my Sasha Cottman. I just started reading her the beginning of 2024. I've only read her Duke of Strathmore series and really enjoyed it. They were all good reads. Looking forward to this series.
I wasn't sure if I was going to read this series or not but so glad I did. I loved Robert and Victoria. Their chemistry was hot. Sex is not long and drawn out but hotly written. I loved the suspense, danger and thrills of this book. Really looking forward to this series. Overall a really great read and added to my favorite reads list for September 2024.
I wasn't sure if I was going to read this series or not but so glad I did. I loved Robert and Victoria. Their chemistry was hot. Sex is not long and drawn out but hotly written. I loved the suspense, danger and thrills of this book. Really looking forward to this series. Overall a really great read and added to my favorite reads list for September 2024.
August 18, 2024
Let me start by saying that there is a lot going on in this book, and because I enjoyed it so much, I don’t want to say anything that will spoil it for you, so references to the storyline might seem a bit vague. Now that Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Mowbray, has returned from the Conintent, she discovered that was not totally accepted by the ton. She had created quite the scandal, and was now paying the price. It occurred to her that her twenty-two year old middle daughter could help her regain her societal standing by marrying well, so she made it her mission to make that happen. Victoria had paid dearly for her mother’s actions, and was all too clear about the sudden push for a husband, but she knew she had a duty to her family. The Duke of Saffron Walden, aka the Duke of Spice, was on her mother’s short list of acceptable suitors and a few unexpected encounters led to an even more unexpected betrothal. Meanwhile, the Duke had been stealing spices from the East India Company, repackaging them and selling them to select clients. Eventually his luck would run out and it did so in a rather spectacular manner. This story is filled with clandestine activity, battles of wits and wills, desperate measures, and a whole lot of steam. Victoria’s unusual love of food provides multiple humorous scenes, while also allowing her to aid her gambling addicted brother Richard. When they come, the moments of despair and heartache are so profound that you don’t know whether to seethe with anger or cry from a broken heart. This story is complex, creative, full of surprises and very entertaining!
August 20, 2024
First book I read by this author, and it kept me very busy with the exploits of the protagonists. Not at all what I expected from a confrontation between these rivals. I laughed a lot at the descriptions and narrations of their occurrences. Lady Victoria was not only a strong heroine, but she also seemed to be the one who had her head on straight. And I say this because sometimes she made me read it twice to see if I understood correctly. What a woman! I saw myself following her steps through the story and even nodding at her comments. I was struck by the way the duke thought, or rather, his lack of good judgment. The controversy surrounding the spice company was a monster that was not easy to confront. It kept me intrigued because I didn't see how he was going to get out of the predicament he found himself in. Lots of action, suspense and intrigue. I love it when historical romances are full of conflicts that are out of the ordinary and the duke was going down the path of a mobster. I was very glad that Victoria took the reins and showed that she had a lot to offer the duke besides passion. As always happens when I get excited about a story, I am now looking for more books by this author. I voluntarily reviewed this copy that I received from Hidden Gems.
August 23, 2024
Lady Victoria Kembal loves good food. Robert Tolley, Duke of Saffron Walden, wears many masks. His estate raises a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, he is a food connoisseur and cooks, he writes restaurant reviews in the paper (under another name, of course), and he is a highwayman and leader of a group of men who relieve the East India Company of spice shipments trying to dent the monopoly they have on the spice market. Victoria avidly follows the food critic in the newspaper. Disappointed in a couple of the reviews, she decides to take him to task by writing to the newspaper. This starts a battle that ends in a marriage that neither wanted or expected. This one is quite a ride. There is action, danger, secrets, and a lively romance. The snarky banter, written and verbal, between Victoria and Robert is fun to read. Robert is smart, resilient, and dedicated to his cause. Victoria is intelligent, resourceful, and spunky. A good story. I enjoyed it and look forward to what happens next.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
August 26, 2024
I have not read a Cottman book in a while and so was eager to read this one. It did not disappoint.
The book had romance, intrigue, and mystery, but with an underlying hint of humor. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and has a unique premsie.
Robert is a Duke, but an unusual one. He likes to cook, he writes reviews, and he is stealing spices from the East India Company to end monopoly. He finds in Victoria a person of his own heart and stomach. And decides she's going to be his Duchess.
Victoria is trying to restore her family's name after her mother's scandal. She's forced into a marriage with Robert after a compromising situation. She decides to make the best of her new marriage but is surprised to learn that she married a highwayman. She's smart, she is brave, she likes to eat different cuisines, and she's raging mad when she finds out about her husbands nefarious activities.
And then he gets caught and is in a pickle. With his capture, Victoria and Robert will have to use all their connections to give up piracy, escape the noose, and fight for love instead.
The book had romance, intrigue, and mystery, but with an underlying hint of humor. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and has a unique premsie.
Robert is a Duke, but an unusual one. He likes to cook, he writes reviews, and he is stealing spices from the East India Company to end monopoly. He finds in Victoria a person of his own heart and stomach. And decides she's going to be his Duchess.
Victoria is trying to restore her family's name after her mother's scandal. She's forced into a marriage with Robert after a compromising situation. She decides to make the best of her new marriage but is surprised to learn that she married a highwayman. She's smart, she is brave, she likes to eat different cuisines, and she's raging mad when she finds out about her husbands nefarious activities.
And then he gets caught and is in a pickle. With his capture, Victoria and Robert will have to use all their connections to give up piracy, escape the noose, and fight for love instead.
August 29, 2024
Sadly, it hasn’t worked for me.
La cuestión es que elegí este libro porque la palabra “villano” borró todo atisbo de duda. Problema, el duque de Saffron Walden no es un villano (no doy más detalles pero no, villano no es). Luego viene el romance…y es que no lo hay tampoco. Insta-lust no me ha funcionado nunca y es todo lo que encontré aquí. Hablan de age-gap pero tampoco existe (de veintipocos a treinta y pocos no hay diferencia). No siento química entre los personajes, quizás quien lo lea piense diferente.
Tristemente, Nop, no puedo recomendar lo. Le doy un 3 porque no es lo peor que he leído, no voy a ser injusta, pero también porque soy generosa. Ah! Y porque el hecho de que él fuera el que escribía los artículos y ella una gran fan y seguidora fue un giro divertido. También por el último 20% de libro.
Por cierto, no me saco de encima el cringe de la noche de bodas. Cómo pasa de miedo a “incredibly hot” es aún un misterio.
La cuestión es que elegí este libro porque la palabra “villano” borró todo atisbo de duda. Problema, el duque de Saffron Walden no es un villano (no doy más detalles pero no, villano no es). Luego viene el romance…y es que no lo hay tampoco. Insta-lust no me ha funcionado nunca y es todo lo que encontré aquí. Hablan de age-gap pero tampoco existe (de veintipocos a treinta y pocos no hay diferencia). No siento química entre los personajes, quizás quien lo lea piense diferente.
Tristemente, Nop, no puedo recomendar lo. Le doy un 3 porque no es lo peor que he leído, no voy a ser injusta, pero también porque soy generosa. Ah! Y porque el hecho de que él fuera el que escribía los artículos y ella una gran fan y seguidora fue un giro divertido. También por el último 20% de libro.
Por cierto, no me saco de encima el cringe de la noche de bodas. Cómo pasa de miedo a “incredibly hot” es aún un misterio.
August 15, 2024
Robert, the Duke of Saffron-Walden dislikes the morally corrupt East India Company's spice trade. He and his gang steal their spices as they are being transported and sells his own that he grows to restaurants in London. He is also an anonymous critic for a newspaper.
Lady Victoria Kembal loves food and reading the reviews in the paper. When they meet and she finds out that he is the critic she wants to expose him to the public.
When Robert catches her in his garden late one night, he tells her parents and marries her to keep her quiet.
The chemistry was contentious at times and there are some spicy scenes throughout.
There are a few surprisingly unexpected plot twists in the story that make it a highly entertaining and interesting story as they find their way to their happily ever after.
Lady Victoria Kembal loves food and reading the reviews in the paper. When they meet and she finds out that he is the critic she wants to expose him to the public.
When Robert catches her in his garden late one night, he tells her parents and marries her to keep her quiet.
The chemistry was contentious at times and there are some spicy scenes throughout.
There are a few surprisingly unexpected plot twists in the story that make it a highly entertaining and interesting story as they find their way to their happily ever after.
September 7, 2024
In the Duke of spice this isn’t your normal boy meets girl with an arranged marriage to mix things up but a more nuanced well told regency romance. She is obsessed with fine dining especially those who review such places and always follows the advice of her favorite reviewers and I thought the way the author brought these two together with his duplicitous Dukely activities was so smart it’s such a great book it was so good I don’t want to give anything away just know if Regency romance are your jam you have found a great one that’s also funny well told in a story I will definitely be reading again in the future.#Hidden Jim’s, #Duke of spice,
August 28, 2024
“What do you want me to do?”“Let me strip you bare,” he growled. “Taking you naked on this table would be the greatest wedding gift you could give me.”
Ooh lordy. Hottest wedding night ever. Loved this book. It was spicy but swoonworthy. The way he claims her, hot. The way he runs after her, swoon. The way he declares himself, hot. The way he loves her, swoon. Great, fun, spicy read. Overall a great read. Can't wait to read more from this author.
I received an advance review copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it.
Ooh lordy. Hottest wedding night ever. Loved this book. It was spicy but swoonworthy. The way he claims her, hot. The way he runs after her, swoon. The way he declares himself, hot. The way he loves her, swoon. Great, fun, spicy read. Overall a great read. Can't wait to read more from this author.
I received an advance review copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it.
August 15, 2024
She is trying to get a better reputation and she will get caught up with him when she is caught stealing from his garden. He has a bad reputation and yet they clash against each other. A marriage will happen and what will happen next. How will they get on? How will it all go? See how it will all goI recieved an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
August 17, 2024
I was so excited to read this book after reading the blurb because of the interesting premise. I have to be honest, the first half of the book was boring. It just went on and on about nothing. It did pick up after Robert and Victoria’s marriage and the shenanigans afterwards. The “grovel” was really good. Very imaginative. Overall, the story is good.
April 8, 2025
The spice/food storyline was really boring and bland....i kept wondering, "Is the author going to explain at any point, or tie into the story WHY w Robert was doing what he was doing?!?!" And then i think i found out at the very end, and it was all just so lame. I felt zero connection between Victoria and Robert
August 18, 2024
A very entertaining story, I liked the romance between Robert and Victoria. A morally grey hero and his feisty wife, a marriage of convenience, getting to know each other amidst action and desire turns out to be exactly what they need. A journey to love that's worth all the spice.
August 23, 2024
David against Goliath
David is Robert, Duke of Saffron Walden. Goliath is the East India Company, with their monopoly on the spice trade. Robert has made it his lifework to break this monopoly by stealing the spices. When things escalate, how far can this go before someone really gets hurt?
David is Robert, Duke of Saffron Walden. Goliath is the East India Company, with their monopoly on the spice trade. Robert has made it his lifework to break this monopoly by stealing the spices. When things escalate, how far can this go before someone really gets hurt?
September 3, 2024
I like The Duke of Spice. It was an original,quick fun read.
I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews