I wanted more from this book, but I did have fun with it. I think a bit more time could have been spent on plot in general, and the courtesan aspect in particular. Really just fleshing the whole thing out more would have been good. Definitely delivered on the concept, but the execution just didn't fully land. 

The Duke's Stolen Bride has a trope that I tend to avoid—the mistress trope. But Sophie Jordan adds a twist that made me really enjoy this book.

When Marian's father passes away, she becomes responsible for her three younger siblings. Unfortunately, that also means being responsible for her father's debts. Eventually, Marian figures that it's in her best interest to sell her virginity and her body as a courtesan. But first, she needs training on how to please a man. So she turns to Nate, the Duke of Warrington, AKA the Depraved Duke.

I was a bit wary about this book because the mistress/courtesan trope is rarely executed in a palatable way. In this instance, Marian's decision to become a courtesan is not random. There's build up leading to Marian's decision and it's significant enough that I could understand why and how she was led to that last resort. I also really liked the reasoning behind why Clara chose Nate to be her tutor. Again, I feel like the build up was really well executed so much so that Marian's decision and her choice in tutor made sense to me. 

Bear in mind that the synopsis pretty much gives the entire plot away, but that didn't lesson my enjoyment of the story. The lessons in seduction trope is soooooo deliciously executed here. I really liked both Marian and Nate. Their chemistry was 🔥 with some extra spice 🌶️ Their desire for each other was so palpable that it leaped off the page 🔥 Nate respected Marian's decision to become a courtesan and most importantly, he was not a snob. He never once thought Marian was beneath him and he came to her rescue multiple times. Nate's "Stay clear of my wife" was exactly what I needed from him, someone who supposedly prefers to be lonely. Overall, I really enjoyed Nate and Marian's romance and this is one of my favourite books in the series.