The Reluctant Duke's Dilemma cover art

The Reluctant Duke's Dilemma

The Hope Clinic, Book 1

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Reluctant Duke's Dilemma

By: Trisha Messmer
Narrated by: Duke Defoix, Duchess DeFoix
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £14.99

Buy Now for £14.99

About this listen

Bound by duty. Torn by desire.

Contented serving as a physician in America, Dr. Harry Radcliffe never imagined he'd return to England as the Duke of Ashton. Inheriting the title upon his brother's untimely death, Harry is nothing like his cruel twin. Yet, his resemblance to the late duke makes his brother's beautiful widow wary.

Left destitute by her abusive husband, Margaret Radcliffe remains resilient and struggles to rebuild her life. Yet she can't ignore the uncanny likeness Harry bears to the man who tormented her. And even if her heart whispers that Harry is different, her mind remains cautious.

As Harry navigates the treacherous waters of society to find a bride and secure his dukedom, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Margaret. Battling their growing feelings, their forbidden attraction risks scandal and the legitimacy of any future children.

In a world where duty and desire collide, can Harry and Margaret overcome the shadows of the past and find a love strong enough to withstand the trials ahead?

©2020 Trisha Messmer (P)2025 Trisha Messmer Historical Historical Fiction Regency Victorian Heartfelt Resilience
All stars
Most relevant

Listener received this title free

This was the first time I’ve heard dual narrators for a book and they were brilliant! They really brought the characters to life by changing their voices to suit the character. The story had very likeable characters in Margaret and Harry. Margaret had suffered a dreadful life with her late husband. Harry was a doctor who was living in America and is called home to become the new duke. Margaret and Harry have an almost instant attraction but there are many people against them and are determined they will not be together. This is the start of a series and I look forward to reading the next book. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wonderful characters, brilliant narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

It has been a few years since I read this book and I was looking forward to revisiting the start of the wonderful Hope clinic series as an audiobook.
I love Trisha Messmer’s writing style, her storylines are entertaining, she gives a mixture of characters with strengths and flaws and I love visiting the world she creates.
This is a first for me as I have not before listened to a novel read by two narrators.
It took me a few chapters to get into the pattern of this reading. I found the Duke’s reading a more natural style, whereas the Duchess spoke slower and more precise. At first I wasn’t sure I really liked the dual readers as I thought it a bit jarring at the change overs but once the two narrators were conversing together as the various characters in the book I was just pulled in and I enjoyed the audiobook.
The main characters voices were very good and fitted to how I would imagine them speaking and they also provided a wide range of voices for the minor characters which made it clear who was speaking throughout the whole book.
I am from the UK and at times there were different pronunciations of words to what I am used to but this didn’t distract from the story.
I’m really looking forward to listening to book two.

“Hoping” for more audiobooks in this series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the story in itself was gripping and beautifully written- I will be delighted to start the second book in this series…

The book is beautifully narrated, which gives pleasure to follow from start to finish

Simply wonderful…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.