A Most Unlikely Duke: Diamonds in the Rough: 1 [Mass Market Paperback] Barnes, Sophie

Raphe Matthews didn't grow up expecting a title. He grew up in London's slums, scrapping for survival, building an empire through grit and street smarts. Then a distant relative dies and suddenly this self-made businessman is the Duke of Huntley — complete with crumbling estate, mountain of debt, and three younger sisters who need to marry well. Enter Gabriella, the Earl of Warwick's daughter, who sees past the rough edges to the sharp mind beneath. She agrees to help transform his sisters into marriageable ladies, but tutoring turns to attraction, and soon propriety is the least of their concerns. Barnes kicks off her Diamonds in the Rough series with a Regency that flips the script: the hero's not brooding in a manor, he's figuring out which fork to use. It's class tension with chemistry, a romance built on mutual respect and serious heat. Perfect for fans of Lisa Kleypas who want their dukes a little dirtier.