Duke du Jour by Petie McCarty
Independently published, 2026
Jared Langley, the fourteenth Duke of Reston, lives a lonely life in the twenty-first century. Although he has known many women—the majority attracted mainly by his title and his considerable fortune—he has never loved any of them. Still, he knows that he must produce an heir to ensure the continuation of his lineage, as is his duty. A diligent student of history, especially that of his family as captured in a series of journals written by past dukes, he fears that he, like his forebears, will be cursed by a loveless marriage.
Then he tumbles into an ancient fountain on the grounds of his ancestral estate, loses consciousness and awakens in the early nineteenth century, not long after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. His resemblance to the contemporary seventh duke, also named Jared, convinces everyone that he is in fact that gentleman, returned from the war despite rumors that he’d been killed in the final battle. Jared steps into the role of “Seven”, discovering that his ancestor has an unsavory reputation as a rake and spendthrift who squandered his patrimony on pleasure. Indeed, the ducal properties are in a terrible state of repair and the servants have not been paid for months.
The fourteenth duke resolves to help his (that is, Seven’s) tenants and staff, for whom he feels responsible. Still, he understands he must return to his own time as quickly as possible in order to avoid irrevocable changes he might cause in the shape of the future. Alas, the fountain has been damaged by an accident—or possibly, a deliberate attempt on his life—so he is forced to wait until it is repaired.
All his dutiful intentions are upended when he meets his neighbor, Lady Ariana Hart. His immediate attraction to her muddles his thoughts and undermines his plans. This is more than mere desire; he yearns to cherish and protect her, especially from the crowd of sleazy suitors vying for her hand in marriage. It doesn’t take long for him to realize he has finally found love—a love that he will be forced to abandon.
Duke du Jour is a fabulously entertaining novel. All the characters are distinctive and engaging, even the lascivious villainess Lucilla Tartley. I adored Ariana, who’s intelligent, brave, spirited, a little bit clumsy, and desperately in love with Jared but far too proud to beg. The chemistry between her and her duke burns up the pages, though they never go beyond some breathtakingly steamy kisses. And Jared himself is thoroughly believable, dealing with the agony of an impossible love while trying to fend off repeated attempts on his life by unknown assailants.
Although the setting felt plausible, I think the author was much more interested in her story than in drawing a completely authentic picture of Regency life among the gentry. For one thing, the social relationships seem far less constrained than I would expect in the period. Jared’s domestics treat him in a familiar manner that I doubt is realistic. Most of the time the more primitive aspects of survival in that era, such as the rudimentary sanitary facilities, are not mentioned. The description of London’s stinking slums felt more like a nod to the concept than an essential part of the fictional environment.
That does not diminish the appeal of this delightful romance. Although the plot gets a bit contorted toward the end, with spies and counter-spies, unsuspected allies and surprise traitors, the real action involves doing whatever is necessary to get Ariana and Jared together.
Time travel fiction is a tricky genre. The author must focus on what the time-traveling character would reasonably know about their new period in order to make the action believable. Ms. McCarty handles this quite skillfully by giving Jared a penchant for reading history, plus a nobleman’s plausible obsession with genealogy. When Jared’s present-day knowledge intrudes (for instance, in a great scene in which Ariana serves a mid-wife while Jared provides counseling to minimize the chances of infection), it’s clear that the insertion is deliberate, not careless.
Providing a resolution that does not involve a paradox is also a challenge. The book manages this quite neatly as part of Jared’s and Ari’s requisite and highly deserved happy ending.
All in all, Duke du Jour is a fun and satisfying read. I recommend it.
