The Distant Duke of Lencoster: A Historical Regency Romance Book (Scandalous Courtships 3)
The miracle of love can overcome any obstacle…even soften the heart of the coldest and loneliest man…
Stephen, the Duke of Lencoster is a dark and distant man who is still reeling from being left at the altar by his betrothed, Lady Violet, three years ago.
Lady Violet is a kind-hearted young woman who lives under the pressure of her manipulative father.
Through various difficult situations, Stephen and Lady Violet navigate their complicated past and try to find a new way to move forward despite the obstacles.
Will they be able to confront the deceit and manipulation to find happiness or will their dreams never come true?
If you enjoy tales of formidable dukes, affectionate duchesses, and the grandeur of the Regency and Victorian eras, then The Distant Duke of Lencoster is perfect. This enchanting Regency romance novel spans around 65,000 words, offering a delightful journey with no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a happily ever after.
Get your copy today to discover this mesmerizing story!
Also available for free with Kindle Unlimited!
Customer Reviews
M***e
Good story
Was a little confusing at first. But once I began to read it become a intriguing story. Very well writtenMay 23, 2025
m****m
A must read
Stephen the Duke and Lady Violet were so in love. From the authors description you had no doubt of their love and the devastating consequences left in their hearts by her father’s actions. How they suffered for 3 long years until a chance meeting in London started them on a journey of restoration. I liked the story line and the way the ending was handled by the author. Very good story.May 21, 2025
A*************r
Good story premise
The story itself was a good one, however, I skipped a lot of the repeated inner dialogue. It repeated and repeated over and over again! I wanted to see the story move along, but it seemed as if the characters were stuck on anger and regret for more than half of the book.October 21, 2024
C********2
Great read
Loved both the hero and heroine. Sally Forbe’s books are so addictive.September 25, 2024
A****n
The Duke and his lady
This was a very good book and it kept my interest until the very end. This was a love story between the Duke and his lady.September 15, 2024
V***************e
great read!!! I highly recommend
I highly recommend! I couldn’t stop reading the series!! I can’t wait to start the next book! I really enjoyed this authorAugust 25, 2024
J*******s
This was written by a 12 year old
I cannot believe anyone would want to read this. There is nothing mature or exciting in the entire work. The premise is good and, in other hands, could have been wonderful. Modern language, teenage understanding of love and caring, double spacing between paragraphs, and constant repeating of all information made this a tedious and atrocious read.July 8, 2024
l*****t
Sweet love story
I have to confess, took me while to get into the plot, after I did I could not stop reading it, loved every minute of it.June 27, 2024
N*****C
Scandalous Courtships series
I have read all 3 books and found each of hem to be well written and the main characters charming. The secondary characters make for a well rounded group of friends and family. Worthy of your reading time.June 27, 2024
M**A
This was Great! A clean
A true love story. Old-fashioned, wholesome and whole souled. Two love stories really. You will not be disappointed in this book. Good for all ages.June 21, 2024
M************d
Amazing Book!
Sally did it again Thus book has it all and is a must read! The reader feels like you are actually in the book with all the fascinating characters! Thank you Sally Forbes for such an excellent story and….. the ending! Love the “ clean “and rewarding storyJune 18, 2024
M*****************r
Wonderful!
This is a must read book. It is well written, and the plot is awesome.June 14, 2024
K*************r
Heart Wounded Duke Finds Perfect Match
I loved how the Duke had allowed himself to close others off after being left at the altar, but then realizes that his true love awaited him. Of course, it took a while for both to realize their compatibility, but it was a lovely story of blossoming love and a happily ever after. I enjoyed the characters and their growth during the story.June 10, 2024
O****************s
The Distant Duke of Lancaster
Sally has done a remarkable job with this story. I was captivated with the characters as well as thru story line. Good job!June 8, 2024
A*************r
The Distant Duke of Lancaster
I simply love Steven and Violet, very well written, with lots of emotions, but love wins all the time. Very good read thank youJune 4, 2024
e*b
True Love
Loved the way true love conquers all in the end. I was so glad how the story turned out.June 4, 2024
J****n
Refreshing!
This is a sweet and refreshing love story of second chances. A read this book in one setting and was able to enjoy its storyline. It moves along at a good pace, but still covers all the elements of a good book.June 3, 2024
C******F
Excellent Author
Highly recommend this bookJune 2, 2024
D******n
Greed Gets In The Way of Love
Stephen, the Duke of Lancaster has become bitter and anti-social since the day the love of his life, his bride left him at the altar. Three years later his sister, Caroline and his best friend manipulated him into attending the season, where he finds Violet and has to work through his emotions. Lady Violet needs to desperately talk to him and explain what happened on that fateful day. Lady Violet’s father is a greedy man and wants his daughters to marry to benefit him and intends to blackmail his daughters to do as he instructs them. Now that Stephen is a Duke and not an Earl her father is insisting, she get Stephen to court and marry her. Once she finds out her father’s plan, she has decided she cannot to what he has suggested. ARC ReviewJune 1, 2024
N********n
Second chance
Due to her manipulative and abusive father, the heroine has had to leave the hero at the alter with only a note. The hero holds on to his anger for much too long in my opinion. Three years later they meet again as the hero’s sister wants a season and becomes friendly with the heroine. The second half of the book seems much better as the hero becomes less dark and brooding. The book could use a epilogue so we could see them a little bit more into the future. I received an ARC and am giving an honest review.June 1, 2024
W******j
Enjoyable, but…
I enjoyed this book and both main characters have some intense struggles. I felt sorry for both of them, but Stephen was a little too dark for too long which took some of the enjoyment out of it. However, it improved in the second half. I also have become somewhat accustomed to an epilogue to see a glimpse of what our couples are up to in the future. This one had a rather abrupt ending. Still a good overall read.May 31, 2024
G**.
finding trust
Reading this review copy my heart bled: finding trust after being rejected is more than hard, but sometimes second time’s the charm so I rooted for Stephen and Violet to finally find the love and happiness they deserve.May 30, 2024
R*********e
A heart broken and then mended
After Stephen was jilted at the last minute on his wedding day, his entire personality changed. He became a recluse and stopped even reading letters from his best friend. His sister suffered along with him without him even realizing it. When he denied her a promised season in London, she wrote to his best friend and hatched a plan to have her season in London anyway. Stephen then reentered society in order to monitor his sister and was reunited with Violet, whom he still loved. She still loved him and had been forced to end their engagement by her father. It took time to rebuild the trust between them. Their love was even stronger after all they went through to finally have their happily ever after.May 30, 2024
T******.
This is a lovely story of the Duke of Lancaster and Lady violet.
This story caught me from the beginning and I did not lose interest. It was about Stephen waiting at the church for Violet so they could be married. Her father made her cancel the wedding bec Stephen did not have enough money. Stephen became very depressed and didn’t want to have anything to do w anyone. He hid in His house brooding. He was rude to everyone including his sister and best friend. After 3 years of this, his sister Caroline wanted to go to London for the season to find a husband. Caroline became friendly with Violet. Caroline talked to her brother. Stephen started lowering his walls towards Violet. All I can say is the story has a great ending. I loved it.May 29, 2024
r**e
Left alone
well written, full of life, love, hate, society, intrigue, parents, family, friends, regrets, pain, twists and turns. Stephen and Violet are to be married but when at the church, all he receives is a note at the altar. Violet is forced to back out due to her father’s greed. Stephen leaves London and heads for his new estate and a new title- Duke. His sister has been with him for 3 years and decides to go to London for a season. It’s there that Stephen and Violet have to face what exactly happened to them. Each has lots of feelings to overcome before and happy ending comes about. Good read but Stephen is slightly dark due to what wronged him. Both get a second chance to fix the problem. Would recommend to everyone. I am an ARC and leave this unbiased, honest review.May 29, 2024
K***y
She left him at the alter!
He received a note while waiting for her on their wedding day. He left a broken and angry man. Can they find their way back to each other without the interference of her father? They can if his sister and his best friend have their way. Loved this book. I think you will too!May 28, 2024
M*B
Heartbreak
I loved this story! Both main characters had experienced extreme heartbreak, and they were both well written, believable endearing. A bit of a different twist on the typical regency romance and the story draws you in. I liked that there wasn’t the typical secret being kept tension, but true trust and respect. Can’t wait for the next one!May 28, 2024
r*b
I highly recommend this book!
I loved this book, from start to finish. Full of sweet, truly loving characters, a couple of characters who were not loving at all, and one in particular who needed to find his way back to love. Such a good statement on the power of love! I hope there will be a sequel involving these great characters!May 28, 2024
c**********3
Romance
Well written. Love the characters.May 27, 2024
M***i
Torn apart
Stephen and Violet loved each other but her father loved money more than his daughters and Stephen had to learn the truth after suffering. It was a nicely paced story with enjoyable characters you could care about.May 27, 2024
G**********y
Loved the story
Absolutely love this book. Great storyline Abandoned love, disappointment, regret, dealing with the issues and finding a solution to reconciliation and trusting again. Dealing with the emotional side but also with the emotional blackmail and finally getting to be victorious. Challenging the narrative of societyMay 27, 2024
Jo
A bit dark
This is a story of greed, forgiveness, regrets, humility and more. I liked the premise of the plot yet I wasn’t truly thrilled with the character portrait of Stephen. He is dark, self absorbed and bitter. While I understand why he’s like this, I tend not to enjoy stories that are so depressing. It ends well and lightens up as it goes along which is good.May 27, 2024
I********s
A little too dark
I enjoyed the story and characters but Stephen was a little too intensely bitter and resentful to be likable at first. Otherwise an enjoyable story, mostly well developed characters. Life lessons to be learned about trust and holding a grudge which brings nothing but misery. Violet finally has her reward.May 27, 2024
S******l
Love
Very enjoyable book, even though Violet’s father kept interfering. Stephen and Violet finally found their love again.May 27, 2024
M***********r
Beast indeed!
I did not particularly enjoy the first half of the story. His bitterness, which earned him the name beast by his own sister, went on for ages. He chose to hold onto it and it made him most unlikeable. The latter half of the book was much improved, more interesting and not as dark. Lovely ending. I would have rated it higher but the hero was no hero for much too long.May 27, 2024
G!
Clean Regency Romance
This may be my favorite book of this series. I absolutely loved this one! The Distant Duke of Lancaster follows Stephen, a duke, and Lady Violet. They just so happen to meet in London three years after Violet called off their wedding on their wedding day. Violet left Stephen at the altar with nothing but a note. Stephen and Violet have not only have to navigate both societal pressures but familial pressures as well. We learn that Stephen is still not over Violet even though three years have passed. He finds that the wounds she inflicted run very deep. Violet is stuck under the control of her manipulative and abusive father. She cannot seem to find a way out from under the weight of his demands. I am not normally drawn in by second chance romances but this one was done beautifully. I loved reading about the path of forgiveness and trust between Violet and Stephen. Sally Forbes has infused new love into old wounded hearts. This book does not shy away from deep emotional scenes. I was somewhat annoyed with Stephen at times but then again there are times when all male main characters can be hard to deal with. I did end up loving Stephen and Violet in the end. Content: Kisses onlyMay 27, 2024
