To catch a thief

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A Devil of a Duke  (Decadent Dukes Society #3) by Madeline Hunter
                             

 Even though I quite liked the lead characters their story just didn't grab me. Gabriel St. James, Duke of Langdon, is a man who completely disregards society's opinion. Amanda Waverly, is a jewel thief, targeting the rich and famous  by night, and a competent secretary by day. Amanda's nightly personae has to do with her mother being held as a surety for Amanda's compliance. Parts I liked, such as Amanda's intrepidness, but her naivety about rescuing her mother and the circumstances surrounding her mother's situation just annoyed me.
As the cut and thrust of these two unlikely people coming together plays out they lack frisson in their together moments.  I don't mean sexual tension, I mean their interaction  more generally.
I was somewhat disappointed. The story had a great basis for being much more enthralling than it was.

 A NetGalley ARC

** 1/2

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