A Beauty for the Scarred Duke by Bridget Barton

Here's the summary from Goodreads

As young girls, Lady Isabella Tate, daughter of the Earl of Upperton, and her friend, Esme, told each other terrifying tales of the monster. But not just any monster. This monster was alive and living in his old mansion behind a tangle of overgrown hawthorn trees in the very same county. This monster was none other than Elliot Covington, the Duke of Caldwell.

The Duke of Caldwell, scarred for life in a fire which claimed the lives of those dearest to him has been hiding in his mansion for almost eighteen years. He knows he is a figure of fear and speculation in the county and chose many years before to live a life of self-imposed isolation. But he is the loneliest Duke in all of England. When the Earl of Upperton sells his daughter off as a bride for the disfigured Duke, Isabella has never been more terrified. Due to marry a man she has never met and always believed to be a monster, she truly believes her life is over.

But is life with the Duke really something to be afraid of? Will Isabella be able to get past her own prejudice and see the man beneath the scars? And will the Duke be able to let go of the pain and guilt that has swallowed him whole for almost two decades and find a new life with a new love?

It took me a while to read, because at the beginning of the book the only thing that truly labeled the duke as a monster was the fact that he was disfigured. The rest of the book was good, but it made me feel like Isabella was very vain, and I found it exasperating. Also, the fact that she couldn't get over the fact that not all of his face was handsome! Like, honestly, it doesn't seem like such a ridiculously huge scar, truth be told. For him to be self.conscious is reasonable, but I couldn't understand why she had such a hard time getting over it! Had there been a rumor about a beastly character to go with Elliot, then her fear would've been more believable.
Other than that, it was a sweet, enjoyable romance. Certainly cute, this time with a more realistic view of the lord's duties than in Bridget's previous books.

A bit tiring at times, but quite enjoyable as a whole.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book