The Duke's Reluctant Jockey: The Elegant Observer, Book One
A. V. Rhyen
A cold-blooded Duke. A jockey with a lethal secret. A race where losing means ruin.
Alex has one rule: remain invisible. In the ruthless world of imperial horse racing, being a woman isn't scandal—it's destruction.
But talent refuses to stay hidden. And Alex draws the attention of the most arrogant, elegant, and dangerous man in the empire.
Duke Aymond von Belmont.
The aristocracy calls him refined. Untouchable. They do not see the predator beneath the silk.
Aymond does not simply watch Alex—he studies her. The way Alex rides. The way Alex breathes. The way Alex trembles when he stands too close.
And when suspicion turns into obsession, there is no escape.
As the Classic Derby approaches and the stakes rise beyond glory, Alex must decide: To win her freedom on the racetrack... or become the Duke's most dangerous possession.
In this intoxicating historical romance, power seduces, secrets burn, and love may cost more than survival.
"A hauntingly beautiful journey through the gilded salons and muddy racetracks of an empire—where every chapter is written with the vividness of an oil painting."
Featuring:
Exclusive 'Art Salon' Gallery: Includes stunning character portraits and key scene illustrations in a classic oil painting style.
Slow-burn, high-tension psychological romance
Cross-dressing trope with a dark, historical twist
An obsessive, morally grey hero
Immersive 18th-century atmosphere
