Month: January 2025

Review: My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series3 Comments

My Inconvenient Duke (Difficult Dukes, #3)

Barbara’s rating: 3.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Difficult Dukes #3
Publication Date: 1/21/25
Period: Georgian – 1832
Number of Pages: 384

This long-awaited final book in this author’s Difficult Dukes series was both a letdown and entertaining. The second book in the series was published four years ago in 2020, and I had to go back and skim-read it to refresh myself. This book is most definitely my least favorite of the series, but perhaps that is because I had such high expectations for it.

In the previous two books, Giles and Alice are already married but estranged. In this book, I expected to learn the reason for the estrangement and their resolution. That isn’t what I got (at least not to me). I never really felt the romance in this story nor the sad emptiness when the two are apart. It was just presented as business-as-usual because – well – it was business-as-usual. Each put their friends, their projects, etc. before their marriage and romance. Even at the end when Giles does such a sweetly romantic thing, it doesn’t have that heart-quivering, exciting, uplifting feel of romance.

There were many moments of entertaining, witty humor – especially in Giles’s internal dialogue, but that wasn’t enough for me to believe in the romance. For me, we could have done with less page time skipping around the countryside looking for lost urchins and brothers and more time on the romance time between the two main characters. Many parts of the story just felt slow and a tad draggy.

The opening chapter is excellent and sets the stage for Alice’s sudden decision to participate in London’s Season and find a husband. The chapter gives us an excellent feel for the dynamics between the three friends but doesn’t give a reasonable explanation for them (especially Giles) continuing to (at nearly 30) cling to decisions made in their teens. One would have to believe that the three would have some intellect and moments of clarity to run their vast estates and see them profitable. However, all actions described would make us believe they did nothing but drink, carouse, party, gamble, and participate in debaucheries. Personally, I had a hard time meshing the two attributes.

I am a huge fan of this author and always appreciate her wit and humor, which are displayed in her characters and situations. I especially enjoyed Giles’s internal dialogue in this book, but had a hard time translating those internal dialogues into actions on the romantic front. We were introduced to two new characters (or maybe they were in the previous books and I’ve forgotten) who would make good MMCs for future books. I really liked the Duke of Doveridge and the Earl of Lynforde and would love to see them find their HEAs in a truly romantic story. Another thing this book lacks – especially as the series end – is an epilogue that brings all of the couples and their HEAs into focus for us. The last chapter might have been meant as an epilogue, but I don’t think so and if it was, it missed the mark for me.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Rom-Com, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

Earl CrushEarl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Belvoir’s (there is no official series title), #2

Release Date: January 21, 2025

After years of correspondence with the Earl of Strathrannoch, political activist and author Miss Lydia Hope-Wallace has decided to make a bold move and has traveled to Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience to the Earl. Too bad the Earl has no idea who she is! Mortified Lydia tries to leave, but a zebra stampede and an Earl who needs her help, change her plans. And so, begins a wild road trip and the chance for a once in a lifetime type of love, as long as her own self-doubts don’t prevent her from risking her heart.

Arthur Baird, the Earl of Strathrannoch is stunned when a lovely young woman comes to his door and proposes marriage. Too bad she thinks he is his younger brother Davis, but maybe he could ask for her to find him, as he is worried that his brother has stolen his latest invention for nefarious reasons. Arthur can’t help but to fall for Lydia, she is everything he could have ever wanted in a woman, but he believes that she is in love with his brother and tries to keep his distance. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets. And when they are following a lead and are caught in a compromising position, Lydia says they are newlyweds, Arthur begins to have hope that maybe her feelings for Davis aren’t as serious as he thought. But just when he thinks they are headed for happily ever after, his own feelings of inadequacy may cost him the love of a lifetime.

I will be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book and almost passed on this ARC, but thankfully, I decided to give the book a chance and I am so happy I did! This book is a delightful read, filled with imperfect characters, dear friends, a protective family, spies, secrets, zebras, steamy love scenes, insecurities, a beautiful soulmate-type love, and finally a happily ever after with the sweetest epilogue I have read in quite some time. I did feel like the book dragged in places, but OMG – Arthur – he more than makes up for that and is now on my top five favorite heroes of all time and has been elevated to book-boyfriend status. This is the second book in the series (it doesn’t seem to have an official series title, but I am calling it Belvoir’s) and could be read as a standalone title without any problems. Needless to say, I would happily recommend this book to my fellow HR readers and am looking forward to the next installment!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *