Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is beautiful, clever, and popular. Afforded every luxury as a duke’s daughter, she fills her days with friends, intrigues, and a self-professed knack for matchmaking. She may have sworn off love for herself, but she is rather excellent at arranging it.
Faced with an insolvent estate, the Duke of Greydon has no choice but to return to England in a final attempt to revive his family’s fortunes. He’s been gone for years, happy to have escaped his mother and the petty circles of the ton. To his dismay, not much has changed, including the beautiful and vexing heiress next door.
But when an accident of fate traps the friends-turned-enemies in an attic together, the explosive attraction between them becomes impossible to ignore and even harder to resist. They are total opposites and their lives don’t align in the slightest, but fate, the ultimate matchmaker, appears to have other plans . . .
PJ's Thoughts:
If you enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers trope with snappy banter, swoony romance, historical authenticity, emotional struggles, and well-placed humor, you're going to enjoy immersing yourself in Amalie Howard's Never Met a Duke Like You. I didn't want to put it down.
Vesper and Aspen (Greydon) are proud people, sometimes too proud, which led to issues between them in the past and to their eventual estrangement. After seven years in America, Aspen returns to England to prevent his mother (she's an evil one) from having him declared dead and stealing the dukedom (with the help of a distant relative). It only takes one unexpected encounter with Vesper for both to realize that the fires of attraction from years earlier still burn. Not that either of them wants them to but that seems to be out of their control. How they respond to it, however...well, let's just say that's going to be heart-tugging and highly entertaining.
Howard gave me two main characters with intriguing layers and relatable flaws to cheer for. And cheer I did. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them navigate the peaks and valleys of their reunion love story, gradually unveiling each character's thoughts, fears, and feelings along the way. The well-researched information about England's Lunacy Act (Aspen's passion), and how it was used and abused, as well as the Ragged Union Schools (Vesper's passion) that provided free education, food, lodging, and more to London's poorest children offered insight into the hearts and minds of our lead couple as well as an unfiltered view into realities of the time.
I love the friendships in this series, both female and male, and am already looking forward to seeing more characters travel their paths to a happy ending. Though you will see many characters from book one, Always Be My Duchess (read my review), if you're new to Howard, you can easily begin your reading journey with Never Met a Duke Like you. However, I highly recommend both books and am already eager to discover who will be in the spotlight next.
Have you read Amalie Howard yet? Do you have a favorite?
Do you enjoy friend groups within the romances you read?
Do you enjoy reunion stories?
One person who posts a comment no later than 11:00 PM, November 22 will receive a print copy of Never Met a Duke Like You.
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*Must be 18
I haven't read any Amalie Howard books yet - this story looks like fun, and I do enjoy stories featuring a group of friends.
ReplyDeleteI've read several Amalie Howard books over the years and have enjoyed all of them. Usually some good banter going on! I like friend/relative groups in books, especially in Regency novels, because I feel that's what life was like back then. Reunion and second chance stories are among my favorites, whether historical or contemporary.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Amalie Howard books but this novel sounds wonderful and intriguing. I enjoy books that involve groups of friends and a reunion story is even better. What a treasure this book would be to enjoy during the holidays. A real escape.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read her yet. I do enjoy friend groups within stories and I also enjoy reunion stories.
ReplyDeleteI've not yet read Amelia Howard. This one sounds like it has the elements of historical accuracy I like and humor which is a bonus.
ReplyDeleteFriends add another level to a story. They add insight, complications, and interesting views of a situation. I do enjoy reunion stories. The characters have changed over the years, and their personalities and circumstances are not what they were years ago.
I haven't read any yet
ReplyDeleteRose Ward
A new author for me. Sounds like a fun read!
ReplyDeleteI love Amalie Howard's books!! I can't choose a favorite one since they are all so wonderful! I do enjoy friend groups in my romances -- especially when a series includes different romances for various friends. (As an aside, friends to lovers is one of my all time favorite tropes.
ReplyDeleteI do like books with groups of friends.
ReplyDelete