My One and Only Duke

I have so many books on my TBR pile, but I may need to drop everything and chain-smoke this series. I didn’t start out reading them in order, so this is my second. It was interesting to see Constance as a side character and rougher around the edges than she was in The Truth About Dukes. I just love this family, and following Quinn and Jane’s marriage of convenience from being strangers to being in love was a pleasure.
I never love secret keeping as a plot device, but the author didn’t lay on the angst too thickly, so it didn’t ruin the book for me. The resolution was very quick, like in the other book, but it was more of a plot twist and not so unbelievable. I liked Jane’s response to the way things panned out, and kudos to show more the author for not making things black and white or obvious.
I’m definitely loving Burrowes, and I’m ready to dive into another of her books. My one complaint with all these duke titles in the Regency genre is that they’re so similar, I find them hard to keep track of. At least the series names have a more memorable ring to them, so if I’m recommending at the library, I can still pull them out of my brain. show less

Banker Quin Wentworth has been condemned to Newgate prison and a death sentence. When by chance he meets the daughter of a vicar who regularly visits the prison, he is charmed by her. When he learns that said daughter, Jane, is also widowed and with child he thinks he'll come to her aid by offering her marriage and a healthy portion of funds to support herself and the child after his imminent death. However, when Quin is suddenly pardoned after it's discovered that he's the heir to a Duke's estate he and Jane must determine whether there is enough between them to make a marriage.

A thoroughly charming historical romance with an intriguing and quirky cast of characters. The Wentworth siblings are entertaining with their personality traits show more developed in a destitute youth and Quin and Jane are charming and hold the reader's attention as the plot progresses. It did take me a lot longer than usual for this genre to get a good read on Quin but watching both him and Jane grow as people and a couple was thoroughly enjoyable. I liked it enough that I'll be reading the rest of the series. show less

I'd just read about Quinn Wentworth in a Christmas short story collection and was eager to read his book, and it is so worth it. Quinn is a self-made wealthy man and banker, but suddenly he's facing hanging in Newgate over a supposed murder charge. Vicar's daughter Jane Winston is widowed, pregnant, and desperate so when Quinn offers a hasty marriage to provide for her and her child, Jane agrees rapidly. When Quinn is not only saved at the last moment but inherits a dukedom, Jane's life is turned upside down. Quinn's siblings need handling, his household is a mess, and her new husband is out for revenge.
Every character in this book deserves their own story (and hopefully Ms. Burrowes will provide them soon). All are memorable and fun to show more read about. Jane and Quinn make a nice couple, and their fumbling to adjust to their new marriage is fun, especially with the nuances needed for a pregnant bride. One scene where Jane is throwing up into a china bowl in the nearest linen closet is very funny.
This is the start to a new series, Rogues to Riches, that will feature the eccentric Wentworth family. Based on this book, I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series. show less

My One and Only Duke by Grace Burrowes is a 2018 Forever Romance publication.

A good mystery mingled with a wonderful and warm love story-

Quinn is in prison for a crime he did not commit. Jane, a minister’s daughter, visits him shortly before his execution date. From these visits Quinn learns that Jane is widowed, pregnant with her first child, and is under her father’s manipulative power. With nothing left to lose, Quinn offers to marry Jane, giving her independence, and the financial freedom to provide for her child. Seizing the opportunity, Jane agrees to the marriage. But, literally, at the very last minute, Quinn is saved from the gallows. He is immediately informed that he is the lost long heir to a dukedom! His good fortune show more also means he and Jane must now live together as husband and wife.

No matter how awkward it is, the couple has no choice but to make the best of the situation. However, before they can earnestly begin a life together, Quinn must discover who is out to destroy him, while protecting his family, which now includes Jane and her unborn child.

What a wonderful blend of mystery and romance! I love a mystery with intrigue, especially in a historical setting. This story has plenty of that, but intrigue shouldn’t be compared with other forms of mystery, because the pacing is usually slower, and the plot may take a little longer to develop. However, this one did move a little too slow at times, and the wrap up was a little frenetic. Still, the plot was still pretty smart and challenging, which is what I liked about it the most.

The romance also takes its time to develop, but I thought that made much more sense because, although this couple may have had a bit of chemistry working for them while Quinn was in prison, they were both stunned by Quinn’s last- minute reprieve.

While Quinn’ feelings deepen for Jane each day, his mind is preoccupied, leaving it to Jane to gently prod the relationship forward. After thinking about it, I think the slow burn was more realistic, although I do admit I did get frustrated with Quinn’s reticence, at times.

Jane’s bravery in facing her ‘new normal’ is admirable, as is her support of Quinn. The one area of weakness for Jane is the relationship she endures with her father, who continues to interfere in her life. With her new circumstances and the inner -strength she acquires, her character develops in the most wonderful of ways.

Overall, this variant on the rags to riches theme does move at a leisurely pace, but is an evenly balanced combination of an intriguing suspense and a tender love story.

I don’t know how I managed to lose track of Grace Burrowes over the past couple of years, but it has been a great pleasure to reconnect with her again.

4 stars

*This version of the book also includes ‘Once Upon a Christmas Eve’ a novella by Elizabeth Hoyt. show less

3.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

If the eyes were windows to the soul, Mr. Wentworth's soul was a bleak, silent moor under a gray December sky.

First in a new series and an introduction to the Wentworth family, My One and Only Duke, stars the oldest Wentworth, Quinn, and a minister's daughter Jane. This was a slow burn story from both accounts, the romance and mystery. The beginning with Quinn imprisoned in Newgate awaiting to be hung dueled with the investigators from the College of Arms as they searched for an heir to the Walden Dukedom. This gave the start of the story a suspenseful and tense back and forth as Quinn's time show more was running out and the investigators were closing in.

In the complicated economy of a prison, a returned bribe meant one of two things: Somebody else had paid a much bigger bribe, or had made a more effective threat.

The mystery is the engine that keeps the story going, but it does start to putter around midway through. There's a lot of talked about danger but even though Quinn has a good idea who he thinks is behind wanting him dead, his investigations are pretty slow to get to and it ends up feeling like no one is really doing anything as the focus seems to revert back to Jane and the household whenever someone goes off. The eventual wrap-up and reveal ended up feeling a tad convoluted tight as character connections, money, and motivations flew from everywhere; we also don't get to form much of a connection to the villain(s) and supposed villain(s).

Don't give me that Yorkshire growl, as if you'd tear me to pieces when I know you feed wild birds, marry stray widows, and work yourself half to death for your family. It won't wash, Quinn. You can intimidate every rolled-up title in Mayfair with that performance, but I know better.

The romance is that cherished Burrowes' hero and heroine connection that speaks of soulmates but also has some slow burn as they learn each other. Our heroine starts the book pregnant, she's a widow and our hero marries her to help her gain freedom from her zealot father, which kind of keeps her home bound. Jane was a wonderful showcase of growing into her own, standing up to father, and being the more emotionally courageous one in putting herself out there to connect with Quinn. We get a lot about the background of Quinn but his character still felt too blocked off to me. There was some seeing with the large amount of telling about Quinn and the Wentworth family but only a couple of the emotional connections filtered through for me; I felt stiff armed by Quinn for most of the story. Quinn was big-hearted stoic and Jane was emotionally courageous, which provided for some sexy scenes but if Quinn had been unveiled just a little more, their romance would have popped some more.

The daft woman like swiving him, liked touching him, liked talking with him. The touching was bad enough---Quinn well knew the danger of sweet touches---but the talking would be his doom.

The mystery was a bit slow and drawn out but I'm excited to read more about this family; a possible Althea, hero's sister, and Joshua, hero's business partner, romance has me intrigued and I absolutely demand Ned eventually gets his own book. This was more gentle and methodical, with some dry cheekiness from and between characters that will tickle your fancy. This was a solid start to a series that I'm looking forward to reading about each family member. show less

At times, I found myself really enjoying this romance as it has plenty of elements which make for fun, easy reading and just the right amount of drama. The concept of a Newgate prisoner receiving a last-minute pardon and discovering he's the heir to a dukedom is the stuff romance novels are made of and this one delivers by making Quinn Wentworth a fascinating character with a complex history. However, once Quinn is freed and begins his journey of vengence while also falling in love with the woman he wed while imprisoned, the story felt like it was told in fits and starts, with even the conversations between characters jumping from topic to topic. Overall, this one made for an enjoyable, light read, but still find myself wanting more show more from this book. show less

Banker Quinn Wentworth has been convicted of murder and sits in Newgate awaiting execution. His money buys him comfort but not freedom. When Jane Winston accompanies her preacher father to the prison, the warden sends her to wait in Quinn's suite. Over the next few weeks, they strike up a friendship. When Quinn learns that she needs rescuing from her father, he impulsively offers marriage; being the widow of an executed felon is not an easy life, but better than the one she faces. What neither of them realizes is that Quinn has been discovered to be the heir to a dukedom--a fact which saves his life in the very nick of time. Now they must unexpectedly negotiate married life, and Quinn and his family must come to terms with their sudden show more elevation to the nobility.

The strength of this book is the characters. The romance works, and uncovering Quinn's enemy--the one who engineered his arrest and conviction--is well handled. It's not Burrowes's best, but it's definitely worth reading.

There's a bonus novella by Elizabeth Hoyt which is eminently skippable. show less