THE REVIEW
Lucien Ambrose, Duke of Merleton is a scientist who has devoted his life to unlocking the secrets of an ancient recipe book passed down since the time of King Arthur. The recipes, if made correctly, gave King Arthur’s knight’s strength, courage and other qualities that made them the renown knights they were. Lucien is very smart and socially awkward.

Margaret Stredwick is the wallflower sister to the Marquess of Hullworth has had a very average life until she was jilted and devoted herself to becoming a spinster. When Meg and her sister-in-laws aunts head out on a holiday to the continent, they make a stop at the Duke of Merleton’s estate, under the aunts pretense of touring the beautiful property. They sweet talk their way into the house for a tour and as they are escaping after stealing a recipe from the cooks cookbook, Meg is caught by the Duke himself. When the Duke realizes that the precious recipe book is missing from his vault, he is convinced Meg stole it and follows her to France. He is convinced she is Lady Avalon, who is known for seducing men and stealing precious items from them! And so begins an interesting game of cat and mouse where Meg has no idea about the real reason Lucien is so interested in her!

This book took a while to take hold for me. I was excited for the unique storyline but I found it frustrating at times. But the second half of the book felt like a completely different story and made the pace pick up for me again. The plot twist was a complete surprise to me! Overall, cute couple and happy ending, even if it did waiver a bit for me.

TROPES
Historical Romance, Orphaned Hero, Orphaned Heroine, Titled Hero, Secret Identity, Enemies to Lovers, Starchy Hero, Titled Hero, Aggressive Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Wallflower Heroine, Sunshine/Grump, Forced Proximity, Secret Baby, Second Chance, Fated Mates, Secrets & Lies, Four Star, Three Flame, Road Trip Trope, Scientist Hero, Byronic Hero ( )

I read the previous book in the series and enjoyed it very much, so I tried this one, but it didn't hit the sweet spot for me. Lucien has a family heirloom from Arthurian legend and thinks that Meg stole it. Their meeting was the scene basically from Pride & Prejudice, where Darcy meets Elizabeth at Pemberley, but it doesn't work out quite the same for Lucien and Meg. Lucien has a family heirloom from Arthurian legend and thinks that Meg stole it, so he ends up chasing her across Europe, where she and two elderly chaperones are touring.
The premise is good, with lots of Arthurian references, but the execution didn't work quite as well for me. Meg and Lucien are good characters on their own, but Meg ends up being a bit too desperate for his love. Then there's a time skip and a happy resolution that's marred by a ridiculous subplot involving the stolen heirloom. It's an okay read and sometimes funny, but too much of the story 'jumped the shark' for me. ( )

Never Seduce a Duke
by Vivienne Lorret

Regency romance that's lighthearted dialogue laced with humor, plenty of witty banter with characters are well portrayed, some likeable & some not.

I will admit while the first half was what I would describe as a Regency Romp I found that the second half of the book almost seemed to be written by a different author it was a little different getting into at the start, but not enough that I lost enjoyment nor interest.

This is the fifth book of The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series and while I probably would have gotten a fuller read I didn't feel a need to have read the previous books. Over all an interesting read.

Thank-you to Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NeverSeduceaDuke #NetGalley ( )

Mmm, mmm, mmm – who wouldn’t love a book with a genius duke who wears glasses and is socially inept? Lucien Ambrose, Duke of Merleton is absolutely precious and the banter between him and Margaret Stredwick is absolutely priceless. While I think you’ll enjoy the book ‘as is’, I think you will enjoy it even more if you read the third book, The Wrong Marquess, before you read this one. The zany aunts and their penchant for purloining recipes are introduced in that book and I think it will provide better insight into the aunts and some of the situations in this book. You don’t have to have read it because it is explained in this book, but, not to the delightful degree it is in book three.

Lucien is a very brainy, scientific man who loves to analyze everything, calculate everything, and leave nothing to chance. Until a delightfully sunny lady enters his life and leads him on a merry chase across Europe – and then disappears on him. Lucien is a man who desperately wants to connect with his family’s past and when a family heirloom that connects so closely to that past is stolen, he will go to any lengths to get it back.

Lucien’s scientific and analytical way of speaking will certainly make you chuckle – if not laugh out loud. No, it isn’t staid – with the context and situation it will make you laugh – and love him even more. One example is when he is speaking of a rival for Meg’s hand – he says – “Prescott is welcome to apply the fixed, corded braiding of hemp fibers to his cervical vertebrae and descend from a platform at a rapid rate of speed.” (In other words – Prescott can go hang himself).

The book is basically in two parts – the first fifty percent is their “on the road” adventures across Europe and the last fifty percent takes place two years later. There is a major story shift within those two halves. Both halves are good reads, but the first half is more lighthearted and fun than the second half. That isn’t to say the last half isn’t good, the tone is just a tad different – and it needs to be.

There is an antagonist in the book – I mean – somebody actually stole the heirloom and it wasn’t Meg. I figured it out pretty early on and from that point on, I’d get so aggravated because all of the characters in the book couldn’t see it too!

And – last but not least – there is the epilogue! It is whimsical, funny, endearing, and so very romantic. So, I can definitely recommend the book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

Food for thought!

Well here’s a jolly romp from England over to France, Germany down the Rhine, then across the alps to Italy and then fleeing back to England, all to escape a maddened boulanger, whose recipes the aunts have filched. Margaret Stredwick has decided to take a holiday on the continent to get over her broken heart. Accompanied by her two madcap, recipe gathering aunts. Enroute they stop at the Duke of Merelton’s castle, Caliburn Keep. Supposedly said the aunts to view the gardens, in reality to steal recipes from the family recipe book reputedly to harken back to King Arthur. Of course things go amiss. Meg smacks into the Lucian Ambrose, the seventh Duke in a darkened corridor. He later thinks she’s a certain mysterious Lady Avalon who’s stolen the family book of recipes, and pursues her across Europe. All good fun, the whimsical bordering on the inane, in this enemies to lovers, rationalism vs romanticism trope. Although I must admit to being exasperated by both the Duke and Meg, and my goodness, by those cunningly, conniving aunts. Superlatives don’t do them and their light fingered ways with recipes any justice. I had already decided who the thief was way before it happened but not the depths of chilling planning involved, the madness of it all. Still an enjoyable read if one suspends any belief in the accuracy of the characters interactions.

An Avon and Harper Voyager ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )