My Inconvenient Duke

This audiobook took me awhile to get through; much longer than the first two books in the series. I think part of that is because in the first two books we'd heard so much about Alice and Blackwood and their rift, that I was expecting to jump into their story in 1833 with flashbacks. Instead, the majority of the book takes place before the previous two, in 1832. I want to start my review with that detail because I know I'm not the only reader of this series who was thrown by the time jump. However, once I was able to get out of my head and away from my own expectations, I was able to enjoy the book I was given instead.

I have to hand it to Chase for doing the unexpected with this book. Without spoiling anything, the trajectory of this show more couple was not how I thought it would go, and I really liked where they went instead. The more the book went on, the more fun I had with the characters.

My only real critiques of this book are that I still feel like we've been left hanging with the side story of Uncle Frank and Aunt Julia that went through the entire series. Also, the spice level of this installment was less than the previous two. I was hoping for a few more fireworks.

As far as the narration goes...I am not a fan of Kate Reading as a narrator. I think she talks too slowly. She's one of the only narrators that i HAVE to listen to faster than 1x. I will give it to her that she does different voices for each character. However, some of those voices really irk me. For example, I hate the way she voices Ashmont. It's a big reason his book did not reach 4 stars for me. I'm hoping as I listen to more Loretta Chase that she isn't the narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for access to this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Satisfying read!

I took to Lady Alice Ancaster straight away. Also to Giles Bouverie Lyon, eighth Duke of Blackwood, one of the three Dis-graceful dukes. When their disgraceful lordships, Ripley, Blackwood and Ashmont showed up at any ton function, the rooms emptied. Not that they were invited anywhere because they weren’t. Most of the ton ran when they hived into view.
It’s Ridley’s sister Alice who’s our focal point and Blackwood.
A girl Blackwood had taught to shoot when she was fifteen, who’d he first met scrambling out of a second floor window when she was ten, bold and cheery as you please
Alice has grown up. She’s spent a year abroad with her friend Cassandra Pomfret. Alice is part of the Minerva Society that takes on show more street children, educates and house them and find them employment
At the moment however she’s realized that if something happens to Ridley his black hearted heir, Penric Ancaster, Lord Worbury would make her pay.
Alice decides the only way to be safe is to marry. Taking herself and her aunt to London she sets about the task. Only things keep happening and the man who’d broken her seventeen year old heart is there to pave the way and provide her with backup.
A sort of enemies to lovers romance with intrigue and danger thrown in for good measure. Wonderful!

An Avon and Harper ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. show less

This book had no architecture. It was as if Chase chose to build a house by stacking bricks without ever building a frame. Nothing hung together. People just did things. What a mess.

Finally, I know what was going on with Giles and Alice. During the first two books in the series they were already married and estranged. No one would ask them what was wrong, and they didn't say so it was a huge mystery that drove me crazy. I waited, and waited some more for the author to finish their love story. Ms Chase takes us back to the beginning when the couple first met and follow along until their well-deserved HEA. The first two Dukes stories made me laugh at their antics, but the Blackwoods made me kind of sad. Lots of family and friend obligations mixed with longing, attraction, desire, happiness and separation, there were so many emotions in their journey. I loved every minute of it. As much as I wanted to rush through all show more three books to have the stories completed, I'm now sorry that it's over. I can recommend the entire series as a good read and all three can be standalone.

I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon publishers.

#MyInconvenientDuke #DifficultDukes #NetGalley #Avon #LorettaChase #historicalromance #romance show less

Another of Chase's strong-willed, feisty heroines and a man who admires and can match her. The Duke of Blackwood has loved Alice since they were children, but he doesn't think he is worthy of her. When she determines that she needs to marry soon to protect herself from a vindictive cousin, Blackwood goes to London to protect her. Complications ensue.

A fine romance.