Always Be My Duchess Published by Forever by Amalie Howard
Series: Taming of the Dukes #1
on July 12, 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance, Women's Fiction, Chick-Lit, Historical, Regency
Pages: 368
Source: Netgalley
Format: ARC, eBook
Find the Author: Website, Twitter, Goodreads
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
ISBN: 153873771X
Rating:
Pretty Woman meets the Bridgertons in this witty, vivacious historical take on 90s romcoms by USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard:
"Refreshing, steamy, and stocked with characters you don’t normally get to see in the genre—Her books are a must-read for me" —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Lord Lysander Blackstone, the stern Duke of Montcroix, has only one interest: increasing his considerable fortune. After a series of betrayals, he keeps his emotions buried deep. Money, after all, can't break a man's heart—or make promises it can’t keep. But when his reputation for being heartless jeopardizes a new business deal, he finds himself seeking a most unusual—and alluring—solution...
Once an up-and-coming ballerina, Miss Geneviève Valery is now hopelessly out of work. After refusing to become a wealthy patron's mistress, Nève was promptly shown the door to the streets. When she accidentally saves the life of a handsome duke, she doubts the encounter will go any better than her last brush with nobility. But instead of propositioning her, Montcroix makes Nève an offer she would be a fool to refuse: act as his fake fiancée in exchange for fortune enough to start over.
Only neither is prepared when very real feelings begin to grow between them. They both stand to win... but only if they’re willing to risk their hearts.
Pretty Woman inspired historical romance?! Yes, please!
I’m having trouble with this one–because it was just so darn good, I don’t want to just sit here and gush.
I’ll start by saying that I typically read up to ten books at a time. I schedule my reading so that I finish them all by the time I’m supposed to review them. So I sat down to start this one–and read the two chapters that were on plan for the day–and then I couldn’t stop.
The draw of Lysander and Neve was just too much! They just sparked off the page. Both of them in their own ways, drew me in. And they were the perfect pair, to the point of I couldn’t, for the life of me, understand why it took so long for them to get their acts together?!
Lysander, especially, tries so hard to keep things professional with Neve–to keep her at a distance. But can he? Ummm, no. And that just made the story all the more wonderful.
Neve helps Lysander by pretending to be his fiancee… Lysander help Neve by paying her for it. It’s a mutually beneficial transaction… In SO. MANY. WAYS.
Also the friendships between Neve and the other ladies that she meets through Lysander were BRILLIANTLY done. And now I want to read any stories those ladies get!
About Amalie Howard
AMALIE HOWARD is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, most notably of The Beast of Beswick, “a smart, sexy, deliciously feminist romance,” and one of O-The Oprah Magazine’s Top 24 Best Historicals to Read. She is the co-author of the #1 bestsellers in regency romance and Scottish historical romance, My Rogue, My Ruin and What A Scot Wants, and has also penned several young adult novels, critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, School Library Journal, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Kid’s INDIE NEXT selection. Of Indo-Caribbean descent, she has written articles on multicultural fiction for The Portland Book Review and Ravishly magazine. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.
Oh, this sounds great. Going on my TBR for sure.
I don’t know how you can do 10 books at one time? I usually have about 3 going. One that is my main read because of a blog tour review coming up, an audiobook for in the car, and then one other that I read a few chapters of every day. And at one time I had a book in my upstairs bathroom and my downstairs bathroom for you know, when I needed something to read in there, lol. This is one I am glad to hear you enjoyed because I want to read it! Great review!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Book Blitz with Giveaway: It Started With a Dance (Pacific Grove University #2) by Tinia Montford
It’s not always easy, honestly. I just read a little of each, each day. That way I get them all read by the time they need reviewing. You know, I mean it wholeheartedly when I say, I wish so much that I could get into audiobooks. So many ladies I know LOVE them. And they actually do most of their reading with them. But I just can’t. I’ve tried and, unfortunately, I just get too distracted and end up having to rewind.
Thanks, Lisa!