ARC Review: How to Catch a Duke by Grace Burrowes

About the Book:

Title: How to Catch a Duke

Author: Grace Burrowes

Series: Rogues to Riches #6

Page Length: 368

Publication Date: April 13, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Synopsis: “I have come to ask you to kill me, my lord.”

Miss Abigail Abbott desperately needs to disappear, and the only person she trusts to help her do that is Lord Stephen Wentworth, heir to the Duke of Walden. Stephen is brilliant, charming, and—when he needs to be—absolutely ruthless. So ruthless, that, he proposes marriage instead of a pretense of murder, to keep Abigail safe.

Stephen knows that Abigail has the dignity and determination of a duchess and the courage of a lioness. When she accepts his courtship of convenience, he also discovers she kisses like his most intimate wish come true. For Abigail, their arrangement is a sham to escape her dangerous enemies. For Stephen, it’s his last, best hope to share a lifetime with the lady of his dreams—if he can convince her his love is real.

LINKS:     Goodreads    |      Amazon    |     Book Depository

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My Review:

This is an interesting historical romance that follows Abigail, a successful inquiry agent, and Stephen, the heir to the Duke of Walden. Abigail needs Stephen to protect her from a threatening and dangerous marquess and wants help faking her own death, but Stephen has another idea. By faking their engagement, Stephen can keep Abigail safe. Plus, this allows him to spend a bit more time with the intriguing and intelligent woman. However, will Stephen’s plan keep danger at bay, or will the secrets of the past ruin the possibility of a future?

Though this is a slower-paced historical romance, the characters and romance are lovely. Abigail and Stephen are compelling characters. As the story unfolds, you realize that events and relationships from the past have defined their present. They are both smart and quick-witted, but they hesitate to give in to their feelings because of their past traumas and fears. From their first conversation, their chemistry is obvious, and I love how easily they talk to, work with, and begin to trust each other.

I also like that their relationship is built on respect. Abigail and Stephen both think very highly of each other, and from there, love blossoms. Stephen does everything he can to protect Abigail, and he is ruthless, cunning, and so charming when he wants to be. They prove over and over again that they are a well-matched pair. Both are loyal and brave and a bit ahead of their time, and they complement each other beautifully.

This is a good story for readers who enjoy historical romance, but I would suggest reading the first four books in the series to further understand the characters and context. This story will appeal to readers who enjoy the fake relationship/engagement trope. Thanks so much to NetGalley, the author, and Forever Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance. Abigail have a wonderful fake romance that turns into something real.

• The fake engagement/relationship trope that leads to something more. This is one of my faves!

Recommendations:

I think people who like historical romances with unique, well-developed characters who have scandalous and haunting secrets will enjoy this book.