About the Book:
Title: Dukes Do It Better
Author: Bethany Bennett
Series: Misfits of Mayfair #3
Page Length: 400
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Publisher: Forever
Synopsis: After a debut season plagued by scandal, Lady Emma Hardwick is ready to return to London, now with her young son in tow, and make a match. She’s looking for someone respectable. Someone wholly unlike Malachi Harlow, the new Duke of Trenton and former ship captain, whose long hair and tattoos make him decidedly dangerous to her peace of mind.
Malachi would rather be at sea than in a London ballroom. But until he can sort out why the admiralty brought him home, he has to stay landbound. That becomes less of a hardship when he meets the beguiling Lady Emma, whose dimples and easy laughter capture his imagination. When they start receiving threatening notes, they realize that there’s more to their connection than chemistry, and they’ll have to work together to figure out why someone wants to ruin their lives.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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My Review:
Dukes Do It Better is such an entertaining and sexy historical romance, and I really enjoyed the layered characters and the swoon-worthy love story!
When Malachi, a sea captain who, through his mother’s meddling, has just become Duke, and Emma, a young widow newly returned to London, had a one-night-stand months ago, they never expected to see each other again. So, when they bump into each other in London, they are both stunned. Neither forgot the wonderous night they spent together, and they can’t deny their feelings. When they receive threatening notes from someone with malicious intent, Malachi and Emma must work together to find out who is targeting them.
Bennett writes such layered and interesting characters, and I became really invested in Emma and Mal’s stories. Emma is such a good mother, and she’ll do anything for her son. She has a great relationship with him, and their tender moments together are some of my favorite scenes. Alton is such a sweetheart, and Emma’s devotion, determination, and strength in a society that judges harshly really stand out and say a lot about her. I feel like she’s matured and grown quite a bit since her first introduction in the series.
I love Malachi and have decided he shall be my new book boyfriend. New to the ton, Malachi is most comfortable at sea, and he has total pirate vibes going on! He’s sexy and funny and so unbelievably charming, and there are so many layers to him. His story is compelling, as he tries to reconcile his desires and his obligations. I also love his growing relationship with Emma’s son. Considering how awful his family is, it’s nice to see him experience more loving and warm relationships.
And the romance between Mal and Emma is filled with so much chemistry and longing! So, when they reconnect, the sparks really fly! Get a fan because the spicy scenes are hot!! Of course, many obstacles stand in the way of Mal and Emma’s happiness, including secrets, blackmail, conniving family members, a connection to a journal, and more. The blackmail situation is intriguing and forces Mal and Emma to face their past and decide what they want in their future., and I enjoyed seeing the pair work together and past their problems.
Bennett writes such fun and entertaining romances with the best love stories! Though it’s the third book in the series, I think this can be read as a standalone. For those that have read the first two books, you’ll see a lot of familiar faces! Thanks so much to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The intrigue.
- The characters.
Favorite Line:
Fate rarely takes our plans into consideration.
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