About the Book:
Title: Up All Night With a Good Duke
Author: Amy Rose Bennett
Series: The Byronic Book Club
Page Length: 288
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
Publisher: Sourceboooks Casablanca
Synopsis: Artemis Jones―”respectable” finishing-school teacher by day and Gothic romance writer by night―has never lost sight of her real dream: to open her own academic ladies’ college. When Artemis is unexpectedly called upon by a dear friend, a fellow Byronic Book Club member, to navigate her first London Season, she comes at once. Who knows, perhaps she can court the interest of a wealthy patron for her school. As long as she can avoid her high-handed aunt’s schemes to marry her off.
Dominic Winters, the widowed Duke of Dartmoor, needs a wife―someone who will provide him with an heir and help him to manage his spitfire adolescent daughter. The problem is, Society has dubbed him “The Dastardly Duke.” Rumors are rife that he murdered his mad wife, so his choices for a suitable bride are limited. But then, he meets the ravishing and passionate Artemis Jones, who might just be everything he needs.
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My Review:
I enjoyed this story about a bold bluestocking and a Byronic hero finding love. This is the first book in Amy Rose Bennett’s new historical romance series The Byronic Book Club, and it is an interesting and romantic story. I enjoyed the layered protagonists, the strong commentary about women’s rights, and the swoon-worthy romance!
Artemis is a smart and self-assured bluestocking, and I love that she challenges the status quo. A finishing school teacher by day and a Gothic romance writer by night, Artemis is a strong protagonist that knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to reach for her goals. And some of the swears she uses are hysterical. I feel like I need to integrate them into my daily conversations just for fun.
Dominic is a dark and brooding Byronic hero, much like the heroes in the books Artemis writes. Secrets surround his past and the death of his wife, and he seems like a man shrouded in mystery. His story definitely has some Jane Eyre vibes, and I liked the nods to classic British and Gothic literature throughout the story. However, the more Artemis gets to know him and his daughter, the more she realizes he is nothing like the gossip mill suggests. He is such a swoon-worthy hero, and the way he feels about Artemis is everything I love in a romantic hero.
The romance between Artemis and Dominic is so good! They have fantastic chemistry, and their intellectual conversations about literature and life are as wonderful as their more romantic scenes. Their relationship has several tropes that I enjoy, especially the fake dating and opposites-attract elements. However, the pair soon realizes they have much more in common than Artemis originally thought, and they are drawn to each other from their first meeting. The biggest problem for their relationship is that Artemis’s future plans don’t include marriage, and with her writing secret, Artemis doesn’t see how she can have everything. However, Dominic is super supportive of Artemis. He doesn’t judge or discredit her, and he is one of her biggest allies. They make a great team, and their love story is wonderful.
The book has a strong commentary on the inequities women faced and how restrictive societal rules were for women, especially in comparison to men. From the books they read to how they behave to what they wear and who they spend time with, everything is judged and judged harshly. Artemis’s dream is to open up a women’s college where women can gain an education similar to men, which is unheard of. She is a woman ahead of her time in a society that is rich in tradition and social conformity. Celeste, Dominic’s daughter, is reprimanded for reading books that are deemed inappropriate, though many of these books are considered classics today. It’s eye-opening to see how easily a person could be vilified in this judgmental and unforgiving world. There are also some strong assertions about the validity and enjoyment of romance novels, which I loved.
I would definitely recommend this book to historical romance readers, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Artemis’s friends seem as compelling as her, and I’m eager to learn more about them and their love stories. Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The literary references.
Recommendations:
I would definitely recommend this to readers of historical romance!
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