Happy Thursday! Today, I have reviews for two upcoming historical romance books – Love, the Duke by Amelia Grey and The Duke and Lady Scandal by Christie Carlysle. LEt’s check them out!
Title: Love, the Duke
Author: Amelia Grey
Series: Say I Do #3
Page Length: 320
Pub. Date: April 1, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Synopsis: When the Duke of Hurstbourne receives a letter from his childhood friend asking him to marry his sister Ophelia, Hurst declines. He’s not adverse to taking a bride, but he believes in love at first sight that stirs his desire―not marriage sight-unseen.
Adhering to society’s strict propriety for ladies, Ophelia Stowe has no choice but to present herself as a man to seek the Duke of Hurstbourne’s favor. If not for the dire situation she finds herself in, she wouldn’t have asked for help from the handsome man who had rebuffed her. When the alluring duke’s response is a plan of his own, Ophelia never dreams it would be a proposal of a marriage of convenience.
But the stakes are high, and the good name of the Stowe family will be damaged if a missing antiquity isn’t found. When she accepts his offer, she quickly finds she isn’t immune to the passion building between her and her new husband―or how real the marriage begins to feel.
The third and final book in the Say I Do series, Love the Duke is Hurstborne and Ophelia’s story, and though I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite in the series, it’s still a fun historical romance.
I really liked how determined Ophelia was to prove her brother’s innocence. It definitely shed a positive light on her. I also thought it was sweet how much Hurst believed in love, especially after seeing his two friends (the MMCs of the first two books) fall so deeply for their partners. However, Ophelia and Hurst were both stubborn characters, and I didn’t always like them. Hurst seemed like he wanted to marry Ophelia so he could “tame” her (control her), which I didn’t like at all. And Ophelia was so stubborn and headstrong sometimes, even to her own detriment. Luckily, they both grew and changed over the course of the story, and both had redeeming qualities that made up for the things that bothered me. Learning more about both of their pasts definitely put some of their actions in perspective as well.
The mystery was intriguing, and it was probably my favorite part of the story. The romance was great too. Ophelia and Hurst have a ton of chemistry, though there is one scene where Ophelia’s action threw me off. That being said, I adored their more romantic and heart-warming scenes. This is a closed-door romance, and though it’s the last in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
He didn’t just want a lady he could live with. He wanted the one lady he couldn’t live without.
Title: The Duke and Lady Scandal
Author: Christy Carlyle
Series: Princes of London #1
Page Length: 368
Pub. Date: April 1, 2025
Publisher: Avon
Synopsis: In the swoon-worthy opener of her Princes of London series, Christy Carlyle takes readers on a breathless chase through Victorian London as a wild bluestocking from a family of treasure hunters and a handsome, serious gentleman from the Scotland Yard butt heads while attempting to thwart a plot to steal the Crown Jewels, inspired by National Treasure.
Alexandra Prince is clever, outspoken, and, yes, perhaps a bit impulsive. Yet she’s always been overshadowed by her siblings. While they are off on adventurous expeditions, she’s the one left to keep the family’s antique shop going while she works on a book about lady pirates—and longs for an adventure of her own. When she overhears a group of suspicious customers whispering about a plan to steal the Crown Jewels, she knows it’s her opportunity to shine. But she needs a little help.
Detective Inspector Benedict Drake takes his duties at Scotland Yard seriously. In fact, he takes almost everything seriously. Except for the breathless beauty who crashes into his office to tell him about a ludicrous scheme to steal the Crown Jewels. Despite his turning her away, she keeps popping up wherever he goes, and he’s not sure whether she’s determined to cause a scandal or is trying to drive him to distraction. Just when he thinks he’s rid of her, an event compels him to believe her account, and he begrudgingly enlists her aid to thwart the theft of the century.
But while thieves seek the Crown Jewels, the troublesome bluestocking he can’t seem to keep away from might just steal his heart…
LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
I wanted to read The Duke and Lady Scandal, the first book in the Princes of London series, as soon as I heard it was inspired by National Treasure! I love that movie, and was excited to see how it would translate to a historical romance.
Overall, I thought this was a fun and entertaining romance. Alexandra is smart, determined, and ready for adventure, much like the rest of her family. She contrasts Detective Inspector Benedict Drake so well because he is a by-the-book, rule-following, goal-oriented investigator, and she is vivacious and eager to live life to its fullest and most adventurous. I liked seeing how she challenged him to loosen up and trust her instincts, and their chemistry had major slow-burn vibes and excellent banter. It was wonderful to see their reluctant partnership turn into something deeper.
The mystery was also engaging, with twists and turns and intrigue. I am wondering if there will be more to the mystery in the next book because it felt a little unfinished. I have a feeling more will be explored as the series progresses.
“Love is not measured in length of acquaintance.”
