Sophie Reads YA: Grace Burrowes

Waiting on Wednesday: Never a Duke (Rogues to Riches #7) by Grace Burrowes

10:00

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Never a Duke (Rogues to Riches #7) by Grace Burrowes

10:00

Never a Duke
Series: Rogues to Riches #7
Author: Grace Burrowes
Published April 26th 2022 by Forever/Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
Despite having humble origins and a criminal past, Ned Wentworth has learned to dress, waltz, and express himself as elegantly as any lordling. When Lady Rosalind Kinwood’s maid goes missing, her ladyship turns to Ned, precisely because he still has friends in low places and skills no titled dandy would ever acquire, much less admit he possesses.

Rosalind is too opinionated and too intelligent, and has frequently suffered judgment at polite society’s hands. In the quietly observant Ned Wentworth, she finds a man who actually listens to her and who respects her for her outspokenness. As the search for the missing maids grow more perilous, Rosalind and Ned will have to risk everything—including their hearts—if they are to share the happily ever after that Mayfair’s matchmakers have begrudged them both.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

As a child, Ned Wentworth was lucky enough to find himself pseudo-adopted by the newly titled Duke of Walden, released from Newgate, and with a family. Years later, he's a successful banker at Walden's bank, treated as a member of the family, but the ton will not let him forget his urchin roots. Because of this, he doesn't expect any society lady to want to have anything to do with him, so Lady Rosalind Kinwood, daughter of an earl, turning up on his doorstep, asking for help, is a shock to say the least. Her maid has gone missing, and she knows Ned has the connections to help find her, but neither of them expect to uncover the hidden plot, deep within society, which might even have ties closer to home.

I have loved each and every book in this series, which I picked up on a whim from my local library, and wanted to see if Ned had a happy ending. We met him in book 1, My One and Only Duke, and each meeting since, he has come on leaps and bounds, but always been someone not quite a member of the Wentworth family. I don't think I had ever expected how separate he felt until we saw his own thoughts on the page in Never a Duke. Lady Rosalind was a joy. She was bullied by her family and treated as less simply because of her birth, and with Ned, it was like the first time someone saw the real Rosalind, and didn't dismiss her thoughts or feelings. Meeting the larger Wentworth family helped her gain confidence too, and she really grew over the course of the book. Both of the couple are so self depreciating, and neither felt they were good enough for each other, but I'm glad they realised their self worth, and that they had the love of the Wentworth's, if not Rosalind's own family. I'm not sure if this is the end of the series, but if it is, it was the perfect ending!

Dates Read:
January 16-17, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

2021 New Release challenge

Review: How to Catch a Duke (Rogues to Riches #6) by Grace Burrowes

10:00

How to Catch a Duke
Series: Rogues to Riches #6
Author: Grace Burrowes
Published April 13th 2021 by Piatkus/Forever

Goodreads Synopsis
A fake engagement and plenty of charm keep the pages turning in this delightful Regency romance which the Sunday Times bestselling author Julia Quinn hails as 'terrific.'

"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.
Goodreads

Review
In How to Catch a Duke, Abigail Abbott, investigator extraordinary, and thorn in Stephen Wentworth's side, asks that very man to kill her, or at least make her disappear. You see, in her youth, she made a few mistakes, and it's either her past returned to haunt her, or her latest cases, which has lead to a poisoning attempt, and burglary. Lord Stephen Wentworth may be the heir to the Duke of Walden, but his own past has left him with permanent injuries, and he uses his intellect and cunning to get what he wants. In other words, he's perfect for Abigail to turn to. But when he announces he's going to protect her, by pretending to be engaged, rather than helping her disappear. The tension that has been between them since they met is about to run over, and their courtship of convenience may just turn into something more.

I have loved all of the books in this series, and when we met Abigail in The Truth about Dukes, and saw the chemistry and tension between her and Stephen, I just hoped we would see their story. And what a joy it was to read! They never made it easy for one another, and had a lot of demons to overcome, but the snark and banter between them, and the really heartfelt emotional scenes too, made it seem so real, and so perfect for them both. I liked the plot line of the letters, though I will agree with what I've seen other reviewers say, that the reason why the villain wanted them so much wasn't really made known until right at the end. But it was worth the wait no matter, and I'm so happy that all of the Wentworth siblings now have had their much deserved happy endings!

Dates Read:
September 30-October 2, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

Grace Burrowes