2023 Beat the Backlist challenge
Review: Last Duke Standing (A Royal Match #1) by Julia London
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Last Duke Standing
Series: A Royal Match #1
Author: Julia London
Published March 3rd 2022 by Mills & Boon
Goodreads Synopsis
First in a sparkling all-new historical series by New York Times bestselling author Julia London
Deemed ‘unsuitable’ to rule by her parents, Princess Justine arrives in London to learn the ropes of royalty before she takes the throne. Here she must face the scrutiny of Queen Victoria herself as she learns what it means to be royal, including acquiring a suitable husband. Yet, a plan to marry her off to a convenient groom, is underway, and roguish bachelor William, Lord Douglas is given the task of ensuring a suitable husband is found.
But the longer William spends in Justine’s company the more the opinionated young woman inspires a protective instinct in him and soon he deems all potential suitors unacceptable. Yet Justine is expected to marry.
But what if the right man has been there all along…
Goodreads
Review
As the Crown Princess of Wesloria, Princess Justine has been raised to one day be queen. However, the country are not looking forward to a female monarch, and especially not one like Justine. With her father ill, her mother sends Justine and younger sister, Amelia, to London, to learn how to be royal, by Victoria herself, and find themselves husbands before it's too late. Justine has no intention of changing herself for a husband, especially not someone who covets the throne that is hers, and being chaperoned by Lord William Douglas, the future Duke of Hamilton, is an insult. But Justine finds that William brings out the best and worst in her, and when they start to critique her 'suitors' together, it's soon clear to everyone but themselves that they are the perfect match.
I adored Julia's A Royal Wedding series, and when I saw she had a new series, with some overlap of characters, I knew it would be one for me. Books like this, where the main couple have a history, and uses the enemies-to-lovers trope are always a win with me, and this book had it all. William was a stickler for the rules, though with a rakish reputation, and he saw Justine as too flighty and flirty, but his family needed the money he was given to be her chaperone. When they meet again, it was clear that they both hadn't forgotten the other, and were definitely attracted to each other. The banter and snarkiness of their conversations were so right for these characters, and the little asides and bets they made when Justine was faced with her suitors added a spark of humour in the story. Having the matchmaker appear, and provide some truly horrible options for her to choose from was funny, and the conclusion was just the piece de resistance! A wonderful story, and I can't wait to read Amelia's romance!
Dates Read:
July 28-31, 2023
Rating
4 Stars
Series: A Royal Match #1
Author: Julia London
Published March 3rd 2022 by Mills & Boon
Goodreads Synopsis
First in a sparkling all-new historical series by New York Times bestselling author Julia London
Deemed ‘unsuitable’ to rule by her parents, Princess Justine arrives in London to learn the ropes of royalty before she takes the throne. Here she must face the scrutiny of Queen Victoria herself as she learns what it means to be royal, including acquiring a suitable husband. Yet, a plan to marry her off to a convenient groom, is underway, and roguish bachelor William, Lord Douglas is given the task of ensuring a suitable husband is found.
But the longer William spends in Justine’s company the more the opinionated young woman inspires a protective instinct in him and soon he deems all potential suitors unacceptable. Yet Justine is expected to marry.
But what if the right man has been there all along…
Goodreads
Review
As the Crown Princess of Wesloria, Princess Justine has been raised to one day be queen. However, the country are not looking forward to a female monarch, and especially not one like Justine. With her father ill, her mother sends Justine and younger sister, Amelia, to London, to learn how to be royal, by Victoria herself, and find themselves husbands before it's too late. Justine has no intention of changing herself for a husband, especially not someone who covets the throne that is hers, and being chaperoned by Lord William Douglas, the future Duke of Hamilton, is an insult. But Justine finds that William brings out the best and worst in her, and when they start to critique her 'suitors' together, it's soon clear to everyone but themselves that they are the perfect match.
I adored Julia's A Royal Wedding series, and when I saw she had a new series, with some overlap of characters, I knew it would be one for me. Books like this, where the main couple have a history, and uses the enemies-to-lovers trope are always a win with me, and this book had it all. William was a stickler for the rules, though with a rakish reputation, and he saw Justine as too flighty and flirty, but his family needed the money he was given to be her chaperone. When they meet again, it was clear that they both hadn't forgotten the other, and were definitely attracted to each other. The banter and snarkiness of their conversations were so right for these characters, and the little asides and bets they made when Justine was faced with her suitors added a spark of humour in the story. Having the matchmaker appear, and provide some truly horrible options for her to choose from was funny, and the conclusion was just the piece de resistance! A wonderful story, and I can't wait to read Amelia's romance!
Dates Read:
July 28-31, 2023
Rating
4 Stars
