
Author: Amalie Howard
Series: Taming of the Dukes #1
Published by: Forever on Jul. 12, 2022
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
Source: Forever
Book Rating: 9/10
Lord Lysander Blackstone, the stern Duke of Montcroix, has only one interest: increasing his considerable fortune. After a series of betrayals, he keeps his emotions buried deep. Money, after all, can’t break a man’s heart—or make promises it can’t keep. But when his reputation for being heartless jeopardizes a new business deal, he finds himself seeking a most unusual—and alluring—solution…
Once an up-and-coming ballerina, Miss Geneviève Valery is now hopelessly out of work. After refusing to become a wealthy patron’s mistress, Nève was promptly shown the door to the streets. When she accidentally saves the life of a handsome duke, she doubts the encounter will go any better than her last brush with nobility. But instead of propositioning her, Montcroix makes Nève an offer she would be a fool to refuse: act as his fake fiancée in exchange for fortune enough to start over.
Only neither is prepared when very real feelings begin to grow between them. They both stand to win… but only if they’re willing to risk their hearts.
Review:
Light, seductive, and fun!
Always Be My Duchess is set in London during 1865 and features the spirited ballerina Geneviève Valery who may have unexpectedly found the short-term answer to her money woes, as well as the hardworking, handsome Duke of Montcroix, Lord Lysander Blackstone, who may have conveniently found the perfect woman to help him secure an important business deal without having to give up his heart.
The prose is witty and sharp. The characters are passionate, resourceful, and loyal. And the plot is a tantalizing mix of family, friendship, heartbreak, societal expectations, secrets, tricky situations, awkward moments, attraction, and unconditional love.
Overall, Always Be My Duchess is an adventurous, enticing, delightfully steamy read by Howard that is an absolutely wonderful start to a new series, Taming of the Dukes, which now has a permanent place on my must-read list.
This novel is available now.
Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from the following link.
Thank you to HBG Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.