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The Duke's Estates #5
The Duke's Best Friend
What's a lady to do when the man standing in her way might also be the man of her dreams? Henry Deeping and Kate Meacham seem to clash every time they meet. Kate is frustrated by the change in her status following the death of her grandfather, a legendary figure in diplomatic circles. As a lone single woman, she is now effectively nobody, even though she knows everyone and has made important contributions to diplomacy in the past. Henry, just joining the Foreign Office, is wondering how to make his mark. They agree to an exchange―Henry will serve as Kate's escort to important events to which she is no longer invited, and Kate will introduce him to the important people she knows so well. But when they spot a foreign agent they thought had been apprehended, they decide to investigate on their own, enlisting a motley group of friends and relying on each other to uncover the truth… Praise for A Duke Too Far : "An effervescent Regency romantic mystery."― Kirkus Reviews "Superbly executed...a daringly different kind of Regency historical."― Booklist "Complex characters, subtle romance, and all the sparkling wit and flirtatious banter of a Georgette Heyer novel."― Publishers Weekly
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 5, 2023
117 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Jane Ashford
53 books403 followersJane Ashford has written historical and contemporary romances. Her books have been published in England, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Slovakia, Denmark, Russia, and Latvia, Croatia and Slovenia as well as the U.S. She was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Her latest book, Lost Time, is romantic suspense with a touch of magic.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 28, 2023
A fun historical romance romp with a side of mystery and political intrigue.
The Duke's Best Friend is the story of Kate, a young woman accustomed to roaming the halls of London's embassies and who finds herself unwelcome there once her famous grandfather passes away, and Henry, an unremarkable youngest son who has just entered service at the foreign office at the recommendation of his uncle. She can provide expertise and connections, he can provide access to the halls of power, so they quickly enter into an alliance that morphs into something more.
I really liked the characters. Kate is clever and headstrong, and her upbringing has made her into someone very ill-suited to the roles a well-born young woman might have been expected to fulfill in the Regency era, without falling into nlog territory. I liked that she took pride in her abilities and personality while still wishing for more female companionship in her life.
Henry is less flashy as a character than Kate, but I still liked him a lot as a leading man. He's respectful and just as smart as her, and much less stubborn. He doesn't let his preconceived notions blind him to the truth, both about Kate and about his uncle, and isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in. His and Kate's banter was a lot of fun to read, particularly in their early interactions when they are still struggling to get along with each other.
However, with the intrigue plot and a vast amount of secondary characters, the book ends up being a touch over-crowded, not leaving enough space for Henry and Kate's relationship to develop and gain depth beyond the initial chemistry and their ability to work well together. This makes the realizations of love ring hollow, as they come before they have opened up with each other in any meaningful way.
Overall, though, this was a fun, fast read, and I'll definitely be picking up more books by this author.
This is the fifth book in a series with different couples, and I haven't read the first four. I had no trouble following it, but the intrigue plot makes frequent references to the events of one of the previous books, and the main couple of the first book makes frequent appearances, so you might want to do as a I say and not as I did and check out the other books in the series first.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Duke's Best Friend is the story of Kate, a young woman accustomed to roaming the halls of London's embassies and who finds herself unwelcome there once her famous grandfather passes away, and Henry, an unremarkable youngest son who has just entered service at the foreign office at the recommendation of his uncle. She can provide expertise and connections, he can provide access to the halls of power, so they quickly enter into an alliance that morphs into something more.
I really liked the characters. Kate is clever and headstrong, and her upbringing has made her into someone very ill-suited to the roles a well-born young woman might have been expected to fulfill in the Regency era, without falling into nlog territory. I liked that she took pride in her abilities and personality while still wishing for more female companionship in her life.
Henry is less flashy as a character than Kate, but I still liked him a lot as a leading man. He's respectful and just as smart as her, and much less stubborn. He doesn't let his preconceived notions blind him to the truth, both about Kate and about his uncle, and isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in. His and Kate's banter was a lot of fun to read, particularly in their early interactions when they are still struggling to get along with each other.
However, with the intrigue plot and a vast amount of secondary characters, the book ends up being a touch over-crowded, not leaving enough space for Henry and Kate's relationship to develop and gain depth beyond the initial chemistry and their ability to work well together. This makes the realizations of love ring hollow, as they come before they have opened up with each other in any meaningful way.
Overall, though, this was a fun, fast read, and I'll definitely be picking up more books by this author.
This is the fifth book in a series with different couples, and I haven't read the first four. I had no trouble following it, but the intrigue plot makes frequent references to the events of one of the previous books, and the main couple of the first book makes frequent appearances, so you might want to do as a I say and not as I did and check out the other books in the series first.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2023
Henry Deeping and Kate Meacham seem to clash every time they meet. Kate is frustrated by the change in her status following the death of her grandfather, a legendary figure in diplomatic circles. As a lone single woman, she is now effectively nobody, even though she knows everyone and has made important contributions to diplomacy in the past. Henry, just joining the Foreign Office, is wondering how to make his mark. They agree to an exchange—Henry will serve as Kate's escort to important events to which she is no longer invited, and Kate will introduce him to the important people she knows so well.
The fifth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I liked both Henry & Kate & the chemistry between them. I loved the mystery of them chasing a spy & thoroughly enjoyed their banter & how they grew closer. A very enjoyable romance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The fifth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I liked both Henry & Kate & the chemistry between them. I loved the mystery of them chasing a spy & thoroughly enjoyed their banter & how they grew closer. A very enjoyable romance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
September 14, 2023
I haven’t read the other four in the series, but I didn’t feel lost. I just would have known the characters better because I believe they were featured in the other books. This was just ok. I liked the characters, it had some intrigue which kept things interesting, & just a splash of romance. I found this to be a sweet simple historical romance.
September 1, 2023
This is the first book I've read by Jane Ashford but I saw this cover and had to grab it. It also sounded interesting because who doesn't love a historical romance with an independent female main character? The Duke's Best Friend is actually book 5 in the series and I'll admit, there were characters and storylines that appear to have been addressed in prior books. It may have been helpful for me to have those backstories but in the end, I don't know that me not having read those books hurt.
This book picks up by introducing us to Kate Meacham and Henry Deeping (who, as I mentioned, were actually introduced to readers in a prior story). Kate is the daughter and granddaughter of diplomats and with her grandfather recently passing (her parents passed away a while ago), she is on her own. All the doors previously open to her when she had her grandfather backing her up, are now closed - or attempting to be closed. But Kate isn't having it. She wants to have an impact and do the things she loves without having to face the censure of those around her. Unfortunately, as a woman, that's just not as easy as she would hope. Enter Henry Deeping.
Henry is the nephew of a Diplomat who has recently been hired into the Foreign Office. He wants to do more than copy notes and make reports so when he crosses paths with Kate at a party and they both recognize someone they apprehended as a foreign agent on the loose, they make a deal. He will escort her to diplomatic parties and she will introduce him around while they work together to figure out why the man is on the loose and why the people Henry works with at the Foreign Office are being cagey about it.
The relationship developed pretty naturally for these two. They weren't really friends to begin with but as they worked together (and with their friends) to solve the mystery, they became closer and began to understand each other much better. I thought Ashford did a good job of focusing their story around the case and adding in the relationship pieces versus the other way around.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book. I've been contemplating going back to read the other books in the series as I am curious about the duke and his wife. With that said, I kind of feel like the title of this book does Henry a bit of a disservice as he is more than just a friend of the duke (James) and while there is a thread of that detail throughout, I'm not sure it actually reflects the intent of the story. Regardless, pick this one up if you're looking for a new historical romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book picks up by introducing us to Kate Meacham and Henry Deeping (who, as I mentioned, were actually introduced to readers in a prior story). Kate is the daughter and granddaughter of diplomats and with her grandfather recently passing (her parents passed away a while ago), she is on her own. All the doors previously open to her when she had her grandfather backing her up, are now closed - or attempting to be closed. But Kate isn't having it. She wants to have an impact and do the things she loves without having to face the censure of those around her. Unfortunately, as a woman, that's just not as easy as she would hope. Enter Henry Deeping.
Henry is the nephew of a Diplomat who has recently been hired into the Foreign Office. He wants to do more than copy notes and make reports so when he crosses paths with Kate at a party and they both recognize someone they apprehended as a foreign agent on the loose, they make a deal. He will escort her to diplomatic parties and she will introduce him around while they work together to figure out why the man is on the loose and why the people Henry works with at the Foreign Office are being cagey about it.
The relationship developed pretty naturally for these two. They weren't really friends to begin with but as they worked together (and with their friends) to solve the mystery, they became closer and began to understand each other much better. I thought Ashford did a good job of focusing their story around the case and adding in the relationship pieces versus the other way around.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book. I've been contemplating going back to read the other books in the series as I am curious about the duke and his wife. With that said, I kind of feel like the title of this book does Henry a bit of a disservice as he is more than just a friend of the duke (James) and while there is a thread of that detail throughout, I'm not sure it actually reflects the intent of the story. Regardless, pick this one up if you're looking for a new historical romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2023
Kate Meacham, granddaughter of Sir Michael Meacham, raised by a doting grandfather in a world of diplomatic intrigue and "spying" Kate is lost ad what to do with her life now that he is dead. She still feels she can help in productive ways but keeps getting shut down ad being a rash, impulsive, irrelevant single female.
Jerome Delaroche long time family friend , but pompous idiot. Does not want Kate around or her help in any way and tries his best to shut het out of what she wants.
Henry Deeping, family is in horse breeding, friend of James and Cecelia, the Duke And Duchess of Tereford. Brinsley Gerard, his uncle helped get Henry his position at the Foreign Home office to become a diplomatic representative of sorts.
Miss Daphne Palliser, Oliver Wendell or "Merlin", Tom Jesperson, actor at the Drury Lane Theater, Ned Gardener, who Tereford has seen fit to help is now an apprentice at Weston.
Our group cast of quirky characters are ensembled for the next adventure. You will remember some from the previous book. Thus the intrigue and curiosity have been reopened when Kate spies the villain they captured has been released. So what's a good diplomat to do? Why follow of couse! See what is going on and find out why!
This brings her into Henry's sights, again! Now he can find out who she really is and get her to back off and let the authorities handle it as he has been told to do. Kate does not agree but to gather more information she need access to certain diplomatic parties. As any good sgent, as her grandfather would say, makes a bargain with Henry he can't refuse.
This brings Jerome to warn Henry away from Kate and the damage she will cause him. It also gets back to his mother, who convinces Uncle Brinsley to talk with him and to be practical about any attachment, too.
Kate and Henry agree that without her information no one would have done anything. Now they continue behind uncle Gerard is back with investigating what is going on. When pieces start to fit together and the plot is figured out. They decide to get some advise and see what more they can do to help by telling Gerard what they know, however, he tells them to drop it and all will be taken care of.
Neither agree or like it when they arrive back at Kate's home to discover the final piece. Henry in lists the help of Tereford but can not say more. He agrees with the statement that when all is done Henry would tell him what he can as payment.
So what does or intrepid couple do? Where do they get friendly help from? What is the devilish deed they are trying to stop? Who else do the run into on their journey?
Find out in the tell as good as Agatha Christy would have wrote! Help foil the plot and go sailing on the wild adventure as if you are Kate or Henry in charge. You will laugh, cheer, and yes shed a tear, but more than that get a surprise at the end. I was enchanted and thoroughly engrossed with this next adventure of Kate and Henry just as much as the first one. Can't wait to see what happens next!
Jerome Delaroche long time family friend , but pompous idiot. Does not want Kate around or her help in any way and tries his best to shut het out of what she wants.
Henry Deeping, family is in horse breeding, friend of James and Cecelia, the Duke And Duchess of Tereford. Brinsley Gerard, his uncle helped get Henry his position at the Foreign Home office to become a diplomatic representative of sorts.
Miss Daphne Palliser, Oliver Wendell or "Merlin", Tom Jesperson, actor at the Drury Lane Theater, Ned Gardener, who Tereford has seen fit to help is now an apprentice at Weston.
Our group cast of quirky characters are ensembled for the next adventure. You will remember some from the previous book. Thus the intrigue and curiosity have been reopened when Kate spies the villain they captured has been released. So what's a good diplomat to do? Why follow of couse! See what is going on and find out why!
This brings her into Henry's sights, again! Now he can find out who she really is and get her to back off and let the authorities handle it as he has been told to do. Kate does not agree but to gather more information she need access to certain diplomatic parties. As any good sgent, as her grandfather would say, makes a bargain with Henry he can't refuse.
This brings Jerome to warn Henry away from Kate and the damage she will cause him. It also gets back to his mother, who convinces Uncle Brinsley to talk with him and to be practical about any attachment, too.
Kate and Henry agree that without her information no one would have done anything. Now they continue behind uncle Gerard is back with investigating what is going on. When pieces start to fit together and the plot is figured out. They decide to get some advise and see what more they can do to help by telling Gerard what they know, however, he tells them to drop it and all will be taken care of.
Neither agree or like it when they arrive back at Kate's home to discover the final piece. Henry in lists the help of Tereford but can not say more. He agrees with the statement that when all is done Henry would tell him what he can as payment.
So what does or intrepid couple do? Where do they get friendly help from? What is the devilish deed they are trying to stop? Who else do the run into on their journey?
Find out in the tell as good as Agatha Christy would have wrote! Help foil the plot and go sailing on the wild adventure as if you are Kate or Henry in charge. You will laugh, cheer, and yes shed a tear, but more than that get a surprise at the end. I was enchanted and thoroughly engrossed with this next adventure of Kate and Henry just as much as the first one. Can't wait to see what happens next!
September 8, 2023
Mostly spy novel with a little romance! Of course dressing like a man allows access to so many more areas without causing suspicions.
Kate loses her grandfather and then is essentially left out of the circles having to do with the home office. Henry is brought into a job and has to make choices in how much work on the side he will take on. Kate and Henry are reacquainted and develop a friendship and romance.
I liked the overall plot of this book, but found it harder to follow at times when talking about the undercover tasks. Who was doing what seemed to get a little mixed up for me. I wanted more romance too since those portions seemed a bit abbreviated. I just wanted more Kate and Henry instead of the secondary characters. They were just more interesting.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
Kate loses her grandfather and then is essentially left out of the circles having to do with the home office. Henry is brought into a job and has to make choices in how much work on the side he will take on. Kate and Henry are reacquainted and develop a friendship and romance.
I liked the overall plot of this book, but found it harder to follow at times when talking about the undercover tasks. Who was doing what seemed to get a little mixed up for me. I wanted more romance too since those portions seemed a bit abbreviated. I just wanted more Kate and Henry instead of the secondary characters. They were just more interesting.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
October 4, 2023
3.75 stars.... Not exactly my favorite in the series but I enjoyed the unconventional connection between the lovers and the overall plotline was interesting for sure.
April 17, 2024
both genres of this were so mid
September 1, 2024
No character development. Weak plot. Hardly any romance. Waste of time.
August 1, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Ashford & Sourcebooks for this ebook! All opinions are my own.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A Dukes Best Friend follows Kate Meacham and Henry Deeping, our two headstrong, stubborn MCs who clash each time they meet. They make a deal, Kate will introduce Henry to all her important contacts, and Henry will bring Kate to all the high society events she could dream of.
Review:
This book had way too much going on for me to thoroughly enjoy it. It is marketed as a sort of enemies-to-lovers historical mystery, but there is little to none of the “enemies” portion. They quickly warm up to eachother in a very short amount of time, which would not be an issue if that wasn’t such a large portion of the blurb that you read when introduced to this book. The plot is heavy with different aspects of not only the MCs lives, but each side character seems to have way too much going on; it can be hard to follow.
Overall I didn’t hate this book, but it was hard to keep track of what everyone had going on.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A Dukes Best Friend follows Kate Meacham and Henry Deeping, our two headstrong, stubborn MCs who clash each time they meet. They make a deal, Kate will introduce Henry to all her important contacts, and Henry will bring Kate to all the high society events she could dream of.
Review:
This book had way too much going on for me to thoroughly enjoy it. It is marketed as a sort of enemies-to-lovers historical mystery, but there is little to none of the “enemies” portion. They quickly warm up to eachother in a very short amount of time, which would not be an issue if that wasn’t such a large portion of the blurb that you read when introduced to this book. The plot is heavy with different aspects of not only the MCs lives, but each side character seems to have way too much going on; it can be hard to follow.
Overall I didn’t hate this book, but it was hard to keep track of what everyone had going on.
August 1, 2023
3 Stars! This is book 5 in ‘The Duke’s Estates’ and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Henry & Kate and I didn’t care for either one really. She was always pretty nasty and Henry just kinda took it and liked it. There was a lot going on and not all of it got tied up at the end & was difficult to keep straight. Jerome’s character seemed completely unnecessary. The villains ending in the book was kind of anti-climatic, it was just solved too easily. It was an interesting and entertaining read, but one I’m glad is finished.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
August 30, 2023
Ashford does an excellent job with her heroines of illustrating the constraints of women during the Regency period.
This book actually takes place at the end of the Regency, 1820, with the death of George III and Prinny finally becoming King George IV.
Kate Meacham,our intrepid heroine, who appeared in the previous book as Kate Brown, is grieving over the death of her grandfather, a famous Foreign Service officer. Without him, her life has no focus, and she still sneaks into diplomatic parties. Henry Deerling, also a character from the previous book and the best friend of the title, sees her at one of the parties. He is a new low-level Foreign Service officer, who becomes involved with Kate and the others who helped catch a spy.
When one day they see that same spy freely walking the streets, they form a pact to find out why. This leads to a very exciting chase and a meeting with the Queen.
There is a particularly happy ending.
I hope this is not the end of the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book actually takes place at the end of the Regency, 1820, with the death of George III and Prinny finally becoming King George IV.
Kate Meacham,our intrepid heroine, who appeared in the previous book as Kate Brown, is grieving over the death of her grandfather, a famous Foreign Service officer. Without him, her life has no focus, and she still sneaks into diplomatic parties. Henry Deerling, also a character from the previous book and the best friend of the title, sees her at one of the parties. He is a new low-level Foreign Service officer, who becomes involved with Kate and the others who helped catch a spy.
When one day they see that same spy freely walking the streets, they form a pact to find out why. This leads to a very exciting chase and a meeting with the Queen.
There is a particularly happy ending.
I hope this is not the end of the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2023
This is the second series by Jane Ashford where I liked the first 4 books but was disappointed by the 5th book. It lacked the humour and suspense that were in the previous books, the main characters were rather shallow, some parts of the plot pretty convenient. Almost as if the writer wanted to squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out of the character tube. Such a pity. Some books should remain unwritten.
September 10, 2023
Well. This has to be one of the worst romances I’ve ever read. Mostly because there is maybe 10% of a romance in a romance. The rest is uninteresting intrigue for which you just don’t care. So to sum it all up:
1) very unlikable heroine
2) boring and dull hero
3) almost zero romance
Please don’t waste your time on this one :)
1) very unlikable heroine
2) boring and dull hero
3) almost zero romance
Please don’t waste your time on this one :)
August 22, 2023
Set in 1820, when the Prince Regent finally planted his butt on the throne as George IV, The Duke’s Best Friend has a political backdrop that sets it apart. Heroine Kate Meacham was reared by her grandfather, a Foreign Office “legend” who moved in elite diplomatic circles with her at his side. An intelligent woman, she developed a spy’s skillset along with a somewhat inflated sense of her own importance and abilities. She comes down to earth with a thud when her grandfather dies, taking with him the de facto status she took for granted.
When she crosses paths with Henry Deeping, a Foreign Office newbie, it’s clear that they can help each other. Kate offers to share her insider knowledge of who’s who in the Regency ‘intelligence community.’ In exchange, Henry will escort her to the usual balls and receptions, lending legitimacy to her presence. They soon find themselves entangled in an espionage sub-plot, and join forces with sensible thirty-something Daphne Palliser and Oliver Welden to investigate the unfolding mystery.
At times, the mystery aspect of the story feels convoluted and the author squeezes a lot of secondary characters into a fairly short novel, some of whom don’t seem to advance the story. Along with a few go-nowhere plot elements, the reader can’t help wondering why they were included at all when it would have been more satisfying to see the romance remain the firm focus. Redundant recaps and repetition slowed the pace down a bit, but readers who enjoy intrigue romance may appreciate the formula.
The unrealistic abundance of dukes stalking through Regency romances always makes me groan. Fortunately Henry, the hero of this story, is not ‘Your Grace’ but a close friend of the Duke of Tereford and his wife Cecelia, whose story was told in Book 1 of the series. He is an engaging character who feels real and suits the slow-burn romance. He differs from the cliché Regency hero tropes in that he is unexceptional in appearance. He’s well tailored and smart, and the fact that the romance came as a delicious, unsettling surprise for him was one of the charms of this story.
I had mixed feelings about Kate. She is “quite pretty” and “a tall, square-shouldered woman, with honey-colored hair and violet-blue eyes…” (as we are reminded far too often!). She observes herself to be “unconventional” and knows her own mind. Her assertive ways are at times a tad high-handed to endear her to others, yet Henry is smitten. He tolerates her abrasiveness, and often outright disrespect, with puppy-dog equanimity. Kate’s brains and independent spirit reminded me of a Georgette Heyer heroine, but she comes across as having a chip on her shoulder, which is never entirely explained. More insight would have helped.
Although Kate’s stubbornness coupled with occasional stridency and insensitivity to others sometimes had me wondering what Henry saw her in her, their chemistry was interesting and believable. Kate’s lusty dreams about Henry got a bit old as a device to reveal her attraction. I would have preferred to see their deepening dynamic explored in more scenes together; there was some nice banter and chemistry to build on.
Jane Ashford is a polished professional with over 50 titles under her belt. It shows. The Duke’s Best Friend is not her strongest book, but her good quality writing is a cut above average, which draws the reader in and compensates for some plot weaknesses. Overall, the story was enjoyable, and a solid 3.25 stars, with Regency Chronicle endorsement for good writing and an interesting backdrop.
It would have scored higher if Ms. Ashford had made the most of the diplomatic setting. There was a lot going on in 1820, especially involving Russia and Austria and the role the Foreign Office was taking in that power play. Even though Castlereagh is fleetingly mentioned, he seems inert. In reality, his opposition to Troppau-style interventionism was an enormous part of British foreign policy, so it’s hard to imagine people in those circles not even talking about this. A few nuggets of background could have delivered context to certain plot elements that didn’t make a lot of sense.
At a time when AI is invading so many books, including Regency novels, it’s nice to spend an evening reading a well-written book that is not strangely similar to a stack of others in my review pile.
We thank the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for an advance copy of The Duke’s Best Friend. Cover image courtesy of © Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2023. Review by Pam Baker © 2023 The Regency Chronicle.
When she crosses paths with Henry Deeping, a Foreign Office newbie, it’s clear that they can help each other. Kate offers to share her insider knowledge of who’s who in the Regency ‘intelligence community.’ In exchange, Henry will escort her to the usual balls and receptions, lending legitimacy to her presence. They soon find themselves entangled in an espionage sub-plot, and join forces with sensible thirty-something Daphne Palliser and Oliver Welden to investigate the unfolding mystery.
At times, the mystery aspect of the story feels convoluted and the author squeezes a lot of secondary characters into a fairly short novel, some of whom don’t seem to advance the story. Along with a few go-nowhere plot elements, the reader can’t help wondering why they were included at all when it would have been more satisfying to see the romance remain the firm focus. Redundant recaps and repetition slowed the pace down a bit, but readers who enjoy intrigue romance may appreciate the formula.
The unrealistic abundance of dukes stalking through Regency romances always makes me groan. Fortunately Henry, the hero of this story, is not ‘Your Grace’ but a close friend of the Duke of Tereford and his wife Cecelia, whose story was told in Book 1 of the series. He is an engaging character who feels real and suits the slow-burn romance. He differs from the cliché Regency hero tropes in that he is unexceptional in appearance. He’s well tailored and smart, and the fact that the romance came as a delicious, unsettling surprise for him was one of the charms of this story.
I had mixed feelings about Kate. She is “quite pretty” and “a tall, square-shouldered woman, with honey-colored hair and violet-blue eyes…” (as we are reminded far too often!). She observes herself to be “unconventional” and knows her own mind. Her assertive ways are at times a tad high-handed to endear her to others, yet Henry is smitten. He tolerates her abrasiveness, and often outright disrespect, with puppy-dog equanimity. Kate’s brains and independent spirit reminded me of a Georgette Heyer heroine, but she comes across as having a chip on her shoulder, which is never entirely explained. More insight would have helped.
Although Kate’s stubbornness coupled with occasional stridency and insensitivity to others sometimes had me wondering what Henry saw her in her, their chemistry was interesting and believable. Kate’s lusty dreams about Henry got a bit old as a device to reveal her attraction. I would have preferred to see their deepening dynamic explored in more scenes together; there was some nice banter and chemistry to build on.
Jane Ashford is a polished professional with over 50 titles under her belt. It shows. The Duke’s Best Friend is not her strongest book, but her good quality writing is a cut above average, which draws the reader in and compensates for some plot weaknesses. Overall, the story was enjoyable, and a solid 3.25 stars, with Regency Chronicle endorsement for good writing and an interesting backdrop.
It would have scored higher if Ms. Ashford had made the most of the diplomatic setting. There was a lot going on in 1820, especially involving Russia and Austria and the role the Foreign Office was taking in that power play. Even though Castlereagh is fleetingly mentioned, he seems inert. In reality, his opposition to Troppau-style interventionism was an enormous part of British foreign policy, so it’s hard to imagine people in those circles not even talking about this. A few nuggets of background could have delivered context to certain plot elements that didn’t make a lot of sense.
At a time when AI is invading so many books, including Regency novels, it’s nice to spend an evening reading a well-written book that is not strangely similar to a stack of others in my review pile.
We thank the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for an advance copy of The Duke’s Best Friend. Cover image courtesy of © Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2023. Review by Pam Baker © 2023 The Regency Chronicle.
August 30, 2023
Miss Kate Meacham has been at loose ends since the death of her grandfather, the late Sir Michael Meacham who was a legend in the Foreign Office. Sir Michael had included Kate in his work and she loved it. But since his death, doors are closed to her, and people she once considered friends have turned their backs on her and she has been reduced to sneaking into events. It is at once such an event that she encounters Henry Deeping, a new agent for the FO and nephew of Brinsley Gerard, a high-ranking member of the office. Kate and Henry have met before and unfortunately, it was not a pleasant experience. But when Kate sees a foreign agent she thought had been apprehended, she is hell-bent on getting answers and Henry is her “in”. She proposes a mutually beneficial partnership, she will help him by introducing him to everyone he needs to know and he will be her escort back into the diplomatic circles.
Henry Deeping is a younger son with no real interest in the family’s horse breeding business and takes advantage of his uncle’s connections to join the foreign office, but he has yet to figure out how he will make his mark. So when Kate suggests a partnership, he is happy to oblige, because she might be high-handed, arrogant, and a bit bossy, but she is well-connected and knowledgable about the “game”. Theirs is certainly not a case of love at first sight, but as they work together to uncover the new scheme the foreign agent is up to, Henry begins to realize, there is much more to Kate than he ever imagined and wonders how he can convince her to be his partner for life.
This book was OK. It has a decent mystery and I really liked Henry, and while he might be a bit of a beta hero, I loved that he wasn’t a rake or devastatingly handsome, he was just a decent-looking, smart, nice man who was very supportive of Kate, even when she was being difficult (which was more often than not). The book has a lot going on and a lot of secondary characters and at times that becomes distracting making it hard to really “get into” the story. I also think I might have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous book where they first met. Overall, it was an okay book, but I wouldn’t read it again. This is the fifth book in the series and could be read as a standalone, but as I mentioned, I think it would be best to read at least the previous book before reading this one.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
Henry Deeping is a younger son with no real interest in the family’s horse breeding business and takes advantage of his uncle’s connections to join the foreign office, but he has yet to figure out how he will make his mark. So when Kate suggests a partnership, he is happy to oblige, because she might be high-handed, arrogant, and a bit bossy, but she is well-connected and knowledgable about the “game”. Theirs is certainly not a case of love at first sight, but as they work together to uncover the new scheme the foreign agent is up to, Henry begins to realize, there is much more to Kate than he ever imagined and wonders how he can convince her to be his partner for life.
This book was OK. It has a decent mystery and I really liked Henry, and while he might be a bit of a beta hero, I loved that he wasn’t a rake or devastatingly handsome, he was just a decent-looking, smart, nice man who was very supportive of Kate, even when she was being difficult (which was more often than not). The book has a lot going on and a lot of secondary characters and at times that becomes distracting making it hard to really “get into” the story. I also think I might have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous book where they first met. Overall, it was an okay book, but I wouldn’t read it again. This is the fifth book in the series and could be read as a standalone, but as I mentioned, I think it would be best to read at least the previous book before reading this one.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
July 30, 2023
This book is the story of Kate and Henry. Kate is accustomed to roaming embassies and gather all kinds of information and reporting these tidbits to her grandfather who is a big name in the Foreign Office. After the death of her grandfather she’s not supposed to go to these gatherings and parties anymore, since she’s a mere woman, so she feels she’s losing the one thing she’s good at. Henry is a new agent of the Foreign Office and thus new to all the people and the connections. Kate suggest a partnership; he takes her along as his Plus One and she introduces him to all the right people and teaches him some tricks her grandfather taught her.
Kate is a daring person, very independent and not afraid to take action or speak her mind, even impulsive and a bit reckless at times. Henry is much more subdued, the kind of person to wait and see which way the cat jumps. Of course that’s not a problem but I like a hero who at least has self confidence to not think about his appearance, for example!
He felt a familiar sense of eclipse as James sat down. The duke was known as the handsomest man in London. Henry was aware that his own tall, thin figure, pale skin, and dark hair and eyes were not nearly so striking. He looked well enough, but he was no Adonis.
And for an agent of the Foreign Office he’s annoyingly straightforward and hesitant in taking action.
She suggested they pretend to be acquainted, to make their pairing at these gatherings believable, but again Henry is hesitant.
“I don’t know if I could sustain the deception,” he said.
The pace is a bit slow and the relationship is overshadowed by the secondary characters and whatever is going on in their lives. I would have liked a little less of that and a little more time spent on the development of their romance. And I would have liked a hero who is confident, not one who reacts as friends ask him whether Kate liked his ‘accidental kiss’ with …I think so. Then I would have found it plausible that a strong woman as Kate would fall in love with a man like Henry.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kate is a daring person, very independent and not afraid to take action or speak her mind, even impulsive and a bit reckless at times. Henry is much more subdued, the kind of person to wait and see which way the cat jumps. Of course that’s not a problem but I like a hero who at least has self confidence to not think about his appearance, for example!
He felt a familiar sense of eclipse as James sat down. The duke was known as the handsomest man in London. Henry was aware that his own tall, thin figure, pale skin, and dark hair and eyes were not nearly so striking. He looked well enough, but he was no Adonis.
And for an agent of the Foreign Office he’s annoyingly straightforward and hesitant in taking action.
She suggested they pretend to be acquainted, to make their pairing at these gatherings believable, but again Henry is hesitant.
“I don’t know if I could sustain the deception,” he said.
The pace is a bit slow and the relationship is overshadowed by the secondary characters and whatever is going on in their lives. I would have liked a little less of that and a little more time spent on the development of their romance. And I would have liked a hero who is confident, not one who reacts as friends ask him whether Kate liked his ‘accidental kiss’ with …I think so. Then I would have found it plausible that a strong woman as Kate would fall in love with a man like Henry.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 12, 2023
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
After her access to Foreign Office events is curtailed following her grandfather's death, Miss Kate Meacham is more than a little frustrated. She was instrumental in bringing down a villain while in the country, but no one seems to recognise her value. So when Kate spots the villain walking out of the Foreign Office, as if nothing is wrong, she knows she needs to investigate, and she can't do it alone. Unfortunately the only person she can rely on is Henry Deeping. She and Henry clashed during their first meeting, and whenever they are together they can't help but fight. Will they be able to work together enough to save the day, or will their animosity and chemistry be too much to handle?
When we met Henry and Kate (in disguise) in the previous book, I knew they were going to be a fantastic couple, though not one whose romance would go along smoothly. Kate has always been around the Foreign Office, due to her grandfather, and she spent most of her early adulthood at FO functions. But since her grandfather died, her admittance to events has been curtailed, and people she thought were friends, or at the very least allies, are shutting her out. Being a female alone in the world is tough, and Kate is realising how privileged she had been with her grandfather. Henry has just taken a position with the Foreign Office, and though Kate wished to work with anyone else, Henry was the only person she could rely on. I loved seeing the pair of them grow, and respect one another. Yes, they had a little bit of a love hate relationship, but lack of respect was definitely not an issue. They supported each other at every turn, and knew that they wouldn't let each other down on purpose. The plot line took a turn I wasn't expecting, but I adored seeing them work together in close quarters, when everything was on the line. I'm not sure if there are any more books in the series, because this tied everything up very nicely. My favourite thing about the series is seeing James and Cecelia again and again, and as a very happily married couple. A wonderful book, part of a great series!
After her access to Foreign Office events is curtailed following her grandfather's death, Miss Kate Meacham is more than a little frustrated. She was instrumental in bringing down a villain while in the country, but no one seems to recognise her value. So when Kate spots the villain walking out of the Foreign Office, as if nothing is wrong, she knows she needs to investigate, and she can't do it alone. Unfortunately the only person she can rely on is Henry Deeping. She and Henry clashed during their first meeting, and whenever they are together they can't help but fight. Will they be able to work together enough to save the day, or will their animosity and chemistry be too much to handle?
When we met Henry and Kate (in disguise) in the previous book, I knew they were going to be a fantastic couple, though not one whose romance would go along smoothly. Kate has always been around the Foreign Office, due to her grandfather, and she spent most of her early adulthood at FO functions. But since her grandfather died, her admittance to events has been curtailed, and people she thought were friends, or at the very least allies, are shutting her out. Being a female alone in the world is tough, and Kate is realising how privileged she had been with her grandfather. Henry has just taken a position with the Foreign Office, and though Kate wished to work with anyone else, Henry was the only person she could rely on. I loved seeing the pair of them grow, and respect one another. Yes, they had a little bit of a love hate relationship, but lack of respect was definitely not an issue. They supported each other at every turn, and knew that they wouldn't let each other down on purpose. The plot line took a turn I wasn't expecting, but I adored seeing them work together in close quarters, when everything was on the line. I'm not sure if there are any more books in the series, because this tied everything up very nicely. My favourite thing about the series is seeing James and Cecelia again and again, and as a very happily married couple. A wonderful book, part of a great series!
July 31, 2023
BLURB
Henry Deeping and Kate Meacham seem to clash every time they meet. Kate is frustrated by the change in her status following the death of her grandfather, a legendary figure in diplomatic circles. As a lone single woman, she is now effectively nobody, even though she knows everyone and has made important contributions to diplomacy in the past. Henry, just joining the Foreign Office, is wondering how to make his mark.
They agree to an exchange—Henry will serve as Kate's escort to important events to which she is no longer invited, and Kate will introduce him to the important people she knows so well. But when they spot a foreign agent they thought had been apprehended, they decide to investigate on their own, enlisting a motley group of friends and relying on each other to uncover the truth.
REVIEW
This was such a fun historical romance. Kate is clever and headstrong, while Henry is respectful and smart and isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in.
This is actually the fifth book in a series, which I didn’t realise, but having not read the first four took nothing away from the book.
The plot was fast-paced and simple to follow.
The only bugbear I had with this book were all the subplots. There were just too many that were not necessary to the overall plot. The book was overcrowded, which led to Kate and Henry’s relationship being underdeveloped, which is a shame.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review. This review will also be posted to my Instagram account (@kathleenryderauthor), as well as to my blog (daydreamsinthedesert.com) closer to the release date.
Henry Deeping and Kate Meacham seem to clash every time they meet. Kate is frustrated by the change in her status following the death of her grandfather, a legendary figure in diplomatic circles. As a lone single woman, she is now effectively nobody, even though she knows everyone and has made important contributions to diplomacy in the past. Henry, just joining the Foreign Office, is wondering how to make his mark.
They agree to an exchange—Henry will serve as Kate's escort to important events to which she is no longer invited, and Kate will introduce him to the important people she knows so well. But when they spot a foreign agent they thought had been apprehended, they decide to investigate on their own, enlisting a motley group of friends and relying on each other to uncover the truth.
REVIEW
This was such a fun historical romance. Kate is clever and headstrong, while Henry is respectful and smart and isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in.
This is actually the fifth book in a series, which I didn’t realise, but having not read the first four took nothing away from the book.
The plot was fast-paced and simple to follow.
The only bugbear I had with this book were all the subplots. There were just too many that were not necessary to the overall plot. The book was overcrowded, which led to Kate and Henry’s relationship being underdeveloped, which is a shame.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review. This review will also be posted to my Instagram account (@kathleenryderauthor), as well as to my blog (daydreamsinthedesert.com) closer to the release date.
October 3, 2023
I couldn't resist this book based on the description (and the lovely cover didn't hurt either!). But I hadn't read the previous books in the series - nor anything at all by Jane Ashford. So I took time to read at least the first couple of books in the series before diving into this one. I was glad I did - those first two provided enough background for me to feel comfortable here with this one, not constantly wondering about characters and incidents mentioned here. Like the first two books, this one features an intelligent young woman who aspires to a life outside what's expected for her. When Kate's grandfather was alive and a legend in diplomatic circles, she accompanied him frequently and dreamed of a career in her own right. But when he passed away, she found doors rapidly closing on her dreams. When a chance sighting of a man who should be in prison (known to her from events in a previous book) she sees an opportunity to make her name and prove herself capable of being a valuable asset to the Foreign Office. She pulls Henry Deeping into her plans - someone she knows a bit from the aforementioned events in the previous book. Henry is a bit disenchanted with his early days in his new position with the Foreign Office, but also a bit reluctant to agree to her plans, both out of concern for her safety and for his future career. But this is a romance - so of course they're attracted to each other and we all know where things will go and end up. But it's a fun journey getting there - we get to know the characters as they get to know each other, and there are fun bits of history thrown in as well.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
August 29, 2023
Kate Meacham, 24, lost her parents in a shipwreck and was raised by her grandfather who has recently passed away. She now lives with just her cook who thinks that it is unseemly that she essentially lives alone.
Kate’s grandfather worked for the Foreign Office and was a well-respected man. Kate was always a part of his dealings and learned so much from him. A rash and impatient woman, she wants to be a spy. To that end, she slips into soirees means for Foreign Service employees listening closely to conversations to glean what she can from them. Her childhood friend, Jerome Delaroche, has told her she should not be doing these things and she needs to stay away from these events.
Henry Deeping works for the Foreign Office and is a friend of the Duke of Tereford. At a dinner party Henry and Kate meet. Taken aback by her abruptness, he is also intrigued by her knowledge of the diplomatic world. They recently met on a clandestine mission and now they have agreed to help one another find out information on someone.
Oh my. Stories about spies is my least favorite trope and I didn’t know that would be the case with this book. I admire Kate’s tenaciousness and Henry’s patience with her. The author certainly stayed true to history and that was interesting. But, spies and working for the Foreign Service is just not my forte.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Kate’s grandfather worked for the Foreign Office and was a well-respected man. Kate was always a part of his dealings and learned so much from him. A rash and impatient woman, she wants to be a spy. To that end, she slips into soirees means for Foreign Service employees listening closely to conversations to glean what she can from them. Her childhood friend, Jerome Delaroche, has told her she should not be doing these things and she needs to stay away from these events.
Henry Deeping works for the Foreign Office and is a friend of the Duke of Tereford. At a dinner party Henry and Kate meet. Taken aback by her abruptness, he is also intrigued by her knowledge of the diplomatic world. They recently met on a clandestine mission and now they have agreed to help one another find out information on someone.
Oh my. Stories about spies is my least favorite trope and I didn’t know that would be the case with this book. I admire Kate’s tenaciousness and Henry’s patience with her. The author certainly stayed true to history and that was interesting. But, spies and working for the Foreign Service is just not my forte.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 4, 2023
Slow burn, low angst romance
Kate and Henry form a mutually beneficial alliance - he escorts her to the society events that she uses to gather intel, and she will help him learn who's who in the intelligence community of London in 1820. Henry's officious uncle wants to be in charge of the ad hoc group of friends that find themselves investigating a man they thought was supposed to be in prison, but Kate refuses to be put aside and so the mystery unfolds as both Kate and Henry, along with Miss Palliser and Oliver Welden, pursue every clue to determine what's going on and why.
I really loved that these characters aren't lauded as the "most handsome" or "most beautiful," instead we're told that they're attractive enough and that's a refreshing change from most hist-roms I've read. Henry has a quiet sort of bravery, willing to step up when necessary but not the sort to immediately take charge of any situation. That pairs well with Kate's need to prove her relevance and worth, and Henry seems happy to let her take the lead most of the time.
I did think her "naughty dreams" was an overused plot device - once or twice would have been more than sufficient to let us know how attracted she was to Henry. I enjoyed the secondary romance and was happy to see that the story was wrapped up with two sets of HEAs. The investigation did leave one villain unaccounted for at the end, but perhaps that will be addressed in a future book.
The writing is instantly captivating and I read this through in one sitting. I enjoy this author's well-developed characters and am looking forward to reading more in this enjoyable series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Kate and Henry form a mutually beneficial alliance - he escorts her to the society events that she uses to gather intel, and she will help him learn who's who in the intelligence community of London in 1820. Henry's officious uncle wants to be in charge of the ad hoc group of friends that find themselves investigating a man they thought was supposed to be in prison, but Kate refuses to be put aside and so the mystery unfolds as both Kate and Henry, along with Miss Palliser and Oliver Welden, pursue every clue to determine what's going on and why.
I really loved that these characters aren't lauded as the "most handsome" or "most beautiful," instead we're told that they're attractive enough and that's a refreshing change from most hist-roms I've read. Henry has a quiet sort of bravery, willing to step up when necessary but not the sort to immediately take charge of any situation. That pairs well with Kate's need to prove her relevance and worth, and Henry seems happy to let her take the lead most of the time.
I did think her "naughty dreams" was an overused plot device - once or twice would have been more than sufficient to let us know how attracted she was to Henry. I enjoyed the secondary romance and was happy to see that the story was wrapped up with two sets of HEAs. The investigation did leave one villain unaccounted for at the end, but perhaps that will be addressed in a future book.
The writing is instantly captivating and I read this through in one sitting. I enjoy this author's well-developed characters and am looking forward to reading more in this enjoyable series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
August 7, 2023
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read The Duke’s Best Friend and provide my feedback.
Miss Kate Meacham is a very unusual lady for Regency times. Raised by her grandfather who worked as a diplomat for the Foreign Office, Kate has a natural proclivity for and interest in politics and foreign affairs, which most of society disapproves of. Henry Deeping, second-best friend of the duke (after his new wife), is a new employee of the Foreign Office, in need of connections and introductions. When the two cross paths in Leicestershire, they catch an agent acting against the best interests of England. To their surprise, the man is released and the pair is reunited to uncover his new scheme.
This book is a fun read about an unconventional pair and their charming friends. With a slow burn, fade-to-black romance, the book is very entertaining. The mystery was a neat element of The Duke’s Best Friend. In all, I would definitely recommend this to any fans of historical romance novels.
Miss Kate Meacham is a very unusual lady for Regency times. Raised by her grandfather who worked as a diplomat for the Foreign Office, Kate has a natural proclivity for and interest in politics and foreign affairs, which most of society disapproves of. Henry Deeping, second-best friend of the duke (after his new wife), is a new employee of the Foreign Office, in need of connections and introductions. When the two cross paths in Leicestershire, they catch an agent acting against the best interests of England. To their surprise, the man is released and the pair is reunited to uncover his new scheme.
This book is a fun read about an unconventional pair and their charming friends. With a slow burn, fade-to-black romance, the book is very entertaining. The mystery was a neat element of The Duke’s Best Friend. In all, I would definitely recommend this to any fans of historical romance novels.
November 20, 2023
4.5 Stars
It took me a while to really appreciate Kate. While I understood her feelings and her wish for more, it just botheted me that she seemed such a whiner. True she didn't have any real guideance or role model and her Grandfather indulged her. He should have sent her to a finishing school. In the end I understood why he didn't. When she applied herself, she was observant, analytical and quick thinking. She liked living on the edge of propriety, always careful to keep at least a toe on the proper side.
Henry I liked much sooner. He was just trying to make the mess of his life into something noble and noteworthy. He has the guideance and role models in his life and sisters he wants to protect. He is a closet adventurer and I think that was what truly drew him to Kate. His bluster was, ultimately, part of his charm.
Together they were a force. A storm. A wall of determination with the desire to see justice done.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of this story from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It took me a while to really appreciate Kate. While I understood her feelings and her wish for more, it just botheted me that she seemed such a whiner. True she didn't have any real guideance or role model and her Grandfather indulged her. He should have sent her to a finishing school. In the end I understood why he didn't. When she applied herself, she was observant, analytical and quick thinking. She liked living on the edge of propriety, always careful to keep at least a toe on the proper side.
Henry I liked much sooner. He was just trying to make the mess of his life into something noble and noteworthy. He has the guideance and role models in his life and sisters he wants to protect. He is a closet adventurer and I think that was what truly drew him to Kate. His bluster was, ultimately, part of his charm.
Together they were a force. A storm. A wall of determination with the desire to see justice done.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of this story from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 11, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
This was a fun read - 3.5 rounded up to 4. I have not read the prior books in the series though I have read other historicals from Ashford. This read fine as a standalone though it is clear some of the secondary characters were the main characters from books earlier in the series.
I enjoyed the political intrigue and both Kate and Henry are likeable characters. Kate is on her own after the death of her uncle whowas very active in diplomatic circles. Kate is attempting to maintain her presence in those circles and she convinces Henry to agree to escort her to events in exchange for her expertise. The mystery is really fallout from a prior novel so is pretty light and resolves itself quickly at the end. There isn't anything deep here. You get a well written and fun historical with chracters who live on the edge of society rather than in the heights.
I enjoyed it.
This was a fun read - 3.5 rounded up to 4. I have not read the prior books in the series though I have read other historicals from Ashford. This read fine as a standalone though it is clear some of the secondary characters were the main characters from books earlier in the series.
I enjoyed the political intrigue and both Kate and Henry are likeable characters. Kate is on her own after the death of her uncle whowas very active in diplomatic circles. Kate is attempting to maintain her presence in those circles and she convinces Henry to agree to escort her to events in exchange for her expertise. The mystery is really fallout from a prior novel so is pretty light and resolves itself quickly at the end. There isn't anything deep here. You get a well written and fun historical with chracters who live on the edge of society rather than in the heights.
I enjoyed it.
September 5, 2023
A fun and witty historical romance - complete with a side of mystery!
In the Duke's Best Friend the story is about a woman named Kate whom once had all the freedom, but suddenly upon the loss of her grandfather she discovered that she no longer had the freedom to get by with what she once did. She then meets Henry, whom can provide the freedom to her in exchange for her connections.
I really enjoyed Kate as a character - she is very headstrong, and brash. Henry is young, charming, and oh so smart and together they make quite a pair.
I had not read any of the other books in this series but was able to understand this one just fine, and would be interested to read other books by this author as I do enjoy her writing style. All in all I would recommend this book as it is a quick, easy read, and does have a decent storyline with a beautiful romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
In the Duke's Best Friend the story is about a woman named Kate whom once had all the freedom, but suddenly upon the loss of her grandfather she discovered that she no longer had the freedom to get by with what she once did. She then meets Henry, whom can provide the freedom to her in exchange for her connections.
I really enjoyed Kate as a character - she is very headstrong, and brash. Henry is young, charming, and oh so smart and together they make quite a pair.
I had not read any of the other books in this series but was able to understand this one just fine, and would be interested to read other books by this author as I do enjoy her writing style. All in all I would recommend this book as it is a quick, easy read, and does have a decent storyline with a beautiful romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2023
This is Book 5 of the series The Duke's Estates. I haven't read all of the books in the series, but I had no trouble reading this as a standalone. Although, the characters of prior books also appear, so it might be more enjoyable to read in order to get their stories as well.
This was a fun and fast-paced read with a bit of intrigue and mystery mixed in. Kate is accustomed to moving about freely in the embassies of London. But when her famous grandfather passes away, that is no longer the case. Henry is a newbie in the foreign office and wants to make his mark. He and Kate decide to form an alliance so she can show him the ropes and provide her expertise and he can gain her access into important events. As the story progresses, the intrigue, mystery, and romance kept me interested till the end and I enjoyed the banter between Kate and Henry. Quite an enjoyable story!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
This was a fun and fast-paced read with a bit of intrigue and mystery mixed in. Kate is accustomed to moving about freely in the embassies of London. But when her famous grandfather passes away, that is no longer the case. Henry is a newbie in the foreign office and wants to make his mark. He and Kate decide to form an alliance so she can show him the ropes and provide her expertise and he can gain her access into important events. As the story progresses, the intrigue, mystery, and romance kept me interested till the end and I enjoyed the banter between Kate and Henry. Quite an enjoyable story!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
August 6, 2023
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley*
First off, this is terribly well written! There's a lot of good writing out there, but this author has a far superior grasp on language and expression than most.
I came to this story having not read the predecessors, so while I didn't know the characters already, it wasn't much of an issue. I enjoyed our herione, Kate, and felt her frustration at the constraints placed on women. As for Henry Deeping, he didn't seem quite as well fleshed out as Kate. At times, he was a bit of a nothing.
On the romance side, I'm not sure I quite felt the pull of longing that Kate and Henry had for each other as strongly as intended. Indeed, Daphne Palliser's quiet conversations with her potential SO were more intriguing.
But it was enjoyable overall with a satifying conclusion.
First off, this is terribly well written! There's a lot of good writing out there, but this author has a far superior grasp on language and expression than most.
I came to this story having not read the predecessors, so while I didn't know the characters already, it wasn't much of an issue. I enjoyed our herione, Kate, and felt her frustration at the constraints placed on women. As for Henry Deeping, he didn't seem quite as well fleshed out as Kate. At times, he was a bit of a nothing.
On the romance side, I'm not sure I quite felt the pull of longing that Kate and Henry had for each other as strongly as intended. Indeed, Daphne Palliser's quiet conversations with her potential SO were more intriguing.
But it was enjoyable overall with a satifying conclusion.
August 29, 2023
Henry and Kate met under different circumstances at the end of Book 4 and reconnect here in London. Henry is the eldest son of a gentleman horse breeder who is starting his new career as a diplomat. He runs into Kate sneaking her way into receptions and events and learns that she is the granddaughter of a well-known diplomat. She offers to introduce him to important people in their field in exchange for his escort at these events. When they spot a villain out in the world and no longer in police custody, they follow the lead and investigate on their own. Kate is resistant to forming any connection to Henry or pursuing marriage of any sort, but Henry is accepting of his growing feelings for Kate. While Henry usually tries to maintain order and propriety, he seizes the opportunity to be daring and go after what he wants.
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