What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bed Me Books #1
Bed Me, Duke
A desperate Scottish countess seeks lovemaking lessons from a gorgeous rogue.
He can’t stand her fierce resistance to his charms. She can’t stand his dazzling good looks. But why bother standing when they’d both prefer to lie down on a bed together? Especially since neither has any intention of falling in love.
Captain Jack Pike leads a blissfully carefree existence as London’s richest and most notorious rake. Becoming the Duke of Dunmore would ruin his fun. He doesn’t even know where Dunmore is—Scotland, maybe? To add insult to injury, the savage Countess of Kinmarloch refuses to swoon for him. But why should he care? Jack only beds women married to other men, after all, and there’s not a man in the British Empire brave enough to wed the feral countess.
A countess in her own right, Helen Boyd must marry the new Duke of Dunmore to save the people of Kinmarloch from starvation. If only the troublesome Jack Pike would go away and stop torturing her with his handsome face, perfect male body, and shameless flirtation. On the other hand, Jack might be just the man to teach the woefully inexperienced Helen a thing or two about seducing the duke and luring him to the altar. And as part of her training, there would be the added advantage that she would get to bed the most beautiful man she’s ever seen.
Friction leads to fire leads to forever-after in Bed Me, Duke, the first book in the steamy Regency romance series The Bed Me Books from author Felicity Niven.
Complete content warnings available at author's website.
He can’t stand her fierce resistance to his charms. She can’t stand his dazzling good looks. But why bother standing when they’d both prefer to lie down on a bed together? Especially since neither has any intention of falling in love.
Captain Jack Pike leads a blissfully carefree existence as London’s richest and most notorious rake. Becoming the Duke of Dunmore would ruin his fun. He doesn’t even know where Dunmore is—Scotland, maybe? To add insult to injury, the savage Countess of Kinmarloch refuses to swoon for him. But why should he care? Jack only beds women married to other men, after all, and there’s not a man in the British Empire brave enough to wed the feral countess.
A countess in her own right, Helen Boyd must marry the new Duke of Dunmore to save the people of Kinmarloch from starvation. If only the troublesome Jack Pike would go away and stop torturing her with his handsome face, perfect male body, and shameless flirtation. On the other hand, Jack might be just the man to teach the woefully inexperienced Helen a thing or two about seducing the duke and luring him to the altar. And as part of her training, there would be the added advantage that she would get to bed the most beautiful man she’s ever seen.
Friction leads to fire leads to forever-after in Bed Me, Duke, the first book in the steamy Regency romance series The Bed Me Books from author Felicity Niven.
Complete content warnings available at author's website.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2023
304 people are currently reading
1525 people want to read
About the author
Felicity Niven
11 books337 followersSign up for Felicity Niven's newsletter and to receive a free prequel novella to the series The Lovelocks of London at https://www.felicityniven.com/reviews....
Felicity Niven is a hopeful romantic. Writing Regency romance is her third career after two degrees from Harvard. And you know what they say about third things? Yep, it’s a charm. She splits her time between the temperate South in the winter and the cool Great Lakes in the summer and thinks there can be no greater comforts than a pot of soup on the stove, a set of clean sheets on the bed, and a Jimmy Stewart film on a screen in the living room.
Felicity Niven is a hopeful romantic. Writing Regency romance is her third career after two degrees from Harvard. And you know what they say about third things? Yep, it’s a charm. She splits her time between the temperate South in the winter and the cool Great Lakes in the summer and thinks there can be no greater comforts than a pot of soup on the stove, a set of clean sheets on the bed, and a Jimmy Stewart film on a screen in the living room.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
July 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and read it over 2 days and give it a 4.25* I do not care for the sex lessons trope and think the review from Nabilah hits the mark completely. I have a love it or leave it relationship with the author and this was a real winner. I enjoy strong heroines and Helen is wonderful and ticks all the boxes for me. I felt Jack's story to be the weaker part of the plot but still found him to be lovable. I look forward to continuing the series.
October 3, 2024
2.5⭐ “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” This story rubbed me the wrong way right from the start. In Chapter One Helen confronted Jack in his bedroom wearing only a nightdress. The scene dripped with coy innuendo.
"First, I must ask that naething which passes between us tonight be spoken about, ever, to anyone...
Which brings me to a pet peeve—phonetic Scottish brogue. Naething takes me out of a story quicker. I cannae abide it. It makes as much sense as buttering both sides of a slice of toast. Saying on occasion that Helen spoke with a soft burr would have sufficed. Her speech continually pulled me out of the story. I mean, if it’s so necessary then why aren’t posh British accents given the same treatment?
Niven had strained my suspension of disbelief in previous books, but there was enough charm to overlook it. This time though, *snap* This was a historical romance the way a portable beach chair resembles a wooden park bench.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spoilers if ye dare, laddies and lassies:
🐑🐏 In order to charm the Duke of Dunmore into marrying her, Helen asked Jack to train her in bedsport. In 1819? *flails* Come again? Did I miss something?
👜+🪈🪈Steamy bits. I was overwhelmed by one scene running into the next. Not to give anything away, but three is within my comfort zone, perhaps four... YMMV. Personally it felt like filler. To be fair, I can think of far worse ways to raise a word count (rehashing events, extended introspection, detailing interiors down to the silk wallpaper and drapes).
🏰 The relationship was based on deception and lust. A poor substitute for romance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To end on (sort of) a positive note—kudos to Phinneas who was Jack'stherapist friend. His story is next. In the pursuit of love he probably will turn into a nitwit too.
Fulfills bingo square N° 20 ➛ Historical Romance (Ha! Call me a hypocrite).
【⭕️】【02】【03】 【⭕️】【05】
【06】【⭕️】【08】 【09】【10】
【⭕️】【12】 【🎰】 【⭕】【⭕】
【16】 【17】 【18】 【19】 【⭕️】
【21】 【22】 【23】 【⭕️】【25】
"First, I must ask that naething which passes between us tonight be spoken about, ever, to anyone...
Which brings me to a pet peeve—phonetic Scottish brogue. Naething takes me out of a story quicker. I cannae abide it. It makes as much sense as buttering both sides of a slice of toast. Saying on occasion that Helen spoke with a soft burr would have sufficed. Her speech continually pulled me out of the story. I mean, if it’s so necessary then why aren’t posh British accents given the same treatment?
Niven had strained my suspension of disbelief in previous books, but there was enough charm to overlook it. This time though, *snap* This was a historical romance the way a portable beach chair resembles a wooden park bench.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spoilers if ye dare, laddies and lassies:
🐑🐏 In order to charm the Duke of Dunmore into marrying her, Helen asked Jack to train her in bedsport. In 1819? *flails* Come again? Did I miss something?
👜+🪈🪈Steamy bits. I was overwhelmed by one scene running into the next. Not to give anything away, but three is within my comfort zone, perhaps four... YMMV. Personally it felt like filler. To be fair, I can think of far worse ways to raise a word count (rehashing events, extended introspection, detailing interiors down to the silk wallpaper and drapes).
🏰 The relationship was based on deception and lust. A poor substitute for romance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To end on (sort of) a positive note—kudos to Phinneas who was Jack's
Fulfills bingo square N° 20 ➛ Historical Romance (Ha! Call me a hypocrite).
【⭕️】【02】【03】 【⭕️】【05】
【06】【⭕️】【08】 【09】【10】
【⭕️】【12】 【🎰】 【⭕】【⭕】
【16】 【17】 【18】 【19】 【⭕️】
【21】 【22】 【23】 【⭕️】【25】
July 7, 2023
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes plus a second epilogue 12 years in the future available through newsletter subscription
Percentage where mains are first on page together:
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Niven’s new series, The Bed Me Books! There is the tiniest mention in passing to the Lovelocks – which is Niven’s first series (The Lovelocks of London) but not necessary to read first if you want to start here.
Basic plot:
I usually summarize my own, but I love this line so much from the blurb I’m going to add it here:
A countess in her own right, Helen Boyd must marry the new Duke of Dunmore to save the people of Kinmarloch from starvation. If only the troublesome Jack Pike would go away and stop torturing her with his handsome face, perfect male body, and shameless flirtation.
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian/Regency time period (1819)
- Scotland/London location
- soldier hero (navy)
- sex lessons
- secret identity
- Countess heroine needs a husband
- heroine considers herself plain/even ugly
- light touch of epistolary
- medium to higher steam – 4 full scenes plus more!
Ages:
- Heroine is 26, hero is 34?
First lines:
”Jack.”
He held still, sure it was a dream.
“Jack Pike.”
My thoughts:
Oh, my gosh. THE SMILE on my face by the end of chapter 1...
I did feel like the story started fast – and I felt a bit like I was missing part of it because it really throws you into their relationship. I generally prefer that I get to know the couple from the beginning of their relationship, but it worked here. Especially because we don’t get too far in and then we get to go back and get all the knowledge of the characters first meeting.
Niven has a unique and fun style of writing. I just never know quite what to expect. I love watching her characters think they should act one way, and then deliciously give into a baser, romantic impulse. I love falling in love with her characters and being with them as they fall in love. This story was just perfection.
I adored both Helen and her prickly personality. She is strong and ever so loyal to those close to her. She would do anything to help them!
I loved Jack and his sass. I loved his growth through the story. I loved them circling each other.
I am so excited for more in this series!!!
Endearments
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Content warnings:
Author given content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes plus a second epilogue 12 years in the future available through newsletter subscription
Percentage where mains are first on page together:
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Niven’s new series, The Bed Me Books! There is the tiniest mention in passing to the Lovelocks – which is Niven’s first series (The Lovelocks of London) but not necessary to read first if you want to start here.
Basic plot:
I usually summarize my own, but I love this line so much from the blurb I’m going to add it here:
A countess in her own right, Helen Boyd must marry the new Duke of Dunmore to save the people of Kinmarloch from starvation. If only the troublesome Jack Pike would go away and stop torturing her with his handsome face, perfect male body, and shameless flirtation.
Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian/Regency time period (1819)
- Scotland/London location
- soldier hero (navy)
- sex lessons
- secret identity
- Countess heroine needs a husband
- heroine considers herself plain/even ugly
- light touch of epistolary
- medium to higher steam – 4 full scenes plus more!
Ages:
- Heroine is 26, hero is 34?
First lines:
”Jack.”
He held still, sure it was a dream.
“Jack Pike.”
My thoughts:
Oh, my gosh. THE SMILE on my face by the end of chapter 1...
I did feel like the story started fast – and I felt a bit like I was missing part of it because it really throws you into their relationship. I generally prefer that I get to know the couple from the beginning of their relationship, but it worked here. Especially because we don’t get too far in and then we get to go back and get all the knowledge of the characters first meeting.
Niven has a unique and fun style of writing. I just never know quite what to expect. I love watching her characters think they should act one way, and then deliciously give into a baser, romantic impulse. I love falling in love with her characters and being with them as they fall in love. This story was just perfection.
I adored both Helen and her prickly personality. She is strong and ever so loyal to those close to her. She would do anything to help them!
I loved Jack and his sass. I loved his growth through the story. I loved them circling each other.
I am so excited for more in this series!!!
Endearments
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Content warnings:
Author given content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
June 26, 2023
I received an ARC from the author, and all thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Tropes:
- Plain heroine/rake hero
- Settings in Scotland and London
- Sex lessons 101
- Secret identity
- Virginal heroine
The sex lessons trope in historical romance has never been my cup of tea. Firstly, it doesn't quite make sense to me, considering the high value placed on a bride's virginity and purity during those times. Wouldn't a spouse grow suspicious if their partner possessed extensive knowledge of the carnal arts? Moreover, without the convenience of the internet, where would one gain such knowledge unless they had, well, engaged in activities that society would frown upon? I'd argue that this trope only makes sense if the heroine aspires to become a courtesan, mistress, or prostitute.
That being said, I must admit I was suitably impressed by Ms. Nivens' ability to infuse a fresh spin into an otherwise familiar (dare I say it?) and overused trope. Surprisingly, I was completely immersed in the story and didn't even notice the anachronism (I know, it's an inevitable aspect of modern historical romances). Anachronism becomes tolerable when the author excels in other areas, such as prose, storytelling, and whatever else keeps readers (like me) captivated, thus overshadowing the anachronistic elements.
Likes:
- Fast-paced and easy to read
- Delivers steaminess beyond her previous books.
- Introduces lovely side characters that make the upcoming books in the series all the more intriguing.
- I adore the heroine, Helen, who may appear coarse and plain, but is fiercely loyal and dutiful to a fault.
What could have made it better:
- Grovelling!! The lack of grovelling from the hero for his deception (and it's a biggie!) is super disappointing.
I adore Helen, but Jack... not so much. It's purely a matter of personal preference. I become super annoyed when a man beds a woman without any intention of marrying her (or worse when he realizes his love for her too late). Jack becomes irritated whenever Helen mentions marrying the Duke of Dunmore, yet he never places himself in the groom's position. Helen is desperate and merely wants to marry the duke for the sake of her people. He's the kind who fools himself right up until the end. He beds the heroine but hesitates at the idea of marrying her. Gah.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! Ms. Nivens is definitely a rising star in the historical romance genre. The sneak peek of the next book has me yearning for more of her addictive storytelling.
Tropes:
- Plain heroine/rake hero
- Settings in Scotland and London
- Sex lessons 101
- Secret identity
- Virginal heroine
The sex lessons trope in historical romance has never been my cup of tea. Firstly, it doesn't quite make sense to me, considering the high value placed on a bride's virginity and purity during those times. Wouldn't a spouse grow suspicious if their partner possessed extensive knowledge of the carnal arts? Moreover, without the convenience of the internet, where would one gain such knowledge unless they had, well, engaged in activities that society would frown upon? I'd argue that this trope only makes sense if the heroine aspires to become a courtesan, mistress, or prostitute.
That being said, I must admit I was suitably impressed by Ms. Nivens' ability to infuse a fresh spin into an otherwise familiar (dare I say it?) and overused trope. Surprisingly, I was completely immersed in the story and didn't even notice the anachronism (I know, it's an inevitable aspect of modern historical romances). Anachronism becomes tolerable when the author excels in other areas, such as prose, storytelling, and whatever else keeps readers (like me) captivated, thus overshadowing the anachronistic elements.
Likes:
- Fast-paced and easy to read
- Delivers steaminess beyond her previous books.
- Introduces lovely side characters that make the upcoming books in the series all the more intriguing.
- I adore the heroine, Helen, who may appear coarse and plain, but is fiercely loyal and dutiful to a fault.
What could have made it better:
- Grovelling!! The lack of grovelling from the hero for his deception (and it's a biggie!) is super disappointing.
I adore Helen, but Jack... not so much. It's purely a matter of personal preference. I become super annoyed when a man beds a woman without any intention of marrying her (or worse when he realizes his love for her too late). Jack becomes irritated whenever Helen mentions marrying the Duke of Dunmore, yet he never places himself in the groom's position. Helen is desperate and merely wants to marry the duke for the sake of her people. He's the kind who fools himself right up until the end. He beds the heroine but hesitates at the idea of marrying her. Gah.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! Ms. Nivens is definitely a rising star in the historical romance genre. The sneak peek of the next book has me yearning for more of her addictive storytelling.
November 14, 2023
4.5 stars
“He was only a few yards away. He straightened from his bow. Her chest began to hurt. Tall with broad shoulders. Dark blond hair. Light brown eyes flashing above perfect cheekbones. White teeth gleaming in his grin. A square jaw covered in barely visible stubble. Handsome. Devastatingly, crushingly handsome. And very, very secure in his knowledge of his own beauty. How could he not be? There was rain dripping from sculpted lips now that his hat was in his hand. She’d like to lick the rain off those lips.
I was in desperate need of a book to break me out of a slump, and Ms Niven just blew me away with Bed Me, Duke. A beautiful portrayal of love, in turns fiercely passionate and achingly tender, this story captured my heart.
What I Liked
The longing, the wanting, the fierce desire and chemistry between Helen and Jack. Oh my. Their need for each other (physical, at first, and then emotional) was as essential as breathing and I could feel it.
Jack’s character growth, from a lovable but jaded scoundrel to a man of honor and love.
He was extraordinarily, achingly beautiful…
“Mo luran,” and she was next to him. Her hands came to his face and she ran the tips of her fingers over his cheeks, his jaw, his lips. “So beautiful. My sunrise. My stars.”
…and he seemed happy to coast through life on his looks, seemingly without much of a moral compass (before Helen, he only bedded married women). But he always had such a generous spirit, and his love for Helen and concern for the people of Kinmarloch made him a better man.
Helen, whose thoughts and actions defined her as a strong, smart, noble, protective and fiercely loyal Scot, but had an aching tenderness deep down inside. She was described as plain (and worse) and it hurt to read how she thought of herself as ugly, and not worthy of a man like Jack because she wasn’t “beautiful” like the ladies of London society. But Jack never thought of her as ugly, just different looking, interesting, and as he got to know her she became truly beautiful to him. And even better, because of how he treated her, she felt beautiful.
“Helen.”
He kissed her mouth but she didn’t kiss him back. He pulled his head away and looked at her. Her nose, her jaw, her skin, her brow, her eyes, her mouth.
“You’re not ugly.”
“Plain, then.”
“You’re not.”
“I am nae beautiful.”
“I don’t even know what that means when I look at you. You’re more than beautiful.
“I like looking at you, Helen. I like touching you. What is that, if not beauty?”
She shook her head. He gripped her chin and forced her to look at him.
“You’re a thistle, Helen. Tough and spiky and able to flourish in a rocky, brutal place. You draw blood with your prickers. But a thistle also has a flower. A rich, purple, majestic flower, like a crown.”
What I Loved
The letters! For a time during the story Jack was back in London and Helen in the Highlands, and Jack (writing as the Duke) began a correspondence with Helen because he missed her. There were so many feels in this story but nothing gave my heart a squeeze more than the letters between Jack and Helen. Ah, you could just feel Jack’s love in those letters, even though at that point he had not yet confessed his secret or his feelings. Reading and re-reading the letters made me smile a lot and swoon, just a little.
What I didn’t like
The opening scene was very jarring, throwing me right into a scene I didn’t quite understand before backing up and starting from the beginning. I would have preferred a more traditional opening to the story.
The way Helen’s dialogue was written at times took me out of the story to a degree, and became irritating after a while.
This was, for me, not a romance but a love story. And when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the book and counting the time til I could pick it back up and join Jack and Helen again.
She demanded a high price for the privilege of knowing her heart. And she was right to do so. And the price—did he really think it was that high? He had lived years now behind the façade of a rakehell, concealing the man he was, the man he could be, the man he now wanted to be. Giving that up wouldn’t be a price. It would be a reward.
“He was only a few yards away. He straightened from his bow. Her chest began to hurt. Tall with broad shoulders. Dark blond hair. Light brown eyes flashing above perfect cheekbones. White teeth gleaming in his grin. A square jaw covered in barely visible stubble. Handsome. Devastatingly, crushingly handsome. And very, very secure in his knowledge of his own beauty. How could he not be? There was rain dripping from sculpted lips now that his hat was in his hand. She’d like to lick the rain off those lips.
I was in desperate need of a book to break me out of a slump, and Ms Niven just blew me away with Bed Me, Duke. A beautiful portrayal of love, in turns fiercely passionate and achingly tender, this story captured my heart.
What I Liked
The longing, the wanting, the fierce desire and chemistry between Helen and Jack. Oh my. Their need for each other (physical, at first, and then emotional) was as essential as breathing and I could feel it.
Jack’s character growth, from a lovable but jaded scoundrel to a man of honor and love.
He was extraordinarily, achingly beautiful…
“Mo luran,” and she was next to him. Her hands came to his face and she ran the tips of her fingers over his cheeks, his jaw, his lips. “So beautiful. My sunrise. My stars.”
…and he seemed happy to coast through life on his looks, seemingly without much of a moral compass (before Helen, he only bedded married women). But he always had such a generous spirit, and his love for Helen and concern for the people of Kinmarloch made him a better man.
Helen, whose thoughts and actions defined her as a strong, smart, noble, protective and fiercely loyal Scot, but had an aching tenderness deep down inside. She was described as plain (and worse) and it hurt to read how she thought of herself as ugly, and not worthy of a man like Jack because she wasn’t “beautiful” like the ladies of London society. But Jack never thought of her as ugly, just different looking, interesting, and as he got to know her she became truly beautiful to him. And even better, because of how he treated her, she felt beautiful.
“Helen.”
He kissed her mouth but she didn’t kiss him back. He pulled his head away and looked at her. Her nose, her jaw, her skin, her brow, her eyes, her mouth.
“You’re not ugly.”
“Plain, then.”
“You’re not.”
“I am nae beautiful.”
“I don’t even know what that means when I look at you. You’re more than beautiful.
“I like looking at you, Helen. I like touching you. What is that, if not beauty?”
She shook her head. He gripped her chin and forced her to look at him.
“You’re a thistle, Helen. Tough and spiky and able to flourish in a rocky, brutal place. You draw blood with your prickers. But a thistle also has a flower. A rich, purple, majestic flower, like a crown.”
What I Loved
The letters! For a time during the story Jack was back in London and Helen in the Highlands, and Jack (writing as the Duke) began a correspondence with Helen because he missed her. There were so many feels in this story but nothing gave my heart a squeeze more than the letters between Jack and Helen. Ah, you could just feel Jack’s love in those letters, even though at that point he had not yet confessed his secret or his feelings. Reading and re-reading the letters made me smile a lot and swoon, just a little.
What I didn’t like
The opening scene was very jarring, throwing me right into a scene I didn’t quite understand before backing up and starting from the beginning. I would have preferred a more traditional opening to the story.
The way Helen’s dialogue was written at times took me out of the story to a degree, and became irritating after a while.
This was, for me, not a romance but a love story. And when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the book and counting the time til I could pick it back up and join Jack and Helen again.
She demanded a high price for the privilege of knowing her heart. And she was right to do so. And the price—did he really think it was that high? He had lived years now behind the façade of a rakehell, concealing the man he was, the man he could be, the man he now wanted to be. Giving that up wouldn’t be a price. It would be a reward.
August 10, 2023
3-More-Bed-Less-Romance-Stars
Ratings
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Review
- I liked the writing style and the plot.
- My biggest peeve was the secretive nature of the relationship.
- I despise the "she is not the usual type I associate with" trope.
- It felt like Helene was good enough for sex but not to marry. Jack strung her along for a goodly amount of time. Not cool, man, not cool at all.
- Loved Helene and her resilience.
Ratings
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Review
- I liked the writing style and the plot.
- My biggest peeve was the secretive nature of the relationship.
- I despise the "she is not the usual type I associate with" trope.
- It felt like Helene was good enough for sex but not to marry. Jack strung her along for a goodly amount of time. Not cool, man, not cool at all.
- Loved Helene and her resilience.
February 16, 2024
Oh how I LOVED this book!!!
The writing just clicked with me.
It feels fresh, new, bold, and absolutely original. Even the covers have this unique sexiness that is one of a kind.
So steamy, so romantic, so clever.
Jack and Helen's story had me riveted from page one.
...Felicity Niven, you have a new fan! 👋
💙💙💙💙💙📚
The writing just clicked with me.
It feels fresh, new, bold, and absolutely original. Even the covers have this unique sexiness that is one of a kind.
So steamy, so romantic, so clever.
Jack and Helen's story had me riveted from page one.
...Felicity Niven, you have a new fan! 👋
💙💙💙💙💙📚
July 6, 2023
I'm dead and this book killed me.
I'm so dead I can't even articulate the greatness of this MF'ing book.
I'm so dead I can't even articulate the greatness of this MF'ing book.
June 30, 2023
Thank you so much to Felicity Niven for this eARC!!!
✨Please allow me to say that Helen and Jack are absolutely adorable.✨
This book had so so much depth, snappy banter, constant pining, and never ending thinking about the other naked😌!!!
Side note: helen was so endearing and adorable🥹
Another side note: PHINEAS. His book isn’t next, but the one after and holy mother of god he’s a rakish grinning charming son of a bitch with big eyes and he’s AVERAGE HEIGHT ahhhh🥰🥰🥰 he’s gonna come undone for his heroine and I think she’s gonna be super soft and I’m gonna eat that relationship right up.
It was so nice having a Scottish heroine in a new historical romance. Felicity Niven did a wonderful job with capturing Scottish brogue without it being forced, too, which was great.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a favourite character in this book, though, because like Helen just had so much depth! She was such an interesting and thoughtful character.
Here are some enchanting quotes to give you an idea of just how enchanting this book is:
✨ “She was still ugly. She thought about taking off her nightdress and looking at her body in the mirror.
No. She shuddered. She saw her own body with no mirror, often enough. She didn't want to see it as someone else might. As a man might. As the duke might. As Jack might. No, that was silly. Jack didn't see her that way.
But Jack did see her.” ✨
✨ “You're a thistle, Helen. Tough and spiky and able to flourish in a rocky, brutal place. You draw blood with your prickers.” ✨
✨ “It didn't matter, in that moment, if she was beautiful or not. She felt beautiful. As she had when her grandfather had told her she was. And everything came rushing at her.
His own beauty and how he had shared it with her in this bed.” ✨
🤧🤧🤧
Can’t wait for book 2, but I am freaking EAGER for book 3.
✨Please allow me to say that Helen and Jack are absolutely adorable.✨
This book had so so much depth, snappy banter, constant pining, and never ending thinking about the other naked😌!!!
Side note: helen was so endearing and adorable🥹
Another side note: PHINEAS. His book isn’t next, but the one after and holy mother of god he’s a rakish grinning charming son of a bitch with big eyes and he’s AVERAGE HEIGHT ahhhh🥰🥰🥰 he’s gonna come undone for his heroine and I think she’s gonna be super soft and I’m gonna eat that relationship right up.
It was so nice having a Scottish heroine in a new historical romance. Felicity Niven did a wonderful job with capturing Scottish brogue without it being forced, too, which was great.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a favourite character in this book, though, because like Helen just had so much depth! She was such an interesting and thoughtful character.
Here are some enchanting quotes to give you an idea of just how enchanting this book is:
✨ “She was still ugly. She thought about taking off her nightdress and looking at her body in the mirror.
No. She shuddered. She saw her own body with no mirror, often enough. She didn't want to see it as someone else might. As a man might. As the duke might. As Jack might. No, that was silly. Jack didn't see her that way.
But Jack did see her.” ✨
✨ “You're a thistle, Helen. Tough and spiky and able to flourish in a rocky, brutal place. You draw blood with your prickers.” ✨
✨ “It didn't matter, in that moment, if she was beautiful or not. She felt beautiful. As she had when her grandfather had told her she was. And everything came rushing at her.
His own beauty and how he had shared it with her in this bed.” ✨
🤧🤧🤧
Can’t wait for book 2, but I am freaking EAGER for book 3.
July 9, 2023
I have so, so many thoughts about why this book didn't work for me, as an editor.
First, I want to say that "Convergence of Desire" is one of my favorite reads this year, and I think it was a stunning debut. It was gorgeously written and I was so excited that there was a debut author with so much promise. I then read book 2 from that series and a prequel novella, and they were either mediocre or bordering on bad/nonsensical. So. That didn't bode well and made me nervous. Still, I have continued interest.
There are many, many things I liked about this book — one being that Felicity Niven is clearly a very talented writer. There are some beautiful turns of phrase that speak to big emotions that both the characters feel that I felt were perfectly captured.
But I think I've read enough of her at this point that I feel confident enough to say that she needs a better editor for her books. In no particular order, here are things that I would've pushed her to do better or cut entirely:
- The prologue chapters came much too abruptly and needed a softer intro. I understand the author's intent in getting the reader straight to the juiciest bits, and then zooming back out, but there's a way to do that more digestibly and I found this opening much too chaotic and confusing.
- A huge personal pet peeve of mine is when American authors write British-set historicals and they make their Scottish characters speak on page with a dialect (ahem Diana Gabaldon). It feels like an absolute caricature of Scottish speaking and I found it so incredibly distracting to have ALL the heroine's dialogue be filled with "naes" and "ayes", and frankly, I know it's probably mostly inaccurate too. American authors should really stop doing this.
- One weakness of Felicity Niven's books is that her character arcs and motivations are very hard to follow and don't always make a ton of sense. A glaring issue I had in this book is with the hero, who straight up is a misogynist — because of a former bad experience with women, he goes on to think that most, if not all, women are deceptive and prone to being unfaithful. It's one thing to have a male character think that people in society are not trustworthy; it's another to have them think, "Inconstant, like every other woman." This frankly reads incel-y. We as the reader know that the heroine is supposed to be a rupture on the hero's impression of women, but that so often just tells me that this is a dude who hates/dislike women, with the exception of the one woman he likes. (Like the hardcore conservatives who are homophobic until one of their children comes out as gay, and then they still hate gay people, but make an exception for their child.
A thing I've talked about in my last review of a Niven book is that her characters sometimes are so horny that they border on having sex addictions. And I got that sense ONCE AGAIN with the hero in this book, who at times reads to me like he completely disassociates during sex and it's just like using a mind-altering substance. At one point, the hero acquiesces to a former lover's demand that he go visit her bed, knowing he would "rise from that bed a baser man, hating himself and his weakness."
Is the weakness that he consents to sex even though he hates the person he's having sex with, because he needs sex that badly? Is the weakness that he uses sex as an affirmation, even if the real affirmation he seeks from his bed partner is love?
All that being unclear to me speaks to the muddiness in Niven's writing, and also that I have that confusion speaks to the fact that I think her characters all tie sex up with a lot of emotional hangups and use it as a sort of escape, which speaks to larger emotional issues.
- -
Anyway, all that said, I still enjoy the writing enough that I'm willing to overlook these flaws and keep reading her books. But I look forward to the day where her books are as good as her first. I did read the preview of the second book in this series at the end of "Bed Me, Duke" and I did like what I read, so here's to hoping.
First, I want to say that "Convergence of Desire" is one of my favorite reads this year, and I think it was a stunning debut. It was gorgeously written and I was so excited that there was a debut author with so much promise. I then read book 2 from that series and a prequel novella, and they were either mediocre or bordering on bad/nonsensical. So. That didn't bode well and made me nervous. Still, I have continued interest.
There are many, many things I liked about this book — one being that Felicity Niven is clearly a very talented writer. There are some beautiful turns of phrase that speak to big emotions that both the characters feel that I felt were perfectly captured.
But I think I've read enough of her at this point that I feel confident enough to say that she needs a better editor for her books. In no particular order, here are things that I would've pushed her to do better or cut entirely:
- The prologue chapters came much too abruptly and needed a softer intro. I understand the author's intent in getting the reader straight to the juiciest bits, and then zooming back out, but there's a way to do that more digestibly and I found this opening much too chaotic and confusing.
- A huge personal pet peeve of mine is when American authors write British-set historicals and they make their Scottish characters speak on page with a dialect (ahem Diana Gabaldon). It feels like an absolute caricature of Scottish speaking and I found it so incredibly distracting to have ALL the heroine's dialogue be filled with "naes" and "ayes", and frankly, I know it's probably mostly inaccurate too. American authors should really stop doing this.
- One weakness of Felicity Niven's books is that her character arcs and motivations are very hard to follow and don't always make a ton of sense. A glaring issue I had in this book is with the hero, who straight up is a misogynist — because of a former bad experience with women, he goes on to think that most, if not all, women are deceptive and prone to being unfaithful. It's one thing to have a male character think that people in society are not trustworthy; it's another to have them think, "Inconstant, like every other woman." This frankly reads incel-y. We as the reader know that the heroine is supposed to be a rupture on the hero's impression of women, but that so often just tells me that this is a dude who hates/dislike women, with the exception of the one woman he likes. (Like the hardcore conservatives who are homophobic until one of their children comes out as gay, and then they still hate gay people, but make an exception for their child.
A thing I've talked about in my last review of a Niven book is that her characters sometimes are so horny that they border on having sex addictions. And I got that sense ONCE AGAIN with the hero in this book, who at times reads to me like he completely disassociates during sex and it's just like using a mind-altering substance. At one point, the hero acquiesces to a former lover's demand that he go visit her bed, knowing he would "rise from that bed a baser man, hating himself and his weakness."
Is the weakness that he consents to sex even though he hates the person he's having sex with, because he needs sex that badly? Is the weakness that he uses sex as an affirmation, even if the real affirmation he seeks from his bed partner is love?
All that being unclear to me speaks to the muddiness in Niven's writing, and also that I have that confusion speaks to the fact that I think her characters all tie sex up with a lot of emotional hangups and use it as a sort of escape, which speaks to larger emotional issues.
- -
Anyway, all that said, I still enjoy the writing enough that I'm willing to overlook these flaws and keep reading her books. But I look forward to the day where her books are as good as her first. I did read the preview of the second book in this series at the end of "Bed Me, Duke" and I did like what I read, so here's to hoping.
November 14, 2023
I will share my favourite quotes soon because dear lord I was guffawing, tensing, and tingling all over! What a delightful regency romance that doesn’t dumb it down or play it safe. Very charming. Sexy. Funny.
Initial thoughts: LOVED THIS! I stayed up nearly ALL NIGHT to finish it. Thank you Felicity Niven 😭😭😭🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 for being a regency romance author currently writing that just gets what we want! We must treasure this author and protect her at all costs ✊🏽
A perfect, lovely story. I don't hate the offhand way the secret identity was dealt with. It didn't feel like an afterthought so much as a deliberate choice not to make it The Big Misunderstanding. I also didn’t think Jack needed to grovel so much since his actions showed how much he cared right from the beginning, he was in so much conflict his letters are basically confessions to Helen at the end (He absolutely wanted to tell her without having to say the words. Coward 🫶🏾). The only thing was the ballroom scene when she ended up not having dancers but that also wasn’t his intention, and but he of course had to be there in the space… incognito. Poor man just can’t help himself ☺️ Not when it comes to his thistle, the countless of Kinmarloch, in her own right.
It was his way, wasn't it? And it had some generosity to it because he could see it gave the women pleasure."
Very believable story of a handsome charmer who loves flirting with women falling in love with a plain-looking and plain-speaking woman. The yearning on both sides was electrifying. I got the tingles all over 🤩
I also love a hero who loves to genuinely compliment women. I find them so refreshing when interacting with the women characters Yes he has some mommy issues and internal misogyny to deal with but what hero doesn’t? At least with this archetype, his compliments come off as kind, and while superficial, is harmless. It’s a complicated kindness. A little joy.
Bold of the author to begin in medias res. I was impressed because 1) I love it when I am dropped in and have to understand their back story (I hate it when we get too much backstory that kills any suspense since it’s mostly tell not show) and 2) the first chapter is the middle part of the book, chronologically speaking, but when we get there it is not a generic rehash from her point of view, but a much more unique telling. When authors make me read the same scene in the same book or the same scene superficially tweaked 😤😑
Some of my favourite quotes:
He was pleased the young woman's eyes met his and she smiled and blushed before she went back to making tea. Now, there was a proper response to Captain Jack Pike. He turned to Helen, as if to say, See, that's what a normal female does when she receives a compliment from me, you cold-blooded, breeches-wearing harpy.
Jack had just given a silly compliment to Helen's maid, comparing her to Hestia. And with his chest puffed like a peacock, hoped this would serve as an example to Helen of how attractive a male specimen he is, and how she ought to treat his attentions. It is arrogant but it is also so innocent in another way, and an early indication of how much he preens for her.
He had not known someone could vomit out of jealousy. And he had not pegged her as a jealous type, wanting him to be wifeless, even as she pursued the duke. He shook his head. He didn't know her. Not at all.
There is a subtle undercurrent that Jack is initially intrigued by Helen because she is "not like the other women" in how she melts at his charm, but he is aware at the same time she does notice him, and her adoration of him is perfect.
Suddenly, she wanted him to flirt with her again, as he had when he had offered to talk to her in a warm, dry place. Or to look at her bottom again. Maybe it was not as ill-formed as she thought."
Initial thoughts: LOVED THIS! I stayed up nearly ALL NIGHT to finish it. Thank you Felicity Niven 😭😭😭🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 for being a regency romance author currently writing that just gets what we want! We must treasure this author and protect her at all costs ✊🏽
A perfect, lovely story. I don't hate the offhand way the secret identity was dealt with. It didn't feel like an afterthought so much as a deliberate choice not to make it The Big Misunderstanding. I also didn’t think Jack needed to grovel so much since his actions showed how much he cared right from the beginning, he was in so much conflict his letters are basically confessions to Helen at the end (He absolutely wanted to tell her without having to say the words. Coward 🫶🏾). The only thing was the ballroom scene when she ended up not having dancers but that also wasn’t his intention, and but he of course had to be there in the space… incognito. Poor man just can’t help himself ☺️ Not when it comes to his thistle, the countless of Kinmarloch, in her own right.
It was his way, wasn't it? And it had some generosity to it because he could see it gave the women pleasure."
Very believable story of a handsome charmer who loves flirting with women falling in love with a plain-looking and plain-speaking woman. The yearning on both sides was electrifying. I got the tingles all over 🤩
I also love a hero who loves to genuinely compliment women. I find them so refreshing when interacting with the women characters Yes he has some mommy issues and internal misogyny to deal with but what hero doesn’t? At least with this archetype, his compliments come off as kind, and while superficial, is harmless. It’s a complicated kindness. A little joy.
Bold of the author to begin in medias res. I was impressed because 1) I love it when I am dropped in and have to understand their back story (I hate it when we get too much backstory that kills any suspense since it’s mostly tell not show) and 2) the first chapter is the middle part of the book, chronologically speaking, but when we get there it is not a generic rehash from her point of view, but a much more unique telling. When authors make me read the same scene in the same book or the same scene superficially tweaked 😤😑
Some of my favourite quotes:
He was pleased the young woman's eyes met his and she smiled and blushed before she went back to making tea. Now, there was a proper response to Captain Jack Pike. He turned to Helen, as if to say, See, that's what a normal female does when she receives a compliment from me, you cold-blooded, breeches-wearing harpy.
Jack had just given a silly compliment to Helen's maid, comparing her to Hestia. And with his chest puffed like a peacock, hoped this would serve as an example to Helen of how attractive a male specimen he is, and how she ought to treat his attentions. It is arrogant but it is also so innocent in another way, and an early indication of how much he preens for her.
He had not known someone could vomit out of jealousy. And he had not pegged her as a jealous type, wanting him to be wifeless, even as she pursued the duke. He shook his head. He didn't know her. Not at all.
There is a subtle undercurrent that Jack is initially intrigued by Helen because she is "not like the other women" in how she melts at his charm, but he is aware at the same time she does notice him, and her adoration of him is perfect.
Suddenly, she wanted him to flirt with her again, as he had when he had offered to talk to her in a warm, dry place. Or to look at her bottom again. Maybe it was not as ill-formed as she thought."
July 21, 2023
Just as the title suggests, there is a real imperativeness to our heroine’s (Helen) tone throughout the book and I love that.
But then on the other hand she can be quiet sensitive and really really vulnerable.
“Do you like kissing, Helen?” “I. Dinnae. Know.” “You’ve never been kissed?” The thrust of her jaw. “I told ye already. Ye are the only man who has ever touched me.” “And I haven’t kissed you yet, have I?” She shook her head, breaking his grasp on her chin. “Yer a cruel man, Jack Pike.” She turned and fumbled to get out of the bed. “Wait.” He grabbed her. “Why are you leaving?” “’Tis naething to ye,” she spat. “’Tis flirting to ye to say ‘Oh, I havenae kissed ye yet, have I?’ as if ye cannae remember. When ye know! Ye know of my lack of experience. So ye should know it would be an event of great significance to me. My first kiss. Well, yer cruel and don’t deserve my first kiss. Ye haven’t earned it. I will go back to my own bedchamber and tomorrow, I will kiss the first man I see and that will be that. Then ye can give me my training tomorrow night.” “Please, Helen. Don’t leave.”
And this quote is from the opening scene of the book. So yes we start in the middle which is unusual and I don’t know if it added anything to the story but so the author has chosen.
Helen is a Scottish countess in her own right but she must be the poorest countess in the world because she has only 40 sheep and no servants.
And Jack is of course rich.
Helen becomes stuck on this notion that she has to marry the Duke of Dunmore because he owns the neighboring estate.
It bothered me tremendously that Helen’s extreme poverty and her great moral want to provide for her people is used only as a plot point and had no depth.
Besides the logic of the economic system was not historically accurate. Countesses don’t provide for the people, people provide for countesses. Author seems to confuse feudal society with capitalism or with running the business.
What’s happening with these historical heroines that are playing the strongest most generous female leads yet they can’t get themselves out of their financial problems and always end up being depended on the hero? (I am writing this as a 21st century feminist. Let’s create more sovereign heroines or at least let’s see them help themselves like they did in 80s or even 90’s)
As soon as Jack meets her, he starts solving all her problems. Not only he is paying for everything but he is literary feeding her because she is so poor she and all the villagers are on the verge of starvation.
Because clearly since the countess is unable to take care of her land, none of the villagers can take care of themselves either.
Plus she is the only one shearing the sheep! That’s ridiculous on so many levels.
So the economics, careless use of poverty and heroine being completely dependent on a hero were my setbacks.
Set aside this unnecessary plot element, the love story was cute.
However there was something hot about it. It must have been the heroine’s language and hero’s constant need for her.
But then on the other hand she can be quiet sensitive and really really vulnerable.
“Do you like kissing, Helen?” “I. Dinnae. Know.” “You’ve never been kissed?” The thrust of her jaw. “I told ye already. Ye are the only man who has ever touched me.” “And I haven’t kissed you yet, have I?” She shook her head, breaking his grasp on her chin. “Yer a cruel man, Jack Pike.” She turned and fumbled to get out of the bed. “Wait.” He grabbed her. “Why are you leaving?” “’Tis naething to ye,” she spat. “’Tis flirting to ye to say ‘Oh, I havenae kissed ye yet, have I?’ as if ye cannae remember. When ye know! Ye know of my lack of experience. So ye should know it would be an event of great significance to me. My first kiss. Well, yer cruel and don’t deserve my first kiss. Ye haven’t earned it. I will go back to my own bedchamber and tomorrow, I will kiss the first man I see and that will be that. Then ye can give me my training tomorrow night.” “Please, Helen. Don’t leave.”
And this quote is from the opening scene of the book. So yes we start in the middle which is unusual and I don’t know if it added anything to the story but so the author has chosen.
Helen is a Scottish countess in her own right but she must be the poorest countess in the world because she has only 40 sheep and no servants.
And Jack is of course rich.
Helen becomes stuck on this notion that she has to marry the Duke of Dunmore because he owns the neighboring estate.
It bothered me tremendously that Helen’s extreme poverty and her great moral want to provide for her people is used only as a plot point and had no depth.
Besides the logic of the economic system was not historically accurate. Countesses don’t provide for the people, people provide for countesses. Author seems to confuse feudal society with capitalism or with running the business.
What’s happening with these historical heroines that are playing the strongest most generous female leads yet they can’t get themselves out of their financial problems and always end up being depended on the hero? (I am writing this as a 21st century feminist. Let’s create more sovereign heroines or at least let’s see them help themselves like they did in 80s or even 90’s)
As soon as Jack meets her, he starts solving all her problems. Not only he is paying for everything but he is literary feeding her because she is so poor she and all the villagers are on the verge of starvation.
Because clearly since the countess is unable to take care of her land, none of the villagers can take care of themselves either.
Plus she is the only one shearing the sheep! That’s ridiculous on so many levels.
So the economics, careless use of poverty and heroine being completely dependent on a hero were my setbacks.
Set aside this unnecessary plot element, the love story was cute.
However there was something hot about it. It must have been the heroine’s language and hero’s constant need for her.
July 30, 2023
3.5 stars
June 21, 2023
I love a prickly FMC and Helen is a thistle so this worked out great. Jack was a treat, all self-deprecating import and “why do I have these stupid feelings why WHY.” Tall sweet red headed men? Yes. Crumbling estates? Sure. Sheep? Loads! Thank you to Felicity for the ARC, I’m excited to return to these folks in the next book!
July 6, 2023
Surprising, sexy, emotional, and a great read! (I received this book as an ARC, I had also pre-ordered it before I got on the ARC list)
Given the premise of the book, and the first two chapters, I thought I knew what familiar beats the plot would hit, and kind of how it would go - I'm thrilled to say somehow Felicity Niven managed to surprise me the whole way! Nothing happened quite how I might have imagined, and she toyed with structure and tropes in a way that made the plot and characters feel fresh and new.
When we first meet Jack Pike I spent chapters thinking "how is she going to redeem this [expletive deleted], because he is THE WORST" but the author lets us organically see how he had buried himself under his protective mechanisms, and how hard it is for him to let himself trust. Niven does this so cleverly (as she does with a number of other points in the book/character development) that you really can feel her trust in her readers to remember small details, and that we do not need to be spoon-fed answers.
Helen is a Countess, and is singlemindedly concerned with the welfare of the people on her estate, and works herself to the bone to keep them afloat. Because of the Clearances (and her refusal to do so on her land) she is short in food, money, and men to help. She is convinced she is so ugly as to be undesirable (sounds like she has strong features, the horror), but hopes the new Duke-next-door will rejoin their estates through marriage and save her estate workers that way, completely out of obligation to her estate.
There's Romance Reasons sexy-times lessons, fear of being used for gain for him, fear of letting down her obligations for her, but the real joy of this book, and it is a joy to read, is the part after the set up. Seeing a character who defines himself as shallow and selfish unearth another part of his personality (while resisting change and keeping his Big Secret), and seeing Helen who for five years has only thought of others grab something for herself, while being radically honest with Jack about his effect on her. You feel these characters fall in love, you believe it completely. Niven constructs the third act in a way that subverts how we "know" a romance third act will go, and it feels modern and new.
My most recent HR read I would compare this to is Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston, but the author I would most compare Niven to, with her ability to make deep characters and real relationships you fall in love with is Kate Clayborn. I'm glad this book is part of a series, I think she's crafted a universe it will be fun to visit for a while. Highly recommend.
Given the premise of the book, and the first two chapters, I thought I knew what familiar beats the plot would hit, and kind of how it would go - I'm thrilled to say somehow Felicity Niven managed to surprise me the whole way! Nothing happened quite how I might have imagined, and she toyed with structure and tropes in a way that made the plot and characters feel fresh and new.
When we first meet Jack Pike I spent chapters thinking "how is she going to redeem this [expletive deleted], because he is THE WORST" but the author lets us organically see how he had buried himself under his protective mechanisms, and how hard it is for him to let himself trust. Niven does this so cleverly (as she does with a number of other points in the book/character development) that you really can feel her trust in her readers to remember small details, and that we do not need to be spoon-fed answers.
Helen is a Countess, and is singlemindedly concerned with the welfare of the people on her estate, and works herself to the bone to keep them afloat. Because of the Clearances (and her refusal to do so on her land) she is short in food, money, and men to help. She is convinced she is so ugly as to be undesirable (sounds like she has strong features, the horror), but hopes the new Duke-next-door will rejoin their estates through marriage and save her estate workers that way, completely out of obligation to her estate.
There's Romance Reasons sexy-times lessons, fear of being used for gain for him, fear of letting down her obligations for her, but the real joy of this book, and it is a joy to read, is the part after the set up. Seeing a character who defines himself as shallow and selfish unearth another part of his personality (while resisting change and keeping his Big Secret), and seeing Helen who for five years has only thought of others grab something for herself, while being radically honest with Jack about his effect on her. You feel these characters fall in love, you believe it completely. Niven constructs the third act in a way that subverts how we "know" a romance third act will go, and it feels modern and new.
My most recent HR read I would compare this to is Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston, but the author I would most compare Niven to, with her ability to make deep characters and real relationships you fall in love with is Kate Clayborn. I'm glad this book is part of a series, I think she's crafted a universe it will be fun to visit for a while. Highly recommend.
June 18, 2023
*Note- I received an ARC*
Lovely historical romance with the right amount of angst. I loved the heroine Helen and how strong she is the throughout the book. Jack was so lost through most of this book and it was amazing when he finally realized him loving Helen was the best thing to ever happen to him. I read the 2nd epilogue from Niven’s newsletter and it was a great ending — loved seeing Jack and Helen settled in their marriage.
Lovely historical romance with the right amount of angst. I loved the heroine Helen and how strong she is the throughout the book. Jack was so lost through most of this book and it was amazing when he finally realized him loving Helen was the best thing to ever happen to him. I read the 2nd epilogue from Niven’s newsletter and it was a great ending — loved seeing Jack and Helen settled in their marriage.
June 21, 2023
I'm still slightly reeling from how much I loved this book, so please excuse me if my thoughts are a little scattered.
I love Felicity Niven's writing. She has such a unique way of making the mundane beautiful and giving her characters so much life within just a few pages of meeting them. Sometimes, I'll read a book and I'm never able to connect to the characters. With Bed Me, Duke, I was so emotionally invested in Helen by the first chapter.
I love how the book opens in the middle of the action, so to speak, and then takes you back; showing you exactly how we got to that pivotal moment in the story. The story is a rather simple one, Helen is countess (in her own right) of an impoverished earldom and when the neighboring estate gets a new duke, Helen thinks that its worth seducing said new duke and coaxing him into marriage to save herself and her people from starvation. The new duke is nowhere to be found but his man of business, Jack Pike, is there and he's the most gorgeous man Helen has ever seen, and a scoundrel to boot. The perfect candidate to give Helen lessons on seduction she can later use on the duke.
Helen and Jack are such complete, well-rounded characters. They are so alive and they leap off the page and they *feel* as real and complicated as a real person, not merely a fictional character that exists in a story. Helen is tough as nails and rough around the edges but there's softness to her and vulnerability. She knows she's not pretty but she's mesmerized by and longs for a ruffly pink dress. How often do we get the breeches-wearing heroine who is merely a caricature of not being like other girls? Helen IS like other girls. She wants to wear a pretty pink ballgown and fall in love but she HAS to wash and shear sheep if she wants to keep a roof over her head.
For his part, Jack's past and trauma makes it believable that he has reservations about letting himself fall in love. It's not your typical mangst where the hero says he's not going to marry or fall in love just because. He has trust issues, we SEE why does, and while he's not necessarily in the right, he's not completely unjustified either.
The climax of this story is so quiet, so introspective, it really kind of punches you in the gut. There's no big reveal of everyone's secrets (and there are secrets), there's no hysterics and dramatic chase scenes. There's quiet revelations, and the characters making the choice to grow and move forward in ways that are so rewarding for the reader, who has been on this journey with them. It's truly beautiful and it's what makes Felicity's writing so unique. You can read the summary blurb and get a feel for the plot, but you simply have to read this book to truly experience what it's ABOUT.
True to her habit of sucking us in and making us invested in characters with a few sentences, the protagonists of the other books in this upcoming series, make an appearance, and I'm already counting down the days to jump back into this world.
I love Felicity Niven's writing. She has such a unique way of making the mundane beautiful and giving her characters so much life within just a few pages of meeting them. Sometimes, I'll read a book and I'm never able to connect to the characters. With Bed Me, Duke, I was so emotionally invested in Helen by the first chapter.
I love how the book opens in the middle of the action, so to speak, and then takes you back; showing you exactly how we got to that pivotal moment in the story. The story is a rather simple one, Helen is countess (in her own right) of an impoverished earldom and when the neighboring estate gets a new duke, Helen thinks that its worth seducing said new duke and coaxing him into marriage to save herself and her people from starvation. The new duke is nowhere to be found but his man of business, Jack Pike, is there and he's the most gorgeous man Helen has ever seen, and a scoundrel to boot. The perfect candidate to give Helen lessons on seduction she can later use on the duke.
Helen and Jack are such complete, well-rounded characters. They are so alive and they leap off the page and they *feel* as real and complicated as a real person, not merely a fictional character that exists in a story. Helen is tough as nails and rough around the edges but there's softness to her and vulnerability. She knows she's not pretty but she's mesmerized by and longs for a ruffly pink dress. How often do we get the breeches-wearing heroine who is merely a caricature of not being like other girls? Helen IS like other girls. She wants to wear a pretty pink ballgown and fall in love but she HAS to wash and shear sheep if she wants to keep a roof over her head.
For his part, Jack's past and trauma makes it believable that he has reservations about letting himself fall in love. It's not your typical mangst where the hero says he's not going to marry or fall in love just because. He has trust issues, we SEE why does, and while he's not necessarily in the right, he's not completely unjustified either.
The climax of this story is so quiet, so introspective, it really kind of punches you in the gut. There's no big reveal of everyone's secrets (and there are secrets), there's no hysterics and dramatic chase scenes. There's quiet revelations, and the characters making the choice to grow and move forward in ways that are so rewarding for the reader, who has been on this journey with them. It's truly beautiful and it's what makes Felicity's writing so unique. You can read the summary blurb and get a feel for the plot, but you simply have to read this book to truly experience what it's ABOUT.
True to her habit of sucking us in and making us invested in characters with a few sentences, the protagonists of the other books in this upcoming series, make an appearance, and I'm already counting down the days to jump back into this world.
September 15, 2023
“The first time I ever saw ye . . .”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to lick the rain off yer lips.”
“Yes.” He stroked her hip through her nightdress.
“Then I wanted to kick yer teeth in.”
He cast his mind backward a week, to their first meeting. He did not remember being overtly offensive. “Why was that?”
“Because ye were so good-looking, ye made me hurt, here.” She clutched between her breasts. “Like a perfect sunrise. Like stars on a warm summer night.”
all the stars ✨ all the feels ✨
i absolutely loved everything about, bed me, duke (corny title notwithstanding).
July 6, 2023
Perfection. No notes.
Literally. I always jot down notes as I’m reading a book, but I read this ARC in a daze of book-excellence and wrote down absolutely nothing.
I loved:
💙 a secret identity trope that was making me sweat
💙 sex lessons from chapter one
💙 a lovesick fool hero
💙 a horny af heroine
💙 excellent use of epistolary elements
💙 “stay”
💙 god-tier rake reformation
💙 deliciously messy angst
There’s a lot I could gush about in this book. The setting was atmospheric, the plot was anything but formulaic, and the wholesome friendships have me pumped for the series.
But what underpinned all this amazingness, for me, were the characters. They were so well-written, so unique, and so real that I was INVESTED.
How many times have we read the reluctant duke who for some reason has a six pack? But Jack made so. much. sense. Of course he didn’t expect to become a duke—the former duke, his cousin, was a young man newly married. Of course he was a ripped and adventurous scoundrel—he’d made his fortune captaining a ship in the navy. And of course he didn’t want to be the duke—he had history with the dowager duchess, the duchy was off in the wilds of Scotland, and he already had all the status and responsibility he could handle.
And then there was Helen, our Scottish thistle and one of the most unique historical romance heroines out there. She was a Countess in her own right, thank you Scottish inheritance laws. And move over every impoverished peer ever, Helen was over here living in an abandoned castle, not able to afford food to eat, wearing pants, with hands fully callused from all the manual labour she was doing. She was such a moving mixture of heart and determination that my eyes are getting teary just thinking about her 🥲
Literally. I always jot down notes as I’m reading a book, but I read this ARC in a daze of book-excellence and wrote down absolutely nothing.
I loved:
💙 a secret identity trope that was making me sweat
💙 sex lessons from chapter one
💙 a lovesick fool hero
💙 a horny af heroine
💙 excellent use of epistolary elements
💙 “stay”
💙 god-tier rake reformation
💙 deliciously messy angst
There’s a lot I could gush about in this book. The setting was atmospheric, the plot was anything but formulaic, and the wholesome friendships have me pumped for the series.
But what underpinned all this amazingness, for me, were the characters. They were so well-written, so unique, and so real that I was INVESTED.
How many times have we read the reluctant duke who for some reason has a six pack? But Jack made so. much. sense. Of course he didn’t expect to become a duke—the former duke, his cousin, was a young man newly married. Of course he was a ripped and adventurous scoundrel—he’d made his fortune captaining a ship in the navy. And of course he didn’t want to be the duke—he had history with the dowager duchess, the duchy was off in the wilds of Scotland, and he already had all the status and responsibility he could handle.
And then there was Helen, our Scottish thistle and one of the most unique historical romance heroines out there. She was a Countess in her own right, thank you Scottish inheritance laws. And move over every impoverished peer ever, Helen was over here living in an abandoned castle, not able to afford food to eat, wearing pants, with hands fully callused from all the manual labour she was doing. She was such a moving mixture of heart and determination that my eyes are getting teary just thinking about her 🥲
September 3, 2023
Scotland 1819. Amended this to 3 stars.
Jack Pike, a rich rake, mostly sought dalliances w/
married ladies. He gave up his Navy commission.
He learned a distant relative, Norman, died & he
became the new Duke of Dunmore. He rejected
his late father's name MacNaughton & used Pike
in his Naval career.
Capt. Jack Pike went to his new Scottish country home
to see the lay of the land. If his late cousin's widow,
Elizabeth (Jack and she had a past) who stayed in
London, was with child, he may not become the duke
after all. Jack called himself John MacNaughton's man.
He met (his 3rd cousin) Helen who was a Scottish
countess, in her own right. Their properties 'marched
together.'
Helen engaged in hard labor w/ her sheep ie shearing
them etc. Jack noted her gaunt face and roomy clothes.
He always chose beauties and she did not fit the bill.
She and her cook, Mags, mostly ate potatoes. Once
Jack learned officially he was the new duke, he with-
held this info from Helen. He could be charming and
unattached at the same time.
This had multiple sex scenes, But I wanted more romance.
Jack confided in Helen she was his "little thistle:" tough
& spiky & a rich, purple, majestic flower. But he wanted
the sex & not the commitment. At times I tired of Jack:
was he the only person to be disappointed? He thought
women faithless based on his mother and Elizabeth.
When he himself insisted on a 1 mo. shelf-life on a sex
partner. Towards the end: where was his good-grovel?
Jack Pike, a rich rake, mostly sought dalliances w/
married ladies. He gave up his Navy commission.
He learned a distant relative, Norman, died & he
became the new Duke of Dunmore. He rejected
his late father's name MacNaughton & used Pike
in his Naval career.
Capt. Jack Pike went to his new Scottish country home
to see the lay of the land. If his late cousin's widow,
Elizabeth (Jack and she had a past) who stayed in
London, was with child, he may not become the duke
after all. Jack called himself John MacNaughton's man.
He met (his 3rd cousin) Helen who was a Scottish
countess, in her own right. Their properties 'marched
together.'
Helen engaged in hard labor w/ her sheep ie shearing
them etc. Jack noted her gaunt face and roomy clothes.
He always chose beauties and she did not fit the bill.
She and her cook, Mags, mostly ate potatoes. Once
Jack learned officially he was the new duke, he with-
held this info from Helen. He could be charming and
unattached at the same time.
This had multiple sex scenes, But I wanted more romance.
Jack confided in Helen she was his "little thistle:" tough
& spiky & a rich, purple, majestic flower. But he wanted
the sex & not the commitment. At times I tired of Jack:
was he the only person to be disappointed? He thought
women faithless based on his mother and Elizabeth.
When he himself insisted on a 1 mo. shelf-life on a sex
partner. Towards the end: where was his good-grovel?
February 19, 2024
I received this ARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I loved Helen - the Countess of Kinmarloch (in her own right) and Captain Jack Price (the Duke of Dunmore).
Covid brought me back to reading historical romance and I am so thankful, otherwise I would never have discovered Felicity Niven's writing.
This was FUN. It was well written, fast paced, the chemistry between the two mains was not only believable but the right amount of spice. This is book one in a series - and Niven was able to give us enough context that the series will work really well (I am already super excited to read about Jack's friends and the women who bring them to their knees).
I loved that Helen was strong, courageous and understood her worth. I loved that Jack Pike saw that - and even though it took him a while to realize that he loved her - he did. We got our HEA (it gave me all the feels). (BONUS: If you subscribe to Felicity's newsletter you can also get a second epilogue which was absolute perfection).
If you enjoy reading Lisa Kleypas, Stacy Reid, Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean and Julia Quinn - and are looking for a new author, I highly recommend this book. It is pure, perfect escapism.
Recommended read. It's fun, it fast and it's sexy.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I loved Helen - the Countess of Kinmarloch (in her own right) and Captain Jack Price (the Duke of Dunmore).
Covid brought me back to reading historical romance and I am so thankful, otherwise I would never have discovered Felicity Niven's writing.
This was FUN. It was well written, fast paced, the chemistry between the two mains was not only believable but the right amount of spice. This is book one in a series - and Niven was able to give us enough context that the series will work really well (I am already super excited to read about Jack's friends and the women who bring them to their knees).
I loved that Helen was strong, courageous and understood her worth. I loved that Jack Pike saw that - and even though it took him a while to realize that he loved her - he did. We got our HEA (it gave me all the feels). (BONUS: If you subscribe to Felicity's newsletter you can also get a second epilogue which was absolute perfection).
If you enjoy reading Lisa Kleypas, Stacy Reid, Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean and Julia Quinn - and are looking for a new author, I highly recommend this book. It is pure, perfect escapism.
Recommended read. It's fun, it fast and it's sexy.
July 10, 2023
There were many awesome things about this book. But by far the absolute best part involves the shirtless Duke washing mud off the face of sheep in a mountain stream. I laughed and cried till 2am and loved the story from beginning to end
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2023
I honestly didn't want to put this book down! The chemistry between the main characters is fierce and captivating. The main characters are good, and I loved that the concealment of Jack's true identity lasted for most of the book; it made the book super addictive!
July 7, 2023
A god tier HisRom ft. sex lessons, a rake, a countess (in her own right!), and smatterings of epistolary elements throughout? What did Felicity do, reach inside my brain and pull out some of my fav individual tropes and smoosh them into this absolute banger (heheheheh) of a book?
Jack and Helen were a dream. A prickly FMC is always going to win me over and Helen is indeed a highland thistle. But she needs to secure funds for her impoverished title through marriage and to secure a husband, she needs to know how to blow his mind in the bedroom (because she thinks she’s ugly!). Great thing Jack is a rake of the first degree and is willing to cast himself on the pyre of Helen’s Duke pursuit. Which….Jack is the Duke (not a spoiler lol literally the title of the book). And he’s also dumb dumb in love with Helen. But he’s determined to never marry. He’s used to his freedom after living as a Navy Captain. Y’all see where this is going right? What a conundrum for these two. It makes for TOP TIER angst.
I don’t even like angst?? What spell did Felicity weave? I adored how fresh and unique this was. Felicity managed to imbue that classic HisRom feel while breathing in new life with Helen being a countess in her own right and Jack’s redemptive journey. He and his friends are…pretty terrible when we start this tale. But by the end, we had a freshly transformed rake in love with his lady and I 100% believed it. Which I think is one of the most difficult feats in historical romance. Felicity nailed it. I just loved the pining and longing and “would you two just get married already my god” push/pull between Jack and Helen.
And! This was *spicy* where the spice is part of the relationship development and not only were the sex scenes 🥵 but they added such a vulnerability and intimacy that I loved so much.
I did get a little confused in chapter one because we’re thrown into their relationship from the jump but I think it’s just not what I’m used to and I got with the program before the chapter even ended!
Thank you so much to Felicity for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Available on KU!
Jack and Helen were a dream. A prickly FMC is always going to win me over and Helen is indeed a highland thistle. But she needs to secure funds for her impoverished title through marriage and to secure a husband, she needs to know how to blow his mind in the bedroom (because she thinks she’s ugly!). Great thing Jack is a rake of the first degree and is willing to cast himself on the pyre of Helen’s Duke pursuit. Which….Jack is the Duke (not a spoiler lol literally the title of the book). And he’s also dumb dumb in love with Helen. But he’s determined to never marry. He’s used to his freedom after living as a Navy Captain. Y’all see where this is going right? What a conundrum for these two. It makes for TOP TIER angst.
I don’t even like angst?? What spell did Felicity weave? I adored how fresh and unique this was. Felicity managed to imbue that classic HisRom feel while breathing in new life with Helen being a countess in her own right and Jack’s redemptive journey. He and his friends are…pretty terrible when we start this tale. But by the end, we had a freshly transformed rake in love with his lady and I 100% believed it. Which I think is one of the most difficult feats in historical romance. Felicity nailed it. I just loved the pining and longing and “would you two just get married already my god” push/pull between Jack and Helen.
And! This was *spicy* where the spice is part of the relationship development and not only were the sex scenes 🥵 but they added such a vulnerability and intimacy that I loved so much.
I did get a little confused in chapter one because we’re thrown into their relationship from the jump but I think it’s just not what I’m used to and I got with the program before the chapter even ended!
Thank you so much to Felicity for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Available on KU!
September 15, 2023
4.95 stars
August 27, 2023
DNF The MMC here disliked all women in a way where I just wasn't interested in finding out how the author changed that so he could like one woman. And the Scottish FMC had an American's idea of a Scottish accent (which is just nae's and yea's). I am done trying to read anything by this author, her writing just doesn't work for me.
July 10, 2023
If I won't be compared to a thistle, I don't want him.
April 20, 2024
4 stars
A plain and prickly FMC + flirty rake MMC pairing, where she (a Scottish Countess in her own right) goes to him for lessons on how to seduce the new Duke into marriage to save her people… not realising that he is secretly the duke.
I really enjoyed this book, which was well-written and managed to be refreshing even though I’ve definitely read these tropes before. I also highly recommend the second epilogue (free with the author’s newsletter), the story didn’t feel complete without it.
I do wish there was an audiobook though — I found it hard to fully immerse myself in the story, because I couldn’t parse the Scottish words quickly enough…
A plain and prickly FMC + flirty rake MMC pairing, where she (a Scottish Countess in her own right) goes to him for lessons on how to seduce the new Duke into marriage to save her people… not realising that he is secretly the duke.
I really enjoyed this book, which was well-written and managed to be refreshing even though I’ve definitely read these tropes before. I also highly recommend the second epilogue (free with the author’s newsletter), the story didn’t feel complete without it.
I do wish there was an audiobook though — I found it hard to fully immerse myself in the story, because I couldn’t parse the Scottish words quickly enough…
July 10, 2023
I loved the book, it was easy read but there were 2 things made me rated 4 stars.
-the hero keep a secret (big one) from the h and the h forgive him so easily. I want him to GROVEL.
-I think almost every chapter, the heroine or hero mention she is not beautiful or I'm not like other pretty ladies. I understood she is plain, no interesting features in her but this thing keep repeated and I get irritated😕
Other than that it was good.
-the hero keep a secret (big one) from the h and the h forgive him so easily. I want him to GROVEL.
-I think almost every chapter, the heroine or hero mention she is not beautiful or I'm not like other pretty ladies. I understood she is plain, no interesting features in her but this thing keep repeated and I get irritated😕
Other than that it was good.
June 17, 2023
“You’re a thistle, Helen. Tough and spiky and able to flourish in a rocky, brutal place. You draw blood with your prickers. But a thistle also has a flower. A rich, purple, majestic flower, like a crown.”
This book is everything I want in historical romance! Great characters, off the chart chemistry between the MFC and the MMC, an interesting story with a focus on relationship development and STEAM FOR DAYS!!!!!
Jack is a real charmer…a ridiculously handsome rogue who runs through women of the ton without a care in the world or a backward’s glance. He has never met a woman who didn’t swoon in his presence…until he heads to Scotland to claim a title he knows nothing about…and meets Helen.
Helen is marvelous! Perfect!!!! A Heroine who was actually the Hero of the story! My god, I loved her! So smart and capable and worthy of all the good things. She is fierce but vulnerable. Plain of face (according to her) but beautiful in spirit. A countess in her own right, she is brutally honest, loyal and dedicated to her people. She sees Jack for the handsome wastrel he is and lets him know it.
What follows is a delightful, sexy tale of a man falling hard for a woman he never would have imagined falling for, not realizing it, doing really stupid things that make you want to shake him and hug him at the same time…all leading to a wonderfully well earned HEA!
Felicity Niven is a real talent. Her writing elevates the romance genre. I was very honored to receive an ARC copy of this book. My review is my own…I highly recommend reading this book!!!
This book is everything I want in historical romance! Great characters, off the chart chemistry between the MFC and the MMC, an interesting story with a focus on relationship development and STEAM FOR DAYS!!!!!
Jack is a real charmer…a ridiculously handsome rogue who runs through women of the ton without a care in the world or a backward’s glance. He has never met a woman who didn’t swoon in his presence…until he heads to Scotland to claim a title he knows nothing about…and meets Helen.
Helen is marvelous! Perfect!!!! A Heroine who was actually the Hero of the story! My god, I loved her! So smart and capable and worthy of all the good things. She is fierce but vulnerable. Plain of face (according to her) but beautiful in spirit. A countess in her own right, she is brutally honest, loyal and dedicated to her people. She sees Jack for the handsome wastrel he is and lets him know it.
What follows is a delightful, sexy tale of a man falling hard for a woman he never would have imagined falling for, not realizing it, doing really stupid things that make you want to shake him and hug him at the same time…all leading to a wonderfully well earned HEA!
Felicity Niven is a real talent. Her writing elevates the romance genre. I was very honored to receive an ARC copy of this book. My review is my own…I highly recommend reading this book!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews