Dockside Duchess: A Regency Historical Romance

The Castleburys #3

by Jennifer Seasons

Gentlemen have all the fun . . . or do they?The newly titled Earl of Castlebury, Crawford is under a lot of stress. New title responsibilities, pressure from his mother to find a suitable wife, his late father’s shipping empire to run. The last thing he needs is a feisty female pretending to be a deal porter down at his shipyard. She’s obviously in hiding for a reason, and try as he might, he cannot refuse his attraction for the spirited brunette. Soon he can’t keep his hands off her, either, even knowing he can never offer the common born beauty a future. He can offer her his body, his passion, and his patronage . . . but never his title or his heart. Heiress to an ancient dukedom, Sadie Crisp is in hiding from her awful Cousin Archibald, who wants her dead rather than married, so that he can keep her fortune for himself. Disguised as a young male deal porter at the docklands, all is smooth sailing until the new owner of the Castlebury’s shipyard appears. Everything she’s ever wanted, Crawford ignites her passion and sets new hope aflame. Yet she cannot dare tell him of her deepest secret for risk of discovery. And she dare not love him for risk of her heart. But when the enemy hunts her down and all seems lost, she must trust Crawford with her heart . . . or risk losing her life! This series is part of Dragonblade's Flame line, so this is a scorching-hot read with open-door steam.Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!The CastleburysMayfair MisfitDuke UndoneDockside DuchessLondon’s Leading LadyBow Street Baron

Genres: Historical Romance

164 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Jennifer Seasons started her career writing contemporary romances for Avon and is the author of several popular contemporary and Regency historical romances. Born in California, Jennifer has lived all over the west, and now resides in the mountains of Massachusetts with her husband and their children. A dog and several cats keep them company. A lover of autumn, cozy cardigans, and coffee, Jennifer can often be found writing her novels by hand in notebooks, bundled in said cardigan with a steaming mug of dark roast nearby. When she's not writing, Jennifer enjoys running, riding horses, hiking with her family, gardening, and lounging in a comfy spot with a good book and a homemade chocolate chip cookie or two.

www.jenniferseasonsauthor.com

Reviews

[ren ౨ৎ (rozanov's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⁀➷ 3.75 ★ ´ˎ˗

“i want you. insatiably. always.”

if there is one thing that jennifer seasons does best, it is crafting the best fmcs in historical romances. this is the third book in the castleburys series and the second one that i’ve read — and i eventually need to backtrack and read the first in the series. so far, i’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series. i enjoyed absolutely every moment shared between the two main characters as well as the mcs as individuals. while it took a while for them to properly interact due to the whole hidden identity conundrum, the chemistry between them was my favourite thing once the ball finally got rolling. 

with that being said, i think that the pacing of the book was a little off. it was extremely fast and felt like the relationship between sadie and crawford didn’t have enough time to build and become fleshed out. usually, fast-paced reads are my favourite, but i felt like there was more to explore and things that this couple could’ve offered. overall, i’m beyond excited to see where the series goes in the future! i adore jennifer seasons’ writing and can’t wait to read more from her. 

thank you to netgalley, dragonblade publishing, and jennifer seasons for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jennifer Seasons has become one of my favorite authors I've discovered off NetGalley. Her books are so charming, clever, and exploding with chemistry. My only complaint is that they're too short! I know I'm being greedy but I could read 500 pages of her characters instead of the measly 168 I was allotted. I've really enjoyed learning about the Castelburys and the hijinks the adult children seem to get themselves intertwined. I'm especially excited for the youngest sister to get her happy ending hopefully in the next volume. Dockside Duchess was a fun romp, but it was way too brief. Our couple barely had any time together and I struggled to see how they fell in love so quickly. I understand expediency is common in romance novels, but they described the docks in greater detail than their courtship!



Dockside Duchess had a great premise and I wish it was further explored. Our heroine Sadie was a duchess in dire straits who was working undercover as a man on the English docks. I love reading about women in disguise and when they're ultimately revealed is always so juicy. It tickled me to no end when the hero suspected her gender because of her shapely hips and derriere. Hey, there's no way a street urchin has a body that criminal. Sadie and Crawford were excellent foils with opposite personalities, but again, I wish there was more time devoted to their courtship. Sadie was a stellar employee and Crawford was lucky to have him working for his company, birthing hips or not.



Dockside Duchess was a unique historical romance, but I'm too greedy to be satisfied with less than 200 pages of Jennifer Seasons. She's a phenomenal author and I would gladly read more if she extended the length of her novels. I don't know if the baby sister will be the final book in the Castlebury series. If that's the case, I will continue to read the future publications of this author. Just say the word and you can find me by the docks with my trousers covering my feminine shape, exactly like Sadie.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The newly titled Earl of Castlebury, Crawford is under a lot of stress. New title responsibilities, pressure from his mother to find a suitable wife, his late father’s shipping empire to run. Heiress to an ancient dukedom, Sadie Crisp is in hiding from her Cousin Archibald, who wants her dead rather than married, so that he can keep her fortune for himself. Disguised as a young male deal porter at the docklands, all is smooth sailing until the new owner of the Castlebury’s shipyard appears
The third book in the series & I’m thoroughly enjoying the siblings finding love. I really liked both Crawford & Sadie & loved the chemistry between them. This was a quick read & I would have liked for it to be longer not only for further character development but also for the story to have more depth. I also felt the ending was rushed but so saying it was a page turning romance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new author for me. This is my 3nd book by her having only read the other books in this series. She has been on my list of authors to read so finally checking her out. She is published by Dragonblade Publishing which a lot of my favorite authors are also published by them. I thought she was Flame Division but this cover doesn't show the distinction.

This was not my favorite in the series. I liked Crawford and Sadie and the storyline started out good but then seemed so rushed at the end. There was sort of closure but didn't seem finished. I would have liked to rad about his mom's reaction at end with them and how the other felt about the cousin. I mean the Revivalist were so much more in book 1 and 2 but this one that storyline sort of fell flat. Still a good read though just seemed a rushed ending.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I don’t think reads as well as a stand-alone a lot of stuff is referenced from the first two books. The pacing felt a little off to me like the two main character ogle each other but don’t reallly interact for a lot of the book but once they dooo it’s open and fast and good. I’m not sure who the next book will be about but I will be there.

[Alexandra G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insta-lust hindered by class-difference because of hidden identity, this is a fun and adventurous workplace romance with interesting characters, good tension and chemistry, delicious steam, and action-packed with a quality villain and a nice big mess for the heroine.

Sadie & Crawford
She’s a duchess in her own right with a greedy sleezy distant cousin guardian who wants her dead. For her own safety she fled her home, disappeared and is now working on the docks disguised as a young man. Always looking over her shoulder is exhausting, and the fact that her new boss is rather distracting does not help!
He’s an earl new to his title and responsibilities with a pushy mama who wants him married with an heir and a spare. Along with all the rest, he inherited his father’s shipping company, and of course, he spots this little odd - but strangely attractive - duck immediately on his docks…

⭐⭐⭐✨
First of all, this, book 3, was the first I’ve read in this series and my first by this author, so I’m going by first impressions when I say I liked the style and this was an entertaining read. It works very well as a standalone and I’m curious about the earlier books.

But, this story starts off slow, gains momentum in the middle and then races towards its grand finale - quite literally a blaze of glory. I really enjoyed the plot and the build-up, but all of that gets lost in the speedy rush towards the end. The end itself was good though.
So, all in all, this was a great story and a good read and, given the chance, I will read more books by this author, but I believe it could have been better.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A missing duchess is in disguise working as a lad on the docks. A new earl is struggling to take control of the family shipping business. When these two meet sparks fly. As they stroke the flames of passion, danger stalks the foggy dockside. Moves at a fast pace with danger around every corner. Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Marion Löw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the third installment in this series and already read the previous ones. I like the author's narrative style, which gives her characters more depth with self-talk and inner monologues, and is also very amusing at times. Her descriptions sometimes have something almost poetic about them. The plot was a good mix of love story, suspense, danger and some hot love scenes. Crawford and Sadie are two great characters who are attracted to each other right from the start and the chemistry between them is tangible throughout the whole book. You also meet many characters from the earlier parts of the series, which I really like. Although the book can be read on its own, I recommend reading the series from the beginning to better understand the backstory, context and interactions of the characters involved.

Sadie Windcrisp aka Sadie Crisp aka Thomas Baker is the next Duchess of Seawell, a duchess in her own right, but must hide from her dangerous cousin who is her guardian and has already tried to kill her in order to inherit her title. She disguises herself as a young man and works as a dockworker.

Crawford Castlebury has recently inherited his father‘s earldom and shipping business. He is overwhelmed by his new duties, responsibilities and the matchmaking plans of his mother.

When Crawford meets Sadie, alias Thomas, he is impressed by her (his) abilities, but soon sees through her disguise. The two are instantly attracted to each other and passion flares between them, but the danger for Sadie grows and Crawford mistakes her for a commoner...

If you like historical romances with cinnamon roll heroes, strong heroines, steam and danger, you are sure to enjoy this book!

I received an advance review copy via NetGalley for free, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Boyfriend Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶🌶/5

Tropes:
-historical fiction
-insta-lust
-hidden identity
-workplace romance

Favourite Quote:
“I’m not a bloody stone, I feel things.”
“You’re a selkie, that’s what you are. Come to spellbind me.”
“I want you. Insatiably. Always.”
And because she was a Titan of a human, a mighty warrior with the fiercest heart, all wrapped in a small package.

Review:

I really wanted to love this one more. It was the first historical fiction book I’ve read in a while and while I loved the beginning of this one, between the MCs, the side characters, and tropes which all sounded incredibly promising to me, the plot was way too fast paced. Her identity was hidden for what felt like a millisecond and the conflict occurred and resolved on the same page. I loved the steam and chemistry but I wished this book was way longer to add to the storyline. I love insta-love/insta-connection but they didn’t have very long to build their relationship before the book was over. This was my first book that I’ve read written by this author and in this series and I loved the writing style and way she was able to describe the scenes. I will definitely give her other books a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dockside Duchess is a fun romp through 19th century London, with a fun opening premise and an interesting cast of characters. Seasons' pacing breezes along, and the first half or so of the book was intriguing and--at the risk of being repetitive--FUN. I think that sense of liveliness and adventure is missing in so many historical romances, and I was glad to see it here.

However, around the 60% mark, the book began to fall apart as the plot slowed down. Seasons' writing, which never felt as mature or polished as I'd have liked, began to get more egregious. Belabored descriptions and clunky dialogue started to grate. If you don't mind the idea of characters having whole conversations with themselves out loud and no one caring--well, perhaps you'll find more mileage with it. The side characters (I'm sure main characters in the rest of the series, which, in full disclosure, I have not read) butted in more and more; old plot points from what I believe must be other books were referenced more often. And the plot itself--well, Seasons made some authorial plot choices that for me, weakened the story quite a bit.

None of these things on their own (or even in a group of 2-3 of them) would have sunk the book, but the weight of them certainly did not help.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone .

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dockside Duchess by Jennifer Seasons is the story of a romance between a newly-minted earl and a runaway duchess. Both have business on the docks: he, as the owner of a major shipping company and she, as a dockworker. No, dockworkers are not normally female. She is hiding from her cousin and guardian who wishes to see her dead so he can inherit. No one except Crawford seems to realize that this person with whom they are working is female. Crawford is working hard to bring himself up to speed as his father had ill-prepared him to run this business. Sadie is simply trying to stay alive. It is a conundrum.

Sadie is a fabulous character: well-written and straightforward. She is clever and bright and is adjusting to life on the docks before Crawford enters the picture. There is not a clear plot, except to save her from her cousin. But, it is a romance, so… It was a comfortable read, enjoyable and easy to read. It was a clever plot and enjoyable. It left one feeling light and happy. Thanks, Jennifer for a lovely story!

I was invited to read Dockside Duchess by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #JenniferSeasons #DocksideDuchess

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars round up to 3

My first book by this author.

It was a nice, but seemed more like two smaller stories running simultaneously. They occasionally overlapped, but with the exception of the passionate scenes. We had Crawford trying to come to terms with taking on his new role as Earl and his mother demanding that he find a wife. Then we had Sadie hiding from her guardian and trying to stay alive. There wasn't much meat to the wife hunt or to Sadie hiding. Sadie had several people with clout that could have aided her in getting out of her guardian's clutches, but that was never utilized. It bothered me that they talked to themselves when that could have just been an inner dialogue.

The end, while dramatic, was a bit anticlimactic. There was no wrap up showing Sadie taking her rightful place in society. There was no wrap up of the fire or Crawford and the shipping company. Again, lots of holes, ones that needed to filled to make the story come together. It felt like the author was trying to mash two stories into one.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Any thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third installment of The Castlebury's series. I enjoyed the first two books and this one also did not disappoint. Sadie is an heiress to a dukedom, but she must hide her identity because her vile cousin wants her dead so he can inherit everything. She disguises herself as a young male deal porter by the docklands, thinking her cover is safe. But then the new owner of the Castlebury shipyard, Crawford, appears and her cover risks being blown. Crawford discovers that Sadie is disguising herself and he is drawn to her fiery nature. But with him being an earl, how can he have a future with her when her station is so below his? Society would never accept her as his bride. Little does he know that she would suit him as a bride exactly as society dictates. But how can Sadie tell him the truth when she risks being discovered and losing everything?
This was such an enjoyable read and I really liked seeing the chemistry between Sadie and Crawford. It absolutely sizzled! A lovely addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a great premise, but something was missing. It had the handsome Earl, the Duchess in distress and the evil cousin. Crawford the earl needed money and Sadie had plenty, however, there were some serious complications. Her cousin was trying to kill her so he could steal the family fortune. Sadie was in hiding and working on the docks as a man. Conveniently, Crawford was the owner of a shipping company! He soon realized that she was a female but the sparks didn't start flying until about halfway through the book. I honestly felt that the steamy scenes were a bit too long and I found myself skipping through them. I enjoyed Sadie's German landlady, she was so cute. I also got a kick out of the shark-infested waters of the Thames. Who knew?!
The end of the book was very exciting. The villain gets what he deserves and Sadie and Crawford get their happy ending.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

[Margaret Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadle Crisp, aristocrat in hiding and on the run from her guardian Archibald, fearing her life and now having to fear she may be discovered after the Earl of Castlebury, Crawford, sees through her disguise as a dockworker. The chemistry between Sadie and Crawford is off the chain steam and the story only gets hotter the longer they are in each other company. I love the premise of the story and the author's writing style. She allows you into the mind of both the H and h and makes you feel its ok to talk to yourself. Dockside Duchess is well written with strong secondary characters and a developed plot which flows freely as the relationship between Sadie and Crawford grows more serious.. Ms. Seasons is a new author for me but she will definitely be on autobuy going forward.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ioana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This has been a fun read, not too long, not too short, featuring charming main characters and pretty nice supporting acts.

It's the story of a duchess that needs to go into hiding, and she chooses to work at the docks, disguised as a man. And the Earl, her boss, who quickly finds her secret and is helpless to the sparks between them. There is heat, dirty talk, adventure, rapidly developing scenes, the action keeps you on your toes

The hero and heroine had great chemistry, I would have loved to read more about how their connection built in the beginning, I feel some more was needed to make their story even more irresistible. It was a lovely read overall.

I received a copy of this in order to share my opinion on it.

[Petula · Rating 5 out of 5]

We definitely get a very unusual Duchess in this historical romance.  Our heroine is in hiding from a murderous relative.  There is no way he would think of looking for her where she is. 

Our hero is a newly minted Earl under intense pressure from his mother to marry. He's far too busy just trying to get his head around all his new responsibilities.  

There is a lot of danger and a few giggles in this steamy book. The characters both have a habit of talking to themselves.  It is part of a series with links to the same family, but each book can be read on it's own. 

Our author is very descriptive, so you can easily picture the story she paints. 

Great fun. 

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duchess in Hiding

Sadie is hiding from her evil cousin. She is dressed as a male and working at the docks. Of all the places she could have landed, Crawford's shipyard was the best one. Crawford knew right away that she was no male. What would he do about it? He knew she was hiding for a reason, but would she trust him with the truth? Sadie would find Crawford vexing. Could it be because she could not resist him?

How long could Sadie hide from her murderous cousin, and once he found her, would she trust Crawford with her secret? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like historical romance with suspense.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing beyond the illusion

Sadie has been in the run from a devious cousin who would kill her to possess her fortune!
She has become a dockside hand but Crawford sees beyond her disguise and is the only one!
When Sadie’s enemies close in can she risk him knowing her secrets? Will he understand the deception?
The Revivalist on one side and danger from her cousin on the other!
Crawford is overwhelmed with the responsibilities of the Earldom on his shoulders and he has come to the warehouse for an escape!
The one thing neither counted on was love. Love is definitely a game changer that defied on logic and reason! Love this series!

[Texastwang · Rating 2 out of 5]

She hiding in plain sight. He was an older brother trying to fulfill his responsibilities. This is the first time I have given a 2 star review for this author. I felt that this book was all bedroom and steam and no substance. There was hardly any plot and nothing for anyone to go on. It is too bad because the first two books I was really enjoying.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast-paced suspenseful romance as Crawford strains to pick up the pieces of his inheritance after the death of his father. The relationship between Crawford and Sadie is both entertaining and heartwarming, especially when he realizes that the cheeky lad is a woman in disguise. After a night of terror, the novel comes to a lovely conclusion and the perpetrator of a vicious crime receives his just deserts. I received a copy of this novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

People aren’t always who or what they appear to be and that would describe Sadie. The story has everything that makes for good reading: a Duchess in hiding, a cousin who wants her dead, a new love found with Crawford and some very interesting secondary characters. It’s a great love story that is worth reading
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dockside Duchess" is an enjoyable tale with mystery, love and intrigue. Sadie is a strong resourceful woman who has been able to keep herself safe, but she knows one day she may not be successful. Crawford assumes the Earls duties with the death of his father and constantly questions if he is good enough. I rate it a 4 as I wanted more - especially as the danger increases in their lives, but it is still an enjoyable story.

[Janny T · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed it

This is the third book in the series about Crawford and Sadie , a duchess in disguise, as a dock worker and hiding. I have read the first 2 books about Crawford’s sisters and liked them. Well worth a read, entertaining, can be read on its own. I look forward to reading the next book.

[Avril Hemingway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun short read with some adventure thrown in to add to the romance. I really liked both Crawford & Sadie the chemistry between them was wonderful. My only complaint was that it wasn't long enough with the ending feeling a little rushed. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third story in the Castleburys. Crawford the newly titled Earl of Castlebury and heiress to an ancient dukedom, Sadie Crisp who is in hiding as a dock worker's story. There is drama, danger, suspense, twists, turns, secrets and romance. I found the story to be well worth reading with very good characters. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I read this immediately after the last one. I am caught up in this unconventional family. No one behaves as society expects and a good time is had by the reader. Definitely a one sitting book. I now need to know about the other siblings.





Read 5/25/2024

[Albi (albireadingromance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love heroines in disguise. I love romances at sea. I love historical romances that get steamy. I love forced proximity. I greatly enjoyed this book. 😌

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plucky heroine. A nice twist on the woman disguised as boy trope.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

Crawford Castlebury is the new Earl, and inheriting the title has left him with a lot to deal with. Top of his mother's agenda is finding him a suitable wife, so he can start producing heirs, whereas he knows he needs to focus on the shipping empire he's inherited. Heading down to the docks, he's the only one to notice that one of the dockhand's is actually a beautiful woman in disguise. Knowing their must be an important reason for her to hide in plain sight, Crawford keeps an eye on her, but an Earl could never be with a common dockworker. Well, he could if she was in fact the missing daughter of a late Duke, hiding from her wicked cousin who wants her dead so he can inherit everything. Can Sadie trust Crawford with her real identity, or is it too much of a risk?

I think this one might be my favourite so far. Crawford has the world on his shoulders, knowing it's up to him to keep the family safe, especially as the Revivalists have gotten close to the Castlebury's twice before. He'd do anything for his family, so he at least entertains his mother's plans to find him a bride this season, though he'd rather be with Sadie. The romance between them was so raw and real, it was amazing to see them grow as a partnership. Because of Sadie's mistrust after everything she has gone through, she found it hard to accept Crawford's love as being real. The extended Castlebury family definitely came to the rescue though, and I'm even more excited for the final siblings to find love!