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Love's a Game #1
The Duchess Hunt
A widow is on the hunt for her best friend's future duchess. But she doesn't know he only has eyes for her.
She wants to find his match...
Meredith Drake has sworn off marriage after her disastrous union with a much older man. But when her best friend returns from war, the young widow pledges to help him find his bride.
He wants to win her heart...
Griffin Brooks grew up as the ‘spare’ son, who no one noticed. He went to war to forget that Meredith was out of his reach. But now he’s back, and no longer the ‘spare.’ With a dukedom at stake, he must take a bride. And for him, there is only one choice.
The hunt is on. Will true love be the prize?
When Meredith unexpectedly meets Griffin at a pleasure club and begins to see him in a whole new light, can he convince her to give passion…and love a chance?
She wants to find his match...
Meredith Drake has sworn off marriage after her disastrous union with a much older man. But when her best friend returns from war, the young widow pledges to help him find his bride.
He wants to win her heart...
Griffin Brooks grew up as the ‘spare’ son, who no one noticed. He went to war to forget that Meredith was out of his reach. But now he’s back, and no longer the ‘spare.’ With a dukedom at stake, he must take a bride. And for him, there is only one choice.
The hunt is on. Will true love be the prize?
When Meredith unexpectedly meets Griffin at a pleasure club and begins to see him in a whole new light, can he convince her to give passion…and love a chance?
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2024
130 people are currently reading
1690 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Bowman
59 books1,582 followersValerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance.
Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.
Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...
Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.
Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 15, 2025
⭐⭐
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Widow heroine.
Friends to lovers.
Hero was not a rogue/rake or womanizer.
➖ What I disliked:
Underwhelming/disappointing.
Contradicting.
Repetitive.
Nonsensical.
Annoying heroine.
(Immature/emotionally immature heroine…. But also like the heroines brother says about her...she is obtuse and hypocritical…. But also rather inattentive and oblivious.)
Somewhat flat and bland main characters.
Lackluster and unconvincing romance and chemistry.
The miscommunication and going around in circles with the same issues/issue.
Lackluster steam/sex scenes.
The plot and main characters are a little too formulaic and too predictable… there is nothing that really stands out or brings something new etc. It is too similar to /reminiscent of many other historical romance books… so it kind of blends into the crowd.
The heroine is only 27 years old and has been married and is widowed…. A missed opportunity to have a heroine that is a little older or just older/mature.
The heroine is very ignorant/willfully ignorant and naive about her own body and pleasure but also sex.
𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 is that ignorant/willfully ignorant or naive about their own body and pleasure or sex no matter what 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣.
The heroine is so ignorant and naive it borders on absurdity/stupidity.
Believability/plausibility issues etc.
(That the heroine would not instantly know that the man she met in the pleasure club was the hero… she had been friends with him for a long time and she knew his scent, voice, posture, body language etc. etc. Even if inebriated/mildly inebriated she would know it was him…A little masquerade mask does not make a person unrecognizable.🤦♀️
That the heroine did not marry her friend/best friend when younger to get out of a very unwanted marriage to a much older man.
The heroine did not take the help that was offered from her brother to runaway instead of marrying a much older man that she really did not want to marry.
A woman could break off an engagement without penalty or worry of litigation from the courts during this time period.
The heroine is also very naive and ignorant about so much more than just her own body and sex etc.
She is 27 years old and have been out in society etc. and not living under a rock or raised in a strict and pious convent… and not even nuns would be as naive and ignorant as this woman is.
There is the entire song and dance about the heroines infertility… and then there is the silly/ludicrous and rather dumb ending to the book with the heroines “revelation”… so disappointing and boring but also inane and almost laughable.
That the heroine believed her father and that she thought her father loved her and her brother and she trusted and defended her father after all he did and said.
But also there was no reason at all for her to trust or believe that her father loved or cared for her… rather much the opposite.
And that even up in her late 20’s she still trusted and defended her father is kind of strange.
That a woman that is so very naive and ignorant/willfully ignorant about her own body and pleasure but also sex but also is rather puritanical….. would know or understand what a pleasure club was and that she would seek it out or be openly curious about it ...or talk about it with her friend/friends or even bring it up…and would seek out what was going on inside that club when she is supposed to be extremely naive and ignorant/willfully ignorant about her own body and pleasure but also sex… it is very contradicting and illogical.
That it took the hero and others so long to figure out what the heroines “secret”/”problem” was… kind of obvious if not totally inattentive/oblivious… but they could also have listen to what the heroine was/is saying among other things.)
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice about both main characters.
(Hero= tall, muscular/chiseled, handsome…. And heroine: lithe/slim, short, beautiful)
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Widow heroine.
Friends to lovers.
Hero was not a rogue/rake or womanizer.
➖ What I disliked:
Underwhelming/disappointing.
Contradicting.
Repetitive.
Nonsensical.
Annoying heroine.
(Immature/emotionally immature heroine…. But also like the heroines brother says about her...she is obtuse and hypocritical…. But also rather inattentive and oblivious.)
Somewhat flat and bland main characters.
Lackluster and unconvincing romance and chemistry.
The miscommunication and going around in circles with the same issues/issue.
Lackluster steam/sex scenes.
The plot and main characters are a little too formulaic and too predictable… there is nothing that really stands out or brings something new etc. It is too similar to /reminiscent of many other historical romance books… so it kind of blends into the crowd.
The heroine is only 27 years old and has been married and is widowed…. A missed opportunity to have a heroine that is a little older or just older/mature.
The heroine is very ignorant/willfully ignorant and naive about her own body and pleasure but also sex.
𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 is that ignorant/willfully ignorant or naive about their own body and pleasure or sex no matter what 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣.
The heroine is so ignorant and naive it borders on absurdity/stupidity.
Believability/plausibility issues etc.
(That the heroine would not instantly know that the man she met in the pleasure club was the hero… she had been friends with him for a long time and she knew his scent, voice, posture, body language etc. etc. Even if inebriated/mildly inebriated she would know it was him…A little masquerade mask does not make a person unrecognizable.🤦♀️
That the heroine did not marry her friend/best friend when younger to get out of a very unwanted marriage to a much older man.
The heroine did not take the help that was offered from her brother to runaway instead of marrying a much older man that she really did not want to marry.
A woman could break off an engagement without penalty or worry of litigation from the courts during this time period.
The heroine is also very naive and ignorant about so much more than just her own body and sex etc.
She is 27 years old and have been out in society etc. and not living under a rock or raised in a strict and pious convent… and not even nuns would be as naive and ignorant as this woman is.
There is the entire song and dance about the heroines infertility… and then there is the silly/ludicrous and rather dumb ending to the book with the heroines “revelation”… so disappointing and boring but also inane and almost laughable.
That the heroine believed her father and that she thought her father loved her and her brother and she trusted and defended her father after all he did and said.
But also there was no reason at all for her to trust or believe that her father loved or cared for her… rather much the opposite.
And that even up in her late 20’s she still trusted and defended her father is kind of strange.
That a woman that is so very naive and ignorant/willfully ignorant about her own body and pleasure but also sex but also is rather puritanical….. would know or understand what a pleasure club was and that she would seek it out or be openly curious about it ...or talk about it with her friend/friends or even bring it up…and would seek out what was going on inside that club when she is supposed to be extremely naive and ignorant/willfully ignorant about her own body and pleasure but also sex… it is very contradicting and illogical.
That it took the hero and others so long to figure out what the heroines “secret”/”problem” was… kind of obvious if not totally inattentive/oblivious… but they could also have listen to what the heroine was/is saying among other things.)
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice about both main characters.
(Hero= tall, muscular/chiseled, handsome…. And heroine: lithe/slim, short, beautiful)
July 17, 2025
3 stars. Good until it wasn’t. The heroine turned totally TSTL by the end, I couldn’t handle her resistance to just having a singular conversation that would have solved all her problems. I absolutely LOATHE a miscommunication trope, so 3 stars is me being rather generous.
SWE, they are separated for over 10 years because the heroine is married off by her father at 18 y/o to an old Duke. The hero was in love with the heroine already but never told her. She was def not blameless either (in the separation), they were both young and dumb and made bad decisions. Hero was not a manwhore but mentions being with OW. Heroine thinks shes barren but it turns out that her husband had been at fault all along, bc he was unable to perform, and she was a virgin. No one else for either during this book but heroine does try to find a lover by going to a sex club (hero follows her and they end up together).
SWE, they are separated for over 10 years because the heroine is married off by her father at 18 y/o to an old Duke. The hero was in love with the heroine already but never told her. She was def not blameless either (in the separation), they were both young and dumb and made bad decisions. Hero was not a manwhore but mentions being with OW. Heroine thinks shes barren but it turns out that her husband had been at fault all along, bc he was unable to perform, and she was a virgin. No one else for either during this book but heroine does try to find a lover by going to a sex club (hero follows her and they end up together).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2024
Heroine: Meredith Drake, about 27. Nickname: Mere. Widow of the Duke of Maxwell and sister of the Marquess of Trentham.
Hero: Griffin Brooks, 29. Nickname: Griff. Duke of Southbury. As a second son, he had a military career prior to inheriting the title.
Date: 1816 (prologue = 1803; epilogue = 1817)
How they meet: Griff and Mere met as children, when they lived on neighboring estates. Griff had long wished to marry Mere, but her father arranged a marriage to a much older man for her as a teenager.
What happens: Mere was widowed about a year prior to the beginning of the story. With Griff back in town after a long absence, she is determined to help him find a wife. Mere is firm in her decision that she will not marry again, but Griff still has feelings for her and is resolved to slowly win her over.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: I really enjoyed this one. The hero was a true romantic despite a homelife in his childhood that was lacking in love. He was patient and clever. The heroine both craved and feared love. While there were times her secret-keeping was frustrating, looking at it through the lens of the early 19th century, her secret represented the ultimate failing as a woman and her pride kept her from admitting it to the person she respected the most. I like that the plot wouldn’t work at all in a modern novel, but makes perfect sense for one set 200+ years ago. It’s the first in the series and reads fine as a standalone. There are a few hints about potential future romances, with the hero and heroine both having unmarried siblings.
Steam level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 4 stars
Hero: Griffin Brooks, 29. Nickname: Griff. Duke of Southbury. As a second son, he had a military career prior to inheriting the title.
Date: 1816 (prologue = 1803; epilogue = 1817)
How they meet: Griff and Mere met as children, when they lived on neighboring estates. Griff had long wished to marry Mere, but her father arranged a marriage to a much older man for her as a teenager.
What happens: Mere was widowed about a year prior to the beginning of the story. With Griff back in town after a long absence, she is determined to help him find a wife. Mere is firm in her decision that she will not marry again, but Griff still has feelings for her and is resolved to slowly win her over.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: I really enjoyed this one. The hero was a true romantic despite a homelife in his childhood that was lacking in love. He was patient and clever. The heroine both craved and feared love. While there were times her secret-keeping was frustrating, looking at it through the lens of the early 19th century, her secret represented the ultimate failing as a woman and her pride kept her from admitting it to the person she respected the most. I like that the plot wouldn’t work at all in a modern novel, but makes perfect sense for one set 200+ years ago. It’s the first in the series and reads fine as a standalone. There are a few hints about potential future romances, with the hero and heroine both having unmarried siblings.
Steam level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 4 stars
February 15, 2025
Another pleasurable read from Bowman
October 1, 2024
I always enjoy Valerie Bowman's books. She is one of the authors on my "favorite authors" list. I wrote in my notes: awesome writer, quick reads but love all her stories and her characters, the sex is good and detailed. This is my 30th book by her and have reading her since 2017. So happy to see she has a new series out.
I loved Meredith and Griffin. I loved their story and I loved their personalities. I finished this book in one day. I loved how their story grew through the years. It's unusual in the ton to have a male or female that you consider a "friend". Usually that friendship goes away as they become adults because the ton has their stupid strict rules about things like that. I hope Meredith's brother gets his story. Really great read.
I loved Meredith and Griffin. I loved their story and I loved their personalities. I finished this book in one day. I loved how their story grew through the years. It's unusual in the ton to have a male or female that you consider a "friend". Usually that friendship goes away as they become adults because the ton has their stupid strict rules about things like that. I hope Meredith's brother gets his story. Really great read.
December 7, 2024
Kept in the dark.....
This story is an excellent example of how so many things can go wrong from want of not only a good conversation, but good knowledge and instruction. It also speaks to the callousness and often total lack of decency and regard some fathers of the ton had for the women in their lives. It breaks my heart and yet, reinforces my gratitude and appreciation for the men I have had in my life.
The easy friendship and quietly underlying love Meredith and Griffin share is a treasure. It was lovely to see how, regardless of time, it never wavered. Yes, there was a period of time where the depth was not apparent, but it endured to the point it could be picked up again and taken to the best possible conclusion.
Ms. Bowman creates worlds where humor and love always combine. Her characters are warm, thoughtful and supportive and given such depth. She does an excellent job too of creating just the right level of nastiness in her antagonists that have you cheering when they are thwarted and love wins out.
I am looking forward to the rest of this series, I am excited to see how Gemma finds her HEA and if in the process puts a proper kink in another Lady's plans. I have a hope that we see Clare get her HEA with....Ash, I will be waiting with my fingers crossed.
This story is an excellent example of how so many things can go wrong from want of not only a good conversation, but good knowledge and instruction. It also speaks to the callousness and often total lack of decency and regard some fathers of the ton had for the women in their lives. It breaks my heart and yet, reinforces my gratitude and appreciation for the men I have had in my life.
The easy friendship and quietly underlying love Meredith and Griffin share is a treasure. It was lovely to see how, regardless of time, it never wavered. Yes, there was a period of time where the depth was not apparent, but it endured to the point it could be picked up again and taken to the best possible conclusion.
Ms. Bowman creates worlds where humor and love always combine. Her characters are warm, thoughtful and supportive and given such depth. She does an excellent job too of creating just the right level of nastiness in her antagonists that have you cheering when they are thwarted and love wins out.
I am looking forward to the rest of this series, I am excited to see how Gemma finds her HEA and if in the process puts a proper kink in another Lady's plans. I have a hope that we see Clare get her HEA with....Ash, I will be waiting with my fingers crossed.
March 30, 2025
Griffin Brooks has always loved Meredith Drake. After eight years away in the army, he's back to woo Meredith, now a widow, but she is adamant she will never marry. Griffin is the eligible Duke of Southbury and Meredith is determined to find him a wife. It's a game of cat and mouse, as he entices her with seduction and teases her with seven guesses to confess she loves him.
Stubborn woman!!!
Mild explicit sex.
Stubborn woman!!!
Mild explicit sex.
January 4, 2026
The heroine's major problem and biggest blow to her self esteem was resolved so quickly lol and her brother knew all along that their father was a scum bag but never told her the truth was wild. I would be so mad if I were the heroine. Hero is good. He's likeable.
January 7, 2025
What a fun beginning to a new series
Loved Meredith and Griffin and so glad they finally got their shot together and admitted their love. Looking forward to Gemmas story
Loved Meredith and Griffin and so glad they finally got their shot together and admitted their love. Looking forward to Gemmas story
dnf
August 11, 2025Oh no, but the narrator is not working
August 10, 2025
My rating for The Duchess Hunt, by Valerie Bowman: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
This was the first book I've read by Valerie Bowman, and it won't be the last. It is the first in the Love's A Game series. These books can be read standalone, but I believe they would be more enjoyable if read in order -- as they are about the romances of two families.
I liked Meredith, but thought she was kind of an idiot to insist that her father loved her (when he obviously did not). I get that she wanted his love so badly that she just decided he loved her, but he proved what an a$$ he was over and over. I also thought that her lack of knowledge of sex was a bit ridiculous, but I understand that most young women of that period weren't taught anything about it. It just seemed like it took her a LONG time to figure out the truth of her first marriage, and then only because her friend explained it to her.
I also liked Griffin, and felt bad for him that he thought he would never have a chance with Meredith. He was determined to try after she was widowed, though. Meredith's insistence that she would never marry almost ruined things, but I was glad when they finally got their HEA.
I also liked that the sex scenes were fairly tame -- I'm not a prude, and I enjoy sex scenes, but sometimes it is nice to read less explicit, more romantic scenes. I liked that it wasn't completely clean (those books are often too tame and can be a bit preachy), but was simply a really sweet romance.
I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
This was the first book I've read by Valerie Bowman, and it won't be the last. It is the first in the Love's A Game series. These books can be read standalone, but I believe they would be more enjoyable if read in order -- as they are about the romances of two families.
I liked Meredith, but thought she was kind of an idiot to insist that her father loved her (when he obviously did not). I get that she wanted his love so badly that she just decided he loved her, but he proved what an a$$ he was over and over. I also thought that her lack of knowledge of sex was a bit ridiculous, but I understand that most young women of that period weren't taught anything about it. It just seemed like it took her a LONG time to figure out the truth of her first marriage, and then only because her friend explained it to her.
I also liked Griffin, and felt bad for him that he thought he would never have a chance with Meredith. He was determined to try after she was widowed, though. Meredith's insistence that she would never marry almost ruined things, but I was glad when they finally got their HEA.
I also liked that the sex scenes were fairly tame -- I'm not a prude, and I enjoy sex scenes, but sometimes it is nice to read less explicit, more romantic scenes. I liked that it wasn't completely clean (those books are often too tame and can be a bit preachy), but was simply a really sweet romance.
I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
September 12, 2025
This historical friends to lovers, brother's best friend book was about Meredith, the widowed Duchess of Maxwell and her childhood friend, Griffin, the Duke of Southbury and her brother, the Marquess - his closest friend.
The three of them grew up together as Griffin spent most of his time with them as he felt unwanted as the "spare" in his own home. He has loved Meredith for years but has never confessed it until now, fifteen years later.
Meredith has vowed never to marry again as she believes she is barren. Furthermore she had a very unhappy first marriage to a much older man and she is enjoying her freedom.
Can Griffin manage to persuade her that love is enough and that he loves her no matter what?
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Mary Sarah and it took me a while to get used to her narration as she spoke very softly at first. I also battled a bit with some of her pronunciation as her English sounded very different to what I am used to listening to.
The book was well told but I was rather irritated by Meredith as she was stubborn and her dialogue was rather repetitive, and due to pure ignorance - she led Griffin on a merry go round for nothing! Griffin was an admirable character and a total romantic, such a lovely man who was far more patient than most people would be in his circumstances.
An enjoyable read, though I only started to get into the story about a third of the way through. The book had a bit of a slow start.
The three of them grew up together as Griffin spent most of his time with them as he felt unwanted as the "spare" in his own home. He has loved Meredith for years but has never confessed it until now, fifteen years later.
Meredith has vowed never to marry again as she believes she is barren. Furthermore she had a very unhappy first marriage to a much older man and she is enjoying her freedom.
Can Griffin manage to persuade her that love is enough and that he loves her no matter what?
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Mary Sarah and it took me a while to get used to her narration as she spoke very softly at first. I also battled a bit with some of her pronunciation as her English sounded very different to what I am used to listening to.
The book was well told but I was rather irritated by Meredith as she was stubborn and her dialogue was rather repetitive, and due to pure ignorance - she led Griffin on a merry go round for nothing! Griffin was an admirable character and a total romantic, such a lovely man who was far more patient than most people would be in his circumstances.
An enjoyable read, though I only started to get into the story about a third of the way through. The book had a bit of a slow start.
October 23, 2025
It began stronger than it ended
The I love you madly plotline was stretched like taffy, which I do not like until I could not wait to finish it. The book not taffy.
I am reminded of a washcloth being rung. out
The characters were extremely likable, and for the shortness of the pages the angst seemed to overwhelm the storyline which came to a too abrupt end
But the farthest reach was the total ignorance of Meredith own virginity but all ended happily
On the homefront, Trump has just destroyed the east wing of the White House and historic building belonging to all of us. What right he has I cannot imagine after the weekend we’re 7 million people turned out for no kings demonstrations. The propaganda is out of hand wildly. It actually is fitting to the repetition of the I love you madly of this first of the series.
Fortunately, I have the second book at hand and then beginning it this evening or this early morning at 3 AM
The second book was somewhat better and I finished it the next night onto the third
The I love you madly plotline was stretched like taffy, which I do not like until I could not wait to finish it. The book not taffy.
I am reminded of a washcloth being rung. out
The characters were extremely likable, and for the shortness of the pages the angst seemed to overwhelm the storyline which came to a too abrupt end
But the farthest reach was the total ignorance of Meredith own virginity but all ended happily
On the homefront, Trump has just destroyed the east wing of the White House and historic building belonging to all of us. What right he has I cannot imagine after the weekend we’re 7 million people turned out for no kings demonstrations. The propaganda is out of hand wildly. It actually is fitting to the repetition of the I love you madly of this first of the series.
Fortunately, I have the second book at hand and then beginning it this evening or this early morning at 3 AM
The second book was somewhat better and I finished it the next night onto the third
November 14, 2025
Tropes: friends to lovers; MFC is a widow who'd had a bad first marriage; cinnamon roll hero
Steam level: 3
3.25 stars because it started off ok. I liked the MMC and he elevated the steamy scenes. But felt the Big Misunderstanding went on way too long and the MFC spent SO much time and energy pushing away MMC when she just needed to level with him. Also she was super clueless; she was 27 and a widow with female friends and access to books but had no idea of what conception entailed. Also frustrated with the repetitive "but daddy loved me" and "mom wanted me to marry a duke" responses. No sense of reality.
I liked a book I read by this author back in the day but this is just paint by numbers for the most part.
Steam level: 3
3.25 stars because it started off ok. I liked the MMC and he elevated the steamy scenes. But felt the Big Misunderstanding went on way too long and the MFC spent SO much time and energy pushing away MMC when she just needed to level with him. Also she was super clueless; she was 27 and a widow with female friends and access to books but had no idea of what conception entailed. Also frustrated with the repetitive "but daddy loved me" and "mom wanted me to marry a duke" responses. No sense of reality.
I liked a book I read by this author back in the day but this is just paint by numbers for the most part.
October 9, 2024
Meredith Drake and Griffen Brooks, grew up along with her brother, Ash to be great friends. When Meredith was contracted to marry an older Duke, Griffen, a spare to a dukedom, went off to war. After Griffen inherits the dukedom, Meredith, a widowed Duchess, decides to help him find a spouse. Both Meredith and Griffen have secrets they haven't shared with each other over the years and they will have to come to terms with their secrets in order to have their HEA. A very well written story with steam and romance. I finished it within a couple of hours of starting it and I am looking forward to the next installment of the series.
September 11, 2025
The Duchess Hunt by Valerie Bowman is a light and engaging Regency friends-to-lovers story. I liked the dynamic between Griffin and Meredith. Their history as best friends made the romance feel natural, even as society's rules and expectations tried to keep them apart. The mix of ballroom manners, country estates, and even a pleasure club gave it variety, and I enjoyed how class and duty played into their choices without weighing the story down. It's not heavy or overly dramatic, but a warm, romantic read with just enough tension to keep me turning the pages.
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September 13, 2025DNF I hate being mean but I have never been able to finish an audiobook narrated by Mary Sarah. The breathy inflections are like someone pretending to read a romance novel to make fun of it. It's like being made fun of while trying to enjoy a book. I think she could do a good job if she spoke more normally. She has a nice voice but no one actually talks like that so listening to it sounds like she's being sarcastic.
October 14, 2024
Love games
Meredith always believed her would marry a Duke.
Her father lied to again and again. At eighteen age she married a Duke who. betrayed her. Her father signed marriage years ago to settle a debt.
Griffin has been in love with Meredith his whole life.
He just has to convince her to marry him and find love.
Meredith always believed her would marry a Duke.
Her father lied to again and again. At eighteen age she married a Duke who. betrayed her. Her father signed marriage years ago to settle a debt.
Griffin has been in love with Meredith his whole life.
He just has to convince her to marry him and find love.
April 6, 2025
I usually don’t read books of earlier times but this one intrigued me and didn’t disappoint. It was a quick read with intrigue and humor. Loved the female protagonist and her forwardness at a time when ladies were expected to behave a certain why to avoid a scandal. Cute book! Liked it so much, I will continue to the second one in the series.
May 26, 2025
an enjoyable enough read but some aspects did not make sense. like her big 'secret' is that she's infertile... but like she was married for 8 years and had no kids, that's not a secret that would be what everyone assumed abt her!!!!
also this gave la promising early book by an author so i was shocked it to see the authors been writing books for a decade
also this gave la promising early book by an author so i was shocked it to see the authors been writing books for a decade
October 8, 2024
A Tidy Novella
Novellas can be thin on plot or character development, but this is full of well done scenes and characters as they make their way towards a satisfying ending. There are two more books in this series, and I look forward to them.
Novellas can be thin on plot or character development, but this is full of well done scenes and characters as they make their way towards a satisfying ending. There are two more books in this series, and I look forward to them.
April 5, 2025
I loved everything about this romance, a story of best friends to lovers where games and pleasure become far too real and emotions are high. Great banter and characters. Meredith and Griffin shine brightest with each other. Love, trust and honesty win out towards a beautiful happily ever after.
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November 5, 2025I love a friendship where one has always been in love with the other.
I really dug this book until the info related to her marriage was revealed. The oh look I’m actually still “untouched” is a pet peeve.
It feels like a cop out.
I really dug this book until the info related to her marriage was revealed. The oh look I’m actually still “untouched” is a pet peeve.
It feels like a cop out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2024
loves a game
I had a hard time following in the book. I know that it can be a good book for someone. So I gave it 3 stars because the story was good just had time following
I had a hard time following in the book. I know that it can be a good book for someone. So I gave it 3 stars because the story was good just had time following
November 21, 2024
It was very well written. Low on the spice scale but a good read if you want romance but without the raunchy aspects.
April 9, 2025
I liked the steamy scenes. The storyline, Griffin & Melinda was hard to get into.
April 16, 2025
the duchess hunt
A fun regency read about a young boy falls in love with a playmate who has to do what her father says.
A fun regency read about a young boy falls in love with a playmate who has to do what her father says.
May 29, 2025
Light and fun.
July 3, 2025
Writing wasn’t great, but it is a cute romance.
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