Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma

by Violet Marsh

The daughter of a pirate and a newly titled duke must team up to solve a decades-old family mystery in this clever historical rom com—perfect for fans of Evie Dunmore and Manda Collins!

Eoin Aucourte, the newly minted Duke of Foxglen, always played by his grandfather's rules. But now that the old man is dead, Eoin’s first decision is to track down his long-lost mother. The only problem? He’ll have to visit the infamous Black Sheep Coffeehouse to begin his search. Rumor has it that the owner, Miss Hannah Wick, knows all the gossip from the dingiest St. Giles alleyways to the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair. But the whip-smart daughter of a pirate also has a way of making Eoin forget all the lessons on propriety that his grandfather ruthlessly instilled in him.

The Duke of Foxglen represents everything Hannah disdains about the nobility. Even worse, his grandfather exiled her papa from England, setting her father on the course of piracy and endangering her entire family. Seeing an opportunity to seek vengeance on his family, Hannah pretends to “help” the shy, surprisingly handsome duke—but soon realizes Eoin may be the first truly honorable noble she’s ever met.

With every clue they uncover, their search intensifies ... and so does their attraction. But with so many secrets between them, does love even stand a chance?​

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Rom Com, Regency, Historical Mystery

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Two-time Golden Heart finalist Violet Marsh is a lawyer who decided it was more fun to write witty banter than contractual terms. A romance enthusiast, she relishes the transformative power of love, especially when a seeming mismatch becomes the perfect pairing.

Marsh also enjoys visiting the past--whether strolling through a castle's ruins, wandering around a stately manor, or researching her family genealogy online (where she discovered at least one alleged pirate, a female tavern owner, and several blacksmiths). She indulges in her love of history by writing period pieces filled with independent-minded women and men smart enough to fall for them.

Marsh lives at home with Prince Handy (a guy who can fix things is definitely sexier than a mere charmer), a whirlwind (her toddler), and a suburban nesting dog (whose cuteness Marsh shamelessly uses to promote her books).

Marsh loves to interact with her readers on social media:
www.facebook.com/violetmarshauthor,
www.instagram.com/violetmarshauthor, and

Reviews

[Mysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun time! Very fast paced and chaotic, with lots of humour as well.

The story follows Hannah and Duke Eoin. Hannah pretends to be Eoin’s mistress in order to help him find his mother and sister (which he hasn’t seen since he was a child), but she also has plans of her own to seek revenge against Eoin’s family because of a feud from the past.

I liked both characters a lot - Hannah’s wild and adventurous personality matched Eoin’s sheltered and ‘stoic’ self very well. I found Eoin’s character in particular very endearing. It was lovely to finally read about a sweet and innocent MMC. I also really appreciated Hannah’s character being the bold one, as well as being outside of the typical noble-realm.

The story was amusing but kinda hectic in my opinion. I found myself losing interest near the end regarding the whole mystery aspect of it, and didn’t care at all about any of the side characters (but maybe that’s because I haven’t read the other books? but also isn’t this technically a stand-alone?).

Overall though, it was an entertaining read!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC! ♡

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma by Violet Marsh
Third book in the loosely related series (Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man). Historical romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Miss Hannah Wick helps run and host The Black Sheep Coffeehouse. As the descendant of a pirate and the daughter of a noble, Hannah is proud to be a proprietor and uses her intelligence to help track down mysteries for friends, customers or suppressed. When she meets the Duke of Foxglen, she’s impressed with his strength, honor, and seeming innocence. She’s more than willing to pose as his mistress and help him with whatever he needs. Yes, she has a secret about their families discordant past but that won’t stop her from getting to know Eoin a bit better.
Eoin Aucourte only just inherited his title of Duke of Foxglen. The first thing he wants to do is find his mother and sister and make sure they are comfortable. He doesn’t know if they will accept his help but he has to try. Slightly enamored and bemused by Miss Wick, he will follow her lead.

An amusing and witty romp. Loved his innocence and her confidence. The baby gosling is pretty funny too.
Plus happy resolution for Ursus.
A story not to miss. Sweet, sparkling, and heartwarming.

I received a copy from NetGalley and publisher Forever.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 Stars

One Liner: It was nice enough, but not as much as the previous two!

Eoin Aucourte, the newly minted Duke of Foxglen, is finally free to live life on his terms after his grandfather’s demise. The first thing he wants to do is to find his mother, and for that, he would have to visit the infamous Black Sheep Coffeehouse.

Miss Hannah Wick, the owner of the place, is known to have access to gossip and secrets across classes. As the daughter of a pirate, the man exiled by Eoin’s grandfather, she knows this is the right time for revenge.

However, life has a way of surprising people. Can they find their HEA with all those mysteries and secrets coming in between?

The story comes in Eion and Hannah’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts

This is the third book in the untitled series (why on earth are they not marking the series?), with Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man as book #1 and Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case as book #2. It should work as a standalone.

We met both MCs in the previous books, and reading them might help a little. Oh, by the way, the MMC’s name Eoin is pronounced Owen (thank you for mentioning this at the beginning, as I was debating between eon and ion since I read the blurb).

So, the MMC is a really sweet guy who suffers quite a lot but remains kind and good. He is not even grumpy as such. The FMC is fiery and hot-headed but smart enough in most instances. They do make a good pair, and some scenes were lovely, but the plot was really plotting.

There is a mystery, some danger, a few threats, revenge, past actions, and all that. Of course, these are supposed to be subplots supporting the central romance. It worked well in the previous two books, or at least, I enjoyed them more. The same feeling is missing here (in the note at the end, the author says she struggled with this one, and it shows. I hope she gets back into her groove for the next book.).

It is still funny and has some dark stuff too (animal abuse, illegal and unethical prizefighting, etc.). The characters are easy to like (though the FMC keeps a secret far too long so that we can have a third-act breakup), but the overall appeal is average, decent.

That said, the pets do make this more entertaining. Apart from Pan (the terrorizing parrot), we have a gooseling highly protective and possessive of its person. She was a force to reckon with!

The epilogue shows that there will be another book (I’m counting 3 more couples, so…). Have to wait and see who it’ll belong to!

To summarize, Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma has its moments and some good stuff, but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it much. The pacing is good, so it doesn’t drag.

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #MissWickandtheDukeDilemma

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
A fun historical romance set in 1750! Eoin, the newly minted Duke of Foxglen, enlists the help of Miss Hannah Wick to help him finding his estranged mother and sister. Taken from them as a young boy by his too-powerful Duke of a grandfather, he is unaware of their whereabouts or well-being. Hannah agrees but has her own agenda- she blames Eoin's family for her own family's ruin and plans to seek vengeance under the guise of helping him. To do this she moves into his residence with the pretence of being his mistress- and look, does this make sense? No. Was it easy to just ignore that and enjoy the story? Also no.

Hannah's character was fun but also didn't entirely fit into the story? Not entirely in a "she's too modern" sort of way, but she just didn't seem to mesh with everything else. She casually proclaims to a full coffee house of her friends and family that she will pretend to be Eoin's mistress and then asks if she'll be his "first lover". Like, I don't think that's an okay thing to ask in any time period? These two barely know each other. She then gets offended by everyone's side-eye and somehow chalk's it up to her being untitled, instead of just her being obtuse.

The romance between Eoin and Hannah was fine, but I wish she didn't lie to him about her true intentions for as long as she did. Eoin had such a cold and quiet life, had no family or friends around that truly loved him and it felt like Hannah as using that to manipulate him. Like he seemed so desperate for companionship I just kept hoping she would come clean.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a wonderful departure from the normal regency setting, this book takes place in 1750s London. We have aristocrats aplenty, but also middle and lower class characters and some charming animal companions as well. What a breath of fresh air!

Taciturn Eoin, newly ascended to a Dukedom, enlists the help of Hannah, co-owner of the aforementioned coffeehouse, to find his mother. Their investigation evolves as they try to unmask a shadowy figured called The Proprietor, who runs several underground businesses.

While this book is full of humor and can feel farcical at times (especially when the gosling that imprinted in Eoin is in a scene), it deals with deep issues like neglect, abuse, and abandonment. Eoin works through the trauma of his upbringing throughout the story. Hannah's search for revenge against Eoin's family isn't nearly as disturbing, but it still adds conflict to the love story.

This book is the third in a series, but the books seem to be deliberately marketed as standalones. While I do think a new reader would enjoy this book, it's an even more rewarding read when you know the backstory. All of the characters met in book one at a coffeehouse where people from different classes meet to talk politics (and plan subversive activities). The main characters of the next book are obvious by how a pair of secondary characters get a good amount of time on the page and the books ends with the start of the next story. It's not a cliffhanger, as Eoin and Hannah's story is complete.

[The Nightwatch Desk · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his grandfather's death, Duke Eoin Aucourte wants to track down his long-lost mother. The rest of his family is going to do everything in their power to stop him, so his best bet is to enlist the assistance of Hannah Wick. She's the daughter of a pirate and the owner of a local coffeeshop for outcasts.

The catch is that Hannah has no intention of helping him. She's determined to get revenge on behalf of her father, who was sent to the colonies by the Aucourte family. As they investigate and face life threatening danger, she starts to wonder if her anger is misplaced.

🦜Adult Fiction
🦆Historical Romance
🦜Mystery & Humour
🦆Business Owner x Duke
🦜Fake Dating
🦆Opposites Attract

'Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma' is a charming and lighthearted historical romance. Eoin and Hannah's journey takes them through family secrets, dark taverns, and other dangerous locations. The first half of this story propels forward at a quick pace that leaves plenty of room for humour, but it does slow down a little after that.

Hannah is a firecracker who speaks bluntly and doesn't care about polite society. Thankfully, she isn't the kind of person who clings so hard to revenge that she self-sabotages.

Eoin has been groomed by his grandfather to hide his emotions. He's getting his first taste of freedom and going through an identity crisis as he decides what kind of duke he wants to be.

Together, they have excellent chemistry, and their romance is full of sweet yearning.

Overall, this was good entertainment that doesn't take itself too seriously. It also showed that sometimes the best revenge is choosing to love and heal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eoin Aucourte, newly minted Duke of Foxglen at only 22 years of age, is ready to make some changes to the dukedom now that his abusive grandfather has passed. However, his first mission is to locate his mother and sister, who were turned out of the household after his father died when Eoin was six. He approaches the gang at the Black Sheep coffee shop for help.

Hannah, one of the proprietresses of the Black Sheep, is mad at herself after flirting with Eoin, not knowing who he is. But when he returns asking for help, she sees it as her opportunity to get revenge on the Aucourte family for stealing land from her family. She quickly agrees to help him find his mother, hoping to get secrets on the family in order to ruin them.

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is the third tale in Marsh’s unconventional, unnamed historical romance series, and it’s my favorite to date. I love how Hannah and Eoin have an immediate attraction before realizing who the other is. I appreciate the baggage both carry, but in the end, it really doesn’t weight them down too badly. They work well together and genuinely respect one another. Each lifts the other, helping one another be their best.

Yes, Hannah’s secret by omission (not telling Eoin about their families’ past connections) hangs over them nearly the entire story, and sure *spoiler* he doesn’t find out from her. And yep, if she’d told him early on it wouldn’t have been an issue… but the author doesn’t make it a huge issue either, which is in keeping with Eoin’s character. He knows his family is trash and wants to improve things. He wants to be a fair duke, and Hannah helps him believe in himself.

There is a wonderful twist in the discovery of Eoin’s missing family, and I LOVED the entire scene and reveal. Their reunion is tender; I will not confirm nor deny if there were a few tears in my eye. The mystery behind who is trying to bring down Eoin is fun to follow, but the plot is a tad weak, although it functioned as a great way to bring the couple together.

Although this is a standalone story and romance, I believe Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is best read after the first two books in the series due to character development. I’m really enjoying the gang at the Black Sheep, and I am hopeful we get one or two more pairings.

My Rating: B+

Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Netgalley

[A Rush Of Emotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I felt like this book was missing something at first, and just found out it's connected to at least one other book by this author. Maybe that was the missing piece? 


A little bit of mystery mixed with romance. The second time I picked this book up and gave it a go I found myself liking it. Eoin finds himself at the head of his family when his grandfather dies. It's a bit of a clusterf*ck because he has older aunts and uncles who feel entitled to the title of Duke more than him, but Grandpa gets what Grandpa wants. Eoin's one true goal is to use his new title to help him track down his mother who he was parted from at a young age. To do this, he starts working with Miss Hannah Wick in hopes that her savviness will help him find his mother faster. Hannah uses the opportunity to seek revenge for the wrongs that were unjustly put upon her family. Eoin's grandpa was the main person in charge of wronging them, so their alliance starts with a lot of hidden motives. 


I liked the second half of this book the most, because the bulk of the mystery really starts to take shape. There are some good twists to the story, and some quite funny shenanigans they find themselves in. As a romance lover, I thoroughly enjoyed how these two grew to like, then love, each other. Both Eoin and Hannah are so desperate for love and to find their purpose, and I love the journey they took to get their HEA.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review
3.5/5 stars

Witty, light historical romance with a spin - the daughter of a pirate and a noble teams up with a newly minted Duke to search for his birth mother and sister while also seeking revenge for wrongs done to her family in the past.

Hannah Wick, our plucky and brave FMC, is the proprietress at a local coffee shop famed for also solving mysteries. Eoin, the Duke of Foxglen, needs to find the mother and sister that were brutally taken from him upon the death of his father when he was a child.

This is a light, cozy read. The stakes never seem too high even though the plot deals with mysterious pasts, treason, underground boxing rings and the abuse that Eoin suffered under his grandfather’s care. A lot of this is because of the witty banter, verbal sparring, engaging side characters and the presence of one particularly devoted gosling.

This is apparently the 3rd book in a series, and I haven’t read the others. I was able to follow the story easily but it would have likely added more to my enjoyment if I had read other entries.

Thanks so much to Forever for the ARC!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun! This is truly a romp with mysteries, hijinks, and funny fowl. Violet Marsh is a delightful voice in historical romance. Thanks to Forever for the ARC.

[Samantha Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Wick and the Duke’s Dilemma by Violet Marsh
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An absolute delight of a book!

Eoin and Hannah stole my heart from the very beginning. Eoin is a new Duke who only wants the find his mother and sister who he hadn’t seen since he was 6. He asks for help at the Black Sheep coffeehouse. Hannah Wick offers to help to find details about his family for her own family’s revenge. Hannah pretends to be Eoin’s mistress and they pursue a lead into the most dangerous part of London.

The plot is full of twists and fans of Violet Marsh will be delighted to see character cameos from previous books. The romance sizzles and a protective gosling (baby goose) provides a perfect and hilarious chaperone.

Gentle reader, I would classify this book as a little spicy but there wasn’t full intercourse.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and simply loved Violet Marsh's delightful book Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man. I somehow missed her following book, Our Dear Miss H Is on the Case. I just finished her latest, Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma. What a fun read it is! I believe these three books are a series, but I'll be darned if I can find out any information to prove that I'm right. There are an awful lot of characters that were in this book that also appeared in the first, so... But anyway, I really enjoyed this book, not as much as "Lady Charlotte, but the characters were just as fun and charming. If you like humor in your romances, this is right up your alley.

Eoin Aucourte is the newly minted Duke of Foxglen. He always had to play by his grandfather's rules. But now that Eoin is the Duke, his first decision is to track down his long-lost mother and sister. However, he’ll have to visit the infamous Black Sheep Coffeehouse to start his search. Rumor has it that the owner, Miss Hannah Wick, knows all the gossip from alleyways to glittering ballrooms. The whip-smart daughter of a pirate also has a way of making Eoin forget all the lessons on propriety that his grandfather ruthlessly forced him to follow Foxglen represents everything Hannah disdains about the nobility. Even worse, his grandfather exiled her father from England, setting her father on the course of piracy and endangering her entire family. Hannah has an opportunity to seek vengeance on his family, so she pretends to assist the shy, surprisingly handsome duke—but soon realizes Eoin may be the first truly honorable noble she’s ever met. Following every clue, their search intensifies ... and so does their attraction. But with so many secrets between them, does love even stand a chance?​

Right off the bat, let me state the only thing I didn't care for in this book - there were way too many characters who appeared in past books that there was no way I could remember who the heck they were! A list of reoccurring characters would be a welcome addition. But besides that, I really enjoyed this story. I haven't read a lot of Georgian era historical romances, so I don't know if anyone could get away with the antics that happened herein. Unless you're a stickler, you won't care; I know I just had fun with what I was reading, so realistic didn't make much difference to me. The characters in this book were so much fun, especially the leads. Eoin was left with his grandfather when he was just 6 years old; his father was killed and his mother and sister disappeared. He was raised by his horrible grandfather who only cared about money and the dukedom; he basically wanted Eoin to be a "mini-me". Luckily for us, Eoin was not! As soon as his grandfather died, he decided his mission was to track down his long-lost mother and sister. He didn't know where to start, and he knew he would need from help from Hannah Wick, owner of the Black Sheep Coffeehouse; she was rumored to know all the gossip there was to know. Her family was definitely different from Eoin's; she was the daughter of pirates, which occurred when Eoin's grandfather exiled her father from England. She wanted vengeance for her family, and she planned to use Eoin to get it. She wasn't expecting to fall for the young duke! Their quest for information about his mother and sister was quite entertaining to read. I believe you will enjoy when Ursus the bear is set loose on the ducal estate to kill Eoin! My two favorite supporting characters were Pan and Meibh. Pan was Hannah's parrot, and he could be a pain but was really quite helpful at times. Meibh was a gosling who Eoin "rescued"; the story of how she became attached to Eoin is quite amusing. She and Pan were able to save the day at times! The romance of Eoin and Hannah was very sweet, and you couldn't help but root for these two to come together. Are they successful in their quest? Read and find out!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Forever for the complimentary early copy of Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma. All thoughts are my own.

Eoin Aucourte, the Duke of Foxglen, has just inherited his title from his grandfather at only twenty-two. He was ripped away from his “unsuitable” Irish mother and older sister when he was only six years old by his grandfather after his father died, leaving him to grow up isolated under a strict educational program. Now that Eoin is the duke, he wants to find out what happened to his mother and sister, but a clause in his grandfather's will prevents him from getting any real help from his aunts and uncles. So he turns to the only people he knows who can help him solve this mystery: Miss Hannah Wick and the staff of Black Sheep Coffeehouse.

Hannah is the daughter of a pirate and his noblewoman wife. Her mother was the daughter of a marquess but ran off with the notorious pirate, leaving the nobility behind. Hannah's father only turned to a life of piracy after the former Duke of Foxglen kicked his family off their land and had him transported for poaching, leading to decades of resentment from the Wicks toward the Aucourtes. Now, Hannah has the opportunity to take her revenge on the family that wronged hers so badly. Posing as Eoin's mistress to gain access to his home in order to find his mother, she can also investigate Eoin's paternal family to find a way to get revenge for what happened to her father. But as Hannah gets to know Eoin, she realizes that he's nothing like his grandfather and may actually be the one honest nobleman in Britain.

This book was an interesting contrast of things I really enjoy with one fatal flaw. To start, we're in 1750, during the reign of King George II. This is a lovely departure from the typical Regency or Victorian romance. We're dealing with a much different kind of society—one before the Age of Revolution but smack in the middle of the Enlightenment. We don't have the kind of social mobility we'd see in the 19th century, so Hannah's mother running off with a pirate—no matter how successful—was social suicide.

I am a person who enjoys animals in romance, and we have two very exciting pets on page. Hannah has a parrot named Pan who can imitate other animals and has quite the vocabulary. I loved his comedic moments, especially when he revealed more than Hannah wanted in moments with Eoin. Our hero ends up mother to a gosling, which was a delightful storyline. The fact that Eoin had a tiny goose running around causing trouble for him was hilarious.

Rich people behaving badly always intrigue me in historical romance. In a lot of modern historicals, authors seem to be leaning into giving their characters more progressive beliefs, but I actually really like when they let the rich people be awful. That's how most rich people are today, so let's lean into it! Eoin's aunts and uncles are truly trash people. I loved how vain and insipid they were, especially considering how their stories end.

Ok, on to the fatal flaw. Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is a standalone historical romance. There is no actual series here, nor is it even mentioned in the blurb that this book is part of a universe of novels. But this book doesn't feel like a standalone. It feels like it needs to be read after her previous titles, especially because our main characters have their meet-cute before this book begins. Now, it's not always a problem when romance characters meet before their book. But it is a problem when that meeting is essentially love/lust at first sight and we don't get to see it on the page. We hear about it after the fact, but I really could have used a prologue where that scene was shown from our main characters' perspectives and then we cut to the main storyline. It would have given more runway to the romance and really shown their attraction from the jump. As it was, I felt like I was playing catch-up with the romance.

I really liked so many parts of this book, and it could have so easily been a 5-star read, but the missing meet-cute knocked it down a whole point for me. 4 stars.

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: worldly MFC/sheltered MMC; class difference; MC's team up to solve a mystery; fake relationship; MFC out for revenge; MMC haunted by the past
Steam level: 2 (slow burn, no on-page consummation)
3rd in a series; works reasonably well as a standalone

3.75 stars rounded up. This is best described as a bouncy, cozy HR that doesn't take itself seriously. It's set during the Georgian era, and while there is obvious research into pugilism and the boxing scene of that time, don't expect too much historical accuracy when it comes to language/behavior. In fact, MFC Hannah, who is posing as MMC Eoin's mistress, decides to move in with him as part of her investigation into his family. Considering she's the daughter of a pirate and decidedly working class, and he's a duke, this wouldn't have exactly have been normal--but at least the MC's acknowledge it. In a later scene, the room of one of Eoin's uncles is searched, and a racy item is found under his bed on a parchment. It's unapologetically "wink-wink", and it made me laugh. Even the shenanigans involving rampant animals just managed to stay within the lines of being fun without becoming crazy OTT.

As mentioned in my review of the previous book, there's a strong Tessa Dare vibe here. But you do need to know going in if you like that brand of HR humor or not.

I liked this book more than the previous largely due to Eoin. He's a sexy, muscle-bound prizefighter on the outside, but vulnerable and sweet on the inside, with a heart of gold. As Hannah falls for him the reader does too. Whether he's protecting a duckling who thinks of him as mom or bowing with a parrot perched on his head, he's the star for me. Hannah's fine--modernistic, of course, but fine--but it's Eoin's heartbreaking memories of his childhood, his feelings of isolation, and his attempts to be who he's really meant to be that bring real heart to the proceedings.

The mystery is OK, although I found it quite easy to figure out; the baddie could have been slightly less obvious. There's an attempt at some depth, at least. Tbh I wasn't sure why a new character was introduced late into the plot, as there were already plenty of characters for the reader to follow.

And that's my only real criticism. I was good with the storyline being pure escapism and low-steam, but in a romance, I still want the MC's to be the central focus. I didn't read the first book in the series and honestly don't remember the last one super well; while this book does a pretty good job of getting the reader caught up character-wise, there was always someone interrupting the intimate moments. When I finally realized the main characters' consummation wouldn't be on-page, I was rather bummed. Their scenes were limited to kissing and some petting and I really wanted to see virginal Eoin get tutored by the slightly older and definitely more worldly Hannah while they talked through their issues.

Overall: I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, but would love it if future MC's would have more of a chance at sexytimes.

I read an advance reader copy of this book, and this is my honest, voluntary review. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this opportunity.

[Rachael Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma by Violet Marsh
📕⭐️⭐️⭐️

I usually knock this kind of book out in a day, but this one took me several days. I had to set it down a few times because the clunky writing was so distracting. The misuse of adjectives was frustrating. There was an annoying overuse of telling rather than showing, and the telling was not well-crafted. The premise could have been interesting, but the execution was sloppy. Yet, I persisted to see how the story played-out.

The book opens with Eoin and his aunts and uncles reeling after discovering the contents of the recently deceased duke’s will, the terms of which discourage Eoin from seeking-out his mother, and incentivizes his aunts and uncles to withhold any information they might know about Eoin’s parentage. Eoin is not deterred, which might lead the reader to hope he will display a little backbone, or, at the very least, spunk. I, the reader, was left wanting. When Eoin seeks aid from Hannah’s detective services based in the coffee shop of which she is the proprietress, he is met with a cast of flat secondary characters. I imagine the secondary characters are supposed to be “quirky,” but since the book is heavy on dialogue, and each characters’ voice is indistinguishable, they merely function as an off-tune Greek chorus. I liked Hannah’s self-sufficient spirit, and I especially liked that she seems to be more world-wise than her love interest. I wanted to enjoy the dynamic between Eoin and Hannah, but the stakes were disappointingly and confusingly low. The exposure of Hannah’s “true motives” seems to impact Eoin more than any other revelations, and, honestly, her motives aren’t that big of a deal. Worst of all, Eoin seems a bit petulant post-revelation. While the reunification of his family seemed imminent given that it is the sort of story from which one expects a happy ending, the dynamics of his freshly recovered immediate family are a bit like ordering a crisp Diet Coke and finding that someone forgot to add the carbonation. I will say, I appreciated that the final twist is a big middle finger to the patriarchy, and I wish we would have gotten more action with the “mastermind” who is revealed at the end. I really enjoyed the utilization of some tried-and-true regency mystery elements: hidden passage ways, overturned gender-roles, brothels as redherrings, and animals that play a vital role in the detective work. However, if one is relying on a bear, a goose, and a parrot to carry a story for grown-ups about humans, something has gone awry.

I love mystery, benevolent dukes, female entrepreneurs with pirate heritage, absurdity, whimsy, and even silliness, and while this one had those elements, it just didn’t do it for me. However, since it reads like a first or second draft of a solid idea, I am going to read another of Marsh’s books to gauge whether my disgruntlement is perhaps an editing issue.

My thanks to Violet Marsh, NetGalley, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this advance reader copy.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Eoin Aucourte, the new Duke of Foxglen comes into the Black Sheep Coffeehouse looking for help in finding his mother and sister, the proprietress, Miss Hannah Wick sees the opportunity to avenge the wrongs done to her father by the Aucourte Family and immediately offers to help. Hannah doesn’t really care for the peerage, despite the fact that her mother, cousin and several friends are nobles, but her father was wronged by the former duke and forced into a life of piracy, he found way out and made a good life for himself, but the distrust of the peerage and the desire for revenge was ingrained into Hannah. But she soon realizes that Eoin is not her enemy and the more time spent with him the more she wants and she knows she has to be honest with him about original intentions before he learns the truth.

When he was just six years old, Eoin’s father was hanged as a traitor and his grandfather the Duke of Foxglen sent his mother and sister away and raised Eoin as his heir. Unhappy with the way his own children turned out, he was brutally severe with Eoin, he refused to let him see his mother or sister, he accorded him none of the luxuries an heir would normally enjoy, he lead a solitary, joyless existence and the first thing he did when the old man died was try and find his mother and sister. His aunts and uncles have never cared for him and with their own inheritances dependent on Eoin not finding his mother, they are no help and he has no idea where to start. He turns to the people of the Black Sheep Coffeehouse who have been able to solve other mysteries and hopes they can help him. He never expected Hannah would be so willing to help and even offers to pretend to be his mistress so they can stay close. With Hannah, Eoin starts to feel alive for the first time ever and when it becomes clear that someone is trying to kill him, she stands by him, how could he not fall in love with her?

I will be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the previous books and even thought about passing on this one, but I am so glad that I decided to give this installment a go – because for me, the third time was a charm! I loved Hannah and Eoin, they are both perfectly flawed characters, each with a heart of gold. Is this story an era correct representation? No, it is completely over the top and ridiculous at times, but it is very entertaining and you can’t help but root for their happy ever after. While the author has not officially made this a series, this book is the third book with the same characters and the titles are connected, but it can easily be read as a standalone title with no issues. Overall, I am happy to recommend this title and look forward to the next installment.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Franky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐

(+):
- The main characters are nice. Eoin is endearing. And also kind of deeply sad? His life would have been depressing af with all we learn about him damn. Hannah is pretty adorable. I like her background (pirate dad??) and personality. She’s fun.
- I also like the, let’s say, brawler characters that are introduced later on.
- I like that this is an historical rom-com that takes place in the 1700s. It’s not like that’s completely unheard of, by any means, but with the oversaturating of regency era settings, it’s just nice to get something a bit farther back.
- It’s a cute cover, especially with the lil tower and the gosling.
- I like the title and its continuity with the other books in this interconnected series. It’s interesting that it’s just “Miss Wick” and not “Miss Hannah Wick”.

(-):
- Unfortunately while I like the two leads individually, I don’t really feel much chemistry from them on the page, which is disappointing. I think Eoin is too distracted by his desire to find his family (and honestly self-worth) that it gets in the way of actual connection for them.
- I think the mystery falls a bit flat. Again, I’m kind of a pain when it comes to mysteries as I’m tough to pull the wool over, but this one I saw coming pretty much a mile away, which was a bummer.
- Hannah’s cousins ended up really not mattering to me at all. And they kind or irked me a lot of the time.
- I also didn’t really feel the stakes when it came to Foxglen and Hannah’s family. Like, I understand what it was and why it would be dramatic. But it was just flat.
- Honestly, my biggest gripe with this book is that I think the language and prose is just kind of underwhelming. There’s this seemingly underlying desire from the author to make sure that we feel like we’re in the era, but it ends up feeling a bit clunky, whether that’s through unnecessary “flowery” language or overly dramatic characters. I don’t know, it just didn’t really click for me.

(?):
- We learn so little about both Eoin’s father. Who was his father really? How did his death affect anyone besides his siblings?
- Why does this dukedom hold so much power? Is it just the historical weight of the lineage? This isn’t like a question I need answered to enjoy the story, but I think their power did confuse me a bit.


Will I read the next one? : I don’t think so.

(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : It’s the 18th century. She’ll die in like five years.

*Thank you to Forever & Netgalley for providing this ARC!


Similar Books :
- 'Hot Earl Summer' by Erica Ridley
- 'Bringing Down the Duke' by Evie Dunmore
- 'In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation' by Alexandra Vasti

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Wick and the Duke Dilemma is a cute historical romance featuring a fun mystery and a discussion on class. After only a few chapters, it was clear that this was the third in a series; I wish that had been clearer in the marketing of the book, as it was not clear on the description, on Goodreads or even on the author’s website. The first few chapters contained a lot of quick reminders about characters and world that made little sense to me (at one point, they referred to the female main character as “Pan’s mistress” without clarifying that Pan was, in fact, a parrot). The story picked up after a few chapters, thankfully, and I was still able to enjoy the book.

The story follows Eoin (pronounced “Owen”, thank you for that guide), the recently-inherited duke, and Hannah, daughter of a peer and a pirate and the proprietor of a coffee shop. Eoin’s mother had been an Irish waitress and reformer, and was separated from him at the death of his father. Eoin wants to find his estranged mother and sister and use his newfound wealth and power for good. He goes to Hannah’s coffee shop asking for help and Hannah offers to pretend to be his mistress. Her motives are less pure, however; her family suffered by Eoin’s family’s hands and she wants to find information to take revenge. However, she finds Eoin to be kind, compassionate and thoughtful, far from the cruelty of his grandfather, and the two start to fall in love.

The dynamics of this book were interesting, because our main character continues to lie far longer than she needed to. Eoin had received so little love in his life and is desperate for friendship and companionship, and Hannah’s manipulations often play into his loneliness. Because the story was dual point of view, we can see from the beginning that Eoin is a good man with good intentions, and it’s hard to root for Hannah when we see her deceiving him so strongly.

The story was fun, and the mystery was engaging. However, there’s something just so sad about watching a lonely man being manipulated and mistreated by everyone in his life, and it made this book less fun. He could have been a little more social or connected and still maintained many of the dynamics of this book.

This book has multiple scenes with intense kissing and some under-clothing touching, but no intercourse.

Thank you to Forever publishing for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Whitney Theresa June · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be totally honest and note that I have mixed feelings about this book.
Did I love Eoin? I did. Was it because he was a broken shell of a man who just wanted to find his mother and sister after the death of his controlling grandfather? Most definitely.

Did I like that Hannah was a bold proprietess of a coffeehouse who was the daughter of a pirate and was ready to take revenge? I did indeed. BUT when I found out the revenge was a bit removed and more for the boy her father had been against Eoin's grandfather did I grit my teeth a little? Yes. I feel like I have been championing revenge plots in novels so far in 2026. This is an example of a revenge plot that was, in my opinion, only truly there to force the third act breakup. And there was definitely enough drama and conflict going on in this novel that it felt a bit forced for me. But I do dislike a third act breakup. The further devastation to the one person, Eoin, who was the last person who needed yet another person letting him down and making him feel like he wasn't worthy had Hannah breaking my heart in that way. Yes, I can see with her hot blooded nature, she inherited from her father, that this was something that she felt she needed to do. Yet, in all the moments she saw that Eoin was nothing like his family and treated even worse because of things out of his control, it hurt even more that she went so far without mentioning it to him and that it was the premise behind her helping him in the first place. So I found myself continuing to read the story for Eoin. To see him get his HEA. His well deserved HEA.
Aspects of the book that I loved: Eoin in every way obviously, Meibh the protector gosling, the found family of the Black Sheep, Pan's roar among other things.
Things I did not enjoy: Hannah's revenge plot even though it was a plot catalyst, who we find out Eoin's mother is in just the fact that she is a character we have scene previously and I did not expect this of her even though her backstory is further explained. It felt like yet another person letting Eoin down. Most notably, I disliked the graphic on page violence of the underground fighting pit and the depictions of Ursus the bear who had been used as sport. I know that it set the scene and was yet again a danger plot device but as a person who will not read graphic on page violence as well as animal cruelty in any format, I wish there had been a disclaimer.

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 The Black Sheep Coffeehouse is the place in Covent Garden for a great cup of coffee with a back room full of friends to help solve mysteries.

After previously running into them in the middle of the last case, it’s one of the first places Eion goes after becoming the Duke of Foxglen. Now that his controlling grandfather and former Duke has passed, he wants to find his mother and sister that he’s been separated from for 16 years. Hannah has her own reasons for agreeing to help (familial revenge) but also comes up with the idea to act as Eion’s mistress.

This was really fun and had some great comedic moments thanks to the animal sidekicks. Hannah’s parrot, Pan, has been making appearances since book one and with her as a MC this time, Pan gets a chance to shine. While Eion finds that he’s inadvertently imprinted on a gosling that causes it to be very protective of Eion.

Hannah sets out for revenge but realizes soon enough that Eion is nothing like his grandfather and her revenge can’t be avenged with him. By then though, true feelings have been forged and Hannah is loathed to come forward. She sees how wrong she was about Eion’s unfeeling front and the horribleness he grew up with.

The search for his mother creates a Pandora’s box situation that propels the action throughout. It was engaging and captivating, and I didn’t want to put it down.

For as much as I loved it there was one thing that stuck out to me. I knew going in that this series was lower steam but with a fake mistress trope, a heroine that was comfortable voicing her attraction to the hero, and what appeared early on a virgin hero - I thought it might be steamier than the other two. There was still plenty of tension and they had great chemistry between them.

There’s a big group of side characters and looks like there could be at least another two books of matchups. I’ll be looking forward to them as we can always use more strong heroines and friendships in historical romance.

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is the third book centering around the Black Sheep Coffeehouse and its ragtag group of people from varying classes solving mysteries.

There are two passionate kisses with no encounters.

I received an advance reader copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this author's writing style and this series, so I had high expectations, especially when I learned Hannah was going to be the focus of the story. I loved her in the previous books and was really looking forward to learning more about her and seeing her find happiness. I wasn't let down. Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is a fun and romantic addition to the series!

Hannah is such a great FMC. She’s bold, outspoken, and deeply loyal and committed to her found family at the Black Sheep Coffeehouse. Hannah has an unconventional background, which contrasts with the extremely uptight and rigid life Eoin comes from. He comes across as aloof at first, but he’s also sentimental, thoughtful, and far more emotionally open than he appears. There’s a lot more to Eoin than meets the eye, and I loved how he slowly peeled back those layers.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the strong found family vibes. Hannah’s friends and family are amazing and stand in sharp contrast to Eoin's family, and I love that the characters from the previous books have roles in this one, too. Eoin lived a lonely life prior to meeting the people at the Black Sheep Coffeehouse, and his upbringing was shaped by a strict grandfather and a childhood where romance and emotional connection were essentially forbidden. He becomes very touched by the care and support Hannah and others in her circle show him, and it's so heart-warming. I love that they include him without hesitation, show up for him, and treat him like he belongs. It's the first time he’s ever been part of something bigger than himself, and it's lovely to see him feel accepted and loved.

Of course, I also adored the romance. Hannah and Eoin have amazing opposites-attract vibes, and their chemistry is great. I also really liked the reversal of experience in their relationship. Hannah is more worldly and confident when it comes to romance (and life), while Eoin is inexperienced and more cautious. Hannah often takes charge, and Eoin is happy to give up control to her.

The story also has an intriguing mystery with long-buried family secrets, which pull Hannah and Eoin into increasingly dangerous situations. It was interesting to see how everything unfolded, especially since their family history is entwined, and not in the best of ways. And I have to mention two particularly special feathery friends. The protective gosling chaperone is completely ridiculous and absolutely delightful. It stole every scene it was in and added the perfect touch of humor and chaos.

Overall, Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is a fun and intriguing historical romance with strong found family vibes, a great love story, and memorable characters. I'm excited to see who will be the focus of the next book! Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is such a sweet, delight of a book! It exudes so much charm, as its fabulously clever, wonderfully comedic, while also possessing mighty heart. It was a treat to read!

This story brings together Eoin and Hannah. Eoin has just inherited the title of Duke from his cruel deceased grandfather and intends to use his newfound freedom to find the mother and sister he was taken from as a child. To do so he enlists the help of Hannah. Hannah is the proud owner of a coffeehouse and proud daughter of a pirate who was once wronged by the very grandfather of the duke looking for her help. She agrees to help while devising her own plan of vengeful, unbeknownst to Eoin.

While this certainly sounds like the start to some major angst, what is mostly found within these pages is so much fun banter and strong heartfelt bonding between our leads. I especially adored Eoin! He is like a walking contradiction. He has this large, formidable presence, but he's shy, earnest, and gentle-spoken. Especially to Hannah, his complete opposite. She is fiery, frank, and bold. In so many ways they complement one another. Eoin the grounding safeguard to Hannah, and the Hannah, the burst of sunshine and life to Eoin, who so badly yearns to truly live. The romance between them is forged so beautifully and naturally.

I only wished for Hannah to have been more honest sooner! I did think her deception lasted a touch too long, but at the same time it was really satisfying to watch her come to the realization she was wrong of the kind of man Eoin is. That he is nothing like his grandfather. He unintentionally shatters all her preconceived notions and I did find so much delight in watching her simply learn Eoin, in all the ways.

Overall: fun, sweetness, heart! Those are the three words I'd use to describe this one! If you're looking for something more light-hearted and you love historical romances, then look no further than Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma!

Happy Reading!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this review voluntarily.

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eoin, having recently lost his grandfather, the Duke, and inherited the title, is on a quest to find his mother and older sister. Eoin was molded to be the next heir as his mother was banished by the old duke after his father’s death. Now that he’s Foxglen, he’s determined to find his family and make sure they’re alright. He seeks out Hannah and co, who have a history of solving mysteries. Hannah has ulterior motives in helping Eoin (she wants revenge for her one-sided family feud with his paternal relatives), but offers to pose as his mistress to stay close to him and do some digging.

Now these two are both wildly attracted to each other from the start, and I do enjoy that kind of energy. Even moreso when they’re also fighting against this attraction due to A, B, or C. The situation brings them in even closer proximity, and as they dig into the mystery of Eoin’s mother, they grow closer together. Hannah’s animosity towards the title and Eoin, by family association, turns into a deep friendship and trust. Trust she knows she’s taking advantage of, seeing as she’s lying to him about her reasons for helping. The guilt provides some minor angst, but overall, this was very much a romantic comedy- heavy on the comedy.

There were lots of laughs between the snappy dialogue, smart-talking parrot, and overall wild shenanigans these two get up to. The mystery also kept me intrigued, and I found the conclusion satisfying on that front. Even though this is just a kissing book, the chemistry between our pair is great, and there were definitely some heavy petting, steamy moments. Now this might have been on me (seeing as I’ve not read this author), but I didn’t realize this was part of an interconnected world. While not properly marked as a series, I do think this one might have been more enjoyable for me had I read it in order. I don’t think this was a problem, persay, but I do feel like I was thrown into characters with little introduction, as if I should already know the party. That said, it has made me want to go back and read more of this family. I ate up the fun banter between Calliope and Powys, which I hope we see pay off in a future book.

4/5
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an eARC of this book.

[Mama Needs to Read Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma" is equal parts mystery and romance. In it we find two fantastic characters, Hannah and Eoin, who are determined to track down Eoin's mother and sister. The problem? Someone out there doesn't want Eoin's family to be found! From secret passages to mysterious clubs, where twists abound and more than one of our characters has untold motives, this story will leave you guessing until the end. Meanwhile, our MCs might be falling for one another...BUT...can love grow where trust is questioned?

This book had me laughing out loud so many times! It was great to see some of our friends from "Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man" and "Our Dear Miss H is on the Case"! I love that this novel comes out during Women's History Month, as we're treated to vibrant, strong, and accomplished women from all walks of life. I appreciated how emotionally vulnerable our hero allows himself to be, which isn't often found in historical romance. The light spice, perfectly written, still conveyed all of the chemistry, longing, and emotion that one would get from a full love scene.

While Marsh's writing leans more cerebral than emotional, her contribution to modern-day historical romance is critical. No one's voice is like hers. Her way of writing elevates the genre. The pacing could have been improved a bit, but the endearing and inventive characters, animal cameos, unusual settings, and themes of healing, resilience, and enduring love more than make up for it. I'm already looking forward to the next Violet Marsh adventure!

Content warnings: references to animal cruelty (but none on page), verbal/emotional abuse from a parental figure (before story begins)

I'd like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[charmette.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is historical romance/mystery set in 1750s London. Hannah, the proprietor of a popular coffeehouse, is seeking information and revenge on the Duke of Foxglen for wronging her family in the past. The newly minted Duke of Foxglen is young Eoin, who is taken with Hannah, and hires her and her friends to help him find his long-lost mother and sister.

Hannah plots to install herself in the Foxglen home by pretending she is Eoin’s mistress. The lack of chemistry between them should have made their ruse very obvious to all. This story had so much promise of a forced proximity physical attraction leading to falling in love, but the steamy encounters never happened. Hannah and Eoin didn’t really mesh well. Her deception of him until very late in the story seemed unnecessarily cruel, especially for someone she claimed to care about.

The other characters in the story were not likeable or interesting. This story felt very light, even while dealing with serious topics like poverty, or underground fighting rings and animal abuse. I love immersing myself in a period drama or historical novel, especially for the language of that era. The language in this book felt exaggerated and artificial, such as when the author used the word “flibertigibbet” multiple times. The language choice made the plot and characters to be silly, not captivating or engaging.

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma was not a book I enjoyed, but I think someone who enjoys historical cozy mysteries would like this book. A reader who enjoys a relationship between a Duke and a commoner may also find this interesting. It was more of a mystery than a romance, in my opinion.

Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[reading historical romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this interconnected standalone series of historical romysteries set in England's Georgian era, and this third installment is an absolute delight!

Readers are welcomed back to the cozy chaos of the Black Sheep Coffeeshop and its misfit band of regulars, along with buttoned-down gentle giant and newly minted Duke of Foxglen, Eoin Aucourte, who is seeking help in solving his own mystery. Fans of the series will remember Eoin's first appearance in book 2, Our Dear Miss H Is On the Case.

Eoin hasn't been able to keep Black Sheep co-proprietress, Hannah Wick, off his mind since meeting her when she helped her cousin Alexander solve his own mystery (and find love!) in book 2. Eoin trusts that her intelligence and tenacious personality will be what it takes to find his mother and sister, from whom he was forcibly separated as a child.

As with the other two books in the series, this novel sparkles with humor, love, finding clues, fighting for justice, and the bonds of friendship.

🌶️🌶️
🌍Reading is political. Issues include: class differences, social justice, female empowerment, forgiveness, animal abuse, child neglect/abuse
❤️Eoin is so down bad he forgets what being in control feels like; the Golden Retriever is strong with him
❤️Hannah is so down bad she forgets she hates the aristocracy; turns out this Doberman will just lick you to death
🔥We just escaped being mauled by a bear, let's kiss
🔪Lady Calliope and Alun Powys continue hate flirting. NOW KISS.
🐻Animal rights activists
🪿Méibh, a gosling who imprints on Eoin with hilarious results
🦜Pan is back and as irreverent as ever when he's squawking about "beast with two backs"
👜Hannah's mom
🩺 Every time we get to see Dr. Matthew Talbot I get all warm and fuzzy

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication. I was not compensated in any way for this review and all opinions are my own.

[ColleenIsBooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I previously said that my most hated characters were the parrot and the monkey in the first book of this standalone companion series, however, the parrot actually came in clutch in this book and I, begrudgingly, did not hate him. The parrot belongs to our heroine for this book, Hannah Wick, proprietress of the Black Sheep Coffeehouse, who reluctantly agrees to help our hero, newly minted Duke of Foxglen Eion Aucourte, find his long-lost mother and sister. Why was she reluctant? Because her family was cast out of England at the behest of Eoin's grandfather, the former Duke of Foxglen. Hannah agrees to pretend to be his mistress to gain access to his home for her own reconnaissance for info to use against his family. Unfortunately for them both, they stumble into dangerous information in pursuit of his mother and sister.
I liked the characters. Eion is a hulk of a man (shocker lol) who is actually just a big softy and sweetheart. Hannah is quick on her feet and witty enough to get them out of tight corners. I think their relationship was good and that they both bring out better traits in the other. I wish we got more awkward bumbling with her as his fake mistress. I really liked the relationship we get between Eoin and his close family, not the aunts and uncles (they suck and they are supposed to suck lol). I also liked the twist and the breadcrumbs we were given along the way.
I expect that there will be more in this companion series as we have at least one, maybe even two, possible couples hinted at during this book.
3.5 stars.

*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own :) *

[Danielle Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun and fast-paced read. Eoin has just become the Duke, and his first order of business is to find his mom and sister, who were driven away by his grandpa, the previous Duke. He goes to the coffee shop called The Black Sheep, because the people who worked there have previously solved a couple mysteries, and he knows he will need help.
Enter Hannah, someone who hates Eoin's family for what they did to her family, and when he asks for her help she finds it the perfect opportunity to use it to get revenge for her family.
I like both Hannah and Eoin. Eoin in particular had me wanting to give him a huge like every few minutes, every time he revealed something horrible his grandpa did to him. Every time he showed emotion it was a huge moment for him, and I liked that Hannah recognized this. Hannah did take me some time to like. Mostly because, even though she ended up realizing Eoin wasn't anything like the rest of his family, she still went into helping him for all the wrong reasons, and it took her an awful long time to come clean.
They mystery part was good, I do wish the tracking down of the mom and sister would have taken a bit more time, and that once they found each other they would have spent more time together on page, but the part about finding out who the Purveyor was had me on the edge of my seat, and while in hindsight who they. turned out being made complete sense, I didn't figure it out until it was revealed.
This is part of an interconnected series, and you don't have to read them in order, although I think maybe I would have liked Hannah better at the beginning had I met her before.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Hannah Wick is the daughter of a pirate, used to owning and working in the Black Sheep Coffeehouse, where she helps solve injustices along with her cousins. She's also set on getting revenge for what the Duke of Foxglen did to her family. She was not expecting Eoin Aucourte, the new Duke of Foxglen, to walk into her establishment asking for help in finding the mother and sister his grandfather had exiled and kept away from him for 20 years. She also wasn't expecting him to be charming and honorable. Eoin just wanted help finding his family now that he's free from his grandfather's machinations, but he's getting a whole lot more when Hannah Wick comes into his life. Not just finding his lost family, but unveiling a mystery that puts him and all Hannah holds dear in danger. Will they be able to put their differences aside and accept their feelings, or will secrets and old grudges keep them apart?

I'm giving this one 3.5 stars because the writing is okay and there are some legitimately fun and romantic points, but it's also kind of forgettable to the point I forgot I had started reading it. There are also some random things going on that feel like they're just there to make the story quirky, and they didn't work for me.

That said, I really liked Eoin as a character. He's the typical complex, raised-to-be-uptight but actually a free-spirit kind of male lead that I love reading about. He is the emotional heart of the story, and I admire when authors let the man lead in that.

Overall, it's an okay book that didn't quite hit the mark for me, yet I don't regret reading it and think that others might enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the read!

[Denali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book start to finish!

Although it can be read as, and it is marketed as a standalone, you can tell as you are reading it that there are other stories and characters in the novel that happened prior in this universe. Regardless, I believe that while reading those stories first would enrich the story, it is not necessary.

Hannah and Eoin are vibrant and funny characters with compelling and, in Eoin's case, slightly tragic backstories. Eoin's kind of evil grandfather has finally died and his last act is to continue to be awful and not fulfill his promise to Eoin to tell him what happened with his mother and sister. In order to find his family and make sure they are okay, Eoin enlists Hannah's help in finding them

As the daughter of a pirate and a noblewoman, as well as the part-owner of a coffeshop in the regency era where women don't have as much power, Hannah also moonlights as a sort of detective. One of the things she is investigating for herself is Eoin's family paternal family. So when he comes in asking for help, she takes advantage of the opportunity to help him while also getting more information.

Obviously neither of them mean to fall in love, but sometimes things just work out that way. Enter two crazy pet birds, an abused bear, and a hand grenade (not in that order) and things are definitely going to happen.

I had a good time, and would recommend this book to anyone who likes rom com and the regency era.