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The Bookish Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 17, 2026
Noticing Ivy
Owen Caldecott, the fifth Duke of Marwick could not have foreseen the future fate had in store for him. His future appeared in his very own library and could argue the merits of Greek history like a scholar, though with decidedly differing opinions.
Ivy Slade, the daughter of a farmer who thought his daughter should have an education regardless of her station, was at the bottom of the pecking order on his staff. She was despised by Mrs. Gault who chose favorites by those who scraped before her, but Ivy was not one of those people.
Owen didn’t know why he noticed the perfectly clean fireplaces, or the young woman he found in his library reading Herodotus by firelight, calling the old Greek a brilliant gossip.
This is a typical servant to Duchess story, which is to say it’s unlikely and not very realistic, but the writing is good. This three star clean romance held my attention throughout, and is a nice pre-sleep story.
Owen Caldecott, the fifth Duke of Marwick could not have foreseen the future fate had in store for him. His future appeared in his very own library and could argue the merits of Greek history like a scholar, though with decidedly differing opinions.
Ivy Slade, the daughter of a farmer who thought his daughter should have an education regardless of her station, was at the bottom of the pecking order on his staff. She was despised by Mrs. Gault who chose favorites by those who scraped before her, but Ivy was not one of those people.
Owen didn’t know why he noticed the perfectly clean fireplaces, or the young woman he found in his library reading Herodotus by firelight, calling the old Greek a brilliant gossip.
This is a typical servant to Duchess story, which is to say it’s unlikely and not very realistic, but the writing is good. This three star clean romance held my attention throughout, and is a nice pre-sleep story.
Read
July 5, 2026Owen Caldecott Fifth Duke of Marwick is a proper duke. He takes care of his estate, provides for his servants and his household runs smoothly. So, he thinks, till he meets a house maid named Ivy Slade. Dukes do not talk to or engage with one's house maids. Owen’s favorite room is the library which houses thousands of books. Owen knows exactly were his favorite book Herodotus, a priceless copy is kept, third shelf east wall between Thucydides and Xenophon till now its missing! He calls his butler, Finch to see if anyone has been in the library. The housekeeper Mrs. Gault brought a maid, Slade, the same one who had handled the fireplaces he asked about, they were a work of art. When questioned instead of blame, she explains she moved the book down a shelf to save the old binding. He is surprised she knows the bookslist value and thought of saving it without being asked. This makes Mrs. Gault mad as she wanted Slade her to be in trouble. Mrs. Gault is a nasty, vindictive person who makes all the servants' life hell. She cuts food allowed, works them longer than needed and hands out extra duty to whoever crosses her. I hated her. When Owen happens to save Slade from a fall when a ladder broke in the gallery, he unfortunately puts her on Mrs. Gault to be punished list. Slade has learned in the four years she has been at Wrenfield Park; good servants were supposed to be invisible. Now the Duke has not only seen her but asked for her name. Slade can’t sleep so sneaks into the library at midnight to read. Owen finds her there, and they begin meeting late at night to read and share their ideas and feelings of the books. Owen has had seven seasons in London going to all the balls and dancing with many Ladies. He has had tons of conversions on the weather, listened to them talk about nothing. He can’t remember a single thing they said. But he cannot stop thinking of Ivy, she is smart, has an amazing way of speaking on whatever book they are reading. Ivy knows she should not keep meeting the duke in the library and that nothing can come of it. There is no way a maid and a duke can ever be together. Ah, let the rest f the story begin, help from his sister, her friend and payback for the wicked housekeeper make for a story you will not be able to put down. This is a story of class differences, longing, fear along with desire and making hard choices. Truly a love story for the ages. The duke was the most understanding and patience gentleman I’ve ever read about. Be sure and not miss this one. I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.
July 7, 2026
What a Lovely Story
What a lovely story! I really enjoyed it. It describes the situation between Owen, the Duke of Marwick, and Ivy, a housemaid in his home.
It is not just a tale of unsuitable situations, it is a story of a love that grew and stood against the snobbery of Society and the unthinkable thought that a Duke could love a maid.
Ivy was very intelligent. She read widely and frequently sneaked into the library at night to read Shakespeare or Herodotus). When Owen discovered her, she was willing to stand up for her opinions about the books she read and discuss them with Owen.
Unfortunately, the Housekeeper did not approve and this led to her taking difficult and cruel actions taken against Ivy.
Will Owen be strong enough to protect Ivy, Will Ivy be willing to stand against Society to find love? Read on and enjoy.
I found the discussions about the Greek philosophers and Ancient History very interesting. It added to an understanding of why Owen enjoyed being with Ivy.
What a lovely story! I really enjoyed it. It describes the situation between Owen, the Duke of Marwick, and Ivy, a housemaid in his home.
It is not just a tale of unsuitable situations, it is a story of a love that grew and stood against the snobbery of Society and the unthinkable thought that a Duke could love a maid.
Ivy was very intelligent. She read widely and frequently sneaked into the library at night to read Shakespeare or Herodotus). When Owen discovered her, she was willing to stand up for her opinions about the books she read and discuss them with Owen.
Unfortunately, the Housekeeper did not approve and this led to her taking difficult and cruel actions taken against Ivy.
Will Owen be strong enough to protect Ivy, Will Ivy be willing to stand against Society to find love? Read on and enjoy.
I found the discussions about the Greek philosophers and Ancient History very interesting. It added to an understanding of why Owen enjoyed being with Ivy.
July 4, 2026
a love well won
Owen is a Duke who has for seven years done all that was required
Of him. None of the woman he has talked to and danced with has won his heart. Then one day a housemaid falls from a ladder onto Owen. From that time forward he is drawn to her. He finds her one night in the library reading and is amazed she can read. They start
Meeting almost every night discussing arguing and getting to know each other. Owen falls in love with Ivy and wants to marry her.
With all the ton against her she marries Owen. She opens a girls school for girls who would never be able to go to school.
Owen is a Duke who has for seven years done all that was required
Of him. None of the woman he has talked to and danced with has won his heart. Then one day a housemaid falls from a ladder onto Owen. From that time forward he is drawn to her. He finds her one night in the library reading and is amazed she can read. They start
Meeting almost every night discussing arguing and getting to know each other. Owen falls in love with Ivy and wants to marry her.
With all the ton against her she marries Owen. She opens a girls school for girls who would never be able to go to school.
July 18, 2026
Does no one employ an editor anymore?
This book could have been a three star read had there not been so many wild continuity errors, sometimes mistakes made within paragraphs of the original event or detail, constantly jerking me out of the story. I liked the idea of it, liked the characters, but my gosh. Additionally, the prose was very repetitive. I think this may have been purposeful, a stylistic choice, but it irritated me so much.
If this had been a first time author, I’d give more of her books a chance, but this is third in a series. At this point, this level of inattention to her own story is inexcusable.
This book could have been a three star read had there not been so many wild continuity errors, sometimes mistakes made within paragraphs of the original event or detail, constantly jerking me out of the story. I liked the idea of it, liked the characters, but my gosh. Additionally, the prose was very repetitive. I think this may have been purposeful, a stylistic choice, but it irritated me so much.
If this had been a first time author, I’d give more of her books a chance, but this is third in a series. At this point, this level of inattention to her own story is inexcusable.
July 11, 2026
Only 5 stars? It Deserves more stars than that!
I loved this book. I had never heard of this author and only tried it because
of the recommendation of an author that I like. Goodness! I am so glad I tried it! It is a wonderful book for which I abandoned my responsibilities in order to read. The story was great, the characters well developed and believable, even the wicked Mrs Gault. I will definitely find and read anything else this author has written. Highly recommend this book!
I loved this book. I had never heard of this author and only tried it because
of the recommendation of an author that I like. Goodness! I am so glad I tried it! It is a wonderful book for which I abandoned my responsibilities in order to read. The story was great, the characters well developed and believable, even the wicked Mrs Gault. I will definitely find and read anything else this author has written. Highly recommend this book!
September 1, 2026
One of my favorites.
The words are arranged beautifully yet straightforward. The slow burn is almost slow enough to be deliciously painful yet satisfying from the start. The main characters and main side characters are exemplary. The story doesn’t prettify or make her situation glamorous whatsoever. It’s very realistic, more so than any other novel I’ve read of someone rising above their station. She earns her ending on her own merits. I’m saving this one and will read it again, and I almost never read a novel twice.
The words are arranged beautifully yet straightforward. The slow burn is almost slow enough to be deliciously painful yet satisfying from the start. The main characters and main side characters are exemplary. The story doesn’t prettify or make her situation glamorous whatsoever. It’s very realistic, more so than any other novel I’ve read of someone rising above their station. She earns her ending on her own merits. I’m saving this one and will read it again, and I almost never read a novel twice.
July 25, 2026
It is a kind of unbelievable regency. The duke hasn’t been captivated by any young debutant in seven years, but starts to take notice of the lowest house maid. The maid has been educated and after 4 years in service, she knows her place but the library draws her to read the many books there. The housekeeper is an evil woman so I had a villain to “boo”. I enjoyed the read and the main characters, it just didn’t seem feasible that the FMC was so educated.
August 19, 2026
Better than expected
There are still editing errors but not nearly as blatant. There are holes in the story, though. At one point, the main character is confiding in her friend "again" when nowhere previously had such a conversation taken place. It happened a couple of times. The phrase "that particular way" was way overused. Some definite repetitiveness in the thoughts of characters or the way something was described.
There are still editing errors but not nearly as blatant. There are holes in the story, though. At one point, the main character is confiding in her friend "again" when nowhere previously had such a conversation taken place. It happened a couple of times. The phrase "that particular way" was way overused. Some definite repetitiveness in the thoughts of characters or the way something was described.
July 6, 2026
I was expecting more from this book. Even though it had good 'bones' it was too wordy and I was disappointed in the Duke. I felt like he was a weak character, unlike the Duke's I've read in other books. I struggled with Ivy's character that seemed to be extremely submissive in every situation she faced. I much preferred her friend Daisy's character, she had some gumption.
July 9, 2026
A Duke/A Book/A Maid/A Promise…
The Duke, Owen, one day awakes to spot the immaculate fireplaces ..then is another place entirely when Ivy falls from the faulty ladder & lands on him.
But the housekeeper notices everything & makes her life much worse. Ivy’s perseverance makes her stronger & as their feelings begin to develop they know where they are headed…
The Duke, Owen, one day awakes to spot the immaculate fireplaces ..then is another place entirely when Ivy falls from the faulty ladder & lands on him.
But the housekeeper notices everything & makes her life much worse. Ivy’s perseverance makes her stronger & as their feelings begin to develop they know where they are headed…
July 27, 2026
Enjoyable story
Enjoyable story that I would have rated higher but for the inconsistencies, parts of the story that didn’t make sense and missed opportunities to assuage the reader’s interest in some of the side characters. The bonus epilogue on the author’s website provides a more satisfying end to the story.
Enjoyable story that I would have rated higher but for the inconsistencies, parts of the story that didn’t make sense and missed opportunities to assuage the reader’s interest in some of the side characters. The bonus epilogue on the author’s website provides a more satisfying end to the story.
July 27, 2026
Suspenseful
The plot kept me up late with anxiety. Nice ending that was not Cinderella. The writing had some copy and paste phrases as if the author liked them so much she had to use them 3 times in a row. Small internal inconsistencies like location of dance and borrowing of books.
The plot kept me up late with anxiety. Nice ending that was not Cinderella. The writing had some copy and paste phrases as if the author liked them so much she had to use them 3 times in a row. Small internal inconsistencies like location of dance and borrowing of books.
August 2, 2026
excellent story but in desperate need of an editor
Wonderful to read a romance with decidedly different tropes. I was captivated by the premise and the story. But I had trouble staying in the book because the lack of an editor was so obvious: repeated phrasing within pages, facts changing between chapters, facts known in one chapter only to be discovered in the next.
Wonderful to read a romance with decidedly different tropes. I was captivated by the premise and the story. But I had trouble staying in the book because the lack of an editor was so obvious: repeated phrasing within pages, facts changing between chapters, facts known in one chapter only to be discovered in the next.
August 9, 2026
This one was pretty good!
Though somewhat predictable, I still enjoyed the themes and concepts explored in this book: class divides, the roll of the dice deciding the privileges (or lack thereof) of one individual's birth versus that of another. Quite a bit of angst on both Ivy's and Owen's parts, yet still a good read.
Though somewhat predictable, I still enjoyed the themes and concepts explored in this book: class divides, the roll of the dice deciding the privileges (or lack thereof) of one individual's birth versus that of another. Quite a bit of angst on both Ivy's and Owen's parts, yet still a good read.
July 7, 2026
Novel worth reading
Beautiful story. Well written.
Easy to read. Romantic and sweet.
I couldn’t wait to turn to the next page.
Didn’t read ahead to find out how Ivy and Owen’s relationship will be resolved and end.
Love the book.
Thank you Amanda Stone ❤️
Beautiful story. Well written.
Easy to read. Romantic and sweet.
I couldn’t wait to turn to the next page.
Didn’t read ahead to find out how Ivy and Owen’s relationship will be resolved and end.
Love the book.
Thank you Amanda Stone ❤️
July 18, 2026
A very good story
I have two daughters and two grand daughters. I applaud identification, recognition, and acknowledgement
of intelligence by women. I liked
how this story unfolded.
I have two daughters and two grand daughters. I applaud identification, recognition, and acknowledgement
of intelligence by women. I liked
how this story unfolded.
July 29, 2026
Persistence pays
Chapter 4 " Hope was dangerous. Hope lead to wanting and wanting led to disappointment, and disappointment was a luxury she could not afford."
But our heroine makes her decisions and plans for the life she deserves.
Chapter 4 " Hope was dangerous. Hope lead to wanting and wanting led to disappointment, and disappointment was a luxury she could not afford."
But our heroine makes her decisions and plans for the life she deserves.
August 4, 2026
A Regency Romance with a difference
Interesting. Using some of the usual tropes of regency novel Stones has done something far more readable and engaging. Certainly a writer worth following if you want something a bit different.
Interesting. Using some of the usual tropes of regency novel Stones has done something far more readable and engaging. Certainly a writer worth following if you want something a bit different.
August 10, 2026
Recommend
It is a true fairy tale, I like this book. The only annoying part, too many repetitions. There are some very good moments that stop you from putting this book down. Well done Amanda!
It is a true fairy tale, I like this book. The only annoying part, too many repetitions. There are some very good moments that stop you from putting this book down. Well done Amanda!
September 3, 2026
started off good
Beginning to the middle was good! I was interested and was enjoying it and thennnnn it just fell way to flat. I was hoping for more angst and I really just lost interest in whether it’d all work out.
Beginning to the middle was good! I was interested and was enjoying it and thennnnn it just fell way to flat. I was hoping for more angst and I really just lost interest in whether it’d all work out.
July 7, 2026
interesting concept
interesting concept
“Then everyone you've met has been wrong."
"Dressed for joy."
“You refuse to let me win debates simply because I outrank you."
interesting concept
“Then everyone you've met has been wrong."
"Dressed for joy."
“You refuse to let me win debates simply because I outrank you."
July 11, 2026
A couple comes together through they're shared love of books.
July 22, 2026
Unexpected
What an unexpected joy. Start to finish . My reading selection of late had gotten stale. This put me right back to my happy place.
What an unexpected joy. Start to finish . My reading selection of late had gotten stale. This put me right back to my happy place.
July 28, 2026
Nice Change
This was a wonderful book, loved the characters and Ivy’s strength. Much different from the normal historical romance. Definitely a book everyone will embrace.
This was a wonderful book, loved the characters and Ivy’s strength. Much different from the normal historical romance. Definitely a book everyone will embrace.
August 2, 2026
A must read!
This is a heartwarming story that truly has an understanding of England's Regency Period and the differences between the aristocrats and their servants.
This is a heartwarming story that truly has an understanding of England's Regency Period and the differences between the aristocrats and their servants.
August 4, 2026
What a nice, nice story. I looked forward to every minute I could find to read it. Thank you. (:
August 17, 2026
This needed a good edit. So much repetition and it just dragged on and on. I couldn't figure out why it took a duke so long to fire his sadistic housekeeper.
September 9, 2026
Not great
September 10, 2026
To outlandish for a maid to have read and been able to discuss with such authority classical literature. Especially since she was such long hours in service. Didn’t get excited with book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews