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Dukes in Disguise
Grace Burrowes, Emily Greenwood, and Susanna Ives team up to bring you three Regency novellas, each featuring a young, wealthy duke who must spend two weeks masquerading as a commoner in the bucolic backwater of Lesser Puddlebury. Disaster will rain down if their graces' titled status become public knowledge. Fortunately for our heroes, true love is no respecter of rank.
His Grace of Lesser Puddlebury by Grace Burrowes
Connor, Duke of Mowne, has been injured in a most delicate location, and needs a place to heal far from the eyes of Polite Society. When he takes refuge with the independent and impecunious Julianna St. Bellan, he suspects his wound was in truth caused by Cupid's arrow!
Duchess of Light by Susanna Ives
In a tangle of lies and disguises, a brokenhearted duke and a desperate miss find truth in love.
Kiss Me, Your Grace by Emily Greenwood
Rowan, Duke of Starlingham, thinks love is for fools, though when he arrives at his hunting box to find an alluring but puzzlingly uncooperative woman pretending to be his cousin, he realizes he may be a victim of the most absurd malady of all: love at first sight.
His Grace of Lesser Puddlebury by Grace Burrowes
Connor, Duke of Mowne, has been injured in a most delicate location, and needs a place to heal far from the eyes of Polite Society. When he takes refuge with the independent and impecunious Julianna St. Bellan, he suspects his wound was in truth caused by Cupid's arrow!
Duchess of Light by Susanna Ives
In a tangle of lies and disguises, a brokenhearted duke and a desperate miss find truth in love.
Kiss Me, Your Grace by Emily Greenwood
Rowan, Duke of Starlingham, thinks love is for fools, though when he arrives at his hunting box to find an alluring but puzzlingly uncooperative woman pretending to be his cousin, he realizes he may be a victim of the most absurd malady of all: love at first sight.
238 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2016
184 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Grace Burrowes
191 books2,915 followersGrace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 20, 2016
On the bright side, these are three stories by well-established authors, so the writing is fluent and occasionally funny. I've read all the previous ducal anthologies, and they are good fun. However, the premise of this anthology is so fundamentally improbable (three dukes must pass incognito in the same small village) that each story starts with a handicap. The stories don't intertwine, so the same pattern of: disguise - love - self-justification - the big reveal - occurs three times, and really doesn't convince even the first time.
I should have remembered that the novella form does not suit Grace Burrowes' relaxed style of writing, and leisurely delineation of character. Her characters always jump into bed together earlier than with many other authors - acceptable in a long story, but off-putting in a novella. I found her story surprisingly weak - the H & h little more than puppets, with the hero in particular coming across as exceptionally spineless in his financial dealings with his family. It is also difficult for a hero to strike a heroic pose when he has accidentally been shot in the bottom - GB stacked the cards against him there. Having said that, I do like a really well-victimised heroine, and Julianna is properly ground down by the local Sir Jasper. There's a longish extract from the story GB'll contribute to another anthology with Mary Balogh, which looks very good - better than this novella, which is annoying!
The second story, by Susanna Ives, unfortunately echoes very closely the plot of Burrowes' story, with a second local Sir Jasper leering at a put-upon heroine. This is the weakest of the stories: the hero is again a man of little mental fortitude (outshone, unfortunately, by his more interesting valet) dallying with a Cinderella. Lucerne's overnight conversion from lout to sensitive tutor was meant, I think, to indicate his sterling qualities had been misjudged by all around; again, the conversion might work in a longer form, but is unbelievable in a novella. The humour is slapstick, interspersed with sentiment, so- while I enjoy Susanna Ives' other books - I did not care for this.
The final story was, to my surprise, the best of the three. It's got a simple plot - Claire is unable to say "no" to her family (in the interests of peace), and has found herself unable to say out loud that she won't marry an old man. She's persuaded to try being more assertive with the disguised third duke; the scenes where they cross swords are pleasantly and amusingly done. Thereafter, other than his disguise, there is really no conflict, and all ends happily. I've not read any of Emily Greenwood's other books, but would try one, on the basis of this story.
So, reluctantly - because I like these anthologies normally - this is one I shall definitely not go back to.
I should have remembered that the novella form does not suit Grace Burrowes' relaxed style of writing, and leisurely delineation of character. Her characters always jump into bed together earlier than with many other authors - acceptable in a long story, but off-putting in a novella. I found her story surprisingly weak - the H & h little more than puppets, with the hero in particular coming across as exceptionally spineless in his financial dealings with his family. It is also difficult for a hero to strike a heroic pose when he has accidentally been shot in the bottom - GB stacked the cards against him there. Having said that, I do like a really well-victimised heroine, and Julianna is properly ground down by the local Sir Jasper. There's a longish extract from the story GB'll contribute to another anthology with Mary Balogh, which looks very good - better than this novella, which is annoying!
The second story, by Susanna Ives, unfortunately echoes very closely the plot of Burrowes' story, with a second local Sir Jasper leering at a put-upon heroine. This is the weakest of the stories: the hero is again a man of little mental fortitude (outshone, unfortunately, by his more interesting valet) dallying with a Cinderella. Lucerne's overnight conversion from lout to sensitive tutor was meant, I think, to indicate his sterling qualities had been misjudged by all around; again, the conversion might work in a longer form, but is unbelievable in a novella. The humour is slapstick, interspersed with sentiment, so- while I enjoy Susanna Ives' other books - I did not care for this.
The final story was, to my surprise, the best of the three. It's got a simple plot - Claire is unable to say "no" to her family (in the interests of peace), and has found herself unable to say out loud that she won't marry an old man. She's persuaded to try being more assertive with the disguised third duke; the scenes where they cross swords are pleasantly and amusingly done. Thereafter, other than his disguise, there is really no conflict, and all ends happily. I've not read any of Emily Greenwood's other books, but would try one, on the basis of this story.
So, reluctantly - because I like these anthologies normally - this is one I shall definitely not go back to.
March 14, 2016
4.5 Stars As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: http://wp.me/p3QRh4-lL
DUKES IN DISGUISE is a compilation of short stories about three dukes, Mowne, Lucere, and Starlingham, who are best friends. When a freakish accident causes a stray bullet to ricochet and hit Mowne in the buttock, (courtesy of younger brother Freddy) it's time to get out of town before gossip can start. If Mowne's uncle hears of any scandal, he'll punish Mowne financially, since he rules the purse strings of the family. So Mowne takes off for Lesser Puddlesbury to hide out for a couple weeks, both to give himself time to heal, and to be away from potential gossipy eyes. Of course, three dukes showing up in a small town would create MUCH gossip, so the dukes must go incognito. They all decide on their aliases, and head off with no thoughts of, or desire for romance. But you can't run from love, not even in Lesser Puddlebury.
THE DUKE OF LESSER PUDDLEBURY by Grace Burrowes - Con (Mowne) has decided to stay with a distant cousin, Jules, who has been receiving financial support from Con for years. Con arrives to find that Jules is really Julianna, the widow of his relation. Julianna has been doing her best to care for her property and four orphaned children, while being obstructed at every turn by an obnoxious villain who wants to get his hands on this parcel of land. Con soon sees the way things are, and in true hero fashion, even though injured, begins to help. The no-nonsense, hard-working Julianna soon begins to desire the duke in disguise, and the two quickly fall in love. I adore Con, who is unselfish, honorable, and generous. Before the happy ever after ensues, the villain has to be dispatched, and the truth of Con's identity has to be told. Family members appear to offer support to the man who usually bears all the burdens himself. This beautiful short story has plenty of heart, smiles, gentle humor, and warmth.
DUCHESS OF LIGHT by Susanna Ives - Stephen (Lucere) has to find lodgings, and can't pass up a sad looking boardinghouse that, surprisingly, carries the name of Lucere. Estella Primrose, the young lady who greets Stephen, is actually a second cousin from the side of the family his parents didn't acknowledge. It seems that Estella and her family are in dire straits. She has actually written to Stephen, requesting help, but his secretary rejected the requests without Stephen's knowledge. Stephen is posing as a tutor, and his natural charm brings laughter to the sad house. He finds himself falling for the beautiful Estella, and desperately wants to help her. Stephen doesn't feel that he deserves her, though, because of guilt he carries over his past. Stephen is a complex character, the lightness of his outward persona hiding the dark burden that weighs him down. There are some light moments due to Estella's silly twin sisters, but this is more of a serious read, dealing with self forgiveness and self worth.
KISS ME, YOUR GRACE by Emily Greenwood - Rowan (Starlingham) owns a hunting box in Lesser Puddlebury, which he actually is considering selling, so he plans to pose as his own cousin and stay there while he investigates the property. His housekeeper, Louisa, has improperly invited her distraught friend, Claire Beckett, to stay there. Since the duke hasn't visited in years, she feels secure that he won't show up now. When Rowan does show up, Claire declares herself to be a cousin to the duke as well. Rowan knows this is definitely not true, but he doesn't have Claire tossed out because he felt an odd sensation when meeting her, something like destiny. Claire actually left her home upon learning she had been engaged by her father to an older man with a bad case of halitosis. (ha!) While Claire finds Rowan attractive, she has been egged on by her friend, the housekeeper, to be more assertive and independent. Rowan is a commanding, no-nonsense man, and Claire invites him close, then pushes him away. While honor makes Rowan accede to her wishes, Claire soon realizes that she may have made the biggest mistake of her life by rejecting him. Rowan is the kind of hero I love to see - straight forward, sometimes abrupt, but honest and honorable. Claire's struggle to find herself made this story a very compelling read.
All in all, DUKES IN DISGUISE is an excellent, well written compilation. The stories flowed seamlessly, one into the next, all with a similar theme of a strong woman being bested by unfortunate circumstances, and the duke having the opportunity to be a hero. The different writing styles and characters, along with a dose of humor, emotion, and romance, made for a most enjoyable read that I highly recommend.
DUKES IN DISGUISE is a compilation of short stories about three dukes, Mowne, Lucere, and Starlingham, who are best friends. When a freakish accident causes a stray bullet to ricochet and hit Mowne in the buttock, (courtesy of younger brother Freddy) it's time to get out of town before gossip can start. If Mowne's uncle hears of any scandal, he'll punish Mowne financially, since he rules the purse strings of the family. So Mowne takes off for Lesser Puddlesbury to hide out for a couple weeks, both to give himself time to heal, and to be away from potential gossipy eyes. Of course, three dukes showing up in a small town would create MUCH gossip, so the dukes must go incognito. They all decide on their aliases, and head off with no thoughts of, or desire for romance. But you can't run from love, not even in Lesser Puddlebury.
THE DUKE OF LESSER PUDDLEBURY by Grace Burrowes - Con (Mowne) has decided to stay with a distant cousin, Jules, who has been receiving financial support from Con for years. Con arrives to find that Jules is really Julianna, the widow of his relation. Julianna has been doing her best to care for her property and four orphaned children, while being obstructed at every turn by an obnoxious villain who wants to get his hands on this parcel of land. Con soon sees the way things are, and in true hero fashion, even though injured, begins to help. The no-nonsense, hard-working Julianna soon begins to desire the duke in disguise, and the two quickly fall in love. I adore Con, who is unselfish, honorable, and generous. Before the happy ever after ensues, the villain has to be dispatched, and the truth of Con's identity has to be told. Family members appear to offer support to the man who usually bears all the burdens himself. This beautiful short story has plenty of heart, smiles, gentle humor, and warmth.
DUCHESS OF LIGHT by Susanna Ives - Stephen (Lucere) has to find lodgings, and can't pass up a sad looking boardinghouse that, surprisingly, carries the name of Lucere. Estella Primrose, the young lady who greets Stephen, is actually a second cousin from the side of the family his parents didn't acknowledge. It seems that Estella and her family are in dire straits. She has actually written to Stephen, requesting help, but his secretary rejected the requests without Stephen's knowledge. Stephen is posing as a tutor, and his natural charm brings laughter to the sad house. He finds himself falling for the beautiful Estella, and desperately wants to help her. Stephen doesn't feel that he deserves her, though, because of guilt he carries over his past. Stephen is a complex character, the lightness of his outward persona hiding the dark burden that weighs him down. There are some light moments due to Estella's silly twin sisters, but this is more of a serious read, dealing with self forgiveness and self worth.
KISS ME, YOUR GRACE by Emily Greenwood - Rowan (Starlingham) owns a hunting box in Lesser Puddlebury, which he actually is considering selling, so he plans to pose as his own cousin and stay there while he investigates the property. His housekeeper, Louisa, has improperly invited her distraught friend, Claire Beckett, to stay there. Since the duke hasn't visited in years, she feels secure that he won't show up now. When Rowan does show up, Claire declares herself to be a cousin to the duke as well. Rowan knows this is definitely not true, but he doesn't have Claire tossed out because he felt an odd sensation when meeting her, something like destiny. Claire actually left her home upon learning she had been engaged by her father to an older man with a bad case of halitosis. (ha!) While Claire finds Rowan attractive, she has been egged on by her friend, the housekeeper, to be more assertive and independent. Rowan is a commanding, no-nonsense man, and Claire invites him close, then pushes him away. While honor makes Rowan accede to her wishes, Claire soon realizes that she may have made the biggest mistake of her life by rejecting him. Rowan is the kind of hero I love to see - straight forward, sometimes abrupt, but honest and honorable. Claire's struggle to find herself made this story a very compelling read.
All in all, DUKES IN DISGUISE is an excellent, well written compilation. The stories flowed seamlessly, one into the next, all with a similar theme of a strong woman being bested by unfortunate circumstances, and the duke having the opportunity to be a hero. The different writing styles and characters, along with a dose of humor, emotion, and romance, made for a most enjoyable read that I highly recommend.
March 14, 2016
3.5 Stars. I wish that the ladies would have came together and put together an EPI with the Sun, Moon and Stars together with their new loves...that would have scored higher with me.
March 21, 2016
I am one of those Grace Burrowes fans that if she wrote on a paper bag, I'd gobble it up. As for the other two authors, I've read some of their books and liked them. I'm not sure who came up with this anthology premise, but whoever did, it was a good one.
Grace Burrowes sets the anthology up with three friends and all of them dukes, in dire need of disguise as one of them needs to convalesce. All three decide to travel to different locations and to stay incognito. What can go wrong while they 'lay low'? Well, a lot can and it does.
I loved this first story and as usual, Grace Burrowes delivers on all fronts. This novella might as well been the full length book. It read as such. The characters were fully developed and for the chemistry between the two leads, I must credit the wonderful dialogue, making those two jump off the pages. The plot was entertaining and the pace was just right.
The second book was by Ms. Ives and it was my least favorite. I can't quiet put my finger on it, but the story, despite being written well, just didn't touch me as much as the first novella. I believe this one just demanded too much of my suspension of belief and had me questioning the behavior of the heroine on too many occasions.
Third story was also well written and characterized but I thought its complexity had me enjoying it less.
In the end, I do recommend it because all three stories were fast paced and each was fun in its own way.
Melanie for b2b
Grace Burrowes sets the anthology up with three friends and all of them dukes, in dire need of disguise as one of them needs to convalesce. All three decide to travel to different locations and to stay incognito. What can go wrong while they 'lay low'? Well, a lot can and it does.
I loved this first story and as usual, Grace Burrowes delivers on all fronts. This novella might as well been the full length book. It read as such. The characters were fully developed and for the chemistry between the two leads, I must credit the wonderful dialogue, making those two jump off the pages. The plot was entertaining and the pace was just right.
The second book was by Ms. Ives and it was my least favorite. I can't quiet put my finger on it, but the story, despite being written well, just didn't touch me as much as the first novella. I believe this one just demanded too much of my suspension of belief and had me questioning the behavior of the heroine on too many occasions.
Third story was also well written and characterized but I thought its complexity had me enjoying it less.
In the end, I do recommend it because all three stories were fast paced and each was fun in its own way.
Melanie for b2b
March 16, 2016
A fun quick read! Three Dukes hiding out from scandal and Lesser Puddlebury will never be the same. Neither will the Dukes as they unexpectedly find love!
August 29, 2019
A light, entertaining read. Of the three stories, the first two had many similarities. When we meet the heroines, both are good-hearted widows in reduced circumstances, working hard to support their families, and being bullied into marriage by unwanted suitors. I enjoyed both of these, but The Duke of Lesser Puddlebury had a slightly ridiculous set-up, and an unlikely resolution, so of the two I preferred Duchess of Light. This had a nice vein of humour, engaging characters, and I liked Lucere and Estella as a couple.
I couldn’t get interested in the third one, Kiss Me, Your Grace. Neither the scenario nor the characters appealed, so I didn’t finish that one.
I couldn’t get interested in the third one, Kiss Me, Your Grace. Neither the scenario nor the characters appealed, so I didn’t finish that one.
April 8, 2018
Read this last year and forget to include it!
Grace Burrowes is one of the authors....'nuff said:)
Grace Burrowes is one of the authors....'nuff said:)
February 17, 2017
Liked the one by Grace Burrowes best. The other two weren't bad and I enjoyed the connecting theme.
October 26, 2017
Maybe I needed to be disguised to enjoy this more. That would be "disguised" in the old meaning of "enjoying the results of a bottle or two of something alcoholic in me". The funny thing about this anthology is that I bought it because Susanna Ives was one of the contributors and I remember her RAKES AND RADISHES as a well-written book and wanted to read her novella here. I did not buy it for Grace Burrowes, whose writing, although good, I tired of a few hundred of her books ago. So, the funny thing is I found myself liking the Burrowes story in this collection and only the Burrowes story.
Turns out that if you stop reading Burrowes for a good long while, you can again appreciate her writing. Because she can write well. It's just that too much food and drink, too much bromance and male bonding, too much loving family relationship and too many children, it all gets to me after a book or three. So after a hiatus from that, this story, although similar to almost every other book of hers I've read, entertained me.
Can't say the same for the Ives story. It just seemed a pale imitation of the Burrowes, down to the in-dire-straits-financially heroine writing to hero duke for monetary help and having her letters misdirected, hero not revealing his identity as the duke, hero bonding with children (young foster children in Burrowes, 16-year-old twitty sisters of the heroine in Ives), hero learning to help around the house, heroine wanting to have sex with hero without commitment of any kind, etc. Only real difference between the two stories is the quality of the writing and the development of the characters. Far superior in the Burrowes story.
As for the Greenwood story, it's not a rewrite of the Burrowes. So kudos for that. It has no children, no letters to the duke. no incognito duke learning to cook, clean or fold laundry. There is, of course, that incognito duke and a tentative romance between H and h which is hindered by h needing to marry someone relatively well off to save herself from an unpleasant arranged marriage. There are positives to this. But it was just an OK story, IMO.
This anthology was not quite what I was hoping for. But then, anthologies are very seldom as good as a full-length novel.
Turns out that if you stop reading Burrowes for a good long while, you can again appreciate her writing. Because she can write well. It's just that too much food and drink, too much bromance and male bonding, too much loving family relationship and too many children, it all gets to me after a book or three. So after a hiatus from that, this story, although similar to almost every other book of hers I've read, entertained me.
Can't say the same for the Ives story. It just seemed a pale imitation of the Burrowes, down to the in-dire-straits-financially heroine writing to hero duke for monetary help and having her letters misdirected, hero not revealing his identity as the duke, hero bonding with children (young foster children in Burrowes, 16-year-old twitty sisters of the heroine in Ives), hero learning to help around the house, heroine wanting to have sex with hero without commitment of any kind, etc. Only real difference between the two stories is the quality of the writing and the development of the characters. Far superior in the Burrowes story.
As for the Greenwood story, it's not a rewrite of the Burrowes. So kudos for that. It has no children, no letters to the duke. no incognito duke learning to cook, clean or fold laundry. There is, of course, that incognito duke and a tentative romance between H and h which is hindered by h needing to marry someone relatively well off to save herself from an unpleasant arranged marriage. There are positives to this. But it was just an OK story, IMO.
This anthology was not quite what I was hoping for. But then, anthologies are very seldom as good as a full-length novel.
May 21, 2017
Very weak offering from talented authors
***Spoilers***
The first two novellas are practically identical:
-Both female protagonists are in straitened circumstances supporting children and aging/ailing parents or retainers; one on a farm the other in a boarding house
-Each woman is threatened by a creditor who is putting financial pressure on them to pay up or marry them as a means of discharging the debts.
-Each woman has a familial connection to 'their' Duke
-Each woman has applied to 'their' Duke seeking some measure of financial assistance, but the letters have been intercepted and never reach 'their' duke's eyes.
-Both 'dukes in disguise' are ashamed of their unknowing neglect of the women and the resulting circumstances to which they have been reduced.
-When love is acknowledged and marriage proposed, neither woman feels adequate to the task of being a duchess and hems and haws before accepting.
The third novel is slightly different, but regrettably no better. In fact, it may the the cheesiest of the three with it's love-at-first-sight overtones. I found the heroine in this one fairly objectionable with her spineless problems largely of her own making. This novella also had the weakest character development.
Bottom line: with the exception of Emily Greenwood, I've read theses authors before and believe them to be of greater talent than what these novellas indicate. I'll read pretty much anything by Grace Burrows and thought that 'Frail' by Susanna Ives was one of the best period romances I've read in a while. Good thing I read Duchesses in Disguise before this one, otherwise I'd have given it a pass.
***Spoilers***
The first two novellas are practically identical:
-Both female protagonists are in straitened circumstances supporting children and aging/ailing parents or retainers; one on a farm the other in a boarding house
-Each woman is threatened by a creditor who is putting financial pressure on them to pay up or marry them as a means of discharging the debts.
-Each woman has a familial connection to 'their' Duke
-Each woman has applied to 'their' Duke seeking some measure of financial assistance, but the letters have been intercepted and never reach 'their' duke's eyes.
-Both 'dukes in disguise' are ashamed of their unknowing neglect of the women and the resulting circumstances to which they have been reduced.
-When love is acknowledged and marriage proposed, neither woman feels adequate to the task of being a duchess and hems and haws before accepting.
The third novel is slightly different, but regrettably no better. In fact, it may the the cheesiest of the three with it's love-at-first-sight overtones. I found the heroine in this one fairly objectionable with her spineless problems largely of her own making. This novella also had the weakest character development.
Bottom line: with the exception of Emily Greenwood, I've read theses authors before and believe them to be of greater talent than what these novellas indicate. I'll read pretty much anything by Grace Burrows and thought that 'Frail' by Susanna Ives was one of the best period romances I've read in a while. Good thing I read Duchesses in Disguise before this one, otherwise I'd have given it a pass.
October 23, 2022
The Duke of lesser Puddlebury: the Duke of Mowne was at a duel in lesser Puddlebury but was just observing when he got shot in the butt. He went to a farm to heal when he ended up helping with the children cooking and falling for the woman.
Duchess of light: The Duke of Lucerne had to find someplace to stay while his friend the Duke of Mowne was healing. He found an inn with his name on it. Thinking he should stay there he found an adorable woman with an invalid mother and twin flakey sisters. He tries to help the sisters by pretending to be a tutor. Finding he is attracted to the eldest he does his best to help the family including saving the eldest from an evil man intent on making her submit to him.
Kiss me,your Grace: Lady Claire was told she had to marry someone she didn't like so she tells the family she's going to visit her Aunt, instead she goes to visit her dear friend who works for the Duke of Starlingham. While there a man comes to stay stating he was a cousin of the Duke and stays there also. While there he tries to get Claire to go with him to tour the property since there was an instant attraction between them and he wanted to get to know her better. He finally admitted who he was and proposed to her, but she was adamant in going home and becoming a governess. He wouldn't let her go without an escort so he rode outside the coach making sure she was safe. Claire had a change of heart on the way home. Do they get together or does she become a governess?
Duchess of light: The Duke of Lucerne had to find someplace to stay while his friend the Duke of Mowne was healing. He found an inn with his name on it. Thinking he should stay there he found an adorable woman with an invalid mother and twin flakey sisters. He tries to help the sisters by pretending to be a tutor. Finding he is attracted to the eldest he does his best to help the family including saving the eldest from an evil man intent on making her submit to him.
Kiss me,your Grace: Lady Claire was told she had to marry someone she didn't like so she tells the family she's going to visit her Aunt, instead she goes to visit her dear friend who works for the Duke of Starlingham. While there a man comes to stay stating he was a cousin of the Duke and stays there also. While there he tries to get Claire to go with him to tour the property since there was an instant attraction between them and he wanted to get to know her better. He finally admitted who he was and proposed to her, but she was adamant in going home and becoming a governess. He wouldn't let her go without an escort so he rode outside the coach making sure she was safe. Claire had a change of heart on the way home. Do they get together or does she become a governess?
September 30, 2017
The Duke of Lesser Puddlebury by Grace Burrowes
1 star
The [i]most[/i] boring novella I ever read. It wa sooo long-winded that it took me 2 days to finish it! I usually finish a novella in half a day.
The Duchess of Light by Sussana Ives
4 stars
I almost loved it but Lucere was very judgmental and rude.
Kiss Me, Your Grace by Emily Greenwood
3 stars
Average: 2.67 stars
1 star
The [i]most[/i] boring novella I ever read. It wa sooo long-winded that it took me 2 days to finish it! I usually finish a novella in half a day.
The Duchess of Light by Sussana Ives
4 stars
I almost loved it but Lucere was very judgmental and rude.
Kiss Me, Your Grace by Emily Greenwood
3 stars
Average: 2.67 stars
January 1, 2021
3 friends who as dukes are known as Sun,Stars and Moon due to their surnames, as a result of stopping a duel between a brother of one of them and another man one is shot in the "rump" they decide to hide out in a very small village so he can recover in private each story of how they find love is told by a different author
May 22, 2017
Ich mochte die Geschichten gerne, nur ein gemeinsamer Epilog fehlt irgendwie...sowas wie...nach eine Jahr treffen sich alle wieder in dem Dorf und reden.
June 15, 2017
3 short, easy to read novellas.
June 7, 2018
Love all Grace Burrows books and these stories will not dissapoint. A fun read about three Dukes who retreat to the country and find true love.
August 2, 2018
This was three different stories but together about three dukes in hiding. They were cute little love stories.
September 10, 2018
Three delightful Regencies
led off by the incomparable Grace Burrowes. It must be fun to create men as you would wish they could be.
led off by the incomparable Grace Burrowes. It must be fun to create men as you would wish they could be.
August 10, 2019
First story by Grace Burrowes I enjoyed much more than the other 2 disappointing.
October 3, 2019
The stories were sweet, but not wow.
September 15, 2022
A trio of fine Romances.
Read
January 10, 2023No es buena la traduccion de la primera
July 11, 2025
Three lovely stories loosely tied together in the small town of Lower Puddlebury by three dukes hiding from their lives and responsibilities. Light, fun, and nonsense--but such entertaining nonsense.
Want to read
March 16, 2017His Grace of Lesser Puddlebury by Grace Burrowes
Duchess of Light by Susanna Ives
Kiss Me, Your Grace by Emily Greenwood
Duchess of Light by Susanna Ives
Kiss Me, Your Grace by Emily Greenwood
March 16, 2017
Head over heels.
Try to be someone that you are not! Be yourself and enjoy the life that you had imagined before became what you are. Figure that out and be happy! ENJOY.
Try to be someone that you are not! Be yourself and enjoy the life that you had imagined before became what you are. Figure that out and be happy! ENJOY.
March 7, 2017
Read the Burrowes and Greenwood stories. Started the Ives, but decided to skip when the setup seemed nearly identical to the Burrowes story - impoverished heroine who is distantly related to hero, pursed by slimy other man who holds a debt over her head. The Burrowes story was redeemed by the heroes excellent siblings and some fun revenge on the slimy other man, but I still didn't believe in the suitability of the H/h pair, and couldn't imagine how the heroine would function as duchess.
I did enjoy the Greenwood story, and not just because the heroine was named Claire! There was a much more believable buildup between Claire and Rowan, and more time spent developing their relationship. I'll have to check out this author's other works.
I did enjoy the Greenwood story, and not just because the heroine was named Claire! There was a much more believable buildup between Claire and Rowan, and more time spent developing their relationship. I'll have to check out this author's other works.
March 5, 2017
I'm looking forward to reading more by these authors
Interesting stories and characters. Love the length of the stories just right leaves you wishing for more. I wish,I,could spend more time in this country village.
Interesting stories and characters. Love the length of the stories just right leaves you wishing for more. I wish,I,could spend more time in this country village.
March 4, 2017
I like to read anthologies to get an idea of a new author without having to invest in the whole book. I wish this had been a full length book by Grace Burrowes, since her story seemed to have more depth and better characters than the other stories.
February 23, 2017
This is a nice anthology of novellas. I liked how the stories tied into each other a bit, the hero of each novella was friends with the other heroes, and their stories intertwined a bit. I liked the first story the best, probably because it was by the author I am familiar with, the reason I bought this book. However, I liked all of the stories. I'm looking forward to their next foray, Duchesses in Disguise. I think this is a good pick for fans of Grace Burrowes.
March 23, 2016
Grace Burrowes is an auto-buy for me, even when it's an anthology....and the price was right!
Three dukes -- three friends -- one accidentally injured in a duel, decide to retreat incognito from London to the countryside to escape the scandal and wait for the wound to heal. Each of the novellas tells the story of one of the dukes, and how they find love in the most unlikely of places.
Connor, Duke of Mowne, will stay with his Mother's friend, Jules St. Bellan, only to find that Jules is, in fact, an impoverished widow, Julianna, who's desperately trying to keep her little family together.
Despite being distantly related to the wealthy Duke of Lucere, Estella Primrose and her sisters are clinging hard to respectability, but have been reduced to taking in boarders to make ends meet. Lucere, erroneously believing the ladies to be light-skirts, decides to have one last fling before proposing to the woman he's never met, but who his family wants him to marry.
Rowan, Duke of Starlingham, arrives at his nearby hunting box to find Claire Beckett claiming to be a distant cousin. While he knows she's lying, he's drawn to Claire -- she's direct and doesn't care if her refusals offend him. Can he persuade her to give him a chance, once he reveals his real identity?
There's not much to any of the stories -- there's just not enough time to really flesh out the characters, and the plots are similarly constrained. Of the three, Lucere's story is the weakest -- I found Lucere to be kind of a jerk, and Estella annoying. However, what stood out in my mind were the stupidly juvenile expressions used in place of the real words for men's genitals: "'Wasn't she stunning?' he told Harris. 'I felt it all the way down to my...love apparatus.'" And the absolute biggest howler..."His shirt clung to his chest, as did his pantaloons to his love pipe." WTF!!
So 3 stars.
Three dukes -- three friends -- one accidentally injured in a duel, decide to retreat incognito from London to the countryside to escape the scandal and wait for the wound to heal. Each of the novellas tells the story of one of the dukes, and how they find love in the most unlikely of places.
Connor, Duke of Mowne, will stay with his Mother's friend, Jules St. Bellan, only to find that Jules is, in fact, an impoverished widow, Julianna, who's desperately trying to keep her little family together.
Despite being distantly related to the wealthy Duke of Lucere, Estella Primrose and her sisters are clinging hard to respectability, but have been reduced to taking in boarders to make ends meet. Lucere, erroneously believing the ladies to be light-skirts, decides to have one last fling before proposing to the woman he's never met, but who his family wants him to marry.
Rowan, Duke of Starlingham, arrives at his nearby hunting box to find Claire Beckett claiming to be a distant cousin. While he knows she's lying, he's drawn to Claire -- she's direct and doesn't care if her refusals offend him. Can he persuade her to give him a chance, once he reveals his real identity?
There's not much to any of the stories -- there's just not enough time to really flesh out the characters, and the plots are similarly constrained. Of the three, Lucere's story is the weakest -- I found Lucere to be kind of a jerk, and Estella annoying. However, what stood out in my mind were the stupidly juvenile expressions used in place of the real words for men's genitals: "'Wasn't she stunning?' he told Harris. 'I felt it all the way down to my...love apparatus.'" And the absolute biggest howler..."His shirt clung to his chest, as did his pantaloons to his love pipe." WTF!!
So 3 stars.
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