Un duce ca nimeni altul

Playful Brides #9

by Valerie Bowman, Elena Arhire (translator)

SERIA ”MIRESE NEASTÂMPĂRATE”

Generalul Mark Grimaldi este devotat carierei sale și misiunilor în slujba Coroanei, punându-i, nu o dată, viața în pericol și renunțând la tot - inclusiv la familie și iubire - de dragul carierei. Acum însă are șansa să se bucure de sprijinul necesar pentru a obține promovarea politică în funcția de ministru de externe, la care a visat dintoteauna - însă, pentru asta trebuie să își convingă soția înstrăinată de aproape un deceniu să renunțe la Franța și să revină în Anglia, pentru a juca rolul soției grijulii și iubitoare, ajutându-l astfel să obțină poziția mult râvnită.

Nicole Huntington Grimaldi și-a petrecut ultimii zece ani în Franța, fără să-și fi văzut soțul în tot acest timp. Însă, din senin, se trezește cu Mark în pragul castelului ei din Franța, cerându-i să revină cu el în Anglia. Nicole vede în cererea lui ocazia perfectă de a obține de la el ceva ce își dorește cu disperare. Așadar, acceptă, cu o condiție: vrea ca el să îi ofere un copil, pe care ea își asumă responsabilitatea de a-l crește fără ajutorul lui.

Regăsirea după atâția ani și cererea cu totul neașteptată a lui Nicole îi fac pe cei doi să descopere că, uneori, focul iubirii nu poate fi stins nici de timp, nici de distanță, iar șansa la fericire poate veni la a doua încercare.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Second Chance, Regency, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance

266 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

Valerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance.

Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.

Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 A failure to communicate Stars



A Duke Like No Other was my first time reading Valerie Bowman. Although I enjoyed this book, there were a few things that didn't work for me. I love second chance love stories, but the reason for the separation has to be a good one for it to work for me. In A Duke Like No Other I didn't feel the reason the hero and heroine parted ways was a good one. Especially when it caused them to be apart for 10 long years.



I liked both Nicole and Mark, but I felt they both were very childish in the way they didn't talk about their problems at all. They let a little misunderstanding keep them apart for 10 YEARS! Then even when they made a deal to reunite they didn't work out their problems. I felt their resolution was rushed and took to long to get it. I felt the problems in their marriage were glossed over with hot sex and working on a murder case. Overall the book was cute and I enjoyed it but it wasn't as good as it could have been. Will I read more books by Valerie Bowman? Yes I will.

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️]

In the mood for a good ole historical.
Hoping for some bodice-ripping.

[Jultri · Rating 3 out of 5]

General Mark Grimaldi is ambitious and shooting for the position of Home Secretary after years of serving his country during the Napoleon War and afterwards working for the Home Office. However, the preference is for the incoming Home Secretary to be a settled, married man. How convenient then, that Mark just so happens to be one. What is less convenient is that he has not set eyes on his wife for 10 years and in fact, she is not even on English soil.



Nicole left her husband and country behind 10 years ago to live a relatively quiet existence in France. She never expected Mark to show up and certainly not to ask a favour from her. In exchange for playing happy, docile wife by his side for a while, Nicole wants something from him in return - a child.




I do like this trope of estranged married couple, however, this one didn't quite live up to its promise. Firstly, about a good chunk of the book was devoted to solving a murder case with half of the remaining time spent in the past, uncovering the genesis of their romance and the backstory of their estrangement. That really didn't leave much time for the characters to reconnect on an emotional level, what with a couple of enthusiastic reunion sex scenes thrown in there to take up page space. The writing got a bit repetitive at times. Additionally, there is also a fair few anachronistic word choices and terms thrown in there. Case in point, Mark saying:"I'm not a complete Neanderthal." (The book is set in 1818. Neanderthal fossils were not found until 1856, the name not formally used to describe the species until about a decade later and not in common usage until after the turn of the next century.)

Overall, it was a quick read to pass time, but not memorable. This is an ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you Joanna (and Bubu by extension) for the instructions on how to insert GIFs. Yay, you can teach an old dog new tricks after all!

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rarely do I enjoy both the romance and the thrown-in filler mystery angle as I did with this book.
3.5*

The h/H are a long-estranged married couple. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and a quick marriage that turned sour within months, because of mus and they have been separated for 10 years. He's risen through the ranks, from corporal to a general (in the present), while she comes from an aristocratic family and after their break-up has lived in France. He was always very ambitious and wished to prove himself. Now, he needs her to show support as his wife because he wants to become home secretary (or something) and his political masters want a family man. She agrees with one condition - she wants a baby.
She accompanies him back to London where murder and intrigue (family and otherwise) overtake the romance.

What I liked-
The books begins strong with the estranged and long separated h/H rubbing off passionate sparks off each other from the word go. The love-hate angle is always a suck-in.
After the initial bickering/sniping, they settle quickly into being supportive and companionable if not completely without doubts.
The mystery and family angle is actually good and I did not mind it overshadowing the romance.
The h/H past romance is exceptionally sweet and romantic, and I believe in them as a couple.

What I am not so sure about -
The past through flashbacks is good for a while but the continuing interspersal got bugging after a while.
This is fiction but few things need suspension of disbelief. Like regarding their careers - the way the H rises through the ranks to be a general and more; the aristocratic h's 'career' as an unofficial bow street runner who runs after thieves to catch them; and her being offered a job by the War Office, as a spy in France just as her marriage ends and so a convenient escape. And then she lives alone and safe in France for 10 years, and through the war?
The anachronisms don't end there with events but also with words - 'neanderthal' is mentioned a few decades before the actual discovery of their skeleton!
The actual MU was too silly and shallow to loom so long and hard on their marriage. And for all their avowals of love, neither makes an effort for a decade? They don't even meet by chance. I like the mutual celibacy but their 'love' demands more from them.
The last part, with the resurrected doubts and the easy letting go, is frustrating. I would think the H, with his strong convictions and clarity would not allow the h to leave again. It took something away from their supposedly strong connection and I felt let down (even more than the h).
His obsession and chip on shoulder regarding his family connections is taken a bit too ott. As his final capitulation underlines it. 'Mark stood there, dumbfounded. Could he really do more good as an aristocrat? The role he’d rejected his entire life. Damn.'

Overall I enjoyed the story despite the irritants.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Sometimes life calls upon us to be the things we never thought we were meant to be."

My first Valerie Bowman book, and certainly not my least. Seems I missed out on some pretty fun (if slightly far-fetched if the other books are all like this) stories here! I really liked the writing, it was so easy to keep turning the pages, even if I did roll my eyes quite a bit here and there.

The premise of this was what initially made me request this title: a grumpy spymaster who, in order to get the promotion he wants to become Home Secretary, has to retrieve his long-estranged wife from France and pretend to be a family man, only to realize that the feelings he thought he had long since buried have actually never gone away? A woman who is determined to make the best out of a shitty situation to get what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it? A man who is dead set against reuniting with a ducal family who cut off his mother after she married a lowly Mister only to find himself entangled in a whole lot of family drama, including the murder of the heir? Sign me up!

I actually liked the first half of the story. I liked both Nicole and Mark, I thought they were a really good match, both headstrong and impulsive, neither letting the other, as Nicole out it, "run roughshod" over the other. It was nice. There could've been a whole lot more bitterness between them, and I liked that they accepted their past.

But there were some things I didn't like:
- The murder investigation, in my opinion, overshadowed the reconciliation. And, the reveal of the killer made me roll my eyes. Hard...
- The spy stuff. You have to suspend your belief quite a bit here. Nicole, a wealthy aristocrat, got bored during her first season and started going after criminals whom she then presented to Bow Street. They were so impressed with her, they let her work for them. After her marriage and subsequent move to France, she works for the French police too. Need I say more?
- The frequent misunderstandings. You see, both Mark and Nicole have a tendency to throw in the towel at the first sign of trouble and run away. And, I have to say, for a supposedly clever man, Mark could be really really stupid at times. Just saying. Anyways. So, after a whirlwind romance the unlikely pair (she is a member of the ton, while he is just a Mister) got married. Their first fight after a few weeks of bliss? Mark learns that Nicole knew all along (because someone else told her) that he is related to a Duke. He feels betrayed, thinks she only married him because she wanted a title, they refuse to talk, she runs off to France. Later, after they spend some time with each other, solve the murder, and everything, Nicole overhears something Mark says to his uncle, lies to him because she thinks he wants to get rid of her again now that he has gotten his promotion, and runs back to France without talking to him. Call me crazy, but that sort of pattern doesn't really make me believe in their happily ever after.

But even despite all that, I really did enjoy this book!

Safety warnings for those who care regarding their separation:
Both hero and heroine are celibate during their 10-year separation!

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.5 STARS***

Series: Playful Brides #9
Publication Date: 5/1/18

I was so excited and looking forward to reading this book because it sounded like it would be something unique. I really liked the story, but I am all over the place on what my rating should be. This is another of those books where the story is good, but it is filled with modernism and the story just doesn’t fit with the time period. The writer writes excellently, it is just that either the research or the editing, etc. is missing something. So – if you actually like your historical romances to fit into the time period into which the book is set – this one won’t meet your standards. I’m also not a big fan of flashbacks and this book is filled with them. My eyes nearly rolled out of my head with me doing so many eye rolls because of the anachronistic words, phrases, actions, etc. in the book. Just a couple of instances of things: The author had Grimaldi being able to inherit because of a codicil in the will (unless they change that before it is published) – it would have been in the Royal Letters Patent raising the first Duke to that title - not a codicil in a will. A second thing is the Bow Street runners wearing red vests – they didn’t. The horse patrol wore those, but the runners didn’t. Just lots of stuff - like starched shirt fronts, constantly used the word 'sex' to refer to the act rather than the gender, guards at the gates coming into London, etc. Maybe this will all be fixed before publication and I’ll be wrong on all of this.

The main characters are two of the most stubborn, pigheaded, strong-willed, uncommunicative characters I’ve ever seen in a book. They spent ten years apart, each stewing in their own righteousness rather than actually having a conversation about what had happened, why it happened and what they could do to fix it. I don’t think the two of them had a whole and complete conversation in the entire book. I have a hard time warming up to people who supposedly love each other being so self-centered with each other. In this one, I tend to lay more of the blame on him than her, but they certainly both earned their fair share of the blame. They both have a tendency to throw a fit, give up on things and walk away rather than fight for them and make a stand. Annoying.

Major General Mark Grimaldi is a totally self-made man even though he is the grandson of a Duke (he went from a Corporal to a Major General who is a spymaster and he's only thirty-four years old – yes, eye roll). He claims no family ties with them and there are very, very few people who even know of the tie. His grandfather wouldn’t accept that Mark’s mother had married an Italian and he wanted her to leave Mark's father. It caused a big family rift and she broke with her entire family. Mark’s father (I believe he was a shoemaker – yep – eye roll time) made Mark promise not to use his mother’s family connections to advance himself in any way. So, Mark took that deathbed promise very, very, very seriously and wouldn’t acknowledge his mother’s family in any way. Not only wouldn’t he acknowledge them – he hated all of the aristocracy – yes – eye roll – a bit of overkill there I think.

Lady Nicole Huntington is the daughter of an Earl. During her first season, she was bored and decided she’d be a Bow Street Runner (sigh – eye roll). When they wouldn’t hire her, she decided she’d become an assistant to the runners and she set about chasing down thieves. She met Mark outside a ball at her grandmother’s home when she was chasing down a footman who had stolen a fork (or spoon) off the buffet table. Yes, she was about as foolhardy as you could be. Unaccompanied, she chased the thief outside the home and down the mews where he could easily have turned and attacked her – then, she spoke with a stranger she met in the alley – does all of that make her a TSTL heroine? Probably. Anyway – the stranger was Mark and a couple of months later they were married.

After a big row where he made assumptions and blamed her and she tucked tail and ran home to mama then she ended up in France for 10 years. Evidently, she was living in France during the war and was a spy for the English, then continued to live there after the wars ended.

I loved that there was a murder mystery to solve and would have loved it even more had the investigation started earlier and was more complex. Nicole was the one to solve the mystery while Mark, the spymaster, just looked incompetent asking inane questions and accepting evasive answers (yes, eye roll again). No – I don’t mind that she solved the mystery – I would just have liked them to work together and need each other more rather than making her the hero and him the zero.

You probably think I didn’t like the book. That isn’t the case. I liked the story or more to the point, I think I liked the possibility of the story. I just didn’t like that it was basically a contemporary novel with horses and carriages rather than cars – instead of living up to its potential and being a really good Regency romance.

I would recommend this book because the story is good and it is well written, but you will need to be able to suspend your disbelief and overlook the anachronisms.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

[Stacee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this synopsis and couldn’t wait to get started on this one.

Nicole and Mark are great MCs. She’s sassy and strong and he’s stubborn and charming. Together they know how to push each other’s buttons and do it frequently. Their beginning banter and strategizing was fantastic. There is a fairly large cast of characters and I wonder if some of them were from other books. I especially loved Regina.

Plot wise, it was okay. I enjoyed the murder mystery plot line, but I was mostly irritated at the ongoing lack of communication. If Nicole and Mark had literally one conversation, the story could have taken an entirely different turn. Instead it was flashbacks of the beginning of their relationship {which I liked} and the rest of their time together was spent in bed {which made sense for the story} or each wondering how the other felt {which was horribly repetitive.}

Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read with characters I really liked. Unfortunately, I wanted more talking and understanding and something more at the end.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s paperbacks for providing the arc free of charge**

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Duke Like No Other was an absolute delight from start to finish with amazing characters and a wonderful romance.

With the promotion General Mark Grimaldi has been working towards his entire life finally within reach, he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Even if that means he must go to France and convince his estranged wife to return to England and play the happy bride for a few months. What Mark didn't count on though was Nicole having conditions of her own. Nicole Huntington Grimaldi has built a good life for herself in France during the last ten years but is willing to play along with Mark's schemes if he'll give her the one thing she's been missing out on; a baby.

Nicole has always had interests that lay outside of what was expected of her as a young lady but she never let that stop her from pursuing what she was passionate about. Nicole's work with the Bow Street Runners was very unique for a heroine and I loved watching her analyze situations and conducting investigations. Despite carving out a good life for herself in France, Nicole is lonely and longs to have someone who accepts her for who she is.

Mark has dedicated his life to his country and has spent his entire adult life working his way up the ranks towards becoming Home Secretary. Mark is understandably frustrated that the position he has worked for is in jeopardy due to the man in charge preferring a family man get the job. Mark has distanced himself from his family and after learning about his early life, I found that to be reasonable. Mark dislikes the aristocracy due to his mother's family's treatment of them when he was young.

Nicole and Mark's relationship at the start of the book is quite rocky which I guess was to be expected as they were separated for ten years. Throughout the book we get flashbacks to when Nicole and Mark first met and got married. I enjoyed these little snippets of their early life together and seeing how much they both grew as individuals. In the present both Nicole and Mark are still wary of one another and not willing to fully trust each other. One area though that they do not have problems is in the bedroom. Nicole and Mark have amazing chemistry and their physical scenes are quite steamy and very well done. The only aspect of their relationship that lacked a bit for me was communication between the two. While I understand why they don't open up with each other, it did get frustrating at times.

While A Duke Like No Other mainly focuses on the relationship between the two main characters, there was an intriguing side plot about the murder of Mark's cousin who was heir to a duke. Mark is tasked with investigating his death wherein he is paired with a man from the Bow Street Runners who had worked with Nicole in the past. The investigation was really interesting with several clever twists thrown in and I enjoyed how it concluded. I really liked that Nicole was running a parallel investigation with Mark's cousin Regina and that they were the ones to break the case.

A Duke Like No Other was a really fun read and I plan to read more of the books in this series in the future. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for new historical romance books to pick up.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[♥ WishfulMiss ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark is finally going to get everything he set out to acheive when he joined the military. Without using his family name and connections he's proven himself on his own merit. Now the only thing standing in his way is his estranged wife. His superiors think a settled man would be the best fit so Mark heads to France on the off chance his wife will help him.

Nicole hasn't seen her husband in ten years and as much as she would like to slam the door on his face for abandoning her for all these years, it's not every day that Mark comes to her for a favor. If she agrees to return to London and play the loving and supportive wife for him, he'll return the favor. And there's only one thing Nicole wants more than distance from her husband. A legitamate child.

It's been a while since I've read historical romance but I was feeling a need for a change and I'm glad I read this one to get me back into this genre. The characters were fun and likable. Mark was a stickler for the rules and Nicole was free spirited and head strong but together they sparked right off the pages. I really liked them even when they were trying to keep to their agreement and emotionally keeping a distance and even when they were trying to one up each other, there was no denying their chemistry. The murder mystery was engaging and kept the story moving, the side characters were funny and the romance was so sweet. These two never stopped loving each other and I loved the fact that the author kept both MCs faithful even when they were convinced their marriage was over before it really even had a chance to start. They still held hope that things would work out between them deep down inside and I found that adorable. It was easy to root for them and I loved their HEA.

Memorable Moment:
Finding out that Mark remained celibate for 10 years was jaw dropping. Like, that NEVER happens in romance, especially in historical romances that have the MCs separated for such a long perior of time.

Would I recommend?
I loved it, it was fun and the MCs were just meant to be :)

* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * ***
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

SAFETY INFO:
Ages: Mark is 34 and Nicole is 30.
Cheating: None.
OM/OW drama: None.
Separation: They've been separated for 10 years. Both remained celibate during their separation.
Push/Pull They both have their own interpretation of what caused the rift between them so they both distrusted the other in the beginning.
Main Pursuer of relationship: Nicole pursues him for her own end but Mark turns the tables on her and ends up pursuing her for their HEA.
Triggers: None.
HEA/HFN: Ends on a HEA a few months later with a baby on the way.

[Roxana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

I liked it. A fast-paced book with short chapters and dynamic action, exactly the kind of read I enjoy.
The story started off strong, with Mark showing up in France after 10 years, asking Nicole to come back to London and Nicole, in turn, wanting something in return before saying yes.
Eventually, they come to an understanding and leave together.
Along the way, they revisit their past love and those three intense months of marriage, beautifully written and full of passion.
But in the present... half the book feels stuck in the past, and then comes Mark's sudden family issue, which seems like just another excuse to keep his distance.
Maybe it's fear, maybe lingering desire, maybe the anger and lies that once tore them apart or maybe all of it, but they do start to get a little frustrating.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

General Mark Grimaldi is the grandson of a Duke, but his mother was disowned for marrying an Italian Catholic and so he has always had a dislike of the aristocracy. He married Nicole Huntington 10 years ago, thinking she was an aristocrat who loved him as the poor soldier he was then. Unfortunately three months into the marriage he discovered that she already knew of his aristocratic family, added to which she was secretly spying for the Bow Street Runners behind his back. Words were spoken in anger and Nicole fled to France where she has been a spy ever since. Now Mark is hoping for promotion to Home Secretary but his boss wants to appoint a family man, so Mark has travelled to France to see if he can persuade Nicole to return to England until he gets his promotion.

I found this book a bit misleading, the blurb led me to believe this was an couple, estranged as a result of a misunderstanding, reconnecting to enable the husband to get a prestigious promotion and falling in love. Whilst it was, it was not the main plot, which revolved around solving a murder. So this was kind of a murder sandwich ie romance-murder-romance. And to be honest, both felt a little halfhearted, there wasn't enough romance AND there wasn't enough detective work. I also noted a few word choices that seemed out of place in an historical novel, talking about "giving a toss" about someone and "fancying" someone seem too modern.

I thought that Mark's excuse for getting upset with Nicole seemed flimsy and for a supposedly clever man he was remarkably stupid about his family and his wife. Nicole on the other hand seemed to default to running away at the slightest excuse.

Overall, it was a pleasant enough read but it didn't wow me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.

[Valerie Bowman]

I love reunited lovers. Sigh.

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my humble opinion, this is a well written, historical romance; where the characters are well-honed and the reader can have a connection with them. This story takes place following the Napoleonic war.
Our hero, Mark Grimaldi, is a British general and on the short-list of candidates for the Head of the Home Office; now that the fighting is over. Mark ran a spy network for Britain during the war. There is a small caveat for the Head of the Home office; they prefer a family man or at least a man that is “settled”. Lady Nicole Huntington is not your average woman of the ton; she prefers a good investigative mystery to solve than the usual “missish” activities of other girls her age. This trait is one that draws Mark to Nicole; even though he is only a military man and she a member of the aristocrats. Their's is not an easy match as Mark has a bit of “baggage” he carries with him.
I liked that this story has a little bit of a mystery thrown into all the drama with the main characters and the sub-characters.
I received an uncorrected digital galley proof from the publisher for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - Reviewed for Wit and Sin

General Mark Grimaldi, spymaster extraordinaire, has worked his way up the ranks and is now on the cusp of obtaining the promotion he has dedicated his life to achieving. There’s just one problem: his superiors want Britain’s new Home Secretary to be a family man. Given Mark’s many connections, securing a wife wouldn’t be a problem…if only he weren’t already married. It’s been ten years since his wife left him and by all accounts she’s been happily living in France. In order to convince her to come back to England and play the part of loving wife, he’ll have to give her something in return. But the bargain these two strike is more dangerous than either could know. For close quarters have a tendency to bring feelings long-buried to the surface, and neither of them wants to admit that perhaps the fairytale picture they’re painting for others is something they want to be real. Can two people used to guarding their secrets closely take a risk and open their hearts for a shot at happily ever after?

I adore a good reunion romance and A Duke Like No Other is an utterly delightful one! Valerie Bowman has a bright, effervescent writing style that never fails to charm me and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Mark and Nicole’s story.

Mark and Nicole’s whirlwind courtship and marriage crashed and burned within months after secrets came to light and old wounds tore them apart. Nearly ten years later they have both changed, but one thing remains the same: the pull between them cannot be denied. I loved the sparks that flew between Mark and Nicole from the very start. It’s clear they’re utterly perfect for one another and their back-and-forths had me grinning more than once. They’re not just smart, they’re clever, and it was so much fun to watch them dance around the attraction simmering just beneath the surface. That being said, they don’t simply fall back into one another’s arms and I enjoyed that too. They were young when they married and I liked that they got to know one another again, to build that solid foundation they didn’t have in the beginning. It isn’t easy for them to get to the “happily ever after” point. Mark has definite issues with the aristocracy due to his upbringing and family history. His feelings tend to color his judgement and it leads him to make mistakes with Nicole. And after having her heart broken once, Nicole is terrified of opening it up again, which contributes to their communication problems. But every bump in the road is worth it in the end and I was rooting for these two to make it.

The romance in A Duke Like No Other was fantastic but it’d be remiss of me not to mention the subplot involving the unexpected death of an aristocrat with close ties to Mark. I enjoy a good murder mystery and I had a great time putting together the pieces of the puzzle alongside Mark and Nicole. Mark’s career as a spy has been well-established over the course of the Playful Brides series (and his investigative skills are clear even if you’re new to the books), but this is the first time you see Nicole’s talent as an investigator. Watching them and their allies interview suspects was fun and the quest to unmask the killer added to the story without taking the focus off of Nicole and Mark. I do feel it important to note that some readers might have an issue with believability in regards to Nicole’s career that began with the Bow Street Runners and grew since then. There are certain aspects of the story that require suspension of disbelief and there are also some more modern attitudes in this book than one might expect to find in a historical romance. This didn’t bother me because Ms. Bowman’s writing style is so breezy that I was happy to go along for the ride and shrug off things that might bother me in another book, but that may not be true if you’re looking for more historical accuracy in your historical romance. Still, if you want a spirited romance with a cozy mystery on the side, you’re sure to enjoy A Duke Like No Other .


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Carvanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark has dedicated his life to his work. First as a soldier, a spy, and now it his goal to become the Home Secretary. It’s all within his grasp until he’s informed he won’t be considered without proving he’s a family man and must present a wife. That’s going to be tricky because Mark already has a wife and they’ve been separated for ten years.

Nicole is wild and free. She is not one to settle into what society dictates. For years she has lived her life in France where she is able to live the life she enjoys. However, she waits each day for the letter that will inform her that her husband has been killed while in service to his country. When he suddenly appears at her doorstep, her emotions are all over the place.

I loved this second chance story of a couple that have obstacles to overcome. There was just a tiny bit of misunderstanding that started the rift between them, but at the heart of it is a true separation of trust, beliefs, and wants. Perhaps a long honest conversation might have helped at the time but the fact that Mark was set in his belief of her position could not be ignored. Now, years later with more maturity and the opportunity to truly see one another, they may be able to heal what is broken between them.

Mark had every reason to feel the way he did but I personally thought he was a bit boneheaded. Nicole could have fought harder for him and what they had but she fled instead. Nevertheless, when you take those two decisions away, this story is quite charming with a bit of angst. I enjoyed reading how they reunited, placed conditions on each other, and came together for a common cause.

This is a really enjoyable book and I’d love to read about some of the secondary characters as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama; both celibate throughout separation
Triggers no apparent triggers

[Sara Reads (mostly) Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf A third of the way through and I must reiterate that I hate books where the most major plot line is just two people refusing to talk to each other. Basically mark hated Nicole, but no one is explaining WHY. I am a third of the way through the book and still don’t know why he hates her. These kinds of plots are lazy and ridiculous. Instead of doing a slow build up romance, the author keeps readers by making a stupid part of the plot a mystery. I hate it when books do this. Literally this book had SO much potential and the author is a great writer, but it’s literally a missed opportunity. I love spouses that fall in love after marriage stories, but this one so far is written in a way that makes me hate them
Mark is also so fucking immature. Like this 34 year old man behaves like he’s a 19 y/o kylo ren. Please get over yourself

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

London, July 1818

General Mark "Grim" Grimaldi dedicated his life to his work, defending his country. He's more than ready for the post of Home Secretary. But there's a catch : the man running the Home Office wants a family man for the job. The trouble with that ? Mark is already married... and his wife has been in France for the past ten years. They let their pride get in the way and were both too stubborn to say what was in their heart. Can he convince his estranged wife to come back and play the loving spouse for a few months, until he get the position ? Nicole is ready to accept the proposition, but she have her own condition : she wants a baby. There's also a mystery to solve and a surprising revelation waiting for our hero.

The estranged spouses trope can be a hit or miss for me. While I'll be the first to admit that the reason behind their break-up was foolish and I wish for a little more courtship and seduction, I had a really great time reading this book. It was my first time reading this author and even if I began the series with book 9, it can be read as a standalone no problem at all. I wished I knew at the beginning what happened to make them separated (because I don't like wondering and speculating and I always wary for the worst). But I'm so happy that I got to see flash-back of their first meeting, first kiss and an overview of their three months of marriage. Both MC were lovable and strong character. She's clever, independent, direct and a wild spirit who's got some secrets and unusual pastime. He's hard-working, determined and a man of honor. But more than anything, what I liked about Mark was his attention to details, the little gestures and attention he had toward the heroine. The mystery brought something different to the trope, but I also think it might have eclipsed the romance a little bit, but the few twists and the good pace made me want to read the next book and look for the previous ones too.

[Tanya Sridhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 Stars.

Read half of this on the plane and then finished the rest at night. In a way a good vacation read, It didn't require me to think too much. The story is pretty easy to follow, but the general lack of communication is why I am not giving this a higher rating.

If I'd read this at home, I do not think I would have been able to finish it for sure.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the first to admit that you really have to suspend disbelief about a lot of this plot. However, it's a fun, engaging story with a very likeable hero and heroine.

The aforementioned hero is General Mark Grimaldi. He's an accomplished spy who's served his country admirably for years. Now his dream promotion to Home Secretary, head of the Home Office, is within his reach. He also has an ingrained hatred of the British aristocracy despite (well actually, because of) his own familial ties to them.

In order to cinch his promotion, Mark needs to demonstrate that he's a settled family man. The irony is that he's been married for 10 years, but he and his wife have been apart most of that time. So, off he goes to France to beg a favor from his wife: return to England with him and pretend to be a loving spouse.

Madame Nicole Grimaldi is not the usual society wife, and she certainly wasn't the usual debutante when she first came out in society and met Mark. She's an adrenaline junkie - still loves racing her horse wearing men's breeches. She managed to talk her way into a position as assistant to the Bow Street Runners and then moved to France to work as a British spy when her 3-month-old marriage fell apart. Now she has her own wish for the future that only her husband can grant.

We're treated to the couple's adversarial banter from the moment they reunite. We're also privy to their insecurities behind all the blustering and posturing. It's obvious to the reader early on that these two are perfect for each other; it's only pride that keeps them apart. The reasons they split have everything to do with pride and stubbornness, too. Their history together is revealed ever-so-slowly in patchwork fashion via flashbacks.

One problem they DON'T have is sexual chemistry. It takes longer than is probably logical for the two to finally get it on, but that serves to build up anticipation for the reader as much as the characters. We're eventually treated to some very well-written, steamy bedroom scenes.

It's not long after they return to London together that the story becomes a drawing room mystery, as Mark's cousin is murdered. Mark is still obsessed about keeping his relationship to the deceased a secret even while he heads the investigation into the murder. Nicole also investigates, assisted by the eager Lady Regina (another of Mark's cousins). The culprit isn't one that's apparent to the reader and is cleverly exposed.

The story's lack of believability would bother me if the tone of the writing wasn't so light and playful. I enjoy the main characters despite their obvious stupidity when it came to each other. Once we get the flashback describing Mark's childhood memory of his mother's father, we finally understand why that family- and, by extension, the entire upper class- is such a hot button for him. He makes the perfect stoic "stone man" hero. And Nicole has that clever, grown-up tomboy thing going for her.

Bottom line here is the writing flowed well with a nice turning point, the storyline itself kept my interest, and I cared about the characters. What's not to like?

Received an ARC from netgalley. Opinions are my own.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

*May Contain Spoilers*

A Duke Like No Other is the ninth book in the "Playful Brides" series and I have had such a fun time reading this series. I haven't read all the books yet, but the ones I have read have been so much. This series takes on some twists dealing with mystery, intrigue and solving crimes while finding love along the journey. The voice in Valerie Bowman's books is simply wonderful and unforgettable. I always get a kick out of her characters and A Duke Like No Other was no different. What I was really impressed with is how the author handled a certain scenario that most of the time bugs the hell out of me, but for some reason it didn't both me. Probably because you find yourself falling in love with the characters before you realize what drove them apart in the first place.

The story does begin in the present with our hero General Mark Grimaldi, is up for promotion he has been working hard to have his dream realized in a position that very few obtain, where he could really make a difference and have the ear of the King. But his boss needs something from him, wants to see Mark settled happily with his wife. Mark and his wife have been estranged for ten years, with Nicole living in France all of this time. And now he must convince her to come back with him to England to playful the loving wife. When Mark goes in search forNicole, she has a stipulation of her own. At first he assumes she wants a divorce, but no, Nicole is lonely and wants a child. And the only way she could have one legitmately without scandal, would be to have a child with her estranged husband. So they agree, and Nicole goes back to England with Mark.

But when they arrive, terrible news puts a hold on both of their plans. Mark's cousin has died from a heart attack with suspicions of poison. And when his uncle whose health is getting worse, tells him that he is next in line...Mark is shocked. He promised his father he would never get anywhere in life with his mother's side of the family's help and that includes him becoming the next duke, a title he never wanted or desired. He is more than happy to leave it to some other family member or relation, but when he is given a letter from both his grandfather and his mother, he can't deny his feelings toward his mother or the duty he feels in fulfilling a request she asks of him.

Both Mark and Nicole go to the country house, with all the parties invited who were there the night Mark's cousin "John" was murdered, to discover the culprit.  But there is more going on than meets the eye, and they will need to discover who would really want John dead and it won't be anyone that they would expect. Mark and Nicole have many unresolved issues to put to rest before they can be together for good, will honesty and trust be the key to bringing them back together or will the secrets of the past drive them even further apart....

I feel as if I'll never get enough of the taste of you, the feel of you, the beating of your heart...

I had such a fun time with this book despite the flashbacks that we see. I am not always a big fan of flashbacks, sometimes they are nice, but other time I just don't have that much preference for them. This book we see quite a few flashbacks and you understand it but at the same time you have a urge to skip ahead to the present day which I tend to have the urge whenever I read a book with flashbacks. (I know I am weird LOL ) But this story really appealed to me. I have found I really like Valerie Bowman's writing voice, I have such a fun time every time I enter into one of her books.

I can't live without you, I don't want to. You're a diamond in a sea of rocks.

Both the characters are written so well in this novel, I adored both Mark and Nicole. Now our heroine, is very unique. She hunts down criminals and brings them to justice working with the Bow Street Runners...yep you heard me---she solves crimes and its pretty awesome. I love how bold and daring she is. But she also is spirited and has a generous heart. Both Mark and Nicole have that in common....justice and doing what is right. I adored seeing the small intimate moments we see admidst the crime solving venture that is going on with them. We learn what drove them apart in the first place and it all boils down to honesty....if they had been honest ten years previous...well they wouldn't have been estranged. However both Mark and Nicole learn some painful lessons about relationships and marriage and they did learn it thankfully even if it was hard won.

Overall I found this book to be a delightful addition to such a fun series....its a story that will take you on adventures, packed with endearing characters and a love story you can get on board with.....ENTICING!!









[foogallery id="46073"]

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chance stories are not my favorite, but I really appreciated that neither the hero nor the heroine had sex with anyone else during their 10-year marriage estrangement.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this installment of the Playful Brides series.

General Mark Grimaldi wants nothing more than to be Home Secretary and it appears that he is a shoe in for the position, but there might be a snag - Lord Tottenham, the man making the decision wants a family man for the position. Good thing Mark has a wife - he just needs to go to France and convince her to come back to England and play at being his loving wife until he gets his promotion.

Lady Nicole Grimaldi has been in France for the last ten years, ever since her marriage fell apart. Now Mark is here asking her to return and help him. She will, but she wants something in return - a baby.

They come to an agreement and return to England. But the first night back, Mark is summoned to his uncle's home. His uncle is the Duke of Colchester, a connection that Mark keeps hidden, a connection that ruined his marriage. He and Nicole arrive and learn that John, the Marquess of Coleford, the duke's son is dead and Mark is the new heir. Mark refuses to accept this - he says he will renounce the title, but he agrees to look into John's death.

He soon learns that John was murdered and with the help of Daffin Oakleaf, Bow Street Runner (and former colleague of Nicole's) he sets out to find the murderer. They form a plan and set out for the duke's country estate. While they are there, Nicole and Mark finally get to work on her condition.

Mark and Oakleaf interview the suspects and narrow down the list down to a couple of names, but it is Nicole and his cousin Lady Regina who break the case!

Nicole and Mark have gotten along and she is falling in love again, but they never address the past and when she overhears Mark speaking to his uncle, she knows she will have to leave.

This is a fast paced story, it is not perfect, but it is very entertaining. If you love reunited / second chance romance stories and are willing to overlook historical errors - this is the book for you. The author utilizes flashbacks to give the reader the backstory of Mark and Nicole, but they are very well done and blend seamlessly into the story, much to my surprise and delight (I am not a flashback fan), the love scenes are steamy, the mystery is good, the secondary characters are wonderful and the ending is sigh worthy.

This is the ninth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. I would happily recommend this book, but if you are stickler for accuracy, you might have some issues with this book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

[Maida · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Duke Like No Other was an easy read for me. This was my reward book for every chapter I finished while copy-editing my WIP. I enjoyed the early chapters' setting of France and the sparks that flew between Mark and Nicole. I appreciate the twist of them being already married and having to stay together for the sake of Mark's career. I loved that Nicole gives as good as she gets and doesn't let Mark get the upper hand. Valerie took pains in establishing that husband and wife are equal in terms of physical beauty as well as intellect.
For all of Mark's vaunted arrogance, he is truly in love with his wife and acceded to her conditions and delays. I just had to suspend my disbelief that he remained celibate for all of the ten years that they were separated, but I liked him as a hero.
I also like Nicole as a heroine. She's intrepid and clever. Again, a couple of eyebrow-raising plotlines regarding her work as a Bow Street Runner, but nothing too impossible that I couldn't just chalk up to artistic license.
I like that their coming together was almost slow-burn and when they did, whoah, it was hot.
I enjoyed the little mystery and the resolution of it as well as the secondary characters of the duke, Tottenham, Regina, Oakleaf, great-aunt Harriet (she's hilarious), among others.
The flashbacks worked for me too, although I was always imagining a piano tinkling when the narrative shifts to them.
Overall, a fun, light read. Four stars.
Note: SMP provided me an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Cee · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

It is good to know that I haven't truly burnt out on historical romances even though I binge read so many a few months ago. I'm still not interested in reading more, but I was still able to enjoy this one.

The story is something unique that I haven't seen before. The couple is already married, but have been separated for 10 years. They already fell in love, but now they fall back in love. It was such an interesting take. Yet, still had an enemies to lovers feel since there is a misunderstanding which lead to their negative feelings to one another.

I ended up liking both characters and enjoyed reading about their past together too. Nicole is a great investigator and is bold, interesting, while Mark is... well, I mean he does seem like your standard historical romance main character. They are both stubborn though and don't want to "lose" to one another which is what leads to their biggest problem...

The thing is I'm really tired of reading romance books and the biggest problem between the couple is the lack of communication and running away/making judgments at the first sign of a problem. So. Tired.
I understand that communication is a must for a relationship already! Give me something else!!
And for "spies" they both really take things at face value, don't they??

I did like the inclusion of the murder mystery. I liked to read something besides whatever was going on with the romance at the time. I had to suspend belief a bit with Mark's boss and the potential promotion --also the confession to the boss??? Like... really? Just felt so awkward and out of place.

Yet, I was going to give the book 4 stars, until I got to the ending. Ugh way to wrap it up but ignore like a huge thing. I hate miscommunication and misunderstandings, but when they aren't even brought up in the end to signify "hey, I'm sorry, maybe we should be more open?" I get so frustrated!
So, 3 stars.

I probably would recommend this to a historical romance fan, as long as they don't mind suspending belief on a few things. Emphasis on the romance part of fan, not so much historical.

[Jayasree B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Duke Like No Other is a second chance romance. It was a lovely read and was quickly devoured in a few hours. Like any second chance romance, there is the why and what for elements. The flashbacks and the happy endings are guaranteed. This is also my first Valerie Bowman book.

The writing is fast and easy, it was a perfect read for a weekend evening. The murder mystery will keep the reader engrossed and one does want to find the culprit. All things aside, it was a light and fun read. A Duke Like No Other is a part of the Playful Brides series, but it can also be read as a standalone.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

For the entire review, visit Frost At Midnite.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DUKE LIKE NO OTHER by Valerie Bowman is book Nine in the Playful Brides series. This is the story of General Mark Grimald and Nicole Huntington Grimaldi.
Mark might be the grandson of a Duke but he made himself what he is today. Working toward further goals he needs to reclaim his wife. Nicole left her husband shortly after the marriage due to misunderstanding and miscommunication on both parts. But now Mark is back looking to make everyone see their marriage as real. Nicole wants something from him...a baby.
Can these two get a second chance at finding love? Will their be another upset to this second chance?
Love Ms. Bowman writing and I enjoyed this book.

[Mary Gramlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love will always tear down the walls you build around your heart

Mark Grimaldi rose to the position of General without his family’s influence or a wife by his side. Now Mark wants to be the Secretary of the Home Office serving as the head spy to all other spies in England and in order to make that happen he must reconcile with is 10 years estranged wife, Nicole Huntington Grimaldi.

Nicole and Mark separated shortly after their wedding under very heated circumstances and yet after all these years of enjoying her freedom and life in France Mark shows up begging for a reconciliation on paper only. Mark must appear to be a happily, steady married man and only Nicole can accommodate that request. However, Nicole is willing to provide him a wife but she also has a request and one that shocks Mark to the tips of his toes. Nicole wishes to be a mother and the only legitimate way to make that happen is with Mark’s assistance which is readily agrees to but he wants the intimacy to have meaning not be a cold, distant coupling and Nicole fears if they do just that she will be back into the space where her love and obsession for Mark are returned. Nicole cares not for any title, or appointment Mark ever had she just loved him and now in order to have a baby that will be the love she desperately needs right now agreeing to Mark’s terms is a fact and her worst nightmare.

While Mark and Nicole spend days and nights together rekindling their friendship as well as their intimate relationship both are tested to see where they stand with each other when Mark’s cousin and next in line for duchy is murdered. Mark is now the heir apparent to a title and family he has refused to acknowledge his entire life, but they are here now and not going away so Mark does what he does best and finds the murdered. Nicole always had the knack for solving crime which is why the Bow Street Runners always relied on her abilities and Mark pulls her along for the crime solving part of their newly formed life and discovers that she is as smart as she is beautiful. With each night together they are both pulled into a dance neither forgot how to do, but fight to allow their love for one another to show. What has kept them apart can also draw them together and love will seal the deal of commitment.

Valerie Bowman shows readers how book after book a great writer can lay out a story, build characters, and pop the romance between the alpha male and female.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Grimaldi isn’t a duke. He’s not even the direct heir to a duke. He doesn’t want anything to do with his mother’s powerful family, determined to become Home Secretary on his own merits. Only problem is, his superiors want a family man for the position, and they’re suggesting Mark take a wife. Except… he’s already got one. He’ll just need to go and find her.

Nicole left England ten years ago for a quiet life in the French countryside, when it became clear her husband’s ambition far outstripped his affection for her. Now he’s come for her, and her loneliness prompts her to offer him a desperate bargain.

I quite like reunion romances, but this book did spend a lot of time teasing the reasons for their breakup, only to reveal eventually it was because they both concealed information from each other and Mark couldn’t get past it. Which, since Nicole was a teenager at the time, really made me think he was a bit of an ass. He expected too much of her, and never going after her was just ridiculous, frankly. Especially since, according to the timeline, she left to live in France in 1809 or so, slap bang in the middle of the Napoleonic Wars. An Englishwoman living peacefully in a country chateau in France in those years? Sorry, my suspension of disbelief doesn’t quite stretch that far.

That said, my suspension of disbelief had already ridden off laughing into the sunset when I was asked to believe that Mark had progressed from the rank of Army Corporal to General in ten years. A rank jump from Captain to General in ten years would be pushing it, even in those days where money and birth could buy rank; corporal is nothing short of flatly impossible. I don’t think the author understands how ranks and officer’s commissions work, and an editor should certainly have picked up such a wildly impossible assertion. A lowly corporal - an enlisted man just one step above the common private - would certainly never have been welcomed into the homes of the aristocracy without acknowledging his heritage, in which case he wouldn’t be a corporal anyway. It just doesn’t make sense.

Though I enjoyed much of the story and I do like the author’s writing style, Mark’s arrogance and pride and the unbelievable occurrences I’ve mentioned here make it impossible for me to give the story more than three stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Valerie Bowman, and I enjoyed it immensely. I want to thank the publisher for giving me a chance to read prior to release. I was gifted an advance reader copy, via Net-Galley, and this review is my unbiased opinion of this novel.

A Duke Like No Other is an emotional love story that captured my attention from the first page and held my interest until the end, no sagging middle, yay! The pacing is varied from fast to steady but never slow. The plot is intriguing with a mystery for the hero and heroine to solve.

Nicole Huntington Grimaldi’s character gained my empathy early on. Her reason for agreeing to Mark’s request tugged at my heartstrings. She’s a nurturing character, and I truly loved her. I wanted her to find her happy ending.

Mark Grimaldi is an interesting hero. He is not a womanizer–which is refreshing for a change–he is a driven man. He is determined to get the promotion and is willing to do what he must to achieve it while remaining an honorable man. He has strong reasons for disavowing his mother’s family, but most of it is based on misconceptions and bitterness from his father.

I thoroughly enjoyed the reawakening of the romance between Nicole and Mark. The chemistry is apparent from the first mutual scene and only grows stronger as the story develops. Ms. Bowman masterfully builds the sexual tension between the hero and heroine, as I expect in a Regency historical romance.

If you enjoy a novel with an emotionally-charged romance, engaging character and a plot with plenty of mystery, then you will love A Duke Like No Other. There are quite a few books in this series, so I plan to read the other ones in this series. Happy reading!

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

After reading several other book genres lately I have to admit that I was in the mood for a good historical romance and this book so did not let me down. As book nine in the series I have gotten hooked on the group of men that we have met in the previous installments and I was very happy to see that Mark finally gets his chance at true love even if it does come with some challenges. As the man in charge he has had to make some very difficult decisions and he has paid the price for that as well. The results have been a ten year estrangement from his wife only now he needs her in order to be eligible for the promotion he wants. The deal they strike is just lighting waiting to strike and it was quite enjoyable to watch these two try to outmaneuver one another. If you are a fan of historical regency romance novels then you really have to try this book/series. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.