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All the Duke's Sins #1
Along Came a Lady
The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman.
Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne'er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, who've been his sole responsibility since childhood. So far, Rafe has turned away the duke's man of affairs, solicitor, and other interlopers, until the clever duke sends the unlikeliest of people to convince Rafe to join English High Society—a bold and intriguing woman.
Edwina Dalrymple has never failed a charge. She's quite adept at successfully transforming young women of the gentry and daughters of newly minted lords to take their place in society. Taming a bastard son of a duke will be child's play, plus this job promises to enhance her reputation within the ton. All she has to do is fetch the wayward Rafe and groom him to be presentable to Polite Society.
As the tenacious teacher and her domineering, stubborn, refuses-to-be-taught pupil engage in a fiery battle of wills, their chemistry ignites and the true lesson becomes clear: opposites attract and hearts must be heard.
Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne'er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, who've been his sole responsibility since childhood. So far, Rafe has turned away the duke's man of affairs, solicitor, and other interlopers, until the clever duke sends the unlikeliest of people to convince Rafe to join English High Society—a bold and intriguing woman.
Edwina Dalrymple has never failed a charge. She's quite adept at successfully transforming young women of the gentry and daughters of newly minted lords to take their place in society. Taming a bastard son of a duke will be child's play, plus this job promises to enhance her reputation within the ton. All she has to do is fetch the wayward Rafe and groom him to be presentable to Polite Society.
As the tenacious teacher and her domineering, stubborn, refuses-to-be-taught pupil engage in a fiery battle of wills, their chemistry ignites and the true lesson becomes clear: opposites attract and hearts must be heard.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2021
256 people are currently reading
3174 people want to read
About the author
Christi Caldwell
137 books2,560 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling author CHRISTI CALDWELL blames Judith McNaught's "Whitney, My Love!" for luring her into the world of historical romance. While sitting in her graduate school apartment at the University of Connecticut, Christi decided to set aside her notes and pick up her laptop to try her hand at romance. She believes the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections, and she rather enjoys torturing them before crafting them a well deserved happily ever after!
Christi makes her home in Charlotte, North Carolina where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances, and baking surprisingly good cakes (almost 2 years in lockdown will do that) with her courageous son and twin daughters, each who with their daily antics provides limitless source material.
Christi makes her home in Charlotte, North Carolina where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances, and baking surprisingly good cakes (almost 2 years in lockdown will do that) with her courageous son and twin daughters, each who with their daily antics provides limitless source material.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
October 19, 2023
He is a GRUFF coal minor named RAFE and he just wants to bake BREAD when he’s STRESSED how am I to RESIST?????
I tell everyone about this book and for good reason! It should be talked—nay—SCREAMED about. It’s perfection right down to that garden bench scene.
Thank you to PRH Audio for a free audiobook copy! All opinions are honest and my own.
I tell everyone about this book and for good reason! It should be talked—nay—SCREAMED about. It’s perfection right down to that garden bench scene.
Thank you to PRH Audio for a free audiobook copy! All opinions are honest and my own.
August 31, 2021
Fractured familial relationships!
Orphaned, illegitimate children ignored and left to fend for themselves! Why does their father, the Duke of Bentley feel some eighteen years after their mother’s death, that he should bring his children by his mistress into the fold? As we are told in the first line, “Rafe Audley hated the Duke of Bentley.” It had fallen to him to protect and raise his siblings from the time he was thirteen. Life was harsh and requests for help from the child Rafe to their father had been deafeningly ignored. Now Rafe and his brother successfully lead a team of coal miners brokering wages and working conditions with the owners .
Imagine Rafe’s antipathy that years later the Duke wants to acknowledge them. This from a man they have never seen in all their lives. Rafe has continually refused to be involved and repudiated all the Duke’s efforts. He is scathingly angry and refuses to have anything to do with the man who left them to suffer, the man who threw them away. The man didn’t care if they lived or died.
Refusing to accept Rafe’s decision, the Duke changes tack and employs Edwina Dalrymple, the equivalent of a modern life style coach, who prepares young daughters from wealthy families and / or newly minted nobility to confidently run the gauntlet of polite society. When the Duke and Duchess approach her to bend her considerable abilities towards inducing Rafe to come to London, and to train him to be able to take his place in society, the thought of gaining a foot into the hitherto closed paths to even more elevated ton families finally persuades her.
Her stance with Rafe is often hilarious, and her final push is completely underhanded. I was both shocked and impressed by her campaign. Talk about an iron fist in a velvet glove!
The thing is Edwina has her own raft of secrets, and this position with the Duke will consolidate her reputation, bringing her larger plan to fruition. What Edwina didn’t plan on was the feelings she would have for the stubborn Rafe and his siblings.
An interesting switch on the governess / make over “preparing a young woman for society,” read lower class riff raff, type trope.
I was amused at times, floored at others. A very different and original plot!
A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley
Orphaned, illegitimate children ignored and left to fend for themselves! Why does their father, the Duke of Bentley feel some eighteen years after their mother’s death, that he should bring his children by his mistress into the fold? As we are told in the first line, “Rafe Audley hated the Duke of Bentley.” It had fallen to him to protect and raise his siblings from the time he was thirteen. Life was harsh and requests for help from the child Rafe to their father had been deafeningly ignored. Now Rafe and his brother successfully lead a team of coal miners brokering wages and working conditions with the owners .
Imagine Rafe’s antipathy that years later the Duke wants to acknowledge them. This from a man they have never seen in all their lives. Rafe has continually refused to be involved and repudiated all the Duke’s efforts. He is scathingly angry and refuses to have anything to do with the man who left them to suffer, the man who threw them away. The man didn’t care if they lived or died.
Refusing to accept Rafe’s decision, the Duke changes tack and employs Edwina Dalrymple, the equivalent of a modern life style coach, who prepares young daughters from wealthy families and / or newly minted nobility to confidently run the gauntlet of polite society. When the Duke and Duchess approach her to bend her considerable abilities towards inducing Rafe to come to London, and to train him to be able to take his place in society, the thought of gaining a foot into the hitherto closed paths to even more elevated ton families finally persuades her.
Her stance with Rafe is often hilarious, and her final push is completely underhanded. I was both shocked and impressed by her campaign. Talk about an iron fist in a velvet glove!
The thing is Edwina has her own raft of secrets, and this position with the Duke will consolidate her reputation, bringing her larger plan to fruition. What Edwina didn’t plan on was the feelings she would have for the stubborn Rafe and his siblings.
An interesting switch on the governess / make over “preparing a young woman for society,” read lower class riff raff, type trope.
I was amused at times, floored at others. A very different and original plot!
A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley
August 24, 2021
Edwina Dalrymple is presented with a challenge she can't afford to turn down - travel to coal mining country and convince Duke Bentley's bastard son to come home to London and groom him to take his place in English High Society. Edwina has transformed several young women of the gentry for their coming out in society . . . A Duke's son will be a piece of cake, right? Rafe Audley refuses to acknowledge the father who never claimed or supported him and his siblings. As the eldest of four illegitimate children left alone to fend for themselves, Rafe has raised and cared for his brothers and sister the best way he could. Now a grown man, he neither needs nor wants anything from his father . . . not even his fortune. The Duke has sent several men to try to convince Rafe to meet with him to no avail. What makes him think a woman will succeed where others have failed? The story that unfolds is hilarious beginning with the opening scene with Edwina strolling through the mud mire of the mining camp in all her finery carrying a parasol through repeated battles of wit to a heart touching conclusion.
Along Came A Lady is funny, heartwarming historical romance at its best. The banter between these characters is hilarious and grows more so as the attraction between them becomes undeniable. Caldwell's characters are authentic and a joy to get to know. The setting swings between the muddy mire of a mining camp to the fine ballrooms of London and our hero and heroine fit equally well in both places. Readers know Edwina is hiding secrets of her own that she keeps hidden from Rafe less they destroy her, serving to drive the action at a steadily rising pace. This author has brilliantly rendered a delightful, yet heart touching romance that fans of historical romance will love. Highly recommended.
Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc of this book.
Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
Along Came A Lady is funny, heartwarming historical romance at its best. The banter between these characters is hilarious and grows more so as the attraction between them becomes undeniable. Caldwell's characters are authentic and a joy to get to know. The setting swings between the muddy mire of a mining camp to the fine ballrooms of London and our hero and heroine fit equally well in both places. Readers know Edwina is hiding secrets of her own that she keeps hidden from Rafe less they destroy her, serving to drive the action at a steadily rising pace. This author has brilliantly rendered a delightful, yet heart touching romance that fans of historical romance will love. Highly recommended.
Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc of this book.
Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
September 27, 2021
This book started out with an interesting plot, but it soon devolved into a mess of one. Now, I don't think it is fair to review a book on what I think should have happened, I always try to review a book for what it is. However, I just can't resist it this one time. The plot would have been better served if it had spent more time in London and all the pitfalls that that environment would have presented. A lot less time should have been devoted to the fact that both main characters were illegitimate, I got that after the second time that point was made by the author. I didn't need to be beat over the head with it every few pages. I will say that I loved the narrator, he did an excellent job. This was my first Christi Caldwell book and probably my last.
Edwina Dalrymple has made a business of transforming young ladies from less that presentable into those of impeccable manners and deportment. Her clients have been those families on the edge of the ton with marriageable daughters they wanted to see well settled and it is Edwina's job to polish the apple, so the speak. Edwina has always long to move among the glitter of the ton, but her birth as the illegitimate child of a marquise made that impossible. She finally gets her chance to elevate her business when a duke hires her to bring his illegitimate son up to ton standards. One little problem, the son has no desire what so ever of ever coming to London, ever.
When Rafe Audley is confronted with the latest of the emissaries sent by his father, the Duke of Bentley, he is surprised by the beautiful, tenacious woman, but still determined to send her packing just like all the rest. Rafe is happy with his life as a foreman in a coal mine and he is determined not to leave his responsibilities for the mine or his siblings to anyone else. He also wants nothing to do with the Duke or the life he offers.
Edwina finds an unlikely ally in Rafe's sister and brother and with a little subterfuge and outright bribery Rafe, Edwina and Rafe's sister are off to London. The closer Rafe and Edwina grow to each other, the more impossible to resist their attraction becomes. Rafe's father has lofty plans for his son and all Edwina will get is a good recommendation.
Edwina Dalrymple has made a business of transforming young ladies from less that presentable into those of impeccable manners and deportment. Her clients have been those families on the edge of the ton with marriageable daughters they wanted to see well settled and it is Edwina's job to polish the apple, so the speak. Edwina has always long to move among the glitter of the ton, but her birth as the illegitimate child of a marquise made that impossible. She finally gets her chance to elevate her business when a duke hires her to bring his illegitimate son up to ton standards. One little problem, the son has no desire what so ever of ever coming to London, ever.
When Rafe Audley is confronted with the latest of the emissaries sent by his father, the Duke of Bentley, he is surprised by the beautiful, tenacious woman, but still determined to send her packing just like all the rest. Rafe is happy with his life as a foreman in a coal mine and he is determined not to leave his responsibilities for the mine or his siblings to anyone else. He also wants nothing to do with the Duke or the life he offers.
Edwina finds an unlikely ally in Rafe's sister and brother and with a little subterfuge and outright bribery Rafe, Edwina and Rafe's sister are off to London. The closer Rafe and Edwina grow to each other, the more impossible to resist their attraction becomes. Rafe's father has lofty plans for his son and all Edwina will get is a good recommendation.
August 26, 2021
ALONG CAME A LADY is a fantastic reverse My Fair Lady retelling, where Edwina Dalrymple, an etiquette instructor well-known in society for her impeccable manners, and Rafe Audley, illegitimate son a Duke, are brought together when she’s hired to tame his wicked ways. Edwina has encountered every manner of unruly through her job as a teacher, but she’s certainly met her match with Rafe. He’s definitely her biggest challenge to date, and will either be her greatest accomplishment (he’s well and truly that terrible), or her greatest failure (he’s well and truly that terrible).
Filled with charm, wit, and incredible banter, this book had everything I love in a good historical romance. Rafe and Edwina made such a perfect couple and the chemistry between them was palpable from the start. There’s also quite a bit of mystery throughout, as each character has secrets they’re trying to protect, and I loved the little bit of tension those secrets brought to the story. There are also a few important themes thrown in, particularly where it pertains to gender roles, and also how society unfairly views those deemed of a “lesser” class.
Bottom line — ALONG CAME A LADY is a delightfully witty and humorous enemies-to-lovers Regency romance with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. I adored these characters and Caldwell’s writing so much, and I’ll definitely be picking up the prequel to this series very soon.
*Many thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the digital arc.
Filled with charm, wit, and incredible banter, this book had everything I love in a good historical romance. Rafe and Edwina made such a perfect couple and the chemistry between them was palpable from the start. There’s also quite a bit of mystery throughout, as each character has secrets they’re trying to protect, and I loved the little bit of tension those secrets brought to the story. There are also a few important themes thrown in, particularly where it pertains to gender roles, and also how society unfairly views those deemed of a “lesser” class.
Bottom line — ALONG CAME A LADY is a delightfully witty and humorous enemies-to-lovers Regency romance with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. I adored these characters and Caldwell’s writing so much, and I’ll definitely be picking up the prequel to this series very soon.
*Many thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the digital arc.
August 25, 2021
4 stars
This had a bit of an odd start, but once it got going this turned into an adorable historical romance.
Writing: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
Edwina Dalrymple lives on the fringes of London society. The illegitimate daughter of an Earl who has no desire to claim her, she's made her living as an etiquette governess, one charged with teaching young charges the in's and out's of London's ton in order for them to make the best first impressions.
But when Edwina is hired by the Duke of Bentley to bring his illegitimate son, Rafe Audley, back into the London fold after being raised in the miner's community of the English countryside... Edwina realizes she might have bitten off more than she could chew.
Despite their similar life experiences as both being bastard-born, Rafe and Edwina have very different options on London's wealthy upper class and how it affects them.
Rafe Audley has no intention of leaving his life as a mining foreman and becoming a Duke's son. He's thirty-one and he's happy with his lot in life.
But Edwina can't let that stand—she's being paid a lot of money to secure his return to London society, and Edwina's future is at stake as her entire career is based on previous employer references.
Edwina needs to get him to London. Rafe swears that will never happen.
Cue the shenanigans.
I thought Along Came a Lady was cute, filled with commentary on birthrights and the hypocrisy of London's upper society, and surprisingly fun to read. Edwina and Rafe played the grouchy/sunshine trope to perfection and I loved all of their interactions. Would I read a sequel on them? YES!
My one caveat was that I thought the ending was a little abrupt... I wanted more of a conclusion/epilogue than the abrupt happy ending that we got. It was great, I just wanted to see them... enjoy that moment beyond the page. But overall, extremely cute and a great historical romance for fans of the genre.
Thank you to Berkley Romance for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
This had a bit of an odd start, but once it got going this turned into an adorable historical romance.
Writing: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
Edwina Dalrymple lives on the fringes of London society. The illegitimate daughter of an Earl who has no desire to claim her, she's made her living as an etiquette governess, one charged with teaching young charges the in's and out's of London's ton in order for them to make the best first impressions.
But when Edwina is hired by the Duke of Bentley to bring his illegitimate son, Rafe Audley, back into the London fold after being raised in the miner's community of the English countryside... Edwina realizes she might have bitten off more than she could chew.
Despite their similar life experiences as both being bastard-born, Rafe and Edwina have very different options on London's wealthy upper class and how it affects them.
Rafe Audley has no intention of leaving his life as a mining foreman and becoming a Duke's son. He's thirty-one and he's happy with his lot in life.
But Edwina can't let that stand—she's being paid a lot of money to secure his return to London society, and Edwina's future is at stake as her entire career is based on previous employer references.
Edwina needs to get him to London. Rafe swears that will never happen.
Cue the shenanigans.
I thought Along Came a Lady was cute, filled with commentary on birthrights and the hypocrisy of London's upper society, and surprisingly fun to read. Edwina and Rafe played the grouchy/sunshine trope to perfection and I loved all of their interactions. Would I read a sequel on them? YES!
My one caveat was that I thought the ending was a little abrupt... I wanted more of a conclusion/epilogue than the abrupt happy ending that we got. It was great, I just wanted to see them... enjoy that moment beyond the page. But overall, extremely cute and a great historical romance for fans of the genre.
Thank you to Berkley Romance for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
June 12, 2022
2022 january: 4 stars
2022 june: 3 stars
2022 january review:
The interaction between Rafe and Edwina had me engaged from the start. Suffice to say, I enjoyed their chemistry as they start becoming closer, becoming friends and eventually lovers. It was an enemy to lovers book and i enjoyed every step of the way.
Rafe was a great guy. He’s humble, he gets embarrassed when Edwina sees through him (for helping people), good in the kitchen & bed (winks), hardworking, and a gentleman. His bad manners at the start always amused me because he was so rude to the point of just..funny.
It was nice to see Edwina actually losing her temper with him more than once because he refused to take her lessons or purposely pretended he knew nothing. Edwina is a strong woman, who rose to her current position despite also being illegitimate. I admire her for being determined in her ways.
I enjoyed the time Rafe and Edwina spent together in the countryside. That was where they bonded the most and I especially liked the part where Edwina was drunk and just let herself go. Rafe was quite a gentleman that night, despite being tempted by Edwina. My admiration for him went up that night.
When they came to London, it was sad to see that they were more serious together than when they were at the country. But at least they did spend their time together. I loved the part where Rafe teased Edwina because he knew all the ton’s manners from the start.
The ending was abrupt because we didn’t get an epilogue. Hoped we could have seen how the ton reacted to Rafe and Edwina’s marriage, if they had any children, how Rafe’s sister entry into society went and how rafe’s brother was doing as foreman. Many things were left out.
2022 june review:
the magic kinda died with my 2nd read. it started off great, with edwina and rafe battling each other, seeing who will win the war. i was excited to see the outcome of it. the first half of the book was great. however, the second half left more to be desired. once they reached London, i felt the book lost my interest. it became a tad bit boring.
also, there was a lot of inner thoughts--while this is good as we could see the changes in thinking of each other as time passed--it also bored me because i had hoped to see more action than inner thinking.
2022 june: 3 stars
2022 january review:
The interaction between Rafe and Edwina had me engaged from the start. Suffice to say, I enjoyed their chemistry as they start becoming closer, becoming friends and eventually lovers. It was an enemy to lovers book and i enjoyed every step of the way.
Rafe was a great guy. He’s humble, he gets embarrassed when Edwina sees through him (for helping people), good in the kitchen & bed (winks), hardworking, and a gentleman. His bad manners at the start always amused me because he was so rude to the point of just..funny.
It was nice to see Edwina actually losing her temper with him more than once because he refused to take her lessons or purposely pretended he knew nothing. Edwina is a strong woman, who rose to her current position despite also being illegitimate. I admire her for being determined in her ways.
I enjoyed the time Rafe and Edwina spent together in the countryside. That was where they bonded the most and I especially liked the part where Edwina was drunk and just let herself go. Rafe was quite a gentleman that night, despite being tempted by Edwina. My admiration for him went up that night.
When they came to London, it was sad to see that they were more serious together than when they were at the country. But at least they did spend their time together. I loved the part where Rafe teased Edwina because he knew all the ton’s manners from the start.
The ending was abrupt because we didn’t get an epilogue. Hoped we could have seen how the ton reacted to Rafe and Edwina’s marriage, if they had any children, how Rafe’s sister entry into society went and how rafe’s brother was doing as foreman. Many things were left out.
2022 june review:
the magic kinda died with my 2nd read. it started off great, with edwina and rafe battling each other, seeing who will win the war. i was excited to see the outcome of it. the first half of the book was great. however, the second half left more to be desired. once they reached London, i felt the book lost my interest. it became a tad bit boring.
also, there was a lot of inner thoughts--while this is good as we could see the changes in thinking of each other as time passed--it also bored me because i had hoped to see more action than inner thinking.
September 1, 2023
4.5 out of 5 stars
🤧This book makes you combust from lust🤧
(not that I would want any of this irl, but you get the idea).
She rides his cock outside in the night and he is gruff and all protective of her and tells her "that's it, love." YES.
I read it 2 years ago, but this is such a good book to reread (over and over again). Also, if you want to read another book with intimate but quiet vibes like this one, read "The Bluestocking" by Christi Caldwell.
This was super enjoyable!! I had forgotten that I placed it on hold on libby, so when I saw that I could finally borrow it, I was so excited! For the most part, it exceeded my expectations and I was ✨enchanted✨ with Rafe's and Edwina's relationship. I really loved how layered each of their stories were -- just when I thought I understood Rafe, there was MORE! And especially with Edwina! Her story was so interesting and also sad and I was like ok this is actually like emotional and not cringy. So thank you very much to Christi Caldwell for mentioning women's oppression and the lack of options they had because it hit me right in the heart and it made their story that much more meaningful.
Rafe's lazy and seemingly unemotional use of the term "princess" for Edwina made me MELT! This man used it when provoking, when being sarcastic, when secretly simping... it was all wonderful. AND WHEN HE CARRIED HER AND KEPT GROWLING AND THEN TENDED TO HER ANKLE. I love a hero who growls while doing something soft. And when he helps straighten up her bedroom omigod he went from dick to dick seeing his love whimper and then was like fuck let me tend to your frilly pillows and sheets because you're soft and they matter to you GOOD GOD.
Or when they're in the kitchen (before he has to tend to her again):
"Why so quiet of a sudden, Edwina?"
Of course, he'd not let her have that silence. It would have been easier if he had been taunting her again. Not this. Not this somewhat gentle delving.
"I'm working."...
"Ah, but that has never stopped you from chattering away, little bird."
When a historical romance character uses "ah", I combust with lust. AND THEN "LITTLE BIRD". So many layered emotions/feelings all wrapped up in little words!! Which is why Edwina then slices her hand on the knife she's cutting with. Incredible.
🤧This book makes you combust from lust🤧
(not that I would want any of this irl, but you get the idea).
She rides his cock outside in the night and he is gruff and all protective of her and tells her "that's it, love." YES.
I read it 2 years ago, but this is such a good book to reread (over and over again). Also, if you want to read another book with intimate but quiet vibes like this one, read "The Bluestocking" by Christi Caldwell.
This was super enjoyable!! I had forgotten that I placed it on hold on libby, so when I saw that I could finally borrow it, I was so excited! For the most part, it exceeded my expectations and I was ✨enchanted✨ with Rafe's and Edwina's relationship. I really loved how layered each of their stories were -- just when I thought I understood Rafe, there was MORE! And especially with Edwina! Her story was so interesting and also sad and I was like ok this is actually like emotional and not cringy. So thank you very much to Christi Caldwell for mentioning women's oppression and the lack of options they had because it hit me right in the heart and it made their story that much more meaningful.
Rafe's lazy and seemingly unemotional use of the term "princess" for Edwina made me MELT! This man used it when provoking, when being sarcastic, when secretly simping... it was all wonderful. AND WHEN HE CARRIED HER AND KEPT GROWLING AND THEN TENDED TO HER ANKLE. I love a hero who growls while doing something soft. And when he helps straighten up her bedroom omigod he went from dick to dick seeing his love whimper and then was like fuck let me tend to your frilly pillows and sheets because you're soft and they matter to you GOOD GOD.
Or when they're in the kitchen (before he has to tend to her again):
"Why so quiet of a sudden, Edwina?"
Of course, he'd not let her have that silence. It would have been easier if he had been taunting her again. Not this. Not this somewhat gentle delving.
"I'm working."...
"Ah, but that has never stopped you from chattering away, little bird."
When a historical romance character uses "ah", I combust with lust. AND THEN "LITTLE BIRD". So many layered emotions/feelings all wrapped up in little words!! Which is why Edwina then slices her hand on the knife she's cutting with. Incredible.
September 10, 2021
CW: parental abandonment, MC hears mother die during childbirth (on page), classism, grief, discussion and mentions of dangers and deaths related to mining
I really enjoyed this enemies to friends to lovers historical romance. The tutor/tutee forced proximity trope worked perfectly for the story. Rafe and Edwina had amazing chemistry from the start and I loved their banter and how their prejudices and preconceived notions gave way to so much more. I appreciated that even though both gave as good as they got, they were also able to (eventually) own up to their actions and apologize if they made a mistake. I didn’t mind the slow burn between these two, but I did feel that it caused the ending to feel a bit rushed. There wasn’t much closure (I’m assuming this will be addressed in future books) and the epiphanies and declarations came moments before the end. I also felt that some of the dialogue and descriptions were overly wordy, but this could just be my unfamiliarity with the terminology. I’m definitely intrigued by the Audley siblings though and look forward to reading more books in the series!
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
I really enjoyed this enemies to friends to lovers historical romance. The tutor/tutee forced proximity trope worked perfectly for the story. Rafe and Edwina had amazing chemistry from the start and I loved their banter and how their prejudices and preconceived notions gave way to so much more. I appreciated that even though both gave as good as they got, they were also able to (eventually) own up to their actions and apologize if they made a mistake. I didn’t mind the slow burn between these two, but I did feel that it caused the ending to feel a bit rushed. There wasn’t much closure (I’m assuming this will be addressed in future books) and the epiphanies and declarations came moments before the end. I also felt that some of the dialogue and descriptions were overly wordy, but this could just be my unfamiliarity with the terminology. I’m definitely intrigued by the Audley siblings though and look forward to reading more books in the series!
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
August 19, 2021
Since his father, the rakish Duke of Bentley, abandoned him and his siblings, Rafe Audley has wanted nothing to do with him. His sole interest is to protect his two younger brothers and sister, who have been his responsibility since he was thirteen, and to care for the population of his small mining village. Rafe has successfully sent three of the duke’s emissaries fleeing, but the latest offering is a different breed: a bold and determined lady who’ll stop at nothing to see Rafe take his rightful place in society.
Edwina Dalrymple has an impeccable reputation as a successful governess to the daughters of the gentry, but success with the son of the duke will provide her the entrée into the aristocracy that she craves. It should also be one of her easier jobs, simply fetching an errant son home to London and polishing him up for presentation to society’s elite.
But Edwina’s determination is sorely tested by the stubborn Rafe, even as the animosity between them ignites into something more. Whatever the outcome of their lessons, it’s clear that their attraction cannot be denied.
Wow these two were an unlikely pair. I’ll be honest, at first all my sympathies fell with Rafe and I really didn’t care for Edwina. I completely agreed with him about her being pushy, inconsiderate, and insolent and I was put off by her superior air and the hypocrisy of her refusal to give Rafe any information about herself while expecting him to be forthright and open with her. Fortunately, Edwina did eventually realize these shortcomings in herself and Rafe recognized his own failings and the two were able to meet in the middle, both demonstrating a good deal of character growth and development.
This was quite a slow burn, with the two dancing around each other in heated encounters that always cooled too soon for much of the book. Of course, they were explosive when they did come together, but I wanted to see a bit more conversation and communication between them when they eventually realized their feelings. Since this didn’t happen for quite a while, we didn’t get enough of this for me to find the ending wholly satisfying and it felt a bit rushed to me. I wanted more of them together being open about their feelings without the interference of others, especially the meddling duke. I also wanted a bit more for Rafe as I felt he kept having to compromise and make changes, but no one really seemed to see what he’d been through on his own. I enjoyed the scene we got with him and the duke having a genuine, serious conversation, but this too was quite short and left me wanting a bit more. In the end, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I might based on the first quarter or so, the characters felt very real and fleshed out, and I look forward to the other siblings’ stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Edwina Dalrymple has an impeccable reputation as a successful governess to the daughters of the gentry, but success with the son of the duke will provide her the entrée into the aristocracy that she craves. It should also be one of her easier jobs, simply fetching an errant son home to London and polishing him up for presentation to society’s elite.
But Edwina’s determination is sorely tested by the stubborn Rafe, even as the animosity between them ignites into something more. Whatever the outcome of their lessons, it’s clear that their attraction cannot be denied.
Wow these two were an unlikely pair. I’ll be honest, at first all my sympathies fell with Rafe and I really didn’t care for Edwina. I completely agreed with him about her being pushy, inconsiderate, and insolent and I was put off by her superior air and the hypocrisy of her refusal to give Rafe any information about herself while expecting him to be forthright and open with her. Fortunately, Edwina did eventually realize these shortcomings in herself and Rafe recognized his own failings and the two were able to meet in the middle, both demonstrating a good deal of character growth and development.
This was quite a slow burn, with the two dancing around each other in heated encounters that always cooled too soon for much of the book. Of course, they were explosive when they did come together, but I wanted to see a bit more conversation and communication between them when they eventually realized their feelings. Since this didn’t happen for quite a while, we didn’t get enough of this for me to find the ending wholly satisfying and it felt a bit rushed to me. I wanted more of them together being open about their feelings without the interference of others, especially the meddling duke. I also wanted a bit more for Rafe as I felt he kept having to compromise and make changes, but no one really seemed to see what he’d been through on his own. I enjoyed the scene we got with him and the duke having a genuine, serious conversation, but this too was quite short and left me wanting a bit more. In the end, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I might based on the first quarter or so, the characters felt very real and fleshed out, and I look forward to the other siblings’ stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
October 17, 2021
3/5 stars
TBR
TBR
August 31, 2022
This is the first book I've read by this author and quite possibly the last. A relatively rare DNF for me.
The hero lacked charm, which wasn't surprising given the circumstances of his entire life. He seemed potentially redeemable. The heroine, on the other hand, was a piece of work. The heroine can go kick rocks.
The hero lacked charm, which wasn't surprising given the circumstances of his entire life. He seemed potentially redeemable. The heroine, on the other hand, was a piece of work. The heroine can go kick rocks.
May 9, 2025
4.5⭐️ rounded up. What an unexpectedly lovely and insightful story! I appreciated the slow yet purposeful build and the careful chemistry between the MCs.
This book explored class dynamics and how they affected illegitimate children of the nobility in a way I have not seen before in a historical romance. I am hoping to continue with the rest of the series to read more stories like this one.
Small gripes: I need this author to CTRL+F the words ‘undulate/undulating/undulation’ and limit herself to like 3 mentions tops. Also, some of the placements in the intimacy scenes stretched my ability to suspend disbelief. I hope that improves going forward.
This book explored class dynamics and how they affected illegitimate children of the nobility in a way I have not seen before in a historical romance. I am hoping to continue with the rest of the series to read more stories like this one.
Small gripes: I need this author to CTRL+F the words ‘undulate/undulating/undulation’ and limit herself to like 3 mentions tops. Also, some of the placements in the intimacy scenes stretched my ability to suspend disbelief. I hope that improves going forward.
August 24, 2021
Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog
I haven’t read this author in years, but after reading this I really have to question my own judgement. She is a great writer!
This book starts out with our heroine, a governess who is the illegitimate daughter of an earl, and the daughter of a lady. However she is on her own, making her own life, making her own way, and she is, at present, being offered the chance of a lifetime. She is being asked to help a duke’s illegitimate son become worthy of the title. She is to give him lessons on the peerage and tutor him on anything necessary to survive London. As much as she wants to take them on as clients, because having tutored a duke’s son would be quite excellent for her business, for her reputation, and for her future…the only problem is that the duke’s son doesn’t want the title. Or the attention from his father. Or anything attached to his father’s name. Oh, and by the way, he’s a thirty year old coal miner.
Yeah.
So she decides to gather as much information as she can by staying in the rooms above the local pub for a few days before actually introducing herself. And when she does introduce herself, she nearly falls down a mine shaft. Rafe saves her, and sets her on her feet and tells her to leave. But what I loved about all of the scenes in his village is that they clearly show the fish out of water with her in her lovely dresses and lacy parasol, while everyone else is in working clothes, and well, working. But they never humiliate her, or make her feel bad. In fact, I am kind of reminded of the movie Legally Blonde. She’s definitely not one who fits in with the group, however, after the initial shock wears off everyone realizes she’s pretty awesome and a hard worker.
Rafe included.
So he bets her that she can’t last a week in the kitchen with his younger sister, and if she does, then he’ll go off to London with her. Not only does she do well, his siblings help convince him to go.
Rafe in London is definitely not what I expected. (I won’t spoil it). He’s mad at Edwina for a while, rightfully so, until he remembers that the two of them declared war early on, and just because he is starting to feel feelings for her, she was following the rules of engagement he threw down. I was wondering how the author would handle that particular part, and I was pleasantly surprised.
The ending was rushed a bit, in my opinion, and I didn’t love the way a certain scene went down, but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book by any means. I think this will be a fun re-read for a rainy day. Oh, and I do so love the duke and duchess. They, and Rafe’s siblings, have definitely intrigued me. I look forward to the next book in this series. In the meantime, I’ll be picking up more Christi Caldwell books.
***ARC courtesy of Berkley Romance
I haven’t read this author in years, but after reading this I really have to question my own judgement. She is a great writer!
This book starts out with our heroine, a governess who is the illegitimate daughter of an earl, and the daughter of a lady. However she is on her own, making her own life, making her own way, and she is, at present, being offered the chance of a lifetime. She is being asked to help a duke’s illegitimate son become worthy of the title. She is to give him lessons on the peerage and tutor him on anything necessary to survive London. As much as she wants to take them on as clients, because having tutored a duke’s son would be quite excellent for her business, for her reputation, and for her future…the only problem is that the duke’s son doesn’t want the title. Or the attention from his father. Or anything attached to his father’s name. Oh, and by the way, he’s a thirty year old coal miner.
Yeah.
So she decides to gather as much information as she can by staying in the rooms above the local pub for a few days before actually introducing herself. And when she does introduce herself, she nearly falls down a mine shaft. Rafe saves her, and sets her on her feet and tells her to leave. But what I loved about all of the scenes in his village is that they clearly show the fish out of water with her in her lovely dresses and lacy parasol, while everyone else is in working clothes, and well, working. But they never humiliate her, or make her feel bad. In fact, I am kind of reminded of the movie Legally Blonde. She’s definitely not one who fits in with the group, however, after the initial shock wears off everyone realizes she’s pretty awesome and a hard worker.
Rafe included.
So he bets her that she can’t last a week in the kitchen with his younger sister, and if she does, then he’ll go off to London with her. Not only does she do well, his siblings help convince him to go.
Rafe in London is definitely not what I expected. (I won’t spoil it). He’s mad at Edwina for a while, rightfully so, until he remembers that the two of them declared war early on, and just because he is starting to feel feelings for her, she was following the rules of engagement he threw down. I was wondering how the author would handle that particular part, and I was pleasantly surprised.
The ending was rushed a bit, in my opinion, and I didn’t love the way a certain scene went down, but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book by any means. I think this will be a fun re-read for a rainy day. Oh, and I do so love the duke and duchess. They, and Rafe’s siblings, have definitely intrigued me. I look forward to the next book in this series. In the meantime, I’ll be picking up more Christi Caldwell books.
***ARC courtesy of Berkley Romance
May 13, 2023
This book rubbed me the wrong way. The heroine was hired by the hero's father to go to the country to convince the hero to come to London so that she can tutor him in the way of the ton. The heroine did her job, but to me she crossed a line as the employee. The heroine is a proper miss, but soon after meeting the hero she gets intimate with him. When she gets the hero to London, she has sex with him on the kitchen table. She finally got busted by several people when she had sex with the hero in the garden at a ball she was not invited to. Serves her right. I wished the heroine had some morals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
Christi Caldwell launches her new series with a story that reeled me in and kept me entertained from start to finish. First of all there's the setup: duke discovers his deceased mistress gave birth to four children (his) and is determined to bring them (now adults) to London to take their rightful places in society, beginning with the oldest, Rafe. A gruff, broody, coalfield foreman, Rafe wants no part of the man he believes knew about them all along and only now wants to acknowledge them. Edwina is an accomplished governess/tutor who would give anything for the opportunity being handed to Rafe and needs the opportunity successful completion of this task will bring her. She's not about to let muddy coalfields, abrasive townspeople, or a scheming, grouchy man - even if he is gorgeous, surprisingly caring, and knows his way around a kitchen - derail her mission. Let the fun begin!
The sparks that these two set off could start a forest fire. I love the snappy banter, the unexpectedly sweet moments, the humor, and the battle of wills that ensue as these strong-willed characters go head to head. They both stretch, grow, and slowly unveil facets of their characters that are only brought out by the other. They are so much fun to watch evolve and grow closer together even though Edwina knows nothing can ever come of that closeness. Or can it?
Caldwell is so good at creating a sense of place. I had no trouble at all envisioning the atmosphere of the perilous, muddy coalfields (a definite Poldark vibe and, yes, I did happily envision Rafe as a deliciously gruff Aiden Turner through the entire book), the dark but lively village pub (Regency "karaoke" scene is *chef's kiss*), and the duke's grand mansion. Her vivid descriptions bring the reader into the scene, no longer an observer but a part of the actual story.
The sibling dynamic is also very realistic with each of the Audley siblings holding their own unique place in the family. I'm already invested in all of them and eager to read each of their stories.
My only quibble with the book (and it's small considering how much I enjoyed this story) is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, especially as it pertains to Edwina's family situation. That was such an important part of her character; I really wanted to see it given more attention. As for Rafe and Edwina, I was happily satisfied with the outcome of their relationship and am looking forward to following their progress as a couple through Rafe's siblings' stories.
It's worth noting that Caldwell has written a prequel novella to this series which tells the duke's story. It Had to Be the Duke is a heart-tugging, second-chance love story that can be read either before or after Along Came a Lady. I adored it.
4.5 stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review
The sparks that these two set off could start a forest fire. I love the snappy banter, the unexpectedly sweet moments, the humor, and the battle of wills that ensue as these strong-willed characters go head to head. They both stretch, grow, and slowly unveil facets of their characters that are only brought out by the other. They are so much fun to watch evolve and grow closer together even though Edwina knows nothing can ever come of that closeness. Or can it?
Caldwell is so good at creating a sense of place. I had no trouble at all envisioning the atmosphere of the perilous, muddy coalfields (a definite Poldark vibe and, yes, I did happily envision Rafe as a deliciously gruff Aiden Turner through the entire book), the dark but lively village pub (Regency "karaoke" scene is *chef's kiss*), and the duke's grand mansion. Her vivid descriptions bring the reader into the scene, no longer an observer but a part of the actual story.
The sibling dynamic is also very realistic with each of the Audley siblings holding their own unique place in the family. I'm already invested in all of them and eager to read each of their stories.
My only quibble with the book (and it's small considering how much I enjoyed this story) is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, especially as it pertains to Edwina's family situation. That was such an important part of her character; I really wanted to see it given more attention. As for Rafe and Edwina, I was happily satisfied with the outcome of their relationship and am looking forward to following their progress as a couple through Rafe's siblings' stories.
It's worth noting that Caldwell has written a prequel novella to this series which tells the duke's story. It Had to Be the Duke is a heart-tugging, second-chance love story that can be read either before or after Along Came a Lady. I adored it.
4.5 stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review
September 25, 2021
ARC provided by Netgalley
What a delightful start to a new series.
This is my first time reading Christi Caldwell, and I'm delightfully surprised and excited to find a new HR author to love.
The first line of the blurb says, "The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman". And this is the perfect plot of the book.
Rafe Audley is the illegitimate son of a Duke and for thirty years, he has resented the fact and spent the time hating the Duke. All the while, raising his three younger siblings (also the Duke's illegitimate kids). Now, the Duke wants to publicly acknowledge him and he wants none of it. He sends back all the people the DUke has sent to bring him back one way or the other.
So, this time, the Duke sends a woman. Essentially, a teacher who teaches young lady in how to behave in society. She is sent to train him and bring him to London.
Read this book if you love:
- Great meet-cute
- An absolute grumpy and broody hero
- A sunshine heroine with a sad past
- Hero's love for his younger siblings
- Great banter
- Heroine getting drunk in an establishment and losing it
- Hero is completely flabbergasted by the heroine and keeps running away from her to avoid her
- Determined heroine
- Slow burn with relatively early make out sessions. So, the best amount of steam
- Will they/won't they push and pull
Overall, a solid start to the series. I can't wait to read the next books of other Audley siblings.
What a delightful start to a new series.
This is my first time reading Christi Caldwell, and I'm delightfully surprised and excited to find a new HR author to love.
The first line of the blurb says, "The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman". And this is the perfect plot of the book.
Rafe Audley is the illegitimate son of a Duke and for thirty years, he has resented the fact and spent the time hating the Duke. All the while, raising his three younger siblings (also the Duke's illegitimate kids). Now, the Duke wants to publicly acknowledge him and he wants none of it. He sends back all the people the DUke has sent to bring him back one way or the other.
So, this time, the Duke sends a woman. Essentially, a teacher who teaches young lady in how to behave in society. She is sent to train him and bring him to London.
Read this book if you love:
- Great meet-cute
- An absolute grumpy and broody hero
- A sunshine heroine with a sad past
- Hero's love for his younger siblings
- Great banter
- Heroine getting drunk in an establishment and losing it
- Hero is completely flabbergasted by the heroine and keeps running away from her to avoid her
- Determined heroine
- Slow burn with relatively early make out sessions. So, the best amount of steam
- Will they/won't they push and pull
Overall, a solid start to the series. I can't wait to read the next books of other Audley siblings.
October 21, 2021
This was my first Christi Caldwell romance and I was so excited to read it! I have seen Caldwell’s novels around the bookish world and I have often wondered how they compare to other historical romances. So when this one came up for review, I knew I had to jump on it even if I had to rearrange my reading calendar to make it happen.
I know a lot of people raved about this one and said it was the perfect book for fans of the Bridgerton books. I have to say, Caldwell has a voice all her own and while there might be similarities to Julia Quinn, they are clearly different writers within the same genre. That’s not saying that Caldwell is inferior to Quinn, just that they have a different flair so if you are thinking this book is going to be exactly like the Bridgerton books then you might be disappointed. But if you are wanting historical romance that is well done with some humor, then yes in that regard they are similar.
I picked this one up and read it super quick, which is typical for me when it comes to historical romance. Historical romances are usually light fun reading for me and this one was no different! If you have read Caldwell before, no doubt you will want to get your hands on this new series as it promises to be a wonderful series for fans of historical romance.
To be fair, while I did enjoy this one and I read it rather quickly there were times when I felt like it was a little on the silly side. This one was big of a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Posh girl brought in to tame the rather unruly and burly man into a passable lord. It started out pretty strong but then it quickly got overwhelming. There was a lot going on in the storyline (abandonment by the father, family issues, sibling tension, coal mining things, oh ya and romance!). At some point I had to just kind of ignore the background noise and focus on what was going on between Edwina and Rafe. I mean the book wasn’t bad there was just a lot going on for me and honestly the likelihood of a story like this happening was a pretty far cry but then again, it’s fiction and why not just enjoy it for what it is—love, romance, chemistry, and a happy ending. I liked this one, although I didn’t love it in the way that I have loved some other historical romances I’ve read this year.
That said, I would read more by Caldwell. There was enough of a good story here for me to want to read more. It was an easy read which provided me with a couple of nights of entertainment and a few smiles and chuckles and I can’t be mad at that! It was good enough that I would recommend it to fans of historical romance but there are other historical romances I would probably recommend first if that makes sense. I liked the premise but something just didn’t jive for me and I think it was just that there was a lot of layers to the story and a lot of threads to keep track of.
Edwina was generally sweet and sassy which was a great combo (one of my favorites in historical romances) and I loved the enemies to lovers troupe. Rafe was stubborn and yet had this strong protective quality about him that will endear him to readers. Edwina and Rafe had great chemistry and I would expect nothing less from a seasoned romance writer like Caldwell! She did a solid job even if I didn’t love the story in the way that I had hoped I would still recommend it and I was glad I read it. If you love historical romances then don’t miss this one!
See my full review here
I know a lot of people raved about this one and said it was the perfect book for fans of the Bridgerton books. I have to say, Caldwell has a voice all her own and while there might be similarities to Julia Quinn, they are clearly different writers within the same genre. That’s not saying that Caldwell is inferior to Quinn, just that they have a different flair so if you are thinking this book is going to be exactly like the Bridgerton books then you might be disappointed. But if you are wanting historical romance that is well done with some humor, then yes in that regard they are similar.
I picked this one up and read it super quick, which is typical for me when it comes to historical romance. Historical romances are usually light fun reading for me and this one was no different! If you have read Caldwell before, no doubt you will want to get your hands on this new series as it promises to be a wonderful series for fans of historical romance.
To be fair, while I did enjoy this one and I read it rather quickly there were times when I felt like it was a little on the silly side. This one was big of a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Posh girl brought in to tame the rather unruly and burly man into a passable lord. It started out pretty strong but then it quickly got overwhelming. There was a lot going on in the storyline (abandonment by the father, family issues, sibling tension, coal mining things, oh ya and romance!). At some point I had to just kind of ignore the background noise and focus on what was going on between Edwina and Rafe. I mean the book wasn’t bad there was just a lot going on for me and honestly the likelihood of a story like this happening was a pretty far cry but then again, it’s fiction and why not just enjoy it for what it is—love, romance, chemistry, and a happy ending. I liked this one, although I didn’t love it in the way that I have loved some other historical romances I’ve read this year.
That said, I would read more by Caldwell. There was enough of a good story here for me to want to read more. It was an easy read which provided me with a couple of nights of entertainment and a few smiles and chuckles and I can’t be mad at that! It was good enough that I would recommend it to fans of historical romance but there are other historical romances I would probably recommend first if that makes sense. I liked the premise but something just didn’t jive for me and I think it was just that there was a lot of layers to the story and a lot of threads to keep track of.
Edwina was generally sweet and sassy which was a great combo (one of my favorites in historical romances) and I loved the enemies to lovers troupe. Rafe was stubborn and yet had this strong protective quality about him that will endear him to readers. Edwina and Rafe had great chemistry and I would expect nothing less from a seasoned romance writer like Caldwell! She did a solid job even if I didn’t love the story in the way that I had hoped I would still recommend it and I was glad I read it. If you love historical romances then don’t miss this one!
See my full review here
May 8, 2022
All his life, Rafe Audley has known he was the bastard son of the Duke of Bentley. He regularly saw his mother leave him and his siblings to head to London to be with the Duke, and when she died birthing Rafe's sister, Cailtin, he decided he never wanted anything to do with the man. He's the one responsible for looking after his siblings, and even when the duke decides he wants to do something about his children, Rafe has rebutted all requests, and turned them all away, until Edwina arrives. Edwina Dalrymple has a secret she needs to keep, especially if she wants to keep her position in transforming the young men and women of the gentry prior to their debut. Working for the Duke of Bentley will be one of the biggest jobs she's done, but she's more than capable - isn't she? However, from the get go, Rafe and Edwina butt heads, and their chemistry and attraction gets in the way regularly. What initially seemed to be an easy job, soon proves otherwise, but can Edwina tame this stubborn miner?
I had wanted to read this book for ages, but hadn't managed to get a copy so it was put on the back burner for a bit. Though when I was approved for book 2, I knew I needed to order one, and as soon as Along Came a Lady arrived, I couldn't put it down. Straight away, I was hooked by the characters, and Rafe and Edwina were so worthy and endearing, it was easy to fall for them. The premise of a Duke discovering his former mistress had his children, and wanting to get to know them, and care for them, was lovely, and when we got to know Bentley, I really liked him. I completely understood Rafe's feelings, though, and having to become a father figure to his 3 siblings, after consoling and caring for his mother for so long, it really took a toll on him, and he had walls so thick, that it was quite the task for Edwina to manage. Edwina was the perfect person for the job, and she understood Rafe so well, and had a plan even he couldn't argue with, which was so good to see. Rafe needed someone to take him down a peg, and take him out of his own head, and Edwina did that! Along Came a Lady was the perfect start to the series, and definitely lived up to my expectations.
I had wanted to read this book for ages, but hadn't managed to get a copy so it was put on the back burner for a bit. Though when I was approved for book 2, I knew I needed to order one, and as soon as Along Came a Lady arrived, I couldn't put it down. Straight away, I was hooked by the characters, and Rafe and Edwina were so worthy and endearing, it was easy to fall for them. The premise of a Duke discovering his former mistress had his children, and wanting to get to know them, and care for them, was lovely, and when we got to know Bentley, I really liked him. I completely understood Rafe's feelings, though, and having to become a father figure to his 3 siblings, after consoling and caring for his mother for so long, it really took a toll on him, and he had walls so thick, that it was quite the task for Edwina to manage. Edwina was the perfect person for the job, and she understood Rafe so well, and had a plan even he couldn't argue with, which was so good to see. Rafe needed someone to take him down a peg, and take him out of his own head, and Edwina did that! Along Came a Lady was the perfect start to the series, and definitely lived up to my expectations.
January 2, 2022
Hero's sister comes across as a social climber, younger brother as weka and opportunistic, heroine as a boot licker for the ton who is projecting her issues on to the hero, the duke as a self-serving, careless idiot who never questioned his mistress when she ran away to have his children and somehow always managed to regain her figure to be back in his bed (or maybe he was blind to the changes his mistress's body would have undergone after 3 pregnancies) ... Only the hero seemed to be a decent person with some self respect ...
Normally I like the authors work and this one was also well written but the story line has huge plot holes and everyone too desperate for the hero to be accepted by the aristocracy ...
Normally I like the authors work and this one was also well written but the story line has huge plot holes and everyone too desperate for the hero to be accepted by the aristocracy ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2021
Christi Caldwell continues unendingly to amaze me with the unique and captivating stories that tug at the reader’s heartstrings and leaves this one always sighing and anticipating the next release.
Love everything about “Along Came A Lady”, from the title, the cover, and oh, the magic within! Not your conventional regency romance… never with this author.
Rafe and Edwina’s journey from the coalfields of Staffordshire, England to the ballrooms of London is one you won’t want to miss. A beautiful love story. So anxious for more of the Duke of Bentley’s family.
Love everything about “Along Came A Lady”, from the title, the cover, and oh, the magic within! Not your conventional regency romance… never with this author.
Rafe and Edwina’s journey from the coalfields of Staffordshire, England to the ballrooms of London is one you won’t want to miss. A beautiful love story. So anxious for more of the Duke of Bentley’s family.
Read
August 29, 2021This was a light and fun read that put a smile on my face. Edwina is a great heroine who is determined to control her own life. Rafe is a brooding and strong hero (who cooks!). My favorite part had to be where she's steadfast in starting his etiquette lessons while he's trying to toss her out of his office. I loved these two together.
October 19, 2021
I must admit that I didn't like the coal mining part of the book. I was a little bored with it. I much preferred what followed next - when they went to London. Enjoyed the rest of the story. Great main characters.
I hope #2 is not set in the mining town, although I shall still read it. 3.5☆ rounded up.
I hope #2 is not set in the mining town, although I shall still read it. 3.5☆ rounded up.
March 10, 2022
It had a great plot, at first. An illegitimate heroine trying to coerce the illegitimate Hero to meet his father, a Duke. Their battle of wills was amusing, and very tricksy. While they both win as they fall in love, the last few scenes were so wrong. It was unnecessary and it didn't suit either of their characters. This couple had a strong morality and would never do this. Very disappointing.
November 7, 2021
This was not an easy one for me to rate for a number of reasons. The story itself? Definitely 5 stars. So well written. The romantic tension? Another 5 stars. I could believe that these two were fighting Feelings and why. Sexy times (on- or off-page)? 3 stars. (What was written was goooood, but damn, if I didn't want more.) Did it make me cry? Yes, a couple of times and for different reasons. (One was because I was hurting for something that was done to the heroine relatively early on and the other was a swoony cry.) So overall... I'm giving it 4.5 stars. (No, I didn't actually use math and come up with an actual average; I just went with my gut - I liked the book more than a 4 star, but it just missed 5 star for me.)
All of that said, the author did a great job of making these people not caricatures of people. Which means that everything they went through was a believable thing to happen in that time period and that they weren't always likable. This takes a grumpy/sunshine trope and alters it just a bit. Our heroine is definitely our sunshine and she's been tasked with bringing our hero back to London with her so his father, a Duke, can acknowledge him as his son and bring him into society. Every other man he's sent has failed and been sent packing, but he and his duchess send our heroine down with an unlimited budget to get him to agree to come back with her. This and the trip to London take 16 chapters - in which our heroine is high-handed, our hero is downright rude - - and they're both too stubborn for their own good. And still, I ended up rooting for them so damn hard.
There is no epilogue or anything after the HEA. Literally, it happens and the book ends. I felt as if something was missing; we had just had a plot twist happen for our heroine and we do not get to see what happened with that. If that's the case, why throw it in there? I wish that had happened earlier so we get some resolution on that - or we get an epilogue, but no. (And yes, y'all know I'm an epilogue ho, I get it.) It just seemed abrupt, hence the loss of half a star. The next book in the series will be about our hero's sister and I'm looking forward to that and a prologue of the Duke's relationship with his current duchess will also be coming out soon and I'm definitely looking forward to those. Christi Caldwell is a new-to-me author (I literally found her by browsing the books at the library and the blurb sounded interesting) and I liked this well enough that I'm definitely going to be adding some of her other books to my TBR.
All of that said, the author did a great job of making these people not caricatures of people. Which means that everything they went through was a believable thing to happen in that time period and that they weren't always likable. This takes a grumpy/sunshine trope and alters it just a bit. Our heroine is definitely our sunshine and she's been tasked with bringing our hero back to London with her so his father, a Duke, can acknowledge him as his son and bring him into society. Every other man he's sent has failed and been sent packing, but he and his duchess send our heroine down with an unlimited budget to get him to agree to come back with her. This and the trip to London take 16 chapters - in which our heroine is high-handed, our hero is downright rude - - and they're both too stubborn for their own good. And still, I ended up rooting for them so damn hard.
There is no epilogue or anything after the HEA. Literally, it happens and the book ends. I felt as if something was missing; we had just had a plot twist happen for our heroine and we do not get to see what happened with that. If that's the case, why throw it in there? I wish that had happened earlier so we get some resolution on that - or we get an epilogue, but no. (And yes, y'all know I'm an epilogue ho, I get it.) It just seemed abrupt, hence the loss of half a star. The next book in the series will be about our hero's sister and I'm looking forward to that and a prologue of the Duke's relationship with his current duchess will also be coming out soon and I'm definitely looking forward to those. Christi Caldwell is a new-to-me author (I literally found her by browsing the books at the library and the blurb sounded interesting) and I liked this well enough that I'm definitely going to be adding some of her other books to my TBR.
August 30, 2021
Ya’ll are going to think I’m writing a book here. 😊 Just want to help you decide if you want to read this book or not. Actually, my little review is the bottom paragraph if you want to skip everything else. Some of you that read my reviews on Goodreads know me, know my story. I read a ton but suck at reviews. I read a lot of really good authors and books so want to recommend those reads to others. :)
If you aren't aware, I read 415 books last year, 266 already this year and just over 2000 in 6 years reading hundreds and hundreds of different authors over those years. Some authors I read all their books and some are one time reads that I didn't care for. Even after reading all these different authors, I truly only have a handful of authors that I love, are my favorites and get all their new releases. Christi Caldwell is one of those authors.
So to help you, as a reader, decide if you might want to read a book I reviewed or not, I'll give you a little history on my style. I don't read a books synopsis anymore. Sometimes they give a way something and I want to be surprised what I'm reading. I’m going to read my favorite authors anyway so don’t see much benefit from reading them. I pretty much only read Regency Romances, some Victorian if I really love the author (and if the books doesn’t read "too modern"). I thoroughly research every book I read and every author. I don't like the sweet and nice stories. Some are nice reads but a bit too boring for my tastes. I like a little suspense, intrigue, cussing for you Southern folks and cursing for all others, and definitely sex. I also always love a happy ending...How they get there is all part of the fun.
Until I went to write this review I hadn’t realized I’ve read 64 of Christi Caldwell books, including this one. That just seems crazy to me. But that alone should tell you how good her books are and this one was no exception.
I really, really loved this book. It is the first book in a new series. She had a Prequel out early this year and book 2 will come out next year. I hope she has more books on the rest of the “family”. I think it’s going to be another good series. I really liked the characters and the storyline. I really loved Rafe and Edwina. What a perfect pair. The characters were well written and a fun journey. Just a great read.
I would definitely recommend this book.
If you aren't aware, I read 415 books last year, 266 already this year and just over 2000 in 6 years reading hundreds and hundreds of different authors over those years. Some authors I read all their books and some are one time reads that I didn't care for. Even after reading all these different authors, I truly only have a handful of authors that I love, are my favorites and get all their new releases. Christi Caldwell is one of those authors.
So to help you, as a reader, decide if you might want to read a book I reviewed or not, I'll give you a little history on my style. I don't read a books synopsis anymore. Sometimes they give a way something and I want to be surprised what I'm reading. I’m going to read my favorite authors anyway so don’t see much benefit from reading them. I pretty much only read Regency Romances, some Victorian if I really love the author (and if the books doesn’t read "too modern"). I thoroughly research every book I read and every author. I don't like the sweet and nice stories. Some are nice reads but a bit too boring for my tastes. I like a little suspense, intrigue, cussing for you Southern folks and cursing for all others, and definitely sex. I also always love a happy ending...How they get there is all part of the fun.
Until I went to write this review I hadn’t realized I’ve read 64 of Christi Caldwell books, including this one. That just seems crazy to me. But that alone should tell you how good her books are and this one was no exception.
I really, really loved this book. It is the first book in a new series. She had a Prequel out early this year and book 2 will come out next year. I hope she has more books on the rest of the “family”. I think it’s going to be another good series. I really liked the characters and the storyline. I really loved Rafe and Edwina. What a perfect pair. The characters were well written and a fun journey. Just a great read.
I would definitely recommend this book.
September 3, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Available now!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
Steam: 🌶/5 (a little bit of steam, some description in scenes)
No spoiler review 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
This is the first book in the All The Duke’s Sins series!
I really enjoyed this historical romance book!
Edwina is an etiquette instructor hired by a Duke to bring his 31 year old illegitimate son, back to London to enter society beside him.
Rafe (his oldest son) is a coal miner and wants nothing to do with the Duke. Edwina travels to the country to help convince him to come back to London with her.
This book was hilarious. Both these characters are stubborn and assertive, lots of arguments and tension filled conversations. This is for sure an awesome grump and sunshine read, with enemies to lovers elements. (Some of my favourite things in a romance).
I loved Edwinas character, she’s self made, assertive and does everything with a smile. She was such a fun character to read. Her and Rafe had so much good chemistry.
The dialogue was some of the best part of this romance!
I also loved Rafes sister Cailin. She was hilarious and I would love to read more of her!
There were a few minimal steamy scenes in this book. More on the lighter side of descriptions.
I gave this book 4 stars as some parts in the middle were a little slow.
That being said, overall it was a fun historical romance read with excellent tension and banter! I recommend this one and will pick up books from this author in the future.
Available now!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
Steam: 🌶/5 (a little bit of steam, some description in scenes)
No spoiler review 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
This is the first book in the All The Duke’s Sins series!
I really enjoyed this historical romance book!
Edwina is an etiquette instructor hired by a Duke to bring his 31 year old illegitimate son, back to London to enter society beside him.
Rafe (his oldest son) is a coal miner and wants nothing to do with the Duke. Edwina travels to the country to help convince him to come back to London with her.
This book was hilarious. Both these characters are stubborn and assertive, lots of arguments and tension filled conversations. This is for sure an awesome grump and sunshine read, with enemies to lovers elements. (Some of my favourite things in a romance).
I loved Edwinas character, she’s self made, assertive and does everything with a smile. She was such a fun character to read. Her and Rafe had so much good chemistry.
The dialogue was some of the best part of this romance!
I also loved Rafes sister Cailin. She was hilarious and I would love to read more of her!
There were a few minimal steamy scenes in this book. More on the lighter side of descriptions.
I gave this book 4 stars as some parts in the middle were a little slow.
That being said, overall it was a fun historical romance read with excellent tension and banter! I recommend this one and will pick up books from this author in the future.
March 3, 2024
It disturbed me rating a Christi Caldwell book 2-stars because I’ve read several of her books, many of which are 4- and 5-stars. But this book isn’t up to her usually high standards.
It was an interesting premise. Rafe Audley is a 31-year-old coal miner and the illegitimate son of the Duke of Bentley and wants nothing to do with his father who now wants plenty to do with him. The duke is attempting to make up for the abandonment of his children, all illegitimate. Rafe has refused to have anything to do with him. Enter Miss Edwina Dalrymple, a governess charged with bringing him to London to meet his father, the duke, and teaching him how to get along in “polite society.” Miss Dalrymple is herself an illegitimate daughter of a marquess, a fact she keeps hidden from everyone.
Sounds intriguing, a battle of wills, surely. And so it is. But the first half of the book is laced with cruelty and self-centeredness on the part of the heroine, Miss Dalrymple, and parts that I believe are meant to be amusing fall flat. There is an extended scene at the mines where they meet, and she has a difficult time dealing with mud and her umbrella. I think it is meant to be humorous, but mostly it’s a silly, overly contrived meet-cute. Miss Dalrymple is attracted to the man who is to be her charge, but he does not share the same attraction.
Again, a pretty good premise. But it doesn’t get off the ground. Miss Dalrymple, in her quasi-prim way, lusts after him. The games continue as she beleaguers him and refuses to leave him alone. They are thrown together (more by the writer than by circumstances) and ultimately, he gives in and off to London they go.
There are huge misunderstandings, some of them making Miss Dalrymple seem not only shallow, but self-involved to the extent of being unable to see anyone else’s point of view or feelings. For instance, she cannot understand why Rafe “for reasons she’d never understand, [was] determined to remain at the Cheadle coalfields, risking life and limb, when he could be pursuing a future that was safe and secure.” The writer has already shown us how much the job meant to Rafe, that he made a huge difference in the lives of the men who worked under him. It was linked to his sense of self-worth. But Miss Dalrymple saw only a man who stood to gain a fortune and a wealthy future if he’d only listen to her. She did not respect the man, merely the life he could have in London as the recognized son of a duke.
Miss Dalrymple needs Rafe to do as she demands; this is her only opportunity to break into the aristocracy as a governess for the wealthy blue bloods. That is what Rafe means to her. She sets out to ruin him at the coal mines by buying off his employer into terminating him. Her thinking was that he would then go off to London with her to confront his father. I found this cruel and underhanded, the very things Miss Dalrymple teaches her charges never to be. So, she’s also deceitful. She is fast becoming a tiresome heroine and I found myself liking her less and less with each turn of the page.
At a scene in Rafe’s home, Miss Dalrymple laughs at his being terminated. She accuses him of rudeness, and this is extraordinary since she is the one who betrayed him and is being rude—and obnoxious—in his home. At this point I considered putting the book aside. This was no longer an amusing tit-for-tat, back-and-forth battle of wits. The situation was demeaning to both characters. Miss Dalrymple’s betrayal is absurd and hostile. While Rafe’s ego is not fragile, his capability has been called into question and knocked over. Miss Dalrymple has shown herself to be harsh and thoughtless, someone who wants more than anything to be part of the empty aristocracy and she’ll stop at nothing to get there. On her road to her own perceived happiness, she also has a hand in harming the relationship between Rafe and his brother, Hunter.
At one point in the book, Miss Dalrymple ruminates on how much she abhorred country living and once again we are told that “she could never understand” Rafe’s preference for it. She further remembers how horrible and cruel her own father was, regarding her illegitimacy. And this is the world she is thrusting Rafe into. He was an assignment to her, a way to be “set…free from ever having to worry about returning to the country and being gossiped about and mocked.” It’s all about her. Later still, she fusses internally about Rafe’s erroneous opinions of her, and yet she’s brought those opinions on herself, by her inherent dishonesty.
By the end of chapter 11, they were lusting after each other and I had to speedread. Miss Dalrymple, by now, had passed ridiculous and moved on to tiring and tedious. By the end of chapter 12, I started skipping paragraphs and found I was still able to keep up with the plot. In chapter 15, at the 60% completion mark, I found myself no longer caring about the characters.
There is, of course, an HEA—as there must be in a romance—but it feels unearned. Too many miracles occur, and all is well. Rafe Aubrey and Edwina Dalrymple feel like pawns on a chessboard. Their moves seem forced. The terrible things that Miss Dalrymple did cannot be erased because she and Rafe have come to terms with one another. There were too many acts of malice to be undone by the sweep of a storyline. All the epiphanies the various characters seem to have at the end of the book cannot condone the nastiness of our heroine at the beginning.
That is why I rated the book 2-stars. While the writing is strong, the story felt forced, and it was too easy to see the characters being manipulated. Conflict is important in a romance, in any genre, really. But the conflict here just seemed “off.” Sadly, Miss Dalrymple was callous, and she lied too readily. I would not have trusted her; why should Rafe, our hero? Since the name of this series is “All the Duke’s Sins,” and “duke” is singular, then I would guess that the series is about the duke’s illegitimate children. As much as I’ve enjoyed many books by Ms. Caldwell, I believe I’ll pass on this series.
It was an interesting premise. Rafe Audley is a 31-year-old coal miner and the illegitimate son of the Duke of Bentley and wants nothing to do with his father who now wants plenty to do with him. The duke is attempting to make up for the abandonment of his children, all illegitimate. Rafe has refused to have anything to do with him. Enter Miss Edwina Dalrymple, a governess charged with bringing him to London to meet his father, the duke, and teaching him how to get along in “polite society.” Miss Dalrymple is herself an illegitimate daughter of a marquess, a fact she keeps hidden from everyone.
Sounds intriguing, a battle of wills, surely. And so it is. But the first half of the book is laced with cruelty and self-centeredness on the part of the heroine, Miss Dalrymple, and parts that I believe are meant to be amusing fall flat. There is an extended scene at the mines where they meet, and she has a difficult time dealing with mud and her umbrella. I think it is meant to be humorous, but mostly it’s a silly, overly contrived meet-cute. Miss Dalrymple is attracted to the man who is to be her charge, but he does not share the same attraction.
Again, a pretty good premise. But it doesn’t get off the ground. Miss Dalrymple, in her quasi-prim way, lusts after him. The games continue as she beleaguers him and refuses to leave him alone. They are thrown together (more by the writer than by circumstances) and ultimately, he gives in and off to London they go.
There are huge misunderstandings, some of them making Miss Dalrymple seem not only shallow, but self-involved to the extent of being unable to see anyone else’s point of view or feelings. For instance, she cannot understand why Rafe “for reasons she’d never understand, [was] determined to remain at the Cheadle coalfields, risking life and limb, when he could be pursuing a future that was safe and secure.” The writer has already shown us how much the job meant to Rafe, that he made a huge difference in the lives of the men who worked under him. It was linked to his sense of self-worth. But Miss Dalrymple saw only a man who stood to gain a fortune and a wealthy future if he’d only listen to her. She did not respect the man, merely the life he could have in London as the recognized son of a duke.
Miss Dalrymple needs Rafe to do as she demands; this is her only opportunity to break into the aristocracy as a governess for the wealthy blue bloods. That is what Rafe means to her. She sets out to ruin him at the coal mines by buying off his employer into terminating him. Her thinking was that he would then go off to London with her to confront his father. I found this cruel and underhanded, the very things Miss Dalrymple teaches her charges never to be. So, she’s also deceitful. She is fast becoming a tiresome heroine and I found myself liking her less and less with each turn of the page.
At a scene in Rafe’s home, Miss Dalrymple laughs at his being terminated. She accuses him of rudeness, and this is extraordinary since she is the one who betrayed him and is being rude—and obnoxious—in his home. At this point I considered putting the book aside. This was no longer an amusing tit-for-tat, back-and-forth battle of wits. The situation was demeaning to both characters. Miss Dalrymple’s betrayal is absurd and hostile. While Rafe’s ego is not fragile, his capability has been called into question and knocked over. Miss Dalrymple has shown herself to be harsh and thoughtless, someone who wants more than anything to be part of the empty aristocracy and she’ll stop at nothing to get there. On her road to her own perceived happiness, she also has a hand in harming the relationship between Rafe and his brother, Hunter.
At one point in the book, Miss Dalrymple ruminates on how much she abhorred country living and once again we are told that “she could never understand” Rafe’s preference for it. She further remembers how horrible and cruel her own father was, regarding her illegitimacy. And this is the world she is thrusting Rafe into. He was an assignment to her, a way to be “set…free from ever having to worry about returning to the country and being gossiped about and mocked.” It’s all about her. Later still, she fusses internally about Rafe’s erroneous opinions of her, and yet she’s brought those opinions on herself, by her inherent dishonesty.
By the end of chapter 11, they were lusting after each other and I had to speedread. Miss Dalrymple, by now, had passed ridiculous and moved on to tiring and tedious. By the end of chapter 12, I started skipping paragraphs and found I was still able to keep up with the plot. In chapter 15, at the 60% completion mark, I found myself no longer caring about the characters.
There is, of course, an HEA—as there must be in a romance—but it feels unearned. Too many miracles occur, and all is well. Rafe Aubrey and Edwina Dalrymple feel like pawns on a chessboard. Their moves seem forced. The terrible things that Miss Dalrymple did cannot be erased because she and Rafe have come to terms with one another. There were too many acts of malice to be undone by the sweep of a storyline. All the epiphanies the various characters seem to have at the end of the book cannot condone the nastiness of our heroine at the beginning.
That is why I rated the book 2-stars. While the writing is strong, the story felt forced, and it was too easy to see the characters being manipulated. Conflict is important in a romance, in any genre, really. But the conflict here just seemed “off.” Sadly, Miss Dalrymple was callous, and she lied too readily. I would not have trusted her; why should Rafe, our hero? Since the name of this series is “All the Duke’s Sins,” and “duke” is singular, then I would guess that the series is about the duke’s illegitimate children. As much as I’ve enjoyed many books by Ms. Caldwell, I believe I’ll pass on this series.
August 16, 2021
As with every Christi Caldwell book I read, I ended my reading experience feeling very satisfied and anxious for the next book in the series. Christi has a magic about her writing that always leaves me breathless, creating characters who are unique and relatable, a setting that makes you feel you are there alongside them, and a plot that shows you the way romance should be. The amazing thing is - she writes multiple books a year and yet, I never feel that an idea is recycled or a character reused. Each book is unique, each character is crafted with care, and I am always shocked when I get to the end and realize there is no more book. I always want more from this author, even when she ties everything up in a neat bow for us to feel closure.
Bastard born and living under a false identity, Miss Edwina Dalrymple is working hard to create a life for herself as an etiquette instructor for young ladies. She has been unable to break into the realm of aristocracy, however...until now. When she is summoned by the the Duke and Duchess of Bentley, she assume she is to help bring a female relation up to snuff for the coming season. She assumes wrong, because the relation is the duke's illegitimate child...and is a son. Tasked with retrieving him from the coalfields where he lives and bringing him back to London, Edwina is determined to succeed. Her livelihood depends on it. However, it requires the cooperation of a man who is also determined to stay far away from his errant father. Rafe Audley watched his mother die 18 years ago birthing the last of the duke's illegitimate children, with no sign of the duke's care or consideration for her welfare or that of her children. He has no intention of going to London. When two stubborn minds collide, it's winner takes all, and now they must both decide what winning really means.
I adored Edwina from the start - a determined, successful young woman making her way in a world that would normally shun her if they learned of her birth and circumstances, she was inspiring. I loved her good humor, the way she handled difficult situations, and her consistent dedication to getting the job done. It was hard watching her get to know Rafe, because he looked down on her, thinking she was just another highborn lady who has taken to service. He didn't know they had illegitimacy in common, and the reader could see that Edwina really wanted to have that connection with Rafe be known to him, if it weren't for her fear of revealing her secret. Rafe was a gruff, determined man who had no time for frivolity or manners. He was a working class coal miner who had his siblings to support, and the last thing he wanted to do was give his father the satisfaction of any sort of relationship. As the book progressed, I found it interesting how his gruff exterior changed to let a little vulnerability in - not too much but just enough to let Edwina get a foothold into his heart. He needed someone to show him what could be, and she provided an excellent perspective for him to view London from. Their relationship was very much a slow burn, and with a perceived class difference, I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would be resolved. You will love it, as I did.
I am already eager to see where things go from here, as I always am after reading a novel by Christi Caldwell. If you haven't read her yet, let this be your sign to begin your journey with her writing now.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Bastard born and living under a false identity, Miss Edwina Dalrymple is working hard to create a life for herself as an etiquette instructor for young ladies. She has been unable to break into the realm of aristocracy, however...until now. When she is summoned by the the Duke and Duchess of Bentley, she assume she is to help bring a female relation up to snuff for the coming season. She assumes wrong, because the relation is the duke's illegitimate child...and is a son. Tasked with retrieving him from the coalfields where he lives and bringing him back to London, Edwina is determined to succeed. Her livelihood depends on it. However, it requires the cooperation of a man who is also determined to stay far away from his errant father. Rafe Audley watched his mother die 18 years ago birthing the last of the duke's illegitimate children, with no sign of the duke's care or consideration for her welfare or that of her children. He has no intention of going to London. When two stubborn minds collide, it's winner takes all, and now they must both decide what winning really means.
I adored Edwina from the start - a determined, successful young woman making her way in a world that would normally shun her if they learned of her birth and circumstances, she was inspiring. I loved her good humor, the way she handled difficult situations, and her consistent dedication to getting the job done. It was hard watching her get to know Rafe, because he looked down on her, thinking she was just another highborn lady who has taken to service. He didn't know they had illegitimacy in common, and the reader could see that Edwina really wanted to have that connection with Rafe be known to him, if it weren't for her fear of revealing her secret. Rafe was a gruff, determined man who had no time for frivolity or manners. He was a working class coal miner who had his siblings to support, and the last thing he wanted to do was give his father the satisfaction of any sort of relationship. As the book progressed, I found it interesting how his gruff exterior changed to let a little vulnerability in - not too much but just enough to let Edwina get a foothold into his heart. He needed someone to show him what could be, and she provided an excellent perspective for him to view London from. Their relationship was very much a slow burn, and with a perceived class difference, I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would be resolved. You will love it, as I did.
I am already eager to see where things go from here, as I always am after reading a novel by Christi Caldwell. If you haven't read her yet, let this be your sign to begin your journey with her writing now.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
August 11, 2021
3/5 Stars
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
This was just an average read for me. I found that the book was slow at the beginning and took a while before I felt invested in the plot. It wasn't until closer to the end that I really even cared about what was happening. I wasn't the biggest fan of the characters either. They seemed to annoy more than anything. I also wanted more from the plot. It felt very boring with just the "lessons" and nothing really significant happening. Overall it was just an average read for me. It was quick and easy to read.
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
This was just an average read for me. I found that the book was slow at the beginning and took a while before I felt invested in the plot. It wasn't until closer to the end that I really even cared about what was happening. I wasn't the biggest fan of the characters either. They seemed to annoy more than anything. I also wanted more from the plot. It felt very boring with just the "lessons" and nothing really significant happening. Overall it was just an average read for me. It was quick and easy to read.
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