This was a fun book and I liked the story and conflict and the couple broadly. it wasn't one for the ages, but I was engroseed while reading it which is the whole point!

This was a first time read for me by this author. I haven't had the opportunity to read a lot of Harlequin Historicals, but after reading this one, I will definitely be looking for more. This was a delightful and charming story and kept me engaged from beginning to end. Sophie is a young widow and has finished her year of mourning. Her marriage was not a happy one, as her husband's mistress also took up residence in their home. When the mistress disappears with her husband's diaries, there is an urgency to find them as they could cause a great scandal, should they fall into the wrong hands. She then hires Lord Nicholas to help her locate and retrieve them. Sophie had no intention of marrying again and was ready to start her life with her newfound independence and her young son, but when she meets Nicholas, she is completely drawn to him, and he to her. The sparks fly strong between them and they cannot deny the attraction they feel for each other.
This was a very enjoyable read and I enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them grow closer. It was a well-written, intriguing story, and was such a pleasure to read. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

A good category regency romance novel featuring one of my favourite tropes: a widow with a disappointing/loveless first marriage finding love.

This novel packs a lot of plot arcs into one category length book. It has an adventure/caper angle as the main characters retrieve stolen documents, it has a revenge plot, it has the main romantic arc, it has the hero’s relationship with his estranged father, and the heroine’s transformation from a detached and dutiful lady to someone who considers her own wants in addition to sense of duty.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy. My review is my own honest reflections on my reading experience.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Now that she has finished her mourning period, Sophie, Dowager Duchess of St Edmund's only focus is on raising her young son, Freddie. She had been little more than an incubator for her late husband, who married her only for an heir, and lived with his mistress under the same roof. When he died, the mistress stole some of his diaries, which contained secrets that would lead to public disgrace if they were ever discovered. With only her childhood friend, Duncan, to rely on Sophie begs for help, and Duncan recommends Nicholas Pascoe for the job. Nicholas is unlike any man Sophie has ever met. He's not at all differential and is far more confident than she would expect a working man to be. But he's actually a lord, though his relationship with his father is a strained one. Working together to save Freddie's future, Nick and Sophie have their work cute out for them, and not just in protecting their own hearts.

I really enjoyed this book! Sophie and Nick's romance was epic, and their banter and camaraderie was definitely more than just lust and desire. Yes, there were moments of jealousy as Nick tried to work on Mrs Sweeting to get a hold of the diaries, but he was so caring to Sophie. She really needed that, and seeing him with Freddie, as a father should be, was wonderful too. They didn't have a smooth romance, and the mistress wasn't about to go down without a fight, but all turned out great in the end. A phenomenal Regency romance!

Regency Romance… Widow Duchess Sophie has a problem. Her late husband’s diaries were stolen. If the contents are exposed, then it affect her son’s inheritance. So, she hires Nicholas to retrieve the diaries. The interaction between h&h were good. It is about taking the chance to love again and trust someone. This is the type of book you curl up on a raining day with a warm fuzzy blanket and just enjoy it. I liked this book, and it was surprising, sweet in a lot of ways. I enjoyed this and would recommend this to other people.

**I received this book from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fantastic story that kept me hooked from start to finish. Sophie is a young widow who has just finished her year of mourning. She looks forward to her independence and caring for her young son. She has no intention of marrying again and giving up her freedom but will devote her time to raising her son and caring for his estates until he is grown.

Her marriage wasn't happy, with her much older husband moving his mistress into their home. Even after his death, she was stuck with the woman until the year's mourning ended. On that day, Sophie discovered the mistress gone, along with several of the duke's diaries - diaries that would create an enormous scandal if they were made public. Desperate to prevent that scandal, she hires "problem fixer" Nicholas Pascoe to retrieve them.

I loved the first meeting between Sophie and Nick. He is handsome, confident, and not at all deferential. Something about him stirs her up, and she doesn't like it. Nick is equally drawn to her and just as dismayed. He doesn't need the distraction while he works to retrieve the diaries. I enjoyed the sparks that flew between them during that meeting as they wrangled over the details of the mission. Nick's methods are effective, and I had fun watching him work his wiles on Mrs. Sweeting. There are some tense moments when his search faces disaster, but quick-thinking Sophie saves the day.

At the same time, the attraction between Sophie and Nick continues to grow. Their chemistry is explosive, and they also find themselves becoming friends. Each finds themselves thinking of the impossibility of their growing feelings for each other. But Nick is hiding a secret that could change everything. I loved that he trusted Sophie enough to share his story and that she cared enough to help him. I loved seeing her play referee at the ball.

But the defeated mistress has one last card to play, and it is a doozy. The mayhem she causes forces Nick's hand regarding his future and his need to protect Sophie. I loved how cool and calm he was as he carried out his plans. I ached for both, as each was reluctant to confess their feelings, their fear of rejection creating distance between them. I could have shaken them both when miscommunication caused misunderstandings and harsh words. The ending was heartwarmingly emotional, with both admitting to their fears and mistakes and their love.

I loved Sophie's son Freddie. He's realistically portrayed for his age, with good and bad moments. Sophie doesn't spoil him and intends to ensure he grows into a responsible man. It was sweet to see how he took to "Pas!" and that Nick was equally enchanted with him. My favorite scene with them was the coach ride when Nick and Freddie went to ride on top to give Sophie a break. The two were adorable together.

Exceedingly romantic....

Nicholas Pascoe has been hired by Sophia, a widowed duchess to retrieve her deceased husband's stolen diaries. His is a human rapier who makes problems go away and Sophia needs those diaries back to protect her one year old son from her husband's mistress. From the moment Pascoe meets Sophia, he is extremely aware of her as a woman, something no man around her seems to do. (Sidebar, Duncan Grant needs his own story, please).

This is very much the liberation of Sophia. Born a daughter to a marquess, the wife of a duke and the mother to a duke, She is a very young widow who is just out of mourning and becoming aware of her power. Meanwhile, Nicholas is seething with emotions for Sophia, something he is not accustomed to - having feelings. Yet, he loves her and is struggling with all his boiling emotions.

Highly Recommend. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

Widow Sophie discovers that her late husband's mistress has stolen his secret diaries. She hires Nicholas to retrieve them. When the dangerous plot forces them to work together, will their lives—and their hearts—emerge unscathed?

I enjoyed the characters and the intrigue in this novel. Dutiful Sophie and roguish Nicholas were perfect foils for one another.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I usually like this author, but this book was rather boring and the two main characters had no chemistry with each other at all....I don't know, maybe it was not the right time for me to read this book.

Di solito questa autrice mi piace, ma questo libro é stato piuttosto noioso e i due protagonisti non avevano per niente chimica tra di loro. Non saprei, forse non era il momento giusto per me di leggere questo libro.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Propulsive and steamy

When the widowed Duchess Sophie ends her formal mourning period, she expects to quietly settle down with an eligible gentleman of an appropriate rank. However, when her family is threatened by scandal, she hires a rogue who is just as alluring as he is effective.

This was a propulsive, well-researched, and well-written read! The characters really came alive and their chemistry was evident from the outset. Nicholas has an especially complex and interesting backstory. The author strikes a nice balance between the inclusion of period-appropriate details and making the story recognizable and relatable to a modern audience. I do feel that the miscommunication at the end was drawn out, but I personally struggle with conflicts that stem from a lack of frank conversation.

Overall, a fast-paced and romantic page-turner!

Thank you to Harlequin US & Canada Historical for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review on Goodreads.

Needing to get something back that her deceased husband’s mistress stole, Sophie hires Nicholas to steal it back. They try to ignore the growing attraction they have for each other. When they are forced to marry due to scandal, they each are afraid to admit they love each other. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin for my honest review.

I was provided an arc e-copy by the publisher Harlequin Historical by the author Louise Allen so I can give a honest review thank you so much so I can give a honest review.

I love reading Harlequin Historical something about these stories warms my heart. A Rogue for the Dutiful Duchess was a delightful read I love these two characters I can't wait to read her next book 5 star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Happy Reading
Lisa📚

In Regency England Sophie is a straight as an arrow Duchess. As innocent as a virgin. But she fiercely protects her son and simply must stop her late husband’s diaries being made public and bring down scandal. Nicholas is a shady but dreamy character and she hires him to retrieve the diaries. But Nicholas is not what he seems to be. Can there be a chance for a relationship? And what of the danger facing them both even now that the diaries have been found?
This tale is sweet but seductive with a dose of the thriller to it. A wonderful exciting read. Although, the stimulating sexy bits are not too terribly explicit so it has a broader appeal. I’d say it was mild to hot. Both characters are engaging and we have dual POVs to let us in to their hearts - and libido’s. It is not a case of mild danger -> fall in love -> end of story. It is much richer than that and more genuine, realistic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one, in which the heroine seeks help from someone she can’t stand to protect her son. Got to say that the hate to love stories makes the best romance stories.