The first in the Say I do Series, Yours Truly, The Duke, is a lovely historical romance. It features a fierce female protagonist, a thoughtful Duke and adorable children that come together in the wake of tragedy to a form a family. The family finds themselves in a fight over custody of the children with a cousin who feels she's better than their aunt.

Frederick and Wyatt are a wonderful pair. Their bickering was often because Wyatt couldn't never quite say what he needed to say correctly. Yours Truly, The Duke slow-burn was swoon worthy with their constant lip locks. I consumed this book in a day. I especially enjoyed the few verse of poems to open each chapter.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for the complimentary copy.

⭐️⭐️
Yours Truly, The Duke is the first novel in the Say I Do series by Amelia Grey. First, I am a huge fan of Amelia Grey and have loved everything I have read about hers. Unfortunately, I could not invest or relate to this book. The first novel in this series fell flat and did not create a world that kept my attention. The main characters were unlikable for most of the book. There was too much miscommunication and assumptions throughout the book, making some scenes tedious. The character development wasn’t good, and I had a hard time warming to Wyatt. I am sure many will love this book as this is only my opinion. I have to compare this book to the others I have read of Amelia Grey’s and it sadly didn’t measure up for me. However, I will continue to be a fan and read other series by her.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book features a classic marriage of convenience trope in a first novel of a new series from Grey. Wyatt needs a wife and quick. Without one, he will lose his inheritance and his ability to easily fund the hospital he supports. He learns of Fredericka and her need of a husband so she can permanently secure custody of her two nieces and nephew after her sister's death. After maybe the most practical and direct proposal I have ever read, these two agree to a quick marriage where they will lead separate lives but with each getting what they want out of the bargain.

The wrench in their plans comes in the form of Fredericka's cousin, Jane, who wants to fight for custody of the children. This causes Fredericka and the three children to quickly relocate to Wyatt's house in London, upending all their lives. This book was a like, not a love. While I did, overall, like Fredericka and Wyatt they were not the best of communicators and their differences came across as mainly superficial. It was hard to wrap my brain around a Duke having so little influence and power so the problem really never felt tense or dire to me. Fredericka and her cousin were plain juvenile at times. While the book isn't closed door, there really isn't any steam at all, so if that's not something you are interested in this may be good to know. The children were not overly obnoxious and I really enjoyed their interactions with Wyatt. It was fun to see a Duke playing with the children and I appreciated his views on their behaviors.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. While it wasn't my favorite marriage of convenience I have read, it was entertaining and kept my attention.

I really enjoyed this.
This is a bit of a slow burn but I was enjoying the story so much that it wasn't something I noticed until much later. Fredericka and Wyatt really seemed to balance each other out. And even though their marriage wasn't based on love there was no denying their attraction to one another.
This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to see who gets the next book.

Fredericka and Wyatt both need spouses like yesterday.
Fredericka wants to keep her nieces and nephew, they've been in her care since her sister's death. She loves them and wants to keep them from further trauma. Her spoiled cousin is used to getting her way and wants to raise the kids herself because she's barren but believes she and her husband can offer the children more stability.

Wyatt's grandmother left a stipulation in her will. He would not inherit her fortune if he's not married by the end of the week. His solicitor has suggested Miss Fredericka. It works perfectly for him. Once they marry they can lead separate lives, she'll have the protection of his title and be able to stay in her country home.

Wyatt is surprised by how lovely and intelligent she is and soon finds himself wanting to spend more time with her and the children.

But he's caught even more off guard when the lady and children show up on his doorstep after Fredericka's cousin insinuates that her marriage might be real.

Thanks so much to the author, St. Martin's, and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Yours Truly, The Duke by Amelia Grey was wonderful! The plot is a trope seen in many romance novels: a marriage-of-convenience that turns into love. However, I love the historical setting. Felt like I was in Bridgerton or Pride and Prejudice. I loved the characters, Wyatt and Fredricka! Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to find love and this is what the book does. This was my first time reading this author and I love her! Plan to read more!!

This was such an enjoyable romance A well-crafted combination of emotion, heart, drama, humor and heat reads easily and I found it charming. The chemistry between Fredericka and Wyatt was obvious and I appreciated realistic these characters felt. It made them relatable and easy to root for. I'm very much looking forward to the next book.

“Wyatt” Duke of Wyatthaven has just been given the news that he needs to marry to keep an inheritance from his grandmother. He needs to marry to keep the money. Wyatt is about to find that his life just won’t be the same. Fredericka Hale is guardian to her two nieces and nephew. Her guardianship is being threatened by a family member. Fredericka is looking for a husband. Fredericka and Wyatt may find that a marriage of convenience becomes more when Yours Truly, The Duke leads them to love.

Amelia Grey starts her new regency era marriage of convenience story, with the book Yours Truly, The Duke. The first book in the Say I Do series. Two people who need a marriage to solve their individual problems. The Duke of Wyatthaven is looking to keep an inheritance from his long dead grandmother and the only way to do that is by a marriage of convenience. Fredericka Hale is looking to marry to keep guardianship of you nieces and nephew. A marriage is the only way to solve their individual problems. Yours Truly, The Duke is the first book in the Say I Do series by Amelia Grey. A marriage of convenience may become more when desire, helping each other with their problems when they start getting to know each other. Feelings and love grow as two strangers spend unexpected time together and figure out that they're not who they thought each other was. Opposites attract in Yours Truly, The Duke and happiness rains as two people work their way to love. Amelia Grey takes a common regency themed type of romance and spices it up with two people who don’t want to fall in love or change their lives but are forced into when something threatens their way of life. As the first book in the Say I Do series the reader gets to know the characters and their friends and family. This reader loved reading about how knowing each other changes the main characters lives and the precocious children keep the characters on their toes. That perfect isn’t always best and there’s always time for some fun. Which Duke gets his story next Hurst or Rick or maybe their friend Ben, I can’t wait to find out.

This book follows the classic and fun marriage of convenience trope. Fredericka and Wyatt are in situations where they both need to marry quickly. Wyatt must marry to get his inheritance and Fredericka needs to be married so she can keep custody of her cousin’s children. Some of my favorite parts of the book are when the Duke interacts with the children.

As much as I liked these characters, there were some issues that got in the way for me. For a romance novel, the bedroom scenes were missing…less than fade to black and more of ‘did I skip a page…what happened here?’ They were just left for the reader to assume or guess that something happened.

I also thought the ending was a little strange, especially because there was a character that was awful to Fredericka throughout the entire book. Yet, here comes the Duke trotting in with this person at the end so they can have a grand reconciliation. It didn’t really make sense and needed further explanation for me to buy into this ending.

Amelia Grey is usually a must read for me, but this first book in a new series was a miss for me. I liked the premise, and looked forward to reading about the spinster unexpectedly being left to care for her nieces and nephew. The theme of a duke being required to find a bride and marry in a week to earn his inheritance was a bit unmotivated, but this *is* fiction after all.

What bothered me about this story was the somewhat stilted language. I was beginning to wonder if Fredericka had some stomach ailment, as her stomach rolled (with lust and love) through most of her encounters with her husband. Her behavior towards the children she loved was also stilted, and left me wondering where the story was headed.

There were no surprises in the plot after all. The heroine's stomach settled down, and she and the duke resolved their misunderstandings for a romance novel happily ever after.

I'll probably try again with the next book in the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wyatt the Dyke of Wyatthaven has a problem. His grandmother, unknown to him till now, had made part of her will stating that he had to be married by a certain time or a large part of her property would go to a charity for poetry! Wyatt will never let that happen. He has a very little time left to find a woman to marry him. As he hates poetry, he must act fast. His solicitor has found a woman who also needs a husband quickly to stop her cousin from taking her late sisters' children from her. Miss Fredericka Hale never would have dreamed she would be raising three children on her own. A year after the death of her sister and brother in-law she couldn’t love them more. Her cousin Jane is trying to get legal guardianship using the fact she is married and has more money to raise then. Fredericka needs a husband as soon as possible. She has made a list of possible man, but none have worked out till a Duke show up out of the blue and ask her to marry him!! She is shocked, she knows him from what she’s read in the gossip sheets. He is a rouge, with the worst reputation. He and his two best friends are always in the papers. Why is he here? She found out they both have the same problem; both need to marry and quickly a marriage of Convenience would solve both their problems. Plans have been made that her and the children will be taken care of and can stay in the county home they know while he will stay in London with the life he knows. Sounds great but they forgot about evil cousin Jane, and she has other thoughts on how to gain what she wants. Oh my, what a wonderful story of how two people overcome their past hurts and guilt to save the children, put Jane in her place and just maybe fall in love after all. I loved the banter between them, she is not Afraid to tell him just what she thinks and feels. Wyatt is not quite about how the children are too disciplined and not allowed to be just kids. This story has so much heart, passion and love that it all takes time for our couple to find and deal with it. This is a pretty clean story, but the thoughts of both Wyatt and Fredericka are anything but left to your own imagination. Ha, I received an ARC of this story and wish to thank the author. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

I hate to say that this was a miss for me. The subject matter--child custody--is one that is highly emotional, but I felt that the conflicts were handled in a pandering way, with the children becoming pawns just like in the betting book at White's. The adults were stuck in their own heads for 90% of the plot. Neither of the MC's was likable, and the "villainess", Jane, did not earn redemption. There's also no steam for a book that seemed to be promising it.

Although you know why Fredericka is rigid in her views on child-rearing, she's frequently over-the-top and seems to want to pick fights with her husband, Wyatt. There's a jarring scene toward the end when she becomes physically violent. Scenes like this turn my stomach, especially when, as a reader, you're aware of the abuse Wyatt witnessed when he was younger.

Wyatt (we never learn his full name, who knows why) was easier to like at times, but the way he pushed away Fredericka and the kids at the beginning, unrealistically believing that he didn't have to behave like a husband or actually consummate his marriage to help Fredericka's case, really bothered me. Even worse, he has a mistress during his marriage. It doesn't matter if he has stopped sleeping with the woman, why hasn't he parted ways with her?

Wyatt and Fredericka's chemistry started with promise, but sputtered when he kept obsessing about taking things slow when there was no reason to. There was just scene after scene of them noticing each other's beauty with nothing real happening. Wyatt believes their "instalust" equates to love at the end, which only highlights the lack of development of their relationship throughout the storyline. They never communicate, never open up. The actual sex is only hinted at (I think they had sex?? Maybe??). Honestly, I was done with both of the MC's by the 80% mark.

The best things I can say about this book are that it had a good premise, the writing style is generally lovely, and the kids are endearing as opposed to being annoying. They were the only reason I kept reading.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.

Amelia Grey is a new favorite author. This is the first in a new series. Loved the characters and setting of this one. Romantic and fun! Will definitely read more by this author.

thank you to net galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book by this author but it wont be my last. I loved the instant family element in this book and the way Fredericka and Wyatt come together slowly as they get to know each other.

The marriage-of-convenience trope was so well-written in this book and I loved the way two people living their separate lives grew to change their lifestyles and accept the other.

While this book is on the low side of steamy, I didn't seem to miss it. We got to see some action and tense scenes.

I hate to give poor ratings for books, because what I think is a two-star, someone else might consider a five-star! I don’t usually dabble in “The Duke” genre, so maybe that’s why I didn’t love this story? The conversations just didn’t seem to flow naturally to me. I was having to suspend my belief in reality more than I would usually have to in romance books. This one was just ok for me.

Amelia Grey's YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE is a pleasant marriage-of-convenience read. The trope is executed wonderfully and Fredricka and Wyatt have a great meet-cute. Fredricka is an incredibly sympathetic heroine; her compassion and dedication to her nieces and nephew is beautiful. Wyatt is in many ways the typical charming, privileged duke that experiences character growth. The children are adorable; Jane deserves to walk a mile of Legos (even with the ending). I love how the story explores the impact of childhood and generational trauma, and the opportunity for healing. That being said, while I get that there are some constraints with time period, etc., I still wish that the story had been a little more progressive (it is 2023 after all). There's no reason for the duke to say stuff that perpetuates gender norms like "Men have to be patient and wait for ladies to go first" and "Boys are to take care of girls. They don't lead them astray." That aside, YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE is still an enjoyable romance that I'm sure many readers will love.

Fredricka is caring for her late sister’s three children and trying to find a husband. Her cousin, Jane, who is married, is trying to take custody of the children. Wyatt needs to get married in order to receive a sizable inheritance from his grandmother. They agree on a marriage of convenience so each can get what they need. Wyatt returns to London and Fredricka stays at her estate in the country. After getting married to a Duke, Fredricka thinks that Jane will drop her bid to take the children, but she doesn’t. A worried Fredricka goes to London with the kids and she and Wyatt try to prove that they are really married. I loved the anticipation of Wyatt and Fredricka getting together, but the actual moment was a big letdown. No description. And Fredricka was not a likeable person at all. She took everything Wyatt said the wrong way. She berated him constantly. I don’t know what he saw in her. Ugh.

The Duke of Wyatthaven needs a wife by the end of the week in order to receive an inheritance from his grandmother. Fredericka Hale needs a husband to help her retain custody of her sister’s children. Wyatt decides that Fredericka will be the one for him, he proposes. Actually, he sends her a note. Even so, they do marry, a true marriage of convenience. When circumstances revolving around the children bring them together, things change. Both Wyatt and Fredericka change and rethink their marriage, and feelings between them grow. Yours Truly, the Duke is a marriage of convenience story and the beginning of the new Say I Do series. The story is interesting, has a few twists and turns, three adorable children, and a romance that was mean to be.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGallery and am voluntarily reviewing it.

My first time reading a novel by Amelia Grey, and it was a so-so experience. The plot is a trope seen in many romance novels: a marriage-of-convenience that turns into love.

In this one, Frederick Hale is a young, unmarried woman raising her 2 nieces and 1 nephew following their death in a tragic accident. However, her cousin Jane is trying to get custody of the children. Hence, Fredericka's need for a husband - it would give her more leverage against Jane.
The Duke of Wyatthaven, known to all as simply Wyatt, needs to marry within a week's time, or he'll lose the Inheritance his grandmother left him. The two come together via Wyatt's solicitor.

Of course, their relationship has bumps along the way. Some of them are caused by miscommunication and preconceived notions and plain old gossip. But some are caused by Fredericka being too obsessed with perfection in the children (it becomes annoying, and I felt sorry for the kids) and her constant chastising of Wyatt (he had a lot of patience, almost too much).

What really set me off is the terrible 'apology' Jane offered Fredericka. It wasn't a good one for the time period, and it certainly wouldn't fly now. She and the dead Angela went out of their way to marginalize Fredericka when they were kids, and Jane continued the rudeness as an adult. It's sad she couldn't have kids, but judging how many times she had to rest a whole at a time due to her headaches, it's better that she didn't. Motherhood wouldn't suit her at all.

I wish I could say I enjoyed this from start to finish, but I can't. Only the moments when the children were relaxed, and when Wyatt finally used the information he had concerning the Lord Chancellor were fun. Even the actual romance scenes were a bit of a bore.
Maybe at a later time, I'll try another Amelia Grey novel. Hopefully it will be more engaging than this one was.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

Yours Truly, The Duke is a delightful first novel in the new Say I Do trilogy by author Amelia Grey. Grey is a go-to author for me who never disappoints and this book is no exception. I love Regency romance, with its rigid rules and instant attractions, roadblocks that must be overcome before the much-anticipated HEA, and characters who often don’t even believe they are in love. Yours Truly, The Duke has all this and much, much more.

Neither Fredericka nor Wyatt wants to be married, but they stand to lose if they aren’t. As a single woman, maintaining custody of her orphaned nieces and nephew is unlikely in light of her married, well-to-do cousin’s challenge. Wyatt will lose an inheritance from his grandmother’s estate unless he meets the condition that he is now a husband. A marriage of convenience seems the perfect solution. Fredericka can stay in the countryside she loves, the children secure. Wyatt can continue his wild bachelor life until he needs an heir. Except . . .

Fredericka’s cousin Jane is childless and determined to have those children, not because of an overwhelming love for them but because that’s the way it should be. Jane and Fredericka’s sister were close and excluded her and treated her cruelly. So when Jane intensifies the custody battle Fredericka worries that she will lose if she and Wyatt don’t appear to be a genuine loving couple, a family, and she therefore shows up unannounced with the children at Wyatt’s London home. This interferes with his daily, nightly, weekly, constant gaming and once again Fredericka feels unwanted and unwelcome, and wonders how Wyatt can be so selfish and greedy. But she knows nothing about his life - is there more below the surface?

The attraction between Fredericka and Wyatt was instant and undeniable, right from the start of the decidedly unromantic proposal. And although real marriage isn’t on the agenda for either of them, as the children settle in and they all fall into certain routines family life slowly begins to seem real.

Yours Truly, The Duke is a sweet story, with tender moments, steamy moments, and scary moments when the custody battle and secrets people in position of high authority don’t want revealed enter their lives. Fredericka and Wyatt become closer and closer, initially clumsily and reluctantly, with misunderstandings and humor and tears, but when they begin to genuinely appreciate and value each other they are formidable and no one can stop them.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press SMP Romance for providing an advance copy of Yours Truly, The Duke via NetGalley for my enjoyment and honest opinion. Very, very enjoyable indeed. I highly recommend it and cannot wait for this next book in this wonderful trilogy. All opinions are my own

"Fredericka Hale needs a husband, and fast. She’s been caring for her deceased sister’s three young children, and now a childless cousin has petitioned the court for custody. Fredericka is powerless to stop her, but having a husband might sway the ruling. The last thing Fredericka wants is a hurried-up marriage to a man she doesn’t know—much less love, but she’ll do it for the children. So when the handsome Duke of Wyatthaven shows up with a proposal, she accepts. He'll help her, and in return, they’ll lead separate lives. But distance cannot keep them from their powerful attraction."
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.