4.25 Stars
Major Elijah Young never met his father, the Duke of Bradford, who believed his young wife betrayed him and gave birth to twins sired by another man. Now, his father has died & his brother Gil died after rescuing a mother & baby from a burning house in Spain making Elijah the new duke. Elijah vows never to wed and father children, wanting the ducal line to end with him. Miss Abigail Trent became an orphan at the age of fourteen and has spent a decade with her guardian, Lord Ladiwyck journeying to exotic countries around the world. Abby takes her experiences and begins Trent Furnishings, sketching furniture influenced by her travels and having craftsmen bring her visions to life. Neither Elijah nor Abby want marriage yet their attraction grows as she accepts his commission to furnish his entire London townhouse.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. Another captivating read from the author. I really liked both Elijah & Abby & loved how their relationship grew as they fell in love Their verbal banter was delightful, they were two square pins trying to fit into the round hole of the ton. I loved Elijah’s mother & my heart went out to her for how she’d been treated & I’m glad she found happiness. A lovely read which I devoured in a sitting
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

"Designs on the Duke" is my favorite entry thus far in Alexa Aston's "Suddenly a Duke" series. It is a standalone, though characters from the previous books do make cameos. Abigail Trent is a furniture designer who spent her recent years traveling the world with her aristocratic guardian. She does not see marriage in her future given that she wants to build her business and does not want to give it over to the control of a man. Elijah Young was not supposed to be Duke of Bradford but the death of his older twin brother gives him no choice. Elijah is dealing with past trauma surrounding a terrible father, but he does still have a loving mother.

Elijah and his mother have a meet cute with Abigail and her guardian, which feels like kismet as Elijah needs to furnish his entire London townhouse. As he spends time with Abigail, Elijah begins to question if he does indeed want to spend his future alone. But Abigail struggles with the notion of giving up her business. The duo has to work through communication issue after communication issue to determine if they will get their HEA.

This romance is one where there is no big bad, unless you count the inability of either MC to have an honest conversation with the other. The characters provide a sweet (though slightly steamy) love story. Both are good people with some internal issues, so totally identifiable. The story flowed well, and the connection between Abigail and Elijah is obvious. A lovely way to pass a few hours, especially with the secondary love story,

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and DragonBlade for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Nice quick read. This series is a lot of fun, and the newest installment is another surprise Duke meets a businesswoman. Abby is a world traveler who has started her own furniture design business. Elijah is a war hero who becomes Duke. Neither is interested in marriage. They are quickly brought together and sparks fly. The question is, will they get their HEA.

Elijah was a great character and I loved every interaction with him. Abby was fun and different (because of her background and life experiences). But Alexa Aston always excels in BACKGROUND CHARACTERS. Abby's guardian and Elijah's mother practically stole the show.

The book is 250 pages, but it really was a quick read. Perfect summer beach reading.

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

Though the son of the Duke of Bradford, Elijah Young never met his late father, nor did he expect to inherit. After his mother married the previous duke and fell pregnant, she was thrown out and accused of carrying illegitimate sons. All throughout his life, Elijah's mother has claimed that he and his twin, Gil, were true born sons, and Gil would one day inherit. Unfortunately, both brothers served in the war, and just before they discovered their father's death, Gil was killed. Now Elijah is duke, though his homes have been stripped of all their possessions. Luckily the first people he meets in society are the Earl of Ladiwyck and Miss Abigail Trent, the owner and designer at Trent Furnishings. Elijah immediately hires Abby to furnish his townhouse, and other properties, and soon realises that though he's always said he would never marry or have children, Abby is making he reconsider.

Another great tale with the hero being someone outside of society, and the heroine being a lady who works for her living. I liked how Elijah and Abby met, and how close both they became, as well as Ladiwyck and the duchess. The fact the late duke had been so vindictive as to refuse to support his pregnant wife, and leave her and their twin boys penniless was horrific, and to top it all off, he sold all the furnishings of the estate off, so that whenever they do inherit, they won't have anywhere to live. It was quite lucky that there was still enough money in the bank to buy new, and Abby worked her socks off to create the home that Elijah wanted. There was less conflict in this book as there had been in previous ones, but the romance was still great, as was the secondary plot line of the Duchess and Ladiwyck. I can't wait to see what happens next for our couples so far.

A Charming Love Story

A warm tender love story between Elijah the new Duke of Bradford and Miss Abigail Trent! Both strong characters, each with their own charms! Abby had travelled the world with her guardian and was now settling down to open her own furniture business. Elijah rejected by his father, he was determined never to marry and have children with his bloodline.

This is a beautiful well written romance, a slow burn into love with a touch of steam leading to a wonderful HEA with some emotional moments along the way which will touch your heart.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is book 3 in the Suddenly a Duke series. All three books are about men who inherit unexpectedly a Dukedom. They also all three meet women who are intelligent, artistic and strong-minded.
A book one. We have a woman who is a painter, portraitist and in book two we have a woman who is a musician, cellist.
In this book we have Abby, who is a designer. But she is a designer, not a rooms, but a furniture. She actually draws designs and manufacturers her own furniture. She has a shop where she makes it, and a store where she sells it. In all three cases, the women are focused on their careers and do not really want to pursue marriage. So it is up to the dukes to change their mind.
So Abby meets The Duke of Bradford, Elijah just as she's ready to open her store. There is an instant chemistry there between them. So this is the typical boy meets girl, boy likes girl girl likes boy story. But Abby is very focused on her career and is not looking to marry.
I've enjoyed all three books. I like the idea of having strong-minded women who know what they want and pursue their careers despite what people around them say.
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An other amazing story from our favourite author Alexa Aston . This is the fourth book of the series Suddenly a Duke . Elijah and his twin brother where titled but where raised with little money . His father was a Duke but he thought his Duchess had cheated and he didn't accept her babies as his children . Now that the Duke died and his brother also died at the battlefield he is the new Duke of Brandford . All his estates all empty and he has to furnish them . One of the first people he meets in London is Miss Abby Trent who happens to be a furniture designer and owner of Trent Furnishings . Abby was raised by her father's best friend Lord Ladiwyck a man who loved to travel the world and that helped her with her creations . While she is furnishes his manor they fall in love but they both are having their reasons to not want to get married . I loved that we saw that his mother had her own happy end .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

Usually I love Ms. Aston's books, but this one left me flat. I almost stopped reading at 50% but decided to keep going as it wasn't a very long book. The second half did get better and I thought the premise of the young woman having a profession was a good hook instead of the usual glittering ballrooms. However, I didn't connect with either of the two main characters. I did like the side plot of the duke's mother and the hardships she faced throughout her life and I was happy to see she got a HEA as well.

While this was not one of my favorites, I look forward to reading Ms. Aston's next book.

Two Deserving Romances That Captured My Heart:
What a lovely and charming story this turned out to be. It follows the plot of the series with the ladies who are amongst the working professionals who marry a new duke.
Elijah the Duke of Bradford has just found out that his newly inherited home is completely devoid of furnishings'.
Meeting Abigail a young attractive vivacious lady who has traveled the world will solve his problem and together they will bring us a lovely emotional and passionate love story.
All of the characters are delightful and interesting. Some of the characters from the previous books play a part in this story as well. The story is a standalone love story that is filled with sizzling desirous attraction, billiard lessons, so much compassion, heart wrenching sadness that had me shedding a few tears, and a few situations you might want to have your lady's fan handy.
I enjoyed spending my time reading this tender love story.
The cover is quite beautiful.
Suggestion:🤭 Tissues and your fan.
Mature Reader🌶🌶🌶
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy for my honest opinion.

Inheriting a dukedom he does not want, Elijah returns home from war to take up his responsibilities. Abby is an independent furniture maker who attracts his attention. They are thrown together when he commissions her to refurbish his entire London townhouse. Attracted to each other, neither one wants the commitment of marriage. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

This was never to be his! And to find all his estates stripped bare, was the drop to overflow the cup! Major Elijah Young, barely lost his twin during the war when he learned he was to be the new Duke of Bradford. A title he despised, inherited from a man he never saw, yet hated with every fibre of his being. He would take the responsibility and restore his mother’s happiness, but that was it! He would never marry, never sire an heir and the line would die with him!

Abigail Trent had quite the untraditional upbringing. Once an impoverished viscount’s daughter, then a globetrotting earl’s ward and companion, she was on the verge of opening her own furniture shop filled with her own designs. Firmly on the shelve, giving up her freedom and independence to a man, quite out of the question even though having children might have been nice.

Serendipity decided neither of them would get their wish when the budding designer literally ran into the duke with nothing but empty homes… Minor spoiler : this book ends with not one, but two weddings!

📚 Two headstrong, intelligent and thoughtful minds, neither of them fits in with society and they don’t want to. Two halves made for each other. Clever and witty dialogue galore. Friendship, family and a lot of heart. Yes, a little more steam would have made it perfect. His Grace certainly knows what he’s doing and the Lady ain’t no wallflower. However, this is a delicious page-turner! Go read it!
📚 Reluctant duke/working heroine, fake dating, slow burn, friends to lovers, fade to black

Thank you to Alexa Aston, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a good book. The story was interesting and the characters were likable. The book was interesting and having a working heroine was a unique touch. I have enjoyed the series and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received this book from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a honest review.

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Suddenly a Duke series. Tragic upbringing for Elijah, who’s crusty old duke of a father accused his wife of being unfaithful and tossed the pregnant duchess off to a small cottage at one of his estates with no money or support. She gave birth to twins and eventually sent them off to war. While in battle, the elder of the twins passes away, leaving Elijah to be the heir. He then receives a letter that his father has died, leaving his brother the next duke, though his brother is gone too, meaning Elijah is the new duke. He’s back in England to reclaim his birthright and set things to rights. Unfortunately, the crusty old duke was a spiteful piece of work who sold off every single piece of furniture in the house. Luckily, they run into Abby, who is soon to open her own furniture shop filled with her designs. Abby lived in poverty until her father’s death, when her new guardian took her own and brought her with him in his worldwide travels. With all the knowledge gained in traveling the world, she has developed a keen sense of style and design. Neither Elijah or Abby are interested in marriage: Elijah doesn’t want to continue his horrible father’s bloodline and Abby doesn’t want to cede her independence. But as they start working together to furnish his home, they begin to admire each other’s strength and honor more than even their initial attraction.

Some people are so pig headed. To think that Elijah's father missed out of a whole lifetime with his family because of it. Makes me both sad and angry. Despite this, Elijah and his twin turned out to be very fine men.
Abby is wonderful. I love how she started her own business and has men working under her that are okay with it. Speaks a lot of what kind of lady she is.
Together they are wonderful and so is this book.

This was a simply amazing read I enjoyed every single moment and found myself to be totally blown away by both the characters and the plot which was so innovative and so cleverly written.

Designs on the Duke by Alexa Aston

So many emotions reading through this entire book. The first chapter was a bit all over the place. Once you land on the second chapter, it draws you throughout the entire journey. It's a mix of emotions, so definitely grab a tissue, because you will definitely need it. Love, betray, and trust - absolutely divine to read! Love it all

I just reviewed Designs on the Duke by Alexa Aston. #DesignsontheDuke #NetGalley
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