This is a fun sequel to Howard's Always Be My Duchess. Just like Howard's first book, this one is lovely comfort food for a weekend after a difficult work week. We check in with characters from the prior books. Fans will be pleased to know that Neve and Montcroix are expecting. This story deals with childhood friends to enemies to frenemies to lovers. Lady Vesper is similar to Austen's Emma. She loves to play matchmaker for others, but she is determined to remain single. She tells herself it's to conceal her neurodiversity from the ton, but really it's because she never got over her true love Aspen Drake the Duke of Greydon. (The name Aspen bugged me as anachronistic/too American, but it does work because his mother is American and the name is of Old English origin). They have progressed from childhood BFFs in large part due to confusions of puberty and other misunderstandings, but they're drawn to each other whether they like it or not. And really, they like it. Aspen engages "Viper's" matchmaking skills to help him marry off his ward, so he can return to science and the Americas. Will Aspen's evil mother ruin his plans and destroy him like she did his father? Where did the mysterious ward come from anyway? Will Aspen and Vesper see each other for who the really are in time to make their love work? Fans of Bridgerton should get ready to dive in while they wait for a new season.

I was so excited for this book after loving Always Be My Duchess, but the blend of period and anachronistic language made it too hard to get into. I think if the language had been more consistent, the anachronism may have worked for me, but having period language alongside the phrase "Calm your know-it-all-tits" was too jarring for me.

I enjoyed reading this one so much! The two main characters seem perfect for one another - yet they do not see this. Loved the push and pull of their attraction. The story is well written with the author pulling me in from the beginning and keeping my attention until the end. This is a wonderful feel-good story that had me smiling right to the end.

Never Met a Duke Like You by Amalie Howard is the second book in The Taming of the Dukes series, following the adventures and misadventures of five friends, while they navigate matchmaking and the intrigues of society.
This time is the turn for Aspen and Vesper to take you to another time, another world, one filled with betrayal, judgment and intrigue, but also with friendship, hope and love.
It’s steamy, it’s spicy, it’s a broken hero and a neurodivergent heroine, there’s a cat and this time the story showcases the treatment of mental health, the confinement of people with mental illnesses, the Lunacy Acts and the efforts to provide education for impoverished children.
As with Always Be My Duchess, I’ve enjoyed the wit. It’s an easy book to read, so give this a try is you like romance.
Thank you to the author and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange of my review. Totally enjoyed it.

Never Met a Duke Like You por Amalie Howard es el segundo libro en la serie Taming of the Dukes y sigue las aventuras de cinco amigas mientras navegan las intrigas sociales y el mercado matrimonial.
Es la historia de Aspen y Vesper. Deja que te transporten a otro tiempo, otro mundo, uno de traición, apariencias e intrigas, pero también de amistad, esperanza y amor.
Ésta historia presenta el tratamiento de la salud mental, el confinamiento de las personas con enfermedades mentales además de los esfuerzos para educar a niños de escasos recursos.

Book 2 of the Taming of the Dukes series, here we go! I generally find Book 2 in any series the weakest book for some reason. Don't ask me why. Needless to say that I was super curious about this one because I knew it was a play on the movie Clueless!

Summary:
Lady Vesper is the daughter of Duke, generally loved by the ton, and a self proclaimed matchmaker. She has no need to marry, and good thing too, because behind the perfect polished persona she presents to the ton she hides a fiery and impulsive nature. She only shows her true self to her family, her close friends (welcome back Hellfire Kitties!) and once upon a time to her first love and neighbor-- Lord Aspen Drake. Unfortunately for her, their friendship died a spectacular death after he cut her direct (WHAT?) in her coming out and then disappeared from the ton. Seven years later, Lord Aspen Drake is now Duke of Greydon and he is back....and you dont say....needs her help! Will these friends turned enemies, turned semi-friends, eventually turn to lovers? You know it!

Review:
I generally find Book 2 in any series the weakest book for some reason. Don't ask me why. Needless to say, I set my bar low and this book flew over it with flying colors!

What I loved:
* Aspen and Vespers banter was fantastic-- the enemies part was done to perfection.
* We get glimpses of the Hellsfire Kitties and now I am DYING for Briar's book!
* I also so loved seeing Vesper's relationship with her dad!
* A top notch villain! Man! You just want to strangle her!

What I could have done without:
* For most of the book you just think Vesper deserves better. I could have used more groveling from him to make up for some of the stuff he did.
* Could have done without some of the side stories, like the Mr. Cross matchmaking issue and Judith hiding her secret.
* The ending was a little strange to me, in terms of series of events.

Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher (Forever) for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review..

It was great to be back in the realm of the Hellfire Kitties with this second book in the Taming of the Dukes series by Amalie Howard. I absolutely adored this one. Perfect for fans of 1995’s romantic comedy Clueless and Jane Austen’s Emma, Never Met a Duke Like You is sure to charm readers with its tension and chemistry, innuendo-laden banter, matchmaking machinations, and bespectacled, forearm-baring hero. (Yes, please.)

I especially appreciated the ADHD representation in Lady Vesper and how Aspen loves her for who she really is, not for how she presents herself to the ton; I would gladly attend a dinner party at Harwick House any day; and I was delighted when Howard’s love scenes once again raised the question, “Who needs a bed?”

What a lovable and enjoyable read! I devoured it and can’t wait to see what comes next for this tight-knit group of friends.

I received an advance copy from Forever and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This was cute and VERY comical! I always enjoy Amalie Howard's writing! I am usually not into historical fiction but this author truly has a way with words. This is actually a retelling of "Clueless" movie (which was a retelling of "Emma"). I didn't even put two and two together until I got to the end of the book.

I also like the fact that the author includes book group questions at the end, that will help peak discussions during your book group meet up! Loved this. Aspen was dreamy! Vesper was brilliant, I loved that she had adhd and got overstimulated as I can relate to that. I loved her strong will and stubbornness. Her sarcasm and remarks with Aspen, the banter between the two, had me laughing so hard. Enjoyable for sure!

I received this ARC from NetGalley to read and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

"Never Met a Duke Like You" is the second book in Amalie Howard's "Taming of the Dukes" series. I really enjoyed the first book, so I was excited to see that Howard has a new book out! This particular book focuses on Vesper, who isn't interested in finding love for herself, but is quite proud of her matchmaking prowess. The Duke of Greydon (Aspen) has grown up next door. And though they were friends as children, now they're at each other's throats, constantly fighting. While they don't think they have much in common, once they're thrown together by fate, they realize that maybe their antagonism is hiding a mutual attraction.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Vesper and Aspen, and laughed every time he called her "Viper." The two of them are at times infuriating, yet you can't help but root for them. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Hellfire Kitties are back at it again in this second installment of Amalie Howard's latest series! This book was sweetly sexy- the tension, the banter, the longing! I loved the main characters and their chemistry sparked off the page. This friends to enemies to lovers story was full of fun and joy- this friendship group is seriously one of my all time favorite in fiction. Also, "cat" was my favorite supporting character!

Thank you so much to Forever Pub and Netgalley for my copy.

"Because I've never known anyone like you, Vesper"
A Smile tilted her lips. "Stubborn?"
"Fearless"

Lady Vesper Lyndhurst has sworn off marriage and instead devotes herself to charitable causes and matchmaking while still following societies conventions and rules and not allowing most people to see her true self. When she finds herself caught in a rain storm, she seeks shelter at her neighbor's estate. The Duke of Greydon hasn't been home in years so she sees no harm in this. When she hears sounds while exploring the home that she used to play in as a young child, she unexpectedly gets locked into the attic with the Duke himself, who has made a surprise trip back to England due to his mother's meddling. Greydon and Vesper were childhood friends but Greydon snubbed her at her coming out and their friendship never recovered. Immediately their animosity for each other rears it's ugly head and my oh my, do sparks fly.

Amalie Howard has historically been a hit or miss author for me - I loved Always Be My Duchess (the first in this series) but have been on the fence about a lot of her others that I've read. But this one was SUCH a hit for me! It took me just a little bit to get into it but once I did, I was hooked! It was SO funny and I highlighted so many quotes.

I love author's notes and really appreciated Amalie's here - she talks about the research she did into the Lunacy Act and the efforts to overturn/change it, which is of course a cause that Greydon is incredibly passionate about through the book. Because of the Lunacy Act, Greydon's mother was able to institutionalize his father (leading to his death) after bribing two physicians for false statements regarding his mental health. Greydon seeks to get to the truth of what happened and punish both the doctors and his mother for this betrayal. The Author also talks about Vesper's causes - including the Ragged School Union which were charitable schools that provided free education to underprivileged and impoverished children. Therefore, this book feels really well researched and rooted in history, despite it being a romance novel.

Outside of the research that the author did, this book is incredibly hilarious and chock full of banter that had me literally giggling and kicking my feet! Both Vesper and Greydon have so much pride but also find themselves unable to stay away from each other, which is truly one of my favorite things to read. In the midst of the hilarity there are also incredibly sweet and passionate moments - once they get over their pride, they both see through each other's façade that they show to society.

This book is also HOT. There aren't an excessive amount of scenes but the ones that are there - HOOO BOY! The billiards game as foreplay was something I didn't know I needed but damn did I love it. That'll live rent free in my head for a while. The swoon throughout the book was the best and I'm already looking forward to rereading this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Easy to read, with a similar vibe of her last book. Fans of Amalie Howard will enjoy this.

I stopped after chapter 1, but I can see this being an easy 3 stars if the writing style keeps up and it delivers on the premise.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.