I've read various versions of the governess hooking up with the Duke, but this is the first one where the governess is not really qualified to be a governess because she's the owner of the business that places women in the workforce. The Duke wants her because he's intrigued by her spunk. He's not the nicest Duke I've ever met, but he has his moments.

It does take some time for the romance to heat up, but with the golden rules that head each chapter it's no wonder. Esmeralda follows the rules and is always sensible. She makes a great role model for the Duke's twin sisters. The protagonists dip and weave around each other and while this is not my favorite book by Amelia Grey, it's not bad.

I can't say I'm excited about it, but it was ok for a change of pace as far as how the governess came to be in the household taking care of charges.

Last Night with the Duke is a charming read featuring Esmerelda Swift, an independent, indomitable manager of an employment agency, and the equally indomitable man who hires her, the Duke of Griffin.

The Duke hires Esmerelda to chaperone his two sisters who are celebrating their first season. He is particularly concerned about how his sisters will fare because of an anonymous threat that their season will be ruined. He suspects that his sisters are targeted because of an earlier offense that he and his two Duke friends gave in their youth.

The attraction between Esmerelda and the Duke is steamy from the beginning, and they both battle it, neither longing to confuse the boundaries between work and pleasure. Complicating this is Esmerelda’s resentment of peers, as her mother and the rest of her immediate family were cast out by her extended titled family after her mother married someone they did not approve of.

I would have enjoyed seeing more self-awareness and vulnerability on the Duke’s part, but overall the characters were likable and I rooted for their success. Last Night with the Duke was a charming read with satisfying chemistry and a lovely happily-ever-after.

This book tells the story of Esmeralda Swift, the grand daughter of a viscount who was cut off from their family after he mother eloped with an Irish poet. After her mother dies, Esmeralda becomes a governess to support herself and her younger sister, Josephine. And then she takes over the administration of Miss Fortescue’s agency, struggling to make ends meet after being taken advantage of by Miss Fortescue’s son. So when the Duke of Griffin walks through her door looking for a chaperone for his twin sisters, the last thing Esmeralda expects is that she’ll be the one chaperoning them. Especially given how attractive she finds the Duke, she knows she should stay far away from this particular Rake. But as circumstances throw these two together again and again, Esmeralda sees beyond the Duke’s title to the compassionate man beneath. And when Griffin finds out that Esmeralda is not in fact a commoner but the grand daughter of a viscount, he can’t stop himself from wanting to make her a more permanent fixture in his life.
Overall I liked this book ok. The story line was interesting and had all the makings of a great historical romance novel. There was a good amount of tension between the main characters, and I liked all the supporting characters.But while there was a lot of potential, there were some pieces of the story that I didn’t love. Griffin was a little flat as a character for me. I didn’t feel like the reader learned enough of his real thoughts and feelings to get into his head and connect to him as a character. And the ending for me didn’t make a ton of sense. The Duke acts like an ass and then he shows up, they do it, and then Esmeralda decides she wants to talk about the fight after. And then after that they were just married and that was it. There were a lot of pieces of the ending I thought were missing, like a confrontation with Miss Fortescue’s nephew and her cousin the current Viscount and anyone else who was a jerk to Esmeralda. And I didn’t think the person responsible for the intrigue with Griffin’s sister made sense, why did he even get involved? What was the motivation there? Anyways other than those things it was a quick and easy read and I enjoyed it but not a lot to the plot I guess.

This is the first book of have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The period seemed well researched and there were no glaring modernisms or Dukes being incorrectly addressed. The heroine was a delight (feisty, independent, outspoken & over the age of 25) and the Duke was enamoured of her from the very beginning. As they indulged in very heavy petting during the story, I would have liked the hero better if he had abstained from taking her to bed until after their marriage and I did feel he was a hypocrite with regard to Lady Sara's suitor. This book nearly rated 5 stars but dropped a star because I had unanswered questions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

This is one of those books that I find hard to rate because I really enjoyed reading it but there were a lot of things that bugged me about it as well.

I really liked Esmeralda's character and was glad she was going to get her HEA after what she had to go through once her mother's family disowned her. Her sister, Josephine, on the other hand I found downright annoying. Normally I love when younger siblings are a part of the story but in most cases even when they're misbehaving or are a handful, there is something endearing about them. I didn't feel this was the case with Josephine. I thought Josephine was spoiled and irritating. The turnabout in her character later in the book was so unusual that it seemed out of place. I honestly wish she hadn't been in the book or played a much, much unseen place.

I liked Griffin well enough though I didn't love him. His part of the book was really what didn't fit for me. The whole premise of why he's so worried about his sisters is that he's worried someone is out for revenge for some trick he played years ago. We see him suspicious of everyone, his friends and he run around trying to figure out who the villain is and then when we find out it's completely anti-climatic. Not to mention then it's brushed aside like it was some side-note to the story. It didn't really make sense to me and seemed entirely contrived to carry the romance along despite not making any sense.

All in all, like I said I had fun reading it but just a few too many nit-picky issues in the story to make it a favorite.

Loved this Sweet, heartwarming and captivating, historical, romance that was a delight to read. I love it, when the words can fade away and I'm pulled into another time and place, absorbed in it. Amelia Gray has created these engaging characters that are lovable, stubborn, witty, intelligent, and have an intense attraction. Her writing manages to bring you right into the scene with the characters. Her descriptive use of language makes each scene very realistic and the emotions, the characters are feeling believable. I loved their charming, witty and argumentative conversations. I also enjoyed their easy fun and playful demeanor. They try not to succumb to their desires but they continually think of each another, but since they are not from the same class will their desires ever be attainable. Their simmering chemistry and the sexual tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife and I loved every moment of it.
There was good flow throughout with an excellent build, it had drama, mystery, sweet bits of emotion and it was super entertaining with great secondary characters. This story made me laugh, sigh, and cry. I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. Highly Recommended! Loved it can't wait for the next in this series.

I voluntarily requested an arc through the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between
-I needed a historical in my life and this series is just starting so I dove in. Last Night with the Duke is a mixed bag of goodies, so let’s dive in.

-The setup. The Duke of Griffin is a couple of centuries away from being considered a sexual harrasser, but as a Duke (one among many, it seems) he is used to getting what he wants. He is trying to live down his rakish reputation (aren’t they all?) and he is unexpectedly in charge of his twin sisters’ Season, since his aunt is ill and unable to accompany them. He decides, on the spur of the moment, to enter Miss Mamie Fortescue’s Employment Agency. To hire a companion for his sisters. Let’s take a moment. A duke, the highest titled gentleman in the land, decides to hire a companion. *blinks* It stretches credibility like taffy, but hey, it’s a romance and yes it happens.

-Esmeralda is a sympathetic heroine. Her concerns for her sister and the agency that she’s trying desperately to keep afloat are all compelling reasons to like her and while they fed into my feelings that this wasn’t quite historical (more on that later), it kept me engaged with her.

-Griffin’s pushy but likeable. Griffin is taken with Esmeralda within moments of hearing her voice and seeing her counsel one of her governesses. The beginning of the book focuses almost too much on his insta-attraction to her and to be fair, her attraction to him. He is intrigued and attracted and I did end up liking him, especially his attraction to Esmeralda. About the only thing I didn’t love were the scenes when he was thinking about the need to settle down with a “proper” lady. It wasn’t the biggest of turn-ons for me, to be honest, even if it makes sense within the time period. It’s about the only thing that does make sense.

-Might have worked better as contemporary than historical. If you switch the setting to this century and make Griffin a billionaire rather than a duke, I think it would actually make more sense ( and I ended up doing that in my head more often than not). The attitude of Esmeralda, her employment situation, the insta-love,the multitude of dukes, and his single minded pursuit of Esmeralda would be a better fit for a contemporary billionaire romance. Perhaps the lens I viewed the story through was the reason I found myself enjoying it, even though I thought, as a historical, it didn’t quite hit the mark.

-Slow start, fast finish. Pacing was another issue with the story. The quality of the writing aside, it felt like it a bit too long to get to the heart of the matter, and then the wrap up came at the reader at warp speed.


The Bottom Line (3 stars)
I liked it, even if I thought it was a bit unbelievable as a historical and the pacing was off. Since it is the first book in the series, I do have hopes for the series to improve with the next one. If you like a historical setting with a bit more of a contemporary vibe, you may enjoy this.

Griffin and Esmerelda were perfect in every way. She was feisty and witty and sassy, and Griffin matched her wonderfully. Their sisters were interesting side characters, and I look forward to more about the Rakes!

The Duke of Griffin is trying to live down a prank he and his friends, known as the rakes of St. James, committed in their younger years. As rumors swirl that someone is going to try to ruin the coming out Season of his twin younger sisters to make him pay, Griffin hires a chaperone to help escort them safely through the Season. However, he finds himself extremely attracted to the woman he hires. Will the twins make it through the season without falling into scandal, and will Griffin be able to resist Esmerelda?

I really enjoyed the characters, how well developed they were and how complex the interactions between them came to be as the book progressed. However, the plot seemed to be lacking a little completeness as the plot about the "attempted scandal creation" never really became anything and I was left with a lot of questions about what happened in the end as it ended rather abruptly. This could be because the story is going to be continued in the next book in the series, but even if that is the case it still left me feeling a little unresolved.

I received a free, advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

An enchanting and lovely start to a new Series by Amelia Grey.

The Duke of Griffin is a honorable and responsible Nobleman who looks after his twin sisters, his extended family and everyone and everything in his purview. He was not always a responsible Duke. When he was younger he caroused with his friends. Wine, Woman, Gambling, reckless wagers and mischief. The wager that he and his friends made brought ruin and scandal to the young ladies that debuted that year. He and his fellow Dukes have never been able to live down the wager. Someone is spreading rumors that his twin sisters should suffer for what he did years ago.

Esmeralda Swift runs an employment agency for governesses. She takes care of her younger sister and barely makes ends meet. The Duke of Griffin walks into the agency and demands that she be his sisters chaperone for the coming season. They are instantly attracted to each other. The sensual pull between them is intense. He has never been this obsessed with a woman before. She is off limits because she is in his employ.

The connection that forms between Griffin and Esmeralda is wonderful and is the core of this story. Amelia's writing is witty and charming. I smiled throughout this book. I loved Esmeralda's little sister Josephine and her dog Napoleon who will make you laugh out loud. This is also a emotionally fulfilling love story that brought me to tears. I enjoyed this story very much and will look forward to the next book in this Series.

Received a complimentary copy for an honest review.

The book was pretty good with the start of a new series. I thought the characters were well developed and held my interest. I liked the story line, but sometimes I felt there should of been more.
You have a rake who was a bit wild during his youth. Now the title has come back to haunt him.
He is the Duke of Griffin and finds himself in a situation concerning his two twin sisters who need a chaperone for the season. He wants the best for his sisters who can be a bit of a handful.
Griffin finds a woman at an employment agency who will help him out. But he only wants the manager Miss Esmeralda Swift who seems like the perfect choice. He will give her a lot of money for her services that she can't turn down. She really is in need of the money since she has to support her younger sister. Esmeralda is attracted to the handsome man but tells him it's a business arrangement only. He is also stunned by the beautiful woman and feels off kilter when he's around her.
Griffin is a man who likes challenges with women, and Esmeralda is a challenge.
They are swept away together with lust that turns to love. I like this story very much and hope others will give it a try.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

This could have been a great story but the author allowed it to be a fair story instead.

We have a heroine with a big secret which we are reminded of ad nauseam, we have the little sister that could use a family, the handsome nobleman who stumbles into their lives almost by accident and then things go south.

Cue the insta-love and we begin a story that still has a ton of potential .... almost all of it never realized sadly.

The secret plot that never materializes.

The evil unforgiving family we are told about over and over but nothing is ever done with that bit of plotline.

A ending that just falls flat that any writer could have made into a soaring ending and it was almost a footnote the way it was handled.

Bottom Line: I admit, as a reviewer one of the things I detest most in a book is a great premise especially with all the characters in place to make it great and the author does not have the skill to pull it together into the story it should have been and THAT is where this book took us, I read it in 1 day hoping for the great story I knew was in there to come out but when I turned the last page I was horribly unsatisfied. 3 Stars that is more for the pieces of that great story that I wanted that did manage to make it to the page. I want to send it back and scream "Make this into the story it deserves!!" but it is done sadly.

~ ARC invitation was mailed from the publisher. The link of the copy was made available via NetGalley.~

This is the first book of the Rakes of St. James series. Once again, as a start, we are presented with the people involve in the coming books, and the reason why it is named like that.

I was actually surprise with Griffin's personality. From the start to the end of the book, I did not know that he would hold on that long! And the way he made sure of his feeling for Esmeralda was really sweet. There were times that I would find some parts in his thoughts lacking. However, it did not alter the over all effect of the story. It did not have that effect when it comes to how the English society see things, but it did push thorough with the initial plot of the book.

I like the book, namely because the adult part of it was on the very latter part of the story. Most of the time, it would be interaction of the main characters and the sub characters. There are times that I find those boring, but not enough to warrant a lost of interest with the book itself.

However, I am looking forward in reading the next book. I would like to know what and who among the rest of the so-called Rakes would have a HEA.

FINAL DECISION: The highlight of this book is the interaction between the hero and heroine which is sexy at times and full of banter. The book was adequate as a story but it just didn't grab me. Three stars for me is a book I don't mind paying for, but will probably be one I only read once. I did like it enough to want to read more of the series.

THE STORY: Benedict Mercer, Duke of Griffin, needs a chaperone for his twin sisters. This is especially important because Griffin's past misdeeds threaten his sisters as someone might be seeking to ruin their season as revenge for Griffin and his friends youthful adventures. Griffin comes to Miss Mamie Fortescue's Employment Agency seeking to hire a chaperone and finds Miss Esmeralda Swift. Esmeralda is the daughter of a viscount but her mother's scandalous second marriage has left Esmeralda with a younger sister to raise and herself outside of society. She doesn't want to accept the duke's offer, but she needs the money. The close proximity the two end up in draws them closer together and asks them both to take some risks.

OPINION: The hero and heroine quickly have an attraction to one another but are limited by their circumstances. Both are honorable people who don't want to overstep the bounds of the chaperone/employer relationship. Griffin is very conscious of his power status and unwilling to compromise Esmeralda while she is his employee. Esmeralda takes her chaperone position seriously and doesn't want to risk Griffin's sisters by having their chaperone become a scandal. This creates tension and conflict between the characters. And through their conflict, the two engage in intellectual foreplay and force a partnership to help Griffin's sisters.

For me, the relationship between the two characters was the best part of this story. I did find the word craft of the story a bit tedious at times and I was tempted to turn pages too quickly to get on with the story. Nothing in this book was bad, but I was not excited by the story enough to want to jump to read it again. Rather, I digested the book and went on. That being said, I enjoyed the story enough to want to read the next book in the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: One duke down, two more to go!

CONNECTED BOOKS: LAST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE is the first book in the Rakes of St. James series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

This was an enjoyable historical romance. Its about a former peer Essie who is now taking care of her 12 year old sister and manages an employment agency for women. The Duke/Griffin comes looking for a woman who can assist him for the season as a chaperone to his twin sisters as his aunt is ill. He sees Essie and from day one he cannot resist her.

I really liked that Griff was a man of morals. In his youth he was a rake and pulled a terrible prank (one I did not agree was that terrible) and with his sisters on the marriage mart he fears revenge and he wants Essie to help protect his sisters from bad suitors.

This book was fun and sweet and I liked how everyone was portrayed as all upstanding good people. There was no one I did not like seeing. I thought the whole dog thing was a little much but beyond that I really enjoyed this story. I especially loved Essie and Griff together.

If you want a hot story, look elsewhere but if you want a sweet and romantic historical then this was a really wonderful story.

Last Night with the Duke by Amelia Grey

I found another new author to add to my growing list of ‘to read’ authors. Amelia Grey’s book Last Night with the Duke introduced me to her and her trilogy about the Rakes of St James. The book was enjoyable, written with the regency style that I love. The Rakes of St James are three young dukes who in their youth played a trick on a number of hapless young ladies making their debut which caused a huge scandal. Due to the trick, the Duke of Griffin has an interesting dilemma. His twin sisters are making their coming out and the Duke has heard that some young men might use his sisters to punish him. The Duke knows he needs a chaperone for his sisters, as his elderly aunt is not able to. He ends up with Esmeralda Swift, a practical women who won’t fall for the duke and will guard his sisters.

The premise of the book was a bit of a stretch, but remembering the stringent rules of the upper class women helps cover that. I enjoyed the characters. The twin sisters made me laugh with their shenanigans. The scene where the dog finds the cat is hysterical. Last Night with the Duke by Amelia Grey is a good read!!

This was a really fun book. Esmeralda and Griffin were so entertaining and throw in an incorrigible young girl and her dog, and a pair of identical twin girls who are making their debut and it just made this book so fun to read. Esmeralda and Griffin's chemistry was straight off right from the start, sexual tension is always fun especially when it's so distracting for the main characters.

Griffin and two of his friends did something stupid in their youth and now they will never live it down. So much to the point that now that his two younger sister are making their debut there is a rumor going round that someone thinks it would be poetic justice if someone were to do something to his sisters. Griffin is now worried and trying to narrow down the possibilities of who maybe behind the possible misdeed. It doesn't help that the girls' aunt has fallen ill and now Griffin must find a suitable chaperone. Esmeralda run an agency that matches suitable chaperones, governesses, nurses, and such to the right family she took over the job when the previous owner dies and it suited her needs perfectly because that means she could look after her sister. Esmeralda is the Granddaughter of a Viscount but when her mother fell in love with an Irish poet her brother disowned her. Now with both parents dead and a little sister to take care of she has to work and the tempting and expensive offer Lord Griffin has offered her is far too much money for her to turn away. He even meet all her demands to work as his sisters chaperone.

It was lust at first sight, but the more time they spend with each other and Griffin's amazing patience with her sister has her fall in love when she know she shouldn't. Griffin should be focused on finding the rake who plans to seduce and ruin at least one of his sisters but he keeps getting distracted by Esmeralda and even before he realizes who she is related to he knows that she should be cared for and loved and shouldn't have to work, he knows almost immediately that he is going to marry her.

Overall, I love how this story played out. The main focus is Griffin and Esmeralda even with the little side notes about the sisters it never really goes into great detail about what is happening with them. I enjoyed reading this so much that I stayed up late reading it until I finished, I couldn't put it down.

I am a fan and have enjoyed many a book by Ms. Grey. An indiscretion from his youth still haunts the Duke of Griffin especially when he's ready to launch his twin sisters. Happenstance brings him to Ms. Swift's agency in search of a competent chaperon who can successfully navigate the currents of modern day society and guide his sisters to successful marriages.  Is it just me or does the plot seem familiar?  The Duke is enthralled with Esmeralda as he watches her counsel one of her employee's on the best way to handle her charge.  Besides the fact that he finds her outrageously attractive, he's convinced that she's the one who can help his sisters successfully navigate their first season.  Esmeralda runs the agency not work the contracts that come their way but is unable to resist in the face of the Duke throwing money and other blandishments her way.  Soon, she and her young sister and their puppy are ensconced in the ducal household ready to begin the adventure of the London season.
The Duke is no saint though he resists the temptation that Esmeralda offers by maintaining his own separate household apart from his sisters.  His youthful follies have come home to roost and apparently there is a wager that someone is out to take their revenge through one or both of his sisters.  He is joined in his vigil of his sisters and search for villains by his childhood friends and co-conspirators in youthful follies who are both fellow dukes themselves.
There are some sweet and soft moments when Griffin shows his soft side for his sisters and for Esmeralda's young sister when her puppy gets into mischief.  There is a fun picnic in the park when Griffin carries all the accoutrements just so he can get a few sweet moments with Esmeralda even though he knows it's wrong of him to want his sister's chaperon.
All in all this is a slow moving story that did not rock my boat at all. The mystery that the author alluded to in the beginning of the book with someone gunning for the three friends, dubbed the rakes of St. James never really materializes. Perhaps there will be more to that in the next book in the series.

amelia grey's latest regency romance series kicks off with a delightful romance between miss esmeralda swift and lord benedict mercer, duke of griffin. the duke finds himself in need of a companion for his twin sisters who are making their debut onto the london social scene when his aunt falls ill and is unable to complete the task. when he meets esmeralda he knows that she's absolutely the right woman to handle his sisters and even though she runs a whole agency he won't take no for an answer. so he makes her an offer impossible to refuse. even allowing her to bring her younger sister who she cares for and their dog.

one might wonder at his determination, but though he is charmed by esmeralda he has no intention of seducing her. he already has a reputation to guard, given that he was somewhat reckless in his youth, and that reputation may be endangering his sisters' ability to navigate the london marriage mart safely. the problem is that there is no specific threat, just the possibility that someone might act dishonorably toward his sisters, and griffin won't have that.

he also won't have his sisters' companion bedecking herself in drab grays and browns all the time. though why he should interfere in her wardrobe, esmeralda would like to know. and this is how it is between them. there's a constant spark, they are at cross-purposes all of the time, and yet, they can't stay away from one another.

there is of course a huge misunderstanding. griffin is a jerk and esmeralda doesn't stick up for herself. but they figure it out in the end. they have to, because with all the bickering and back and forth they share, there isn't anyone else who could stand to be around them. esmeralda is smart and feisty and does stand up for herself most of the time. and griffin is domineering and entitled, but he genuinely loves his aunt and sisters, and he loves esmeralda and her young sister, josephine.

griffin's two friends round out the rakes of st. james, so i expect we'll be seeing them in future novels. and maybe one of griffin's sisters will be in play? you never know, only one has settled her future by the end of last night with the duke.

I loved this story!! We have Esmeralda who, though nobly born, has to make her own way in the world. Griffin must find a chaperone for his sisters debut and has luckily stumbled upon Esmeralda's place of work. He believes that she would be the perfect person to fill the position. Unfortunately for him, she thinks the opposite.

Griffin eventually talks Esmeralda into talking the job after giving into every single one of her conditions of employment. That acceptance leads us on a merry chase riding along with Griffin's twin sisters and aunt, Esmeralda's sister and her dog as well as the other two Rakes of St. James.

Grey's books always enchant me with the witty dialogue and amazing secondary characters and this was no exception. I can't wait to read the rest of the Rakes of St. James series! To the Duke, with Love, will be out in Dec. 2017.