4.5 stars

If you read the previous book, The Daring Duke, you know that there was something between James, the Duke of Abernathe's sister, Lady Margret aka Meg and Simon, the Duke of Crestwood. These two shared a very close friendship and the longing between them was tangible. But Meg was betrothed to Graham, Duke of Northfield when she was only 16 and her brother inherited. While her heart longed for Simon, she accepted the betrothal to make her brother happy and hoped that she would learn to love Graham.

Simon was devastated when Meg was betrothed to Graham. He loved Meg and wanted to marry her, but he said nothing because he didn't want to cause problems with James and Graham. Next to Meg, the two men where his closest friends and like brothers to him.

Seven years have passed since the betrothal and time is running out for Meg, James has married and has been hinting that it is time for her to marry Graham and despite the time that has passed, she is still in love with Simon and feels nothing more than friendship for Graham. While at a house party, James and Emma are hosting, Graham asks her if she would like to marry in three months, she feels she has no choice. Their wedding date is announced and she is heartbroken, she secretly hoped that Simon would object and declare himself, but he said nothing.

Simon can't believe that Meg and Graham are finally going to marry - it feels like his life is over. When the Duke of Roseford finds Simon alone and suggests that Simon might want to take a holiday to get over his pain, Simon agrees, because there is no way he wants to watch his love marry another man. The next day he plans to say good-bye to Meg and then leave. But when he sees her and sees her pain, he wants nothing more than to comfort her. When Meg slips away from the party to clear her head, Simon follows. She wanders for almost an hour before Simon calls out to her. The weather has taken a turn and they are caught in a downpour. Too far from the house to make it back, they take shelter in the abandoned caretakers cottage.

Soaked and chilled to the bone, they start a fire and strip out of their wet clothes, when they agree to share the bed to keep warm and share a passionate kiss, Simon is disgusted with himself and leaves the room. The next morning he is awoken by voices outside and realizes that James and Graham have found them. Unfortunately, they are not alone, and when the group enters the cottage and find a naked Simon alone with an equally naked Meg - everything changes.

Graham is very angry with Simon and says some very hateful things, but he is gracious and agrees to stay long enough to see Simon and Meg's engagement announced and appear to support the marriage.

Simon cannot seem to forgive himself, he doesn't believe that he should get his heart's desire and hates himself for causing so much pain and scandal. As much as he loves Meg, he seem intent on punishing himself and in the process, hurts her as well.

Simon feels incredibly guilty and mourns the loss of his friendship with Graham, he refuses to let himself be happy with Meg and begins to shut her out. For her part, Meg tries to make their marriage work and tries to get Simon to put the past behind them, she is willing to fight for their happiness, until an unexpected visit and confession from Roseford, makes her realize that Simon will never forgive himself and she leaves him.

Simon is confronted by James the next day and when he learns that Meg has left him for good, he finally seems to snap out of the pity party he has been having since they were caught together. For the first time ever, Simon is ready to fight for what he wants and he wants Meg.

This story is so well done, it flows perfectly, has some very HOT love scenes, it is emotional and I never doubted for a moment that these two loved each other, but I confess, I was ready to smack Simon more than once. These two had a very painful journey to their HEA, but once they find it, the ending was worth all the agony this reader suffered!

This is the second book in the 1797 Club series, but there is enough backstory given that you could read this as a stand alone title with no problems. I highly recommend this series and am looking forward to reading Graham's story!!

I love the books by Jess Michaels and I've read quite a lot of them up to now.
This one is good as well but it didn't captivate me as much as the other books. My problem with this book was definitely that for a very very long time the hero and the heroine had no hope left. Sure, I had a certain idea that this book might end with an HEA but somewhere around the first third of the book I almost gave up hope as well that that would actually happen.
Somewhere around the middle of the book, I felt that, well, somehow, someone should please do something to make our hero Simon wake up. Alright, maybe I just wished for someone to kick him, hard, because...yup, just because.

Like all the other characters in Jess Michaels' books, Simon and Margaret are complex characters and getting to know them, you understand where Simon comes from and why it is so hard for him to fight for his happiness. Meg does also have to learn to stand up for herself and - let's just say that sometimes I was a bit frustrated and that I was starting to doubt that they would ever leave the somewhat turbulent beginnings behind them and just enjoy that their dreams may now may come true. At least their dreams might come true if they ever wake up...
Oh, I was frustrated with their friend (and Meg's former fiancé) Graham as well and don't get me started on Meg's brother James. Such a nice and well-meaning guy but -seriously? At sixteen? And without ever asking her what she wanted?

Despite everything though, I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series that'll tell us more about Graham!

Simon has one fierce woman in Meg, "Meg all but growled. “Which makes me the Duchess of Crestwood now, and responsible for the appearances we choose to uphold. I will make myself clear—if you ever again speak to my husband in the manner you just did, I will cut you out of our circle so fast, you will not know what happened.”Meg smiled, but it wasn’t the usual warm and welcoming one that graced her lips. “You and I can be allies, or we can be very public enemies. It is your choice..." Once Simon removes his head from his butt I found he could be sweet, "...I will fight for you, Meg. From this day until the day I draw my last breath..." I really liked this book, and I can't wait for the mext one in the series.

Loved "Her Favorite Duke." After reading the first book in the 1797 Club, James and Emma's story, I couldn't wait to find out how Meg would snag her preferred duke, Simon.
Meg and Simon are adorable together. They readily acknowledge they are best friends, but are hesitant to acknowledge their love for each other. There are a number of circumstances stacked against them, Meg has a fiance, Graham, who is one of Simon's best friends. They will have to face their challenges and overcome them if they ever want to find happiness.
Meg is tortured by her unrequited love for Simon, and he is as well. Meg has to choose whether to follow her heart or to follow the plan her brother made for her years ago. Simon is always there for her to laugh with, dance with and to be her friend. She is starting to realize that he is in love with her too, but Meg is starting to lose hope.
Simon loves Meg and has for years. He was very hurt when James betrothed her to Graham and felt like he couldn't stand in their way. He didn't want to betray either of his friends, but he realizes that in order to have Meg he will do almost anything.
Oh the explosive passion between these two! Whoo, set my Kindle on fire. It is very refreshing to read about a couple who wants to be together and isn't manipulating the other party and forcing the issue. Simon really struggled with his feelings. He loved his friends James and Graham, but he recognized that he loved Meg more.
Lots of steamy love scenes that worked very well into the story. Highly recommended and can be read as a stand alone, but why miss out on all of the yummy dukes in the 1797 Club???

This novel was a very good read. I read the first book in this series and look forward to reading the other members of the 1797 club, which was started by boys who would eventually become dukes. Each has their own past they must overcome.
Margaret Rylon, sister to the Duke of Abernathe, has been in love with Simon Greene, Duke of Crestwood since she was a girl. They were the best of friends and could talk about anything. Simon has also loved Meg for a decade. However, when Meg's brother becomes the duke after their father's death, he has her betrothed to Graham Everly, the Duke of Northfield. Both Simon and Meg are hurt by this, but neither tell James. Both have their reasons for not telling him.
When James asks Meg to set a date for the wedding years later, Meg is upset by this since he loves Simon. Simon is torn by this and plans to leave before Meg is married. When the to of them are caught in a compromising situation, they now have to marry. Simon feels he has betrayed his friends and cannot give himself completely to Meg due to the guilt he feels, even though she is the only woman he has ever wanted. Simon has never fought for anything, due to his upbringing and often tries to please everyone.
Even though Meg and Simon know they hurt many people, both of them want to be together and passion ignites between them. Still, Simon keeps holding himself back from Meg, which hurts her deeply. Simon feels so much guilt and it affects his relationship with Meg. When Meg can no longer handle Simon's distance, she leaves him. Will Simon come to his senses and be able to be the man willing to fight for her or will he continue his guilt and appeasing ways?