A Duke Like No Other (Playful Brides, #9) by Valerie Bowman......Another great one Valerie!!! I was so lucky to be able to preview this on #NetGalley... I like nothing better than a couple who are in love and misunderstand each other and have to work their way back together again... Mark (Grim) General and Spy Master... Nicole his wife... He thinks she married him ten years ago for his connection to the Duke...he accuses her of this three months into their marriage...she leaves for France and works for the War Office as a spy. Ten years later to become Sectary of the Home Office he needs a wife... This is where all the fun begins...laughs ..tears... murder... and thank goodness a HEA. I couldn't put this book down. I'm hoping maybe Regina and Daffin may be the next book.

This is the first novel I have read by Valerie Bowman and I loved it! Even though it is the 9th book in the Playful Brides series, I didn't have any problem reading it without having read the other novels. I enjoyed it so much I read it in one sitting. I loved Mark and Nicole's story and enjoyed how the author wove their past within the story in small bites instead of telling it all at once. There was also a bit of mystery and I wanted to find out the name of the culprit. I will be adding this author to my favorite authors list and look forward to reading her previous works.

I like the stories where a misunderstanding drives the couple apart, but they find each other later again and have their Happy Ending, So if you like these stories too, this is the right book for you, where there is also a crime to solve. Well written and enjoyable as usual Valerie Bowman is.

Mi piacciono le storie dove un fraintendimento divide la coppia, che peró poi si ritrova in seguito e vive felice e contenta, Quindi se anche a voi piacciono questo tipo di trama, questo é il romanzo per voi, che oltre ad essere ben scritto e divertente - come sempre nel caso di Valerie Bowman - prevede anche la risoluzione di un crimine..

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

I really like Valerie Bowman’s books. This was enjoyable. Not plausible but enjoyable. The poor dead guys family didn’t seem to put out by his death. I would have skipped the mystery. I would much rather have seen the hero and heroine learn to live together and rediscover each other without the other junk get in the way. It would have been nice to see them talk about what they have been through in the 10 years since they saw each other. It was a light read though and I enjoyed it for what it was. The best part about the book was that they both stayed celibate during the separation. I loved that. It bumped it from a three star read to a four.

Their story was enjoyable, some of the flashbacks were great, others seemed to slow the rhythm of the plot down a bit. I liked seeing glimpses of their past, especially of the fight that led to their break, but I wanted more interaction between them once they were back together and trying to solve the murder. I wanted to see more of them opening up, confiding, and kind of getting to know each other again. I think they both were so stubborn that their characters got in the way of rebuilding the relationship on the page. They were so stubborn it worked against the character development. I liked it overall, just needed a bit more soul-searching and clearing the air kind of conversations so that the ending became more believable rather than one second they aren’t saying what they need to say and the next he is 'I’m an idiot please stay.' I really wanted to see them have that kind of conversation, prior to the conclusion at the docks, in order for me to believe that the reconciliation was real.  It was almost like nothing was really resolved. Yes, he finally opened up to her and told her what he wanted and felt, but what about his doubts about her supposedly knowing all along about his family.  We at least had him express why he was upset with her working with the Bow Street Runners, but not the rest of issues they had ten years ago.  I needed him to realize that she hadn’t known and the reason she never confronted him was because she was waiting for him to trust her, which is very similar to his reasons for not confronting her about already knowing about the Bow Street Runners. I wanted Oakleaf to come out and tell him he was the one who told her and why and how it all came about. But that is a very small part of the story and overall I did enjoy their reconciliation and the working together to solve a murder. I am looking forward to Regina and Oakleaf's story next.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable romance with a touch of murder mystery. Mark and Nicole have lived apart in their marriage for many years but come together again when each needs something from the other. Their journey to finding their happy ending involves many supporting characters (including two who will presumably be the couple in a future book), and I happily went along for the ride.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nicole and Mark's story-- and that's saying something, given that Mark is my ex-husband's name, lol!
Second chance romances come with a certain amount of back history, and I thought that Ms. Bowman did a great job of showing how the couple originally got together and fell apart. The fact that she was able to keep the pace of the current situation is impressive and made for an incredibly well-written story.
I have not read the entire series, so while this is book 9, don't let that keep you from reading it. I certainly plan on binging on the series starting with book 1, but it was not necessary to understand the plot.

I just love second chance romances.

General Mark Grimaldi's professional life couldn't be any better. He is finally up for the job of the minister of Home Office, the position he has wanted his whole life, but he finds out there is a small problem.....they would prefer it, if he was married.

Funny thing, Mark actually is married. He just hasn't seen his lovely bride in 10 years!!!! Mark foolishly married Lady Nicole Huntington, thinking they were in love, but then he came to find out Nicole had a secret that she kept from him, thus breaking his trust. The two of them have been living separate lives, content with how things are. Now, Mark must find Nicole and ask her for a favor....pretend to be his loving wife, at least until he gets the job. Then they can go back to separate lives. Too bad Nicole has a favor of her own!

Oh, my lord I loved these two. They are both so stubborn and pig headed, but deep down they both still had feelings for each other. When they make the agreement that they will help each other out with what they each want, that is when things get fun. I loved the banter between these two. I also really enjoyed the mystery revolving around Mark's cousin. It was fun watching the women help solve the "who done it". Overall, this story has some really wonderful characters and a great story line that kept me entertained....and the chemistry between Mark and Nicole was sizzling!

This was my first book by this author and I really liked it. I must read some of her others. Bowman did a good job including mystery and intrigue along with romance. There were a few parts that made me roll my eyes and say puhlease! But generally this was a good read.

General Mark Grimaldi had given up everything in the name of service to His Majesty. Even relationships. He was eager to be promoted to Home Secretary and that opportunity had finally arrived. But his superiors have one condition. They don’t want a bachelor but someone settled. A family man. Nothing was going to stop Mark from getting this position so he told them he was already married. Which wasn’t a lie. It was a fact. A fact he hadn’t admitted in 10 years.
Nicole Huntington Grimaldi had spent the last 10 years in France. She and Mark had agreed to part ways and hadn’t seen each other since. She’d gone about her life perfectly happy. Happy but lonely. When Mark arrives requesting she return with him to London, Nicole has one condition. She wants a baby.
As I read this book I couldn’t help but think of the old Kenny Rogers and The First Edition song, “Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in”. It seemed there were lots of “conditions” to the bargaining between Mark and Nicole. The two of them had had a score of problems in the brief time they’d actually been together but attraction had never been one of them. Could they survive this reunion or would it end in heartache like the first time?
Nicole and Mark were perfectly suited for one another but had never really taken the time to get to know one another. They’d rushed into marriage and had only been together 3 months when it all fell apart. All because of lack of communication. Mark jumped to conclusions way too easily and Nicole was too prideful to stand and fight and instead chose to run away. Once they were together again they did what they should have done 10 years ago. They communicated. They were both extremely prideful and stubborn but there was lots of chemistry between them.
I liked the memories of their early relationship interspersed in the story. It made it quite clear why they were in the situation they were in. Their joint efforts to solve the murder in the story brought them together and helped them rediscover the things about each other that had appealed to them so many years ago. There was lots of witty banter between the two which added to their chemistry. I loved their initial bargaining where Mark thought they were discussing divorce when Nicole was actually discussing a baby.
If you’re a fan of reunion romances, you’ll fall in love with this story. Mark and Nicole rediscover each other while they battle a heightened sexual tension and work to solve a murder mystery. This couple was desperately in need of a second chance and I couldn’t resist rooting for them.

A Duke Like No Other is a second chance romance. It was a lovely read and was quickly devoured in a few hours. Like any second chance romance, there is the why and what for elements. The flashbacks and the happy endings are guaranteed. This is also my first Valerie Bowman book.

The writing is fast and easy, it was a perfect read for a weekend evening. The murder mystery will keep the reader engrossed and one does want to find the culprit. All things aside, it was a light and fun read. A Duke Like No Other is a part of the Playful Brides series, but it can also be read as a standalone.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved the idea of this synopsis and couldn’t wait to get started on this one.

Nicole and Mark are great MCs. She’s sassy and strong and he’s stubborn and charming. Together they know how to push each other’s buttons and do it frequently. Their beginning banter and strategizing was fantastic. There is a fairly large cast of characters and I wonder if some of them were from other books. I especially loved Regina.

Plot wise, it was okay. I enjoyed the murder mystery plot line, but I was mostly irritated at the ongoing lack of communication. If Nicole and Mark had literally one conversation, the story could have taken an entirely different turn. Instead it was flashbacks of the beginning of their relationship {which I liked} and the rest of their time together was spent in bed {which made sense for the story} or each wondering how the other felt {which was horribly repetitive.}

Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read with characters I really liked. Unfortunately, I wanted more talking and understanding and something more at the end.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s paperbacks for providing the arc free of charge**

In my humble opinion, this is a well written, historical romance; where the characters are well-honed and the reader can have a connection with them. The story that takes place following the Napoleonic war.
Our hero, Mark Grimaldi, is a British general and on the short-list of candidates for the Head of the Home Office; now that the fighting is over. Mark ran a spy network for Britain during the war. There is a small caveat for the Head of the Home office; they prefer a family man or at least a man that is “settled”. Lady Nicole Huntington is not your average woman of the ton; she prefers a good investigative mystery to solve than the usual “missish” activities of other girls her age. This trait is one that draws Mark to Nicole; even though he is only a military man and she a member of the aristocrats. T heir's is not an easy match as Mark has a bit of “baggage” he carries with him.
I liked that this story has a little bit of a mystery thrown into all the drama with the main characters and the sub-characters.

It was Miss Scarlet in the drawing room with the candlestick!

Leave it to Valerie Bowman to successfully write an alluring romance with an unpredictable mystery in A Duke Like No Other, book 9 of the Playful Brides collection. This happened to be my first Bowman to experience and I absolutely devoured it! Bowman’s newest book is due to hit the shelves this coming May Day, May 1, 2018. I voluntarily read this eARC graciously provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank YOU NetGalley, I now have a new addition to my favorite authors list.

The meat: Bowman wastes no time before jumping straight into the action. You meet Mark, an aspiring politician, who also happens to be estranged from his wife of ten years, Nicole. Unfortunately for Mark his aspirations now require him to be a wedded man. After ten years apart Mark strikes a deal with Nicole that she can’t afford to refuse. Unfortunately for Nicole, the deal includes more than she ever bargained for. Mark also happens to stumble upon more than he ever hoped for, or even wanted.

Throughout the book Bowman switches POVs between both Mark and Nicole, while easily throwing in flashbacks for both giving the reader a two-sided view on the couple’s past.

I give this book a 5 out of 5. Bowman does an amazing job at weaving a long forgotten romance together with a surprise and mystery. No need to mention the steamy scenes that are of a different level compared to other romance authors. I will certainly be looking for her name on other books for my TBR.

#valeriebowman #playfulbrides #historicalromance #clue #mystery #estrangedmarriage #adukelikenoother #steamy #netgalley

First of all, in full disclosure, I am a fan of Valerie Bowman. Yes, I am a huge fan of Valerie Bowman. So, when I read one of her books, I know I will fall in love.

General Mark Grimaldi has been advised that he can become Home Secretary if he is a settled family man, so he must marry. The thing is, he has a wife. Nicole, his wife, lives in France and has been living in France for 10 years. They are not on the best of terms.

When he goes to France to request that Nicole come home and fake being part of a happy marriage, they make a deal. She will fake a happy marriage for him if he will provide her with a baby. What could go wrong?

Mark belittles the nobility and believes that they are only interested in wealth and power. None of them have ever done any true good. He does not mention to anyone that he is closely related to a Duke. And he never mentions that because of his family history, he will never be comfortable being part of his noble family. He has accomplished a great deal in his life. He has been a spymaster who has shown his intelligence, bravery and ability to observe and understand. Everything he is has come from his hard work.

Nicole is a woman who has worked as an assistant to Bow Street Runners in England. While living in France, she worked as an agent on behalf of the British during the Napoleonic War. She is a very intelligent woman who has never been comfortable doing nothing. She wants to use her ability to observe and analyze for the benefit of good. She is beautiful, smart and very lonely.

The two of them return to London to begin their masquerade when everything changes. Mark's cousin, John, the Duke's heir has been murdered. The Duke has given Mark and Nicole two very important pieces of information. Mark is the heir and will become the next Duke and it is imperative that Mark discover who murdered his cousin.

Mark and Nicole both begin looking into the people who could have harmed John. There is a small group of people close enough to him who could have murdered him. Each of them will need to be interviewed.

There were many things I loved about this book. I liked the character development. Ms Bowman creates people who are always interesting and entertaining. Mark and Nicole are no exception. Their back stories provide the reader with all the information needed to understand who they are and their motivations.

The plot is well written and easy to follow.

What I did not like is Mark not listening to anyone, including Nicole. I did not like the fact that Nicole, a supposedly strong and determined woman, will not even express herself to Mark. For me, their inability to communicate became repetitious after a time.

But, Ms Bowman is a talented author and even with these minor shortcomings, for me this is a good book.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

Book #9 in the series Playful Brides, A Duke Like No Other, a light Regency spy that can be read without knowledge of the previous books (my case), although I got very curious about the stories of the Cavendish brothers.
Nicole and General Mark Grimaldi are married, but have been apart for 10 years, due to a misunderstanding concerning Mark's maternal family and Nicole's work as a spy. Mark is ambitious and, in order to get a promotion, he needs to prove to his conservative superior he's happily married.
Mark is very ambitious and career-oriented, so he goes to Nicole and asks her to help him to put up a show as a happy couple until he gets the promotion. Nicole agrees because she wants a child.
And so they get together again, but a murderer enters the scene and the couple has to solve it as well as whether they still love each other.
I enjoyed reading the book, despite some minor problems (Lady Nicole as a "bounty hunter" first, then a spy; the murderer investigation shadowing the couple's reconciliation) and I'm looking forward to Ms. Bowman's next book - hopefully about Lady Regina and Oakleaf!

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Second chance romance novels aren't usually my cup of tea, but I did decide to give this one a chance. I found it mostly interesting and well written but there were some plot aspects I wasn't too interested in.

A Duke Like No Other ⭐️⭐️.5

General Mark Grimaldi has sacrificed everything for his military career, working his way through the ranks without the benefit of a nobleman’s title. Now, his years of dedication are about to pay off—with an offer for a prestigious promotion to Home Secretary. There’s only one condition: Mark must be married. Aside from the small matter of not actually wanting to be wed, Mark faces another troubling problem: he already has a wife.
Nicole Huntington Grimaldi has spent ten contented years in France without her husband—and without regret. When Mark asks her to return to London and play the part of his beloved wife, she sees her chance. But neither of them is prepared for news that will throw Mark’s future into chaos...nor the undeniable desire they’ve rekindled.

After sacrificing his personal life in favor of his career, General Grimaldi must now bring his long lost wife to his side in order to advance his career.... hmmm ?

Having been set aside many years ago by her husband who put his career above her, she must now play the dutiful wife. Her agreement comes at a price. Hmmm??

Having denied his maternal family his entire life, his career relies on solving the murder of the heir to the ducal title. Now as the heir apparent will he accept both his wife and his title? Hmmm???

Another installment in the Playful Brides series, that also reads well as a stand alone.

Fairly easy and predictable read.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley!

As a fan of Valerie Bowman I was delighted to receive an ARC of the latest book in The Playful Brides series. Mark & Nicole Grimaldi, in A Duke Like No Other, separated after only a few months of marriage. The fight was horrible enough to send Nicole to France for 10 years & Mark to lose himself in his distinguished career as a spy & earned him the nickname The Stone Man. This may be why I had trouble accepting him as our hero. I didn't find him likable until the last third of the book when he began to show some feelings. Nicole had been an unofficial Bow Street Runner & continued her chosen work while living in France. For such a strong independent woman she had trouble speaking her mind to her own husband. Yet the story is a good one, the premise is believable & sound. Many readers will enjoy the journey as these 2 reunite & begin to make a new life together. The issues I have with characters are completely mine & should not discourage anyone from picking up A Duke Like No Other and having a delightful time with Mark & Nicole. I wholeheartedly look forward to the next Playful Bride which I hope will be Daffin & Regina's story.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and sadly this book did not work for me. Second chance at love stories are so tricky. I love them when they are done well but I have little patience for them when they are not. This story has a great set up, a Mark needs the appearance of a happy family life in order to secure a promotion and must get his estranged wife to play along. However, Mark is such a difficult character to like with his judgmental nature. I did not warm up much to Nicole, his wife, either. The fact that she is worked with the Bow Street Runners and as a French spy seemed more ridiculous than intriguing. Perhaps if it had been better developed I would have believed it but scenes that are supposed to show her bravery and cunning just made me roll my eyes, Then there is the fact that most of this book ends up being about a pointless murder mystery complete with a flimsy resolution. I just could not rate this book any higher.