3.5 stars
I have only read one other book by this author, and I ended up having to table it until later due to the fact that it felt like I had missed something from the previous books. The hero and heroine had known each other for so long that I truly felt like the book could not be read as a stand-alone. This is book 9 in the same series, so I was a little wary, however I’m pleased to announce it can be read on its own.

That being said, we still have characters who have known each other for years, and it feels as if they are two different sets of people from when they met to the point the book picks up. Well, it’s been 10 years, so the point is that they are different people, however they were the same at the core.

Mark is a spy, and he’s up for a promotion, but the man in charge of giving him the promotion wants a family man in this role. It’s suggested that Mark marry, and fast. However, Mark drops the bomb that he already has a wife.

Nicole has been in France for 10 years. The night she and Mark argued was the end of their marriage. She took a job with the Home Office and moved to France to help. Essentially she’s a spy. However, she’s never actually spying in this book. She spends her time in the lavender fields and working with orphans. Which is fine, but she kind of sometimes takes mini espionage missions on the side.

Mark goes to France and shows up on her doorstep, asking her for a favor. He needs her to play the doting wife for him for a while until he gets the promotion at the Home Office. She agrees but with a condition of her own. He is absolutely shocked at her terms, but he needs her, so he agrees.

The trip back to England is uneventful, but we see some well-placed flashbacks about how they met, Nicole’s desire to become a spy, and the biggie, about that night that they had the Big Misunderstanding. Mark steamrolls Nicole’s any attempt to explain what happened, and then he spends 10 years believing Nicole her to be a sneaky liar who he never really knew at all. Then he continues spying, being tortured by the French, and spying some more.

What bothered me the absolute most is that I feel like she never was able to explain her part. She never got to say, hey, you got mad at me for X, but Y is really what happened. That is honestly the only thing that I didn’t like. I enjoyed the author’s voice, I enjoyed the plot, I didn’t even mind the Big Misunderstanding which usually drives me nuts! This book was passionate, and enjoyable. However for a book full of spies, there’s no danger, very little spying, and very little intrigue.

***ARC courtesy of St. Martin’s Press

This is a good use of the married but apart for years trope. Mark Grimaldi has let his pride rule his marriage and as a result he has not seen his wife in 10 years. Now he needs a favor and Nicole Huntington Grimaldi will grant it in return for one of her own. This has all the needed elements for a good story. Attraction that has not died, secrets that need to be revealed, and a murder that changes everything.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

3.5 Stars for an entertaining second chance historical romance.
Nicole and Mark are both interesting and strong characters who have a bit more pride than common sense.
These two married after a brief and passionate courtship then let a misunderstanding keep them apart for 10 years before fate brought them back together.
I enjoyed watching these two trying to figure each other out as more mature people. Add in a compelling sub plot regarding Mark’s family and you have a story that just zips along.
Various parts of the back story are told via flashback and how those transitions are handled is probably my one real complaint about the story, but it is more of a style issue.
This is definitely a fun romp of a book.

Valerie Bowman is a talented writer notable for her worthwhile characters. Even if the story is not particularly powerful or original, Bowman characters typically steal the spotlight and make the story worthwhile.

That being said, A Duke Like No Other fell short. Both have their faults that their merits do not excuse. There were also many issues with the story. The reader has to suspend disbelief for the majority of the plot which feels both unrealistic, particularly for the time, and dramatic.

Despite that, Bowman delivers with her signature style and heat. If the reader and accept the historical inaccuracies as well as frustrations the characters invoke, the story is actually quite enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this Regency romance with unforgettable characters, family drama, mystery, and so much more that kept me entertained and intrigued from the first page to the last. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down because I didn't want to wait to see what was going to happen.

I loved General Mark Grimaldi and his wife, Nicole, who are stubborn, prideful and passionate in their second chance at love and happiness. I really liked how snippets of their past were seamlessly inserted so I could better understand this couple. This is the first book I have read by Valerie Bowman but it definitely won't be the last. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys well-crafted Regency romance.

I received an advance reader copy of A Duke Like No Other from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review. I liked the book so much, I purchased a copy for my keeper library to read again later.

Playful Brides #9, Don't let that ninth book in the series scare you off it can be read as a stand alone, I have only read one other book in the series and even with mentioning past characters it didn't have any precedence over the current story. This is a second chance romance between Mark Grimaldi and Nicole Huntington Grimaldi. It was love at first sight for Mark and Nicole that lead to a quick and small wedding, but even before the honeymoon was over they argued and Nicole ran off. It's been ten years of trying for get each other, ten years of Nicole telling herself she no longer loved Mark and half expecting to receive a letter telling her he died in the war. Mark doing everything in his power to forget Nicole focusing on his career and now finally Mark is in line for a promotion, the position he's been aiming for his whole military career, but he needs his wife at his side. Nicole is tired of being lonely so when Mark shows up out of the blue asking her to be his wife again so he can get his promotion the only thing she wants in return is a baby.

Mark was just a soldier when he met Nicole and it surprised them both when her Mother and Grandmother approved the match. It wasn't until after the wedding that he found out that they knew the identity of his grandfather. Mark's mother was the daughter of a Duke but was disowned when she married an Italian man for love. Mark grew up hating that side of the family and wanted no connection to them at all. When found out that Nicole knew of this and that was the only reason she was allowed to marry him he assumed she just married him for the possibility of one day being a Duchess and not because she loved him. Mark never stopped loving her even when he just thought she was after his non-existent title and bringing her back into his life makes him question whether he'll be able to let her go again. Nicole never stopped loving Mark but ten years is a long time and the whole miscommunication thing going on between them that started all those years ago is still a big issue. When Mark's cousin dies suddenly he finds himself the first in line to inherit the Dukedom. Mark is put in charge of finding out who murdered his cousin but asks that everyone keep it quiet that he's the next in line mostly to draw out the murder and also because he doesn't want his new title to influence the higher ups about his promotion.

Overall, the murder mystery bit was great that was my favorite part of the book; the romance on the other hand got aggravating, all the assuming and not communicating with each other makes me want to bang my head on the desk, all the sexy bits were good...hot, very nice indeed. I can understand the miscommunication when they were younger but after all his time as a spy and working for the Home Office during war time he should know how important communication is and not just speculating something but finding out the truth but he can't do that with his own wife? Nicole overreacted and then was too stubborn to go back home. But despite their inability to talk to each other and listen i really enjoyed the book.

This is book nine I the wonderful ‘Playful Brides’ series, and this is just as good as the previous books have been. I do love this series!

Agent of the crown and master spy; Mark Grimaldi (or Grim, to his agent’s) want’s promotion, he is after a prestigious role within the Home Office but if he want’s to be even thought of for this particular promotion there is a condition; he must be a family man. What people don’t know though is that Marc is already married and has been for the last ten years, but his marriage is a complicated matter one that he has refused to think about. But now, he needs his estranged wife if he to be in for a chance of this elusive promotion.

Ten years earlier Nicole Huntington Grimaldi after a misunderstanding she left her husband, Mark and left England to live in France, where she has been living a simple and peaceful life, that is until the very man she ran away from turns up with a favour to ask. She is shocked to see him back again after all these years, yes deep down she loves him but that doesn’t mean she is going to let him scot-free. She has one condition, one thing that she wants in return.

I instantly liked these two, they are both lost and lonely souls that need a little love in their lives, they are terrible at actually talking to one another and because of that, it ended up with misunderstanding on both sides and them living apart for ten years, basically pretending that the other existed. The only problem with that is that they both genuinely care for each other, they are a lot of love between these two no matter how much they like to pretend differently.

I really like Mark, even though he is from a Ducal family he has got to where he is from hard graft, he is a self-made man and I hugely like and respect him for that. Mark isn’t at all what you would call a rogue, I don’t think he is! He is seductive, charming, hardworking and immensely intelligent but he isn’t a womaniser, I love that even though he has sacrificed everything for his career the only woman he has ever really loved deep down has always been Nicole.

Once back in London and acting the loving married couple, something happens that will drive them even closer. This is one of the many twists to the plot and it takes what was already fantastic second chance romance to an, whole new level, it takes hold you and you are gripped throughout until the grand finale.

I loved this book! The second chances trope has been one I haven’t read very much of and it is a refreshing take on an adorable love story. A Duke Like No Other is a fun, romantic and thrilling read that keep’s you attached and engaged to the plot and the character’s.

As ever with Bowman the writing is fast paced and flawless, her creative imagination just bursts to life and takes you on a wonderful and enticing journey. It is a brilliant addition to this series and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Thoroughly recommended!

This is a delightful romance filled with larger than life characters and a passionate romance. Mark Grimaldi is a brave spymaster. He suffered at the hands of the French, but he never broke. His only vulnerability is his wife, Nicole. He thinks that she married him seeking a rich powerful husband. He left her, but now he needs her back to support his political aspirations. Will she agree? I enjoyed the battle of wills between these two. Nicole is such a spirited lady. She's more than a match for her stubborn husband. I liked that their dialogue is witty and sassy. The setting is beautiful and the perfect background for this second chance romance. Valerie Bowman's writing is fast-paced and filled with emotion and romance. I enjoy her stories.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

An entertaining read! What a story of two characters so perfect for each other they push each other away. One I would enjoy reading again!
*adult content

I love a good estranged-husband-and-wife reunion historical romance, and A Duke Like No Other is a really good find. I had such a great time reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Ms. Bowman.

Now, don't let the fact that A Duke Like No Other is the ninth book in the Playful Brides series stop you from picking it up. I haven't read any of the books in the series (this book is actually my first ever read by Ms. Bowman), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It completely stands on its own.

A Duke Like No Other is the story of General Mark Grimaldi, super spy and a highly ambitious man, and his estranged wife Nicole Huntington Grimaldi, former debutante, assistant to the Bow Street Runners, as well as a spy for the War Office. They were a perfect match for each other until they weren't. It's been ten years since they last saw each other with Mark living in England and Nicole in France.

But, Mark needs a favor from Nicole--he needs her to play his loving wife in order to secure his promotion to Home Secretary because the upper ups were looking for a "family man." Nicole herself wanted something from Mark in exchange for her cooperation. What started as a simple agreement quickly turned into something more complicated when an unexpected death turns Mark's life upside down. Can Mark and Nicole work things out and get a second chance at love amidst a murder investigation?

I adore second chance romances between an already married couple especially in a historical romance because it's like what happens after the happily-ever-after--it's a different push-and-pull between the couple because they're trying to figure out if their love is worth saving. My only issue with Mark and Nicole was their lack of communication about the big stuff. Lack of communication causing drama is not a favorite of mine, but I get why this was a challenge for them, especially Mark (his nickname was Stone Man for goodness' sake) so I could forgive them for that. I did want to slap Mark in the face towards the end though for being clueless, but I liked his grand gesture and his groveling was sweet.

The present action of Mark and Nicole investigating the murder all the while fighting the pull between them kept me glued to the pages. I don't want to say anything specific because of spoilers, but I thought the author did a really good job mixing marital and family drama with the murder mystery. And, bonus points for Nicole and Mark, they didn't cheat on each other even though they were apart for ten years. Yay for no infidelities! We did get extensive flashbacks of Nicole and Mark's first meeting all the way to their big fight that caused them to separate, which slowed down the action some, but I liked having that insight into their past so I didn't mind them so much. The writing was very readable--I always worry when trying new authors that I wouldn't jell with their writing style, but not in this case. I enjoyed Ms. Bowman's writing style.

A Duke Like No Other was a really good introduction to Ms. Bowman's writing. I can't wait to read more by her (actually already bought another book by her). If you like second chance historical romances with a mystery mixed in, I highly recommend you pick up A Duke Like No Other.

I believe that this is the ninth installment to Playful Brides series and even though I liked it, I think that this series should end here.

I enjoyed the main characters a lot but it’s the plot I had trouble with. Not the murder mystery itself, but the whole flashback in time line got to be repetitive. It took away from the romance and I wish we had more of it.

That said, I have to say I still enjoyed the premise of a second chance romance and these two had a lot going on, so I had a lot of fun getting to know them.

This was a fun and entertaining read.

Melanie for b2b

Oh I loved this story. The surprise of the estranged spouse, the mystery and the romance all worked together very well. I hope to read more in this series.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the first book I have read in the Playful Brides series and the first time I have read this author. It will definitely not be the last. I really enjoyed how Ms. Bowman described the scenes, and the characters, she brought them to life and the witty dialogue, at times. made me chuckle. I look forward to going back and starting this series from the beginning.

I enjoyed this story of a married couple finding their way back to each other. Nicole and Mark hurt each other but find they need each other now. The physical attraction never disappeared, but the trust needs to be rebuilt. Both are strong characters, and I laughed and cried as the story progressed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

This was another great installment in the Playful Brides series. I was quite looking forward to this story, especially after reading Never Trust a Pirate with the twins (which I promptly fell head over heels for). Just like Never Trust a Pirate, this story did not fail to deliver.
In this installment, we see the roguish and rough General Mark Grimaldi who has denounced everything except his job ambitions and his counterpart, the independent and no-holds-bar Nicole. They were already married, but they were estranged, largely due to a lot of random miscommunication and pride and were happily living for 10 years two countries apart. Then Mark needed a favor, and Nicole seized the opportunity.
I won’t say anymore because you will have to read the story for yourselves.
I found this installment of the series just as entertaining and un-put-downable as Never Trust a Pirate. I enjoyed all of the characters thoroughly, and I loved watching them figure themselves out in the story. I also enjoyed the side characters, our blond angel Oakleaf, and the naughty Regina. Bowman always does a wonderful job giving ALL of the characters a different personality and intermixing the characters from previous and upcoming books.
I admire Nicole for forging her own path when things went sour. I admire her taking life by the balls (so to speak), forcing her way up through the male dominated investigating field to become an investigator and spy in her right, and for daring to be independent and doing what she sees fit despite what her husband and anyone else might think. Damn, I even admire her for riding around in BREECHES and not giving a crap about people’s perceptions because that’s what she ENJOYS.
General Grimaldi was also not your typical romance hero. First of all, he didn’t give a damn about the aristocracy. He was the spymaster and as such was ruthless and ambitious. He didn’t enjoy lining himself with too many people and liked to keep his entire life a secret. He was also not a rakish character. He did not just sleep around with any woman. Instead, the sex in this (and Bowman’s other books) means something. Or it comes to mean a lot.
At first, I loved the banter between the characters. I found it humorous to see them both be so unmovable in their personalities and be so awkward around each other. I also loved seeing them figure each other out again after 10 years. HOWEVER (and this is a big however), I was not a fan of the constant lack of communication and miscommunication in the story. The whole issue with their relationship could have been solved if they would have stopped spying and lying to each other and jumping to conclusions and would sit down and have a real conversation about the problems and the things in the relationship that were bothering them. That would have made sense. Instead, however, they jumped to conclusions and wouldn’t even communicate most of the time.
I also found a couple plot points that were not explored. Particularly about Nicole running an orphanage, and about her wearing breeches riding again (the later because Grim mentioned it SO much).
Other than that, however, it was a WONDERFUL story and I can’t wait to read the next installment with Oakleaf and Regina.

This was a fun read, with two stubborn characters who are forced to rethink their relationship to accomplish their own personal goals. Enjoyable!

This is the first book I have read from this author, and I will definitely be looking for more from her! The story was good and I liked the characters although they were frustrating in their stubbornness. The love scenes were very hot!

Mark Grimaldi had worked his way through the military, and all of his dedication is about to be rewarded with a promotion to Home Secretary. However, he has to be married as part of the conditions of the post. Mark has no intention of being married, especially when he already has an estranged wife he hadn't seen in ten years. Nicole Huntington Grimaldi had spent ten years estranged from him but is amenable to the charade of being Mark's loving wife for his promotion. However, feelings are rekindled, and there are further secrets waiting in the wings that can change their future.

This is the ninth and final book in the "Playful Brides" series, so there are references to characters from earlier novels. It isn't necessary to have read those, because this one focuses on Mark and Nicole entirely. They were estranged for such a long time, and initially, Mark's only concerns are his career and his continued attraction to Nicole. She had been lonely even with friends in France and longs to have a child. It's like the fake marriage trope was tweaked a bit, because they're indeed married and have every reason to be together, yet aren't.

It's always interesting to see Regency romances that feature characters a little older than usual. Instead of being a teenager just being presented for marriage, Nicole is old enough to know what she wants and have the strength of character to follow through. The conflicts she had with Mark were based on his own character as well as misconceptions they each had of each other when younger. There is a mystery for them to solve, and Nicole is flexible enough to think outside of the box. Mark is almost proud of his inflexibility, but he does change enough for the two of them to have their happily ever after. Neither are wrong, and there isn't a big disaster to overcome. They simply have to communicate their needs with each other, which scary enough for adults to do!

I totally enjoyed reading A Duke Like No Other by Valerie Bowman, book 9 in her Playful Bride series. This Historical Romance is a second chance at love and marriage, that is filled with mystery and intrigue.

In order for General Mark Grimaldi to further his career and meet his goal to become the next Home Secretary in England, he must find himself a wife. But, he already has a wife; unfortunately they are estranged and haven’t seen each other in ten years. Mark knows his estranged wife, Nicole Huntington Grimaldi, is living in France, but he has a plan. He will go to France, surprise her and ask Nicole to do a favor for him by acting as his loving wife for a short period while he secures his promotion. What a great plan! However, Nicole has her own plan, she will agree to Mark’s favor as long as he agrees to do a favor for her. Mark readily agrees and off they go, back to England, together. Although it seems simple, life has a way of making simple things turn out to be a little more complicated. In this case life turns out to be a lot complicated.

The likeable and intriguing main characters, General Mark Grimaldi and his estranged wife Nicole were quite entertaining in this story. In addition she added secondary characters that added more fun to this story. Definitely be on the lookout for Aunt Harriet and her contribution to a very important interrogation Mark tries to achieve. I always enjoy some humor in a good story. With Mark being a spy and Nicole being an “assistant” to the Bow Street Runners there are lots of investigating going on along with some surprise conclusions to the mysteries.

I totally loved these characters and didn’t want to put this book down. Ms. Bowman did a fantastic job creating her characters, keeping the story intriguing, making me forget the world around me and did not let me go until I turned the last page. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, supplied by the publisher through NetGalley.

This is a fun series. I have enjoyed each of them greatly. The characters are a lot of fun. I loved Nicole and Mark and how they must learn to admit that they love each other and need to be together. I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.