Marlena Fast was orphaned young. She had a guardian, but because he was unmarried, she lived with various relatives. Marlena is now living with her cousins. Her one cousin, Justine, is a widow who is thrilled that the Duke of Rathburne is her new guardian.

When I read the synopsis, I thought that the book sounded good. I liked Marlena and the Duke. However, the surrounding characters were too much. There was Justine who was living in the past and thought that the Duke would propose to her as soon as he remembered their dance during her season. There were several times I wondered who was the main character because Justine overshadowed and overpowered Marlena.

Marlena was writing a gossip column and using the money to help a friend and her married sister that lived down the street. The husband was spending all of their money on fossils and was now spending the unmarried sister's money for her season. The epilogue was a wrap up of what happens with the fossil guy.

While I did finish the book, I found it hard to complete.

I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

The last of the Dukes of St. James, Rath, has finally decided that it's time to get married. He suddenly becomes guardian to Marlena, who he remembers as a freckle-faced, braided young girl. She's had to become self-sufficient in the past 10 years, and is totally unwilling to submit to Rath's guardianship, especially since sh'e been on a campaign to force all of the rakes to be punished for their earlier indiscretions that had ruined a good friend.

It was good to be reunited with the other two rakes, and to learn the truth about Miss Honora Truth, the writer of the same-names scandal sheet. That story line was wrapped up nicely, and the snippets from her book just added to the story. Watching Rath and Marlene get reaquainted, and watching him figure out that she was just what he was looking for as a life-mate -- someone who would not bow to his power as a duke but would insist on being his equal whenever possible. And to watch him understand, mostly, why she wrote the scandal sheet was fascinating..

**In addition to read a hard copy of this book, I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher which I voluntarily and honestly reviewed.**

It's All About the Duke is the third book in The Rakes of St. James series by Amelia Grey. I have not read the previous books in the series, but I could still fully enjoy the read. There are some references that will make more sense to those that have been following the series, but newcomers will catch on.

Nearing thirty, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager that caused him and his best friends such scandal―but taking on a ward who needs a husband is a feat he’s not sure he can manage. The last he saw of Miss Marlena Fast, she was a spirited little ruffian, not the sort of bride most bachelors on the marriage mart sought. But one glance at the lovely lady she has become is enough to convince him otherwise. Orphaned young and shuffled from family to family, Marlena counts on her fierce independence and quick wits to keep herself content. Being the responsibility of a notoriously wicked duke who upended so many lives is an unexpected challenge when she realizes he arouses her decidedly feminine desires. Marlena must be careful. She has her own scandalous secret to protect. If he finds out, will it shatter her chances of a happily-ever-after with the notorious rake?

It's All About the Duke was a mixed bag for me. I liked Marlena's character in some ways, she is independent and resourceful, but naive and foolish. I liked her spunk and willingness to stand up for herself, but sometimes her willingness to overlook some people's faults and failings, but unwillingness to think beyond them for others was a little bothersome- but also completely human and believable. Rath feels bad about how the actions his group made years ago has effected others, but never really looked too deeply to see past the surface to see if they had any lingering negative affects on those involved. I liked the banter between Rath and Marlena, but found them a bit quick and easy with the physical side of the relationship, and considering all the secrets and hard feelings floating around I found it a little off putting. I found some of the reactions of each to alternate between over the top, and dismissive depending on the moment. I still enjoyed the read, but I was not invested in the characters or action- rather felt like I was eavesdropping or watching someone's personal drama unfold in public, with all the dramatic flare of someone looking for attention rather than heartfelt emotion. I usually enjoy this author's work more, and wonder if I was just not in the mood for this style of romance when I picked it up.

It's All About the Duke is a historical romance with plenty of drama and some quirky characters. I really enjoyed some of the dialogue and interactions, but it fell short of my expectations.

The Duke of Rathburne agrees to an old family friend's request become guardian for a young woman because he feels that it's time for him to be Responsible. Miss Marlena Fast is keeping a very big secret and she fears that Rath will be very upset once he learns of her alias as "Miss Honora Truth". Both Rath and Marlena learn that appearances and titles do not necessarily make a person and some truths can lead to nothing but trouble!

Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

The Rakes of St. James #3, third and final book of the series but can be read as a standalone. I wanted to like this one, I had such high hopes for Rath, but I really just did not like Marlena or that situation she got herself into. I like she she was smart and brave enough to do something and earn money to help a friend but I don't like what she did and the fact that it took her forever to accept the truth. This book didn't have a lot of action it's mainly talk and internal conflict and while I usually love internal conflict Marlena just annoyed me.

This next bit is revealed pretty early in the book, so it's nothing you wouldn't already find out if you read the first two chapters. Marlena is the infamous gossip that brought up the past and helped spread the rumor that someone was going to seek revenge against them using their sisters. Marlena's current guardian's health is failing and her new one was unexpected. Rathborne has always been a rake, acting out against his father he did everything possible to be his own man. But after his father's death Rath realized he should have been more like his father. In a drunken haze Rath made a decision that his father would be proud of something his father probably would have done himself, he took on a ward. When he sobered up he tried to take back the decision but realized the old man was too sick to get the girl out on the marriage mart and have her season. After all how hard will it be to marry off a girl.

I didn't get their chemistry. Rath's attraction to her is immediate and he doesn't feel like he deserves her, and Marlena's attraction is immediate also which she doesn't like because he's the notorious rake she's written about and knows he'll hate her when he finds out. I liked the idea behind the book I just didn't like the main female characters, for the exception of Loretta, Esse and Griffin's sister. There were some humorous situations throughout the book that I did like and none of them included Marlena.

Overall, I liked parts of the book and some of the characters. For the most part I do enjoy Grey's writing and her characters in her other books this one just didn't work for me.

Making amends is what the duke is trying to do. He never expects to meet a woman like Marlena. She knocks him off his game the moment they meet the only problem is her secret. She is afraid when he finds out what she does he will leave her flat.
This was a fun story especially when he does find out her secret and how it causes a huge change for them. I really enjoyed it.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

It’s All About the Duke was an enjoyable read and I was happy to finally get the story of the Duke of Rathburne who was my favorite of the Rakes of St. James.

As the last Rake of St. James to be unwed, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager from his youth that caused a scandal for a dozen debutants. At the request of an old family friend, Rath takes on a ward, Miss Marlena Fast, and is tasked with helping her find a husband. Orphaned as a child and left in the care of an aging earl, Marlena has come to count on herself to keep content. When she finds out she’s the ward of a notorious rake, Marlena knows she needs to come up with a plan to secure her own future. But upon finding herself unexpectedly attracted to Rath, Marlena realizes love may have a different plan for her.

Marlena is a very independent woman and doesn’t need someone to look out for her interests as she’s perfectly capable of doing so herself. Marlena is definitely ahead of her time and is often frustrated by the restrictions placed on women. She cares deeply about her friends and is willing to do everything in her power to help them without a thought of herself. I admired her loyalty and belief that actions should have consequences regardless of who you are.

Rath has never been good about being the kind of gentleman others expect him to be but he does have lines he won’t cross. He doesn’t see the point of some of society’s rules and tends to ignore them. Rath is always there for his friends and when it counts will always do the right thing. He feels guilt over what happened with the secret admirer letters of his youth but has never been able to find a way to properly atone for his part in it feeling at times that society will never let it go.

Marlena and Rath have a bit of an antagonistic relationship at first as Marlena is determined to do as she pleases while Rath simply wants to fulfill his promise to see his ward wed. Eventually the two fall into a great banter filled relationship as they get to know each other more. The chemistry between Marlena and Rath is off the charts, but there were very few scenes where they had the opportunity to succumb to their passions. While I enjoyed the few kissing scenes and one sex scene, I typically prefer my books to be slightly more explicit so that was my only complaint in regards to their relationship.

The main characters from the first two books pop up frequently throughout the book and I was happy to see them all again. In this final book in the series we finally learn the identity of Miss Honora Truth, the author of the scandal sheet that has plagued the Rakes of St. James for the last three years. I enjoyed the storyline surrounding the gossip columnist and felt it added a nice touch to the story. I also loved the little snippets of advice from her book that’s at the start of each chapter.

It’s All About the Duke was an amazing conclusion to The Rakes of St. James series and I’m looking forward to seeing what the author does next. I highly recommend this series for anyone looking for a great historical romance series to pick up.

I absolutely love this book. Rafe, the Duke of Rathburne and his new ward, Miss Marlena Fast, feel an instant attraction. His teasing manner and her honesty play off each other and balances their relationship. But a scandalous gossip sheet that reflects on a bet gone wrong between Rathburne and his two friends and a book about all three of them, may have consequences down the road. Humorous partners in gossip and a crazy Aunt will keep you entertained throughout the book. Now I need to go back and read the first two books in the series. I was given a free ARC in return for an honest review.

The Duke of Rathburne has been named the new ward of Marlena Fast. When he introduces himself he is not aware Marelena knows him as one of the men she anonymously writes about in her gossip column. Will this end there growing affection for one another?
It was difficult believing the love between Rath and Marlena as the dialogue between them never conveyed anything that measured up to what was happening in the story. The pacing was also an issue for me and the combination of both left me wanting more compared to the first two books in the series.

4..5 Stars

What a great way to cap off the Rakes of St. James Street series. Rath and Marlena are an unlikely pair. Acquainted when they were younger, she is still forthright, spirited and now has a secret that she really just can’t keep from him. He’s a Duke who is excellent at estate management, but stays away from even the least dandyish notion. Together they find in one another a receptiveness that is unexpected and a growing love that is undeniable.

I enjoyed it vastly and thing\k you will too.

Funny and Emotional at the same time. I really enjoyed this book, but know I must go back and read the previous in the series.

"I have to say I really enjoyed this book and would like to read the first two books in this series. This is the first book I've read by this author and I highly recommended. Such a fun and interesting read! I love all the characters and their stories. I like how the author brings everything together at the end! A+++"

This is the third book in The Rakes of St. James series. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, the book description intrigued me, so I accept to read and review. This is a light regency novel that puts the reader into the glittering world of the London ton.
I struggled with the premise for It’s All about the Duke. I have a difficult time believing her previous guardian would choose a rake as her new guardian, but I held judgment. Unfortunately, I never grew more accepting.

Marlena’s character is supposed to be independent, feisty and quick-witted. For me, those characteristics were not present, so I never truly identified with Marlena and never became invested. Fortunately, I did find several secondary characters who kept me entertained and the story moving along at a decent pace.

The Duke Rathburne is a likely hero. I particularly enjoyed his dry wit and patience with Marlena’s aunt, self-absorbed, flitty character, but humorous with no ill designs toward her niece, just a bit thoughtless of Marlena’s wants and desires.

Now, for me the romance was fine, just not throbbing with sexual tension and passion. I did not feel a strong chemistry between the hero and heroine, which made it difficult to care about whether they found their happy ending.

Nonetheless, this is a decent read with several nice moments and a secondary romance with two of other characters that I found interesting. No doubt, It’s All about the Duke is well-written and flowed well. It also has a nice feel of the Regency period, which will appeal to other readers of this sub-genre of romance. Happy reading!

Regency romance gone awry

I wanted to like this. Right from the beginning I wasn't engaged and almost decided not to finish but soldiered on. The slow going continued and the story held little chemistry for me. Other novels in the same trope, of rakes being punished via a wickedly wielded pen, have held more sparkle.

A NetGalley ARC

I like it! It makes me want to read the other books in the series.

Rate fund himself with a enchanting ward, Marlena, who is strong, couragoyes, and so unique. Marlena is surprised at the turn of events, especially since she has been writing about the rakes of St James for almost 3yrs now. She never expected to meet any of the people she wrote about, much less be a ward of them and found out that they are more than who she thought they were. Throughout the story, Rath and Marlena fall in love with each other. Of course they get their happy ending!

Rath is such an appealing man. Marlena is such a lovely person, a good friend to have at your side. They are drawn to each other from the start. They both learn things from each other. Such a great regency couple!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book.

It was ok. I like the duke and ward idea, but the conflict fell flat for me. And Rath and Marlena seemed to hit it off right away which also dimmed the story for me, I like tension and suspense. The friends who lived next door seemed a little off, and the whole reason for Marlena writing the scandal sheets didn't make sense to me. And Eugenia fainting all the time really annoyed me. And at the end when Veronica I think her name was was finally happy with her marriage?? I didn't get it. But I do admit to skimming the last few chapters so I might have missed something. The only thing I enjoyed reading about was the dog and how Rath liked the dog. You never really read any historicals where the hero likes a dog.

A very charming and lighthearted Regency romance.
Marlena is a lovely character who is more concerned about her friends' happiness than her own situation. The Duke of Rathburne is very charming and I couldn't help like him as he was so kind to Marlena and patient with her very annoying cousin. I couldn't wait for this pair to have their happy ever after. A very nice read.

"It's All About the Duke" , was all about the Duke of Rathburne and his new ward Ms Marlena Fast, a ward whom he took on after drinking a bit too much and allowing his guilt for not being the gentleman his father wished him to be.
"Rath" , is one of a trio of three young dukes who years ago thought it would be funny to pick four each young women to send secret admirer letters to and see who would show up to a rendezvous as a wager between the three of them, never truly believing that any of these well bred women would. However some did and unfortunately it became known ending in these young women's season often being ruined. Though Rath and his fellow takes Griff and Hawk escaped with little consequence, all being dukes and young Rakes, " Rakes will be Rakes after all " .
Though time has passed , a scandal sheet writer has chosen for three years now to write almost daily about what the Rakes of St James did , that writer being Ms Honora Truth.
What Rath has no idea is that his very own new ward is Ms Honora truth, unfortunate for him since he is extremely attracted to her and unfortunate for Marlena because the mans she has spent the,last three years writing about he and his friends she finds herself attracted to ; a rake she warns her readers about, but even worse a secret she has to keep from a man who slowly is capturing her heart with every gracious and thoughtful thing he does.
Overall the storyline was engrossing the characters interesting , however a bit slow at times, still a solid read.
Arc Copy received from Netgalley.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
I was highly anticipating this installment, after handing out a 5-star rating to To the Duke, with Love. While this is a continuation, and it will benefit the reader to start at the beginning of the series and read in order, there would be little to no confusion if read as a standalone.

I will admit, I struggled throughout the course of the novel with keeping my interests. I was able to read a chapter here or there until completion, and this may have affected my overall enjoyment. However, I did read the first 40% in one sitting.

The pacing was a big issue for me. It starts off molasses slow. While I enjoyed Marlena and Rath's narration, my pet peeves were popping out everywhere. Their initial meeting took almost 20% of the book, filled with conversation, inner musing/monologues breaking up dialogue, excessive description which also interrupted the flow of conversation, and eye-humping each other while thinking about how amazingly beautiful/handsome the other was.

Attraction is definitely what I expect from an initial meeting, but this was too close to self-admitting being in love. While this took a great portion of the novel, it was literal minutes of their lives.

Rath was a naughty boy in the past, he and the heroes of the previous installments. Wagering on ladies and treating them less than human. They've all learned the error of their ways, character growth. He is now picking up the duty of introducing his new ward to the ton for a season. Rath, the insulter of ladies, will be protecting one – I loved the juicy irony of that.

Marlena is an orphan, but also a grown woman. After witnessing how naughty men treated the fairer sex, she penned Miss Honoria Truth. In the previous installments, I loved the witty, feminist bent to the little ditties scattered throughout the series, and I just couldn't wait for the author to narrate a book of her own.

Marlena fell short of my expectations. I felt she was too focused on the vapid, outside package of Rath's, when I expected more from her. She was always mooning (inside her head) over how handsome he was, reminding the reader every few paragraphs, as if we could somehow forget Rath's impressive attributes. It felt shallow, as if Marlena was not the Miss Honoria Truth I'd come to love – entertainer and avenger of ladies everywhere.

In a nutshell, I'm a sucker for a guardian and his ward entanglement. Added to the fact he was a reformed reprobate and she was the one who took him to task in the media, sparks should have been flying everywhere. But it all felt forced, due to the pacing, repetition of inner monologue via both narrators, and description breaking up every conversation to be had and any and all action scenes.

I do believe it was a solid installment of the series. These are my pet peeves that made it difficult to enjoy the novel. If we don't share these same issue, no doubt you will highly enjoy it. I do recommend to fans of the author and the series.

The third book in The Rakes of St. James does not disappoint! It was full of wonderful banter, especially between the heroine, Marlena Fash, and her ward, the Duke of Rathburne. This story features one of my favorite tropes--a redeemed rake. I enjoyed the character interactions, the introduction of a hoarder who lives next door, and the annoying chaperone reliving her glory days from her past Season. All in all, this is a delightful read for those who enjoy the Regency period.