I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This one was pretty long. For the most part I was able to stay interested but there were a couple parts where I though it got a tad dull. Overall though I thought the plot for this book was pretty creative – I haven’t read many other romance novels with similar plots. That being said I thought the ending wrapped up a little too quickly, for how drawn out the rest of the story was I thought the ending all came together pretty fast. Due to the length the reader is able to get to know the characters a little better, which I did enjoy. I didn’t love Quinn’s character though, even with the extra time. He was a little too deceptive for my tastes and Jane was so generous and loving. Other than items already discussed, I did enjoy this book. It wasn’t necessarily my favorite (mostly because it took me so long to get through) but I did enjoy it. I’d recommend it, especially since the plot was so different.

I have read some of Grace Burrowes’s other books and could never really get into them. I decided to give the author another try because the description of this book caught my eye. I’m so glad I did, because I loved it! Quinn and Jane were great characters, and I enjoyed the plot; very dramatic opening chapters, followed by chapters focusing on the development of a marriage of convenience. The supporting cast (so to speak) was strong as well. I am excited to read future books in this series. Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for the eARC.

Grace Burrowes begins a new series with the very entertaining tale of Quinn, a wealthy banker released from Newgate when he is discovered to be heir to a dukedom, and Jane, the poor, pregnant widow he met while she visited prisoners along with her preacher father. They go from having essentially no future to one filled with love, responsibility, and family, and I am definitely looking forward to future additions.

When I picked up My One and Only Duke one morning, I gambled that I’d be able to put it down when necessary... and I lost that bet, since the book sucked me in from the start.

The story begins with Quinn Wentworth, one of London’s most famously wealthy bankers, biding his time in Newgate prison before his execution. As he prepares to wait out his last week on earth from his quiet cell (the nicest quarters a bribe can get you in Newgate), one of the prison guards brings in a woman to visit him. She is Miss Jane Winston, a kind young lady who accompanied her minister father to the prison, but who had no desire to listen to him sermonize. Although Quinn freely admits to being a convicted murderer, neither he nor his clean cell gives off an air of danger, so Jane consents to the guard’s plan of her waiting for her father with Quinn rather than in the hall.

Over the course of this visit, and one more the following week, Jane and Quinn go from talking about innocuous things like their favorite foods, to the more serious topics of their goals and plans for life. Quinn, obviously, is about to have his life cut short, but he’s interested in Jane’s predicament, living unhappily with her father, whose enthusiasm for his religion borders on insanity. When a moment of illness forces Jane to reveal she is pregnant, Quinn becomes even more concerned for her. It seems Jane eloped about a year ago, only to have her husband die in a duel months later. Although her father took her back, the zealous minister refused to acknowledge her marriage and presents her to the world as his spinster daughter. Jane is worried her father will become more irrational as her pregnancy becomes more obvious, but she has no resources to allow her to live independently.

Concern for a pregnant woman in an unsafe situation and a desire to do good by someone else before he dies lead Quinn to propose marriage to a woman he has only met twice. Although skeptical at first, as Jane begins to seriously discuss the proposal with Quinn, she starts to see the logic in it. Jane and Quinn genuinely like each other despite their short acquaintance, but even then, it’s not like they’re really intending to build a life together. Jane will have desperately needed security as Quinn’s widow,  and he can die with the satisfaction of a doing a final good deed, so she agrees and the two are wed.

If you’re wondering where the titular Duke comes into play, it is now, in the eleventh hour, right before (or just as) Quinn is to be hanged. The Dukedom of Walden has been languishing unclaimed and deeply in debt for a few years, and as fate would have it, the Royal College of Arms discovers Quinn is next in line for the title. Deciding that a wealthy banker is just the man to take over the dukedom and all its debts, they send a man out to interrupt Quinn’s execution and inform him of his new circumstances.

All of these events cover approximately the first twenty five percent of the book – a lot a lot of action in a short time, which should pull in almost any reader. Yet what had me glued to the page was not the events so much as it was the characters. When I first met them, I assumed Quinn was a rich leader of the ton wrongly convicted of murder, and that Jane was the innocent young miss destined to fall in love with him and see past his conviction. Then Quinn revealed he was a self-made man born to poverty and made no protestations of innocence, so I figured I had him pegged completely wrong. But then, once he was freed, Quinn begins to investigate the question of who framed him for murder - proving me wrong in thinking he might actually be a killer. And of course Jane surprised me by revealing herself to be a pregnant widow acting as a unmarried girl (quite the opposite from the average spinster Regency heroine posing as a widow).

All of this is to say that it took me quite a while to feel like I truly understood either Quinn or Jane, although I did understand them by the end of the book, and moreover, I liked them. Quinn is a deeply caring man who would protect the whole world if he could, and he is well matched by Jane, who takes a different, but no less dedicated, approach to helping others. They balance each other out and work well as a team in the face of society - or Quinn’s family.

The Wentworth family is one of the more interesting romance novel families I’ve met, not because they’re wittier or more adventurous or more troubled, but because, like Quinn and Jane, they’re hard to get a read on. Once Quinn moves back home and begins to investigate the setup that landed him in Newgate, I had moments when I suspected each member of his family. Although they’re tight-knit and Quinn trusted them, I could tell there were some secrets and histories I wasn’t privy to, which had me feeling at turns curious and suspicious.

I won’t say much more about the mystery plot, other than to add that it is one of the better ones I’ve read outside of an official ‘romantic Suspense’ novel. Ms. Burrowes did a good job of keep me guessing as to everyone’s motivations.

The romance plot was equally enjoyable; one of my favorite scenes in the book was when Quinn showed up at Jane’s house to tell her he survived his hanging. Although a living husband was not at all part of her plans, Jane was ecstatic. She didn’t love Quinn yet, didn’t know what it would be like to share a life with him, but she knew him to be a truly good man, and had been heartbroken to think he was gone from the world forever. I loved that as a foundation for their marriage - a genuine faith in the other person, rather than love or convenience.

My One and Only Duke was a surprise DIK for me. Although I’ve read and enjoyed many of Ms. Burrowes’ books before, they don’t usually reach DIK status for me. Discovering this story, with its many unexpected characters, was a lovely way to start my day. I will definitely be watching for future additions to the series.

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One thing you can expect from Grace Burrowes are different scenarios which I have found are a trademark of this brilliant author. And MY ONE AND ONLY DUKE the first book in this new series introduces us to the unconventional Wentworth family which I predict is going to be a winner!

London banker Quinn Wentworth is facing execution, for a murder which he is being framed for. But, before the floor drops out of the gallows he's declared the long-lost heir to a dukedom! Quinn has fought his way up from the vilest slums, and now he's ready to use every dirty trick he knows to find the enemy who schemed against him.

Except for one tiny problem! Thinking he was on his way to the devil, he had married Jane Winston, the widowed, pregnant daughter of a meddlesome prison preacher. Quinn, believing his days numbered, offered Jane marriage as a way to guarantee her independence and provide for her child. Neither thinks they'll actually have a future together. And that is where the fun begins.

Quinn is now an even wealthier gutter rat out for vengeance. Jane is a minister's daughter who must turn a marriage of desperation and convenience into a proper ducal union. Add to that Quinn’s two sisters, and younger handicapped brother who were just as hungry for payback as Quinn for the dastardly person who framed their brother and Jane had her hands full. With some training, albeit not in a role as a duchess, Jane had the task of turning this unusual household into a refined ducal residence as well as teaching Quinn that love and trust were part of having a real marriage.

Marilyn Rondeau

I generally like surprise-marriage stories but this one was kinda disappointing. The story took place over a longer period of time, so there was a lot of reporting on events or summarizing events. The heroine was a little too perfect, the hero's siblings a little too unnecessarily annoying and purposefully unconventional. A sweet enough story but not a must-read by any means.

this is my first book by this author, and it was quite enjoyable. i didn't really love the mystery side of things, but it was a cute romance book. i'll be sure to read her earlier work!

3 1/2 stars. My One and Only Duke was a likable story with an good plot. My issue was that it tried a bit to hard on the mystery thread. I loved how Quinn and Jane found each other and how they came to be married. When Quinn gets released he is determined to find out who framed him. Unfortunately, I felt like almost every character was written for the reader to suspect them. I also had to use the dictionary on my Kindle for some of the dialogue. I think easier, more common words could have been used to get the same idea across.

Sometimes a premise is just too good to pass up. I couldn’t help myself when I saw a man condemned to hang at Newgate for murder is suddenly given a stay of execution when he is discovered to be the next duke. I already enjoy this author’s stories and would have picked this one up anyway, but this new Rogues to Riches series is certainly starting off with a bang.
Review

My One and Only Duke introduces the eccentric Wentworth family and the first one, Quinn, presents the reader with a fantastical story of rags to riches to prison and dukehood. Quinn is a forceful man and a successful banker. Someone wanted him out of the way for good so he was framed for murder. While awaiting his execution, Quinn decides to do a good turn for an engaging widow expecting a child and stuck living in poverty and the situation grows worse. He marries her and promises that she will have independence and no fear of need.
The fun begins when Quinn is pardoned when he is discovered to be a ducal heir. Quinn and Jane now have to figure out the being married to strangers part even while adjusting to their newfound status in the highest tier of society while the danger from Quinn’s past is still lurking.

As I said, the premise really grabbed me and I was enchanted from the early pages with both taciturn Quinn and surprising Jane. They had chemistry right away even when they are in his cell at Newgate getting a feel for each other while she awaits her sanctimonious and eccentric preacher father and Quinn awaits his own death. Quinn intimidated nearly everyone else, but not Jane. She was good for him and it was neat seeing them build a life together.

His siblings are all odd and a little mysterious because of the hard life the Wentworths lived growing up in abuse and poverty before making good with the bank. They will be the source of the rest of the series stories no doubt.

Normally, I’m not drawn to pregnant heroines when the baby is not the hero’s, but I thought this situation worked and was just part of the whole zany ball of circumstances facing this pair who thought Jane would end up his widow, but found they were stuck together and chose to make the most of it including falling in love. I got nervous that it would get angsty or weird, but it had the amount of conflict one could expect in such a situation. There was some awkwardness that distracted me a bit in the middle of the story where I felt there was either too much going on around this pair or something with the romance itself. Can’t put my finger on it. That said, they were a good pair and I liked them both.

The suspense element was good, but I confess I was more taken up with the pair trying to make a go of what was essentially an arranged or slightly forced marriage situation.

There was a bonus novella included with my copy, but I didn’t read it for this review.

So, a new series is launched and I had a good time with Quinn and Jane’s story. It will get interesting with the other Wentworths. While many of the author’s series are spin-offs and connected closely to past series, this one is not and its a good place for a newbie to the author to start. For those who want a little something different in their high society historical romances, I point you to this one.

My thanks to Forever Romance for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My One and Only Duke is the first book in Grace Burrowes’ Rogues to Riches series of Regency-era historical romance novels. I was excited about the opportunity to read this book because I enjoyed Burrowes’ Windham Brides series, and a new series meant a fresh start with new characters.

Quinn Wentworth started with nothing, and built a prosperous banking empire for himself and his siblings. But as the story begins, Quinn is in Newgate, facing execution for a murder he did not commit. It is there that he meets Jane, a pregnant vicar’s daughter. Jane is not married; she eloped to Scotland with a handsome soldier, who turned out to be a rogue, but he was killed in a duel. Jane already caused one scandal by eloping, and now she faces a second one. Quinn offers to marry Jane, so that his estate can provide financial support for her and the unborn baby. He’s going to die anyway, so why shouldn’t he do one final magnanimous gesture?

But Quinn does not die- as it turns out, he is the heir to the Walden dukedom, so he is summarily released from prison, and now he has a new wife and a title to go along with his existing wealth, and no idea what to do with either.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It started out very dramatically, and the steady pace kept me hooked. Quinn and Jane were absolute strangers, and now they find themselves married. Jane needs to adjust to life in Quinn’s home with his eccentric siblings, and manage her father, who disapproves of her new husband. Quinn and Jane’s romance is a slow burn, and it was so sweet to see their mutual affection grow into attraction. The secondary characters are well rounded; some add whimsy and some add to the conflict, but they provide the book with a sense of depth.

I would absolutely recommend My One and Only Duke. This is a solid introduction to a new series, and Burrowes does a wonderful job of introducing the reader to her new world. There are so many delightful characters that I would be hard pressed to choose whose story I would like to hear next! I am already looking forward to the next book in the series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

2.5 stars

Uninspiring. That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of my reading experience with this book. My One and Only Duke is my first Grace Burrowes book, but unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype surrounding the author.

Writing:
I have heard many fantastic things about this author, mostly that her writing is reminiscent of Mary Balogh, whose books I enjoy. Burrowes is a fine writer and I can see how her prose is similar to Balogh’s. However, Burrowes spends way too much time inserting her so-called witty interventions into the story in an attempt to sound clever, snarky, and superior. She spends so much time doing this that she entirely forgets to write an interesting plot and heartwarming romance. In fact, she only seems to catch herself in the last third of the book. That was the section of the book where the author finally remembers that she has a story to tell and scrambles to pull all the loose ends together (conveniently tied together in a neat bow, might I add).

In addition to the author constantly interjecting her voice into the story, her writing is not in tune with the story. The author is dealing with some dark issues, yet her writing style does not reflect that. She does not adapt her writing to the dark tone of the story, which makes the story sound satirical. My other issue with the writing has to do with the abrupt changes in conversation with no transition, which felt jarring and confusing.

Story:
Like I said, the story and romance don’t pick up until the last third of the book. I did enjoy the last couple of chapters, but that’s about it. The only character that I loved from beginning to end was Ned. The rest of the book honestly just felt like I was watching a play where the actors (characters) are reading lines from their script, with zero intonation and emotion. It was flat, boring, and filled with irrelevant scenes. There was zero chemistry and tension between the hero and heroine. In fact, the two barely spent time together because the hero is too busy wallowing in misery and brooding about how sinful and bad he is. There were many wasted opportunities that could have been used expertly to develop the romance. At first, it felt as if the romance was happening backstage because it certainly didn’t take the spotlight or start developing until the last third of the book. As such, it took me a long time to be invested in the romance and to be convinced that Quinn and Jane are in love.

There are also scenes with irrelevant characters are inserted into the story – a certain waste of space and words. I had a hard time understanding the family dynamic as well – it seemed as if the family as tight…but at the same time the siblings were suspects? Made no sense to me. The whole thing with Quinn's father was also super confusing, mentioned randomly here and there just to play with Quinn's moodiness.

Overall, I did not enjoy the book. The last third of the story was the only section that remotely got my attention. The other saving grace: the Elizabeth Hoyt short story that comes with this book. Regardless of my lack of enjoyment, I’m not ready to give up on this author…yet. I will give her older books a try, perhaps even the next installment in this series. We’ll see.

Jane Winston MacGowan is a widow, pregnant, and visiting prisons with her reverend father. She is only trying to make a man on death row feel a little better, she doesn't expect a marriage proposal. Nor does she expect to find out that he's a long-lost duke and about to be rescued from the noose.
Quinn Wentworth (hottie from previous Burrowes books) is beyonad surprised to find out that he's been released. As gentry, no less. But that just means that he can a) rescue the people he's made friends with while in prison, b) find out who put him in jail, and c) take his revenge.
While checking off his list items, Quinn becomes a little less of a hottie while lying and deceiving his wife and family. And his family is a little over the top but I think regular Burrowes readers won't be too disappointed.

Three stars
This book came out November 6
ARC provided by NetGalley; Opinion is my own

Quinn Wentworth has been framed for murder and is facing execution. He met Jane Winston, the daughter of a prison preacher while waiting for her father to finish proselytizing to the inmates. When Jane confides in Quinn that she is pregnant, he marries her as a way to protect her and provide a future for her child. At the last minute, Quinn is saved when he is declared the long-lost heir to a dukedom.

Quinn is out for vengeance. Will the minister's daughter prove to be his salvation?

This was such a well-written book. I liked how Quinn isn't the typical duke. He was a former gutter-rat that made it good. I liked how calm and steadfast Jane is. She was a great character.

This isn't the typical historical romance!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the author.

Rags to riches London banker Quinn Wentworth is facing execution for a murder he didn’t commit. He meets the Jane Winston, a widowed, pregnant preacher’s daughter in Newgate prison. He takes quite in interest in Jane and her child. Quinn decides to do one last thing before he dies, he decides to marry her and provide an income for her and her child. Quinn goes to the gallows and hangs, and then he’s saved at the moment by a quirk of fate when he’s declared the long-lost heir to a dukedom. I love how this author develops her characters and secondary ones to. I love all the interaction between Jane, Quinn and his sibling there’s a lot going on in the Duke’s household, a mysterious murderer to unveil, secrets coming to life and misunderstandings to resolve before the Duke and Duchess finally trust each other completely. This my honest opinions is resolved to build a school for ladies in after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

This book actually contains the full novel by Grace Burrowes and a short story by Elizabeth Hoyt.
Grace Burrowes introduces a new series to us which features the Wentworth Family. This first story is of Quinn who we meet while he is in prison. He marries Jane, a poor minister’s pregnant daughter, thinking that he will be dead in a matter of days.
I loved how this plot line was quite different from the normal romance novel. The start had me in tears as I definitely didn’t know what was coming.
The characters were great! The Wentworth Family is full of crazy characters and Burrowes definitely has me intrigued about what will happen to them all. I loved how Jane was not a doormat, but rather challenged Quinn and yet was also his equal partner when the need arose. She saves him a few times which is a nice change from the usual.
This novel is a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what more comes of it.
Thank you to Grace Burrowes, the publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Vengence. Justice. Redemption.

When does it all end?

Mistakes were made. Everyone freely admits to those, but who has Quinn wronged enough to warrant a false judgement?

Miracles happen. How on earth has Quinn been lucky so many times. He may have started out in rough condition and hard work and perserverence certainly were key, but he definitely has the angels on his side to have this inheriitencen and this wife.

Patience may be a virtue but there can only be so much allotted….

I really enjoyed My One and Only Duke. What could certainly have been a very dark book was lightened by gin drinking ladies, flagrant disregard for proprities, and a family that’s completely clueless.

I LOVED Jane. Yes, the characters as a whole are great, but she absolutely made the book for me. Her patience, perseverance, and good nature is a welcome and fun read in what would otherwise be an intense book.

My One and Only Duke
Quinn Wenthworth a banker waiting to be executed Is being acknowledged as a missing heir to a dukedom.
As a favor when in prison he offers marriage to Jane Winston the pregnant widow in order to help her with the support of her child. Not knowing what their future is going to be.
A charming historical novel and as always Grace Burrowes astonished me with this book.
Right when Quinn is being executed, because he couldn’t prove his innocence he was cut down and Jane future changes since she is now married to a duke!
The gentle growing relationship between these two is very pleasant and yet the description is not over.
This book is an astonishing initiation of Grace Burrowes’s new series and it is selected to be heroic. Grace is very detailed oriented, and she visualized the places she writes about very well. The plots are carefully twisted to fulfill an uplifting historical tale.
Many thanks to Net galley and the publisher for sending me a digital advance copy.
#NetGalley#myoneandonlyduke@graceburrowesauthor#bookoftheday#goodread#romance

4.5 Stars
Through his own hard work and dedication, Quinn Wentworth has worked his way up from being a child with nothing to one of London’s wealthiest men and a partner in a successful bank. So how can it be that he’s now imprisoned, found guilty of manslaughter, and awaiting execution? Quinn knows full well that he’s innocent, yet all the efforts he’s made to have himself freed, even with all his wealth, have come to naught. Obviously, he has an enemy who is very powerful and who has considerable resources at his disposal. Finally accepting his fate, Quinn puts his affairs in order, ensuring that his family is cared for. When Jane Winston, a clergyman’s daughter, is temporarily placed in his room while her father visits the inmates, Quinn’s first response is to wish her somewhere else. But he finds her interesting, and soon learns her story.

Jane’s brief marriage ended when her husband was killed in a duel, leaving her penniless and pregnant. Though her father disapproved of her marriage, she has no choice but to go back to him and endure his endless sermonizing and hypocrisy. When the condemned man, Quinn, comes up with a brash suggestion that she marry him before he dies, Jane listens. Quinn will arrange for Jane to be financially secure, and able to have a home for her and her child away from her odious father. Ever practical, and definitely grateful, Jane agrees. They are wed in prison over the blustering objections of her father.

Meanwhile, a search is on for the legitimate heir to the deceased Duke of Walden. That search leads to none other than Quinn Wentworth, and the king’s messenger arrives at Newgate Prison literally at the moment Quinn is being hanged. Though injured, Quinn is still alive. He leaves the prison, taking with him an entourage of fellow prisoners who have been kind to him, including two young men, three ladies of the evening, and a cat.

Ever wanting to be fair, Quinn collects his bride, who seems inordinately happy that he’s alive, and offers her an annulment, if that’s her wish. She chooses to stay with him, and she and Quinn return to his household, which consists of his two sisters, his brother, his cousin, some interesting servants, and his group of Newgate graduates. Quinn is anxious to get back to his bank, and after assuring himself all is well there, he begins to plan how to find the person who wants him dead.

Author Grace Burrowes introduced Quinn in two previous stories, and I was captivated by him almost from the moment I met him. He seemed to have such an air of mystery and aloofness, yet also kindness, caring, generosity, and a sense of fairness. I could not wait for his own story. He’s truly one of the most honorable of men, willing even to forfeit his life for the sake of his family. I think perhaps he is trying to atone for a serious mistake he made as a younger man, one that showed a decided lack of good judgment. It’s also a mistake that came back to nearly cost him his life.

Meanwhile, Jane is finding that she is very attracted to her handsome new husband, and is anticipating a true marriage. Surprisingly, Quinn enjoys Jane’s company and finds that she fits nicely into his life (and his bedroom!). She becomes a haven for him as he deals with the bank, his family, her father, and his unknown enemy.

MY ONE AND ONLY DUKE captivated me from beginning to end. The storyline is unique, and the mystery is just as compelling as the sweet burgeoning romance. I absolutely adore Quinn, who truly didn’t see his own generosity. Jane turned into a force to be reckoned with, and the perfect foil for Quinn. Though strong, she provides the softness that Quinn needs. There is a lovely epilogue, though I was sad that it didn’t include the birth of the baby, as I dearly wanted to know all the details. Quinn has a very unique family, yet they love him, as evidenced by how the story unfolds, and he learns how to let them, as well as his wife, help him. MY ONE AND ONLY DUKE is a hard book to put down, and is an awesome beginning to what I know is going to be a fabulous series about the Wentworth family. Highly recommended for those enjoying a character driven, yet warm romance with a tantalizing bit of mystery.

My One and Only Duke, the first title in Grace Burrowes' new Rogues to Riches series, will draw you in to the lives of Quinn Wentworth, Jane Winston, and the Wentworth family.

Quinn Wentworth is a wealthy banker who has been framed and sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit. His money has eased his stay in Newgate while awaiting his day with the hangman.

Jane Winston has come to Newgate with her father, a vicar who ministers to the prison population. She has been left widowed and pregnant after her husband dies in a duel. Quinn meets her during her visits and, upon learning her precarious situation, offers a marriage of convenience and a settlement that will provide independence for her and her child after Quinn's death.

"Money changes everything. It changes how you're perceived and treated, how you approach others. The changes aren't always for the better but not having money can be fatal."

Having money proves providential for Quinn, as he is granted a last-minute reprieve and pardon when he is found to be the heir to a bankrupt dukedom. Society had tolerated him because most either owed him money or were beholden to him. Now, he has become a duke and has a duchess. Quinn and Jane learn to deal with their new station in life and each other, but Quinn won't rest easy until he finds out who framed him.

Grace Burrowes is an author whose books I've read and enjoyed, and this book is no exception. Her writing and character development is top-notch. While the book can be read as a stand alone, Burrowes does leave enough unanswered to tempt us. I'm definitely looking forward to the other books in the series, as I want to learn what else is in store for the Wentworths!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

grace burrowes kicks of a new series with my one and only duke. beginning the story of the wentworth family, the first novel opens in a prison where quinn wentworth prepares for his death by offering his name and legacy as protection to the pregnant, widowed daughter of the prison priest. when his execution is staved and he is discovered to be the heir to a dukedom, he must find his way forward with his young bride.

one of the things that made this story enjoyable to read is that jane is not a useless, damsel in distress. she accepted quinn's help because she needed a way to provide for her child without relying on her meddlesome father or her dead husband's awful family. when they decide to make the marriage work, she needs to figure out her role as a duchess and how to wrangle a life with a duke she never expected to stay with her.

that he does, that they both want to make their marriage of convenience work in spite of the difficulties is telling. from the moment they meet there is that connection, and it's nice to see it grow over the course of the book.

**my one and only duke will publish on november 6, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/grand central publishing (forever) in exchange for my honest review.