Fantastic read. Well detailed characters, slow burn love and low drama. Perfect historical romance. Read this over a few hours. It was easy to lose myself in the story and fall in love alongside the leads.

I was so excited to read this book as even someone like Lord Paul deserves a chance at a happy ever after. A devoted reader to this series can hope that Lord Paul is able to reform and prove himself loyal and devoted for love.

It's been said that journal writing is good for the soul and healthy for reducing stress, unless it falls into the wrong hands. What will happen when Lady Daphne Hallworth' discovers her journal was stolen? If the contents falls into the wrong hands, her friends and family could be ruined. Will she find it in time to save herself and those she loves?

When wires are crossed and her family departs for the holiday season without her, she'll have the freedom to go in search of her journal. Will her disguise give up her true identity? Will her family discover she's missing and return post haste for her?

If you love your romances full of fun, festive, spicy, and adventure be sure to read this standalone or enjoy the series to really fall in love with characters that tug at your heart.

A bit of spice, redemption, love and charm during the holiday season is always enjoyable in a book adventure.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DUKE - Janna MacGregor

#4 in the Cavensham Heiresses Regency romance series

LOVE CONQUERS ALL - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - After ruining friendships with his peers (some of which was included in previous books in the series), Paul unexpectedly becomes the Duke of Southart. Now he's ready to grow up and take responsibility, despite his father's previous low opinion of him. He also remembers his previous close friendship with Daphne, but also knows that her older brother will never agree to a relationship between them. But their path is not easy.

Writing - 4 stars - MacGregor has built a comfortable setting, peopled with characters who have become familiar and pleasant to read about.

Characters - 3.5 stars - Daphne is kind and sweet, but she has a strong inner core. She knows what she needs to do, and she fights for it. Paul is an old friend who has gone off and done things he's not proud of. I liked that he was trying to change, but it was frustrating when he fell back into his "I'm not good enough" thoughts. They made a good couple, supporting each other when needed.

Title - 4 stars - I like this play on words, especially referring to Paul. He has been a loathsome character at times, but his story this time is much more appealing--both good and bad.

Cover - 4 stars - A typical Regency romance cover showing a beautiful woman in a pretty dress of the times. The muted holiday colors provide just a hint of the Christmas setting.

Overall - 3.5 stars - This book was generally good, but I found it a little tedious when the journal story went on for so long. Yes, I understand that the journal is important to Daphne and her standing in society, but the plot line took too long to resolve, and I found it annoying that it was brought up so often. Other than that, I liked the characters and had high hopes for their successful relationship. They brought strength to each other and worked well together.

I picked up the ARC for this book...a long time ago and then found it again on my Kindle and found it a fun, classical historical romance at Christmastide to entertain me on a flight. It turned out I had read the next book in the series already (though it took me most of the book to figure that out) so clearly, reading the series in order or all together is not necessary. The story did drag a bit for me at times but I liked the two main characters for the most part and always enjoy a good romance set at Christmas.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

In the previous books in this series, Paul Barstowe was cast as the villain, a dissolute and selfish man. However, I had always thought there was more to the man. Yes, he readily admitted to wrong doings, even though he was not the perpetrator. Why? After a lifetime of verbal abuse from his father, he believed he was worthless, just has his father described him. Now the Duke of Southart after his beloved brother's and not so beloved father's deaths, he is trying to turn over a new leaf. Besides managing the dukedom, taking his place in the House of Lords, he wants to build a hospital to treat rheumatic fever, the disease that caused his brother's demise. His efforts puts in the same circles as his former best friend, Alex Pembrooke. It is his fondest wish to have this friendship repaired, bur will that ever be possible? In a Regency "Home Alone" situation Pembrooke's sister, Daphne is left behind at Christmas after her family leaves for the country. She decides that now is her chance to look for a place to establish her charitable home for unwed mothers. Unfortunately, as she is in the park by her home her reticule with her most personal journal is stolen by a boy. Trying to chase him down puts her in touch with Paul once again. That's when the fun begins. As they work together to get her journal, they discover love. The first half of the book sets the situation, but the second half of the book is where the action is. Just when you think it's going all work out, the authors throws in a twist. The author is a master of these twists, the reader just can not be sure what will happen next. They turned an okay book into a very enjoyable one. This one really makes me anxious to read the next two books in the series.

Now that I’m done, I’m feeling melancholy. This book was so good, I am missing the characters already. Daphne and Paul’s story was nothing short of magical. I can’t wait to read another in this series, but I think I need a little time to move on. If you’ve ever read a really good book, you know what I mean. A must read. Book provided by NetGalley.

A lovely story of redemption. Paul Barstowe did his best to live up to his father's low expectations for him. The younger son of a duke, he was not treated well and went on to live a rakehell life, and some of his actions hurt his closest friends. Daphne Hallworth always liked Paul, but lost confidence in him when he hurt people in her family. After his father and brother died, Paul is trying to redeem himself for the sake of the duchy. Daphne accidentally embroils him in a desperate situation. Will Paul rise to the occasion and be the man he wants to be?

It was heartbreaking to see Paul struggle with his past and his feelings of worth. He was really a very decent guy at heart. Daphne saw the good in him and refused to give up on him. It was just a very nice story. Occasionally the emotional motivations of the characters seemed a little scattered, but the whole story came to a sweet conclusion. Good book.

Everything seems to be happening at once for Lady Daphne Hallworth this holiday season. First, she has been left at home in London while her brother goes to the family home for the holiday and mother goes to her new husband’s estate. Both accidentally leaving her behind.

If that wasn’t bad enough, her reticule is stolen with her personal diary inside. If her private thoughts ever became public, her family could be ruined.

Enter Paul Barstow, Duke of Southart. Daphne has loved him since she was a child. Will he now come to her rescue in her time of need?

Southart has just lost both his brother and his father. His father never cared for him but the loss of his brother was a blow. He is determined to make his brother proud and change the minds of all who think he is a good for nothing.

Throughout the book you enjoy a good level of conflict between the two characters. To begin, they’re both competing for the same property, Daphne wants to make a home for unwed mothers and Paul wants to dedicate a rheumatic fever hospital to his brothers memory.

And of course Paul does not want Daphne to be prowling around gambling dens looking for the boy who stole her reticule. Paul has been Daphne’s protector since they were children and it seems that he can’t stop himself now.

Throughout, the interactions between the two characters are exciting and natural. While reading this I felt that I was actually in the room with them. The author seems to have a knack for drawing the reader in.

The Good, The Bad, And The Duke is the fourth book in the Cavensham Heiresses series by Author Janna MacGregor. Two new books in the series have come out. I greatly look forward to reading the entire series.

Review of "The Good, the Bad, and The Duke" by Janna MacGregor

3 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

--- SPOILERS AHEAD ---

This is the third book by this author that I have read (although the 4th in "The Cavensham Heiress" series) and given that I rather enjoyed the last one "The Luck of The Bride", and personally felt the author was on her way to becoming better and better at her trade, I was a bit let down with this one.

We have our h, Daphne, who ever since her sister committed suicide, has tried her utmost to be the perfect child and sibling, to the point where her family takes her completely for granted. Because she doesn't create any waves, she has literally become invisible leading to her being left home alone for Christmas, because her brother mistakenly assumes she is with her mother, while the mother believes her to be with her brother! In the midst of this unusual predicament, she also ends up getting her purse stolen by a street urchin, in which she just happened to be carrying her journal. This is of course filled with scandalous secrets that would surely, if they were to be discovered, lead to her ruin and see her family shunned by all who matter. This entire premise just did not personally appeal to me. If I were to be a h in a story - and I would prefer to be an intelligent one, thank you - my so-called scandalous journal would never ever leave it's secret hiding place.

In any case, she starts off on a mission to find the journal, which ends up taking her to a gaming hell, where of course we also find our H - who features prominently in the journal, and who is not a "favourable" prospect for marriage as decreed by the h's brother.

The plot-line somehow fell flat for me. I need more grit and substance to hold my imagination and interest captive from the beginning till the end. Honestly, I got a bit tired of the h getting into dangerous, compromising situations, from which she needed to be rescued by the H... over and over and over and over again. This appears to be the actual issue of the book - in order to make the story interesting, the author has ended up making it way too busy with too many characters, too many plot lines, too many far-fetched scenarios, too many times...

3 stars because I still did find the couple rather endearing - in terms of how the h stood up for the H and tried to show him that he was worthy of love, and how the H supported the h in her beliefs and endeavors.

Hopefully, the next book in the series will not reflect any of these issues, and be as good as the third one in the series.

Guest Review by Joann Maggio
I have read everyone of Janna MacGregor’s books and find myself more intrigued with this author. She has the ability to layer her characters and give them such depth. The narrative in this read can tie into contemporary themes of today.

A brother trying to repent for his waywardness and a young women on the cusp of spinsterhood filled with regrets. The story is much more elaborated and you find you cannot put this book down.

I thoroughly enjoy this book and would recommend this book and this author without reservation.

The story between Paul and Daphne was romantic and sweet, if a bit slow. There was a lot of misunderstanding that I think fell flat because I hadn't read the other books, but I don't think I will be cause it would be going back, and undoing all the character development that I saw in this one.

I have chosen not to read and review this title. My apologies for the delay in responding regarding this title.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to read early copies of your titles.

Thank, you,
Laura

**abbreviated review from that posted on Amazon & GR**

<b>DNF @ Chapter 10 (3rd attempt in Oct 2019)</b>

Look, I tried. I really did. Wanted to enjoy THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DUKE so badly that I started read <i>3 times</i>, in addition to borrowing & reading #1 for backstory.

Attempt #3 (Oct 2019): Right. No-go on audio, so back to ebook.

*Awww, loved the Prologue. OK, so... wait, what? It was X... No, it was Y... (But in book #1...) What??*

Ultimate stopping point was in Ch10 when, after a stretch of H's internal monologuing, I read <i>“...With her dark hair, it would be difficult to see the ribbons, thus giving the illusion she was a Venetian temptress looking for a lover during Carnival...”</i> and brain woke up & sputtered “WTF? Simply not seeing ribbons gives rise to illusion?”

Aaaaand *bell dings KO* b/c never good when I begin to focus on actual words & logic.

I kinda feel like a failure in conceding defeat. Which is unusual b/c I generally have no qualms about dropping book if I'm not engaged by early chapters. It may be that THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DUKE (as w/ book #1) held potential but its execution just d/n work for me.

NB: Links include posted review for #1 as well.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Daphne has been left home alone and Paul has been dumped on by Daphne’s family for some perceived wrongs. I hated Daphne’s family for about 90% of the book they were just such arrogant jerks. I did enjoy Daphne’s story other than that.

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke is the fourth book in Janna MacGregor’s series The Cavensham Heiresses. The two main characters appeared in previous books. Lord Paul Barstowe was engaged to Lady Claire Cavensham in Book 1 (the Bad Luck Bride) and was a childhood friend turned enemy to Nicholas St. Mauer, the hero of Book 2 (the Bride Who Got Lucky). Lady Daphne is the sister of Lord Alexander Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, the hero in the Bad Luck Bride. In this story, Lady Daphne is inadvertently left home alone for Christmas and decides to spend her time continuing her goal of setting up a home for unwed mothers. She runs across an obstacle – in the form of her brother’s childhood friend, Lord Paul Barstowe. They are both competing for the same real estate – both for noble reasons.

As was established in previous books, Paul made many mistakes/behaved poorly in his past and it’s ruined his friendships with Daphne’s brother and others. He is working to be a better person to live up to his responsibilities and is seeking redemption. The book does a good job of “resetting the table” with Paul so readers don’t totally hate him based on the previous stories by starting with a cute interaction between the two main characters are when they are children. The prologue allows readers to start with a fresh (and positive) view of Paul, making it much easier to understand and forgive him than it might have been otherwise.

To complicate matters further, Lady Daphne’s reticule is stolen by a boy who works in a gambling hell. The bag held her private diary and what she wrote in there could ruin her reputation and harm her family if it were shared or published by a scandal rag. Lord Paul makes a deal with her that he will help her retrieve the diary and secure the property she wants in exchange for her help in rebuilding his relationship with her family.

Many adventures ensue and the two fall in love along the way. Like her other books, MacGregor does a great job of balancing serious issues with fun and laughs. This is a wonderful book, and especially curled up under a blanket during the holidays.

You can read this as a standalone, but I recommend the entire series – especially to understand Paul’s history and the full power of his character arc.

I received a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

What was she going to do when she was accidentally left home for the holidays? She was absolutely going to make the best of it. Rekindling a relationship from long ago was the first step. It had always been Paul and now she was ready to take the first step and embrace her future by providing a home for unwed mothers. Her giving nature was a draw to so many and she wanted to help. Now only if everything would go as planned. Great story!

Daphne is having a terrible holiday season, what with being surrounded by happy newlyweds and feeling left out. When she's accidentally left home alone for the holiday, she doesn't buckle, however. She decides to use her unexpected freedom to set a few things in order: namely, finishing plans for a home for unwed mothers. But the building she wanted to use for it is being bid on by an old crush/enemy, and also her diary has been stolen.


If that sounds like a lot of unrelated things to cram into a romance novel...it is. Frankly, any of those - 1) unhappy and forgotten, 2) stolen diary full of secrets 3) competing bids on a property - could have served as a catalyst, and throwing in all of them was some heavy-handed overkill. Perhaps the author felt the need for extra reasons, though, since Daphne and Paul didn't really have any internal drama between them. Paul, far from being the scoundrel that the cover copy claims, already likes Daphne and wants back into her family's good graces, has good intentions, and acquiesces to various demands. Daphne already loves Paul and only barely objects to anything out of family loyalty. All of this together forms a story that feels both too crowded and too empty, with too many things giving the potential for drama but none of them actually delivering an emotional punch.

* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**.
Oh do I love a good redemption story. I love when I despise a character in a book and then I see they are the focus of a future book and I think “ugh I am never going to like him/her” and then I’m wrong.
Paul was a jackass. He’s made a lot of mistakes. Mistakes that many are reluctant to forgive. His past was awful and he brought it forward with him.
Daphne is an amazing character. I loved how she cake to see Paul in a different light and worked to show her family who she saw.
I enjoyed this book and need to go back and read the earlier books in this series.

This was cute, but forgettable too. I think I enjoyed the more recent book in the series more and I might not seek out the first few, but overall, cute storyline with fun characters.