Forever and a Duke is a novel in the Rogues to Riches series. It can be read as a stand alone but is best read as part of the series for the full impact of the characters already created.
This is the story of Eleanora Hatfield and Wrexham “Rex”, Duke of Elsmore. If you are familiar with this series, many of the characters will be familiar. If you are new to this series, there is enough backstory to explain the circumstances. I don’t do spoilers. I really want people to enjoy the experiences for themselves. What I can do is tell you the setup for the story and why I enjoyed it.
The Duke of Elsmore is a recently titled man, raised apart from the previous Duke of Elsmore, he’s becoming familiar with his properties, which are extensive and spread widely location wise. He’s inundated with many aunties, uncles, cousins, and sisters and an extremely busy mother. He has learned much about being the Duke, but the enormity of his estate has made him dependent on relatives and others to see to the day-to-day activity and bookkeeping. However, as his sisters approach the season for marriage and it looks like they will find matches, he becomes aware that many of his books are not in order and indeed he is losing a great deal of money.
To prevent his bank from issues and his troubles from becoming public knowledge and collapsing the bank he’s so heavily invested in, he consults his friend Quinn Wentworth, Duke of Walden and owner of a competitive bank. Quinn has often mentioned an employee of his, Mrs. Eleanora Hatfield who is a marvel with figures and straightening out bookkeeping. Rex confides in his friend about his finding in the books of his households and bank and asks Quinn if he can temporarily employ Mrs. Hatfield to help him fix his situation.
Getting Eleanora to agree is a bit more difficult. She’s very set in her comfy and predictable world of keeping the books for Quinn and his interests. She’s reluctant to take this on. She doesn’t have a love for Dukes of any place, her exception of Quinn has much to do with his Duchess Jane.
Okay, that’s the setup! Now what I can tell you is that the way this all comes about is fascinating. Oh…I guess I do need to do one little spoiler…there is no Mr. Hatfield and Eleanora is not married. What she finds out about Rex upsets her vision of what most dukes are really like. She’s feisty and honest and he loves it. He’s humble and caring (for a Duke) and she loves it.
Grace Burrowes has done a terrific job of setting these two together. So close, yet so far apart. Meant for each other, but can or will they fight to be together despite all the issues? Grab a copy and find out! I loved reading this witty and sweet story.

I like this because the couple is more mature in personality than the usual romantic couple. They don't spend the entire book denying that they are in love. Eleanora knows more about numbers than Rex, and that is a refreshing change. The relationship develops with both being strong characters having real dilemmas that need to be overcome to find lasting love.

Eleanora overcomes her mistrust of the peerage to help Rex find out who is stealing money from him. I liked the strong accounting genius heroine! Rex ignores convention to go for what he wants. I received an Arc from NetGalley for my honest review.

Everything you ever wanted to know about 19th century forensic accounting but were afraid to ask. The main plot, involving personal ducal financial irregularities and intrigues at a family bank, was easy enough to figure out. But Rex (the duke in question) and financial auditor Ellie were an intelligent, well-matched couple, and their story was pleasant enough.

Burrowes writes romances where the drama is not in whether the protagonists like each other, but whether external forces will keep them apart. (She’s like Mary Balogh in that way.) It’s a soothing experience reading about two mature adults who fall in love and aren’t afraid to admit it. That sounds like I found this book dull, but it’s more that it’s calming to read something moderately paced, where I know things are going to turn out okay for everyone but the villain.