I really wanted to love this book, but just couldn't get into it at all. I loved all the previous titles in the series and was especially excited for Gwyn's story. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but I just didn't find myself caring about any of the characters or how they got together or managed to stay together. What a disappointment.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I've read this author before so was pleased to be able to read this - it didn't disappoint!!
Loved the characters and story - loved the banter!!
Would recommend

Sabrina Jeffries sweet, steamy and witty style is winning yet again in the second instalment of the Duke Dynasty series. I loved that the hero was not a high born, well to do lord, but rather a gamekeeper, turned bodyguard. I liked the first installment of the series, but this one I adored full heartedly. Recommend!

A broody, grumpy man and a sassy woman make a match made in heaven. The plot was a little cliche but still enjoyable. It was obvious from the first book in the series that these two would end up together. The stories individually are fine and the connection between the first and second books would stand just fine with the bloodlines of the families. However, the mystery element is a bit forced and doesn't really serve a purpose.

The Bachelor
Duke Dynasty Series - Book 3
By Sabrina Jeffries

Kensington Books - March 2020

Historical Romance


Lady Gwyn Drake really wanted to keep her past in the past. Unfortunately, Lionel Malet kept showing up. Now, he was blackmailing her to keep quiet about their past. Unfortunately, Major Joshua Wolfe showed up, quickly sent Malet away, but also insisted on returning Gwyn home, and informing her brother of the situation. Now, Major Wolfe would be working as her bodyguard in London.

Joshua's life wasn't going as he had planned. He had been critically injured, gone through a brutal recovery, and worked for his extended family. He received half-pay, but wanted to return as a Royal Marine. He could use this opportunity to pursue that goal, but he knew better than to assume Lady Gwyn would be an easy assignment. She was an independent headstrong woman and he had to use all of his skills to watch and protect her. She was also an attractive, fascinating woman that he had to remind himself would not be a part of his future.

The Bachelor was an exciting adventure bringing two strong-willed characters to their happily-ever-after. Joshua is a valid hero, of country, his family, and Gwyn. She deserves the best, and I enjoyed watching as he slowly realizes that the best, for her, is himself. As always, I enjoyed visiting familiar characters, and watching their bickering and caring for one another. The Bachelor was another enjoyable addition to the Duke Dynasty series and I am eager to return.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

After a moment of indiscretion, Lady Gwyn Drake is being blackmailed by a scoundrel that deceived her. To save face she concocts a plan to get money so the scandal doesn’t ruin her introduction to society. What Lady Gwyn doesn’t anticipate is having a bodyguard. The delectable Major Wolfe, he is a war hero on half-pay from the military. As he struggles to accept his new reality, he gets sucked into the life of the mysterious Lady Gwyn. A beautiful socialite with secrets of her own. They both try to ignore their attraction to each other as they are forced together by duty.

The Bachelor grabs your attention from the first chapter, Lady Gwyn is facing her blackmailer. She is rescued by Major Wolfe who isn't happy about being close to her. Gwyn is immediately drawn to the Major from the very first encounter. I loved watching the progression of their relationship from a teasing banter to full-on passion. Their relationship was not the usual we get each other you often see in romance. They irritated each other and they both had self-deprecating tendencies so they thought that the other mirrored the same feelings they had about themselves. I liked that even in their passion that there was a silent rivalry.</p>

Lady Gwyn is a strong woman who wants to learn to protect herself, she understands her limits and she knows how to navigate the world she lives in socially. She is tired of not having control in her life, she loves her brother but resents his protection. I love that she tried to fix her problems with her blackmailer herself and she did not try to involve her brother. She cares about her family and would do what it takes to keep them from harm even from themselves.


The Bachelor is a steamy historical romance exploring early cultural customs painting a vivid picture of the people, places they frequented and gives a glimpse of the things they valued. The story was evenly paced with the right amount of steam and suspense. I appreciated the happily ever after for now and the lurking mystery that the third book of the Duke Dynasty series "Who wants to Marry a Duke" will pick up.



 The book can be read as a standalone, the author presents glimpses of past events that occurred in the previous book. I felt a connection for the supporting characters and it did not distract me from the central couple of the story. The supporting characters were fully realized without and aided in the progression of the plot. Joshua Wolfe is a special love interest. He is not the usual dashing prince who wants to swoop in and save the day. He is a real man who suffered from the wars he faced, he mostly kept to himself it was good to see his character evolve from the quiet gamekeeper to the protective bodyguard. He had special limitations and the author handled his character with grace

The only thing that disappointed me was the demise of Lady Gwyn’s blackmailer. I don’t think that justice was served. I would have liked to see him prosecuted, I wanted him to be held liable even though I understood the way he met his fate worked with the story.

The Bachelor was a great reading experience and I look forward to reading Who wants to marry a Duke the next book in the series.

I have been a fan of this author for a while. I liked this book and the characters. Both had issues they were dealing with and it was really nice to have a romance/historical where the heroine and hero both help each other with their issues and it had a 'believable' feel to the relationships and family dynamics.

3.5 Stars rounded UP

I confess to be a bit wary starting this book due to some issues I had on “Project Duchess” with this family of Dukes. I shouldn’t have worried as it turns out, I’m loving it! THE BACHELOR starred Joshua Wolfe and Lady Gwyn Drake - the only installment with non-Duke hero on “Duke Dynasty” series - and revolved around Joshua guarding Lady Gwyn and foiling the blackmail attempt on her person.

Gruff Joshua intrigued me since the first time he made appearance on the first book and this book revealed not only his story but also (part of) his sister’s past and paint clearer picture on their family. Yes, most of the time - especially on earlier chapters - the Duke Dynasty family still appeared self-righteously rude to Joshua as hell, but I liked Joshua in this premises, that he gave as good as he got. He was a total opposites of Gwyn but - of course - that only drew them more to each other.

The wordplay and battle of wits between our MCs amused me - yes, there were times I was somewhat exasperated toward the heroine, though fortunately her character became more acceptable with each pages - and I loved that they didn’t immediately jumping each other bones despite the attraction between them. The negotiation part (between our headstrong MCs) is definitely among my favorite part of the series. Clearly, Gwyn and Joshua were made for each other!

Without a doubt THE BACHELOR is my preferred entry of the series (I certainly enjoyed this far more than “The Duchess Project”). With two more siblings remains unattached and the unresolved mystery shrouding their family (of Dukes), I am really hopeful the next books in the series would be in keeping with this one. Bring on the Dukes! 😊


Copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Lady Gwyn Drake has kept her youthful affair a secret from her family for years but when her former suiter shows up threatening to expose their affair if she doesn’t pay him, Gwyn knows she’s in over her head. Her twin brother hires the estate’s gamekeeper, Joshua Wolfe, to keep her safe in London but while Joshua agrees to watch over Gwyn, it’s pure torture for him to be so near to her. With Joshua practically glued to her side, Gwyn has a choice to make, go through her debut and pick a husband from the endless line of money hungry men, or take a chance that Joshua might have the same feelings for as she’s beginning to have for him.





Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? The Bachelor was a long time coming. So long in fact, that I had to re-read the first book in order to reacquaint myself with the characters, plots, and sub-plots. Not a hardship since I liked the first book.

The first thing I noticed about Gwyn is that she’s not annoyingly young, she’s around 30 so she wasn’t prone to childish antics. She did have moments of being naïve, but given the time period the book takes place, it’s understandable and makes her more believable as a historical romance heroine. I liked Gwyn, she was witty, charming, and loved her family no matter how much they annoyed her with their need to protect her. She tries to keep herself optimistic despite her circumstances. Enter Joshua Wolfe who is the exact opposite. A war injury has him using a cane and he’s worldly, pessimistic, and cranky. His personality puts him at odds with Gwyn almost every step of the way. Their snarky banter added to the chemistry that started back in the first book but had a chance to grow into something more.

I did have one issue with The Bachelor, and it had to do with Joshua. It was that he kept blaming Gwyn for his attraction to her. He would accuse her in different ways of just being a flirt that wanted to manipulate him with her “feminine wiles.” It got old real quick and Gwyn never really sets him straight. I think this took away from the additional growth I think their relationship could have used. The physical chemistry was there between them but I think Joshua and Gwyn needed more time to let their guards down and have meaningful moments of conversation and insight into one another.

What I enjoy about this series is how each book is connected in a way that builds a larger plot and rewards faithful readers while not alienating new readers. The Bachelor can be read as a standalone but like all of Sabrina Jeffries books, it’s better to read them all and in order. I’m loving the added mystery of the investigation into Gywn’s father and stepfathers’ deaths.


Click It or Skip It? Click It.

I read the first book in this new series by Sabrina Jeffries and loved it so much that I was super excited to receive book 2 as well.
I love the premise for this series. So many great characters in this family.
I immediately loved Lady Gwyn when she was introduced in book one. Her strained relationship with her twin, her strong will and independent streak. I wanted to know more about her.
I wasn't too sure about Joshua during book one but I ended up really loving him in this one. He was stubborn, grumpy and determined despite his disability.
The way the two of them interacted was fabulous. They definitely had chemistry and their banter was on point.
It had me so engrossed that I read it fairly quickly. I wanted to know what was going to happen asap.
Looking forward to the next book in this series.

I have waited for this book since I read the first chapter at the end of the first book. I would recommend reading the series in order as there is significant overlap with the characters however if this is your first time reading then you won’t be lost as the author provides an excellent background for the characters.

I love a gruff injured hero, and Joshua does not disappoint. A wounded war hero, he won’t let his injuries come in the way of his pride and is willing to earn his living not be supported by his wealthy relatives. He is the perfect foil for Gwyn. I wasn’t as enamoured with Gwyn as I felt she brought a lot of misery on her self by not sharing her issues with her family or Joshua.

Overall this is a highly enjoyable historical romance, and I can’t wait to continue with the series.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m really enjoying this series about the children of a three-times duchess. Don’t forget to take a look at the family tree listed in the front of the book, especially if this is your first book in the series, because you’ll need it to keep track of who’s who.

If you did read Project Duchess, you’ll remember Major Joshua Wolfe, the grumpy, injured war-hero brother of Beatrice, the heroine from that book, as well as Lady Gwyn, half-sister to the hero. Joshua is a Marine on half-pay because of his injury, severe damage to his leg which isn’t glossed over or even improved on in any way in this book, something I really like. There are a few too many heroines with Magical Healing Ointments out there. Instead, it’s shown to us that Joshua is permanently disabled and living in chronic pain… but that he is also still a very capable man, and an excellent match for clever, independent Gwyn.

Gwyn and Joshua are thrown together when a mistake from Gwyn’s past comes back to haunt her, in a situation which is deeply unfair and gender-specific. It doesn’t take long for the chemistry between them to flare, but there are complications… not least that Joshua doesn’t think a major on half-pay is at all a suitable match for the sister of three dukes.

This is a romance, so you can trust that everything works out all right, but there are a couple of twists and turns along the way to keep things interesting. Five stars for an excellent addition to this fascinating series.

Lady Gwyn and Major Wolfe will definitely steal readers’ hearts. There are secrets and blackmail which helps move the plot along especially since these two are obviously attracted to one another since the first book in the series. The pace is just right, the characters chemistry is perfect and the romance of it all makes The Bachelor a worthwhile read.

This is the second book in the Duke Dynesty series by Sabrina Jeffries. There are many characters, but the author thoughtfully provides a family tree, as Lydia Fletcher has survived three husbands and with 5 children, 2 nieces and a nephew, the reader needs this to remember who is who, especially when those with titles, have more than one name and nice names to boot.

The villain from the last book, Captain Lionel Malet, is back. After failing to kidnap an heiress last year, he is now blackmailing Lady Gwyn Drake, who 10 years had thought she had been in love with him, but her twin brother, Duke of Thornstock (Thorn), realizing that he was just after her inheritance, had bought him off. When Major Joshua Wolf, injured in battle and presently on half pay from the War Dept and currently living on the Armitage estate, sees Lionel attacking Gwyn, he forces him off the property and when he tells Thorn what happens, he is offered the job as bodyguard for when the family goes to London. The family is going to London because Gwyn and Thorn had been living in Berlin, so now at the age of 30 she is soon to have her debut and presentation in Court.Also to be presented is Beatrice, Joshua's sister who is now married Gwyn's half brother the Duke of Thornstock (Thorn). (See why you need the family tree?). Joshua accepts the job, because he wants to go London to try to get back into the Royal Marines. But once they get to London, Joshua and Gwyn, find danger, Joshua is give a new professional opportunity and they both fight off an attraction to each other because of misconceptions. They do end up with HEA, but the mystery of who has killed the last two Dukes of Armitage will continue into the next book.

Sabrina Jeffries is one of my favorite authors. Her characters are always real and fascinating and the plots captivating. I like the cover, because that scene actually happens in the book, though the male model is lacking the "dark curls dotting his upper chest". I won a paper copy of this book from Kensington Books, via Goodreads.com, but also an ARC from NetGalley. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries is book Two in the Duke Dynasty Series. This is the story of Gwyn Drake and Joshua Wolfe. I have read the previous book but did feel this could be a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Gwyn is being blackmail and threaten by Lionel Malet a man who she had made a long ago past mistake with that now he keeps threading to reveal. Malet has even tried to kidnap her but didn't succeed. Now her twin brother who is a Duke has assigned Joshua to be her body guard when they are in town. Joshua was injured in war and waiting for the home office to reinstate him but while waiting he is a gamekeeper for the Duke's estate. Gwyn and Joshua are both attracted to the other but try to not show it due to their status and the serious issue going on with them both. But it becomes to hard for both of them to do and they start to give into their feelings...but danger is still there for them. Enjoyed their story!

Joshua and Gwyn both have secrets. They have to learn to trust each other before they can have a life together. He doesn't think he is good enough for her and she thinks he deserves someone better than she. They will have to let go of the past to move forward. Good story.

The story between Lady Gwyn Drake and Joshua Wolfe, the grandson of a Duke, was a long time in the making. The attraction between the pair, has been simmering in earlier books but this is still a standalone novel. The vibrant woman, who has reached the age of thirty without marrying, finds herself spending more time with the war hero, when she is blackmailed by a former suitor, Malet.
There are so many family members in this series, but I do think that with this story, they did start to overwhelm the story, at the start. However, once all the family members are explained, which might be a bit confusing for someone who had not read the earlier books, the story is well delivered, with the attraction between the pair clearly evident. This is a great series and I look forward to reading about more of the characters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

***4 STARS***

I greatly anticipated the second book in the Duke Dynasty series. Lady Gwyn Drake is being blackmailed by an old paramour, Lionel Malet, of a secret she does not want revealed. Believing that she is in danger of being abducted Gwyn’s brother, the Duke of Thornstock, enlists Major Joshua Wolfe to be her bodyguard. Joshua is somehow related to the family (I’m still confused over the family dynamics) and is the gamekeeper. He is also “semi-retired” from military service and suffers from PTSD. It is a lot to keep up with...lol.

Although trying to keep up with who is related to whom, this was quite an enjoyable read. I loved Joshua’s tough, broody, grumpy nature and how Gwyn draws him out of his shell. The sparks definitely shoot between these two...who knew archery was so seductive? I loved the characterization including secondary characters and the camaraderie among the siblings. I believe Ms. Jeffries wrote another gem.

I highly recommend. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Bachelor is the latest release from Sabrina Jeffries and such a fun and sweet read this turned out to be. From the first book of the series “Project Duchess” we gain so much learning about this pairing and I was so happy to see that this author Sabrina Jeffries definitely crafted such beauty that is within this story. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect from their story but I knew this author wouldn’t disappoint me and she definitely endeared me even more with this story.

Lady Gwyn Drake has been keeping a secret from her family in order to protect them. But she is paying a heavy price for it. When her blackmailer, a man she once had a affair with, she is determined to stand up to and in so doing is in a difficult situation when he threatens and manhandles her and then Joshua Wolfe appears and satisfies the situation but realizes that Gwyn needs protection and an arrangement is agreed upon between Joshua and her brother the Duke. Gwyn and Joshua have had an attraction to each other and now that they are in such close proximity….that attraction between them is only expounded upon. But will Gwyn’s secrets harm their relationship or will the unveiling only build their intimacy?

The Bachelor was such a charming and delightful romp of a romance, I truly had such a fun time with these characters and this family we got to see in book one. We see so much more depths to both of these characters. With Joshua, his temper and injuries from being in the military and new opportunities that rise up for him. Then we have lovely Gwyn, who is strong and passionate but tends to carry her loads on her shoulders alone and keeps secrets from those who love her the most. We see how Gwyn has to learn to truly trust. She has been hurt and betrayed and there are wounds that are still festering. What I truly became endeared most by was seeing her growth in discovering her own capabilities and learning to trust not only in Joshua but in love again.

Overall I found The Bachelor to be a sweet and sexy adventure of thrills, dares, delightful bantering that strikes a chord in the heart and delivers a beautiful story of redemption and healing!

Electric read!

This second in the Duke Dynasty series is a cracking good five star read with all the mystery, energy and frustration one could wish for.
Lady Gwyn Drake is a person holding deep secrets. I was won with the opening description of Gwyn where she's pacing an "ornamental bridge like a tigress in a crate." Is that just not the perfect gambit sure to entice? With a malevolent blackmailer pursuing her, Gwyn finds herself in troubled waters. That's not a problem! She has a plan. Although not all plans run smoothly. Who better than a navy man to help rescue her? Even if it's at the request of her brother Thorn. The brooding Major Joshua Wolfe, injured in naval action and now the estate’s gamekeeper, is to be Gwyn's bodyguard in London after he'd rescued her from being manhandled by the odious Captain Malet.
Of course Gwyn wants none of this. She has secrets to keep and being followed by Joshua does not fit with those plans, even if she finds Joshua attractive.
Talk about strong reactions these two have to each other! Often explosive, and yet at other moments they are both quietly stunned by the effect each has on the other--not that either of them is about to let their guard down too much! Until they do!
I was riveted by the push and pull of the attraction between these two, the gradual acceptance of each other, in between the fireworks, and the way they complimented each other.
And the suspicion that the preceding Dukes of Armitage might have been murdered as posited by Sheridan Wolfe in the first of the series? That quietly bubbles to the surface towards the end, not forgotten, and now very much alive, along with the thought that these deaths might be centered around the Duchess of Armitage.
With two strong, passionate characters, witty dialogue and plenty of action this was a dynamic read!

A Kensington Press Invitation ARC via NetGalley