This book was great, I enjoyed most of it!It has great characters but also the secondary were very good!It grabbed my attention from the beginning and I was intrigued!I loved the first half of the book and I continue like it till the end but I find myself a little bit bored with the second half!Still I like it though!Lenora and Peter were good together!They were sweet and there was tension between them!

Lenora has now had 3 broken engagements. She needs to escape London and the humiliation. She visits the Isle of Synne with her best friend. Its not the peaceful retreat she needs, as it holds the most memories of her now dead first fiance, but she still finds distraction in a visitor from America.

Peter is in line for the Dukedom in charge of the Isle of Synne, but he has no desire to take up the mantle. He is only here to take revenge against the duke that wronged him and his mother so many years ago. He keeps letting his plans for vengeance slip because of Lenora's distracting presence.

This is my first Christina Britton. I love the cover. The writing had me laughing in some parts. I really should have loved most everything about this book. They are together pretty much the whole book spending time together. There's no crazy active plot to take me away from the romance. The hero is a bit grumpy. The heroine has had multiple failed engagements (I don't know why I love that but I do haha!) Perhaps it's just the world right now getting to me and I'm in a bad mood. I don't know. But I didn't love this book.

I liked Lenora for the most part. But I didn't like Peter. He was too focused on his revenge and held on to it for too long. Lenora too had her secrets. I think between both of them with their secrets and plots, it was just going on too long. They were also very awkward together. The awkwardness seemed to last through most of the book too. They didn't seem to know each other at all and I felt like they felt 'love' too soon. Especially Lenora. I didn't see how she got there, really.

I didn't feel much tension between the two of the them past the beginning quarter of the book. I guess I was hoping for more steam too, though it's not a deal breaker for me. I also thought the ending, instead of pulling them closer together which I really thought it needed, seemed to go on and on about all the drama coming to a close. Lenora's secrets, a returned fiance, Peter's revenge. I just didn't care about any of it, sadly.

I did smile and laugh at a few parts and I was VERY interested in the side character Quincy Nesbitt. What a name, huh?? But still, I will definitely give that book a try when it comes out.

This was a quiet emotion-driven book and I rather enjoyed it.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The hero is a sad, stoic grump and the heroine is also sad and stoic in her own way, and they both rather delightfully were smitten at first glance with each other. The relationship had a good slow burny push and pull as the MCs were unwillingly attracted to the other. I also liked that they had a genuine growing friendship as it made their relationship all the more satisfying to watch. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The book has a rather typical revenge plot, but I enjoyed the author’s easy style of writing. All in all, this was a nice comfy read even if a tad predictable. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣

This was an enjoyable read. New author for me, but yes! I enjoyed her writing!
The plot was sweet, the romance even sweeter. What I like was the cute conversations and tasty scenes in the plot. There was some tiny twists in the book, that made me flip pages even faster.
I would say for those who read a lot of historical romance books - this is a must!
Total 5 star delight!

What a great opening to this book.  It immediately sucked me in. And if slow-burn is something you enjoy this is definitely it. Oh and the hero is a Grump!

Miss Lenora Hartley finds herself left at the altar. Her fiance isn't coming, he was duelling for another woman. This is her third failed attempt at getting married And her father tells her he'll give her the summer to get over the loss before trying to find another husband for her. But if she doesn't make it down the aisle he'll cut her off and abandon her. She heads to the Island of Synne, where she be far from the gossip. But it also holds a lot of memories from the past, specifically of her first fiance, who died. 

Peter Ashford is next in line to inherit a dukedom he doesn't want. He plans to destroy it all after he was turned away as a child when he came looking for help for his dying mother. His Grand-Aunt reminds him that he made his Mother a promise on her death bed. Will also be staying with the lady to fulfil the request his dying mother made, years ago? One look at Lenora and he's instantly drawn to her.

3.5 Stars

Despite the hero and heroine trying my patience, I liked this first entry to Christina Britton’s historical romance “Isle of Synne” series. Granted, it took time for me to warm up to both hero and heroine of the story. Lenora didn’t give a particularly great first impression despite her being left at the altar, while Peter seemed downright stroppy. The whole family estrangement that turned out to be misunderstanding yet causing someone’s death was really tragic. But I thought for the truth from the past to be revealed and the reconciliation were dragging on and when finally happened didn’t do justice to the whole plot!

Peter and Lenora were decent and likable enough lead characters after oh, about half into the book. As much as I’d love to know the characters’ insight, that their POVs spent more thinking, contemplating, and less time talking but expecting others to understand them were exhausting.

A GOOD DUKE IS HARD TO FIND was a slow pace story and a-step-behind hero who hid his vulnerability behind the broody, growly persona and heroine who took time to stand her ground. I employed a lot of patience reading this book 😅 and couldn’t say thank you enough for Lady Tesh and Peter’s best friend, Quincy. The latter helped a lot in balancing the characters acceptance for me - him largely able to lighten up the atmosphere and had me snort-laughing. I’m really hoping Quincy would star in one of the following books in the series - I’ll surely be looking forward to that installment!


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

4.25 Stars
After her third fiancé leaves her at the altar, Lenora Hartley is beginning to think she's cursed. One thing's for certain: she needs to escape London and her father's tyrannical attempts to find her yet another suitor. The Isle of Synne, an isolated and idyllic retreat off Britain's northern coast, is blessedly far from society's gossip, but it also carries haunting reminders of her first fiancé ho died there. Next in line for a dukedom he doesn't want to inherit, Peter Ashford is only on the isle to exact revenge on the man who is responsible for his mother's death thirteen years ao. Once he's completed the task, he'll return to America where his life can finally be his own. Yet when he meets the beautiful and kind Miss Hartley, he can't help but be drawn to her.
This is the first in a new series & I found it to be a well written book that held my interest all the way through. The characters had plenty of depth & on the whole were likeable. I really liked Lenora who through no fault of her own had lost one fiancé & been jilted by two others but she’d never been attracted to any of them the way she is to Peter. I liked Peter but revenge is not my favourite trope & I felt his blinkered belief should have been resolved earlier, again a case of communicating. I did love how the relationship between Peter & Lenora developed. I did love Lady Tesh & hope she features in future books, I also really liked Quincy & look forward to his story.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A new-to-me author really came through, with this heartfelt historical romance!

Lenora Hartley has had a rough go of things. She's had 3 fiances in 3 years, and she has still never been married. Her father is practically apoplectic after fiance #3 leaves her at the altar, and promises he'll find another one for her as soon as possible. Meanwhile, she has the summer to "lick her wounds". So, she heads to the Isle of Synne with her best friend, Margery, to visit Margery's grandmother, Lady Tesh. Lenora came to the Isle every summer of her childhood, but hasn't been back in 3 years, since the death of her first fiance. Everyone thinks she's still heartbroken over losing him, but she's been keeping secrets from those closest to her for years, and paying private penance in the form of never truly letting go emotionally to make her art any more. But being on the Isle brings back so many memories, and she's feeling a bit haunted, until a gorgeous stranger shows up.

Peter Ashford is the heir to a dukedom, but he has zero interest in it, other than seeing it destroyed. He fled England for America when he was just 13, after the untimely death of his mother. He's been living in Boston, and now after thirteen years, he's back to repay a debt to someone who helped him, and to exact his revenge on the Duke, whom he blames for his mother's death. But, Lady Tesh refuses to take his money, and begs him to fulfill his mother's final wish for him instead: to spend a month in her home on the Isle. He's feeling guilty and agrees, as long as his best friend Quincy can stay too. But, he has no idea that Lenora, and Margery, who is his cousin, are staying too. He's extremely drawn to Lenora, and it makes him massively uncomfortable, as he basically keeps any tender feelings out of his life altogether. What will he be feeling after a month of getting to know her better??

Peter and Lenora were both extremely attracted to each other, in a way that they had never been to anyone else, but neither of them knew what in the world to do about it. Peter plans to return to Boston, after his promise is upheld, and his revenge is complete, and his plans include never marrying, and letting his line die with him. Lenora's father has threatened to disown her if she doesn't agree to marry whomever he finds who is willing to take her. She doesn't know who she might end up with, but she knows she'll never really be happy. She wants Peter so badly, as she understands he might be the only choice she'll ever really get to make for herself, before she's married off like her father's property. But, they push and pull back and forth, and have misunderstandings aplenty. Peter has a quick temper, and rarely sticks around for explanations. Lenora often doesn't want to ruffle feathers, and she doesn't give her own opinions much, but with Peter, she finds herself wanting to be honest and tell him everything she's thinking and feeling. They really were meant to be, but boy did it take them a while to get there!

I ADORED Peter's best friend Quincy, and I CANNOT WAIT now that I know his book is next! He is such a fantastic rake of a character, and his downfall into love is going to be epic, I just know it! Lady Tesh was an amazing character too, and I loved her so much. There were many other side characters here who were also interesting, and one of them will be the heroine in book 2, so I'm excited for that as well.

This was a heart-tugging, emotional story about 2 lives made better by the main characters being with each other, and you knew just how miserable they would have been alone, or with anyone else. I loved how well Peter and Lenora fit together, and I was pulling for them from the start. I really enjoyed how the story played out, and this world of the Isle that the author has created. I look forward to reading much more!

A Good Duke is Hard to Find, by Christina Britton is well written. This book is a even paced book. The details of the story are explained well. The reader is able to visualize the scenes as they read the story. The characters dialogue is not to complicated when they carry conversations with other characters.
The plot and story line didn’t lose the reader in the direction that the writer wanted the reader to go. The drama was placed well through the book. Lenora and Peter’s romance is a sweet poignant love story. Their love grew slowly, but not to slow. The reader was able to see the true love that bloomed between these two characters.
I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy. <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/4c2082eade28a9b5297515683f15ceaa5f1ea57d" width="80" height="80" alt="10 Book Reviews" title="10 Book Reviews"/>

Two tortured souls find peace together in this charming romance.

This tender story will take you on an expansive journey of emotions as Peter and Lenora both work to overcome their painful pasts and chart a future together. I was instantly captivated by the delightful characters on the Isle of Synne, and I especially appreciated how Freya's personality was incorporated. I loved the secondary romance as they told the love story of their ancient ancestors, and I was impressed with how it was woven throughout the book.

Lenora is no simpering miss, here, despite the unfortunate outcomes of her father's attempts at matchmaking. She's patiently compassionate, and without any expectations, she slowly melted Peter's anger and softened his heart. Peter is deliciously grumpy and almost beastly as he wrestles with his past. His personal journey to peace was authentic and sincere, culminating in a beautiful HEA that was a joy to read. I couldn't love this book more. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

A Good Duke Is Hard to Find by Christina Britton is an excellent historical romance that is the first book in what is sure to be an amazing new series : Isle of Synne.

This book, to me, is special in that there is a slow burn and buildup in a wonderful, emotional, and romantic relationship between Lenora and Peter. Both meet while dealing with their own demons (current and past) and despite differences, find love, acceptance, fulfillment, mutual admiration, and respect in one another. I loved how each worked through their problems, and helped the other with theirs as well. I like how each seemed to improve the other. I loved both characters, and enjoyed their transformations throughout the book.

I also loved the secondary cast of characters, the locations, the Nordic fable added to the plot line, and I loved, loved, loved the ending. It was perfect in every way.

This is my first book that I have had read from this author and I have to say that she has made a definite fan out of me. I cannot wait to find more, and read more from this series in the future!

I can’t recommend this book enough!

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I decided to DNF at 45%. I really tried to get into the story, but it wasn't holding my attention. I did enjoy the writing and the story that was intertwined with the island. But sadly I wasn't feeling the connection between Peter and Lenora.

My first Christina Britton and it won't be the last! I always love a good Regency that mostly takes place outside the traditional London setting, and this fun seaside locale proved to be a really fun switch-up from the norm. The heroine has had several unsuccessful engagements and the hero is deadset on never marrying — until he meets her, of course. I'm also a big fan of the grumpy, grumbly hero who ends up being soft for the woman he's head-over-heels for at first sight, and this was a pitch-perfect example of that trope. Plus an artist heroine! All in all it was a really fun start to a new series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Christina Britton is an author who’s been raved about by a number of people I trust in the romance community, so I didn’t hesitate much to request an ARC for A Good Duke is Hard to Find. I had some misgivings about the execution of the vengeance plotline, exacerbated somewhat by a review from a friend who took issue with that very thing, but I still tried my best to remain optimistic and go in with reasonable expectations.

And there are a few good aspects of the book. The heroine, Lenora (who Britton states in her acknowledgments, is named after Lenora Bell, one of my favorite authors), is likable, and had a lot of potential as a woman who has been jilted a few times, although she did take a bit longer than I wanted to grow a spine and resist her father’s manipulations.

However, I never warmed up to Peter. I felt he was both a cold asshole and someone so consumed by vengeance that would only make him miserable in the end. Who does he think he’s settling scores with by refusing to marry and continue the ducal line? The old duke? He’ll be too dead to care. And while there is some claim of romance between him and Lenora, I never felt that, because both (but especially him) are so focused on their own issues that dominate the story.

However, Britton does have an engaging writing style that kept me from putting it aside, and the supporting cast on the Isle of Synne is awesome (I need more Lady Tesh!), so I’m still hopeful for the next book in the series.

So, this is definitely a case where it largely wasn’t for me. But if you like a story about a grumpy hero growing beyond his need for vengeance, then this is the book for you.

I love a good historical romance and a good angsty duke! A Good Duke was a slow developing read for me. It seemed to take a while for me to really get into the story and care about what was happening, but once I got into the mythology and the real depth of both character's struggles and their relationship, things picked up. It was definitely a slow burn but the wait was worth it! The island setting was so intriguing and made me want to google if it was an actual place. I loved the viking vibe and how that added depth to the setting and the story.
This has a clear set up to be a series and I think that getting deeper into other characters might help this story be more appealing. Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

I tried to like this book. But the characters just did not engage me. The writing was good but I found myself putting the book aside and not caring if I went back to it. The premise of the young curmudgeon who doesn't want a title is often a good one for me but not this time. Perhaps it was just me but I gave up at 32%.

I received an ARC of A Good Duke is Hard to Find from Forever Publishing via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review. Warning: mild spoilers ahead.

I really wanted to enjoy A Good Duke is Hard to Find, the latest historical romance from Christina Britton, but something about this story just didn’t land right for me. Here’s my quick summary:

After her third failed engagement, Lenora leaves London to spend time at the Isle of Synne. However, the unexpected arrival of Peter Ashford, long-absent heir to the dukedom on Synne, throws her plans into chaos. Especially since her attraction for Peter is unlike anything she’s felt before. But Peter’s plans for revenge against the duke who caused him heartbreak as a child threatens any happiness he and Lenora might find together.

As I already said, something about this book doesn’t work for me, even though it’s similar to books I’ve loved in the past. I think part of my problem is the insta-love element in this story. It’s not uncommon for protagonists to fall in love quickly in romances, but when Lenora realizes she’s in love with Peter, I can’t figure out why. I just don’t think the story does enough of something (attraction? interaction? introspection?) on the front-end to make her declaration believable.

I also find this story frustrating because I think Lenora does a lot of emotional labor for Peter that isn’t reciprocated. From the very beginning, she’s trying to make Peter feel at ease on the Isle and seeks to comfort him, even though they’ve just met. However, Peter never really does the work on himself. His realization that he loves Lenora comes with the thought that, basically, she can make the pain from his childhood better. In other words, he expects her to do even more emotional labor on his behalf. And while there is a scene towards the end where he tries to mold himself into the kind of man he thinks she wants, I still see the emotional labor being unevenly distributed. I think that’s why I find this book unsuccessful when I enjoy similar stories. In those other novels, heroes really work to get their lives and emotional selves in order for the heroine, and I just don’t see Peter doing that work. I think it’s why Quincy is my favorite character because he flat out tells Peter to “quit being a prick.”

On the upside, I did think Britton did a good job with the swoon-factor. I loved the scene where Lenora teaches Peter to dance, which leads to their first kiss. Also, Peter was slightly redeemed when he focused on Lenora’s needs and desires rather than his own.

I may read book two in this series, especially since it focuses on Quincy, one of my favorite characters from this first book. However, it might be a library read rather than an insta-purchase.

I recommend A Good Duke is Hard to Find for historical romance fans, especially those that enjoy heroes with “viking-esque” looks (a descriptor frequently applies to Peter).

This is my first Christina Britton book. I can't say that their writing is necessarily my favorite, but I did find this story enjoyable. I wanted a little more from our characters, but this is also a first book in a series, and there is a lot to establish about the setting and such.
With that said, I did enjoy this second chance romance. I found it fun and engaging enough to keep reading. It does have a bit of a slow start, so please keep that in mind as you go into this one. The second half of the book was much more engaging overall to me.
I like the general direction of the series, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series! If you like historical second chance romances, I think this one is worth a try!

Lenora Hartley flees London for the Isle of Synne, after her third fiancé leaves her at the altar and her father threatens to marry her off immediately. Finding peace at Synne where her best friend Margery and Lady Tesh reside, Lenora is determined that she will finally face the tragedy of her first fiancé’s death. Yet when Margery’s cousin and heir to the Duke of Dane, Peter Ashford arrives at the doorstep, she finds herself soon captivated. However, Peter has only return to the Isle of Synne to honour his dying mother’s request and to ruin the life of the duke.
The chemistry between Lenora and Peter is so vivid, that it drew me in as soon as they meet. I couldn’t get enough of this couple, especially with the gentle nature but tortured soul of Peter, to draw any reader in. This is such a captivating story, with both Peter and Lenora’s past histories impacting their relationship. Whilst Peter was swoon worthy, Lenora’s strength of character and utter goodness, makes it easy to understand Peter’s attraction. What also makes this book stand out is the integration of Quincy (Peter’s friend and business partner), Lady Tesh and Margery, into the storyline, who are such strong and dynamic characters.
I so look forward to this series! Definitely a book to keep. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Lenora Hartley has failed to get married three times due to 1) death of fiancee, 2) fiancee eloping with someone else, and 3) fiancee fighting a duel on the morning of the wedding over another woman and mortally wounding his opponent so now he's fled the country. In the face of scandal, she leaves with her best friend to the Isle of Synne where her first fiance met his fate. Also on the Isle of Synne is Peter Ashford, heir to the Duke of Dane, who is gravely ill and upon whom Peter plans to take his revenge. For various reasons, they both end up staying in the same house.

At its heart, this is a forced proximity romance. Lenora and Peter come to care about each other while also dealing with issues stemming from grief. There's a scene near the end where Lenora's grief overwhelms her that resonated strongly with my own experience.

This story was thoroughly enjoyable. Peter's commitment to revenge became a little tedious, but not overmuch. I like this new setting that Christina has created.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I received an ARC from the publisher for review via NetGalley.