I really enjoyed this historical romance. It was exactly what I was looking for. The story is about a 24 year old woman, Caroline Yaxley, who is considered a spinster. She is back in the marriage mart but this time she has decided to earnestly consider marriage.

Caroline's best friend, James the Duke of Heydon, volunteers to help her hone her flirting skills. As you can imagine, Caroline has always loved James and he is realizing that he can't imagine Caroline married to anyone but him. I loved the story and the endearing way James and Caroline remain friends for so many years. I also love that James calls her "Cara" because she confided in him she dislikes her name.

I thought this was a good story and it was exactly what I was looking for.

If you're looking for a pleasant, low-angst read, look no further than Her Best Friend, the Duke by Laura Martin. Caroline Yaxley is hopelessly in love with her best friend, James Dunstable, Duke of Heydon. Their friendship is rather unconventional, and certainly gives the gossips something to speculate over, but it's all above reproach, which is the problem for Caroline. She's now 24 and realizes that she wants children and companionship. At this point if she can't have the man she loves she can at least settle for amiable companionship and not growing old alone.

James is looking for a love like his parents had. Love-at-first-sight, a thunderclap, heavenly choirs singing - the whole enchilada. Never mind he's now 40 and this great love match hasn't miraculously dropped into his lap. He's instead done his best to dodge the matchmaking mamas and spent his time traveling the continent. But now he's back in England and flummoxed that Caroline suddenly wants to marry. I mean, what's that all about? Still, he agrees to help her find a tolerable husband but the problem is no man is nearly good enough for her. Also, why is he suddenly so distracted by his best friend? I mean, they're friends - nothing more. Right?

What's refreshing here is so often in historical romances it's the heroine holding out for twu wuv. It was nice to see the shoe on the other foot. The problem? You know how eventually, sooner or later, those heroines get exceedingly annoying and you want to slap them them into next Tuesday and tell them to snap out of it already? Yeah, just because we have a gender reversal on this trope doesn't fix that minor detail. It's not until the bitter end, even after his closest male friend tells him he's being a colossal moron, that the light finally dawns. Also, even though this is a Harlequin Historical, it still felt too long. It definitely sags a bit during the first third, but did eventually pick up. Pleasant, but I'll admit I skimmed some of the slower bits. Final Grade = C

The pacing was good, but I found the friends to lovers dynamic frustrating. I just didn’t believe the rationale for why he hadn’t fallen in love earlier, and the unrequited love felt unsatisfying to read.

Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist Romance Reviews (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2020/07/27/her-best-friend-the-duke-by-laura-martin/)

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story. 


____________

Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Slow burn

Relationship dynamics: Friends to Lovers - The Idealistic Duke (H) / Spinster Best Friend (h) ; elements of the love triangle

Physical Descriptions: Caroline: tall and slim, with blonde hair and blue eyes; James: tall, with rich brown eyes and dark hair.

Sexual content: Some; explicit, but not overly so

Triggers: None.

Grammar/Editing: My ARC had typical Harlequin formatting issues (regardless of device); a few typos and word choice issues; there were a few areas that needed a little bit of punctuation and/or grammatical clean-up.

Review: This is a medium-paced novel set primarily in Regency Era London. The setting is well-done with no obvious anachronisms. I was actually expecting this to be the start of a series, but I am disappointed to see that it is not part of a series at all.

Caroline and James have a lovely, sweet story in this book. James (41) is an idealist about love and Caroline (24) is his best friend, who has been in love with him for 5 years (unbeknownst to him). Until it was explicitly stated, I wouldn't have pegged James as being over 40. He acts much more like a 20-something, and shares more of his ideals with that age bracket than his own. I also found his thought processes to be a little unrealistic. As an example, his never having thought about whether or not Caroline is attractive seems strange for a man - and the author even highlights this in the novel. Caroline is basically on the shelf and has reached the point where she wants to stop pining and find someone to have a family with, which prompts James to offer to help her with the task, triggering his new assessment of her. In terms of supporting characters, the author turns things a bit on their head (as far as the Regency genre goes) with Caroline's family - her mother is thoroughly modern (in a good way) and very present in Caroline's life, but her father, who is still living, is completely absent, which is atypical. Milton is an intriguing character and I would like to see a separate book about him, should the author make this into a series. 

Overall, I am happy to have found another "must read" author, even given the slight criticisms outlined in my review. 



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine if a duke and a lady could be platonic friends in the Regency, and it would be accepted by the ton with no scandalous rumors attached to them? Just imagine!

James wants a marriage like the one his parents had where they were sublimely in love with each other, or at least, that is what it seemed to him from a child’s perspective. Unfortunately, he has never questioned this ideal, never thought to himself that perhaps love isn’t (only) something that strikes you like a thunderbolt, but it could be something that grows over time. There are infinite ways to be in love and to love someone, but James does not recognize that. Waiting indefinitely for that perfect moment of seeing the perfect one and having those perfect feelings is a waste of a lifetime of happiness with someone you could grow to love and who would end up being perfect for you.

Caroline considers herself too old and has been desultorily attending Season after Season alternately raising and deflating her mother’s hopes of her making a match. Finally, finally…Caroline decides that it is time she stopped pining after James and take charge of her life and find a husband. Otherwise, she will languish into spinsterhood and miss out on having children, running her own house, and enjoying married life. She has wasted her life waiting for James, and it is past time for her to move on.

The twist in this story is that at one point he becomes aware that she is in love with him. Most romances would have him immediately follow suit declaring his love, but Martin doesn’t take this commonplace route. She has him continue to tussle with his conscience and with his heart for the rest of the book. This to me is the heart of the story.

Full Review: https://frolic.media/book-of-the-week-her-best-friend-the-duke-by-laura-martin/

Bit of a She's All That and My Fair Lady vibe in this friends to lovers about a duke who returns from abroad just as his best friend Caroline is finally deciding to enter the marriage market. He promises to help her perfect the art of flirting-- not knowing she's been in love with him for years. When she begins outings with his close friend, he starts noticing her in a new light-- winsome and desirable. A lot of palpable chemistry here and a true slow burn. I don't always love the " I never knew I loved you til you were an option for someone else" line but it works here because the sparks underscored them from page one and the new situation just ignites them. To add, James isn't a jealous jerk. Quite a lovely set world and a truly warm escapist read.


( also shared on twitter and Instagram )

Laura Martin’s latest historical romance promised a simple friends-to-lovers tale between a duke and his best friend, a young woman who has loved him for years but who has decided it’s time to stop waiting for him to fall for her and move on. The author delivers on the premise; Her Best Friend the Duke is a nicely done love story featuring two attractive protagonists in which there are no mysteries to be solved, no nefarious plots and no moral crusades; those things have a place and I have certainly enjoyed books featuring those sorts of plotlines, but it made a nice change to read a romance that focuses purely on the central relationship and characters.

At twenty-four years of age and having experienced seven London Seasons, Miss Caroline Yaxley is, if not on the shelf, then very nearly so. That has never been a problem; Caroline has been reluctant to give up her small modicum of freedom by marrying, and has politely discouraged the suitors she’s had over the years, but lately, she’s started to undergo a change of heart. She’s been in love with James, Duke of Heydon, for five years, and had convinced herself that having no-one was better than settling for second-best – but now she’s realised that she doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life without companionship, home and family. She doesn’t expect to find a man who will make her heart flutter and her head swoon, but surely she will be able to find someone kind and considerate who will make her a good husband.

After betrothing himself to a suitable young lady who subsequently jilted him, James has decided that when he eventually marries, it will be to a woman he loves wholly and completely. His parents fell in love at first sight and had a loving and happy marriage, and he wants that for himself – so now he’s determined to wait for the coup de foudre that will turn him inside out and knock him off his feet.

James is taken aback when Caroline announces her intention to marry, but accepts her decision and even offers to help her to polish up her flirting skills. Of course, we romance devotees know that he’s toast from that moment on, but he has no idea, and is initially shocked to realise that Caroline’s smiles and heartfelt gazes are affecting him in a way he recognises as desire. He continues in denial until one of his closest friends starts taking a serious interest in Caroline, and she indicates she may well accept his offer of marriage.

The author creates a warm, believable friendship between the couple and does a great job of slowly increasing the sexual tension between them as James starts to become aware of Caroline as a woman rather than just as his friend. Her longing and desire for him are palpable, but I appreciated the level-headedness of her decision to move forward with her life. I also liked that James was the one holding out for ‘true love’ – so often, the heroes in historical romance are allergic to relationships, so it was good to read one who isn’t!

Ms. Martin clearly shows, right from the start, that James is every bit as in love with Caroline as she with him and just doesn’t realise it. I was looking forward to his gradually recognising that love had been under his nose all the way along, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite happen that way. James recognises that he desires Caroline, and that he actually wants to marry her because they could have a good life together, but when it comes to realising he loves her… he’s not so good there. It takes an outright statement from Caroline’s mother that the slow-building, slow-burning kind of love is just valid as the lightning strike kind, and later, a direct intervention from a close friend for James to wake up to the fact that he’s in love – and I’m not a fan of the kick-from-the-third-party element in a romance. I prefer the person concerned to realise it for themselves, and here, I wasn’t convinced that James would ever have worked it out for himself because he was so set on what (he thought) he wanted.

The pacing lags somewhat around the middle and there’s a fair bit of repetition as well. James and Caroline interact, there’s a flare of desire between them, and they part, she knowing he’s something she can never have, he wondering why he’s suddenly feeling attracted to his friend. And while the author does a reasonably good job of having Caroline behaving (more or less) according to convention (I could sort of turn a blind eye to the fact that she was rarely chaperoned because she was regarded as being on the shelf), I found it odd that there was no mention of possible consequences when James and Caroline finally make it into bed.

Her Best Friend the Duke is an easy, enjoyable read that is sure to appeal to anyone looking for a gently moving friends-to-lovers romance. Caroline and James are likeable – even though James is a bit dense! – and easy to root for, and the connection between them is very well drawn. It was a pleasant way to pass a few hours on a sunny afternoon.

Grade: B- / 3.5 stars

This is exactly the type of friends to lovers historical romance that I love! Both characters are incredibly lovable. It's a lovely ride to follow them as they let their feelings deepen and show.

I enjoyed reading this book. The book was easy to get into and if you like a friends to lovers plot then you might like this. I had difficulty liking the Duke. I found him to be very immature with his feeling towards Caroline.
Thank you for the ARC. This was my honest review.

Will her love always be unreturned...

What a lovely read Mrs Laura Martin offers here. With James and Cara, she shows the different ranges of love.
Both have been friends for years, a very unusual friendship as he is older than her and a man and duke when she is a mere miss and woman.
Caroline, nicknames Cara by James, while she felt in love from their very first encounter, she hid it well, and James was oblivious of her feelings for their five years of acquaintance.
Until, she decides life as a spinster is even less a prospect than a loveless marriage.
Her new resolution shatters James’ certitudes. He thought he would always have the soothing influence of Cara’s friendship, but her resolution to marry might remove her from his life.
James has been raised with an idealistic vision of love, the one his parents lived throughout. Since he has refused to settle for less. It is instant love like a lightning bolt. And while he shares a companionable relation with Cara, it is not the thunderbolt he expects.
Cara is clever and full of sass, and while not shinning like a diamond of the first water, her cheerful personality is part of her beauty.
And even if she cherishes her friendship with James, she knows it will never go elsewhere than to a wall. Thus her need to cut him from her life.
James is so determined he will know when Cupid arrow will hit him, he never looked twice to a debutante. Cara is a species on her own, she makes him smile and laugh, there is rank and sex genre with her, they share their adventures, well his, their views of life and their ideas of love.

While they run toward and away, they learn the deepness and power of love. Up to them to comprehend what they are looking for, their hopes and dreams.
They were lucky to be surrounded by so thoughtful friends.
Mrs Laura Martin has a 5 stars moving and charming read with this lovely tale about the meaning of love.

I loved the side characters, such as Milton, I do hope with West they will have their own book, as for Henrietta.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Harlequin, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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

Friends to lovers is my catnip, so of course, I found Her Best Friend, The Duke incredibly adorable.

I rooted for Caroline to catch James’ attention, especially as he seemed to only see her as a friend, and kept holding out for “the One” even though she was right in front of him. The angst and drama that ensues of her giving up on waiting, choosing someone else, and him subsequently beginning to discover his feelings ended up being a rewarding story, even if I did feel like James took a bit too long to pick up on things that seemed way too obvious.

I liked this book, in spite of the minor flaws. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet historical romance.

It goes to show, a man and woman can’t be JUST friends! Cute little weekend read that was easy to get through, hit all the swoony romance points and the plot was not too convoluted. Exactly what I would expect from a Harlequin Romance!

Captivating and lovely. A story of friendship and unrequited love.


You had me at Best Friend. 


I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers. I love stories of unrequited love. As long as there is a happy ending, the more heart-crushing, the better. 


I still remember back in the 80s, the first time I watched Some Kind of Wonderful. The bittersweet pain of being so close to the person you love, and yet know you will never be close enough.


Her Best Friend, the Duke has all these delicious elements. The heroine is smart, fun, and lovely and the hero is clueless and powerful. 


They get along so nicely, they have so much chemistry but, for James, it is just a friendship.


I know I should have fallen for James, but I fell for Milton instead. Milton is James' friend and Caroline's beau. This is one of those instances in which I disagree with the heroine's choice. I understand her but humbly disagree. I hope Milton gets his own chance for a happy ending.

This is my first book by this author, but will not be the last. I really liked the way her writing flows. The characters are well rounded and relatable and the story is light and fun.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com and social media on 05/18/2020*

Her Best Friend, the Duke by Laura Martin

This is a story of friends to lovers. Caroline has always been in love with her friend James. They have an unconventional friendship for 5 years (I mean who has heard of a woman and a man being friends??). James cherishes their friendship but has never looked deeper than that. Caroline is beginning to realize she wants more from life than to be a spinster and burden on her relatives. She accepts that she must marry and it might not be the true love she dreams about. James immediately is unsettled by her decision, though he hasn't really examined why. He says he will assist her by helping her practice her flirting and assisting her in finding a good match.

Give this book a try if you like
-friends to lovers trope
-an older hero or age gap romance. Heroine is 24 while hero is 41.
-unrequited love

Sadly this story was just okay to me. I didn't really like that the hero needed everything thrown in his face to realize how he felt. And it had to happen repeatedly. I just wasn't left feeling like he was totally in love with the heroine. He is a hero that believes in that true love, the one that slams you in heart and knocks you off your feat. He didn't realize there were different kinds of love, love that can form slowly over time with a friendship and turn to passion. It was such a point of contention in the book, I just wasn't left with the feeling he fully believed and accepted this.

The heroine just left me lukewarm. She cried a lot. I kept waiting to her to do, well, something. Maybe something to show the duke what he was missing. Maybe try to entice him with their flirtation lessons. But she didn't do much. She just kept pining and crying, and staring at him and attending balls...

I do think many will find this a pleasant way to pass the time though. It's a fairly quick read with a nice mix of steam, humor, dialogue. It just wasn't a top rating for me.

This was my first title from Laura Martin and I loved it so much, I ordered another of her titles and requested every Harlequin Historical romance NetGalley has available to request.

I adore friends-to-lovers stories and this title was no different! I loved watching James slowly realize his attraction to and love for Caroline. And it was so nice to read a simple, straightforward romance without any modern issues creeping into them (for the record, I love titles that feature those too, it’s just nice to get a break from that every once in a while).

#HerBestFriendtheDuke #NetGalley


The book itself was an easy, quick read. I was really invested in the characters early on in the reading. I really liked the main characters, Caroline and James. I liked how their friendship is just a friendship at first and that they can build on that. I don't like the position James put Caroline in. Several times he put her in a compromising situation. This book is not a clean romance.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

The friends to lovers trope is second only to marriage of convenience stories for this reader, so naturally I just had to try the latest book from Laura Martin and Harlequin books. This book was the first time I've read from Harlequin in quite a while, but the quarantine has me reading absolutely everything fluffy and light-hearted that I can get my hands on. Since Harlequins are what Hallmark movies are to the TV world, I knew it would hit the spot.

Her Best Friend, the Duke was everything I had hoped for. The chemistry between Caroline and James was so sweet and completely believable. With some romances the relationships can seem a little forced, but this was just lovely. I'm a sucker for a cute animal too and I liked that Caroline's pupper played a key role in bringing Cara and James' love for each other to the forefront. That said, the book was a little anachronistic in places, but it wasn't extremely distracting. I enjoyed this short but sizzling romance and will be looking for more books from this author.

Recommended for a quarantine read! Word of warning: this is a general market book, so it's a little hotter than what I usually review on my blog.

~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~