The Truth About Dukes is the 5th book in the Rogues to Riches series by Grace Burrowes. I have read many books by Grace Burrowes but none from this series. I plan to start soon. This series tells the stories of the Wentworth family who, despite not coming from high society, inherit a ducal title.

Constance Wentworth prefers to avoid attention. She has learned to be quiet, unassuming and stay on the periphery at social events. This strategy serves her well until an old acquaintance seeks out her company.

Robert, The Duke of Rothhaven, functions best when he stays to his very narrow comfort zone. He prefers to avoid being out in society and has done so for several years. Circumstances find him trying to take on his ducal responsibilities. At one quite miserable ball he spies an old acquaintance.

Constance and Robert met many years earlier while they were each in dire situations. Their reacquaintance, which was inevitable due to their siblings becoming betrothed, brings unexpected companionship and support when they least expect to need it.

I loved this story. I was drawn to the main characters due to their vulnerabilities and determination to survive rough circumstances. There are nefarious characters plotting to take advantage of a vulnerable situation. There is a secret search. There are well meaning but interfering siblings who are also completely supportive. The main characters’ support and companionship develop into a deep love. While the characters are very passionate, the story’s love scenes are sensual without being overly graphic.

Grace Burrowes is a master storyteller. Her artistic use of time period appropriate language transports the reader to the Regency era. She weaves an intricate story, slowly peeling back the layers of the characters and situations to entice the reader. The main storyline deals with the topic of Epilepsy. The author seems to have done her research. The terminology, while difficult to read, would have been common during the time. As a reader I appreciate this historical accuracy.

This book is perfection. This is a standalone book, but I will gladly read all the previous books in this series and return to reread this one.

~ Andrea

This was an excellent, well-written book. Lady Constance Wentworth blends in to the background and is completely unremarkable. Robert Rothmere is a duke with a scandalous past who needs to marry a proper, unremarkable duchess. The two met in the past and each is exactly what the other needs - and wants. I loved every bit of this book and highly recommend it. It caught and held my attention, I didn't want to put it down and I didn't want it to end, either. This is a must-read author for me.

Lady Constance Wentworth has almost perfected the state of being invisible. She much prefers blending into the background than being forced into the spotlight. Until she run across a face she can never forget and get life changes forget.
Robert, Duke of Rothmere, is finally claiming his rightful place. Yet he is preparing for the past and his illness to snatch his much deserved happiness from his grasp. When faced with Lady Constance he had found the reason to step outside the walls that keep him safe. She saved him and it's time to return the favor and so much more. And the two of them together are a sight to behold, where Robert truly takes on the mantle of the dukedom and Constance stands against those who would harm him.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I don't know if it was election week, but I had a hard time getting through this book. It wasn't that the story wasn't good (and it was). It just felt like it was longer than necessary. It also might have been that I never read any of the other four books in the series so I felt like I still had to get to know some of the characters. That being said, I really enjoyed the story at the center of this book and I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series!

Constance, sister to Quinn, the Duke of Walden, has always led a quiet life, never drawing attention to herself. She preferred her painting and possibly a little too much alcohol. However, this changed when the Duke of Rothhaven, Robert, appears back in her life. No one knows that they knew each other previously, when Constance had run away from her family and became a maid in the pseudo-mental institution where Robert spent much of his youth and young adulthood. However, because Constance's sister and Robert's brother were now engaged, they were thrown back into each other's paths.

We learn pretty early on that Robert does not have a mental condition. Instead, he developed epilepsy after a series of falls from a horse in his childhood. However, it being the 18th/19th century, it's known as the "falling sickness" and people think his seizures are some sort of mental failing. His father acted like Robert had died and instilled his brother as the duke to be, instead, opting to hide Robert at this doctor's private institution where he was basically tortured. It was really hard to read these parts, even though we know that people were (and still are) mistreated when they are thought to have a mental illness.

It doesn't take long for Constance and Robert to fall in love, Robert says he loved Constance from the moment he saw her at the institution, because she brought his humanity back to him by sneaking him food when he was being starved and helped him make friends in his isolation. Clearly, Constance loved him back, but had a secret of her own-- the reason why she ran away from her family was because she was pregnant out of wedlock at 15. She gave the baby up for adoption, but now, years later, she couldn't find the girl. Constance and Robert are basically perfect for each other.

The book then takes a turn as some conniving local gentry decide to have Robert deemed incapable of guarding the dukedom, in order to siphon some money from him. Robert isn't incapacitated by his epilepsy except after a seizure, but again, it being the 18th/19th century, other people don't know that. The rest of the book is full of twists and turns while Constance looks for her daughter and these villains build a case against Robert, all while Robert and Constance are falling in love.

The HEA is SO DAMN SATISFYING, I can't stress that enough. A character that you will hate through the whole book will end up warming your heart by the end, surprisingly! I think if I read this at a different time, I'd give it 5 stars, but to me, it just seemed 50 pages too long.

This was another wonderful book by an author that I've enjoyed in the past. I had high expectations going into this book because of how much I liked this author's previous books. And it didn't disappoint me.

The Truth About Dukes by Grace Burrowes 4.5 stars (Rogues to Riches #5)

This is Book #5 in the Rogues to riches Series. I'll confess I'm behind in reading this series; the last one I read was "When A Duchess Says I Do". But in my defense, the other 2 books are in my TBR pile. I didn't feel lost because we met Lady Constance Wentworth in "My One and Only Duke" She is the younger sister of Quinn, the Duke of Walden.

This book is about Constance and Robert, Duke of Rothhaven. Althea, younger sister of Constance is getting married to Nathaniel, the younger brother and current heir to the Duke of Rothhaven. Unknown to all, Constance and Robert have a history. Robert was a "guest" at an asylum for 10 years and Constance, a 15 year old runaway was hiding by working as a maid in said asylum. Robert's father had sent him to the asylum because of his epilepsy and told everyone he was dead. Nathaniel found out his brother was alive and fetched him from the asylum. However, after being experimented on and tortured, Robert had a few issues along with the epileptic seizures. Constance want to be independent and pursue her passion for painting, but she is also searching for someone.

This book is about recovery, healing and forgiveness. It is also an indictment on how people treated the mentally ill or relatives that were "inconvenient". The conflict in this book is that someone is trying to declare Robert "not competent" and appoint a guardian for his interests.

I found Robert more of a pragmatist and resigned to his fate. He spends his time trying to protect the people he loves rather than fighting for his rights. On the other hand, Constance is the fighter and unwilling to settle.

I really enjoyed this book. The fact that I didn't read the previous book did not matter because I was able to pick up the threads of this series without too much trouble. I can't wait for the next book "How To Catch A Duke", Lord Stephen's story coming Spring 2021.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC.

Stunning romance with a side of social commentary

First of all, this is an outstanding romance with sympathetic, well-developed characters who will burrow into a permanent place in your heart. The writing is top-notch, the story flows beautifully, and every step of the book is filled with intense gravitas.

But be aware that the author addresses how the society of that time (and place) dealt with people who were affected by seizure disorders and mental illness, and it's not at all pretty. I appreciated the historical accuracy that is proof of the intensive research conducted, and was relieved to see justice prevail on the way to securing a truly beautiful HEA. My heart hurts for all that Robert and Constance had to endure in their young lives, but those hardships only make their bright future all the more satisfying.

I remember Robert from earlier in this series, although this story stands well on its own. Once again I was instantly captivated by the author's storytelling style, the sophisticated prose, the vivid imagery, and the overall beauty of the emotional experience. I cannot recommend this book or this author highly enough. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Truth About Dukes by Grace Burrows is the fifth book in her delightful Rogues to Riches series. It could be read as a stand-alone, but I think you will enjoy this book more if you have read the previous books as they feature characters in this book. Robert Rothmore, Duke of Rothhaven, first met Lady Constance Wentworth when he was hidden away in an asylum by his father, and she had run away from home and had found employment as a servant at the home. They meet again when his younger brother becomes engaged to her sister, and their relationship rekindles into something more. The brutal treatment he suffered at the asylum has left Robert with many fears and phobias in addition to the falling sickness (epilepsy), that was the reason for his incarceration. Constance may be the one woman who understands his problems and he may be the one man she will trust with her fears and secrets. As always Grace Burrowes tells a story with lots of angst, nasty villains, intriguing protagonists and just the right amount of steam. I enjoyed reading this book and cheered when they found their hard earned HEA. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: November 10, 2020. #TheTruthAboutDukes #GraceBurrowes #HistoricalRomance #ForeverGrandCentral #GrandCentralPublishing #NetGalley #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. The Truth About Dukes is the 4th title in the series, but can easily be read as a standalone title. Lady Constance, the sister of the Duke of Wentworth, is in the north of England to lend her support to her newly engaged sister. While attending a ball, she comes face to face with the Duke of Rothhaven. It is clear that the two knew each other years ago under less than ideal circumstances. Rothhaven has recently returned from the dead; he suffers from epilepsy (the falling sickness as it was known then) and spent years institutionalized by his father and then 5 years hiding at his estate. He allowed his younger brother to remain the figurehead of the dukedom after his brother found him as he worked to recover from the effects of his epilepsy "treatments". Lady Constance is prickly and clearly has something in her past that has made her determined to avoid marriage. When the two are thrown together due to their siblings' engagement, it becomes quickly clear that the that they are strongly attracted to each other. Rothaven fears being declared unfit and doesn't want to drag Constance down with him. Can she convince him that not only is that a chance she is willing to take, but that she is strong enough to handle it?

As always, Ms. Burrowes imbues her story with a depth of emotion that often is lacking in other historical titles. Both Constance and Rothaven are grown adults who have been through tragic and traumatic events; both act like the adults they are without any manufactured misunderstandings. The description of the different treatments Rothaven endured are heartbreaking when you consider that these are really what people with epilepsy were forced to endure; so little was known about the causes and sufferers were often believed to be mentally deficient in some manner. I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two grow as well as their personal growth. Fans of Ms. Burrowes will not be disappointed by this title.

This book tackled an issue that I'd never read about in all the years I've been reading historical romances. It's called "Falling Sickness". I'd never heard it called that until this book, but it's epilepsy. Our duke has epilepsy. I've read plenty of books where the hero or heroine has some sort of physical infirmity, but never anything like this.

Robert is the Duke of Rothhaven. As a child, he fell off a horse, hit his head, and now has "Falling Sickness." He was a huge embarrassment to his father, who promptly sent him to an asylum. Robert was no more than a test subject to a demented, greedy doctor, as were the other people who were housed there. I don't want to call them patients because they weren't patients. They were more like lab rats, test subjects, or even a sick man's toys. Not a lot of detail was given, but enough was provided to know that Robert wasn't at a ball and had suffered greatly. What makes it even more grisly is that it was historically accurate. These things did happen in places like that. It makes me question humanity at that point in time.

Constance Wentworth had run away from home and found herself working in this establishment where Robert was existing. She was helping him as much as she could, knowing he was suffering and unable to bear the thought of it. This is where they met.

Fast forward a few years. Constance is now back home and is a bit of a recluse. The reason she's this way will blow your mind. *No spoilers* But she meets up with Robert again, only to discover he's been out of the asylum for quite some time, his brother has been acting as Duke all this time, and it's now time for Robert to claim his title. His brother is going to marry Constance's sister and they're going to move.

Robert has some debilitating idiosyncrasies. He doesn't like to go outside because it's too open. He can't travel in a carriage without the blinds being drawn. He won't ride a horse. He travels under the cover of darkness. He was such a dear, sweet man. I loved him so much and I loved how Constance helped him conquer these fears and how her family came together to help him.

But as things go, he has a couple of seizures in public, which brings around some nefarious barristers who seek to become his guardian because he is a lunatic. After he has a seizure, it takes him a little while to get his bearings about him again. Of course it does. He can't think straight, speaks thickly, and is so tired. He doesn't jump up and grandly spread his arms and declare, "I'm cool! I'm cool!" No. It drains him both physically and mentally. In addition to that, he has staring spells where he can hear and vaguely see what's going on around him, but is unable to respond until the spell is over. The barristers and other people who didn't understand the disorder, thought he was indeed a lunatic, an idiot, or mad when he really was very bright, witty, and intelligent. He was so misunderstood, but Constance knew him and understood him so well and loved him so much. It was just beautiful.

Constance had something going on in her life that few people knew about. Once Robert found out about it, he rallied behind her and supported her in every way possible. He didn't judge her, hold anything against her, or shame her. He loved her as much as she loved him and encouraged her and helped her even when she didn't ask for it. He amazed me at every turn.

This was a tough topic to tackle in this genre, but Ms. Burrowes handled it with sensitivity and care. The story was wonderfully written with characters I loved and characters that needed a good old-fashioned facer. Lady Phoebe Philpot comes to mind, as well as her whipped barrister husband, Neville Philpot. Conniving bit--oh, I wasn't about to say that. Yes, I was. She was a nosy, busybody with too much time on her hands and she ran her spineless, wimpy rodent of a husband with an iron fist.

There wasn't a lot of heat or a ton of feels. The love scenes were rated PG. But there is so much more to the story than that. It was still satisfying and had me cheering at the end.

I will mention that I gave my dictionary on my Kindle a workout. I like learning new words and there were plenty of them in this book that I'd never seen before.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is part a series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

This book tells the story of Robert, Duke of Rothhaven, and Lady Constance Wentworth. However, there are several other POV’s presented from the many characters in this book. In fact, there are a lot of Dukes and their wives in this book so there was a lot of “your grace” in the dialogue. This lost me at times because I had no idea which ‘your grace’ they were speaking to or talking about.

The multi POVs also made getting to know the main characters a little difficult for a first time reader of the series. My favorite character was Robert because he was unique - he had to deal with epilepsy and being banished from home for most of his young life. I didn’t feel like I got to know Constance well enough. She is characterized as having headstrong tendencies, but I didn't see much of that in this book.

There were several plotlines in this book: living with epilepsy, scheming to get guardianship over Robert due to mental incompetence, couples trying to get married, and looking for Constance’s long lost daughter, to name a few. You’ll notice I don’t mention romance. That is because the romance happened ‘off camera’ since they met and fell in love in another book. Because of this the romance element fell a little short for me in this book.

The family presents a great supporting cast and I would like to get to know them through their own books. I especially liked the touches of humor, usually at the expense of their siblings. It's always fun to take a jab at siblings every now and then. Now that I’ve been introduced to the family, I can’t wait for Stephen's book to come out. 3.5/5

Overall - ⭐⭐⭐
Heat - 🔥🔥1/2

The Truth About Dukes by Grace Burrowes is the fifth in her Rogues to Riches series. Before you read this book at the very least you need to have read the previous book, A Duke By Any Other Name. There is a lot of background information that is helpful to read in that book and I think without it this book would not be as enjoyable to read.

This book is about Robert, the brother to Nathaniel from the previous book, the true heir to the Rothaven dukedom. After certain events from the previous book Robert finds himself in want of a wife. But he needs the right lady, so he decides on sweet and “seemingly” boring Lady Constance Wentworth. What he doesn’t know is Constance has secrets of her own. These two met in a place and time when neither had many friends and share knowledge they’d rather not come out.

This book tackles some rather dark subject matter, and felt very different in tone to other books I’ve read by Burrowes. I enjoyed the storytelling as I always do, and I loved that these two unique individuals find their HEA with each other. However, this book is not my favorite in the series, and I think it’s because I felt like the love story wasn’t as well developed. The couple obviously cared for each other, but most of the time I felt like it was more a friend feeling than romantic. Sometimes, it felt like Robert was using Constance like an emotional support animal rather than a partner.

Constance is wonderfully supportive of Robert, and I loved her strength of character. Yet, I felt that she enabled some of his bad behaviors and coddled him a little too much. To be fair, there is NO WAY I could empathize with what Robert went through. I am cognizant we should be more supportive of mental issues, and I am not saying he deserved no support. Rather, I am saying the dynamic felt less about romance and more about emotional support.

Overall, it was still a good book and if you’ve been following the series; I think you’ll enjoy it. If you’re looking to get into Burrowes’s books or have skipped around in her series, make sure you check out Nathaniel’s book first so you’re not lost.

After reading the last book in this series, I was eagerly anticipating Robert's happily ever after, and Grace Burrowes did not disappoint! This was exactly the book his character deserved, with so much character growth, healing, and the opportunity to have the life he always wanted. It took me several days to get through this book, I'll be honest, mostly because I am one of those people who have "invisible" ailments, who the author dedicates this book to. There comes a very real, and distressing, understanding of Robert's situation, when you have gone through even a smidgen of what he went through. My situation doesn't even come close (I have very supportive parents, for one thing), but I remember the first time I realized something was wrong with me that I couldn't control. It's terrifying and it's even worse when people don't understand it. During Robert's time period, a person with any disease that people didn't understand was hidden away, often left in asylums that tortured them and held them prisoner until they died. Grace Burrowes did a fantastic job of creating a realistic character, and it was heartwarming to see his growth as a person and his belief in himself grow stronger each day.

Constance Wentworth never thought to see Robert Rothmere again, but now he's back in her life ten years later, a duke and her soon-to-be brother-in-law. Having met him in a private hospital, which she'd fled to after receiving heartbreaking news, she remembered him well, but after writing to him once and receiving no reply, she assumed he was firmly in her past. Now in her present, the Duke of Rothhaven is enchanted by Constance. Robert has never forgotten how kindly she treated him during those months she worked at the hospital, and upon seeing her again, he feels a stirring beyond friendship that he's never felt before. As they grow closer, Robert feels guilty for bringing her into his problematic world, but Constance refuses to give up on him and their relationship. And while Robert may have an obstacle in front of him, Constance has one of her own that she has yet to share with him. One that could change the course of their relationship, for better or worse.

As I stated above, Robert was a very well-written character, completely believable in how he felt about his past, his illness (epilepsy), and his future. It was why I had such a hard time reading it - I could feel both his affection for her and his anxiety over losing her. It was difficult to read at times, because I could relate so much to it. Constance was exactly the woman he needed in his life, completely unafraid to take on whatever challenges he faced and all the while facing her own. She was his light, which he desperately needed as people plotted against him. Possibly the worst (and by that I mean best written) villainous couple I have every laid eyes on reside in this book. Truly awful people who deserve every bit of unpleasantness that can be thrown at them, honestly. Bravo to the author, for creating not only realistic main characters but also creating villains we all love to hate.

Perhaps even more anticipated than Robert's book has been Stephen's book, and I'm happy to say that his story is next! I'm so excited to see him be happy, and his lady love has already been introduced and is lovely. I can't wait!

Grace Burrowes has manage to grab me by the heartstrings and bring me along for another emotional rollercoaster of a romance! My heat ached with sorrow and joy as I read this book.

The fifth book in the Wentworth series continues where we left off from A Rogue by Any Other Name. Lady Althea and her Lord Nathanial are planning their nuptials, and their siblings are busy re-establishing their secret acquaintance.

Lady Constance is not a woman free of skeletons in her closet and soon her budding relationship and romance with the true Duke of Rothmere will bring them to light. Can Robert, the at long last returned duke be able to handle his lady loves scandal as he fights to prove his sanity and fitness to be the duke?

These character were both so fascinating had me quite invested in them eventually acquiring their HEA. Both have suffered so much in their youth and now find strength within each other to overcome their past setbacks and fight together for a much deserved happy future.

I wanted to add that a main focal point of this story is the fact that the Duke has epilepsy. In this time period, views and treatments of this affliction were archaic and somewhat monstrous in a modern light. I felt (as a person whom has a family member with this condition) that Burrowes’ representation was emotional difficult at times to read, the overall effect was true to the time. Truth hurts sometimes. We are so fortunate to be in a modern time where medical innovation has provided un-intrusive and effective treatments, as well as a more positive perceptions of neurological and mental heath issues. The rallying and support that the close relations and more open minded characters really softened the blow of certain villainous characters actions.

Lady Constance and Rothmere captured my heart and their struggles became mine. That is the sign of a great romance!

The Truth About Dukes by Grace Burrowes is scheduled to release November 10th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheTruthAboutDukes #GraceBurrowes #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

Trigger Warnings:
-Negative perception/ reception of persons with epilepsy and mental health disorders.
-Allegations of abuse in a treatment facility.
-A young mother has to giveaway her newborn child

Grace Burrowes delivers another fine romance with unusual characters and interesting plot twists. It is easy to root for the hero and heroine and boo the bad guys. .

3.5 stars

This is a new-ish to me author, but I loved that synopsis.

I liked Constance and Robert. She’s smart and sassy. He’s a little awkward and unsure. Together they’re calculating and fairly adorable and loyal af. I loved reading their relationship grow and was the best part of the book.

Plot wise, it was sort of a lot. There’s several moving pieces, a ton of characters, and nearly everyone gets a POV. There was a good amount of conflict, but it wasn’t angsty. The build up was gentle and slow and while I wanted more from the epilogue, it seemed fitting.

Overall, it was Constance and Robert who kept me reading. I am interested in other books of the series, but not sure if I’ll be clamoring for them.

**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**

The Truth About Dukes
by Grace Burrowes
Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Forever
Romance
Pub Date 10 Nov 2020 | Archive Date 14 Nov 2020

I have not read any other books by Grace Burrows so I thought I would try this one. Honestly, it was not my favorite read this month. People did view epilepsy differently then but I do feel it was callous.
Thanks to Forever and Net Galley for the ARC and the opportunity to read a new author for me.

Not a good match though...
3 star

I’m a big fan of Grace Burrowes:

​
Unconventional, sex-positive characters.
An understated Downtown Abbey-esque style—gentle tones used to convey some tough love, insults, & drama!
Secrets! & some familial discord but the characters also possess an unbending sense of integrity & loyalty.


The Truth about Dukes focuses on Robert, a duke living with epilepsy who has decided to return to his rightful societal place.

As a child, after experiencing epileptic episodes, Robert was sent to live in a mental asylum by his father & the assumption was that he was dead. After his brother rescued him Robert spent years in his home, anxious of many things related to his terrible asylum experience.

Now, forced to act like a Duke, Robert finds an old ally, Lady Constance Wentworth, who once left her family for reasons unknown so she could be a maid at the aforementioned asylum. They had a friendship, an allyship, then but haven’t spoken since.

Like with her other books I’ve read, the love story here is touching & tender & gives me those awww feelings. Because Burrowes writes imperfect characters, her romances often feel real & approachable.

Robert & Constance are two ships on storm-wrecked seas & I love how they latch onto each other. They’re able to reveal their vulnerabilities with one another & it’s truly beautiful to me.

I did feel like there are some execution issues with this romance though, particularly some aspects of the plot & characterization that feel rushed.

Be aware too that this book is tackling the subject of how people in the 19th century might have viewed someone with epilepsy, & the reactions to Robert & his episodes are often callous, insensitive, &/or cruel, both outside of the leads’ families & within.

With TTaD Burrowes offers another beautiful tale of two characters falling in love—it’s just that some aspects of how the tale unfold don’t quite hold up for me.




[Additional CWs:


​the heroine felt like she had to give up her illegitimate daughter for adoption years earlier. Veiled references to the heroine’s background, including things her violent father did & forced his children to do.]


3.5 ⭐️. The Truth about Dukes releases on 11/10. Thanks to Netgalley, Forever Pub, & Grand Central Pub for the complimentary ARC (and the latter two for the finished copy, too.) All opinions provided are my own.

It was evident at the end of Burrowes' previous Rogues to Riches book that the Duke of Walden's younger sister Constance was familiar with the Duke of Rothhaven (the real one, not the one portrayed in A Duke by Any Other Name)., and The Truth About Dukes picks up where that left off. Robert suffers from epilepsy and had been hidden away for many a year at an asylum. Now that his brother Nathaniel is getting married, Robert is preparing himself and his estate for the impending shift of control. He remembers Constance quite well from her days as a maid at the aforementioned asylum, and their siblings' upcoming nuptials have renewed their acquaintance. The acquaintance quickly blossoms into full-blown romance; as Constance is not at all put out by Robert's "falling sickness", and Robert is not remotely swayed by Constance's own secrets. However, society does not look kindly on the failings of either, and it will not be a smooth path for these two reunited lovers.

Though their circumstances are fraught, the romance thankfully is not. Burrowes as always provides a witty, socially nuanced story that will further endear her and this series to readers.

Robert Rothmere, the Duke of Rothhaven, is battling demons from his past which no one should have to endure. Unfortunately, his struggles are impossible to hide as he ventures out in public and attempts to resume a normal life. This, along with his immense wealth, means he is the perfect target for greedy schemers seeking to have him declared incompetent and sent right back to the place of his nightmares. The best defense Robert has is to act perfectly ducal, starting with taking a proper wife, and he knows just the lady he wants to fill the position.

Lady Constance Wentworth has worked hard to blend in and go unnoticed in public and as far as anyone knows she is completely untouched by scandal. She and Robert met years ago under far different circumstances, but she’s never forgotten him or how he kept her safe when she was alone and friendless. She would dearly love to marry him, but he doesn’t know her biggest secret or that it could bring even more scrutiny down on him just when proper appearances are most important.

Man did this book stress me out! The constant sense of impending doom hanging over Robert and his family was tough, and I just kept screaming at all these greedy schemers to mind their own business. Robert and Constance were beyond sweet together and I loved how fiercely protective they were of each other. Their backstory together was also adorable and brought things full circle in their relationship with how much they’d always loved each other and striven to protect one another even if no one else knew about it. The family dynamics here and the teamwork between the Wentworths and the Rothmeres was lovely. Despite their differences, they all rallied around each other and supported each other when it mattered most. This unity enabled Constance and Robert to secure their HEA and made it that much more satisfying to me to see all that cohesion. This whole group of characters was delightful, even if it did put me on pins and needles and I’m looking forward to Stephen’s story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.