How to Catch a Duke by Grace Burrowes
Rogues to Riches #6
Publication Date: April 13, 2021

Abigail turns to Lord Stephen for assistance in faking own death to avoid a dangerous Marquess. Instead, he proposes a fake marriage and soon a fake courtship becomes all too real for them both. I have not read the previous books in the series and you can definitely read this book without having read the others.

I really enjoyed the frankness between Abigail and Stephen. It felt like no topic was off the table for propriety’s sake. To be honest though, that’s the only thing I enjoyed. I made the call to DNF the book at about 30% which was a really hard decision for me. I feel like if I request an ARC on Netgalley then it’s my responsibility to finish the book and provide a review. However I didn’t see the issues I personally had with the book changing at any point.

The writing was monotone, emotionless and almost clinical in delivery. My preference is for romance books filled with humor, witty dialogue and an overwhelming amount of sexual tension. The choice in tone resulted in me just being uninterested in any of the characters and uninvested in the plot.

I was also turned off by the inclusion of a scene where he visits his mistress, spends the night and then breaks things off with her, before leaving he gifts her a tea shop. He had to have one last round of sex before he broke it off? Ick.

This was just not the book for me.

My apologies and thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Miss Abigail Abbott is an inquiry agent who finds herself in more danger than she can handle herself. She turns to an acquaintance, Lord Stephen Wentworth to fake her death so she will be free from harassment from a powerful man. Lord Stephen proposes a fake engagement instead and she is taken in by his brother and his sister-in-law. This is book six in the Rogues to Riches historical romance series and Ms. Burrowes does not disappoint. There is suspense and a realistic view of the hard life of the poor and the soldiers returning home to no work and the lack of opportunities that woman had regardless of class. Abigail and Stephen are a romantic pair. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another delightful, funny,intriguing story in the Rogues to Riches series by Grace Burrowes. The author is gifted in capturing the reader's attention from the first page and holding it until the last. I couldn't put it down! As always I look forward to all of the stories the author pens.

I always enjoy a Grace Burrowes book and this one did not disappoint. I was so happy to see this story was about Stephen Wentworth, the crippled younger brother and heir to the duke. Stephen is a brilliant inventor, but has been scarred since childhood when his cruel father breaks his leg, leaving Stephen with life-long pain and difficulty walking. He's bitter, but when he meets Abigail Abbott, he's intrigued and when she shows up on his doorstep asking him to kill her, he's determined to find out why she would take such a drastic step. Abigail has never felt good about herself--she is a big boned, nearly 6ft tall and no man has ever made her feel attractive. When Stephen offers an engagement of convenience, Abigail can't help but fall for him.

I loved this book and read it in one sitting. Stephen is such a complicated character and I was happy to see his character finally revealed. Ms. Burrowes teases out how the details about Stephen's early life and his complicated relationship with his older brother, Quinn. The Wentworths are a formidable family and they all rally around Stephen and Abigail trying to uncover the threat against Abigail. For all of Abigail's independence, it's Stephen who finally makes her understand her appeal to the opposite sex. I really liked that she was not a retiring miss and was responsible for her own household. While this might be a little more modern than some other period romances, I think anything less would not let Stephen and Abigail shine and come together for their HEA.

I have been waiting and waiting for my request for this ARC to be approved, and I was thrilled to finally get a copy this week! Since I started reading the Rogues to Riches series, I’ve really fallen in love with the Wentworth family, but I have a special place in my heart for angry, brilliant, damaged Stephen. I was so looking forward to his book.

I blew through like I usually do with this series, and I found this one extra hard to put down. Abigail and Stephen’s love story was grand, as was the ever-present Wentworth family loyalty. I always love how Jane manages everyone, the scenes with Quinn were great (I might need to reread Quinn and Jane’s book), and I was happy Duncan and Matilda made an appearance or two (although too brief).

The characters in these romances always feel rather modern in their views. I can get on board with it, mostly, since the Wentworths didn’t have a sheltered or conventional childhood, but the open mindedness and relaxed attitude about sex is still surprising. I do appreciate that Burrowes dispenses with drawn out angst, misunderstandings, and secret keeping (so dumb) as tools for creating conflict. Her characters are smart, and they solve problems like adults in a very straightforward way that still keeps me turning pages.
Her acknowledgements make it sound like this is it for the Wentworths, and I’ll sure miss them.

She asked him to kill her! Well not really but he must pretend to do it and make it look real.
He is a cripple, a murderer and the heir to a Duke. He grew up in poverty.
Abigail and Stephen make a great couple in this delightful story of trechery and blackmail.
Grace Burrowes has written another great story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily .

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, and this book read just fine as a stand alone. Stephen and Abigail are two characters who have both experienced a lot of pain and hardships in their pasts. I so wanted to love them together as a couple, and cheer on their happy endings, but it didn’t quite happen for me. Their relationship and courtship felt slightly underdeveloped and shallow. And I really disliked that shortly after their beginning he went straight to spend time with his mistress, and then visited her again later in the story. That being said, the story was interesting, and the side characters were well developed and I was pleased with the ending.
I received an ARC from netgalley, and this is my honest review.

This is not your typical historical romance. The relationship between the hero and heroine unfortunately weren't my cup-of-tea for what I come to expect from this genre. I think the story is brave to embrace some of the tropes and themes in this setting, but it did not endear me to the story. The characters were fun and delightful, but I didn't really love them together romantically. I must also note that I didn't really care for the prose in this story. I read a fair share of historical romance, but the style of this felt a little overwrought and unfortunately was a sticking point for me through the entire read. That being said, I do believe others will connect with this story and most of my issues with the story seem to be personal.

thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy

Ms. Burrowes work is a delight to many. Her ability to craft characters and scenes is totally amazing to me. the main characters Abigail Abbott and Stephen Wentworth are completely believable people, we see their world through their eyes and completely understand who, what and why. She evokes strong emotions in the readers for the characters, friend, family and foe. Her descriptions draw beautiful scenes in one's mind. We get romance, a bit of steam, humor and intrigue in one tale. I hated to put it down, and rushed to the end, only to wish I could have stayed in the fantasy a bit longer. This is a must read for any historical romance fan. I look forward to 3every new book she writes...impatiently.

I was so excited for this book that I started reading it almost as soon as I downloaded it and finished it in less than 24 hours. Grace Burrowes is one of my favorite historical romance writers, and her books rarely disappoint. This one was a treat, particularly as it dealt with a wounded hero and untraditional heroine who both respect each other from the very beginning.

This book wraps up the Rouges to Riches series, telling the Lord Stephen Wentworth whose father broke his leg in such a way that he has constant pain and often has to read two canes. Abigail is a strong, clever woman who does not put up with any foolishness. I recommend reading the series in order, as you learn a lot about both the hero and heroine in this novel from the previous ones. This book would still be enjoyable otherwise, but I think knowing about the family is key.

Stephen and Abigail both have to deal with their past (which are interestingly interconnected here) and their own insecurities to find happiness together. I really enjoyed and recommend this book.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review

I’ve been waiting for Stephens story & it lived up to my expectations. I love how Abigail wasn’t a frightened innocent. She’s been through a lot & doesn’t let much shake her. When she does run into a problem she knows is out of league she turns to Stephen. Together they work to figure out who is after her. Of course falling for each other along the way. Great light read & I couldn’t put it down! Im hoping for Ned’s story next, fingers crossed.

I am a huge an of Grace Burrowes' Rogues to Riches series and have waited patiently for Stephen's story. Sadly, it fell a little flat for me.

There is a scene between Stephen and his mistress after Abigail comes to him for protection and I never like seeing the hero with another woman, especially so close to when things start heating up with the heroine. Having met in a previous book, Abigail re-enters Stephen’s life by asking him to 'kill her' and help fake her death so that she can avoid the threats she is receiving from another peer. Instead, Stephen decides to help her by pretending to be her fiance.

There is really great dialogue and I appreciate the frank discussions of the heroine having a sexual past, which is rare to see in regency romances. There is a great supporting cast of characters in this book, as there is in all of this author's books. This is a slow read and slow to burn despite their attraction in a previous book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys pretend courtships that turns into HEA.

Grace Burrowes' deft way with historical romance never fails to please, and this story is no different. I particularly enjoyed the heroine in the story; Abigail has plenty of baggage due to her large size (she even believes it was the cause of her mother's death). Stephen's lack of mobility due to childhood abuse also added some interesting dimension to both him and their relationship.

A very enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

At last, Lord Stephen Wentworth gets his HEA. Now the younger brother of a wealthy duke, Stephen grew up in abject poverty, forced to protect his sisters from the machinations of their drunken father--the same man who shattered young Stephen's knee and forced him to walk with canes for the rest of his life. When prickly private investigator Abigail Abbott arrives at his house one day and asks him to help her disappear, Stephen offers an alternative: marriage, to him. Abigail is just desperate enough to consider it, but she's also in fear of her life and doesn't want to endanger anyone else.

The plot here wasn't too surprising, or fast-paced, but that's not really the point of a Grace Burrowes novel. She excels at taking two worthy people and getting them to fall in love very slowly, as they help each other heal from past hurts and reach their full potential. Like most Burrowes heroes, Stephen decides early on that he wants Abigail, but she will take some convincing. And of course, the entire formidable Wentworth clan rallies behind both of them to save the day.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This book was a really fun and enjoyable read. The characters were relatable and had great depth. I definitely recommend it and will be ordering copies for my library.

Thanks to Forever Pub & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

2.5 ⭐️

Witty, restrained & yet still sexy, the books I’ve read from Grace Burrowes’s Rogues to Riches series have been a joy to read. But I’m sad to say that How to Catch a Duke doesn’t work for me on a couple different levels.

On the surface I love the dynamic set up between Abigail Abbott, capable & no-nonsense professional inquiry agent, & urbane & charming Stephen Wentworth.

Having met in a previous book, Abigail re-enters Stephen’s life by asking him to kill her so she can essentially fake her own death & avoid the very real attempts someone is making to harm her.

Instead, Stephen decides to help her figure out who the threat is & why & he’ll do that while pretending to be engaged to our heroine.

Like the other Grace Burrowes books I’ve read this one has shining banter. I often feel like I’m watching an episode of Downtown Abbey when reading her books; so much feels placid but there are strong currents underneath.

Brava to Burrowes for including a hero & heroine who talk frankly about past relationships & sexual interests, & for how the heroine erodes the hero’s suaveness and makes a place that’s comfortable for him to be himself. Also on the emotional front, the way that the Wentworth brothers start to see one another differently as a result of their intended others is moving.

But I have a problem with how Stephen’s mistress is included in this one. He goes to visit her after his initial meeting with Abigail, which could be okay for me depending on the timing of how things start with Abigail...only in this book’s case soon after leaving his mistress Stephen kisses Abigail (it’s only a let’s-kiss-so-we-can-test-looking-like-a-real-couple kiss but still...) & he ends up wanting her to see how much she arouses him. Only hours after leaving the mistress he slept with.

In the beginning of this scene he even thinks to himself how frequently he is aroused soon after breaking things off with a mistress...which makes me doubt the authenticity of his feelings for Abigail. I briefly wondered, would he be this way with any available woman?

In general the pacing & timing of the end of his relationship with his mistress & the beginning of his with Abigail bothers me, especially when things continue to move so quickly with Abigail *and* he goes back to see his mistress for info later in the romance.

I want it to be a clean break between “relationships” & it doesn’t entirely feel that way.

Second, there’s a scene here where I feel like consent is somewhat dubious; where, essentially, Stephen’s language & the narrator’s description suggests that he does not want to do/is not prepared to do something sexually, and she ignores what he says. Immediately afterwards, he seems satisfied by how things happened, but the episode makes me feel uncomfortable.

I really wanted to love this one: Stephen has been a series favorite for me. But I’m sorry to say that How to Catch a Duke disappointed.

4 stars

A charming story of two fascinating misfits who find love on their way to solving a mystery. Great characters, great fun.

[What I liked:]

•Interesting characters. Wonderful characters. Stephen is lovely & ruthless & kind & a bit warped & way too intelligent & so charming—& needs to learn to rely on others. Abigail is incredibly smart, brave, practical, wise—& needs to learn to believe how special she is. Ah, they make such a great team! They felt like real, flawed, lovable people who weren’t boring or flat or predictable.

•The chemistry is excellent. They connect well on so many levels. They build such a great team & friendship & fall so adorably in love.

•I did not see the last twist coming! It was built up too, but so subtly I didn’t see through it. I always appreciate that.

•The prose is so good. There are some wonderful descriptions & metaphors. The dialogue is so funny. I highlighted way too many quotes so I can go back & read them.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The ending isn’t bad, but I was slightly disappointed in Abigail’s misguided attempt to be noble. It didn’t fit with her forthcoming, honest nature or her trust of Stephen. It just felt out of character.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

This is an interesting historical romance that follows Abigail, a successful inquiry agent, and Stephen, the heir to the Duke of Walden. Abigail needs Stephen to protect her from a threatening and dangerous marquess and wants help faking her own death, but Stephen has another idea. By faking their engagement, Stephen can keep Abigail safe. Plus, this allows him to spend a bit more time with the intriguing and intelligent woman. However, will Stephen’s plan keep danger at bay, or will the secrets of the past ruin the possibility of a future?

Though this is a slower-paced historical romance, the characters and romance are lovely. Abigail and Stephen are compelling characters. As the story unfolds, you realize that events and relationships from the past have defined their present. They are both smart and quick-witted, but they hesitate to give in to their feelings because of their past traumas and fears. From their first conversation, their chemistry is obvious, and I love how easily they talk to, work with, and begin to trust each other.

I also like that their relationship is built on respect. Abigail and Stephen both think very highly of each other, and from there, love blossoms. Stephen does everything he can to protect Abigail, and he is ruthless, cunning, and so charming when he wants to be. They prove over and over again that they are a well-matched pair. Both are loyal and brave and a bit ahead of their time, and they complement each other beautifully.

This is a good story for readers who enjoy historical romance, but I would suggest reading the first four books in the series to further understand the characters and context. This story will appeal to readers who enjoy the fake relationship/engagement trope. Thanks so much to NetGalley, the author, and Forever Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

As so often with romance series, the character who needs the most growth, the one with the scarred heart, is one of the last to have their HEA. As is the case with Lord Stephen Wentworth in How to Catch a Duke.

Stephen is the most damaged and complex of the damaged and complex Wentworth family in Grace Burrowes’ Rogues to Riches series. At the end of the last book, The Truth About Dukes, we were introduced to inquiry agent Abigail Abbott and Lord Stephen was immediately intrigued. Now Abigail has come to London and needs Stephen’s brilliantly diabolical mind to help her save herself from a marquess who is threatening her over old, seemingly innocuous letters. She wants to disappear but Stephen proposes another option, a sham engagement which will put her under the protection of the Wentworth family and his brother the Duke of Walden. This gives Stephen time to solve the puzzle of why a powerful marquess would care about these letters and to solve the puzzle that is Miss Abigail Abbott.

I enjoy a series where I can become immersed in a family. Grace Burrowes wonderful writing in the Rogues to Riches series draws you in and makes you care about the outcome of these characters. Her empathy and sensitive treatment of characters living with physical and mental disabilities in Regency England is enlightening.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book took longer to read than most historical romances I read, and the pace was very slow. Stephen and Abigail were also a bit standoffish and took a long time to really open up to the reader. Once the story got going, however, I enjoyed it immensely. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I read the first four books in this series, rather than just the fifth, and would have got more of the references within the Wentworth family, but there was enough information provided that I never felt completely lost.

Once the story got moving, I really enjoyed it. The relationships were a tangle that was sorted in the end, and both Stephen and Abigail had past struggles and sorrows that they had to come to terms with (and they eventually did). Even without reading the first four books, I feel like this one wrapped up the series and provided a fitting end.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this e-arc for review.