This is the fourth book in the Duke Dynasty series. I was excited to read this to see if they'd be able to solve the mystery around the fathers deaths. This was a good conclusion to the series and I enjoyed watching the relationship between Sheridan and Vanessa evolve throughout the book.

I have not read the previous books in the series, and it did take me a few chapters before I got the family and couples straight. Now we have a duke who does not want to get married but likes the looks of Miss Vanessa. Vanessa who has liked His Grace Sheridan Armitrage, lies about a love of a poet to get the Duke's attention. All this happens while the Duke is trying to uncover who murdered his mother's husbands.
First I think there was not enough relationship development between the two to make it feel more romantic. It was like once they were married, they both just loved each other without telling the other of course. The Duke thought she was frivolous and one word from someone then we never hear about it again. They kept having these meetings where no information was shared, it felt like we were just getting to see the people from previous books.
I did enjoy the mystery and figuring out the bad guy as the story progressed. I really liked the fake relationship and honestly wanted to see more of it between the two. A few good steamy scenes, and always love when the woman embraces her sex life.
Overall a classic historical romance with an ongoing mystery that is resolved by the end but there is another book mentioned at the end. It is good and has great romance that makes the reader swoon, if dukes are your thing of course! Fun, swoon worthy, and a great mystery all wrapped up in this book!

This is the forth, and final book in the Dukes Dynasty series. This book is about Sheridan and Vanessa.
I loved the other books in this series, and was excited to read the final book, to see what had happened to the previous dukes. And I really enjoyed this book, and Sheridan and Vanessas story. Her, having secretly wanted him, and him vowing never to love again, and fighting his feelings for her. I found in this book, sometimes I couldn’t get into the story as much as I did the previous ones, but I did love watching these characters finally figure out what was going on, and the family getting their happily ever after. The story was well written, and I fell in love with all the characters throughout the books. I’ll have to say, I was shocked at how everything with the dukes deaths ended. I would not have guessed that ended. Overall this was a good book, and a wonderful conclusion to this series. Definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of historical romance.

I enjoy this series by Jeffries and this latest installment held me captive as well. I'm a fan of the fake engagement trope, and while I didn't love how they used each other or all the scheming, I understood how it contributed to the story. (Why don't they ever just communicate honestly in these stories? I mean, I know there would be no story, but it also makes me laugh that they weave such elaborate traps for one another when they could just have an honest conversation.) They weren't my favourite historical romance couple, but I enjoyed the book as an escape and enjoyed the mystery.

3.5 stars - I liked it, it was easy to read, it didn't disappoint.

This is book # 4 in the Duke Dynasty. Sheridan, the Duke and Armitage and Miss Vanessa Pryde are keeping secrets, love secrets. Sheridan is afraid of love. He tried it once and it tore him apart when she died. Vanessa has been in love with Sheridan for years and will attempt almost anything to get him to notice her as more than a sister. She has made it know, falsely, that she is interested in the poet/playwright, Juncker. She enlists Sheridan in a scheme to make Juncker jealous. The real scheme is that she wants to spend some time with Sheridan in hopes he will view as more than a friend. Little does she know that he is fighting himself and his attraction to her. This tale is only one part of the story. The underlying story began in the previous books in the series. The widow, Lydia Fletcher has been married three times, each time to a duke, thus three of her sons are now dukes. However, they suspect foul play inn the deaths of her husbands, but who? I was able to guess the villain early in the book, but could not figure motive or at least the right one until late in the story. I love a read with just the right amount of intrigue like this one. The characters are wonderful, and very likeable. I was sorry to see the series end. A most enjoyable read!

This is book four of the Duke Dynasty books by Sabrina Jeffries and if you haven't read the other books of the series I definitely recommend you do before picking this one up as they all are intertwined around the children solving the mystery of the suspicious deaths of their mother's husbands.

Everything comes to a head in this book and not only do we get to see how things pan out for Sheridan and Vanessa but we also get to find out who is behind the deaths and why. I enjoyed seeing the relationship change and develop for Sheridan and Vanessa in this book. Since we've been introduced to both in prior books, it was interesting to learn what was really going on in Vanessa's mind. I also loved that the characters from the other books were included in this book - it's always great to see how things move forward for them one their book ends.

If you're looking for a new historical romance, consider checking this one out.

Fun, fun, fun! This final full length installment of the Duke Dynasty series wraps up the overarching storylines in a clever and interesting way. And the romance here is so good. It’s not quite one-sided unrequited love, because this Duke just can’t seem to help himself around her.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4 stars

The fourth book in Jeffries' Duke Dynasty series, Undercover Duke has a lot going for it: mystery, mutual pining, seduction, and romance. It is a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance that hits on all of the things that I love about the genre.

However, this is not a book that you can easily jump into without reading the other books in the series. There are so many characters, relationships, and events that are essential to the plot and Jeffries really just throws you into the middle of it all. I knew next to nothing about this series, so it took quite a bit of time to figure out what exactly was going on and how everyone was related. I felt like because I was spending so much of my time figuring out what was happening, I didn't really connect to the relationship until about halfway through the book. However, once I did, I was completely onboard! This was my first historical romance by Jeffries and it will certainly not be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zebra for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Undercover Duke
Duke Dynasty Series - Book 5
By Sabrina Jeffries

Kensington Books - June 2021

Historical Romance


Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, is certain he and his siblings are closing in on the truth of the deaths of their family members. For so long, it had seemed tragic that his mother’s husbands had died unexpectedly. Now, they’d proven a conspiracy, as well as poisoning. It was likely that the other deaths were also murder. What they needed was information, and he was to try to get that from his half-brother’s Aunt Cora. He normally wouldn’t hesitate to investigate, but it would put him in close proximity to Miss Vanessa Pryde, a spoiled headstrong young woman who had her eye on the poet and playwright Konrad Juncker.

Vanessa was delighted when Sheridan approached her and her mother at a play. She had been enchanted with the man, but he seemed more interested in speaking with her mother. She did note his condescending tone when discussing Mr. Junker. When he suggests he help her win Mr. Juncker, she accepts his help, hoping that it would be Sheridan she would win.

Undercover Duke is a fun romance while addressing a terrible past. I loved Sheridan, and his dedication to his family. I enjoyed watching Sheridan and Vanessa’s unusual courtship as Sheridan believed he was helping her win another man, one whom she truly has no interest in. I have enjoyed all the stories in the Duke Dynasty series, and am sad this is the last story with this family.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Sabrina Jeffries write such feel good, comforting romance, it's passionate, witty and heartfelt. I liked this series, but Undercover Duke might be the best one for me. Aside from the lovely romance, we get the conclusion of the series mystery. I won't spoil it, but it was unexpected for me at least. Recommend!

I really liked this book! I've been reading more and more historical fiction and this one a nice surprise! It definitely reminded me of Bridgerton.

I loved Vanessa. She knew what she wanted and never wavered. Sheridan was more conflicted. I found myself wanting to yell at him a lot when it came to his relationship with Vanessa and how he chose to deal with his feelings. But you knew his heart was in the right place.

There was also a mystery to go with the romance. I didn't read the previous books in the series, but I was intrigued by all the characters introduced. I might have to go back and read the others form the Duke Dynasty books.

You can still read this as a stand alone.

This books comes out May 24th! If you like Dukes and spice, check it out!

Undercover Duke by Sabrina Jeffries was a satisfying ending to this historical romance series with mystery.
I highly recommend reading all of this series in order. Undercover Duke will work as a standalone but each book has its own mystery and conflict. There is also a mystery arch through the whole series. Bridgerton fans will love the big family element to the series too.

Sheridan has inherited a Dukedom after his Uncle and then Father’s suspicious deaths. There are severe money problems and he needs to save his estate. He still carries a broken heart from a past love and plans to never marry. Vanessa is the daughter of an irritating and cruel mother. We met Vanessa in previous books with her mother throwing her at suitors and with a tendre for the playwright Junker.

I loved getting to hear Vanessa’s point of view after getting to know her throughout the series. Sheridan was the perfect friend to match her. I really enjoyed their moments of sparks and falling in love while they thought they were scheming.

There are so many small details in this book that make the overall mystery work. Some probably weren’t needed but I enjoyed watching everything unravel.

Looking forward to reading more of Jeffries! Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this early!
#SabrinaJeffries #UndercoverDuke #NetGalley

THIS WASN'T THE ENDING THAT I EXPECTED

Actual rating: 2.5 ⭐

I have really enjoying this series - the romance, the mystery, the lovely banter. So perhaps my expectations were simply too high for this conclusion 🤔🤷‍♀️

👍 What I Liked 👍

Old couples: This series has had so many wonderful couples, so it might not come as a surprise that my favorite part of this last book was how much we got to see of the previous couples and their lives after the end of their own books.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Mystery: This entire series has built up to the point where we finally learn who murdered the four dukes. But when it all came down to it, the conclusion felt more like an afterthought than anything else. It didn't really play a part of this book until the very end and then it just seemed... inconsequential.

Relationship: Sheridan and Vanessa's relationship didn't connect with me fully. I kind of wanted more preface in order to really get into their relationship. I know we've seen them together in previous books, but it just didn't carry for me. It just didn't feel like enough.

Sheridan: Now, I don't dislike Sheridan. I dislike the way he thinks and makes decisions. I found his reasoning for pushing away Vanessa both thin and clichéd. I really wanted him to not be just another HR trope...

Vanessa has been trying to catch Sheridan's interest for a while; Sheridan meanwhile has been in denial that his interest has been caught. watching them plot and dance about each other is enjoyable as the author applies her talent for writing witty banter to help the reader feel the attraction between the two as well as the internal conflicts. The series plot continues to it's conclusion in the book. That portion of the story continued to be a bit weak/contrived and distracted a little from the overall read, but it did come to a satisfying conclusion in the end.

This was a great conclusion to a great series! I had started the series at book 3, but luckily had the chance to go back and read the previous novels and novella to fill in some blanks before reading this last book. I liked Vanessa from the first time she appeared in book 1 so I was so glad she got a story pf her own. The chemistry between her and Sheridan was of the charts. I almost felt bad for him all the times he thought Vanessa was in love with Juncker - I say almost because if he had just been honest with himself and Vanessa he could have had his happy ending without the need for the rushed wedding. I wish we had gotten to see what happened when he went to visit Juncker after the wedding and discovered once and for all that his wife really did love him. I also liked that Vanessa ends up being his partner in all things when she was able to help him with the accounts - I think her telling him that he is not the only man she has ever known who had problems with numbers and that it as not his fault he wasn't fully prepared to be a duke took a huge load off his shoulders. The mystery that has spanned the series was solved in an interesting way, but wasn't the main focus of the story. On a side note, I am very much looking forward to Juncker's story coming out later this year.

Undercover Duke is the fourth book in the duke dynasty series. The overarching storyline from the last few books is finally resolved! While this can be read as a standalone, I do believe to get the most of the series you need to read them in order. This was one of my favorites of the group. I highly enjoyed the romance and the mystery wrap up. I feel the author pulled it all together to a satisfying conclusion. Highly enjoyed!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher who gave me a chance to read an ARC for my honest review.

What a great read! This has it all, suspense, scandal, love triangle?, family secrets...everything to make this an entertaining read! Vanessa has been in love with Sheridan but he sees her as his half brother's little sister-right? Sheridan has loved and lost and he doesn't want to go down that route again but when Vanessa sets her sights on a ne'er do well poet he feels he needs to protect her but it that the only reason for his feelings? Great banter, fun chemistry and witty characters make this a fun read!

Being one of three Duke's in the same family has led Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, and his step-siblings, to question if there was something suspicious in the death of their prospective fathers. Each brother is investigating and Sheridan is forced to look into the mother of Vanessa Pryde.

Sheridan is captivated as much as he is aggravated by Vanessa and her supposed infatuation with a playwright.

Vanessa's infatuation has always been with Sheridan but in trying to hide it, it was assumed to be someone else. She is overjoyed when Sheridan suddenly starts spending more time in her company but what will happen when his true reasoning is discovered?

This had plenty of promise but Sheridan denied his feelings for Vanessa for so long that I began to doubt that he had any for her. I think if he didn't protest what his feelings were for quite so long it would have been easier to believe his change of heart.

Vanessa was a great character but she deserved a bit more affirmation from Sheridan.

This final book of the series ties up all loose ends of the murder mystery that' we've waited 4 books to get to. The solution to the mystery doesn't take up much of the story. That's mostly about the relationship between Sheriden, Duke of Armitage and Vanessa Pryde, who readers will remember from the previous books. The relationship itself is OK, if not as exciting as those in the other books and the solution to the mystery seemed pretty obvious to me very early on. So I'd say this was an OK read if not a keeper.

Sabrina Jeffries has been my favourite author ever since I read her School for Heiresses series and Sinful suitors series. And for that reason, I am extremely glad to have got an ARC of Undercover Duke; lots of thanks to Netgalley and the author for this ARC.

This book is the last in a series of books about a Duchess, who has lost 3 husbands, all of them Dukes, and the lives of her children. There is mystery surrounding her husbands' deaths and all her children mingle to find out the truth of it,  which forms the background of the series. 

This last book tells the story of the last Lord Sheridan, Duke of Armitage. He has some past baggage which holds him back from loving again and Lady Vanessa, Grey's cousin, who has always been interested in him, is always trying in many ways to make him take note of her. Their journey to love and marriage and the truth about all the Dukes' death, forms the story. 

I had already read the other books in the series and the book will be more riveting,  if read in order. But because of the way the stories had been told, reading it out-of-order, is not likely to spoil the reading experience for this book. There is sufficient background information in each book and that should be enough to enjoy the story. 

Lady Vanessa is, in many ways,  a person who knows exactly what she wants and how to go about getting it.  The moments when she tries her strategies are my most favourites. Though she is naive in some ways,  she is more intelligent and works- weary as well.

I particularly enjoyed how they realize their feelings for each other. The story was really engrossing and fast-paced too. My most favorite character of the whole series is the Dowager Duchess and Joshua. They were both terrific people to read about. I hope I get to read more series from Ms. Jeffries as she has a way with them.