This book is the story of the final Duke in the Duke Dynasty series. This story is the story of Sheridan, Duke of Armitage and Vanessa (cousin of Grey-the first Duke of the series and half brother to Sheridan). I was really looking forward to reading this book and finally unravelling the mystery of the Ducal husbands of Lydia’s (Sheridan’s mother) that mysteriously died.

This book finally gives us the answer! And finally includes a little more of Lydia herself while her children are working together to figure out exactly what happened.

This story was one I was highly anticipating because in previous books Sheridan always was intriguing. And I couldn’t wait for Vanessa’s story. I knew eventually they would have a book of their own. I liked both characters quite a bit but... not together so much? I loved Vanessa’s tenacity to get her man by any means necessary. She is an amazing character and I loved how Juncker is the “other man” that winds up stirring jealousy in this story. While I liked him in previous books (and in this one too) I wasn’t very drawn by him. He kind of fell flat to me except for when Juncker was around. I still liked him but I didn’t love him as the hero.

I gave this book 4 stars because even though Sheridan wasn’t my favorite hero, he was still likeable and the mystery and the family’s story made up for the lack of chemistry and heat in this book.

I did really like that there was a character with a learning disability in this book! I loved that the learning disability was relevant to the story but not the focus of the story. It made it more realistic. Many people have disabilities and live very functional and productive lives. This book found a way to illustrate that really well.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m excited to read about Juncker in the novella to follow!

Sabrina Jeffries is one of my go to authors. She is a wonderful story teller.. I didn't feel the connection with this book as I did with the 3 previous stories. It was nice to have all of the couples part of this book. I did enjoy Sheridan and Vanessa's story and the conclusion of the who done it mystery.

Let me preface this by saying, this is the first Sabrina Jeffries book I've ever read and it's in the middle of a series. I feel it would definitely be easier to care for the characters and understand their motivations if I had read the first three books so I wouldn't say it's a standalone, it would be more appreciated within the context of the series.

As a standalone reader, I was confused about the dowager Duchesses many complicated marriages and children so I kind of just breezed through the quick explanations because I was more interested in the romance between Sheridan & Vanessa than who killed all these characters I never got to know.

There are a LOT of characters referring to a LOT of backstory and the main heroine, Vanessa, has probably appeared in the other books so I can understand why she wouldn't be as developed here. I just felt like I didn't really know Sheridan or Vanessa too well at the end of it and their romance was the story I was interested in, not the family murder mystery. I needed more romantic dialogue between them. Maybe a real honeymoon chapter would have helped.

I also guessed who the murderer was as soon as the character appeared, and I didn't even understand the backstory. So, the characters felt a bit dumb and out-of-touch because they were on the wrong track completely.

It's an okay book, the writing is solid, there's a happy ending and a resolution to the murder mystery, but I probably won't remember what it was about in another month.

The last of Jeffries’s “Duke Dynasty” series concluded with an expected result, both romantically and the business with the family’s mystery.

Sheridan as the leading man is much better than as secondary on his siblings’ books. His backstory allowed readers into his reluctance - after a fashion - to assume the mantle; making him - to me - the least annoying of the four (siblings) despite the somewhat stuck-up values. Vanessa too was way more tolerable in UNDERCOVER DUKE than when first introduced in “Project Duchess.” That said, I was hoping for more sparks between her and Sheridan considering the attraction they actually felt (for one another) for quite a while. Their crooked courtship was the result of both h/h’s partial deception (thus the title “undercover”). The run of events was pretty predictable. But what delighted was they didn’t dilly-daly too long where it counted.

As a closure to the family mystery, it didn’t take a leap to figure (who) the true baddie. Considering the gravity of the matter - such as how many life lost - I would’ve thought these dukes would paid more weight and focusing on solving the issue first and foremost. As it is, the wrapping up felt more as a rushing summary (the reasoning etc of the killings).

Among the other installments, UNDERCOVER DUKE is on a line with the previous in the series. However the second book starring the only sister and their cousin is still my favorite of the “Duke Dynasty.”


<i>Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in via <b><a href=“https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/217278”> NetGalley</a></b> in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This could probably stand on its own, but previous couples do show up quite a bit, and there is an overarching mystery that culminates in this one, so it's probably best read in order. I was pretty certain I'd solved the mystery two books ago, and I was right, but I'm really here for the romance, so I didn't mind that much. In the beginning they both have ulterior motives that bring them together, and I thought it was handled well. I like that the heroine reached for what she wanted, and that the hero slowly fell for her despite himself. Both characters made a couple foolish choices, but were overall likable.
The last few chapters really leaned heavily on long explanatory conversations to bring everything together, and it felt a bit forced and flat. I'd also already guessed how the ending would play out a couple chapters earlier, so it wasn't a particularly interesting ending for me, but it wasn't too shabby how things turned out.
Overall I would rate the series:
1: 3
1.5: 2.5 rounded to 3
2: 4
3: 3
4: 3

I received as advance copy for reviewing purposes, but my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

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

The love story between Vanessa and Sheridan has been a long time coming. This is an opposites attract story, but Vanessa isn't quite as frivolous as Sheridan has always believed, and "Saint" Sheridan isn't quite the stiffed shirt that Vanessa has assumed him to be. A little trickery is in order for Sheridan to be able to question Vanessas mother regarding the death of his father, and Vanessa isn't above turning the tables to make him jealous by declaring feelings for another man. When circumstances force them marry, neither wants to admit it is exactly what they wanted all along. Still it takes a turn of danger for them to admit their love.

Unfortunately this book was a bit draggy. It took me longer than it should have to read it and I found myself easily distracted from it. It just became one thing after another. The second half picked up but too little too late for more than 3 stars rating. I felt that there was no genuine chemistry between Sheridan and Vanessa at first. I admired these two as individuals and I liked them on their own but their "romance" had no spark. But overall it was a well written book with likable characters. Oh and also the mystery about the murders was intriguing enough and had a satisfactory conclusion. I think the intrigue part throughout the whole series was nicely done. It wasn't obvious and it kept me guessing till the last book.
So, I liked this book, even though I didn't love it, and I'm going to keep chugging on the Sabrina Jeffries train because her writing is, as usual delicious.

Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, has a problem. Actually, he has several problems, but the first one is try to figure out who is responsible for killing his mother's 3 husbands--all being dukes. Secondly, he needs to find funds to keep the dukedom afloat and he's desperate. His tasked by his siblings to get close to Vanessa Pryde's mother as she was at two house parties where the men died. The more time he spends with trying to pull information our of her, the more he's attracted to Vanessa, but he can't afford a wife. Vanessa has loved Sheridan for as long as she can remember and is thrilled that he's been calling on her. Now, she just had to get him to propose.

This was an enjoyable book and we finally learn who's killed the 3 dukes!! Even though I've read the other books in the series, I had a hard time keeping everybody straight. I would suggest new readers read the other books in the series for all the clues sprinkled along the way. I loved that Vanessa wasn't a wilting wallflower and she was willing to do whatever to finally gain Sheridan's attention. I felt the lust between Sheridan and Vanessa, but there was so much time spent on the mystery and not enough attention paid to the romance between these two in my opinion. It seemed they went from attraction to love very quickly.

This is the long-awaited ending to the series. The identity of the murderer revealed. Saint Sheridan, the taciturn, arrogant brother, is tasked with finding out if Vanessa's mother could be the murderer. Vanessa, after three dances with Sheridan over a year, has decided she is in love with him and schemes that she is in love with Mr. Juncker to make him jealous. She does wonder why he's suddenly calling on her but mostly trying to talk to her mother. They wind up compromised and forced to marry. O.K. do you think the following scenes as odd as I do? It's the afternoon, their wedding party is still going on in the house, they retire to their room for the night. After perfunctory sex, she falls asleep, Sheridan gets dressed to go look for leftover food at the banquet. He discovers his family having a meeting about the murders and joins them. Brothers joke about his short wedding night, Vanessa wanders down and overhears he only pretended to be her friend to see if her mother is a murderer. She's hurt about the friend part but isn't disturbed about the accusation of murder against her mother. Two of the wives' mothers are suspects but neither is upset by the fact. This is where it really gets weird. Vanessa gets tipsy so Sheridan's mother takes her back to bed and discovers blood on the sheets. "Your virgin's blood, dear girl." They discuss the fact that the blood is a good thing, the mother-in-law leaves to get a maid to change the sheets, Vanessa goes to sleep on the blood. Sheridan sees his mother coming out of the room, they stop to discuss "the act", the blood, and that it must have been good because Vanessa was asleep with a smile on her face. He carries Vanessa to his own bed, Mother follows to turn down the sheets and tells him he should leave her alone tonight to sleep. I had visions of Norman Bates from the Psycho movie saying "Yes, Mother." The murderer turned out to be the obvious suspect. I was hoping for a surprise twist in which Mother was the killer, but no. I gave it three stars because I enjoyed the series overall even if this installment was disappointing.

For readers of the Duke Dynasty series, this is an okay conclusion to the series. For readers starting the series here, put the book down and go back to Project Duchess if you hope to follow the plot.

The central mystery--who killed off a trio of dukes, all of whom married the same woman and whose sons and daughter are the characters finding romance in this series--does finally get solved in this last installment. However, to follow the mystery to its end and find the conclusion satisfying, you might have been needing to take notes when reading prior installments. That's where all the clues are, and until Vanessa Pryde is filled in on this central mystery 2/3 of the way through the book, you won't get any sort of recap about the amateur detective work done by the characters in past books.

If you're here for the romance and not the mystery, you might be wondering why this even matters. Well, as Sheridan admits at one point, he might never have thought of romancing Vanessa had this mystery not existed. He is asked by his older half-brother Grey, who is also Vanessa's cousin, to subtly interrogate Vanessa's mother, one of three suspects in the ducal murders. Vanessa has long had a crush on Sheridan and wants to marry him, and has been misdirecting everyone by claiming to actually have feelings for a playwright-poet. Sheridan wants to get closer to Vanessa and her mother to tease out information without her mother being the wiser, so he agrees to pretend to court her to make the playwright jealous. Vanessa hopes this will uncover feelings she is sure he has for her, and lo and behold, it works.

My problem with the mystery is that to solve it along with the characters, you needed to have come into this book with all the clues from past installments at hand. My problem with the romance is that so much attention is paid to the mystery that it felt at times like the romance was progressing because it was time to move to the next step, not because we are seeing the characters' love develop. The lust (such as it is) is there is from the beginning, but going strictly from what's shown on the page, the love we're told is between Vanessa and Sheridan feels unearned.

In this 4th book and final in the series, we get the answer to the mystery that the siblings have all been trying to solve.

Sheridan has always been an interesting character and I had high hopes for him and Vanessa but I didn’t think this was one of Sabrina Jeffries better written romances. I know angst of some kind is almost always included, but I thought some of Vanessa’s scheming went a little overboard. I did love all the interactions of the siblings

All in all, a nice conclusion to a very good series, even if the relationship between Sheridan and Vanessa wasn’t particularly satisfying.

I enjoyed finding the answer to the question raised in the previous novels in the Series, but in the end I thought it was pretty predictable. I liked Vanessa and Sheridan, but there was a little too much angst in this book for me to really enjoy. That is a trope I don't enjoy, and if that doesn't bother you, then you will probably enjoy the story. 3-1/2 starts. Thank you for allowing me to give my honest opinion on this ARC.

I enjoyed this book so much - even though I had to keep going back and referring to the family tree every couple of chapters just to make sure I was keeping everyone straight (and that was after I had read all the other books in the series)! This book is the conclusion to a family series of a blended family who pretty much defines complicated. But - this is a romance we've been waiting for. Sheridan is the oldest son from the dowager duchess's last marriage. He is the one who realized that maybe all the death's in the Duchess's life weren't accidental. The poor woman really had so much loss in her life. Vanessa is the niece of the Duchess's first, very despicable husband. Vanessa, is shockingly, lovely and very decent.

Vanessa has been interested in Sheridan since the first time she saw him. Truthfully Sheridan felt the same way - he immediately identified Vanessa as someone who could be dangerous to his heart. As a result - Sheridan has stayed away from Vanessa, and Vanessa has been trying to find a way to get closer to Sheridan . Their relationship is a comedy of errors - but their reciprocal interest in each other is obvious to everyone but them.

I did adore that they both adored each other - I also adored that even as conflict came to their relationship - that they talked things out. Both Vanessa and Sheridan make a lot of mistakes - but they work through them together and see clearly, by the end, that they are stronger together than apart.

Overall - this is a strong book (that can totally be read without reference to the others in the series) but is also a great finish to the series. Sabrina Jeffries is definitely one of my very favorite writers in regency books - this book is no exception.

I can't wait to see what she writes next!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own..

I was lucky enough to have read other books in this series and while this book easily stands on its own, I do recommend others read the series in order to get the most from the reading experience. The characters were already known to me and I really loved that I got a much better insight into Vanessa, who is charming, cheeky and intelligent she makes a perfect partner for the Duke of Sheriden. The plot will satisfy readers of the series who seek a solution to the murder mystery that underlies the series. That mystery adds a additional layer of intrigue and adventure to an enjoyable romance narrative. Sabrina Jeffries is a master of her genre and it shows in her writing and I recommend this to fans of historical romance.

-My Thoughts

This one was definitely a quick read for me. I loved the whole plot, even though I haven't read the first three books in this series. It can be read as a standalone in my opinion. The characters were interesting in their own right. And the whole idea of the story was also intriguing in my opinion.

The whole mystery and intrigue behind the murders was something that I haven't actually read a lot in romance novels. And this one kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time for sure. The banter between Sheridan, our Duke, and his siblings was extremely entertaining. Sheridan's interactions with Vanessa were also very wholesome, and the way he handles her is also very beautiful. Vanessa was ambitious and sneeky to some extent, and that added to her character for sure. Usually the females are bordering perfect and this one definitely is different than the others.

The one thing that did not sit well with me was the repeated emphasis on the fact that tasks and roles were defined for both men and women. Even the easiest ones that could be fulfilled by either party. But that is something that was of course part of that particular time period, and the author can not be held accountable for that. But that really bugged me.

I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to read a lovely romance with some mystery and action. And experience some characters that are different from the normal.

I just took a trip back to regency London and was swept up into Vanessa and Sheridan’s story. The romance was a tale of unforeseen twists and turns of events. I loved the closeness of the family and the way they stuck together when they faced a threat. Looking forward to the next installment. Book provided by NetGalley.

I was hoping for a little bit more from this story, the previous books have been really good. I liked the characters but it wasn't as strong going. The hero and heroine just seemed like an OK match. No true chemistry.

What a great ending to this exceptional series!

I love a heroine who knows what she wants. Put her in a historical romance where society’s conventions put a restraint on those desires, and that provides all kinds of fun outcomes. Ms. Jeffries took Vanessa’s desire for Sheridan and turned his world upside down. I loved how Vanessa was smart enough to maneuver the situation to fit her needs. Sheridan didn’t have a clue he was being gently manipulated.

Watching Sheridan manipulate Vanessa, unknowing that he was the one being manipulated, was just too much fun. It was plain to see how he truly felt, despite his ignorance of his own feelings. Give me a hero that is jealous to the point of acting impetuously, one that is protective beyond reason, and I’m a happy reader. Poor Sheridan. He never had a clue.

This is a fast read with so much wit and fun throughout, involving all the characters from the series. I adore the way this family harassed each other with love. There is plenty of drama as the whole group continues to investigate who the murderer might be. Along with the relationship angst between Sheridan and Vanessa, there are also some pretty hot and steamy scenes with this couple.

Overall, a perfect book to wrap things up all while giving us a happily ever after for Sheridan.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

As the final unmarried sibling, Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, knows that he'll need to marry, and soon, if his finance have anything to say about it. With his other siblings, they are investigating the deaths of their mother's three husbands, and his own uncle, as they have evidence they weren't all accidents, and foul play was at hand. There's three names they are considering for the villainess, and that includes Lady Eustace Pryde, aunt of the eldest sibling, Grey, and mother to Vanessa. In order to get close to Lady Eustace, Sheridan decides to increase his friendship with Vanessa, and his own jealousy over her infatuation with the renowned playwright, Mr Juncker. Little does he know, but Vanessa actually has feelings for him, and has done since his return to England a year and a half ago, and she used Juncker as a name rather than admit the truth. Pretending to be in a courtship, for their own reasons, it's soon clear that the chemistry and attraction between the couple is real, and when they are caught in a compromising position, will their marriage be able to become a real union, or will the past continue to haunt them?

Ever since I read Who Would Marry a Duke last year, I've been waiting for the final addition to the series, and once I was approved for Undercover Duke, I decided to binge the entire series. This time around, with the full backstory of the siblings and their romances, as well as Lydia's three husbands and their deaths, I was ready for Sheridan to get his happy ending, and for the mystery to finally be solved. And, it was a whirlwind, and such an amazing conclusion. First of all, the mystery which has been the overarching plot line across the series was built up perfectly, and dealt with amazingly. I honestly thought, half way through this book, that I had guessed at the murderer, but I was wrong, and couldn't believe how expertly Sabrina had created the story line. Then, we also have the addition of the previous couple, as well as Sheridan and Vanessa, and seeing the entire family, be one big, happy family, was phenomenal - especially after knowing that the siblings have had difficult relationships in the past.

But what made this book, was the romance between Sheridan and Vanessa. Sheridan was born in Berlin, while his father was the British Ambassador to Prussia, and only came to England when his father inherited the dukedom a year and half ago. It was here he met Vanessa, and after dancing together at three balls, she was smitten. But, his father died, and Sheridan was now the Duke, and in mourning, so she couldn't admit her feelings. Her closeness with Grey, though, made him ask her about her feelings for someone, and she quickly claimed it was Juncker, a poet and playwright, and someone who seems to now aggravate Sheridan whenever he comes up in conversation. Now that Sheridan wants to question Lady Eustace about the deaths of his half-siblings father's, he thinks that his friendship with Vanessa would be perfect, though every time he's around her, he realises his attraction may be the end of him. I loved the fake courtship between them, and it was clear from an early point that it wasn't fake to either of them, not really. They were definitely made for each other, and built the other up when they were faltering. Out of all the couples, I think these two might be my favourite, and though I'm gutted the series is over, I can't wait for Sabrina's next series!

This is the 4th book in the Duke Dynasty series which is about stepsiblings who are in search of the truth what happened to their mother’s three husbands all who died. This book can be read as a stand-alone book, but I think you will have a better understanding and enjoyment if you read all the other books in the series. This book is about Sheridan and Vanessa. Sheridan needs to question Vanessa’s mother about the death of his mother’s 3 husbands, but to do that he has to get close to her. Vanessa is his way to get close to her. Vanessa has liked Sheridan for a while, but he only sees her as his brother’s little sister. Vanessa comes up with a plan to help Sheridan see her as a grown-up woman. This story has so many elements I just love, Romance, Family, Heat and Intrigue. I am very happy the author tied up all the mysteries which have been open. I loved catching up with the family members and their love for each other.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.