There were many things going for this book that I wanted to really enjoy it. Sadly, it didn’t work for me and I had a hard time getting through it.

Things I was excited for: South Asian author writing a biracial heroine (half English & half Indian) in a historical romance. Lots of Indian culture and Hindu mythology blended in to the story.

What didn’t work: the romance is extremely lacking, you get dropped into the story without any background to either the hero or heroine. But the hero just introduces himself as the heroine’s new fiancé and it’s not in a fun, romcom way that brings any chemistry or banter. Their betrothal just kind of happens and it is all for a horse. I thought I liked horses involved in historical romances, but this one made me second guess that. The hero is a horse racer and the heroine (along with her father) are horse breeders. There is A LOT of horse talk in this, if you want to read more about horses and less on romance maybe this’ll work for you. But when there is a detailed steamy scene between the two horses before any chemistry with the hero and heroine, I think is about the time I was ready to check out. I’m all for a slow burn romance but this just wasn’t really a romance ever and I was so confused with things happening in the story.

Thank you to the publisher (Entangled) for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review.

This book was great for a horse lover like me. It would also suit people who enjoy the enemies-to-lovers opposites-attract trope, as Aetius and Dina were two strong and very different characters who nevertheless shared great chemistry and from this found mutuality and love. The richness of own voices culture and heritage added something really special to the tale. I look forward to future books by Royaline Singh.

Though I wasn't sure about this story in the first few chapters, I finally clicked with it and loved it. Dina is everything I love in a woman - strong, determined and loving. Then we have Aetius...he caused me such annoyance. Just when I thought he'd gained some strength - he'd disappoint me again! Dina had such courage dealing with their relationship. Now I never write a spoiler, so I can't tell you all what happened in their journey, but I'd highly recommend you picking up with tale. It's really quite excellent.

Knowing nothing about the Indian (South Asian?) culture, it was quite wonderful to learn a little bit about it. I truly appreciate that Ms. Sing shared this with us! I look forward to her next story!

This is my first time reading from Royaline Sing, I can tell you one thing it will be my last time, this was the most boring historical romance novel I have read. It takes forever to get to one phase - to the next. If you are a horse lover you might enjoy this book it's more descriptive about the horse then the romance.
A lot of the things just don't make sense, the author didn't do her research on the timings, motor cars were in England? During the Regency era? Where did Dina get the henna artists, the rest of the Indian staff? Nothing made sense, and Duke is Saxton romance your wife for heaven's sake not the horse.

A huge disappointment, if I could rate it a zero I would! I'm not trying to be harsh, I read so many regency romances and I love British history, so at least be a bit accurate.

I was given this book for free from Netgalley, and all my opinions are of my own,

Royaline Sing’s debut novel, Betting on the Duke’s Heart is one big joyful ode to traditional regency romances. This isn’t immediately obvious as the book is set in 1895. The eponymous duke owns one of the first automobiles (which requires a footman running in front with a flag to warn oncoming carriages), at one point they take a ride on England’s first Ferris Wheel, and our heroine has had more freedom than traditional regency misses to travel.
In another departure from tradition, our heroine, Dina, is half-Indian and embraces that part of her heritage. Dina and her Indian servants have taught her English cook the ways of making food (and the descriptions of dishes such as paneer masala and shrikhand made my mouth water), in one scene she performs special Hindu prayers called Aarati, and most importantly, she is deeply committed to translating the epic love sagas of Hindu mythology.
However, Sing places us firmly in traditional regency territory with an alpha duke, Aetius White, the Duke of Saxton, who refuses to let himself fall in love with the enchanting heroine because of trust issues and pairs him nicely with a heroine who values her freedom too much to agree to marriage without the promise of love. The plot is traditional as well, with plenty of miscommunications, a nasty villain, and a cinematic-worthy ending – but Sing has penned it with a wink and a nod and her own twists.
Betting on the Duke conveys so much exuberance and joy, I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading. Royaline Sing delivers a traditional historical romance plot in a unique manner with a decidedly nontraditional heroine – hitting familiar notes with an infectious zeal that is all her own.

Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review..

Betting on a Duke’s Heart was cute I like both. As my husband and I are horse racing fans this was an okay read not much jumped out at me all in all I’m glad I gave this book a chance. 3 1/2 star read.

Happy Reading

Lisa

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I really wish I could love this more. Asian rep in historical romance? Sign me up. I love the tiny pieces of Indian folklore at the start of each chapter. But that's pretty much all what I love in this book.
I couldn't care less about the horses. Sorry. I just can't. I don't get why the characters are so obsessed with them, I certainly cannot relate. It's not that I hate horses. I tried to imagine them to be alpacas but that didn't make the story more interesting. I tried to focus on the plot and the romance, or the banter, only to find out they don't interest me either.

I have to say I only read the half of the book and skimmed through the rest, maybe someone who likes horses more will like this book. But it's def not for me.

Aetius White, the Duke of Saxton, plans to acquire a Triple Crown–winning horse at any cost, even if it's through marriage. Miss Dina Campbell wants nothing to do with another suitor who's only after her prize stallion dowry. She'd much rather work on translations than become a duchess, and she needs Aetius to prove that he cares about her - not her horse.

I was drawn to the striking cover and the plot description that sounded a little different than everything else I'd been reading. For me, this story was a little like trying to find the right water temperature...every time I thought it was just about right, it would go cold. The horse plot that I was initially intrigued by, went beyond being a useful side story and completely took over. I wanted to become engaged with Dina's background and culture, but even that wasn't enough to draw me in to these characters.

This is the debut novel for Royaline Sing, and with that I give the book some leeway. I felt like the author was trying to include too much and that took away from romance building. I would try another book in the future.

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Cultural Differences

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #BettingOnADukesHeart #NetGalley

Ok so a biracial Indian protagonist, a Duke, Indian mythology, and fun romance novel bets between protagonists (BY A SOUTH ASIAN AUTHOR!)! I’ve been waiting for a book like this for ages, but I’m afraid this didn’t quite live up to my expectations. 2.5/5 stars.

Let’s start with the good: the integration of the character’s culture, heritage, and twin identities as a British and Indian woman. I felt like this was thoughtful and not as cumbersome as a lot of own voices books with south asian protagonists can be (in my experience as a South Asian woman), and I was thrilled with how much richer it made the heroine’s characterization. The mythology alongside the narrative was such a sweet touch. I also thought the inclusion of certain historical details was interesting/engaging. Lots of cute moments between the hero and heroine too!

Now the stuff that absolutely did not work for me: I need to bring up the horses. Oh my God, the horses. I’ve never cared less about horses in my entire life. Paragraph after paragraph of description of horse training and breeding. Paragraphs of discussion of how liberating being on horseback was. Aetius please, I beg of you, find one (1) other real hobby. I can’t take it. Not to mention the insane chapter *mild spoiler* in which horse breeding is described in entirely too much detail (which is to say, any detail) and used as the backdrop for romance, which almost stopped me from finishing the book altogether. It went beyond being a useful plot point and, coupled with my general frustration with the writing style—which was a chore to understand on its own at multiple
points— really dominated the novel. I wanted this to be neater, tidier, with clearer character motivations and less winding internal monologues and dialogue I had to work overtime to follow. Also the tie in of the Indian Independence movement at the end was so abrupt and honestly sloppy. I’m hoping future books in the series will be more thoughtful about that plot point. I could also add stuff about Aetius’ characterization that didn’t add up for me, but I’ll spare the essay.

I hope this doesn’t come across as too harsh— there are so many things the book tried to do right and I don’t want this to disincentivize people from reading, writing, and publishing more diverse historical romance. I will be keeping an eye out for the author’s future work too! I want badly for the next book to right some of the issues with this one, because I feel like there’s real potential here.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

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

All Aetius White, the Duke of Saxton, has wanted was to own a Triple-Crown winning horse, and restore some honour to the family name. When the stallion which is tipped to win this year is offered as dowry for Miss Dina Campbell, Aetius can't believe his luck. Miss Campbell is a neighbour, and her father will obviously accept his suit, because who wouldn't want their daughter to become a Duchess? Well, he's never met Dina, and she has no intention of marrying a horse mad man, no matter what. She wants to marry for love, and also be free to complete her translations, and being a duchess would put too many restrictions upon herself. Will Aetius be able to convince her to marry, or will he have his work cut out for him?

This book was okay, but not one I would ever be in a hurry to re-read. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but I wasn't hooked by the plot, nor the characters. Dina was the daughter of a British nobleman, and an Indian woman, and had spent most of her childhood in Kolkata. She was brought to England later in life, and shocked many of the ton with her different ways. She has tried to mould herself into a perfect English rose, lest she draw more attention to herself, or scandal, but the stallion she was given has brought the fervour back around. All she wants is to travel, and return to India to find more traditional tales in need of translating. Aetius, on the other hand, is very stuck in his ways, and definitely horse mad. He's known as the Bareback Duke, as he rode a horse in the derby when he first inherited and he shirt was ripped from his back. His father died in scandal, and in debt, and Aetius managed to restore both the wealth and honour of the duchy in one action. Even with all this, I wasn't invested in their romance, or in each other really. I kept reading on to find out if I would become more interested, but never really was. I liked the originality of it, and the references to India and Indian society, but all in all, it was just okay.

Determined to restore his family name and ensure his place in the equestrian world, Aetius White wants nothing more than to win the Triple Crown, even if it means marrying his neighbor’s daughter to get her prize-winning horse. The only problem is Dina Campbell has no intention of marrying a horseman who is only after her dowry. She wants to marry for love, and not even Aetius’s intriguing competition will change that. However, never one to back down from a challenge, Dina agrees to the competition, and the games begin. However, the competition slowly becomes less about winning and more about proving their love for each other.

Goal-oriented and resolute, Aetius feels much shame over his father’s demise. He also fears rejection. In his eyes, everyone he has ever cared for has left him, and though Aelius is interested in marriage, he is resistant to falling in love. He fears abandonment and chooses to isolate himself and shut his heart to everyone. Respectability is important to him. He slowly comes to see things from other perspectives. It doesn’t change the past, but it does offer him hope and an opportunity for growth. He has to learn to open up to and trust others. This proves difficult, but as he grows closer to Dina, he changes.

Dina is so different from Aetius, which is why they butt heads throughout the story. Dina is tender-hearted, empathetic, and vivacious. She is also outspoken and often bends the rules. Her passion lies in translating, and she fears that marriage will squelch her ability to continue translating, especially since her career is taking off. If she marries Aetius, will he prohibit her from traveling? Will she be able to continue her career in writing? Will he ever grow to love her?

The focus of the story is on the passionate, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance between Aetius and Dina. Aetius and Dina want different things in their marriage. Dina wants love, and Aetius wants more of a partnership or alliance. This angst-filled couple struggles to trust each other, Aetius because of his past and Dina because of the nature of the engagement. However, as they spend time together, they both start to understand each other, and their feelings grow. They have amazing chemistry, and their interactions are filled with sexual tension.

Each chapter of the book starts with a brief passage from the story Dina is translating. I love this, as well as the other parts of the story that highlight Dina’s heritage and culture. An intriguing mystery that puts Dina and Aetius in danger is another interesting addition to the story. I also like the secondary characters, especially Dina’s closest friends. They are fiercely protective of Dina and extremely loyal, and they prove that you don’t have to be related by blood to be a family.

Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was the historical references. Political news, new inventions, social changes, and historically significant cultural allusions are fascinating. I loved learning about the popular inventions during this time and how people felt about the major societal progressions and happenings. The changing times and their effects, both positive and negative, resonate with the characters and add depth to the story and setting.

I enjoyed Betting on a Duke’s Heart. It is a well-paced and developed story with interesting characters and a sexy romance. The story also examines complicated family relationships. Miscommunication, lies, and feelings of betrayal are juxtaposed with tenderness and love, showing how complex families, and life, can be. It also has a great love story that historical romance fans will love. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Royaline Sing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This historical romance starts with a horse. On the verge of winning the Triple Crown, Rochko is a part of Miss Dina Campbell's dowry. The lady in question receives many greedy suitors who truly seek her champion racer. The worst of the lot seems to be Duke Saxton, an equestrian of some renown who informs her of their engagement rather than, you know, asking her. Commence a battle of wits. Both competitive, they set one another a series of challenges to determine whether Dina will accept the proposal or find herself set free.

The story had a lot of amusing quips and sentimental moments. Dina, in particular, was a strong character. Her passion for translating myths, her enthusiasm for travel, and the way she strives to honor both sides of her cultural heritage (Indian/English) make her a dynamic protagonist. Her at-times tempestuous personality and strong sense of loyalty combined to make a fierce advocate and devoted friend. Our hero, Aetius, held less sparkle for me. It was often his emotional immaturity that held the romance back throughout. On the other hand, the author said to imagine he looks like Hrithik Roshan, and honestly, I can work with that alone.

What I loved best about the story is that it wasn't rushed. We get thoughtful details about our characters' lives, relationships, and histories outside the love story. What drives them? What makes them well-rounded people? It was very well done and at just rhe pace I like. I want to know about side characters and read the back-and-forth of conversations to settle the idealistic romance into the trappings of reality in a comforting way. I also enjoyed the snippets from the myth Dina is translating from Sanskrit.

This is a promising #ownvoices historical romance debut, and I so look forward to finding out what futures lie in wait for the other characters in this world. Thank you to Entangled Amara and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It hits shelves next month on 4/19!

A wonderful story. I could've kept reading forever about Dina. She's fiercely independent in a time when it was looked down on to be so.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.