Fortune Favors The Duke by Kristin Vayden is the first book in the Cambridge Brotherhood series. This historical romance is about Catherine Greatheart, who is set to get married to the Duke of Wesley. Unfortunately, her fiance passes away on his bachelor weekend. Catherine is stressed because due to societal constraints, she really only has her grandmother to look out for her and she's not doing well. Quinton Errington has been happily teaching at Cambridge and not expecting to be Duke of Wesley, but when his brother unexpected passes away he has to take up the mantle. He begins to get to know Catherine and it turns out, there's some chemistry there. However, it would be a scandal for Catherine to be with the brother of her deceased fiance.

Vayden's Fortune Favors The Duke is compelling. It is particularly interesting given there's some scandal and secrets involving one of Catherine's distant relatives. I for sure was surprised at one of the twists. Catherine and Quinton's relationship follows the friends to lovers trope. If you like that, you'll enjoy this book. I also liked that Quinton was scholarly. Catherine is also very kind to her grandmother and so thoughtful. The audiobook was okay - narrated by Lillian Rachel and is 10 hours and 5 minutes.

Firstly, I would like to thank Netgalley & Sourcebook Casablanca for the opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of Fortune Favors the Duke by Kristin Vayden. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, and I also want to apologize for reviewing the book after its publication date.
This is a close-door historical romance. In the second book, I read that the conflict doesn't involve the main characters.
Quin and Catherine are a lovely couple. Yes, they are grieving the same person, but at the same time, they build a relationship with a solid base of friendship, accept each other as they are, and not expecting to change themselves for the other.
Fortune Favors the Duke has an almost tradition of the old testament. If a bride is a widow with no children with her decided husband, her brother-in-law (husband's brother) can marry her. Catherine's situation is slightly different because she never eloped with her fiance, Quin's brother. So, Quin doesn't have the obligation, but fate connects them to a beautiful relationship.
The secondary characters, especially Cathrine's grandmother and Quin's mother, are a blast; their children's relationship is the number one fan. I look forward to continuing with the series and will read the author's other load and new works.

This was just an okay read for me. I read this last month and have already forgotten most of it.
So unfortunately this was a very forgettable for me.
I did not hate it, but I did not love it either.

This was such a lovely story!

Fortune Favors the Duke kicks off a new series (The Cambridge Brotherhood) and starts out with a devastating tragedy, which will be the overarching impetus for the series. The impact of that tragedy is doubled here, since it effects both the hero and the heroine, and it makes their story--and their eventual HEA--richer and feel that much sweeter in the end.

Quint and Catherine's story was a bit of a slow burn romance--which makes sense, given how it starts--and I really liked the parallels that were made between the heroine and Catherine the Great (though I certainly hope her marriage ends up a billion times better than the historical figure's did!) The quotes from her at the beginning of each of her POV chapters was a nice touch. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series ( My Dearest Duke )

Fortune Favors the Duke was my first from this author--but definitely not my last!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I really enjoyed Quinton and Catherine's story! It was fun watching these two come together. Becoming friends over their mutual loss and that turning into more.

I loved this book! I have never read anything by this author before and can't wait to read the next book in this series. The premise is completely new and interesting and I adored the characters! Its not often you find snarky, sarcastic characters in a regency romance but I loved it!!! I also loved the partnership between the main characters. This book had a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting but that just made it more fun!

Reading this story I was rather intrigued with Quinton and Catherine. I thought that the writer did a good job with focusing the story on the two. There was humor among the characters. Mostly when the grandmother and Quintons mother were being addressed. I continue to read the story looking for some excitement or entertainment. For me the story reads meh.

. Incredibly sorry for the delay. Quinton and Katherine's story was one for the books. It starts out a bit slow but by the end I anxiously sat on the edge of my seat as I watched their love story unfold. The characters were lovely and the writing was exactly what I would have expected from Kristin. Engaging and warm. I absolutely love the way she writes real characters instead of perfect ones.

When the Duke of Wesley and his close friends die in a tragic accident on the eve of his wedding, not only is his fiancée devastated, but so is his younger brother, who had been very happy teaching economics at Cambridge. Catherine Greatheart and Quinton Errington begin to find understanding and sympathy in one another’s company, however, and this soon blossoms into a powerful attraction. But were they to wed, might it not incite the disapproval of society? She for marrying just for a title, he for opportunism?

The process by which they negotiate the challenges they face reveals their personal struggles with survivor guilt and family responsibilities, though this self-preoccupation does become protracted. The situation is not helped by odd language usage: for example, Catherine’s grandmother, who is recovering from illness, is referred to as ‘stouter’. Since the characters are idealized, and even the villains see the error of their ways, this will appeal most strongly to those who enjoy a sentimental Regency romance.

This is my first book by Kristin Vayden and overall it was a good book. It was a bit on the slower side, which it needed to be because of the grief the main characters were dealing with. It is a change of pace from most Historical Romance books, there was time for the characters to really get to know each other. I would read another book by this author.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love these 2... there's some comfort in just a sweet, slow discovery of one person by another. I believe in 2nd chances at love and these 2 deserved their chance. Our hero, Quinton, unexpectedly and tragically inherits the title of Duke. He's trying to keep his head above water, and then... there's his late brother's
fiancee. Catherine is thrown off by the turn of events too. Great story of this couple!

This was such a unique storyline. Rather than the main character already having his title, he gets it because his brother unexpectedly passes away. I have read historical romances where the duke gets the title because his father dies, but not a brother. It was so much fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a fresh take on the "second sons" in Regency Romance! Move over, Anthony... the Benedict Bridgertons are finally getting THEIR moment.

Kristin Vayden is a new-to-me author, but I'm so looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. Quinton and Catherine are a match made in heaven!! I loved them just as much individually as I did them together. The final 5% takes a very dramatic turn (to the point where it read like something out of a soap opera), but that didn't bother me. In fact, I love that the lowest points didn't phase Quinton and Catherine's relationship in the least. It was more of a "us against whatever problems arise" kind of story, and personally, I'm here for it!

You can listen to my full podcast review on your favorite podcast app or on my website: https://boobiesandnoobies.com/episodes/f/148-fortune-favors-the-duke

This book didn't work for me. I found the chemistry between the characters to be lacking. There was also a convoluted plot with a Barron that did nothing for the story.

3.5 Stars
This is the first book in a new series by Kristin Vayden. This is also the first book I've read by Kristin Vayden although I read a lot of books from this genre.
This is a slow burn romance with two characters grieving the loss of the same person. Quinton lost his older brother in a freak fire which also meant he inherited the title of Duke of Wesley. Lady Catherine was his brothers betrothed and she has been hiding from the world for the last 6 months, mourning his death.
They start a friendship together that begins with their shared feeling of loss. But ultimately builds into a love and attraction that they have to act on.
It is a nice romance without any hot and sweaty scenes but it did seem to drag in places. I like that Catherine is a strong female lead that knows how to handle herself but some of those storylines just faded away.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley.com for my complimentary eARC copy.

I voluntarily received an eARC of "Fortune Favors the Duke" via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After an unfortunate accident that killed his brother, Quinton Errington is forces to leave his beloved career as a professor at Cambridge and take over the Dukedom. The only person he can turn to is Lady Catherine Greatheart who was his deceased brothers fiance. Both suffering from heartbreak they find happiness again and new love.

This was definitely a slow burn romance and was almost a dnf for me as it was a tad bit too slow. But I kept on and it ended up being a sweet romance. Though for a slowburn I found the actual romance very quick. When from friendship to a glance or two to full blown romance. And by that time a bunch of other stuff starts happening causing some drama for the characters.

This is definitely a sweeter romance and very little spice. Some kissing scenes but no graphic scenes.

Fortune Favors the Duke ending up being a DNF for me. It was a bit of a slow burn and I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

Quinton Errington is perfectly happy teaching at Cambridge, with his elder brother carrying the duties of being the Duke of Wesley. But when a trip to celebrate Wesley's last week of bachelorhood ends in tragedy, Quinton, who becomes the Duke, would give anything to have his brother back.

Wesley's would-be bride, Catherine Greatheart, is left heartbroken and alone. Her grandmother has fallen ill, and Catherine has nowhere left to turn but to the family she was so close to being part of. The new Duke is kind, and she could use a friend.

Between learning how to be the head of his family, mourning his brother, and trying not to fall in love with his late-brother's fiancée, Quinton will need some help—and it's a good thing he's not alone.

This one unfortunately fell sort of flat with me... I really liked the idea of a Duke who preferred his life as an academic and the friends to lovers trope, but I didn't feel much chemistry or connect with the characters.

Quinton Errington was very satisfied with his work as a professor of economics at Cambridge, only to be devastated by his brother’s death on the night before his wedding. Now Quin is left to grieve his loss and deal with the responsibilities he now has as the new Duke of Wesley.

The former duke’s almost bride, Lady Catherine Greatheart, is left in a difficult position with only her aging grandmother for protection from unscrupulous characters who would seek to take advantage of her in hopes of getting to her fortune. When her grandmother becomes ill, Quin steps in to be the friend and helper Catherine needs and she enjoys having the help of someone who understands how she feels.

Quin is struggling with his brother’s death and his new duties, and also trying to resist his feelings for his late brother’s betrothed, but thankfully he’s got some help to see him through.

Given the recent loss of my own brother-in-law, this book was incredibly hard for me to read, and I likely wouldn’t have agreed to review it if I had known what would happen in my personal life. That said, the examination of grief and healing from grief together with a loving partner was rather lovely. It definitely took me a while to get through this book, both for reasons stated above and because the heroine frustrated me. She seemed rather too perfect at times, but I was utterly charmed by her banter with her grandmother. Then, of course, the grandmother suffered an illness, and I was back to being annoyed by the heroine. Things definitely moved slowly between Quin and Catherine as well, which eventually dulled the charm of their flirting and made it seem just like gameplaying. The villainous aspect here was well done and thankfully resolved quickly and without too terribly much angst, which I appreciated especially given that there was plenty of angst about for other reasons. Given the depth and emotionality of this story, I was rather disappointed that it turned out to be closed door; after such a long, slow build up to finally see Catherine and Quin together, it was a little jarring to not have any sort of on page culmination of that relationship and having read this author before, it wasn’t what I had been expecting. There was definitely more focus on storytelling than on romance here, but I did enjoy the emphasis on healing from grief with love.

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

This is a really sweet read. Quinton & Catherine's path to love is paved with heartbreak, friendship and determination. I was swept up in the story from the first chapter. I really enjoyed reading a book that was about the romance of a relationship and not the physical parts. This is defiantly an author I will read more of.