Second son Quinton Errington is perfectly happy teaching at Cambridge, until a tragic accident befalls his brother and Quin is thrust into the dukedom. His brother’s fiancée, Lady Catherine Greatheart, is also left to wade through an uncertain future. When the two lean on each other, they find that there’s more than friendship between them.

This is the first book in the new Cambridge Brothers series. The plot was intriguing and the story well written. I liked both Quin and Catherine, who both had plans for futures that never materialized, and were able to move forward together. I think this story had a bit of a balance issue, though. It gets off to a slow start and then quite a bit happens at the end. Also, I personally dislike being surprised by a clean/chaste book. There was no indication from the cover or blurb, and I’ve read this author before so that wasn’t what I was expecting. (3.5 stars)

Tropes: Friends to Lovers

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

This is a sweetly charming and softly romantic love story. This is the first Kristin Vayden book I have read, and I found this novel and start to a series to be pleasantly engaging. Vayden's writing is accessible and lightly paced which compliments this low angst romance. Vayden tells the story of two people falling in love after a mutual tragedy in a careful and gentle way, by showing the different ways grief can effect someone and how finding someone who speaks to your soul can help you to open yourself up again.

This is Quin and Catherine's romance after the tragic loss of Quin's brother and Catherine's fiancee. Great care is taken to tell their slow growth into love. The reader is eased into the story of two hearts learning to love again gently in the same way that Quin and Catherine's romance and trust grows for each other. Watching them both slowly see and understand the strength in the other is really beautiful. I found their chemistry to be soft and mature in the way two hearts who have experienced loss learn to open themselves up to another. I love that they are both careful with each others hearts As well as, aware of needing to be open and consensual as their relationship evolves into something new. Quin sees that Catherine is strong and independent and he offers his help and support but is never angry or jealous when she decides to handle certain things on her own. I also love that Catherine does not feel weak when she does decide to take Quin's support in certain moments. This novel is very low of the steam, there is no explicit sex on the page, which I would have liked in order to show the growth in their relationship and how they learned to trust each other and care for each other. I do think that the lack of steam does work with the overall tone of the novel but I think it would have added a really lovely depth to their relationship and given a more lasting strength to the over all story.

I would definitely recommend this novel if you are in the mood or love a low angst romance about a second chance at love. It is perfect if you love a character driven story the explores emotions in a very soft and gentle way. I look forward to exploring more of Kristin Vayden's work and would encourage you to give her a chance if you have not had the opportunity to yet.

A Slow-Burn SWEET Tale of Love After Loss

Fortune Favors the Duke was a well-written story about finding love after loss. The second brother of a duke, Quin finds himself suddenly forced to take up his elder brother's mantle when a fire claims the lives of a group of first born sons. Not only is Quin bereft, but so is Catherine Greatheart (awesome last name, and there are lots of Catherine the Great references scattered throughout the book), Quin's older brother's fiancée.

Catherine and Quin's brother had a match made on a premise of liking not yet loving, and so while she is grieving, she is not heartbroken. A friendship based on shared loss burgeons between Quin and Catherine. Quin is a very repressed, alpha hero--though I've seen some reviewers call him a beta. Catherine is a very practical, intelligent heroine who is very easy to sympathize with and to like--especially when she finds herself in a conflicting predicament involving a trustee handling her and her grandmother's estate.

The book starts off a little slow but the central conflict is exciting, engaging, and I actually had to stress-speed-read a bit.

Based on the average rating, I was nervous going into the book--but most of the negativity seems to be based on the book's appearance as a steamy romance when it is in fact more of a sweet romance (though there is intense kissing / groping and use of the "Lord's name in vain" (which I've noticed is a dealbreaker with some clean readers), so I am not sure it qualifies as "clean"). I agree with reviewers about the cover being misleading and this is really unfair to the writer. Readers expecting steam won't get it, and readers expecting "clean" will not get that either. Which is unfortunate as Vayden is an excellent writer and this was a great story.

My review is based on the quality of the story and writing, not the steam level. Please don't punish the author for the unfortunate cover choice / misleading blurb. However, I have included these points in my notes to Netgalley and urge other ARC readers to do the same. Thanks to Netgalley for the early review copy.

Steam Level: 1/5, Petting/Kissing

3.5 Stars rounded up.

Lady Catherine Greatheart and Quinton Errington, the Duke of Wesley have much in common, but sadly most of it is painful. Catherine was engaged to Quinton’s older brother Avery, the previous Duke who tragically died days before their wedding. Now after six months of mourning Catherine’s elderly grandmother gently reminds her that she must reenter the marriage mart, something Catherine has been dreading.

Quinton “Quin” enjoyed his life as his brother’s “spare”, he taught politics and history at Cambridge, along with his friends, who also happen to be second sons. When his brother is killed at his own bachelor party, along with his friends (the elder brothers of Quin’s friends), he has no choice but to end his career and take up the title and the responsibilities that go with it. For months he tried to split his time between Cambridge and London, but now knows he can’t serve two masters and has resigned himself to London. Something he dreads, but as luck would have it on his first day back, he runs into Catherine. He is a little surprised by his reaction to her and tries to ignore it. But when his mother takes her under her wing and they spend more time together, the harder it becomes. It isn’t until Catherine’s grandmother suffers a traumatic medical emergency and Catherine’s future may be in jeopardy that he contemplates letting himself have a future with her, but is that even something she would consider, or does her heart still belong to his brother.

This was a good read, not perfect, but enjoyable with very likable characters. Based on my personal preferences, I wish the author had clearly stated when in time the story was set, I was able to piece it together by some hints that were dropped – Regency in case you are interested. In addition to that, there are title errors/inconsistencies and honestly, I wasn’t a fan of Catherine’s repeated declarations of love for Avery, the book is set just 6 months after his death, so for her to fall in love with his BROTHER that soon after his death was a bit off-putting – if her relationship with Avery hadn’t been touted as a love match, I probably wouldn’t have given it another thought, but she repeatedly mentions/thinks how much she loved him and lost him. In the end, while I didn’t love the story, but I did like it and I would definitely read the next book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

I enjoyed this lovely story but it did hit on some tough issues. Quinton Errington was the second son as were his friends. Avery Errington, Duke of Wesley, was going to marry Catherine Greatheart. The ceremony was in one week. Avery's friends wanted to take him and have a last fling as being single. He was titled as were his friends. There was a fire and all perished. It was devastating to the brothers as well as the parents. Lady Catherine Greatheart was also in pain. The only family she had left was her fiery grandmother. Who was very special to Catherine.

It was an intriguing book. The characters were wonderful and by talking started helping each other to heal. Poor Catherine had to go back to the Marriage Mart and she hated all the bother. I think she also felt embarrassed. I thought the way the author handled the issues was exceptional. It not only entertained but also kept your interest. I can hardly wait for the next book.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Mini Review: This was a great Historical Romance, with a really good ending! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

This was a good book. I enjoyed the plot though I felt the wording was a little antiquated for the genre these days. Despite being set in a historical time the wording at times was over done and just a little dull. I wanted more of what a woman would want in a man these days as well as back during the time period. I feel a good historical hero is a combination of both and this was definitely leaning far towards the historic side. I loved the heroine and her feminist vibes , it was a little odd that Quin had friends and Catherine did not. After all she was the one who was supposed to be the belle of the season the year before. It was also strange that no other men were even really interested in her during the present season. It was just very kind of loose plot lines outside of the main plot. We didn’t even know there was a “brotherhood” until almost the end of the book, and even then the story wasn’t complete. I enjoyed the book but it definitely needs some side plot work drastically.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an Advance Copy of this book for free - I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book starts off with a tragedy. Quinn's brother, the ducal heir, dies in a fire a week before his nuptials with Catherine. 6 months later Quinn runs into Catherine and, through their shared grief, find friendship which blossoms into romance.

This is a quiet, slow-burning romance which centres more on the companionship that Quinn and Catherine share, rather than a sparkling attraction that they try to resist. Whilst I can see the merit in building a friendship in this instance, to be respectful of Quinn's brother, I think it would have been a more dynamic book if there was a bit more focus on the passion between these two.

There is some danger to their romance, but it's minimal. Everything sort of builds beautifully until the eventual HEA. A well-written story about two good people who find happiness together despite slightly inauspicious beginnings But a little too slow for me.

A good book with interesting plot and characters.

Felt a bit slow and lengthy with many places where we get a bit sad/ heavy feel. But towards the end it was fine.

Hope we get to see glimpses of Quin and Catherine in the next books.

The premise of this story was one that caught my attention. Love blossoming out of despair.
Quinton and Catherine came together to find love and happiness. Overall, I enjoyed the book. There were times that I did feel that the story dragged on but it was entertaining. Disclaimer, I like my books with a bit more spice so be aware that this is not that.

2.25 stars

Fortune Favors the Duke is a sweet romance that could have done with a lot less telling and quite a bit more showing.

The idea of the book is pretty sound - second son inherits after tragedy only to find myself bonding with his deceased brother's betrothed over their grief. There was so much potential for an angsty and affirming romance, but I never felt like we really delved below the surface level aspects of the concept or characters. The couple comes off as a bit one-note and there is a real missed opportunity to go deeper into their lives considering that the hero is established as a former Cambridge professor and the heroine as an investment genius. The conflicts are drawn out for far too long despite the fact that characters explicitly state that they are going to fix it. For me, this generated a overwhelming lack of stakes and left me feeling pretty disinterested in the story.

There is one really great twist that happens over about 50 pages towards the end that was honestly the best part of the entire book. That part proved to me that this author has the ability to carry an entire romance and that maybe it is just this particular story that wasn't for me.

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

Wow this book was just so good and so easy to get lost in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I just didn't want the story to end. I just couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters and I just loved getting to see their journey. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.

I read Kristin’s last historical series and absolutely loved it. It had humor galore which is really important to the stories I like to read. So I picked up this book thinking I would get the same kind of laugh out loud moments. Unfortunately, I did not. It started a little slow, got more interesting and then slowed down again before it picked up again but that was not enough for me to love this story. It was okay. I did love Catherine’s grandma. Old men/ladies always seem to be the comic relief in books which is fantastic.

Quinton Errington was not supposed to be the next Duke of Wesley. He was content in teaching at Cambridge in his late thirties.

But when his brother, the Duke, dies in a fire before his wedding, he is pulled away to London.

Lady Catherine Greatheart was supposed to marry the Duke of Wesley. When he dies in a fire, she is left with the ashes of her love.

I think bringing these two lost souls together 6 months after the tragedy was beautiful. I loved the banter between Catherine and her grandmother. Quint always felt better with Catherine around and vice versa..

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Quinton Errington was satisfied teaching at Cambridge, but when his older brother dies unexpectedly, Quin finds himself the new Duke of Wesley. He wasn't the only one to suffer the tragedy. Catherine Greatheart was engaged to the former duke and neither she or Quin could predict that they could help heal each other's heart.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, but unfortunately for me, most of the middle just dragged with both Quin and Catherine trying to convince themselves why they shouldn't be together. The action did pick up again at the end when a scandal erupts regarding Catherine and her estate trustee. That was a good twist to the book.

Fortune Favors the Duke began with a tragedy, but that didn't preclude the hero and heroine from having a happy ending. This story showed two families who had dealt with their fair share of grief come together in healing - a unique love story with characters whose happiness I found myself rooting for. Catherine is a smart, generous, and independent heroine and I appreciated that we got to see her heartbroken when her first betrothed died, but that even heartbroken, Catherine was self-composed and strong. And her grandmother was a firecracker!

This one was not for me. I found myself skimming through most of the story and it was just very slow going.

I wanted more chemistry and more connection and I just didn't get it. I haven't read anything from Vayden previously and this was definitely 'fade to black' which isn't really my thing either.

Thanks for allowing me to give it a try!

This book was a very sweet romance. The slowing buildup of connection between the new Duke and Catharine is shown well and all the diktats of society at the time and the influence it had on said relationships

Enjoyed the book and would like to thank Netgalley and sourcebooks for the copy.

I adored this book. Such a great romance and so much chemistry. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

After a shared tragedy brings Quinton and Catherine together, the unlikely pair team up when Catherine's grandmother falls ill and she needs a chaperone and protection from some scheming family members. I wanted to love this book, but ultimately, it fell flat. I simply adored both Quin and Catherine and the cast of characters alongside them, but the plot was slow. The beginning 20% pulled me in, but then hit a metaphorical wall and the action stalled. There wasn't much that happened and I was hoping for the two to get together much earlier. The book did pick back up again around the 80% mark, but at that point, it had lost my attention and engagement.