This book was a little bit different and the beginning of a series of second sons that inherit the title after the first sons die in a tragic fire during a bachelor weekend. It was a bit heavy for a romance novel and dealt with themes of grief.

Quinton becomes duke of Wesley when his brother dies before his wedding to Lady Catherine during a bachelor weekend with his closest friends. This book is about how two friends become lovers as they try to get through their mutual grief. There's a bit of mystery with Lady Catherine when her grandmother becomes ill and she's forced into conservatorship with a distant cousin and mean chaperone. The romance that develops between Lady Catherine and Quinton is really sweet and moves at a pace that this could be a real-life love story.

Quinton and Lady Catherine are both likable and multidimensional characters. I loved how they came together and how the author was able to separate their love story from the initial one she had with Quinton's brother.

As I mentioned above, this is a pretty heavy read and you really have to be in the mood for it but definitely a great start to a new series. I look forward to seeing what happens with Quinton's other second son friends and how they move on from tragedy.

Fortune Favors the Duke is book one in author Kristin Vayden’s series — The Cambridge Brothers. This story is full of classic tropes including Friends to lovers, forbidden or scandalous romance, and reluctant duke. The setting alternates between London and Cambridge and we don’t really know what year the story takes place but I believe it’s likely early 1800’s.

The MC’s are Quinton Errington “Quin” who becomes The Duke of Wesley at the beginning of the story after tragedy strikes and Catherine Greatheart who was betrothed to Quin’s brother Avery Errington, the Duke of Wesley, who dies in the books prologue. This leaves Quin a reluctant duke who has to give up his entire life to take up the responsibilities that come with the title and Catherine who is left alone and heartbroken a week before she was to become a Duchess. I didn’t think the author would <spoiler>bring these two together. I mean it would be scandalous in this era to fall in love with your almost brother in-law, then add to it the title of Duchess Catherine would gain, it seemed like too much trouble </spoiler> Nevertheless it worked out well.

I loved Quin he is the perfect beta-hero who wants nothing more than to love and support his wife. I also loved Catherine’s grandma—she is a spitfire. The other supporting characters were also fun and I can’t wait to read about them in future books. As for the heroine of the story, Catherine, she was a character I am on the fence about, not sure why either lol.

This story has a few areas that could have been trimmed out including the entire saga with a companion—it didn’t add to the story. Maybe it will in future books, who knows. I would have loved to have some more HEAT 🔥🔥in this story, it’s probably one of the most demure and proper historical romances I have read, the MCs kiss and some VERY light petting. The chemistry between the MCs was present — every action just occurred off page.


Overall 3 Stars ⭐️ | 1 Flame 🔥 — A clean historical romance.

I feel completely cheated. The blurb was good enough to get me to read. I liked both MC but kept waiting and waiting and waiting for the sexy times to start. Nothing, nada, nil. If I had know this was a "clean" historical romance I would never have bothered to waste my time. A disclaimer should be put out if a romance is not what a reader would perceive it to be.

Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebookcasa for an opportunity to read Fortune Favors The Duke

✔️ a sweet story of loss, grief and finding the strength to move on and find love
✔️ some great friendships and family relationships