One of my favorite movies is Pretty Woman, so I was excited to read that this book was based off of the movie. I'm also a fan of historical romance, so this was a win win. I like how the author weaves these two things together while also making it her own. It was fun to see how bits and pieces were reminiscent of the movie while in a Victorian era setting. This book has fake dating, instant attraction, slow burn, working class, opposites attract, etc. I did enjoy the book, but there were times when I felt that the characters were a little bit in their heads too much, which made me want to skim parts so I could get back into the story. I did enjoy the side characters and look forward to reading about their stories, which I know are sure to come. Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC.

The Regency Era in England is one of my favorite time period settings for the romance genre. I enjoyed how the author made references to historical places and transported you to England in the 1800’s. The author did a great job of creating a strong female character that broke the rules during a time when women had little rights.

The fake dating trope is not my favorite but I think the author did a decent job with it. The book had a Pretty Woman vibe, which I thought was creative. I appreciated that this book had some “spice” and steamy scenes.

Overall, I thought the book was enjoyable but found myself skimming from time to time. I would give this book between 3-3.5 stars

Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix, is focused on increasing his fortune with a profitable railway project. A chance run in with Miss Geneviève Valery, leads to an out of character proposal from Lysander: pose as distant cousin/potential fiancée for money so he can ink a difficult property deal. As an out of work ballerina, Nève’s options are limited. But the Duke’s offer - not proposition - is intriguing and would give her the opportunity to start over.

This is a new series from Amalie Howard based loosely on movie reimaginings. This one has a Pretty Woman theme although, unlike the movie, this doesn’t begin with a sexual relationship. After refusing to become a wealthy theatre patron's mistress, Nève is forced out of work and blackballed. She’s wary of Lysander, but also knows she needs the money. Lysander is a neurodivergent hero; he’s incredibly focused and methodical, and avoids matters that can’t be solved by money and persistence. I really liked how both characters developed through their relationship. As always, Amalie Howard’s stories are filled with fun, friendship, and witty banter. Can’t wait for the next one! (4.5 stars rounded to 5)

Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, Fake Relationship

Steam: 3

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

Quick Summary: Lovely on all counts.

My Review: Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard was everything! This story had humor. It had chemistry. It had attitude. It had spunk. It had grit. It had female empowerment. It had conflict. It had growth. It had reconciliation. It had love. It also had a cast of characters that were incredibly refreshing and totally captivating.

The Chance Meeting: A duke in the rookeries, indeed! I loved how the initial encounter between L and N happened. Who was to be rescued and who was the rescuer? (Thank you for that, Ms. Howard!)

The Duke: L was everything his father didn't want him to be. Thank goodness! He may have seemed stoic and stern at first, however, as the story progressed, it was easy to recognize his tenderness and compassion. These traits made him even more attractive. Additionally, I loved his overall strength and conviction. By the end, his humility is what catapulted him to the next level as a partner.

The Ballerina: N was fierce, feminine, and frank. She was not one to back down, and I was here for it. Despite the conditions that she and her sister faced, she did what she had to do, without any reservations or hesitation. I knew I would love her when she first came on the scene. (Lol. She was golden.) She, too, like the duke, had vigor and a strength of character that made her appealing. As a heroine, she was worthy.

The Love Match: The relationship between L and N started with a small flame and quickly blazed into a magnificent inferno. These two were so right for each other. They were explosive together, from the beginning. Their penchant for playful banter and double entendre was wicked.

The Queens: Yass!!! (That is all.)

The Aunt: She was a queen in her own right. (I am convinced that she knew what was happening all along. She simply allowed nature to take its course. One thing is for certain, she was not sleeping on her nephew's relationship.)

My Favorite Scenes: The Rescue, The First Kiss, The Golden Gown, The Whipping of the Weasel, and The Reconciliation/HEA (Of course, I kept the major dets general. I could not go into detail...even though I want to do so. I don't want to spoil anything for other readers.)

The Bonus: The discussion questions in the back of the book are wonderful.

My Final Say: I adored this period romance more than I can say. This story was so captivating that it, quite frankly, has convinced me to follow the series. I cannot wait to learn more about the Queens Club members aka the Hellfire Kitties. Salute!

Rating: 4.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Keeper: Yes
Re-read: Yes
Series: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The words that I have freely shared are my own and have not been influenced by the aforementioned in any way.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.

A Pretty Woman inspired historical romance? YES PLEASE. Neve, an out of work ballerina, accidentally saves the life of a duke, and they wind up fake-engaged because she needs money and he needs to look like a family man to purchase a piece of property. Yes, it’s improbable, but it’s a romance so you just roll with it. Their chemistry is spectacular, and they both wind up developing real feelings, which is more than either one of them bargained for. (Especially the duke, who is well known for being an emotionless jerk. Turns out he’s a big softie when it comes to a certain ballerina.)

This one releases in July so keep your eyes open for this delicious historical romp.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for my advance reader's copy.

I really wanted to like this one more, but it’s just one of those stories where they move wayyyyy too fast. I thought it was frowned upon to use first names in proper society, but in 3 minutes they were on a first name bases, and by the first few pages were already thinking heated passionate thoughts of one another. I understand first attractions, but the interactions just didn’t seem believable. I would’ve liked to see them grow before before that.
There was just too much going on, too many moving parts.

I requested that knowing I don't love books set in this time period, but this one was very cute. Super adorable Pretty Woman retelling set in the victorian era. We got plenty of romance, but there was so much more to the story, and it was great!

This book was an absolute joy!

The story grabbed me from the first chapter. I was hooked and I knew these two were going to fill my heart so full! The feels! OH THE FEELS! This fake relationship was so full of pining and longing. And we have an extremely smart and strong heroine. I gruff and grumpy hero... what more could you ask for! The plot was great, the characters were great and the feels set my heart on a wild fluttering hurricane. I even loved all the friends, I can't wait to hopefully get their stories in the future!

This one is a definite must read, even if historical romance isn't your go-to favorite, this book will grab your heart right away and not let go!

I.... don't really know what to do here. I am not autistic and I don't have ADHD, but I have a learning disability that some classify as neurodivergency (this word is very squicky and non-specific and zeitgeisty so it can be hard to pin down a specific definition for it). The hero in this book is described as being neurodivergent in all of the promo and in the author's note and I just felt really uncomfortable with how it was portrayed. Again, my neurodivergence is in a different lane than what I think the author was trying to portray with this hero, but awkward, impenetrable, distant, and unfeeling are all pretty harmful stereotypes of neurodivergent folks that this book really took hold of and ran with. And of course, he was "saved" by a heroine who helped him to open up and become fun and feeling and "normal." I just didn't feel good about it.

Besides this representation, I don't remember much about this book other than it was very much a My Fair Lady/Pygmalion story, with perhaps a degree too much slut-shaming for my liking? There was also some of my least favorite trope, red herring infertility, where the heroine ends up pregnant anyway and a terrible ex mistress which yuck. I didn't really find the heroine or the romance particularly compelling.

This was my first Amalie Howard book and I'm just not sure after reading this one I trust her enough to read any more.

Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for this ARC.

CWs: death of a parent (past), abuse in the past, sexual harassment, fertility issues

Bridgerton and Pretty Woman fans will enjoy Amalie Howard's latest, Always Be My Dutchess.

Nieve has recently been kicked out of the ballet for turning down a man's proposition. Walking the streets she runs into man who happens to be the gargoyle like Duke of Martcroix. Lysander needs a lady on his arm to earn land to build his railway. Nieve needs money to help her sister out and not be in poverty. Lysandra proposes that Nieve stay on his arm for a night for a large sum of money. But will one night be enough for the pair to settle affairs?

Always Be My Dutchess starts out with content warnings that made me immediately want to read more of Howard's work. The plot and characters for the story definitely fit in with the "pretty woman" storyline. It was interesting to read and get mixed in with both characters emotions as each chapter featured dual point of views. It was enjoyable to see Nieve blossom throughout the story. I cannot wait to see what Howard does next with this series.

I was sold from the moment I saw Pretty Woman (one of my all time favorite movies) meets Bridgerton (one of my all time favorite shows), and I was not disappointed (thank god)!

Historical romances and I aren’t usually friends, but oh my stars!!! I loved this book so much. Seriously, from the premise, to the wonderfully written characters, to the very much unexpected spice… Neve & Stone are everything *sigh*

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all opinions expressed are my own. Always Be My Duchess was 3.33 stars rounded down to 4. I really enjoyed the fact that the heroine, Neve, was a serious ballet dancer and not just the standard member of the ton, but I found Lysander, the Duke of Montcroix, a little harder to warm up to. The author provided fascinating details around ballet and ballet dancers during the time period. After agreeing to be Lysander's fiancé in name only after failing to secure a role, Neve is surprised to learn that he is more than just a Duke with only business on his mind. Overall, the romance was allowed to develop and deepen over the course of the book and didn't feature "insta-lust" like is common in many books these days. I was frustrated with Lysander's inability to recognize how much Neve meant to him, but his motivation makes sense in the circumstances given his childhood and relationship with his father. This was the first book that I've read by the author, but it certainly won't be the last. I'm looking forward to future titles featuring other members of the Queen's Club.

I always love a good regency romance, and Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard delivered! I enjoyed the neurodivergent rep with Lysander and the harsh realities of being a ballet dancer from Neve's point of view. Neve could hold her own and doesn't hold back on saying what she thinks and I love that in a heroine in a book. The friendship among the ladies in the Queens Club reminds me of the friendships between the women of the "A League of Extraordinary Women" series by Evie Dunmore, one of my favorite regency romance series!

The only things I would say I didn't like about the book were the insta-romance between Lysander and Neve and how there were a lot of side plots and a lot of villains/bad guys/antagonists in the story. It made the book somewhat confusing and difficult to follow at times with all the moving parts in the background and the main storyline of Neve pretending to be Lysander's betrothed to get him through the London season. Other than that, I enjoyed reading this and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pretty Woman meets Regency Romance. Honestly, what more of a review does this book even need?

But just in case, here's a bit more: Always Be My Duchess was a delight, full of nods to Pretty Woman and regency tropes, but also managing to be something new. Nève and Lysander are a sparkling lead couple, pushing each other's buttons and making each other laugh in turn. Their back-and-forth was a delight to read, as was their slow and reluctant fall into feelings for each other. The quiet moments between them were equally lovely. I also adored the other members of Nève's Queens Club (or Hellfire Kitties) and am so so excited for each of their presumably upcoming installments.

My main issue with the book was that there were too many villains. Lysander's stepmother/former fiancee, Viscount Treadway, Dumont. Because there were so many of them, I never quite understood why any of them were quite so terrible towards Nève and Lysander, beyond just sort of being awful people. Any one of them could have been jettisoned and it would have allowed the other baddies to breathe a little.

Still, that feels like a minor issue compared to how much I enjoyed the rest of this book. Extremely fun - and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

4.25/5

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of Always Be My Duchess!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Romance
Pub Date: July 12, 2022

This book had many of the elements I'm usually wild for in a historical romance - fake dating, resisting love, and of course, some Pretty Woman/Bridgerton elements. On paper, this book should have been perfection for me.

There were many things I liked. The story moved along pretty quickly, and the plot flowed nicely I thought. I also really liked the characters. I was invested in the outcome from start to finish.

What didn't work for me, though, was the mixing and the mashing of just...too much stuff. I felt like the book took on too many avenues, and that meant it really didn't do any of them very well. It was a fun read, sure...but not one I will re-read or continue the series TBH. I think this was a one-off for me.

If you're looking for a historical fiction to pass the time, you might like this one. If you're looking for a book to execute well on all fronts...this is probably not the one for you. It entertained me, but it didn't wow me.

Nevé is a ballerina down on her luck. Lysander is a duke looking to seal the deal on some critical property. When she saves him one night, he asks her to be his fake fiancée to see his business deal through. But will love blossom from this arrangement?

I always love Amalie Howard. She is one of the authors I always point to when people want to try romance. It’s fresh and modern and I always appreciate her take.

What I liked:
- strong heroine
- neurodivergent hero
- steam
- great chemistry between Nevé and Lysander
- dual POV
- Pretty Women vibes
- unflinching look at the reality of being a ballerina

What I didn’t like:
- nothing!

I see how this book can be marketed as Brigerton meets Pretty Woman (albeit a very loose Pretty Woman comparison). Nève is a ballet dancer in London to raise money to support her family when she runs into Lord Lysander Blackstone while he is being pickpocketed on the street. When Néve steps in to help, Lysander offers to help her in return. I thought this book was interesting. It was a fun use of the grumpy/sunshine trope. It was very much an instant connection between the two, and I wish we saw it grow a little bit more than we did. I feel like the two protagonists balanced each other out well while also supporting the other. Lysander is noted to be neurodivergent at the beginning of the book, and I thought it was interesting how the author handled it within the constructs of the period.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The “fake fiance” theme is common, but the chemistry between the two main characters was off the charts. I enjoyed the supporting characters too. I look forward to reading more.

3.5 / Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy on exchange for an honest review!

CWs: parent death, childhood emotional abuse, injury, sexual harassment, gendered violence, anti-SWer sentiment
***
I liked this book a lot, because I am a historical romance girlie at heart, but the marketing is very confusing on this one. A nod to 90s romcoms? The Pretty Woman comparisons? That did not come through for me at all!! He is rich, yes, and she is not. He is paying her for a service, okay yes. But she is not a sex worker and speaks adamantly about not wanting to be associated with sex workers in any way. Hmm. Anyway! TBH this book needs a clinch cover hehe. There is not a laugh to be had, but it’s extremely swoony and romantic, and it does insta-love very well.

Lord Lysander Blackstone, the Duke of Montcroix, wants to focus on making money, not the marriage mart. In fact, he’d like it if the eligible women and their mothers would leave him alone so he can focus on his damn business! Enter: reputationally challenged and impoverished French ballerina, Geneviève Valery. In a chance meeting that had them both surprised at their interest in the other, a plan is hatched that solves a number of problems for them both. They will pretend to be courting, and Montcroix won’t have to beat the ladies off with a stick (and will convince and investor he’s a family man), and Nève will walk away with a handsome sum to help her sister and buy her some time in between jobs. The two play their parts a little too well, and soon find themselves wondering what a relationship looks like for people from two totally different worlds.

Despite the - in my opinion - odd marketing choices, this is a compelling historical romance which hits on a lot of our favourite tropes. Fake dating! Insta love (on his part)! Duke with a heart of stone who finds himself softening for that One Someone Special! Grand gestures! I find the author handles the power imbalance well - Nève is a well written character who more than holds her own in every room and situation. Montcroix is not my favourite Duke, but he won me over when he (spoiler) kept the castle.

While this is decidedly not a romcom, the intensity of the relationship, the banter, and the compatibility between the characters that jumps off the page make this a solid historical romance read.

Palpable chemistry, quick witted and quick tempered heroine, stoic hero that we watch soften + fake dating … say less. Very much Pretty Woman esque and such a cute read.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.