Love this story that showed why its important to win the heart of a shapeshifting lion. Alwyn and Tabitha were relatable characters and i enjoyed reading this very much!

I have never read anything by this author and this one sounded interesting. It was just ok. I really liked the idea of mixing a historical romance and shifters together (they are two of my favorite things to read). However, I consistently felt like I was missing something as I read. Maybe if I had read the previous two books it would have helped. (Which I will be doing). The characters are interesting, and the plot was unique. If you think this book sounds interesting, you should give it a read.

Duke at the Door is another enjoyable addition to the Regency paranormal world of Susanna Allen's Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series.

Alwyn Ap Lewin, Duke of Llewellyn, is a shifter who has been held in a menagerie in his lion form. His heart and soul were in hibernation. Upon escaping, he resolves to live free, even if that means never shifting again.

Tabitha Barrington is an apothecary who has the ability to "see" the essence of shifters and is resolved to help Alwyn live a full life again.

It is another amazing read but requires some patience, as Allen spends the first half of the book detailing a lot of versipellis/shapeshifting lore. The second half of the book brings us into the heart of the story, and moves at a faster pace.

Allen continues with wonderful writing and characterization and brings us up-to-date with the Osbornes, Lowells, wise Ursella and the mysterious O'Mara.

This was a new to me author! It was def a fun and interesting type with having a historical paranormal thing going on! I think our MC’s had good chemistry but not a lot of actual romance. This book also contain quite a few new words to learn. Alwyn is our hero Duke lion shifter. He’s quite guarded as he was once held captive! He doesn’t want to shift which is making him sick. Alwyn goes to see a lady apothecary, Tabitha! She’s strong and calming. She starts to help Alwyn so he can shift again….but these two start to feel things for one another! This book also had some Angsty and a little steam. All in all a good read!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 3 in a historical shape-shifter book series. I was looking for a different book series and was glad to see a combination of some of my favorite genres, This was a good read I hope there will be more in the series!

I greatly enjoyed the 3rd book in the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series. I think one of the main reasons that I enjoyed this series is because Susanna Allen took one of the most alpha male shifters and made them vulnerable, but not week. We are introduced to the Duke of Llewelyn, a lion shift who refuses to shift after being captured and held captive in a traveling menagerie. Unfortunately, the longer he denies his inner lion, the sicker he becomes, but he'd rather die free than be captive ever again.

He is sent to live in Lowell Close, a shifter community. All of the inhabitants feel uncomfortable around him because he is no longer comfortable in his own skin. Then they bring in Tabitha Barrington, a lady apothecary, to see if she can help. She is unique and inquisitive. He slowly begins to learn to trust his instincts and Tabitha. The love story between Tabitha and Alwyn is quite sweet and beautiful.

The author has the ability to lead you through several emotions, ranging from sadness to euphoria. The author did an excellent job pacing the story and it was an interesting look at the rehabilitation of an injured shifter. The author also sprinkled the story with intrigue and entertaining dialogue. I highly recommend this series, especially to people who enjoyed Hannah Howell's Wherlocke series or Terry Spear's Heart of the Wolf series.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review of the material.

A Duke at the Door by Susanna Allen is the third book of the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde. Alwyn Ap Lewin, the Duke of Llewellyn, swears he won’t shift back to his lion Shape ever again. After spending decades as a captive in a travelling menagerie, he refuses to risk being caged again. The decision causes his health to decline and he becomes more reclusive. Lady apothecary Tabitha Barrington is the only one who doesn’t fear him. The prince regent tasks her with caring for the Duke. Alwyn and Tabitha grow closer as he opens himself up to her, and he sees how loving and kind she is to not just him, but everyone in the village.

I think it’s really interesting to have shapeshifters in Regency England. This mash-up of romance genres is something I haven’t seen done before!

*Received a copy for review *

I really love the idea of this series. The first book was okay do I thought I’d try another. This book is unnecessarily complicated in the beginning. It takes away from that initial introduction to the main characters. By the time I got to the actual story, I was not interested.

Right, so, this Diary of a Binge Reader is probably more aptly titled Confessions of a Binge Reader because there's something I need to get off my chest . . .

I binge-read the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series knowing that Julie wouldn't be able to keep up with me. And I enjoyed the hell out of it. I'm sorry, okay? I didn't set out to leave her to a buddy-less buddy read; it just worked out that way. (And, for the record, she did give me her blessing . . . eventually, LOL.)

Anyway, back to the books. It all started when I got my hot little hands on the third book in the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series, A Duke at the Door. I knew the basics of the plot from the events of book two. Alwyn, Duke of Llewellyn, is struggling to find himself and shift into his lion after years of being held in captivity in his Changed form. At the behest of Prince Regent George, Alwyn is given into the care of The Honorable Tabitha Barrington, a lady apothecary tasked with helping the duke shift again.

It is undoubtedly a good premise, and I was so looking forward to reading it. Like A Most Unusual Duke, it promised to be a unique and interesting read. It delivered. I loved Tabitha and Alwyn. I loved their story, their connection, Tabitha's relationship with her brother, the way Alwyn began to rediscover himself, everything. Basically, it was a fabulous read, and I enjoyed it immensely.

So, how did reading one book turn into a binge-read? Great question! I realized a few pages into A Duke at the Door that for every moment that made me smile or sigh or worry my lip, there was one that had me questioning whether I would have loved it even more had I read the first book and re-read the second book before I'd picked it up. As with any paranormal series, there is a "world" that needs to be understood to fully appreciate the intricacies of the plot, and while A Most Unusual Duke was easily read without prior knowledge of the series, A Duke at the Door was not.

For starters, Alfred and Felicity, protagonists of A Wolf in Duke's Clothing, played a more significant role than they had in book two. Then there was the matter of me being the most forgetful reader alive. What happened in book two? I could give it to you in broad strokes, and I can easily recall how I felt reading it, but details? Whoosh, gone without a trace.

So, I did what anyone with the ability to justify reading when working should be happening would do . . . I grabbed book one through Kindle Unlimited and got started.

And after reading book one, it only made sense to re-read book two. You know, to remember things. Definitely not because I was sucked in by the ending of the first book and the tease it left behind.

Y'all, it was such a joy to read those two books. Getting to know Alfred and Felicity and understanding how their story played out was a treat. Incidentally, their story included a kidnapping, an evil uncle with an evil scheme, a household trying to keep their shapeshifting secret, and a lady who had zero intention of getting married, no matter the hit her reputation may have taken during the aforementioned kidnapping.

Whew. It was a wild ride and one I did not want to get off.

To then revisit Arthur and Beatrice was made all the more rewarding by being privy to some of their histories and having more knowledge about the lore of the Versipelles. (That's the shapeshifters, FYI.) It was as funny and as addicting as it was the first time. And, for those wondering, the language didn't bother me on the re-read. Nor did I notice it in book one or book three. Am I smarter than I was in January? Let's go with yes, for the sake of my ego.

Of course, having read the first two books in the series, it would be remiss of me to skip a re-read of book three, even though I'd only read it days prior. And so, I revisited Alwyn and Tabitha, and yes, enjoyed them even more the second time around.

In the end, if this binge-read taught me one thing, it's that dumping your friends in favor of devouring three books (one of them twice) in a matter of days is a brilliant idea.

But maybe not so brilliant as getting into the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series from the start and soaking up every wonderful moment, from rocky romances to poor puns to villainous Versipelles to each endearing ending.

(Although, can I just add I really hope this isn't the end because I can think of at least two more books that are needed in this series before I can be fully satisfied . . .)

A DUKE AT THE DOOR
Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde Book 3
Susanna Allen
Paranormal/Historical Fiction/Romance

A lion shapeshifter duke has been kept in his lion form by an animal menagerie for far too long. After escaping, he must learn to live the ways of polite society in the Regency era again. With the help of the local apothecary, he just might be able to.

I found this book quite interesting with all kinds of different shifters getting along and with it being set in the Regency era. It was an easy read and different from the books I usually read. Although it is part of a series, I found myself following along easily. Although I now want to read the whole series from the start. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and recommend this spicy romance to fans of several different genres.

Title: A Duke at the Door
Author: Susanna Allen

Unfortunately this book was not for me. The writing was extremely convoluted and difficult to follow while the story was surprisingly slow paced. I did not feel the attraction between the main characters and to be honest my favourite character was the heroines brother.

The plot is intriguing and I love the idea of paranormal historical romance. Unfortunately this book just did not deliver for me.

A Duke at the Door by Susanna Allen is book Three in the Shapeshifters of Beau Mode Series. This is the story of Alwyn ap Lewin, the Duke of Llewelyn and Tabitha Barrington. Alwyn has been kept trapped in his Lion form for years after being taken and kept with a Gold chain. Now he has escaped and has been sent to heal and adapt back to his life. Tabitha has been assigned to him and wants to help Alwyn but they both start to feel more. Enjoyed

A Duke at the Door continues the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series with Alwyn’s and Tabitha’s intriguing story. Along the way, we’ll get the chance to catch up a bit with couples from the earlier books in this series. It’s for that reason that I would suggest reading this series in order if at all possible. Yes, you can enjoy it without doing so, but I believe knowing what came before will enhance your reading enjoyment. But, you do what is best for you as always, it’s a suggestion.

Most of what you’d want to know before picking up this one can be found in the cover description. I adored and felt so sympathetic for Alwyn, he’s been through terrible trauma and, in many ways, is still reliving his capture every single day with his fear of shifting into his lion form. It’s understandable, but by not recognizing his other self Alwyn is basically killing himself. But not if the Prince Regent has anything to say about it (and he does quite fiercely). And this is where knowing what went on before in the earlier books will be helpful, but not absolutely necessary that is up to each individual reader.

I had such mixed feelings about Tabitha. She’s a human who has the gift of recognizing shifters, knowing what animal they shift into as well. She’s been brought in to help Alwyn battle his fears and find his lion once again. I’ll leave my opinion of Tabitha vague for each reader should reach their own conclusions. I liked her but there were times when I simply could have shaken her for her attitude and her words… but that was my interpretation of her.

My love of Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Shifter Romance are combined seamlessly in A Duke at the Door. There are twists that may surprise you, a vile villain to expose, steamy moments, and chuckles as well. I always enjoy returning to this world and would recommend this one to those readers who love several genres and seeing some combined so effortlessly. Now comes the wait to see what comes next.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I was given an ARC of this book to read and review, which I did in honour of my mom who loves shapeshifter romance. 🐈

There was a lot to like about this novel. Tortured/wounded heroes are like catnip (ha ha) to me, and Alwyn was a great example of this trope. He was dealing with A Lot but he wasn’t the typical broody/angry hero so much as a bit lost, confused, and sad and trying to figure out how to reconnect with the world and move forward but not knowing if he can. He also had a great sense of humour, and I loved that he was able to find things that made him laugh even when he was at his lowest. He was also adorable when he set his mind to courting the heroine. Tabitha was also great. She was a smarty-pants bluestocking who, rather than being stubborn and know-it-all-y, wasn’t scared of being wrong or rolling with things when her assumptions were challenged. I really enjoyed her side-journey with her career and how that unfolded. The quality of the writing was high, and I loved the subtle ways the different characters exhibited traits/mannerisms of their animal counterparts. Very clever!

Things that gave me paws:
🐾Never, not even once, did pun-loving Alwyn or his lion alter-ego make a Tabitha=tabby=cat comment. Not a single person mentioned it. NOT EVEN ONCE!
🐾Experienced, sex-positive heroines are such a rare treat in historical romance and I am always here for it, but I feel so cheated when heroines fall into the “experienced but have never had GOOD sex until the hero’s magic peen” trap. Whhyyyyy? Why bother?
🐾It’s clear that the author has done a lot of world-building for this series, but at times (bearing.. ha.. bearing.. in mind that I did not read the first two novels) I felt pretty lost in all the terminology/lore and so very many characters. It didn’t help the heroes from books 1-3 all had similar names (Alfred, Albert, and Alwyn!). Sometimes something I didn’t quite understand would get explained better/more thoroughly down the line but there were still a few things I was pretty confused about by the end of the book tbh.

Overall an enjoyable read but I'm not sure I'd want to continue with the series.

Alwyn, the Duke of Llewelyn (Lion Shifter) hears a woman cry for help. When Alwyn approaches, he sees that the woman and baby are covered in blood and surrounded by several men. He decides to shift into Lion form to protect the humans, and a gold chain is slipped over his paw, preventing him from shifting back to human. Thus begins the life of Alwyn the lion in a traveling menagerie. After escaping, he returns to King George (Bear) for assistance. Close to being feral and weak, George calls for the aid of a healer.

Tabitha, the heroine, and an apothecary returns to England with her brother who is the Lowell Hall tutor. Prince George requests that Tabitha help Alwyn return to the ways of human society which helps keep the world of shifters secret. Alwyn has been in lion form for so long has forgotten how to use his hands and feet. Tabitha is patient as she assists Alwyn in gaining his confidence in life, as well as trusting those around him. Something that's hard for him to do, because as his memory returns, he remembers that the one that captured him wasn't human, but a shifter. Can Alwyn fully recover and let his lion out? He is Alpha and he know he'll need all the help he can get because he realizes that Tabitha is his mate.

A Duke at the Door is essentially an overwritten narrative that engulfs the narrative and the romance. Allen is a cleaver wordsmith, but as a storyteller there leaves a lot to be desired.

Another great entry in this shapeshifter series. The main characters are realatable. It was nice to see the other shifters from the previous books. I enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

This book was fine. I didn't realize it was part of a series when I started it so I was a bit confused, but that was on me lol. There was quite a bit going on, so the book was pretty quick paced and it certainly wasn't boring, I just don't think there was a lot of chemistry between the love interests. The other relationships were also kind of lackluster (the friendships and other couples, etc).

3.5 stars rounded up.

Since he was captured and held by a traveling menagerie, Alwyn ap Lewin, the Duke of Llewelyn, has not changed into his lion form. Remaining unbalanced with this other part of himself is making him ill, but he’d rather die a free man, if that’s what it comes to, rather than ever again find himself a prisoner.

The residents of Lowell Close, where Alwyn is recovering, remain fearful and suspicious of him, but not Tabitha Barrington. She’s been tasked with helping the Welshman heal and as he spends more time with her, Alwyn comes to realize he does indeed have much to live for.

This book does contain spoilers for the first two books in the series, so I would first like to recommend they be read in order. I’m a big fan of the tortured or damaged hero trope and Alwyn certainly fit that bill. I was very much looking forward to seeing him be rehabilitated by his lady love and having him change her for the better as well. While we did get that here, Tabitha definitely wasn’t the sort of heroine I’m a huge fan of and her ongoing insistence on being unreasonable did put a bit of a damper on the story for me. She seemed determined to find fault with everything Alwyn did, making no exceptions for the fact that he’s basically relearning how to be a human. Even when he asks her to court him as an equal, she somehow winds up annoyed with him even as he’s doing everything she asks him to and trying to give her space to think. Tabitha was quite mean to Alwyn when he was only trying to protect her, which was also part of his healing process and returning to his true self, so I’m not sure why she kept being so mean about it and distancing herself from him when he clearly needed someone to be there for him. I also didn’t really understand the motives of the villain in this story or why so much leeway was allowed them. The final frustrating element here was the missed opportunities, for instance there was a great one for some sick/comfort and instead the story veered away from it in favor of a scene between Tabitha and her brother. So, I suppose my main issue here was that Tabitha and Alwyn really don’t have much alone time together on the page and I wanted more, especially given the fact that Tabitha kept running away when they did get a chance to have a conversation together. I do think she pushed him away too long and that her frequent brooding sessions became repetitive.

Despite these issues I had, I really did enjoy this story. As has been the case with the other books in this series, I found it to be a great palate cleanser for me and a refreshing take on Regency. The language is a bit odd, and so are the characters and plot, but I actually think that’s part of its charm and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something different, but again, the series is best read in order.

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

I’ll admit I struggled a bit with this one! I do think it might have been my own fault though starting in the middle of the series. There was a lot of world building and some language that it kind of threw me for a loop throughout the book. Perhaps if I would have started at the beginning I would have a better grasp of everything.

I found Allen’s writing unique. I did like it. But I did have a hard time following it at some points (which as mentioned above, maybe it won’t be like that if I pick up book 1).

Overall, I am intrigued and will probably try book 1 of this series at some point!