I have a soft spot for arranged marriage to true love tropes, and this novel did not disappoint! The Unfamiliar Duke is the fourth book in the Georgian Gentleman series by Sian Ann Bessey. While this read alone beautifully, I will definitely be picking up the previous novels on my next trip to the library.

Our heroine, Rosalind Ainsworth, learns that she is betrothed to our hero, Sebastian Lumley (the future Duke of Kelbrook), when she is denied entry into his treehouse while the families are visiting the Duke’s country estate. For the next ten years, both Rosalind and Sebastian dread the thought of their arranged marriage.

However, when these two meet again, they slowly realize that marriage to each other might not be undesirable. As their love story blooms, they are brought together by their mutual passion for counting and threatened by a scorned suitor. You will not be able to put this book down!

I absolutely love the Georgian Gentleman series and this book was wonderful!
I love the way that Sian Bessey is able to weave real/true pieces of history into her stories of fiction! I always find those tidbits so interesting!
The romance between Sebastian and Rosalind is slow burn and so sweet! I wish there had maybe been a litttttle more romantic tension there, but overall so cute and sweet and I loved them together!
I love that they had a true, traditional arranged marriage, and even though they were both a bit apprehensive and nervous, they went forward with hope and patience. Sebastian is so sweet, and I loved how open and forthcoming Rosalind was.
The ending was so dang cute, one of my favorite scenes ❤
I loved how they both loved numbers and mathematics and the inventing aspect!
This book also contains a bit of adventure and suspense!
Prepare yourself for another sweet read!
This historical romance releases May 2022!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a fantastic historical fiction novel set in before Regancy era times. I loved the relationship build in this novel between Sebastian and Rosalind and that the novel was clean!!! Another excellent novel by this author.

#AnUnfamiliarDuke #NetGalley

Sian Bessey, has done it again! A book, that had me reading late into the night.
An arranged marriage is what Rosalind Ainsworth, has to look forward to. To none other than, Sebastian Lumley,the Duke of Kelbrook, a man she hasn't seen since he was fourteen. She doesn't understand why their fathers signed an arrangement. She didn't have fond memories of him.
I loved Rasalind's sense of care to those around her. She was such a fun character. The patience between Roselind and Sebastian was so fun. I didn't want this book to end.

3 1/2 elevated to 4.

It's a sweet arranged marriage story. Rosalind's and Sebastian's fathers were friends and arranged their marriage at birth. Years later, when the date looms, they agree to go through with it, despite their reservations.
There are many things to distract and pull Rosalind and Sebastian away, but they learn to appreciate each other, and eventually fall in love.

I thought the prologue was unnecessary. It could have been easily weaved into the story.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I really did not want this story to end
“Something truly marvelous always takes effort and time to perfect.” Sebastian, the Duke of Kelbrook, adopted that as his guide. Sebastian and Rosalind were engaged to be married when they were both very young. Their one meeting occurred when Rosalind was eleven and Sebastian fourteen and it did not go well especially when Sebastian refused her entry into his tree house. At that time Rosalind decided she would not marry such a terrible person but ten years later both of them had to face the fact that the contract was not breakable and they were to be married shortly after Rosalind’s twenty-first birthday. Upon meeting Rosalind, after the ten year absence Sebastian determines to make the “effort and time” to win over his wife but things do not go as he planned. Hampered by his lack of social experience, his tendency to withdraw into his research, demands of his estate, and a scoundrel bent on saving his estate through any means possible he seems to constantly misstep. With only a shared caring for the people around them and love of mathematics to hold them together the future frequently does not appear promising. A great read as you watch each one grow personally as well as grow in respect and caring for the other. I really did not want this story to end. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

One of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and it did not disappoint! An Unfamiliar Duke is the fourth book in Siann Ann Bessey’s Georgian Gentlemen series. This book was simply amazing! It is actually set before the first three books but it was so fun to read!
Rosalind Ainsworth was such a fun character. I loved her little quirks but also her kindness. Rosalind was an easy character to read about. I felt for her as she tried to navigate her new life. She tried her best to be positive and look for the good. It was definitely interesting to read about Rosalind and fun to get to know her. She was in A Noble Smuggler for a bit but not a whole lot. I adored Rosalind and loved reading her story
Sebastian Lumley, was the future Duke of Kelbrook, and he didn’t know what to do with a wife. Sebastian was also a wonderful character. He was trying his best to be a good husband, but he honestly didn’t know what he was doing. I really liked Sebatian. It was sweet to read about him caring for Rosalind. He didn’t quite like being in large groups of people, but he cared for his staff and for Rosalind.
I really enjoyed the romance between Sebastian and Rosalind. I liked how they both worked through their marriage. The story was easy to read and engaging. The plot was interesting and I wanted to see what would happen next.
I loved An Unfamiliar Duke, it was a lovely addition to the series. I would totally recommend it! An Unfamiliar Duke is a clean historical romance, it can be read standalone but it is part of a series.


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Sian Bessey is a master at her craft! This story was beautifully told. The characters were real, with real world feelings and problems.

Though both main characters were committed to a marriage they didn’t choose. They did their best to make things work. There were distractions, assumptions made and hasty judgements. These experiences help us to understand the need for patience and time in developing relationships. It was a slow burn romance that was artfully revealed with a few dramatic situations helping them to realize the depth of their feelings.

If you like a feel good story this one is for you!

Sian is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors for her ability to blend romance and suspense! I loved seeing a story of an arranged marriage where both parties knew of it years ahead of time and both had their own reservations. The little details made it fun, like their penchant for counting things. I enjoy the time period, when inventions were truly revolutionary and people worked and even stole others' work in an effort to get ahead. It was a story well told!

Sian Bessey does it again! Seriously such a good book!!! I love how Rosalind and Sebastian fell in love. Sebastian is a dream, he's caring, he's attentive, and I love how it was a slow burn romance, but extremely well-paced. It is hands down amazing!

This was a very sweet read. I liked that both Sebastian and Rosalind were motivated to make their relationship work and did not allow their lack of choice in their partner to embitter or anger them irrationally. Too often in the arranged marriage trope, there's way too much angst, drama, miscommunication and bad feelings of the spouses toward each other, and it's tiring to read that, so I appreciate an author who doesn't equate silly drama with good storytelling. Not that either Sebastian or Rosalind reacted perfectly to situations, but you could more easily understand where they were coming from. It's wasn't my favorite of the Georgian gentlemen series, I think Bloxley's story is still my favorite, but this is a solid tale. It falls somewhere between a 4 and a 4.5 for me. I received an ARC copy from the publisher via netgalley for an honest review.