This is the second book in The Cambridge Brotherhood series and my first book by this author.
Rowles never wished to be in the spotlight of the dukedom and is perfectly content being a professor at Cambridge. But when his brother dies in a house fire, he has no choice but to step into his new role as duke. In addition to this unwanted burden, his must care for his ailing mother who has dementia. He fears this illness may one day befall him, and subsequently any heirs he may have. Lady Joan has known Rowles for years, but it's not until recently dancing with him at a ball does she see him as a potential husband. She fears her secret work for the War Department may become an obstacle. But Rowles is attracted and intrigued by Joan, and their relationship soon blossomed into a sweet love.
The story has emotion, and deals with grief and healing and supporting the one you love through it all. It was a very lovely romance that held my attention till the end. The characters were well-developed and interesting and I enjoyed getting to know them and following them on their journey.
I would love to read more by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

The second book in the Cambridge Brotherhood series. Lord Rowles Haywind and Lady Joan his best friend Morgan's story. There is secrets both are keeping. The story is well written with a very good storyline, I enjoyed reading. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was new author for me. I thought the story was a sweet slow burn. It was closed doors. I thought the MC’s had a good connection but the romance didn’t feel like it was the main show. These two had a lot of grief and healing to go through…that’s what I felt was the main focus but still enjoyable! Lady Joan secretly works for the home office but doesn’t want to Rowles as their connection is new. She’s lost a brother in a fire. Rowles is a new Duke since his brother passed away on a fire. His mother is now suffering a mental illness that he worries could be passed down to his children one day. He’s doesn’t expect to marry until he sees Lady Joan again believing she the perfect woman! These two really have a lot to overcome before their HEA. All in all an sweet romance.

I really enjoyed Rowles and Joan's story. I really enjoyed that both characters had/did have an occupation. It made for an interesting dynamic.

The writing style and story in MY DEAREST DUKE are both engaging, and for readers who like sweeter/kisses only historical romances, I can highly recommend this one. Each character is a bit different than most historical heroes and heroines and they both have secrets that will be dangerous if exposed.

This was my first by this author and I will be buying others!

This romance was sweet with no steam. If that's how you like your romances, then by all means read this one. I'm not a big fan of sweet and clean romance, and I wasn't particularly impressed with the writing. Not sure I'll pick up another book by this author.

Rowles Haywind never expected to become the Duke of Westmore. After the death of his father and brother, his mother has become lost in her own world. Hesitant to marry thinking his mother's mental.illness may pass to his own children, Lady Jane Morgan hopes to change his mind. Secrets maybe detrimental to their happiness, but love can overcome all. A little slow in the beginning, but eventually picks up the pace.
Clean romance with kisses.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy via books port




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Former professor Rowles is now back in the midst of the ton's London season after inheriting his family's dukedom. Joan is set to make her debut. They feel an attraction, but her brother, Morgan, who happens to be Rowles's best friend, discourages an attachment.

Both are harboring secrets. Can they learn to trust one another? Will they receive Morgan's permission and blessing? Will secrets from their pasts keep them apart?

For the most part, the storytelling kept me engaged, and I wanted to watch Rowles and Joan fall in love and find their happily ever after. It did feel like the story went long, however, and there were some things—her work with the War Office, her feminist and suffragist work, and her work with an orphanage—that I expected to have more action, intrigue, or impact on the story in the final act. I suspect that some of those things will come up again in the next book in the series.

Also, while I felt the initial tension and chemistry between Rowles and Joan early on, I feel as if—while in theory it was there as the story progressed—it was not as palpable later in the book.

If you read this book, expect quotes by and about Joan of Arc as chapter headers for the chapters from Joan’s POV and to see scriptures from the Bible sprinkled throughout. Rowles was a professor of divinity before taking on the dukedom.

Heat level: Kissing Only

I received an advance copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This was the second book in the Cambridge Brotherhood series by Vayden. It was fun to hear about another of the professors from this group of friends. This one a professor of divintiy. It was a very interesting change from the first book but the writing style make for a fun and easy read. I loved the depth of the characters. While they each had their own issues to deal with they were there for each other the way chosen family is. It make for a very relaxing weekend read. I am excited to see where Vayden takes the series from here.

My Dearest Duke is the second book in The Cambridge Brotherhood series by Kristin Vayden. This a sweet (no steam) romance with likable characters and a nice story. Would recommend. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

My Dearest Duke is, at its core, a story of people dealing with grief and how to open up their hearts to heal.

Likable characters, well written, friends to lovers, both smart and capable MCs.

I was expecting a bit more adventure, story was somewhat slow paced. Some Christian themes, pretty much closed door intimate scenes.

CW: Mental illness

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

Amazing story.
Rowles would rather be back at Cambridge teaching Divinity then a ballroom as Duke.
His mother mental illness takes a toll on Rowles, he's determine to never marry because he doesn't want his heirs to inherit his mother's illness.

Lady Jane has been watching Rowles from afar for years. Her own secrets stops men from getting to close.

When Jane has to figure who is putting government agents in jeopardy, her training is deciphering codes is put to the test.

Rowles has a hard time staying away. When Jane's life is in jeopardy. They have to work together to find who is pretending to her brother committing crimes and putting other agents in danger.

My Dearest Duke by Kristin Vayden is the second book in a series called The Cambridge Brotherhood. This is the first book I have read by Kristin Vayden. What a wonderful sweet novel! I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I didn’t find the fact it was a second book in a series an issue at all - these books are able to be read as standalones.

Lord Rowles Haywind was the second brother. He was living the life of a college professor when his brother died in a tragic fire. Suddenly he found himself a Duke, a life totally unexpected. If learning to take on all the business of being a Duke wasn’t enough, his mother was struggling mightily with her mental health. Lady Joan knows Rowles well. He is the best friend to her brother.

Lady Joan is having her first season in London. She is excited about her prospects and looking forward to helping her brother to help determine forgeries for the government. Joan is an intelligent woman. Her brother really wants her to be careful. He does not want her to be thought of as anything less because of her intelligence and ability to read people. She is ready to find someone who will find her as the perfect spouse.

Joan and Rowles seem to spark and both realize that they might be the “one” for each other, but there are some hurdles to solve on their way to their happily ever after. I really enjoyed the novel and will confess that I have already gone ahead and downloaded the first novel in this series. My Dearest Duke by Kristin Vayden was a good read.

A beautiful well written love story that will remain in my heart/head for a long time. There is SO MUCH happening here!…

Lord Rowles Haywind fears that the mental illness that plagues his mother will be passed onto his children. When he finds himself the new duke, his fears are amplified as he realises this will impact the future of the dukedom. When he reconnects with Lady Joan Morgan, his best friend’s sister, he is intrigued by her. However, Joan fears that when she reveals her involvement with Home Office, any chance of a future together, will be lost. If Joan’s skills at detecting forgeries were revealed to society, she fears she would be ruined. Yet the longer she hides her secret from Rowles, the more she fears his reaction.
This was a sweet story, that spoke more of grief and sadness shared by the two main characters than of romance. At times, the slow pace did mean that I found it difficult to keep picking up and moving forward with. Whilst part of a series, it could be read as a stand alone story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Dearest Duke is the first novel I have read by historical romance author Kristin Vayden. While it carried my interest throughout reading, the book was not one that I would pick up again.

Lord Rowles Haywind has recently gotten the title of lord due to family loss. Along with that, he’s launched into the ton gossipsphere due to his mother’s illness. Thought that he is also destined to this sickness, Rowles walks through life in gloom.

Lady Joan’s brother is best friends with Lord Haywind. She has just made her debut in ton society and has a secret of her own: she’s Saint. Saint is the person known for distinguishing handwriting and finding spies against the country. She immediately falls for Haywind and wants to share every secret. But will her brother stop this love match?

My Dearest Duke had an enticing beginning but was longer than it needed to be. There was no passion between the characters and they could have passed for brother and sister on the page. This historical romance is a clean read and does not have any suggestive language.

My Dearest Duke by Kristin Vayden
Historical regency romance. Closed door. Sibling best friend troupe.
Rowles inherited his title of Duke at the death of his brother. He left his Cambridge profession as a Divinity professor to take his position in society and care for his mother in what would now be labeled as dementia.
Lady Joan Morgan has her first season in society. She’s known Rowles for years but having danced her first waltz with him at her brother’s prompting, she’s now certain of his goodness and as a potential husband. Her main concern is in telling him of her clandestine work for the War Department and whether he will support her continued work.

A historical romance where I once again learned interesting facts. I expected more of the story to be around her secret work but while that was a small portion, I’d say more it was about death, sickness, and the hero and heroine’s immediate support of each other.

“The furnisher would see to the hiring of the mutes, mourners, and jobbers to transport his mother’s coffin to the family grave site”.
So much has changed over the years, not just the names of the workers, but the entire process of burying our loved ones. Apparently women were not encouraged to attend the funeral procession at the time.
The wedding process has changed as well. From a couple of days after legal announcements made by the groom to year long waits and exorbitant planning and celebrations.
The gloves too have always fascinated me. In this story she is reading alone and has leather gloves on. Or maybe she put them on when he came into the library but they put importance on wearing them. It’s not like they had plagues, right? Ok, they did, but that’s not why the gloves were worn.
Did you know the kaleidoscope was invented by David Brewster? Now you do.
There were a few unanswered questions which I assume will make this part of a series.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

My Dearest Duke is the second book in The Cambridge Brotherhood series. One of the most interesting things this story is the intellectual discussions between Rowles and Joan. I enjoyed that he was a professor, and their conversations were as thought provoking between a teacher and student, but never condescending. Their conversations inspired the spark between them, and it burst into flames from the knowledge they learned about each other.

This book really was about inspiring one another. Joan's relationship with her brother was also inspirational as well as he reached out to her for her insights to assist in his job with the government.

I really enjoyed this story for its intellectual language but also for its love between a brother and sister on to her new life with her husband.

This one started off strong with a great mix of historical romance, drama, and espionage. Unfortunately, it petered out in the end and dropped the most interesting part for more drama.
It was still excellent, but I do wish Vayden had kept more focus on the work Joan and her brother, Morgan, were doing with the Home Office. There are a couple of threads that showed the potential for action and intrigue, but it's like that part of the story was completely forgotten once Joan and Rowles declared their love.
I'll forgive the dropped ball at the end because there are moments that made me laugh out loud, lots of heart in every relationship, and plenty of pining to keep things moving and interesting.
Looking forward to seeing Morgan meet his match in a future volume.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the romantic read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I have mixed emotions regarding My Dearest Duke. As with the first book in the series, I like the premise, yet I feel the story does not meet its full potential. Rowles is Joan’s brother’s best friend. The two reconnect at Joan’s come-out ball, and these friends slowly evolve into something more. Rowles and Joan harbor secrets that, if they come to life, could change everything.

I loved the characters of Rowles and Joan. Rowles is dealing with his mother, who has a mental illness. Rowles and Joan have suffered significant losses, and together they find solace and love. The different components of the plot worked well; however, when combined, the story seemed disjointed at times. I did not understand Morgan’s reluctance to the match; his motivations did not appear valid.

What did work was the beautiful way Rowles and Joan’s relationship bloomed in the last third of the novel. The couple finds comfort and connection with their burgeoning love. I loved how they were truthful and open-minded with each other.

My Dearest Duke is the second book in The Cambridge Brotherhood series. This book starts with relatable, lovable characters steering their way through grief and love. The first half of the book moved too slowly at times. However, the second half made up for the stilted beginning. Rowles and Joan wholeheartedly deserve their happily ever after. I enjoy the character-driven aspect of these books. Rowles and Joan’s story is heartbreaking at times, but their sweetly romantic tale captured my imagination and heart.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.