I really enjoy Amalie Howard novels, and The Duke in Question is a fast-paced, steamy and quite fun read. Bronwyn is a really engaging heroine in the novel, she's working as a spy for the British government and knows that her time in the position is limited because of her mother's machinations to marry her off. While on her probable last mission, she is put into opposition with the Duke of Thornbury, who has recently retired from spying but is working on a mission to uncover the identity of the Kestrel (aka Bronwyn).

What works the most about the book is Bronwyn, but I wish that we had gotten more information about Thornbury. Honestly, he is really barely explained much. We don't know much about his history of why he doesn't believe in love, only that he wants to protect Bronwyn and used to be a spy. I would have loved it more if we could've gotten more about him than just the basics.

Espionage novels are not usually my favorite genre, but this one worked well enough. The plot is fast and doesn't take huge narrative leaps in order to be reasonable. I wish that we had seen more of Bronwyn's family and her life in England but I understand the necessity of more foreign locales.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

✨Why is it always “adrenaline rush from having to speak in front of people” and never “adrenaline rush because we’re on a spy mission and nearly got caught out so now we’re gonna bang against this very public tree in a very vigorous manner” ????✨

Wow. I mean WOW. I was not ready for this book I really wasn’t. Amalie told me there was a tree scene but that hardly prepared me at ALL. This book was so very spicy and delicious. Valentine pretty much despised Bronwyn and was he a dick about it? Absolutely. Was I obsessed with it? Absolutely.

✨

Bronwyn had been putting on a front with polite society for a while and did an incredible job scaring the daylights out of Valentine with her simpering and fake laughter. Obviously Valentine was still incredibly possessive and rock hard whenever he was around her, but that’s just because he’s her brother’s best friend! Totally normal reaction, that rock hard business!

I also just love that Bronwyn was pining for this man for YEARS. And when he proved to be sexually skilled? What a win for her. Valentine always tried to ignore her because she was his best friend’s sister which is delicious. But that’s incredibly hard to do when she smells like apple pie and he’s got a sweet tooth—very delicious.

I’m just such a fan of her reading romance novels while thinking about him, only to get railed so hard by him. I love poetic justice. One of my favorite tropes methinks.

✨

And now this is where I talk about the steam because my god it was the gift that kept on giving. Commanded masturbation—in a carriage, taunting masturbation—in the bath, up against a tree—in public, in an alcove—in public, in the epilogue—in handcuffs*, in a bed. Each sex scene was brilliant and scorching because their passion was so fevered. It was all very intense and explosive. The high stakes from the spy plot perfectly translated to “I may die tomorrow so I want to live worshipping your body today.”

- *my only note on the handcuffs is that it was teased SO MUCH. (Along with her wanting to ride his face like a jockie.) And while I’m happy we weren’t completely shut out of that scene at the end, I did want the full scene. He unlocked her in the part that we saw, and I wish she would’ve stayed restrained.

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**SPOILER** I’m sorry but I’ve never read a deflowering scene better than this one. From behind against a tree in a public park after nearly dying where one character is actively bleeding???? God I love spy books. When he was like “I won’t be gentle”—oooWEE a true hero.

Also I just love that Bronwyn was wet like 24/7 for this man. He was always like “is this all for me?” and her very logical reply was always “duh.”

This scene absolutely gave me A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman vibes. If I had a penny for the number of adrenaline fueled sex scenes I’ve read this year, I’d have the two cents to become a spy and/or get chased by a bear.

✨

Overall, it’s no surprise that I loved this book. Amalie Howard is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors, and she’s already an auto-read. Her heroines are always so strong and, frankly, I want to be every single one of them. Bronwyn and Valentine had such dynamic chemistry, and the extra brother’s best friend element was so juicy. The third act breakup was also handled differently here and I really appreciated it. The Duke in Question was so easy to love, and an even easier five stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.5/5

The Duke in Question is a fantastic historical fiction romance filled with spy-thrilling suspense, mystery, and sizzling hot characters. Bronwyn and Valentine find themselves on the same ship headed to America, They can't trust each other, but they can't seem to keep away from one another.

Their chemistry completely sizzles when Brownyn taunts Val at times during the ship's dinner scene or when dancing on the ship's lower deck (a bit like the Titanic scene). Valentine, a former spy, is on a mission with his former ex-wife (who is also on the ship). Unbeknownst to Val, Bronwyn is also involved. He automatically assumes she is a traitor but simultaneously can't help but save her and protect her when things go sideways.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!!! What a gr8 story. I was grabbed from the start and held within it's grasp until the end. I look forward to reading the next book. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up.

A modern romance set in a historic period, not a historical romance, this was a fun book. Not for readers who want realism, but if you're willing to suspend your disbelief, you'll be entertained. Enemies-to-lovers, Bronwyn and Valentine sizzle. They can't imagine being together, but they can't bear for the other to be with anyone else either. I dislike when former lovers are part of the story as Valentine's former lover/spy partner is in this book, especially when it doesn't really add anything. The situations are unbelievable, but the historic details that the author chooses to focus on are fascinating. The story seemed a little underdeveloped. The couple doesn't have conversations that they should have and their HEA could have been flushed out more. Keep your expectations in check, and you'll enjoy this book.

I was provided with an ARC for an honest review.

She's a duke's sister and in potential trouble. He's a retired spy and a duke on her trail. The book is funny, interesting and romantic. I love both characters. I like the growth that both characters have to go through in order to be together. The mystery is engaging and a good one. A fun and romantic story. :)

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After being expected to be the perfect lady, Lady Bronwyn Chase longs for adventure. She has seen her brother and sister in law take what they want, and be happy, so why can't she? Soon, she finds herself on a liner bound for America, transporting secret documents to the American war effort. If she was discovered to be the mysterious Kestral, she would be in a world of danger, so discovering that her brother's friend, Valentine Medford, the Duke of Thornbury, is also on board the SS Valor has thrown a spanner in the works. Valentine may be a duke, but he's also a retired crown agent, and his last mission is to find, and stop, the spy known as the Kestral. This Kestral has state secret's which may bring down the government, and prove disastrous to all, and so Valentine will do whatever it takes to stop him - though discovering Bronwyn and needing to protect her proves difficult, especially when the truth is revealed.

I wanted to learn more about Bronwyn after seeing what she had to put up with with her wicked mother in the previous book, and her story was even better than I could expect! She had lived a sheltered, and privileged life, but wanted to help others in any way she could, and when she learnt about the opportunity to transport letters to help, Bronwyn jumped at the chance. Yes, it is dangerous, but being the 'Kestral' was fun, and seemed helpful, so Bronwyn was willing to risk it. However, she could never have expected it to get as bad as it did, and though she wasn't happy to see Valentine originally, she would have been lost without him, and his help. Valentine was a hard nut to crack, but his history as an agent had hardened him, and he wasn't new to espionage, like Bronwyn, so didn't have any rose tinted glasses on when it came to what she was doing. I liked the dynamic between the couple, and though they were very different people, they brought out the best in each other, and changed for the better. The mystery aspect to the story wasn't that difficult to crack, but enjoyable nonetheless, and I couldn't put the book down once I started it. Another great book from Amalie, and I look forward to her next one!