Amelia was born second in a royal fan, the spare, especially as her older sister assumed the throne, she's at loose ends and has been sent to find a husband appointed matchmaker and all. Never one to hold her tongue or rein in her impulses she is making a splash with the local society just not the impression she was hoping for. With many suitors but no spark she finds herself more of a bothersome than a love match. While her hostess' impatience and Amelia's unneeded advice she finds exploring the countryside freeing. But on her walks she comes in contacted with a dark figure. Joshua has exiled himself to his estate after the loss of his wife and unborn child, allowing his home to be shrouded in darkness but coming in contact with the impetuous royal has thrown him for a loop. Can a brooding duke and a flirtatious princess connect? Chemistry, adorable little girls and quirky friends make this an enjoyable read.

Princess Amelia is in London to find a husband. She does tend to be outspoken and says what she thinks. She doesn’t understand why people get upset! Amelia finds ways to entertain herself, including helping out at the girl’s school. Joshua, Duke of Marley has become something of a recluse. He lives close to where Amelia is staying. The more they come in contact with each other so their feelings grow but Joshua has sworn off marriage due to past circumstances. This was an entertaining read with some humour and some romantic moments. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ok...so I really wanted to love this book. The blurb sounded really good, and ordinarily I really like this author's books. I didn't really connect with the characters in the first book but I was really hoping it was a fluke. I am sad to say, it wasn't for me. The writing is still good, the story isn't bad. But I couldn't stand the female lead. She annoyed me to no end. She was childish and immature, and I don't care how sheltered and such you are-she was just mean at some points. If I could have reached through a book and smacked someone, it would be her. Marley is grumpy and wasn't a bad character, I liked him to a point just because he has valid reasons for being the way he is. So, some people might love this story-I definitely didn't because I just couldn't stand Amelia, not anything about her.

Unconventional Princess Amelia is searching for a royal mate. The Duke of Marley has been a recluse ever since the deaths of his wife and newborn child. Can Amelia’s warmth and bright spirit open his heart?

This is a beautiful and deeply emotional story. Amelia is a delight, the little girls are adorable, and Marley’s grief is heartbreaking. It’s an uplifting and satisfying grumpy/sunshine romance.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What’s a Princess to do?

Queen Justine of Wesloria loves her sister, but Amelia keeps expressing her rather forceful opinions, and doing the occasional outrageous action, like kissing a footman. It’s time to bring in the heavies—in particular, Lady Lila Aleksander, the matchmaker. Princess Amelia is to be sent to England for a stay in a country home, where she’ll be introduced to eligible parties.
All Amelia wants is for her opinions to be respected and someone to accept her as she is.
She didn’t count on being nearly knocked down by the Grim Reaper, as she dubs the Joshua Parker, the Duke of Marley, a recluse struggling with circumstances surrounding the death of his wife in childbirth.
Beckett Hawke, the Earl and of Iddesleigh and his wife Blythe have five daughters, and Amelia delights in them. I particularly liked that she played games with them, taught them the rules of duelling, and how to wear a tiara. A bored Amelia walks the girls to school and takes on some organising tasks for the headmaster, Mr. Roberts. In doing so she comes across letters of complaint penned by a concerned resident of Devonshire (the Duke).
Amelia and the Duke enter into a very funny correspondence over a girls lessons, and their singing that’s annoyingly loud (in the Duke’s opinion)
The men Amelia meets are dismissive of her opinions (in the nicest condescending way). She despairs of finding anyone who jogs her interest. Well except for the Duke of Marley, and really it’s his rudeness and chiding of her that she resents.
A lively romance with an equally lively and somewhat lost lady.

A Harlequin Trade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Amelia Ivanosen, Princess of Wesloria, is a free spirit who tells it like it is. This tends to get her in trouble. Before she does anything that really gets her in trouble, she is sent to England and an illustrious matchmaker is recruited. She’s at the country estate of a family friend and introduced to many eligible bachelors, but she can’t seem to find one that has that spark unless the man is completely wrong for her.
Joshua Parker, Duke of Marley, lives next door. He is grumpy and reclusive because his first wife died in childbirth. He and Amelia dislike each other. Their banter is snarky and heated. He’s stuck up and she’s annoying.
They supposedly annoy each other whenever they meet.
This is an enemies to lovers story. Enjoyable but I wonder why Joshua refuses to move on in his life and how if he’s so grumpy and reclusive, Amelia falls in love with him.

THE DUKE NOT TAKEN by Julia London is just as fun as the first book in this series. Our heroine this time is Princess Amelia, the spare heir in the Weslorian Royal Family. Amelia has spent her entire life working to get out of her sister’s shadow, and if often lands her in trouble. Now that Justine is queen (the story from Book 1, LAST DUKE STANDING), it’s Amelia’s turn to find her prince.

Meanwhile, our hero, Joshua, Duke of Marley is the Beast in our Beauty and the Beast tale. He, too, was a spare heir until circumstances thrust him into the ducal seat. An ensuing personal tragedy has left him isolated in his grief and away from society.

I found so many things to like about this novel. A touch of “You’ve Got Mail,” snarky dialogue and Amelia being forced to grow up as she learns more about who she is by participating in “traditional activities,” like taking long walks.

I enjoyed watching Amelia and Joshua move toward their HEA.

Although part of a set, THE DUKE NOT TAKEN can be read alone.

Charming continuation of Julia London's A Royal Match series. The road to this happily ever after was full of laughter and heartache for Princess Amelia and Joshua, the Duke of Marley. What started out as dislike between the two, becomes an unlikely relationship which in the end is based on trust. Even though it was a given, I was rooting for Amelia and Joshua all the way, and totally enjoying the ride.

I've already read the book twice. In fact, it's ended up being one of my all-time favorites written by Julia London.

In London's capable hands, the characters in this book (even the four-legged ones) practically leap from the pages. They are all wonderfully developed, including secondary characters, though it's Amelia and Joshua who take the lead. The friction between these two could start a forest fire (though actual romantic scenes are very mild). Their banter is lively, witty, and non-stop but when we finally reach the point where it takes a deeper turn, London gives them the opportunity to reveal their hearts, their fears, and their dreams in a sweet, poignant way that they've not done with anyone else. Their slowly evolving romance is endearing, snarky, humorous in parts, heart-tugging in others, and had me cheering them on throughout.

The secondary cast shines without taking the spotlight from our opinionated princess (who just wants to be like everyone else) and grumpy duke (who just wants to be left alone). The young girls are hilarious and help reveal hidden facets of Amelia's personality while driving Joshua around the bend with their loud and off-key singing...until the youngest among them starts knocking down the walls around his heart. Miles, Lord Clarendon, is the kind of best friend every brokenhearted duke deserves. Lila, the matchmaker is at her wit's end trying to match a princess who seems set on taking the most difficult path to love possible. And Donovan, who has appeared in both book one of this series and in the A Royal Wedding series, just may be my favorite Julia London character ever. If you've yet to meet Donovan, picture Mary Poppins as a drop-dead gorgeous, gay man beloved by parents and children alike, and you have Donovan. Wherever he goes, laughter, joy, and well-planned organization follow. There's a garden scene in this book involving Donovan that could easily be missed if you blink, but its poignant simplicity is enormous for its emotional depth. My thanks to the author for including it. It filled my heart with joy and brought me to tears.

And then there are the letters. I adore an epistolary romance. So much is revealed, even - maybe especially - when the letter writers don't realize to whom they're writing. The letters between "a concerned resident of Devonshire" (actually Joshua) and the "Master of the Iddesleigh School for Girls" (actually written by Amelia) are humorous, thought-provoking, and such a delightful way of offering insight into these two characters as well as (unknowingly) deepening the relationship between the two.

Finally, London wraps things up with an epilogue (I do love epilogues) that had the happy tears flowing. This book made me laugh, snort, sigh, and, yes, cry. It's going to my keeper shelf. I have a feeling it's destined to become one of those comfort reads I turn to when I need a feel-good story to soothe my soul.

ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Another winner! Love the characters, the grumpy Duke of Marley and the tell it as I see it Princess Amelia from Wesloria, but the children almost steal the show. This is book 2 in the series, since Queen Justine found her happily ever after in England she sends her sister Amelia with the Royal matchmaker to friends in the English countryside. On the way to their final destination a man dress all in black races by their carriage on a black horse scaring the passengers. The Grim Reaper! Shouts Amelia, but then she runs into him again only to later find out he is the Duke.
Joshua doesn’t need anyone or anything, just wants to be left alone to wallow in his misery. His friend has other plans for him and drags him to a picnic, a ball, a dinner party, he just doesn’t give up on Joshua. And of course there seems to be loud annoying children everywhere and the Princess who doesn’t know that her opinion is not needed or wanted.
The author captures the true essence of the children, seen and not heard doesn’t cut it in this story. A story of overcoming guilt for what one cannot control. Being yourself no matter what gossips whisper and loving that person as they are. I just couldn’t put it down!
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheDukenotTaken #JuliaLondon

4.5/5 - The Duke Not Taken by Julia London, book two in her Royal Match series, is a wonderful, enjoyable, charming, humorous tale following Amelia Ivanosen, Princess of Wesloria and Joshua Parker, Duke of Marley. Amelia needs to find a husband and Joshua has not gotten over the death of his wife in childbirth. Amelia has been forced to travel to England to find a husband, with the help of Lila, a matchmaker. This is an attempt by her sister Queen Justine to curb Amelia’s impetuous nature and help her find happiness. Staying with family friends, Amelia seems destined to keep bumping into their nearest neighbor, Joshua, often under very unpleasant circumstances. Amelia is spirited and engaging; says what she thinks while searching for her place in this world. Joshua is grumpy and lost in the depths of his grief; although it’s not a grief he can share with anyone. If only he could get the kids at that darn school to stop making such a racket so he could wallow in peace and storm across the land looking like the grim reaper. There are numerous mishaps and humorous situations occurring as these two are thrown into each other’s company, sometimes by accident, sometimes not. Although they might not like each other, they have a lot in common; from their mutual love of dogs and children to their beliefs that love can only exist in a relationship of compatibility.

Ms. London wrote a wonderful story filled with humor, witty banter, warmish love scenes, wonderful leads, great secondary characters, secrets, scandals, a bit of heartache, and the magic of love that should not to be missed. I highly recommend The Duke Not Taken to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I wanted this to be a fun enemies to lovers story but I found attention seeking Amelia rude and immature, and the pace very slow.

I couldn’t get into the bored princess or the brood of little girls. It felt like the school girls got more page time than Joshua and Amelia, who didn’t even properly meet until %25 into the book.

Amelia not seeing Joshua’s “grand” gesture for herself and having his emotional reveal done through a letter was … a choice. Side characters from the first book and a related series appeared, so maybe fans of those can look past the rude princess and lack of conversations between the couple.

This maybe my favorite Julia London book ever. The characters are incredible and the chemistry is amazing. Amelia Ivanosen, Princess of Wesloria is one of my favorite characters. The matchmaker is great too. The banter between Amelia and Joshua is hilarious. I hope you will give the book a chance.

Ever since her sister became queen two years ago, Amelia Ivanosen, Princess of Wesloria, has been flirting and skirting scandal—just barely. Before she does anything too outlandish, she is sent to England and Lila Alexander, illustrious matchmaker to the ton, is recruited. Respectably ensconced at the country estate of a family friend, Amelia is introduced to many eligible bachelors, but…there is no spark. There never seems to be unless the man is completely wrong for her
Next door lives Joshua Parker, Duke of Marley, who is grumpy and reclusive—for good reason. His first wife died in childbirth. When Marley is dragged by a friend to his neighbor’s soiree, he and Amelia instantly dislike each other. Their banter is snarky and heated. He’s a stuck-up smarty-pants; she’s a self-involved, annoying princess.
Sparks fly when they’re together—fireworks actually—but they loathe each other. Really. So why can’t they stop thinking about each other?
Amelia and Joshua are meant to be together.
Sparks fly when the two of them are together. Julia London has written another good book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily .

This is the second book in the Royal Match series. This is about the younger sister, Amelia who is sent to England to meet eligible bachelor. Next door lives Joshua, Duke of Marley. He is grumpy and reclusive. It is hate at first sight.....

I didn't like Amelia in the first book too much because she was too spoiled. But she redeems herself here. Joshua is terrific. Love their banter and fights.... So much chemistry.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

The Duke Not Taken
Book 2 in the Royal Match Series
Rating: DNF at 30%
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.


*********SPOILERS************



It really hurts me to do this because I really wanted to give it a chance, but I just couldn't. Amelia was not a very likeable FL for me. I just couldn't stand her behavior. Though she's 26 she behaves a little immature. I understand she's lived a very secluded and overprotective life but some of her thoughts and comments were a little hurtful to those around her. Some of the comments she makes are rude and she doesn't even realize it until someone lets her know. She then proceeds to shrug it off. She read to me like a spoiled teenager who needs constant attention.
Her only redeemable quality was how she treated the daughters of the family she was staying with in England. Sad to say I read up to the part where she is riding a horse with one of the girls and was close to getting both of them hurt and possibly killed.
In regards to Marley I don't have much to say. He's a grumpy duke that has suffered loss and has some kind of interest in Amelia when he meets her at a picnic.

I will give it a 2 star rating only because I feel it was more of me not getting into the story than the story itself. It's not badly written...I just was not a fan of the bored princess

Ok. Fine. I’ll admit it. I cried at the end. This was such a lovely book, and Amelia is such a wonderful heroine! Lively and engaging and says what she thinks and is searching for her place in this world and is a princess to boot! Our hero, on the other hand? Joshua is grumpy and lost in the depths of his grief, although it’s not a grief he can share with anyone. If only he could get the kids at that darn school to stop making such a racket so he could wallow in peace and storm across the land looking like the grim reaper!

I loved this story and loved watching Amelia find out what she wanted out of life. Julia London is such a brilliant and engaging author and writes the best characters!

I usually enjoy London's books, but this one just wasn't quite there for me - I did appreciate the callbacks to the first book in the series (though you don't need to have read the first to understand or enjoy this one).

I think my main issue was that the protagonist was so immature, and I didn't truly believe in her relationship with Joshua.

This is part two of the series, and is related to a different series, but it can stand just fine on it's own.

I really enjoyed this book. Both of the main characters are searching for something, and while they don't know what it is yet, it's obvious they are drawn to one another. I liked the letters they shared, without realizing they were writing to one another, which gave the story some levity.

I strongly recommend this book.

I generally really like Julia London's books, but the characters in this one didn't do it for me. Princess Amelia is 26 years old and treated like she's about 15, and acts like it. She thinks she knows about life and wants to experience it, then does reckless things like try and make an entrance racing a horse she's never ridden into a picnic because she saw someone else do it once. She complains about not having a purpose but doesn't seem to really be working to find a purpose for herself either. She's headstrong, opinionated and never understands why people are insulted by what she says, although you'd think as a princess she would have had to learn a lot about diplomacy. I appreciate wanting to be loved and accepted for who she is, but it seems like she not only isn't sure who she is, she doesn't care to try and fit into even the most basic social molds that she has to know exists. Joshua has been punishing himself for years for the death of his wife and child, blaming himself when it is the kind of thing that tragically is common no matter your rank. Instead of trying to maybe improve medical care for others to give them a chance, he is sunk in depression and trying to unload his estates and dukedom. The few people trying to drag him back to life have a thankless job and I don't really see how either character managed to attract the other's attention, let alone appeal. I found it hard to believe throughout the book. None of the characters were very likable to me and the plot dragged terribly while we waited for something to happen- presumably enough time to pass to believe that Joshua and Amelia could fall for each other. Which I still didn't.
Sadly, this one didn't do it for me and I can't say I'd recommend it to others.