I usually love a marriage of convenience story, but this one was hard for me to get through. I was frustrated with both characters and didn’t really see any chemistry on the page. They misunderstood each other constantly—I’m not sure how many times they had some variation of “you misunderstand everything I say!” “Well maybe that’s because you’re always saying the wrong thing!”

I think maybe their arguments were supposed to illustrate how ~passionate~ they are, but I just wasn’t sold. I thought maybe it would pay off with some steam at the end, but that was a letdown too.

Even at the end of the book, Fredericka is still failing to communicate, basically just stomping around and not even telling Wyatt what has happened because “everything is ruined and there’s no way to fix it so I’m leaving” (my paraphrase). Just no character development at all for either of them.

The whole conflict with Jane was tedious. The backstory for Fredericka and Wyatt seemed kind of thrown together and didn’t actually make me sympathize with either of them—you’re a grown man, you really can’t have a poem in your house? And you’re a grown woman who can’t understand why teens would’ve been annoyed to have a little sister following them around?

Also a little inconsistency: Fredericka’s eyes were described as golden brown but then in the pillow fort scene they were described as blue, and boy did that yank me out of the story so fast.

This book was a bit tedious to read and missed the mark for me. Usually, I'm pretty forgiving when it comes to historical romance, but this book was a drag and took me a week to get through when it generally only takes a couple of days. Wyatt and Fredricka didn't have much chemistry and honestly, I don't see when they would have time to develop it considering that they were always either with the kids or Wyatt was off with his friends. It wasn't believable when they fell in love because they barely knew each other, at no point did they communicate or get to know each other, they just thought the other was hot. Also, I could not stand the miscommunication between them, they were truly the worst when it came to over and underreacting. I cannot believe how Wyatt didn't why Fredricka was so strict with the kids when she had so much to lose by not being so, he completely compromised her custody of the children. And Fredricka was so narrow-sighted, she never once thought to hear him out, she was constantly jumping to conclusions and jumping down his throat. I just can't. They were too annoying, every time they had an obstacle or challenge it went back to their childhood trauma, which wasn't even that serious tbh. They were both shallow, surface-level characters. Their inner monologue was way too wordy and boring and made reading the book a chore. Don't even get me started on Jane, she was a terrible character and her redemption arc was weak af. None of their actual problems beyond the custody of the children was ever resolved either.

Rating: 1.5/5
Spice: 1/5

What to expect:
- Duel pov
- Fade to black
- Historical romance
- Miscommunication
- Marriage of convenience
- Custody battle

I’m all for learning about characters’ history and why they are the way that they are. And you can’t forget about character growth. I love that stuff. However, there might’ve been a little bit too much of the author explaining why Fredericka and Wyatt were acting the way that they were. Whenever they were a bad example/person to another, their excuses were always the same. Fredericka was called a nuisance when she was a child and Wyatt’s father always told him that a wife is too demanding. I’m telling you that whenever anything went wrong, these two things were always brought up. It was actually really annoying because it was almost every single chapter.

Sorry for that rant.

I also thought that Fredericka was somewhat annoying. She took everything to heart and never stuck around for an explanation of what was actually happening in that specific situation. She was very whiny.

Those were my two issues with this book. The plot was good and I love the marriage of convenience trope. It’s not a must-read but I wouldn’t deter you from reading it either.

The premise of the book is great, both MC's need to marry in a hurry. This book could be described as slow burn, I mean sloooooooow burn. There is so much time spent apart and then doing things with the children I just could not understand how 2 adults found time to actually fall in love. The writing was fine but the story was a slog to get through.

What can I say? I feel like maybe HR is a genre especially susceptible to reader/main character "vibe". This one wasn't a match for me, although Wyatt wasn't so far off the mark that I disliked him. Fredericka, on the other hand, just wasn't a good read for me.
So how to rate this book when it wasn't my cup of tea? Well, I can absolutely see where this would be delightful for a reader who connects with both main characters! The plot moves along at a decent pace and the side characters are effective. I thought the writing really settled into a good groove around Chapter 6 and that carried through the rest of the novel (it felt like an over-exertion to establish all the basics - she needs to marry, she is attracted to him, he needs to marry, he is attracted to her - in the first 5 chapters). I guess I settle on a 2.5 rounded up to 3. It wasn't poorly written, I just didn't connect with it. So I split it down the middle and let other readers make up their own minds.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am having a hard time putting my thoughts into words for this one. I really like the premise of the story (I mean, marriage of convenience, hello?!) but the way the story played out was not to my taste. The last third went in a direction I felt was totally unfair to the heroine, and I didn't ever quite believe the Duke was a rake in need of reforming.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I’ve been craving a regency romance for a long time, just have never gotten around to reading one and this book sadly didn’t hit the mark for me. The book revolves around Fredericka Hale who needs a husband to keep custody of her sister's children and Wyatt who needs to get married in order to receive the inheritance his grandmother has left for him. From the start, I wasn’t a fan of either character. Fredericka was intolerable and Wyatt always had to correct her parenting methods which drove me insane. The only experiences he's had with kids, is being a child and his boarding school days and it was just so bad. The storyline was all over the place in a way. Obviously it revolves mainly around him getting her inheritance and her getting the kids but when it came to the kids it was all him telling her she needed to let them do this etc, or her fighting with Jane. And don’t even get me started on Jane, I hated her character the most and the redemption that the author attempted to give her at the end wasn’t possible for me. I can’t see that character being redeemed.
The romance in this book felt wrong and forced. Although it's a marriage of convenience I think this is one time, I’ll say them ‘ falling in love ‘ didn’t feel like they were actually falling in love. Yeah he wants to kiss her and all that throughout the story but it just felt like there was romance added to have romance. All he did was correct her and she misunderstood him all the time. Its more than lust for one another than love.
Overall, I’m glad I got the opportunity to read this, but maybe this regency romance just wasn’t for me.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The familiar Mary Poppins and marriage of convenience tropes have been done over many, many times but author Amelia Grey takes these common themes and give them a fresh interpretation in her Regency romance Truly Yours, The Duke, the first book in her Say I Do trilogy. In a nutshell, a worldly duke marries a simple country girl, responsible for her deceased sister's young children. It seems a redundant tale but this tale stands out from all those that precede it.

The Duke of Wyatthurst is a typical rake of the privileged class, and yet, he isn't. The reader incrementally discovers the emotional depth of this character as the story unravels. A real grabber is how Grey lets the reader in on what goes through the Duke's mind, how his experiences affect him, and his unwavering desire to please people. If all dukes were like this one, imagine what a beautiful world this would be, and Grey plants this seed in the reader's mind.

Country girl Fredericka Hale is a disciplinarian, switching the typical Mary Poppins/Maria von Trapp compassionate matriarch and free spirited character to a rigid military sergeant. Grey takes the story a step further and explores what makes Fredericka a disciplinarian, and the explanation is applicable and relatable to real life situations. Her two nieces and one nephew each have distinguishable characters, which make the story further relatable to the reader.

Grey's writing style is easy to comprehend, fostering an emotional attachment between the reader and the hero and heroine she creates. The perceptive quality of her storytelling makes the story engaging, and her talent to develop the characters and their individual traits is well written and well thought out.

Grey's novel is a read that makes audiences feel good, and one that other writers can find inspiration in to further elaborate on very common tropes in the romance genre. It is a joy and an enlightening adventure to read a story like the one Grey has conceived and weaved.

If you like a slow burn romance then YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE is just the ticket. It is the first book in the, Say I Do, series. Fredericka Hale is awarded custody of her sister's three young children following her untimely death. She loves the kids dearly. Although, Fredericka's cousin who is barren tries to fight for custody of the kids, claiming she is unsuitable mother material. So, Fredericka must get married and fast! Will she find anyone to marry?

Wyatt, a strikingly handsome man, is the Duke of Wayatthaven. He learns that he needs to wed within a week after finding out his grandmother's inheritance stipulations after her recent death. He finds out through his solicitor of Miss Hale's predicament and swiftly pens a marriage proposal along with the help from his lifelong friends. Fredericka accepts. Will their plans go awry?

They each are stubborn and independent. Wyatt prefers London and his bachelor ways. Fredericka prefers the country and the children. She shows up at his home in the city, after startling news from her cousin, with the three children in tow. Their plans of remaining apart come to an abrupt halt. However, their attraction is apparent and passion blossoms. Wyatt can't deny his fascination of the fiery, pretty lady. Will he give up his bachelor ways and give in to his consuming passion of her? Does obstinate Fredericka open up her heart and let love in?

YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE is a bold and daring story starring a stubborn couple who marry to satisfy stipulations in their inheritances. Fredericka and Wyatt are perfect for each other but refuse to admit that they are in love. Both are strong-willed and smart. Fredericka is a warm, compassionate mother and dedicated to taking care of her sister's children. However, her dreadful cousin requests the court to give them to her. The children are adorable and likable. I loved the whole family atmosphere with doting Wyatt as a father figure. Wyatt's friends help him out quite a bit in this story. This is quite a romantic story that kept me reading into the night. Each have flaws and emotional baggage they must overcome before heading into a relationship. It was entertaining to see how the author expertly handles all the pressures of taking care of kids. A fantastic historical romance with a fancy flair!

This was my first Amelia grey, and I have mixed feelings. I’ll definitely read more, but was not blown away. First, it was a slow burn, but the lay off wasn’t what I thought. Not quite closed door, but the heat was lacking, I enjoyed the main characters relationship and watching it develop but the subplot where her cousin tries to take her sisters kids away was underdeveloped and lacked motivation.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley. I think that this was a very sweet book. While romantic it is not a spicy read. I read a lot of romance novels and I do enjoy something that is a little less spicy. For me it almost acts as a palate cleanser between books that are a little more graphic in that regard. The is a book that is more story and character driven and I loved the banter and chemistry between Fredericka and Wyatt. My favorite part of the book was the tension that you could feel between Fredericka and her cousin Jane. It made me so angry just reading about it. The one thing that I disliked about the book is that it seemed to move slowly and then it just ended abruptly. With so much build up, I thought there would be a more climatic ending.

Fredericka needs to marry to be guardian to her nieces and nephew and Wyatt needs a wife to get his inheritance.

This is a marriage of convenience slow burn that teases and then slams shut the bedroom door and throws the lock. If you set a tone for fireworks for an entire book, readers expect fireworks.

I wanted more conversations between the couple that didn’t involve their different opinions on child rearing and Fredericka being too strict. And as a result, Fredericka comes off as unlikable. Wyatt’s reasons for competition and gambling came too late in the story for me to connect with, especially for a series setup. The legalities of some of the actions taken didn’t fit with the regency era, but if I was more entertained I wouldn’t complain. And the attempted redemption of the villain at the end was a let down after she had behaved so spitefully.

This was a 3-3.5 star book for me. I usually love the marriage of convenience trope, but this one didn't work that well for me. It was kind of aggravating that even well into the book the two main characters were still having trouble with communication and dealing with their problems. I did not feel like the romance was built all that well either, since for most of the book the two would argue, which would be followed by some passionate kissing based off of how good-looking they thought the other looked. However, the arguments never really ended with a solution. There were some really cute interactions between the Duke and the three kids. Cousin Jane and the constant misunderstandings kind of ruined the book though. Overall, this was an okay read. Maybe others would like it better than I did, so still give this a try!

I voluntarily read this e-ARC.

What can I say? Even though I don't want to be too harsh, this book was decidedly not my cup of tea.
Even though I loved the hero, Wyatt, almost every other character in the book hit me wrong. The heroine seemed to pick fights, and I didn't like the way she treated the children that she was willing to sacrifice so much for. And the "bad guy" (who is truly horrible) never really changed but was still rewarded for it! The way the children were written was off.
There were some huge historical anachronisms (which I'll leave out for spoilers). I felt like the writing was pretty clunky and stiff.
Sadly, it wasn't something I enjoyed.

Star Rating: 1.5/5
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, insta lust, slow burn
CW: Death, toxic relationship

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was fine, but I didn’t find the chemistry between the main characters super believable and the conflict could have been solved a lot earlier with some conversation.

This author was never one of my favorites, but this book has just changed my mind! Spoiler alert! Spoilers are included in this review.
This book was a charming tale of romance, childhood hurts, familial tensions and orphans losing their parents.
The story opens with the hero, a duke of about 28 years, drunk with his two friends, trying to write a letter to a young lady who needed to be married as much and as quickly as he did. His solicitor had located her and he was trying to write a letter to let her know that he wanted to marry her for his own reasons. His friends decide that the letter lacks warmth, tenderness and above all, romance. So they drunkenly create a letter with all.of the current romantically poetic license.
The heroine is a young woman of about 23 who has custody of her deceased sister's three children. She has had them for about a year and is trying to keep them on a minimum allowance and on the property that will one day be turned over to her nephew. Her cousin, who is the same age as her sister and who her and her sister grew up with is trying to get custody because she can't have children. At one point the cousin offers to split the children, which was not agreed to. The heroine and her sister lost their parents and her aunt and uncle took them in and they were 'sisters' to her.cousin. Since her sister and cousin were the same age, they left the heroine out of their doings. The heroine always felt left out, unwanted and unloved. She needs a husband of wealth and prestige who can fight for her to keep the children.
The hero appeared at the heroine's home and met her when she was trying to get ready to have a visit from a prospective husband. The children had been playing in the drawing room and it was a mess. They had cleaned up and were sitting nicely. The hero walked in expecting the heroine to have read his revised letter and was surprised that she did not know why he was there. Well, dukes do not explain themselves to anyone. But he ended up telling her about their upcoming marriage. She said she would like to think about it, but then the other candidate showed up. The hero insisted she make her decision, she agrees to marry him and he sneaks out the back so the other guy doesnt see him.
I really enjoyed this book. It looks like it will be a series and, I have to say this, I enjoyed the bickering between the three dukes. I think this series will be about three dukes who fall in love and are too stupid to realize it, until it is almost too late. I liked that the dukes were in a sports competition club where any money they made on wagers was going to support a hospital that they opened and ran for soldiers of the Napeonic wars. The hero's father maintained a hospital for the wounded soldiers of the American Revolutionary War (I forget what the British call that war, the Colonial Revolt, I think). The three of these dukes are so very entertaining. I hope this continues through out the series. I liked that this was not a sweet novel, but that the love scenes were very circumspect and not sensual. The inti.ate scenes were told in a very tasteful manner.
I give this book 5 stars and recommend reading.

A marriage of convenience. I don't think I could do that. But he needs to marry to get his grandmother's estate and she wants to keep her dead sister's children. So they marry and go their separate ways. Then she shows up at his townhome in London. Let the sparks fly! I liked this story. The characters were interesting, the children, oh the poor children. They did me reasons to smile. A good story for sure.

I "truly" enjoyed reading this book. It was a reverse in characters. In Yours Truly, The Duke, Fredericka is the disciplinarian to the point that people notice in the children. Wyatt is the one that makes sure that the children get the fun that they need. Wyatt is very generous but hides it from the world. I highly recommend this book.

The novel was well written in that very proper English style, with honest and authentic yet polite relationships and interactions. The situation with the children was intense, and for me, derailed the romance. The entire story is very serious, and more about how a family came to be than how a couple came to be. I appreciated the way the pair learn to coparent and unpack their own childhood baggage in the process, which feels like a very "now" movement. The epilogue felt out of character for Jane - a force to make a squeaky clean ending when the novel seemed very comfortable with challenging concepts and family dynamics throughout up to that point. I will recommend and read the sequels.

Yours Truly; The Duke by A. Grey, published by St. Martin's Press, is a historical romance.
Fredericka needs a husband quickly. She’s the caregiver for her sister's children, but now another cousin has petitioned the court for custody.She can't do much, buthaving a husband might help her win. . So when the Duke of Wyatthaven shows up with a proposal, she accepts. He'll help her, and in return, they’ll lead separate lives. But different lives can't keep them from their attraction.
A sweet romance that gives all the feels. A great read, 4,5 stars.