This was my first introduction to Vivienne Lorret.
The fake relationship trope is not for me. I think this colored my reception of the story, but I do enjoy enemies to lovers.
Magnus and Verity did have good chemistry and the secondary characters were enjoyable without detracting from or adding too much fluff to the overall plot. I did feel as though the story dragged on for a bit, but overall was pleased with how it wrapped up.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review.

Charmed!

I am positively charmed by this delightful romance. It has so much heart, so much swooning, and so much laughter! If I wasn’t in the midst of a fainting spell over how intense the leads’ chemistry hit me, I was doubled over in whole body laughing. Gosh, I could not stop just grinning throughout this read! Charming is the word I would use to best describe this book. A book led by two charismatic characters with a love story that simply could not be stopped— no matter how hard each tried! And boy did they try!

Verity and Magnus.

Magnus and Verity.

Whew! What an iconic pair. What a gorgeous slow burn, reluctant romance!

If anyone ever needs an example for what bantering between a romantic pair should look like, Verity and Magnus have it down pat. They have it down iron clad. Their bantering was truly the best verbal sparring. They were like a pair of cowboys about to duel at high noon, except with boat loads of intense sexual and emotional chemistry. Fireworks, friends, fireworks! Enemies to lovers done properly, bantering done properly, chemistry that never once plateaus done properly!!!

I really missed reading historical romances, it’s been hmm…close to two months I think, so this book truly came at the most perfect time. I needed a good one too, a truly good one, and this hit all the marks. If I have a singular qualm is that I felt the book had a bit of a slow start, I didn’t immediately engage with it, but my goodness, once Magnus and Verity shared a scene I was all in (even as they were clamoring to get away from each other as much as they could)! Just all in.

I lamented how quickly I went through this one, but I simply couldn’t stop.

If you want a love story that brings onto the page a fiery passion along with bellies full of laughs, be sure to pick up It Had to Be a Duke. 4.5✨

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing! Both of the characters were very different and it seemed like their story wouldn’t have a happy ending. But they pulled through!

But like a loving three stars!

Lorret may be my favorite, most consistent, a little wallpaper-y author. I had quibbles with some language/rhetoric she uses. (Like if we’re getting a wallpaper-y book already, let’s get rid of the 26 year old heroine being so concerned about her age that when someone trying to kill her calls her a “young woman” her reaction is “you think I look young??” blegh).

But Lorret is from the school of Kleypas-kidnapping plots and she is pretty good at plot payoff! Also the way she does *themes* is maybe her biggest skill. That I can describe this both in trope terms (fake dating that comes from a one sided lie) and thematic questions (what do lying and fears have to do with each other?) feels novel in a 2023 romance, that just so often have mad-libbed tropes strung together.

I would recommend this to someone who wants to read something in a day and have a little cry, if they are prone to crying and/or are an oldest sister. I am also excited for the series overall! She does good interconnectedness.

A Regency Romance with a made up engagement that spoils all the best laid plans. To show up a neighbor’s spoiled daughter (she names her The Tick in her head), Verity fakes the engagement with a duke, Magnus. When he hears this he is enraged and quickly sets off to confront her. You see he must marry an heiress whose dowry will save the impoverished dukedom. And that is *not* Verity. Not only is she penniless but he believes Verity’s father swindled his, leading to said impoverished state. Their families are enemies. He needs to end this farce so he can wed an heiress.

However, as Magnus gets to know Verity they begin to fall in love. For both, duty and ‘doing the right thing’ are the bedrock of their belief systems. They struggle over duty vs. desire.

Verity is wonderful. She thinks she is plain and boring and forgettable. But you see her little quirks - and some big ones as well- and watch her come out of her shell. She is compelled to tell the truth (except for that whopping engagement lie) and the things that come out of her mouth can be so funny.

Magnus is hot but he is torn up over his desire for Verity while knowing he cannot marry her. Of course, they eventually let their desire take over (who knew?) and it is a pretty good love scene. But now what? The dilemma still stands. Read on, gentle reader…

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really liked this one, so I stayed up all night to read it in one sitting. It has great pacing, delightful characters, and some danger and daring-do. I am quite looking forward to reading more books in this series and seeing where the loose ends of other characters lead.

I really enjoyed this book. It hit different to me than other historical romance fictions. I enjoyed how unpredictable I found the book. The chemistry between Verity and Magnus was fantastic. Speaking of fantastic, I enjoyed the entire ensemble of characters. From the villagers to Ms. Snow, nobody felt like a prop. If I had one complaint it would be the ending; I would’ve liked an epilogue, but I gathered from the ending this wasn’t the last we’d seen of these characters.