Tropes: fish out of water, MC blackmailed, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, interfering in-law, Big Secret

3.25 stars. I loved the cover for this book and was interested in reading a HR with a multicultural angle. The writing style is strong. Unfortunately, other than the MFC mentioning how she never quite fit with the Ton and felt like an outsider due to the color of her skin, there is no exploration of her roots or of prejudice during the Regency period. There is an underlying connection the MFC, Hettie, feels with her manipulative cousin Phillip due to race (she’s surprisingly easy on his behavior for the most part even so), but their childhoods aren’t well fleshed out. Phillip is just a two-dimensional sneering baddie. He runs hot-cold at times but has no compelling or redeeming qualities.

This is my biggest gripe with this book: thin characterizations and a storyline that gives into conventions. It isn’t a bad book, but based on the author’s smooth style it should have easily been a 4 star read. If only it didn’t bind itself up in trope constraints. Finn, the MMC, becomes unrecognizable in the second half due to these constraints. Hettie's mother-in-law is another example. Before Hettie and Finn marry, she thinks of Hettie as a “nobody” and unworthy of Finn, then once they’re married she’s childish and self-centered. She claims she doesn’t like Hettie because Hettie doesn’t love Finn (ridiculous considering how affectionate Hettie is toward Finn; besides, love didn’t seem to be a requirement when mom was pressuring Finn to marry other women). The concept of racism lurks here, but is never addressed. Later in the book the mom-in-law has an abrupt character arc, because it’s convenient for the plot.

I was honestly disappointed by Finn. He starts off as a true cinnamon roll hero, then when the nitty-gritty of why Hettie is being blackmailed comes out, he throws a huge temper tantrum. It would have been more realistic if he and Hettie hadn’t started out as friends, but strangers, because it’s really hard to reconcile the Finn of the first 65% with the Finn of the rest of the book. He never asked Hettie at the beginning for details surrounding her blackmailing and pursued her quite adamantly. He also stood up for her when his mom was being a bully. But he didn’t help Hettie with the blackmail plot until the very end, as he was too busy scorning her and languishing in his angst.

As far as Hettie goes, she is a bit of a “Mary Sue” and on the gullible side. She is likable for the most part and does have scenes where she stands up for herself, but she is is very much controlled by plot mechanisms. I would have loved for her not to have settled for the HEA given her at the end.

The early banter between Finn and Hettie is fun and sweet, and their chemistry is good (although the language and behavior are pretty modern). The pacing is rather slack in the first half, with the major conflict first being between Hettie and Phillip and then between Hettie and her mother-in-law, but I enjoyed the details about Finn’s clan and the insights into life in Scotland. There are a few stand-out steamy scenes, such as when they're swimming in the cave together and he calls her a "selkie". I was hoping for some more interactions between Hettie and the people of the clan.

It’s just too bad the author followed the HR script so closely and chose angst over character development and a meaty storyline.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.

Henrietta is being blackmailed to marry a man she doesn't love and wants her money, but she'll do anything to avoid scandal for her aunt and uncle to raised her.. Finn always had soft spot for Hattie, but he is late, she will marry someone else. Her uncle is a smart man, and help Henrietta and Findley.
Enjoyed storyline. love Henrietta and Findley

This is a wonderful story about a woman of color and a Scottish Duke who had been childhood friends.
Henrietta Montfort, an orphan, had always lived with her aunt and uncle. When her scheming cousin blackmails her by telling her that she is illegitimate and she should marry him, she has no choice but to accept since she doesn't want to ruin her uncle's family.
Lord Findley (Finn), a childhood friend of Henrietta's comes to town and decides to offer for Hetty.
She turns him down even though she would rather marry him. Her uncle intervenes and she tells him what her cousin is doing. He makes the arrangement with Finn to elope with Hetty to Scotland.
This was a very interesting and entertaining story. There was a lot of mistrust and angst between the two main characters and her cousin was truly a bad person. Finn's strong mother, who doesn't care for Hetty is also an interesting character in the book.
This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and these are my honest opinions.

I really loved the main characters in this book. Hettie and Finn knew each other when they were both children, then they lost touch. He returns at a troubled time in her life and swoops in to rescue her.
She is of African descent—which was a wonderful departure from other regency novels—spirited and kind, while Finn is Scottish, and everything any girl would want, until for a short time he isn’t. During that time I could feel his ache for Hettie and the warring emotions he was dealing with.
Of course to make the book even more interesting there’s blackmail, a new language to be learned, and a not so friendly mother-in-law. It was easy not to like the villain in the story. He was perfectly horrible.
At times I don’t think the language depicted the era or the setting. The author used Gaelic words occasionally, but in English there’s no Scottish inflection and conversations felt more modern day in places. This did not distract from my enjoyment of the book.
I recommend this book for those who love regency romance and would like a departure from the endless balls and social whirl of London.
I received a copy through NetGalley courtesy of Amara. This is my honest opinion of the book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I was invested in the love story and how the characters worked through the obstacles standing in their way.

thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

this book is more of a 3.5 stars or 3.75 but I enjoyed it far too much for it to be a 3 star, so I rounded up :)

One season with the duke revolves around Hettie (Henrietta) as she finds out that she might not be who she always assumed she was and is blackmailed into marrying her cousin. meanwhile Finn (Findley) has returned to London to find his childhood crush betrothed to someone he never expected her to be with. when she expresses doubt, he whiskes her off to London to marry her himself. from there on out the true story starts. both characters (for most of the book) are loveable, loyal, kind people, except one around the end (but this person is redeemed (somewhat)). <spoiler> of course it's Finn. he's the man, of course it's him. he finds out the secret and just becomes this awful man-child, incapable of reason and so fuelled by anger that he lashes out at everyone, to the point that his entire staff is frightened of him. he doesn't calm down until his mother (who did not like Hettie for most of the book) tells him to act right. like, he's being that awful. the fact Hettie forgave him at all is a miracle on its own, goddamn </spoiler>

as for the plot, you will be frustrated. such is the nature of this. both of these idiots will drive you wild in all the ways. you will flush at both the smut and the indignant anger of how stupid they're being.

one gripe I had with the book was the modern use of the word cuz and the public displays of affection. I did google when the word cuz was first in use (1889, so fifty some years after the epilogue) but it didn't gain popularity until well into the 90's so that was extremely jarring to read. another thing was the public displays of affection, a big no-no in victorian England. at one point Hettie is kissed by someone publicly and it's written that people cheer. I very much beg to differ. also, later on the story Hettie and Finn get handsy in public and I had to put the book away for a bit. it's small things like this that took me out the story multiple times.

other than those gripes, I did like the book, especially Hettie. Hettie is my darling. I want all the good things for her, no more hardships ever, thank you very much.

Ultimate Regency friends to marriage of convenience to lovers.

Childhood friends Hattie and Finn haven’t seen each other in several years and nearly miss their chance at happiness when Hattie’s cousin blackmails her into accepting his proposal. But when Finn comes along and convinces Hattie to run away to Scotland to get married - out of pure friendly, platonic reasons, of course - they are faced with new challenges as they try and build a life and marriage together.

Out main characters had an amazing relationship, that showcased their long friendship. I loved them both as individual characters and together, who made for great leads in a story with a lot of romance and intrigue.

I loved the third act break up. This is such a rarity for me but DuLac did incredibly well building up the reason for the break up throughout the book. It’s not over and forgotten within pages and the characters really have to emotionally work through the reasons it got to this point, reflect and learn to properly communicate with each other to get their HEA.

I’ve spend so much of the book going to the author’s profile on Goodreads to see if they have written something -anything- else because so many of the side characters felt like cameo appearances from characters of previous books in a series and I was disappointed that their love stories don’t exist in full length book formats.

In One Season with the Duke by Addy du Lac, we are given a sensitively and elegantly rendered historical romance involving a woman of color and a dashing Scottish Duke. Henrietta Monfort has always held her aunt and uncle in high esteem; they took her in and cared for her like she was their own child when she was orphaned at a young age. When a secret from her past threatens their children and their place in polite society, she sees no recourse other than to marry her blackmailing cousin. Since he reached his majority, Lord Findley (Finn) has been saddled with restoring his family home and lands to their former glory; he has had little time to contemplate marriage or daydream about his youthful crush on the delightful Henrietta. When he does take time to visit London, he finds that Henrietta is on the cusp of marriage and looks like anything BUT a happy soon to be bride! Will Finn be able to help Henrietta escape a forced marriage and if he does will her secret be more than he can ignore? I really enjoyed this author’s writing style, and she gave us a complex story that was still easy to read. The adversaries of the story were three dimensional, Finn’s formidable mother and Henrietta’s dastardly but troubled cousin; however, true love sweetly prevailed. I truly found some parts of the story heartbreaking to read. Finn and Henrietta are so appealing as a couple, and I found their story to be emotionally gratifying on all levels.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Entangled for a honest review.

One season with the Duke

Blackmail and intrigue
Henrietta feels trapped after being forced into an engagement in order to avoid scandal.
Finn finds himself going against familial obligations in a bid to gain happiness.

Henrietta has lived her life as an "other." Never quite fitting in.
Finn is determined to love and protect her.

I do feel as if the title is misleading. With the title, I assumed it would mean a season among the ton. But it's actually just a measure of time that the book encapsulates.

Overall a very good read. There's blackmail, danger, romance, and a mother-in-law.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Join me as we embark on a lively escapade through the pages of "One Season with the Duke." While this book didn't fully capture my heart, it still offered an entertaining journey with its fair share of humor and romance. Let's explore the ups and downs of this adventure together.

First, let's address the title. "One Season with the Duke" sounds grand and promising, but I found it slightly misleading. The story expands beyond the confines of a single season, venturing into unexpected territories. However, don't let that deter you, because hidden within this book lies a tale brimming with misadventures and unexpected twists.

The story takes off at a swift pace, throwing heiress Henrietta Monfort into a dire situation where she must marry a deceitful cousin due to a shocking revelation about her parentage. The urgency of her circumstances draws you in immediately, but unfortunately, as the plot progresses, the pacing slows down, losing some of its initial momentum. Patience is required as the narrative takes its time to build the foundation for what's to come.

Enter Lord Findley, a compassionate soul who has always held a soft spot for Hettie. Outraged by the villainous blackmail, he steps in to rescue her from a dreadful fate, even if it means a scandalous act. Their blossoming romance is undeniably charming, sparking moments of wit and warmth that bring a smile to your face.

As they embark on a race against time, evading a jilted crook in pursuit of Hettie's fortune, the story gains traction once again. Unexpected obstacles and a mélange of humorous situations inject a sense of adventure into the narrative. While the pacing may falter at times, the author's ability to keep you guessing and engaged cannot be denied.

I would like to express my appreciation to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book. It gave me the opportunity to explore this tale and share my thoughts. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, and the following opinions are my own.

In conclusion, "One Season with the Duke" offers a spirited romp through a world of romance and intrigue. While it may not have fully won me over, it provides moments of levity and unexpected turns that will entertain fans of historical romance. If you're seeking a light-hearted read with a touch of scandal, this book may be worth considering.

Note: This review is based on an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and may differ from the final published version of the book.

I was very excited to read this book, reading the synopsis. It sounded so good! I also really enjoyed that the main character was an African-American woman. Especially given the timeframe with which this book was written, I loved that representation.
And sadly, I was disappointed with this book. A lot of the writing just didn’t make sense in that time period. The characters spoke like modern day individuals even though they were living in the 1800s. That was very confusing for me. While I did thoroughly enjoy the overall storyline, and I’m looking forward to seeing this author progress in their writing skills, I really just felt like the story progressed way too quickly for me and left me wanting at the end.

Thanks @netgalleys for this review copy!
The publication date of this book is July 20, 2023.

1838, Hettie is being blackmailed into a marriage by her cousin. Because of a big secret…
And then her old friend Finn comes back. And is in shock that Hettie is engaged now. He was hoping he could have married her. And he also thinks the situation feels a bit weird. There is something wrong. Finn wants to marry Hettie and Hettie wants that as well. But she just can’t…
And then they flee together.
And I’m gonna tell you more. You should read yourself! 😁

The book comes across as a book from that period, based on the writing style. And in my head I’ve read it with a British accent 🤣. It was a bit posh.

Omg that Finn. What a sexy, confident man. And even sweet as well. Can I have one of those please?
Ok a bit more than halfway through: let’s take this back. He suddenly changes in an asshole after finding out about the secret. I don’t want him anymore now 🤣. Ok I understood why a little bit.

This book was a great love story. With secrets and intrigue. And really old fashioned.
The vibe was described very well.

If you want to read a historical romance, give this one a chance. It’s worth it.

I give the book:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The absolutely stunning cover hooked me in immediately! It starts with a great premise, but the characters' actions were often dictated by the plot, rather than by their motivations and emotions. (For example, Finn's about-face when he discovered the reason behind the blackmail--he had been patient and loving and totally gone for Hettie for the whole book, but this somehow made him have a completely personality change? And he never bothered to ask what the blackmail was in the first place, and no one else bothered to look into the actual source?) There were also two separate plot lines running (the blackmail and the MIL drama) that didn't intersect at all, and so one would fall by the wayside while the other was going on. The prose, however, is strong and promising.

Thanks to Entangled and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a big fan of historical romances, they are my fav in general and I have been wanting to read more books by POC and with MC that are POC so I wanted to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. There are sex sciences but it’s not super spicy if that is what you are looking for. I really like Hettie. I thought she understood how her role in society as biracial affected her differently than others and we saw that as part of her internal growth/struggle. Finn, he needed to grovel more in my opinion. But I’m glad they got there happily ever after once he decided to grow up. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

<i>I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you publisher for the copy!</i>

<b>The Good</b>
I love marriage of convenience books so I was excited to read this and was surprised by how lovely the couple was from the very start. This book was super domestic and sweet and I was obsessed! Hettie and Finn have amazing chemistry and a deep understanding for each other that I really enjoyed. I liked the the book moved fast, the marriage happens in the first third of the book. It gave enough time for some great domesticity and relationship development. The main conflict of the story was also done very well! It was angsty and sad but made sense for each of their characters. It frustrated me in the best way.

<b>Format:</b>
Ebook — Netgalley

<b>The Rating</b>
I give this book a <b>4/5🌟 rating.</b> This was a beautiful and angsty historical romance perfect of those who love the genre.

Check out my socials <a href="https://beacons.ai/buffyreads"> here</a> for more reviews!

Heiress Henrietta Monfort grew up orphaned, but was raised by her Uncle Gabriel and Aunt Anastacie. For her entire 22 years of life, Hettie has believed that her parents stayed away due to keeping her safe, not for their own selfish reasons. Unfortunately her opinions about her parents change when she receives a mystery note from a stranger pertaining to the fact that she is an illegitimate child. Hettie’s parents have passed away leaving her a fortune that many potential suitors might be interested in getting, including her prickly cousin Phillip Fletchery. Hettie senses that Phillip is interested in courting her although they are relatives. Hettie is given a clue of the person who sent the mysterious note that they would be wearing a red rose at her uncle and aunt’s ball. Hettie finds the person wearing the red rose is…Phillip. Phillip has ulterior motives and uses Hettie to try to force her to marry him, if so the truth about her parent’s relationship is not revealed to the community. What an awful way to blackmail someone into marriage. I truly felt indeed sorry for Hettie at this point in the story.

Phillip is a tyrant and only sole purpose in wanting to wed Hettie is gain access to her family’s fortune. Lord Finley, Duke of Montrose is invited by Hettie’s cousin, Alaistair, to visit for a season. Finley has always been infatuated with Hettie since she was 15 years old. Finley was unable to make his feelings known to Hettie due to responsibilities he was required to fulfill as the new Duke Montrose, after his father passed away when he was 18. Finn comes to London and decides to spend a month with the Monfort family. Finn learns that Hettie is engaged to be married to Phillip. Hettie breaks down and tells Finn the true reason behind her engagement. Finn offers a marriage proposal to Hettie so she will not marry Phillip.

This was a lovely read, especially if you enjoy the hero-falls-first trope. Finn has basically been in love with Hettie since they were kids. Hettie has always considered Finn a great friend.

When Hettie ends up getting blackmailed by an evil cousin, Finn offers to marry her in order to protect her. It's all very white knight of him.

The first half of the book deals with Hettie's conflict with her mother-in-law and falling in love with her new husband. There was some solid banter between husband and wife, which is always a wonderful bonus.

The second half of the book is dealing with the evil cousin who never seems to go away.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit but will admit to some frustration with Hettie for not just telling Finn why she was being blackmailed and some anger at Finn for being such a jackass when he finally finds out. He said some really terrible things to Hettie, and she forgave him far quicker than I would've.

I feel like my favorite character ended up being the mother-in-law who, when it came down to it, was the one to tell Finn he was being a jackass and dude really needed to hear it.

Henrietta is being blackmailed and is afraid to tell anyone fir fear of alienating the only family she has left. She goes along with the blackmail until a childhood friend comes to visit and figures out she's acting strangely. Finn (childhood friend) helps her get untangled from the blackmail.

I really enjoyed this book. It added another layer into the society of the time, reflecting Hettie's feelings of isolation because of her different skin colour to the rest of society's.
The love story was well written and very enjoyable. Totally recommend reading this book if you are into historical romance and a swoon-worthy MMC.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Entangled for giving me an arc of this!

When I saw the cover, I knew I HAD to get this and read it. It’s so lovely to see women who look like me on historical romance novels and it means a lot to me, even at my age.

One of my favorite things about this book is that we get the source of conflict at the very beginning and we are able to see the way it unfurls. I really loved the way these characters were fleshed out, especially Hettie and Finn. I do think that perhaps I would’ve liked to see Phillip fleshed out a bit more but other than that I found this book to be enjoyable.

I loved the tension between Hettie and Finn, it felt palpable. Whether it was part of the conflict or the desire that they had for one another.

I also really enjoyed how the situation between Finn’s mother and Hettie was resolved.

I’ll definitely be recommending this to others!