Amalie Howard's "The Worst Duke in London" is a delightful blend of historical romance and classic rom-com tropes. This third installment in the Taming of the Dukes series delivers a heartwarming and hilarious tale inspired by "10 Things I Hate About You." Effie and Gage, the protagonists, are a captivating pair whose witty banter and undeniable chemistry will keep readers engaged from beginning to end.

Effie's independent spirit and Gage's complex personality make them both relatable and endearing. Howard's ability to create well-rounded characters is evident in the supporting cast as well, though the villain could have benefited from a more nuanced portrayal.

If you're a fan of historical romance with a modern twist, "The Worst Duke in London" is a must-read. It's a light-hearted and entertaining escape that will leave you smiling long after the final page.

This was a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up for me. Regency romances can be hit or miss for me and I enjoyed the banter, and the enemies to lovers trope, I didn't find it particularly memorable once I had finished it.

Thanks to @readforeverpub for sending me a copy of The Worst Duke in London by Amalie Howard, out September 24th!

The third book in the Taming of the Duke series is a 10 Things I Hate About You inspired tale which follows Evangeline, a strong willed (shock) independent (horror) head of an animal rescue, and Gage, a boxer and newly minted Duke who is trying to square his debts in the wake of his brother’s death.

Society has declared that Evangeline is Not Like Other Girls (derogatory) but Gage, who was raised in Scotland and doesn’t fuck with the ton, immediately decides that Evangeline is Not Like Other Girls (complimentary) except he’s not supposed to be thinking about her at all for Reasons. I don’t love a deception plot but I think that it’s done well here, with characters that make it work, and a MMC who is so down bad that everyone is like eh, I’ll allow it.

There were so many moments in this book that felt like winks from Howard to her romance reading audience; it feels like her love letter to the genre. I said after book two that I was left disappointed that the villain didn’t get what was coming to him, and Amalie Howard listened because that was not the case here! I feel like each book in this series gets stronger and stronger and I know Briar is soooo in for it in her book and I can *not* wait!

This charming enemies-to-lovers Regency romance is a captivating read, crafted by author Amalie Howard. Here's why this book stands out to me:

Strong-Willed Protagonists: Lady Evangeline Raine, a passionate animal lover and feminist, defies societal expectations. Her character showcases resilience and independence, making her a relatable and inspiring heroine.

Engaging Chemistry: The chemistry between Effie and Gage Croft, Duke of Vale, is electric. Their banter is witty and full of tension, creating a delightful dynamic that keeps readers entertained.

Unique Plot: The premise of a fake courtship turns into a steamy and unexpected romance, as Effie and Gage navigate their feelings amidst societal pressures. Their arrangement adds layers of intrigue and excitement to the storyline.

Sex-Positive Representation: This book is refreshingly sex-positive, showcasing both main characters as virgins, which is rare in adult romance. It handles their journey of exploration with sensitivity and authenticity.

Humor and Sarcasm: The humor in the dialogue is sharp and clever, making for a fun reading experience. The characters' straightforwardness and raw honesty add to the charm.

Character Development: Effie's sister, Viola, also experiences growth throughout the story, enriching the narrative with additional layers of familial relationships.

Regency Era Charm: The historical setting is beautifully portrayed, blending romance with progressive themes that resonate well with modern readers.

Stand-Alone Enjoyment: While this is the third book in a series, it can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel, making it accessible for new readers.

Overall, this book is an enchanting read that combines humor, romance, and feminist themes, making it a must-read for fans of historical romance. Highly recommended! I really enjoy Howard’s books and this is not the first one that I have read. There is always a unique twist to the historical aspect that makes it fun and unique.

You had me at Bridgerton meets 10 Things I Hate About You!

I'm not the biggest Historical Romance reader but I'm always on the lookout for a Historical Romance that's going to knock my socks off and was pleasantly surprised with The Worst Duke in London. This book was such a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed the banter, humor, enemies-to-lovers vibes, and spice. I thought the parallels to 10 Things I Hate About You with the Regency twist were brilliant.

In the end, I had a great time getting lost in the characters and their story. The Worst Duke in London was quite the departure from the contemporary romances that I normally read and I couldn't have been happier with how this one turned out. I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.

This book sounded enjoyable from the blurb and I really liked the banter and chemistry between Effie and Gage. I am always a sucker for 10 things i hate about you and this didn't disappont at all

The Worst Duke in London by Amalie Howard

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

A huge thank you to Hachette Book Group, Forever Publishing, Netgalley, and Amalie Howard for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was an entertaining read with excellent chemistry between the main characters. While this book is the third in a series, it can certainly be read as a stand alone novel. Amalie Howard’s books are always a delight and this one is no exception. Such a great historical romcom with a focus on progressive/feminist themes.

Effie is an energetic and passionate feminist who stands up for what she believes in and doesn’t let society determine what she does or who she becomes, while Gage figures out what he wants in the future and works to piece together the past.

All in all, what an endearing read with amazing banter, comedy, humor, romance, and Regency-era charm! Loved this one from start to finish! This would be a fantastic read for any fans of Shakespeare retellings/10 Things I Hate About You!

Tropes:
- Headstrong, Feminist FMC
- Friends with benefits
- Historical romance
- Virgin MCs

I have read, and enjoyed, other books by the Author, but this one just didn't work, for me. I found Evangeline unbelievable and the story was too slow and relied too heavily on sex. I became bored, and lost interest. It just wasn't my taste.

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

This is the 3rd book in this rom com regency series, although I think it would read ok as a stand alone. In this book we get Hell Fire Kitty Effie’s story. Effie is getting up there in age destined to be a spinster after she was shunned and ostracized by Lord Huntington in her first season. She has since avoided London and most of the ton after years of this treatment. Except this year her younger sister Viola desperately wants to go be part of it all, but their father decrees she can only go to London if Effie does. Lord Huntington wants to court Viola so he makes a deal with Gage, a broke Duke, that he will forgive his brothers debts if he can romance Effie and get her to London so Huntington can woo Viola. Sounds easy enough. Except Gage didn’t count on how delightful he’d find Effie, and how much he enjoys her company. As Gage and Effie get closer, it weighs on Gage heavily how things all started. This was a fun regency take on Ten Things I Hate About You. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait for Briar and Lushings book, which I hope comes out next! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

Any time Amalie Howard has a new book out, it immediately goes to the top of the tbr! Every book I read is simply delightful, and The Worst Duke in London is no exception!

A historical romcom retelling of a 90s favorite- 10 Things I Hate About You (a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew)- this book has the banter and tension you need! It hits a lot of the same plot points but deviates enough to keep the reader guessing. The characters have great chemistry, and their relationship blooms beautifully as the chapters go on. There is so much inner turmoil and angst, it helps ramp up the tension!

I adored Effie! Her animal-rescuing heart makes her endearing, but also sets up why she doesn't want to marry. And when she proposes her own scandalous bargain with Gage? Phew! Things get spicy! 🥵

Gage was so sweet and patient, and his own backstory was rather tragic. I loved how torn he was about a certain bargain, it really increased the stakes for him. Plus, a tall, starchy Scotsman is always going to be a favorite of mine! Bonus that he had a soft spot for a certain sassy orange kitten!

While this is the third book in the series, they are connected standalones. You could start with this one, but it will have small spoilers for previous books! So while I absolutely want you to dive into this one, really, you should just read this whole delightful series! 😊

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy

Thank you to Forever for the ARC of this book! I always love a fun regency book and the description of this one has me interested immediately. Bridgerton and 10 Things I Hate About You inspired? Sign me up!

I enjoyed parts of this and I felt that both of the main characters were endearing and fun. Both of them were down on their luck in a way and sort of an unlikely pair. The movie inspiration definitely came through which was fun but it moved a little too slowly for me. Its a three star read for me but other may love it! The pace was just a little too slow. Thanks for the opportunity to review it!

I am having a hard time with this book unfortunately. The insta-lust pretty much killed it off, and the FMC who is so much on the defensive, that it borders on preach-y. She takes everything as an offense (like, why would he compliment her? Why would he say anything nice?). It just got old quickly.
I have read and loved books from this author before, so I think it's only a case of this one specifically not working out for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A historical romance with a lady who is perfectly content to surround herself with animals rather than people and a duke who needs a rich wife to rebuild his estates. An indecent proposal later and both parties find themselves in deep.

I’m not averse to anachronisms in my historicals (Lex Croucher, Alexis Hall, et al. can get away with ahistorical murder), but there is anachronistic, and then there is completely untethered from reality. This was the latter, and not in a fun way. The info-dumping, the super hypersexual internal monologues, the plentiful (and destitute) dukes, the chaotic plot and even more chaotic characters, all of it made me bail earlier than usual. I think Howard and I just may not vibe in our tastes or sense of humor.

The Duke if Vale aka Gage Croft, may be the best Duke in London…he’s honorable….eventually. Saddled with a crumbling estate that his father and older brother ignored, Vale is trying to do the right thing for his tenets. He’s also stuck paying out his ne’er do well older brother’s exorbitant gambling debts. In short, he’s a Duke but he’s poor, has no majestic country home or London mansion and in serious debt. Into his life walks the odious nobleman who owns the last of Vale’s brother’s gambling debts with a proposal to wipe the slate clean. The catch is Vale must convince a young lady to go to London for the upcoming season. The target is Lady Effie who isn’t interested in marrying and prefers abandoned animals to people. Her younger sister, Lady Viola, is flighty and flirty but has a large dowry and is the desired wife of the odious nobleman. Unfortunately, Viola can’t go to London unless her older sister Effie goes……so Vale very reluctantly agrees to the bargain. Will Gage successfully woo Effie and get her to London? Only if he agrees to Effie’ outrageous proposal and becomes her lover. Effie wants the experience of “bed sport” but doesn’t want to lose control of her life to a husband, so she doesn’t want marriage. Will everyone get want the want from these twisty proposals? Maybe what they truly want is something much deeper. This book was a slow burn page turner.

3.5 stars overall -

This is a really great series. I’ve enjoyed each book so much. The books are light and fun reads every time. However, this book just didn’t live up to the prior book in the series.

Effie seemed to have shifted her view on men and Gage too quickly given her insistence she didn’t want to marry EVER. It was too insta-love for my preference. The plot overall was a bit lackluster and very dependent on sex.

It was so fun though to have our supporting characters back and to be back with my girl, Vesper. I still think it’s a great book overall and if you enjoyed these I definitely recommend!

This book was..... something. Even though it is the third book in a series, it was a complete stand alone that I was easily able to follow. I liked the chemistry between Gage and Evangeline and how easily the banter flowed between them, there were even moments I found myself giggling at some of their antics.

Sadly those things were by far overshadowed with other things that were wholly un-necessary to the story. Whether it be plot-lines that did nothing but add to the word count (seriously what was the point of having a hedgehog and her two babies come into the breakfast room causing Viola to screech, and Evangeline to scoop them up to have them returned to the kitchen before going to wash her hands? We already know she has a soft spot for animals and rescues all kinds, it just wasn't needed). Or it was the consistent sexual innuendos and play between these two. Now listen, I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, I just want more than smut with little fillers of conversation and movement thrown in here and there. I'm also still trying to figure out how Evangeline managed to catch a hackney to Gage's house whilst wearing only her shoes, gloves, and a cloak. There is no way she was able to keep covered enough that the driver and Gage's butler didn't know she wore nothing underneath. And can we talk about that stupid glove removing scene?

Another thing that bothered me about this one was that I really could have done without the repeated lectures on how women were looked at back then, and how they have their own minds and thoughts and blah blah blah. For a book that was supposedly set during regency (I think) times, this one felt entirely more modern. From some of the language, to the way some of the characters acted (in what world would a peer of the realm, Evangeline's titled father none the less, exclaim "Down with the Patriarchy!" even if only to his daughter)? Things like that just weren't done.

Overall, this book missed the mark for me, but I can see it being favorable to those who enjoy her other works.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Unfortunately, I did not love this one by Amalie. As much as I loved the premise, I had a hard time fully connecting with Effie. Despite the fact that I usually love a headstrong heroine, I found Effie unapproachable and a bit 'holier-than-thou', and as a result, I had a hard time feeling the connection between Gage and Effie. Sadly, I ended up losing interest about half way through and skimmed to the end. I am excited about Lushing and Briar's book though🖤

Tropes: golden retriever/black cat energy, headstrong heroine, virgin hero, historical romance

I'm afraid it's another delightful installment in the Taming of the Dukes series, my friends!

Lady Evangeline Raine, d/b/a "Lady Ghastly" in the ton, is what one might call a social pariah. She rejects the idea that women must be very demure and very mindful. Effie despises London and prefers a quiet life in the country where she uses her pin money to operate an animal rescue. Her younger sister Viola's main aspiration in life is to make an excellent match. Viola believes she has found this in Lord Huntington--the charming peer responsible for bestowing Effie with the "Lady Ghastly" moniker. Viola would like to enjoy the London season so that Huntington might court her, but their father will only allow her to go if Effie agrees to be her chaperone.

Lord Gage Croft, the Duke of Vale, is half-Scottish and fully broke as hell. He inherited the title after his brother, a notorious gambler, died in a curricle race. Although he has paid off nearly every debt owed, the Times has ranked him "The Worst Duke in London." Ouch! Vale has only one debt left to settle with Lord Huntington who is an absolute fop. Huntington has an interesting proposal, however: convince (read: seduce) Lady Evangeline Raine to accompany Lady Viola to London for the season and convince her to stay for approximately six weeks and his brother's entire debt will be forgiven. Oh sure! Piece of haggis!

"The Worst Duke in London" is Amalie Howard's ode to 10 Things I Hate About You/Taming of the Shrew and I loved it. I truly could just eat her books for every meal because Amalie Howard is ON TOP OF HER GAME when it comes to historical romantic comedies. This has to be my favorite series of hers so far. The banter between Effie and Gage was just SO GOOD. This woman and her unfiltered mouth just absolutely exasperated him so you know the chemistry was explosive. The glove removal scene?! Are you kidding me!?

Read this if you love:
- feminist historical romance
- social outcast MCs
- virgin heroes
- friends with benefits/"lessons"
- endless fun animal side characters

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Back again reviewing one of my favourite romance series being written right now! I enjoyed this one a lot and while it rewards readers of the entire series can be read as a standalone!