Member Reviews
Lady Evangeline (Effie) Raine, 21, is the daughter of the Earl of Oberton. After 3 failed seasons in London, she has no interest in repeating the process and prefers to stay home. She is occupied with running her animal shelter. Her younger sister, Viola, 18, is anxious to have a season in London, however, her father says she may go but only if Effie accompanies her.
Viola has her eye on Lord Huntington whom Effie despises. They once had a discussion about women’s rights and he was very nasty to her calling her Lady Ghastly. This embarrassed Effie so much that she does not want another season.
Lord Gage Croft, the Duke of Vale, is impoverished from paying off his late father’s and late brother’s debts. He enjoys boxing which many people frown upon. Knowing he needs money, he considers a season in London in hopes of finding a rich wife. His last debt made by his brother is to Lord Huntington for 2,000 pounds. However, the man says he will waive the debt if Gage will seduce Effie so he can court Viola and, hopefully win her hand and her money.
Effie is not interested in marrying. Instead, she would like to explore the intimate side of marriage so she can live with those memories. She chooses Gage to be her partner in that endeavor. Thus, the story begins with their very explicit love affair that threatens to set fire to the pages of this book. Whew. I’m not fond of this type of story, but I have to admit that there was so much humor that laughing was the best part of the book. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Worst Duke in London (Review)
When the only way to court one daughter is to find the older sister a suitor, Gage Croft, the Duke of Vale's late brother's debt is called on to be paid. Reluctant Gage is forced to try and convince Lady Evangeline 'Effie' Raine to go to London for six weeks. And he soon finds that the woman deemed 'ghastly' by society is a passionate, animal rescuer who Gage finds himself falling for. Even more so when Effie brings up a mutually pleasurable scandalous arrangement.
Goodness I loved this novel! I will go so far as to say that I love how it was inspired by the movie 10 Things I Hate About You but I loved where Amalie Howard took the movie premise and turned it into a novel that I loved way more than the movie it inspired. I felt she did such an amazing job making me connect with Effie and to showcase her strengths and vulnerabilities. I loved her wilfulness to enjoy pleasure and how Effie got Gage to succumb to what they both desired.
And Gage! Welcome to book boyfriend status you hot Scot. Goodness, the hot Scot commentary between Effie and her friends felt like it was pulled from the DMs of my highlander loving IG friends. It made me laugh so hard. I love how Gage was pressured into the arrangement with Huntington, but how quickly he fell for Effie. How he wanted to tell her the truth but didn't know the best way to go about it. How the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. And even more so, I loved what he did to try and make it up to her.
Amalie Howard creates such great stories which weave a lightheartedness with some real world feelings. It is always an adventure and an enjoyable one to get to the HEA.
After being left the laughing stock and endless joke of her season, Effie has prided herself on being a comfortable spinster. She has her recuse animals and best friends that make her happy after all. But when Effie’s sister Viola is granted a season under the stipulation that Effie be her chaperone. What she doesn’t know is that the Duke of Vale has been paid to convince Effie to go to London for the season so that Lord Huntington can court her sister. What the Duke doesn’t expect is to be completely enamored by Effie’s spitfire and forward thinking feminist ways. But what will happen if she finds out his arrangement with Huntington?
Since I have an attachment to 10 Things I Hate About You this may be my favorite installment of the Taming of the Dukes series but there is still one more left so I will have to wait and see!
Amalie Howard has established herself as a diverse writer in this genre, so, if you have never read historical romance, please pick up one of her books.
The Worst Duke in London is book three in a series called Taming of the Dukes, however, it could be read as a stand-alone. I personally enjoy the appearances of characters from the first two books and knowing their backstories and personalities. For me, it makes each book more enjoyable. This series is absolutely delightful.
Do you love a headstrong FMC? You’ve got it. Lady Evangeline Raine was spurned by most of the ton during her first season due to an extremely hateful, self-absorbed man’s remarks, and all but sworn off men. (Note: It is a great author who can write a character you really want to hate.) Evangeline, Effie, to her friends and family, prefers animals to people. She rescues animals and has procured a shelter, as well as, the help of a local veterinarian. This is Effie’s real passion in life. She does not intend on marrying. However, she has a younger sister, Viola, who needs to make her debut in London society and Evangeline makes this hefty sacrifice solely for her sister.
Our MMC is Lord Gage Croft, the Duke of Vale who hails from Scotland. Sadly, he is destitute due to paying off his deceased brother’s debt, as well as, the manse being in desperate need of repair. The honorable Duke had to make things right. Lord Vale, Gage to friends and family, is most comfortable in his regular clothes, does not mind getting dirty and loves his peaceful life in Scotland. I really enjoyed this character. He is unlike other Dukes. Very unassuming. But he will soon meet his match with Lady Evangeline. These main characters have their own ideas about what they want, and don’t want. The situations these two find themselves in are interesting, to say the least. This Duke is definitely kept on his toes by the FMC.
Evangeline and her group of friends, known amongst themselves as the “Hellfire Kitties” are absolute gems. Out of all of my readings, this may be my favorite friend group. These women are of their own voice and mind, particularly for the time, and supportive of one another, always. All of the characters in The Worst Duke in London are authentic and compelling and you will be rooting for them throughout the book.
The progression of the story is smooth. The chemistry between the main characters is fantastic, the wit and banter are unmatched. Consistent dialogue keeps the story moving. The author’s writing is so vivid, I felt like I was there in London with the rest of them. The Worst Duke in London is an enemies-to-lovers trope, which just so
happens to be my favorite. There is palpable tension in parts, and this story covers serious topics so please check TW at the beginning of the book.
Tucked away at the end of the book is an unexpected, yet welcome surprise. The author provides us with real data from the Victorian times, with references. Authenticity at its finest. Readers, you will find this section of reading quite interesting. I urge you not to skip out on this section. I was squealing with delight at the ending for the two main characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Ms. Howard, you continue to impress.
This is my first Amalie Howard book, but it won't be my last. I love a good Regency romance romp, and when I heard that 10 Things I Hate About You inspired this book, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. This is the third book in the series and reads as a stand-alone. But after meeting the couples from Amalie's past books, I now want to go back and read the rest of the books in this series because they are delightfully fun characters I want to spend more time with. I am so impressed with Amalie's writing and her ability to create such a fun and spicy romance. Amalie masterfully took the movie 10 Things I Hate About You and made it into a Regency romance. I was blown away by how she took this contemporary rom-com and made it her own. She nailed it!
Gosh, I don't know where to start with what I loved about this book. First, let's talk about the story. This was a fun and fast read. I was always entertained with what was happening in this book. Everything was perfectly timed to hook me in even more. I read this book in one sitting, and it's addictive. This story has it all: those swoony unforgettable moments, sharp, witty banter, plenty of spice, drama, and a heroine who isn't afraid to take what she wants. Everything was balanced perfectly and worked together to create a swoontastic love story. Another great thing about this book is that you get to spend time in two prominent Regency settings. In the book's first half, we are in the English countryside, where we get moments when the heroine is stuck on a path, or the MCs are at a garden party. Then, in the second half, we are in London during the season, which includes balls, concerts, and visiting the less reputable parts of London. It was like you got the best of both worlds in this book.
The characters were fabulous! I loved Evangeline and Gage. They were perfect for each other. It was great watching them interact. They constantly kept each other on their toes and left each other befuddled and bemused. It was great. Evangeline was a wonderful heroine. She is smart, compassionate, and doesn't take crap from anyone. Her sharp tongue has landed her in hot water a few times in London society. Her passion for helping animals leapt off the pages, and I loved how she often found herself in sticky situations because she was rescuing an animal. She has no desire to marry. She sees marriage as something that will take away her freedom and ability to help animals. Gage is that tall, dark, and broody hero who just wants to return to the Highlands. He hates everything to do with London society and doesn't want the responsibility of being a Duke. I like him; he is a reluctant Duke who has found himself thrust into a great deal of responsibility. On top of that his brother has left the Dukedom in heaps of debt. Gage agrees to try and court Evangeline in order to forget the last bit of debt tied to Gage's family.
The romance in this book is banging! I knew that it was going to be spicy just from the sparks that were going off between Evageline and Gage. It was just pure lusty tension. What surprised me was that both characters were virgins, but fear not, they figure out what is what pretty quickly. This is a very spicy, slow burn, and I loved all those secret moments between Evageline and Gage. There is something so wonderful about two characters doing something naughty in a dark corner or out in a garden. The notion that they could be caught just heightens those emotions and makes for such a damn fun reading experience. Besides, for all the lusty bits, these two have some pretty sweet and quiet moments. I loved watching as the connection grew deeper between them. And the grand gesture at the end of the end of the book was amazing. If you are a fan of forced proximity and sex agreement, both MCs are virgins, alpha males, and a hero makes a deal to woo the heroine, then you are going to love this book.
The Worst Duke in London is a must-read for anyone who loves Regency romances.
Although this is part of Amalie Howard's Taming of the Duke series, it can be read as a standalone because the series is more interconnected than dependent on the previous books. I have only read only one other Howard book, but this by far was my favorite. Based on the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You, this book was engaging and had a compelling story with a HEA ending. It was truly historical regency romance at its finest and would be perfect for any fans of Bridgerton. Also as a historian, I really appreciate Howard's note at the end displaying some of the extensive research that went into the book! Highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A retelling of 10 Things I Hate About You which is of course a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew? Put it into my grabby lil hands thank you! Thank you to @grandcentralpub and @amaliehoward for this free copy, I remain super excited about this entire series that gives a nod to my favorite 90s movies.
Evangeline, or “Effie,” as her friends and family call her, is far too erudite for the ton, and her plans for her dowry are singular: save as many animals as possible. The problem for her is that her sister Viola is this year’s diamond, being courted by the odious Lord Huntington, a blowhard peacock who once gave Effie the moniker “Lady Ghastly.” Well, Lady Ghastly with her fae Julia Styles-esque looks, her spinsterhood, her irrigation systems and her rescue kittens will NOT be going to London to assist in Viola’s love life.
Enter Gage, freshly in England from his home in Scotland, and a destitute Duke no less, needs to pay back a debt to a creditor so that he can finally make the repairs to his estate that have not been done in decades under his philandering father or gambling problem brother. Huntington offers him a reprieve on the debt if he can just entice Effie to London so he can court Viola. It doesn’t hurt that he’s as big as a barn and a redhead to boot.
Seems simple enough, but picture this: what if we fell in love beneath the scratch of baby cat claws? 🤗🐈
🚨What if they’re both virgins? 🚨
What if there’s a sex pact, a regatta, multiple balls (the dancing kind, geez), l a Regency sex toy, a weird bulldog mix, a barn fire AND a sink hole?
This series has been so fun, and @amaliehoward hits the 10 Things high points on the head with this story, and Effie and Gage are definitely as fun as Kat and Patrick were on screen. I’ll always be a little nostalgic for Heath Ledger, but Gage was a welcome distraction. It’s available to read now, so if you haven’t already, put it on your TBR!
Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #TheWorstDukeinLondon by Amalie Howard in exchange for an honest review.
If you like Ten Things I Hate About You, you will have a good time with this steamy retelling! In this one, we have a strong, independent heroine who doesn't want to get married but instead she just wants to take care of all the animals in need and a destitute Scottish Duke who just wants to clean up the mess his brother left behind and get back to Scotland so he can find a good Scottish lass to marry. These two start out not liking each other but things change quickly as they can't ignore the chemistry between them. It was a lot of fun seeing the couples from the first two books in this series as well as get more of Briar and Lushing. I truly cannot wait for their story and I am so excited to see what movie retelling will be theirs! Anyway, this is a fun and steamy story! Enjoy!
The Worst Duke in London plays with the old “taming of the shrew” plot—a woman whose beautiful younger sister can’t be courted until the elder is won. But Howard works more directly with the plot of that 90s romcom 10 Things I Hate About You in that Evangeline has to agree to come to London for the season before her sister Viola can accept suitors. So one of those potential suitors makes an offer to a duke in debt to him: convince Evangeline to come to London and stay there for six weeks, and the debt will be erased.
Howard has a lot of fun with this plot, particularly in her creation of Evangeline, a woman scarred by cruel labels who has drowned herself in charitable care of abandoned animals. And her hero Gage is a genuinely nice person caught in a cycle of inherited debt (some of which I didn’t quite understand, as Gage’s brother’s debt seemed to be personal and not tied to their estate).
The secondary characters are also great, from the slimy suitor for Viola’s hand to Gage’s friends and their predilections. I loved Evangeline and Viola’s father for being the rare sympathetic parent.
There was one continuity error that just threw me out of the book for a while. But I came back and loved how Howard made this story work out. There were some special twists in here that made me, a great fan of the original Shrew story, smile in delight.
The Worst Duke in London was the first book of Howard's of mine to read and it certainly won't be the last! I'm a sucker for historical romances and retellings of Shakespeare's works and this book definitely did not disappoint. I enjoyed the witty banter and steamy interactions between our FMC Effie and MMC Gage and longed for more even after I read the final pages, This book is out now, so don't hesitate to pick up a copy for yourself! Thank you NetGalley and Forever for an ARC of this book!
Evangeline is a social outcast and prefers country life with her animal shelter, but her younger sister Viola is itching for a London Season. Their father insists that Viola is only allowed to go if Evangeline does too. Viola’s terrible suitor decides to use the debt he’s owed by the destitute duke, Gage, to tell him to convince and distract Evangeline. It’s a messy deal that gets even messier when Gage turns out to actually like Evangeline’s outspoken personality. Also, these two people are attracted to each other to the point of distraction, and Evangeline is the one to propose a scandalous affair. Super steamy flirty banter. Loved it.
Another excellent regency romance from Amalie Howard! I love all of her books, and especially the Taming of the Dukes series… sigh! How absolutely fantastic and brilliant!
The nod to 10 things I hate about you, where the older, uninterested sister has to start dating (aka, attend the season in London, even though she doesn’t wish to return again this year after the horrific experience the previous years and the terrible nickname she received from the gentleman now trying to pursue her sister)… before the younger, flirty and carefree one is allowed to, by the father… and the guys having a deal with one agreeing to distract the older sister so the other can court the younger, which is a really nice touch! Yes, I know that this plot has Shakespearean roots.
Add in an animal shelter, and the bookish gentleman with a failing Scottish dukedom, and Evangeline (Effie) and Gage are some really special characters! They are trying their hardest to keep their friend/sister apart and get them together at the same time because of their conflicting goals, with a lot of great hijinx throughout. A great, fun read, and as with every Howard book, it’s a story you won’t want to put down until you find out how it all plays out, and about how the mismatched pair that can’t stand each other to start, winds up together... especially when she’s not ever going to marry. Definitely a high recommendation from me! 4.5-stars!
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and this is my honest feedback.
The Taming of the Dukes has been such a fun, contemporary take on Regency romance, and The Worst Duke in London is the newest confection in this delightful series, telling the story of animal-loving Evangeline and financially-troubled Gage as they embark on a fake dating with benefits situation that has the potential to be the talk of the ton. I enjoyed getting glimpses of characters we've gotten to know in previous books and seeing the affection bloom between these two feisty protagonists. I highly recommend this series for those who enjoy Bridgerton and their tea hot!
Thank you to Forever for gifting me with an ARC to review! All opinions are my own.
An enjoyable read!
I enjoyed this lovely, romantic, and steamy story with two amazing main characters, Evangeline and Gage. Evangeline is a woman speaking her mind, and it gives some funny scenes between her and Gage. The chemistry between them is breathtaking.
I had a great time reading this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you enjoy historical romances that break rules and have a modern flair this is a fun book. The third in Taming of the Duke series which the author is basing very loosely on 90s movies. She’s covered retellings of Pretty Woman and Clueless and in this story she takes on 10 Things I Hate About You.
Lady Evangeline Raine considers herself a spinster and has more interest in rescuing animals and their rights than getting married. But her father has said that her younger sister Viola can be courted only if Effie is as well. A scheming Lord is willing to forgo a major debt if Gage Croft, Duke of Vale courts Effie so he can catch Viola. It is an offer Gage can’t refuse.
Effie makes her own bargain with Gage, wanting to explore intimacy with him during the season. He is more than willing but it is new to him as well. He has been busy trying to rebuild the Dukedom after his father and older brother gambled away much of his estate. I like the characters. Effie’s friend group is great as they support her and call out various romantic tropes that may be in play. And I like that there is comeuppance for the villain which doesn’t often happen if they are titled. This is a Victorian era romance and I appreciated the author's notes at the end as I didn’t realize animal rights and other things in the book were valued in the time period. I am assuming there is another story for this series and will be waiting to see what Howard writes next.
I love a book that is equally funny and touching and this book is a great example of that! Effie's animals had some great comedy moments as well as her shocking poor Gage. At the same time I loved watching their connection grow and them exploring their sexuality together.
Gage is so taken with Effie from their first meeting and it's a perfect antidote to the treatment she has received from the ton. I liked that Gage was often the one more willing to be emotionally vulnerable in the relationship. I thought they balanced each other well.
I have enjoyed each book in this series and am super excited for the next one! I really enjoyed the set up for it in this one! If you like a romcom, a historical romance or meet cutes involving kitten's crawling on dukes (that should be everyone) this is a great choice!
The third story in the Taming of the Dukes, Lady Evangeline Raine and Gage Croft the Duke of Vale's story. An entertaining, well written story that I enjoyed reading. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really liked Amalie Howard's other books in this series and this one is also just as fun! I think I liked the first book the most mainly because I have such a soft spot for Pretty Woman but this one is still just as fun and sexy. Can't wait to read her other books!!
The Worst Duke in London is a fantastic historical romance. This Regency version of 10 Things I Hate About You (and Taming of the Shrew) has a strong FMC who knows what she wants regardless of what society thinks, and, of course, a Duke who is clearly not the worst at all.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lady Evangeline Raine is known for her work saving abandoned animals, along with be a strong, outspoken woman. As unconventional as she is, her younger sister Viola is set to be the toast of the ton this season, as long as Evangeline agrees to chaperone her. But Viola’s suitor takes matters into his own hands, and offers to wipe the debt of Gage Croft, the Duke of Vale, as long as he courts Evangeline and convinces her to accompany her sister to London. To the shock of not a single romance reader, Gage finds Evangeline refreshing and enchanting the more time he spends with her. What will happen with this pair’s surprising yet very real feelings?
I adore Effie and Gage! Effie doesn’t bend her ideals for anyone, and Gage loves her sassy quips. This dual POV guarantees that it’s obvious that Gage is interested in Evangeline from the start. Add in a Gaelic nickname, some lessons in love and a “we won’t catch any feelings at all” pact, and this steamy historical hit all my favorite marks.
Don’t let the cute cover fool you, this book is super hot. Effie and Gage know how to push each other’s buttons, and the heat ramps up every time they are in the same room together. And while this book is the third installment in the Taming of the Dukes series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
Any historical romance fan who likes strong characters, witty banter and lots of steam will love The Worst Duke in London. This book is a fantastic adaptation, taking all the best plot lines and turning them into a fresh, creative story that’s impossible to put down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s official this is my favorite Amalie Howard book! The 10 things I hate about you retelling gave me all the feels! I loved Effie and Gage, they were a perfect couple. Gage is book husband material. Added him to the growing list.
I’m not even going to describe this book, just read it. You won’t regret