The mystery of what happened with Alice and Blackwood has lurked in the background of the first two books in the series. No one seems to know, not Alice's best friend, not her aunt, and not even Blackwood. For the first two books, (which take place in a very compressed period of time, days for one, weeks for the other) Blackwood is living as one of the Dis-Graces, married but not with his wife, and when they are together (like at the Ripley Ball) they seem estranged.

This book starts a year before the action of the rest of the series, and seems like a ret-conned fitting of the story to the series lore (for all I know Chase may have had all three books carefully plotted, it just doesn't *quite* ring that way). The estrangement seems more logistics and family obligations (to the aunt who saved her as a child, to his "brothers by bonds thicker than blood"), and they know what the other is doing, and see each other when they can. While it could stand alone, the plot is closely connected to the first two books; I found myself constantly referring to them to keep the timeline straight.

Alice realizes that the stupid actions of the Dis-Graces could very well lead to her brother's early death and her and her aunt being shut out by her awful cousin the heir. Listen, possibly could she have had one adult conversation with her adult brother about the stakes of his behavior? Possibly not given his continued stupidity, but at any rate, off she goes to get herself married to protect herself and her aunt. Blackwood soon finds an excuse to go to London after her. He's always loved her, but had to choose between the correct life that would allow him to court her, or the continued bond with his "brothers" and being 17 at the time, chose bros before, um, young society ladies. Cut to the ten years of the dukes being idiots.

Chase's ear for dialogue and emotional connection is as strong as ever. These two are quippy with each other, and hide a life-long "affinity" for each other under snappy insults and comebacks. At times their exchanges sound like something straight from Lord of Scoundrel (complimentary). There are side plots with Jonesy the scampish street urchin and Worm the cartoonishly villainous heir, and while are essential as catalyst for relationship beats, but at the same time feel like Macguffins to bring Alice to London to look for husband and to keep Alice and Blackwood in each other's orbits.

When Alice's worst fears look like they come true and her brother gets into trouble (I still don't understand the eventual explanation of what happened there) yada yada she's out after dark with Blackwood so they have to get married (and are both secretly delighted/outwardly annoyed at this turn). "I don't want another, [...] I want you as you are, and you are never to think otherwise." They seem perfectly emotionally and physically in sync, and are very happy together.

What are our obligations to others? Alice is busy fulfilling the social role of her grieving aunt (who rescued her as a child) and doing her work to support children (as she was never supported). Blackwood is sucked back into caring for Ashmont, the same black hole of self-destruction and despair that threatened to swamp the first two books. "He told himself he wasn't his friend's nursemaid. He told himself that Ripley hadn't felt compelled to give up his trip on Ashmont's account." Blackwood needs to keep Ashmont alive when he seems hellbent on destruction, and Alice agrees, even though "It isn't fair - to you , to me, to us. I want to tell you to choose differently, but I can't. If anything happens to him, you'll never forgive yourself." This is pretty much where the first book in the series picks up, but Alice and Blackwood are in correspondence and grab nights together where they can, its not the mysterious rupture we've heard about for two books, although of course its wearing.

Eventually Ashmont grows up and the aunt comes out of mourning in book two, but problems not yet resolved. The whole thing gets drawn out after the plots of the other books happens for the Macguffins and a whole other "resolve childhood trauma" sideplot that was maybe one side plot too many. Some might think (its me, I'm some) that the declaration of love comes a year late, but I'm not an accomplished author with many many books under my belt, so what do I know.

Loretta Chase wrote my favorite historical romance of all time - Lord of Scoundrels. In this book, her signature wit and knowledge of the Regency period make for a fun story following the third of a group of troublesome Dukes.

Lady Alice fell for Giles, Duke of Blackwood, when she was very young, and although he fell for her as well, he chose a life of fun and adventure with his two friends, one of whom is Alice's brother. Now, Blackwood can't stop thinking about her, and Alice needs a solution to the problem of the future of her brother's own dukedom.

These two have been gone for each other for years, and when they have to marry due to Alice being compromised, it's a very weak sort of "oh no, now we have to be together" except Blackwood still needs to look after one of his friends and Alice has her own obligations.

From what I understand, this book takes place before books 1 and 2 in the series, so you might need to read those first, but I enjoyed it a lot as a stand alone.

Let’s be clear: I adore Loretta Chase and will continue to read anything she writes, but unfortunately, this book wasn’t one of her best. While I enjoyed the buildup of Alice and Blackwood’s relationship in her previous Difficult Dukes novels, I finished the book feeling disappointed by the final product.

The story takes place in two timeframes: one is approximately a year before the events of the previous Difficult Dukes novels, and the second is after those books conclude. I kept wishing that we’d spent more time exploring their relationship in the second timeframe, rather than reading about what prompted their marriage for approximately 70% of the book. Even a 50/50 split would have been better, and we could have cut down on some of the unnecessary adventures and shenanigans.

From a writing and editing standpoint, the book is almost flawless, like most Loretta books are. She has a way with words that’s hard to ignore, so although I didn’t enjoy the narrative itself, I loved the prose and gorgeously researched descriptions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This is the first more recent Loretta Chase novel I’ve read (previously I’ve only read her 1990s classics). There was a lot to love here. It has a pretty unique structure and pacing: the first two thirds of the book take place BEFORE the events of the previous books in the series, and is mostly a delightful reforming rake/brother’s best friend/ second chance romance between a feisty heroine and a dissolute duke. But that ends only with a fragile and temporary HEA. The final third becomes a kind of marriage-in-trouble book, as the couple’s history and obligations catch up with them and drive them apart. I have to say, this final third didn’t work so well for me, but I think it was partly because I haven’t read the two previous books in the series. So, although I am often someone who happily dips into series, for this book I would definitely recommend reading the first two books before. I will go back and read those, for sure. The cast of characters is charming and Loretta Chase is just a masterful writer.

Loretta Chase is a relatively new to me author, but one that i have grown to love. having read the previous books in this series, i had hope that this one would be everything the first two were and more. unfortunately i was left a little frustrated with the piv switches and the lack of time spent in the present timeline established in the other books

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this one fell kind of flat for me. I came into this book expecting a second chance/marriage in trouble type plot based on what we had seen in the first two books. However, rather than picking up after the events of book 2, the book starts a year or so before the series begins. Perhaps I would have been fine with that, but a very large majority of the book (75%) takes place before the other two books before it brings us to "current day." I've really enjoyed in other second chance romances where the author will start current day and then flashback to the couples past to provide more context and I think that would have worked really well here. But because it didnt, I spent most of the book slightly confused and eagerly anticipating the conflict to continue in the current day.

The book read more as a "childhood friends-to-lovers" type story. That part of the story was sweet but I felt that there were a few too many side quests going on that took away from the main romance. But overall it's a true Chase book and as always, I enjoyed the banter between the main characters.

The first two books in this series were definite winners but this one didn't wrap up the series as I had hoped. I would recommend reads to read this book first if they are starting the series.

My Inconvenient Duke finally returns Ms. Chase back to her Difficult Dukes, "Dis-Graces" series, to a couple I'd be looking forward to the most. It involves one of my favourite tropes, the estranged couple. But in this case, the Duke of Blackwood, and his friend's sister, Alice Ancaster, aren't really estranged. It threw me off because it was teased so heavily in the other novels leading up to it. Instead, they are in fact in love, and committed to each other after the backstory of how they got married is traveled through in the bulk of the novel. There is actually no high drama, because you can tell that it's quietly leading to their marriage and commitment, and the conflict is more from all the shenanigans around them. It's a quiet romance, and typically well-written by Loretta Chase. It simply wasn't what was expected. That said, a Loretta Chase novel is almost always 95% better than what is on the market. 4.5 stars.

An ARC of this novel was generously provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

I liked it, but not my favorite LC. There was almost too much going on for me. Even though the plots were connected, they still felt like separate elements.

Although this is the third book in the series, it starts a bit before the first book and ends alongside the second. Lady Alice Ancaster has watched her brother (and his friends) behave recklessly for years, and decides that her best protection against an uncertain future is to marry. And while he decided long ago to stay away from her for the sake of his friendship with her brother, Giles, the Duke of Blackwood, can't seem to let that happen without him. When Alice needs him the most, Blackwood proves himself to be the kind of man she needs.

I had to really sit with this book for a bit after I finished reading it before I wrote my review to think about which pieces worked for me and which didn't. If you've read the first two books in this series, MY INCONVENIENT DUKE is a lot quieter, with less drama. In the first two books, Alice and Blackwood are already married, but they appear to be estranged and never spend time together. Because this book starts in the beginning of their relationship, I felt myself bracing for a lot of the book to see what it was that would break them apart, but it's not actually a marriage-in-trouble or a second-chance. Instead what you see is Blackwood very consciously changing to become dependable for Alice, which doesn't come across as necessarily exciting, but I think Alice has also had enough of exciting. Even when they decide to get married feels more inevitable than passionate (although, in my head they're calm on the outside while LOSING IT on the inside). I came to think of them as the parents of the friend group, taking on the responsibility of caring for the others even at the expense of their own (short-term) happiness. I did really want some kind of reckoning with Ashmont and Ripley, but since they've already had their books, I can understand why that doesn't happen. And Blackwood doesn't seem to be the kind of hero that needs to be acknowledged for his good works. Overall, this book is good if you're looking for a HR with low-drama, no third act break up, and people who just quietly belong together.

Alice is sick of putting up with the wild antics of her brother and his two best friends. She decides she needs to be married in case her reckless brother dies and she is left to the fate of her cruel cousin. Although always attracted to her brother’s friend Giles, Alice decides on a Season. Always attracted to Alice, Giles realizes if he doesn’t do something he will lose her forever. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon for my honest review.

I have not read many Loretta Chase books, however, I would recommend this for a first time reader. While having not read the previous two books, Chase is able to provider pertinent background information without wordiness.

I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book, up to the Wedding, then found the events after to be slightly tedious. While I understand how having the main character’s separated was used to further the plot, I felt it was unnecessary. However, once I got through these pages, the plot picked back up and there was a satisfying resolution to the book.

I plan to write a review for Amazon once the book is published

third in the trilogy featuring The Dis-Graces, three young men who inherited their Dukedoms young, and ill-prepared for wealth and responsibility. They decide to become libertines instead, and are really really good at being wastrels. Of course, the love of a good woman straightens them all out. But not at all in the ways you'd think.

The cover is gorgeous. I enjoyed the rest of this series so much. But LC is definitely a hit or miss author for me and this one was a miss. It just didn’t work this time. Thanks for letting me try.

I was excited going into this one because I really liked the other two (Ashmont and Ripley’s) books and really wanted to see why Blackwood and Olivia are so distant. Per usual, Chase’s writing is witty, there are great quotes, and she is very detailed and eloquent. Every time I see the term “Their dis-graces” I laugh at how clever she is. One of his dis-grace’s pranks was so perfectly written that you could imagine being there in the moment. I laughed out loud at several points. Aaaand Jonesy is back! He features heavily in the book which I really appreciate. Loretta Chase includes a villain and another love interest. I always love to see the resolution of the side stories. In terms of the main love story, I think it is more of a brothers-best-friend book than a second chance romance.

Thank you to the publisher and Loretta Chase for the ARC! I’ve always admired Ms. Chase as one of the genre’s giantess, so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this book.

When I started reading, I quickly realized that more context from the earlier books would help, which delayed my review. Grad school application demands didn’t help either! Unfortunately, even after catching up, I found the book confusing—a sentiment echoed by other readers. The writing didn’t feel quite like Ms. Chase’s usual style, and I was left somewhat disappointed. While I enjoyed the second book in the series a bit more, I can’t say any of the instalments fully resonated with me. The male leads, in particular, felt less like heroes and more like spoiled, brazen characters lacking depth. As for the female leads, they had the traits I typically enjoy, but somehow still fell flat. Perhaps this series just wasn’t a fit for me.

Alice quite desperately needs a husband to protect her from her mean and evil cousin who will be the heir, with Alice in his clutches, if something happens to Alice’s ducal brother. And it looks like nothing can stop her brother and his two ducal best friends, Their Dis-Graces, on their headlong dash into self destruction.

Alice is such a cool character,working to help street children. She tries to keep her liberal (radical?) reformer views out of the public eye so she can remain safely on the Marriage Mart, thus away from her evil cousin. But during her husband hunt Alice gets swept up in some difficult, though largely philanthropic, trouble. Which, of course further angers the evil cousin.

Can one of the Dis-Graces, the Duke of Blackwood, come to her rescue? He’s had Inappropriate Feelings for her since he was a teenager but he’s warned himself off. He chose a life of dissipation, inebriation, and licentiousness over a relationship with her. She shouldn’t even think about him- he’s a bad bet. But he is the quintessential talk, dark, and handsome, and slightly dangerous, man. For all his not-so-cleaning living, he does live by a code. Alice needs him so he’ll stay, in case she needs help. And she does need help. Soon he’s realizing he’s there for more than just help. After all, he has had A Weakness for her since his teen years, has always had Inappropriate Feelings for her and is starting to suspect they might have An Affinity! His words and emphasis, teehee.

For Alice Blackwood was her hero. Will he be again?

This is probably about a 2-3 out of 10 for sexual explicitness. It is, I believe, the 3rd in the series but could be read separately. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so excited to get my hands on this one - I know Loretta has written about how hard this one was so I'm glad it's finally here. That being said, I have mixed feelings about the book. I almost wanted more of Blackwood and Alice in the present, working out their issues but obviously the flashback chapters are important in showing us how they got to this point. Overall, I liked more about their story than I didn't like.

s to be incapable of taking care of himself and his dukedom. Our MMC, Blackwood, follows Alice to London to make sure she is safe and doesn’t fall into the hands of her wormy cousin Worbury. They are then thrown together in a set of misadventures that result in rescue and romance.

I am a huge fan of Loretta Chase and enjoyed the first two books in this series immensely. This book, while less strong plotwise, included the delightful banter and brilliant FMCs for which Chase is known. I was delighted by the return of Jonesy and Lady Bartham and the relationship between Alice and Blackwood is so strong and wholesome, despite the way things play out during the 3rd act. This book avoided the dreaded 3rd act breakup, but what it replaced it with was a little boring and relied a lot on having read the previous two books in the series.

I was a little confused by the timeline of this installment in the series. It starts well before A Duke in Shining Armor and 10 Things I Hate About the Duke but ends after the conclusion of those books. It also references several important characters from the series but does not actually show them on the page, like Cassandra and Keeffe. Meanwhile, Ripley and Ashmont get a decent amount of airtime. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the rescue mission at the beginning of the story, the back half felt a little muddled.

Overall, I recommend this book to any Loretta Chase superfans, but it does not quite live up to some of my favorites by her like Lord of Scoundrels and Dukes Prefer Blondes (but let’s be honest, she’s still an absolute master in this genre and I will read anything she publishes).

The writing is sharp and the dialogue is witty and acerbic and fun and their particular brand of flirting is delightful but the story doesn’t hold up. It’s weird bc having read the first two books in this series, I expected this to be a marriage in trouble trope. But it’s not. And I don’t understand? Did I misread the vibes between Blackwood and Alice in the first 2 books? The first 75% of the book basically set in motion the events that ultimately lead to these 2 getting married. But also much of the book isn’t really devoted to a full blown romance but rather other things that primarily occupy their attention. Alice wants to help unhoused and orphaned children, Blackwood is busy keeping Ashmont out of trouble and their romance and falling in love feels almost incidental to the whole book: I’m not going to say I hated it but I just didn’t love it as much as the first 2 books and in the context of this whole series, this book did not make any sense.

Content notes: toxic parental behavior in the past

So very worth the wait!! I have only in the last two years or so wandered into the world of Loretta Chase. It may have started with the first two books in this series and then I worked my way back to the Lord of Scoundrels. In any case, here I am having just finished My Inconvenient Duke and all I can say is that I loved (and thank you so much to Avon for sharing the ARC via NetGalley.)

Through the first two books, Alice and Blackwood’s relationship has been an enigma, wrapped in a mystery. But no more. Here we get the full scope of their origin story and everything in between. From the start, it is clear that they are a perfect match and absolutely preordained. But silly business like loyalty, friendship, risk of reputations and stubbornness get in the way.

Lady Alice Ancaster is as scrappy as she is beautiful. Too much for most men, except Blackwood who can only admire her from slightly afar. I loved Alice for who she was on her own and when she was paired with Blackwood with whom she didn’t necessarily have to hide. She was passionate about protecting the children on the street and went out of her way to do just that. She is easy to admire and imagine in this modern era.

Giles, the Duke of Blackwood was groomed to be perfect in all things. Which he mostly is. Giles is a strategist and problem solver. The true treat is being inside his head as he negotiates every curve that Alice drives him on. He is mostly cool, but she is the fuel to his fire.

I loved this book so much. So, so much and can’t wait to read it again and again.