A charming slow burn romance that's got a mystery as well, Hurst, the Duke, rejected his pal Winston's request that he marry Ophelia because, well, Hurst believes he will meet and fall for a woman on his own. Ophelia, for her part, isn't too happy about it either but then Winston dies, a precious chalice has gone missing, and Hurst and Ophelia find there's more to each of them than they thought, Who took and where is the chalice? Can they clear Winston's name? Will they marry? Yes you might know how this likely will end but gosh there's engaging characters and a good journey. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

While on a much-needed getaway with his two best friends, Drake “Hurst” Kingsley, the Duke of Hurstbourne, receives an urgent message from an old and dear childhood friend, Winston Stowe. Winston is dying and asks Hurst if he would consider marrying his sister Ophelia. Hurst is a romantic and has always believed that he would know immediately when he meets the woman he should marry. So, despite his love for his friend, he tells him he cannot marry Ophelia sight unseen but promises to visit soon. A promise he intended on keeping, but one that got pushed off when he returned to London and had to deal with dire circumstances on his estate. Weeks later he receives a late-night visitor who arrives in disguise. The young “man” is actually Ophelia Stowe, and he learns the sad truth that Winston has passed away and Ophelia needs his help. A chalice from the parish has been stolen and she needs to find it before a new vicar takes over and Winston is labeled a thief. Hurst is stunned by Ophelia and in his unsettled state, he refuses to help her. But Ophelia won’t take no for an answer and eventually, Hurst agrees to help her. The more time he spends with her, the more convinced he is that she is “the one” and he offers marriage. But if he thinks marriage will tame his stubborn wife, he obviously doesn’t know her and it is clear that their road to HEA won’t be the fairy tale that Hurst always thought it would be.

When her brother Winston dies, Ophelia and her mother find out that a priceless relic has been stolen from the church’s inventory and know that her dear brother’s memory will be slandered and besmirched unless they can find it before the new vicar arrives and discovers the thief. Her housekeeper witnessed the thief leaving and saw the family crest on the carriage, but she didn’t get a good look at the man. With this clue, Ophelia and her mother go to London, hoping to find the Chalice, but she knows she will need help and despite her anger with him for not visiting her brother, Ophelia decides to ask Hurst to help her. When he refuses to go along with her plan, she is more determined than ever to find it, but Hurst isn’t as easy to manage as she assumed. She can’t deny her attraction to him or the deeper feelings that are forming, but nothing will alter her course – not even love. Will she find the chalice and restore her brother’s reputation, or will she lose everything, even the man she loves?

This installment of the “Say I do” series was the best of the bunch, but honestly, it still didn’t wow me. I loved Hurst, but I found Ophelia much harder to like. I understood her desire to protect her brother, but I thought she was too abrasive and unyielding, not to mention foolish. I also had a hard time believing they were “in love” – why? Everything he did made her angry and everything she did annoyed him – it just didn’t feel like falling in love to me. Overall, I thought the mystery was pretty good, but I found the romance lacking. This is the third and final book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

3, maybe 3.5 stars

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

I love the banter between Hurst and Ophelia. She was so determined to find the missing piece that sometimes she was very careless in her thinking. Luckily Hurst was always to the rescue!

This is a fun, entertaining read. Hurst and Ophelia are interesting, wound, complex, strong, determined, smart, intriguing, relatable, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. The mystery subplot added to my overall enjoyment of the book. The story is easy to read and get into.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Love, The Duke” Say I Do (book 3) by Amelia Grey
Got-ta Love, history, mystery, love
Yes, I loved this story. It was an addictive read. The only way I found to put this story down was to be so tired I could no longer make my eyes focus to read another word. Yes this is a fun read and a cozy mystery all while being a Regency era romance that is also sweet. I may be biased, but I don’t think so. Make time for this story! Note: It can be read as a stand-a-lone story. Happy Reading !!

This is the 3rd and final book in the "I Do" series. It's the story of Drake and Ophelia.
Ophelia is the sister of a vicar. Her brother, Winston , was the childhood friend of the Duke of Hurstbourne. When he was dying, he wrote and asked Hurst, if he would marry his sister, Ophelia, Hurst declined,saying, he would be there to see him as soon as possible
But Winston passed before he could see him.
Ophelia needed help. The only person she could think to turn to was her brothers friend, the Duke of Hurstbourne.
It was attraction at first sight.
The story proceeds as Ophelia enlists the Duke to help her solve a mystery. The attraction becomes stronger and the two end up marrying.
What I liked in this book was the Duke. I thought he was kind, gentle, loving.
What I didn't like was Ophelia. I know she was trying to protect the reputation of her loving brother, but I felt she was too independent, brash and stubborn.
In the end, I liked the story. I wished she had an ending of all three Dukes together to sum up the series.
⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

If you’re into historical romance with a dash of mystery, a marriage of convenience, and a stubborn-but-charming duke, this one’s for you. It’s the final book in the Say I Do trilogy, but don’t worry—you don’t need to have read the first two to enjoy this one. I didn’t, and I still had a good time.

The story follows Ophelia Stowe, who’s in a bit of a pickle. Her family’s reputation is on the line thanks to a missing artifact, and she’s desperate enough to dress up as a man to ask the Duke of Hurstbourne for help. Hurst, on the other hand, is your classic “I’ll know my soulmate when I see her” kind of guy, so when Ophelia shows up disguised, he’s like, “Nope, not her.” But of course, fate has other plans.

Ophelia is brave and easy to root for. Hurst is protective (but overbearing at times), and they have great chemistry. The pacing felt a little off at times--the story starts strong, but it drags a bit in the middle. The mystery of the missing object is interesting, but I found myself skimming some parts to get back to the romance.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun, quick read—perfect for when you’re in the mood for some Regency-era escapism. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Love, The Duke is a quick read, with a likable hero and heroine and is the third book in the Say I Do Series. I am not familiar with Amelia Grey's writing, and I haven't read the first two books in the series, but the book worked for me as a standalone. Love, The Duke is a very visual story, and I enjoyed the author’s description of the characters, clothing and objects. The story was entertaining overall and really started off strong. Ophelia Stowe and The Duke of Hurstbourne have an instant attraction once they get past the awkwardness of their initial meeting. There were a couple of entertaining moments, and my favorite was when Hurst must extract Ophelia from an awkward situation of her own making. The story falters for me when the hero starts to parent Ophelia's behavior, and the couple argue about things they have gone over before. The end picks up with a mad dash to the finish as the couple must resolve the mystery as well as navigate their budding relationship. There is an emotional and touching moment between Hurst and Ophelia that wrap things up nicely.

Love, The Duke is perfect for existing fans of Amelia Gray and those who like a sweet romance with a bit of mystery.

Yet another fun, quick, lighthearted historical fiction from Amelia Grey. This is the last in the series, but easily reads as a standalone.
I loved the characters and all their banter. The plot flows quickly and easily and builds the story as it goes.
The background of both Ophelia and Hurst steadily builds, and how in a way their pasts were connected. A must read for fans of this genre.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Title: Love, The Duke  
Author: Amelia Grey         
Genre: Romance   
Rating: 3 out of 5 

When the Duke of Hurstbourne receives a letter from his childhood friend asking him to marry his sister Ophelia, Hurst declines. He’s not adverse to taking a bride, but he believes in love at first sight that stirs his desire―not marriage sight-unseen.

Adhering to society’s strict propriety for ladies, Ophelia Stowe has no choice but to present herself as a man to seek the Duke of Hurstbourne’s favor. If not for the dire situation she finds herself in, she wouldn’t have asked for help from the handsome man who had rebuffed her. When the alluring duke’s response is a plan of his own, Ophelia never dreams it would be a proposal of a marriage of convenience.

But the stakes are high, and the good name of the Stowe family will be damaged if a missing antiquity isn’t found. When she accepts his offer, she quickly finds she isn’t immune to the passion building between her and her new husband―or how real the marriage begins to feel.

This was an okay read, but the two main characters were both needlessly headstrong and stubborn, refusing to see the other’s point of view or bend at all. That didn’t really work for me, in fact, it had me skimming at times just so I could get through the sections I found pointless. This wasn’t bad, I just didn’t really connect with the characters or find the whole scenario believable enough to be invested in.

Amelia Grey lives in Florida. Love, The Duke is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/5.)

I love a smart heroine, who isn’t afraid to be courageous and daring. The heroines I love are the smartest people in the room.

Unfortunately, Ophelia, the heroine in Love the Duke is not the type of heroine I love. She is simply reckless, argumentative and intractable. She is not nuanced or cunning, smart or calculated. She is a bull in a China shop - pushing forward before following a thought to its inevitable end. She’s infuriating!

She loves her family, and brother especially, but honestly, she doesn’t have anything else to recommend her for this reader. I almost gave up so many times, but I pushed through, reading until the end. The last few pages do show her slightly more reasonable, but it still didn’t square things with me.

If you decide to give this read a try, know that the heroine is not a round character, her personality is unchanged as the story progresses. If you like her in the sample or first couple of chapters, you’ll enjoy this read. If you don’t, you won’t. I usually LOVE Amelia Grey’s writing. Unfortunately, I did not love this.

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

This was my first book by this author and it was easy to get into without having read the others. I enjoyed the pairing of a proper yet determined heroine with a protective and sometimes overbearing hero. My favorite scene was when he took a bee sting for her at their wedding to avoid her getting stung! (though I wasn't sure if it was accurate for a wedding to take place outdoors as opposed to in a church? but I guess it's worth it for the vibes)

There were a few inconsistencies (as to be expected with ARCs). There was one scene where a character disappeared halfway through without being mentioned leaving; I even went back and reread because I thought I missed something. The heroine was also mentioned as wearing a chemise over her stays (rather than under) which doesn't make sense.

This story was just ok for me. I honestly didn't care much for one of thevmain characters but that is not a reflection of not liking the author. It just isn't one of my favorite stories by Amelia Grey.

Tropes: enemies to lovers; marriage of convenience; MC's team up to solve a mystery
Steam level: 1
3rd book in the series, fine as a standalone.

2.5 stars rounded up. I made the mistake of choosing to read this based on the sexiness of the cover and the decent-sounding plot, forgetting that I didn't care for the first book in this series and the author's sex scenes are fade to black. I like this book better than the first one due to the mystery element, but the MC's aren't really for me and a lot of the relationship felt fakey and contrived. The Duke is your typical rakish, smarmy, entitled aristo; I probably should have given the book a pass just based on the fact that I'm pretty burned out on that type of character. Ophelia could be likable, but too often she borders on TSTL and judgmental (there's a scene where she slaps the Duke that grated on me). Their banter is meant to create a spark but I just didn't sense it, plus there's an overage of repetition and flowery language at times that slows the pacing.

Overall: not for me; might work for others.

Love, The Duke by Amiela Grey is the final book in her Say I Do series. This one is about Duke of Hurstbourne and Ophelia Stowe.
The duke is the last of his friends waiting for his soul mate. He believes he will recognize her at once. So, when Ophelia shows up at his townhome, he does not think she is his future duchess.
We get to read the story about how the two finally find them forever after.
Good writing, good story, and good ending to the Say I Do series. Thanks for the advance copy.

Inventive story telling
When a path not taken could have ended our story in a mere three chapters, I am delighted that author Amelia Grey was more creative than that in “Love, the Duke,” the final book in her Say I Do series. Instead, Grey gives her readers a delightful romp where long-held beliefs may need to be set aside.
Unlike many noble gentlemen of his time, the Duke of Hurstbourne does believe in love hitting like a lightning bolt. He is convinced that when he meets his future duchess, he will recognize her at once. And only he will recognize here (such arrogance). Thus, when an old friend reaches out for a favor, Hurst eschews that path and continues on his merry way.
When soul mates are fated, however, life will find a way to bring them together. When Ophelia Stowe appears in his home, Hurst does not recognize his future duchess.
Trailing after this pair, learning about their pasts that have led them to their current crossed paths was a delightful journey. I adored Ophelia’s logic and take-charge attitude, especially when it left Hurst a bit bewildered. When Hurst finally shared the deep-rooted reason he resisted playing detective with Ophelia, we were on the road to a satisfying HEA.

You know when you read a series that it will come to an end. This book was such a joy to read. I couldn't put it down , but at the same time didn't want it to end. It was fun and kept you engaged to the end. If you haven't read the series I would definitely recommend it. They were each good alone but so much better as a whole.

This was a cute, thrilling romance. I loved the mystery. Also, I loved the dialogue between the main characters.

The Duke of Hurstbourne is everything you believe a duke should be from the very beginning of Love, The Duke. No one tells him what to do. He is aristocratic and autocratic until he meets his friend’s sister. Then, sparks fly between him and the male dressed Ophelia. His world is turned upside down as Ophelia is determined to protect her deceased brother’s name. Ophelia is a strong willed and brave woman who challenges Hurst at every turn. It’s almost as if she has been sent just to vex him.

You will enjoy Amelia Grey’s final in the Say I Do series. Each of the dukes were taken unaware by love matches with adorable, challenging women and Ophelia is no exception. There is just the right amount of learning to trust as she and Hurst fall in love. Ophelia does not give up on her personal quest and stands her ground on what is right and important.

3.5 Stars
~~~~
No one likes a wallflower, especially in a story, otherwise you wouldn’t have the engagement you need to entice the reader.

So many historical romances include strong, independent women which may or may not be typical of the time. We need that push and pull between the love interest.

Love, The Duke is a perfect example because we have a very headstrong female character it was somewhat difficult for me to really enjoy her character. She never listened to suggestions and would take risks that would be long-lasting should something happen.

To balance her out, we have another stubborn character who seems like he wants to marry her just to control her actions. Although he was much more aware of the fact that he was intrigued by her and truly did try to protect her as he was falling first. A bit overbearing, but at least he learned from his actions and became rather sweet as the story progressed.

The story itself is a clean Romance, but much of the conversation surrounds the missing artifact and not engaging a lot, in getting to know each other or exploring their feelings. I really wanted more in terms of their actual romance.

Overall, Grey delivers a good story with a bit of mystery and intrigue. It was a bit light on the connections for me..