3.5 Stars — While this wasn’t a a five star for me, the author never fails to deliver a fun and steamy romance. I liked Eliza and Simon well enough. I needed a little more spark between them.

That said, OMG we better get Jenny’s story! There’s definitely something intense brewing between her and Lord David.

I'm going to be honest with you, Harper St. George is easily one of my favorite authors, so I'm never going to dislike a book of hers. This was a wonderful second book in the Dove's of New York. I think I liked The Stranger I Wed more than this one (but also, marriage of convenience?!?), but it was a really solid second novel.

Eliza is incredibly practical, understanding to get access to her inheritance she must marry a respectable marriage her father approves of. But when Simon is too much of a temptation, she goes after a night of adventure. Simon cannot afford to mess up his life as there are others depending on him, even if that means giving up the best thing he's ever had.

To be honest the plot wasn't that strong with this one, but Eliza and Simon were both complex characters that kept me entertained the entire time. Eliza started off the book a little more mature than she ended the book as, but I felt like the transformation went from being super independent to being willing to rely on others and choosing happiness. Simon, oh baby Simon. I adored his character and all of the different situations that he got himself into. He was fabulous.

I also thoroughly enjoyed each of the characters from St. George's other books making a debut in this book. Always a love!

Overall, it was a very solid historical romance that I quickly read through. Although, I am HIGHLY disappointed that we will not get the third book (come on, publisher!!). I'm hoping St. George independently publishes it? I do recommend this book!

This was a cute story! When I pick up a historical, I love reading about people who aren't members of the ton to mix things up. "The Duke" is a prizefighter and Eliza is the bastard daughter of a nobleman who is currently in London trying to make an advantageous match but all those plans get thrown aside when she meets our grumpy prizefighter. They are into each other from the moment they meet and it was so fun to watch them find a way to make a relationship work when all odds seem to be against them. If you're looking for a steamy historical this is a fun one to pick up.

I picked up Eliza and the Duke, looking for a juicy escape, and whew—did it deliver. This book has all the delicious ingredients I crave: a headstrong heroine, a brooding hero with a scandalous secret, and the kind of forbidden chemistry that practically sets the pages on fire.
Eliza is a refreshing lead—she’s not naïve, afraid to chase what she wants, and wants one unforgettable night before being locked into a dull marriage. Enter Simon, the Duke—not a duke in the title, but a prizefighter with the kind of raw magnetism that could ruin a woman and make her beg for it. Their first encounter? Let’s say I had to fan myself a bit. Harper St. George does know how to write heat.
What drew me in, though, was the dynamic between these two. It’s not just lust—longing, rebellion, a craving for something real in a world full of expectations and secrets. Simon’s backstory adds grit and heart, and Eliza’s determination to rewrite her future is bold and inspiring. There’s emotional depth under all the steam, which I appreciated.
Now, if I’m being honest (because what’s the point of a review if I’m not?), I did find the pacing a little uneven in the middle. Some plot turns felt a tad predictable, and I wanted more tension in the stakes—especially when Eliza’s scandalous new plan takes shape. I was all in, but I wasn’t entirely breathless.
Still, the ending is satisfying, the characters grow genuine, and the whole thing left me with a dreamy smile. It’s a story about choosing passion over propriety, which will always be on my shelf. If you like your historical romance with grit, heart, and a little sweat behind the gloves, give this one a go.

Welcome to my part of the Berkley Blog Tour for Harper St. George’s *Eliza and the Duke*, the second title in *The Doves of New York* series; I was thrilled to be invited to take part in this since I loved the first book of the series *The Stranger I Wed*.

Second in *The Doves of New York* series, these could be read out of order, but I was glad to have read the first book prior.

A forbidden romance, I adored Simon and Eliza and was impressed by the writing and research. I loved the premise for this, the execution was terrific, and it was fascinating to learn more about Victorian London’s working class.

Recommended for readers who love a well written and engaging historical romance.



Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC

This was an enjoyable read. I love a MMC who is into fighting. There is something so...HOT about a man who can fight well. Eliza was bold and curious and Simon was a good match for her.

Overall, this story was ok. I didn't love it, but I thought it was entertaining.

Eliza and the Duke is the 2nd book in The Doves of New York series, a historical romance series from Harper St. George. This series overall has been okay, but not a favorite for me from this author.

Eliza is an American heiress. We met her and her sisters in the first book of the series. Basically their mother was a rich man’s mistress and the daughters grew up with a lot of scandal around them. But then their paternal grandmother passed away and felt bad for the snub on them so she left the girls are inheritances…with the caveat that they must marry “suitable, titled men”. So off to London they went to find men. Eliza is in an arranged betrothal and wants one last adventure before she’s set to wed. She meets Simon, a prize fighter known as “the Duke”, and immediately knows he’s the man for the job and it kind of goes from there!

I have always enjoyed this author’s historical romances but something about this one just didn’t hit quite the same. The couple and characters were fine, but I wasn’t super invested with their story. It felt a bit underwhelming overall and definitely not a favorite for me from this author. The cover on the other hand is such a stunner, love the monochromatic jewel tones this author’s covers seem to use a lot. I also did like that the hero is a commoner and seeing him be tasked with the family’s security made for some fun forced proximity.

I received an ARC and ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.

Eliza and the Duke is the second in The Doves of New York series featuring the feisty and fierce Dove sisters. Eliza is next on the marriage mart. She incredibly impulsive, persistent and unrelenting in her wants for the Duke, Simon Cavell even though she is betrothed to another man.

This book is sexy as their forbidden romance heats up the pages. This book blends the American heiresses and the English aristocracy for a swoon worthy historical romance.

Can't wait for the next installment.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

Another hit for Harper St. George. She remains to be an insta buy author. If she writes it, I will read it.

Eliza and Simon’s story has everything a historical romance should have. I can’t wait to read Jenny, and hopefully Lord David’s, story!!

"American heiress Eliza Dove was resigned to a polite marriage of convenience...until she spent one wicked night with the Duke.

All hopeless romantic Eliza Dove asked for was one night of adventure. One glorious evening of freedom to explore the dark corners of London with a mysterious stranger before a lifetime trapped in a quiet, respectable marriage of convenience. Except now she wants more. Now she wants him.

Simon Cavell is no gentleman. Known only as 'the Duke,' Whitechapel's prize boxer is one fight away from achieving his goal: to safeguard his late sister's only treasure and leave the streets for good. He cannot allow some pretty young heiress to spill his secrets, no matter how tempting she might be. In return for her silence, Simon will give Eliza a taste of the darkness...and hope he doesn't lose his heart in the process.

But one night together could never be enough. And now Eliza has a new plan - an even more scandalous bargain that will either land the heiress her duke or ruin them both."

I like to think that Harper St. George is a fan of Miss Scarlet and the Duke and was sad when the Duke left and therefore this is her way to get Eliza Scarlet and the Duke together...

A fun and exciting historical romance!

The third installment in Harper St. George's The Doves of New York series packs a punch :) this novel is adventous, sexy, and overall a fun read

I know the fourth book won't be out with Berkley but I look forward to reading more from Harper St George soon

Not sure why this book didn’t work for me but I am also bummed to realize Berkley didn’t pick up the next book in the series bc the way she set up the pairing for the third book was EXTREMELY intriguing and I would have devoured that. I didn’t love the FMC initially, she presented as extremely spoiled and accustomed to getting her way in things and it took her explaining her background for me to remember she actually wasn’t raised in luxury. I liked the MMC more which is unusual for me but there you have it. I did eventually come around to the FMC but the ending also resolved itself so easily and quickly, like I blinked and it was all over and done with.

Facing a boring future married to a man she's never met, Eliza blackmails Simon, an underground prizefighter, to show her an exciting night on the streets of London. But neither planned on falling for each other, especially when society's views of class and staid rules dictate they should never be together.

This is a fun sunshine/grump romance, full of dashes of danger and a sprinkle of humor and entertainment. Readers will get a slightly different view of London here, seeing a little more of the underbelly of the city and the historical class restrictions placed on women. Both MC's were well-developed, and the relationship was able to blossom over time rather than become a forced insta-love. Overall, a decent addition to the genre for historical romance fans.

Whew this one was nonstop action definitely unexpected and full of laughter and yes love! We have Eliza Dove who encounters fighter and worker at Montague Club! Mr Simon Cavell has worked hard and been involved with toughs in the East End all his life!
The one break he has was Montague Club that introduced him to another way of life other than crime and violence! This is how Simon got the nickname the Duke!
Eliza sees Simon recovering from one of those fights and he doesn’t remember as he is out of mind with pain!
Blackmail is in order so that Eliza can experience something real before her marriage to a Viscount! But things don’t go as planned and their adventure leads to more than they ever imagined!
Eliza has to marry well so that Jenny can have her future and Simon has to fulfill money owed to a gangster to keep his niece safe!
There does not seem to be any way forward! Eliza has to please Mr Hathaway who would never approve of a street fighter over a title!?
This story is steamy and filled with so much hope and inspiration!
Family can be the making of us but not always! The love Cora, Eliza and Jenny have for each other is amazing and it has a lot to do with Eliza’s happy ending! Bravo well done! Can’t wait to read Jenny’s story!

I liked the other books in this series better but this was definitely still a fun read. St. George really excels at writing Gilded Age romance.

Eliza is an American heiress with the craving for adventure before her arranged marriage takes place. She sneaks into a billiards club owned by her friend’s husband and finds herself face to face with Simon, a duke and famous boxer. Intrigued by this tortured soul of a man, Eliza can’t help but to want to know him. When he is hired to protect Eliza and her sister, Simon finds himself unable to resist her sweet friendship and affection.
The two of them are adorable together, she is a woman with curiosity and wit, and Simon can’t help but to wish she was marrying him. But with his rough background what can he offer her? When danger comes looking for him, Eliza is put in the front of it. I love the adventures they have together through London’s finest and roughest places, and found Simon’s story very interesting. I’m really looking forward to Eliza’s sister’s story! If you have read the author’s previous series then you’ll love the cameos of former main characters.

While not a new favorite, this is still a solid installment to the series as well as the genre. I loved the concept - and I have such a soft spot for historical romance with a boxer - and Simon more than lived up to my expectations for rough boxer with a heart of gold. However while I liked Eliza I had a hard time believing her "struggles" which seemed to be entirely placed on herself since her family was more than happy for her to do as she please so there wasn't really a true obstacle for them to overcome on her end so instead she just felt a bit flaky and impulsive to me, but I very much wanted Simon to get everything he ever wanted. It's always refreshing to me to have a historical romance feature someone who is not in the titled class. And the subplot did more than enough to make obstacles and keep the plot moving. The ending is probably my favorite part and I am very very excited for the third one now so hopefully I don't have to wait too long.

For Eliza Dove to get her inheritance, she must marry a man her estranged father deems suitable. While her fiancé spends his summer seeing the sights of the continent, Eliza dreams of having just one night to see the sights of London before she's shackled to a life she never asked for. Enter Simon Cavell.

When Eliza runs into Simon, she knows he's just the man she needs. Simon is the farthest thing from a gentleman. He's a prizefighter known as the Duke, and he's one fight away from securing freedom from the dangerous streets of Whitechapel for him and his late sister's daughter. Determined to keep Eliza from spilling his secret, he reluctantly agrees to take her out for one night. But it's clear by the raging attraction between them that one night could never be enough, leaving Eliza to concoct a scandalous bargain that will either land her Simon or ruin them both.

I always know I'm going to enjoy an HSG book. Her writing is straight to the point, and her plots are always interesting. I liked Eliza as a main character but found her a tad impulsive. She didn't always think her actions through, but I liked how Simon was always there to steer her away from danger. It was cute watching Simon fight his feelings for Eliza because you could tell he was gone for her from the moment they met. He came across as this rough and tough bruiser of a man, but he had such a soft side that I couldn't get enough of. I liked the romance, but their relationship was very insta-lovey, and I would've liked it to have dragged out a little more to help build the tension. While not a new favorite, it was still a solid installment, and I can't wait for the next one.

Many thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio, and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.

This was another super enjoyable histrom from St. George. This time the Dove sister in question, Eliza, realizes she may be throwing away her chance at happiness in settling for a “suitable” man, and a dangerous prize fighter captures her attention.

While Eliza was definitely impetuous and rash at times (girl, you in danger!), Simon was a giant cinnamon roll. The forbidden nature of their relationship added heat and risk. Even with the threat of penury for Eliza and bodily harm to Simon, I was never overly worried. I did love the conclusion (and the steam!).

I’m so excited now for the final sister’s book! I anticipate a scorching conclusion to the series!

As always, I enjoyed the author’s note at the end for added historical context!

Eliza and the Duke is a gorgeous tale of perseverance, of collecting dreams, and of choice in love. Historical romances seem to have an extra special touch when it comes to featuring a love story full of yearning and longing in the face of duty and expectation. And this book has it in spades! To such a beautiful degree you will absolutely be rooting for the leads' paths to become one of the same. Societal and class expectations will stand in their way, but it will only make you yearn all the more for Eliza and the Duke to forge their own way.

Relocated to London with her sisters and mother, American heiress Eliza cannot collect her inheritance unless married to an aristocratic gentleman of her godfather’s choosing. After discovering her would-be fiancé’s philandering ways across the sea, she decides at the very least she deserves one night out, free of societal expectations, to experience a life of her own choosing before being bound to a man she does not know much less love. Enter Simon, known as ‘the Duke,’ a prized boxer striving to win enough coin to ensure the safety of his late sister’s daughter whom he raises as his own. A chance meeting between Eliza and Simon will forever change the trajectory of both their lives…

I love the way Eliza and Simon first meet, it sets the ball rolling in an excellent direction. Simon tries to best keep her at a distance but Eliza is delightfully relentless, and what she wants is for him to show her a night out. Not in terms of intimacy between them, but simply living a night out in the city, visiting the places ladies of society are not meant to be, including the club where Simon boxes. She fears once bound to her betrothed she will never live out her dreams, and so, just for one night she wants to make them true. Simon inevitably relents, but it’s so fun watching him try his best to initially dissuade her. But her charms are so disarming, not just for The Duke but readers as well! And that served to gorgeously amplify their chemistry. It was so beautifully written! There is an endearing lightness to their banter, which is terrifically balanced with the heavy emotional load when it comes to the reality of their perspective positions in society. Witnessing them navigate, question, and challenge this makes their love story all the more powerful.

I enjoyed the entire direction of the plot, and while it did at times slow down a bit too much for my preference, it was never in an overly distracting way. I began and ended this story with absolute satisfaction.

I loved this one and this is a book that has introduced me to an author whose works I now need to immediately dive into!

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.