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.

Eliza and Simon's story was both charming and frustrating and I had to keep reminding myself that Eliza was just an impulsive nineteen year old girl willing to risk it all for love and adventure.

Overall, an enjoyable addition to the Dove Sisters series and I really hope that despite the publisher issues we get Jenny's book.

Eliza was such a fun heroine to read about! She is a bit impulsive and curious and not afraid to get in a bit of trouble. I liked watching her learn about Simon’s version of London and showing him that she could handle his secrets.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series! Getting the set up in this one was fun. Each of the dove sisters are so different and I like watching them each find love their own way.

Another banger from Harper St. George! I really liked Simon Cavell as a hero — it feels so rare to read a historical romance about a man in his early 20s as opposed to an early thirties gentleman courting a debutant a decade his junior. I'm really excited for Jenny and Lord David's story that was set up in this book! Their dynamic was electric.

Yet another solid historical romance by Harper St. George. I loved seeing a different side of London than we saw in The Gilded Age Heiresses. This book was full of plenty of tension between Eliza and Simon which paid off. Eliza was often headstrong and stubborn which honestly made me root for her even harder.

DNF’d at 22 percent. So disappointed to say this story didn’t hold my interest. To make this love story plausible, I can already tell a huge suspension of disbelief will need to take place.

Harper St. George is such a master of the historical romance and I was excited to read about Eliza, an American heiress, and Simon, a prizefighter with no title. Eliza is engaged to a man she finds horrendously boring, so she sets out to have at least one adventure before her wedding day. She enlists Simon, the manager of the Montague Club, to take her out on the town for one night. Of course, they both find that one night simply isn't enough!

I'm willing to suspend my disbelief about characters falling in love quickly in this setting and honesty I was swooning for Simon right alongside Eliza. Eliza was so easy to root for, especially with the frustrating limitations imposed on her by her father and society. I highly recommend this to fans of Bridgerton and The League of Extraordinary Women series!

Eliza and the Duke is the second of three books about the feisty, fearless fake heiresses the Dove sisters and their hunt for husbands to satisfy their father’s marriage requirements to gain their inheritance. Eliza gives big Eloise Bridgerton vibes to me in the best way-she is impulsive, passionate and unrelenting in her quest for the “Duke”, Simon Cavell, a prizefighter trying to get out of Whitechapel to better his and his family’s future. While this is part of a series, it’s not necessary to have read the previous book (or other of St. George’s books whose protagonists have cameos in this story), but I do think doing so enhances this story greatly. While it’s instalust, it’s a complicated journey to HEA for for main characters and I found myself loving the side characters equally. This is 🌶️🌶️, with just the right amount of yearning and spice IMO. Definitely worth checking out for romance fans! Grateful to Harper St. George and Berkley for the ARC!

If you’re into a little bit of scandal and dangerous situations with your historical romance authors, this is a great story to grab.

St. George is blending an American Heiress into society in the Regency era in London. With a large dowry, marrying the right man is expected. However, following your heart and your hormones usually ends up a little bit differently.

This story is not your typical Regency style romance but focuses more on a middle class to lower class hero in our high society, looking for a husband heroine.

Eliza and the Duke is a bit of a forbidden romance because of the class issue and the fact that she really is a bit out of control, especially at the beginning of the book. The author actually lost me for a bit as the heroine was really out of her depth and overly risky.

However, I loved the way the author depicted the Duke. He definitely falls for her which brings the steam and delicious swoony things going on between them. However, she is betrothed to another man, so the whole story has this air of forbidden romance surrounding it and figuring out how to come to a satisfying ending.

Overall, the story was well-written, interesting, and sexy, and the ending completely made up for the rocky start.

If you’re into alternate types of historical romance, Eliza and the Duke is a great choice. St. George is making her mark with the blending of American Heiresses and English aristocracy in a wonderful manner.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, historical romances need a comeback! However, with that said, Harper St. George has always been a hit or miss for me. I really enjoyed The Gilded Age Heiresses series- my favorite being The Devil and the Heiress. This new series, The Doves of New York, has been a bit lackluster.

Quick Sumamry:
Eliza Dove needs to marry an aristocrat in order to receive her allowance. Easy- she is now engaged to a man she hardly knows who is frolicking in the Continent keeping count of how many notches he puts on his belt. Then enters Simon Cavell, the general manager of London's renowned social club. Eliza's impulsive nature throws her in Simon's life in a whirlwind that takes both their lives off course. There is prizefighting, danger, and death. Also, of course, an HEA.

Honestly, I liked it. In my opinion, Simon could've loosened up earlier on. I am also not a fan of the FMC pursuing the MMC--- so that's on me. The story just didnt have the spark I needed to rate it any higher than three. HOWEVAH, I'm on the edge of my seat for the next story-- centered around the last sister, Jenny and her beau Lord David. Whenever these two were on the page, sparks were flying.

Thank you #NetGalley for providing me with eARC in exchange for my honest review.

First, thank you to the publisher for the early access. Harper St George books are so fun to read. This is a very fun series and I love all the mentions of the previous books/series. All the cheers for strong women and the men that love and support them. Very excited for the 3rd book.

Another exciting Victorian romance from Harper St George. Youngest Dove sister Eliza is engaged to a lord (thanks to her social climbing father), but she can’t stop running into Whitechapel-born bruiser Simon. And he can’t seem to stay away from her, despite his best intentions.

There was a lot of plot crammed into this book. Not all of it got resolved. But overall it was an enjoyable read and I learned more about Victorian England.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Hi book friends, this is the second novel in The Doves of New York series. The first book in the series, The Stranger I Wed, hooked me in right away. It was an opening novel that sets the stage for the subsequent series. A great opener! Whereas, in Eliza and the Duke, it focuses on the middle Dove sister, Elizabeth Dove.

Eliza and the Duke gives a different romantic perspective than George’s last novel. It’s not a match of wealth or prestige. Eliza finds herself enamored by a man who is a genuinely good human being and she takes a risk and falls in love with someone who makes her feel safe and whole.

As the novel progressed I found myself predicting what would happen next, and it was a delight when what I thought would happen, happened. What didn’t work for me in this one was the dynamic between the villain and Simon towards the end. I understood why Simon (aka the Duke) was beholden to the villain of the novel. But, when Eliza entered the picture, with her connections and wealth, it didn’t make much sense that Simon had to pay off a debt he already paid. Although, the ending conveniently made things easier, it felt too easy actually (you'll know what I mean when you read the book), I really do think Eliza and Simon could’ve asked for help and received it gladly from family and friends.

I am ready for the next novel though as George reveals the youngest Dove sister’s romance story to a certain heir to a dukedom.

As usual Harper St. George kept me engaged in the story and the characters! I really enjoyed these two muddling through their class differences and finding their happy ever after!

I was a smidge underwhelmed by this one. The stakes were high, but also felt a little hollow. I didn't really believe in the couple, either- what makes this meaningfully different than Eliza's other impulsive decisions? It was still an enjoyable read, but I don't think I would reread.

“Eliza and the Duke” is a perfect sequel in Harper St. George’s The Doves of New York series. This time, Eliza steps into the spotlight, taking readers on an exhilarating journey through London’s nightlife. Her growing attraction to Simon Cavell only fuels her desire for independence, adding depth and tension to her story.

Highly recommended for romance fans, especially those eager to see more of the Dove family. I know I cannot wait to read what comes next for the Dove family!

This was a light, but ultimately slightly underwhelming, romance novel. The characters had less depth to them than other St. George stories, however I will continue to follow this author.

Eliza and Simon's story is one for readers who love a couple that chooses to be vulnerable with each other, where the stakes are relatively low but the romance is high.

Eliza Dove, the second illegitimate daughter of a wealthy American businessman, is already engaged to be married when she meets Simon, a working man from Whitechapel whose face she describes as more interesting than handsome. He's just left a bare knuckle prize fight and he's is terrible shape, but their chemistry is apparent from their first meeting. She helps bandage him up, and she can't stop thinking about him and how he made her feel. While Simon doesn't entirely remember her, he remembers feeling as though he had been visited by an angel during his recovery. When they run into each other again, it takes him a while to decider why she seems so familiar. Once he realizes who she is, the story accelerates quickly.

I love Eliza as a character because she is brave, impulsive, and utterly unserious about society's rules. She knows what is expected of her, but she's not going to let that stand in the way of getting what she wants, and it doesn't take her long to decide that she wants Simon.

Their romance unfolds sweetly (and with plenty of spice!) and thoufh they face challenges and a few dangers along the way, their HEA feels inevitable and the story itself has a cozy vibe that I needed.

Definitely recommend if you love historical romances between characters that fall on the edge or just outside of the traditional regency society group.