The Devil’s Own Duke is the final book in Anna Harrington’s The Dukes of Darkness series. It follows four friends as they battle their demons but each story is stand alone.
Miss Tessa Albright is desperate to find a husband, even if love isn’t in the cards—her heart has always belonged to one man, who tragically married her cousin. Just as she prepares to enter a loveless marriage, fate intervenes. The man she loves, Chase Maddox, Duke of Greysmere, returns after years of exile following the devastating loss of his wife and son. He intends to sell his estate and leave England for good, but the ghosts of his past—and Tessa’s undeniable presence—complicate his plans. As their connection rekindles, Tessa fights for a second chance at love, determined to prove that Chase, despite his grief and resistance, has always been hers.
I really enjoyed reading Chase and Tessa’s HEA. The blurb isn’t entirely correct because although Tessa loved spending time with Chase and she did envy her cousin she didn’t realise that it was love until Chase came back years later and she slowly came to realise that there should be no guilt attached to her growing feelings. From both their memories though it was apparent that Chase and Tessa were so much more well suited to be together than Chase and Eleanor.
Chase has been living under a cloud of guilt because he did not really have a cordial marriage with his wife and he believes he could have been a much better father to his son. He is so determined to carry on punishing himself and it takes him almost the entirety of the book to realise that he is not to blame for how events unfolded and he can try to embrace the happiness and peace he feels in Tessa’s arms.
Both Chase and Tessa are very likeable people and their happiness is well deserved. The story has a bit of a gothic feel to it with the ghostly elements – although I found it difficult to work out if the castle was actually haunted or just manifestations. The story is well paced and there is a twist at the end. It was good to see the other Dukes rally around Chase when he needs help and the fact that they held a mirror up to his feelings for Tessa.
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in return for my honest opinion. This is a great way to round off the series.

Chase's turn...

We've seen Chase helping his other buddy dukes and now its his turn. What I could not understand was why he felt so much guilt over his wife and son's death when he clearly didn't love them like he should have. I guess that was the crux. But you only feel that much guilt if you cared. Chase choose to marry Tessa's cousin with logic and status in mind. He never saw Tessa as a potential match before, as she was a year younger and a hoyden tomboy.

At 24, Tessa has to marry and soon. Like the night Chase comes back into her life after ghosting everyone for three years. He is only back to close the castle and go back to Spain, where he has been for the past three years. He is suddenly attracted to the now fetching Tessa, but she has to raise her much younger sister and with little to no marriage prospects, she must wed and soon.

Tessa is the best and deserves a man who will appreciate her. I liked Chase but at times, he is so very frustrating and illogical. He's such an emotional man who is all over the place and runs from his feelings.
Recommend.

A story filled with past tragedies, that is so touching and heartfelt. The story begins with such a sad scene. As it continues, it becomes apparent that Tessa will provide the hope for the future. The question is whether Chase will allow himself to be hopeful. The story has twists and turns that provide suspense and has believable characters that the reader wants to see them find happiness. A lovely story of redemption in so many ways.

Chase Maddox, Duke of Greysmere is a haunted man. Although he is mentioned in the previous books, we do not discover what or who haunts him until this one, his story. He is an unhappy soul, running from life. Or is he running from himself? His wife and young son were lost at sea, not even their bodies found. Guilty because he never loved her or wasn't a good father to his son, he runs away to Spain. Several years later he must return to pack up his castle and sell what he can so he can escape once again. Only this time there is Tessa Albright, his late wife's cousin and his friend. Unmarried, dowry-less, and the daughter of a disgraced soldier her martial prospects are almost nil. The first thing she does on Chase's return is throw a glass of water in his face. That does not stop them from rekindling their friendship and realizing a mutual attraction that they both deny. They are perfect for each other. There are several times when Chase is quite unlikable. Sometimes I don't think he even likes himself, but he does vindicate himself very nicely. There is much less drama in this last book in the series than the previous ones, however it does wrap up the series very well.

This is the final book in the Dukes of Darkness series and was my favorite. Once again Harrington brought it.

Chase Maddox the Duke of Greysmere returns home after three years in Spain so he can wrap up his affairs and return. He still carries the guilt of losing his wife and son in a shipwreck.

Chase knows he can't leave again without seeing Miss Tessa Albright. He sees Tessa at social event and she calls him a nodcock and throws her water in his face, turns and leave. She tells him he left when she needed him the most.

Tessa is being courted by Mr. Renslow part owner of industrial mill and says will take care of her sister Winnie too. He finds out how Chase's wife and son died and he has people looking into it.

Chase asked. Tessa to help him pack up the castle and she can bring her sister with her. While they are at the castle they become close and she still cares.

Mr. Renslow asked Chase for Tessa hand since he is the male of her family. Chase turns him down when he tells him what he is going to do. Then he tells Chase he found out where his wife is buried and he takes off. Tessa finds out what Renslow did and she tells him no she will not marry him.

Tessa takes off and follows Chase and they finally give into their feelings, This story has so much heartbreak and love all combined. I was so moved by this story and needed tissue or two.

This story does end with a happy ending for all with a surprise or two.

I have enjoyed this series and feel sad that it is now coming to an end in this romance, as the Duke of Greysmere finds his way home to his estate to wrap up his affairs before returning to Spain. Chase has seen and done things in the line of duty that have scarred his soul, but none of it is any worse than the guilt he carries that resulted in the death of his wife and son. The only light on the horizon is his anticipated meeting with Miss Tessa Albright, his late wife's cousin, who always challenges him and makes him smile. He does not expect her anger at seeing him, and even worse, he discovers that he let her down when she needed him most. Chase is only too aware of the ordeal ahead of him and begs Tessa to assist him, especially in sorting out her cousin's possessions. In turn, he and his friends are determined to discover the truth behind the disaster that Tessa and her sister find themselves in, and they leave no stone unturned. One of Chase's deepest regrets is that he has no clue what happened to the bodies of his wife and son after they were shipped wrecked, but a man who has the ability to go where the gentry cannot, makes a discovery and attempts to use the information against Chase. When Tessa discovers his duplicity, she is furious, goes after Chase, and is at his side as he faces the truth about the past. Although a sad story, Chase and Tessa eventually find their happiness, and the novel closes on a joyful note. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

He wants to shut the door and leave things in the past. She refuses to let him. A compelling story of acceptance belief in oneself, healing and moving forward.


My thanks to the author via netgalley for a copy. This is my voluntary review.

Miss Tessa Albright has to find a husband & fast. After all, there’s only been one man for her and he married her cousin. But as she prepares to enter a loveless marriage, the man she loves now a widower returns from his self-imposed exile, and she isn’t prepared for the man he’s become. Chase Maddox, Duke of Greysmere, had his world implode when his wife and toddler son died. So he left England and tried desperately to overcome his grief. Now, three years later, he’s come home.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own, a very well written book with strong characters & a well paced story. I liked both Chase & Tessa but although there was chemistry something didn’t quite gel for me. Also the gothic element didn’t work for me. The author is usually a 5 star but this time it fell short
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

🤍 My Review 🤍

The Devil's Own Duke by Anna Harrington is a touching and emotional historical romance. This book follows Tessa and Chase, two characters who have known each other for years but are brought back together after a lot of heartache and loss. Tessa needs to marry to support her sister, while Chase is dealing with deep guilt after losing his wife and son. I loved how their relationship slowly grew as they spent more time together, helping each other heal. The emotions were strong throughout the story, and the way Tessa never gave up on Chase was beautiful. I really liked how Chase interacted with Tessa’s sister too—it showed he had a kind heart underneath all his grief. The story had a few twists I didn’t expect, which made it even more enjoyable. This was a lovely ending to the Dukes of Darkness series, and I would definitely recommend it!

A romance full of emotion, second chance at love, passion and much hope for the future. A wonderful pairing in Chase and Tessa with beautiful dialogue and connection.

Let me state that everything that Anna has written is gold. She is such a talented and engaging writer. Some of my favorite stories have been Anna’s. This book is really hard for me to review. I did not feel a connection to either character and the plotline. The story was going in one direction and then a main plotline, in my opinion, was dropped. I thought it would be a great twist but it was not to be. Also, I could not understand the whys for Chase’s constant berating himself. Parts of the story were quite entertaining and sweet. Again, Anna is an amazing writer and this will not affect any future readings because I will gobble up everything she pens.

The Devil's Own Duke by Anna Harrington is the fourth book in The Dukes of Darkness series and don't worry - if you haven't read the first three books, you can still read this one as I feel like it can be read as a standalone. While there is mention of the other dukes, there isn't really any crossover with their stories.

In this book, Tessa is our fmc and she needs to marry to continue to support herself and her younger sister but when someone from her past shows up unexpectedly and asks for her help she can't say no. Unfortunately for Tessa, old feelings and ghosts of the past come out and as she continues to push Chase to realize that he isn't responsible for what happened and he needs to stop running away, she also needs to figure out what her future is going to look like.

Chase Maddox, Duke of Gresmere, hasn't been back to England since the death of his wife and son. Now three years later he plans to sell the estate and then leave for good but he needs help so he asks Tessa, the one person he knows he can trust, to help him. What he didn't expect was that the Tessa he knew then had grown into a beautiful woman and as they continue to work closely together, he can't help but be drawn to her but he is determined to leave England and the ghosts of his past behind. That is until he finds out something that will change the course of his life going forward forever.

I enjoyed this book of the series. I wasn't sure how the set up was going to be with Chase having been married to Tessa's cousin but it wasn't weird at all...at least not to me. I thought Tessa's relationship with Chase and how it evolved as well as the way he helped find out what really happened with her father was great. I also loved how Chase was with Tessa's younger sister. Knowing one of his concerns was that he was a bad father, it was clear that he wasn't given the chance with his son to be the father he could be.

All that to say, if you're looking for a historical romance to read, consider picking this one up. I enjoyed it and will continue to read books by Harrington as I find them to be well written with engaging stories.

This is the last book in the “Dukes of Darkness” series by Anna Harrington and what a way to end this remarkable series.

Chase Maddox, Duke of Greysmere, lost his wife and son and he has not gotten over the grief and feelings of guilt and remorse. He left England afterward and is returning after three years. It is a temporary return as he plans to sell the estate and leave for good with no intentions of looking back. But as with most plans, things do not go smoothly; ghosts from the past surface, and his guilt is all-consuming.

Miss Tess Albright has never forgotten Chase and is angry at him for leaving without saying goodbye. She always envied her cousin for being married to Chase and knows he doesn’t feel anything but friendship for her.

She offers to help Chase pack up the house, and as they spend time together, she realizes that she needs Chase in her life and has to get him to see it too. Chase starts to acknowledge that Tessa is special, but his past haunts him, and he remains determined to leave.

This was such an emotional story, with ups and downs—a roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end—and I loved it! I could feel the emotions that Tessa was experiencing and Chase’s reluctance to forgive himself for the past or acknowledge that accidents happen and that he wasn’t the devil he thinks he is.

Chase was so torn by the past, but the love and happiness he felt with Tessa made him reexamine his choices. I could not have anticipated the unexpected twist that occurs, but that’s what made an already great story even better. I was so engaged and captivated by Tessa and Chase’s journey. It’s a powerful reminder of how love and redemption can shape our lives.

The author has written a beautiful story about self-forgiveness and taking a chance on happiness, and going after your hearts desires. This book wraps up the series beautifully, drawing you in with its rich characters and emotional depth. You’ll be captivated by the way the author blends emotion and tension, making you appreciate the sheer talent behind the storytelling.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was really looking forward to the story or the mad Duke .. and it’s sweet but it’s just lacking any excitement really . I expected there was more to his guilt and the reasons for his actions but alas it was pretty much all in his head . I’m glad there wasn’t a crazy 3rd act breakup though which I always hate .

Overall, this series has been pretty good

The Devil's Own Duke is a spicy historical romance. It has a second chance storyline. Tessa has always had feelings for Chase. The problem was, he was previously married to her cousin. The novel begins a few years following the death of Chase's wife and child. He returns home to handle affairs to discover Tessa in the midst of trying to find a husband.

The beginning of the novel starts out quite slow for me. I wish I had been provided more information about Tessa & Chases' prior interactions. It's made clear that Chase did not previously harbor any feelings for Tessa, but upon meeting her again, that's changed. Around half way through the novel, the plot picks up and more details are revealed to drive the story along. I really enjoyed that the author focused on more than one subplot for the couple to address. It was unique to see how Tessa's fathers past could have such an impact upon his children.

As a reader, I was quite invested in the couple's struggles. I was able to feel the yearning and love both of the main characters held for each other. I especially enjoyed Tessa's unwavering belief in Chase's good character. Chase's character development was perfect. I was very drawn into his struggles and desires.

I've been a fan of Anna Harrington's and read some of her past works. I enjoyed this novel, but it wasn't my favorite. I would recommend this novel to friends who enjoy this genre. Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

That’s a wonderful installment of this series! Great standalone, but I also loved seeing the characters of the previous books coming back. The thing I appreciated most is the Gothic vibes. The atmosphere the author created for the castle is really compelling and great. Fabulous writing! I also loved the characters, Tessa in particular, because she’s strong and honest and doesn’t mince words. And she’s just what Chase needed to shake off his self-pity and the darkness in his soul. A magnificent love story, steamy and full of emotions!

When Tessa reluctantly set out to acquire her husband, the one person she was not expecting to stumble across was her cousin’s widower, who had run away to Spain years before. He needs help closing up the castle and getting rid of her cousin’s possessions, so what’s a girl to do but accept.

I love a good historical romance, and this one just hit in all the right places. It was easy to read, and I found myself lost in the world. The side characters were also just enjoyable.

4.25 ★
After finishing the third book in this series, The Duke’s Only Desire, I knew I wanted to pick up the next one, so I was very excited to get my hands on this arc. In this book, we follow Miss Tessa Albright and Chase Maddox, the duke of Greysmere, three years later after a tragedy struck their lives. Chase has his world implode after losing his wife and son, so he left London trying to overcome his grief. Now he’s back trying to sell his state to move far away from his memories, but his plans don’t go smoothly with Tessa back in his life.

My experience reading this one was very similar to the last book in this series, but different in the best way possible. Here I was deeply invested in the couple, they had me in an emotional chokehold and I’m not even kidding. Tessa and Chase won my heart, both as a couple and as individuals. I loved all their interactions and they had me giggling all the time. Chase was a great character, and I was rooting for him the entire journey of him finding a purpose in living and loving. Tessa is a strong character who knows what she wants and goes after it, she’s smart and funny, a perfect pair for Chase and the type of protagonist that I love.

I read this book in a 12-hour period, and it was only because I had to sleep, that’s how addicted I was. The writing style continued to be amazing and the characters delivered the yearning that conquered me in the last book. I will definitely be picking up not only the first two book in the series, but also other books by Anna Harrington.

Similar to the last book I also struggled with the last 30%, but this time it didn’t feel as chaotic or rushed, so it did not impact my enjoyment. I was not expecting that plot twist, but ended enjoying how it was handled.

I finished this wishing for more pages so I could keep following my new favorite couple. This story was heartwarming, funny and everything I ever wanted from a historical romance. I will shout to the world until everyone picks it up.

~
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Chase and Tessa have a history, they met when Chase was courting and consequently married to her cousin. When the cousin and son were killed in a ship wreck, Chase flees the country, only to return a few years later to find Tessa looking for a husband to protect her and her sister’s future. I enjoyed the subsequent romance, between these two friends-to-lovers as they discovered that they needed each other to heal.

I was so excited when I saw this book was coming out! Anna Harrington has such an amazing expressive style - I find it hard to put any of her books down once I start. This one was no exception and finally lets us learn more about Chase Maddox, the Duke of Greysmere, who was an enigmatic character in previous books.

Chase and Tessa are two very real characters and Anna Harrington does a great job describing the intricacies of their personalities, with their flaws and virtues that all lead to where they find themselves. I loved that this wasn’t an insta-love, but a feeling that gradually grew from desire to comfort and console each other. Without introducing any spoilers, I found the main intrigue very compelling and could not put the book down at 2 am before I read to the end. The story is tastefully and delightfully steamy as is usual for this author. This whole Duke series is top-notch and this is a fitting conclusion to it, although I won’t complain about another sequel!

I am grateful to receive an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade publishing. All opinions are my own.