eARC Book Review: Memories of the past leave a scar on the heart and this is exactly what happened to poor Chase. His character is flawed and consumed by grief and pain, yet Tessa brings light to his dark world in this second-chance romance. Tessa was such a beautifully written character, and together with Chase, they created fireworks. A wonderfully written Gothic-trope tale set during Regency England. I look forward to reading more works from Anna Harrington in the future.

A man who would reconcile himself to life in exile because of his sense of guilt and a woman who would reconcile herself into a life of constraint because society deemed her unworthy. Yet together they found each other's peace and strength to forge a future together. Lovely tale, hard to put down and very sympathethic and caring main characters.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Actual rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Anna Harrington comes back with a gothic romance set in Regency England, more specifically after the Peninsular wars. Chase is a duke who fought in Spain as a mercenary and fell in love with the country especially since the male figure he loves as a father settled there. It’s been three years since a shipwreck in the coast of England took his wife and young son, three years since he moved to Spain, leaving all friends and relatives behind, feeling the guilt and the impression of having been a terrible husband and father. Now Chase is back in England, just for a while, and he intends to sell all of the properties that are not entailed. But he soon finds out that his late wife’s cousin Tessa is now a woman with very little prospects of finding a good husband.

Tessa’s and her sister Winnie’s reputations are dire straits due to their late father being discharged from the Army without honors and retributions. Apparently he ran away from battle although he never spoke of that and he took his truth to the grave. Now Tessa needs to find a husband to support her and young Winnie. Due to their circumstances, not many eligible bachelors will ask for their hands, so the first self made man to ask for her hand, will have to do. The truth is, Tessa has loved Chase since cousin Eleanor married him, the very same duke who now begs for her help classifying and selling his menagerie at the castle. Then he will leave for Spain never to be back again. The problem is that the castle has ghosts…

The first few pages of this book were just ok. I had the impression that I was going to have a good time and that was it. But soon enough Anna Harrington proved me wrong with the direction I never expected she would be taking. Mind you, I never pay much attention to the synopsis of the books before reading them so I never expected this one to be a gothic romance. What a pleasant surprise when they were cleaning here and there in the castle and then, GHOSTS! And when the ghost started to hount our main characters the pace of the book picked up. Or was it perhaps my heart? Also the setting, what a remarkable description of the environment around Chase and Tessa, more than a photography of the castle and its surroundings, it was the feeling of it having its own weather what really made me want to know more and more about their pasts. You know those movies with always stormy castles surrounded by always sunny villages? That was exactly what this book was giving me. I was so excited especially reading at night, try it!

The recipe wouldn’t be complete without Chase’s heavy burden in the shape of years-long guilt, his broodiness, his reluctance to love and being loved despite being desperately in love, the mystery, the reminiscence of old classic gothic novels and most especially Jane Eyre (this might be me, projecting), the forbidden love (or is it?), the pining and the tragic fate added to the investigation of Tessa’s late father’s past, the intrigue and the friendship that come to help last minute, a classic!

I had so much fun reading that I was happy with the book as it was and yet I had unforeseen plot twists that came as a gift. Happiest ending granted for me. This book is part of a series but it can be read as a standalone for it doesn’t give away anything about the stories that came before, just old friends being happy for each other. As it should be.

Another very readable book from Anna Harrington. This is one in a series about best friends Lucien, Shay, Devlin, and Chase. You don't need to have read the other books to follow along in this one, but I do like that I know this world already, and trust it. The thing about an Anna Harrington novel is that you know you are going to get a quality MMC: probably too stoic for his own good, funny, maybe rough-seeming but deeply kind and full of integrity. And the FMC is always smart and fiery. Harrington really understands how to employ a Romantic formula.

In this novel, Chase has returned from three years away since his wife and son drowned. He left feeling a lot of guilt because his marriage never had any love in it, and he blames himself for their deaths. He spends a bit too long blaming himself (this part is overwrought for me), but I understand that the tension had to build. He returns to England in order to sell his estates and move to Spain, and he enlists his wife's cousin Tessa to help him. Tessa has always thought Chase was the ideal man. She and Chase had a warm friendship when he was married to her cousin Eleanor. It's easy to see that Tessa and Chase are the ones that really belong together.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

Genre: Historical Fiction Romance
Setting: Victorian England in the English countryside

I give this a casual shrug; it’s okay. If you have time, you can read this reasonably quickly.

Weaknesses: The ending felt a little disjointed and flat. Some scenes switch perspectives in the same chapter, which is a big no-no for me. This jolts me out of the story, and I am forced to reread sections to follow along.

The greatest strengths: The author created a flawed yet endearing couple. I love me a second-chance romance. There is lots of spice and a decent storyline. HEA makes life complete.

3.5/5 stars, which bumps it up to a 4 in Goodreads, etc.

This was a sponsored ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Miss Tessa Albright has to find a husband; but the only man she wanted, married (and mourned) her cousin. Chase Maddox, Duke of Greysmere, abandoned England when his wife and young son died. Now, three years later, he’s come home to sell the estates and leave for good. Perhaps Tessa and Chase can help each other before embarking on an uncertain future.

This is the fourth book in The Dukes of Darkness series. The previous heroes show up briefly, but this story can stand alone.

I've really enjoyed this series, but I had a harder time connecting with this story and characters than the previous ones. Harrington's writing is solid, but I felt like *something* was missing. I did think it got better as the story went on...3.5 rounded to 4.

Tropes: Widower, Forced Proximity, Friends to Lovers

Steam: 4

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

I just finished reading chases story. Omg it was so good, these are the kinds of stories that stay with you, a man who had never known love or affection to be guided by a wonderful carrying woman as Tessa, dealing with her own sorrows. They guided each other to find the love and redemption they deserved.

Another gem from Anna Harrington! The Devil’s Own Duke is a must read HEA.. I never skip an Anna Harrington read, and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you, Net Galley. I enjoyed this book. Chase left the day his wife and son's funerals were held. He didn't return for three years. Eleanor and Thomas were shipwrecked and the bodies not recovered. Her cousin Tessa was at the ball he showed up at and not too happy to see him. He wants Tessa to help him pack up the castle as he is going to sell everything and return to Spain. She is looking for a husband to take care of her and her little sister. Lady Bentley is there to help her. Chase and Eleanor were not a good match, and he feels guilty for what happened to her. He misses his son. Tessa loved him, thought he was a better man than he thought of himself. As they work together Chase is dependent on Tessa but still plans to leave. There are several interesting things going on that I don't want to give away. You must read it and enjoy for yourself.

<b> 3.5 stars

I haven’t read a historical romance in years, and this was the perfect book to ease me back into the genre! </b>

This story follows Tessa, a young woman who dreams of building a family of her own, and Chase Maddox, a Duke who lost his wife and son in a tragic accident years ago. Tessa, being the cousin of Chase’s late wife, shared a past friendship with him. When Chase returns after years away and reconnects with Tessa, their relationship slowly evolves into something more than just friendship.

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast-paced, which I appreciated, and the writing style kept me engaged throughout. Normally, I steer clear of the <i> dead wife </i> trope, but in this case, I found the story well-executed and compelling.

That said, I did struggle a bit at the beginning. The early conversations between Chase and Tessa felt somewhat forced, as if the author was trying to condense all the necessary backstory into their first few exchanges. While it makes sense narratively, it came across as a bit stiff. Another small annoyance was the overuse of the word <i> cajole </i> in the kissing scenes—after a few mentions, it started feeling repetitive.

I also didn’t quite understand Chase’s constant references to himself as *the devil.* His self-loathing was a major theme, but as a reader, I never fully grasped why he felt that way—especially when he dramatically states that he *was born a devil* (loosely quoted). A bit more depth or explanation would have helped make this aspect of his character more compelling.

The ending was predictable, but honestly, I didn’t mind. Let’s be real—no one reads romance expecting a shocking plot twist, right?

Overall, this was a sweet, fast-paced historical romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. My complaints were minor, and I had a great time reading it. If you love this genre, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try!

This is actually not bad at all for a regency romance! Interesting main characters, compelling tension between the two love interests; etc. however I really didn’t get chase’s whole “I’m the devil itself” thing that he kept repeating and that was irritating. That’s a trope I really enjoy but this MMC is so vanilla and mischaracterized!

If you are looking for a little bit of escapism via Regency England, the forth book in The Dukes of Darkness series from Anna Harrington, The Devil’s Own Duke is the perfect solution as Chase, Duke of Greysmere and Tessa Albright, spinster in search of a husband, come together to right a huge wrong.
Chase Maddox is deep in grief; the drowning of his wife and young son, rendering him incapable of being able to function, to cope with the massive loss. He is closing Cullin Castle and returning to Spain, back to the harsh, unforgiving life of a soldier.
Tessa Albright is in a terrible fix. He beloved father, accused of a terrible injustice, had passed away, leaving her with little income, no dowry and a young sister to raise. She has been sponsored for a season by Lady Bentley who is determined to find Tessa a husband.
Attending yet another dreary ball, she is feeling pressured to at least pay attention to a suitor, Mr Renslow who wants to pay his address. Tessa is over the entire marriage market and only wants to go home and be peaceful until a deep voice, speaking her name, has her stunned. Chase Maddox has returned.
It is the third year since his wife Eleanor, her cousin, and his son Thomas drowned and once she is over the shock she demands to know what he is doing, returned at such a sad time.
As the days and weeks pass both Chase and Tessa’s long-time friendship begins to form into a lot more, making the choice Tessa needs to make in regard to Mr Renslow, somewhat difficult.
Chase is also facing a very difficult decision, as he has only returned to sell off his estate, pay out all debt and return to Spain permanently, but as with the best laid plans, they find nothing is going as they both desire.
A quirk of fate sees an occurrence that will make them both take a change of direction and bring a thoroughly enjoyable time spent in Regency England to a heart-warming close.

I always appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC, especially from an author whose work I’ve enjoyed before. That said, The Devil’s Own Duke landed squarely in the “good but not great” category for me.

Tessa and Chase’s second-chance romance had all the right ingredients—angst, longing, and a hero tormented by his past. Chase’s grief and self-imposed exile added depth to his character, while Tessa’s determination to fight for her own happiness made her easy to root for. Their chemistry was there, but I never fully felt the emotional pull that makes a romance unforgettable.

While the writing was solid and the premise promising, the story didn’t leave a lasting impact. It lacked that extra spark that made me fall in love with the author’s previous series. Enjoyable? Yes. Memorable? Not quite.

A solid historical romance, but one that won’t stay with me long. 3⭐️

The Devil's Own Duke was a great addition to the series. Chase was a complex character who was very simple at heart. Anna Harrington weaves a story that is always beautiful/ Free ARC from NetGalley for honest review.

Orphan Tessa is looking to marry so she will have someone to care for her and her younger sister. When Chase returns from a self-imposed exile after the death of his wife and son, he reconnects with Tessa. He tries to resist the attraction, but he realizes he needs her to help him get through the guilt he feels over his wife and son's death. Tessa realizes she needs him as well. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

So this is the 4th book in Harrington's new series, and it was probably my favorite of them all! This story is about Chase and Tessa. Chase is a duke who lost his marriage-of-convenience wife and son at sea three years ago and has been hiding out in Spain ever since. Tessa is his late-wife's cousin. He comes back briefly to England to pack up his houses and sell whatever isn't entailed to the dukedom. He's a man in pain and still grieving the loss of the people he was supposed to take care of. However, his indifference to their marriage caused her to flee England, and therefore, as a byproduct, is "responsible" for her death. Of that's what he tells himself.

The author said that this is her "Gothic" novel, and instead of actual ghosts, I like the play on the Gothic tropes: the memories (ghosts) of his dead wife and child, the creepy old castle. Harrington always does such a good job with historical details, and I liked the element of this story that dealt with Tessa's father being a disgraced (but not really) former general. It gave a toughness to Tessa that I liked. She and Chase made a good couple, I think, because of the whole opposites-attract dynamic to their relationship. He was learning to come through the grief and pain, and she was just the person--strong-willed and determined--to help him start to live again. I also think Harrington did a great job with the twists to the story, and I loved the ending. Overall, this was a great historical romance and if you're looking for a cinnamon-roll duke with a buried heart of gold, I think you'll adore this story.

What’s wonderful book of finding true love and peace. Chase has lost wife with a child. Surrounded by ghosts and grief he has been a to live but continues to feel the loss deeply. When he reconnects with Tessa he rings redemption and his restless soul becomes peaceful.

This was not my favorite of the series at all, mostly because I didn't connect with Tessa or Chase as characters. I never really saw Chase as a "devil" and didn't really know why his own self-loathing was such a big conflict between them. Also, getting into spoiler territory, both Chase and Tessa are remarkably selfish and short-sighted, putting their own wants over everyone else's. Both Tessa and Chase have a lot of grey areas in terms of what they want, but they barrel forward without seeming to give much thought to anyone else in the equation. I struggled to be on their side, which was really where I had trouble with this one.

I love Anna Harrington's writing, but this one just wasn't for me.

I felt so bad for Chase and Tessa. Chase is so stuck in his grief that he can't see what is right in front of him. Tessa knows what she wants. She is ready to settle to make it happen. I'm so glad that they were able to depend on each other to get the happiness that they both deserve.

This is the fourth and final book in ‘The Dukes of Darkness’ series. I anticipated this would be an emotional story about what happened to Chase Maddox, the Duke of Greysmere and his family. I was not disappointed. This story was a roller coaster of emotions from the very start to the very end of the book.

Tessa Albright needs to find a husband to not only take care for her but to also take care of her sister. She has no dowry and her father left the service under a scandalous circumstance.

Chase Maddox, the Duke of Greysmere is back in England only long enough to sell everything that he can and close up all of his properties. He has no desire to stay in England to deal with the ghost of his past.

Tessa has agreed to help Chase packed up all the stuff in his castle knowing he would leave again, but hoping he would stay. She knows deep down that he is a good man, he just needs to forgiven himself for things he can not changed that happened in the past. Will Chase learn to forgive himself and learn that he can love the one person he thinks he can’t?

Wow!! What a story!! I loved Tessa and Chase’s story!! I enjoyed reading how Tessa showed Chase how to forgive himself for things he had no control over. It was a very moving story learning about what happened to his family and how he was finally able to put the past behind him to move forward. I thought this book was a great way to complete this series!! I highly recommend this book and the entire series!!