Scan barcode
paulalovesbooks's review
3.0
The beginning is strange, the dialogues are not the best.... kinda weird. Some parts are don't have any emotions, it was like reading a newspaper (I don't know how to explain it). And there are not many descriptions of the character's personalities or the world in which the story took place.
Also, the POV of each character seemed to be in different books rather than complementing each other. But... around 50% of the book the story starts to get better and more enjoyable. Although it's not a spectacular story, it's engaging and quick to read.
Also, the POV of each character seemed to be in different books rather than complementing each other. But... around 50% of the book the story starts to get better and more enjoyable. Although it's not a spectacular story, it's engaging and quick to read.
tdrowlee's review
5.0
My favorite thing about The Duke Meets His Match was the banter between Susan and George. Their relationship starts off on the wrong foot and both would be happy if they never see the other again. A year later, George, the Duke of Aylesham, realizes the harpy, as he's nicknamed Susan, is sister to one of the men he trusts most in his work for the Foreign Office. They meet again, with more sparks as their strong personalities clash.
Then George receives an unwelcome summons from Prinny, the Prince Regent. Looking for an escape from an unwanted marriage arranged for him, George claims he is already betrothed. When pressed for a name, the only one that comes to mind is Susan Jennings.
The Prince Regent wants proof. George wants to survive. Susan, well, she's not too sure she cares what either of the men want, but her heart has different ideas.
Karen Tuft weaves an engaging story with real people and events alongside our fictional characters. I loved it!
Then George receives an unwelcome summons from Prinny, the Prince Regent. Looking for an escape from an unwanted marriage arranged for him, George claims he is already betrothed. When pressed for a name, the only one that comes to mind is Susan Jennings.
The Prince Regent wants proof. George wants to survive. Susan, well, she's not too sure she cares what either of the men want, but her heart has different ideas.
Karen Tuft weaves an engaging story with real people and events alongside our fictional characters. I loved it!
lawnchairbookworm's review
5.0
I read The Duke Meets His Match in under 3 hours and I quickly fell in love with George and Susan’s story.
An enemies to lovers mixed with a marriage of convenience.
It all starts with their initial meet cute which leaves them with not a favorable impression of one another, moving into a forced betrothal, and ending with their falling in love. Their journey was immensely enjoyable to read.
Regency romance fans will not want to miss out on wit/banter and the swoon worthy romance that fills the pages of this book.
An enemies to lovers mixed with a marriage of convenience.
It all starts with their initial meet cute which leaves them with not a favorable impression of one another, moving into a forced betrothal, and ending with their falling in love. Their journey was immensely enjoyable to read.
Regency romance fans will not want to miss out on wit/banter and the swoon worthy romance that fills the pages of this book.
ghumpherys's review
5.0
I loved getting to read the duke's story, having met him in previous books by the author.
penningtales's review
2.0
Susan Jennings is no debutante, having had her London Season over a decade ago. After rejecting her various suitors and enduring a heartbreak, she is content to live a life of a spinster in the countryside. But when Lady Walmsley invites her younger sister for her first Season, Susan agrees to accompany her as her chaperone. At one of the many Season’s balls, Susan is formally introduced to George Kendall, the Duke of Aylesham. George has avoided marriage for years, seeing none of the ladies present as his potential Duchess. Especially not Susan, who he had previously encountered after discovering her eavesdropping on his private conversation. She had stood up to him and they both had come away with bad first impressions of each other. So then why, when George finds himself trapped in a political scheme by the Regent to marry a German princess, does he claim to be already betrothed...to Susan Jennings of all people?
For some reason the blurb led me to believe this was a marriage of convenience romance. But that’s isn’t the case. In actuality, this is was more of a betrothal of convenience, so be forewarned before going into this with different expectations.
I don’t like rating books low, especially when I know the efforts authors put into their work, but this book didn’t work for me.
I found the pacing to be incredibly slow despite knowing novel takes place over two weeks. The writing style felt very monotonous. Not even the dialogues offered any respite. In fact, I felt like the dialogues did so much telling, it felt unnatural and exhausting to get through.
The way the romance is written, it’s intended to be a slowburn enemies to lovers, but I couldn’t see any spark or chemistry between the hero and heroine. They despise each other and then reluctantly agree to help each other, which is fine, but I expected to see some emotional connection occur between them 60% into the novel at least. A moment, an understanding, anything! But they were so indifferent to each other that they barely knew each other. Which is why when they suddenly professed their love for each other, I was confused. I suppose to an extent I could see why George came to admire Susan, but what did Susan see in George to make her fall hopelessly in love with him? Enough to defy the Regent himself on George’s behalf?!
I went into this novel expecting more. There was a lot of potential, but the novel never really choose explored the emotional conflicts it had set up, choosing to focus on the conflict with the Regent and the foreign royals instead. I’d say did you’re in the mood for a romance that isn’t romance heavy, this is a book for you.
Please note: I received an advance digital copy of this book through NetGalley from Covenant Communications in exchange for a honest review. This does not influence my opinions in any way.
For some reason the blurb led me to believe this was a marriage of convenience romance. But that’s isn’t the case. In actuality, this is was more of a betrothal of convenience, so be forewarned before going into this with different expectations.
I don’t like rating books low, especially when I know the efforts authors put into their work, but this book didn’t work for me.
I found the pacing to be incredibly slow despite knowing novel takes place over two weeks. The writing style felt very monotonous. Not even the dialogues offered any respite. In fact, I felt like the dialogues did so much telling, it felt unnatural and exhausting to get through.
The way the romance is written, it’s intended to be a slowburn enemies to lovers, but I couldn’t see any spark or chemistry between the hero and heroine. They despise each other and then reluctantly agree to help each other, which is fine, but I expected to see some emotional connection occur between them 60% into the novel at least. A moment, an understanding, anything! But they were so indifferent to each other that they barely knew each other. Which is why when they suddenly professed their love for each other, I was confused. I suppose to an extent I could see why George came to admire Susan, but what did Susan see in George to make her fall hopelessly in love with him? Enough to defy the Regent himself on George’s behalf?!
I went into this novel expecting more. There was a lot of potential, but the novel never really choose explored the emotional conflicts it had set up, choosing to focus on the conflict with the Regent and the foreign royals instead. I’d say did you’re in the mood for a romance that isn’t romance heavy, this is a book for you.
Please note: I received an advance digital copy of this book through NetGalley from Covenant Communications in exchange for a honest review. This does not influence my opinions in any way.
apageofpeace's review
3.0
Synopsis:
The Duke of Aylesham is a rich, prideful, beautiful man, who gets put into quite a predicament by the Prince Regent himself. In an attempt to save himself from an arranged marriage that would financially benefit the Prince, Aylesham must lie and hope Susan Jennings (a spinster) will go along with his plan.
Review:
This book was a cute, quick read that brought together two unassuming and very different characters. Susan is a very strong willed, lonely woman determined to waste away by herself, while Aylesham is a man of means with a choice of whatever he wants. I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book, and how they brought in Prince George’s lofty and quite selfish behavior. I would have enjoyed getting to know Aylesham's past a little more with how he saved the country, but it was a fun addition to the book of why he had gained favor with the prince regent.
If you enjoy the historical side of historical fiction, this book is a very good take on what you may have experienced as a Duke back in the Regency Period.
The Duke of Aylesham is a rich, prideful, beautiful man, who gets put into quite a predicament by the Prince Regent himself. In an attempt to save himself from an arranged marriage that would financially benefit the Prince, Aylesham must lie and hope Susan Jennings (a spinster) will go along with his plan.
Review:
This book was a cute, quick read that brought together two unassuming and very different characters. Susan is a very strong willed, lonely woman determined to waste away by herself, while Aylesham is a man of means with a choice of whatever he wants. I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book, and how they brought in Prince George’s lofty and quite selfish behavior. I would have enjoyed getting to know Aylesham's past a little more with how he saved the country, but it was a fun addition to the book of why he had gained favor with the prince regent.
If you enjoy the historical side of historical fiction, this book is a very good take on what you may have experienced as a Duke back in the Regency Period.
adventurepanda's review
2.0
I really thought this was going to be a great read, but the pacing and lack of communication/connection between the two leads let me down.
Up until about 70% in, I was thinking this was going to be a 4 star read. It had a solid romance building, I loved the side character of 'Aunt Margaret', and the whole makeover/Fairy Godmother-esque aspect was enjoyable to read. However, especially unfortunate due to this book being predominantly a romance, the love story just did not flow or feel right. I liked reading the interactions between Susan and Aylesham, especially in the initial stages when they go from enemies to friends. However, it was like I'd missed 50 pages at the 70% mark, the feelings they have for each other go from cordial and friendly to lovestruck in an instant? And this would be slightly understandable had they truly gotten to know each other, except somehow we as the reader know the backstory of Aylesham and his history of illness and pneumonia, as well as Susan's own past as the jilted lover, and yet they never get to know this about each other? By the end of the book, they don't know each other and that really took away both from my enjoyment of the novel, and my belief that these two were really going to last after the events of this book. That being said, I liked the writing and the build up, it's just a real shame that the last quarter or so of the book botched it for me.
2.5 stars.
** This e-ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
Up until about 70% in, I was thinking this was going to be a 4 star read. It had a solid romance building, I loved the side character of 'Aunt Margaret', and the whole makeover/Fairy Godmother-esque aspect was enjoyable to read. However, especially unfortunate due to this book being predominantly a romance, the love story just did not flow or feel right. I liked reading the interactions between Susan and Aylesham, especially in the initial stages when they go from enemies to friends. However, it was like I'd missed 50 pages at the 70% mark, the feelings they have for each other go from cordial and friendly to lovestruck in an instant? And this would be slightly understandable had they truly gotten to know each other, except somehow we as the reader know the backstory of Aylesham and his history of illness and pneumonia, as well as Susan's own past as the jilted lover, and yet they never get to know this about each other? By the end of the book, they don't know each other and that really took away both from my enjoyment of the novel, and my belief that these two were really going to last after the events of this book. That being said, I liked the writing and the build up, it's just a real shame that the last quarter or so of the book botched it for me.
2.5 stars.
** This e-ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
ashly524's review
5.0
This book was a delight to read and I enjoyed the enemies to marriage progression. Susan and George's initial impressions of each other are less than impressive, but still impressionable. The banter between the two main characters is witty, and I love how Susan stands up for herself throughout the book. I also enjoyed the bit of history in this story with Prince George and the background during the War woven into the story and how the upper class took part in the war. Lady Wamsley plays the delightful "fairy godmother" to Susan, and the natural progression of emotions of Susan and George from 'enemies' to friends to lovers. Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an eARC. This is my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an eARC. This is my honest review.
bookishforlife2's review
4.0
Great enemies to “betrothed” historical romance!
I enjoyed Susan and George’s banter and Lady Walmsley and her butler were too cute.
This is a clean regency romance with a happy ending which I enjoyed very much.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed Susan and George’s banter and Lady Walmsley and her butler were too cute.
This is a clean regency romance with a happy ending which I enjoyed very much.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook arc copy in exchange for an honest review.