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webbsusa's review
5.0
Wow! This was a wonderful conclusion to this series. I absolutely adored Will. I have loved Pippa throughout this series and wanted her to end up with the perfect match. Will was that and then some, in ways I never anticipated before starting this book. Will’s secret became clear to me pretty early on in the book, but even so I still felt a sense of wonder as I read. This is probably my favorite book ever by Caroline Linden, and I’ve read and loved them all. I can’t wait for the final epilogue she’s writing for the series!
I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book here on Goodreads. After years of trying, I can say that people actually win, lol. All opinions are my own.
I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book here on Goodreads. After years of trying, I can say that people actually win, lol. All opinions are my own.
shoversten's review
3.0
I’m so disappointed by the ending! It just abruptly ended and I don’t feel like it actually wrapped anything up
hellodiana's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
klmoran's review
5.0
Thoroughly Enjoyable
A lovely end to a delightful short series. I have to admit that I began the story wondering in my mind how Ms. Linden would wind up all of the fluttering loose ends that were out there from the previous books. About midway through I began to suspect what became a truly satisfying ending. Okay, semi-satisfying. I wished the epilogue was more of a chapter and not the very last one as I really wanted to know more. Luckily for me I understand that subscribing to her newsletter will give me access to that little bit of ‘more’ I am looking for! Can’t wait!
A lovely end to a delightful short series. I have to admit that I began the story wondering in my mind how Ms. Linden would wind up all of the fluttering loose ends that were out there from the previous books. About midway through I began to suspect what became a truly satisfying ending. Okay, semi-satisfying. I wished the epilogue was more of a chapter and not the very last one as I really wanted to know more. Luckily for me I understand that subscribing to her newsletter will give me access to that little bit of ‘more’ I am looking for! Can’t wait!
sarah_moynihan's review
3.0
‘Raised in the splendor of Carlyle Castle by her doting guardian, the Duchess of Carlyle, Philippa Kirkpatrick is one of the greatest heiresses in England. The duchess is eager to see her wed, but Philippa hesitates to leave the only home she knows.
William Montclair is in London to expand his family’s trading firm, with little progress. Impulsively he takes a job managing the Carlyle estate—for the money, he tells his incredulous brother, and only for a year.
Philippa is shocked by the handsome, scandalously bold new steward. It’s all she can do to prevent the horrified duchess from sacking him on sight. She determines to teach him how to love Carlyle as she does, only to find herself reluctantly charmed by the rogue.
It’s true; Will is falling for everything about Carlyle…including the duchess’s beautiful ward. But he has promises—and secrets—to keep, and telling Philippa would resurrect a devastating family scandal. Not telling her, though, means he must break her heart—and his own.’
_________________
All the Duke I Need is the third book in Caroline Linden’s Desperately Seeking Duke series and is a historical romance.
I thought the book was alright but I found my interest in the story fluctuating. The romance aspect of the book was well done, but the accompanying mystery and continued search for heirs was a bit rocky.
I really think the biggest issue was how quickly the book was wrapped up. After following the hunt for heirs across three books and the mystery throughout this book of why Will sought to become steward at Carlyle, these are very quickly resolved and then the book ends. After so much build up. I thought it felt fairly abrupt. I really wish there had been more of a conclusion after the reveal, a bit more balance.
Will really holds all his cards close to his chest and I wish he had confided a bit more during the story, especially to Philippa. Had he shared more, even little snippets, I feel that maybe that could have helped the conclusion not feel so abrupt.
My favorite aspect of the book was the bit of misdirection regarding the family connection. As I was reading, I felt so certain that I knew what the reveal would be. I was feeling that the conclusion was going to be so obvious based on the foreshadowing. But there was some lovely misdirection and I enjoyed the surprise of it, it added a nice layer to the mystery.
I like Caroline Linden’s books, but this has probably been my least favorite that I have read so far. I’ll be reading more book by her, but I will not reread this book.
_____
I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing an eARC of All the Duke I Need by Caroline Linden with me. This is my honest review.
William Montclair is in London to expand his family’s trading firm, with little progress. Impulsively he takes a job managing the Carlyle estate—for the money, he tells his incredulous brother, and only for a year.
Philippa is shocked by the handsome, scandalously bold new steward. It’s all she can do to prevent the horrified duchess from sacking him on sight. She determines to teach him how to love Carlyle as she does, only to find herself reluctantly charmed by the rogue.
It’s true; Will is falling for everything about Carlyle…including the duchess’s beautiful ward. But he has promises—and secrets—to keep, and telling Philippa would resurrect a devastating family scandal. Not telling her, though, means he must break her heart—and his own.’
_________________
All the Duke I Need is the third book in Caroline Linden’s Desperately Seeking Duke series and is a historical romance.
I thought the book was alright but I found my interest in the story fluctuating. The romance aspect of the book was well done, but the accompanying mystery and continued search for heirs was a bit rocky.
I really think the biggest issue was how quickly the book was wrapped up. After following the hunt for heirs across three books and the mystery throughout this book of why Will sought to become steward at Carlyle, these are very quickly resolved and then the book ends. After so much build up. I thought it felt fairly abrupt. I really wish there had been more of a conclusion after the reveal, a bit more balance.
Will really holds all his cards close to his chest and I wish he had confided a bit more during the story, especially to Philippa. Had he shared more, even little snippets, I feel that maybe that could have helped the conclusion not feel so abrupt.
My favorite aspect of the book was the bit of misdirection regarding the family connection. As I was reading, I felt so certain that I knew what the reveal would be. I was feeling that the conclusion was going to be so obvious based on the foreshadowing. But there was some lovely misdirection and I enjoyed the surprise of it, it added a nice layer to the mystery.
I like Caroline Linden’s books, but this has probably been my least favorite that I have read so far. I’ll be reading more book by her, but I will not reread this book.
_____
I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing an eARC of All the Duke I Need by Caroline Linden with me. This is my honest review.
andrea_author's review
5.0
Philippa manages the Duke of Carlyle's household on behalf of the duchess, her step-grandmother. When Will, the new steward, is hired, he discovers that the previous steward let the property fall into disrepair. The duchess is appalled by the changes Will wants to make. He and Phillipa work together to convince the duchess to approve his plans. Spending so much time together, Will and Phillipa are irresistibly attracted to each other. But the gulf in their social stations is wide, and Will's secrets threaten to tear them apart.
This is a complex and enjoyable story. Caroline Linden always manages to surprise me, taking the plot in directions I don't see coming. I loved Will and Phillipa, both separately and together. They're charming and kind, with a ton of sensual tension between them.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a complex and enjoyable story. Caroline Linden always manages to surprise me, taking the plot in directions I don't see coming. I loved Will and Phillipa, both separately and together. They're charming and kind, with a ton of sensual tension between them.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
ashcashtrash's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
wildfaeriecaps's review
5.0
Overall, very enjoyable. Will was a delight to read. Phillipa was also fun--I wish she hadn't been English-ified so much, but I get why she was. Anyone moved to a new country at a young age is likely to lose a large bit of their heritage, I guess. I enjoyed the actual Duke. His parts were some of the most enjoyable of the book for me.
The twist wasn't as twisty as it wanted to be, I think. But it didn't detract from the rest of the story. The epilogue was anticlimactic for me, but that's a me thing.
The twist wasn't as twisty as it wanted to be, I think. But it didn't detract from the rest of the story. The epilogue was anticlimactic for me, but that's a me thing.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
Phillippa was born in India. Then she left with her father, who remarried. Now she is orphaned, a spinster and companion to her grandmother, the Duchess of Carlyle. She is also a heiress and the Duchess wants her to have a season.
In previous books we saw the Duchess search for heirs, as her son is 60, and unmarried. She has some waiting in the wings, but the hunt continues.
In comes William, as the estate haven't really had a Duke for decades(long story), and the estate manager got to an age, well things are falling apart.
Spaks fly between him and Philippa. But oh no, he is a servant! And he has secrets.
Work on the estate, fall in love, it was a rather drama free book, and I enjoyed that. Some are of course there, their road can't be too easy. But it works out well and they live happily ever after.
I have listened to her narrations before and I have enjoyed them. She does a good job with everyone and I always know where I have them
In previous books we saw the Duchess search for heirs, as her son is 60, and unmarried. She has some waiting in the wings, but the hunt continues.
In comes William, as the estate haven't really had a Duke for decades(long story), and the estate manager got to an age, well things are falling apart.
Spaks fly between him and Philippa. But oh no, he is a servant! And he has secrets.
Work on the estate, fall in love, it was a rather drama free book, and I enjoyed that. Some are of course there, their road can't be too easy. But it works out well and they live happily ever after.
I have listened to her narrations before and I have enjoyed them. She does a good job with everyone and I always know where I have them
champ81's review against another edition
4.0
This was a satisfying conclusion to this series--one that both builds on the stories and characters that came before and is a good standalone.
Will Montclair takes a position as a steward for the Duke of Carlyle despite being in London with his brother to expand their family's shipping business. He plans to only be in the position for a year at most, yet he gets wrapped up in the Carlyle estate and family almost at once--and despite his best efforts to keep his distance. Hardest of all is staying away from Miss Philippa Kirkpatrick, the duchess's step-granddaughter and beloved companion. As he and Philippa skirmish and then grow closer, and as Will become more enmeshed in the estate and its people, he begins to wonder whether he should defy his family and reveal secrets that could change his life forever.
Will and Philippa have great chemistry, and it's fun to watch them work to figure each other out. Philippa finds him piratical and attractive, yet bristles at his quick judgments and refusal to follow advice or behave. Will alternately tries to charm and hold Philippa at arm's length, knowing he can (or should) not stay at Carlyle forever. They wrestle with their attraction, and even after giving in, still need to figure out whether its possible for them to be together. Independently, they are also lovely, complex characters: Will is kind and hardworking if a bit mysterious even to the reader, and Philippa is loyal, intelligent, and determined. Great characters on their own, and great characters together.
Ratcheting up the tension, of course, is the poor health of the current duke and the hunt for a suitable heir that has been driving this series. We've met two of them in the past installments, both of whom would be good dukes but are well-situated in their current lives with their new loves. In those books, we met the imperious duchess before those potential heirs went off to establish themselves. Here, we become better acquainted with the family at the heart of this desperate hunt, and the urgency behind the heir hunt feels more tangible as the duchess, Miss Kirkpatrick, and the duke himself become central characters.
Highly recommend!
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
Will Montclair takes a position as a steward for the Duke of Carlyle despite being in London with his brother to expand their family's shipping business. He plans to only be in the position for a year at most, yet he gets wrapped up in the Carlyle estate and family almost at once--and despite his best efforts to keep his distance. Hardest of all is staying away from Miss Philippa Kirkpatrick, the duchess's step-granddaughter and beloved companion. As he and Philippa skirmish and then grow closer, and as Will become more enmeshed in the estate and its people, he begins to wonder whether he should defy his family and reveal secrets that could change his life forever.
Will and Philippa have great chemistry, and it's fun to watch them work to figure each other out. Philippa finds him piratical and attractive, yet bristles at his quick judgments and refusal to follow advice or behave. Will alternately tries to charm and hold Philippa at arm's length, knowing he can (or should) not stay at Carlyle forever. They wrestle with their attraction, and even after giving in, still need to figure out whether its possible for them to be together. Independently, they are also lovely, complex characters: Will is kind and hardworking if a bit mysterious even to the reader, and Philippa is loyal, intelligent, and determined. Great characters on their own, and great characters together.
Ratcheting up the tension, of course, is the poor health of the current duke and the hunt for a suitable heir that has been driving this series. We've met two of them in the past installments, both of whom would be good dukes but are well-situated in their current lives with their new loves. In those books, we met the imperious duchess before those potential heirs went off to establish themselves. Here, we become better acquainted with the family at the heart of this desperate hunt, and the urgency behind the heir hunt feels more tangible as the duchess, Miss Kirkpatrick, and the duke himself become central characters.
Highly recommend!
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.