A review by overflowingshelf
The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

CW: Racism; sexism; death of a parent (off-page)

It’s been a long time since I sat down and read a book in one sitting, but that’s pretty much what happened with The Duke Gets Desperate as I was HOOKED as soon as I started reading. I need everyone to buy this book now so we can all scream and shout about how good it is!

After the death of his American stepmother, Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, thinks he’ll finally inherit the family’s castle and be able to restore it to its former glory. But at the reading of the will, he’s stunned to learn the castle’s once again not been left to him. This time, it’s been left to his stepmother’s cousin, Raya Darwish. Raya never expected to inherit a castle and instantly clashes with the young Duke, who insists the castle is rightfully his. She’s willing to give it back to him – at a price. But she learns the estate is practically bankrupt, and she needs to work with the duke so the castle can generate income and they can both get what they want. However, they cannot stand each other, but that disdain gives way to desire, as the two work to restore the castle and answer unaddressed questions over the death of her cousin. 

The romance in this is EXQUISITE. The banter! THE BANTER! And the chemistry – these two want each other so badly! The “I hate you, but I love you, but I hate that I love you” vibes were sending me. Like how can you not love interactions like this:

“All we ever do is quarrel.”
“Because you are beyond annoying.”
“And you are the most provoking woman I have ever met.”
“The feeling is most definitely mutual,” she snapped. And yet she wanted nothing more than to feel his kiss again.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. “This attraction between us is a curse.”
Raya sucked in a breath. Putting words to the connection, saying it aloud, made the inexplicable pull between them terrifyingly real. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.”
She licked her lips. “The very idea is repulsive.”
His pupils dilated as he watched the movement of her tongue. “Nauseating.”
“We should keep as far away from each other as possible.”
“An ocean would not be far enough away,” he growled, “to relieve myself of the affliction of you.”

I was so giddy watching Strickland and Raya spar and then kiss and then immediately go back to sparring. These two prove how close the boundaries between love and hate are. I was literally living for every interaction they had and was giggling at how they were both telling each other the same lie about their feelings when it was so clear they were head over heels in love with each other. Why else would you keep kissing? Diana Quincy also delivered on the spice in this, as their chemistry led to some great banging, including some angry, hate banging with dirty talk. I also adored how Strickland showed his devotion to Raya – who wouldn’t want a man to give you a full bed of flowers in a gorgeous abandoned abbey on a castle estate? If you like the vibes of Anthony and Kate from season 2 of Bridgerton (more the show vibes than book vibes), I think you’ll love Raya and Strickland. The book also talks about how Arabs believe in fated mates, about finding your naseeb, and these two definitely felt like they were destined for each other.

Now, while I adored the romance in this, I could have used a tad less miscommunication/lying about certain things. I get WHY the characters thought that was a good idea, but as soon as that plot point came up, I was like, “boy, this is going to blow up in your face,” and I was right. That detracted from my enjoyment of the overall story just a tad, but not as much as I expected.

Outside the romance, I absolutely loved our main characters. I have a serious girl crush on Raya as she handles the unexpected situation of inheriting a castle so well and doesn’t care one wit that Strickland is a Duke. She’s so smart and driven and incredibly business savvy. I loved all the ideas she had to make the castle profitable, as they’re all things we modern readers come to expect when visiting a castle, but I hated that she had to fight tooth and nail to get people to believe her. She really pours her heart and soul into making the castle a business, leaving her mark on it, and Stickland can see and admire that about her. Her relationship with her Aunt was delightful, and I continue to enjoy how Quincy celebrates Arab traditions and culture through her characters. 

Strickland was exactly what I wanted as he’s a bit of a stubborn Duke, but he also sees the value that Raya brings, even if he fights her on the changes at first. He’s so devoted to his legacy and the castle that it takes someone new to open his eyes to how to really celebrate it. I also loved that he was into archeology and not afraid to get his hands dirty while looking for Anglo-Saxon relics and making jewelry inspired by their motifs. That was such an unexpected side of him, but I loved that he could geek out on it, and Raya shared his fascination. He’s so stubborn in the beginning and a bit of a jerk, but he also falls hard and is so head over heels for Raya that he more than makes up for it in the end, as he’d do anything for her. 

Outside the central romance, I also loved how Quincy wove in a mystery subplot surrounding the death of Raya’s cousin Deena. It worked seamlessly with the broader story, and I loved trying to figure out how all the pieces would come together. Quincy definitely throws a few red herrings your way, and I loved getting to the big reveal, as it was just so much fun. 

If I could sum up this book, I would say it is a pure delight and so much fun. I had the biggest, dopiest grin on my face the entire time while reading it. I just loved watching these characters fight their feelings and fall in love. Quincy’s writing is superb, and the wit and humor really shine in this one! Definitely my favorite book I’ve read from her so far, and I cannot wait to read more in this series.

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The quote is from the ARC and is subject to change. 

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