This is a highly entertaining historical romance with great characters, plot and writing - I really enjoyed escaping into it!

A few years ago a prank carried out by Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn (aka Hawk), and his friends caused them to be notorious and embarrassed the young ladies who were the victims of their actions. Now his own younger sister is due to be making her debut into society, Hawk is worried about others seeking revenge in some way that would be to her detriment. In an attempt to avoid any potentially damaging situations arising, he has convinced her to consider having a match secured before her debut. He has determined who he believes will be her perfect match and is endeavouring to speak to this potential groom to make the arrangements by travelling to his home. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for him and things won’t be as easy as he hoped! To begin with his horse is injured, then there’s a storm and then the gentleman’s sister, Miss Loretta Quick, doesn’t agree with arranged marriages! To top it all, the potential groom is away from home and Miss Quick is at home with only servants to chaperone them . . . . and he has to stay the night. 

This was a lovely, sweet read. As well as the main characters the range of secondary characters give a glimpse into the world of the poor and children during the era. The quotes from ‘A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady’ which appear throughout the story add humour to the story - I would hope no man would ever think to follow the guidance, even in those times! Loretta was a great heroine! Her punishment for refusing to marry the man her guardian selected has led to her isolation in the family's original hunting lodge. She's determined to keep her vow and it takes time, patience and ingenuity for Hawk to be able to convince her to give their love a chance.

This is the second story in a series but works well as a standalone IMHO. I found it to be a page turner and delightful to escape into. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a rake finding love when he least expected to do so!

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

3.5 stars rounded off low.

This is the first book I read of this author. I shouldn't have started in the middle of a series, but this was offered to me by NetGalley and the publisher. I like to give new-to-me authors a chance so I accepted the ARC. It turned out well because one can read this as a stand-alone.

I like Ms. Grey's characterization of both the hero Hawk and the heroine Loretta. She infused them with strengths and flaws which make them relatable. I like that even though there was lust at first sight they didn't act upon it until almost to the end when they already have deeper feelings with each other. I like their conversations, the banter. I also like the alternating POVs, the descriptions of the clothes and setting, and the tastefully-done makeout scenes. The relationship between the two sets of brothers and sister and Hawk's friendship with the other Rakes appealed to me. The secondary characters have distinct personalities and there weren't too many of them to confuse the reader.

I didn't score this higher because of a few things. The language is plain and sometimes too modern. There was some attempt at placing it in the intended time period (clothes, White's etc.), but mistakes like the use of dollars instead of pound sterling take the reader out of it very quickly. I also noticed the inconsistency with the behavior of the servants, especially towards a duke. Sometimes they were too disrespectful, other times too obsequious. The threat hanging over the Rakes' heads was a non-issue because the person wanting revenge didn't have a physical presence. That makes Hawk's drastic actions to control his sister's life by choosing her husband for her too extreme. The subplot of the orphan Farley's could be taken out and the story would still be complete. Finally, the reason why Hawk and Loretta couldn't be together was a bit flimsy and too easily resolved in the end.

It wasn't a hardship to read this book, the story was engaging and at the center of it was Hawk and Loretta. Everything that happened in the book was to move their story forward. For readers who like the same things I liked, y'all might enjoy this book.

Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, known as Hawk to his friends, is one of the well-known Rakes of St. James. He has arrived at Mammoth House to call upon Paxton Quick hoping to arrange a marriage between him and Hawk's sister, Adele. Her first season in London is due to start soon and he would like to see her engaged to help avoid anyone hurting her as revenge for some of his youthful shenanigans.

Paxton’s sister, Loretta, greets Hawk and informs him that Paxton is not at home. But as the weather is very bad and Hawk has ridden in on a horse, she invites him to stay overnight. Although she is chaperoned only by her servants, she cannot ask him to leave in the bad weather.

Enter young Farley, a waif begging outside Mammoth House in an ice storm. Loretta and Hawk bring him inside and she nurses him back to health. Hawk feels that as a street boy, his place would be working in the stables or as an apprentice. Where will the boy fit in her life?

Paxton and Loretta were taken in by their uncle, the Earl of Switchingham, after their parents died. At her first season, her uncle tried to marry her off to Viscount Denningcourt, but she wanted nothing to do with it and at the wedding, refused to go through with it. As revenge, her uncle made her take a vow in church to never wed. He then sent her to the isolated Mammoth House where she has been made to stay for several years.

As Loretta an Hawk chat, she disagrees with him about Paxton and Adele becoming engaged saying it is unfair to them. She and Paxton have not met and Loretta feels that both of them need time to meet other people and decide whom they would like to wed instead of planning an arranged marriage. But when Paxton and Adele meet, they are both charmed by one another.
Especially in light of her own experience, Loretta is surprised that Paxton is not opposed to an arranged marriage. In addition, Hawk is also surprised that Adele is not against it.

Hawk is smitten with Loretta and she with him. He does not like that her uncle has decreed that she not leave Mammoth House, but she has accepted her fate and has become content with knowing she will will honor the vow she took and remain unwed.

This is yet another great book by a favorite author of mine. and is the second book in the series, the Rakes of St James. The first book, “Last Night with the Duke” was a bit more appealing to me. I understand that the author wanted to add Farley to the mix to introduce readers to the plight of children during this time period, but somehow it didn’t seem to add to the story. However, the plot is well-written and I am enthusiastically looking forward to the third book in the series.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rated 3.5!

Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, has a reputation for leading ladies astray. He and two close friends were even dubbed "the Rakes of St. James" due to their antics. Unfortunately, that is coming back to bite Hawk in the butt. His sister is about to be introduced to society and Hawk is worried she may suffer the consequences for his past actions. Hawk suddenly comes up with the perfect solution... marriage. Now, he just has to hunt down the man he deems honorable enough to marry his sister.

Miss Loretta Quick is astounded when Hawk arrives at her estate and states that he wants to arrange a marriage between her younger brother and his sister. Loretta cannot abide the idea. After all, she has been in that situation and narrowly escaped. Loretta has been living in exile ever since, but it is better than spending a lifetime with someone you don't love. She believed herself to be content living far removed from everything, but Hawk makes her want more. Is there a chance he could want the same thing?

Author Amelia Grey's RAKES OF ST. JAMES series is wicked good fun! The series focuses on three young men who come to read a book titled 'A Proper Gentleman's Guide To Wooing The Perfect Lady'. This book leads them to some pretty amusing youthful follies. Unfortunately, as time goes on and they mature, they realize the dire consequences of what they had done and try to make up for it. TO THE DUKE, WITH LOVE is Hawk's story. Hawk worries his past mistakes will haunt his sister so he sets out to make sure she will be taken care of instead of being taken advantage of. Hawk has no idea the events he is about to set into motion. Loretta is a lot of fun. In my opinion, she is a little hung up on her own past, but with Hawk's persistence, her eyes finally become opened. TO THE DUKE, WITH LOVE is the second in The Rakes of St. James series, and a nice addition.

To the Duke With Love is a historical romance novel written by Amelia Grey. It is the second book in her Regency-era The Rakes of St. James series. I have not read any of Grey’s other books, but I was excited about the opportunity to try a new author.

Sloane Knox is the Duke of Hawksthorne. Hawk, as he prefers to be called, is hoping to arrange a match for his sister before her Season. He is afraid of her becoming embroiled in a scandalous prank as retaliation for a scandalous prank he was involved with a couple of years ago. Hawk has settled upon the rather bland and inoffensive Mr. Quick, who is the nephew of an earl and due to inherit the title one day.

There’s just one problem- Mr. Quick’s sister Loretta is against the idea. She refused to marry the man her uncle chose for her, and as punishment, she was banished to a remote hunting lodge. This is the very same lodge where Hawk arrives unexpectedly with his proposal.

Loretta is very kind and caring. She has accepted her fate, and plans to live out her life at the lodge. She doesn’t know what to think of Hawk; he’s handsome and charming, but she has no business involving herself with anyone else after her failed engagement.

I felt like I was at a bit of a disadvantage because I haven’t read the first book in the series and did not understand the allusions to Hawk’s prior misdeed. Hawk and Loretta had nice chemistry, but their connection was a little too instantaneous to be entirely believable. That said, I could empathize with Loretta’s feelings of reluctance regarding any sort of romance with Hawk; her uncle wields a great deal of power over her, and she does not want to anger him by disobeying him a second time.

I would recommend To the Duke With Love. I would suggest reading the first book in the series before this one, but overall, this was a sweet book. There was an interesting subplot with a scruffy urchin. This was my first experience with Amelia Grey, but I am interested in reading the other books in this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sloane Knox Duke of Hawksthorn also known as “Hawk” is one of the rakes of St. James. Hawk is in search of Mr. Payton Quick for a betrothal to his sister Adele in dreary wet weather at Mammoth house. Instead Hawk comes upon Miss. Loretta Quick Payton’s older sister. Hawk is entranced by her and can’t help the strong desire that he feels for her but she defies yet aggravates him at every turn. When Payton finally shows up Loretta does everything in her power to stop the betrothal between her brother and the Duke’s sister due to her past and her almost betrothal to a Viscount that she managed to escape from. Of course Loretta never anticipated the strong attraction and desire she would feel for Hawk. Can the marriage shy Loretta avoid marriage to Hawk or is she doomed to her feelings for him?
After this one book by Ms. Amelia Grey I am entranced and intrigued by her writing. Sure this is only the second book I have read the first was the Last Night with the Duke. So yes I kind of knew about the Rakes of St. James the way they viewed women and their debauchery. Luckily this book can standalone even though the other rakes are in there as minor characters. The story held my interest until the very end, the plot twists are never dull and the characters despite their flaws are endearing and engaging kept me captivated to finish this book.
Loretta despite her shrewish harsh nature was really lovable underneath all that bravado. She wasn’t scared to leave everything even though she was forced. Loretta fascinated me even though she irritated me too. Sometimes I just didn’t understand her reticence to Hawk. Hawk was a very easy hero to fall for. I really liked him from the get go. He could just get under Loretta’s skin and trade barbs with her too. The sexual tension between Hawk and Loretta really never got old. There is one thing though Hawk’s eyes at the beginning were green then close to the end of the book switched color to blue. This kind of changed my visualization of him. Still I enjoyed the story and will be anxiously anticipating another story about Rath the last rake or any of Ms. Grey’s other delightful stories.

To the Duke, With Love is the second book in Amelia Grey’s Rakes of St. James series and is both my first – and probably last – book by this author. This is wallpaper historical romance by numbers, and I suppose the alarm bells should really have started ringing when I realised that the hero – who is an English duke – is named Sloane. Which is such a common name for an English gentleman of the nineteenth century. (Not.)

So, here’s what we’ve got. Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, wants to arrange a suitable match for his younger sister Adele before she makes her début, because a decade ago, he and two of his friends played a prank on that year’s crop of debutantes and now he fears someone will use Adele in order to exact retribution. Hawk believes he has found the perfect mate for Adele in one Mr. Paxton Quick, a young, handsome and good-natured gentleman who lives … somewhere unspecified but far from London with his older sister, Loretta. Hawk has reached this conclusion because he has never seen Quick:

“… too deep in his cups, and he never gambles more than a handful of DOLLARS at the table.”
Well, I’m not surprised at that last bit, because how could he? Last time I checked, in England we use ENGLISH currency, strange as that may seem.

Hawk travels to Mammoth House in… some remote location, in order to discuss the match with Quick, only to discover that he is from home, and finds himself confronting the rather scrumptious, somewhat challenging Miss Quick instead. And so begins the mental lusting. At the ONE PERCENT mark on my Kindle:

She looked pure, sweet, and completely untouched by masculine hands. A sudden, deep rush of desire flamed through him, and the rhythm of his heartbeat changed.
By the end of the first chapter Hawk:

… wanted her with an intensity that he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
And in the next, we’re told our heroine is all a quiver because she:

… still wasn’t sure what to make of the new, startling, and unexplained feelings that had swept over her at the sight of him. She wasn’t out of breath, yet she was breathless. She wasn’t dizzy, yet she felt light-headed. She wasn’t hungry, yet looking at him caused a ravenous appetite to rise up within her.”
For god’s sake, someone get the woman a sandwich!

In a nutshell, the plot revolves around the fact that Loretta doesn’t want her brother to be forced or coerced into a marriage against his will, as almost happened to her when their uncle and guardian arranged for her to marry someone she didn’t love. Said uncle, the Earl of Switchingham, was – not surprisingly – somewhat miffed when Loretta didn’t turn up at the wedding, and banished her to the somewhat ramshackle Mammoth House in the back of beyond – but not before he’d forced her to make a holy vow – in church – never to marry. The banishment wasn’t extended to her brother, although he loyally opted to make his home with Loretta, but Quick travels to London frequently – which is how Hawk knows him – and Loretta lives quietly, accepting her exclusion from society even as she regrets missing out on the sort of life she could – and should – have had.

That is basically it. Hawk and Loretta butt heads (and other body parts, eventually) in a lot of exchanges that are lacking in either humour or wit, and there is hardly any chemistry between them whatsoever. She’s beautiful and stands up to him, he’s handsome and likes that she challenges him and they each fancy what they see, but there’s nothing beyond the insta-lust, and I couldn’t understand what either of them saw in the other beyond outward appearances. And then there’s the dialogue in the love scenes, which made me cringe:

On sweeping Loretta into his arms (in chapter four, no less) Hawk asks her of her former suitor:

“Did he hold you possessively like this and make you feel as if you were someone too precious to let go?”

…

“Did his lips hover longingly just above yours as mine are now, just waiting for you to invite him to take a taste of you?”
Did I just laugh my head off at such terrible pick-up lines?

The author attempts to inject some drama into the story by means of a sub-plot featuring a boy from the streets named Farley, whom we first meet when he knocks at the door of Loretta’s house begging for scraps – but quite honestly, I’m not sure what the point of it was, unless it was to show that lepoards rarely change their spots. And I almost hurt my head with all the eyerolling at Loretta’s insistence on keeping to her vow of chastity – and later the manner in which Hawk comes up with a way round it so they can get married and live happily ever after. Paxton is bland, Adele is a ninny… and the whole book was an utter slog from start to finish.

Readers, here’s something to YOU, with love. If you want an entertaining read, take my word for it when I tell you that this isn’t it. There are plenty of GOOD books out there for you to read, and I humbly suggest you pick up one of those instead.

Grade: D

To The Duke, with Love is tale of three youngsters who played a prank without thinking of the repercussions. They are now Dukes with responsibities, and that careless action wants payback.

Hawk, the Duke of Hawksthorn is trying to protect his younger sister's good name. With the new season coming up, this could be the ideal opportunity for revenge as a result of what he did so many years ago. The best way to avoid any scandal is to find her a husband.

Loretta is the ward of an Earl who is very disappointed with her since she turned down an arranged marriage. She now lives in a secluded countrynhouse and no longer allowed to socialise.

On a cold and wet day, Hawk appears on Loretta's doorsteps, looking for her brother. Unfortunately, he is absent and despite Hawk's reluctance, she convinces him to divulge the reason for this long journey. She is a romantic, and having escaped her own arranged marriage, she wants the best for her brother. True love and happiness. Hawk is determined, but then again so is she, and the head butting begins.

Hawk's mission is complicated by his attraction to the strong and witty Loretta. He has met his match! Loretta is quite taken by him, despite the vow she made three years ago. Their interactions are comical at times and there is no denying the strong chemistry between them. Hawk goes in battle mode to win her over. He always wins his battles. Can he win this one?

This also shows the fate of the most deprived, living in London. Loretta shows love and compassion and despite Hawk's reputation, he is loving and sympathetic. Her brother Paxton is carefree and easygoing, but means business when it matters. Adele, Hawk's sister is an endearing young lady. I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between Hawk and Loretta. Even with the awful side of poverty, it's a light and entertaining read.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Amelia Grey adds a small twist to the usual Hero and Heroine meet, overcome obstacles, live happily ever after pattern of typical romance genre tales. She introduces a rather unpleasant boy from the streets, and the antipathy between him and the story’s hero is immediate and never resolved. I actually found this sort of refreshing!

Grey’s hero, Hawk, is a classic arrogant duke who only wants to have his own way. He will bulldoze through anything and everything to get what he wants, and for the most part, that is exactly what happens. I never felt like Loretta had a chance at resisting him, even though we initially believe that she might want to.

Overall, I liked the story, and look forward to the next book in the series.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the instant lust between the duke and Loretta. The descriptions of their reactions on first sight of each other was cliched and over the top. I also thought the duke was a bit unfeeling when it came to dealing with Farley although he redeems himself at the end of the book.

I enjoyed everything else about the story and the characters. It was a little bit slow but still an enjoyable, easy read.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
To the Duke, With Love was a fast-paced, page-turning historical romance. This is the second installment of The Rakes of St. James series, but can easily be read as a standalone novel with little to no confusion.

After taking a vow to never marry, Loretta Quick has been imprisoned at Mammoth House by her ego-bruised uncle. She fled the altar to an arranged marriage, and would rather never marry, never have a life of her own, than be forced to do something without autonomy.

Stubborn, willful, and independent, Loretta is also a compassionate, passionate heroine, with the drive to do good for those who can't help themselves.

The duke, Hawk is fearful of his past misdeeds coming back to harm his little sister. The ton isn't known for being altruistic and compassionate, more like the three Vs – vicious, vindictive, and vapid. Hawk loves his sister, and would do anything to make sure she doesn't have to suffer through the Season, like she's on an auction-block with people who are out to get Hawk through her. An arranged marriage is the only other option... drawing Hawk to seek out Mr. Quick, Loretta's brother.

The plot connecting the hero and heroine together was original and inventive. Sparks fly, heads butt, challenges are made between Hawk and Loretta, as they battle over arranged marriages and their own passions. Banterific, tension-filled, push-pull romance. Hawk knows what he wants, and Loretta believes in the vow she took inside a church, but the drive to be near one another is addictive.

The side stories are heartwarming, yet the realism is slightly dark, ensuring the romance doesn't become saccharine. A young, ill orphan joins the cast, showing Loretta's compassionate and maternal sides, while keeping it real with the orphan's actions/reactions. At the same time as the romantic entanglement, the siblings show another side to love and connection.

Thoroughly entertained, I read the novel in a single sitting, after having several books in a row that didn't resonate with me – no matter the small page-count, those books dragged, filled with unnecessary detailing, bogging down the pacing and burying the plot. Amelia Grey crafted a fast-paced read, filled with everything that makes a novel engaging, while leaving out all the fluff and filler that stalls reading enjoyment and makes it feel tedious.

I highly recommend this series and novel to fans of Historical Romance, who enjoy a more contemporary writing style, versus the industry standard of purple prose, right-clicking the thesaurus, unnecessary filler, and over-description.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the third installment next summer.

To The Duke, With Love is the second in The Rakes of St. James series, about the loves of three dukes infamous for a prank they played a few years prior to the events of these books, inspired by a volume named A Proper Gentleman's Guide To Wooing The Perfect Lady. Quotes from this volume are scattered through the book and are frankly hilarious. Any gentleman who took the book's advice entirely to heart would be dull as mud and definitely overlooked by any lady with any spirit to her at all.

Loretta Quick, the heroine of this story, most definitely has spirit. Spirit enough to change her mind about the marriage her uncle arranged for her right at the altar, condemning herself to a life of exile from society. Until a darkly dangerous duke comes calling... but not for her.

The Duke of Hawksworth wants a safe husband for his sister before she has to face society and the perils it might hold from those who would take their revenge on her for his past sins. Paxton Quick is sensible, charming, friendly and perfect for Adele. His sister, however, is very much opposed to arranged marriages, and might prove an obstacle to his plans. To his peace of mind, too.

I really enjoyed the machinations of Hawk and Loretta as they both sought to protect their much-loved siblings and maneuver around the pitfalls of society, all while fighting their attraction to each other. There was some really intriguing social commentary about the double standards applied to women, though honestly I felt Loretta's vow never to marry was given under duress and she should have recognized that and been more than happy to rescind it at the earliest opportunity. I'm not particularly keen in insta-lust in Regencies, particularly for men, and there was a pretty bad case of it in this book. Despite that, it was well-written and there was a lot of thought given to the social expectations and strictures of the day. Four stars.

There may be times when a gentleman is desperate to gain a lady’s attention, but a gentleman would never resort to desperate measures to obtain it.
―A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady

Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn is guardian for his sweet, younger sister. Due to his misguided past as one of the infamous Rakes of St James, Hawk is hoping to avoid the Season by securing a match for her before it begins. He has the perfect gentleman in mind, but for one infuriating―and unexpectedly intoxicating―obstacle: the intended groom’s own sister, Miss Loretta Quick.

Having narrowly avoided her own arranged marriage to an unacceptable nobleman, Loretta is determined that her dear brother―a gentle, good-natured soul―should marry for love. Matching wits with Hawk may be her greatest challenge yet. . .until she realizes it may also be her greatest pleasure. For the young duke’s irresistible charm has not only begun to crumble her stubborn resolve, it has claimed her heart in true love as well. . .

Review:

This is my first time reading this Author and I quite liked her style. Of course this is the second book in the series, but I was never lost or confused from reading out of order. One of my favorite parts is the verbal sparing between Hawk and Loretta. They were fun to read, and loved that they both gave as good as they got. Plus, it added to the sexual tension. One of my least favorite parts was the insta-love on Hawk's part seems a little odd for one of the Rakes. That the street urchin isn't immediately changed after bring taken in by Loretta, made the story more realistic. I also, liked the differences in the romances between Loretta's brother and Hawk's sister and Loretta and Hawk.

Overall, a very entertaining and engaging read. I will definitely read more books by this Author.

3.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Enjoyed the story of Hawk and Loretta and how they came to find love when least expected. The book is well written and holds your interest. I would highly recommend this book and the previous ones in this series.

Worried a prank he played in his earlier years could come back to hurt his sister, the Duke of Hawksthorn is playing match-maker to secure Her a betrothal before the Season starts. His choice of gentleman is made and now he only needs to get through the groom's older sister, which may be harder than he thought.

Loretta Quick is not keen on any arranged marriage ideas as she herself was almost a part of one. Now hidden away to appease her Uncle, she is surprised when a Duke arrives at her doorstep to propose such an arrangement for his sister.

Despite being on opposite sides in a battle for their siblings, an instant connection is formed but will a vow made in her youth keep Loretta from a perfect match of her own?

The bones were there in this book for a great story but 'love at first site' is a hard concept to pull off. In this case the conflict felt forced and the remedy to their problems was way to simple to achieve.

This was a quick, well written regency romance. While it is part of a series I had not read book one and had no issue following along (I can assure you I will be jumping back and reading #1 now though!!!)

The story moved along naturally and I loved the humor of the plot

book 2 in the rakes of st. james series, to the duke, with love finds sloane knox, the duke of hawksthorne searching for the perfect gentleman to marry his sister. he wants to protect her from revenge seekers and gold diggers and the ton's less savory elements. mr. paxton quick seems to be the perfect prospective partner for his sister and so he decides to pay him a visit to discuss the possibilities. instead of paxton, hawks meets loretta, paxton's older sister.

when loretta discovers the reason for hawks visit she is immediately affronted on her brother's behalf. she had a disastrous experience with an arranged marriage. when she refused to marry her prospective groom her uncle forced her to take a vow that she would never marry in a church. and he then sentenced her to live in the most remote of his properties, never granting her permission to leave. she wants something more for her brother. she wants him to find love. she wants him to feel passion.

she wants so much for him. except she forgets that he has to want those same things too. this was one of the interesting bits about the novel. loretta is strong and independent, and surprisingly wrong about people. both adele and paxton are content to be promised to one another. neither one of them wants to feel the highs and lows of a grand passion. they want something easy and stable and placid. to loretta this is almost unthinkable. but the truth is, one person's wants and needs are not another's.

a large chunk of the story is also focused on loretta's care for a child off the streets. this particular time period was full of great disparity, and there were many children who suffered on the streets of london. loretta wants to give this child a better life, a chance for betterment, and at every turn gives him the benefit of the doubt. again she wants something for someone that they have no desire for. and you can't help but feel badly for her large heart and naïveté.

hawks proves to be the man she needs. he protects her in ways she never knew she needed protecting. he cares for her. he desires her. and he loves her. and because he loves her he figures out a way to preserve her sense of honor. he finds a way to allow her to break her vow. because he needs her to break that vow. her happiness, his happiness depends on it. he is a genuinely good person. he cares about everyone in his path. what he does for his sister and for loretta, is heartfelt and loving.

for a rake, he really is a good guy.

**to the duke, with love will publish on december 5, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/st. martin's press in exchange for my honest review.

To the Duke, with Love was an excellent continuation of the Rakes of St. James series with a delightful romance between an outspoken heroine and a charming, rakish hero.

In an effort to avoid the possibility of his sister being affected by his past misdeeds as one of the Rakes of St. James, Sloane Knox the Duke of Hawksthorn is hoping to arrange a marriage for her before the Season begins. However Hawk did not count on the intended groom’s own sister fighting to stop the match from taking place. Miss Loretta Quick narrowly avoided an arranged marriage of her own and does not intend for her brother to fall into such an arrangement when he could marry for love. Hawk and Loretta soon engage in a battle of wills, but the more the two spar, the closer they become.

Loretta has been in self-imposed exile for the last three years after she vowed never to marry when breaking her engagement to the man chosen by her uncle. Despite vowing never to marry, Loretta believes in the love found in her poetry books and thinks love should be all consuming. Her convictions surrounding her vow are strong and even after meeting Hawk and finding herself attracted to him, she intends to stick to her vow. I really liked Loretta right from the start and admired how determined she was and unwilling to let Hawk steamroll her just because he’s a duke.

Despite Hawk’s reputation as a rake, he’s actually a very kind and compassionate man who simply got into some mischief in his youth. He knows that as one of the Rakes of St. James, his past misdeeds may harm his sister now that she’s set to attend her first Season. As a result, he sets out to prevent any harm to her reputation by arranging a marriage before the Season begins. Hawk cares deeply for his sister and as a result has a tendency to indulge her. I admired how much his sister means to him and enjoyed the scenes where they were together.

Loretta and Hawk’s relationship began with some great verbal sparring and I loved watching them banter back and forth trying to beat the other. The two are pretty much instantly physically attracted to one another and quickly come to care for each other as they spend more time together. There are some great kissing scenes with a bit more throughout the book that culminate in one sex scene at approximately the 90% mark. All of the scenes are very well done although personally I would have liked a bit more as I prefer my romances slightly more explicit.

Over the course of To the Duke, with Love we have a few scenes with the other Rakes of St. James which were enjoyable. There are also a number of scenes with Paxton (Loretta’s brother) and Adele (Hawk’s sister) considering the goal is to arrange a betrothal with them. I found Paxton and Adele’s budding relationship to be very sweet and enjoyed the way things played out between them. Probably the largest side character/plot line outside of the siblings is the orphan Farley that Hawk and Loretta find. His storyline felt a bit out of place and definitely wasn’t a happy aspect of the book, but after reading the author’s note I understand why she included it.

Overall, To the Duke, with Love was an excellent addition to the Rakes of St. James series and I’m very excited for the final book to release next year. I highly recommend checking out these books if you’re looking for a new historical romance series to read.

This is the first time I've read a book by Amelia Grey but it won't be the last. In this book, Hawk, the Duke of Hawksthorn is trying to arrange a marriage for his sister before her first season. As a young man, he and some friends had played a trick on the young girls in their first season (giving them the title the Rakes of St James). Now that his sister is ready to come out he doesn't want anyone to take their revenge out on her. He has selected Mr Paxton Quick. When he travels to the Quick's home he meets Miss Loretta Quick (Paxton's sister). She left a man at the altar years earlier and her uncle, the Earl has banished her to a old country house where she is being punished by never being allowed to leave,
While the initial visit is to arrange a marriage between Paxton and Hawk's sister Lady Adele, it is Hawk and Loretta Quick who fall passionately in love. He will do anything to have her and make her his, even helping a street urchin who managed to find himself sick and lost in the country.
The dialogue is witty, the characters are strong and independent and the chemistry is amazing. Ms Grey has done a wonderful job of creating a Happily Ever After for all concerned.

Maybe 3.5 stars

I liked this installment of the Rakes of St. James, but I didn't love it.

The Duke of Hawksthorn "Hawk" wants to spare his sister, Lady Adele any heartache his past prank may cause her in the season by having her betrothed before it starts and he has found the perfect match for her, Mr. Paxton Quick, there is only one thing standing in his way........Paxton's sister Loretta.

Banished to the country after refusing to marry the man her uncle chose for her, Loretta is determined to make sure her beloved brother is not forced to marry against his will.

These two have an instant connection, but Hawk isn't looking for a match for himself and Loretta has taken a vow to never marry. But neither can deny the pull of attraction between them. Hawk finds ways to see Loretta and when he finally asks her to marry him, she refuses, holding fast to her vow.

Hawk will have to find a way to convince Loretta to set aside her vow or lose the only woman he has ever loved.

The book is well written, but it is very "put-downable", there is no real conflict, drama, angst or villain, and nothing keeping them apart save Loretta's insistence at adhering to a vow she was forced to make. There is a bittersweet side plot involving an orphaned boy and a host of charming secondary characters, a lot of sexual tension and one or two semi-steamy love scenes and finally a HEA. This is the second story in the series, but it could absolutely be read as a stand alone title with no problem.