A superbly written historical. I so enjoyed the romance and the plot. Nicely written.

I love a good second chance romance. There is nothing like seeing two people separated by circumstances reuniting. So when I was approached to review A Duke Like No Other and I read the blurb, I accepted.

I enjoyed reading this book. I am a huge fan of Regency Era romances. Something about that period calls to me. I like that the women can be smart but get the man. I also like that the men were willing to do anything to prove that they loved their women. I loved that allure of the ton and the endless balls/functions that the Lords and Ladies attended. I loved the titles (I mean, hello Duke!!!) and the description of life back then. While I know it wasn’t at all easy, I enjoyed reading about that upper-class. My guilty pleasure.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series. But if they are anything like A Duke Like No Other, I will be happy with them. I liked that while this book is in a series, you can read it as a stand-alone. I have a couple of pet peeves when I read books out-of-order from the series. I can’t stand it when I get a book that is like 254th in a series and it is taken over by the previous characters antics. Or when the author relies too much on the plotlines from the other books and leaves me going “What the heck is going on“. Fortunately for this book, none of what I mentioned happened. While the previous characters are mentioned and featured, they do not take over the plot.

I did like the main characters but I wish that the author came clean with why they broke up sooner. Instead, she let it leak, slowly, throughout the book. Seeing that I read these books on my Kindle, I can’t skip to the end. So reading the flashbacks drove me nuts. I was done with that part of the plot before it began.

I thought that Mark and Nicole needed a lesson in communication. While I agreed with why Mark being so upset with Nicole, it didn’t deserve a break-up. I also think that Nicole might have overreacted a bit when she moved to France. All they needed to do was talk and Mark would have gotten the entire story from Nicole instead of reading it in a letter from her mother.

I thought Mark had a huge chip on his shoulder. HUGE. It was his unwillingness to bend when it came to his mother’s family that left a bad taste in his mouth. He refused to acknowledge anyone. He was going to decline something that he shouldn’t have because of that chip. It wasn’t until the letters that he started to bend. But I did think it was going to be too late to make amends with his uncle and cousins.

I liked Nicole but like I mentioned above, I thought that it was silly that she ran to France to lick her wounds. I also thought that her condition to Mark’s request was a little odd. It wasn’t commonplace at that time for a woman, married or not, to raise a child on her own. And in France of all places. I also found her choice of profession a bit odd and at ends for the era. Not saying that it could have happened but it was very unlikely.

The chemistry and heat between Nicole and Mark were there. Oh, boy was it there. And the sex was hot. It was kind of dirty too. I liked that. I liked that Nicole knew what she wanted and she wasn’t afraid to let Mark know. I liked that Mark didn’t forget what turned Nicole on after 10 years. Like I said, the chemistry and heat between them were hot. I was surprised that my Kindle didn’t fog up.

I liked the mystery angle that was introduced halfway through the book. It made the plot more interesting and added some extra depth to the plot. I do have to laugh at Mark being jealous of Oakleaf. I giggled at that.

The end of the book was perfect. I was very surprised at who the murderer ended up being. It was the last person I thought it was. The author did a great job at casting red herrings all over the place to distract the reader. Of course, the part where Mark and Nicole get back together was the clincher of the book. I had tears in my eyes while reading it. And the epilogue. I couldn’t get over it!!

What I liked about A Duke Like No Other:

A) Regency England

B) Mark and Nicole’s romance

C) Second chance romance

What I disliked about A Duke Like No Other:

A) Took too long to disclose why Mark and Nicole broke up

B) Zero communication between Mark and Nicole

C) Mark’s huge chip on his shoulder

I would give A Duke Like No Other an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is mild violence. There is not any language. I would suggest that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are no trigger warnings for A Duke Like No Other.

I would recommend this book to family and friends. I would also reread this book.

This was a super sweet second chance romance that I really enjoyed! (And you know me, I’m ALL FOR second chance romances.) A DUKE LIKE NO OTHER features a resilient heroine who defies society’s norms, a secretive hero who’s aiming to become the head of spies in England, and… a marriage that failed ten years ago. Even though both characters are more mature, their chemistry is still undeniable.

“Their brief romance was another life. So many things had happened since then. So many things had changed. He’d changed. Had she?”

General Mark Grimaldi needs to show himself as a “family man” for his career, only he already has an estranged wife, Nicole, living in France. Once you add in a surprise ducal inheritance and a wife that wants a baby, everything becomes entangled. I really enjoyed Nicole’s character and how she wasn’t afraid of chasing after what she wanted. She was headstrong and also worked for the Bow Street Runners for a time. With both Mark and Nicole having a penchant for spying, it’s easy to see how they complement each other so well. Mark himself is known as the “stone cold man” because it seems like he has no emotions, but under that facade he’s brimming with familial loyalty and a flame for Nicole. A DUKE LIKE NO OTHER dealt with many subplots, such as Mark’s family, Mark and Nicole’s past estrangement, and a murder mystery that needs solving. Bowman did an excellent job in delivering all these aspects, along with the couple’s undeniable chemistry. Historical romance readers will really enjoy this one!

“Do not push away the people you love and who love you because they refuse to be the people whom you think they should be.”

This rating is closer to a 3.5 starts because although I enjoyed this book, it brings along familiar elements that historical romance stories have done before. Still a fun read, but more of a quick, sweet one than something I’ll come back to reread. There’s a fantastic blend of espionage, sizzling second chance romance, and friendships and family in this one!

Content Warning: Sexy times

A Duke Like No Other (Playful Brides, #9) by Valerie Bowman......Another great one Valerie!!! I was so lucky to be able to preview this on #NetGalley... I like nothing better than a couple who are in love and misunderstand each other and have to work their way back together again... Mark (Grim) General and Spy Master... Nicole his wife... He thinks she married him ten years ago for his connection to the Duke...he accuses her of this three months into their marriage...she leaves for France and works for the War Office as a spy. Ten years later to become Sectary of the Home Office he needs a wife... This is where all the fun begins...laughs ..tears... murder... and thank goodness a HEA. I couldn't put this book down. I'm hoping maybe Regina and Daffin may be the next book.

This is the first novel I have read by Valerie Bowman and I loved it! Even though it is the 9th book in the Playful Brides series, I didn't have any problem reading it without having read the other novels. I enjoyed it so much I read it in one sitting. I loved Mark and Nicole's story and enjoyed how the author wove their past within the story in small bites instead of telling it all at once. There was also a bit of mystery and I wanted to find out the name of the culprit. I will be adding this author to my favorite authors list and look forward to reading her previous works.

I like the stories where a misunderstanding drives the couple apart, but they find each other later again and have their Happy Ending, So if you like these stories too, this is the right book for you, where there is also a crime to solve. Well written and enjoyable as usual Valerie Bowman is.

Mi piacciono le storie dove un fraintendimento divide la coppia, che peró poi si ritrova in seguito e vive felice e contenta, Quindi se anche a voi piacciono questo tipo di trama, questo é il romanzo per voi, che oltre ad essere ben scritto e divertente - come sempre nel caso di Valerie Bowman - prevede anche la risoluzione di un crimine..

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

I really like Valerie Bowman’s books. This was enjoyable. Not plausible but enjoyable. The poor dead guys family didn’t seem to put out by his death. I would have skipped the mystery. I would much rather have seen the hero and heroine learn to live together and rediscover each other without the other junk get in the way. It would have been nice to see them talk about what they have been through in the 10 years since they saw each other. It was a light read though and I enjoyed it for what it was. The best part about the book was that they both stayed celibate during the separation. I loved that. It bumped it from a three star read to a four.

Their story was enjoyable, some of the flashbacks were great, others seemed to slow the rhythm of the plot down a bit. I liked seeing glimpses of their past, especially of the fight that led to their break, but I wanted more interaction between them once they were back together and trying to solve the murder. I wanted to see more of them opening up, confiding, and kind of getting to know each other again. I think they both were so stubborn that their characters got in the way of rebuilding the relationship on the page. They were so stubborn it worked against the character development. I liked it overall, just needed a bit more soul-searching and clearing the air kind of conversations so that the ending became more believable rather than one second they aren’t saying what they need to say and the next he is 'I’m an idiot please stay.' I really wanted to see them have that kind of conversation, prior to the conclusion at the docks, in order for me to believe that the reconciliation was real.  It was almost like nothing was really resolved. Yes, he finally opened up to her and told her what he wanted and felt, but what about his doubts about her supposedly knowing all along about his family.  We at least had him express why he was upset with her working with the Bow Street Runners, but not the rest of issues they had ten years ago.  I needed him to realize that she hadn’t known and the reason she never confronted him was because she was waiting for him to trust her, which is very similar to his reasons for not confronting her about already knowing about the Bow Street Runners. I wanted Oakleaf to come out and tell him he was the one who told her and why and how it all came about. But that is a very small part of the story and overall I did enjoy their reconciliation and the working together to solve a murder. I am looking forward to Regina and Oakleaf's story next.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable romance with a touch of murder mystery. Mark and Nicole have lived apart in their marriage for many years but come together again when each needs something from the other. Their journey to finding their happy ending involves many supporting characters (including two who will presumably be the couple in a future book), and I happily went along for the ride.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nicole and Mark's story-- and that's saying something, given that Mark is my ex-husband's name, lol!
Second chance romances come with a certain amount of back history, and I thought that Ms. Bowman did a great job of showing how the couple originally got together and fell apart. The fact that she was able to keep the pace of the current situation is impressive and made for an incredibly well-written story.
I have not read the entire series, so while this is book 9, don't let that keep you from reading it. I certainly plan on binging on the series starting with book 1, but it was not necessary to understand the plot.

I just love second chance romances.

General Mark Grimaldi's professional life couldn't be any better. He is finally up for the job of the minister of Home Office, the position he has wanted his whole life, but he finds out there is a small problem.....they would prefer it, if he was married.

Funny thing, Mark actually is married. He just hasn't seen his lovely bride in 10 years!!!! Mark foolishly married Lady Nicole Huntington, thinking they were in love, but then he came to find out Nicole had a secret that she kept from him, thus breaking his trust. The two of them have been living separate lives, content with how things are. Now, Mark must find Nicole and ask her for a favor....pretend to be his loving wife, at least until he gets the job. Then they can go back to separate lives. Too bad Nicole has a favor of her own!

Oh, my lord I loved these two. They are both so stubborn and pig headed, but deep down they both still had feelings for each other. When they make the agreement that they will help each other out with what they each want, that is when things get fun. I loved the banter between these two. I also really enjoyed the mystery revolving around Mark's cousin. It was fun watching the women help solve the "who done it". Overall, this story has some really wonderful characters and a great story line that kept me entertained....and the chemistry between Mark and Nicole was sizzling!

This was my first book by this author and I really liked it. I must read some of her others. Bowman did a good job including mystery and intrigue along with romance. There were a few parts that made me roll my eyes and say puhlease! But generally this was a good read.

General Mark Grimaldi had given up everything in the name of service to His Majesty. Even relationships. He was eager to be promoted to Home Secretary and that opportunity had finally arrived. But his superiors have one condition. They don’t want a bachelor but someone settled. A family man. Nothing was going to stop Mark from getting this position so he told them he was already married. Which wasn’t a lie. It was a fact. A fact he hadn’t admitted in 10 years.
Nicole Huntington Grimaldi had spent the last 10 years in France. She and Mark had agreed to part ways and hadn’t seen each other since. She’d gone about her life perfectly happy. Happy but lonely. When Mark arrives requesting she return with him to London, Nicole has one condition. She wants a baby.
As I read this book I couldn’t help but think of the old Kenny Rogers and The First Edition song, “Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in”. It seemed there were lots of “conditions” to the bargaining between Mark and Nicole. The two of them had had a score of problems in the brief time they’d actually been together but attraction had never been one of them. Could they survive this reunion or would it end in heartache like the first time?
Nicole and Mark were perfectly suited for one another but had never really taken the time to get to know one another. They’d rushed into marriage and had only been together 3 months when it all fell apart. All because of lack of communication. Mark jumped to conclusions way too easily and Nicole was too prideful to stand and fight and instead chose to run away. Once they were together again they did what they should have done 10 years ago. They communicated. They were both extremely prideful and stubborn but there was lots of chemistry between them.
I liked the memories of their early relationship interspersed in the story. It made it quite clear why they were in the situation they were in. Their joint efforts to solve the murder in the story brought them together and helped them rediscover the things about each other that had appealed to them so many years ago. There was lots of witty banter between the two which added to their chemistry. I loved their initial bargaining where Mark thought they were discussing divorce when Nicole was actually discussing a baby.
If you’re a fan of reunion romances, you’ll fall in love with this story. Mark and Nicole rediscover each other while they battle a heightened sexual tension and work to solve a murder mystery. This couple was desperately in need of a second chance and I couldn’t resist rooting for them.

A Duke Like No Other is a second chance romance. It was a lovely read and was quickly devoured in a few hours. Like any second chance romance, there is the why and what for elements. The flashbacks and the happy endings are guaranteed. This is also my first Valerie Bowman book.

The writing is fast and easy, it was a perfect read for a weekend evening. The murder mystery will keep the reader engrossed and one does want to find the culprit. All things aside, it was a light and fun read. A Duke Like No Other is a part of the Playful Brides series, but it can also be read as a standalone.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved the idea of this synopsis and couldn’t wait to get started on this one.

Nicole and Mark are great MCs. She’s sassy and strong and he’s stubborn and charming. Together they know how to push each other’s buttons and do it frequently. Their beginning banter and strategizing was fantastic. There is a fairly large cast of characters and I wonder if some of them were from other books. I especially loved Regina.

Plot wise, it was okay. I enjoyed the murder mystery plot line, but I was mostly irritated at the ongoing lack of communication. If Nicole and Mark had literally one conversation, the story could have taken an entirely different turn. Instead it was flashbacks of the beginning of their relationship {which I liked} and the rest of their time together was spent in bed {which made sense for the story} or each wondering how the other felt {which was horribly repetitive.}

Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read with characters I really liked. Unfortunately, I wanted more talking and understanding and something more at the end.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s paperbacks for providing the arc free of charge**

In my humble opinion, this is a well written, historical romance; where the characters are well-honed and the reader can have a connection with them. The story that takes place following the Napoleonic war.
Our hero, Mark Grimaldi, is a British general and on the short-list of candidates for the Head of the Home Office; now that the fighting is over. Mark ran a spy network for Britain during the war. There is a small caveat for the Head of the Home office; they prefer a family man or at least a man that is “settled”. Lady Nicole Huntington is not your average woman of the ton; she prefers a good investigative mystery to solve than the usual “missish” activities of other girls her age. This trait is one that draws Mark to Nicole; even though he is only a military man and she a member of the aristocrats. T heir's is not an easy match as Mark has a bit of “baggage” he carries with him.
I liked that this story has a little bit of a mystery thrown into all the drama with the main characters and the sub-characters.

It was Miss Scarlet in the drawing room with the candlestick!

Leave it to Valerie Bowman to successfully write an alluring romance with an unpredictable mystery in A Duke Like No Other, book 9 of the Playful Brides collection. This happened to be my first Bowman to experience and I absolutely devoured it! Bowman’s newest book is due to hit the shelves this coming May Day, May 1, 2018. I voluntarily read this eARC graciously provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank YOU NetGalley, I now have a new addition to my favorite authors list.

The meat: Bowman wastes no time before jumping straight into the action. You meet Mark, an aspiring politician, who also happens to be estranged from his wife of ten years, Nicole. Unfortunately for Mark his aspirations now require him to be a wedded man. After ten years apart Mark strikes a deal with Nicole that she can’t afford to refuse. Unfortunately for Nicole, the deal includes more than she ever bargained for. Mark also happens to stumble upon more than he ever hoped for, or even wanted.

Throughout the book Bowman switches POVs between both Mark and Nicole, while easily throwing in flashbacks for both giving the reader a two-sided view on the couple’s past.

I give this book a 5 out of 5. Bowman does an amazing job at weaving a long forgotten romance together with a surprise and mystery. No need to mention the steamy scenes that are of a different level compared to other romance authors. I will certainly be looking for her name on other books for my TBR.

#valeriebowman #playfulbrides #historicalromance #clue #mystery #estrangedmarriage #adukelikenoother #steamy #netgalley

First of all, in full disclosure, I am a fan of Valerie Bowman. Yes, I am a huge fan of Valerie Bowman. So, when I read one of her books, I know I will fall in love.

General Mark Grimaldi has been advised that he can become Home Secretary if he is a settled family man, so he must marry. The thing is, he has a wife. Nicole, his wife, lives in France and has been living in France for 10 years. They are not on the best of terms.

When he goes to France to request that Nicole come home and fake being part of a happy marriage, they make a deal. She will fake a happy marriage for him if he will provide her with a baby. What could go wrong?

Mark belittles the nobility and believes that they are only interested in wealth and power. None of them have ever done any true good. He does not mention to anyone that he is closely related to a Duke. And he never mentions that because of his family history, he will never be comfortable being part of his noble family. He has accomplished a great deal in his life. He has been a spymaster who has shown his intelligence, bravery and ability to observe and understand. Everything he is has come from his hard work.

Nicole is a woman who has worked as an assistant to Bow Street Runners in England. While living in France, she worked as an agent on behalf of the British during the Napoleonic War. She is a very intelligent woman who has never been comfortable doing nothing. She wants to use her ability to observe and analyze for the benefit of good. She is beautiful, smart and very lonely.

The two of them return to London to begin their masquerade when everything changes. Mark's cousin, John, the Duke's heir has been murdered. The Duke has given Mark and Nicole two very important pieces of information. Mark is the heir and will become the next Duke and it is imperative that Mark discover who murdered his cousin.

Mark and Nicole both begin looking into the people who could have harmed John. There is a small group of people close enough to him who could have murdered him. Each of them will need to be interviewed.

There were many things I loved about this book. I liked the character development. Ms Bowman creates people who are always interesting and entertaining. Mark and Nicole are no exception. Their back stories provide the reader with all the information needed to understand who they are and their motivations.

The plot is well written and easy to follow.

What I did not like is Mark not listening to anyone, including Nicole. I did not like the fact that Nicole, a supposedly strong and determined woman, will not even express herself to Mark. For me, their inability to communicate became repetitious after a time.

But, Ms Bowman is a talented author and even with these minor shortcomings, for me this is a good book.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

Book #9 in the series Playful Brides, A Duke Like No Other, a light Regency spy that can be read without knowledge of the previous books (my case), although I got very curious about the stories of the Cavendish brothers.
Nicole and General Mark Grimaldi are married, but have been apart for 10 years, due to a misunderstanding concerning Mark's maternal family and Nicole's work as a spy. Mark is ambitious and, in order to get a promotion, he needs to prove to his conservative superior he's happily married.
Mark is very ambitious and career-oriented, so he goes to Nicole and asks her to help him to put up a show as a happy couple until he gets the promotion. Nicole agrees because she wants a child.
And so they get together again, but a murderer enters the scene and the couple has to solve it as well as whether they still love each other.
I enjoyed reading the book, despite some minor problems (Lady Nicole as a "bounty hunter" first, then a spy; the murderer investigation shadowing the couple's reconciliation) and I'm looking forward to Ms. Bowman's next book - hopefully about Lady Regina and Oakleaf!

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Second chance romance novels aren't usually my cup of tea, but I did decide to give this one a chance. I found it mostly interesting and well written but there were some plot aspects I wasn't too interested in.