Quinn Wentworth is awaiting death at Newgate prison, falsely convicted for a murder that he did not commit. Unwilling to put his family into any further danger by fighting to free himself and expose the powerful person who framed him, he awaits his death with a grim dignity. When Jane Winston finds herself in his cell while visiting the prison with her preacher father, she’s charmed by Quinn’s polite manners and caring for her and his fellow inmates. Jane, widowed and with child, stirs something in Quinn and he offers to marry her before his death so that she may have the protection of his name and the means to live a real life away from her oppressive father. A hasty wedding ensues but both Quinn and Jane are in for a shock when Quinn finds himself the sudden heir to dukedom, saving his life in the nick of time. Now Quinn and Jane finds themselves in an unexpected marriage. But can Quinn put the past behind him and move into a real future with Jane or will his obsession with finding the truth push Jane away for good?

I really liked the initial premise of this book. It was definitely a unique take on a meet cute to have our two main characters meet in a prison. I also liked the setup of the marriage. It was definitely unconventional, much like Quinn and Jane and the whole Wentworth clan. However, I found the pacing of the book to be quite slow, especially the first half. Since this is a romance I really expected a lot of emphasis to be put in the romance aspect but I felt like much of the book was mired in family drama and the mystery of who framed Quinn. Of course I want other stuff to happen on romances bedsides the romance but it just felt like the romance was taking a backseat to everything else that was going on.

I thought that Jane and Quinn had pretty good chemistry at the beginning but it felt a stilted later in the book. The love scenes weren’t as exciting as I’d hoped either once we finally got to them. It felt like the author was more telling us about how they felt than actually showing us with words and actions.

The family dynamic was definitely unique. Quinn’s siblings and cousin are a very unconventional lot. The new title has thrust them into society where they don’t quite fit in. I’m sure that the author has plans for them and it’ll be interesting to see how they navigate their new place on society.

This was a unique historical romance with unconventional characters. I wish I felt a little more for Jane and Quinn but their romance didn’t have enough spark for me. I’d recommend it for those who like a slow burn romance and quirky characters. Overall enjoyable but not a favorite.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review or opinion of the book.

I'm not going to lie, it took me a LONG time to get through the first 2 chapters - but once I did, I could not put the book down. I loved both Quinn and Jane as characters and the mystery over who set him up kept me turning the pages. I do prefer a bit more spice in my romance so that was a little bit of a let down, but now that my expectations have been properly set, I look forward to continuing with this series and possibly even more from the author. The Wentworth family is so intriguing - I can't wait to get all of their HEA's!

3 out of 5 wine glasses.

My One and Only Duke is a treasure amongst the many historical romance novels. Grace Burrowes has definitely let her creative talents flow with this book and it can be seen from the first to the very last page. And there is another delectable short read at the end! I recommend this book!

I really enjoyed Quinn and Jane's story. It was a bit of a slow start but a fabulous middle and end. I am excited to see what this new series brings forth.

Grace Burrowes never disappoints, and her new series opener, My One and Only Duke, is no exception. While many of the prolific author's books tend towards a similar formula as each other, I was pleasantly surprised to find My One and Only Duke to be something of a happy surprise. The main characters meet in prison! The male is on death row, and the female is already pregnant (out of wedlock). The whole premise was utterly absorbing, and the characters themselves proved to be wonderfully written, complex, and interesting in their own rights. From beginning to end, I could not put this one down. I'm fully committed to this Rags to Riches series, after book one started off so strongly!

Quinn is sitting in Newgate prison, about to be hung, and not for a crime he actually committed. It matters not that he’s actually a very good man, who cares greatly for his family and others, or that he could try to fight his sentence. Quinn is choosing to go willingly. While waiting to die he meets Jane, a preacher’s daughter who visits the jail while assisting her father in his work.
But Jane is a young widow with a problem. Quinn see Jane as a kind person and wishes to help her, so he offers to marry her and leave her in his will.
But plans change, and fate intervenes, and Quinn and Jane find themselves marries for life- a long life. So these two strangers must decide if this is a good or bad thing after all.
I loved this story! It vastly entertaining, has wonderful characters, and the two main characters are wonderful. This is a new favorite for me.
I read this as an arc on Netgalley which affected my review in no way at all.

As the series name implies this novel follows the rags-to-riches troupe, and that hard work pays off. This story was throwing me off at first but definitely redeemed itself. The story begins with a man falsely imprisoned for manslaughter. While imprisoned, he married a pregnant woman to better her circumstances days before he was scheduled to be hung. At the last second a royal pardon comes down and Quinn survives, falls in love with his wife, and uncovers who accused him.

Quinn is a self-made man, a banker, who by an unlikely chance falls into a title, a duke no less. Jane is a preacher's daughter who was recently widowed and pregnant is worried about her and her child's future.

This novel was a rocky read at first, but it flowed well and ended strong. Despite the common troupe, having a duke begin in Newgate and finagling a way out unscathed was fascinating, I definitely recommend.

*Review of eARC from NetGalley*

It took me a while to get into this story, since it was so different than most romance I’ve read. But once I got the hang of the story, I enjoyed it well-enough. The idea of a (wrongly) convicted murderer becoming a duke is pretty fanciful, but I don’t read romances for realism, necessarily.

Quinn and Jane’s relationship was fun to read, though it did get bogged down in places. I also didn’t feel like we got to know all the characters, especially Quinn’s sisters. I’m sure they’ll get their own books as the series progresses, so I am looking forward to getting into that more.

Oh my goodness! I loved this book. Quinn and Jane are the greatest couple. Quinn Wentworth is a hard working self-made man. He started with nothing and worked his way up to being a very wealthy and successful businessman. Jane Winston is a young and pregnant widow. She has been forced to depend on her father which is not going very well. Quinn and Jane meet when he is awaiting the Hangman for a crime he didn't commit. He feels emotionally connected to Jane and offers to marry her and allow her some sort of protection even when he is dead. Imagine their surprise when on the day of his hanging, Quinn is not only pardoned but declared a duke.

The way Jane goes toe to toe with Quinn is very entertaining. I love the rest of the appearances made by Quinn's family as well. I found myself rooting for this couple from the very beginning and now I find myself anxiously waiting to read Duncan's story next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the generous ARC and allowing me to leave an honest review of this book.

Grace Burrows’ “My One and Only Duke” is the start to her new series, Rogues to Riches. Opening the story in Newgate prison with wealthy banker, Mr. Quinn Wentworth whittling away his time while he awaits his scheduled execution in the best prison accommodations money can buy. Miss Jane Winston is an aging (in regency times!) widowed, spinster (?!?!) who is visiting Newgate with her preacher father. While Jane’s father inflicts his sermonizing on the prisoners, Jane is escorted to Quinn’s cell to wait for her father...

The chemistry between Quinn and Jane is delightful from the beginning and their irregular “courtship” and relationship grabs you from the beginning. Not only are Grace’s main characters great, she has set the series up wonderfully with a cast of family members that you can not wait to hear their stories as well. I’m loved reading Quinn and Janes love story and am already looking forward to the next one in this series.

When pregnant widow Miss Jane Winston marries Mr Quinn Wentworth she never expected to have to be his wife. He was after all scheduled to be hung the next day. Only the culmination of a very unlikely set of circumstances saves Quinn from the noose. So, when he arrives home he brings with him his pregnant wife and a dukedom. He has to adjust to both. But, now that Quinn is free he is determined to find out who has framed him for murder and condemned him to hang.

As this is my first Grace Burrowes book I didn’t know what to expect, but as it was the start of a new series – Rogues to Riches – I wanted to give it a try. I am so glad I did! I really enjoyed this book. It’s a promising start to the series that introduces the intriguing and very unconventional Wentworth family.

With most romances which are based around a family, with each new book pairing them off, the members tend to be very close. What was so different about this book was that although they were all fiercely protective, they didn’t trust one another. In fact, Quinn who is imprisoned at the beginning of the book is first suspicious that it’s either his brother, cousin or sister that put him there. This is an aspect of the story that I had mixed feelings about. I liked that it was something unusual and how Jane somehow managed to bring the family together in a way they hadn’t experienced before. But, for me, the reason for the distrust was never really clarified. It seemed to be a combination of Quinn’s guilt for not being able to save his siblings from their poverty stricken and abusive childhood sooner and their naturally wary personalities. But I was never really sure.

As for the romance, if you’re looking for a book with something grandiose and full of passion, this isn’t the book for you. Instead, this was more of a slow burn dictated by Quinn and Jane’s very practical natures. I liked this about the romance, neither character’s past would have meshed with a flowery romance and showy gestures. But I really enjoyed Jane’s drive to make the marriage real. She wouldn’t accept any less than a partnership with Quinn, which also included his emotional engagement.

A great start to the series and I can’t wait to read more. If you like your heroes stoic, but full of secret kindness and your heroines brave but sensible then this is the perfect book for you.

I like a good mystery mixed with my romance! Grace Burrows is one of the more popular historical romance novelist. For me, her books have been hit or miss. She is great but her writing style is not always for me, but I have to say, this book brought me around. I really enjoyed it and wondered if I didn't give the other book a chance. Highly recommend this one! You won't be disappointed!

The first book in the Rogues to Riches series, My One and Only Duke, is quite the story! When Quinn Wentworth marries widowed and pregnant Jane Winston he expects to never see her again because he’s soon to hang for a crime he didn’t commit. When their circumstances drastically change they are thrust together and must try and find their happily ever after. While I enjoyed aspects of this book, I found it difficult to connect with the characters and the story seemed to be rushed. The characters had a lot of potential, but the writing style confused me and I wasn’t always able to find a flow while reading. Overall I did enjoy this book, but not as much as I had hoped.

~Reviewed by Monique~~

Quinn Wentworth was to be hanged that Monday for manslaughter, but due to circumstances, he got a short reprieve. He had accepted his fate but was feeling melancholy, when Jane Winston appeared in his cell. Jane is accompanying her father, the visiting preacher. Jane is doing her duty, then she and Quinn start talking. When he learns of Jane’s dire situation – a widow with a babe on the way and no money to speak of – Quinn knows he can pose one last gesture for a person in need: he will provide for her and her unborn child by marrying her. Then Quinn’s destiny is shockingly altered: the boy who grew up in York’s slums is now the Duke of Walden! He is a free man, now a married one as well, but the most important thing has not been taken care of: finding who wanted Quinn permanently out of the way.

MY ONE AND ONLY DUKE is the spectacular start of Grace Burrowes new Rogues to Riches series, and it promises to be epic. From the first pages, I was mesmerised by Ms. Burrowes dazzling and exquisite prose, and it felt like I had been transported through time than reading an oeuvre written by a contemporary author. The narrative is highlighted by the delicious humour and wit, and the brilliant and witty dialogues. The plot is riveting and flawlessly structured, and lovely period details, meticulous research, and historical accuracy add additional layers to this fabulous story. Quinn and Jane are marvellous, so vibrant and alive, and exceedingly complex characters. Their strength and loyalty know no bound, and they never ceased to surprise and delight me, especially Jane. Both are reasonable, engaging, and very determined people, and one of my favourite couples ever. The romance progressed organically, and quite different than the usual marriage of convenience; it was utterly delicious and absolutely convincing.

MY ONE AND ONLY DUKE also features several marvellous secondary characters, amongst them other Wentworth siblings and relatives; Quinn’s banker partner Joshua Penrose and newly acquired staff – and that was one brilliant and inspired touch! Let’s not forget the mystery part of this superb book, which had me guessing all the way to the end: it was far from obvious who the villain was. We always expect excellence from Grace Burrowes, and she never lets us down: MY ONE AND ONLY DUKE is Regency romance at its finest. And the icing on this scrumptious cake is the gift of a novella by Elizabeth Hoyt: Once upon a Christmas Eve!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quinn Wentworth is just days from being hung for a crime he didn't commit. He has explored every avenue short of escape and is resigned to the noose. Jane Winston is watching her world slowing dwindle away as her father pawns her late mother's things and smothers her hope for her child. By chance Jane and Quinn meet and as a last act of kindness, Quinn and Jane marry. At the last moment Quinn is pardoned because he is heir to a dukedom. Now Jane and Quinn will have to figure out a relationship with each other as well as their families, while uncovering who was behind Quinn's set up.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first in the Rogues to Riches series and I was so excited that its a new cast of characters. (Not that I don't love the Windhams, there is just so many of them.) Quinn is rough around the edges but takes care of the little things. I adored his relationship with Ned and Davies. Jane took a little more time for me but by the end she was a favorite. Although her relationship with her father drove me nuts.

The romance is on the slow side. Quinn and Jane have chemistry but are a bit stunned with Quinn's reprieve. So it takes times for them to figure out their relationship and take it from awkward to romance. I really appreciated that because it gives it a more realistic approach.

So I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to exploring Quinn's relations. His sisters and business partner and steady Duncan who is next.

3.5

I've been off reading Burrowes for the past year or two, because I was feeling that all of her characters end up feeling the same (self-contained, dryly witty, kind, and never emotionally overwrought), despite the very different plots in which they are placed. But when I saw this one on NetGalley, I decided to give her another try.

Burrowes proves a remarkably consistent, as well as a speedy, writer; book 76 (!) here has all of the same strengths as her previous historicals: detailed but never intrusive historical research; kind, caring protagonists; a light but always intelligent wit; and heartwarming, but never treacly romance. And it also has the same issue with character similarity noted above.

The story opens with high-powered banker Quinn Wentworth contemplating his upcoming death in his cell in London's Newgate Prison, having been recently convicted of manslaughter. His interactions with the young urchin who is serving as a sort of footman are interrupted by the arrival of a lady, a Miss Winston, who needs a place to sit while her preacher-father ministers to (or hectors) the other inmates. Quinn's cell is the most comfortable place in the prison (being a rich man, he's been able to buy/barter for a lot of creature comforts), a suitable waiting place, thinks the warden. Jane Winston is no zealous do-gooder herself; the death of her mother, her elopement with a man who proved less of a prince than she'd thought, and her recent widowhood have left her with few aspirations for godliness, for herself or for others. After Quinn discovers Jane is pregnant by her dead-in-a-duel husband, with her father refusing to even acknowledge that she was legally married, he offers to wed her and give her a competence, knowing he's soon for the gallows.

But in the way of historical romances, Quinn is saved at the last moment, by the news not that he's innocent but that he's the heir to a debt-ridden dukedom, a debt that the King doesn't wish to revert to the crown. And so now Quinn and Jane must somehow make a marriage out of what was supposed to be a short-term arrangement. Each have to navigate their own issues (Jane in dealing with her self-deceiving hypocritical father; Quinn in searching for the person who framed him for murder), while butting heads over whether revenge is worth it, if it puts one, as well as one's family, at risk.

Both Burrowes as narrator, as well as Jane and Quinn as characters, often keep their own counsel, not revealing key events/feelings when the reader would like to know them, but instead only when Burrowes wants to. You know you're being manipulated by the author when you read a Burrowes book, but most readers so enjoy the smart wit and the bone-deep niceness of her characters that they are willing to put themselves in her hands.

Jane and Quinn seem to fall fairly easily for one another; more of the story focuses on the mystery plot than on the romance. I did appreciate the depiction of Jane's relationship with her father; it's often more difficult to deal with a parent or lover who has falsely convinced him/herself of his/her own righteousness than an overtly cruel/evil one.

Yes, I'm glad I tried Burrowes again, but this new one doesn't make me more inclined to search out the books of hers I haven't yet read. When I'm in the mood for her particular brand of storytelling, yes, but not immediately whenever a new book comes out.

I had a difficult time connecting with the two main characters. I’m not sure what exactly it is about the two characters that I didn’t connect with, but I struggled to keep up with them and their adventure. The plot was entertaining but I have liked other Grace Burrowes a lot more than this one. I had a hard time getting engrossed in the plot and conflict, though I really did enjoy how the conflict was resolved. I’m glad he got a happily ever after and that she finally stood up to her father. I will read more in this series, I just think I didn’t click with the characters and that hindered my enjoyment of the story. It isn’t a bad story; the plot is good, just not my favorite.

This story had me enchanted right from the first page. Quinn was such an amazing hero with the perfect combination of kind and sexy that he had me smitten when I first read about him. I love how beautifully this author spins her stories and writes rich and beguiling characters like Quinn and Jane. They are not perfect but their romance is so perfect. I also really enjoyed meeting Quinn's family and I am looking forward to their stories next. I will highly recommend this book. It is the most perfect book to read on a cozy night with a hot cup of cocoa.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

My One and Only Duke by Grace Burrowes is a 2018 Forever Romance publication.

A good mystery mingled with a wonderful and warm love story-

Quinn is in prison for a crime he did not commit. Jane, a minister’s daughter, visits him shortly before his execution date. From these visits Quinn learns that Jane is widowed, pregnant with her first child, and is under her father’s manipulative power. With nothing left to lose, Quinn offers to marry Jane, giving her independence, and the financial freedom to provide for her child. Seizing the opportunity, Jane agrees to the marriage. But, literally, at the very last minute, Quinn is saved from the gallows. He is immediately informed that he is the lost long heir to a dukedom! His good fortune also means he and Jane must now live together as husband and wife.

No matter how awkward it is, the couple has no choice but to make the best of the situation. However, before they can earnestly begin a life together, Quinn must discover who is out to destroy him, while protecting his family, which now includes Jane and her unborn child.

What a wonderful blend of mystery and romance! I love a mystery with intrigue, especially in a historical setting. This story has plenty of that, but intrigue shouldn’t be compared with other forms of mystery, because the pacing is usually slower, and the plot may take a little longer to develop. However, this one did move a little too slow at times, and the wrap up was a little frenetic. Still, the plot was still pretty smart and challenging, which is what I liked about it the most.

The romance also takes its time to develop, but I thought that made much more sense because, although this couple may have had a bit of chemistry working for them while Quinn was in prison, they were both stunned by Quinn’s last- minute reprieve.

While Quinn’ feelings deepen for Jane each day, his mind is preoccupied, leaving it to Jane to gently prod the relationship forward. After thinking about it, I think the slow burn was more realistic, although I do admit I did get frustrated with Quinn’s reticence, at times.

Jane’s bravery in facing her ‘new normal’ is admirable, as is her support of Quinn. The one area of weakness for Jane is the relationship she endures with her father, who continues to interfere in her life. With her new circumstances and the inner -strength she acquires, her character develops in the most wonderful of ways.

Overall, this variant on the rags to riches theme does move at a leisurely pace, but is an evenly balanced combination of an intriguing suspense and a tender love story.

I don’t know how I managed to lose track of Grace Burrowes over the past couple of years, but it has been a great pleasure to reconnect with her again.

4 stars

*This version of the book also includes ‘Once Upon a Christmas Eve’ a novella by Elizabeth Hoyt.

I loved this book. Burrowes writes with such expressive precision to tell a story of such complex emotions, a detailed network of plot threads and characters whose motivations are as complicated as they are heartfelt. There’s decency here, and kindness and thoughtfulness as well. And insight, intuition and generosity. From utter despair and rage to happiness and boundless optimism, this is a story that spans the gamut of human emotion.

This is a marriage of convenience plot where there is the possibility of love developing between complete strangers who pledged their troth in the worst of circumstances but rise up to the challenge of bettering their current circumstances. They learn that it is possible for people to soar above their past situations, fears and harsh lessons to learn new pathways to happiness. Page by page, you see Jane’s and Quinn’s brains being rewired by love.

How have I never read a Burrowes book before? The lens with which I will view historical romance has been forever changed. I wanted to quote from every page of this book in this review, and then where would you, the reader, be, faced with thousands of my paltry words? It would be better if you were to give yourself the gift of this book and read Burrowes’ words for yourself. (See an excerpt on HEA from

https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2018/11/30/keira-soleore-historical-romance-recs-grace-burrowes-julia-quinn/