This was just ok for me. I enjoyed the premise, a duke and a lady who doesn’t fit into societal norms, but the execution was lacking. I felt like there were too many story lines happening and I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the two main characters.

Thanks NetGalley for the ebook.

2.5 Stars

I always enjoy a little mystery with my historical romance, although I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between the two main characters.

Freya was the leading lady hiding as chaperone until they go to the country, where she is trying to figure out how to end the new Witch Act in Parliament. She is part of the Wise Women. In comes her brother's friend and now Duke. To be honest there wasn’t much of a romance to me- the reason I kept reading was the ladies and what would happen to them. There was steam but it was awkward and the author didn’t give us much chemistry.

Not the Duke’s Darling is the first book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Greycourt series. Freya de Moray is a chaperone living under an assumed name, a member of the secret order of Wise Women, and the daughter of disgraced nobility. When the Duke of Harlowe, the man partly responsible for her family's downfall, appears at a country house party, Freya sees an opportunity for revenge.
Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe, is being blackmailed and attends the party to confront his tormentor. However, his plans are disrupted when he spots Freya, a woman from his past who knows his darkest secrets. As Freya's fiery spirit and undeniable allure tempt him, danger lurks nearby. To protect her, Harlowe must win Freya's trust—no matter the cost.
This is fast paced novel with a lot of strands to it. I really liked Christopher – he is a complex character with a dark past – but he is kind and patient with Freya. I took longer to warm up to Freya. She starts off seeming quite proud and unsympathetic, but as she reveals her vulnerabilities, she becomes a relatable and sympathetic heroine.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

In "Not the Duke's Darling," the first installment of her Greycourt Series, Elizabeth Hoyt creates a world of intrigue, romance, and revenge set against the backdrop of Georgian England. This historical romance introduces us to Freya de Moray, a heroine with a tragic past, and Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe. Freya is not your typical old maid chaperone; she is a member of the secretive Wise Women, tasked with protecting ancient wisdom while living under an assumed identity. Haunted by her family’s disgrace and her brother’s ruin at the hands of the Duke of Harlowe, she finds herself at a country house party where the very man she seeks to avenge reappears in her life. Christopher, grappling with his own demons—including blackmail and trauma from his past—recognizes Freya among the party guests.

Critically, the story addresses the societal pressures faced by women of the time, especially those like Freya, who must navigate a world that often vilifies them for being different and independent. This novel is not just a romance; it’s a tale of personal growth and resilience.

The bonus novella, *Patience for Christmas* by Grace Burrowes, serves as an uplifting and sweet addition, making this collection even more worthwhile.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Not the Duke’s Darling was published in 2018 and I picked it up because I saw the third one was coming out soon. Freya de Moray is a captivating character with a complex past. As a member of the secret order of Wise Women and the daughter of disgraced nobility, she has a strong sense of justice and a thirst for revenge against the Duke of Harlowe, the man responsible for her family's downfall. In the story, the Wise Women are being witch hunted by men called Dunkelders. When Freya and Christopher meet again at a country house party, Freya begins plotting her revenge, not knowing that the Duke is also entangled in his own struggles, including being blackmailed for his late wife's indiscretions. He is also suffering from some PTSD that comes out at different parts of the book.
The story unfolds with their intense connection, revealing layers of their past and the secrets that bind them. The development of their relationship from enemies to lovers is engaging and well-paced, making for a gripping read. The dark backstories of the characters add depth to the narrative, and the inclusion of Messalina's perspective enriches the plot, leaving readers eager for her story next.
The story delves into deeper themes of trust, forgiveness, and love. The emotional weight of their childhood friendship, fractured by tragedy, adds to the stakes as they navigate their feelings amidst danger and intrigue. I prefer to read a series book in order as it usually sets things up for the future. The pacing is fast, ensuring there's never a dull moment, there are a few spicy open door scenes that will leave you swooning.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It left me excited for the next installment in the series. Recommended for readers who are looking for a fun historical romance featuring childhood friends, mystery, and a compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamic. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

I had a difficult time getting through the first part of the book. I was a little confused by the Wise Women and the different titles of the women which weren't explained until much later in the book. This was also true regarding the story behind the Duke of Harlow and the scandal from when he was young. I enjoyed the relationship development of the main characters and felt the enemies to lovers storyline flowed well.

I really thoroughly enjoyed this book. My first Elizabeth Hoyt in many years (and possibly second ever) and I thought she absolutely brought it. Georgian-set romances aren’t as common as Regency era, so it’s a delight to come across, and the dark backstory of these collective characters was compelling and intriguing. It was interesting that Messalina got some POV time in this book, in addition to our main characters, so I’m even more looking forward to reading her story next.

The one thing I have to note is how tonally off this cover seems for this story. The bright sunshine, full faces, red dress— none of it fit with the story for me, and I was surprised when I realized how dark parts of the story are. The cover reads fluffy fun romance, and this is much more serious than that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the copy of this book to review!

Childhood friends separated by an event of epic proportions Christopher and Freya are given their chance at love much later in life.

This is the first book in the series and has to be read in order to understand the underlying plots and characters.

Freya de Moray works as a companion for a rich household. She is also part of the Wise Woman, who protect ancient secrets and way of living. During a house party, she bumps into Christopher, now Duke of Harlowe, who is being blackmailed for his dead wife's indiscretions. But secrets cannot stay hidden and a flame is kindle between Freya and Harlow. Can forgiveness, trust and love be enough for a hea?

Nicely written, and I read it as an audiobook. I liked the narration and the plotline.

#netgalley #NotTheDukesDarling

The first chapter is very fast paced, and the two main characters are introduced with a bang. It starts many years after the Greycourt tragedy that occurred when Freya Stewert de Moray was twelve years old. Freya is now twenty-seven, using Stewart as her last name and working as a companion to a wealthy family in London.

Christopher Renshaw who is now the Duke of Harlow was her oldest brother Ran’s friend. His change in personality from youth to man was dramatic making him a male character that was hard to love. He came across as having no heart.

As the storyline unfolds, and the layers are peeled away the reader will learn the sequence of this tragedy from both Freya and Christophers point of view. The author does a remarkable job in showing the reader the pain, sorrow, and anger suffered on all levels for the people who were impacted by that tragedy. The interweaving of the current day troubles with the past keeps the reader glued to the pages.

One thing that the reader will have to decide is can one forgive someone that one loved and trusted as a child many years later when you are both adults. For me the author’s telling of the story made it a clear choice.

You need to read this book! It's exciting, multi-faceted and memorable.

Not the Duke's Darling

4 stars for Ran and Freya!!

I enjoyed this book and I'm hoping that as more books release in this series we'll get to find out all the nitty gritty details of the Greycourt vs. De Moray family stories! I'm excited to see where Elizabeth Hoyt takes us!

Getting early access to the third book in this series prompted me to circle back and start the series from the beginning. I was instantly interested in the Georgian Era setting and intrigued by a female main character, Freya, who is acting as a secret agent, of sorts, for a secret society called The Wise Women. The male main character, Christopher, inadvertently gets involved in one of Freya's mission. Though they grew up together, he doesn't recognize her because their families were estranged after a tragedy. Over the course of the book, we learn more about this tragedy while the main romantic plot unfolds along with a few mystery subplots.

I enjoyed the investigations - The Wise Women are being hunted by another secret society and Parliament is primed to pass legislation to make witch hunting more public. Freya hopes to find blackmail material for the Lord behind the bill. At the same time, Christopher is being blackmailed with a former friend of his late wife's. Christopher is dealing with trauma from when he and his wife lived in India. Both Freya and Christopher are still trying to understand all that happened surrounding the family tragedy.

Despite all the subplots, the romantic storyline is the main one and it was great fun to see Freya and Christopher spar (literally) before he realizes that she's a childhood friend. This rivals to friends and then friends to lovers storyline moves quickly and is very entertaining. I can't wait to move into book 2, as one of the secondary characters seem ready to be in the lead role.

Fifteen years ago, tragedy separated three friends and their families. Freya Stewart still holds anger and thoughts of revenge for what happened to her brother. As a Wise Woman, it's her commitment to help other women in need. Her enemy is the Dunkelders, who consider Wise Woman witches. With her life in constant danger she has little time to fall in love, until she sees a man from her past, Christopher Crenshaw, the Duke of Harlowe.
Investigating the mysterious death of Lord Randolf's wife, Freya and Christopher come to terms with the past. Is it enough for marriage?
This is a fast paced, never a dull moment romance.
Very descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I did not love this one by Hoyt - she is a little hit-or-miss for me, and it's getting more difficult to be excited about historical romances set in Britain with an all-white cast.....

I wanted to try to get back into Historical Romance, but realized it's truly not my jam. While it was something I used to devour, this genre no longer holds any interest for me..

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I'm sorry I can't provide a review.

DNF @ multiple percentages.

Rating 1 star because NetGalley makes us leave a rating, this is not a reflection on the book itself.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (some might be a bit longer? Some felt light to me though)
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (about 2%)
Cliffhanger: No – the romance is a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes? But it’s just the ending of the sections of the story of The Grey Court Changeling which started each chapter, not of the actual characters.


Should I read in order?
I think yes – this is book 1 but a lot of things were established and set up in this book that will continue through the series so start here.

Basic plot:
When Freya is faced with her nemesis and cause of the downfall of her family at a house party, she begins to take her revenge.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian romance (1760)
- London and countryside setting
- childhood friends
- enemies to lovers (on heroine’s side)
- widower hero
- bit of mystery/secret identity
- duel
- revenge
- beloved pets – this was the first historical book (or any book) I’ve read that basically had a service dog
- claustrophobic hero
- medium steam – 4 full scenes but some felt on the lighter side

Ages:
- Heroine is 27, hero is ‘past 30’

My thoughts:
I didn’t hear the best things about this novel so I put off reading it forever. Maybe because my expectations were so low was why I ended up enjoying it!

It does have some darkness running through it and some plot events left unanswered for sure (and I’m not sure if the series will get finished so if that is a deal breaker for you maybe put off this series for now and see).

Christopher is our hero and he has some major flaws. But I love how he was able to admit that and become a better person from what happened. I thought he was really protective of Freya and really bared his heart to her to get her to forgive him.

Freya is so independent and determined. I struggled with her a bit with how long it took her to open up with Christopher. I know our heroines are always the ones giving to the heroes but my heart just ached with how badly Christopher wanted her to trust him and let him in and she held strong for most of the book.

This book surprised me with how emotional it was – I felt the angst so much in this, and I was aching during some of the scenes. Everyone talks about and loves Maiden Lane but I really enjoyed this one (And maybe it’s because I’ve only read 2 of the Maiden Lane series to compare so I don’t have certain expectations in my head?) I’m definitely eager to try the next one in the series after this.

It started off exciting enough. Freya was involved in kidnapping a baby to give him back to his mother. This should be good. Then it gets bogged down into Wise Women, witches, former friends, and her hatred of Christopher for his involvement in the downfall of her family when she was twelve. Christopher is being blackmailed over some letters in his deceased wife's handwriting. He and Freya end up at the same house party. She is under an assumed name hiding as a companion and he doesn't recognize her at first. Wise Women, witches, crows, hags. Even with elements of mystery, I couldn't stay interested.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this title, but my reading interests have changed. I will not be finishing this book, but look forward to others in the future.

Freya de Moray is a warrior woman. She has had a tragic past, and is living under an assumed name. Freya is part of a secret order of Wise Women and also serves as a chaperone for employment. She is also driven by vengeance for her brother, plotting to one day avenge the downfall her family suffered. To her great surprise, she spots the Duke of Harlowe while at a house party. Let the plotting begin.

Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe, has some plotting of his own in mind. He is being blackmailed and he is finally planning to put an end to it. But then Harlowe’s plans are derailed when he spots Freya at the party. Freya could be Harlowe’s very undoing, in more ways than one.

Although the premise was quite interesting, especially since Harlowe’s and Freya’s paths had crossed once before, the challenges they faced in this story were a bit distracting. The history of the Wise Women, Freya’s reasons for wanting revenge against Harlowe, and her methods prevented me from being as engaged in this story as I would have liked. Also, the whole Wise Women aspect, and the related practices, when relayed, were a bit off-putting to me.

That said, there was plenty of action as well as twists and turns to keep me riveted enough to want to see whatever resolution the various circumstances could lead to. Another interesting factor was that Freya and Harlowe had to fight intense feelings for one another, especially when they had impossible situations facing them. The conclusion was satisfying, and I do look forward to the next book in this series.

Not the Duke’s Darling is the first book in the Greycourt series. The next book is When a Rogue Meets His Match, scheduled for release July 30, 2019.

Many thanks to Forever for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This is the intriguing first book in the Greycourt series.
Freya is an interesting woman and her personality bot what you would expect.
She is living under a fictitious name, she is disgraced nobility, a member of the secret order of Wise Women and a chaperone.
You had better believe she is out for revenge, Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe is the man who destroyed her brother and led to the downward spiral of her family.
He has secrets, secrets he needs to never have told and because of that he's being blackmailed into attending a house party which he plans to attend and put a stop to all this nonsense.
It just so happens that delightful Freya de Moray is in attendance . He can't take his eyes off of her .
The author has made the story come to life and this is what I enjoy seeing in books!

Pub Date 18 Dec 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.