Valerie Bowman has done it again! Lady Delilah and Lord Thomas are firmly in the "friend zone." Thomas is madly in love with his best friend, Delilah. When she is finally pushed to secure a husband, Thomas isn't the person she considers. With the help of some new matchmakers, Thomas has to get Delilah to see him as a husband instead of a friend.

Mrs. Bowman writes a lively story with her trademark sense of humor. Although this novel lacks some of the intrigue and danger seen in the other novels in this series, it's enjoyable all the same.

This book was bittersweet as it is the last in a much beloved series by Valerie Bowman. No Other Duke But You lets us know that sometimes love is already staring us in the face.

Delilah, our heroine, has been a present character in these books since the fourth, and it was about time for her to get her own love. She is a matchmaker, more often than not, conspiring with Lucy Hunt for uniting their friends in love. This story begins with Delilah being handed an ultimatum by her mother, either she becomes engaged by her birthday, or else she will have to marry an unsightly, repugnant man. Thomas, her best friend, wants to be her someone. Kisses are stolen, potions are administered, and love prevails.

Our heroine is a bold, strong-willed, lover of love, and Thomas has loved Delilah since they were young. He has just patiently been waiting on the side-lines for her to be ready. These characters are beautiful and the story flowed wonderfully. I will forever and always recommend a Valerie Bowman romance novel.

This was a whimsical and fluffy addition to the PLAYFUL BRIDES series, which I admit, has been going on for quite a while. I jump into the series after every book or so though, and it’s really easy to get back into. There might be a bit more dialogue from extraneous characters from previous books, but overall NO OTHER DUKE BUT YOU provides a wholesome, heart-filled romance between two good friends.

There are some things that hindered me from enjoying the romance, fully. One is the fact that Thomas was passive towards Delilah for the majority of their lives. He really took her for granted until she started showing interest in another potential partner, and that interest was what galvanized him to start wooing him on his own. Of course, with the help of all these background characters that proved themselves extremely meddlesome. Delilah, on the other, was exceptionally dense with Thomas’s feelings (as well as the machinations of their friends) and it was a bit tiring keeping up with her antics, while watching Thomas follow her and try to convince her otherwise. Things got repetitive around the middle, and when I took a break with the book, I found it hard for me to get back into it.

I think NO OTHER DUKE BUT YOU would be better as a sweet read in one sitting, because it can be easily forgettable due to its overuse of historical tropes and cliches. On the other hand, I am weak for these cliches, and Thomas and Delilah both showed growth as characters overall, which made me ultimately enjoy the book. I would recommend it for readers following this series, and in general anyone looking for a romance read that’s a bit mindless, but nonetheless sweet and fun!

I absolutely loved this one! Such a fun friends to lovers romance. Witty and entertaining through out the whole read! I simply can't wait for the next one so I can devour it as fast as I did this one! Delilah is a always matching everyone else and now its her turn!

I do like romantic fiction books.
I do like cheesy and make me feel writing.
I do like dukes and duchess too!
But what I liked the most about this book, besides plot and characters is magic potions!
This book has all of that!
No Other Duke But You scored 4/5 for me and yes, I did like it!!!

I love the Playful Brides series. The story is about Lady Delilah Montebank wants to marry the Duke of Branville, but he does not seem to realize she exists. She decides to try a love potion on him. Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley is Delilah's best friend and thinks the plan is not a good idea. Also, she gave the love potion to Thomas by mistake so he knows it did not work on the Duke of Branville.
But maybe it is Thomas's chance to show Delilah that he loves her. I love the plot of this story it was very good. I really liked Thomas.

I liked this book. Loosely based on (and featuring a performance of) A Midsummer Night’s Dream, No Other Duke But You is fluffy and it’s fun. Valerie Bowman is a good writer and the ‘farce and folly’ vibe of Shakespeare’s famous comedy is well executed.

However, I didn’t like this book as much as some others I’ve read by Valerie Bowman. This is probably due more to personal preference than anything inherently wrong with this book. For me, the hiccup here was that the characters felt a bit…juvenile. Sometimes I felt like I was reading about the emotionally immature antics of teenagers rather than grow-up people. So many of the decisions made by Delilah and Thomas left me exasperated…like the wholehearted belief in the love potion? Come on, now. I would have liked a little more emotional meat, if you will. I’m an emotional carnivore.

Again, I don’t LOVE friend to lovers typically…so keep that in mind too. *shrugs*

But none of that is to say that I didn’t enjoy reading this No Other Duke But You. I did. If you are in the mood for romantic comedy of errors and something light and even a bit silly then this is a great choice.

Love, love, love this story. Thomas is the sweetest man. . When she gives her heart, you can't help but cheer for her. This is such a wonderful story...some incredibly sad parts. Looking forward to the next story...

It's the story of Lady Delilah Montebank and Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley, And a love potion. It's like a story out of one of Shakespeare's plays. She wants to marry another Duke who doesn't even notice her, doesn't even know she exists. Thomas doesn't want to get married, ever. But then he unfortunately ends up with Delilah's love potion.

A well written story you have to love!

No Other Duke But You ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Valerie Bowman

The constant dream of every young woman in a Historical Romance is to marry a Duke. Lady Delilah Montebank prompted by her mother to marry. If Delilah didn’t marry this season her mother planned to select a husband for her.

Delilah decides to tell her mother she has set her sights on the most eligible bachelor in the ton who happens to be a Duke.

Like most of us, we never see what is there before our eyes and look beyond. Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley her best friend since childhood is in love with her.

As this story emerges, our author has added some quirky aspects to it. I found so enjoyable.The love potion was priceless. Thomas saving himself for Delilah his true love if only he could make her see his love.

This was a sweet heartfelt story I would recommend.

Lady Delilah's mother orders her to marry. Since her mother is an overbearing shrew who has never loved Delilah, she obeys her and starts the husband hunting with her matchmaking friend, Lucy. The Duke of Branville seems to be a likely candidate. She doesn't love him but she promised her mother and doesn't want to disappoint her. Thomas, the Duke of Huntley and Delilah have been best friends for many years. He thinks the whole matchmaking thing is ridiculous as he never plans to marry. Delilah thinks maybe a love potion will help with her in her quest to meet Lord Branville. She has plans to give this potion to him, but it lands on Thomas instead. Now, what? Thomas seems to be in love with her. She knows it's the potion but she loves him, too. What can she do? She can go back and see if she can get an antidote. There is none. What will Thomas do when he finds out about the potion? I love Thomas and Delilah. They are fun characters and it's a great story. I received this book from Net Galley and St. Thomas Press for a honest review. The expressed are my own.

Lady Delilah Montebank has enjoyed six seasons of merry matchmaking for others but now her mother, who has zero faith in her, has decreed she must marry. If Delilah can't make a better match before her 23rd birthday, she'll be forced to marry the portly and dull earl's son who her mother believes to be the best Delilah can hope for. Delilah is determined to prove her mother wrong and make a better match so she sets her sights on the catch of this year's season, the Duke of Branville, except he's hardly even aware of her existence. She's not worried though; she's charming enough, notorious matchmaker Lucy Hunt is her best friend, and her cousin has found an elixir of love she can use to further her cause.

Lord Thomas Hobbs, the Duke of Huntley, finds his best friend Delilah's crusade for the Duke of Branville to be preposterous. Thomas was forced to grow up very quickly and take over the responsibilities of his dukedom at a young age, but he's been a great success. Extremely loyal, Thomas values his friendship with Delilah above all else and doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize their relationship; moving their friendship to the next level must be her own idea, or at least she needs to think it's her idea. He's always been adamantly opposed to the lifelong commitment of marriage, but that's only because he's been waiting for Delilah to be ready to see him as more than a friend. When Delilah accidentally gives him her love potion, he thinks this may serve as the perfect excuse to confess his true feelings for her.

Naturally, when Delilah's friend Lucy suggests matchmaking Thomas with this season's diamond of the first water, Delilah finally begins to notice him as a man. But in typical flighty heroine fashion, she attempts to quash these feelings; she longs for her mother's approval and she promised an engagement to the Duke of Branville, specifically. And yet, as other ladies flock to her very eligible best friend, Delilah finds herself dealing with a new emotion: jealousy, which Thomas notices and hopes to use to his favor.

Delilah is so big-hearted and it was so frustratingly relatable to see her mother's treatment of her and lack of faith in her. I just wanted to beat Delilah over the head and get her to open her eyes to the lovely man who's been by her side all along. She was very immature, especially for her age and her single-minded focus on a man who was clearly not interested in her, whilst ignoring the man who was perfect for her, was just so cringeworthy and frustrating. For much of the time, I was just thinking Delilah didn't deserve Thomas and yet I could see why he was drawn to her and her caring nature. Also her random slips into French were annoying and didn't make much sense.

This was quite a whimsical book with the characters trying to make matches to all the wrong people, very much similar to the play they are putting on, though they of course do not notice the similarities themselves. It's all very much a farce with many oblivious characters but of course it all works out in the end. It just takes a very long time to get there and while it was entertaining and amusing at first, I began to lose patience with it after a bit and wanted everyone, especially naive Delilah, to just get on with it. It's yet another plot driven much by the lack of or poor quality of communication, also not quite as significantly as many of the books I've read lately. It's not your typical historical romance, but more like a romantic comedy, and much of it was at least whimsically amusing before I began losing patience and finding it tiresome. I enjoyed it, but I definitely wish Thomas and Delilah got more time to actually be together.

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

Why doesn't Thomas just tell Delila that he has loved her forever in the beginning? I guess I should be glad that he didn't because then the book would have been over in two pages. Because, No Other Duke But You, was so much fun to read. I would have been disappointed if it were over sooner.

I absolutely enjoyed Thomas and Delilah 's story. The author has great characters with entertaining story line that will keep you are what is next to come.

Thomas the Duke of Huntley has been best friends and in Love with Delilah since they were young and has always planned on her being his ducheses when she was ready. But Delilah thanks of Thomas as her best friend and when her mother will pick a husband for her she is set her sights on another Duke. This makes Thomas realize he must move quickly to prevent the women he loves from marrying another and to have her realize she loves him.

This is a fun read and you will enjoy Delilah's skeems.

I received this book from net valley for an honest review.

No Other Duke But You is the eleventh and final book of the Playful Brides series. It was a wonderful story! It's a friends to lovers tale with a mix of humor and Shakespeare. Delilah is a character that is full of life, but due to her mother's remarks and snide comments, she feels inadequate. It is until her mom threatens her to marry her off that she decides to finally marry. Delilah has played matchmaker for some time now and, due to her mother's manipulation, has decided to find a match for herself by her birthday. Thomas, Duke of Huntly, is her best friend and has loved her for a long time. He decides to "help" her get engaged to someone else. Thomas was a very sweet hero. He was always there for her. He tries to make her see that she is wonderful as she is and that she does not have to change to please her mother. Delilah decides on who she wants to marry, while putting together a play for charity, Thomas is determined to show her that he is her ideal match. I enjoyed reading as Delilah slowly was beginning to learn that she reciprocated those feelings too.
This story had humor and twists and turns of characters that were being matched with people who they were not compatible with. A love potion is used by Delilah. She mistakenly uses is on Thomas and therefore does not believe him when he confesses his love for her. The moments between them were sweet and it was nice to see Delilah accept who she is and that it's okay to be a little clumsy and outspoken. That there is someone out there who believes being clumsy and outspoken adds to your character.
Great story and I highly recommend. The cover of the book matched the personality of both Thomas and Delilah. Very sweet and funny!

A captivating historical romance with a well written story. I really enjoyed the book. I give it A solid A

Delilah and Thomas have been friends since they were children. She is a Lady and he is a Duke. Their friendship has lasted so long because they are both intelligent, they have varied interests, and they laugh at the same things.

Now Delilah's mother has forced her hand. Delilah's mother is a hateful woman who has never had a kind word for her daughter. She plans to marry and she has determined that because Delilah is not married, she will force her to marry a lumpy young man with no intelligence nor a personality.

Delilah foolishly promises her mother that she will get a marriage offer from the Duke of Branville. The fact he barely knows she is alive has no bearing on anything. Delilah has acted as a matchmaker and she is determined to make her mother recognize that she is not worthless. She feels she must prove herself.

This is a fun story. A play is being put on by the upper crust for charity. The play is A Midsummer Night's Dream. All of these best people are devoted to doing well in the play and entertaining attendees.

Various characters in our story are pursuing the wrong people. There is a love potion with rules attached. People are getting into the wrong sleeping chambers.

All in all, there is a great deal of laughter attached to this story.

Delilah is careless about some things, but never about people. She is very conscious of being kind to people. She is thoughtful, even if those people are possibly going to cause her plans to go awry. It is evident that because her mother has been so very hateful to her, she is aware of how words can cause pain. She is also bright and funny and lovely.

Thomas became a duke at a very young age. He had to leave school in order to take charge of the family estates and investments. He has always felt that he is lacking because of his limited education. But, he has been an avid reader, and his knowledge is quite extensive. He has a good sense of humor, a quick wit and a very considerate nature. He has also loved Delilah for most of his life.

This is part of a series but it works as a stand alone read.

The reader is introduced to characters from past stories. Relationships and situations are touched upon so there is no feeling of being lost. The past relationships and situations help explain Delilah's and Thomas' place among their friends. Both of them are well loved as well liked.

I enjoyed this book very much. Ms Bowman has created a time and place populated by likable characters, humorous situations and feelings of warmth and friendship.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

This is the 11th book in the series. It’s about Delilah and her best friend the Duke. Delilah is known for her match marking skills along with her very good friend Lucy. Together they think they have the matches all figured out until it all goes wrong! I loved Thomas. Great book wonderful series.

I laughed so much reading this book! I love Delilah, she is such a character. I started the book late at night then had to keep reading until I finished it in the early morning hours. I loved seeing the couples from the other books showing up in this one. I am looking forward to Valerie Bowman's next book!

**4.5 Stars**

You love her
But she loves him
And he loves somebody else
You just can't win
-Love Stinks, The J. Geils Band


Lady Delilah Montebank has lived under the tyranny of her abusive mother since her father passed away. Now she has been given an ultimatum—she must secure a betrothal by her birthday or be forced into one of her mother’s choosing. Desperate to please her mother, she announces that she will make a match with the most eligible bachelor in London, the Duke of Branville. Now she must get her matchmaking friend, Lucy, to help her plot how to achieve the task set forth before her.

Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley, has secretly been in love with his best friend Lady Delilah since they were teens. Delilah has always been by his side, and they have shared many an adventure. Since the day she offered comfort during the loss of his father, they have formed a loving friendship that has grown stronger over time. But it is the thought of losing their friendship that has kept Thomas from declaring his feelings. When Delilah announces she intends to get the Duke of Branville to offer a proposal of marriage, Thomas sets out on his own matchmaking mission to get Delilah to see him as a lover rather than just a friend.

No Other Duke But You is a comedic friends to lovers romance that had me laughing and cheering for these two to finally get together! After all, what could possibly go wrong at a country estate with everyone running around attempting to douse love potion on their intended?

While this is the 11th installment in the Playful Brides series, it may be read as a standalone. Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend!