This book was cute and fluffy despite a wicked mother. The female main character reminded me of a human marshmallow in the best possible way and the male was a solid counterpoint.

No Other Duke But You was a fantastic read with a wonderful friends to lovers romance and an amazing group of side characters.

To avoid an unwanted match arranged by her mother, Lady Delilah Montebank sets her sights on the most eligible bachelor of the season, the Duke of Branville. The only problem? The Duke has no clue Delilah even exists. But Delilah isn’t one of the foremost matchmakers of the ton for no reason, so she comes up with a plan to win him over. However after a love potion Delilah intended for Branville is mistakenly given to her best friend, Thomas Hobbs the Duke of Huntley, Delilah realizes she needs a new plan pronto. What Delilah doesn’t know is that Thomas has been in love with Delilah for most of his life and sees this as the perfect opportunity to convince her he’s the Duke she needs.

Delilah is an incredibly caring person who enjoys helping make others happy. She does have her little quirks, speaking bad french at the most inopportune moments and being incredibly clumsy, but those quirks helped me enjoy her as a character. Delilah does have a mother who quite clearly dislikes her daughter and I felt for Delilah in the moments when her mother would berate her.

Thomas inherited his title quite early in life after his father passed away unexpectedly. But he took to his new position with ease and has excelled at running his family’s estates. I think Thomas was probably one of the nicest heroes I’ve read about in quite some time. The man never had anything bad to say about anyone, even when he was trying to come up with reasons to dissuade Delilah from her chosen suitor.

Delilah and Thomas’s friendship was easily the best part of their relationship in my opinion. The pair are so open and honest with each other, other than when it comes to admitting their feelings for each other of course. I loved that Thomas accepted Delilah for who she was despite the flaws Delilah thought she had. His support of her and his defense of her when her mother puts her down were wonderful. The build up in their relationship was well done and there were quite a few fantastic kissing scenes between them. Once their relationship finally does go further, it was quite steamy and I enjoyed it.

The event that brings most of the characters together in the book is a play Delilah and her friends are putting on for charity. The play was the perfect way to have couples from prior books in the series appear and it was wonderful getting to see some of my favorite characters again. One thing the author does really well is making each book in this series stand well on its own while still offering little easter eggs for readers of the other books. I love finding those little connections and it’s nice getting to see how well Delilah and Lucy’s matchmaking has paid off by having several couples in the same scene.

No Other Duke But You ended up being just as enjoyable as the rest of the series and I hope there will be more books in the series in the future. I highly recommend this series if you’re looking for a fantastic, and long, historical romance series.

A really fun, sweet romp! I really enjoyed this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I usually enjoy Valerie Bowman, but No Other Duke But You wasn't a winner.

I'm a total sucker for historical romances, and I read a lot of them. No Other Duke But You is the 11th in a series that I've read sporadically, and I think you can manage it as a stand-alone. There are a ton of previous characters mentioned, so you do get a leg up if you recognize some of them, however.

I struggled with this book, practically from start to finish. The female MC reads very young and immature, and I wasn't feeling her over-the-top spastic-ness. It was grating, and I found her to be painfully imperceptive. Also, both main characters felt very underdeveloped, and I felt like I was missing something (maybe something from a previous story).

The lack of communication was insane. I hate stories that rely on communication mishaps, and that is practically this entire story. I wanted these two to just act like adults with one another, and instead they acted like young teenagers. Everything would have been solved with just one conversation. Maddening.

Not the story for me, I'm afraid, which is too bad because I was looking forward to this one.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

A beautiful and riveting tale of friends to lovers. Delilah and Thomas had been friends for years, supporting each other through good and bad times. When Delilah rushedly promises her mother that she will finally made a match, Thomas thinks it's finally his time to woo her. But she'd set her sights on someone else. Now it's up to Thomas to best the matchmaker of the ton at her own game.
I truly enjoyed this book for one beautiful reason: both main characters are kind and good people that care for others (their friends, their families) and try to do good deeds to help others. I think it's wonderful to read about such characters and how they finally find love with one another. It's an interesting plot, full with tenderhearted and funny moments. I love rogues like any the next girl, but seeing Thomas being a non-rake that gets the girl was also very nice to read. They are both so wonderful to each other and they deserve all the happiness the author stored for them

What a cuteand sweet story. Delilah and Thomas were so lovely together. They have been best friends for a long time and all that time he was in love her. She needs to get married and a love potion was involved (no spoiler). I love those Friends to lovers story. The writing and pace of the book was flawless with just the right amount of passion between the leads.
I voluntarily reviewed this book provided by the publisher via Netgalley. All the opinions expressed are my own.

This was a great addition to the Playful Brides series. I loved the heroine, Delilah. She was funny, sweet, beautiful, & kind. Thomas was a great friend to her & also a Duke, handsome, kind, & funny. I highly recommend reading this story to see how their relationship plays out. It is well worth your time.

What a cute story.
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The one thing I like the most about this book was that it was fun. Not a lot of heavy stuff overhanging the story for the most part. Yes, there was some, but the author did a great job with structure and storyline to keep it lighthearted and entertaining.

When people grew up together it can be difficult to turn that corner from friendship to romance. The last thing we want is to lose a best friend. But when things are meant to be, they're meant to be.

This book included a great cast of characters that had a fun relationship. Matchmaking and generally enjoying themselves is a different approach than many of the other historical romances.

But I have to say it was a bit frustrating when Delilah refused to look at Thomas in terms of love. How could she not see he’s loved her forever?

Overall, this is an entertaining and lighthearted story. There’s a few moments where you wonder if it’s all going to work out. Plus, I love the addition of some hot and spicy moments that begs to have her open her eyes once and for all.

Wonderful, witty, and a little wild, No Other Duke But You is a sweet, satisfying, and entertaining read!

I had read a few books in this series, but coupled with a BFF to more story line and I was all in.

I really liked Delilah and Thomas. She’s caring and clumsy and he’s smitten and honorable. I enjoyed their easy relationship and loved the idea of them getting together. There are loads of other characters and I’m guessing they’re all from the previous books. I didn’t even attempt to keep track.

Plot wise, the first half of the story was cute, but once the love potion actually came into play, I started to lose interest. Especially when it was shared and there were multiple people running around in the same night. Once all of that happened, things moved so quickly and before I knew it, it was reading the epilogue.

Overall, it was the characters who kept me reading. I would have liked it a bit more fleshed out and a bit more chemistry between Delilah and Thomas.

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

Lady Delilah Montebank has enjoyed the last few years in society with her friends. They have been matchmaking couples and had some great love matches lead to happy marriages. This year however her mother has given her an ultimatum , she must find a husband for herself before her birthday or she will have to marry the son of her mother's gentleman friend.

Lord Thomas Hobbs, the Duke of Huntley has been good friends with Delilah for years. He has only been waiting for her to realise they are ment to be together.

This is a funny story. Our heroine is an absolute scatterbrain. She spends so much time trying to make things happen, she can't see what's in front if her. Our wonderful hero knows his woman well, but has he waited too long??

A very entertaining addition to a wonderful series.

I loved it.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is another addition to the Playful Brides series. This is Deliah’s and Thomas’s story. I have to say I wasn’t in love with this. Delilah was so annoying I just didn’t like her at all. She is was ridiculous. The beginning was just okay I did enjoy the end but not in love.

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

4.25*

Review will be posted at my blog, Romancing Romances, on May 2nd.



This book has one of my favourite tropes: friends to lovers. And, even though it’s my favourite, it’s a trope that it’s not easy to achieve. Sometimes it ruins the friendship, others it just doesn’t seem believable… But Valerie Bowman did it brilliantly.

I loved Delilah and Thomas. He was adorable, and she was just… adorable ahah. Delilah had a horrible mother, and her only support was her friends. And they became her family a long time ago. And I loved how the men got together to help Delilah – it was funny and sweet, at the same time. And Thomas, a perfect duke, but more than that a perfect friend: thoughtful, not pushy, always there when needed, caring, and funny.

I loved to read about everyone’s friendships, and all the mix ups with who was in love with whom, and how all the couples in the end got their happy ending.

It was entertaining, romantic, sweet, amusing, all the best things a book can make you feel. A great ending for the a great series.

Knowing how a story is going to play out doesn't detract from the story when it's well told. This tale is cleverly told against the backdrop of A Midsummer Night's Dream, complete with some of the madcap confusion that is a hallmark of Shakespeare's work. I laughed out loud when I realized just how ridiculous things had gotten overnight during this story. Of course, Shakespeare's characters in Dream are not nearly as complicated or sympathetic as the ones in Ms. Bowman's book, but the similarities are unmistakable.

Delilah and Thomas are irresistible, both having personalities that are exactly what you'd hope to find in a friend. Delilah’s mother is detestable and a strong and utterly believable explanation for Delilah’s lack of confidence. Her interactions with her mother make Delilah’s actions, which might otherwise be met with a roll of the eyes and an exasperated sigh, much more understandable. I highly recommend this book.

I liked the characters, but this book was just a little too “silly” for my taste. It was well written, but lots of characters made it difficult to follow. I skipped parts to get to the ending.

I really enjoyed Delilah and Thomas's story! They have been best friends for many years, but what Delilah doesn't know is that Thomas is in love with her. When she finally decides to consider marriage, Delilah has her eye on another. Thomas isn't about to let Delilah get away but he must figure out a way to let her know about his feelings without ruining their friendship. Can Thomas convince Delilah that she is the one for him?

I really enjoyed this latest addition to the Playful brides series. We have watched Delilah grow up throughout the series and it was nice to see her get her HEA!! I'm hopefully that Bowman is not done with this series as I have throughly enjoyed it!

I have read other books in this series, and for the most part enjoyed them quite a bit. Usually, there is enough background so that even if this is the first novel you're picking up it is easy to understand. However, I didn't feel like this was the case with this one - in fact, even having read some of the other novels, I will still very confused as to who some of them were.

The start of this story was perfect. Delilah and Thomas shared an easy sort of friendship that would have worked perfectly without all of the other trappings. I enjoyed their witty banter, even if there were times when Delilah acted so ditzy and yes brainless, that I wanted to smack her. Seriously, who just up and spits out the name of the most eligible Duke of the season as who she will marry without having even met the guy?

Around the middle, things start to slip a bit. It seemed a little far-fetched that anyone, most especially a Duchess (even an unconventional one like Lucy) would not only enlist her titled friends to perform in a play, but sell tickets to other members of the ton (even if for charity), much less entice unmarried members of the opposite sex to kiss onstage. That would be ruinous for the young lady, something that either the author didn't think about, or just didn't care. It was about this time the dreaded love potion was introduced.

A love potion. Ok, so I get that while they are performing a Mid-Summer Night's Dream, there would be some lark and they may have gotten a bit drawn in to the idea, but seriously? When you have numerous people out of bed in the middle of the night skulking around trying to use a love potion? It went from funny to straight obnoxious. And honestly? At this point Thomas and Delilah are just plain unlikable.

Delilah because she intends to use the potion on a man she's barely spoken a dozen words to, one who has approached her about helping him make a match with another lady, but I suppose his happiness doesn't matter one bit to Delilah. Nope, so long as she gets his ring on her finger to spite her mother, she doesn't care whose lives are ruined. And Thomas. Instead of merely pulling her to the side and admitting that he's been in love with her for years and wants her to choose him, he goes behind her back and switches room all to pretend the love potion worked on him? Good Grief. If he had known Delilah as well as he claimed to, he should have known exactly how that one was going to go.

Overall, I am sure that I will be in the minority in my thoughts on this novel. What I found annoying, others I am sure will find endearing. I would read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Lady Delilah’s mother has issued her an ultimatum. She must get engaged by her next birthday. If she isn’t, Delilah will be forced to marry her mother’s suitor’s son. Delilah sets her sights on the most eligible bachelor in Society. But she doesn’t know that her best friend, Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley, has his sights set on her. When Delilah buys a love potion to give to the duke, things go sideways. Will Delilah get the duke she wants? Or will she let the duke she needs slip out of her fingers?

The plot for No Other Duke But You was simple. Delilah had to marry within two months or get married to someone her mother picked out. This is a storyline that I have seen used over and over again. The author was able to freshen it up with memorable characters. Which I loved!!

The other major plotline was an interesting one. Thomas wanted Delilah to realize that she loved him. So, he decided to woo her. He also decided that she was going to use the potion on him. It was interesting to me because I hadn’t seen this done with a man before. So, it was interesting to see what a guy would have to go through to make the object of his affection fall for him. I liked it.

I loved Delilah. I connected with her on a personal level. I am that type of girl who drops food on my clothes, stumbles when I walk, and always says the wrong thing at the wrong time. I could see myself being besties with her. Her love of French, animals, Shakespeare, and pink roses were made a focal point in the book. What I didn’t like was her lack of self-esteem. Her interactions with that woman who birthed her (I refuse to call her a mother) hurt my heart.

I loved Thomas too. He couldn’t have been more perfect for Delilah. I could tell how he felt about her before this book. Ladies, listen up. How Thomas treated Delilah is how every woman should be treated. He loved her, faults and all. He supported her, even when she told him that she was trying to land a husband by her birthday. Of course, Thomas did have his issues. But, his issues were not the focus of the book. The author made it a point of letting the readers know that he turned himself around.

Delilah’s mother, I couldn’t stand. I have never disliked a fictional character more than I hated her. Everything she said to Delilah was disgusting. All I have to say is karma is a bitch, and she got hers at the end of the book.

I also would like to mention Lord Hilton’s son, Clarence. I felt terrible for him. It seemed like he was being used by his father like Delilah was being used by her mother. The couple of scenes he was in, I got a strong depression vibe from him. I mean, he stayed locked up in the house all day, with no personal interactions (other than the servants). His actions at the dinner only furthered that opinion.

No Other Duke But You was a perfect fit in the historical romance genre. The author did a fantastic job of keeping within the era it takes place. From the way the characters dressed to how they talked, it was a fit.

I loved that this book was a friend to lover romance. I liked that the author had the male in love with the female, instead of the other way around. It made for a refreshing read.

The sexual tension and chemistry were kept on the back burner until the middle of the book. The sparks started when Thomas and Delilah kissed. It stayed at sparks until they made out at the park. Then the sparks turned into flames.

I liked that the author had Delilah and Thomas’s sexual experiences towards the end of the book. If it had happened sooner, I fell that it would have taken away from the plotline. So, it was perfect the way it happened.

What I also liked was that Thomas was a virgin. I haven’t read a book where the main characters were both virgins. It made the sex scenes more poignant and sweet.

The end of No Other Duke But You was nothing short of amazing. I can’t get into what happened. All I will say is that it couldn’t be written better. I had tears in my eyes the entire last chapter, and my tears fell during the epilogue. All the storylines were wrapped up. There was no lag in the storylines. There were no dropped characters.

As I mentioned above, I cried during the epilogue. I cried because of what Cade said. I cried because this might be the ending of this series. I cried because I was an emotional mess after the last couple of chapters.

I would give No Other Duke But You an Adult rating. There is sex. There is no language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread No Other Duke But You. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review No Other Duke But You.

All opinions stated in this review of No Other Duke But You are mine.

Have you read No Other Duke But You?

What are your thoughts?

Friends to lovers romances?

Like them or not?

Let me know!!

"No Other Duke But You" by Valerie Bowman
A fun historical romance... I truly enjoyed my time with the characters in this story. They made me laugh, and made me a tad sad at times. There is some spice in the mix as well. I am thankful that I was gifted an ARC of this story by the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion... IF you like historical romance stories... YOU will like this story for sure.

I loved Delilah and Thomas both! I liked that Delilah was headstrong, I only wish she wasn't so wimpy around her mom and clueless about Thomas! I almost felt sorry for Clarence, but I'm glad most everyone got their happy ending. Thank you for the advance copy of this great read!

No Other Duke But You follows Delilah, a matchmaker, as she sets attempts her most challenging match to date, herself. Delilah has, in partnership with her best friend Lucy, could love for all of her friends. Now, to escape from having to marry her soon to be step-brother (ugh), she promises her mother she’s going to land the biggest catch of the season, the Duke of Branville.Thomas has loved Delilah forever. Claiming he’s not ready to settle down has allowed him to avoid his best friends match making skills. But he would settle down with Delilah, if only she would have him.

Because this was the first book I read in this series, I was overwhelmed by trying to keep all of the characters and their significant others straight. Not too mention that there were three couples being matched up in this book. It was hard for me to stay interested or connect with the main characters. I thunk others who have already been introduced to the other couples will enjoy this installment. For me, the book didn’t grab my attention enough to have me go back and read the series from the start.

I was gifted this arc from the publisher for my honest review.