This story was good but I just couldn't seem to connect with the main characters.

I still recommend this

Wrexham, Duke of Elsmore, has come to realize that his personal finances are a mess and he needs help to figure out if there is any wrongdoing going on or just sloppiness in his ledger books. He turns to a fellow duke who has the best auditor around, Eleanora Hatfield, and asks to temporarily borrow Mrs. Hatfield as he tries to puzzle out the mess of his ledgers. Eleanora objects to the assignment, but in the end, she agrees to help for two weeks. Can Eleanora figure out what's going on with the duke's finances without losing her heart to the handsome duke?

I'm so conflicted about this book because I usually love Ms. Burrowes' books. I rounded up to 3 stars because while the topic wasn't interesting, the writing was well done. However, this book was so boring with all the accounting and auditing talk and I almost stopped reading. It wasn't until 3/4 of the way through the book that Rex and Eleanora even kissed! It wasn't hard to figure out who the culprits were, but *how* they were stealing was inventive. While this isn't my favorite book, I'm looking forward to the next book.

4.5 stars

Wrexham “Rex” Dorset, Duke of Elsmore, suspects there is something very wrong with his finances. Any hint of impropriety will be a death knell for his bank and his reputation. Since Elsmore has also decided that it’s about time he started to look for a wife, it’s even more critical to put his house in order now, before marriage settlements cause attorneys to scrutinize his ledgers and find discrepancies. Elsmore’s fellow duke, Walden, also owns a bank, and has an auditor whose stellar reputation is known throughout the industry. Elsmore asks his friend to temporarily lend him the services of Mrs. Hatfield to unravel his mess.

Eleanora “Ellie” Hatfield has worked hard to earn her reputation, and she has no desire to perform any tasks for someone outside of her own bank. She especially has no desire to keep company with another duke. However, she can’t refuse when her boss requests that she meet with Elsmore, have a preliminary look at his records, and advise him. Ellie soon sees that there is definitely a problem, and chances are that it’s very close to home. Though unwilling, her own nature causes her to reluctantly agree to help Elsmore.

Ellie is a bit of a curmudgeon. Her dislike of peers stems from a betrayal by an earl years ago which upended her whole family, taking them from respectable to having to survive literally on the streets. Though Ellie admits she might admire the duke’s form, she has no need for sweet talking, charming men. She soon learns that Elsmore is genuine, not just superficially charming. He offers her every courtesy that he would show a lady of the ton, he’s honest and caring, and he cheerfully supports a seeming multitude of relatives.

When they are forced to retreat from town to one of Elsmore’s outlying estates to complete the investigation of his books, Ellie decides to indulge the attraction she’s begun to feel for this outstanding man. While Elsmore is just as eager, he’s not looking for a temporary affair. He’s found a lovely and intelligent lady, one who has a mind of her own and isn’t afraid to stand up to him. He’s found the woman he wants to be his duchess.

I love Elsmore’s character – he’s a genuinely good man who wants to do the right thing. He has no qualms about Ellie being not good enough for him. To him, a lifetime spent with her is worth any gossip or fleeting scandal. But Ellie is determined to not destroy the duke’s life and reputation. He doesn’t know that she’s keeping another secret, one in which a member of her own family has wronged him. He is persistent, but Ellie is resistant.

I always find it so sad when someone close betrays another, especially when that person has been nothing but good to them. When the disloyalty is brought to light, it’s just another burden that Elsmore must bear. His strength of character carries him through, and allows him to win his reluctant lady love. FOREVER AND A DUKE is a warm and charming read, with a strong and unusual heroine and a swoonworthy hero. Though part of the Rogues to Riches series, this book easily reads as a standalone. For those who have read book one, you’ll enjoy the glimpses of Quinn (Walden) and Stephen, whose book I eagerly await. I recommend FOREVER AND A DUKE to historical romance fans who prefer character depth and an unusual plot.

There's something odd going on with the Duke of Elsmore's books. There's money missing and it will take a brilliant mind to find out where it's gone due to the expanse of the Duke's holdings and family. That brilliant mind just happens to belong to Eleanora Hatfield. Ellie likes her routines and being by herself. She has family secrets that would ruin her reputation and those she associates with like the bank she works for.
Wrexham, Duke of Elsmore, needs to keep the fact that he's noticed irregularities in his ledgers and accounts a secret or it could reek havoc in the Dukedom. This means that Rex and Ellie have to work secretly together in order to find the problem and the person(s) responsible. Forced proximity results in getting to know each other better whether they want to or not. Ellie tried her best not to fall for Rex but it was inevitable.
I found this story a little hard to get into at first, but as soon as I did, I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to know what would happen between these two characters that I had grown to love and find out who was responsible for the embezzling. What it an employee or someone in the large ducal family?
I have not read the first two books in this series but I'll be going back to read them. It will enlighten me a bit on some of the side characters in this story. It can be read as a standalone but if you're like me and want to know every detail of side characters, you might want to read the previous books first.

Grace Burrowes always delivers the goods! This was a well written, superbly constructed romance. The chemistry between Rex and Ellie was pure magic. Rex is a charming duke and Ellie is a wizard with numbers and forensic detecting Regency style. Ellie does her best to fight her attraction to Rex but she can't seem to help herself. She knows in her heart that there is no future in their relationship, for she comes from a scandalous background and he is an aristocrat.

I liked this book, so much that I read it in two days. But I must confess to not reading the included Kelly Bowen novella. I just did not have the time but I hope to get back to it. I can recommend highly this book on the merits of the full length Grace Burrowes part. Wonderful story!

Have you ever read an author that just grabs you, so that you become an instant fan? That is what happens to me with Grace Burrowes. My usual genre is suspense romance, but I had the opportunity to read on of Grace's books a few years back, and I was hooked. FOREVER AND A DUKE is the third novel in the Rouges to Riches series. It is interesting to me how different the rules were back in the Regency period. Most never moved above their station in life. Our heroine, Elenora, is an exception to that rule. She is smart and learned to use her talents with numbers to create a better life for herself. Our hero, the Duke, has too many people to care for and someone in the family can't be trusted! The suspense builds as Wrexham turns to Elenora for help. The story leads us in many directions as they try to determine who the thief is. I love that the author allows us to visit the characters from the previous novels in the series, as they continue their stories. This book is full of romance and suspense, and will keep the reader engaged all the way to the end. Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy.

Forever and a Duke has an interesting plot but was brought down by excessive detail and a somewhat boring execution regarding the storyline. It took a solid 30% for me to get interested in the story and then it ended at the 66% mark on my kindle. Although I liked the main characters, I found myself more drawn to some of the others such as Jack and Stephen. This was my first Grace Burrows book and I’m not sure I will read another. Due to the two star review, I will not be leaving a review elsewhere.

Wrexham (Rex) Dorset, Duke of Elsmore is a loving but clueless son, nephew, brother, cousin to his very large family. He loves them all – especially his mother, sisters, and the aunties. He delights in seeing to their welfare and they delight in managing him. He’s noticed some discrepancies in some of his books and has become concerned. His holdings are vast and far-flung and since it is time for him and his sisters to wed, he needs to assure that all is in order. He’s heard that his friend and fellow bank owner, the Duke of Walden has an auditor that can spot an error in a column of figures at fifty paces away – during a rainstorm. So, it is natural for him to ask – nay – beg – for the loan of that auditor to go over the estate’s books.

Eleanora Hatfield has a past – and she does her very best to keep it deeply buried. Life has not always treated her well and she wants – needs – craves – respectability above all else. She’s worked hard to become the well-respected woman she is today. She has a knack for figures and spotting patterns – and she knows every possible con and scheme that can be used to defraud someone. To say that she is invaluable to the bank that employs her would be a gross understatement. So, just imagine her unhappiness and distress when her employer asks her to take on the task of auditing all of the Duke of Elsmore’s accounts. She is not a happy camper and wastes no time telling both Elsmore and Walden. However, she is beholden to Walden for giving her employment when no one else would hire a woman to do what she does – and Walden is beholden to Elsmore – so – there is no way out of the task.

Rex can’t help but admire the feisty, outspoken, confident, straight-forward, no-nonsense, diminutive woman who is asking more and more probing questions about his holdings and his books. Her insight and intuition about what is happening are awe-inspiring and he is more and more curious about her. As he asks questions of his own, he manages to get her to let things about her past slip out – and she intrigues him even more.

Poor Rex was desperately smitten early on and Eleanora was smitten as well, but she was determined to hold Rex at arm’s length. She knew there was no future for them – he was so very far above her station. Rex definitely had his work cut out for him when it came to convincing her they could have a future together.

I always love a good mystery to be included with my romances and this one had a nice mystery. It won’t be much of a challenge for you to figure out who the culprit(s) are, but it is great fun to see Rex come to terms with who it is and what he is willing to do about it.

This was a fun read and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wrexham, Duke of Elsmore, suspects that someone is embezzling from his accounts, but with so many holdings, he is unsure how to go about ciphering out the culprit. Knowing he is over his head, he seeks the help of friends at a neighboring banking institution and is amazed when their solution is offering the talents of their own auditor…one that just happens to be one of the most beautiful and smart women he has ever had the pleasure to meet. But will he be able to convince her to assist him before everyone in London discovers his failures.

Eleanora Hatfield has fought to have a steady job and income with one of the most sought-after banking institutions. Her quickness in sums and figures has gained her a solid reputation in auditing, so when she is asked to assist a Duke with determining who is stealing from his accounts, she agrees, but only on her terms…and never did she dream this endeavor would lead to the possibility of friendship…love…and so much more.

Rex and Ellie start their journey to happily ever after in one of the most unlikely of situations, and with each day and each turn of the ledger page, their comradery and friendship grows into something beyond what they could have ever planned.

Forever and a Duke is a well written regency romance, but…I just couldn’t seem to form a connection between Ellie and Rex. Perhaps it is that I have zero interest in math and/or auditing procedures, and that aspect of the story just didn’t interest me. The mystery as to who was stealing from Rex dragged on to the point, I started skimming pages just to get to the end, and by that time, I really didn’t care. Again, this plot was just not to my liking, and I’m sure there are readers out there that will adore these characters! If you are a reader of this genre, I would recommend you give it a try.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Eleanora Hatfield has secrets in her past. Wrexham, Duke of Elsmore, has more family to take care of than he wants. He also has someone stealing from him. Enter Eleanora who understands figures and is tasked to help him find out where the money is going. The two should have nothing in common but of course the more time they spend together the more the attraction. This has it all. Some mystery, interesting side characters, romance and tension all wrapped up in a great story. Nice addition to the Rogues to Riches series.

The second in Burrowes' latest series, which involves the Wentworth and Penrose bank--and the dukes with which it is associated--lives up to the charm of the first. Eleanora comes from a family of forgers and petty thieves, yet through dilligence and strict (and restrictive) rule-following, she has become the renowned auditor of the Duke of Wentworth's bank. The Duke of Elsmore, who runs a competing bank, has discovered discrepancies in his own books. To keep his own establishment safe from gossip, he hires a reluctant Ellie to help straighten out his personal finances. Though this sounds boring, it is addressed in a fun though occasionally frustrating manner. The Duke and Ellie dance around the finances quite a lot throughout the story, though ultimately, Ellie's hard-luck relations contribute the real truth behind Elsmore's misfortunes. In the meantime, the accountant and the Duke find out just how refreshing it is to share one's innermost secrets--even if it is by necessity. For two people quite accustomed to people caving to their every word, the discovery of another just as powerful presence is eye-opening while being an engaging ride for the reader.

This was such a great addition to the Rogues to Riches series, though you definitely don’t need to have read the previous books to pick up this one. I was a little disappointed at first because I was expecting this installment to be about another member of the Wentworth family, but then I got to know Eleanora, and I was beyond thrilled to be reading her book. She’s so prickly and beyond competent at her job, and she desperately needed to fall in love. I’m so glad it was with Elsmore, who was an excellent match for her.

It’s sad that I’m saying this, but it was a refreshing change for Elsmore to know he wanted to marry her right away and never even entertain the thought of trying to make her his mistress. That was one of the things I hated so much in An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn, Benedict’s book in the Bridgerton series. He was convinced Sophie was too far beneath his station and kept harassing her to be his mistress despite knowing how much hurt it had caused her to grow up as an illegitimate child, and he was the second son of a viscount. And this book is far from the only example. Elsmore is not only a duke, but he cited numerous times that other dukes did whatever the hell they wanted and showed how his upbringing would help him ease their way into society. I loved it, and I’m so glad that wasn’t the obstacle to their HEA.

All in all, I thought this was a really dreamy read, and I loved every minute of it. It’s a much different style of writing than I normally see in historicals, and it gives me more of an old fashioned vibe even while the content is still very modern. I did notice that the sex scenes seem to be dialed back a lot from the first book in the series, which is odd, but the characters are still wonderful, and I loved getting to see more of Stephen in this book. I seriously can’t wait for him to get his own story!

One plus one usually adds up to two… but when you add in a very extended ducal family on one side along with schemers and outcasts on the other, how can the columns ever add up???

Eleanora Hatfield is comfortable with numbers. Numbers make sense. Numbers don’t lie. Eleanora has used her innate skill with numbers to create a comfortable life for herself. As the Auditor to one of London’s most reputable banks she is comfortable. Wrexham, the Duke of Elsmore is about to come in and alter her life in a. Way she never could have calculated.

Wrexham is not comfortable. He is overrun with family and obligations. He loves his family and will do anything to see them well situated. In order to complete this he needs to sort out his family finances… too bad all his ducal training never taught him how! It’s time to get an expert. Wrexham enlist the skills of Mrs. Eleanora Hatfield to put his house in order. Who could have guessed the while ordering and setting his financial house she managed to create a place for herself.

Can love bloom over abacuses and ledgers?

This delightful tale is the third in the Rogues to Riches series. This story includes familiar characters but it definitely can stand alone. I alway enjoy reading about smart women and a mathematical savant assisting a humble duke was great fun to read!

Forever and a Duke by Grace Burrowes is scheduled to release November 26th, 2019.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ForeverAndADuke #GraceBurrowes #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

Beautiful and fun and heartbreaking. Ellie is wonderful and Rex truly deserves her. A joy to read with one of the most satisfying endings I've read in recent memory.

When the Duke of Elsmore needs help sorting out his household and bank's accounts, he borrows an auditor from his fellow duke's bank. Eleanor Hatfield knows fraud intimately, because she comes from a family of fraudsters, embezzlers, pickpockets, and thieves. She has gone straight, but lives in fear of being caught up in her family's crimes. The two of them argue and bicker their way into an understanding of his accounts and find themselves in love along the way. But nothing is as simple as it seems.

Another charming regency-era love story from the always reliable Burrowes.

The bonus novella by Kelly Bowen is okay but unnecessary.

I've been eager to read Grace Burrowes for quite some time, so I was excited for the opportunity to read Forever and a Duke.

The synopsis checked multiple boxes for me. Smart, observant heroine. Potential scandal. Borderline enemies to lovers. A duke with a bunch of meddling female relatives.

Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. I didn't feel any connection between Ellie and Rex for most of the book, and by the time I started to, the book was almost over.

Also, the mystery aspect of the story was extremely slow-moving, to the point that I started skimming so I could get to the good stuff. When the mystery finally picked up, I did enjoy it, but again, due to the slow buildup, it was short-lived.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

I loved Elenora and and Rex's story. They both had issues that the other could help them with. I also loved the fact that he fell in love with her first! This book was great. I can only hope Jack gets a story too.

This author writes love stories for the ages and this book is definitely one of those stories. The brave, courageous and super smart heroine, Eleanora who is forced to help out the kind, charming but a little oblivious to his reality, hero, Wrexham, Duke of Elsmore in finding fraud in his ducal holdings and bank. As Eleanora starts an audit of Elsmore’s books, he starts falling for the fiercely smart Eleanora but she tries to keep her distance due to her complicated past riddled with secrets. Now, as they grow closer, they both need to figure out what is most important for them, stay safe or take a risk and hold on to a love that will never be found again. I will definitely recommend this beautifully written romance. On a side note, I really want Jack, Eleanora’s cousin to get a HEA. The part of the book where he goes to Eleanora for help when he is on the brink of destitution but wanting to find honest work, made me tear up and I want him to get his own story that ends in happiness. I hope the author writes him his own story too.

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

I quite enjoy reading Grace Burrowes novels, and this one was no exception. I always appreciate the care and concern the hero and heroine have for each other, and their friendships also seem full of that. I really appreciate seeing people help out their friends and family and love them, it's nice to read about. I felt like the ending was a little bit rushed. It just kind of ended. I often feel that way about Burrowes novels though.

This book also had a novella in it by Kelly Bowen. I think I had read it before. I might have even received it from NetGalley. If I am mistaken and it is a new novella, it is very similar to another story she has written. Either way, I enjoy the story, and hope more people read it, and continue to read the series it's connected to.

I like this because the couple is more mature in personality than the usual romantic couple. They don't spend the entire book denying that they are in love. Eleanora knows more about numbers than Rex, and that is a refreshing change. The relationship develops with both being strong characters having real dilemmas that need to be overcome to find lasting love.