A good addition to the Wilde books - I especially appreciate that neither one of them was stupid at the end and did something out of character - so much less stressful to read!

Viola has always felt like someone less than the Wilde’s since her mother married the Duke. Now that she is making her debut (& trying not to throw up in ballrooms), she meets a Vicar and a duke and must figure out what she wants from life. ARC from NetGalley.

Eloisa James has offered up another delight in this book! Devon and Viola are swoony and sweet and this book is a wonderful addition to The Wildes of Lindow Castle series.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book for the most part.
Devin is going to marry a duke's daughter. Viola is the stepdaughter of a duke. She is not a Wilde.
When Viola overhears Devin tell his uncle that he will marry her stepsister and insult her in the process she is furious. However once Devin meets Viola he knows she is the only one who he will marry. Even if she is in love with the vicar.
Devin's introduction really bugged me because he was so arrogant but he grew on me.
Viola's anxiety making her throw up on the other hand was irritating.
Overall, I liked the couple and the book.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

Eloisa James is one of the top historical romance authors. Oddly I haven’t read the others in this series but Say Yes to the Duke makes me want to!
Always a fan of her writing style and wit in her books - I loved how Devin and Viola meet! Plus added bonus of seeing how Viola blossoms throughly this book from being a timid wallflower...completely hooked!

I’m a little behind on this series (and by a little I mean I’ve only read book 1) but I still wanted to jump in and read this one. There’s something that seemed endearing about this cover and honestly, after reading it, that’s about how I felt about the book. SAY YES TO THE DUKE is the sweet and light hearted courtship of two lovable characters.

That being said, it was good but also a bit mundane. Nothing stands out about the plot, there isn’t a lot of drama or angst. It’s a great book if you want something quick to lift your spirits because it is a fun, entertaining book. A little sexy as well. But it could’ve used a little more “story”. Eloisa James is a talented writer and keeps the pace of this book steady throughout. I found it entirely enjoying to read almost in one day even if I wasn’t anxious to know what would happen next. Both characters, like I said, are lovable and had great chemistry and banter. It even made me laugh a bit.

Some aspects of the storyline could’ve been developed a little better. Viola struggles severely with social anxiety and it seemed a little too convenient how things seemed to be better for her after meeting her handsome hero that makes her at ease. I prefer stories where these things are realistically worked through or just don’t go away and they’re something to manage. Then there’s the issue of the vicar in this book. He’s engaged to a horrid woman but Viola wants him for herself at first. Seems everyone wants the vicar! But I wasn’t a fan of the fact that his engagement wasn’t respected by the other females in this book.

Overall, it’s a great light, fun and sexy pick me up kind of book. Most memorable? No. But I won’t mind going back and reading about the rest of the Wildes that I’ve missed out on.

Best of the series!

Stepdaughter to the Duke of Lindow, Viola Astley has never felt like a true Wilde despite her stepfather claiming her as his own. She’s painfully shy and has low self-esteem when comparing herself to the handsome, vivacious Wilde offspring. So when she overheard the Duke of Wynter disparaging her (and echoing her own thoughts) to his matchmaking uncle, she has no hesitation in cutting him down to size. Not surprisingly, the arrogant Duke finds her forthrightness refreshing, and soon his feelings for this “mouse” do a 180. This 5th installment of The Wildes of Lindow Castle is the best yet, weaving laugh out loud humor and the strident pronouncements of a shrewish villainess with a heartwarming romance between a lion and a lamb.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Loving this series from the start!

Fun with all the Victorian charm I’ve grown to love. Another steamy and sexy one I enjoyed and recommend this series!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the free copy. All opinions are my own

I absolutely adored this addition to James's Wildes of Lindow Castle series. Every additional title to this romantic regency series has been consistently better than the last. The whole Wilde family is delightful and their dynamics are as hilarious as their love stories are steamy. This is the perfect series to start for fans of Julie Quinn's Bridgerton family series.

This book was such a great feel good book! I love how the women in the book inspired each other to be themselves. One of the best woman fiction books I ever read.

I really enjoyed "Say Yes to the Duke." You can count on smart romance from Eloisa James, but I loved the setting of this one and how the plot revolved around identity and British Cycle Plays. Viola is a fantastic heroine. The romance with Deven is believable and gave me all the feels. I adore the Wilde family and am excited to read more of this series.

Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James is a fascinating novel. This historical novel contains a feisty lady who plays hard and a determined Duke wanting nothing but a particular woman. He won't let anything or anyone stop him from winning the lady's hand and heart. The characters' banters were fun to follow. I enjoyed this journey. Eloisa James writes well-crafted stories like this one that left me laughing and cheering along. Scandalous, charming, and entertaining this read is for all historical romance readers.

Boo! To me - for jumping into this fun series at the fifth book!!! Honestly, this is something I try to avoid doing because I have a thing for reading books in series order. Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James totally hooked me and now I have to read the other ones. Since I did it, it can totally be read as a stand-alone. The Wilde family are the celebrities of London during their time. Anyone that does anything in public it is published in the papers and postcards. They seem to fan the flames of the gossip mill.

This story is about Viola Astley. Her mother became the third Duchess of Lindow, and Viola was just raised in the Wilde nursery. Her stepfather and stepsiblings view her just as much a Wilde as any of them. This part of her background really affects her self confidence and contributes to her being so shy. She has put off talking to eligible men because they terrify her. However, there is a new vicar in town who is cute, nice and Viola does not get nervous talking to him. He is already engaged, but Viola still has a bit of a crush on him. She has been writing him notes and made arrangements to meet him during a ball in the library. Unfortunately, the Duke of Wynter was discussing what he was looking for in the perfect duchess for him and Viola and her sister Joan were part of the unflattering (and mean) conversation.

Viola told the Duke she would never allow him to marry her sister and blows him off. Of course, the Duke, Devin Elstan, is intrigued by this behavior. He can’t stop thinking about her because she stood up to him. Viola told Devin in no uncertain terms, that she was not interested in ever being a Duke’s wife. I loved getting to know Devin and Viola and as the story progresses, you begin to see how perfect they are for each other. The chemistry is definitely there and their personalities complement each other.

This is a well-written story with great characters. The dialogue and the setting held my attention and I enjoyed discovering how they would end up together. I’m also glad that I was introduced to a great new series and I have lots to read this summer. This is the perfect summer read!

3 - 3.5 Not Much Action but Some Humor Stars

This is another book I wanted to like more than I actually did. Sigh.

I tend to enjoy Eloisa James' books, but this one lacked action in the plot - not action in a steam level way, but action in general. Literally, there was very little going on aside from a "wedded by scandal" that wasn't overly scandalous and a play put on at a church which was apparently a sacrilegious thing to do at the time.

Miss Viola Astley is a member of the Wilde family by association -- her mother is the 3rd duchess, but Viola was already born when they married as her father passed away when she was very young. Thus, she was raised with the rest of the Wildes without possessing any of their genetics, and she feels it shows as she is the opposite of her step siblings and the rest of the family. The sister she is closest to is Joan who is only a little older than Viola, but while Joan is actually not a Wilde herself (her mother, the 2nd duchess, had an affair that resulted in Joan), she is more like them in personality and since the duke claimed her as his own, while her bastard status is known to all, no one dares speak of it or cut her as a result. While Joan is adventurous and vivacious, Viola much prefers to be a wallflower. Her past encounters with gentlemen have led to actual disaster - she threw up each time she was placed in a situation where she had to try to converse with a man she didn't know. Thus, hers and Joan's comings out were delayed a year to help Viola build confidence and find a way to stifle her gag reflex. Viola is certain it hasn't worked --- she can only hope she marries a man who is not in the public eye, or better yet - she never marries at all. But when a new minister comes to their town to take over the pulpit after the former minister passed away, Viola finds herself drawn to his easy-going nature, his good looks, and (best of all!) the fact that he doesn't make her want to puke! But he is affianced to a truly terrible woman, so he is technically off limits. And when she stumbles across the Duke of Wynter and he decides she is the right duchess for him, will she be able to resist his very determined efforts to woo her?

What I liked:
--- The characters were likeable, and they fit well together
--- There were a few funny moments scattered in
--- Closet scene (HOT HOT HOT - that is all I will say!)

What I didn't like as much:
--- There was soooo much exposition and description of EVERYTHING - if you like that in your HRs and appreciate accuracy with respect to the time period, etc, you will probably like that about this book
--- I needed something to happen. Anything. Seriously. Someone kidnap a baby or something to make me want to read on! (even the love triangle aspect lasted only a hot minute)
--- Much ado about the "incident" that keeps being brought up - not that uncommon for the time and not that bad in terms of the reaction

Overall, I liked the characters and I am interested to see what happens with Joan (mostly because it seems likely that she will get herself in a bind that will create some mystery/suspense/something), but there was just too much description and not nearly enough action.

Plot --- 3/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3.75/5
Violence --- none I can recall
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd

*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all

What a "weird" story, but in a good way!
Eloisa James is one of those authors that wrote a lot of historical romance books and most if not all of them are a success. This one had a bit different storyline, which is not bad at all, but I found it a bit unreal in that century!
Saying this... This spiked my imagination enough to love it!
A+++

This was the quirky, silly story that I needed in this stressful time. The Wildes of Lindow Castle series is not one that takes itself seriously, and I like that. I've enjoyed the prior books in the series (except for the 4th one, which I apparently missed, but will be soon remedied). I like the way Viola came out of her shell among Devin's almost instant devotion and her pet crow (of whom there was never enough). The secondary characters were perfect in their roles, but I really would have loved to see more of the secondary characters' romance.

Overall, a three and a half star read. I would have rated this a full four stars, but there was too much discussion of the fact that men's nipples exist for my preference.

Eloisa James' books are always lovely and enjoyable and this was no exception. Shenanigans and consensual sexytimes.

If editing is still on the table, I would suggest reducing the number of passages where the heroine belittles herself for not being “Wilde” enough for her clan. I see it being mentioned a few times to underscore her lack of confidence but it felt like a hammer over the head until I didn’t quite believe it anymore.

Also, how do you go from a heroine who is chaste and wants to marry the local vicar to her having sex in every way in every place she can find. It read more like erotica than a romance. Don’t get me wrong, I love a steamy book, but this felt like sex was filler for a plot that went nowhere. And in spite of all that lovemaking, there was little to no chemistry.

I’ll purchase bc if he author, but I won’t recommend it as heartily as other works by her.

A great romance! Say Yes to the Duke is one of Eloisa Jame's best novels. This would make a fun read for any vacation or stay cation this summer!