Never Doubt a Duke by Maggi Andersen is the first offering in her new Never Series. Nellie is to be betrothed to the Duke of Shrewsbury. She has never met the man but she has read about him in the gossip columns...and none of it is good. Then she meets him and all is lost. He is handsome. He is genial. He is kind. She decides to give him a chance. He fell for her as well. Then the trouble started: his mistress approached her on the street. She had with her a son! She was no longer sure of him. After the wedding her feelings got more unsteady. He begged, but she was never able to tell him why she had become so standoffish. It was early in their marriage, but they were barely speaking.

Andersen does a good job, both with plot and with characterization. She has a knack in making you feel in sympathy with opposing characters...there are always two sides to the story. The romance is hot. The emotions are heartbreaking. She writes endearing characters. For the readers of historical romance, she can't be beat. For others, give her a shot. It might be a new beginning. I recommend you try.

I received a free ARC of Never Doubt a Duke from Dragonblade through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #neverdoubtaduke

Never Doubt a Duke
Life, Death, & All the messiness in between, This Book has it All!!!
Author Maggi Andersen wants you to Never Doubt her Duke and believe me you won’t be let down by him, her writing, or the outcome of the book!
Bullying & innuendo with deception keeps Charles, the Duke of Shrewsbury busy trying to uphold his honor while he is trying to get rid of a mistress, defend a friend, beat off potential lovers, and trying to woo a bride Lady “Nellie”! Sounds to me he would have to have a Superman Powers! 😂
During all of this craziness of course everyone is perpetuating shenanigans and Lady Nellie instead of listening to the advice of her sister Lady Marian of course like we are all known to do in our young lives she lets supposition cloud her mind and those bullies with razor sharp harpy tongues edge out the voice of reason!! She gets mad and makes accusatory remarks and the Duke who believes his honor should not be impugned goes on his own tirade!!
It’s these life journeys that the author adds within the book that gives such sage advice and sound reasoning and the comical side flutterings she infuses within the pages add even more to the characters and the book! This book will make you laugh and you may even see tidbits of yourself as a young newlywed or dating couple! The mistakes we make and the people we let influence us , but we all hope as this author who has written a cohesive book opened the eyes of our world to look beyond what’s in front of it and listen to reason & forgive and pray for a HEA! (Happily ever after)
I was given a copy from Netgally but this is my own personal opinion and definitely my own words!!! Enjoy your book and this author she has many more great books!!

Beautifully written, emotional and romantic, this novel hit all the right notes for me. Having been promised in marriage to a Duke she had never met, but only read about in the scandal sheets, Lady Nellie realises that she needs to do her duty for her family's sake, but she has no intention of having her heart broken a second time. Charles, the Duke of Shewsbury, was thrown over by a woman he thought he loved in favour of someone who seemed more auspicious at the time. However, faced with Nellie's gentle charm and kind heart, the memory of his past quickly fades in favour of winning her over. Charles has a commanding presence throughout the plot and his sense of responsibility towards those under his care makes him a wonderful hero. Nellie is a woman one can easily identify with and as she learns to trust Charles, her damaged heart once more opens to the possibility of love. This novel is easy to read and interaction between the various parties makes it interesting and held my attention. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Lady Nellie Dountry, and Charles, Duke of Shewsbury have had their hearts broken in the past. Neither is prepared to chance love again. When they are compelled to marry because of an agreement made long ago by their fathers, they are both determined to resist falling in love. Convinced that it’s mere desire, which draws them together, both are surprised by their jealousy.
A well written series starter that drew me in from the start. I loved both Charles & Nellie their attraction was apparent from the start but misunderstanding & wrong assumptions made the road to their HEA very rocky but also very entertaining. Their verbal sparring had me engrossed & I read the book in two sittings & finished it with a smile on my face. I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

4 stars

Good story. Charles & Nellie's fathers had hoped they would marry so Charles goes to meet her to see if she' will suit. He's just finished with his mistress, Angelique and his old fiancee, Drusilla (terrible name) is hovering around who unbeknownst to him is recently widowed. The story is how a marriage that starts a bit of convenience ends up with passion and Love. Lots of internal chat, some bitchy behaviour but our hero steps up and there's a HEA.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had been having a bad few days: washer quit, faucet leaking, I decided to read for a while and try to regain my sanity. All I can say is " This book hooked me from the very beginning. A heroine who is not typical at all:, practical, and willing to go toe to toe for what she thinks is rightfully hers. No shrinking violet here! The hero is handsome, .' if you like strong heroines, flawed but gorgeous heroes, and witty dialogue....this is it!

Lady Nellie Dountry is not happy about the arranged marriage she is facing, especially when she hears to rumors about her intended groom.

Charles Glazebrook, Duke of Shewsbury is prepared to honour the arrangement that his father made, so long as the woman in question agrees. He will not risk his heart again so if he can get along with Lady Nellie it's fine.

When two people enter an arranged marriage there are no guarantees. They don't know each other well enough to trust. Good intentions and family support can help make it work.

An entertaining historical romance.

The first book in the series ‘Never’ looks set to be the start of something good. Charles, the Duke of Shewsbury, has agreed to marry Lady Nellie Dountry, following through with an agreement made between their families. Whilst their attraction is obvious, whether it is enough to lead to a successful marriage is uncertain.
The misunderstandings between the couple and their inability to communicate shows both Charles and Nellie to be strongminded and stubborn. Whilst the relationship takes time to develop, the impact of the ton, is quite apparent throughout this storyline. This was an enjoyable read, with an interesting storyline and two quite believable characters. I look forward to the next book in this series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

First things first I love this book cover the woman looks like the woman who played rose in the titanic movie the book cover is so beautiful, the one thing I hated about this book is the miscommunication and the misunderstanding is it so hard for the characters to talk to one another like adults about how they are feeling anyway other than that I found this book to be really enjoyable

Never Doubt a Duke is all about doubts.
Charles the Duke of Shrewsbury had a marriage arranged for him by his father before he passed away. His possible betrothed is Lady Cornelia, Nellie, daughter of a Marquess.
She has heard about his mistress and his temper. He has heard about her poet.
Despite their doubts and questions, they go into this marriage with no answers. Why? Because apparently 2 well educated people don't know how to talk.
This is my least favorite plot in romance genres. It is very frustrating to read. You Just want to reach out and shake them and say, "talk"!!
I did like the characters as a whole. I liked Nellie's spirit and caring nature. And I liked Charles' honor, loyalty and responsibility. So for that reason I give it 3stars.⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

This is the first book I've read by Ms. Andersen and it was a decent read. Charles, His Grace, Duke of Shewsbury, has decided to honor his late father's wishes for him to marry Lady Nellie Dountry. He is smitten with her when they meet, but Nellie is quite reserved. Can he win her over for a happy marriage and life together?

This was a slow paced book. Not much happens except misunderstandings and failure to communicate between Charles and Nellie. Their attraction is there, but they're both stubborn and don't share their feelings, secrets or their fears. It is only when Nellie has an accident do they finally share their feelings with each other.

The heroine, Nellie, learns to never doubt the duke, Charles. She doubts if she should marry him. She doubts if he will be faithful. She doubts if he loves her. She doubts if she can be a proper duchess. Charles doubts if she loves him. They are both keeping secrets from each other. I enjoyed the book, but felt it could have moved along faster towards the end. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

This was a very well written story about a romance. It was not exciting or intriguing. It was not a spymaster or vengeance story. It was just a story of an arranged marriage and how the hero and the heroine met and married. The heroine was slightly older, had previous suitors that didn't interest her and is unmarried after 3 seasons. The her is a duke who has been very solid, but he had two recent incidences that made him look like a rake. He had an altercation with a man over an article and he was seen with a woman in his arms coming out of a burning house. And she was his supposed mistress. So they meet as arranged and proceed to get married and the heroine has two contacts with the hero's previous women and women through themselves at him all of the time. So she worries. The hero wants to be seen and loved for himself, but has to be in control all of the time. The heroine doesn't want to be controlled.
It was a nice story, well written, cohesive with likeable characters. I think this is a fine story and I recommend it. 5 stars

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Enjoyable reading that’s got a wonderful plot and believable characters.

Unfortunately for Nellie she feels she has no choice in her choice of husband , a decision was made by her parents and his .
Never having met him, she is intrigued as to his appearance.
From her knowledge throughout the gossip columns, this meeting won’t be a good one.

Charles Is a Duke, yes he has his faults , but the title was never meant to be his , and the duty falls heavy on his shoulders.
Meeting his arranged betrothed, he realises she could be a good choice.

The two slowly begin to become content with the choices they agreed too, but can they settle into a happy marriage or are past decisions always going to come between them?

A great read, one I thoroughly enjoyed.
Full of angst and passion, it keeps you hooked and turning pages.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review


Sent from my iPhone

I WILL BE POSTING THIS REVIEW ON AMAZON AND GOODREADS WHEN THE TITLE APPEARS; IT'S NOT ON EITHER AS OF MAY 29, 2020

NEVER TRUST A DUKE is a charming historical romance with 2 interesting and introspective characters that really reflect the delicacy of interactions of the era. Nellie is the well-bred and independently-minded lady, Charles the Duke, and the marriage is arranged by her father and his now-deceased father. Both of the intendeds have qualms, to put it mildly. I liked the hesitancy each exhibited and tried to overcome, at least initially, until the past catches up with both of them and strains the relationship. This book is filled with lovely settings, costumes, and mannerisms, the descriptions well written. Even the secondary characters are well rounded. The sexual attraction between Nellie and Charles is a thread throughout that expands as the story proceeds. I loved this book and enjoyably followed it, caught in the fantasy...until close to the end. I felt the story should have stopped earlier, right after the outcome of the fox hunt. What came after that bored me considerably—it was predictable and most it did not need to be said or shown. This long denouement went on and on for too many pages, too much wrapping up in a way that wasn't necessary to see, but I guess a certain number of pages are needed. I'm being vague so as not to give away plot details.

Having said that, I really did love the story until after the outcome of the fox hunt. However, that's me, and mileage varies. I think it's a great start to a new series. I'm curious to read the next book because most of the big and obvious reasons for conflict are in the tropes in this book so I'd like to see how the author creates fresh and different problems as she moves into her series.

Will their secrets come between them and tear them apart ...

This is my first read by Mrs Maggi Andersen, and with talent she demonstrates how assumptions and conjectures can hurt more than true offense.
I do not think I liked much Nellie for half of the book, she holds on too much, letting nothing go.
Yet it is the way of the ton, whispers and gossips and rare true and honest conversations.

This is the perfect story to show how naysays, gossips and false tales can hurt. And the uptight bored peers love to wallow in them, it is a sport they are top-notch in. Add to it miscommunications and misinterpretations, then touch by touch, doubt is insinuated and you have everything to turn a couple against one another without even something going truly between them to prove them right.

Nellie is the personnification of how distrust and rampant mind can lead to disaster, because she chose to believe gossips rags over asking honest answers, she dooms her marriage to a sad future.
And while Charles never really lied to her, in thinking he must keep things under silence, he will spare her some distress. He in fact took part of the setting to tear them apart.

I was upset at Nellie for always thinking the worst, but Charles could have cleared their path too. Both had the upper hand on their happiness and misery, hopefully for them, feelings and forgiveness found a way to reach them.
While it is not a steamy read, most of the sensual scenes while faded in the dark or non graphic, are still very tender and tense.

4 stars for this moving tale of the cruelty of the mind, how one person can lie to one’s self and be sole responsible of its own misery.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publishing, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Never Doubt a Duke
Series: first book in the Never series
Rating: 3 stars

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book I read by this author. It was an good, slow paced romance. We see Nellie and Charles's relationship build slowly. They are attracted to each other very early on, but their feelings for each other deepen as the story unfolds. Their main conflict of the story is that they fail to talk to each other about themselves. Especially Charles, whose former conquests come to haunt his new relationship. There were many times when they could of talked about it but something always held them back and because of this they had to learn to trust each other.
I look forwards to the next one.