After finishing book 1 in this series, A Good Duke is Hard to Find, I happily moved along to this book, Someday My Duke will Come. Admittedly, two years after I was provided an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It took me so long to get to it because of my own headspace and the whole pandemic thing, but I finally finished it, and honestly, I liked it.

The cover for this book is simply beautiful. The green and purple made me think of The Little Mermaid and I totally see the Disney influence with the title. That being said, the title also made me snort laugh. Maybe it's my dirty mind, but...come on. The title alone would make me read this book. That being said, for people with a filthy mind like mine, this book is going to be too tame for that title.

In general, this is a very sweet, quiet, low angst book. I enjoyed having older protagonists, and who doesn't enjoy a fake engagement. The hidden scandal in Clara's past was a bit predictable, but I liked how Quincy supported her. Clara's Aunt and Quincy's mother were more than a bit overly obnoxious, yet when armed with the scandalous information at just the moment it could cause the most harm, they basically just walk away. Which is to say, what little drama or conflict the story had going for it wrapped very nicely, very quickly, with little drama at all. It was all so civil. So earnestly polite. Which, given the world, might be what people are looking for. But, for me, I was hoping for a smidge more heat and passion between the beautiful pages.

This book, and this entire series, will appeal to fans of historical romance who are looking for a beautiful Regency setting, mostly outside London ballrooms, that will give you all the comfort and conflict of your favorite cup of tea.

The characters are very sweet, and a joy to read. They each struggle in their own way, so it is nice to see them overcome their concerns and lean into their love for each other. The setting is once again the beautiful Isle of Synne, and I could almost smell the salt water air on the breeze. I loved the description of an abandoned cottage and greenhouse. Definitely a pleasant read with sweet intimate scenes.

A solid regency romance with a great fake dating trope! Or in this case - fake engagement. Absolutely loved this story of Lady Clara Ashford and Quincy Nesbitt.

After believing the lies of a rogue 15 years ago and surrendering her innocence to him, Lady Clara Ashford is determined to never fall in love or bring shame on her family. All she wants is to help her sister plan the perfect wedding and begin a life of her own. Until Quincy shows up and need a fake fiancé to avoid marrying his recently deceased brother’s fiancé, who he has never met.

I absolutely loved getting to return to the Isle of Synne. I wish we would have gotten a little more of the gorgeous setting that we did in book one, but the cast of characters drew me in and captured my heart.

Clara and Quincy had believable chemistry, and I appreciated their mutual respect and effort to communicate. The conflicts in the story were not trivial, and they were handled with care.

I didn’t think we needed an epilogue, but epilogues that jump into the future aren’t my preference to begin with.

Overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction story and I cannot wait to read book 3 in this series!

Thank you to Forever for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thirty-one-year-old Clara Ashford has lived a quiet life dedicated to her family after a youthful indiscretion. With her younger sister about to marry, Clara wonders about her future. Meanwhile, Clara’s crush, Quincy Nesbitt, who has returned to London after living in America, discovers he is the Duke of Reigate with a bankrupt estate. His scheming mother tries to get him to marry a meek but rich lady of her choosing, but Clara and Quincy foil her plans by claiming they are engaged.

VERDICT Britton (“Twice Shy” series) uses the familiar fake engagement trope to further the romantic ties between Quincy and Clara, both of whom have beautifully detailed yet tragic backstories. Unfortunately, challenges to their romance and also Quincy’s dukedom are resolved a bit too conveniently to be believable. Series fans will enjoy following the characters from the first in the “Isle of Synne” series, who play prominent roles in this second installment. New readers should start with the first book, A Good Duke Is Hard To Find.

4/5 stars

POV: Quincy and Clara
Steam: great, slow burn chemistry with open door scenes
Tropes: fake engagement, friends to lovers

This friends to lovers romance was so good! Clara and Quincy's romance had such a good slow burn, but slowness to the steamy bits was very worth it. This series definitely has more emotions and dramatic backstory than most. I love the added bits of story and parts of Clara and Quincy's life and past other than the romance. Several characters from the first story and island of Synne, including Lenora and Peter, were side characters in this story. I loved seeing how all the characters were doing. Overall, I really enjoyed this slow burn romance with intense backstory, great chemistry and steamy love story.

Christina Britton's second in her Isle of Synne Series - thankfully whether or not you've read the first book or not, you can easily find your place among these two characters.

Quincy and Clara are our HEA couple, and Britton does a great job of getting into their heads. I always enjoy a deeper look into characters as they move towards love, and Britton gives us this. While there was a lot of throw back to Clara's big dark secret and it played a part of her inner turmoil, that part of it got a little frustrating for me as a reader.

But where that held Clara back, seeing her interact with Quincy made up for it. They both had ghosts of their pasts to overcome, but eventually they went from friends, to fake fiancés, to falling in love, which is always a good trajectory. There were a lot of added regency tropes and they all layer in really nicely and round out the rest of the book.

While it was worth a read, and definitely has me wanting to continue reading Christina Britton's books, this one won't be my favorite. The storyline was solid but I felt there could have been a better built connection between the two leads. Maybe we'll see more of them as the series continues to see how their love connection continue to grow - I'm looking forward to it!

I am so happy to be back in this world and back on the isle of Synne.

I adored Quincy and his charm when we met him in A Good Duke Is Hard to Find and when I realized he'd be with Clara I was intrigued. They didn't have much interaction in the first book and actually Quincy was more with Margery than Clara but I do like this pairing. Knowing of Clara's past, it would make sense that Quincy could be the only one for her.

Getting a 14yr old Quincy directly after his beloved father's death was a punch to the emotions with the prologue. I felt awful for him losing the only family member that cared about him and how callous his mother and oldest brother were. I was glad he had the fortitude to leave on his own and later the fortune to meet Peter. The friendship between these two is one of my favorite things about the series and when Quincy surprises Peter with a visit, the hug they shared made me sigh.

Of course, being back in London Quincy has decided that he will see his family and get a bit of closure but when he meets with his mother, that closure ends up being opened doors he never wanted and doesn't know how to deal with.

I love that the first thing Quincy does when he learns he is now the Duke of Reigate is run to Peter and of course he doesn't get Peter right away, he gets Clara. These two have amazing chemistry right off the bat and I was delighted that once again, we get forced proximity in this book because it makes for such delicious angst and sexual tension.

So not only has Quincy inherited the dukedom but his horrid mother thinks that Quincy should marry his late brother's fiancé to boot. It's a damn good thing Clara thinks on her feet and decides to speak up and declare that he can’t marry his late brother’s finance because he’s already engaged to her.

Now excuse me while I pause a moment while I sing a made up song... "Do you know what this trope is? It's a fake relationship. Fake Relationship." (Please sing that like the chorus of Tony! Toni! Toné! performing Anniversary. Thank you.)

This trope is one of my favorites and this book does not disappoint at all. I adored how easily Quincy and Clara get into their roles of the besotted engaged couple and how that façade starts to blend their fiction with reality. Quincy and Clara are already friends so their ease with one another is agreeable and yet their chemistry is off the charts hot. I was waiting for them to move that small inch to be in each other’s arms and when it happened it was glorious. They felt the emotions, I felt the emotions and those feelings didn’t stop until I read the last word. Wait. Who am I kidding, I felt it all long after I finished the book.

I like that with the first book we had the Norse Mythology tied to the Island of Synne with Peter and Lenora's romance and now with Quincy and Clara, we get a story with the property belonging to Quincy that has ties to them both. The mystery of the property along with the secrets Clara and Quincy both hold move this romance along with enough angst that has you glued to the page holding your breath for the HEA to arrive.

The end was beautiful but the epilogue? Flawless.

This book was the perfect read for me and I think I said that with the first in the series. There is something wonderfully comfortable about the authors writing that pulls at my heart strings and brings tears to my eyes. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this book, I adored it and truly look forward to Margery’s story next.

Someday My Duke Will Come (Isle of Synne #2). By Christina Britton. 2021. Forever (ARC eBook)

Someday My Duke Will Come sees Quincy Nesbitt returned to the Isle of Synne, where his best friend’s family is preparing for a wedding. In addition to the pending nupital activities, Quincy is adjusting to the reality that he is the new Duke of Reigate, much to the regret of his cold-hearted mother. But the sister of the bride-to-be, the lovely and kind Clara Ashford, is a calming balm to the tempest whirling within him and in an attempt to help him, the two find themselves engaged. Quincy and Clara’s romance is heart-touching and the story is engaging. And the epilogue was lovely. I enjoyed this book as much as the first book and I look forward to more stories of the Ashford family, friends and Isle of Synne.

I adored Clara and Quincy's story!! I loved watching their story unfold and how they were able to help one another heal from their past hurts.

Fake engagement in a historical romance is not a new trope, but I think the author presented it to us in a unique way, with characters you wanted to root for. While Quincy in the first book in this series served for a lot of the comic relief, we see much more to his character in his own story, and that learn isn't really the light hearted rake we took him for. For Clara, while we did not get to see much of her in the first novel, some of the important plot points for this book were revealed in book one, but I don't think you would technically have to read them in order. This story does discuss some heavy themes, so I think being aware of that is something import going in.

I enjoyed the romance between these two characters, especially because it started out as a caring friendship on both of their parts. You could tell they both could have feelings for each other if they chose to, but because of where they both are with their lives, a real marriage is not in the cards for them now. Or ever as far as Clara is concerned. I liked to see them open up to each other more than they had to the other people in their lives, and found it so satisfying when they finally got together.

Regarding the side characters, I did enjoy seeing some of the cast from book one, and cannot wait for Margery to have her own HEA.. But I am going to give what some may call an unpopular opinion and state that I dislike the aunt as the guardian character. She is too pushy and overbearing for me, and I feel like she does not actually take her "kids" feelings into account with some of the things she asks of them. This is probably just a me thing, but I needed to say it.

Overall I did enjoy the story and plan to pick up the third book in the series soon.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the free review copy. All thoughts are my own and I leave this review voluntary.

I am undoubtably enjoying the Isle of Synne series. Someday My Duke Will Come is a pleasing edition to the series, continuing the story of Quincy. I throughly enjoyed the characters, the drama and the romance.

No two characters have ever felt so right together as Clara and Quincy. Their slow-build affections are perfectly paced, filled with swoon worthy stolen kisses. Quincy is the perfect rake and gentleman for readers to love.

Onward to book three, A Duke worth Fighting For.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the complimentary copy.
#SomedayMyDukeWillCome #NetGalley.

After reading the first book in this series, I was excited for the next installment and it did not disappoint. I adored Quincy and Clara!

After returning to England and the Isle of Synne with his best friend Peter, Quincy decides it is finally time to go to London and see his mother and brothers. Quincy left home at a young age after his father died and he learned that his mother going to enlist him in the Navy. After seeing his mother he learns that his brothers have all died and he in the new Duke of Reigate.

Clara Ashford is deep in the planning of her sister Phoebe’s wedding. She definitely does not need to be distracted by Quincy Nesbitt. Because of something that happened when she was young, Clara intends to never get married. After spending her life taking care of her family she isn’t sure where she belongs now that her father is dead and her sister is getting married.

Quincy intends to travel world, something that he had always dreamed of doing with his father. But after seeing Clara again and finding out that he is not only a Duke, but that his estates are in very bad shape, he isn’t sure how he will have the money left to travel. When his mother tries to get him to marry, Clara tell hers that Quincy cannot because they are already engaged.

I love a fake engagement romance! I also love the friendship that develops between Peter and Clara. Quincy knows that something has happened in Clara’s past and is patient and kind to her until she tells him the story.

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review this book. All opinions are my own.

I DNF the first book in this series hoping to enjoy Someday My Duke will Come more. I've tried to get into the plot a couple times and I think I'm not in the right historical romance mood for it. I may try again later, or I might try the next book hoping it will click more. DNF for now.

Quincy returns to London after 15 years. He's unexpectedly inherited a Dukedom. Lady Clara has been responsible for her family since her parents died when she was 9. Her family basically takes her for granted. Quincy mom is pretty abusive. They basically team up to gain some control over their own lives.

This book is a definitely a great read. I enjoyed the uniqueness despite the popular trope

Oh dear me, Someday My Duke Will Come had me on the edge of my seat and tears welling up! Author Christina Britton has a knack for writing tear-jerkers with spice and romance to keep a reader's head spinning! I recommend!

This book was exactly what I needed. I’ve read several contemporary romances recently and really needed to get back to my first love, historicals. I read the first book in this series and really liked it and this one was even better. It had my favorite type of fake relationship, i.e. one where the pair have been secretly pining for the other but haven’t been able to admit their feelings. Seriously it’s the best type of fake relationship there is.

I adored boy Clara and Quincy. Clara is over 30 and it is always refreshing to have a more mature heroine in a historical romance. Beyond that she just felt so real from her caring nature to her tragic past to her genuine love for everyone around her, it all just felt so authentic. Quincy was equally wonderful. I love heroes who return to England find out they’ve inherited a title and are pissed that that means they can’t travel anymore, seriously, I love these heroes.

Of course this book was also a return to the Isle of Synne so I got to be reunited with Lenora and Peter (the heroine and hero of the previous book) as well as their friends and family. I adore books with a full cast of side characters that make the subsequent books feel like returning home. I can’t wait to read the third book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the digital copy.

I loved Quincy in the first book and was delighted to see him return to England in the second. And though it may have surprised him, I was unsurprised to learn he became a duke while making his fortune in Boston. Quincy is that perfect mix of a rake and a gentleman with emotional scars from his childhood.

Clara had an intriguing backstory as well that we learned about through the first book in the series. The two had great chemistry. This story was such a fun one with a wild series of events, a fake engagement, and drama, as well as a clear villain in Quincy's mother. I really enjoyed the whole story, even more than the previous book.

I appreciated that Christina Britton included an author's note at the start of the book with links to her website with trigger warnings.

Thank you to Forever for this book. These opinions are my own.

4.5/5

Someday My Duke Will Come, the second in Christina Britton's Isle of Synne series, is my favorite so far! While I loved Lenora and Peter's story in A Good Duke is Hard to Find, there's just something extra special about Clara and Quincy's story.

What begins as a fake engagement to save Quincy from his vile mother's manipulations turns very real as the straight-laced, responsible Clara and the fun-loving, adventurous Quincy grow closer--sharing confidences, providing support, and looking out for each other in a multitude of ways. But what will happen if Clara's scandalous secret comes to light? Will it ruin any chance of happiness?

Clara and Quincy's chemistry was incredibly well written. The pacing was spot on. Difficult subjects were handled with tenderness and care. And I loved revisiting all the wonderful characters from the Isle, including the brusque but well-meaning Lady Tesh, whose prickly personality adds the perfect amount of sparkle to the prose.

I love, also, that Christina Britton began the book with a note, warning that the book contains some sensitive material, and that she provided a link to her website which contains content warning. This is what I love to see.

I'm now eagerly awaiting the third installment of the Isle of Synne series. Britton is quickly becoming a favorite author.

Published in January 2021. Happily the publisher gave me the first two books in the series in addition to the third that will published soon. The book can be read as a stand alone but I would strongly encourage reading the series in order. The two main characters first meetings and outings are in A Good Duke is Hard to Find. And the side characters are well established in the first book without much recap in this sequel.

The free spirited Quincy Nesbitt returns to England and shockingly learns that his older brothers have died making him the Duke of Reigate. His mother, who loathes him, wants him to marry his brothers intended for financial reasons. Lady Clara Ashford's is almost 31 and has no plans to marry. But in trying to help Quincy she declares they already engaged. They both see a fake engagement as beneficial for the time being.

I really like Clara. She has a past secret scandal that still effects her. She has put others first since losing her mother at the young age of nine. I also like that she is a few years older than Quincy which doesn't happen often in historical romances. She must overcome her past if she is to have a future with Quincy. The new Duke must also adjust from the sailer/businessman to being responsible for a Dukedom. I also like that he can see Clara's hurt and wants to understand it.

There are a few downsides to the story. As much as I love a fake engagement trope the middle drags a bit with a lot of inner soul searching by the two MC's. They are best when they are together. Also I'm not sure I could believe Quincy's mother would back down when she does. But those are small quibbles for a really solid story. I'm exited to continue on with the Isle of Synne series and get Margery's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.