I did not like this book at all. The characters were not likeable. There was no romance. The sex scene at the end made me cringe. The villains' motives and actions made no sense. I don't think I will be reading the next book in the series.

A proud Duke trying to restore his family name meets a anti-marriage debutante posing as a bespeckled bluestocking. When Jared's enemies target Persephone, a marriage of convenience is the only solution. Though there is nothing convenient about their growing feelings. A definite must-read.
Thank you C.H. Admirand, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

This was a truly enjoyable read.
When Lady Persephone decides to detract attention from herself by wearing the most awful of dresses alongside thick glasses, she is more determined than ever to not have a man chasing after her for her dowry.
Then comes along Jared, the new Duke of Wyndmere, who is not so easily deterred.
Jared is busy trying to clear the name of his family after his brother has tarnished it. And in a twist of fate, Jared and Persephone's lives soon become entwined.

This was a well written, fun read that really does keep you engrossed until the very end. The characters are well developed, and the storyline is well structured and full of drama and romance.

The Duke and the Bluestocking

Jared does not have marriage on his mind. His primary goal is to restore his family name. He is a younger son, so the dukedom is not meant to be his. Unfortunately, his brother dies under scandalous circumstances, leaving him a duke, tasked with restoring his family honor.

Persephone is a bluestocking that dresses in outrageous fashions and speaks her mind at a time when women are expected to be meek. Being shocking is Persephone’s goal because she does not want to marry. Could meeting Jared change her mind?

the duke’s seeming interest in Persephone set some vengeful people’s sights on her. Before his brother died, he made some enemies, and they want revenge on the family and anyone close to Jared. Persephone and Jared won’t have an ordinary courtship. He wants to protect her, but could there be more to his feelings than just obligation? This story has both romance and suspense. I enjoyed it but would have liked it a bit shorter, with less dialogue and more action and romance.

The sixth Duke, Jared wanted to restore his family's reputation after his older brother, the fifth Duke ruined it and died. He asked his brother, Edward's assistance and cooperation as well because along with their duty, they have a sister to look after. On the other hand, Persephone's mother wanted to find a gentleman for her daughter to marry. Persephone's father died which is why she's now responsible for her daughter who didn't wish to marry. After Persephone met the Duke both of them quite liked each other. But after facing some unfortunate consequences by the Duke's enemies, Jared wanted to protect her and so he asked her hand in marriage. They got married and faced problems because of their enemies but got their happy ending. At least for now. Because I'm assuming there will be more books in this series.
I've read way better historical romance book than this. Not interested in reading other books of this series because this book has many problems like repetition, weak plot and main characters etc.

I enjoy a marriage of convenience trope, and Mending the Duke’s Pride delivers in spades. When Jared inherits a dukedom from his dissolute and now deceased brother, he knows it’s an uphill fight to bring honor to their family name once more. When unknown enemies place him in Lady Persephone’s orbit, circumstances eventually force them to marry. What’s surprising to them both is the romance that develops between the two.
This book is comfortingly familiar in trope and plot, and it isn’t anything necessarily fresh, but it’s a nice read for when you want something familiar and a HEE ending

Lady Persephone was determined to detract attention from herself. Simply by dressing in the most hideous colors and wearing her think glasses. Bluestocking extraordinaire. She would not marry a man who just wanted her dowry. When Jared, the new Duke of Wyndmere pushed her glasses back up her nose after she bumped into him... well...

Meanwhile, Jared was trying to clear the name of his family since his brother had ruined their name by being a wastrel and having died at the hand of a mad husband. But it seemed that Jared and Persephone's lives were about to become entwined!

A fun story that will keep you reading to see what will happen!

I honestly didn't know what to do with this book. By the 30% mark - the hero and heroine had met once and he had only touched the corner of her fake glasses. By the 50% mark they had danced in the moonlight - but hadn't exchanged more than a few words. By the 70% mark they were married. Like what? But for some reason I couldn't stop reading it.

There is a lot going on for both characters - but despite her words of being bold and non-traditional, Persephone is very much on the traditional end of things - as is Jared. They are both kind to others and clearly care for their staff like family - but they stick to traditional gender roles like glue. Their courtship is very much on the side of historical accuracy - but didn't feel particularly romantic to me.

Jared has been fighting to get his family name out of the gutter - after his older brother thoroughly trashed it and the family finances. His brother was shot by his lover's angry husband in her bedroom. Another young (married) woman killed herself after he abandoned for that other woman. As a result the spouses of the deceased have vowed to get revenge on Jared and his family. This was a very interesting storyline - for all that the people behind it clearly were totally wackadoo. Unfortunately - most of the investigation into the events and what is really going on - happens off the page. we hear about it - but even the final plot is somewhat a mystery.

Persephone is old for regency marriage market standards - 22 - but she is still very naive and innocent (and pretty spoiled). She clearly struggles with the rules of society - which seems understandable given the way she has been sheltered. This book gives maybe a more honest picture of the true life of a debutante than a lot of historicals do. The constant changes in clothing, the lack of privacy, the lack of self-determination.

Overall - I liked this book - and I didn't. I wanted more time spent between Jared and Persephone. I wanted more details on the investigation. If you like your regencies on the traditional side - this would be a good one for you!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK WAS WONDERFUL. I honestly am a sap when it comes to historical romance so this novel hit me like a truck and I could not be happier about it!

This was a good story. Persephone is a real delight, whose mother is determined to marry her off. Jared is a Duke. I won't spoil the plot! Lots going on, some bad folks, danger, but love too!

Jared Lippincott, sixth Duke of Wyndmere has managed to restore the family fortune but the reputation of the name is going to be a lot harder to restore. The title sits heavily on his shoulders and he has his younger brother and sister to protect from those who wish them harm.

Lady Persphone has been doing her best to hide from unwanted suitors, using her mother's colour blindness to her advantage. Someone sees through her disguise, but that puts her in danger.

A lovely complicated story with great characters. Lots of twists and turns, sadness and giggles.

Great fun.

Jared Malcolm Lippincott, the Sixth Duke of Wyndmere the second son has inherited a title he didn’t want and a dynasty ruined by his brother’s actions. He feels it’s up to him to restore the coffers and the family reputation, the problem is he doesn’t know how to be a Duke. He meets Lady Persephone does not wish to marry and adjusts her glasses after she stumbles and then leaves the ball. Setting her up to be his new love interest to those wanting to harm him and his family. Persephone has been trying everything she can think of to avoid marriage, but now in the middle of another new scandal and the Duke has offered to help her. When he finds out her life is in danger because of him there’s nothing he won’t do to stop the culprit with a vendetta. What to do with a Duke who knows nothing about how to get along in society and a wallflower society maiden who doesn’t want to get along in society. I love them together it was a fun and enjoyable read. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this excellent story.

It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I did it was an interesting. The characters were great, and I enjoyed reading about them. I felt that there was too much social sensitivity that needed to be solved and it took some time to correct it. After that, I enjoyed the romantic plot and hope that the next book is stronger in content and at times not so long winded.

I’m afraid that I really wasn’t getting into this book. The characters weren’t doing anything for me and I was confused as to what was going on and why certain things where happening. Not for me unfortunately.

Jared, Sixth Duke of Wyndmere, has worked hard to restore the family fortune that his older brother the Fifth Duke of Wyndmere had gambled away. Now Jared and his younger brother, Edward, are determined to restore the family name so their sister enjoys her first season and can make an advantageous marriage. Meanwhile an unknown enemy wants to ruin Jared and each member of his family.
Jared meets Lady Persephone at the Ball when she has donned a ballgown in an unflattering yellowish-green shade with bottle like spectacles. Persephone does this in the hopes of avoiding marriage. Chemistry builds between Jared and Persephone, and is a sweet romance. I really liked Jared's character and his struggle in his adjustment as Duke, and also how he treated his staff.
The story had some wonderful characters, many of whom I hope to see in future books.

Jared, the Sixth Duke finally rectified the financial crisis his brother left the estate in for him to fix. Now the only thing left to do was to polish his social skills to make way for his sisters debut. However, he must first either secure a bride himself or at least be able to woo a young woman as a potential candidate for a bride.

Lady Persephone has been concealing her attributes from the men in society because she has no desire to take the marital route. However, her mother discovers her plan and somehow things get bungled and she ends up in the arms of Duke Jared!

Things heat up as intrigue follows the Duke from the past and Lady P becomes a target as a result!

The author does a compelling job in keeping the readers wanting to turn the pages! The subterfuge could have had more spice, but its a romance book!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

I have a complex about finishing books. I try not to DNF books really really hard but sometimes it's just not possible. I really tried to read this book al the way through properly but it just so hard. Everyone talks about that feeling when you're reading a good book and the words disappear and you find yourself immersed in the story. I had the opposite experience reading this book. Every page stretched so long and I'm pretty sure I gave myself a headache trying to muddle through the word swamp.

Things I liked (meh): Persephone and Lady Farnsworth relationship to each other and their relationship to their staff.

Things I didn't like: basically everything. The Duke was so irritatingly whiny and the repetition of his title was a little too much. If I drank, I'd start a drinking game where I take a short every time "the newly minted Sixth Duke of Wyndmere" was mentioned. Or maybe I'd take the shot every time someone said "dash it all!" To be fair, I really did try to ge through this book. I read about 25% properly before I couldn't take it anymore and had to start skimming (skipping) for my own sanity. The pacing of the story was just too slow and all the character interactions were so tedious and felt overly contrived. I'm actually pretty bummed I didn't like this more because I feel like there could have been something here, if the Sixth Duke of Wyndmere would just get over himself.

Mending the Duke's Pride by C.H. Admirand is a charmingly different novel about a convoluted hatred for a family who is innocent of wrong doing and the duke's efforts to protect his loved ones as well as a young woman who has come to his attention as part of this plot. It's a perfectly wonderful love story as well as a chase after those who wish him harm. Jared Martin Lippincott, the Sixth Duke of Wyndmere had never intended to be duke. He was the second son, the spare, never to replace his father as the head of the family. That was to be his brother, Oliver, who in his short time as duke managed to nearly bankrupt the family and get himself murdered. This after a score of affairs with married women, more drink than was manageable, and many nights spent at the gaming tables and losing. Now it was up to Jared to make it all right and save his younger brother, Edward, from following in Oliver's footsteps. Persephone Farnsworth was a lovely young woman who got embroiled in this mess purely accidentally. She was an innocent, about to be ruined, until the duke stepped in to be sure that would not happen, drawing the villain's attention to her.

Jared is an honorable man, thinking only of his family at every turn. Persephone is a young woman looking for a husband, well, her mother is doing it for her. Her father, before he died, had promised that if she found no one she wanted by the end of the season, she could retire to the country and take her dowry with her. Her mother had no intention of honoring that promise, willing to marry her off to anyone who offered, no matter how old. The only requirement was that he not be a fortune hunter. Persephone was naive and trusting. She was not interested in men, until Jared came along. This was a very entertaining and simple romance. There was sex but it was definitely secondary and fairly brief. It was an enchanting story of a man who could manage what had been given him and dealt with others carefully. It was nicely written: the plot was good and the pacing was right on. It left the reader with a happy heart. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Mending the Duke's Pride by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #mendingthedukespride

I am sorry as it is a very rare occurrence but I have been unable to finish this book.
I have been put quite immediately by a detail that froze my reading.

How a Duke can have a titled brother, an Earl.
The only two options are either the spare son has been rewarded by the crown for a huge favor or he is no spare and from a later marriage bed, else there is no way he could be an Earl.

After that and no explanation, I have been unable to continue my reading.

2.5-3 Stars! This was a very drawn out story with a pretty abrupt and anti-climatic ending. I did enjoy bits and pieces of this book but it couldn’t keep my attention for long. I also found this book confusing at times and was often wondering why the characters were angry, “vexed”, or offended so often. I don’t even want to get started on ‘Martha’ and her part of the story! It’s a good story but could be so much better.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an ARC that was provided to me by the publisher!*