The Duchess Hunt is the second book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series. Readers first meet one of the main characters, the Duke of Kingsland, in Scoundrel of My Heart, when he was looking for a wife and decided upon Lady Kathryn Lambert… who later went on to wed Griffith Stanwick instead. Well, he’s decided to plan another ball where he chooses a different bride to be, and he’s given the task to his secretary, Penelope Pettypeace, to choose who that person will be.

Penelope Pettypeace is a competent, capable, no-nonsense woman who has a wonderful working relationship with her employer, the Duke of Kingsland. She’s also quite in love with him. But she knows there can never be anything between them, especially given their different stations in life and the secrets she is keeping about her past. They are like two peas in a pod, both focused, detail-oriented, and business-minded, which is why Kingsland relies on Pettypeace so much. But she knows once he takes a bride she won’t be able to stay in his household, so she’s planned for her future.

After being introduced to Kingsland in the previous installment I was very interested in getting to know him better and discovering who his love interest would be. Penelope Pettypeace is his perfect match and I really enjoyed them together. I wouldn’t say this is friends to lovers, although I do think this couple had a deep, trusting working relationship before they ever decided to become intimate, this is more like an office romance between people from different class structures who are secretly obsessed with each other. Lots of mutual pining, secret touches, and longing side glances.

Each of them has a BIG SECRET, and despite getting dual POVs readers are kept in the dark about what those secrets are for most of the book. Things start to move along external plotwise when a blackmail letter lands on Penelope’s desk and she doesn’t know if it’s for her or for Kingsland. I think readers will be surprised at both of these BIG SECRETS, his was way worse than her’s in my opinion, but I have to say I did absolutely love the way Kingsland groveled for forgiveness after his bad reaction to the revelations of Penelope’s past. And the building of their HEA is so very romantic. These characters have such wonderful chemistry and it’s always nice to see the stoic hero who thinks he won’t ever give away his heart slowly come to the realization that he already has.

This was another enjoyable read by one of my favorite historical romance authors. I’m so looking forward to finding out what comes next in this series.

3.25/5 stars!

After being rejected by the woman he chose the first time, the hero decided to have another ball to proclaim the woman he wants to marry. Along this journey he has his loyal secretary, the heroine, to help him. The pair are attracted to each other and their social standing is detrimental to their happy ending, but this is their story to overcoming that obstacle and others that are in their way.

This is a nice addition to this Lorraine Heath series. I hadn't read the first book in the series but this book provided enough information for readers not to get lost. I found the story moving smoothly and the obstacles not too overpowering. I did like the forbidden romance and was rooting for the couple. There were certain details in the story that I liked, giving a positive view to them that I was pleased about. I didn't like the interactions with a certain character but recognize that said events are part of the story. And I required some more details for some parts, especially in relation to the hero's views of the heroine. But I enjoyed the epilogue very much, especially the last paragraph of the story. Overall, this is a nice book to read.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

This exciting book by one of my favorite authors is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own.
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a wife. He has a lot of business that needs his attention, and no time to search for his duchess. So what does a guy do, he puts an advertisement for a lady and get his reliable secretary to do the search. He wants the single ladies of the ton to write and tell him why she should be his Duchess. But his secretary Penelope Pettypeace is really not wanting to find the perfect woman because she is in love with him, which he doesn't suspect.
When an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Hugh has the only person who is there for him and it's Penelope. She is a true friend who will do anything for the Duke.
He is a man who values this courageous woman with a will as strong as his own.
Then love gets into the mix, and Hugh doesn't have to look anymore for the right person for his wife. It looks like a happy ever after for two people who were meant to be.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? What's a duke to do when he is in need of a wife and his last attempt to secure one ended with the lady in question falling in love with another man? Why a duke asks candidates to write a letter describing why they would be the perfect choice to be his duchess and leaves the choosing to his ever dependable secretary that's what he does!


Penelope is a great character, I loved her! She's grounded, smart, efficient, and most of all she's confident in her skills as a secretary. She knows her worth professionally and it balanced out her lack of confidence in her worth as a person. By the end of the book, Penelope was confident in herself as a person but realistic about the world she lived in at the same time. I loved her practicality and her determination to do the best she could with the hand life dealt her.


King was a little harder to get to know. He's so in control of his space and determined not to let anyone, including readers in to know him as a person. He's responsible and stern but not unkind. He has convinced himself that doing the right thing for his title is more important than doing what's right for him as a person. I loved watching him learn that being a martyr isn't all it's cracked up to be and that he had the perfect duchess for him all along.


The romance between Penelope and King took a while to develop but it felt natural in its progression. I loved that they got to know each other outside of their professional relationship. I felt like they built a friendship before they built a romance, there's a reoccurring theme of trust throughout the novel and it was important to stress that these two characters had to trust and forgive each other's pasts in order to have a real romance. King and Penelope didn't just fall in love, they had to grow it together, and the way it happened made The Duchess Hunt feel more real to me and made it that much more romantic at the end.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. King and Penelope's practical personalities get a major upheaval as they start to find out more about each other and I was 100% onboard with the journey.

I have to admit that I'm a bit on the fence about this book. Mostly I liked it. It's slow burning and I thought there was a certain feeling of cuteness to this couple's romance. Plus, I genuinely liked King and Penelope. There were just certain aspects of the story that left me unsatisfied. Despite that, I felt this was a good read.

Unusual!

A workplace romance set at a time when roles and responsibilities were strictly adhered to. A Regency tale expounding the trope of the heroine entering a man’s world in a time when women just weren’t employed in such positions. The courageous Penelope Pettypeace becomes secretary to the Duke of Kingsland in a male dominated world. Hugh Brinsley-Norton, ninth Duke of Kingsland, is a leading investor and his philosophy is to take opportunities. After all, if they fail they can be cancelled.
Penelope Pettypeace (I love the iteration of her name!) is a woman with a secret past, she’s a chameleon, able to walk away from a a life she’s conjured when needed. She hasn’t needed to so far. Her hidden identity is something she strictly guards. Even with all his resources Kingsland has not been able to uncover anything about her. Efficient to point of prescience Penelope takes to the investment world and secretly to Kingsland.
Kingsland lives only for business, Penelope lives to assist his aims. He has his own set of darkness inherited from childhood.
But it’s time to marry. His last effort didn’t go so well so he’s handed the task of choosing the perfect wife to meet his needs over to his perfect secretary. Her mission is clear—select his wife. After all his last attempt didn’t go so well so bring out the non negotiable requirements. (I have to say Kingsland’s either a man of his times, totally focused on his business, or insensitive. Marriage for him has become a business merger.)Penelope carries a notebook with a list of names, crossing off those who have some aspect that is not on Kingsland’s list of what he wants.
This all seems sterile and cold untl the rules change! Suddenly Kingsland and Penelope find in each other a temporary fulfilment, something they both realize will be short lived until the right Duchess is found. Can they walk away from each other? When both are threatened by their pasts, how will the other react?
An enjoyable read.

An Avon / HarperVoyager ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was my first Lorraine Heath book and I really loved it. This was a bit of a slow burn but when our hero and heroine finally admit they have feelings for one another, we get some steamy scenes.
Can't wait to dive into this author's back catalog.

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland is looking for a duchess. When he became Duke he needed to restore the title's riches and it left him so focused he almost seems cold. He knows he needs to secure an heir so he's placed an ad for the single ladies of the ton to state why they should be chosen as his future wife. But he's leaving the task completely in the hands of his secretary.

Penelope Pettypeace is not looking forward to choosing a woman to marry the man she's been in love with. She is determined to find the perfect bride.

When an anonymous note is left threatening to reveal a secret. Penelope never images the note is meant for her until it's too late. But Kingsland is also harboring a secret. Which he confides to Penn and faces with her by his side.

But when will he finally realize how he truly feels about her?

Thanks so much to Avon, the author and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Penelope Pettypeace is duchess material

Hands down, Penelope Pettypeace has been my favorite heroine this year.
A well crafted enigma, Penelope Pettypeace is a self made woman who has reinvented herself as the duke's secretary. In reality, they have been living as a married couple without the marriage nor the benefits for eight years. They have breakfast together, share their thoughts and ideas, she runs all his many estates while he travels. He even has a mistress (which i normally hate and i did NOT like that after he touches her hand, he scurries off to his mistress as he's so worked up. It takes his mistress, who i amazingly did like, to kick him to the curb). Meanwhile, Penelope takes care of her self in the carriage. She rocks. I loved her. She has ensured that she does not need to be reliant on anyone for her security and wellbeing through her intelligence and hard work.

On the other hand, I did like King, the duke. but for someone who is supposed to be brilliant, he isn't bright enough to see the treasure right in front of him, as he tasks Pettypeace to find his wife for him. Meanwhile, he's having the slowest awakening to his attraction to Pettypeace and the mystery that she presents. So he.'s got some shame and Penelope has a secret (like her identity).

We also meet the Chessmen. Including King, they are the four friends he trusts the most, named for chess pieces: Rook, Knight and Bishop. I anticipate their stories. Its going to be great. Nicely set up for future books.

Well crafted, intelligent, funny, great characters and the longest, slowest burn, ever. Eight years, people!
I did so love The Duchess Hunt and I highly recommend it.

How does a duke find a wife? if you're the so very regal Duke of Kingsland you put out an ad in the newspaper and ask the ladies of the ton to apply extolling their beauty and characteristics that make them suitable Duchess material?  As readers who've read the first book in this series know this could go so wrong and the perfect duchess rides off into the sunset with her perfect man who is not the Duke of Kingsland. If once you don't succeed and you're a duke you just execute the same plan again with a slight twist. You have your secretary review the applications and announce the winner at an annual ball hosted for this very reason.  Will this second go around be more successful than the first?
Penelope, already head over heels for her handsome employer is determined to discharge her current assignment to the best of her ability.  Soon the Duke is escorting her to ton affairs so they can check out the short listed women on her list and assess if they'll make a suitable Duchess. All these extracurricular activities emphasize to the Duke how attracted he is to Penelope and how suitable she is to become his Duchess.  However the Duke takes a convoluted path to resolving his dilemma which builds a nice spot of suspense to the story, particularly since both protagonists have secrets in their past that they're hiding from.
I love how the author engages her readers into the lives and doings of her characters bringing all the threads together into a very neat bow.  Ms. Heath is one of the authors responsible for bringing me back into the fold of historical romance readers which had become a bit jaded for me.

This is the second book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series. It follows Hugh the Duke of Kingsland and his secretary of eight years Penelope Pettypeace.

Penelope has been handed the task of finding a suitable bride for the Duke. There's just one little problem. She is in love with him.

Lorraine Heath can do no wrong. The Duchess Hunt was such a fun and enjoyable book filled with love and humor.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Duchess Hunt is the second book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series by Lorraine Heath. A historical romance that is sure to take your breathe away. I was drawn in from the beginning and was left wanting more.

THE DUCHESS HUNT is the second book in Lorraine Heath’s “Once Upon a Dukedom” series. Although this is part of a series, I think THE DUCHESS HUNT works as a standalone novel as well. The story opens with Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland assisting him with, among many other things, his latest search for a bride. His previous attempt didn’t go so well, with the lady marrying somebody else instead. This is perfect for romance readers who enjoy the trope involving an employer and employee. While Kingsland’s secretary, Penelope Pettypeace, has been in love with him for ages, in this book he only just starts to realize how deep his feelings for her are. His feelings seem obvious to everyone, in including close friends and family, except for him. Like most Lorraine Heath books, the characters in THE DUCHESS HUNT have some emotional issues to resolve before they can truly find peace and happiness.

Although they grew up in different sections of society, Kingsland and Penelope both had difficult childhoods. Penelope’s difficulties were mainly a result of financial circumstances, while Kingsland’s issues were because of his sadistic brute of a father. Thankfully we don’t get a too detailed look at various acts of humiliation Kingsland experienced in his youth, but we get enough of a snapshot to appreciate what influenced the man he became. Lorraine Heath scatters hints throughout the book about Penelope’s past before revealing all near the end. It’s nothing too horrifying, but super scandalous and possibly ruinous for that place and time. The sexual tension builds until they both indulge in their mutual attraction. I liked how the hero’s mother tried to be low key about playing matchmaker and pushing this couple together. As with any story with this trope, an imbalance of power is always part of the story. It’s less of an issue in this story, but it’s always something in the back of you’re mind as you’re reading along. The love scenes are very sensual and have more significance because of the relationship the characters have had for years.

THE DUCHESS HUNT has complex characters, emotional punch, a mystery to vex the heroine, and an enthralling love story. I’d be interested in reading about Kingsland’s brother in a future book. He made a nice yet realistic turnaround in this story. I’d like to see how he continues to evolve. I look forward to Lorraine Heath’s next book.

An enchanting tale of unrequited love, Penelope Pettypeace made me want to sob and cheer for her in equal parts. She is a mystery and a self-made woman who works as the Duke of Kingsland's secretary. Although Penelope has loved Hugh for years, Hugh has only recently started to notice her. Once he starts thinking about her, he cannot stop and cannot think of anyone else even as he has tasked her with finding him a duchess. They both have secrets from their past that can destroy any future they might have. I honestly didn't think I would like Hugh based on the previous book of this series but I loved him in this book. I definitely recommend this book and series.

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

CW: physical, verbal and emotional abuse; child pornography; exploitation of a minor

After being blown away by Scoundrel of My Heart this spring, The Duchess Hunt became one of my most anticipated reads of the fall. I had incredibly high hopes for this book and somehow it managed to exceed my wildest expectations. This book!! I am fully in love with everything about it – from the characters to the romance to the plot – it’s perfect. It left me speechless and an emotional mess in the best way at the end.

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess but has no desire to go through the courting game. So he does what any reasonable man would do – he puts an ad in the paper asking the woman of the ton to apply for the position. After this plan backfired last Season (see why in Scoundrel of My Heart), he decides his long-time secretary Penelope Pettypeace will select his future bride from those who apply. Unfortunately for Penelope, this is the worst task she could be asked to do as she’s been pining for King for years, yet knows nothing will come of her unrequited feelings. When they receive a letter threatening to expose hidden truths, King and Penelope have to confront the realities of their past – together.

Lorraine Heath has always been an author I enjoyed reading, but she’s creeping up there as one of my all-time favorites. No one does romances that evoke such strong feelings quite like Heath. This book was a romantic masterpiece.

My emotions were fully invested in the story and I feel like I went on this journey with Penelope and King. Their feelings were my feelings. My heart ached when theirs ached, my heart soared when theirs did, my heart broke when theirs did. I was fully swept up in the story and emotions. It was the most perfect of perfect slowburns. I even cried at the end of the epilogue as it was a beautiful expression of love over the years.

The romance in this book was everything I wanted and more. The pining and longing between Penelope and King were top-notch. I’m a sucker for books with hard-core pining and it’s been a while since I’ve read one that was so well-executed. Both Penelope and King want each other, but they both view anything happening between them as impossible given their roles and status. The reason they couldn’t be together felt totally valid. He is a Duke and her employer and worries he’d be taking advantage of her. She’s worried anything that happens between them would ruin their working relationship and potentially expose a secret from her past. Add into the fact that King’s asked Penelope to pick out his new wife, and the emotional stakes get amped up majorly. I didn’t think the romance could get any better at that point until they decide to bang it out to get each other out of their system, which we know never works. Of course, they can’t just be together once and call it day, adding even more complexity to the emotions in play in their romantic relationship. I loved watching all the twists and turns Heath took these two characters on to reach their happily ever after as they really had to go on a journey to get there. Heath also really knows how to twist the knife on the emotions which makes them finally getting the ending they deserved even better.

Both King and Penelope present themselves to society as incredibly buttoned-up, straight-laced, and level-headed. Who would guess they both have such strong emotions burning under the surface? Watching them break down that hard-exterior they present the world and fall hard for each other added another element to this story I loved. I was fascinated by King in Scoundrel of My Heart and knew there was more to him than meets the eye. Watching him get unraveled by his feelings for Penelope was amazing. I live for stories like that.

King is everything I want in a male romantic lead. He’s sexy, incredibly smart and capable, admires and treats women with respect, values consent and has a dark secret in his past. Honestly, what’s not to love?? Despite being such a button-up and seemingly unfeeling man (see how he decides to select a wife for why you might classify him as unfeeling), he still manages to see Penelope as an equal, despite her gender. There’s no one he trusts more with his business or his feeling than her as she’s the most capable person he knows. Penelope is totally deserving of his respect as well. She’s helped him make the dukedom a success and has an incredibly keen eye for investments. She’s got a strong head on her shoulders and is used to making her own way in the world. Like King, she also has a secret that could threaten everything she’s built over the years. I love these two characters so much as Heath imbued them with such depth and complexity. They’re not perfect people by any means. They have flaws and make missteps, but that made them feel so real and relatable.

Outside of the romance and the characters, I also loved the plot of this story. I felt I was kept on the edge of my toes with what was happening. I loved that we had the Kingsland ball where King would pick his new wife giving the story a sense of urgency as there was a deadline for Penelope and King’s relationship. Heath also did a great job slowly revealing King and Penelope’s secrets over the course of the book. I had accurately guessed Penelope’s secret, as there were plenty of hints as to what it might be, but King’s secret made me gasp! I thought I figured it out, but I had it wrong. Both of their secrets also tie into who these people are, which I loved. It didn’t feel like Heath threw in the secrets as a plot point, as they were an essential piece of the characters’ past that help shaped them into the people they came to be.

The Duchess Hunt is a book that has stuck with me since I read it and I’m already craving a reread of it. This book is something special – much like Scoundrel of My Heart was. These books hit every emotional beat and tick every box for me. Heath’s writing, characters and storytelling swept me up and made me forget about the world. I wouldn’t be shocked if this book ends up being my top book of the year – and I’ve read a lot of books I’ve loved.

I’m desperately hoping Heath’s not done with the characters from this series as I still want to see Marcus get a happily ever after and wouldn’t mind seeing the Chessmen get their own books. Since I fell in love with the Sins For All Season series, I cannot get enough of Heath’s work. Safe to say, I’m a total fangirl now.

Definitely pick this book up if you haven’t already – and add Scoundrel of My Heart to your TBR as well as that book is a pure delight and I loved it despite some quirks with the plot!

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Ms. Heath for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Please don't interpret my 3.5 star rating as poor. I liked the book; I did! I liked the general characters of Hugh and Penelope very much (although I liked Hugh's mom and his brother, Lawrence, MORE). I liked the general plot flow and I appreciated Ms. Heath's writing voice.

I generally like the unrequited love trope and while I could completely buy into Penelope's, I wasn't so sure about Hugh's. Why now? Literally as he's shopping for other women? What was the catalyst for his sudden fascination with her hair tendrils and her smooth skin and her collarbone hidden by blue dresses? Just now, after years? Idk. I needed more.

Now, giant life-ruining secrets are a romancelandia trope that I DON'T particularly care for. It's not the secret itself, it's the execution of it in the plot. Penelope's is certainly a big one, exactly as portrayed. Realistically speaking, a relationship between a secretary and a duke would be sunk fast enough without THAT to add in on top. However, Hugh's is arguably a much bigger secret that was given extremely short shrift. It's downplayed and then wrapped up neatly with a bow after only a few pages. Frankly, I was expecting much more from that situation.

The epilogues were cute and I kind of liked that there was no overt lead-in to the "next' Duke as happens so often in romance series. Sometimes I find myself resentful at the obvious dangle for readers to jump straight onto the next ship, so kudos to the author for resisting making Hugh and Penelope's ending into another couple's beginning.

This is a cute story and a good read, despite my personal reservations about a couple plot elements. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Heath writes next.

I adored Hugh and Penelope's story!! I loved watching these two go from employee and employer to lovers! They were perfect for one another!! Definitely one to put on the TBR pile!

A flirty, fresh, and fun romance with an enchanting pair of characters.

Hugh, the Duke of Kingsland is in search of a wife and yet he has no heart to offer in return.

Rather than worry about such details, he leaves the rather tedious task to his most favored and quite lovely assistant Penelope Pettypeace.

Clever, independent, kind, strong, and willful....she is the perfect person to ensure success on such a mission. The hunt for a Duchess couldn't be in better hands.

That is, until unexpected drama and secrets bring this absolutely delightful duo closer together. Not only will they have to navigate hidden feelings that until now had been ignored dutifully, but they must solve a mystery. A mystery that could threaten their current way of life as they know it.

From beginning to end, you will laugh and smile. You may shed a tear or two....mostly happy ones I assure you. You will also feel your heart beat a little faster as you join Hugh and Penelope on their adventure as they find love right before their eyes. Such a beautifully written tale that I adored every bit of.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lord Hugh Bringsley-Norton, Duke of Kingsland, wants a quiet wife who will not expect love and affection because he can't offer her his heart. He puts an advent out in the paper with his quest to find a wife. He leaves the task of deciding who his wife will be to his secretary, Penelope Pettypeace. Sadly, Penelope has been in love with the Duke forever, but knows they don't have a future because of the secrets of her past.

I loved this book so much. Both Hugh and Penelope are no-nonsense and pragmatic people that it made watching them discover their relationship and falling in love super enjoyable. Penelope has worked for the Duke for eight years, and it took him all this time to notice how integral she was to his life. Once he notices her for the women she is, he can't stop. It forces him to confront uncomfortable truths like that he can't live without her. The ending was perfect and adorable, and I enjoyed the way both their secrets were revealed.

4.5 stars!

Even though this novel was such a slow burn, I found myself thoroughly entranced in the tenuous love story between King and Penelope. They both held onto secrets of their past, knowing they had the power to drastically change their future, but they both yearned for the freedom and peace that could only be found in the truth. My heart broke for Penelope as she relived her unrequited love for King daily while searching for his future wife, while King started questioning Penelope's role in his life. The ending proposal was everything I was hoping for, and King's grovel was one of my favorites. I do wish there was a bit more danger and drama, but overall this was a brilliant historical romance by Lorraine Heath!

Scoundrel of My Heart set high expectations for this book and I am delighted to report that I was not disappointed!
This book is for the angst lovers like myself. These two just PINE for each other like no one's business. I haven't read this much pining since Caleb and Sesily in Bombshell.
The story is set at a good pace and never has a dull moment. I'm so happy!
Heath is a wonderful writer of romance and this is a perfect example of her talent.
Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me an arc. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.