Always the Second Choice is book twelve in the Never the Bride series. It can be read as a stand alone, though many characters from prior books are mentioned, but not integral to the plot.

This series is easy, quick reading. The HR equivalent of a beach read.

Tropes: twins, impersonation, forced proximity, road trip

Isabella is the older twin, the one who every falls all over to impress, even though she's sharp tongued and uncaring. Isabella has been engaged to the Duke of Larnwick, Colin Vaughn, for two years. She keeps postponing the nuptials for ridiculous reasons.

Olivia is the younger twin. She's been made to feel second choice her whole life, living in her sister's shadow. Her sister was honored with the come-out ball, her sister picks their clothes, her sister gets the Duke.

The story begins as Isabella leaves a cryptic note and skips out on her wedding day. Now, reader, suspend your disbelief, because the unwed younger twin and the jilted Duke go off on a road trip to find Isabella and get her hitched to cinnamon roll Colin. Road trip. Alone. Well, you can imagine what happens. I love this trope! The usual happens (only one room at the inn), and Colin realizes he should have first picked the "second choice" after getting to know the lovely person Olivia is.

The characters are not very deep, and that's okay, sometimes you just need uncomplicated characters and story.

Colin is a Scot, but he comes across as a proper English gent. We don't ever get to know much about Colin, he seems a bit of a pushover. Why would he put up with his wedding being postponed for two years? Why would he still want to marry the girl who jilted him several times, the woman he says he has no feelings for and doesn't even really like?

Olivia was a better fleshed out character who is learning to straighten her backbone and use her voice for what she wants instead of fading into her sister's shadow.

Isabella's story was actually super interesting, and I'd love to know how she pulled off her "twist."

The ending was abrupt. I would have liked to have seen Colin grovel a lot more.

Good story with some unique twists, one one page steamy scene that was not very long or detailed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and freely given.

4 stars

A bi of road trip story. Olivia is fed up with her identical twin. Isabella been putting off her marriage to Colin, the duke with all sorts of excuses. Olivia likes Colin a lot. Isabella has also been very picky and strange for the last couple of years. When Isabella runs off to Brighton, Colin demands Olivia comes with him to find her and pretends to be Isabella when necessary. Olivia being the younger twin has always resented the fact that Isabella had a ball to launch her debut and got to choose all their dresses etc. Eventually Colin susses that he's been pining over the wrong woman.

This seems to be the end of a series. I've read read stories 1, 6 and 10.5 but as they are all standalone stories sodidn't give me an advantage. The epilogue brings back some of the earlier heros and heroines to round it all.
Good mostly clean fun.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Olivia's twin Isabella has been engaged to Colin who is a Duke for the past three years. She gas called of the wedding many times. The family insists that Olivia look for Isabella after she goes missing the day of her wedding. Olivia begins to fall in love with the Duke. I enjoyed the cast of characters in this book.

Always the Second Choice is part of an interconnected series about ladies who didn't think they would ever find true love for various reasons. I have read some of the other books, and familiarity with the characters from other books helps but certainly isn't required. Jacob Beauvale from Always a Widow plays a small but significant part here.

In this one, Miss Olivia Lymington is in love with her twin sister Isabella's fiance, Colin, the Duke of Larnwick. Isabella seems less than enthusiastic about the wedding and has postponed the big day several times. On the morning of the latest wedding date, Isabella goes missing. Olivia thinks she knows where Isabella might have gone, and Colin and Olivia set out to travel together to get her back.

What I liked: This is entertaining, nicely written, and held my attention enough to finish it in a day. I liked Olivia and Colin's conversations about being the overlooked twin and the second choice. I guessed both surprise plot twists beforehand but it was more like "well done, nicely foreshadowed" than "oh no, so predictable". Most romance is rather predictable if we're being honest here, and we are.

What I didn't like as much: The decisions of the characters could have been better motivated. Isabella hasn't treated Colin well for the entire two years of their engagement but he's still determined to marry her, even after it is entirely clear that this is not what Isabella wants, after Colin starts to realize it's not what he wants either, and after he has done several things with Olivia that could totally decimate Olivia's reputation. They spend a couple of nights together at inns and are seen publicly by acquaintances and gossips who think she is his wife. I was expecting a scandal to erupt at any minute, because a newlywed duke wouldn't be something you forget, and eventually someone would find out that he didn't get married for real. But this plot thread was left hanging and we never find out how they explained their eventual society wedding later to the people who thought he was already married to somebody else.

It is mostly well edited but there's one passage in their eventual reunion scene in which Olivia gets sad because Colin returns to formality of address and calls her Miss Lymington. Only he didn't, in the previous line he called her Olivia. (And technically Isabella is the older twin so it's Isabella who would be Miss Lymington, not Olivia.) I read a free digital review copy from Netgalley, and the actual published book might be different.

I'm leaving a voluntary review.

A delightful and light hearted regency romance. A Duke who has to contend with twin heiresses, one he's wrongly chosen that doesn't want him and the other he's slowly falling in love with while searching for her runaway twin. Colin and Olivia keep it interesting. Love fixes all in the end.

First she tried to elope with her sister Olivia’s betrothed. Shortly after that, Isabella became betrothed to the Duke of Larnwick. She has delayed the wedding for one reason after another for nearly two years. At last the wedding day has come, and Isabella suddenly disappears. Colin, the Duke, is furious (finally). He wants to find her, and her insists that Olivia help him.

Olivia and Isabella are twins. Isabella is a bit older and has always been the favored sister. Olivia has had enough of being the second choice. Olivia has liked and been attracted to Colin. He looks at her like everyone else does, second sister, second choice. As she and Colin search for Isabella, they get to know each other. It turns out Isabella has a secret, a big one, and Colin accuses Olivia of being involved in her scheme. Can she convince him that she did not know what Olivia was doing? Will she even try? Will somebody smack Colin in the back of his head so that he realizes Olivia is not a second choice, but the best one, so that they can have their happily ever after?

This story was lighthearted with a few serious spots, the kind that make the happily ever after sweeter. Colin was annoying at first, but Olivia brought him around. I have really enjoyed this series. The stories were always fun and entertaining, never disappointing.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This was such a beautiful story. I wanted this couple to be together so much and enjoyed reading how their romance bloomed. The difficulties dealing with pride, preconceptions, gossip, and expectations were enormous for all involved and the story followed the characters as they grew through this and ultimately flourished. #netgalley #AlwaystheSecondChoice

I think this might be the last in this Always series by E K Murdoch.

***contains Spoilers!!***

This book involves the twin sisters we heard a lot about in the last book. Isabella Lymington is supposed to get married to the Duke of Larnwick of Scotland. Well he proposed two years ago, and they’ve still not tied the knot. On her wedding day she decides to disappear, much to the chagrin of her twin Olivia.

As the Duke tries to find an answer to all this, Olivia helps him travel through England to find Isabella.
When everyone mistakes them for the newlyweds and they always just get one room, Olivia can’t fight the feelings she’s been keeping hidden.
The Duke of Larnwick, Colin Vaughn, slowly realizes that the twins are different and thinks he’s chosen the wrong one.

There is a twist regarding Isabella at the end, that one might see coming, but I think Olivia is way too kind and forgiving.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Is he right to chase after the twin who ran away ...

I like the author’s series but sadly this one did not truly work for me.
Colin is kind and sweet, too sweet for his rank, or he would have already been eaten by the wild beasts inhabiting the ton.
He might no be an English Duke, he is so prim and proper, I am curious how he found himself in such a predicament.
Olivia is quite the maker of her own predicament, she let people walk on her and assume about herself and never put truly a real fight. So it is no wonder, everyone took a shine to the twin who voiced more loudly than the other her wishes and wants.
In which world a Duke will engage in a trip without his valet and a maid who could have acted as chaperone for the single woman accompanying him.
And also a Duke who let innkeepers decide his rooms arranged for him...
In which world parents act carelessly like Olivia’s....
3 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes.

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

Olivia Lymington never liked her sister, but twins are always supposed to be close. Now Isabella is engaged to the charming and handsome Colin Vaughn, Duke of Larnwick, and Olivia is forced to act as chaperone until the big day. That’s why, when Isabella goes missing, the entire Lymington family considers it Olivia's responsibility to find her wayward twin. Colin Vaughn, Duke of Larnwick, is tired of waiting for Isabella to become his bride, and now she’s gone, he’s outraged. He’ll track her down if it’s the last thing he’ll do – and make her marry him. But the journey is throwing up some unexpected surprises; namely, the delectable identical twin sister of his missing bride.
The twelfth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own but as with most books in the series it does have a connection to others. A well written fun, entertaining read. I always love stories involving identical twins, as you just know there will be shenanigans & misunderstandings. I loved how Olivia came into her own & is no longer the afterthought. I also really liked Colin but I’m not sure I would have chased after someone who’d humiliated me, that aside this was an engrossing enjoyable read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This is a lighthearted romance, although I did have quite a problem identifying with the characters. Surely, after two years of dithering, the Duke of Larnwick would have come to his senses and ditched Isabella? And after all Isabella had done to hurt Olivia, why would Olivia still be willing to support her sister? Even more surprising is why Olivia would go with Colin from one end of the country to the other to find her sister, risking her own reputation? Nevertheless, the attraction between Olivia and Colin is tangible and they find they have more in common with each other than he ever had with her twin. Colin discovers that there is no way that the two sisters could be mistaken for one another. I enjoyed the romance that developed between the main characters and was glad that they found their peace. I have been impressed with the book covers in this series as they have all been pretty and romantic. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Colin, the Duke of Larnwick has decided to marry Isabella Lymington, eventually. After putting of the wedding for a couple of years the day has come for his wedding only to fin his bride missing. With his pride hurt he goes on a hunt for his delinquent bride. On the journey with him is his bride-to-be's twin sister Olivia. While together they discover more about each other and what exactly they want.

This was a quick sweet read. If your looking for an entertaining light read, you have found a good one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the twelfth book in the Never The Bride series. All the books can be read as a stand alone, but they usually have a connection to one other hero or heroine from the series.

Olivia and Isabella Lymington could not be more different, despite the fact that they are identical twins. Isabella, the outgoing and vivacious (even if a little spoiled) twin, is engaged to the handsome Duke of Larnwick, Colin Vaughn, and has repeatedly postponed their wedding over a two year time period. The sweet and kind twin, Olivia, always feels like an afterthought. When Isabella disappears on her wedding day, Colin is outraged and determined to find her. But the journey is full of surprises, especially when he's traveling alone with her twin and discovering that maybe he .picked the wrong sister.

Tropes: Road Trip, Twins, Forced Proximity. This is a quick light, low on steam romantic read. I enjoyed how the hero came to terms with what he wanted for his future and the plot twists and turns.

First of all what a beautifull book cover . A story about a twin young woman who always comes second to her older twin sister even in the love . A Duke with one more time delayed to get married and return to Scotland , A run away bride and her sister and soon to be husband traveling to find her . A really sweet love story .
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Despite being twins, Olivia and Isabella Lymington could not be more different. Isabella is engaged to the handsome Duke of Larnwick, Colin Vaughn, and Olivia always feels like an afterthought. When Isabella disappears on her wedding day, Colin is outraged and determined to find her. But the journey is full of surprises, especially when he's traveling alone with her twin.

This is the twelfth book in the Never The Bride series. All the books can stand alone, but they usually have a connection to one other hero or heroine from the series. In this story, the hero from book nine (Always The Widow) plays a role in Olivia and Colin's happily ever after.

I enjoy twin plots, but they tend to come with a heap of deception. This one was a little different, and I liked that. Olivia has always felt invisible as the second twin and she agrees to help find her missing sister almost as a way of moving on with her own life. Colin is a bit of a fool at first; he doesn't really want Isabella but he refuses to be jilted and humiliated. There were a few small things that bothered me along the way, but I liked how Olivia opened up to Colin and I enjoyed the twist.

Tropes: Road Trip, Twins, Forced Proximity

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #AlwaysTheSecondChoice #NetGalley

Always the Second Choice
By Emily E K Murdoch

This was a quick, easy light regency romance book.

Always the Second Choice is the twelfth book in Emily E.K. Murdoch's Never the Bride series.

Olivia Lyminton is from a wealthy, but not titled family, she lives with her parents and sisters. Her twin sister, Isabella is engaged to the charming and handsome Colin Vaughn, Duke of Larnwick, and Olivia is forced to act as chaperone until the big day. However, on the morning before their marriage, Isabella disappears.

Olivia knows her twin sister better than anyone, so she decides to travel with Colin Vaughn, Duke of Larnwick, to find her sister so they can marry.

Olivia is anxious to get out of her sisters shadow and lead her own life, and the Duke is angry about being stood up by Olivia’s sister, Isabella.

I found the characters to be likable, however their motivations were unconvincing. I wasn’t convinced that Olivia had a great reason to leave her home and travel with a single man across the country. Also, I wasn’t convinced as to why the Duke would travel to find Isabella after she humiliated him by leaving on the day of their marriage.

However, the banter between the characters and the journey was fun. They both showed us a very human side to their characters, and I once I got over their motivations to take the journey, I was entertained along the way.

I would recommend this book for lovers of Regency Romance, and anyone up for a light enjoyable read.

This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

As always in this series, this book never fails to deliver, so enjoyable and entertaining to read, there isn’t a bad one in the collection.

Emily is a brilliant writer and I can’t wait to read more.
Never the Bride series introduced me to her writing and I’ve loved every book.

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

Olivia is in love with her identical twin sister’s fiancée, Colin. Colin doesn’t notice her, but instead is intent to marry her sister Isabella. After pushing back the wedding for over two years, Isabella runs away the day of the wedding. Colin and Olivia go off together to find her. After spending a few days together, Colin realizes that he should be marrying Olivia instead of Isabella. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.