The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan is the first of the Duke Hunt series. I’ll admit, it isn’t my favorite book I’ve read by Sophie Jordan. This story is about Peregrine Butler, who lived a super privileged life. That is, until it comes out that he was born before his parents got married and thus is illegitimate and he is no longer heir to the dukedom. Now, he has to marry really well seeing as how he no longer has money. Imogene Bates is the daughter of the vicar, the good girl keep watch over her small village and their spiritual needs. Peregrine is someone she had crossed paths with years ago, when she overheard him saying mean things with other men about her. So, when he shows up, Imogene starts some rumors about him so he doesn’t happen to ensnare any women. Meanwhile, it turns out that years later, there may be a spark between Perry and Imogene.

As said, this isn’t quite my favorite of Jordan’s work. However, I did like the aspect of Imogene starting rumors to try and stop Perry from finding a woman. The rumors are kind of funny too and mostly innocuous. Also, there’s a part where Perry helps Imogene out of a scary position to be in. But, overall, my attention wandered during this book. The audiobook is narrated by Carolyn Morris and is 7 hours and 51 minutes long. It’s a short audiobook but not super memorable.

I reviewed this title for All About Romance at the following link: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/the-duke-goes-down-by-sophie-jordan/

The Duke Goes Down is an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers, slow burn historical romance featuring Imogen and Perry. Although their start as a couple is rocky, they each make the other a better person and by the end are able to find their HEA.

Please note this book is part of a series and while it can be read as a stand alone, you will find more enjoyment reading the series in order to get glimpses of the characters.

I really enjoyed this book and wondered what would happen to Perry after previous books in this series. He becomes a humble and truly good man throughout the course of this book and his perfect match is Imogen. She's quiet and has had a hard life with a bad husband. Their town expects perfection from her at all times. Thankfully becoming friends with Perry allows her to dip her toes into actually being happy.

I think the plot moved a little slow at times but the story is good as are the characters. A lot of the townspeople are awful but there are plenty of side characters to add color to the book. I definitely recommend this and look forward to more!

While I like the author, I found something lacking in the heroine, who holds a grudge for a very long time, then uses it against the hero to destroy him, but she is a nice person? I was unable to fall in like with the characters. The author is very gifted, and I will always want to read her next book.
Most SJ fans will enjoy. Thank you #Netgalley #TheDukeGoesDown
carolintallahassee

I adored Imogen and Perry's story! With Perry losing all that he had known, it was an interesting twist to the story and definitely different from what I normally read. Loved it!! 🥰

I wanted to read this because I like this author's contemporary series. I dnf'd this at almost sixty percent through. I liked it at the beginning, but the relationship never got better and I was pretty much done after the guy was basically calling her ugly in his inner dialogue. He was only interest in her after they made out a little.

This was an enjoyable, quick read, but there wasn’t much to the plot. The heroine holds a grudge against the hero from when they were young and takes it out on him in the present day, with little reason for doing so. The chemistry was great, but it was hard to root for Imogen.

I'm a big fan of childhood-friends-to-lovers, and Sophie Jordan took it to an entirely new level in this book with childhood-enemies-to-lovers! I loved both Perry and Imogen's character development, as they both had to unlearn ideas they'd believed their entire lives to become better people. Of course, part of how they did so was through falling for each other! Their steamy scenes were quite enjoyable as well. I also enjoyed the the picturesque setting and the village's cast of characters.

Although this wasn't my favorite historical romance, I'm looking forward to continuing the series!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Perry, who was brought up to be duke until it was discovered that he was born before his parents married, is trying to figure out just who he is now that there's no title, no money, and he's living at home with his mother. Imogen is a vicar's daughter, who'd been thrown together with Perry and his sister when children because of their family positions, and has had an intense dislike for Perry since then, as he'd constantly picked on her and then was overheard agreeing with his friends that she was a nobody, etc.. So she sets out to discredit him with the heiresses in town by spreading rumors. Of course, Perry overhears her and confronts her ... and there are sparks. Not a surprise, unfortunately. What is a surprise is how easily they forgive one another, and of course have a happy-ever-after. But this is the first in the series, so it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the series develops.

I just did not love this book. I do not want to harp on so I will just say the pacing was all over the place, there wasn't evident love to me, and I found the plot to not really live up to the blurb.

I have to admit, I hated the female main character for literally 48% of the book. I'm thankful I stuck it out though, I love HEA books.

Note: not for those looking for closed door romance, this book is sizzling

The Duke indeed goes down. This series is everything and.I LOVED IT. I loved the made-up stories the FMC shares about MMC they were everything. I loved exploring being a lady vicar. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.

Such a lovely book! One of my favorite tropes. Child to adulthood enemies turned to lovers.

Perry and Imogen were so mean to eachother, that it was hilarious. Perry loses his title as duke and in the mist of trying to find a rich heiress, Imogen the culprit spreads rumors about him having more than 10 toes, being bald, a bad kisser, and was sick.

They were so mean to one another they deserved he eachother at the end. But I'm so happy they got there happily ever after.

Peregrine and Imogen did not have an auspicious beginning. Childhood dislike grew to loathing in their teen years as she overheard Perry's crushing comments about her. Now as adults, this vicar's daughter and former Duke are at a crossroads. She is starting to accept her spinster life with her ailing father and he, now that's it found out he isn't his father's legitimate heir, must find an heiress to wed. Imogen is judgmental, ruthless, and spiteful in the best way. He is selfish, entitled, and desperate. She spreads increasingly appalling rumors about him to stop his chances of marrying one of the village girls. Even his own mother comes to call him a pox-ridden, penniless bastard! What will he do for the rest of his life? And what role does Imogen play in it?

A great enemies to lovers romance with a fun twist. Sophie Jordan keeps us entertained with her witty heroine and brooding Duke who is just trying to keep it all together.

What a fun take on what could have been another in a long line of regency romances!

The Duke Goes Down (The Duke Hunt #1). By Sophie Jordan. 2021. Avon (ARC eBook).

The Duke Goes Down is a fun, well-written enemies-to-lovers romance. Perry Butler, the former Duke of Penning, finds himself on an unexpected path as his hunt for a heiress is waylaid by rumors and his growing frustration, curiosity, and desire for the local vicar’s daughter, Imogen Bates. While Perry and Imogen’s romance is a steamy slow burn, I found the story to be a fast, page-turning read; and as usual, I look forward to more books by Jordan.

Oh man, as someone who usually really enjoys everything I've read by Sophie Jordan, it hurts me to say that his was not it. First of all, this might be one of the most unlikable heroines I've ever read about in a romance. Like I get that the hero hurt her feelings, but her holding a lifelong grudge about it is not a good look. And the rumors she spread about him? What the hell. I don't understand how the hero could be attracted to her much less love her after the shit she pulled. And bc of her brother-in-law, the heroine hates all men? Again, not a good look for the heroine of a romance novel. Yikes.

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

This book ticked all the boxes for me. Witty banter. Hot sensual tension. Beautifully crafted love scenes. Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

I devoured this book but its a little far out of there for the time period. But the plot is very different and fun to read. Imogen is the daughter of the vicar and hated to visit the Duke's place even as a child- now he is back and in a very different place - Perry is trying to figure it all out. The banter is high angst with this enemy to lovers. Imogen is not a lovable character like you might even hate her a bit-.she gossips - mean to Perry- but nice to the community- she is well almost a man hater in a way...

I see some people really not liking this one but view it more of the series starter.
I can't wait for who the duke is going to be and there better be a book for her BFF the farmer's daughter so she get her HEA!

3.5 stars
3.5 steam

Thanks Avon for a copy of this book