Ok. The book was nice, it was definitely well written. However, it was in a dire need of editing. The first chapter and introduction of how the MMC came to dukedom needed to be altered because it was so rushed.
Also, the transition between scenes in some parts needed to be edited to keep the flow.
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Story wise, I liked the plot, it was simple enough, the duke and his originally common bred love interest. I loved how engaging it was, and also the couple had great chemistry, so that was a plus, too.
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The MMC isn't my favorite character, he kept saying his moniker and behaviors were all an act, but his thoughts were kind of arrogant and haughty, which of course weren't an act.
The FMC, on the other hand, was amazing. I loved how undramatic she was, she was put in a new environment and felt insecure, but that didn't mean she was weak. She held herself gracefully and showed how intelligent she was.
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Overall, a good book.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I really love Alexa Aston's books and this one is really good too. So good, that after reading and reviewing an advanced copy on NetGalley, I went and bought a copy for myself.
Very much enjoyed!

Jonathan Sutton was the second son and never expected to become the Duke. When his brother and father both die on the same day, he becomes the Duke at 16 years old. Arrabella, whose father recently became an Earl, is the new to the ton and their strict polite society rules. This book was an easy and delightful read.

Duke of Arrogance, by Alexa Aston. It was such a pleasure for me to read this book. The first few chapters introducing Arabella and Jon had my mouth gaping like a fish. There was so much intense drama in them. I thought sure someone wouldn’t make it out alive in the book.
The book was very entertaining and fun to read. The story focused on the courtship of Jon and Arabella. This book is an easy read for the diehard readers. The book provides the readers with information about the formalities of being introduced into the ton. This is something Arabella finds herself struggling to cope with.
But with the help of Jon, his sister and his friends, Arabella slowly excepts these friendly gestures. Until next time my fellow readers… read on!

The Bluestocking and the Rake

Arabella’s first encounter with the ton was cruel. Her father had just become an earl. He was the fourth son and never expected to inherit the title, so he did not know the social niceties to teach his daughter. When Arabella decided to seek shelter in the library, she would unwittingly change the course of her life. The Duke of Blackmore, also known as the Duke of Arrogance, decided to go to that same library, meeting Arabella and deciding to make her his duchess. However, it would not be as simple as an instant decision. Jon must convince Arabella he was in earnest, and he must accept that he was worthy of love. You see, the Duke of Arrogance had a secret, and it might stop him from accepting that he deserved to be loved. Could Arabella’s love reform this rake? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to lovers of Regency romance.

A typical Regency love story with a bite of thrill.
Arabella,a young intelligent woman who makes her debut in polite society unexpectedly due to her father becoming an Earl, would have become a bluestocking wallflower or a complete fiasco for sure, if not for the meeting with Jonathan. Labelled as "the Duke of Arrogance" due to his behaviour which was purposefully created to hide shyness and insecurity, Jonathan, a neglected second son, finds himself in a matter of minutes, first an heir then a duke after his brother and father demise. Living with the burden of helping his twin brother to find his escape from a terrifying illness, Jonathan doesn't deign himself worthy of love. Fate, however decided differently.
A beautiful love story between two people who once meeting were given the chance to live their life fully.
It's not to be my only read in the series!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Alexa Aston marked a somewhat refreshing take on historical romance: the book has an interesting approach to secondary characters, with dark takes to their storylines - so much so that two things happened - I wished to know more about them, and I also wabted for the romance to have more time to grow between the main characters.
I loved getting to know the author's writing style though :) so many thanks to all those involved in granting me this copy.

Another great story with a damaged Duke being brought to his knees by a strong female. This series is very enjoyable and I love that the author knows how to write both Rogues and Daring Ladies - brings them together for explosive romance and steamy bedroom scenes.

Full RTC

Jon was the second son of twins to the Duke of Blackmore. His father had spent all of his time and energy in Arch the first born. Then at sixteen Arch and their father both die. All of a sudden Jon is the duke. Now many years later after being quite a rogue he decides to behave while his sister is having her season. He meets Arabelle and feels he is not good enough for her but they love each other. The story takes us to how they work out their love and the future for both of them.

Alexa Aston has me hooked! Each book in the series is better than the last. I loved both Arabella and Jon as well as catching up with all my "friends" from the previous books. I can't wait for Sebastian's story!
Thank you Alexa Aston, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Bluestocking and Dukes are a favorite trope of mine, and Duke of Arrogance brings wit, romance, and regency mayhem in spades. Alexa Aston develops such memorable, charming characters, and Arabella is no exception. Blackmore checks off that handsome, brooding Duke box very well.

A true love story. Jonathan loved his older twin Arch. When Arch died at 16, their father also died...and Jon became Duke. Arabella is a professor's dauggter, happy with her life in Oxford...then her father becomes an Earl. This story has lots of ups and downs. Our characters grow stronger because of the people around them. I loved every page, and look forward to Elizabeth and Sebastián's story.

This book had me crying . Stared the book. put it down and had to go back to it , i don't want this story to end.. Love this book can't put it down.

I knew this would be a good story when I ended the first chapter in tears. Both main characters had that feeling of being imposters in their roles in society, and finding each other was definitely meant to be in more than one way. This couple was easy to see together, they simply fit. I enjoyed this read very much. #netgalley #dukeofarrogance

I am always saying, "You never know what goes on behind closed doors." This story is a prime example of that. Jonathan Sutton, the Duke of Blackmore, is arrogant, rude, and impudent. That is why the ton has labeled him the Duke of Arrogance. Having been reared as the second son, he suddenly finds himself heir at sixteen when his twin brother and father die the same day leaving him to care for his young sister, Elizabeth. Jon sets out to live the life his brother would have lived had he been Duke. Until he meets Arabella Jennings. She is beautiful, intelligent, and witty. She also doesn't know much about polite society since her father is a fourth son and only recently inherited the title. Arabella was more comfortable in her father's lecture hall or among the men of the university where her father taught. Until she meets Blackmore! The sparks fly when these two meet and you don't want to miss a second of it. Alexa Aston gives her characters such depth and personality that you fall in love with them from the first page. You can't wait to read what happens to them but you are so disappointed to see it come to an end. I would love to see more storiies in this series. I know there are more yet to tell.

I would like to thank Netgalley for the Advanced Copy of this book which in no way influenced my review.

Duke of Arrogance is the fourth in a series about five dukes, each known by a moniker that supposedly defines him but does not accurately describe him.

At least that's supposedly the case with Jonathon Sutton, Duke of Blackmore. Born the younger twin, he never expected to be more than the spare, and he was okay with that. Devoted to his brother Arch--who was really the arrogant one of the two--he spent years willingly taking the blame for his brother's mistakes and misadventures, especially in the face of their father, who only loved his heir and had no affection or patience for Jon. But Arch dies when they're just 16, and his father quickly follows, leaving Jon a duke before he even enters university. In honor of his brother, Jon decides to be the arrogant ass that Arch would have been. He proceeds to behave like a jerky moron for about a decade.

That's partly why I didn't fall in love with this book. It's not enough to tell me that he's really a misunderstood, shy rule follower when none of his natural tendencies follow him into adulthood; he may not have started out an entitled arrogant jerk, but he legitimately becomes one. Snapping at a servant and pulling out the "I'm a bloody duke" card? Not cool, your Grace.

But what of our heroine? Intelligent bookish Arabella Jennings has a status change as well when her father--an Oxford don and a fourth son--unexpectedly inherits an earldom. Together, they navigate the waters and eventually end up in London, where Arabella is too have her first Season. Her first ball is pretty much a disaster, and she hides in the library. That is where Jon meets her for the first time. Almost immediately, he decides to court her.

The courting goes well until it doesn't. Arabella, for all her intelligence, falls quickly for Jon's good looks and charisma. They do share a love of books and learning, and I wish we'd seen more of them clicking. Instead, Jon suffers an "I'm not good enough for her; she deserves someone to love her" crisis, and he steps away. But then after a few weeks, he changes his mind again, and Arabella only puts up a token resistance. I really wanted her to make him grovel.

So that's pretty much the pace of the story: Arabella steadily moving forward through her Season with the Duke of Arrogance bouncing between being amazing and assholey. There is a Big Secret in his background that has to be dealt with too, and it is. But it doesn't really end up making too much of a difference in the long run.

In spite of all my grievances, I didn't dislike this book, which is generally well written. It is good to see the characters from previous novels, especially the heroine and hero from the third book, The Duke of Disrepute (I really liked that one); there's actually a slight overlap in the storylines, which is fun, though it may spoil the end of book 3 for this who read the series out of order.

I'm looking forward to the final duke's story. (Dare I hope Sebastian will find his match in Elizabeth?)

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

It was a good book but I would say that the first three chapters were just so unbelieveable that I had a hard time liking this book as much as I’d want.

What happened in those chapters, you ask? Well **SPOILERS AHEAD**

… there are lots of deaths of characters on and off the page. Arabella’s father is the forth son and suddenly he learns that he became a duke after all three of his brothers died suddenly. I mean, I’m not saying it’s not possible and it’s definitely unique because I haven’t seen this kind of plot in any book I’ve ever read but it is still just so… ugh, impossible? I guess I would prefer if at least one died two years or something ago not in the same chapter and months or even days apart.

To make this even more unbelieveable is the fact that Jon’s brother and father also died in the same chapter (well, separately from Arabella’s I think) all in the matter of seconds, making him the new duke. How convenient, right? Now, they are both members of the society. Well, Jon’s brother and father died 14 or so years before the story begins but nonetheless.

Arabella of course didn’t know how to act in Society and after crying in the bathroom she kindly helps a woman with her hair only to realise minutes later that the woman is no other than Jon’s sister. Said sister than introduces Arabella to her friends and now our heroine becomes the belle of the ball in a matter of an hour if not less.

The book is filled with this coincidences, it’s very short on angst, not much of smut just a couple hot moments but nothing memorable. Some things were also quite unbelievable (I’m sorry for using this word so much but it is true). For example, her dragging Jon in a bedroom just for kissing before they were even married or engaged. I also couldn’t believe she was in love with him after knowing him for a month or two.

3 stars. I didn’t like the book but didn’t hate it. I was just dispassionate towards it.

After Jonathan Sutton’s twin dies making him the new Duke of Blackmore he decides to live life for himself and Arch. All most of his friends have settled down with the women they love, Jon has decided it’s time to find a lady of his own. Arabella Jennings’s father becomes the new Earl Barrington, but she finds high society sees her as an interloper and most of them shun her. Joh knows he wants an intelligent and educated for his wife, someone to have intelligent conversation. He immediately know he’s found her when he spies Lady Arabella curled up in a library during a ball. A captivating story of a man who see what he wants and goes after it. He’s quite intrigued with Arabella with her feisty attitude and witty banter sparks his interest. Arabella doesn’t know quite to make of Jon, he demanding and bossy, but oh so kissable. A captivating book as these two follow their hearts, but first Jon must bare his heart and soul to the woman he loves, to see if can be forgiven for his secret crime. I voluntarily read and reviewed this excellent book filled romance.

Duke of Arrogance by Alexa Aston. I must disclose I am a huge fan of Aston and of this series. Take it for what it's worth. Jonathon Sutton had been a friend of the other Dukes of Disrepute for years, but he didn't think he should be a duke. He thought he was a fraud. He had killed his brother at 15 to get the title. Well, not to get the title. That was just the result. He killed him because Arch had begged him to. Arch was dying and he was in pain. Jon did it and resolved to live his life as Arch would have. It wasn't really him, but he had done it for all these years. He had also taken care of his sister, Elizabeth, and she was a beautiful as she was kind, and she loved him. Arabella Jennings was the daughter of an Oxford don. She was not allowed to be more because she was female. She did most of his research and wrote most of his lectures. She was there most of the time, including when the missive came telling him his brothers within weeks of one another and he was now the Earl of Barrington. Her mother was thrilled: she was to have the life she had always wanted. Sadly, she didn't see it to fruition.

Arabella was to have her season. She was a little old, but what of it? It was what her mother had wanted for her. She had had new clothes made up before leaving their country house but, even she could see they were not right: much too plain, not stylish at all. And the Ton was not kind to people who were different. It was that night Jon saw her and knew she was the one for him, despite the clothing. This was, in many ways, a love story to better most. Sadly, Jon decided he was not good enough. He was a murderer. So he told her it could never be. And them, he left town. She was destroyed. All of her friends, his friends, really were with her, even Elizabeth. He came home in a few weeks with a nephew in tow. He asked her to tutor him so he could sit for university exams in a year. Things slowly changed between them, but he was still a murderer. This is a lovely couple: Jon, a loyal and true man, and Arabella, intelligent, outgoing, forgiving. Their story is told in a gentle way with lots of twists and turns. I liked it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Duke of Arrogance by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dukeofarrogance

A Duke that is Arrogant? Surely not! At least outwardly Jon, the Duke of Blackmore appears the rake personified but inside he may be feeling different. Awarded the title at an early age, when his twin died, it had dictated his emotions, especially the secrets he kept.

Arabella suddenly found herself the daughter of Earl, when her father, previously an Oxford don, inherited the title. The only problem was, attending her first ball at twenty five and having no idea how to act, was going to be a problem.

Then she and Jon met. Alexa has brought us another wonderful story to add to this fabulous series! I could not help but want to hug Jon and Arabella was in need of him, although neither realized it. Simply perfect!