For every book in this series I have gushed about how fabulous Alexa is as a writer. This one is no different. She brings you into the story of these people, sometimes they are broken, sometimes they just don’t fit in but Alexa shows you that they are all meant for each other. I loved this story. Jon beats himself up for what happened years ago but I liked seeing how the understanding of one woman, Arabella, shows him that we all have things in our past that we want left there but that is not always possible. The arrogance (supposedly) of Jon and the innocence of Arabella was so appealing. Listen, if you want a feel good story that yes made me cry then try Alexa’s stories. You start reading and before you know it you are done. They are that good.

This is the fourth book in the Dukes of Distinction series, and the third one that I have read. The series is about hot dukes who are also good friends. There are some mild spoilers here for Elise and Weston's engagement scene if you want to read their book first.

Jonathan Blackmore goes by the moniker Duke of Arrogance but deep down he's more like the Duke of Insecurity. His father had no love to spare for his spare, only for his heir, Arch, Jon's twin brother. When Jon loses both his brother and his father in the same day, he becomes the duke quite unexpectedly. He has promised his brother to live a full life for both of them, but he feels guilty for inheriting what was supposed to belong to Arch, and harbors a tragical secret about the way that Arch died. He has lived a rake's life but all his dukely friends are getting married now and Jon thinks it's time too.

Lady Arabella has also been thrown into her title quite unexpectedly, as her father was the estranged fourth son of an earl and never hoped to inherit a title. Arabella's father used to be an university don and they never had much clue about how the ton works. Now that Arabella is making her come-out she feels dowdy and out of place at her first ball. However, an accidental meeting between Jon and Arabella leads to Arabella dancing with several dukes that night, and she gains new friends and a dashing titled suitor. However, his past makes Jon feel inadequate and unworthy of love, and they have to deal with Jon's secrets before they can be happy together. (I would have preferred it if Jon realized he needed to do that before announcing their engagement and anticipating their vows).

I enjoyed this book a lot and finished it in a day.

A tiny historical research nitpick: When Jon thinks about not getting married he wants to announce the ton that his cousin Arthur will be his heir apparent. But a cousin would be an heir presumptive. An heir apparent is someone who cannot be displaced by the birth of another, such as the oldest living son.

I got a digital review copy from Netgalley and I'm leaving a voluntary, honest review.

It's a very light book to read and full of weird coincidences throughout the book. No plot! Only hot moments so no smut scenes! The ending is good tho!

A beautifull story about two people who did not exept to fall in love . A daughter of a Don in Oxford who became Earl and a Duke who believes that he can not give love to others .
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It was my first book by the author and I certainly enjoyed reading it.

Jon and Arabella had a good connection and the book was very easy to read.

Overall it was a good read.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the free e-arc. This doesn't impact my opinion in any way.

I loved this sweet, gentle romance.

Arabella really brings out the best in Jon. He's always been a good man at heart, but tragic circumstances propelled him into a life that was anything but good. After watching his friends fall in love, he starts to think maybe he could at least find someone to settle down with, though he's convinced he could never be worthy of a love like theirs.

Arabella's life changed drastically when her father became an earl, but she never lost sight of who she is or where she came from. She's a delightful breath of fresh air, and she's the perfect balm for Jon's soul. I especially loved the way she stood up for herself and despite her naiveté she was nobody's fool.

Their courtship is not without its complications, of course, but their HEA was as sweet as could be and the years later epilogue was quite satisfying. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Will he let his past doom his future ...

I sadly missed the first three books in this series due to my own fault, a too crowded reading schedule. But the first three books await patiently on my shelves for a later time with some reading time to spare.
So when I saw for once that my reading week agenda was for once not too overwhelming, I jumped on the occasion for this upcoming release.
Plus I was in need of some lighter read, and I know the author would perfectly suit this single purpose.
The heroes have been both wrongly labeled because of fraud first impressions, he a profligate and she an inept bluestocking.
He first had been erroneously nicknamed for his older late brother’s wild escapes, so when he inherited his sire’s title, he continued to live the life his brother would have, living behind his own dreams and aspirations.
Arabella became in the space of an instant a lady when her whole life she had only been a commoner, her father’s assistant, an educated woman. So while she can quite well handle all situations only requiring knowledge and cleverness, she is at lost when facing the ton’s rules and its acerbic tongue. Why her first foray in society leaves her a bitter taste.
Until an unknown gentleman sweetens the blow she just received from her inexperience with ton’s rules.
Their courtship is easy and smooth until Jonathan fears his darkest secret might taint their relationship. Yet can he let her go when she fulfill all his inner needs and wants.

A cute romance about two persons who want more than living by the society’s rules.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen foreplays and lovemaking scenes.

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

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

For Jonathan Sutton, he never expected that he would become Duke of Blackmore at the age of sixteen. As the second son, 7 minutes younger than his twin brother, he always thought Arch, the golden child would inherit, and not for years. But, after his brother contracted syphilis and died, causing his father to have a stroke and also pass, he was left alone in the world, with only his 6 year old sister, Elizabeth, for company. His moniker in the ton is the Duke of Arrogance, but after Elizabeth's debut last year, he has tried to curb his excesses, and become more respectable. However, he still hasn't considered marriage, not even when three of his best friends have found happiness; that is, until he meets Lady Arabella Jennings in a library. Arabella was born as plain old Miss Jennings, the only daughter of a fourth son, and was more than happy with her lot in life, especially when it awarded her the opportunity to help her Oxford don father with his lectures, and embrace her own studies. Now finding herself as the daughter of a newly inherited Earl, she makes her debut in her twenties, and immediately makes a number of mistakes, and faux pas. But, with the help of Jon and his friends, she starts to make her way in society, but may be at risk of losing her heart. Can Jon find it in himself to be open to love, or will his pass come back to haunt him?

As the fourth book in the series, I already felt like I knew Jon from meeting him in previous stories, but I absolutely loved him as the hero this time around. He had had a difficult childhood, and had to grow up quickly that it had irrevocably changed him. He only had Elizabeth and his friends to keep him grounded, but now nearly thirty, and with his friends settling down, it's time for him to consider his future. Arabella was a lovely heroine too, who was lucky in the fact that her father had allowed her a well rounded education, better than most women her age, but finding herself a 'lady', without knowing the ways of the ton, it was difficult for her to make friends or even go about her business in her new society. Meeting both Jon and Elizabeth was a godsend, and though there are moments of angst that were perhaps unnecessary, but all in all, I enjoyed the book, and can't wait for the final instalment.