I really loved this book! I am most definitely a fan of historical romance and the author writes it so beautifully. You root so much for Aurora the whole way through in anticipation of knowing if she will ever allow herself to love again!.

I definitely would recommend this book!

I adored these characters and this story. Despite not having read the rest of the series, I instantly felt invested in both the main and side characters and what they were going through. They felt authentic and honest and really made me care about them. I will be adding the rest of the series to my tbr.

What a superb hero in the character of Garrett, Duke of Cowin! He was kind and caring and extremely patient. I just loved how thoughtful he was with Aurora, especially when he was aware of what she had suffered in her first marriage. Even though Aurora had known Garrett from childhood, she still found it difficult to trust again. What a great group of friends, all there for each other no matter what comes. There was racial prejudice from various quarters that reflected the thoughts of the day, although unfortunately it is still with us. This was an engaging read with a lovely ending. I’m quite sorry that this was the last in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have a great love, a true love even, of beta heroes. Here's my case - in case you want to throw down over this issue - Beta heroes <i>listen</i> to the heroine. They support her and don't try to step in and control and take over. I love alpha's too - but betas - own my heart! With a Beta hero around - the heroine is lifted up and shines brightly.

Garrett Winslow is DEFINITELY a Beta Hero. His father recently passed away and he has become a Duke. He feels he has big shoes to fill and doesn't feel quite ready to be a Duke. He hasn't been in England for a long time. He left after his childhood friend and love, Aurora, became engaged to another man as part of an arranged marriage. If you read the prior books in the series you will know just how horrifyingly awful that turned out to be for Aurora.

Aurora's first marriage was brutal - in every sense of the world. She only made it through with the support of her friends. After the death of her monster of a husband, she has vowed to never remarry. Garett is one of her oldest and most trusted friends - and he shows, throughout the book, that he cares deeply for Aurora and would do anything for her and supports her hopes and dreams completely - as if they were his own.

So here's the thing - with all my profuse love for Garrett and my respect for the friendships of the wallflower. Aurora drove me a little batty in this book. I just did not understand her at all - I understood her fear and her concerns about giving over control of her life again, but I did not understand why - when she decided to take a risk and get married again she turned Garrett down flat. Why take a chance with someone else when she keeps saying - she trusts Garrett to never hurt her? I felt like she could set whatever conditions she wanted with Garrett and he'd respect them. In the end - I just realllllly didn't get it and I started getting a little pissed off with her.

I still really liked the book - and give it a solid 3.5 stars. I hope this isn't the end of the series - as I feel like there were definitely more stories to be told!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

An enjoyable book with lovable characters.

Really wished I had read the previous book only so that I knew the characters better. This book however, does really work well as a standalone book too.

As a regency romance book it really wasn't afraid to delved into some darker topic and they were dealt with well by the author.

A really enoyable book that you can fly through in one weekend!

I received an eARC from Netgallery in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved finishing off the wallflowers of west lane books. I loved seeing Aurora get a lovely ending after everything she went through. Definitely a series I will be rereading

The phrase “you started so well” pretty much encapsulates my views on A.S. Fenichel’s, Not Even For A Duke; the 4th in her Wallflowers of West Lane series. We’ve all encountered that book that had so much potential but just sputtered and stopped with the utmost alacrity. The description intrigued me as well as the supposed plot thread.
How did this get so way off course? It’s like when you’re all geared up to go to Disneyland and when you arrive, for some reason all the characters have food poisoning, the Haunted Mansion ride is stuck in the graveyard, the Millenium Falcon is on fire, and Cinderella's castle was egged overnight.

A Little of the Plot, shall we? Our heroine, Aurora Sherbourn, Dowager Countess of Radcliff, has survived a most brutal marriage at the hands of her now deceased husband, Bertram. Upon his death, Aurora has received a vast fortune along with entitlted lands with which she intends to create a school that rivals even Eton and will be solely for the instruction of women. Her brother’s best friend, Garrett Winslow, the Duke of Corwin, not only supports her in this venture, but aids her in the procurement of Headmistress and teachers. One other little thing about Garrett: he’s been in love with Rora since they were children and wants to marry her. She has vowed to never marry again. Can he convince her that she’s worthy of love and get the girl?

The Compliment Sandwich

The Top Bun (The Pro)
SO MUCH POTENTIAL!

This book kills me. It had all of the hallmarks of a possible Rae’s Favs.
Firstly, you have a strong and confident domestic abuse survivor. Give me some of that J-lo, a’la Enough, and I am in!
Secondly, it’s set in Regency England. Seriously, historical romances are like high end catnip for me.
Lastly, you include slightly anachronistic but interesting plot line or character quirk and I’ll follow you to hell. I mean, if Tom Ellis’s Lucifer is there, my bags are packed, bebe.

Aurora’s backstory is exceedingly sad. For example, in one scene she describes her many scars and how she received them - it’s heartbreaking. She’s never described as a pitiable character however; she’s shown to have backbone, spunk, and determination. For that time period, these characteristics were not often found in women due to societal norms, which makes the potential almost palpable. In addition, this head strong woman wants to start a school for girls that teaches math, science, geography, languages, and the arts? 10/10 would recommend - I’m on board. Throw in a hero that has been pining after the heroine since they were children AND he’s her brother's best friend? You have a ‘yearly reread’ contender on your hands.

But Alas…

The Meat (The Con)

What the hell just happened? Around the 40% mark, Garrett confesses his love, Rora rejects him, and then proceeds to get pissy when he declares that he won’t be readdressing his affections and begins looking for a wife. If this was a movie, say, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for example, the pilots of the airplane carrying Dr. Jones, Short Round, and Willie have jumped out with the last parachute. Our heroes are left staring at an incoming mountain with no foreseeable way of escape. We can see those mountain cliffs and destruction is imminent. Except in Temple of Doom, they find an inflatable water raft, jump from a plane and land safely on the snowy side of a mountain. Also, side note, how in the hell would they have survived? Everyone complained about the fridge and the nuclear bomb scene, but this one gets a pass? Oy Vey.

I’m going to spoil the 2nd to 3rd act conflict because I think it’s lame, uninspired and negates everything earned in the first half of the book. Aurora, while she comes to terms with her love of Garrett, refuses to marry him because she believes she's saving him from... her being a bad wife. I think. Honestly, these next two parts make little to no sense, so I’m trying to parse it out as best as I can. While though she refuses to marry Garrett, she wants a child; so she decides to form a loveless marriage with a boring, titled, and wealthy man.
Anyone following?
Bueller?
Bueller?
Nope.

At one point, all of her Wallflower cohorts actually get up mid conversation and just leave.

“Hera’s curse.” Poppy threw up her hands.
“It’s official, you have lost your mind.” Faith got up and pulled the cord for Tipton before unbolting the door. “I’ll not sit here and listen to any more of this.” Faith narrowed her gaze on Aurora. “I hope you regain your senses, Aurora”. With a nod and an even deeper frown, Faith exited the parlor presumably to wait for her things in the foyer.

Protip: if your friends are like, “Peace out - you cray”, guess what? You should probably reevaluate your plans.

The worst part of this whole plot departure is that it occurs at the 60% mark, you still have to go through 40% of Rora meeting up with scheming boring dudes all the while drunkenly professing her love to Garrett and giving the stink eye to any female that shows him attention. I’m not going to call her a cockles tease, but she’s messing with that boys’ heart big time.

And why am I getting so up in arms about the treatment of Garrett?

The Bottom Bun (The Pro)
Garrett F$&#ing Winslow

While not written to be a dashing rake, a la Sebastian St. Vincent or Colin Sandhurst, Garrett is depicted as a loving and supportive partner at a time when women were considered property and daily beatings every husbands right. We witness a number of scenes where in which male characters belittle the endeavor of educating women beyond needlepoint or the home-making arts, yet Garrett aids Rora’s ambitions and often defends them publicly.

He takes care of her on a number of occasions throughout the book. When he learns of the abuse and rape she suffered at the hands of her dead husband, he insists that Aurora set the pace in their sexual relationship. He makes her take control of what she feels comfortable with, and is never forceful.

“Do not make yourself uneasy. You are in charge. Remember? You can tell me no and that will be the end of it.”...A low whisper along with a kiss vibrated at her ear and with it her body roared with need. Garrett said, “you have a choice, my dearest. You can trust me enough to show you how precious this can be, you can tell me to go, or I can hold you for as long as you wish and nothing more.” No anger. No Disgust. He laid out choices, two of which would leave them both unsatisfied, as if the decision was truly hers.

Every sexual encounter that occurs in this book is instigated by Aurora; Garrett never corners her or ‘seduces’ her. He understands that for her own mental well-being, she needs to make these decisions herself.

Towards the end of the book, Rora gets absolutely shit faced at a ball and Garrett discovers her passed out sans slippers in a garden. She’s cut her foot open on sharp rock and is bleeding everywhere. He bundles her up, takes her home, tends to her wounds, and delivers her to her lady’s maid. This occurs after she has rejected him a number of occassions. While some might consider him a doormat type character, he's drawn to be more than that: gallant, supportive, and understanding. The Wallflowers approve of his pursual of Aurora and on a number of occassions counsel her into accepting what she's denying herself by not admitting her love for Garrett.

“So, Garrett brought you home and tended your wound?” Poppy cocked her head and pointed to Aurora’s bandaged foot.
“As I said, he got a stone out of my heel, washed and bandaged my foot before taking me up to Gillian.”...
“And you let him go?” Faith threw her hands up in the air and let them fall.
“What would you expect me to do?”
Crossing her arms, Faith shook her head. “I fear what I might say would be unwelcome.”

The farther along in this book I got, the more spiteful I became. By the end, it was all just hate reading. Never have I wanted to slap a character more than Aurora upon the close of the book.

“You know perfectly well that Garrett is fond of independent women. He brought Helen to me. He respects that a woman may be a sensible and often resourceful person perfectly capable of knowing what is best”.

Oh really, Aurora? The reader knows this, you, however, need to get a damn clue.

Overall, I’m not recommending this book. Fenichel’s writing style is interesting; the plot is a lot more dialogue heavy than in most historical romance novels. She has traded action for conversation, which I would liken to romances written during the regency era or at the turn of the 20th century. Like Georgette Heyer with cunnilingus and handjobs.

There's a cover pull quote for you...

The ending can’t be saved from that mountainside airplane crash at the 60% point. Like that unfortunate trip to Disneyland, the reader is left with resentment for the heroine, an unsatisfied hero, and It’s A Small World stuck in their head for days.

Aurora Sherbourn, Dowager Countess of Radcliff,has survived an abusive marriage & is determined to never marry again but with the other Wallflowers married and starting families, her West Lane residence is empty and lonely. The newly minted Duke of Corwin, Garrett Winslow, has known Aurora all her life, and loved her nearly as long. Recently returned from his travels abroad, he was certain the infatuation was left in the past, but upon seeing the now widowed Aurora, those feelings come rushing back. Maddeningly, Aurora regards him as nothing more than her brother’s best friend. Determined to make her his, Garrett will use every tender weapon to seduce her—and prove she’s worthy of true love.
The final Wallflower to find love, this book is easily read on its own but as I love series & I have to start from the beginning, which I find far more satisfying. I liked Aurora in previous books but found her a bit standoffish however she came into her own in this book & I soon grew to love her even though I wanted to shake her at times over the way she dithered. I adored Garrett as he had loved his father & found it hard to cope with the congratulations he received on his elevation to a Duke when he was grieving a man he admired as well as loved. Garrett had also loved Aurora for years & even left England when she married. He also was utterly loyal to her. They had an interesting road to their HEA, which I thoroughly enjoyed
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Aurora is a widow her late husband was not a kind man and treated Aurora terribly. After her died Aurora swore she would never marry again. Garrett is a childhood friend who has always loved Aurora, but Aurora is determined to remain single and she turns Garrett down every opportunity she gets. Garrett is not deterred by Aurora an will do whatever it takes to win her heart.

This was book four in the wallflowers of west lane series and unfortunately my least favourite. I did not like the way Aurora treated Garrett at times it felt like she was using his love and friendship just to get what she wanted. However I did love Garrett. He was by far my favourite character out of the whole series, his character was well developed and really likeable. I loved how he was patient and kind no matter what Aurora did to him.

This book was beautifully written and was a real slow burn. I did find in places that the plot did not flow well and was a bit stretched in places.

Great series would recommend to all those who love a good historical romance.

A widow who suffered from years of abuse by her first husband, Aurora is determined never to marry again. Can childhood friend Garrett convince her that he's the man she needs?

Whether you like this book will probably depend on what you want from historical romance. The heroines in this series have modern sensibilities and constantly bemoan the injustice of their time. To me, it felt preachy and inauthentic. I'm looking for a lighter read that doesn't continually remind me of how terrible the world is. I want a romance that conveys the happy, floaty feeling of falling in love. This book doesn't do that. This series is darker than what I expect from the pretty, flowery covers.

The plot is fairly well constructed, but it fell apart toward the end. Aurora does something completely inconsistent with her character, as developed over the course of four novels. It makes no sense.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Having read the previous books in this series, I was excited to receive Aurora's story, and I was not disappointed. Aurora had endured a horribly abusive marriage, but survived her husband and went on to become the protector of the friends she made at the finishing school they attended. Together they endured and kept one another safe, and as each of the ladies found love, Aurora rejoiced with them. However, when her childhood friend returns home after the death of his father to take up the responsibilities of the Dukedom, she is faced with choices that leave her feeling unbalanced. Garrett Winslow has loved Aurora since he was a young man, and as he tries to break through the barriers she throws up, he comes to realize the extent to which her spirit has been wounded. With new adventures on the horizon and plans to make, the Wallflowers, their husbands and their friends form a group that is more loyal and generous than could be found in most families. With their input, Aurora finally finds herself facing her past and looking to the future. Although part of a series and the characters from previous books appearing in this one too, it is a standalone and comes to a delightful and romantic conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Not Even For A Duke by A.S. Fenichel is the fourth book in The Wallflowers of West Lane series. It could be read as a stand-alone but I think you will enjoy it more if you have read the other books in the series. Aurora Sherbourn, Dowager Countess of Radcliff had no intention of ever marrying again. Her first husband was extremely violent and she’s sworn never to put herself in that position again. However all of her fellow Wallflowers are now happily married and having children, and while they are all still close friends she’s finding her life a bit lonely now that they have moved on. This melancholy has her rethinking her position on marriage and children. Still, she’s only looking at suitors who she’s sure she could never fall in love with and definitely not her childhood friend Garrett Winslow, now the Duke of Corwin. Garret has always loved Aurora and is determined to find a way to convince her that her plan to marry without love will only lead to misery for them both. I enjoyed reading both this book and the entire series. It was nice to revisit with the characters from the previous books and to see Aurora finally get her HEA. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: September 14, 2021. #NotEvenForADuke #ASFenichel #WallflowersOfWestlaneSeries #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalRomanceSeries #RomanceReader #HistorialRomanceReader #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #NetGalley

We finally get Aurora’s story in the final book in this series.

She had a terrible abusive first marriage, as shown in some bits and pieces in the previous books, and has made it well known that she has no interest in marriage again. However, when her neighbor Garrett returns, now the Duke of Corwin, she’s conflicted because she’s always had feelings for him, even if she doesn’t acknowledge those feelings for what they are.

Garrett was a wonderful partner for Aurora, caring and patient. I understand Aurora wanted to distance herself from love because of her terrible past, but I started to get frustrated with her pushing Garrett away while trying to find a husband who doesn’t care about her. I also thought their happily ever after was a bit rushed but Aurora deserves all the happiness so I could hand wave some of that away.

As always, I wish we had more Geb in this book, because I totally want him to have a happy ending too. I also wished we had a little more Helen, who was a new character in this book. All in all, I enjoyed some of the other books in this series more but I thought this one wrapped up the series nicely.

A delightful wrap-up to a fun series!

This final book of the Wallflowers of West Lane series gives us readers the story and HEA we have all been waiting for; Aurora Sherbourn’s story! Aurora may not have stated the Wallflowers group, but her tragic first marriage definitely inspired them to gang together in the search for love to ensure their matches are happy ones.

(Trigger) Aurora’s arranged marriage was pretty much a death sentence of daily physical abuse, until fate ended it all with the accidental death of her husband- pretty much saving her life. Now she is independent and never plans to put herself in that position again…

The new Duke of Corwin, Garrett Winslow, Aurora’s childhood friend is back in the country and reunited with his Wallflower friends. Soon sparks start up between him and Aurora, whom he has always loved… but she is adamant that she won’t marry again. What is a Duke to do?

I absolutely loved Garret and his kind attentions to Aurora, as a reader of the entire series, he is the perfect match for her. This was an emotional read getting more background on Aurora’s prior marriage and I appreciated the sensitivity and the lended to the courtship and the emotional journey for Aurora in accepting love.

I really enjoyed the finality of this book for the series and the inclusion of all the other Wallflowers and their spouses. Very satisfying!

Not Even for a Duke by A. S. Fenichel is scheduled to release September 14th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from author A. S. Fenichel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#NotEvenForADuke #ASFenichel #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

The 'Wallflowers' are now married and starting families of there own and now Aurora Sherbourn, Dowager Countess of Radcliff's home in West Lane is empty and lonely ......... what she wants is a child of her own but what she doesn't want is a marriage based on love - her first marriage was a nightmare of abuse and she is determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past .
Garrett Winslow, Duke of Corwin, has returned from his travels - having known and loved Aurora all his life he is convinced that his previous feelings and infatuation is no more - but upon seeing her they come rushing back .
Can Garrett convince Aurora that the past can be overcome and that they might have not just a child of their own but but become a true family with LOVE as well .

I find the female lead characters in these books a little preachy which can be a bit off putting - that being said this was a satisfactory ending to the series .

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

⭐️⭐️1/2 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not Even For A Duke tells the story of a victim of domestic abuse and the man that loves her unconditionally and wants to help her heal. The novel, at its heart, is about unrequited love and second chances. Aurora is a widow whose late husband was a monster who physically abused her. Garrett is a childhood friend who has always loved Aurora. Aurora rebuffs Garrett at every turn. Aurora must come to terms with her past before she can ever move forward.

I tried everything to warm to this book, but I could not. I understood that Aurora had horrendous trauma in her past. I didn't particularly appreciate how Aurora treated Garrett, and I could not understand her reasoning. There were times she used him, knowing how he felt about her. Aurora suppressed her feelings out of fear. However, she took advantage of Garrett over and over. Garrett was the bright star in the story. His character was well-developed, and he was loving, patient, and understanding to a fault. His unrequited love for Aurora was palpable, and it broke my heart how he was treated. The connection between the couple was one-sided to me, favoring Garrett. The relationship took one step forward and two steps back throughout the entirety of the book.

The story was well-written; it was a slow burn but flowed well. The plot was thin in places. The happily ever after developed abruptly. The conclusion in the final chapters was entertaining, and I could feel the love Garrett felt was finally reciprocated. I rounded this rating to three stars based on the beautiful complexity of Garrett and how the conclusion ended fantastically for Garrett and Aurora.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been waiting for Aurora's story. She has endured so much and has closed off her heart. She has vowed to never love anyone. Garrett is a different story. He has known her all his life and has loved her all that time, but Aurora will not give him her heart. She wants to have children, but doesn't want a husband. Garrett wants a home and family but only with Aurora. Will she ever change her mind? Will she ever open up to anyone? Will Garrett wait for her or will he move on?

I received "Not Even For a Duke" from Netgalley, and the esteemed A.S. Fenichel. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A. S. Fenichel is one of my favorite historical romance authors whose ability to tell stories is mesmerizing. This book is the last in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. Aurora Sherbourn, widowed Dowager Countess of Radcliff and Garrett Winslow,  the newly minted Duke of Corwin have known each other since childhood. He has loved her forever,  and she has always only thought of him as her brother's best friend. Yet they can't help feeling more than the casual acquaintance as being enough. Another beautiful aspect of this storyline is how the author emphasizes the need for inclusivity rather than making someone from another religion, culture or race a pariah. A.S. Fenichel does a great job in developing her characters and enthralling her readers.

This was an entertaining, well-written historical romance. Heartwarming, sweet, funny and steamy, it held my attention and I didn't want to put it down. It can be read as a standalone story, though it is #4 in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

This is the last book in A.S. Fenichel’s series The Wallflowers of West Lane and I think it’s safe to say that everybody has been waiting patiently for Aurora to get her own book!!. She is a protagonist who thoroughly deserves her happily ever after. This was a lovely and heartwarming end to the series. Readers couldn’t have possibly hope for a better love interest than Garrett.
However it was important for her and the reader to come to terms with her abusive first marriage before she could accept love again. A happy end to the book and the series as well!

#NotEvenForADuke #NetGalley