When her second lady’s maid goes missing, Lady Rosalind Kinwood seeks the help of Ned Wentworth who, despite his adoption into the Duke of Walden’s family, is reputed to have connections among the disreputable elements of society. As they learn more about each other, however, they discover they are well suited, and initial attraction develops into love. But serious obstacles remain, not just from her arrogant and abusive family, but from the gang ruthlessly determined to protect a lucrative trade abducting naïve young women.

The novel deals with a range of social issues, notably classism, aristocratic self-centeredness, double standards, and the vulnerability of women; and it offers scathing insights into the pretensions and self-serving sense of privilege flaunted by elitist groups: “It’s not fair, it’s not right, but it’s the way of the world that the male of the species in polite circles need not grow up unless or until he chooses to.” The mystery is intriguing, and it is a special delight to watch two social outsiders, both possessed of an independent spirit, determination, and a social conscience, triumph over adversity and find love.

A fine conclusion to the impressive Rogues to Riches Regency series. Highly recommended.

As someone who hasn't read the previous six books in the series, this was...ok? The author did her best, but it was quite difficult to keep all the previous couples straight, much less the hero's backstory, which apparently is threaded through all of those previous six books. Still, the hero and heroine were lovely, the plot kept you moving along and the sex scenes were workmanlike. Nevertheless, I have a strong feeling that if I'd read the rest of the series first, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more.

This is an author I really enjoy! Her series has been so sweet and heartwarming! I was happy I was given this one to read! I really enjoyed Rosalind and Ned’s story to an HEA! These two have an instant spark! Rosalind is our heroine. She’s an Earl’s daughter and struggles with a stutter. I think she’s absolutely sweet! Ned is our hero who was adopted by a duke. He works at the family bank and believes in justice! These two come together when Rosalind pens Ned a letter asking for help when her lady’s maid is missing! I thought having a mystery with our love story was quite fun. It was also nice to see precious characters pop in! I thought this book was a great ending to a wonderful series!

As a young boy, Ned helped save a duke in prison and was rescued by him in return. Now fully grown, Ned is a Wentworth and a successful banker, but society still gossips about his past. Lady Rosalind Kinwood requests Ned’s aid precisely because he can move between worlds. Her lady’s maid is missing and no one will take her concerns seriously. As the two look into the disappearance it becomes clear that there’s more to it than they expected. And the longer Ned and Rosalind are around each other, the harder it is for both to deny how very well they’re suited. But love isn’t enough to make a match between an earl’s daughter and a former pickpocket…is it?

Ned Wentworth finally gets a happily ever after of his own in Never a Duke. I’ve adored Ned since he was a brave young boy in the first Rogues to Riches book and was delighted that Grace Burrowes gave Ned his own story.

Ned loves the Wentworth family but he holds himself somewhat apart from them. There are bits of his past he won’t talk about and even parts of his life now he keeps separate. He’s successful as a banker but there’s something missing in his life. Rosalind is the catalyst for Ned coming into his own. From the first, he’s drawn to her. Rosalind is an outsider in her home as well, though unlike the Wentworth family, her father and brothers are cutting and cruel. Ned and Rosalind’s romance is soft and sweet. He sees, admires, values, and is attracted to Rosalind for all that she is. She, in turn, is someone he can lean on, can trust with the most vulnerable parts of himself. There are hidden sweet spots to Ned that just made me smile and sigh. He and Rosalind simply fit and I absolutely adored them together. It was easy to get lost in the pages of Never a Duke because I so enjoyed the romance.

To best enjoy this story, I recommend at the very least reading the first Rogues to Riches book, My One and Only Duke, in order to get a sense of the Wentworth family dynamics. As a fan of the series, I really enjoyed seeing Ned find his place in the Wentworth family. The Wentworths tend to shove their way into each other’s problems and for someone quieter and more reserved like Ned it can be a bit much. But he finds his way and I liked how his family grew to understand him better and was able to show their love and support for him in ways that matched Ned’s personality rather than their own.

The case of the missing lady’s maid is what first brings Rosalind and Ned together and it’s an intriguing one. I won’t spoil what happens, so suffice it to say that the mystery only grows and Burrowes takes readers on a journey from Mayfair to the docks and everywhere in between. The resolution was a bit rushed (along with a few other revelations) at the end. The story would have benefitted greatly from an extra couple of chapters to handle the fallout of the mystery and the information that comes to light during the search. I went back and forth on how to rate Never a Duke because I wanted more from the ending. However, since I adored Rosalind and Ned so much and because I found their love story so satisfying, I can safely say that even with the issues I had I still loved this book. I look forward to revisiting Ned and Rosalind in the near future.

This is the last title in the Rogues to Riches series by Grace Burrowes. We met Ned, our hero, when he was just a young boy. Despite starting out life as a street urchin under the guardianship of Quinn Wentworth, Ned has turned into a respectable banker with a loyal heart and a sense of honor. It is this honor that has Rosalind seeking out his help and falling in love with him. I like the originality of these characters and the intrigue kept me guessing until the end.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was a good historical fiction novel, but ultimately it fell flat for me. The writing was excellent, if not a little overly loquacious. The plot moved forward in fits and starts, and I found it overall enjoyable but forgettable. I did really appreciate the discussions around prisons, prison reform, and colonialism. Put into their historical context, it was easy as a reader to draw parallels between today's world and that of the characters.

This book is considered book 7 in a series, but I will say it could stand on its own. However, after reading I do think I will go back and read the previous 6 books.

I haven't read every book in this series but enough to generally know who the players were. Ned was a child in book one, he helped Quinn Wentworth navigate being a prisonor in Newgate before Quinn became the Duke of Walden. Now, Ned is an adult, managing the Duke's bank. Never quite fitting in, he has the manners and education of the higher classes but not the correct background. Lady Rosalind doesn't fit in either. Known for her tart tongue and waspish opinions, she is ridiculed by society. When her lady's maid goes missing, Rosalind contacts Ned to help find her, thinking his past will help the investigation. Ned has a soft heart for people in distress and agrees to help even though it reminds him that he will always be associated with the stews he grew up in. More women are disappearing as Ned and Rosalind investigate. By the way, this book will really improve your vocabulary. I was glad to be reading on a Kindle so that I could easily find definitions!

Frist off a big thanks to the publisher Hachette Audio as well as Forever ,the author: Grace Burrows, and to NetGalley for letting me read and review as well as sending me the invite to get the audiobook to listen to. This was my first time reading anything by Grace Burrows as well as in her series
Rouges to Riches.Even though I just realized that I have on my NetGalley TBR books 4-6 to read , and after reading / listening to this one I can't wait to read them.I do have to say that even though I'm the type of person who loves to read books that are in a series out of order, and had no problem doing it with this one , I would definitely say this is a series that you have to read in order to understand more on who the characters are , but over all this book does reintroduce who they to you so in that way it did helped a bit. As for why I give it 4 starts and not 5 was that there was a few times that one of the characters reminds you of their back ground but other then that I felt that the story line over came that. For a historical romance it has everything I liked a bit of a slow going romance, a mystery , the twist and turns that came , characters that I fell in love with and some I just wanted to shake and say grow up to. As for the narrator he did amazing job with the characters and some how give each one of them their own personality.

Never a Duke was my first Grace Burrowes! I have long heard of her work and so I was excited to finally sit down with one of her novels. Overall, I was very intrigued by her style of narration. Her writing is more formal and restrained than usual for a historical romance and I found the effect to be quite compelling. To give an example of what I mean here, in several parts of the book, the heroine reveals a secret to the hero that, in the hands of other writers, would be the source of much internal agony. Instead, here, the reader doesn’t even know about these parts of her past before Rosalind speaks them aloud in the moment of confession. I found the effect refreshing, particularly in a heroine…I liked that Lady Rosalind has her priorities straight and isn’t unduly worried about past indiscretions or circumstances beyond her control.

This book is the last in the Wentworth series (I believe) and while I noted that it must be later in the series as I was reading, it didn’t stop me from understanding or enjoying the novel. I was particularly fond of the hero, Ned Wentworth, who began life as the son of a tailor, briefly became a child convict in Newgate prison after the ruin of his family, and then rose to manage the bank owned by Quinton Wentworth, Duke of Walden. Ned was so sensitive and good-hearted, he just really got me—his past did weigh on him, but not in a way that I found to be unwarranted, and it was lovely to see him let go with Rosalind. Burrowes does a great job showing how Rosalind, with her matter-of-fact perspective on life, takes Ned’s childhood trauma seriously but, at the same time, helps him move past it. And, with Ned, Rosalind finds a man reflexively kind and considerate—he is the opposite of her entitled, villainous father and brothers. Rosalind has been hungering for someone to respect her thoughts and opinions—and Ned fulfills that desire with such steadfast care. It is really touching to see!

Never a Duke also contains a significant mystery plot, which I enjoyed watching unravel. To this point, I found this book to fall more towards the realist side of the historical romance spectrum. I don’t like to talk about historical “accuracy” because I think it is a bit reductive. What might have been historically accurate for one person or group might not have been for another—I think, when it comes to historicals, we should talk less about accuracy and inaccuracy and more about the approach to the historical setting. Is the author depicting the period as historians describe and understand it? Or are they approaching the setting more as a fantasy author would, taking elements of the period to create a distinct, self-sustaining world? Any historical romance is going to employ some of both approaches—it is just inevitable. And I think that most contemporary historicals tend to hew towards the middle of this spectrum—part realist, part fantasy. I enjoy romances all along this spectrum—and I certainly don’t think one approach is better than the other. Grace Burrowes notably falls towards the realist side, however, and I did appreciate how she captures the brutality of this historical period. Early nineteenth-century London was a ruthless environment and Burrowes uses this backdrop to inject a lot of tension and passion into Ned and Rosalind’s love story.

I really liked Never a Duke! I especially recommend it to readers who enjoy historicals that fall on the more realist side of the spectrum and want to see the gritty aspects of early nineteenth-century London.

4.5 stars

Ned Wentworth is now a well-to-do bank manager for a duke, though he is a former street child who was actually imprisoned for theft. A favor that Ned did for the duke earned him a home, an adopted family, an education, and a career. Ned is mostly content, but not happy. He still carries guilt for believing himself responsible for the death of his brother. When Ned receives a mysterious summons to meet a lady in need of a favor, he is initially intrigued, until he learns the identity of his petitioner.

Lady Rosalind Kinwood is an earl’s daughter who has a reputation of being a direct speaker, and one who won’t tolerate any nonsense. Two of her maids have recently gone missing, both young and pretty, and both quite happy in their positions. Rosalind knows that neither would just have left on their own, and fears foul play. She believes that Ned’s former street connections will allow him to make inquiries in places she could never go. Ned agrees to help, but refuses any compensation. Rosalind decides to pay him by passing along tidbits of gossip about which society ladies are willing to be courted by him, despite his questionable past. Though Ned isn’t actively looking for a bride, he listens to her information, knowing full well that those ladies are interested in his bank balance, not himself.

Ned’s inquiries eventually lead to a treacherous plot, enacted by someone in high places, one involving many more young ladies. The investigation has also thrown Ned and Rosalind into each other’s company, something they both are finding quite enjoyable. Though Ned is no true gentleman, he treats her with dignity and respect, something sadly lacking in the usual society men Rosalind encounters. He listens to her, and even seems to value her opinions, a trait that is far more valuable to Rosalind than a toplofty title. Ned is equally entranced, and soon, kisses and shared secrets ensue. Their attraction grows serious enough to lead to a proposal, only to find Ned being insultingly and unequivocally refused by Rosalind’s loathsome father.

I love these two characters, as both are so vulnerable beneath their outward placid demeanors. While Ned deals with his misplaced guilt, Rosalind endures the snide comments made about her. NEVER A DUKE is a book that I sat down with and just became enveloped in. I love the romance, which was genuine and warm. The mystery had a different twist than what I was expecting, with the villain(s) and their plot hitting close to home. There was also an additional happy surprise which I felt added so much to the HEA. I enjoyed visiting with the extended Wentworth family, and having read all their stories previously made NEVER A DUKE that much more enjoyable, though it can easily be read as a standalone. Grace Burrowes continues to be a favorite author, whose writing creates lovely stories, warm family connections, and characters I know will love each other forever.

Never a Duke is the finale to the series that follows the Wentworth family as they start from humble beginnings and then traverse through high society. It's a fun series with mystery & romance around every corner!

I liked this one, but it wasn't totally what I was expecting. I think I wanted just a little bit more from the story. I definitely think other people will like this. It just wasn't for me.

Ned Wentworth might not be a suitable match by ton standards for Lady Rosalind Kinwood but he's definitely the right sort of fellow who can move around comfortably in the seamy underbelly of London to look for clues in the mystery of the Mayfair disappearing maids. Therein starts a courtship ritual played out in the eyes of the ton giving Ned and Rosalind an opportunity to meet and exchange information.  Despite her family's disdain for Ned, Rosalind finds herself increasingly attracted. Does Ned reciprocate her feelings?
Ned was a young boy facing deportation when he came to the rescue of Quinn Wentworth in Newgate prison. Upon being declared the Duke of Walden Quinn rescued Ned and brought him up to successfully run the bank he owns.  Ned is in that unenviable position of being family to the Wentworth's but looked down upon by the ton because his background is gray, and most people consider him the by-blow of the duke. When Lady Rosalind approaches him for precisely his reputation, he's sucked into the investigation as he discovers a lot of young women are missing than originally suspected.
 As Rosalind and Ned get to know each other better one meeting at a time to exchange information and then just because, Rosalind sees him clearly and becomes his biggest defender even amongst the family who loves him but don't understand him fully. Of course, chief amongst the people who disparage Ned are Rosalind's father and brothers. The story that is revealed amongst all the twists and turns of the investigation is bizarre and the culprits are even more unbelievable, though I have to admit I had begun to suspect.
An interesting conclusion to the series which has been a somewhat mixed bag overall.

A breath of fresh air. Just totally enjoyed this book. Didn't want to put it down so make time to read this one and enjoy!

I voluntarily received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ned, a former child convict, is now a respectable banker after being taken in by a titled family. His life takes a turn with Lady Rosalind Kinwood arranges a secret meeting. Her maids are going missing and she needs his help to find then.

Though this is a historical romance I would say this book is a mystery first. The characters fall in love and have some lovely courting moments but the mystery takes up most of the book.

The novel tackles some very hard topics and the author discusses with them respect while also keeping them as undetailed as possible. Though this is good for the hard topics I felt quite a bit of the novel felt surface level.

The first half I really wasn't sold on the book and though it was well written and I enjoyed the characters, especially Ned, I felt everything just kept getting dragged out. The mystery was really interesting but I didn't feel the high stakes that would have got me excited to find out what happened.

I was torn on my rating for this so I think I'm going to settle with a 3.25

The Wentworth family sage concludes and comes full circle with the final story and HEA for a series favourite, adopted Wentworth, Ned!

We met Ned in the first book when he was in Newgate with Family patriarch, Quinn Wentworth. He was a scrap of a boy then, but he stole my heart from the get-go and has been a favourite reoccurring character ever since! I loved getting to see him grow up and come into his own man, a man as worthy and needed as any other of the Wentworth men.

In Never a Duke, Ned is now managing the family bank and settled in his role in the family, but he still feels like an outsider at times. Then comes Rosalind and he is finally seen for his whole self as never before!

Rosalind has asked Ned to help her find her missing lady companions… there have been two that have disappeared and no one has given a care about their sudden disappearance… that is until she asks a former boy of the streets, Mr. Ned Wentworth, and he takes her concerns to heart and in turn he captures her heart as well!

This was a real treat of a series finale. I loved getting all the back story on Ned’s character, along with the updates/ cameos of the other Wenworth family members. This rags to riches series has been a true delight and the last book was just as enjoyable as the first!

Overall, this was a perfect ending to a delightful family series!

Never a Duke by Grace Burrowes was released April 26th, 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#NeverADuke #GraceBurrowes #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

This book started slow for me but quickly redeemed itself by the end.

Ned is such an easy character to root for and to like. He has worked hard from his humble beginnings to become akin to a lord (but never a duke). When he sets his sights for Lady Rosalind, it is a sweet and sometimes steamy courtship.

It is interesting that the dialogue in the book seems to be of the correct period. However, the couple's courtship takes a more modern path; afternoon delight picnic anyone?

I especially enjoyed the mystery plotline in this book. It was very well set out and interesting to follow the twists and turns as Ned unravels the mystery. It was so well done and complex that this book could be categorized as a historical mystery as well as a historical romance.

Lady Rosalind Kinwwod enlists the aid of Ned Wentworth to find her lady's maid. Rosalind demands to be part of the investigation. As she asks questions, two more maids are discovered missing. Ned knows his way around the not so safe parts of London. The more he looks, the more questions he has. What's the motive behind the kidnappings? Who is the nob in charge? Rosalind and Ned are partners, become lovers, but her father refuses Ned's request to court her. Ned won't give up Rosalind. She is kidnapped, Neil discovers the nob in charge, saves Rosalind and the maids. Guess who is the nob? Money is always a motivation.
Interesting plot and love the interaction between Ned and Rosalind.
Heat Level 2
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Enticing, adventurous, and fun!

Never a Duke is a passionate, compelling tale that sweeps you away to London and into the life of Lady Rosalind Kinwood, an intelligent young woman who embarks on a mission to do whatever it takes to find her missing lady’s maid, even if it means befriending and asking for help from the banker with old friends in low places and a scandalous past of his own, the handsome, dependable Ned Wentworth.

The prose is amusing and light. The characters are protective, independent, and resourceful. And the plot is an arousing combination of family, friendship, secrets, adventure, societal expectations, wicked intentions, devious behaviour, tender moments, and unconditional love.

Overall, Never a Duke is an entertaining, intriguing, satisfying read by Burrowes that was a pleasant surprise with its exceptional character development, swoon-worthy ending, and twisty, action-packed storyline that’s not always seen in this genre.

This is a case of it’s not you, it’s me. This book did absolutely nothing for me. I read the first 15% and did not care about the characters or the plot, so I skimmed to the last 20% and read that. I really really really struggled with the writing style. The descriptions were written in normal prose but the dialog was all Heyer-esqe flowery ye-olde language style which was just jarring to flip between and I had to reread many of the dialog passages. I was also not prepared for how significant the mystery would be for the plot. I hate mysteries. I’m fine with them in romances when they’re a minor sub-plot but the mystery in this one felt almost like the main plot. It also didn’t help that this is the seventh book in the series, so I’m sure in was missing a lot of the significance of the side characters. It just didn’t work for me, but looking at other reviews I am clearly in the minority on this one.

Never A Duke by Grace Burrowes (Rogues to Riches #7) 5 stars

We first meet Ned on the first page of “My One and Only Duke” when he tells Quinn Wentworth – “You isn’t to be hanged on Monday!”. From meeting a boy imprisoned in Newgate for pickpocketing to the man we meet in the 7th Rogues to Riches novel has been a remarkable journey. After Quinn Wentworth gets him out of prison, we have seen Ned grow up in the course of seven books. He is given the Wentworth name in the 1st book and by book seven he is a noted banker working for the Duke of Walden’s (Quinn Wentworth) bank.

Lady Rosalind Kinwood knows that Ned Wentworth has connections high and low and she needs his help to find her lady’s maid who has disappeared. Ned is intrigued by Rosalind and agrees to help her. What he uncovers is a pattern of missing women who have no close family to protect them – most of them domestic servants or companions. Along the way Ned and Rosalind discover in each other a person who respects their intelligence and abilities. It is picnics and rendezvous in bookstores for the pair. Can justice be served and a happily ever after achieved? Read and find out.

This was a wonderful book from start to finish. I read this book as soon as I was approved for the ARC, but hesitated writing this review because this would mean that the series was at an end. We might see tiny glimpses of the Wentworth’s in future books but I will be miss the gang. One of the best part of this book was the various Wentworth family members putting their two shillings in on the subject of Ned’s love life. A fitting end to the Wentworth novels and a gift for all the Ned fans out there. I eagerly look forward to the next book by Ms. Burrowes.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC.