I can’t help but sigh contentedly as I finish yet another lovely novel by Grace Burrowes. I just adored this story- the writing style, the characters, the mystery at the center! It had more suspense in it than most Regency romance novels, which made it feel so fresh!

This was the 7th installment of the Rogues to Riches series. While I haven’t read books 5 and 6 just yet, Never a Duke was still an enjoyable addition to the series. It could be read as a standalone, but like with most romance series, reading them in order helps you understand the supporting characters and why they are important to the story.

What sets this book, and series, apart from others in the genre is it focuses more on overcoming issues due to classism, sexism, and familial abuse. This is so well done- adding so much nuance to the book! In Ned Wentworth’s case, he is working through the difficulties of being orphaned at a young age and at a time when there was no central support system for orphans in London. He grew up on the streets, literally fighting to survive. Though he was adopted by an influential family, his history still haunts him. It’s this history that leads him to helping Lady Rosalind Kinwood, whose maids have disappeared without a trace. She hopes that his old connections on the seedier side of town will help her find these missing women.

Both of the characters are incredibly likable and sympathetic. Each has their own issues to work through regarding family trauma, among other historical events. The way they connect with one another was just so sweet. However, it felt more like a solid basis for friendship and not necessarily a passionate romance. I needed a bit more chemistry or tension to really believe these two ought to be more than colleagues solving a mystery.

The pacing was a little slower on this one than others and that made the story feel a bit drawn out. There were some pieces of information thrown in at the end that felt a little too convenient to solve some of the issues at hand. But- I’d recommend this one if you like a friends to lovers romance, a romance with a mystery driving the plot, or family dramas with excellent banter!

I'm sure I speak for many a Burrowes fan when I say that I have been looking forward to a story about Ned Wentworth--the little imp who His Grace, Quinton Wentworth, brought out of prison with him and adopted.

Ned has become a fastidious and fairly virtuous banker at the duke's bank, living simply while attending to both business and family matters. Though it is not unusual for him to be propositioned (he has built a vast wealth, which can cause greedy papas to overlook his "unfortunate" background), the source of his most current proposition dumbfounds him.

Lady Rosalind Kinwood is nearly on the shelf, primarily because she speaks her mind and is rife with social causes. Currently, however, her cause is entirely too personal: two of her lady's maids have gone suddenly missing. Rosalind is praying that someone with Ned Wentworth's background in both privacy and criminality may have a chance of locating the women before something worse can befall them.

A man who enjoys a cause himself--especially if it allows him to right a wrong, Ned takes up Rosalind's missing persons case. It leads them both on a merry chase through not only the slums, the docks, and Mayfair, but through romance.

Though a few of the loose ends at the end of this book (and with it, the Rogues to Riches series) are a little too neatly tied off, Never a Duke is a very satisfactory romance, social commentary, and bit of humor. Rosalind proved to be very interesting, but the star of the show is the grown-up Ned Wentworth (who is not the bastard of the duke, no matter what the gossip says).

I loved Ned and Rosalind together!

There's a mystery afoot, namely the disappearance of two of Rosalind's maids, and she turns to Ned to conduct a very discreet investigation. I loved the way these two teamed up to find the truth and rescue the victims, and I adored Ned's ability to straddle the line between high society and "those sorts of people." Young Artie was a delightful addition to the story.

As always with this author, the writing is instantly captivating, intense, and deeply romantic. I loved the focus on social justice and Ned's enterprises with those who deserve a fair shot in life. There's a delightful HEA for Ned and Rosalind, as well as for a secondary couple and of course for the rescued victims. I wish the villains had faced a more appropriately harsh punishment, but justice was done nonetheless.

I adored seeing the Wentworths again and catching up with a few of the couples from earlier books. Each one is a delicious adventure, and I can't recommend this series highly enough. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This is the 7th book in the rouges to riches series. I have enjoyed this series. I do think in reading this book, it would help to at least read the first book in this series. This is where Ned, our H, makes his first appearance as a child.
Ned is now a grown,responsible, well connected and financially sound adult.
Lady Rosalind has been a blue stocking who speaks her mind. She also has a dilemma. Two of her ladies maids have disappeared. She turns to Ned for help in finding them.
This leads to danger and romance. In the end I felt these were 2damaged people who helped heal each other.
My only negative comment is that too much time was spent on solving the mystery but not enough on the romance.
I want to thank Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was intriguing and held my interest throughout. The characters were fun to get to know and were well developed. I have not read the rest of the series and now, I definitely want to read more about Walden and Lord Stephen so I will be searching out the beginning of the series. I enjoyed the pacing of the book as well. The sexy times were few and not super explicit but the romance was sweet and I was definitely cheering for Ned and Lady Rosalind to find their HEAs. My only complaint was that a few things wrapped up a little too nicely for me - things that could have been left out and made the story a little less far-fetched but it didn't ruin the story for me by any means.

This is my 3rd Grace Burrowes book and I didn't love those but did enjoy her writing style so knew I wanted to give her another chance (the other 2 books were holiday stories and I read lots of them last December and to be honest, wasn't thrilled with any of them so maybe I'm just not a fan of holiday stories). This book deals with some missing young women but was handled very well. I was anxious but not overly so about what happened to them or would happen to them but if that is a concern for you, take that into consideration before reading the book.

#netgalley #neveraduke

I really enjoyed these characters.
I love this series/family.

However, this wasn't my favorite in the series. Something about the plot seemed off. I didn't love the outtakes where we get other characters' POV. I understand that it was to help us understand the plot but it jarred me. I also didn't super love the ending. It was almost too happy and I think the villain got off too easy.

But of course, every time I think these negative things I start thinking about how much I enjoyed the characters and it balances out. I really do love this series and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Forever for the ARC to read and review.

For the conclusion of the Rogues to Riches series, Ned Wentworth the adopted brother of the Wentworth clan assists Lady Rosalind in finding the whereabouts of her ladies maid who has disappeared under strange circumstances.

As with all Ms. Burrowes novels, this book is exquisitely written. All the Wentworths band together to help Ned and Rosalind solve the mystery of the missing women.

Never a Duke is a understated love story that deals with incredibly angsty issues. The hero, Ned, is a former child convict who was adopted by a duke. The heroine, Rosalind, is an earl's daughter who has struggled with a stutter and often finds herself on the outskirts of polite society. Rosalind approaches Ned to assist her in finding her lady's maid, who has disappeared. The investigation draws them closer together even as it becomes clear that the disappearance of one woman is only scratching the surface in a human trafficking plot.

The actual relationship development is understated and sweet, as Ned and Rosalind both communicate their wants and needs to each other. They're not exactly sneaking around, but they're also not following the rules of propriety, either. They were incredibly well-suited, as they not only saw the best in each other, but also defended the other party from judgmental outsiders looking in.

The only things we really question are first, how Rosalind knew to approach Ned with her problem. As the book progresses, it appears that they don't know each other well at all, and yet the book opens with her sending him a letter asking for assistance. The other is that the detached writing style, although very helpful when dealing with some of the more difficult aspects of the book, didn't lend itself well to the passionate scenes. That said, it's not a departure for Burrowes, so it wasn't unexpected.

A terrific ending to the Rogues to Riches series. Ned and Rosalind both experienced truly heartbreaking upbringings (Ned in particular), so it was a joy to watch them fall in love and have the HEA they deserved. I appreciated that there wasn’t much waffling between being together and “I’m not worthy so we can’t be together.” Once they fell into like and love, they were firmly committed. .

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Lady Rosalind needs help in finding her missing maids. She know their disappearance is suspect and they just didn't up and leave for a beau or a better job. No one is interested. When she seeks help from Ned, a banker with a mysterious past, he agrees to look into it for her. As they set up meetings to talk about their progress their relationship grows. Both characters have had difficult upbringings and their way to a HEA is not easy. A quick, fast-paced read with a surprising reveal in this seventh book of the series.

This is my first Grace Burrowes book, thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I go back and forth with liking historical vs. contemporary romances. Right now I'm in a contemporary faze, so I wasn't sure if I would like this book. What a pleasant surprise, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more from this author!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. These are my opinions.
Lady Rosalind's maid goes missing, so she asks Ned, who has low connections to help her find the maid.
They quickly form a bond. There is a lot of mystery in this book compared to the others in the series.
The secondary characters are also wonderful.
This is a great book with a lot of interaction with all the characters, and a very satisfying HEA.

One of my favorite books in this series. The story follows Ned Wentworth, who saved/was saved by the Duke of Walden in My One and Only Duke. Lady Rosalind Kinwood asks Need for his help in finding her maid who has gone missing in a way similar to the maid who missing before. Her father and brothers dismiss her concerns, and she turns to Ned.

I really liked both Ned and Rosalind. They were thoughtful and intelligent, and the story highlights the appalling way that both aristocratic women and working class women were treated. Nobody sees the maids go missing, and even fewer people care about what happens to them. Rosalind's father and brothers are too caught up in their own selfish pursuits to pay attention. In fact, they go out of their way to push Rosalind down.

As a side note, I really enjoyed the fact that Ned is not a Duke, although the title seems to have the requisite "Duke." I wish more publishers and authors would follow suit.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a strong, loving couple, who really work together, and make for a great story.

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I have been a longtime fan of Grace Burrowes, and I have greatly enjoyed the Rogues to Riches series. I do recommend reading the previous books if you want to enjoy seeing snippets of the happily ever afters of the other couples, but you could also enjoy this book on its own.

In this story, we see the romance of Ned, the adopted member of the Wentworth clan, and a sharp-tongued almost spinster Rosalind. She seeks Ned’s help in finding her missing maid, and so starts a lovely romance with a bit of intrigue that Burrowes does so well. I will admit that this time I did not figure out who was behind things until the end, which was a surprise.

I was in a historical romance slump before I picked up this book, but I found myself unable to put it down. I loved Ned, and I loved seeing Ned fall in love with Rosalind. They really appreciate each other in the way most of her couples do. And the secondary characters are charming as well.

There is very little of typical London high society in this book, given the hero is a banker, but I do not think it suffered for it. And we get to spend a lot of time with the characters from previous books who are dukes and lords. I rather love that the book uses Duke in the title almost as a joke, as he truly is Never a Duke. If you like Grace Burrowes, you will definitely like this book. I recommend it!

Trigger warning for off page rape of a secondary character and a lot of threats of rape and violence. I did not find it a triggering book despite that, but I think it is better to be forewarned.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

This is my first Grace Burrowes book and won't be my last. Such a lovely romance with rich characters and heightened emotions. I adored it!

The final book in Burrowes' Rogues to Riches series focuses on a quiet, steady romance as the main characters search for missing women. Rosalind asks Ned Wentworth for help in finding her missing lady's maids (her most recent and her previous one disappeared) and they discover other women who worked in wealthy households have disappeared. Fearing the worst (death or more likely, sold into prostitution) Ned uses connections from his youth to try to find out what's happened.
Along the way, their regard for each other grows. It's really nice to have the romance part be straightforward - they enjoy talking to each other, they want to kiss, they want to spend more time together and then they acknowledge their feelings have reached the point where it's serious and they'd like to make it a lifetime commitment. It's balanced well with the tenseness of the investigation.
Series readers will be glad to see appearances of some of the characters from earlier books. The book also discusses prison horrors, poverty, and injustice and how it's shaped Ned into who he is. Burrowes' writing neatly gets the point across without drawing out the horrors for effect.
It's always sad to say good-bye to a series, but this one has ended on a strong note. Recommended for historical romance readers who are interested in social justice issues of the time and looking for a mmc who isn't a member of the aristocracy.

Sleuths to lovers? I am here for it! Romance and a great mystery are one of my favorite combinations and Grace Burrowes definitely delivers in Never a Duke.

Never a Duke is the seventh book in the Rogues to Riches Series and centers around the life of Ned Wentworth. Ned was taken in by the Wentworth family when he met the patriarch of the family at Newgate Prison at a young age. Ned has come a long way since leaving Newgate but still struggles with bridging the gap between his origins and his new life amongst the ton, even though he is now the successful manager of the Wentworth family bank and considered a part of the family.

Ned’s checkered past is what causes Lady Rosalind Kinwood to reach out to him for assistance. Lady Rosalind asks for Ned’s help in discovering the whereabouts of two of her lady’s maids who have unexpectedly disappeared. Forced together to solve this mystery, Ned and Lady Rosalind slowly realize how compatible they are despite their differing backgrounds.

Any devoted fan of Grace Burrowes will love this slow burn!

I absolutely adored Ned and Rosalind’s story. It was amazing to see Ned grow up into this fascinating, honest and utterly lovable young man from the mischievous and brave little boy that we met in “My One and Only Duke”. I always adore books from this author for that warm, fuzzy and happy feeling that they always give me and this book was no exception. Although, there are some dark elements referenced in the book, it still made me utterly happy after I finished reading it. I highly recommend this book and series. It is book seven from the Rogues to Riches series and might be my favorite after the first book of the series.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I’ve written this before (way to be original, Jess 🙄) but every single time I’ve read a Grace Burrowes book I think, it feels like I’m watching Downtown Abbey right now. Restraint & repartee meets drama!!! (Why am I feeling like that koala in the movie Sing right now?! 😬).

Never a Duke has that same Downton Abby-ness. Also a truly nice hero, an unconventional heroine who isn’t liked by many of her contemporaries, & sweet love story that wavers a little for me toward the end but for the most part soundly holds my interest.

Burrowes explores class boundaries & the legal system compellingly with this one when she repeatedly relays how poor people are punished for trying to exist, trying to keep themselves & their families alive & fed & provided for.

It’s a belief that the leads Ned Wentworth & Lady Rosalind Kinworth share & that draws them together, despite the fact that Ned was born on the rougher side of London & was sent to Newgate for crimes & also nearly transported for them & Lady Rosalind is the daughter of an Earl.

Binding everything together is a stirring mystery focusing on missing young women in service & an attraction that shimmers between Ned & Rosalind, despite the many obstacles between them.

Rosalind occasionally comes across as somewhat high-handed to me but watching her pursue him & challenge the seemingly indomitable Wentworths also has its fun recompenses.

Never Love a Duke is another strong installment in this series. It’s been really fun meeting such an unconventional & powerful family that straddles class lines & seeing them shake the aristocracy—& my own reader expectations—up a bit.

4 ⭐️. Release date: 04/26.


[ID: a white woman wearing pink shoes stands in front of an orange ottoman. An ebook rests on an open hardback on top; above the hardback is a closed hardback with a giant peanut butter cup covered with m&ms on it.]

This is a lovely addition to Burrowes' Wentworth series. It tells the story of Ned Wentworth and Rosalind, daughter of the Earl of Woodruff, as they work together to track down Rosalind's missing lady's maids. How they do it and why it matters so much to Rosalind (and Ned) makes for a very interesting story. Both characters are complex and sympathetically drawn which makes the slow-burning romance between them nicely steamy and very satisfying. The villains are more than they first appear to be, but are served their comeupance in a well-deserved way.
Some of the twists in the plot are just a little pat and slightly unbelievable, but on the whole this is a very worthwhile read, especially for those who are fans of Burrowes' writing style.