This is book 1 in the A Royal Match series and in it we are introduced to Justine who is a princess and heiress to the throne in her country. She is sent to England to learn how to be a true royal queen. But she is also in need of a husband that would be fit to stand at her side while she rules. Lord William Douglas is the future Duke of Hamilton and he is enlisted to be her escort and make sure the men she meets are the right ones. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize that they truly care about each other.

This book started off really slow for me. There was a lot of information given that honestly, I didn't really care about. And I had a hard time liking Justine at the beginning, or connecting with her. She just seemed to be really snobby and it was extremely off putting to me. William was extremely charming and witty, so it was easy to like him. But it also made it hard to imagine them together, as they are so very different. Once the story was further in, Justine grew on me somewhat but the story was still really slow. I had a hard time with it because of this. On a whole, it isn't a bad story. I ended up liking the characters together and there was a lot of growth to them both. But it was so unbelievably slow that I had a hard time and just would get bored with it. Some people will probably love it, for me it was just ok though.

Last Duke Standing
Book 1 in the A Royal Match Series
Rating: 3 stars (2.5 stars)
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Last Duke Standing is the first book in the series. This one tells the story of Princess Justine from Wesloria who is need of a husband. She is sent along with her sister to England to find one. She is assigned a Lady in Waiting, a matchmaker and Lord William Douglas to serve as an escort to society events.
It is when she is presented with suitors that Douglas begins to realize that maybe he could be the right one...
Why the 2.5 stars?
To begin with I am a fan of this author, but this one was close to being a DNF story. I struggled with it since the beginning because I really didn't like Justine. I didn't like her personality, especially with Douglas at the beginning and even in some parts later in the book. Some of the comments she made were so snobbish ( I get that she's a princess, but a little humility would of served her well). I understand that she's the future queen, but still... I would of liked to have seen Justine talk with her father, the king. She made comments on how he was the only one who understood her, maybe that would of shown another side of her.
I liked Douglas. I think he made the best of the situation that he was placed in by his father. To be honest Douglas was the only character that I really liked. He was so sweet and he really helped Justine show that being her true self served her better.
In the end it was an okay read.

4.5*upped to 5
I think we are back in the world of A Royal Wedding series, a world that could be the perfect setting for an operetta, something like The Merry Widow (I'm a fan of genre, highly recommended.
The book is written tongue in cheek and I had fun since the first pages as it made fun of what could have been a real introduction to a country history.
There were a lot of promises in those first pages and the plot maintains them and I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a lot of fun.
There's a sweet romance and I rooted for the characters, there's a historical background with plenty of rules especially if you are a lady belonging to royalty.
Julia London took all these ingredients and delivered a compelling and highly entertaining book.
Have fun in reading it, it's highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

To be completely honest here, this book just was not a hit for me. I do enjoy historical romance, but I could never seem to really get into this one. The plot was super predictable,....and not in the cute way. I would have dnfed this but I read just to write this review.

Last Duke Standing by Julia London, book one in her Royal Match series, is a wonderful, enjoyable, charming, humorous tale of a princess in need of a husband and the opionated Scottish lord tasked to escort her as she is introduced to some of the best and most eligible bachelors. With the impending death of her father and a hint of scandal in her past, Crown Princess Justine of Westloria, accompanied by her younger sister, is sent to England to learn the ropes of royalty, receiving tutelage from none other than Queen Victoria herself. Justine is also in the market for a proper husband; one fit to marry the future queen of Wesloria. William, Lord Douglas, a notoriously rake and heir to the Duke of Hamilton seat in Scotland, who knows simply everyone, while decidedly not husband material, is on hand as an escort of sorts. William has been recruited to keep an eye on the royal matchmaker for the Weslorian prime minister, tasked to ensure the princess is matched with a man of quality, especially, one who will be sympathetic to the prime minister’s views. Also assisting in the search is the celebrated matchmaker, Lila Aleksander. William remembers the princess from her last visit to England eight years ago and is not prepared for the lovely young woman he is introduced to when he calls on her. At first, Justine is annoyed by William’s presence, but as time passes, they form a friendship and she comes to trust him and his insights about her suitors; suitors that are clearly not right for he

I loved the friendship that formed between Justine and William as he proves to be most insightful sharing his opinion about the men she is forced to meet, whether she wants it or not. Both characters are competitive, creating bets about the suitors, finding ways to escape the others, as well as spend time together. There is a strong chemistry and attraction between them that Lila, the matchmaker, recognizes early on.

Ms. London wrote a wonderful story filled with humor, witty banter, warmish love scenes, wonderful leads, great secondary characters, secrets, scandals, a bit of heartache, and the magic of love that should not to be missed. I highly recommend Last Duke Standing to other readers and look forward to the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Okay, I’m just going to say this upfront - there was no duke, so I’m not certain why this book is called Last Duke Standing. I mean, main character William is heir to a dukedom, but he’s not a duke and to my recollection, none of Justine’s other suitors are dukes either. That aside, Last Duke Standing is a solid enemies-to-lovers romance. Although the first in a new series, it is a spinoff of A Royal Wedding series, set about eight years ahead in time from the conclusion of the final book.

Justine is to become queen and ruler of Wesloria. Her mother and the Prime Minister mean to manage her by marrying her off to someone of their choosing. Justine, along with her younger sister Amelia, is shipped off to England to learn the ropes of being a queen from Queen Victoria and find a suitable husband with the help of renowned matchmaker, Lady Lila. William is to watch over the whole affair and report back to the Prime Minister as a favor made by William’s father.

I love that William and Justine have a history: a scandalous incident eight years prior when she was in London. He shoved her in a game of chairs and there was a scene. This history, and the fact that neither wants to be part of what is happening, puts the pair at odds from the start. Their bickering turns into amusement. Their attraction turns into lust. They make bets with the prize of kissing… it doesn’t make any logical sense, but adds tension and fun.

I didn’t care for Justine at first. She comes across as self-important, but it’s more that she’s tired of being told what to do and how to live. She’s tired of being looked at as not good enough and looked down upon for her one horrible indiscretion. William is an odd duck, pushing Justine into clandestine moments when he doesn’t really like her.

I love how William thinks Lila hasn’t a clue how to matchmake since the prospects presented are horrible matches. Lila goads William knowing that he and Justine are the perfect match, but Lila must foster their feelings until the pair comes upon the discovery on their own.

Overall, Last Duke Standing is an entertaining story. It felt a little long at times, but the last half of the book really picked up. I enjoyed the story more as the pair grew closer and confided in one another. I love the closing thought: “It was astonishing—all it really took was for someone to believe in her to give her permission to believe I herself.”

My rating: B/B-

I enjoyed this overall. It was really engaging at the beginning and also through the last 3rd. Unfortunately, I did find it to be a little slow in the middle parts of the story.

The flirting and the banter between Justine and Will were fun, by at times I felt there were too many other characters in the mix and it distracted from the central story. I am not going to say the book is too long, but I do think some of the scenes that focused on other characters weren't really necessary and while I understand the reason for them being there, more than anything it messed with the flow of the story.

The scenes with Will and Justine were perfect, their dialogue sharp and witty. I believed in their connection and that the attraction between them was real and strong enough to use as a foundation for their future.

That said, this is a charming historical romance and I recommend this title.

With her father in the final stages of consumption, Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria travels to England for advice from Queen Victoria. Justine is also under pressure to find a consort before she takes the throne. William, heir to a Scottish dukedom, is assigned to keep an eye on the matchmaking proceedings and ensure she chooses a proper mate. He's decidedly not husband material—so what happens when they fall in love?

This is a fun, sometimes funny story—a little bit enemies to lovers, a little bit opposites attract. Justine hates being the center of attention. She feels like she's constantly being judged. William helps her see that it's really the opposite—everyone is trying to curry her favor. He's the only person who's truly honest with her and sees her for who she really is. It's lovely to see them come together and find their HEA.

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

Title: Last Duke Standing
Author: Julia London
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

When Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria is sent to England to learn the ropes of royalty, she falls under the tutelage of none other than Queen Victoria herself. She’s also in the market for a proper husband—one fit to marry the future Queen of Wesloria.

Because he knows simply everyone, William, Lord Douglas (the notoriously rakish heir to the Duke of Hamilton seat in Scotland, and decidedly not husband material), is on hand as an escort of sorts. William has been recruited to keep an eye on the royal matchmaker for the Weslorian Prime Minister, tasked to ensure the princess is matched with a man of quality...and one who will be sympathetic to the prime minister’s views. As William and Justine are forced to scrutinize an endless parade of England’s best bachelors, they become friends. But when the crowd of potential grooms is steadily culled, what if William is the last bachelor standing?

I’ve enjoyed the Wesloria books I’ve read, and I highly enjoyed this one, too. I thought Justine’s mom—and her cronies—were horrible, but I really liked the matchmaker. William was a fun character, and the banter between him and Justine was a lot of fun. I liked seeing some of the characters from previous Wesloria books in the background, too.

Julia London is a bestselling author. Last Duke Standing is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.)

I really enjoyed this book. William and Justine start as enemies of a sort, become friends of a sort, and then realize that they are in love. That progression is difficult enough, but there are several other complications. One, a matchmaker has been hired, so there are other suitors hanging around. Two, Justine is surrounded by people who do not trust her to find her own husband, and she is not sure she trusts herself. Three, William has a scandal looming that will turn everything on its head. But there are a couple of factors in their favor: one, William and Justine are good people with good sense. Two, the matchmaker happens to be Lila Aleksander, who is more clever than anyone knows. She is determined to set everything to rights.
I loved the clever plot, the snappy dialogue, the crazy bets, and the secondary characters. Queen Victoria is in this book, and she is very entertaining. Beck and Blythe are also in here with their kids, and they are so funny. This is a terrific beginning to a new series, and I am already trying to guess who the next main characters will be.

A new series begins for fans of Julia London and we get to experience the love of two people that are obviously so opposite of one another and once had a very public fight discover that love can come in the most unlikely of faces. For readers of Julia London’s historical romances this series will be a return to some interesting faces, because although it is a new series, several of the characters are carried over from past series and it feels more like a continuation of other series as we get to delve into the lives of what were once minor character in other novels. Justine and William were both much younger when they first met, but time has changed them both in ways they never imagined and meeting again will force them to come to terms with those changes. This story is one that will lead you down a path of political intrigue, royal duty, and the unexpected love of two people that just don’t realize that sometimes the flipside of hate is love. I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to the rest of this new series as we see the rest of the Royal’s find a match, possibly seeing more characters as their lives have progressed. Julia London never lets me down in her historical romances and Last Duke Standing is no less than another wonderful foray into the past and love.

Justine is the Crown Princess of Wesloria, a small country in Eastern Europe, and the time has come for her to step up and take a more central role in her government as her father’s health begins to decline. However her mother, the Queen, has serious doubts about her ability to lead after a recent salacious incident and feels Justine might be best served to spend some time in England under the tutelage of Queen Victoria. Forced into a country she never wanted to return to, with chaperones she can’t stand and only her sister as her ally, Justine never imagined she would have the added insult of dealing with the one man she once has a crush on that disrespected her so grandly in a public forum. Lord William Douglas knows that he has a fight ahead of him dealing with the little witch of a Princess that he once battled, but when he sees her again for the first time he realizes she has grown up a lot in the past decade and has become a beautiful—and desirable—woman, which makes his job as chaperone/spy even more difficult. As they spend ever-increasing amounts of time together, trying to find a match for Justine, they find themselves drawn more to one another, and their friendship slowly becomes something so much more. But William has a secret, one that could tear them apart and prevent them from ever having their happy ending, unless their friends can help them untangle the mess of his past and free him, but they are fast running out of time and hope.

These two lovers were amazingly matched—much like the perfect partners in a fencing match. Justine has grown into a woman that has only the best interest of her people at heart, but her fears keep her from becoming the Queen she is fully capable of being. I felt so bad for her as she admitted and then slowly found ways to manage her fears, though some are NOT recommended, but she slowly found her voice and her ability to share it beautifully with William’s help and encouragement. She was brave, sweet, persistent, and strong enough to withstand the disasters she faced again and again, but she never lost sight of the fun she could have in the little moments with William or her sister. Once she realized what she truly wanted from her life she didn’t let anything stand in her way and even when she almost lost hope, bringing a tear or two to my eye, she still kept her heart with the man she’d given her love. William was a rogue of the first order to be sure, but I loved watching his playfulness bounce against Justine’s solemnity until her façade would crack and she too could find the lightness. He has made mistakes in the past too be sure, but he owns up to them and he is a good man, his honor and integrity something he holds with great importance even when others question it, as long as those he loves know the real man. It was fun watching him as he devised schemes to forestall matches, win little games, and ultimately win Justine’s heart once she stole his. I loved that he knew, once he was hers, that earning Justine’s heart and the right to call her his, was more important than anything else in his life. The heat between these two was apparent even in previous novels, though it was fostered as hate, and once it blossoms into a new kind of passion there is no forbidding the love between them.

Last Duke Standing is the story not of a woman deciding to marry the last man in the world available to her, like you might think from the title, but is truly the story of a woman that understands her Duke is the last man she ever imagines would be perfect for her all along. Justine is so sure that she hates William, for past mistakes and offenses that she doesn’t realize he is truly a good man and the one meant to be hers. William has a lot to answer for in order to earn the right to claim a Crown Princess, much less one that truly owns his heart, a good woman that has sacrificed a lot and will continue to do so as Queen of a country, but being by her side is all he wants. Justine has a heavy burden in her future, but once she knows that having a true partner by her side, one like William, will make her life bearable there is no way that she will let a few petty grievances stand in their way. I absolutely loved how these two and their friends came together, again and again, to laugh, love, and find ways to overcome every obstacle in their paths. This series looks like it will be another one filled with wit, laughter, tears, and devotion leaving me with no choice but to strap in and enjoy the ride. London’s newest series, a true continuation of her world, takes us back into the monarchy of the small imaginary country of Wesloria then into Victorian England so that we can learn the one lesson we all need to know—Love conquers all.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

With the imminent death of her father looming and a whiff of scandal in her past, Justine Ivanosen, the Crown Princess and heir to the throne of Wesloria it is suggested that Justine would benefit from the advice of Queen Victoria and that she should find a husband as quickly as possible, and for that task, her mother and the prime minister have hired the services of the celebrated matchmaker, Lila Aleksander. So with her younger sister, Princess Amelia in tow, they set out for England. But unbeknownst to Justine, the prime minister has managed to coerce the Scottish Duke of Hamilton and Brandon to have his son and heir William, Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale to act as a spy on his behalf, not realizing that William and Justine have a history.

William would rather not have to babysit a spoiled princess, but with a fresh scandal dogging him and a father that is bent on bankrupting the dukedom, he really has no choice. He remembers the princess from her last visit to England eight years ago and is not prepared for the lovely young woman he is introduced to when he calls on her. At first, Justine is annoyed by William’s presence, but as time passes, they form a friendship and she comes to trust him and his insights about her suitors. Suitors that are clearly not right for her, in fact, the only man that is right for her is William, but with her scandal, still fresh in everyone’s minds, she needs a groom with an impeccable reputation and that is not William – or is it?

This was a well-written, fun read that is loosely connected to the previous “A Royal Wedding” series. The book is filled with humor, witty banter, warmish love scenes, wonderful leads, great secondary characters (including Beck from the previous series), secrets, scandals, a bit of heartache, and a truly heartwarming ending, complete with an epilogue. If you follow my reviews then you know that incorrect titles/formal address are my biggest pet peeves and sadly mistakes are abundant in this book, but I liked the story and writing style so much that I have just accepted that this is the way it is going to be in all Ms. London’s books and I can’t let it ruin the story. That said, I am happy to recommend this book, it is a great start to a new series with ties to the previous series and I will enthusiastically be looking forward to Amelia’s story.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Justine is the Crown process of Wesloria, set on taking over the throne soon because her father is very ill. Her parents sent her to England to learn about royal life and hopefully snag a husband.

Willam is the heir to be the next Duke. He is a notorious rake and is asked to look after the princess and her matches by the prime minister of Wesloria. Also, he knows everyone, so he is the perfect escort. With all the time they are spending together, they become friends and more.

I love historical romance, especially if there is royalty and fancy balls and love interests, but this one wasn't the right fit for me.

Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria was not happy when her parents sent her along with her sister Amelia to England to learn from Queen Victoria how to be queen and to find a husband. Justine has learned much from her ailing father, but her nerves always seemed to get the best of her when in crowd. It was something she needed to conquer and she was walking hard to overcome it. William, Lord Douglas (the notoriously rakish heir to the Duke of Hamilton, has been tasked with keeping an eye on Justine and help her judge potential suitors. What they don't expect is to actually fall for each other, but William has rumors swirling around him that makes him an unsuitable match. Can they find a way to debunk the rumors?

This book started off so slow. I nearly stopped after the first chapter. There was so much info dump in the beginning that could have been easily incorporated into the story instead all at once. I really liked William. He was honorable and so charming and Justine slowly begins to realize he's the only one willing to tell her the truth. It took awhile for me to warm up to Justine, but eventually she showed she was willing to go after what she wanted even against all odds and everyone's opinion. Amelia was nothing but a distraction--a bratty distraction as far as I was concerned. What loving sister goes and kisses a potential suitor when he's there for Justine? The excuse that she's young and impulsive didn't seem like a good excuse for a young woman who had been groomed since birth the about proper behavior for a princess. After many obstacles, William and Justine finally get their HEA. Not sure I'll be reading any more of this series.

I loved The Last Duke Standing! This was my favorite book of Julia's recent Princess books. William was such a great leading man … Julia London can really write awesome heroes! And fun pets! I love how she throws in critters. You know that she’s got to be an animal lover! I would love a crossover with Marek and Justine meeting ... any chance of that happening? You can always trust Julia London to have a fresh take on the old-fashioned stories. It’s fun when it’s not the same story, and the same setting … Definitely give this one a whirl!

Last Duke Standing reminded me of the very first romance book I ever read.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn, the same author who wrote Bridgerton. I read it when I was around 12 or 13 years old and I know a lot of you are exclaiming that that’s simply too young to be exposed to those kinds of books! (clutches pearls)

Like I get it but it already happened so 🤷🏼‍♀️.

It was really awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I finished it in a day. That hasn’t really happened that often since the pandemic began. I absolutely loved it. The chemistry between William and Justine was explosive and honestly, I ran out of red bookmarks…

The characterization of Justine was an absolute marvel. The way she grew into her role.. I just couldn’t. And how William was a complete modern man and was absolutely fine with stepping aside and letting Justine rule was just UGH! Suffice it to say that I found a new book boyfriend.

It was a somewhat quick read with three different POVs that weren’t written as something to trudge through. I find anything more than two POVs in any quick read book is just too much. But this wasn’t too much.

Like I said, I absolutely loved it.

I absolutely ADORED this book!!! I loved Justine who is a princess, soon to be queen, and has been shipped off to England to be tutored by Queen Victoria while being matched with every eligible party in Europe! For someone who feels overshadowed by her sister and her mother, and has a bit of PTSD in crowds, this is a daunting and lonely experience. And then there is William, who has been sent to spy on her and report back on the potential matches! Is there anything more infuriating?? Except he is honest and funny and kind and likes her dog….

This was such fun, I loved the ridiculous bachelors Justine meets, and even the kind ones. I also cannot WAIT for Amelia to get her own book. Also the delicious governess, Donovan…. A great start to a new series, I can’t wait to read more!!

Will a scandal of not their making come between them …

I confess I did not really read the blurb before requesting this book, I thought after the previous series, plus with the title, any tale about royal would be behind.
Because I am not a lover of story with princes and princesses, those spheres do not transport me, it is not my jam.
Thus said, while I began my reading with preconceived ideas, I was really surprised, outside a few scenes, most of the action follow the usual outings of any historical narrative, parties, balls, picnics …
But, more importantly, it was the bickering turning to witty banter between the main couple that was the breath of fresh air of this book.
Plus the matchmaker and her husband, I loved reading her view of the couple.

Justine despite many people’s wishes is the first born, so the heir to the throne. And while she does not feel ready, with her father’s ailing health, postponing the choice of a consort is no more an option. So here she is, manipulated to select the perfect allied to the crown, but will he be her supporter or just a tool for other.
Yet despite the weight of her duty, she wants more than someone who will suit her prime minister’s notions. She longs for more for herself, but with her past pain, she struggles to trust others to not have a different agenda.
William like most of his peers has enjoyed everything his rank has to offer. But now between his father’s bulimia for grant things despite their unsettling costs and his inner feeling he has reached a turn into his life, he is looking for more than idle pursuits. But being called to princess-sit was not his opinion of a valuable use of his time. Even more when he remember his first and only encounter with a kind of a spoiled pouting brat.
And as they meet again, Justine does not do much to alter his opinion of her, yet slowly they come to a sort of truce, he smooths a bit her path and offers freely his thoughts of her suitors while she chooses to not listen and wagers with him without repentance.

It was fun to follow them as they slowly trust one another, going from nemesis to friends then acknowledging they were made for the other if they can find a way out of their present circumstances.
So do not pass this book is you are like not fond of royalty, it was a much unexpected enjoyable read full of quips and witty teasings.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 one foreplays scene.

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

I usually like books set during this time period. I do like the cover but that was pretty much all I liked about it. I think this book was about a hundred pages too long. It seemed to drag on forever. I’m sure there are many who will like this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Last Duke Standing by Julia London is the 1st book in her new A Royal Match series. We meet Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria at the start, as she is the heir to the throne. Justine’s father is the King, and his health has been failing; he wants her to find herself a husband suitable for her becoming the Queen. He sends her to England, with her sister, Amelia to learn the ropes of royalty from Queen Victoria, as well have a matchmaker introduce Justine to men that are wealthy and suitable to be her Prince Consort.

Lord William Douglas, the future Duke of Hamilton in Scotland, is well known, and considered a rake; not considered as husband material, but he is approached by Justine’s advisors (prime minister) to be a friendly escort to help her meet the man suitable for her to marry. William is surprised at the request, especially since Justine hates him and they have not seen each other in many years.

When Justine sees William, she immediately coldly ignores him, but they both need to put the past slights behind them and work together. The banter between them was fun, and in a short time they did become friends, with William using his knowledge of the well-known wealthy bachelors that the matchmaker brings forth to meet Justine, and just about everyone were not suitable or too stupid for her. I did get a kick out of William constantly bringing them down, with a little bit of jealousy.

William finds himself falling hard for Justine, though he knew his reputation stopped him from being even considered. It did take a while, but slowly Justine realized she was falling in love with William. I loved how William was always there for Justine, weather she had anxiety in front of crowds, or if one of the suitors leaned toward Amelia, as he stepped up to help her deal with each situation. The flirty banter between them was awesome.

Last Duke Standing was a fun, flirty, charming romantic historical story, with a couple that was sensual and had us rooting for. Was the man Justine found herself falling for suitable to be the perfect husband? You need to read this book to find out. Last Duke Standing was so very well written by Julia London.