From beginning to end, I was utterly enchanted by this first book in Amalie Howard's new Taming of the Dukes series. The storyline is fresh and original (with an underlying nod to rom-com favorite, Pretty Woman), and features main characters not regularly seen in historical romance. Add in sensual love scenes, heart-tugging romance, a fake engagement, plus a gender-flipped rescue and...well...I was pretty much a goner.

Lysander (Stone, to his friends) stole my heart as surely as he captured Nève's. There are so many layers to this neurodivergent character and Howard captured them beautifully. The authenticity of his character traits created a fully-developed, nuanced individual with a deep capacity for love...with the right person. The right person being an unemployed French ballerina with a well of integrity and and a core of steel. I adored her.

Nève is the perfect counterpart to Lysander. I loved her passion, her strength, her kind and genuine heart, but also her refusal to compromise her worth. The chemistry between them sizzled but Howard took her time with them emotionally, moving their relationship forward at just the right pace, allowing a gradual and realistic deepening of feelings, especially on Lysander's part. She also used dance, central to Nève's being, as a vehicle to convey emotion. Her lyrical descriptions showcased her personal knowledge of ballet while also creating scenes that played across my mind like a movie.

The secondary cast of the book were vibrantly depicted, adding humor and richness to the story as well as fraught conflict (nasty villains but don't worry, justice is served). I especially enjoyed the friendship that developed among the five women (including Nève). Howard used their scenes to not only further develop Nève's character but also allow readers glimpses into each of their characters in advance of what I hope will be more stories. And, their participation in the final, swoon-worthy declaration was an absolute delight. Laughter and (happy) tears.

If you have not yet discovered Amalie Howard's Always Be My Duchess, I enthusiastically recommend adding it to your summer reading list. It's one of my favorite historical romances this year and one that I have no doubt I'll revisit again.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Always Be My Duchess follows Lord Lysander Blackstone, the Duke of Montcroix. He is only interested in one thing: increasing his fortune. With his reputation dwindling he has to come up with a way to restore it. Lord Lysander comes up with a plan. After meeting Nève he asked her to be his fake fiancée. She says yes because he agrees to pay her and she is out of work. What neither of them are prepared for is to have real feelings for each other. But that is exactly what happens. And soon they have to figure out if they want to act on those feelings. 

I really enjoyed this one. This is not the type of book that I usually read. But I was gifted a copy of this book. I loved all of the pretty woman vibes in this book, since I really like that movie. I loved the writing and the overall story. If you are looking for a different kind of romance book I would suggest this one. Or if you want a good romance to read this is one I would suggest. I am happy that I gave this one a read. Thank you so much Forever for a copy of this book.

I liked the Pretty Woman vibe and nod on the cover art.
I liked the banter between Lysander and Neve, that’s what kept the dialogue fresh and interesting. The sex scenes were hot and steamy.
The ballet stuff added creative nuance and the time period is one I don’t generally read, but it was a fun read.
Check out the lust and love between a duke and his dancing girl!

1865 - London

Lord Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix is wandering the streets of London late one night quite drunk. Seeing a young woman alone, he asks if she is OK and she pulls a gun on him. Miss Genevieve (Neve) Valery, is the daughter of a viscount and was a ballerina in Paris. Her sister, Vivienne, is also a ballerina but was injured and is now unable to dance.

When footpads see Lysander and Neve, they attempt to rob them, but Neve grabs a hackney and they head to Lysander’s house in Grosvenor Square. He then asks Neve if she will act as his companion at a ball the following evening. If she agrees, he will provide her with a dress and also give her 100 pounds. As she needs money to help pay her sister’s doctor bills, she agrees. Now, with this evening a success and how well Neve gets along with his friends, he asks her to stay for a period of time as he fiancee and he will pay her well. She agrees.

Neve settles in well enjoying the luxury of Lysander’s home and the delicious food prepared by his French chef. Meeting his friends that soon become her own friends is special for Neve. They attend many soirées and people admire her. However, when one of Lysander’s friends lets it slip that Neve is a ballerina, some look down on her. When several acquaintances of Lysander dare to insult and degrade Neve, she leaves and returns to Paris. Their relationship is over. Can this great love end so badly?

I enjoyed how Lysander and Neve teased one another. Aunt Millicent is a wonderful character. However, Lushing, Treadway, and Charlotte needed a 3-way head knocking. An enjoyable love story with strong characters. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

#readpairsharereview

Happy Pub Day to this cute and sassy book! Thank you to @netgalley @amaliehoward @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub for the chance to read a free eARC copy.

Always Be My Duchess

by Amalie Howard
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) steamy plus add public places and regardless of relationship

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Amalie gave me 🩰 🎻 as an emoji celebration of reading her book. I’m adding: 💃 🎹 🎭 🐎 🥵 ❣️
🤩 If you enjoyed Tessa Dare’s Girl Meets Duke series, this series is for you: spunky girls with great a great friendship, handsome dukes and the whole he’s irresistible but . . .
🤩 The book blurb totally got me on this one—I absolutely could not resist a request. Swipe to read the book blurb.
🤩 It was honestly love at first sight for me with Stone (Lysander) & Neve (Genevieve)—I was smitten with them from the start.
🤩 I’m a sucker for a memorable meet cute—this one is sweet turned hot real quick involving close proximity. 😍
🤩 Then almost immediately add fake dating—completely captivating!
🤩 Instant attraction yet forbidden romance.
🤩 So much sassy, flirty talk.
🤩 The MCs are so cute, fun, & hot together!
🤩 Aunt Millicent is a lovely addition to the story as a fun and quirky side character.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 I sort of wish Lord and Lady Marsden were the first story in the series. Maybe a prequel/novella? They are just so lovable. Laila and her friends are a hoot! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Vesper, Briar, & Effie.

Thank you @netgalley and @readforeverpub for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

🩰Summary🩰
The book blurb described this as Bridgerton meets Pretty Woman so I was instantly intrigued.

Lord Lysander Blackstone is known for being emotionless, his nickname is Stone. Between a tense relationship with his father, the loss of his mother and heartbreak, he’s decided to focus on his business and making money. But the man holding the cards in his potentially biggest deal doesn’t appreciate the heartless reputation.
Neve was raised as a lady after tragedy turned to ballet to make money, and she was a very talented ballerina with a bright future. When she refused to become a patron’s mistress, Neve lost all opportunities. A chance meeting with Lysander provides an opportunity for them both… he can provide financial compensation if she pretends to be his fiancé to show he has a heart. But we all know what happens in fake relationships.

🩰Review🩰
Overall, this was a cute story. But it was repetitive, especially in descriptions. Between Neve’s sea glass eyes and Lysander’s slate gray eyes, Lysander being like Stone everywhere… some of the language felt overused.

I loved Neve’s spicy personality, she kept Lysander on his toes and wasn’t a typical buttoned up lady. I could definitely see the pretty woman parallels, mostly in personality’s, as opposed to Neve needing to be taught how to act in society. I loved the female friendships and the group they made, and I can definitely see the series coming from this first book.

Fans of Bridgerton will rejoice! My 90's film loving heart was so happy with this story and it's touch of Pretty Woman, especially after the lackluster spice provided by the most recent season of Bridgerton.

I wish I could read it again for the first time, and this is definitely one that all historical romance fans will want to add to their collection. The perfect romance to escape into this summer, it has something for everyone in it.

The side characters are on a whole new level, and I especially found the Queens Club members highly entertaining, to the point they nearly steal the show at times, in the best of ways.

A quick read that will make you smile with it's witty banter, and a fake relationship that will have you swooning. This was such a delight to read and I've recommended it to anyone that will listen!

I was hesitant about this book, historical romances aren’t always my cup of tea, but “Pretty Woman meets the Bridgertons” was enough to have me take the leap on it, and I’m SO glad I did.

I don’t even know what to say - I’m absolutely obsessed. I can’t wait to have my hands on a physical copy.

I’ve decided the one trope I really do genuinely fall for every time is the hero that sees everything in black and white, and has no clue how to handle it when a women changes everything and suddenly everything is in vivid color. This is very much the case with Lysander, our hero in this book. He’s closed off and cold - nicknamed Stone - until he meets our heroine, ballerina Geneviève Valery, and we get to see the ice exterior melt away.

It’s steamy AND remarkably sex positive considering the time it is set.

It was such a joy to read, their story was beautiful, and this is likely going to remain towards the top of my favorite books of 2022.

I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters (Durand, Treadway and Charlotte excluded - fuck those three) and I can’t wait for more books in the series.

P.S. When is Lushing and Briar’s book coming? Please tell me that’s next. I need it.

The story is a take on Pretty Woman. Nève is a down on her luck ballerina when she meets “hard as stone” Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix on a dark Covent Garden street. After an adventurous evening, he makes her an offer she can’t turn down…be his fake fiancé for the remainder of the season and get paid. But what happens when a fake relationship of convenience gets too real?

I really really wanted to love this one because I love Amalie Howard and Pretty Woman, but it just wasn’t for me.

One thing I particularly liked was the female friendships - the Hellfire Kitties were fun and I enjoyed their banter and comraderie! I also enjoyed Nève and Lysander’s meet cute - it was pretty hilarious and a lot embarrassing in a fun/adorable way. I was hoping that would set the tone for the rest of the book, but for me it ultimately didn’t.

I loved that Lysander was all about consent and honestly he seemed like such a loving guy even though he wasn’t sure how to express it. Nève’s character was a strong woman and I liked that she wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself. I liked these characters as individuals, but I wasn’t convinced about them as a couple.

Throughout the book I found myself wondering about the stakes. Why can’t they be together? Is it really as insurmountable as it was made to seem? I didn’t think so. I also felt that the main characters were rarely around each other long enough to develop deep feelings for each other. And when they were together they didn’t talk or acted like they were aloof. I just didn’t feel the chemistry and couldn’t fall in love with them together.

While it wasn’t for me, a lot of people love this book and I do love the author so maybe it’ll work for you!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

What a smart, funny, and steamy take on all the classic 90’s rom-coms we know and love. It’s Pretty Woman meets Bridgerton in Always Be My Duchess (does anyone else automatically hear Mariah Carey’s 90’s classic ‘Always Be My Baby’ when they read the title, or just me?)

Miss Genevieve “Neve” Valery has come to London to find herself a job as a ballerina at any company that will have her. The daughter of a shunned duke who needs to provide for herself and her sister, she’s exhausted all her options in Paris after declining a wealthy patron foul proposition. It’s here that she meets Lord Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix. He’s gruff and stern on the exterior, but with a sensitive soul that he fights to hide, after years of emotional abuse from his demanding father. What begins as a chance encounter in the dark and dangerous streets of London becomes a fake engagement when the pair realize they each have something the other needs - the duke thinks a fake finance will help him close a business deal, and he’s willing to pay Neve for her performance. Neve, reluctant to be under another man’s thumb, and a man of the peerage at that, agrees only on the condition that it’s enough money to give her and her sister a chance to start over, and that they keep their arrangement strictly platonic. But as in all fake-relationships, the forced proximity and acting leads to the real thing, but only if each party is willing to put themselves on the line in risk of something greater.

Really, this is such a smart take on the traditional historical bodice rippers we often see. Neve is portrayed as quite a modern woman of her time, with great respect paid to her occupation and position in society than she would have normally been afforded. And great care was given to Lysander for his neurodivergency, which would have also cast him out of society during this time period. Kudos to the author for a soft cinnamon roll hero all wrapped up in a hard candy shell!

This book follows a Duke, Lysander, who has had issues with society. He ends up in a situation with a lady named Genevieve. She assists him and they strike a deal to benefit each other. Their deal ends up lasting longer than one night.

This was a great “fake dating” story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys that trope, and would read more stories from this author.

Lysander and Neve are a delightful pairing!

An extremely inconveniently erotic meet cute unexpectedly turns into a rather convenient opportunity for both the Duke of Montcroix and the talented but cash-strapped ballerina. Despite her talent, Neve has been blacklisted because she wouldn't submit to a theater patron's demands. Lysander needs someone to pose as his fiance to help land a deal and to fend off all the unwanted young ladies and their mothers. The deal struck, the process is much more complicated as Lysander seeks to change Neve's outward situation while she attempts to change his inward disposition.

I loved Neve's bawdy sense of humor and how her unconventional style challenged Lysander on several levels. I really loved his dogged determination and and laser focus on the things that mattered to him. They really are terrific together, and I really enjoyed reading their story.

The writing is terrific as usual, but there are a few points that slipped past a competent editor that either left me scratching my head trying to understand where the plot went or left me wondering why that particular word was misused instead of another that would be more appropriate. The one thing she seemed most offended by didn't make sense to me, because either her connection to that place was too brief to instill that level of devotion, or there's more to that connection than what we were told.

Lysander and Neve have a wonderful HEA and we're given quite a few insights into future couples should the author continue with their stories. I always enjoy this author's historical romances, and this was no exception. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I had such a fun time reading this book.
Since reading The Beast of Beswick, I've been a huge fan of Howard's writing. Which was why I was so excited to pick up her latest book inspired by Pretty Woman.
The beginning of the book starts with our pair running from ruffians trying to rob them, talk about a meet cute!
I adored Neve. She was independent, smart and said exactly what she thought (even though this was intentional sometimes!). I liked her background in the ballet and made her stand out amongst other heroines.
Stone was a great character too. He is neurodivergent (term that describes people whose brain develops or works differently for some reason) which made his journey to love and acceptance all the sweeter.
I loved how the relationship developed between these two. Neve isn't trusting of titled men and Stone has been spurned before. It was going to take some earned trust, respect and, of course, unbridled lust to get these two to fall into each others arms. Howard paces the relationship perfectly and I couldn't get enough of their banter.
This is a slow burn so do be warned!
I would suggest this to readers who like slow burn, friends to lovers, fake dating/fake fiancé, historical romance retellings, and steam.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I liked the characters in this romance, I thought they had great chemistry. My favorite character was grumpy Lysander because I do like a grumpy hero with a heart of gold!

This had a fake engagement element to it which is always fun to read about. I also liked the way this book dealt with the class difference between Genevieve and Lysander.

I like my historical romances with steamy scenes, as long as the chemistry between the couple is right – this book did not disappoint on that score.

Amalie Howard has been on my to-read authors list since I read her Beast of Beswick, however this was not one of her best.

This Pretty Woman-inspired story between Lysander and Neve failed to hit the mark for me. A lot of things just went wrong or very meh for me from the insta-lust which is one of my absolute least favorite romance tropes, to the complete virtue washing of Neve which robbed her of the chance to truly feel multi-dimensional, to the quite tired sismance quartet. Honestly, the last point was amongst the biggest disappointments as this woman sismance did feel very tired in their characterization.

There were some funny parts, as I did enjoy Layla and Lushing. These few bright parts however did little to enhance my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

I look forward tentatively to the next books in the series.

A huge thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC.

This charming Victorian era historical romance is the story two people from different worlds forging a connection. A chance encounter between Lysander and Nève leads to an offer—not an indecent proposal, but rather a fake engagement scheme.

Despite being at the top of the social hierarchy, Lysander has developed a reputation for being cold and unapproachable. His one great love jilted him; I won’t say for whom she left him, but yikes. Yet Lord Super Grump’s heart grows three sizes over the course of the book as he does nice things for Nève just because. Likewise, Nève learns that after a lifetime of keeping her guard up and fending for herself, putting her trust in someone will not lead to her losing everything she has worked so hard to maintain.

The two protagonists are supported by a well-rounded cast of secondary characters, some of whom will almost definitely be promoted to a leading role in subsequent books in the series. Lysander’s aged aunt stole the show at every possible opportunity, and the villains of the piece chewed the scenery just the right amount whenever they appeared in a scene.

I would recommend Always Be My Duchess. The protagonists are likeable, and they have good chemistry together. The banter is light and fun, and this is clearly a great beginning to a new series. I’m looking forward to reading more from Howard in the future.


I received a digital ARC of this book from Forever/NetGalley

Lysander, a Duke who struggles with social niceties and prefers to stick to business, stumbles across a crying woman while lost and drunk in London. After escaping a group of cutpurses together, he learns her name is Genevieve, and she is a French ballerina recently come to London looking for work to support her and her sister after the death of their parents.
Quickly thinking of a deal that will suit them both, Lysander offers Genevieve 100 pounds to be his companion to a ball in order to convince a business associate that he is not a rake, but instead a serious man who is ready to settle down with a wife.
Of course, the one-night-only deal quickly becomes a longer arrangement, and we are treated to a fresh new take on the “fake dating” trope, complete with interpretations of some of the most iconic moments in the film “Pretty Woman.”
Reading this book was like eating a scrumptious little treat, chock full of moments that made me sigh and laugh out loud in equal measures. I’m eager to read whatever Amalie Howard comes out with next, and keeping my fingers crossed that it involves some of the charming side characters from Always Be My Duchess.

Always Be My Duchess is the first novel in the Taming of the Dukes series. When I heard this was inspired by Pretty Woman, I could not wait to read it. Geneviève (Nève) Valery is an up-and-coming, but currently out of work ballerina. Through a random encounter, she meets Lord Lysander Blackstone, the Duke of Montcroix. Lysander initially seems very closed off and uncaring, but his true self is revealed over time. Lysander needs a stand-in to attend a ball with him to close a deal with an Earl, while Nève needs funds to help care for her ailing sister.

The two initially strike a bargain and attend the initial ball together. As it goes well, their agreement extends and the two spend more time together. Their chemistry is apparent in the beginning where they had an instant attraction, but their actual feelings took awhile to grow. The two are opposites in personality, so it was nice to see how they brought out different sides in each other. Nève speaks her mind and lives life unfiltered, whereas Lysander is more methodical.

I loved that the author included a neurodivergent hero. It’s not written explicitly, especially by name, but it is explored throughout the story. The two characters went well together, and I greatly enjoyed their chemistry, however, I needed a little more when it came to the pacing of their relationship. When the two characters initially take their relationship to the next level, I needed a little more into why Nève made the choice. I do not want to get into it too much to spoil certain scenes, however, I just wanted more between the back and forth in her mind. As this is the first novel in the series, there is some time spent setting up the possible sequels. While this did not take away from my enjoyment, it did take away some page time for the progression of the couple’s relationship. Overall, I thought this was a fun story and I will gladly read the next novel in the series.

**I want to give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for a review copy of this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Always Be My Duchess was a fast-paced, fun, and steamy romance. I couldn't put it down and read the second half in one evening! With a pretty great twist on Pretty Woman, this historical romance follows a ballerina fallen on hard times and a Duke in need of a temporary Duchess to help close a business deal.

Genevíeve (or Néve) is a ballerina looking for work in London, but isn't having any luck gaining auditions. She's fiery and self-assured, with confidence in spades. Determined to help care for her younger sister, she’s hoping to use her skills to keep them afloat. But she’s also unwilling to play into the hands of men who would take advantage of her situation.

Lysander, the Duke of Montcroix, is busy building his empire. But one stubborn lord won't sell a key property to him unless he shows signs of settling down with a wife. He's known for being cold and aloof- a man likened to being made of stone. Raised by a cruel father, he keeps everyone beyond arm’s reach. This is especially true when it comes to his heart.

When our characters meet (and what a scene that was!), the book just takes off. The writing conveys the blooming relationship in sparkling prose and every encounter builds on the tension between them. Even just having breakfast together was a scene fraught with tension! I loved the little touches of French (even though I don't speak it) and references to ballet- both in positions and productions. The purposeful inclusion of a neurodivergent character was also great!

It's clear the author was passionate about this story and put a lot of heart into it. While there were a couple of threads in the story that I felt could have been stronger, particularly at the end, on the whole this was a great read! Definitely recommend this one!

Tropes to look forward to:
•Meet-cute but make it hot
•Grumpy/ sunshine
•Fake dating

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the opportunity to review an advanced copy!

Between the spice, the absolutely amazing characters, and an unforgettable meet cute, Always Be My Duchess was a memorable historical romance from Amalie Howard.

I have to start off with Nève and Stone's meet cute. Societal gatherings, balls, even in the country - those are your typical meeting places in historical romances. But at night in a seedy part of town, with a pistol pointed at the male main character? I won't be forgetting how Nève and Stone met for the first time for quite a while.

These two main characters were just an overall thrill to read. On one hand, you have Nève - a strong-willed leading lady who has found herself in the unfortunately position of having to provide for her younger sister while watching the thing she used to love - ballet - become more of a chore than a joy. I love when historical romance characters are driven by completely relatable feelings and notions, and Nève definitely fits that category. I loved that Nève was strong enough to be both independent but also willing to concede when she needed outside help. Luckily for the readers, that outside help came in the form of the Duke of Montcroix.

Stone had a great story arc in this novel. Stone is, as his name hints at, quite grave and personality-less in the beginning. All he cares about is money and proving his father's predictions for their legacy wrong. But when Stone meets Nève, he suddenly found a reason to care about things like love, family, and happiness. It wasn't easy for Stone to start opening up, even to himself, and I thought Howard did a great job at portraying his characters all while keeping his character consistent throughout his changes.

I love watching a fake dating/fake engagement trope turn into true feelings, and Nève and Stone's slow fall into love was such a joy to read. Both characters definitely held out until the end, making me wonder if Stone was ever going to recognize and give in to those feelings of his.

It's an odd thing to say, especially for historical romance, but the steam level in this novel was beyond what I was hoping for - especially before Nève and Stone admitted their feelings for each other. Howard came out swinging when it came to the spice, and I knew I was going to be hooked on this story from the very first chapter.

Overall, I can't recommend this historical romance enough. The fake engagement trope was done very well, the spice was outstanding, and every single character - both main and secondary - had such wonderfully distinct personalities and rolls to play. I loved Stone and Nève's story, and would love for every on-page character in this book to get their own story.