This book was honestly a breath of fresh air. Such a cute and witty romance book! I loved the characters and the storyline. 5 stars!

Pretty Woman meets the Bridgertons.

Say what?! Okay, this tagline spoke to me. I am the BIGGEST Bridgertons fan. I binge read the entire series long before it became even more popular on Netflix. And Pretty Woman? Classic! Nothing beats the movies from the late 80s/early 90s. So yes, the tagline said to me, "reeeaaaad me. reaaaad me." Okay, okay....I'm in!

Main characters:

Lord Lysander Blackstone, The Duke of Montcroix. He is more concerned with being successful in business and has no interest in finding love, having been scorned in the past (His former love married his DAD...yeah..dad)

Nève Valery is an out of work ballerina after refusing the advances of a wealthy patron in her last job, A girl has morals (respect, girl!)

On a chance meeting, Nève saves Lord Blackstone from a gang of thieves chasing him, Sparks were immediate between the two as they hid in the alley squished up together. By the end of their meeting, Lord Blackstone had hired Nève to pretend to be his fiancée. The amount of money he has offered to pay her is too good to pass up. (ahhh yes Pretty Woman vibes for sure!)

The character development was great. I truly did get to know them and their personalities. I loved Nève's spunk and fire temperament. I enjoyed the banter back and forth between them but found it took way too long for them to finally feed into the passion which was building up. When they finally got busy, the pages caught my attention. It was good. (fans self)

I turn to reading romcoms as a "palette cleanser" for my soul after the large amounts of blood, gore and murder I usually read. I have read some really great romcoms which have made me literally laugh out loud. I look for this when a book says it is a romcom. The book was good but for me, it was not the same caliber of the Bridgertons and the book was way more rom than com.

I recommend this if you are looking for a great beach read. It's light, easy and cute.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital advanced reader copy of the novel!

I received "Always Be My Duchess" from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Amalie Howard is one of the best, most versatile authors I have read. Her attention to details is fascinating.
Lord Lysander Blackstone, the Duke of Montcroix is saved by Genevieve Valery, a French ballerina looking for work, when he finds himself slightly inebriated in an unknown location, being followed by footpads.What ensues between these two charismatic personalities is electrifying chemistry with witty dialogs. The sense of self importance exists in both characters. For Lysander, the thoughts and words of his abusive father play a vital role in his daily emotionless dealings ... the harsh reality of cruelty. He eventually realizes that we have to lose a little to gain a lot, "When something you love becomes something you resent because of circumstance.”  I absolutely love how the characters learn to love, and allow one another to be loved.

So this was super cute.

He's a duke that has trouble trusting people and she's a ballerina that has trouble trusting people. I really liked their meet-cute and how they got thrown together and trusted each other rather quickly.

I don't think I've read an HR romance with a ballerina heroine and I really enjoyed that element of the book. I also really enjoyed how opposite they were, but how much they really complemented each other.

I also like that the duke wasn't a rake, and he was very grumpy and thoughtful.

I also really enjoyed her new friend group, so I'm excited to read their stories if they get them in the future.

Overall, this was a really cute read, and I really enjoyed reading it.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This book was a joy from start to finish. From the obvious Pretty Woman parallel which I thought I wouldn’t like but I really did, to the very real heat btn the two LIs, to the CELLO scene!! The female friendships were lovely. The description of Lysander as a gargoyle was fantastic. And did I mentioned the cello scene!? This book had a lot of heat and it paid off and I loved everything about it.

Well, this was a giant mess. It wasn’t so bad I stopped reading. I was kind of tired this weekend, and I just kept reading because by the time I decided this was a nightmare I was almost done. I thought this was going to be primarily farcical and tongue in cheek. Sometimes you can insert anachronistic elements into historical fiction in moderation and the story transcends basic tropes. This story was mostly just sloppy and illogical. The content warning in the beginning was also exhausting from the outset. No warning was required. This was entirely escapist and lacking in any real depth. The character’s weren’t unlikeable, but those friends... they were like Victorian woo girls. Every time they turned up I felt like I was being transported to a club and that at any minute one of them was going to demand everyone do shots...

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

Lysander, a duke, and Neve have an unconventional meet cute that ends with them crammed chest to chest in an alley. Right from the beginning, their attraction to each other is undeniable! The book is described as Pretty Woman meets Bridgerton and I'd say that is very accurate. It's a fun read while still touching on some deeper topics.

Solid 4/5 stars for me on this book. I enjoyed the story of Neve and Lysander, with slightly non-traditional regency roles for the heroine. The author did a good job of bringing feminist ideas to an era that did not give a voice to women.

The secondary characters were also enjoyable. At times I wondered to what their stories will be come as it felt like foreshadowing to a series. The book started off pretty slow. Not bad, but it took a long time to feel vested enough, around the 50/60% point. I would recommend this book to fans of the eras and troupe.

This is advertised as Bridgerton meets Pretty Woman and it's a pretty spot on description. So basically what I read was *fake dating* and I love me some fake dating. I was unsure at first with how insta-lusty this was, but once we got into the story I was hooked. And the fact that Lysander's favorite book is Wuthering Heights was truly endearing, as I too love that book. I really enjoyed Neve's character and the Hellfire Kitties group! I love that this is the first book of a series that will (hopefully?) let us get to know each of those girls because they were truly a delight. This book was fun, sexy, and had me laughing out loud at times.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

I was so engaged with this book from the start. I loved the parallels to Pretty Woman! The banter between Neve and Lysander was so fun and I loved to watch their relationship grow. Over halfway through though the book started to get pretty cheesy and I felt my eyes on constant roll. Plus the book all of a sudden got really steamy and I just didn’t think it was needed at all.

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

I really like these characters and I’m excited to read more in this series, although I did find it a little slow at times.

Always Be My Duchess is the story of Neve Valery, a ballerina, and Lysander Blackstone, the Duke of Montcroix. They agree to be fake fiancés in a deal that benefits them both. This is definitely a grumpy and sunshine book, a trope I enjoy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The relationship between the main characters was fine, and they had great chemistry. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series as this definitely had some teasers about who those books will match up. I found it a little slow in the middle, but nothing that really took away my enjoyment of the story. Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Woman’s intelligence. The dread of the patriarchy and the scourge of the aristocracy. Provocative at best, deadly at worst.”

In London in 1865, once up-and-coming ballerina Geneviève Valery is out of work and refuses to become a wealthy patron's mistress. Lysander Blackstone, the stern and calculating Duke of Montcroix, only wants to increase his considerable fortune. But when his heartless reputation jeopardizes a business deal, he comes up with a plan. When he runs into Nève he suggests she act as his fake fiancée in exchange for a fortune so she can start over.

Lysander is nursing a betrayal and a broken heart beneath his greed and absolutely refuses to conform to the idea that falling in love or having a family could make him happy. Women are unpredictable and he likes his life organized. Nève is from a wealthy family fallen on hard times and is caring for a sister whose dancing career was ruined by a man who wanted more. She’s pragmatic and quick-witted, but not as jaded from her life experiences as you might expect.

The couple has good chemistry and banter to go with it, but their refusal to move forward meant the middle dragged for me. The misunderstanding at the end was a letdown because we never see how Lysander realized he had disappointed Nève. We just see his grandstanding after.

From the Pretty Woman-like premise and the illustrated cover, I expected more of a romp or a historical rom com. This reads more like a historical romance. A clinch cover would be more fitting to the content. If you want light 90s rom com, this isn’t it. If you want sexy historical romance with feelings, then read it.

I liked the neurodivergent rep but wished it had been more prominent than it was.

3.5 stars I received an arc from NetGalley

Always be My Duchess by Amalie Howard



Lord Lysander Blackstone, the stern Duke of Montcroix, has only one interest: increasing his considerable fortune. After a series of betrayals, he keeps his emotions buried deep. Money, after all, can't break a man's heart—or make promises it can’t keep. But when his reputation for being heartless jeopardizes a new business deal, he finds himself seeking a most unusual—and alluring—solution . . .

Once an up-and-coming ballerina, Miss Geneviève Valery is now hopelessly out of work. After refusing to become a wealthy patron's mistress, Nève was promptly shown the door to the streets. When she accidentally saves the life of a handsome duke, she doubts the encounter will go any better than her last brush with nobility. But instead of propositioning her, Montcroix makes Nève an offer she would be a fool to refuse: act as his fake fiancée in exchange for fortune enough to start over.

Only neither is prepared when very real feelings begin to grow between them. They both stand to win . . . but only if they’re willing to risk their hearts.



————————————

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an ARC of Always Be My Duchess. Okay when a book is advertised as a Bridgerton and Pretty Woman crossover you know I will LOVE it and it delivered. This book was great. Cute plot, I loved the dynamic between Genevieve and Lysander. A must read if you are a Regency era stan!

4⭐️

Where to begin!! This book was such a fun romp - our heroine is witty, independent, sets her boundaries and has quite the background. Our hero is introspective, way more than meets the eye, and had quite the childhood himself. ALSO, most importantly - who does not love a fake engagement?

I really appreciated how this author incorporated the themes of trauma and illness without making them seem like they exist solely for Big Plot Moments even though how could they not factor into those. There is drama in this book, but despite the high stakes, it never feels overly manufactured.

I liked how the two main characters were able to work together and try to push through their assumptions and misunderstandings. Also - no one was magically fixed by the other person. Some of the more villainous characters that sought to undermine our eventually happy couple can feel a little cartoonish. You never really feel too threatened by the fuss or potential scandal they’re causing or unearthing as it all seems to smooth over (a little too) quickly. However, it’s hard to mind because the main relationship, and their relationships with friends and family are such a delight to read.

Often when I read a romance like this, I’m more invested in the main plot and don’t care about who we’ll see in the next book, or I could skip the main plot but can’t wait for one of the friend’s stories. This book was the best of both worlds - I loved our main couple’s banter and relationship and I am DYING to see who is in the next book. Not only does Neve make friends with a fun bunch of ladies where I loved the hints of their stories to come, but I really appreciated the friendship between Montcroix and Lushing. I’m really interested to see what the author does with our childhood friend who lives up to his name (get it, Lushing, lush?). My only regret reading this book is that I’ll have to wait for the next!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for the eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

I read a lot of love stories, and this is one of the most *romantic* books I've encountered in my recent memory. Everything about it was like a fairy tale...which makes sense since it is a retelling of Pretty Woman. Lysander and Genevieve are an easy couple to root for and their chemistry sizzled. I also loved the whole cast of supporting characters and I think the "hellfire kitties" ;) will each be getting a book and I am HERE for it.

This is my first book by this author but it won't be the last.

Thank you to Netgalley, Forever, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Up until about 30% reading this book felt a bit like a chore.I’m glad I stuck with it because I left smiling and wanting more!
Nève is a strong woman from the first time we meet her! I loved her! Her wit and moral compass was very admirable!
Lysander took a little longer to warm up too. He is a troubled man but he is also very driven. His ending did feel a little rushed.
My favorite part of the whole book would have to be the Hellfire Kitties aka Queens Club. Laila, Effie, Briar, and Vesper made my heart so warm. I love every single one of them! I cannot wait to read their books!
Overall it was a very pleasant read!

The description of Pretty Woman meets the Bridgertons captured my interest right away! After binge-watching season 2 of Bridgerton in two days I needed something to help me move on with my life!

The Duke of Montcroix needs a fiance to impress a sentimental landowner. Genevieve Valery needs a job immediately to help care for her ailing sister. After a chance meeting, the two of them agree to an arrangement that will benefit both of them. The problem with pretending to be in love with someone is that real feelings start to develop, and what if the other person doesn't feel the same way?

This is the first book from Amalie Howard that I've read. While historical fiction is not usually on my TBR list. I love how the woman in these books shy from what is proper and take charge! I could not put this book down! (ask my kids) I recommend this to all romance readers, especially the Bridgerton loving ones.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 for Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard

I loved that it was so cute! The whole story, though tragic, was feel good.

The romantic tension was just MWAH.

I want to have a connection like the ML and FL have.

I read the description of the book; it said "Pretty Woman." I hit the request faster than anything. I was sold on that alone, and the book did not let me down. I liked the story overall, following Neve and the Duke around. It's fun because of how they meet and how their relationship progresses through arguments and bickering. My favorite thing is how Neve kept it real with herself.

Why only four stars, you ask? TBH, I think this book would've been better if it was a slow burn and the last conflict had more work.

However, this book is fun and a nice read for when you just want to sit down and have some fun reading a book. 

The publisher kindly provided an eARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

review will be posted on goodreads and amazon closer to the expected publication date July 12th 2022.

This was a really lovely read. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this ahead of its release— it has made me want to dive into all books by Amalie Howard!

Within this tale you'll find wonderful romance, led by complex characters that felt both real and relatable. Something I quite liked was the author’s writing style, there were so many beautiful lines that caught my eye throughout the entire book. You can tell a lot of care was poured into the narrative and its cast of characters. I adored Nève in particular. I appreciated her strong will and conviction. Never straying from her own truths and beliefs. I also so enjoyed the friendships she formed with other women, they had instant chemistry with one another and it comforted me to see Nève make such wonderful allies.

I did have some trouble initially immersing myself within the romance. The hot-and-cold nature of their early relationship didn’t feel quite earned, instead it felt uneven. I wasn’t immediately convinced with their chemistry and romance, but the more I read, the more I did. By the end of the book I was wholeheartedly rooting for them. I especially loved the second half of the book— I think it’s where the plot and romance truly shined.

All in all— this book has terrific writing, well rounded leads, and a very lovely romance.

I have easily become a fan of Howard’s work!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.