Lorraine Heath truly outdid herself with this one!
This is a hard love story to pull off. I mean we have a son and his father's mistress. That can very quickly become icky. But the dynamic these two have plus their sexual tension helps readers get past that.
I think the spy/espionage plot was interesting without being confusing. I think more historical romances are having these kinds of plots and Heath did hers well. This gave off strong Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes.
Plus this book was super steamy! Like lit my kindle on fire hot.
The writing is great as always and I felt it was a good place to leave this series.
Cannot wait to see what Heath gives us next.

In the third installment of her Once Upon a Dukedom series, Heath brings us a romance that will break your heart wide open.

She is the woman who went everywhere on his father's arm. Marcus is convinced Esme had a hand in his father's downfall and his own disgrace. He is determined to hate and loathe her on sight. But she proves to be far more than he expected, and she is like an insidious poison in his blood he can't escape. He wants to lay his hands on her, but not in anger. And so he lashes out and they become locked in a rivalry to best each other that can end nowhere but tangled in the sheets.

I loved so many things about this book. The strong, fierce heroine and the hero that shares her affinity for danger and intrigue. The mystery woven into the fabric of the plot. But one of the things I loved most was the reiteration that a woman is neither defined nor confined by her womb. That a woman’s sole purpose is not wrapped up in her body’s capacity to give birth. That infertility is nothing to be ashamed of and should never be a barrier to finding love.

A heartfelt thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this extraordinary book in exchange for my honest review.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Lorraine Heath is one of my all-time favorite historical romance authors, so it’s a little trippy to think that I’m reviewing an ARC for one of her books!! The Return of the Duke is the third and final installment to Lorraine Heath’s Once Upon a Dukedom series, which has quickly become one of my favorite series from her. This story follows Marcus Stanwick (older brother to book 1’s hero and son of the disgraced Duke of Wolfford who was hanged earlier in the series for treason and conspiracy) and Esme Lancaster (the Duke of Wolfford’s former mistress). Despite the setups laid out earlier in the series, this ended up being so much more fast paced and suspenseful than I was originally anticipating. This was packed with political intrigue and espionage to the point where I literally couldn’t put it down at times because I needed to see where things would go. I loved the fact that Marcus and Esme were both strong and badass characters on their own, but I was living for the fact that Esme was the spy with tactical training. Despite their initial frosty and pretty taboo encounters, Marcus and Esme quickly developed a really solid working relationship. They quickly learned that they needed to figure out a way to trust each other and work as a unit if either of them wanted to get the answers about who all was really behind the Queen Victoria assassination conspiracy. I will say there were quite a few moments where the plot took center stage and the relationship took a little bit of a backseat, so it’s good to know that going but that didn’t bother me at all. That being said, I definitely don’t want the relationship to get overshadowed by the plot though because the romance here was absolutely everything. The chemistry and tension between Marcus and Esme was off the CHARTS. I was initially worried this would go down an instalove route (which is a trope that rarely works for me), however Lorraine Heath created a really nice balance of insta-attraction and relationship building that really contributed to the overall sexual tension. If I had to nitpick something about this book, I’d have to say the only thing I didn’t love was that the mustache twirling villain was pretty predictable; however, the journey as to how that villain was revealed and everything that went along with it was so intricately woven and made the payoff so worth it. I’m so sad this series I over but I can’t read to see what Lorraine Heath comes out with next!

TW for infertility

The Return of the Duke
Book 3 in the Once Upon a Dukedom Series
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading The Return of the Duke! The chemistry between Marcus and Esme was very intense from the get go. Even when he believes that she used to be his father's mistress he's very attracted to her. The story was very well developed and I liked how they both combined their abilities and knowledge to uncover the truth. Though for most of the book they are trying to get into each other's "pants" because they are VERY attracted to each other. I think for most of the book their inner dialogue is that of what they would do to each other if they were not in search of the truth of why the former duke committed treason. I almost gave it 3 stars because it did get a little repetitious for me, but the last part of the book was so good! When they finally admit that what they feel for each other goes beyond the passionate relationship they have.

I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next one!

I went into this book thinking I wasn't going to like it. The whole “my father's mistress” put me off a little - glad to say I wasn’t the only one. But you know? It is a Lorraine Heath book and she can do no wrong for me.

I loved it! I loved it! She made the plot work, I don’t know how, but she did. Esme was amazing and smashed it! It was a spy - lots of secrets - trying to figure out who murdered who and who betrayed who - kind of story. It kept me on my toes the whole time! Although the spice is not at a 5 level, it was sweet and well written. The relationship with Marcus was amazing - I have to say that he has always been my favorite sibling and this book went and proved to me why he is my favorite.

I adore this series. The espionage and suspense mixed with the romance is fantastic, LH does it so well. This was an enjoyable, not my favorite from the series. This was incredibly plot driven, which was engaging, but I would have loved a little more angst and tension in the romance.

Lorraine Heath is an auto read author for me and I will always recommend her books. Side note, the cover of this book, although stunning, looks nothing like the first two covers in the series.

I recommend reading this series in order.

CW: Infertility; blood; violence

I’ve been putting off writing my review for The Return of the Duke for months now. This book was my most anticipated read in 2022, and boy did it DELIVER. I’ve been waiting for Marcus’s story since Beauty Tempts the Beast and Lorraine Heath wrote the perfect tale for this mysterious lone wolf who has lingered in the shadows.

Marcus Stanwick lost everything when his father was hanged for an attempted assassination attempt on Queen Victoria. Since then, Marcus has been determined to return honor to his family by exposing those who also participated in the plot but escaped justice. His efforts lead him to his father’s mistress, a woman known as the Heartless Harlot. When Marcus shows up at her door, Esme Lancaster has her own reasons for wanting to discover who was involved in the plot to assassinate the Queen. As they work together, they cannot help but fall victim to the attraction between them but must decide if giving up their heart is worth losing their shot at redemption.

Lorraine Heath has a special talent for making some of the most bonker setups work perfectly. She also knows how to deliver a one, two punch to the emotions with her books and this book was no exception on both these points. As I started this book, I had no idea how I would feel about Marcus falling in love with his father’s mistress Esme. But it was Lorriane Heath, so I trusted her to make it work, and boy did she.

From Marcus and Esme’s first interaction, there was an electric spark between them. Oh boy, the chemistry between these two could set the pages on fire! The banter between the two of them was some of my favorite as they could both give as good as they could take and didn’t shy away from the double entendres. I love these two together so much, and I literally could not wait until they got together. Luckily, Heath doesn’t make you wait too long as the relationship in this book is very hot and heavy. Those sex scenes between Marcus and Esme – woo, I needed to fan myself. And while their relationship is very physical, the emotional connection is there between these two. They both need each other, but they see barriers to being together long-term, and boy does Heath take you on a roller coaster of emotion. Honestly, I expect nothing less from Lorraine Heath, as she knows how to play with your heartstrings and make you FEEL all the things. What Esme does for Marcus at the end – UGH MY HEART. I loved every minute of reading this book.

Lorraine Heath writes such emotionally complex characters, and I love peeling back their many layers to get to the core of who they are. Esme might be one of my favorite female leads in the Once Upon a Dukedom series. She’s a badass bitch in so many ways. She’s confident, smart and strong – there is so much more to her than meets the eye. And while she presents a certain air of confidence to others, she has a lot of insecurities and fears that she keeps hidden away. She’s used to being alone for so long – and thinks that’s what she wants so she can do her job well – but Marcus makes her realize how lonely and isolating that is. Marcus is the perfect match for Esme in a lot of ways. Since his father was convicted of treason, revenge and retribution have been his singular purpose. He’s not afraid to use other people to get to his end goal, and he’s isolated himself from his family. Esme throws him for a loop and makes him question his end goal and realize he can let people into his life.

I enjoyed the spy and mystery elements in this book. I’ve been curious about why and how Marcus’ father, the Duke of Wolfford, got wrapped up in a plot to assassinate the queen since Beauty Tempts the Beast, and we FINALLY get answers to that. I found the mystery and intrigue really added an extra element of fun to this novel. I enjoyed all the action scenes and loved how Esme was wrapped up in all of it. Girl can throw a punch and hold her own. I loved the plot Esme and Marcus created to draw the traitors out of the shadows in the end. It resulted in the perfect reunion of all my favorite characters from this series and A Sins For All Seasons series.

Honestly, I could keep going on and on about this book as I absolutely adored it. Seriously, you cannot go wrong with the entire Once Upon a Dukedom series. Each book is perfect, and I swear Lorraine Heath has magical powers. While I loved this one and absolutely 100% recommend it, I still think The Duchess Hunt is my favorite of the bunch. That book just touched a special part of my soul and is currently my all-time favorite historical romance book.

While I was so sad for this book to end and Lorraine Heath ONCE AGAIN made me cry with her fabulous epilogue, I am SO EXCITED that we’re getting a spinoff series focused on the Chessmen! I’ve been hoping we’d get books for them for ages, and I cannot wait to read the first book, The Counterfeit Scoundrel, when it releases in early 2023.

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have really loved this whole series, and The Return of the Duke was a great way to close it out.

This was a really engaging spy romance with no-longer-heir-to-the-dukedom, Marcus, and his father's ex-maybe-wasn't-actually-his-mistress, Esme. Marcus' father was hanged for his supposed role in a plot to murder Queen Victoria, which left Marcus stripped of his Dukedom and everything that goes with it. He visits Esme in an attempt to uncover what his father was up to.

Esme and Marcus work together to uncover who might have been involved alongside Marcus' father in his treasonous plot. Meanwhile, sparks fly all over the place between them.

If you enjoy:
-spy plots
-royalty as characters
-pretending we are married but like we actually want to be married
-ties to actual historical characters
then I think you'll love this one!

CW for infertility - the author's note points out that this character's story vaguely mirror's that of Lady Flora Hastings with a better ending and a more sympathetic Queen Victoria.

Thank you to Avon Romance and NetGalley for the eARC of The Return of the Duke

At last we get the story of the non-heir to the dukedom and Marcus is so deliciously angsty and wonderfully mysterious. So, who would Lorraine pair him with? An equally bad*ass woman. I do love a good spy story. Throw in treason, hangings, unexpected villains and an appearance by the Queen herself and I am totally jumping on board this train. Lorraine does not disappoint with this story. It is action-packed, sexy, emotional and moves at lightning pace.

Next, The Chessmen, those fabulous men who are friends of King (second book in this series). Cannot wait.

3.75 ⭐⭐⭐

Lorraine Heath is one of my top 5 authors of all time. Part of what I love about her writing style is her amazing dialogue between characters. Unfortunately, I found this book to be a struggle because so much of it was big lengthy paragraphs without conversation. I'm also not a huge fan of the spy trope. It took me about 60% of the book to really get into it. I also just couldn't connect with the hero and didn't much care what happened to him (former spoiled rich kid who had everything taken away). That said, I loved reading about an assertive heroine who could take care of herself. I was worried that I'd hate her because I'm not a fan of the "father's leftovers" trope. Of course, if anyone can get my to buy into it and become a fan, it's LH. Her heroines are almost all amazing. I also loved the return of so many favorite characters. I certainly won't stop reading LH novels (in fact they'll still be an auto buy), but this one won't crack my Top 10 of my favorite novels by her.

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. This did not impact my views or opinions in any way. #netgalley

Will their differences of birth still stand between them when time will come to make a choice …

Three spy romances in a row!
And while this is not my favorite subcategory in the romance genre, the enemies to lovers trope outdid it.
And as usual the author does not disappoint.
Sure I was surprised Marcus’ hate did not render blind him to Esme’s charms or with which easiness she trusted him but I decided to follow the author’s narrative of two beings overwhelmed by their attraction, a chemistry so high it make them revise their idea of the other.
Esme is a woman who has lost much all the while gaining her sovereign’s steadfast trust why she is so unwaveringly loyal to the crown and ready to do everything for it.
With Marcus, in some ways, they share much like the weight of being betrayed, of having to rebuilt themselves, of being alone. Why they overcome everything that should have stood between them when they were able to clear a bit of the murky waters standing between them.
Marcus came from being a Duke’s heir to being no one, a pariah. So be it, he explored the darkest side of himself, faced death, learned to roll with the punches, it changed him in a man stronger but loner, who trusts near to no one and won’t stop his quest for justice.
Yet he is still an idealist, believing in right and wrong, black and white, why he struggles to enter Esme’s world, one of shades of grey.
But she did not lure him into it, he goes willingly, drawn to her like a ship seeking a beacon in the night.

Their investigation bring them together as they have the same goal, finding the instigator of his father’s demise. They learn to work together, first next one another then as a team, their closeness leads them to open their heart and share more than a simple partnership demands.
Esme at time is very set on what she expects from life, demeaning herself for her past’s trauma, and determined to refuse more from life. Thankfully Marcus’ time in the slum of the city prepared him to never let go when things matter.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot

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

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year but womp, womp it fell pretty flat.

Marcus the deposed Duke finally gets his revenge (the last book in the Sins for All Seasons series and the first in this one are must reads to fully understand this one, imo) but except he doesn't? Everything that had been teased up to this point was wrapped up much too easily, the secret villain was basically beating me over the head with his identity and Marcus wasn't the bitter, dark anti hero I was expecting. Esme, the heroine's character was kind of generic. She was an agent of the crown which was kewl I guess. She gets to do all the rescuing which was a nice flip on genre conventions but I also want my hero to, like, do stuff 🤷‍♀️ This was very plot driven and the romance took a back seat which is a big ol nope in my book.

So TL;DR : The steam was decent for LH but the relationship development was bland and the chemistry lacking compared to her other books especially when compared to the first in this series.

A very lackluster end to a series that started out so strongly. Sadness. Still a meh Lorraine Heath is still leaps and bounds ahead of other HR as far as I'm concerned.

Tropes
Forced Proximity
Spy
Enemies to Lover
Fake relationship

⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5

The first 25% of this book is spent establishing that he hates her for being his father's mistress. Just no. You can't come back from that level of dislike, even with the big reveal. By that point I have no desire for either character to get their happily ever after.

I found the attraction between them crude and lacking in chemistry. "She wouldn’t be shocked by his crude suggestions. She’d find them alluring, erotic, would no doubt return the favor with vulgar propositions of her own." Seriously?we get you're horny, dude, but can we move on with the story? Honestly it feels like it was written by a man.

4 🌟's!

📝 tropes: older heroine x younger hero, hero's fathers ex-mistress, enemies to friends to lovers, fake marriage, revenge plot, anti-heroine
🌶 spice: 3.75/5
❌ CW: infertility

a moment of screaming for this cover.

ok. this book was so much fun! the sexual tension is completely off the rails and mix that with a spy/murder mystery plot against the British Crown?? LH sure knows how to write a romantic AND action-packed HR 😌 as can be seen with my reading updates, we were IMMEDIATELY thrust into a story where the two MC's were FERAL for one another (moreso Marcus than Esme but ya know) and it ✨ofc✨ sucked my attention into the book lol. the enemies-to-lovers trope lasts for a while into the story as the heroine is the supposed ex-mistress of the hero's father... which ... *ERM* idk how to comment on that LOL but yeah .. their tension is PALPABLE OMGG THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THIS MAN WAS IMAGINING HER RIDING HIM OR HIM RIDING HER OR LITERALLY ANYTHING THAT INVOLVED THEM NAKED WAS JUST 😃 it was lovely :)

anywho, enough ab the sex talk. so i really enjoyed the first half of this book!! the tension kept me reading more and more but.... after that, i felt like the whole spy plotline overshadowed the romance to the point where i was just getting bored :/ felt like there were really long dialogue paragraphs talking about plans and all that and tbh, i had to skim 😒 that definitely detracted my overall enjoyment and by the end, i was just not feeling the same energy i felt at the start of the book, hence the lower rating.

although that was the case, i did really enjoy the story overall. i felt like the MC's, especially our heroine, was brilliant! she's brave, confident and incredibly intelligent .. her job description demands that and i loved reading about a FMC like her a lot. at the end, we got an author's note that that next series will follow the "Chessmen" and i am very very intrigued about them now toooo !!

if you love a good romance with a spy/mystery plot then definitely give this one a shot friends! i'd def recommend this entire series as well :)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publishers Avon and HarperVoyager US for the e-ARC via Netgalley. Releases July 26, 2022!

Whew! That was fun! A good solution to the over-arching mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed sleuthing with Esme and Marcus. I was a little hesitant going in (working with his father’s mistress?!), but I’m so glad I stuck with it because the character arcs were so satisfying.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

I have to say I have mixed feelings about this one. The characters were interesting and well-developed. The premise behind the mystery was intriguing, and would make a great series. The narration and dialog, however, were stilted and rather ponderous. This novel suffers from a case of "why use one word when 10 will suffice?" In addition, sometimes the language felt 19th century, and at other times it seemed overly modern. What should have been a fun and engaging read felt like work and an overall disappointment.

Before I fully dove headfirst into the world of historical romance, I had no clue how many of these novels involved characters fighting to uncover treasonous plots. So many! And that’s not a complaint, because a really good historical romance finds an interesting way to traverse that familiar path.

The Return of the Duke is one of the good ones.

Marcus is still reeling from finding out that his father was plotting to kill the queen. He’s vowed to track down the rest of the men responsible for his family losing everything from their friends to the dukedom. And to do that, he has to ask his father’s presumed mistress, Esme, for help. Suddenly, he’s not just trying to learn who is plotting against the queen, but Esme’s secrets as well.

Like the other two books in the series, the plot is fast-paced, fun, and more than a little wild. The central relationship has depth and banter and sparks. Marcus and Esme are the kind of pairing that starts at odds because they’re so different, and then as they inch closer, we find they’re really not so different at all, not in the ways that count.

I thought the pacing of the novel was very good, except possibly in the climactic scene in which they lay a trap for the treasonous ringleader. That moment felt, to me, a little rushed and lacking in the fantastic tension that Heath built at other moments throughout the story. But I really appreciated the journey getting there, and I always love when I’m not totally correct in guessing who was pulling the strings.

The end of this novel doesn’t set up a clear sequel, but I wouldn’t be upset if there was another story set in this world. Victorian England is rarely so fun.

#books #bookstagram #netgalley #lorraineheath #thereturnoftheduke

Return of the Duke
Thank you netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Return of the Duke is the third book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series by Lorraine Heath. In this book we FINALLY get Marcus Stanwick’s story HEA. Marcus was an once heir to the Wolfford Dukedom, but all was lost when his father was committed and hanged for Treason due to taking part in a plot to kill Queen Victoria. Marcus’s hunt for his father’s accomplices becomes er…interesting when he meets Esme Lancaster, a woman he believed to have once been his father’s mistress. Esme Lancaster is not at all who Marcus thought she was and he soon finds out that they are both working towards a similar goal: Find out who is plotting to kill Queen Victoria and stop them before it happens. Once they realize they are better off working together, their mission to save the Queen becomes as heated as the desire between them. It’s a slowwww burn, but worth the wait. Once they give in to their feelings, its HOT HOT HOT. I highly recommend this book, although you could read it as a standalone, I’d recommend starting with Lorraine’s previous series Sins for all Seasons as the characters from that series spill into this one.

It's not everyday that you pick up a Historical Romance and get a renegade of a female protagonist, AND an espionage/murder plotline! Both of which Lorraine Heath did well without being over the top, or completely unbelievable.

The plotline of espionage in this story is done really well, and I love Lorraine's inclusion of some of the more 'cutting edge' technology of the time, that was used in such endeavors. Uncovering treason in an act to return honor to his family name provided a deeper look at Marcus, and while he wasn't my favorite, I do love that we got to see his character evolve and come to discover what it is he really wants. The acknowledgement and treatment of both infertility and individualism was also portrayed in a very sensitive and powerful way in my opinion. Esme is an actual QUEEN, and I love her little dog Laddie (and that's coming from a certified cat person).

I have yet to read the other two books in the 'Once Upon a Dukedom' trilogy, but considering my enjoyment of this novel, I will definitely be picking up the other two!

Thank you to Avon Books, NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

I really tried to like this book but I found it just annoying. I was kind of excited about Marcus, a hero who is defined by his father's betrayal, falling for a woman who he sees as his father's whore. I liked Esme being a spy. However, I thought Esme was way too nice. Why does she fall all over herself for Marcus? Why did the author make it so Esme never had sex with his dad? These things amde the story so much weaker. I ended up disliking all the characters and feeling bogged down with the characters that clearly came from other books.