Ash, Duke of Buckley, has been caring for his three wards, but keeping his distance to "protect" them. What is it with men and their skewed ideas of protection? The girls make his life hell just so he won't forget their existence. After chasing two of them down to Synne he meets Bronwyn, a woman keen on protecting her heart. Her parents are social climbers who have been trying to push her into marriage for years, eliminating the things that bring her joy to hurry her along. This is fertile ground for a marriage of convenience. But feelings are very inconvenient. The main characters are very appealing as they unravel their emotions.

“Some Dukes Have All the Luck” by Christina Britton
Finding ‘Good Fortune’
Sometimes one meets the right person at just the right time, lives are changed, and a very good story is born. I think I have been to the Isle of Synne before. That said, I am glad to be back in this story. A story that kept me glued to the pages. Well, until my eyes could not focus or stay open. I laughed and cried; yes, my emotions were engaged. An aside: There is a bit of spice which I found tolerable. A Worthy Read. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

I adored the author's Isle of Synne series, and I am so glad to be back on Synne for this new spinoff series!

Miss Bronwyn Pickering is a unique woman. She's a self-taught naturalist, focused on entomology, and she loves her work. Unfortunately, her parents hate it, and the fact that she works on it, instead of on finding a husband. Preferably a titled one. They have now threatened to send her away from her beloved home on the Isle of Synne, if she doesn't acquiesce to their shenanigans.

Ash Hawkins, Duke of Buckley, needs a wife. He has 3 young wards, Regina, Eliza, and Nelly, and they've run off every governess and tutor he's hired for them. He co-owns a gaming hell, and doesn't have time to deal with their nonsense. So, when the 2 youngest run away to his family estate on the Isle of Synne, he follows, wondering how he'll find someone who will agree to a marriage of convenience. Luckily on his first day there, he literally runs into Bronwyn, and she's desperate to be free of her parents. A perfect plan for both of them?

Ash and Bronwyn have an instant connection, but neither has expectations or plans for love in their life. They make an agreement and marry quickly, in hopes that each can go back to their lives. Bronwyn and the girls will stay on Synne, and Ash will return to his work in London. Ash's father was a monster, and he tries to keep his distance from people, as he doesn't believe he deserves love or happiness. Bronwyn has always been the victim of scorn from society, and from her parents, for never fitting into the narrow box made for ladies of her station. She doesn't believe anyone will love her for who she really is. These 2 both desperately needed each other, and each of them fell quickly, without any hope that the other felt the same.

I really enjoyed watching Ash and Bronwyn fall stupid in love, and seeing how close they both became to the girls as well. They really were a family, and when either of them fought that, it just made them all hurt. Ash almost allowed his misplaced guilt and self-loathing to keep him from happiness, and while trying to protect everyone, he was hurting them instead. Thankfully he had people who were willing to fight for him, and help him see the truth.

Parts of this story were heartbreaking, and completely tore me up! But it was ultimately hopeful, and the love between Ash and Bronwyn was truly beautiful. I'm looking forward to future books about Bronwyn's friends in The Oddments! Each of the women seem unique and fun, and I want to know more about them! I really enjoyed this one, and I also HIGHLY recommend the original Isle of Synne series!

There were several themes in this novel. Ash and Bronwyn had entered into a marriage of convenience. Ash's wards were in need of parenting. Bronwyn had to learn how to deal with her overbearing parents and Ash needed to overcome his feelings of guilt. As the marriage matures, Ash and Bronwyn learn how to cope with their challenges. Ash helped Bronwyn manage her parents and Bronwyn helped Ash learn how to forgive himself. Together, they were able to create a new family for themselves and their three wards.
This was a steamy read. There was some humor and it had a very happy ending. I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

5 🌟's!

📝 tropes: marriage of convenience, entomologist heroine x duke hero, single guardian hero, angst
🌶 spice: 2.75/5
❌ CW: violent parent, parental abandonment, grief, death of a parent, misogyny

when i tell y'all this book from start to finish was one of my favorite things i've read... it single-handedly pulled me out of my HR reading slump.. a feat indeed 👏🏽

this romance follows entomologist heroine Bronwyn and our duke hero Ash. being a single guardian to rambunctious girls, he's in search of a wife that can relieve some of that burden off his shoulders.. in comes Bronwyn, a woman looking for any reason to be able to continue her research... a marriage of convenience thus ensues!

i adored Bronwyn as the heroine. she's always been ridiculed by her parents for her lack of fitting in with the rest of society's women.. preferring to spend her time studying the natural world and insects.. there's a lot of deep hurt and insecurity that she deals with throughout the book related to this and it's absolutely both relatable yet soul crushing to read. i appreciated SO MUCH that she was able to find someone like Ash who does anything to support her for her passion. A MAN. the way he treats her like an actual human being, taking interest in her work, making an effort to show he cares... it revealed so much of the mistreatment Bronwyn faced at the hands of her parents and i am so glad she was able to find someone finally that loved her for her. the fact that once they moved in together, he literally made a WHOLE study space for her to continue her work.. like a talk about #supportivehubby we lOVEEE 🥵

her approaching the marriage of convenience through a scientific approach had me CACKLING .. when she was like "I would very much like to consummate the relationship. For scientific purposes, of course" PLS / this romance exemplified the slow but perfect build of a marriage of convenience relationship.. they're budding feelings grew steadily throughout the course of the book and it was just chef's kiss🤌🏽 they have such a beautiful relationship .. spending so many moments together even if it is in silence as Bronwyn tends to be more introverted.. the moments where she would be out in nature and doing studies and he would just stay near and read or watch her doing work .. LIKE UGHGHDHGH I WANT THAT. the pond scene. the POND SCENE. not only was the moment itself fucking riveting but so was the descriptions for the natural setting itself... i was transfixed. it really felt like Bronwyn drew in both Ash and the reader into the way she views the world around us as the most majestic thing ... it was so spectacular.

the wards that Ash and Bronwyn were in charge of added another fun/heartbreaking element to the story... especially the ending. i loved having that added layer of complexity and dynamics to the story.

this was just such a fantastic romance and i really will not stop talking about it so i need to end this review here. GO READ IT WHEN IT COMES OUT NOVEMBER 8TH.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher Forever for this e-ARC via Netgalley. Releases November 8th, 2022!*

4/5 stars
3/5 steam

Some Dukes Have All the Luck by Christina Britton is a historic romance and the first book in her new Synneful Spinsters series. We follow our two main characters with third-person points-of-view.

Ash Hawkins, aka the Duke of Buckley, had a rough childhood due to his abusive father. He does not wish to marry and pull others into the world of his violent forefathers. However, he needs help raising his three rebellious wards and literally stumbles over the perfect woman. Bronwyn is a twenty four-year-old naturalist whose parents have followed through on their threats to take away her research so she can focus on finding a husband. Accepting the idea that she'd never marry for love, a proposal from Ash would give her a ton of freedom to pursue her entomology projects and perhaps even get published.

This is my first book by the author, but by no means will it be my last because I stayed up really late one night and read this whole book in one sitting. I really love her prose, and I felt for the characters. And shout-out to her for including a note at the beginning of the book to check her website for content warnings. This book has a few hefty ones.

Bronwyn's friend group, the Oddments, was phenomenal. Since this series follow the "spinsters" of the island, I'm sure we'll be learning more about them in future installments. I'm particularly excited to read more about parrot-owning proprietress of the island's lending library. To be completely honest, I kind of ship her with Ash's co-owner of London gambling den Brimstone.

This book has some nice steam in it. I love the reason that Bronwyn uses to include martial relations in their bargain.

I actively despised Bronwyn's parents. I'm pleased by her growth throughout this book but wish that her parents had more comeuppance.

I've learned a new term that is a trope I'll be actively seeking in historical romances: bluestocking. It means an intellectual woman, and man I'm so glad to find a new niche that I'm going to inhale.

Tropes in this book include: marriage of convenience, found family, rebellious wards, tortured duke, forced proximity, bluestocking

CW: physical and emotional abuse (off-page, prior to novel, referenced), domestic violence (off-page, prior to novel, referenced), sexual assault (off-page, prior to novel, referenced) parental death (off-page, prior to novel, referenced), bullying (off-page, prior to novel, referenced), toxic relationship with parents

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Miss Bronwyn Pickering has always been more interested in her studies than she has in finding a husband. Her parents control her life with an iron fist, and when she finally has some freedom, they ruin all her plans. When the new Duke of Buckley, Ash Hawkins, arrives on the Isle of Synne, desperate for someone to help him with his three young wards, he just may be the answer to all of her problems. Both can do with a partner, and a marriage of convenience is perfect. Neither expects love to follow, but it's soon clear that love has other plans.

Well, this was a spicy and steamy book. I loved the Isle of Synne books and was so happy to learn that Christina was returning to the island with her new series. Ash and Bronwyn were the perfect couple for this series, and the found family aspect, particularly with Regina, Eliza, and Nelly, made this book just that extra special. Ash never wanted to return to Synne, thinking it the place where his mother suffered, but after two of the girls run off there, he's forced to follow, and realises that he's in over his head with them all. He needs a wife, someone to take the girls to hand, and turn them from hellions into respectable young ladies. Bronwyn needed to get away from her parents, and have the freedom to explore her Naturalist side. I really liked the way the couple fought their feelings for so long, but it was hard for them to hide their longing glances, and their chemistry building. There were some moments when I wanted to shake the pair, but the ending definitely made up for it all. I can't wait for Christina's next book!

This is a beautiful book about love and family and friends. While society and family pressure can push one into the wrong peg, love frees up people to be who they really are and be truly happy. I love the oddments, and look forward to their respective stories. You will also find the wards lovable.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

A marriage of convenience between two strangers quickly becomes something more in Some Dukes Have All the Luck. Christina Britton whisks readers back to the Isle of Synne for the Synneful Spinsters series and I, for one, could not be more delighted.

Bronwyn is an entomologist who grew up with parents who only saw her as a pawn to increase their social standing. She’s been beaten down but not broken and her quiet strength was on full display. She broke my heart more than once, thinking that she was unworthy of love. I yearned for her to see how worthy she was just on her own and cheered as she found her confidence. Chance brings her into the path of the Duke of Buckley. Ash is at loose ends. His three wards run off all their governesses and though he tries to keep himself separate from them in order to protect them, he loves them dearly. He wants to find a wife to care for and guide them and Bronwyn seems perfect. Ash may be misguided in his thinking, but he’s as easy to adore as Bronwyn. He cares deeply for his family and I loved that he immediately supported Bronwyn’s interests and work. Ash carries guilt and scars he thinks means he needs to be an island, but it’s clear from the start that he’s meant to be on Synne with Bronwyn, Regina, Nelly, and Eliza.

The romance between Ash and Bronwyn is sweet and sensual. The two of them are well-matched from the start and I liked how they supported one another. Britton made it easy to fall into their romance and the pages of Some Dukes Have All the Luck practically flew by. I adored this story and I hope to see Bronwyn’s friends and fellow Oddments find happily ever afters of their own in future Synneful Spinsters books.

Just an lovely story about a man who has wards that need a watcher and a woman who thinks she doesn’t have a chance at love but will when she meets the man.

The story was just filled with so many tropes I enjoy like the maiden governess who feels unloved finding a family. The angry jaded Duke is a good one too. Add in 3 young girls and the story sings along.

I do hope the girls each get their own HEA.
I would also love to see the business partner find his true love too.
We shall see as We cannot wait to read more from this author as soon as possible.

This was my first book by Christina Britton but it will not be my last. Some Dukes Have All the Luck hits all the makrs for a great historical romance. We have marriage of conveniance, found family, a broody hero and a heroine that you abosluley love. I did not expect parts of this book to make me tear up so much but the emotional elements really made this story shine.

Thank you so much to Forever for the e-ARC, I absolultely adored this book!

Ash, the Duke of Buckley, is at his wit's end with his 3 wards. They have run off governesses and nannies and now the two youngest have run off to the Isle of Synne, where Ash's mother was born and where her childhood home still is. Ash's solution once he locates the girls is to find a wife that would take care of them on the Isle while he conducts his business in London. He soon meets Bronwyn, an aspiring naturalist whose parents only see her as a stepping stone to elevate their place in society through marriage. Ash proposes a marriage of convenience, which Bronwyn agrees to, though negotiates a 2-week period where they act as true husband and wife before he leaves. During those two weeks, Bronwyn sees that despite his projected indifference towards his wards, he deeply cares for them. As they spend more and more time together, Ash begins to open up and they both find their impending separation difficult to accept.

I loved how unquestionably supportive Ash was of Bronwyn's ambitions and how he never gives her cause to question that support. Particularly given her experience with her parents and past suitor, Bronwyn deserved every ounce of support that Ash gave.

Sometimes, precocious children in books really annoy me. The two younger girls in the beginning of this book were not my favorite and I was worried I was going to spend the whole book annoyed by them but they actually really grew on me!

The progress of Ash and Bronwyn's relationship, though done over a very short time, was so lovely to see. I really liked them together and they were exactly what the other needed - Bronwyn needed someone who supported and loved her with no qualifications and Ash needed someone to push him to realize how much he cares for others and how much of a strength that is.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the eARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An absolutely stunning historical romance complete with modern themes that Christina Britton expertly nestles into the historic time period. Bronwyn is the sort of woman I would have aspired to be in that time period and Ash is the sort of man that all men should model themselves after. I can't wait to read Britton's next book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

The first in a new series tied to the Isle of Synne, this story follows Bronwyn, an entomologist whose family does not understand or support her, and Ash, the reluctant Duke of Buckley as he tries to find someone to take care of his three young wards without getting his own heart involved. Almost immediately after meeting her, Ash decides that Bronwyn is the ideal woman to take care of his wards and Bronwyn sees Ash as a way to gain independence from her parents and the ability to pursue her research. But as they spend more time together and get to know one another, Bronwyn and Ash discover they aren't to hardened towards love as they first thought...

It is nice to be back on Synne and learning more about characters that first appeared in the Isle of Synne books! Though the deep dark secrets and conflict in the book are predictable (though most romance novel secrets and conflict are, to be fair), it is enjoyable to watch Bronwyn and Ash navigate them together. The steamy scenes are definitely steamy, the humor an excellent counterpoint to the more serious moments, and the emotional journey of Bronwyn, Ash, and the three young wards hits all the right notes. The secondary characters are enjoyable (as always in a Britton novel) and most are given enough backstory to hint at potential sequels, which I am totally here for. I will happily read every single Britton book about the women on Synne for as long as she keeps writing them.

Thank you to Forever Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Some Dukes Have All the Luck early in exchange for an honest review!

Did Christina Britton have me in tears at the 91% ( okay and at 97%) of this novel?
Yes, yes she did.

Will I read Christina Britton's backlist after having read Some Dukes Have All the Luck?
The answer is a definite, yes.

Ash, The Duke of Buckley has more than his share of familial secrets shamefully keeping him distant from everyone around him. Add in three rambunctious (uncontrollable) wards who he cannot allow himself to get close to, and you have a man very much in need of a marriage of convenience.

Enter Bronwyn, a naturalist, whose passion for entomology above marriage, has her parent's destroying all her research, banning her from seeing her friends and threatening to have her sent away. A stroke of luck has her meeting two of Ash's wards (who just so happened to have run away to the island Bronwyn lives on) the day before Ash comes to collect the wayward misses and literally bumps in to Bronwyn.

And voila we have two people who decide that marriage is in the best interest of them both. For Ash, he can have someone who can look after the girls, and for Bronwyn, she can finally have the freedom to pursue her intellectual ambitions unheeded by her parents.

But does a marriage of convenience, ever stay that way?
The answer is a delicious never!

I love the characters within this novel and their interactions with one another. From the eldest of the three wards, Regina, and her inability to keep herself emotionally distant from her two younger rebellious sisters; to the women in Bronwyn's group of friends, the Oddments (once I got them straight in my head.)

It was easy to fall head over heels in fictional love with Ash, for all the ways he saw through Bronwyn's facades that she had erected in order to protect herself from her parent's and a past where she had been hurt by someone she had truly believed she had cared for. And I loved the juxtaposition of Bronwyn's strengths gained from a lonely childhood. How her love of entomology brought her a sense of peace and comfort. I loved her ambitions for her future and her support of everyone around her. That even if she felt out of place she did everything within her abilities to bring those she was growing to care for together.

As I mentioned above, I will admit to having a bit of a difficulty in telling the difference between some of Bronwyn's friends belonging to the Oddments, particularly in the beginning, when we are first introduced to them during their gathering before Bronwyn meets Ash. Somehow I could remember Mouse the dog and Phineus the parrot, but could not clearly place which of the ladies were their owners. It just had felt like a lot in the moment and slightly difficult for me to remember who was who. I did get it straightened out later, but did feel slightly confused at the beginning.

I loved the setting of this novel, the isle of Synne, and how important the environment was to so many of the elements of the story. Whenever we were taken along to the meadow or the Elvin pools, the atmosphere was so detailed that I felt as though I was sitting within the story experiencing everything with the characters. I do not remember the last time I read a story so rich in detail with regards to the setting.

All in all, I really enjoyed Some Dukes Have All the Luck, and cannot wait for the next novel in the series. Christina Britton has a mastery to her writing which I was captivated by.

Christina Britton has given readers another story about damaged individuals looking for unconditional love. Ash and Bronwyn have each been hurt by the family that should love and nurture them unconditionally. Bronwyn is looking to escape her unbearable parents and Ash needs a partner to help raise three young girls in his care. Somehow, they find each other and and naively think they have each found someone to solve their immediate problem. I absolutely ADORED Ash and Bronwyn and found their sweet and tender story deeply touching. This author's excellent writing delivers memorable characters opening up to the possibility of a deep love as they build a life filled with happiness together. I highly recommend and cannot wait to read more by this author.

This has all the makings of a historical romance done right. It includes marriage of convenience, wards who require a wife and close quarters on the isle of Synne. Ash has never thought of taking a wife as he is father set an awful example until his wards force him to reevaluate how he has been raising them. Turning to a wife as his last chance isn’t what he thought but it leads to a titillating plot point. Bronwyn has no other choices left after her parents destroy her life’s work. Ash seems to be the best solution to a dead end but Can she help whip his wards into shape? It’s a high chemistry and fast paced novel that checks off every troupe desired.

This is the start of a series which is the spin-off of the Isle of Synne series (see my previous post for more info!). It’s not necessary to read that series first, but there are some recurring characters in this one.

Bronwyn is an outcast because she spends her time studying bugs but her parents desperately want her married. Ash needs a wife to help him with his wards - 3 sassy, trouble making young girls! They agree to a mutually beneficial marriage, and then sparks fly. They were such a sweet couple and the way Ash stood up for Bronwyn was swoon worthy. Another Duke I’ve fallen in love with!

Ash Hawkins, Duke of Buckley, no more wants to marry than he wants a stick in his eye. As the owner of a gaming hell, he is all too aware the odds of a happy marriage are against him. But raising his three rebellious wards alone is proving more than he can handle. He needs to find someone who stands to benefit from a marriage of convenience as much as he does. Someone logical, clinical, and rational. And in a stroke of luck, he quite literally stumbles over just such a woman.
After years of ridicule for being more interested in bugs than boys, Bronwyn has accepted that she’ll never marry for love. Her parents, however, are threatening to find her a husband. Bronwyn doesn’t need any scientific research to show her Ash has secrets. But his proposal would give her the freedom to continue her entomology research and perhaps finally get published. Just as long as she can keep her mind on her work and off his piercing eyes, broad shoulders, and wicked, wicked tongue.
Bronwyn and Ash are meant to be together. After years of ridicule about her interest in insects Bronwyn is more interested in the love of her husband. Ash has a secret that impacts his life.
Christina Britton has written another very good book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I enjoyed this author’s previous series, Isle of Synne, where we met our current heroine in the final book. Miss Bronwyn Pickering is a Naturalist who specializes in Entomology. Her selfish, social climbing, overbearing parents aren’t enamored with her bookish ways and are bent on marrying her off to a titled gentleman. Bronwyn has spent years studying, analyzing, and collecting data – she’s even discovered a previously unknown beetle and she dreams of writing a scientific paper about it. That dream comes to a crashing end when her cruel parents went into her rooms, took all of her specimens, research notebooks, written papers, instruments, etc., and smashed them – then threw them all out. The only bright spot left in her life is her friends who collectively refer to themselves as The Oddments. Her parents have also just told her she will not be allowed to associate with those ladies anymore. According to her parents, her only goal in life is to make herself into the perfect lady in order to attract a titled gentleman.

Ash Hawkins, Duke of Buckley, had a horrendous home life as a child. Nobody was spared his father’s wrath – not his wife, not his son, not the servants, not even the children on the estate. He dealt wounding and killing blows with both his fists and his words. Everyone knew of his father’s reputation and took great delight in taking it out on Ash when he was away at school. As an adult, Ash knows he can’t afford to love anyone – he’ll taint anyone who is close to him – so when he ends up with three young wards he is at a total loss in how to handle them. He hires governess after governess and the wards just run them off. Then, the two youngest wards run off as well.

Ash is sorely in need of someone to raise his wards and when he discovers that the two younger ones have befriended Bronwyn Pickering, he proposes not ten minutes after meeting her. Bronwyn is sorely in need of liberation from her parents, so a marriage in name only would work for both of them. Until it doesn’t, of course.

This was a nice read – thus the three stars – but it just didn’t resonate with me personally. I didn’t buy the chemistry between Bronwyn and Ash and, more to the issue, I think I am just done with protagonists (particularly the males) who take on the sins of their fathers. I have read several of these – my father was a brute, therefore I am a brute – stories lately and I am just tired of them. So, while this was a perfectly nice story, it just didn’t reach out and pull me in. If you decide to give the book a try, I hope you will love it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.