This is a well written story of a devoted women’s right activist and a Duke bent on perfection. I loved how both hero and heroine were able to grow through the story. I felt like I was in the room living it all with them. The secondary story of younger brother and her cousin is well done also and I was enamored with how the author wrote their story as well. It was well developed, well written and perfectly balanced. Not too much descriptive words and more than enough emotions to take you on a roller coaster ride. Absolutely adored this book!

I received this advanced copy for free and have written my own views.

What’s not to say about this book. It was a good read and enjoyed all of it. I’m into historical romance and this one was good.

Thank you NetGalley for granting me an ARC copy of this book!

I LOVED it! I plan to buy finished copies of the trilogy, I have already purchased the 1st book and am almost done with it, and I am interested in anything this author puts out. Books can be read completely out of order as it's different characters. I'm a sucker for a fake dating/marriage of convenience trope, and this one delivered. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of feminist romances, I find the heroes to be a bit....weak. This book was perfection. There heroine is feminist and logical, but not unreasonable, and the hero is pro-feminist while not a complete door mat to the heroine (as I feel is often the case in feminist romances.)The family dynamics with both characters is refreshing. The banter was great. There was steam (60% in) - it was pretty mild, but very "on the page." There is a fun Shakespeare element (fairly mild) I enjoyed as well. I would highly recommend this book and this author!

Beatrice is a woman born to the wrong time period. She is a feminist fighting for the right's of women in the 19th century, a time where women would do anything for even the right to vote. Her life's mission is to fight for her cause and rights, and avoid marriage at all costs. She's doing well on this path until a change in financial status occurs when her guarding thinks he is doing what is best for her. Chaos ensues, and Beatrice then finds herself agreeing to the very thing she once swore she would avoid at all costs. Luckily, the most unexpected of suitors comes to her rescue.

Featuring:
✔️Historical romance
✔️Multiple POVs
✔️Witty banter
✔️Strong female lead
✔️Forced proximity

I loved Beatrice's strong will and drive to succeed. She is passionate and loves her family, even with the questionable choices they made for the right reasons. The Duke, he exudes power but is perfectly reluctant to embrace the love that Beatrice offers. I thought their story was interesting for the time period (I just haven't read as much about the Blue Stockings) but loved the feminist incorporation. The family integration was perfect.

Much Ado About Dukes draws loose inspiration from Shakespear’s Much Ado About Nothing, loose enough to keep the intrigue going but inspired enough to recognize some character dynamics and plot points.

We follow William, a Duke, and Lady Beatrice, who is an activist for women’s rights. I was positively surprised how much I enjoyed the activist part of this book, as I tend to not enjoy this in Regency Romances. The author tackled this aspect in an era-appropriate manner and showed that you don’t need to hold activism to a 21st century feminist benchmark for it to be impactful.

The romance was overall well developed throughout the book, though just looking at the timeline (as in in-story days) a little too fast. I wish the main couple had spend more time together, furthering their connection and getting to know each other a little more, but I can see how well Beatrice and Will fit together.

One of my favorite aspects of the book were the characters, they felt like real, sensible people and not like overdrawn caricatures. Additionally the family relationships (Will and his brothers & Beatrice with her uncle and cousin) were just lovely.

I also very much enjoyed the writing, there are some really poetic lines in this book!

I did not finish this book, unfortunately. Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorite stories ever told but this retelling just was not it for me. I found it clumsy and awkward and frustrating to read. I hope this book finds its audience but I am not that audience.

I could not put this down! The main characters, Beatrice and Will are stubborn yet willing to see the other's point of view. I loved the examination of women's plight in the Regency era and how Beatrice is smashing the typical role. I was delightedly surprised that Will's character is not the typical bull-headed he-man, but a thoughtful, progressive albeit well-built Duke. I picked up a lot about the societal expectations of royalty, which I'd never considered even though I read plenty of Regency books. I loved the witty, quick banter. The romance and intimacy scenes were well-done: no heaving bosoms. I'm definitely going to check out others in the series!


Thank you NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for allowing me to rate and review this e-ARC title.

This was a fun read and a new spin on the "marriage of convenience" trope. I like the main characters and thought that the banter and chemistry between them was great. I also liked the nodes to Shakespeare, fun and clever.

Beatrice is more than slightly determined to meet the man thwarting her efforts for women's rights, the Duke of Blackheath, so much so she might make a scene at her dear cousin's betrothal ball to the Duke's younger brother. William on the other hand is fascinated by the woman writing the letters and even more intrigued when he meets her in person. Will their tête-à-tête bring them together to keep them apart? Especially when a surprise proposal springs from his lips during a crisis? Must read!

The fear of allowing yourself to love and become vulnerable to another person is at the heart of this story.

I found both Will and Beatrice to be honest and forthright people. Will was mostly level-headed and it was refreshing to see a hero who assessed a situation before reacting. Beatrice was similar in her mannerisms and practicality. I highly enjoyed the scene where he teaches her to box. Who knew boxing could advance a romantic arc?

Unfortunately, something with the pacing of the story kept me from fully connecting to-and empathizing with-Beatrice and Will, although I highly enjoyed seeing such unique and interesting characters.

I would recommend this book if you liked The Spinster and the Rake and enjoy intelligent characters, a marriage of convenience, and a low-angst romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this eARC thanks to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#MuchAdoAboutDukes #NetGalley

MUCH ADO ABOUT DUKES is an overall charming historical romance. Beatrice believes fiercely in women's rights, something that seems impossible, but she is determined to improve the lives of women. She luckily has an inheritance from her parents that allows her to stay steadfast in her anti-marriage ways.

William is a duke who has been receiving and reading the passionate correspondence from Beatrice. He agrees with her desire for women's rights, but he finds himself unable to talk to her because his feelings have grown too strong after reading her missives. When she finally hunts him down at a party, he finds himself feeling awkward. He too has sworn off love and does not wish for marriage.

As their paths continue to cross, their feelings begin to clash with their resolutions, and when fate intervenes, they will chart a course together.

Overall, I found this to be an engaging and quick read. Beatrice can be pretty heavy-handed at times, and it is somewhat tough to believe all of William's talk about loving her mind from her letters at the start. That being said, it does become something else entirely as they spend time together. Will's brothers and Beatrice's cousin were also really fantastic characters, and I appreciated their inclusion in a way that made them come to life but did not overpower the main story. The romance was really charming here, and it was great to see Will and Beatrice come together.

This was a well-written historical romance with a modern edge that captures the reader from the start and pulls them into a cute and fun story. Recommend for people who enjoy a plot with a bit more depth and romantic tension in their historical romance.

Please note that I received an eARC. All opinions are my own.

The Duke of Blackheath works tirelessly to help the downtrodden. Lady Beatrice isn’t just a charitable giver—-she writes pamphlets for womens’ rights and leads the Ladies’ League of Rights. She disdains William (the duke) because she has preconceived ideas that he’s only out for himself. They meet and discover some real truths like their passionate attraction to each other.

William isn’t afraid to teach Beatrice how to box or help hand out pamphlets. He does have an unhealthy fear of abandonment. Beatrice must overcome her fear of losing her identity with marriage. Can she have a true partner in a marriage?

I’m so glad there’s not a prolonged period of time for the couple to figure out their issues and resolve them. The brothers were unique and really helped kick William to open up his protective walls.

Loved this book with a feminist look at life and love. Not your typical historical romance.

I received a copy of this book in advance for my honest opinion.

I did not care for this book. Beatrice and Will shared some of the same views, but she disliked him. Disliked him before meeting him personally. She wasn't targeting others to get on board with her ideas. The story was slow going and not very interesting in my opinion. It felt long. It eventually got better, but not much.
I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an honest review.

Beatrice is clever, forceful, has a passion for politics and social justice and possesses a fortune that as well as making her independent, enables her to help those less fortunate. She has a bias against Dukes, particularly the one into whose family her cousin is marrying, until that is she meets him in person and discovers he is not what she thought. Not only does he agree to lend his support to her current cause but when she is dealt a financial blow, he presents her with a logical solution. There is only one proviso, neither of them can fall in love with the other!
Beatrice and William are perfect for each other, though it takes them awhile to get there.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Much Ado About Dukes follows Lady Beatrice Haven and the Duke of Blackheath as they gather to celebrate an upcoming wedding. Beatrice’s sister is engaged to Will’s brother, and as happy as Beatrice is for her sister, she is also frustrated because she has repeatedly mailed letters to Will and has received no response.

Beatrice is an intelligent and passionate bluestocking who doesn’t want to marry and lose her independence. Determined to fight for the voiceless, her drive to fight for women’s and civil rights is admirable and so relevant. Sadly, women in today’s world can relate all too well the frustration and anger Beatrice feels over the limitations placed upon her because she is a woman. Unconventional and unwilling to back down, Beatrice confronts William, as he is a duke, and she has implored him to support her causes.

Unbeknownst to Beatrice, Will was beyond impressed by her letters and is even more intrigued when he meets her. Quickly, Beatrice realizes there is much more to the aloof and dismissive Duke, and after one dance, they can’t deny their chemistry.

Beatrice and Will are both well-developed protagonists, and they have a great love story. They have chemistry right from the start, their banter is fantastic, and I love the way they challenge each other. However, both are hesitant to commit to another, though for very different reasons. She fears losing her autonomy, and he fears losing someone he cares deeply for. I like how they both explore their misgivings and fears as they fall deeper for each other. They are definitely a well-matched pair that brings out the best in each other!

I adore how much Will supports, admires, and encourages Beatrice and feel like this makes him even more swoon-worthy! He is such a good man, and his genuine interest in Beatrice’s thoughts and ideas is refreshing to her. He really listens to her and respects her, which she is not used to when talking to men. Like Beatrice, he is forward-thinking and willing to fight for causes and people he believes in. And throughout the story, he shows Beatrice just how much he believes in her.

I enjoyed the secondary characters too, especially Will’s brothers and Beatrice’s sister. Their relationships with their siblings say so much about them and about Beatrice and Will, and it highlights how important their relatives are to them. The story also includes several fun romance tropes, including grumpy/sunshine romance, marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers, and more. Thanks so much to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Enchanted Pub for this earc

This book was absolutely amazing! It’s been a while since I’ve read a good historical romance and this one gave me everything I wanted.

We have a strong female character, who’s unapologetic about who she is and a Duke who wants to help and learns to deal with his feeling? Thing like that can only happen in books but I will take it.

Will honestly was one of the best male character’s I’ve read lately. He wasn’t perfect, he listen to Beatrice and learned to be better based on what she said, he made mistakes and learned to deal with his childhood trauma. He’s relationship with his brothers was absolutely adorable.

I also liked that Beatrice did her best not to push her opinion on her sister Margaret and actually just stood by her and let her do what she needed. That’s the kind of friends we all need in our lives.

Such a great read

This is book two in a series, a fact I was unaware of during my reading of the first half of this novel.

I adored Lady Beatrice Haven - she didn’t hide who she was, or her intellect - a feminist, and deeply concerned about women’s rights. She was mostly content in her life. Then she met William Easton, the Duke of Blackheath who is not the man Bea was expecting him to him to be, neither are quite whom the other was expecting. Sparks fly, and…

I really did enjoy this one, but I also found the first half to go by very slowly.




eARC kindly provided by Entangled: Amara and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.

Lady Beatrice Haven has no wish to marry because she doesn’t want to be any man’s property. She also loathes dukes! And why not? Dukes are responsible for upholding laws that perpetuate systematic injustices against the powerless. Thus, the pamphlet writing, public speaking, bluestocking has dedicated her life to fighting for women’s rights and abolition. If only one beautiful, blue-eyed duke would respond to her entreaties and further her cause by using his power. On the other hand, William, Duke of Blackheath, harbors a secret. He admires the passionate bluestocking and her quest for justice. So much, that he is afraid to meet her. Her passionate letters make him feel things. And feelings, according to William, are bad. Because they lead to love, which ultimately lead to grief and abandonment. So, what happens when circumstances force Beatrice and William into a marriage of convenience? They are about to find out that they have more in common than a sizzling attraction.

Much Ado About Dukes is a feminist and charming historical romance, featuring a smart heroine and a hero who’s completely bowled over by her spirit and desire for justice. I do love heroines with spectacles. Beatrice is an inspiring character. Fierce, intelligent, and independent. She also possesses a kind heart. After all, it takes an empath with a deep sense of morality and justice to fight the good fight. Moreover, Beatrice secretly longs for a marriage like her deceased parents had—a marriage full of love, loyalty, and respect. She often feels alone because her activism drives people away. I think her character will resonate with readers. I also adore William’s character. He is kind, supportive, and thoughtful. He listens and grows. He is also a caring big brother. The sibling relationship is adorable, and I love the boxing matches. I appreciate the Shakespeare references, too.

This is a wonderful read!

A big thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed this book. Both William Easton, The Duke of Blackheath and Lady Beatrice had strong personalities but neither of them lost themselves throughout their relationship. I feel like I rarely read a book where the Hero is immediately obsessed with the heroine and the heroine is willing to entertain the idea of a relationship (romantic or otherwise), but that’s what we got with this book, and I loved it.
Lady Beatrice is a Bluestocking through and through and is determined to do all in her power to influence those in power to fight for women’s rights. She went as far as writing the Duke of Blackheath letter after letter urging him to use his power for good. The responses she received back from him were short and succent therefore she assumed he wasn’t interested in helping. She decided that she would confront him personally the first chance she got. When she finally had the chance, she was surprised to find out that he was anything but uninterested.
The moment William saw Lady Beatrice coming towards him at a ball he knew his life would never be the same. There was an immediate spark between the two of them. Once he revealed to her he was on her side, their fiery relationship was unstoppable.
Their relationship is one I feel like we all aspire for, one where it’s an equal partnership and true admiration for each other.
“Beatrice, we shall make London quake underneath our polished boots, for you and I can make the world sit up and take notice. Nothing will ever be the same.”
Swoon.
If you love the Bluestocking trope this is a great option. It’s not too heavy on the dates, facts, and historic events, but it does have enough to provide context so what they are fighting for. It was a strong second book in the series. I look forward to more from Eva!
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I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

William Easton, the Duke of Blackheath refuses to allow himself to be anything other than stoic and strong for his brothers and anyone that needs him. Emotion has no place in his world, just hard work that only a Duke can do.
Lady Beatrice Haven is a very determined young lady. She fights in every way she can for more rights for women. What she needs though is to get a powerful man to help.
An amusing and very entertaining historical romance with fabulous characters. Even Dukes can't always get their own way.
Great fun.