Meg Swift is on the shelf but hopes to be useful in a different manner than a lowly maid at her uncles estate.
Dougal Black is thrust into being a duke and has no idea how to be proper.
The intrigue of the treasure hunt and how it was found added a unique aspect to this book. That urges me to share this with others. It just that kind of book. The kind heart beneath the main characters lends a reality to the book that we can identify with.

I recieved a free copy so that I can tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

This was an entertaining read with an interesting cast of characters, some steam, some mystery, some humor and, of course, an HEA. There was lots of emotional angst with Dougal and Meg (both thinking they were not good enough for the other). I would have liked more info on how and why Meg was good at pickpocketing since that would have been an interesting skill for ton member. I wasn’t quite clear on how the Duke of Pendleton (Meg’s godfather) was entrusted with marrying off the “Cinderellas” and how each “Cinderella” was adopted into the gang. I also would have liked more history on Dougal’s beginnings and how he was discovered as the next in line for the Thorncroft dukedom. I enjoyed this read and look forward to the next in this series.

How to Marry a Duke is the second book I have read by Ms. Harvey. It is the story of Dougal, a duke who gained his title after the last duke died without an heir and he was found to be a long lost relative and Meg, a viscount's daughter who is living at the behest of her uncle who inherited her father's viscountcy after he died without leaving an heir. Dougal is used to being a commoner who worked in a factory and is now having to find a duchess to wed within a few weeks as determined by Prince Henry. Meg works in her former home as a maid/steward for her uncle and spends most of her time trying to keep him from cheating and starving the tenants. Meg and Dougal meet at a ball given by her godfather for her and his other 2 goddaughters and she then learns he wants her to go to Dougal's home to make copies of art he has there which may be of interest to him Meg suspects her godfather of trying to make a match for her and the new duke. After meeting with an incident with the carriage whichtappeared to be deliberately sabotaged, they arrive at Dougal's home. They are constantly interrupted by young debutantes trying to trap the duke into marriage by sneaking into his bedroom or finding opportunities to get him alone and hopefully lead to a proposal. As Dougal and Meg deal with daily tours of the Abbey and spend time looking for a secret treasure thought to be left somewhere in the home by the estranged daughter of the old duke of Thorncroft, the attraction they felt for each other gets stronger. Ms. Harvey spins a fascinating tale of hero and heroine who are looking for different things and each of them do not feel as if they would be a fit for the other based on their pasts and current situations. The story has romance, sex, adventure and mystery. I enjoyed the story the to the very end and was pleasantly surprised with the finale. I would recommend this story to all readers of historical romance who like a little mystery and treasure hunting with their romance. I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley but my opinions are my own. I will post review to Amazon as well as Goodreads

A highly entertaining story that will make you smile and even chuckle at times!

When working man, Dougal, suddenly becomes the next in line for the Duke of Thorncroft, he is thrown into a world so unlike his own!! What's a new Duke to do?

Luckily he meets Meg, who is multi talented and send down to help him catalog the artifacts at the estate. But he also knows he has to marry soon or a bride will be chosen for him by the Prince of Wales.

Debutantes abound trying to get a chance at Dougal and those trying to find treasure at the estate are persistent! A journey to a happy ever after will take awhile but it will be worth it!

A highly, entertaining, humorous, and romantic novel, I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions. However, as so often happens with comedy, there is also tragedy as the two outcasts from society find their way forward together. Dougal Black was well-versed at staying alive on the back streets of Manchester and ensuring the survival of his small family. Suddenly finding himself as the only surviving, albeit distant, relative of the Thorncroft family, he is floundering in the sea of rules set by society for correct behavior. Meg Swift may be good ton, but she is also known as a Cinderella as her wastrel uncle has usurped her dowry and treats her as a servant in her own home. Fortunately, her guardian angel and godfather, the Duke of Pendleton brings some measure of relief, especially when he tasks her with drawing and cataloging the artifacts in the home of the newly minted Duke of Thorncroft. Dougal sees far more than usually meets the eye, and as he slowly uncovers Meg's secrets his admiration for her increases, as does his protectiveness. He is surprised, however, when he discovers that Meg is just as protective towards him, saving him from treasure hunters and debutantes thinking to scoop up a duke. This novel is part of a series with some of the same entertaining characters as in the first book but nevertheless comes to a happy and successful conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Neither Meg nor Dougal are exactly what society expects them to be. She might be a viscount's daughter and accepted member of the bon ton, but her circumstances are far from comfortable. He may have found himself elevated to a duke, but no amount of fancy dress or opulent surroundings will change the fact that he's a working man from humble roots. It's exactly this feeling of not belonging, however, that makes them fit so well.

Both Meg and Dougal are very likable characters. She is clever, funny, and kind. He is gentle, protective, and good-hearted. It's very easy to cheer for their happiness. Their story leans a bit too heavily on poor communication (talk to each other already, dangit!) but it's still lovely to see them answer each other's needs. There is a light mystery/suspense plot that provides a bit of fun and action without weighing down the story, but the real delight is watching these two people come into themselves and find a home in each other.

There are many anachronisms in the text. I'm not talking about small, pedantic things--the phrase "on the daily" was used multiple times in a regency romance. It didn't ruin the experience, but, unfortunately, it did really jar me out of the story. Still, this was a lot of fun, and pleasantly spicy, and I would definitely recommend picking it up for an enjoyable read!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Happy publishing day!!

Let me preface this review by saying I've read a lot of historical romance in my early teenage years. Julia Quinn books were my to-go and I absolutely loved the #bridgerton series (Micheal is the love of my life ♥ you'll see him in When He Was Wicked)

Suffice to say many historical romances tend to be... Repetitive. #HowToMarryADuke, however, had a slight twist from the usual rake duke x innocent, doe-eyed Lady.

Instead of the Duke born into nobility, our male love interest actually came from poverty. REAL poverty. Before Dougal even had two pennies to rub together working as mill manager he was whisked away to become a duke. He has 0 knowledge about the rules of society and was basically shunned because of it.

He meets our heroine, the Splendid Miss Meg Swift who, despite being born as an aristocrat, had also no two pennies to rub together, much like Dougal. Because of her greedy uncle, she resorts to stealing semi-perishables from balls and parties to bring back to her tenants, who were also suffering under her uncle's vices.

As they come together solving a mystery in Dougal's Abbey-turned-mansion, Meg and Dougal will find themselves falling for one another while chaos starts brewing in the background...

I loved the refreshing take the author has for a very old yet steadfast genre. I can say that I have never read anything like this in all the pocketbooks that graced and left my bookshelf in all these years. The tension between Meg and Dougal is palpable to say the least, but there is the issue of #instalove getting in the way of the romance.

As mentioned before, the author tries hard to differentiate each Cinderellas (heroines in the other books of the series) using their hobbies. As for Meg, the mystery relied heavily on her hobby as an artist, almost making her an extension of her love for art other than the other way around.

It could have been something great, but alas here we are. It was still enjoyable nevertheless.

3.5 🌟

Meg Swift has a tiny problem with stealing. What else is she to do when her uncle triples the estate rents? She learns how to mend roofs, plant turnips--and how to steal. She’s too busy for her godfather’s parade of single gentlemen at the Cinderella Ball. Dougal Black has just been plucked from being a manager in a Manchester mill as the last of the Thorncroft duchy bloodline. And if he’s not married by the end of the year, the Prince of Wales will choose his bride for him. But Dougal doesn’t know the rules of this new world. Luckily, Meg does.
The second book in this hugely entertaining series, it’s easily read on its own. I loved both Dougal & Meg, who have to keep their wits about them as there as treasure hunters & scheming mothers, I loved how protective they were of each other. I became invested in their journey to a HEA. A very well written fun, often laugh out loud romance which I devoured in a couple of sittings

Perfect! Funny, Romantic, HEA

Meg, one of the goddaughters of the Duke of Pendleton decided long ago never to marry! She was classed as a spinster with no dowry. She had learned at an early age to steal which helped to protect all the families and people she helped on her uncle’s land, he treated them awfully and her like a slave.

Dougal Black the new appointed Duke of Thorncroft had lead a bit of an unsavoury life style. Having been found and made Duke, the Prince of Wales had decreed he had to marry before the end of the year.

Returning home to the Abbey with Meg who was to help him catalogue his new collection and try to find the hidden treasure rumoured to be at the abbey, they were bombarded with debutantes trying to force the Duke into marriage and treasure hunters breaking into the house.

A fun mad adventure! Both trying to protect each other, with plenty of steamy moments. The secondary characters are a hoot and keep the story alive with their antics.

What a page turner! Highly entertaining, funny and romantic, loved every moment within the story.

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

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
How to marry a duke is an enjoyable story.
Meg has been treated like a maid by her uncle but she stays to protect the people on the land. However, she is one of the goddaughters of the Duke of Pendleton.
She is ordered to help catalog the new dukes collection that he has inherited.
Dougal should be never have been duke as a distant relationship but there was nobody else.
I loved the relationship between Meg and Dougal, even if the conflict stopping them from marrying immediately was irritating and irrelevant.
The part about the hidden treasure and treasure hunters was also well done.

Dougal Black is the new Duke of Thorncroft. Never raised to be a duke, he previously worked as a manager at a mill in Manchester. With a letter from the Prince to marry in a few months, Dougal hasn't been a attracted to any lady until he catches Meg Swift in a faint at the Duke of Pendleton's ball. Pendleton has Meg travel with Dougal to Thorncroft estate to catalogue the artifacts stipulated by the old Duke of Thorncroft. It seems there is also treasure hidden in the abbey. Between young ladies and their mamas trying to trap Dougal and fortune hunters breakiing into the house, Meg and Dougal are constantly on alert. It doesn't stop them from falling in love. Cinderella is saved by her prince and a treasure is found.
Entertaining secondary characters give an extra spark to the story.
Heat level 4
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

If you, like I, hadn't previously read anything by Alyxandra Harvey, you need to remedy that mistake immediately and pick up How to Marry a Duke. The heroine is older, wiser, and dealing with her own issues. The hero is thrown into a world he doesn't understand and it looking for a lifeline. They find each other (or, more aptly are pushed together by her matchmaking godfather, who also happens to be a duke) and need to figure out how they can navigate the pitfalls to maybe find a happily ever after. Must read!