The Duke Gets Even
Book 4 in The Fifth Avenue Rebels
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

******SPOILERS AHEAD*********

The Duke Gets Even gave us an enemies to lovers romance story. These two have had a very intense and hot chemistry ever since they met in book 1 in the series. They fought against their attraction until they decide that their hate for each other wasn't really worth it and decide to better invest that energy enjoying some very intense smexy times. It is very well established that these two were very compatible together. Yes, the smexy times were very fun to read, but I wanted to see more romance between them. Honestly, I don't think these two should have married. Yes, I said it. Nellie tells repeatedly that theirs can only be an affair and I completely agree with her. I think he was more of the romantic of the two because he wanted her as his duchess no matter what society (American/English) said. She made a very good point about her having to sacrifice almost everything to be his duchess. She told him many times why they wouldn't work as a married couple and I agreed, but at the same time I felt bad for him because he really loved her and especially because he loved her personality which made her a pariah in society's eyes, but to him she was perfect.

I would have liked to have rated it higher.
I do recommend reading the previous books.

The Duke Gets Even is my first Joanna Shupe, and I'm not sure if it was the right one to start with. I nearly dnf'ed several times. I'm not a fan of insta-lust, and this one starts strong with their undeniable lust for each other.
The Duke and Nellie circle each other for months until they give in to their attraction, while the Duke is looking for the woman to make his wife.
It also took me a while to get used to - I haven't read many Gilded Ages histroms, and was thrown off by the "modernity" of the FMC (but that's on me).
I skimmed quite a bit, I wasn't invested that much into the story. Partly probably due to my mood. Shupe's writing is excellent. I'm still glad that I read the whole thing.

Thank you to Valentine PR for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The push-pull dynamic between Nellie Young and the Duke of Lockwood has been well worth the wait. In Joanna Shupe’s fourth installment of the Fifth Avenue Rebels series, readers finally get to see Nellie meet her match, in the most delicious of ways.

Nellie Young has never given much thought to marriage. No, she’d rather retain her freedom and “ruin” her reputation in the process. The Duke of Lockwood must marry a rich, unimpeachable, American heiress in order to save his estate. After a clandestine surprise meeting in the ocean, Nellie and the Duke are thrust (pun intended) into each other’s orbits. But, while the Duke still searches for the perfect bride, he finds he cannot stay away from Nellie, and she can’t stay away from him. With his estate on the line, the Duke must decide whether or not love is worth more than his birthright, and Nellie must decide whether or not her notions of freedom are worth losing the love of her life.

I’m not typically a historical romance reader, but I always make an exception for Joanna Shupe. The ways in which she navigates the very real issues of the time periods she’s writing in always feels super modern, yet still true to the time. This book, in particular, focuses on women’s reproductive rights in a way that feels steeped in history and yet wholly pertinent to today. Nellie is a wonderful protagonist, and such a strong, brave character. More female main characters like this, please and thank you.

Nellie and the Duke generate more heat than a fireplace in the middle of summer, and I am not in any way mad about it. Fans of this series will delight in Nellie’s story. But people new to Shupe will find plenty to enjoy reading this as a standalone.

If you’re looking for a star-crossed lovers romp without all the angst, this is the book for you.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and Avon in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I also support and stand in solidarity with the HarperCollins union

There is a lot to love about this book and a lot that I personally enjoyed about it. Before I get to the reasoning for why I only gave it 3 stars, lets focus on the things I really liked.

I loved the 2 MCs:

The prim and proper Duke of Lockwood, hiding a few secrets including that he likes his sex a little rough and wild and a lot dirty, introduced in the first book of the series, is an impoverished Duke in desperate need of a wealthy heiress. In search of bride and with 2 broken engagements in his past, he finds him inconveniently attracted to the absolute wrong woman.

Eleanor “Nellie” Young has watched Lockwood try and fail to find a bride for the last couple of years. She is adamant that she will never marry. Rich and independent, with a father who gives her the freedom to live her life as she pleases, Nellie has cultivated quite the reputation for herself. A fierce, feminist, force of nature, she doesn’t believe that she is well suited to marriage, and certainly not marriage to a Duke.

When the two find themselves inexplicably hot for each other, they decide to embark on a passionate affair, all the while Lockwood is still looking for his wealthy future Duchess.

The sex scenes in this book are delightfully plentiful and hot. I was really surprised (pleasantly so) at the steam level. They are wildly hot for each other, both like it a little rough and though it’s only ever vaguely alluded to and never actually enacted, I have little doubt that Nellie would be more than willing to be spanked by her sexy Duke.

Nellie, as I stated earlier, is steadfastly unwilling to marry and give up her freedom. She doesn’t want to lose her name and identity to her husband and likes being independent and free to do what she does, including educating women about their choices, especially in regards to their reproductive rights and body autonomy. She loves to thwart the absurd Comstock laws and for a book that takes place at the tail end of the 19th century, the political subtexts in this book feel sadly relevant to today’s political climate. She also makes it clear that babies are not her jam and nowhere is there any indication that she wants a family of her own, children of her own.

Lockwood, the paupered Duke, obviously needs money but also an heir. He refuses to leave his Dukedom to his cousin, who likes to go by the name Tooter. Yes, Tooter. Lockwood also has one more secret, a heart condition that all but guarantees that time is not on his side. So, in order to find, wed, and bed his future wife, he needs to move fast, especially to get that heir he very much wants.

I found the book to be lush and sexy and romantic and I really loved that Lockwood, once he realizes he’s head over heels in love with Nellie, doesn’t even attempt to find someone else. He respects her, doesn’t want her to change, loves her exactly as she is, and even fights her cousin, the head of a well known Irish gang, to prove himself worthy of her.

However, I rated this book 3 stars for one reason that really bothered me long after I finished the book. In the epilogue of the book, it is alluded to the fact that Nellie convinced Lockwood to go see a heart specialist in Germany for his heart issues and in exchange, Lockwood had convinced Nellie to try for a child. Look, it’s fine, I get it, Lockwood needs an heir. But all the while he’s trying to convince Nellie to wed him, to give up everything to move to England and live in a country amongst strangers, never once do they address the fact that he also needs her to give him an heir. And the only time Nellie references children is when she mentions that she’s not all that fond of babies. Furthermore, a large chunk of the book is dedicated to Nellie educating women about their reproductive rights and talking about birth control and helping women obtain them. I just wish there was some discussion between the both of them that alluded to the fact that he wanted children and asking Nellie about her thoughts on becoming a mother because never once do they have this conversation and then for the epilogue to have them basically be trading favors where he goes to see a heart specialist in exchange for her agreeing to have his child, is not the greatest way to address this issue. It feels like she’s doing it out of duty and obligation instead of something she also genuinely wants and I wish the book had done more to make that distinction clear.

Anyway, that’s just my take on this book, overall, I actually really liked most of it, just that one part in the epilogue that I didn’t love and thought it could’ve been written better. YMMV.

Content warnings: slut shaming, medical ailment, parental shame, spousal abuse, arrest, police corruption, fighting

Joanna Shupe pens yet another story with romance, and adventure. I really enjoyed getting to go along with Nellie and Lockwood’s romance. Lockwood’s determination to do right by Nellie will pull at the heart while Nellie’s determination to bring Lockwood back to life and to living is a great read!

I loved this spicy historical romance so much! Finally! The jilted Duke of Lockwood is getting his HEA, and I could not be more thrilled about his pairing with the free spirited and sexually empowered heiress, Nellie. The Duke Gets Even is the fourth and final book in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series.

The Duke of Lockwood’s estate is in shambles, so he traveled to America to find a wealthy bride worthy of being a Duchess. In order to decompress and escape the pressure of his daily life, he would frequently go on late night swims. One night, he has a spicy and anonymous (and naked) encounter with a woman, who we later learn is Nellie. The two have an instant connection, but the next day they run into each other and discover that Lockwood is trying to marry one of Nellie’s best friends. As time passes, the two continue to dance around each other and their chemistry while Lockwood continues his bride hunt.

Nellie is a fantastic heroine. Truly revolutionary for the time period. She is so strong and selfless. Always willing to sacrifice herself for others. With her reputation ruined, she is excitedly on track to live a life of independence and hedonism. She is dead against the idea of marriage even while all of her friends are settling down. Her connection with the Duke makes her want things that she never thought she would, but she feels like she wouldn’t make a good wife for him. I especially loved the moments she has with her aunt and mom’s family. It was my favorite side plot.

Lockwood was a deliciously dirty talking surprise. I loved how hard he fought for Nellie and how he threw out traditional conventions for love. After watching him get rejected for the past three books in the series, I am thrilled that he ended up with someone who loves as hard as Nellie.

This book had amazing banter, spice, tension, and characters. I highly recommend it!

I have been intrigued by the Duke of Lockwood ever since Maddie’s book and I love the delayed gratification of his book being last in the series. It was totally worth the wait. The chemistry between Lockwood and Nellie is electric and I love them together. Their methods of honesty and finding compromises are pretty great too. I especially adored how reproductive rights were woven into the story.

Thank you Harper Collins/Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

I've been very much looking forward to this final book in Shupe's Fifth Avenue Rebels series, as it has been bubbling up in the background of the previous novels, and in some cases, even overshadowing the main characters in them. Finally, we learn what happened between Nellie and Lockwood that has had them avoiding and scowling at one another over the past few novels. And, well, it was as to be expected. I think we could have done with a few more surprises and or a more seemingly impossible happy ending. But all in all it was a nice but predictable ending to the series.

Honestly, this was quite a fun and hot and steamy read. However, it did not do much to impress me. Like I mentioned already, the romance was very hot and steamy and I think the characters had amazing sexual chemistry together. I also quite liked the discussions around anti-conception at this time. I thought it was very interesting and I really loved how Nellie advocated for women's reproductive rights in this novel. I do wish there could have been a bit more intersectionality in those discussions though. Especially because the author note at the end of this book about the topic does talk about how these laws ended up effecting people of colour and were rooted in xenophobia and racism from the start. However, in the actual book it is very much centered on white women and white women only. I wish there could have been more of an inclusive discussion in here. On top of that I also wasn't the biggest fan of the romance. I didn't think there was much to these two besides sexual attraction (which again was done phenomenally). I also think both characters were very "woe is me" and that really got on my nerves sometimes. At first their insecurities were realistic and I was excited to see how they would develop but after repeating the same insecurity for the millionth time even after it constantly being dispelled it just got really annoying. Especially because the insecurities eventually got in their own ways. So yeah, I did have my issues with this book but overall it was still a fun and steamy time so I can't fully hate it.

This felt more like a lust story than a love story. The instant attraction of these two was palpable, but the emotional development and connection was neglected. There is nothing wrong with that overall, it just doesn’t work for me when it comes to romance. I am a reader who needs to feel the emotions around the connection and to understand what makes these characters tick.

The heroine, Eleanor, was a bit of a contradiction in her actions versus her words. I could go into the list I made of all of the inconsistencies that kept me from connecting to her character, but I don’t think that is entirely helpful since characters hit everyone different and I don’t think that any of my grievances are problematic aspects that could be construed as triggers.

The hero, Andrew, was delightful and I am happy that he got his happy ending although he had to go through quite a bit of tedious courting, being jilted, and carrying the burden of his crumbling estate, and future of his family, on his shoulders.

The tension was great at the beginning and then seemed to fall off almost immediately. There was a fantastic set-up for the conflict and barrier to Eleanor and Andrew’s relationship, but within the very beginning of the story that conflict is resolved and I felt the tension literally snap. Instead, the story elevated the heroine’s objections repeatedly, which exhausted me as a reader as I watched her get in her own way throughout the entire story as she fed herself a narrative that was not based on any real trauma or reasons that seemed founded in reality. Again, this conclusion bumps into my list of why this heroine was inconsistent and unsuccessful as a coherent character.

On a more positive note, the times when they were together in a more intimate manner were fun and spicy and the cover of this book is very beautiful. I also found Eleanor’s gesture at the end of the book to be the one aspect of her decision making that felt loving and selfless; a gesture that made all the difference to Andrew, who had been through so much heartache and deserved to have things go his way for once.

If you are a fan of Joanna Shupe, I think you will enjoy seeing Andrew’s thread throughout the series come to a satisfying conclusion.

The only content warning that I might give is around contraception and abortion. There is nothing gratuitous on page, but there is a passing reference. It is a cause that is near and dear to the heroine and plays a significant role in some scenes related to her passion to educate women.

I received an advanced eARC of this book thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

2.75⭐️’s

The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe (2023)
Gilded Age New York. Book 4 of the Fifth Avenue Rebels series.

If you’ve read the first three books in this series, you’ll have seen hints of an uneasy relationship between Nellie and the Duke of Lockwood. Nellie is everyone’s scandalous best friend with knowledge about affairs and men. Meanwhile the destitute Duke of Lockwood needs an American heiress to marry for money.

In Book 1, he was engaged to Maddie for about a day before that didn’t work out. In Book 2, he’s almost courting our favorite sweet Alice, until he realizes Kit is in the picture and bows out. In Book 3, he’s sworn off courting anyone from this unlucky friend group, but still friendly with Katherine. Well, we finally get to see his true nature and desires here in Book 4 with our dear Nellie.

We go back to the beginning of the Newport house party from Book 1 and 2, where Lockwood and Nellie meet as strangers at the beach at midnight, and after some flirting, and kissing, they plan for a tryst the next day. However, when Lockwood shows up at the house party the next day and is introduced to all the guests, he and Nellie realize that the connection is impossible and over.

We meet again in six months after Nellie’s other friends are all settled and Nellie’s feeling listless and aimless since all her friends are married and don’t need her anymore plus Lockwood’s still looking for a docile and wealthy bride. What starts as angry flirting turns into an angry affair with neither of them wanting to engage their hearts.

Lockwood’s got some secrets of his own with a health condition, plus Nellie is unwilling to risk her emotions after her mother died at a young age. An important side story here is Nellie’s work in educating women on contraception and taking control of their reproductive rights. I appreciated seeing this play out in a historical setting and seeing Nellie’s championing of women’s education on the subject.

A chance encounter during a midnight swim leads to a heated kiss and the promise of a passion unlike anything either has ever experienced, but the timing is wrong and with the morning comes revelations that should kill any attraction. Clearly, when the man of your dreams is engaged to your best friend, he is not for you – or is he?

Andrew Talbot, the Duke of Lockwood is back in New York and still hoping to find a rich bride to save his bankrupt estate, but after a broken engagement and losing two more potential brides, he isn’t optimistic, not to mention he is still reeling from the kiss he shared with the completely unacceptable Miss Eleanor “Nellie” Young, whose reputation for debauchery would make most rakes blush, but Fate keeps throwing them in each other’s paths. And shockingly, Andrew doesn’t mind, in fact, soon he is craving her and despite everything, he wants only her and money has nothing to do with it, so he sets out to prove it and hopefully win her heart and her hand. But even though Fate threw them together, that doesn’t mean winning her will be easy.

Eleanor “Nellie” Young is the only child of mega-rich railroad magnate, Corneilus Young and gleefully snubs her nose at society, she is unapologetic about her affairs, her opinions, and her mother’s humble Irish roots. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her and that includes one snooty English Duke. But Nellie soon learns that Andrew isn’t snooty at all, he is actually quite perfect, handsome, and charming. But she knows that nothing will come of it, he needs an heiress with a spotless reputation, and that is most certainly not her – Heiress? Yes. Spotless reputation? Absolutely not! So even after she realizes she is falling in love with him, she still refuses to consider anything longer than an affair, she cares for him too much to have him suffer because of her reputation and she is sure he will come to regret her and she will be left brokenhearted. So when he presses her for more, she pushes him away and makes it clear, HEA is not for them and that is the end of it. Or is it?

I LOVED this book so much – it is by far the best of the series and definitely has earned a place on my keeper shelf! Andrew and Eleanor are so real and so relatable, that it is hard at times to remember that they are fictional characters. They both have flaws and fears, but they seem to bring out the best in each other, when one is down, the other is there to lift them up, and white-hot passion is always simmering between them, which makes Nellie’s constant rejection frustrating at times, I actually wanted to reach into my kindle, shake her and say, don’t let him go! And Andrew, who knew?!? Still waters really do run deep! This book was just phenomenal, it has a lot of emotion, likable characters, great secondary characters, cameos from previous characters, smoking HOT love scenes (Thank You, Ms. Shupe, I was beginning to think that no one wrote these anymore!), loss, secrets, arrests, witty banter, bar fights, heartache and a truly wonderful ending complete with a HEA and an epilogue. OMG, I never wanted this book to end – I hope Andrew and Nellie pop up in other books and readers get a deeper look into their HEA because it was hard to let them go. This is the fourth book and final book in the series, but it could easily be read as a stand-alone title. I can’t recommend this title highly enough if you are a fan of the Gilded Age, or like historicals that deliver a message along with a romance (without being preachy), or even if you just like steamy historical romances with feisty heroines and sexy dukes – do not miss this book!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

The Duke Gets Even is yet another wonderful example of Joanna Shupe's excellent writing! This entire series has been amazing, and what a way to end it--with Lockwood and Nellie! This book can technically be read as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend it. I think if you hadn't read the rest of the series. You'll miss key plot points and character arcs. The most recent book, The Bride Goes Rogue, is still my favorite, but The Duke Gets Even is such a wonderful story, full of laughs, swoon, and emotions.

Small summary: Heiress Nellie Young is unmarried and unconventional, the kind of woman that the proper Duke of Lockwood shouldn't desire--but he does. Broke and on a mission to find a rich heiress, he has come to New York City to try and save what is left of his title by finding a suitable bride. Nellie, a sexually-progressive young woman who just wants to have fun and has no time for real commitment, finds herself drawn to the Duke and the passion simmering beneath his surface. Getting to their HEA is a WILD ride.

Let me first say this: I loved Nellie in the other books. You get hints of her unconventional lifestyle throughout the series. You also get to know the Lockwood, who has been rejected for marriage multiple times. Their love story seems improbable, and yet, Shupe finds a way to realistically bring the two together. Lockwood has such a passion beneath his surface, and you get hints of him being dominant in the bedroom (which Nellie likes). Once of my favorite parts of this book is how they met, a flashback to an accidental midnight swim which turns HOT pretty fast. When they realize the other's identity, it starts to complicate things. Here's my issue, though. For as progressive as Nellie is supposed to be, she seems to get really mad at Lockwood when she finds out who he is. Yes, technically, Lockwood was set to woo her best friend to get married, but he explains in a very practical (I thought) way why he is doing what he does. And once he apologizes, he STILL gets hell from Nellie, which I think is a bit hypocritical on her part. She calls him a "monster" and I was like WHOA, settle down, Nellie. In the other books, Nellie's personality is unconventional, but practical and fun. In this book, however, her personality grated on me. She comes off in such an abrasive way, and at times, I honestly thought Lockwood could do better.

Lockwood is such a wonderful Hero to me. He's the type of MMC that tries to be sort of starchy, but ends up coming across as passionate. I love that about him. Everyone knows he needs a rich heiress to save his estate, but after meeting Nellie, seems unable to concentrate on that goal. His cocky, dominant side is one of my favorite things to watch. He's full of passionate and heat, and only Nellie seems like a good fit for what's really going on inside his head.

Of course, the HEA is wrapped up nicely, and Shupe's writing is top tier. You can tell how much she researches her books, and the time she takes to craft each character. I love that in historical romance, and you can tell that a lot of authors don't go to that much trouble when crafting their story. That's why I will always buy a Shupe romance. It's well worth it, even if there are a few things that bug me about the characters. To me, her heroes shine more than her heroines, and since I'm a Hero-centric reader, that suits me just fine.

While not my favorite book in this series, The Duke Gets Even is still a wonderful addition, and if you love Shupe, chances are you will love this one, too.

One midnight an English duke was swimming at sea in Newport, Rhode Island, when he met the most beautiful red haired woman on earth. She was swimming on her own as naked as he was and the attraction between them is electric. She’s the kind of woman who owns herself, her body and her sexuality, no shame, just natural human desire. They’re perfect strangers when they share a few kisses and promise to meet the next night for a non compromise tryst. But the next day they meet with their masks on and everything goes wrong. He’s Andrew Talbot, the impoverished duke of Lockwood who is in America to find a wealthy heiress he can marry to save his lands and the people who live there. Eleanor “Nellie” Young could be that heiress except for two facts: one, she has a reputation, and two, she refuses to marry at all for she wants to live her life and her sexuality freely and independent from any man. None of them ever expected to fall in love with each other, but they do.

Both of them develop feelings for each other and care for each other yet they are so stubborn, and I don’t mean this as a downsize to the novel at all, they are so set on their own ideas of what the other wants for their life despite the fact that both their inner selves recognizes they are perfect together, a match made in heaven that burns with the flames of hell. Their banter, their sexual desires and preferences… they only add up to the image of them being made for each other, fated mates. The aspect of their relationship that makes them perfect for each other is quite easy to see; he can only be his true self with her, she can only be her true self with him, they love each other’s true selves; they don’t like the masks they wear when in company of others.

I loved Nellie, she’s wild, independent, unconventional, free, compassionate and funny. And Andrew’s personality complements hers, they match like puzzle pieces, what she lacks he has, what she has he lacks and yet they have so many things in common, the most important of which is their views on life. Andrew likes Nellie not only as a lover but also as a woman, her personality is refreshing, they feel free together. The couple spends most of the novel pretending to not like each other while playing cat-and-mouse at the same time, they interchange the roles of cat and mouse, especially when they become more intimate. Both of them are so alive, so raw and so passionate towards each other. This book is everything!

Joanna Shupe for me is one of the classics. She’s been there for ages and, like many of the writers of her generation she has modernized her discourse, her books take on more actual subject matters like women’s right to independence both physical and economical and women’s sexual education, which is debated in this book specifically. Nellie is knowledgeable of her own body and how it works, she knows what she wants and needs in bed and she’s educating other women who, perhaps, have never taken such matters into their conversations. These subjects come more naturally to newest authors, authors who were born into feminism and who want to give the historical subgenre a new wave, a fresh one while raising awareness of matters that are being put on the table in the last few years. Many writers of Joanna Shupe’s generation have tried to include these themes in their books (I won’t give names) and failed, making their books’ plots feel artificial or forced. Joanna Shupe isn’t one of them, she might have her issues with third act conflicts (not in this book though) but including modern themes in her plots isn’t an issue for her, she has adapted to the new currents like to a second skin.

Where do I even start with this book? I loved it. It had my emotions in upheaval. I loved these characters, Nellie and Lockwood. I loved how bold and unapologetic Nellie was and how loving, kind and layered Lockwood. Nellie had layers too but I loved how she was the only one he peeled back those layers for. I loved their intimacy, their banter, the way they got each. I loved how unconventional their relationship was. There was honestly nothing I didn't love about this book. It worked for me on all levels and I cannot recommend it enough. It was beautiful. It kept me fully engaged. It tore and my heartstrings, made me sigh dreamily, left me satisfied and also wanting to know else happened to Nellie and Lockwood. This book was amazing. Go read it.

The fourth and final book of Joanna Shupe's The Fifth Avenue Rebels series, The Duke Gets Even finally gives us the conclusion to the Duke of Lockwood's story, the man's whose quest for a bride started the series all those books ago. I had no idea how Shupe would be able to follow up that scorcher of a book, The Bride Goes Rogue, but leave it to a master like her to be able to do it with the Duke of Lockwood and Nellie Young. I've been waiting for Lockwood and Nellie's story since I first started this series, and not only was I satisfied with how it played out, I was also surprised, delighted, and engaged with both characters. A stellar ending to their story and a tidy ending to this fun and steamy Historical Romance series.

We've been watching the hapless Andrew Talbot, Duke of Lockwood attempt to find an American heiress to marry to save his failing duchy for the past three books, each failed attempt tugging at our heartstrings for this man who is genuine, kind, and polite more than the last. And all the while Shupe has been laying hints that something has been brewing between him and Nellie Young, the headstrong, rebellious member of the group of friends, and in this book we finally get to see their entire history starting with their steamy encounter in the ocean coinciding with the events of book 1. This book tells their story, and backstories, and how they eventually are able to acknowledge that - from the beginning of the series - it was always going to be the two of them. Swoon.

I feel like a broken record as both of my previous two reviews on this series already say this, but Shupe shines in this series with her characterization and chemistry. Her character and relationship arcs are masterfully constructed, and I suppose the reason I keep returning to this point with each review, is because this is where she truly shines as an author. Lockwood was such a surprisingly well-constructed character. He was not merely some rich duke out to find a wife. No, he had struggles of his own - inheriting a financial mess from his father, the heavy weight of duty to support the people of his duchy and his family's legacy, and a failing heart. That last piece broke my own heart, and I think Shupe did an excellent job deepening Lockwood's struggle by giving him a medical condition. It really brought the man down to earth and fleshed him out as a character.

Nellie was as independent and willful as you'd expect her to be in this book based on the rest of the series. But what I found the most powerful, was what was at the core of why she didn't want to marry Lockwood - her deep fear of loss caused by the loss of her mother. Knowing about Lockwood's heart, Nellie was nearly frantic at times at the thought of losing Lockwood, because it stirred up all of those experiences of her mother. On top of that, Nellie's conviction to support women's rights to birth control and access to information felt apropos given the political climate surrounding these topics today. It was a powerful reminder of how far we've come, but also what a huge step back we've taken this past year. The timing of this book couldn't be more perfect, and I did not feel it was overdone.

Lockwood and Nellie's chemistry was palpable, and I loved Lockwood's slight pain kink - double swoon. The man was desperate to feel, freed of the rigid propriety of his station, and his dirty talk and dominance in bed showed just how restrained he had to be when putting on his duke persona. I loved that dichotomy.

A lovely conclusion to a lovely series. Highest of recommendations. I will definitely reread!

Would love to review this book, but withholding it due to the HarperCollins union strike: https://linktr.ee/hcpunion

Would love to review this book, but withholding it due to the HarperCollins union strike: https://linktr.ee/hcpunion

Would love to review this book, but withholding it due to the HarperCollins union strike: https://linktr.ee/hcpunion

Would love to review this book, but withholding it due to the HarperCollins union strike: https://linktr.ee/hcpunion

I have high hopes for this one but I was left wanting more.

Andrew Lockwood is a duke that is looking for a wealthy heiress in America, the survival of his title and estate is in need of funds that he needs them now.

Nellie likes to start scandals and she likes to finish them as well, she isn't welcomed in society because of her reputation, that she has worked to cultivate since her first season.

I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, once they gave into their attraction and focused on their relationship.

What I didn't enjoy was how he kept on searching for other women to marry, especially that he was actively courting them and how many of them were her friends.


* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

This book was such a good read, I enjoyed jumping into the world of Nellie and Lockwood. This has so many themes that I love in books. The banter between Nellie and Lockwood was so good especially when they were in their enemies-to-lover era. I love great banter and fun moments and this didn’t disappoint.

Nellie was a great character, I loved how strong and liberated she was. She’s independent, passionate and advocates for what she wants and I loved seeing her development in this book. I like that Lockwood fell first and supported her, despite what society thought especially with all her activism and strong will.

The romance and chemistry in this book was on another level I loved the enemies with benefits ish thing they had going on and liked the struggle that Nellie had with expressing her feelings and emotions. If you're looking for good spicy moments, great characters, and story this book has it!!

This is my first book by Joanna Shupe and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series and more of her book

This is the third book in the series. I was happy to see Lockwood get his own story. Andrew, Duke of Lockwood is in America to find a wealthy wife to save his cash poor title. He has a midnight encounter with an anonymous woman while swimming. The next day, at an event he runs into her again. Nellie has sworn never to marry. She is passionate about her women's rights and is a free-spirited woman who society has shunned.
I loved the chemistry between Andrew and Nellie, they were perfect for each other.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and these are my opinions.