The Dueling Duchess is a Forbidden, Second-Chance Regency Romance that is unapologetically feminist.
Cecile is a French immigrant who fled the French Revolution's Reign of Terror at fourteen. Along the way she loses everything and ends up making a living at an all-female circus as a sharpshooter, co-owner, and operator.
Dueling Duchess features dual timelines where we flip between a year ago, when Cecile meets a marquess disguised as a circus worker, and the present, where he tries to win her back after he left her in order to fulfill his duty to the family's dukedom.
Things I loved about The Dueling Duchess:
- long live the female gaze
- some of the hottest historical love scenes which are a Minerva Spencer staple
- she kisses him first and gives him orders in the bedroom
- beautiful writing
- a groveling hero who worships an independent woman
- she's 36 and he's 33
- the intersection of French & British history and seeing French immigrants in Regency England
- dual pov
Reason it wasn't a 5-star for me:
- he's a himbo, although a sweet one, not my jam
- the middle dragged on a bit and I found myself skimming to read the dialogue
- the end had a lot of plot twists but it felt rushed and the emotional arc fell flat at the end
The Dueling Duchess is the 2nd in series (The Wicked Women of Whitechapel) & can be read and enjoyed as a standalone but contains significant spoilers to the first.
Content Warnings
- sexual content - sexual assault - death of parent - pregnancy - pregnancy complications - infant death - cheating
Thank you Kensington Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

When Cecile arrives in London penniless, she relies on her knowledge of gun building that her father taught her. She ends up being a sharpshooter in a female circus. Guy is a Duke who must marry a woman with money. Guy eventually becomes disgraced when a usurper takes his dukedom. Not being able to deny his attraction to Cecile he works for her in the circus. When Cecile’s situation changes, he feels he is not good enough for her. I look forward to Elliot and Blade’s story next. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.

Original plot both for the story itself and for the main characters.
Boring first part of the book, as well as dense with events.The book becomes much more interesting starting from the "III part-present"

2.75/5⭐️

Second in series featuring the strong, independent women in an all-female circus, I had really enjoyed the first book and had high hopes for this one as well.

Cecile is a 36-year-old French woman who is part owner of the Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre and has an expert markswoman act. Guy is the heir to a dukedom and apparently God’s gift to women as he is known for his many liaisons. Celine and Guy had an affair, but she ended it when he asked her to be his mistress. A year later, after assuming the title of duke, Guy is usurped by an unexpected cousin. He decides that his downfallen state might be for the best as he can now marry Cecile. He goes to work for her doing menial labor to prove his love and regret for his former action.

I was disappointed in this book. While I love the premise of these strong women in charge of their own lives, I failed to connect with Cecile and even found myself actively disliking her for most of the book. Guy, at 33, was too immature and a bit fluffy headed. And they both were arrogant and a bit shallow at times. There were several/too many plot lines going on and some alternating past/present chapters (it would help to read the initial book for background). Intimate scenes were very sexy considering both leads’ experience.

Maybe my hopes were too high, but if I could have connected with the characters, it might have saved the day. Sad to say, but this just did not work for me.

I will, however, look forward to Blade’s and Elliot’s story.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for providing the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Cecile has a settled, if unconventional life. She has her all-female circus, her pistols, her independence. True, she doesn't have the Darling of the Ton, not anymore, not since their affair ended with him grievously insulting her, but that's all right because she doesn't want him anyway. Until suddenly Guy's life falls apart, which brings him back into Cecile's orbit.
It's probably best to read The Boxing Baroness before this, as some of the events referred to in the early part of this book will then make much more sense. That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the way Guy and Cecile's characters and relationship were explored: it makes a change for it to be the man suddenly finding himself cast out and penniless, and the way he deals with it is well detailed. Cecile makes him work for her forgiveness, which is more understandable as her history is gradually revealed, but the on-page chemistry between them is undeniable. I also appreciated the supporting cast, particularly the introduction of Cat, and the further insights into Josephine/Blade and Elliot... and there's a story I'm definitely looking forward to.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Book, for the free copy of the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tropes:
- The heroine, Cecile, is a circus performer specialising in pistols/guns
- Experienced heroine paired with a rake
- A mature couple (30-ish something)
A disinherited duke
A sort of second-chance romance
Regency period

What I liked:
1) Unusual storyline. An original plot.
2) A lot of twists and turns, making the story unpredictable.
3) Not much of an adventure compared to the previous book. Your level of enjoyment depends on your preference for a character- or action-driven book. The book focuses more on Guy making up to Cecile due to his unforgivable (well, at least to Cecile) offence, so it's more character driven.

What I didn't quite like:
1) It doesn't work well as a standalone. You will need to read the first book in the series to understand the main characters' history better, or you'll feel lost.
2) There's something about the writing which made me feel terribly disconnected from the characters.
3) Anachronistic to a T. I think Ms Spencer decided to throw away everything she knew about social etiquette during the Regency period when writing this book.
4) Enough with the smirking. I came across this facial expression every few pages. Surely there are other facial expressions that the characters can have?

I generally enjoyed most of Ms Spencer's books, but this one just didn't do it for me. The book was intriguing enough for me to continue and finish but not as good as her other books. Don't start with this one if you're new to her work. Her other books are way better. My rating is 3.25 stars.

The Dueling Duchess is the second book in The Wicked Women of Whitechapel series, though it can be read as a standalone. The story switches between the past and the present and provides ample context for those who haven’t read the first story. The flashbacks delve into Cecile and Guy’s affair when they first met, and the present focuses on the pair a year later. Initially, the pair can’t be together because Guy must marry a titled and wealthy woman, but in the year they’ve been apart, his situation has changed. Now free to pursue Cecile, Guy has to work pretty hard to earn her trust and love.

The characters drew me in, especially Cecile. She has such an intriguing and tragic backstory that very much defines her. I love that she is strong and independent, and she lives life on her terms. She’s in her mid-30s, which is a bit older than the typical historical romance FMC, and she runs a circus. While this seems improbable for the time, it makes for a unique and interesting backdrop for the story.

The secondary characters are great too, and I love the humorous dialogue. However, I didn’t love the romance as much as I’d hoped. I think it’s because Guy wasn’t my favorite. I hated that, in the flashback, he basically implied Cecile wasn’t of high enough standing to marry, but he wanted her to be his mistress. What a slap in the face! I do like that Guy realizes he made a huge mistake, and he works hard to win her back. Cecile certainly doesn’t make it easy for him, and there is a good amount of groveling. They have a lot of chemistry, and the romance is pretty steamy, but I didn’t feel a deep, emotional connection between them.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It has a really unique premise, and the characters are well-developed. The plot is also quite layered with many plots and subplots happening concurrently.

There were too many characters, too many plot threads, too many of those threads tied up neatly with pretty little bows and just not enough decent romance. And it was missing Ms Spencer’s signature steam. I had to skim most of the book because it also had too many pages with nothing happening.

4.25/5. Releases 5/23/2023.

For when you're vibing with... Confident, mature heroines, adoring rakes, a bit of trick gunslinging, and situationships that turn into real relationships.

I like my first Minerva Spencer read, The Boxing Baroness. The follow-up was even better--sleeker, more romantic, with less focus on the history and more focus on the couple (and the fun lady circus!). There were a few bold takes with The Dueling Duchess, and I was into it.

Quick Takes:
--Cecile, our heroine, is French; and the book actually kicks off during the Revolution when she's a young teen. I loved this, just as I enjoyed the awareness of a world beyond England in the previous book. While most of this novel does take place in England, Cecile doesn't feel like an English heroine, and you get a sense of a wider, richer world than is often present in Regency historicals.

--Another thing about Cecile, a heroine I loved: she's 35-36 over the course of this novel, and she knows her shit. She knows what she likes, she knows what she doesn't like, and she suffers no fools. This doesn't mean she's cold or incapable of emotion (one of my favorite moments in the book lets us know just how much this isn't the case) but she's seen the world and she's both guarded and voracious enough be unable to resist Guy. Because Guy is Hot. And Guy is famous for his ability do sex things.

--So often--especially recently, I'm not gonna lie--I read about heroes who are presented as rakes, and as you read the book you're like... this is not a rake. Guy reads like an actual rake; he's charming, he's hot, his exploits are written about in newspapers, and he cucks randoms. We love him. Both Guy and Cecile are people who have slept with others. The book does not shy away from their experiences. It does not shame them for it. They get jealous, but they're also like.... fucking adults about it. The conflicts they do have are less about their mutual pasts, and more about their feelings for each other.

--One thing I felt like The Boxing Baroness suffered from was a somewhat slower feeling because of how much was going on outside of the central love story. Here, we're a lot more focused on Guy and Cecile's relationship and character development. There is external conflict and it matters, but the story is much tighter.

--I really enjoyed the lady circus in this go-around, as well as how much of Cecile's identity was tied up in it. A lot of this book was about Cecile having such a strong sense of independence... which is good! However, her journey involved recognizing that she hid behind her independence to avoid hard, risky emotions and relationships. It felt really authentic, and it transcended the historical setting.

--While this is definitely a heroine-forward book, Guy is such a good hero. He's a hero who basically spends most of the book groveling; but his faults are more down to a lack of understanding than true cruelty. He fucking looooves this woman, and the fact that this is a second chance romance (wherein we do flash back to the beginning of their first go) solidifies that.

The Sex Stuff:
Yeah, this one is hot. You get all the "good girl"-ing you could want (I have such a thing for when a hero is younger than the heroine and calls her a good girl), there's no worrying about virginal hesitance, Cecile! Likes! It! Rough! I absolutely loved the sex scenes in this book.

This was just such a solid historical romance. I would love to see more in this vein--rollicking, with just the right amount of emotion. It felt very old school meets new school.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! Although I read it as a standalone, I think that reading the first book would have made it easier to understand.
The characters and background of the book are unusual and interesting. Cecile had fled France when she was very young, during the French Revolution. Now she’s a sharpshooter and member of the Fernham Female Fayre.
Gayus Darlington, Lord of Carlisle, is known as "the darling of the ton" and is basically a rake with a capital R.
I enjoyed the main characters and appreciated their flaws, which made them more human. Guy makes a mess of everything, and Cecile makes him suffer and crawl a little bit (maybe more than a little bit).
I really loved Cecile because she's so owner of herself, she knows what she wants, and I admired her attitude. Her life wasn't easy, she could have just drowned in self-pity, but instead she moves on with her life and make the best of it. Such a strong woman, you go, girl!
Guy, on the other hand, was a little bit clueless when it comes to love. The way he discovers his love for Cecile is quite frustrating! It was so dumb and totally a thing that a man would do. Facts! Besides all these, he was so charming that it was impossible not to like him. Yes, his charm makes up for it, in the end he’s a sweetheart.
The chemistry between the couple is palpable, with very hot and steamy scenes.
The secondary characters are also well-developed, and I can't wait to read Blade and Elliot's story in the next book.
Lastly, I can't forget to mention Cat! She won my heart.

The most awaited sequel of The Boxing Baroness, the story of Cecile Tremblay and the Darling Duke. As most of Minerva Spencer's books, this is no ordinary story. Who would think of a circus performer's life will entwined with a duke? Not like ordinary regency novels' personages makes this novel worth the read. Miss Spencer can mix the two characters well, in also well placed situation, piqued my interest. Knowing her penchant for unusual settings, this is also what motivates me to read more.

Cecile Tremblay everything in the French Revolution and is living as a sharpshooter in a female-run London circus. She rejected someone’s insulting carte blanche offer and now he’s back. Gaius Darlington has led a charmed life but a long-lost heir has appeared to claim his title and property. Guy’s fiancée jilted him to marry the usurper but now he can wed Cecile—if he can earn her forgiveness.
 
The flashback was clunky and the past couldn’t keep me invested. The first third was especially repetitive since I had read book 1. Points for a heroine who asserts herself and a hero who knows he has to grovel, but the whole thing drags. And wow does Guy suck, right down to realizing he loves the heroine while having sex with someone else. Hard pass. Probably not going to stick around for Blade’s story.

Spice:There were some “That’s a good girl,” moments and a finger lifting the chin. 🔥 Overall, it was lighter on the spice scenes, but that was so appropriate for story and vibe. Bonus bonus points for having a female main character who was unapologetically not a virgin and enthusiastic about sex. I want more of that!

There’s a bit of a rocky start at the first part of the book because the rehash of the previous book was very awkward. But, no worries, it’s over soon enough and we’re on to the good stuff.

The pace of the book seems much slower and sedate than the first book. However, I think we really needed that for Guy and Cecile’s story. It was beautiful and frustrating and hit just the right spot because we needed the opportunity to see them change and grow and deepen in their love.

I don’t know how I will contain my excitement for Blade and Elliot’s story!

Thank you to Kensington books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars, rounded up because the writing was good.
This is my first time reading this author under her Spencer pen name. I’ve gotta say, I’m not entirely sure I understand the difference between Minerva Spencer and L.M. LaViolette. I’ve heard the latter is supposed to be more sex heavy or kinky, but I found this one fairly sex heavy for HR so I don’t think the difference is enough to warrant having two names, I mean, if there is a difference, it’s in the nanometers.
For the book itself, this was kind of a messy read. The first part of the book almost lost me with its time jumps and backtracking. I think some of the details here may have been revealed in the last book, but since I didn’t read that one, this book seemed sparse on the particulars.
After I drudged through the first part, the book jumped back to present time and stayed there and I found it to be more engaging…for awhile. Then I got to the 70% mark it really dragged. There wasn’t really a lot of action in the plot other than the heroine making the hero pay for his atrocious actions and the hero working to earn her forgiveness. Though I love a grovel, this was a long drawn out, boring one. I skimmed a lot of this book and ultimately I didn’t really enjoy it. I have broken down in bullet points what I liked and didn’t like below, however you will note the didn’t like column is particularly weighty. I won’t be continuing this series and I have no desire to pick up the previous book either.

Things I liked:
🔫 She made him suffer after he wronged her.
🔫 She wasn’t celibate during their separation.
🔫 He was kind of a himbo, pretty but dumb.
🔫 He was prepared to grovel and work to win her back.
🔫 The writing style and language were rich and fluid.
🔫 Age of the heroine, she was 36 and she was a bit older than him.
🔫 Heroine was a business woman and of the working class.

Things I didn’t like:
🔫 All the time jumps in the first 30% of the book.
🔫 Pretty much the first 30%, it was unnecessary to partially revisit their time together from the previous book.
🔫 His betrayal, with all the time jumps and back and forth, the author didn’t even write the scene of his big insult; offering her Carte Blanche, it was only eluded to, but it was the main conflict between the couple. Why not write it? We had scenes of them eating dinner together but not this?
🔫 His manwhore ways rubbed in the reader’s face - this author does this in every book I’ve read of hers. The hero’s past with women is always prolifically and unnecessarily described. I know readers who specifically avoid this author for this reason, change it up a bit at least, does it need to be in every book?
🔫 The heroine’s character felt very anachronistic and in the author’s notes she actually admits to it. I liked that she was a strong heroine but I didn’t feel like society would have been as accepting of her and needed the author to explore the costs to her behaving this way, because they would have been significant; including censure, unwanted pregnancy or disease. How did she avoid all this?
🔫 The hero realizes he’s in love with the heroine while in bed with another woman because his sexual performance was abysmal. Wow, so romantic. 🙄
🔫 The story really dragged in the middle with her punishing him and him working for her. 🥱 that went on too long without any other action in the plot.
🔫 I feel like a lot of action for the characters took place off page -probably in the last book, which I didn’t read- and it was eluded to here, but this book has very little action.
🔫 Too long. When I’m skimming and only reading dialogue, you need to tighten up your story. This book did not have enough plot to support over 350 pages. Edit.
🔫 The ending(s) kept going and got more and more convoluted.

So this story had a lot of plot strings and side stories going on, yet at the same time didn’t focus on any of them and ended up boring me.

Thank you to @NetGalley and Minerva Spencer for the ARC for this review.

Rating 4.5-5. First off, this is book two of three interlocking stories. That being said, not having read the first book was not a problem -- in fact, there was enough limited POV that I was eager to go back and read book one. Book three cannot come soon enough!

The Dueling Duchess takes a very long time to get to the full reason behind the title. However, the author does a wonderful job (as usual) of developing characters and atmosphere in the story. Some may say the book is too long; I think it gives an opportunity to really know the characters and see where their situation leads. Cecile's early life is unconventional. Her father (a gunsmith) trained her as his apprentice, but the French Revolution has forced them to flee to England in hopes of a safer life. This does not go well.

Fast forward roughly 20 years, and Cecile is NOT a gunsmith but a markswoman in an all-female circus. The circus has featured female talent doing "tricks" for entertainment, so they aren't exactly at the top of the social ladder. Enter some mysterious male laborers who are coming on to work and travel with the circus on their upcoming tour of France. Napoleon Bonaparte has recently been confined so it is theoretically safe to travel abroad. Our mystery men come in handy during the tour, but also cause some complications. Their motives are suspect, but we seem to like them anyway.

Drama and romance follows, along with the passage of a bit of time. The crew makes it back to England, and life continues in the circus -- for some characters, anyway. The remainder of the book explores the journey of Cecile managing the circus, and eventually the actions which cause her to be dubbed the Dueling Duchess. Fans of Minerva Spencer will recognize the rich and complex intellectual and emotional interplay. There is a lot going on in this story, but it never feels like the details are superfluous.

As I said before, I'm going back for book 1 of the Wicked Women of Whitechapel series (The Boxing Baroness), and I am eagerly awaiting installment 3 - The Cutthroat Countess.

The dueling duchess picks up right where the boxing baroness ends. You also get the background information from the first story. I love this series I’m hoping there’s a third. This is Cecile and Guys story there’s action romance with the backdrop of regency England. Minerva Spencer really knows how to write. Every series I’ve read so far I’ve loved everything!!

A solid second instalment in the series, the two main characters had decent on page chemistry and the story was entertaining. I am looking forward to reading the third instalment with Blade and Eliot.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Dueling Duchess. The book covers three time periods. We learn about Cecile's childhood and trauma during the French Revolution and its aftermath. We revisit the mission that took the circus to France the previous year. And finally, we observe how all that comes to bear in the present. Handsome men, reversals of fortune, serendipity. Loved it all.

I want to like Minerva Spencer because her prior series was so good but this is the second book in this new series and I haven’t liked either one. She seems to keep swinging big and missing, and it all feels rather disappointing

I've enjoyed books by this author before, and her characters usually draw me in (even if her tendency toward erotica isn't my cup of tea), but neither the plot nor the MC's held my interest in this one. I thought the circus setting would be unique and fun, and I liked the fact that this is an older MFC/younger MMC relationship. But the MC's lacked spark and charm together, which surprised me. To be more exact, the book has spice, but it's missing emotional drive. The first half is mostly flashback, and the second half is mostly grovel; I just wanted more focus on their growing relationship. Taking me further out of the storyline, the language and behavior are modern and American for the most part--I frankly think this would have been better if set in the American West in the early 1900's. There are subplots and secondary characters that detracted from the central romance, as well. I almost felt as if this was a "bridge book" between the first book in the series and the third.

This isn't a bad read, but it's not nearly as compelling as it could have been.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity.