I was totally into this story from the beginning. Who could imagine what happened to Katrina and how she made her way to the Isle. Let alone have the same thing happen to her twice. What reputation could ever recover from two mishaps. And you have to love Mouse. Such a devoted dog. The flirtation between Katrina and Sebastian was so much fun to read and they were a great couple together. Very enjoyable story which was hard to put down as each page got me more involved in their story. I would highly recommend this to others.

Katrina was once a sought after eligible bride but after scandal she is sent off to be a companion for the somewhat cantankerous Lady Tesh. She is hoping to earn her good name back when scandal strikes again leaving a permanent stain on her good name. This she could tolerate on its own but when her friends start being pulled under with her she becomes desperate to at least be somewhat respectable in the eyes of her peers. That’s when the last man she thought she would ever see again returns to her life except this time he’s engaged.

Sebastian has one goal and that is to marry rich to be able to restore his Dukedom to its former glory after his late father tanked their fortunes. What he doesn’t need is to see the one girl who got away. She isn’t what he needs but she’s what he has always wanted. And once he sees the dire straits she’s been left in his heart aches to solve all her problems even though he knows it would be at a cost to his own. Torn between heart and duty the Duke has to decide.

I loved the first book in the Synneful Spinsters series so when the publisher reached out with a copy of the second book I was excited to dive back into this world. This book did not disappoint in fact I may have enjoyed it even more than the first one.

My heart was shattered for Katrina as things went from bad to worse to downright unsalvageable. Just when it seemed like she might have found a way out another door slammed into her face. No one deserved an HEA more than her.

Sebastian was positively swoonworthy especially in the way he tried to protect and shield her while also respecting what she needed to do. His connection with mouse was adorable. He was meant to be mouse’s dad all along no matter what happened between him and Katrina.

If you love an angsty read that will make your heart hurt before putting it back together with all the forbidden love, found family vibes, a swoonworthy Duke, and an absolutely precious doggo then you need to make this your next read!

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It by Christina Britton was my first book by this author and I enjoyed reading it. This is the second book in the series, but the first I read and did not feel lost. Here we have Sebastian and Katrina and this is their second chance romance. Though they were meant to be together, life throws them off their path and troubles keep them apart. Years later they are face to face again, but again, they cannot be together. Even if their love is strong then ever. A charming and delightful read!

Happy reading!

Katrina Denby, companion to Lady Tesh, finally gets her happily ever after in What’s a Duke Got to Do with It. Katrina came to the Isle of Synne already having suffered a scandal and now the same man whose actions ruined her name years ago is found dead trying yet again to climb into her window. Katrina’s reputation is in tatters and her only hope of not only salvaging her name but protecting those she loves from being hurt by association is to marry. Of course, that’s when the only man she ever wanted to wed comes through the door.

Sebastian, Duke of Ramsleigh, fell equally hard for Katrina years ago. But just as he was about to confess his feelings his father died, leaving him mired in debt and scandal. He’s still struggling to find enough money to support those who depend on him and the only way to do so is to marry for money. Which is when the penniless woman of his dreams comes back into his life…

What I liked best about What’s a Duke Got to Do with It is that Sebastian and Katrina are both such kind characters. They have good hearts and sweet natures; neither of them deserves what life has thrown at them. It was hard to see Katrina be hit over and over without cause, even knowing that author Christina Britton had to have the aforementioned happily ever after waiting for her at the end. It’s clear from the start that Sebastian and Katrina are meant to be, but love isn’t enough with the obstacles in their way. I adored them together and was rooting for them to find a way to make things work out so they could be together. Britton kept me guessing on how it would work but the end result was a satisfying one.

What’s a Duke Got to Do with It has a sweet romance, two protagonists who are easy to adore, and a host of supporting characters I enjoyed reading about. I love spending time on the Isle of Synne and I cannot wait to see what Britton has in store for Katrina’s fellow Oddments.

Katrina and Sebastian's story is a real heartstring tugger. I found these two super easy to like and I must say that they each made my heart ache. This sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant romance definitely put my emotions through their paces and gave me plenty of feels.

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It by Christina Britton is book Two in the Synneful Spinsters Series. This is the story of Kristina Denby and Sebastian Thorne, the Duke of Ramsleigh. Kristina and Sebastian where on the edge of declaring their feelings but both had something happened to them that changed their world. Sebastian's father died where he learned the title is heavily in debit due to his father's gambling habits. Kristina was almost kidnapped but the town of course finds Kristina at fault which has impacted her brother too. Now about 4 years later they both find themselves at Lady Tess's house where their feelings are still there but both are still living with what happened to them. Enjoyed this book.

I absolutely adore the fictional island of Synne and the community that inhabits it. I look forward to each book that Ms Britton creates that inhabits this magical island. In What’s a Duke got To Do With It we finally get hear the backstory of Lady Tesh’s companion
Katrina Denby and her giant loping dog, Mouse. Katrina first appeared way back in book 1 of the Isle of Synne and has been one of my favorite side characters in every book since. What I wasn’t expecting was the heartbreaking reason why Katrina has been reduced to working for a living. We always hear about regency debutants being “ruined” by the smallest of infractions or by being “overcome ” by passion. But in the case of Katrina, she is the innocent victim of what seems to be an unstable Lord who was sort of a stalker. All this on the eve of what might have been a declaration between her and Sebastian who is now the Duke of Ramsleigh. Well it’s 4 years later and oh so much has happened to both of them and where our story picks up it seems that the current situation for both of them is somewhat hopeless. I really feel for them both as it seems that both of them did indeed hold a true affection for each other that never had time to blossom.
In what seems to be a fruitless 2nd chance love, how can these two find any happiness?
Ms Britton goes to battle for these two and finds a way for each of them to find the strength to stand up to the strictures of the day and what “society” thinks they should do. This book is a wonderful addition to the Synne series and we get a bit more insight to some of the other “Oddments” ladies as well. I was kindly given an ARC by NetGallery for my unbiased review.

I adored this sweet second chance romance! The hero is the perfect cinnamon roll with touch her and I’ll break every bone in your body energy and the heroine is both resourceful and vulnerable.
Full review to come on my blog soon!

London - 1817

Miss Katrina Denby admires Sebastian Thorne, Marquess of Marston, plus son and heir to the Duke of Ramsleigh. At a soiree, he has asked her for the supper dance which is something very special. She next dances with Lord Landon who is to soon marry. But Sebastian receives an urgent note sending him home. His father has died and left him with lots of debt. That night, Katrina is awakened by Lord Landon climbing into her bedroom window begging her to marry him. Her scream awakens her brother, Francis, who arrives and challenges him to a duel resulting in Francis losing an arm.

Isle of Synne - 1821

After the death of her parents, the loss of their money, and her brother’s subsequent depression at the loss of his arm, Katrina is now the companion to the irritable dowager Viscountess Tesh. She works hard to keep the woman happy. She has made many friends of the local young women who are all very close. One night, her dog, Mouse, awakens her barking and she looks outside to see a dead man on the ground. It turns out to be the spurned Lord Landon obviously again trying to clim in her window. Thinking she may now lose her job, the dowager and her friends gather closer around her saying they support her. Sebastian is now hoping to marry a wealthy young woman, but her father insists that he take his son away for awhile as he is in love with an actress. Lady Tesh says she has invited Sebastian and a young man to visit her. Katrina is so happy to see Sebastian again but knows that they could never be together as people blame her for Lord Landon coming after her. So unfair. But their time together brings back memories and they cannot deny their love for one another.

This was sad and shows how downtrodden this young woman was. The characters are well-written and the ending is good. Lady Tesh is a bit of a pill but Mouse the dog is adorable. I’m sure historical romance readers will enjoy this book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another cozy read from Christina Britton. What's a Duke Got to Do With It pairs two deeply kind and generous people together. There's no doubt that Sebastian and Katrina are right for one another, in much the same way Jane and Bingley are right in Pride and Prejudice. They're sweet, they're good friends, they have much in common. They've been driven apart only by circumstances beyond their control, and they give the reader plenty of mutual pining for the happiness they believe is out of reach. I got frustrated with them on occasion, as they are both self-sacrificing to a fault, and that's really what's keeping them apart. But they do grow stronger by the end. The denizens of Synne are as delightful as ever, Mouse the dog is hilarious, and Lady Tesh is absolutely the best. Recommended for fans of lighthearted historical romance.

This was a sweet regency era second-chance romance. Lady Tesh is up to her usual match-making machinations. The Oddments are delightful. I loved the exuberance of Katrina’s giant dog, Mouse. I appreciated Sebastian’s earnest attempts to let Katrina handle issues on her own, even though he really, really wants to step in and save her. Katrina is much more conventional than some of the other Oddments, but she definitely struggles to fit in with genteel society for most of this book. I respected her determination to make the most out of her circumstances and to do what she saw as necessary to protect the people she cares about.

NOTE: This is the second book in the Synneful Spinsters series which is a spin-off of the Isle of Synne series. Some parts of this book are directly related to the events of the first IOS book, A Good Duke is Hard to Find. However, the story can easily be read as a standalone.

Loved this second-chance romance that takes the reader back to Synne. Katrina and Sebastian were so close to making a match until things beyond either of their control pushed them apart. Several years on, they are in very different places than they were before - Sebastian is an impoverished duke looking to marry money and Katrina is a poor companion with a ruined reputation.

When the duo unexpectedly reunite, the longing and accompanying angst is palpable. They share their limitations and their plans to address them. This openness almost works against them, as each decides they love the other person too much to step in their way. But there is never a feeling that one is trying to fool the other, which is a nice change from many romances.

The secondary characters continue to be amazing. I love the Oddments and want them to be my friends. I look forward to reading more of their stories. My biggest issues with this book were the sudden and easy resolutions to the money issues. The duke's resolution was one that should have been obvious from the start and the other is just a wee bit too pat.

A solid 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

The series continues with amazing characters on a faraway island. This is a second-chance romance that brings two lovers together and if destiny has anything else to say, they are going to stay together this one time. I´ve realized that Christina Britton is one of my favorite historical romance authors!

Is it just me or was this one super emotional? Sebastian and Katrina longed for each other for so long that I could feel their sadness as I read. And I really couldn't imagine how these two would finally be able to be together.

Four years on the same night, Lady Katrina and Sebastian Thorne, then the Marquess of Marsten, worlds were turned upside down. Before he could declare his feelings for her, he was called away and learned that his father had passed.

That night Lady Katrina's reputation is ruined and she must step away from London. Now she is a companion to Lady Tesh and is surrounded by wonderful friends. Things are finally starting to turn around for Katrina when the man who caused her ruination is found dead outside her bedroom window.

Now the life she'd managed to build for herself is falling apart. She finds most around snubbing her and it's starting to spill over to her friends. In order to gain some respectability and protection, she plans to marry one of the few men who will marry her despite the stain on her name and her lack of fortune. But it will all be thrown into chaos when the only man she's ever loved arrives on the island.

For the last four years, Sebastian has been trying to repair all the damage his father did to the Dukedom. Now there is only one thing left to do, marry a woman who has a small fortune to help protect the people who are counting on him. His future father-in-law sends him on a final errand in order to obtain his blessing. Never expecting that it would mean spending time with Katrina again.

The attraction is still there between them but neither can afford to jeopardize their futures, so they have to do their best to stay away from one another.

Thank you so much to the author, Forever and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Christina Britton is crafting a super sweet series in the Synneful Spinsters, with a second installment following Katrina, a bookish woman who (through no fault of her own) has been considered the cause of a two-part scandal, meaning all of her prospects (including Sebastian, a long-ago would-be love interest) are no longer such! But Sebastian's been gone taking care of the mess his late father left behind for him, and hasn't seen Katrina in years. Perhaps they can both find a way out of their respective messes...

Really, this book feels like the best kind of palette cleanser. It isn't too long, it stays interesting, lighthearted, and humorous, and has fun characters. Love big ole Victorian (? I always get that and Regency confused) girl groups of unique ladies who fight the status quo! Really liked this installment of the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for an e-ARC!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

I really enjoyed the first Synneful Spinsters book by Christina Britton, so I was very excited by the opportunity to get an early copy from the publisher of the second. It was just as good!

The “Oddments”, a bluestockings society of the ladies on the island of Synne, are a close-knit group of gals who enjoy reading and other learned activities (in modern times they would probably be in STEM pursuits). Katrina joins the group when she moves to the island as a companion of the formidable Lady Tesh after a crazy situation happened in London, then four years later it occurs again and is a scandal one more time. The Oddments rally around Katrina, who determines she needs to find herself some gentleman on the island who is willing to marry so she can just get on with life.

Sebastian, Duke of Ramsleigh, is trying to recover his estate after his late father gambled and scammed the fortune away before his untimely death. He now has to jump through hoops to get the blessing of another Duke to marry his daughter strictly for her dowry… but he can’t get the girl out of his head he almost proposed to four years ago, right before he got word about his father.

This is the second chance romance story about the great reunion of long-lost friends who had hoped for more, of getting through a regency era scandal, and girl power! I definitely recommend it (can be read as a standalone, but knowing the characters from book one makes it better).

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and this is my honest feedback.

The heroine and hero were getting closer when the first scandal hindered their connection. The heroine experienced another scandal when the obsessed man who created the first scandal ended up dead. To save her reputation, the heroine knows that she must get married. The hero reenters her life, a man in debt and engaged to a wealthy heiress. The connection between the hero and the heroine resumes, and now they must make a decision that would change their future.

This is the second book in the SYNNEFUL SPINSTERS series by Christina Britton. The author has a nice writing style that I enjoyed, and this could be seen in the story. However, I would have liked more details in the story since there were certain areas that dragged a bit. The book did have a variety of characters, especially with an entertaining pet and a supportive group of friends for the heroine. This addition to the SYNNEFUL SPINSTERS series has a beautiful cover representing a nice couple that I found likable but needed more time to give a solid impression for me. Overall, this was a pleasant historical romance read.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review copy are my own. **

What's a Duke Got to Do With It by Christina Britton is a captivating Regency romance that seamlessly blends a heartwarming love story with passionate and intimate encounters. This fast-paced novel introduces a mesmerizing cast of charismatic characters, adding depth and allure to the narrative.

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It is a swoontastic historical romance romp.

I devoured this book in one sitting. It’s just that fabulous. I love historical romances because, for me, they are the perfect escapist read. There is this beautiful elegance and magic to their stories and settings; of course, there are gorgeous gowns. What’s a Duke Got to Do With It is my first Christina Britton book, and I can tell you it won’t be my last. In this book, Christina has written a fun, witty, and unique romance that swept this reader right off her feet. I loved the story and its characters.

Poor Katrina has found herself in the middle of a scandal not once but twice. Typically with historical romances, when the heroine is caught in a compromising position, it’s with the story’s hero. That’s not the case with this book. Katrina’s overzealous admirer takes it upon himself to sneak in her window at night, not once by twice, with the latter attempt ending fatally for him. It doesn’t matter that Katrina had no idea that he would do this or that nothing happened between them; her reputation was ruined. Because of the scandal, Katrina finds herself working as a companion for Lady Tesh (who I adore) and is now living on the lovely island of Synne (just off the coast of England). Our hero, Sebastian, has his own set of troubles in this book. When his father passes away at the beginning of this story, he leaves the Dukedom in shambles, and Sebastian finds himself trying to pay back all the debts his father owes. And, of course, because this is a romance book, he can only get himself out of financial ruin by marrying a lady with a large dowry.

I love this story. I found the pacing to be perfect and loved the unexpected twists and turns that Christina included. This story has this fabulous blend of humour, wit, drama, and romance. All these elements are just so well balanced and create an entertaining story.

I adored every single one of the characters in this book. They are all so likable, interesting, and engaging. Katrina is a wonderful heroine. You really can’t help but root for her. In this book, she goes through a lot of hardship, and I just had to keep reading because I wanted to see her get her HEA. The friendship between the ladies who make up the Oddments is fantastic; each lady has a quirky and unique personality. Katrina finds unwavering support from her group of friends, which warms her heart. They stand by Katrina through the scandal she is facing, even if standing by her creates hardships in their own lives. I also love that Christina has set up the series so each lady will get their own book.

The romance in this book is utter perfection. It’s a delightful second chance and forbidden romance. I just could not get enough of Katrina and Sebastian. There is just something that is so addictive about a forbidden romance. I think it’s because this unknown factor exists in this kind of relationship. I knew these two characters would end up together, but I had no idea how Christina would pull it off. I have to say that I love the direction that Christina went with Katrina and Sebastian’s relationship and how they came together in the end.

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It is a love story filled with delicious chemistry, fabulous characters, and a story that will have you swooning.