When the Duke of Lawford's coach loses a wheel on the way to a visit to meet his potential betrothed, Lady Frederica, he meets Daisy Campion whom he mistakes for a maid. Daisy is the youngest daughter of a landowner in the town of Marrywell and she is considered to be close to spinsterhood. The Duke of Lawford seeks assistance for his coachman who was injured during the accident with his coach and he is also requesting the use the Campion family's coach so that he can continue on to his destination. The Duke and his retainers are informed that they will have to stay as the guest of the Campion family throughout the week as their town, Marrywell, is having their annual May day festival and there are not extra conveyances or rooms available at this time. Daisy, who works hard as unpaid staff for her family, desperately wishes to be a maiden fair at this years festival so that it will increase her chances to wed and have a family of her own. The Duke isn't sure he wants a betrothal with Ms. Frederica but he is willing to meet her to see if they can be a couple. As the Duke and Sadie attend various events during the week of the festival, everyone seems to think they will end up together even her father makes no secret of the fact that he would want her to be a duchess. This is a great story that is part of a series with Darcy and her best friend, Erica Ridley. I am looking forward to reading the other series installments

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley but I am voluntarily leaving a review.

It was so exciting to start a new series by the amazing duo of Darcy Burke and Erica Ridley!
The last one was so entertaining and fun, I just knew this one would be the same.

Fate. Oh yes I think it had to be fate that had Law, the Duke of Lawford, stranded in Marrywell (hint!) when his carriage breaks down on the way to meet his future Duchess.

Left to stay with a country squire due to the Mayday festival, he meets Carrie, the squire's daughter and.... well you will just have to read to find out!!

I enjoyed Law and Sadie's romance. I thought the story was cute and I liked the twists that the author put on the classic Cinderella tale. There is sweetness, heart, some heat and quite a bit of humor along the way. It kicks off this series nicely, and I for one will certainly be checking out future entries.

I received an ARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Beguiling the Duke is a fun start to a delightful new collaborative series between author friends Darcy Burke and Erica Ridley, this one written by Burke. The series revolves around the village of Marrywell and their annual May Day matchmaking Festival, and I love the subtle way Burke builds the “world” of the series, while also ensuring the story also works as a stand-alone romance.
I was immediately drawn to both leads, and amused by how they were thrown together. Sadie is somewhat of a Cinderella figure, kept at home by her father and brothers, who try to manage her life. Lawford is promised to someone else when a carriage accident sees him stuck in Marrywell and accepting Sadie’s family hospitality, as her father is the local squire. While class-difference romances can be hit-or-miss for me, I liked how Law didn’t look down on Sadie. Both saw each other initially as a temporary solution to their problem at first, and there was a realistic growth between them towards falling in love, and navigating any obstacles that stood in the way of them being together.
This is a sweet read, and I’m excited for what the rest of the series brings! brings. If you enjoy historical romance, I recommend picking this up!

This was a fun series starter and introduction to the May Day Matchmaking Festival!

When the Duke of Lawford’s coach breaks down in Mary, well, at the beginning of the mayday festival, he finds himself stranded, and takes the opportunity to enjoy himself before returning to his ducal obligations.

He is hosted by Sadie and her family as they partake in the festival and she attempts to find a match and escape from her demanding family.

Soon it becomes apparent that her match was stranded at her home at the beginning of the fetes… and she won’t find a better match than that of the Duke!

And this is a great class difference, romance and I really appreciated how their differences brought them together, but also put a strain on their possible relationship.

As a series starter, he made a festival which will be the focus of the rest of the series with at the centre of this book, and created a lot of possibilities to come. I’m intrigued to see if the next books are during the same festival or take place in different years.

Overall, I really enjoyed this Mayday romp, and I’m excited to return to the festival with Erica Ridley’s instalment.

The Duke of Lawford gets stranded in the small provincial town of Marrywell when his carriage loses a wheel on his way to meet his betrothed , a young lady he has never seen.
His Grace discovers there are no rooms available since he has landed in Marrywell on opening day of their May Day Matchmaking Festival, where people from all over the countryside come to make a match and take part in the weeklong festivities.
Accepting the offer of rooms from a beautiful young lady who's father is a country squire, The duke submits to being her escort to the town's festivities. Thus by being in his grace's presence she finds herself more popular than she has ever dreamed she could be. Surely Sadie will be able to make a match this year and be soon wed and out of her father's house. For that is her dream, a home of her own to take care of, instead of serving the needs of her brothers and father disregarding her own. A match chosen by her, not her meddling family and not an arrogant Duke, full of himself.
This is a short quick read, I got through it in one afternoon. The story rolls along effortlessly enough, but the story doesn't offer up many exciting scenes and certainly no thrills, it is somewhat staid and bland. There are no aww moments or otherwise any of noteworthy praise. A solid effort but not a tingle enticer!! I give a solid 3.5 stars. And thank Net Galley and Zealous Quill Press for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Delicious is the one word that describes this book in its entirety. Sadie and the Duke found their pathways crisscrossed due to an accident. Navigating society routes was tricky, but their growing awareness of each other drove them to do the unthinkable. It was a refreshing and delectable tasty delight, which was sweet, sexy, sassy, exciting, fun, and enticing.

You can find love when you are less expecting it and this happens to our hero, in the plan of making a promise come true, he goes to meet his betrothed but things happen in the way... and for not spoiling i encourage you to read it.

John the Duke of Lawford finds himself forced to stay with the country squire and his daughter Sadie Campion, when his carriage is damaged. Whilst the coach is being repaired, ever so slowly, Law soon finds himself reluctant to resume his travels to meet his future wife, and instead support Sadie in finding a husband. Sadie agrees to Law pretending to court her, if it means she becomes the belle of the festival. Yet when their romance becomes real, Law wonders whether Sadie could be a part of his future.
Whilst I am a huge fan of Darcy Burke, I felt this this story tended to be a bit repetitive of books currently retelling the Cinderella story. I so wanted this to be a bit different and there would be something different in this elaboration. Yet, whilst it was sweet and I enjoyed the two characters, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was a lovely romance where the reader can see where it’s heading from start. It’s a wonder the duke wast scared off by our heroine’s family, but love prevailed. A quick and easy read, very enjoyable as I’d expect any book written by Darcy Burke to be.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the first book in a series collaboration by Darcy Burke and Erica Ridley, with the core theme being a May matchmaking festival in the town of Marrywell (get it?).

The Duke of Lawford, also known as Law, is on his way to meet his potential betrothed, as promised to his dying father, when he has a carriage accident near Fieldstone, the farming estate of the Campions. He, his valet, and injured driver are forced to seek help there, finding a lone woman on a ladder cleaning. They initially think she is a maidservant or housekeeper, not realizing until afterwards that she is Sadie Campion. Sadie is now 24, and had avoided the festival for the past several years after a disappointment in her first year. But she has been raising her family and her father's home since her mother's death and really would like the opportunity to have her own home and family to raise, so has determined to join the festival and try to gain a husband this year.

Law and his entourage are forced to stay with the Campions when they find out that they are not going to be able to find any help or hire anyone for the week long duration of the festival as it engrosses everyone in the surrounding area. Law finds himself admiring Sadie for her beauty, but also her strength, independence, and fortitude. He offers to escort her for the festival, hoping to elevate her status and make her more desirable to other potential men, while enjoying her company also, but finds himself more and more attracted to her and wanting a future with her, despite their difference in status. Sadie is happy to spend time with Law, and likes how he sees and appreciates what she does, more so than her family who take her and all she does for granted. But she knows she is far below him and could never be a duchess, no matter what her family expects, and how it would appear that Law is courting her.

This is a sweet, and cute story with a nice introduction to the background of Marrywell and the festival, with the theme of two lovers of different social status. Sadie seems downtrodden and morose from the lack of appreciation or help from her family, and how they just expect her to do for them without any help in return, such as how her sister in law depended on her to take care of her nephews on top of her work on the farmhouse, etc. It was sweet how a stranger, and a duke for that matter, who would perhaps not even notice the labours of those beneath him, noted how hard working, but under appreciated Sadie was and then sought to give her a bit of help and joy when her own family did not even notice. A bit of Cinderella without the wicked family. Though in my mind, it may be worse, and more soul sucking, to be disregarded and underappreciated by those you love and who supposedly love you.

Regardless, Sadie and Law, during the short time of the festival and their close proximity find love and their HEA in this cute rather fairy tale like story.

3.5 stars out of 5

This was a sweet romance with likeable character's and the premise of a matchmaking week makes a nice change from a house party. The issue's didn't drag out and were resolved very quickly which was also a nice change. It is a quick read I finished in one sitting but didn't feel rushed like some novella's do. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a quick regency read that I was able to finish in one sitting. I liked that Sadie was a strong young woman, although her family constantly took advantage of her with their demands for her help. When a duke lands on her doorstep because of a carriage accident, Sadie feels it just means more chores for her. I found it a little odd that the author chose to describe Law as 'tall and white.' That shouldn't have made difference to the story. I really didn't feel the chemistry between the duke and Sadie, and the fact that her father and brothers kept pushing her toward the duke was so annoying. No one in her family ever bothered to ask what Sadie needed or wanted, especially her father, who was the worst one for taking advantage of Sadie by refusing to hire more staff.

There are a couple of graphic sexual scenes so readers beware of that, especially if you'd prefer no sex scenes. While I enjoy Ms. Burke's books, this one fell a little flat for me, but I'll still read more in the series.

It is a cute book and I did finally enjoy a book by Darcy Burke again. The only thing that I found very annoying was Sadie's family constantly making comments that the duke should marry Sadie. I do get the advantage that the family saw in the union but why would a duke want to marry a random girl without any prospects just because he needs to marry? He could marry basically anyone.

Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

I liked a couple of books I read previously by this author and I am happy she is writing a series with
Erica Ridley. This was an okay historical book. Considering how it was shorter than other historical, I think it was well done. Nonetheless, it suffered from a typical book disease and that is forgetfulness.

* thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion

This is a really sweet story! I just loved Law and Sadie. What a fun couple! A quick read with just the right amount of romance.

Loved reading the engaging and enthralling romance story. With the Duke of Lawford helping. Sadie, Sadie's chances of finding a husband and home of her own might come true, but as the feelings and attraction between Law and Sadie grow, Law's travels to meet his betrothed begin to unravel. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting love story. Can't wait to read the next story. in the series by the phenomenal author, Darcy Burke!

A fun, fairly light-hearted quick read from one of my favorite historical romance authors. FMC Sadie is fast approaching spinsterhood and who has been doing all the things for her father and several brothers for many years. They love, but do not appreciate, her. Law, Duke of Lawford is fast approaching a marriage he is pretty sure he doesn't want. His carriage wheel breaks, stranding him and his two servants in the merry town of Marrywell just before the town's annual matchmaking festival. With no room at (any) inn, Law ends up staying with Sadie and her father. He also somehow ends up promising to her that he will make sure that she is engaged by the end of the festival. And so the romance begins.

I really liked Sadie. She is resourceful, smart, and caring, even though she is a bit too passive as the story starts. I was more unsure of Law, at least at the beginning. He was not fully up front, and he accepted way too much from his (dead father's) valet. He did, however, grow on me. Both Law and Sadie find their own inner strengths as their love story develops and it is a lovely juxtaposition.

This story does have a hint of insta-love (but as a novella, that is not totally unexpected) and just the right amount of spice. 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Beguiling the Duke is the first in a new series where authors Darcy Burke and Erica Ridley switch back and forth with novellas. I'm such a fan of Darcy's work and was sad that the Phoenix Club series was over. This new series takes place around the town of Marrywell and the annual May Day matchmaking festival.

The Duke of Lawford is reluctantly on his way to visit his potential fiancé when his carriage looses it's wheel near the quaint town of Marrywell. They take shelter in a nearby estate where Law mistakes the squires daughter for the help. Sadie is used to being the one in charge. She's desperately in need of help managing the household but everyone takes her for granted. This is her last chance to join in on the matchmaking festival with the chance of finding her own match. She wants to be crowned Maiden Fair. Law decides that he will do what he can to ensure she will be engaged by the end of the festival.

This story took a little bit more for me to get into than previous stories. I really liked the setting of this series. It's so unique from other historicals taking place entirely in a small country town. Sophie is a people pleaser and doesn't know how to say no. Her family keeps heaping housework, child rearing, and their expectations on her. It isn't until the Duke stands up for her and shows her her worth does she begin to find her voice. There is a bit of instalove but that's kind of to be expected in a novella. I oftentimes get second hand embarassment when I see a character making a grand gestures but I really liked how the Duke went a head with it. All in all, I enjoyed this and am looking forward to see what other matches are made at the May Day festival.

Thank you to Darcy Burke, NetGalley, and Zealous Quill Press for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
#netgalley #darcyburke #zealousquillpress #beguilingtheduke #lordsinloveseries

This was mostly enjoyable weekend afternoon reading for me, after a long week.

Law is a duke, still trying to live up to his deceased father’s demands (Strke through) wishes. His father wished him to marry and so Law and is on his way, albeit with extreme reluctance, to meet the young lady his father wished for him to marry.

Well, after a carriage accident requires Law, his valet, and driver to seek refuge at the home the accident helpfully occurred in front of. Law meets Sadie, another doormat, and daughter of the home owner who wants a home and family of her own, who is hesitantly looking forward to the yearly Marrywell village festival. Law is instantly attracted, and on.

I liked it while also finding the very insta- romance lackluster combined with having a difficult time seeing the two main characters together, despite the story.

I am planning on reading more of this new series that I've been looking forward to.



Thank you to Zealous Quill Press and NetGalley for the DRC!