The Duke’s Best Friend is a hit for me. Under estimate Kate at your own peril! Kate may have lost her parents and grandfather, but their loss does not stop her from what comes natural – spying, hunting down secrets and helping save her country, After all, she has learned from the best.

Seemingly quiet Henry Deeping is not quite sure what to make of Kate as he sees her sneak into society events and ferret out secrets. He is quite intrigued by her. Kate and Henry met in previously on a case. He knows she did not use her real name, but does not expect to ever see her again. Yet, she not only sneaks into the event he is attending, she sneaks into his heart as well. Henry’s no-nonsense approach to life is helpful as he falls in love with Kate as they seek an agent who should have been in prison.

Kate is quite a modern, young lady for the era. She needs a companion and a companion walks right into her home. Daphne is a bit older than Kate, but she is the perfect lady to help Kate with her mischief. As needs present themselves, Daphne is the perfect lady to assist Kate and Henry as they try to determine what is going on. The other secondary characters are a bit of a motley, but dedicated crew. Altogether, this is a delightful romance with a bit of mystery. The Duke’s Estates has been a super enjoyable series; hope it doesn’t end soon.

4 stars

Not a bad read. Kate is missing the buzz of helping her diplomat grandfather find out secrets and solve intrigues. She is about to loose her reputation due to swanning around pretending to be a man and being unchaperoned. She meets Henry, a junior foreign office official. She's always arguing with him but eventually he capitulates and they help solve the problem. The Duke and Duchess are still part of the series and in fact James lends Henry his Yacht at one point. Kisses suddenly chage to full on passion which I thought was a bit of a quick turn around. Overall I enjoyed it though I did think Kate was a bit overly pushy.

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

I did not remember reading anything by this author until I was 1/3 of the way through. So having said that you dont need to read previous books to get into this one. But you probably will, just to find out what happened previously. I was super glad for that. There are some surprises that I was so glad she put in there. So be looking out for them!!! I was suspicious of the uncle from the out set but I am glad it ended the way it did. He is still not my favorite character in the book.
I received a copy for a completely honest review, which I strive to tell to others. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s blah, sometimes it’s funny or sad. I won’t give away the ending though.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me an early copy of this book prior to publication.

This had such a great premise, but unfortunately, I just really did not enjoy the execution! I think the biggest issue for me was pacing, I had to take a break in between reading because of how laborious it felt to push through this book - it really felt as if nothing much was happening. I think Jane Ashford's books are just really a hit-or-miss for me, because I greatly enjoyed Charmed and Dangerous, but this one reminded me more of Earl to the Rescue with the lack of events happening. A lot of talking, and plotting, and contemplating for sure, but severely lacking in action.

On a more positive note, Daphne's and Kate's friendship was a real highlight for me, I loved seeing them take comfort in women like them, who, you know, are considered eccentric because of their interest in "masculine" prospects. I also really enjoyed Henry as a character, seeing him flustered and ruffled because of our female lead was really enjoyable to read.

This was just an okay read for me. I didn't feel very connected to the characters, and while they each led somewhat unique lives for the time period, the plot didn't pull me in. I found myself not really caring what happened. The narrative seemed to lack a certain passion, and the heroine, especially, seemed immature. She's intelligent but not necessarily smart about things. I guess I've read so many other historical romances that are much more engaging by comparison, that this one didn't do it for me, because I can't find anything terribly wrong with the book. It was just okay.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After her access to Foreign Office events is curtailed following her grandfather's death, Miss Kate Meacham is more than a little frustrated. She was instrumental in bringing down a villain while in the country, but no one seems to recognise her value. So when Kate spots the villain walking out of the Foreign Office, as if nothing is wrong, she knows she needs to investigate, and she can't do it alone. Unfortunately the only person she can rely on is Henry Deeping. She and Henry clashed during their first meeting, and whenever they are together they can't help but fight. Will they be able to work together enough to save the day, or will their animosity and chemistry be too much to handle?

When we met Henry and Kate (in disguise) in the previous book, I knew they were going to be a fantastic couple, though not one whose romance would go along smoothly. Kate has always been around the Foreign Office, due to her grandfather, and she spent most of her early adulthood at FO functions. But since her grandfather died, her admittance to events has been curtailed, and people she thought were friends, or at the very least allies, are shutting her out. Being a female alone in the world is tough, and Kate is realising how privileged she had been with her grandfather. Henry has just taken a position with the Foreign Office, and though Kate wished to work with anyone else, Henry was the only person she could rely on. I loved seeing the pair of them grow, and respect one another. Yes, they had a little bit of a love hate relationship, but lack of respect was definitely not an issue. They supported each other at every turn, and knew that they wouldn't let each other down on purpose. The plot line took a turn I wasn't expecting, but I adored seeing them work together in close quarters, when everything was on the line. I'm not sure if there are any more books in the series, because this tied everything up very nicely. My favourite thing about the series is seeing James and Cecelia again and again, and as a very happily married couple. A wonderful book, part of a great series!

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

This was a fun read - 3.5 rounded up to 4. I have not read the prior books in the series though I have read other historicals from Ashford. This read fine as a standalone though it is clear some of the secondary characters were the main characters from books earlier in the series.

I enjoyed the political intrigue and both Kate and Henry are likeable characters. Kate is on her own after the death of her uncle whowas very active in diplomatic circles. Kate is attempting to maintain her presence in those circles and she convinces Henry to agree to escort her to events in exchange for her expertise. The mystery is really fallout from a prior novel so is pretty light and resolves itself quickly at the end. There isn't anything deep here. You get a well written and fun historical with chracters who live on the edge of society rather than in the heights.

I enjoyed it.

Set in 1820, when the Prince Regent finally planted his butt on the throne as George IV, The Duke’s Best Friend has a political backdrop that sets it apart. Heroine Kate Meacham was reared by her grandfather, a Foreign Office “legend” who moved in elite diplomatic circles with her at his side. An intelligent woman, she developed a spy’s skillset along with a somewhat inflated sense of her own importance and abilities. She comes down to earth with a thud when her grandfather dies, taking with him the de facto status she took for granted.

When she crosses paths with Henry Deeping, a Foreign Office newbie, it’s clear that they can help each other. Kate offers to share her insider knowledge of who’s who in the Regency ‘intelligence community.’ In exchange, Henry will escort her to the usual balls and receptions, lending legitimacy to her presence. They soon find themselves entangled in an espionage sub-plot, and join forces with sensible thirty-something Daphne Palliser and Oliver Welden to investigate the unfolding mystery.

At times, the mystery aspect of the story feels convoluted and the author squeezes a lot of secondary characters into a fairly short novel, some of whom don’t seem to advance the story. Along with a few go-nowhere plot elements, the reader can’t help wondering why they were included at all when it would have been more satisfying to see the romance remain the firm focus. Redundant recaps and repetition slowed the pace down a bit, but readers who enjoy intrigue romance may appreciate the formula.

The unrealistic abundance of dukes stalking through Regency romances always makes me groan. Fortunately Henry, the hero of this story, is not ‘Your Grace’ but a close friend of the Duke of Tereford and his wife Cecelia, whose story was told in Book 1 of the series. He is an engaging character who feels real and suits the slow-burn romance. He differs from the cliché Regency hero tropes in that he is unexceptional in appearance. He’s well tailored and smart, and the fact that the romance came as a delicious, unsettling surprise for him was one of the charms of this story.

I had mixed feelings about Kate. She is “quite pretty” and “a tall, square-shouldered woman, with honey-colored hair and violet-blue eyes…” (as we are reminded far too often!). She observes herself to be “unconventional” and knows her own mind. Her assertive ways are at times a tad high-handed to endear her to others, yet Henry is smitten. He tolerates her abrasiveness, and often outright disrespect, with puppy-dog equanimity. Kate’s brains and independent spirit reminded me of a Georgette Heyer heroine, but she comes across as having a chip on her shoulder, which is never entirely explained. More insight would have helped.

Although Kate’s stubbornness coupled with occasional stridency and insensitivity to others sometimes had me wondering what Henry saw her in her, their chemistry was interesting and believable. Kate’s lusty dreams about Henry got a bit old as a device to reveal her attraction. I would have preferred to see their deepening dynamic explored in more scenes together; there was some nice banter and chemistry to build on.

Jane Ashford is a polished professional with over 50 titles under her belt. It shows. The Duke’s Best Friend is not her strongest book, but her good quality writing is a cut above average, which draws the reader in and compensates for some plot weaknesses. Overall, the story was enjoyable, and a solid 3.25 stars, with Regency Chronicle endorsement for good writing and an interesting backdrop.

It would have scored higher if Ms. Ashford had made the most of the diplomatic setting. There was a lot going on in 1820, especially involving Russia and Austria and the role the Foreign Office was taking in that power play. Even though Castlereagh is fleetingly mentioned, he seems inert. In reality, his opposition to Troppau-style interventionism was an enormous part of British foreign policy, so it’s hard to imagine people in those circles not even talking about this. A few nuggets of background could have delivered context to certain plot elements that didn’t make a lot of sense.

At a time when AI is invading so many books, including Regency novels, it’s nice to spend an evening reading a well-written book that is not strangely similar to a stack of others in my review pile.

We thank the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for an advance copy of The Duke’s Best Friend. Cover image courtesy of © Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2023. Review by Pam Baker © 2023 The Regency Chronicle.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read The Duke’s Best Friend and provide my feedback.

Miss Kate Meacham is a very unusual lady for Regency times. Raised by her grandfather who worked as a diplomat for the Foreign Office, Kate has a natural proclivity for and interest in politics and foreign affairs, which most of society disapproves of. Henry Deeping, second-best friend of the duke (after his new wife), is a new employee of the Foreign Office, in need of connections and introductions. When the two cross paths in Leicestershire, they catch an agent acting against the best interests of England. To their surprise, the man is released and the pair is reunited to uncover his new scheme.

This book is a fun read about an unconventional pair and their charming friends. With a slow burn, fade-to-black romance, the book is very entertaining. The mystery was a neat element of The Duke’s Best Friend. In all, I would definitely recommend this to any fans of historical romance novels.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley*

First off, this is terribly well written! There's a lot of good writing out there, but this author has a far superior grasp on language and expression than most.

I came to this story having not read the predecessors, so while I didn't know the characters already, it wasn't much of an issue. I enjoyed our herione, Kate, and felt her frustration at the constraints placed on women. As for Henry Deeping, he didn't seem quite as well fleshed out as Kate. At times, he was a bit of a nothing.

On the romance side, I'm not sure I quite felt the pull of longing that Kate and Henry had for each other as strongly as intended. Indeed, Daphne Palliser's quiet conversations with her potential SO were more intriguing.

But it was enjoyable overall with a satifying conclusion.

The Duke's Best Friend" by Jane Ashford is a delightful historical romance that embraces the slow burn of love and a refreshing low-angst storyline. Set in 1820s London, Kate and Henry's partnership is born out of mutual convenience, and as they navigate society events and espionage intrigue, their connection deepens. What sets this romance apart is the authentic portrayal of characters who aren't overly fixated on conventional notions of beauty. Henry's quiet courage and Kate's determination to prove herself create a harmonious dynamic as they uncover mysteries and chase villains. Although the use of Kate's "naughty dreams" felt repetitive, the secondary romance and dual happily-ever-afters add depth to the narrative. Ashford's writing crafts a tale of two individuals finding their place amidst shifting circumstances, blending romance and mystery seamlessly. "The Duke's Best Friend" is a charming read that captures the essence of love and partnership against the backdrop of diplomatic circles and intrigue.

Slow burn, low angst romance

Kate and Henry form a mutually beneficial alliance - he escorts her to the society events that she uses to gather intel, and she will help him learn who's who in the intelligence community of London in 1820. Henry's officious uncle wants to be in charge of the ad hoc group of friends that find themselves investigating a man they thought was supposed to be in prison, but Kate refuses to be put aside and so the mystery unfolds as both Kate and Henry, along with Miss Palliser and Oliver Welden, pursue every clue to determine what's going on and why.

I really loved that these characters aren't lauded as the "most handsome" or "most beautiful," instead we're told that they're attractive enough and that's a refreshing change from most hist-roms I've read. Henry has a quiet sort of bravery, willing to step up when necessary but not the sort to immediately take charge of any situation. That pairs well with Kate's need to prove her relevance and worth, and Henry seems happy to let her take the lead most of the time.

I did think her "naughty dreams" was an overused plot device - once or twice would have been more than sufficient to let us know how attracted she was to Henry. I enjoyed the secondary romance and was happy to see that the story was wrapped up with two sets of HEAs. The investigation did leave one villain unaccounted for at the end, but perhaps that will be addressed in a future book.

The writing is instantly captivating and I read this through in one sitting. I enjoy this author's well-developed characters and am looking forward to reading more in this enjoyable series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Love the cover, enjoyed the book. It was a bit slow at times so I got distracted while reading, but it was still a nice way to pass the time.

I tried picking this one up a couple times, just to give it another chance, but unfortunately I could not focus on it at all. I found myself zoning out every few sentences, so it didn't really keep me engaged at all.

If you were to judge a book by it's cover. This book I would believe that the lady is a Dukes best friend and that the man on the cover is the Duke. They end up falling in love. Well Only one part of this assumption is correct. The man is a best friend of a Duke and the Lady is some one who falls in love with the man. I guess that there is only so many Duke's so they have to move on to the outer circle to find stories to write about.
I did enjoy the book. There were times where it got a little slow then something would happen to catch my attention again so no problems.

3 Stars! This is book 5 in ‘The Duke’s Estates’ and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Henry & Kate and I didn’t care for either one really. She was always pretty nasty and Henry just kinda took it and liked it. There was a lot going on and not all of it got tied up at the end & was difficult to keep straight. Jerome’s character seemed completely unnecessary. The villains ending in the book was kind of anti-climatic, it was just solved too easily. It was an interesting and entertaining read, but one I’m glad is finished.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

Posted on Goodreads on 7/31/23:

Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Ashford & Sourcebooks for this ebook! All opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

A Dukes Best Friend follows Kate Meacham and Henry Deeping, our two headstrong, stubborn MCs who clash each time they meet. They make a deal, Kate will introduce Henry to all her important contacts, and Henry will bring Kate to all the high society events she could dream of.

Review:

This book had way too much going on for me to thoroughly enjoy it. It is marketed as a sort of enemies-to-lovers historical mystery, but there is little to none of the “enemies” portion. They quickly warm up to eachother in a very short amount of time, which would not be an issue if that wasn’t such a large portion of the blurb that you read when introduced to this book. The plot is heavy with different aspects of not only the MCs lives, but each side character seems to have way too much going on; it can be hard to follow.

Overall I didn’t hate this book, but it was hard to keep track of what everyone had going on.

BLURB
Henry Deeping and Kate Meacham seem to clash every time they meet. Kate is frustrated by the change in her status following the death of her grandfather, a legendary figure in diplomatic circles. As a lone single woman, she is now effectively nobody, even though she knows everyone and has made important contributions to diplomacy in the past. Henry, just joining the Foreign Office, is wondering how to make his mark.

They agree to an exchange—Henry will serve as Kate's escort to important events to which she is no longer invited, and Kate will introduce him to the important people she knows so well. But when they spot a foreign agent they thought had been apprehended, they decide to investigate on their own, enlisting a motley group of friends and relying on each other to uncover the truth.

REVIEW
This was such a fun historical romance. Kate is clever and headstrong, while Henry is respectful and smart and isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in.

This is actually the fifth book in a series, which I didn’t realise, but having not read the first four took nothing away from the book.

The plot was fast-paced and simple to follow.

The only bugbear I had with this book were all the subplots. There were just too many that were not necessary to the overall plot. The book was overcrowded, which led to Kate and Henry’s relationship being underdeveloped, which is a shame.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review. This review will also be posted to my Instagram account (@kathleenryderauthor), as well as to my blog (daydreamsinthedesert.com) closer to the release date.

I really enjoyed reading this charming and captivating romance. It’s a good romance read with plenty of drama and intense chemistry between the characters. An enjoyable read.

Henry is just goining the Foreign Office while Kate knows all the people in the diplomatic circles thanks to her departed grandfather. They decide to work together...

I love the romance. The banter is great. The humour is subtly funny. Really enjoy it. Both characters are smart. Especially love how persistent and intelligent Kate is. The cameos from characters in the series were great too!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.