I really liked this book. I have one exception though. This review may contain spoilers.
I really have a problem with novels that containe depraved sex scenes. I do not mean erotica or sensuous, I am referring to the fact that the book opens with the hero, no, make that main male character, because he did not act as a hero, fornicating with 3 different women in his ducal bed. Personally, I find this distasteful. History is filled with people succumbing to sexually transmitted diseases. I do not want my romance novel, my escape from daily stress, to have scenes like this. This story was billed as a romance novel, not a historical novel. There is a big difference.
This story is about a young woman whose father was an earl and passed away. His heir was his younger brother. The younger brother heir turned the wife and daughter out with nothing. He kept all their personal items, except their clothes and they went to live in a small run down cottage in a small village. The mother of the heroine suffered from a devastating shock and was rendered ill. The heroine worked with the one servant to go with them to put food on the table, namely vegetables that they had grown in their garden. They did receive a very miniscule stipend from the estate, but it was only enough to pay for living expenses and left very little afterward for food or clothes.
The heroine had an opportunity to go to the Season and find a wealthy husband to help her and her mother. Her mother's friend's daughter had eloped and the mother's friend offered to sponsor the heroine and gave her daughter's wardrobe to the heroine and took her to ton events. The heroine wanted to visit with her cousin who was not like her father, the young inheriting son. So, while the heroine was trying to sneak into the house that she was raised in, she encountered the main male character in the garden.
The main male character is drinking with the earl who had convinced the character, a Duke, to marry his daughter, the heroine's cousin. Because he was a little drunk and hadn't meet his bride, he assumed the heroine in the garden was his bride and he liked how feisty she was and how beautiful. At the ball that night he is expecting to meet the lady in the garden as his bride and he sees a wallflower dressed in a bright pink, too big in the waist, too small in the bust gown. He called her a country radish and was laughing with his friends. Shortly after, he was introduced to his bride to be,who was not the lady of the garden. His friends pointed out that he shouldn't be laughing at the lady in the unfortunate gown because she is his bride's cousin and when he actually looked at her, he recognized the lady from the garden.
The story is actually quite nice. I like the tempo, the style and cadence that the author uses. From that point on, it is a normal romance, one that I would love and keep and read the series, if there was one.
But, I can't get over that revolting and disgusting scene from the beginning. The rest of the story is 5 stars and the first part is negative stars. I actually really, really liked it and read it a couple of times. But that first scene, lowered the score. I give this book 4 stars.

I know Ms Bradley is capable of better which is why I found this book a luke-warm read. Gile's behaviour early in the book was unnecessary and actually served as more of a turn-off than anything else. It should have been excluded.
I did like Francesca and she certainly deserves her happily-ever-after as does her mother. Francesca is what kept me reading as I found her resilient and capable.
This book is the start of a series but may not be for me as it follows the males and they were not a selling point for me.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so worried I wouldn’t like this but happily I think it was a good effort. Bradley can be so hit or miss but this one worked.

The ton can be vicious, ruining lives if they feel like it. Years after one man's death in a duel and the scandal with his wife, the young daughter returns to London in an effort to force her tyrannical uncle to humanely support her and her mother. What she doesn't expect is the encounter with her cousin's betrothed and the feelings that ignite. The betrothed duke doesn't expect to find a woman with a brain and the courage to men to shame as he battles his own emotions. 
While I love period romances, I prefer to have a female protagonist with brings and spunk. This story delivered in exactly what I was looking for. Frannie's character is wonderful in that she knows when to bow to conventional society mandates and when she can barge through to get what she wants. She is not afraid to challenge society's restrictions if it prevents her from getting what she needs. Can't walk alone down the street? She will if she needs to. She'll even challenge a duke which is just not done. She is the entire reason I enjoyed this story. Yes, the plot was well done and the other characters were crafted well, it was the main female character that had me cheering loudly. 
The strength of this writer is the character development and structure. The evil uncle is not shown as completely evil. He can present the proper look for the right occasion, but then the truth is revealed when he lets his anger loose. Humans are complicated creatures, and the story reflects that. Yes, the uncle is evil, but few know it until Frannie forces his hand. Such character reality. 
As for the plot, there are a few mysteries that are presented to the reader. Who is the one behind the gossip? Who is causing all the trouble that prevents Frannie from getting what she wants? I typically can figure out some plots, but this one had me guessing till the end on a couple. It also hinted at future books with more excitement. 
If you like period romances, give this one a try. There are a couple of explicit scenes you can easily skip if you don't like them. A great read that will have you cheering from the rooftops as female smarts clashes with high society.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. These characters had great chemistry and really enjoyed the story.

Well I thought that the story was a fun read.Giles and Franny made it known very publicly that they clearly did not get along. I loved the humor of the story and between the characters. I was entertained with romance and the telling of a good story. The writer did a wonderful job of describing a story through the details and dialogue. The story is a fun read for me. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

With wit and sizzling chemistry scattered throughout, this is a story to be savored.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic romance with a strong-willed heroine and a duke who seemed perfect on the outside but was unusually concerned with his families' well-being. Long ago, the hero's father ruined the heroine's families' lives. Is it possible to mend what was broken?

A wonderful story of Lady Francesca Stanhope, who comes to London from her country village in the hope she can persuade her uncle to provide money for her to care for her ailing mother. She meets Giles, Duke of Basingstoke, one night when she gets caught on a fence as she is leaving her uncle's residence. Francesca has beautiful blue eyes and Giles mistakenly assumes she is her cousin, Susannah, whom he has recently become betrothed to. Giles and Francesca meet again while going to multiple events and are soon rumored to be involved. Giles must try to save his betrothal all the while trying to not cause damage to Francesca's reputation. A beautiful start to a new series. After reading it, I can't wait to read the Dukes of Grantham and Montford's stories(Giles' best friends).
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

This book was just wonderful, and reinforced how much I enjoy this author's work. Giles Drew, the Duke of Basingstoke, has worked hard to help people forget his horrible father since he has had the title. His father ruined lives without a second thought, and beyond being disgusted by his father's antics, Giles is also worried about his younger sisters' come-outs. The problem with Giles' efforts is that he has worked so hard at being pleasant, always smiling, that he sometimes forgets who he is, he is so busy portraying that perfect image. Giles has decided to sacrifice his own happiness in marriage by choosing a "diamond of the first water" debutante as his bride. He makes the arrangements with her father without even meeting said diamond, but then he has a run-in with an intriguing girl, whom he decides must be his affianced, due to the very distinct color of her eyes. The kicker is she's NOT his bride-to-be, she is the cousin of the bride-to-be, named Francesca. Giles has a tough time ignoring Francesca as she doesn't treat him with deference like most others treat dukes, she says what's on her mind. The really awful part is his father wronged Francesca's mother, and Francesca can't help but resent the current duke for her life's circumstances. And somehow Giles makes a faux pas and insults Francesca in public, which winds up in all the scandal sheets (and reminds society of what Giles' father did to Francesca's mother). Thus begins a most interesting display of Giles not being able to stay out of trouble when it comes to Francesca - and though he won't admit it, he can't quite manage to stay away from her, either. But Francesca has her own agenda for coming to London, and she is savvy enough to use all the tools available to her to achieve her goals. Giles starts to convince her that he's not like his father, but that makes no difference, as Francesca plans to leave London the moment she achieves her goal (it's a most worthy one but if I get into THAT storyline, this review will be extremely long).

I absolutely adored this book. The plot is complicated and allows for many people to have their own agendas and dreams, and I felt that it was all properly fleshed out. I got to know the characters, and my heart hurt at various times for our hero and heroine as they tried to navigate the lives that were dealt to them. Their chemistry sparks off the pages, and sexytimes positively sizzle. Just when it seems Francesca and Giles MIGHT have a chance at happiness, the two fall even farther apart. While it seems like the storyline must be filled with angst and drama, there are times I chuckled - but this book also made me tear up at a few points. It really hit the feels. If I could give this book six stars, I would. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review - I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity.. This book is the start to a new series and I can't wait to read the books to come, as I expect they will be just as good. If you like historical romance, this book is one of my all-time faves and will definitely be a book I reread in the future.

Destitute and trying to care for her ill mother, Lady Francesca Stanhope arrived in the hope of receiving funds from her uncle, the earl. Her father, the previous earl, died in a duel. Her uncle became the earl, removed Francesca and her mother to a dilapidated cottage in the cottage with barely any money to survive. Unfortunately, she runs into Giles Drew, the 8th Duke of Basingstoke in the most awkward, yet unforgettable way. He was about to become betrothed to her cousin, Lady Susannah. Not only do Drew and Francesca run into each other all the time, she rejects or mocks him, something he has never had happen to him. Nobody ever said no to him until he met her. At the same time, all of their meetings happen to end up in the gossip magazine, making Giles look bad within society.
She resents him since his father had assaulted her mother, and killed her father in a duel because of it. Unfortunately, her uncle insinuated to society that her mother was a loose woman, and had an affair with Francesca's mother.
Giles, nothing like his father is bored. He goes through life with no scruples, but also feels the pressure of his position.
They are both attracted to each other, but do not act upon it because of his upcoming betrothal to her cousin, Lady Susannah, who has her own plans.
The relationship between Francesca and Giles is a slow burn, but it is also kind of enemies to love. It is a very sweet story, and enjoyable to read. There are amusing as well as serious moments throughout the story.
I love Giles. He experiences so much growth as a character. He is drunk when he first appears. The second time, he is in the midst of a debauchery with three women, but then remembers there is a fourth. While a scene like that may seem out of place, I think it shows how he no longer enjoys living to excess, and wants something more meaningful in his life.
I could not help but feel empathy for Francesca. She was trying to take care of her ill mother, and was forced to beg for money from her uncle. The same uncle who took over as the Earl once her father was killed, and left Francesca and her mother with nothing. She is a strong and loving character. She is loyal to her family, and will do whatever she can to help them.
I was left with a few questions after reading the novel. Why was her Aunt Edith hated Francesca with so much vehemence, and treated her the way she did. Francesca's uncle detested her, but it was much worse with her aunt. While there was not much mentioned regarding Giles' father raping Francesca's father. Francesca did not really resent Giles for his father's actions, or worried that he might be just like his father. I am also confused about the title. It didn't fit the story.
I found this novel a fast read as I did nothing the entire day but read it. I will definitely buy it, and recommend it to friends. You get a couple of hints of who the main characters will be in the next book of the series, in the beginning and the end. No spoilers! I can see at least four possible novels in this series. I hope we get more stories of some background characters. I look forward to reading them.
This is definitely for mature readers. There a a few graphic intimate scenes, but written well. Besides the first scene of FFFM, which was not very descriptive because its main focus was how realized how hollow and debauched lifestyle was. There was no cheating, but there were a few scenes.
Trigger warning for past sexual assault. It was an important plot point, but the assault itself was not described; no details of it, only who it involved and when it happened.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good and fast read and i'm looking forward to the other series coming up , the two leads were great.

Most often than not, an author who has made an excellent first impression fails to have the same effect in their subsequent works. Very rarely does it happen that an author who has been making an average impression in their previous works follows up with something stupendous; I am happy to say Anna Bradley has done just that.

In her new series "Drop Dead Dukes" , Bradley presents us with three ridiculously handsome men who may look like an angel but are far from being one. Giles Drew, the Duke of Basingstoke has been doing all in his power to restore the good name and reputation of his Duke hood, ever since the death of his father two years before. His next step in the path of restoration is to marry Lady Vanessa Stanhope, a woman of impeccable reputation who is purported to be the Debutante of the year. But fate throws a curve in his path in the form of Lady Francesca Stanhope, the penniless older cousin of Lady Vanessa.

An oddball remaining in the fringes of society, Lady Francesca does not long for love nor marriage. What she wants the most in the world is to gain the money that will help her mother recuperate and regain her lost health. Their frequent meetings however begin to create an eagerness in their hearts to follow a new path rather than the one they have set for themselves. Will they be able to break the obstacles of class, wealth and past baggages,
to follow their hearts ? Or do the bonds of responsibility prove too much for them?

In this book, Author Anna Bradley has come up with an interesting plot point which is convoluted and simple at the same. The three Dukes are intriguing and magnetic people whom women would love to love. They can be clueless and irrespective but they are not unlikable. I absolutely loved how Francesca has been written. She is smart, resourceful and strong with an unflappable core of loyalty. I loved the way their relationship develops and I simply adored their pair. There are quite a number of tastefully written intimate scenes which can hold the imagination of it's reader.

I must say I enjoyed this book more than the previous book that I had read. And I definitely can't wait to catch the rest of the books in the series when they are available. If you love regency romantic novels that touch your heart, this book is for you.

This book had me kicking my feet and twirling my hair, their families are tied with disgrace, so he comes with a plan to fix HIS family honor but he doesn't expect the fire that exist between Francesca and him, and I LOVE ITTTTTTT. amazing and definitely i would look for what else she does.

This was my first book by Anna Bradley, and I can't believe I waited so long. It was fantastic!

Give the Devil His Duke is a wonderful start to a new series. It's filled with humor, characters that I was thoroughly enamored with, and a good amount of spice.

Francesca and Giles were great together. Their chemistry was truly amazing! They were absolutely perfect as a couple.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!

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

This is the first book of a brand new trilogy, Drop Dead Dukes, and what a wonderful start it is! Franny's father had been killed in a duel years ago by the Duke of Basingstoke, who had scandalized and seduced Franny's mother. Now the current duke, Giles, has been trying very hard to cleanse the family's ill reputation caused by his father's scandals and misdeeds. All he wants is to bring respectability back to the family name. Franny's father had been an earl, and after he died, her uncle inherited the title and sent them to live in a deteriorating, broken- down cottage and essentially left them penniless. Franny's mother's health is now deteriorating, and so Franny agrees to go to London for the season and while there, appeal to her uncle for assistance with caring for her mother. While in London, she meets Giles, whose father had basically ruined her life.
In his effort to restore the family's good name and repair the rift between the families, Giles chooses Franny's cousin Susannah as a bride, all in an effort to boost his family's reputation and help his sisters marry well. Giles is extremely attracted to Franny, and in the beginning mistakes her for his bride to be. They later both find themselves in some interesting situations and their path to true love is not easy and is filled with many bumps and hurdles along the way, but in the end, definitely worth the journey.
Definitely a well-written story with great moments that will alternately pull at your heartstrings and make you laugh. Giles and Franny were well-developed and interesting characters and the chemistry between them was undeniable. An entertaining story and a great beginning to a new series. Looking forward to continuing the series.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is another winner for Anna Bradley. I find myself with a surprised smile while reading her stories. This story is unusual for a regency set historical as the heroine isn't looking for marriage and the spotlight. She doesn't want to be noticed by society, just get an audience with her detested uncle Edward Stanhope who became earl after her father died. Unfortunately she draws the attention of Giles Drew, the eighth Duke of Basingstoke when he rescues her from being caught up in a tree and fence late one night. Giles is drunk and thinks the mystery lady is his soon to be betrothed Lady Susannah Stanhope. He quickly realizes his mistake the next day at a ball.

Francesca Stanhope has been living in a cottage with her disgraced mother for the last ten years. Her mother Maria was visiting her good friend Duchess Basingstoke when her husband the seventh Duke Frederick, took advantage of her and ruined her life. After her father was killed in the duel over her mother's honor they retreated to the country. Her uncle Edward then became earl and gave them very little to live on. Francesca is being sponsored for her first season by a dear friend Lady Crump. Francesca just wants to get Uncle Edward to give them something more to live on as her mother is in failing health. Because her gowns are borrowed from Lady Crump's married niece she's dressed in a shocking bright pink at the ball. Giles once again being drunk notices, calls her an unflattering name to his good friends, Grantham and Montford. Unfortunately for him he is overheard by someone and dishes the story to the society paper. This sets the gossips into action and things get uncomfortable. That's the setup for this wonderful story where Giles learns his words can affect those around him and clothing do not make the individual.

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

I really enjoyed this story. I loved both main characters, Franny and Giles, the Duke. I guess you can call it enemies to lovers as both Franny and Giles do not like each other when they meet. He is hoping to be betrothed to her cousin and she is making her London debut. But Franny and the Duke share some unpleasantness based on their parents and a very big scandal. But once Giles gets the cut from Franny, he cannot stop himself from wanting her despite his plan to marry her cousin. As to Franny she likes their antagonistic relationship. This story was so much fun and I really loved it.

BUT and this was a big thing for me. I was grossed out by a scene with Giles. Not his first scene in the book but his second which kind of made it even worse. His first scene is when he gets drunk with Franny's uncle when he requests to be betrothed to her cousin. So, he makes the bargain, and he goes home and sleeps with Lady Caroline. And it's not only her, it's also her maid and he is inside both of them, one after another. I reread this scene because it was so gross, and I wanted to see if he spills himself inside them or if he uses a barrier of some kind, but he doesn't and he comes inside both of them. This was beyond awful and actually instead of sexy it made him really disgusting to me and no matter what happened in this book, thinking about his virgin bride getting with this man, grossed me out. Aside from him going around and impregnating the maid and this lady, he also is not only having sex with them but all their other partners and who knows what disease. Then he can pass this on to his new bride. In all honesty, this is just a few pages and actually was not important in any way in this story. He never sees Caroline again. But I really could never see him as a guy I wanted Franny with because who knows where he has been or with or who they were with. Had he worn some barrier or not come inside them and both of them, it would have changed things, but that scene came with me to every scene with Giles and really made me think he was not someone I rooted for with Franny. While I liked the story and even the characters, I in no way wanted Giles with anyone in this story because of this scene.

“He was smoldering at her, the villain.”

This is my first book by Anna Bradley, and it will not be my last! It’s a funny yet poignant start to a new series that I look forward to continuing.
The main characters have a great chemistry. By the epilogue I was truly enamored with them! Francesca is bold and yet has a tender heart, and Giles is just the perfect combo of a rogue with sweetness underneath.
There was a lot of misunderstanding in this plot, and it did take a bit to get me hooked, but overall it was a well-written and enjoyable read!


Star Rating: 3/5
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, slow burn
CW: Toxic relationship, death

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Giles Drew, the Duke of Basingstoke has a reputation. Some of which is own making, the rest inherited from his father he doesn’t look back with kindness on. But it’s nothing that his betrothal to an upstanding young lady can’t fix. Francesca Stanhope comes to London for a season with the Ton in hopes to turn things around for her family. Unfortunately, it’s her midnight meeting with the Duke that really turns her around.

Can either of them put their reputations aside long enough to come together?

This was a reasonably fine enough regency romance book. It was an easy read, but I didn’t find either main character particularly compelling. It was hard for me to believe WHY they fell in love.