Once again, I feel like those historical romances are so repetitive! The grumpy and stern duke with the bubbly and more open common girl are just overdone, especially in this genre. They had good chemistry so I was able to overlook that but it's just so annoying and unoriginal. 2.5 stars

The Smuggler and the Duke

Callum's mother brings all sorts of women to parade before him at a house party, but there is only one woman he wants. Cat has no blue blood in her veins. She is a smuggler, and she is about to steal from him. Can they overcome such difficult challenges? The odds are not in their favor; however, Callum is a duke, and dukes have a way of getting what they want. If you like historical romance with class differences, you will want to read this delightful, enchanting, steamy love story.

A very enjoyable romp, the main characters are interesting enough to keep the tale rolling along. It is a great premise and I was waiting for Catriona to get caught, I loved her mad menagerie and relationship with her sister. Poor Callum had no chance of escaping the clutches of some fortunate female with his determined mother even though Cat was the prize he most desired. Alyxandra Harvey writes well and has done her research on Smuggling during the period, the scenes are believable. I will follow this author. Thank you Netgalley and Dragonblade for this book. Solid 5 stars for pure entertainment. Great fun.

I loved this book. Violet and Summer made this book so much fun to read. However it was Callum and Cat’s wicked game of romance that ignited the flames of passion at a match making mama’s get together. The story is a story that’s told about love and family members willing to sacrifice all to see their loved ones happy. The story is an easy read for you readers. This is a good story. I enjoyed and look forward to more reads from this writer. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on! I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. #TheDuchessGame #AlyxandraHarvey #Netgally #Goodreads #Bookbub

What an enjoyable book from start to finish. Alyxandra Harvey has given a story with enjoyable banter, humorous and laugh out loud situations that keep you entertained until the very end.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

For fans of historical romance with strong female leads, this one is excellent! The unique plotline of a "game" positioned by a Duke's mother to find his bride, the quirky but not annoying main female character, the relationship between the sisters, I loved it all. This is my first book by this publisher and I'll definitely be on the look out for more!

A good book. The liked the main characters Caitriona and Callum. They had great chemistry! The story is good and fast paced. I enjoy reading it!

This is a first time read for me by this author and also the first of a new series, The Dainty Devils. Callum is the Duke of Montford, and according to his mother it is high time he finds a bride. His mother comes up with a brilliant idea for The Duchess Games, where eligible ladies are invited to come and showcase their accomplishments and more or less compete for the title of duchess. Catriona is able to secure an invitation to this event for her and her sister. But her goal is not to become a duchess. She is concerned with saving her village from starvation and the only way she can do that is to engage in smuggling, and her target is the Duke's signet ring.
Caitriona and Callum met 13 years ago and spent one passionate summer together. She never forgot about him and is surprised when he remembers her. But if she follows through with her plan, she risks losing Callum and breaking his heart.
A charming second chance romance of sorts, this story is filled with passion, intrigue, romance, and moments of humor. The story was well-written and pulled me in from the very start. The author did a great job of bringing the story and characters to life. Callum and Caitriona were both interesting and likable characters and they had such sizzling chemistry. The banter between them was fun and witty and I enjoyed their encounters. The inclusion of all the different animals also added a lot of entertainment to the story. This was a great introduction for me to a new author which I fully intend to follow. Glad to have had the opportunity to read this.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Caitriona Sparrow is a thirty-year-old spinster determined to save her family and the poverty-stricken fishing village of Little Crumpet from disappearing before winter. Taxes approved by the Duke took so much of the village's income that not enough was left to survive. Cat's just a woman trying to survive. The only way she knows to do that is to be a successful smuggler. Her beloved Mother had helped her understand that "needs must." Even though she knows smuggling is illegal, she understands it is inescapable.

Callum, the Duke of Tremaine, is on the other end of the social spectrum as the ruler of the territory. He takes little active interest in the affairs of the state and therefore has little awareness of the consequences of taxes he has signed off on. Cat and Callum played together as children, but once Callum became Duke of Tremain, he had obligations to fulfill. They have remained in each other's hearts and now come together again. Their adult romance was heightened by rescuing a snapping turtle and getting to know one another as they are - not behind facades as high society demands.

It's delightful for me to review this book because it's full of laughter, emotion, tension, and some sex that is hot and sizzling without crossing the line into blatant erotica. This is a Tudor Historical Romance book. Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. for providing me with an advance reviewer copy. Do you think Cat and Callum can find a way to bring their lives together? I just read this book for the second time and highly recommend it.

The Duke of Tremaine's mother, has invited her list of debutantes to a house party to choose his wife. Glad to be back at his Cornwell estate, Callum would rather be here than anywhere else. Thirteen years ago he gave his heart to Caitriona Sparrow, but he left to take over his duties as the duke. She's been able to finagle invitations to the house party for her sister and herself. Callum is now rigid and cold. But it's a mask. Caitriona must save her village from starvation, smuggling is the only option. Revenue men and a sneaky untrustworthy villager are putting her in danger. To save her village she may lose
Callum's trust and love. A fast paced humorous book, with unconventional characters and unusual animals. If the next book is as good as this one, I won't be disappointed.
Very erotic.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This was my first Alyxandra Harvey read, but it won't be my last! This was such a fun read with shenanigans and animals galore. Callum and Cat were lovely and the secondary characters were a great introduction to the series.

Tropes: I've loved you forever

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review.

This was a very good story about childhood romance.
There may be spoilers in this review.
This was an enjoyable story about a woman about 31 years old. Her mother was a lady who had married a scholar. They did not have very much money and with both parents gone, she and her siblings did not have access to society. The heroine worked hard to provide for her siblings in various ways that included smuggling. But she wanted more for her siblings. She sent her brother into the village for tutoring to get into school and she wanted her little sister to marry a nobleman. But they did not have the money or sponsors for a Season in London or anywhere. The local aristocracy consisted of a single duke. The duke was her childhood friend. And his mother was hosting a house party disguised as a set of challenges that would allow young ladies to compete to share time with the duke. The heroine had to use all of her contacts in order to get an invitation for her sister. They revamped their mother's fancy gowns with the help of the local seamstress and the heroine went as her sister's chaperone. At one time, the duke was her unrequited love. They were close in age and had played together on the beaches when they were young. About the time when girls and boys start to notice each other they shared a kiss and the next day the duke moved away.
The duke was surprised to see his childhood friend at the party that his mother put together. He had agreed to the party to satisfy his mother's request that he marry. His mother had staged the games to chose her perfect daughter-in-law. She had also raised the duke to be the perfect duke, but the hero knew that he was not perfect in her eyes. He used all of the cold, calculating details she trained into him to advance politics that supported the people and not the aristocracy, which inflamed his mother. But, the hero was not going down without a fight. He insisted that swimming and archery be included in the games along with embroideiey, dancing and ccurtseying. 
This was one story in about a time period of about a month, that was a very informative and enveloping. The back story is superimposed over the current story and it works. I was cheering for the main characters and felt the angst of them not being able to move beyond their places in society to reach their chosen places beside each other in marriage. I enjoyed this story very much. I give it 4.5 stars, which ends up being 5 star and definitely recommend reading.

This was such an enjoyable regency romp. Caitriona Sparrow has bribed her and her sister's way into a Duchess' house party, with Cat's sole goal being to advance the smuggling operation that keeps her village afloat. The Duchess intends to use the house party to audition potential duchesses for her son, Callum Winter, Duke of Tremaine. Neither Cat nor the duchess are aware that Callum's heart has long belonged to Cat.

I loved Cat and Callum's romance. Sexual tension, steam, smuggling, stray animals, sisters up to no good - all combine for a love story that is both funny and touching. I agree with some other reviewers that the ending felt a bit abrupt and did not fully resolve the smuggling issue. But that was not enough to overcome my overall enjoyment of the book.

4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

The Duchess Games by Alyxandra Harvey

Excellent, bing-worthy book and must summer book choice when relaxing on the beach or just those lazy days.

An enjoyable sweet story with likeable characters were likeable. The animals rather stole the story for me they were very entertaining. The smuggler angle was interesting but was never really resolved as to what was going to happen with this. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The stern and proper Callum Winter, Duke of Tremaine, must marry. At least according to his mother.
Enter: The Duchess Games where ladies are invited to display their accomplishments in dancing, music and all social graces. Caitriona Sparrow just wants to steal the duke’s signet ring to get her smuggling operation running and save the village from ruin. Options are scarce for a thirty-one-year-old spinster, her two younger siblings, four dogs, a cranky goat, and a one-eyed fox. She might not have any pretty accomplishments, but she can sing sea shanties and debone a haddock in minutes.
The start of a new series & I thoroughly enjoyed this well written, well paced book. I really like both Callum & Caitriona, their chemistry sizzled & I was drawn in from the beginning & read it straight through. It was witty, there were animals including a turtle, there was a villain who got their desserts & a lovely love story
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Smugglers, Spinsters, Snapping Turtles:
This beautiful cover made me want to try out a new author for me and I am so glad I followed my instincts.
A fun and charming reunion of sorts for Callum the duke and Catriona his once sweetheart from younger days.
I really enjoyed both characters due to their whit and down to earth way of facing their foes and family.
A humorous yet thrilling story that is filled with desirous attraction, smoldering passion, many darling animals, a snapping turtle that me laughing out loud, a villain that got his just rewards and a happy ending that has encouraged me to read more from Ms. Harvey.
✔ 5 Star for a cover that can grab my attention to exactly what the book is about. Bravo!
✔Mature Advisory🌶🌶🌶

First time reading this author. It was a good read, I struggled to get into the book at first but as the story progresses it flowed easier. Callum and Cat were childhood lovers that reunited again. Cat feels the responsibility of taking care of her family and villagers. Callum is a Duke that has to marry. Together they find themselves together and sparks fly again.

The smuggling fisherman's daughter & the duke!
A romance to escape into, savour and downright enjoy! As Harvey interweaves a dazzling array of scintillating, stolen, moments of: rescue, passion, ardent wanting and honest raw glimpses of emotion. Where each encounter between Callum and Cat notches up a degree on the heat-o-meter, screams with chemistry, makes you radiate and thrum with flushes, smile all over and laugh with happiness until the end.
I just loved these two! So, obviously in love with each other but warring between trying to deny it, brushing it aside or succumbing wholeheartedly to temptation and enjoying every exquisite sensual touch. In this fun, joyous tale about not letting second chances pass you by and seizing the moment.
Callum and Caitriona reunite after 13 years, at his austere mother's house party to manipulate his hand to the altar. Here begins the 'Duchess Games', a set of challenges designed to find the perfect future duchess of her highly anointed choosing. However, much to the reader's delight the best laid plans seem to backfire, fall askew and put her ice-queen-stickler nose right out of joint, so pleasurably, thanks to a reluctant, already, head over heels infatuated Duke, his sassy, fun loving, rebellious twin sister, Summer, his twinklingly charismatic bestfriend, Blackpool, and two beguilling village girls the Sparrow sisters: Cat, the childhood girl of his dreams, champion of animals and woman of his fantasies and her younger sister, the lovely, propriety conscious, Viola. Not to mention, her straight talking brother Matthew to name but a few.
All come together to make this a well put together, scrumptiously crafted romance with subcharacters that jump off the page and intrigue with just as much well rounded depth, panache and evocative likability as our riveting leads. As well as, a whole host of in need of rescuing and rescuee animals to add to the fun, win your heart and make you laugh.
My first book by Harvey but certainly not my last... what a hoot of sizzling passion, yearnful heated glances, steamy clinches, sharp wit and a need to dodge and outsmart revenue men, a snapping turtle, title hungry ladies and a devious powerhungry smuggler to boot.
Just fabulous...I knew I was going to LOVE this...can't wait to be led where this series goes next...I'm still smiling just thinking about it!

This novel starts on a very confusing note. It takes a bit to become cohesive. The author jumps from topic to topic in a matter of sentences until chapter 5, when the storyline finally comes together. It is missing key elements of background story, which detracts overall; but, the story is romantic and action packed once it is moving. She is very young in her writing career and I do see promise for great things to come from her. I look forward to reading more works.