This book was so much fun. I think it's in my top favorites of Amalie Howard's of all time. Bonnie Bess was a true badass queer icon and Saint was so swoon-worthy. I loved the high stakes and pirate of it all. It will truly be one I never forget.

You know you’re in for a good time when the hero thinks the heroine should come with the warning label: “Beware, death by association is entirely possible.” And when attacked with a pitchfork, she responds with “This is the best day ever. Trident is mine.”
With piratical shenanigans and sword play as good as their banter, this very capable heroine who can hold her own and the consent king have stolen my heart.
Inclusive and well researched, both main and side characters come from a variety of backgrounds and sexualities, after reading the author’s note clearly has a passion for accurately representing the time periods in which her books are set.
Any Duke in a Storm struck the perfect balance between romance and plot; both has me on the edge of my seat and I devoured this book in a day.
Amalie Howard was fast becoming my favourite author and her latest release has now firmly put her in the lead with this book taking my top spot for historical romance.

This was a hard read and I almost made it to the end, but had to put it down. It just wasn’t for me. I thought since Lisa Kleypas had recommended on the cover that I’d be in for a delightful, witty, intelligent read - maybe that’s the issue. I have to be in the right headspace for a read like this one: f/f relationships, hate at first sight, kind of crass. Also, there was very little chemistry- nothing read natural or romantic or even sensual, it just all felt so forced. Not for me.

Love the author although this book did not hold me attention. The subject matter was one that did not hold me interest.

An inclusive historical romance that is an action packed romp across the seas with lots of witty banter and steamy scenes. He teases mercilessly and her cutting remarks are epic. Do they have their well deserved HEA? As one of the adorable characters say : “Does a pirate s*** in the sea?”

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Pirate historical romances can be so hit or miss for me but this one was a HARD hit! Amalie Howard is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors!

Fiery Valkyries with murder in their eyes would command notice.
While the fourth and final book in the Daring Dukes series, Amalie Howard’s latest release, Any Duke in a Storm, is the swashbuckling, fast-paced historical romance that is equal parts action and adventure as it is a swoony, opposites attract romance.

Set in the Caribbean, during the tumultuous days of smuggling after the American Civil War, Any Duke in a Storm begins with readers meeting Raphael Saint as he is attempting to escape prison and yet another attempt on his life by his corrupt uncle, Charles Dubois. Not only did his foul uncle imprison Raphael under false pretenses, his uncle also commandeered two of Raphael’s prize ships.

This was a man used to being obeyed, not one who took orders. He was amiable and deferential because he wanted to be, not because that was his nature. He was going to be trouble; she could feel it in her bones.
Readers meet our heroine, Lisbeth, under the moniker of Bonnie Bess, while she is quickly running out of time to blow up two ships who are about to leave harbor and are supposedly owned by an associate of the smuggler she hopes to bring to justice: Charles Dubois, The Prince of Smugglers. Lisbeth was once an esteemed, married woman of peerage however, she traded in her married life for one of espionage. When reader’s meet Lisbeth, Bess, she’s the captain of her own vessel, the Syren, and on a mission to break into the close-knit smuggling ring led by Charles Dubois and bring him to justice.

Once aboard her own ship, Lisbeth meets her new sailing master, none other than our Raphael Saint, who was surreptitiously hired by her quartermaster, Estelle. Not only do these events begin our journey, it also sets the playing field for our romance between Lisbeth and Raphael, as they both attempt to bring down the slimy smuggler, Charles Dubois, without getting caught.

“Tell me something true, Viking.”
You can count on a wonderful romance to blossom between Raphael and Lisbeth in Any Duke in a Storm. Amalie Howard delivers on giving readers enough teasing, dirty talk, and build-up throughout the novel to their (delightful) HEA which made for a highly enjoyable romance. There’s also piercings, tattoos, and tons of innuendo as (of course) our main characters are essentially pirates. I particularly loved way Lisbeth calls Raphael “Pirate” and his endearments of “Valkyrie” or “Viking” for Lisbeth made me swoon. I couldn’t get enough.

I loved the unique timeline for the setting of the novel as well, which I thought lent itself so well to the romance as well as to the overall storyline. More times that not, I found myself googling ships, timelines, and events that were mentioned in Any Duke in a Storm because I was so intrigued by this unique and under-represented period of time in Historical Romance. Between the entire cast of characters aboard the Syren, the fast-paced plot, the sultry romance, and the unique setting, Any Duke in a Storm is highly enjoyable and can easily be read as a standalone. Although, I’d wager that readers will want to go back and discover what there is to know about the other Dukes as well.

Book 4 in Amalie Howard's "Daring Dukes" series. This book had a slightly different aspect than the others. Still focusing on islands in the Caribbean our duke is part French under Napoleon. He's also a pirate. Characters from other books appear in this one as well which is fun to see and it was interesting to see a well researched book about smugglers during that time in history. Fun characters that are easy to love, or hate respectively.

“Tell me something true, Pirate.”
“Tell me something true, Viking.”

______________________

Something true? Amalie Howard has done it AGAIN with this book!! I absolutely adore this series and this new installment is no exception. We met the formidable Lisbeth Medford in the previous installment, but now it is her turn to take the spotlight in her own high stakes investigation.

Having spent two years undercover, she has built a reputation for herself as the legendary and feared Bonnie Bess—a pirate captain of a mostly female crew—and finally has her target within her grasp. But when her path crosses with the dramatic and smooth talking Raphael Saint, a shipless captain on the run from his own uncle who just so happens to be Lisbeth’s smuggling target, she realizes that matters of the heart may only cloud her judgement, but they will also bring her a life, love, and adventure she never could have dreamed of for herself.

Lisbeth is a spitfire but I also loved how despite her strength as a spy, leader, and independent woman, she also struggled with her identity throughout the book. Having worn so many hats, names, and faces, it was refreshing to see someone so powerful also dive into learning about themselves, their wants, and their needs.

Raphael was not what I was expecting at all and I loved it. With the humor and dramatic flare of Jack Sparrow, but the dashing debonair swagger of James Bond, he had a soft heart but also a wicked tongue in the best of ways. And, ahem, piercings… *melts*

I loved the dynamic between these two and how oftentimes Lisbeth took the more dominant role between them. They had a very equal partnership and it was refreshing to see them both take what they wanted when they wanted it but also dish it right back out. Also the fact that the author was able to wring such steaming hot spice out of multiple chapters of not complete intercourse was the sweetest teasing right up to THAT climax. It all paid off in the end and with danger, action, explosions, kidnappings, arrests, and amazing cameos by some old friends, these characters all get the happily ever after they deserve!!

All of the stars. I cannot wait to see who comes next!! (Please, please give us a time jump and some more Narina…)

I have been provided with a review copy of Any Duke in a Storm from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

This story was so good. I truly enjoyed reading Lisbeth's story and was even more intrigued by Raphael Saint! This book had intrigue and of course romance! I loved the diverse representation that Amalie Howard always includes in her books and this book certainly did not lack in any BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ representation. I'm always in awe of the research she does and how it comes through flawlessly in her writing!

This book kept me thinking about how women were so involved even behind in the scenes in espionage and were hired by the US Treasury to help with smuggling, which gave rise to someone in real life Elizebeth Smith Friedman, who helped to break codes for the Treasury during the 1930s and 1940s. I love the idea that fictional women (even after the fact) could give rise to real life code breaker.

I really just loved reading about Lisbeth and who she was and about Raphael as well and how motivated he was in trying to prove his father's innocence. I thought that the action was perfect and I wouldn't have changed a single thing and I really loved the callback to Valentine, the Duke of Thornbury, and his wife, Bronwyn.

Thank you so much to Amalie Howard and Sourcebook Casablance for giving me a copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy this book, it is very good!
I love historical romance 🥰
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the book

3.5 rounded up

Any Duke in a Storm is book four in auto-buy author Amalie Howard’s Daring Dukes series. Howard mixes fast paced action, adventure, steam and complex diverse characters to create a historical romance that is

Lady Lisbeth Medford, who we met in the previous book, is a spy for the British government trying to stop smugglers as a captain of a pirate ship. Raphael Saint, a disgraced French peer, who Lisbeth has targeted as a means to catch his uncle the notorious smuggler Prince. These two end up working together (unbeknownst to them) for a common goal.

There is lots of action, high seas high jinx, sexy banter, sword fighting and steamy! The chemistry between Saint and Lisbeth is so hot, their foreplay sword fighting scene will live in my brain rent free. They’ve got lots of verbal banter, piercings (him), dirty talk and Dom/sub angles. Lisbeth is a kicka$$ heroine but a heart of gold, she really loves her crew but projects such an “I am an island” vibe. Saint is full of “Falling first” vibes, Robin Hood energy and did I mention the piercings??? There is a young girl that left me laughing out loud a few times. As with the previous book, I enjoyed the diversity that Amalie Howard brings to her characters and how meticulously through her research it.

The backstory was a bit confusing and it did take me a bit to get into the characters but that could have been just me in a reading slump. This can be read as a standalone but I do think you get a better idea of Lisbeth if you read the previous book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca, NetGalley and the author. All opinions are my own.

ARC copy kindly provided through NetGalley but all my thoughts are my own.

Lisbeth is an undercover spy and Raphael is a disgraced French peer. Both are trying to take down the Notorious Smuggler, Dubois. These two team up even though they don't trust each other at all and drive each other crazy. Can they trust each other or will they succumb to their animalistic desires for each other?

Lisbeth is my new all-time favorite heroines. She's fierce and unapologetic but constantly struggles with her growing feelings for Raphael. This was also probably the spiciest of the series and I lived for it. Ships blow up, there's sword fights and dangerous squalls and secret smuggler islands. This was all my catnip and I absolutely LOVED IT.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC!

- I was not expecting to be obsessed with this book, but it was so good that I bought the whole series after finishing it!
- I love banter, and this had banter plus swordplay?!? What more could you ask for!!
- There are very clear discussions of consent, and the spice was 😳😳😳
- I loved the way this addressed the many systems of oppression going on throughout the book!
- The pacing is great, and there was action driving the plot forward at all times.
- There's a lot of jealousy/possessiveness with tons of dangerous situations! However, it never crosses over into a toxic space, which is such a hard thing to balance so well!
- I hadn't read the first three books, but it was still easy to follow what was happening. Characters from earlier books show up, but everything is explained well enough that you can read this without reading the first three.

Any Duke in a Storm is a standalone in the Daring Dukes series by Amelie Howard. Following a government spy undercover as a fierce cutthroat captain and the pirate with a common enemy whom she falls for .

There's so much about this book that I enjoyed. The story has action, adventure, and sexual tension that delivers in delicious steam.

Lisbeth is fantastic. She's intelligent, strong, independent, and not afraid to embrace her sexuality. She brought solid Queer rep to this historical romance, the author's notes says she wrote her as Demiromantic Pansexual, and she succeeded in my opinion.

Raphael was a delight. He's more than meets the eye, clever , charming, cunning , and loyal. He's not your typical pirate but more of a Robin Hood of the high seas. I loved his banter with Lisbeth and the fact that he fell first.

The two aggravated and instigated each other to no end, and I was here for it. It built the sexual tension wonderfully, and I couldn't wait for them to give in to it. And oh boy did it deliver, both are dominant in the bedroom, plus a surprise praise kink and piercings in intimate places. 🔥🔥

Any Duke in a Storm is a wonderful historical romance with a morally grey MMC, a strong capable FMC, a deadly hurricane , smuggling , fighting, top notch steam, and a HEA .

WOW! I loved this book so much! I don't even know where to begin with this review. The MCs in this book are so perfectly written - they are flawed and they are vulnerable but they are also kind, caring, and so into each other it was delightful to read. The spicy scenes are very spicy and well written. The plot is exciting and entertaining and is written in a way that really brings the MCs together beautifully. I loved The Duke in Question (book 3 in this series) but I think I loved this one even more. Now, I need to go back and read the 1st 2 books in this series. This is a great way to start your 2024 reading year off!

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #AnyDukeinaStorm by Amalie Howard in exchange for an honest review which is written above.

Any Duke in a Storm is the 4th book in Amalie Howard"s Daring Dukes series. You want to take a wild guess as to which book of the series I started on? Yep, this one! Luckily it stood alone. I"ve read a number of Ms. Howard"s books in the past, so I knew I was in for a steamy treat. I never guessed, however, that in this book I would find one of my most favorite romance heroes EVER! Truly, I swear my Kindle glowed every time Raphael made an appearance. ~Sigh~

In 1868, Lady Lisbeth Medford, Countess of Waterstone is on a mission. A famed British spy, she is currently working on behalf of the American Treasury. Lisbeth's target is known as the Prince of Smugglers, a cruel and brutal man. Her cover is "Bonnie Bess", a feared ship's captain, and she must infiltrate a smuggler's ring in the West Indies. Her identity has been compromised and she must flee, but going forward may be even more dangerous! Raphael Saint, the Duc de Viel, is taken onboard as the new sailing master. He is beyond aggravating and also extremely charming, but Lisbeth must be on guard at all times, as Raphael may be part of the smuggling ring she's trying to bust. As new threats come her way, she must learn if she can trust the man, as they just might have to work together in order to survive.

This story was absolutely thrilling! You could almost feel Lisbeth's ship, the Syren, rolling beneath your feet as a storm brews. If you like strong female characters, you will absolutely love Lisbeth! She has been working as a spy in the guise of Bonnie Bess, a ship's captain with a terrifying reputation. The woman was a great captain, could fight as well as any man, and was respected by friends and feared by enemies. But Lisbeth was also lonely; she didn't have any long-term relationships. She was divorced and was friends with her ex-husband, who was also a spy, but the marriage was one of convenience. Most relationships don't last long, as she must feel something for her partner, be it a man or woman. Then there was my man, Raphael Saint, the Duc de Viel. Oh, my! (Pardon me, I had to get some ice cubes, he's THAT hot.) Raphael's father was given the title of the Duc de Viel in France as a reward for bravery in battle. However, his uncle, Charles Dubois, has his own brother killed in rage and jealousy, and now Raphael had nothing but a burning vengeance to make the man pay. Raphael is absolutely charming and funny, but also very caring. He was a diverse character, having Indian, Island, French and other blood. Raphael was a beautiful man, with some VERY intriguing piercings! At first he had Lisbeth believing he was a sot, as he didn't want her to know his true plan. He had respect for the woman, and knew she was no wilting flower. (The sword fight between the two was possibly the highlight of the book!) As they learned to trust each other and work together, Lisbeth learned that the Prince of Smugglers she was trying to take down was also Charles Dubois, Raphael's uncle! There was sexual tension between Lisbeth and Raphael at the start, and it grew stronger on every single page. Once they began sexual relations, my Kindle caught fire. Nothing was behind closed doors, so to speak, so be warned of graphic content Steamy, sexy graphic content. Ms. Howard manages scenes like this with flair, wit, caring and steamy goodness. I won't ruin the excitement of the story for you; some scenes will put you in mind of old pirate movies. I loved that Lisbeth called Raphael Pirate, and he called her Viking. Not only was the story exciting, but there were some marvelous supporting characters. Smalls, a huge man, was one of Lisbeth's greatest crew members. Charles Dubois was a horrible man, but his role was extremely well-written. My favorite supporting character, however, was Narina, an orphan girl from one of the islands Lisbeth visited. The young girl wanted to be a pirate; that angelic little girl had quite the potty mouth on her. She was a scene stealer whenever she appeared. Her pirate-speak was hysterical, and wait until you hear what she calls crew member Balzac! This book was a wonderful adventure, and I look forward to every story Ms. Howard comes up with!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This series has been such a delight. Each book just got better.
This installment has a landless French Duke who was an also a smuggler/pirate and a female pirate/smuggler/treasury agent.
The banter and sexiness in this book are top notch. Lots of action and adventure and secrets.

Any Duke in a Storm. My fellow readers. Man-o-man what an amazing book. This book is a fantastic read. I had to give this book a five star rating.
If I could have given this book a rating of five or more, I would have. The plot was very interesting to me. I loved the mystery and spying on one’s enemies. The hunt for the elusive pirate that has brought havoc among the seas. The determination of two fearless characters who makes it their ultimate mission to track down said character. But in the mean time Lisbeth and Raphael must learn how to get along and Raphael doesn’t make that easy for Lisbeth or her people. Here’s where the fun begins and I absolutely had the best time of being entertained by two people who clearly have the hots for each other. This sexual lust is so strong between Lisbeth and Raphael that the other refuses to be the one to bend first. Trying to work together for a common cause is not working it’s magic with the two. I love Lisbeth no holds barred, hard character nature.
I can see why the writer has written her character this way. She’s a woman in a mans world, whose a Captain of a ship with men. The odds are sorely not in her favor. Further reading in the book I really took a liking to the writing of Lisbeth’s character. So did Raphael.
But his is a different kind of liking. I liked his character as well, but Raphael is a bad boy, whom I imagined his mother boxed his ears all day. I love how his character is written with a little charm, a strong protector, a heck of a lot of a bad boy. Confident sexual dominance. And one well described naked body to have the female locking her legs around his thighs screaming harder and faster.
That silver French tongue oh his causes so much trouble for him. I myself love the sexual innuendos that he shares with Lisbeth every time he talks to her. I enjoyed the book immensely. I loved the humor among the characters, particularly between Raphael, Lisbeth and Smalls. But I really loved the suspense and mystery of hunting down the foe who destroyed so many lives.
The excitement and entertainment is a plus. The heat is a major plus, plus. I give this book two snaps and a, Raphael can you give my mons a replay again with that French tongue of yours ? Until, next time my fellow readers. Read on!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.