Any Duke in a Storm by Amalie Howard is a captivating historical romance that effortlessly enthralls its readers. Howard skillfully weaves a tale filled with breathtaking action and scorching-hot scenes, all the while ensuring ample opportunity to develop her endearing protagonists.

This is an entertaining, well-written, fast paced, steamy, historical romance novel. It has diverse characters, including a strong and capable female protagonist, a kind and caring, heroic male protagonist, wit, a touch of humor, engaging banter, intrigue, secrets, sizzling chemistry, a heartwarming romance, and a happily ever after ending. The author's notes are interesting and informative, and are truly appreciated. This is the fourth entry in Ms. Howard's outstanding Daring Dukes series, and it can easily be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Ms. Amalie Howard, and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this wonderful novel. This is my honest opinion.

As much as I enjoy this authors writing, this book left me wanting to know more of Lizbeth’s background, we learn virtually nothing of her childhood, I wanted to know more of what made her become the person she was. None of that was shared and I miss that element of her story. Saints background was more fully explained as it was his uncle who is the villain of the story. This was not my favorite of the series due to certain aspects but overall the ending was satisfactory.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I will never not like a book that Amalie writes ! I will read everything she writes in one sitting. I’m in absolute awe and love with her characters and story telling, once again she delivers and doesn’t disappoint. 10/10 recommend!

Any Duke in a Storm is the fourth book in the Daring Dukes series. This can be a stand-alone read. I read the previous two books but did not feel it was necessary to have done so. I enjoyed each one separately.

Lady Lisbeth Medford is an international spy and is, working on a case of a smuggling ring in the West Indies. Undercover as a sailing master, Raphael Saint, Duc de Viel, escapes a trap set by his uncle and lands on Lisbeth’s ship. But when her identity is compromised, she's forced to escape.

Raphael has been working for years to get revenge on his uncle who is the biggest smuggler in the Caribbean. But most of all he is responsible for the downfall and death of his father.

Lisbeth has also set her sights on Raphael's uncle's smuggling operation. When she learns that the man she is after is Raphael's uncle, she suspects they might be partners. Lisbeth finds herself in danger and ends up on Raphael's ship as they head to New York to catch his uncle on his ship. The danger is far from over as Lisbeth is captured by Raphael's uncle.

This was a fun romance on the high seas. I enjoyed the major characters portrayed as smugglers/pirates. It is also fun when history is woven into the story.

3.5/5. Releases on January 9th, 2024.

Any Duke in a Storm is the fourth book in the Daring Dukes series by Amalie Howard. However, I read this as a standalone and although it would be nice to have background on some of the characters, it's not required.

This book follows our main characters, Lisabeth Medford, a spy that's been undercover for two years as the bloody and fearful pirate 'Bonnie Bess' and, Raphael Saint, a disgraced Duke who's an actual smuggler. Both of which are attempting to take down Saint's uncle, Charles who is admittedly a piece-of-sh*t.

What I liked:
- QUEER and POC REP - Both MCs are on the queer spectrum and Raphael is part Carribean himself. You don't see this very often in historical romance and I LOVE that it's becoming more normalized!
- Raphael's piercings - IFYKYK
- Lisabeth's personality - she's both a badass and afraid at the same time. Her character development was TOP TIER, especially for this genre which tends to be more surface level
- Action on action on action!!! The drama, the sword fights, the ship battles - it truly was a hoot!

What I didn't like:
- This book was a bit too insta-love for me (especially on Raphael's end). I know that's a personal preference and some people love insta-love so this is definitely a 'me issue'.
- Raphael's personality (especially at the beginning on the book) made we want to vomit. I seriously HATED HIM at first and by the end, I'm not quite sure if I actually like him.
- Raphael's nickname for Lisabeth - this also gave me the ick
- Nari, a 12-year old girl that provides humor via her foul mouth and aspirations to become a pirate herself. I personally just don't really like children in romance books most of the time (so far I've only liked Daisy & Rosamund in Tessa Dare's The Governess Game).

BOTTOM LINE:Any Duke in a Storm is a fun pirate historical romance novel. in the Daring Dukes series by Amalie Howard. I would definitely suggest it for lovers of this genre. Although there were things I didn't love, I am interested in reading the rest of this series.

Thank you to Net Galley, Amalie Howard & Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Any Duke in a Storm is the fourth book in the Daring Dukes series. I've only read two of the four and felt like it could easily be read as a standalone. The couple from book three do make a few appearances but I wasn't missing anything having never read their book.

Bonnie Bess may be a cutthroat smuggler but underneath it all Lady Lisbeth is just trying to juggle the many her many personas. As a spy for the crown, she has been tasked with helping to catch the infamous Prince of Smugglers by infiltrating their smuggling ring. She doesn't expect to take on a mysterious new sailing master who it turns out is the Prince of Smugglers notorious nephew. They both have plenty of secrets and it's becoming increasingly difficult to separate their mission and feelings.

This is a swashbuckling romp all around the Caribbean and Eastern US. There was plenty of pirate speak, sword fights, and spice. I loved how naturally flirtatious Saint was. He was charming, funny, snarky and sarcastic but never at Lisbeth's expense. Lisbeth was a fun heroine. Since she's the captain of the ship, she is used to be the dominant one in a relationship and it was nice seeing her have moments of letting her guard down with Saint. Although I really enjoyed it, the first half did feel a bit tedious. About halfway in, the plot hit it's stride. I think the details in setting up the plotline was what make the first half go on forever. Ultimately, the romance and chemistry made the book. It had great spice that I can see myself rereading I enjoy Amalie Howard's book and will definitely think about going back and reading the two books in the series I missed. I think it's important to read the author's notes in the end. It made me aware of how much research Howard put into the book and appreciate some of the choices she made more.

Tropes included: romance on the sea, pirates/smugglers, found family, secrets and spies, diverse hero, strong heroine, pansexual heroine, divorced heroine, hero falls first, "good girl," forced proximity, nicknames, tattooed and pierced hero, swordfight foreplay

Thank you to NetGalley, Amalie Howard, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for giving me this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #amaliehoward #AnyDukeinaStorm #DaringDukes

I wanted to like this book as I'm a fan of Ms. Howard, but I didn't quite connect with the main characters. The story was okay, but not enough for me to stick with it to find out what happens. I stopped reading around 30%. I'm sure there are other readers who love a pirate story, and will love this one. I plan to read the next book by this author as I've enjoyed other books by her in the past.

"You summoned me, Captain, my captain? Is it time for that tongue-lashing you promised? Or was that a regular lashing? Either way, I am your willing servant."

"Tease a starving man with a banquet he cannot have, Viking, and his only state will be one of pure survival."

"Good girl."

Wonderful!!! Loved it !!! Absolutely loved it !!! A thrilling, exciting, spicy, romantic, tension driven regency romance with pirates book!!! Lisbeth, American spy, countess and also captain of a ship meets in her crew a brand new meme we saved from ashore. He is Raphael, a criminal, a rascal but a handsome one at that. Also a duke who’s seeking revenge against his uncle whom she is also trying to find and frame for all his crimes. Raphael is smitten from moment one and that things he does with his mouth!!!! He is so so so good!!!! The things he says !!!! He made me giddy and giggling constantly while reading the book!!! And it was such an amazing sensation !!!!! Loved it deeply!!!! And Lisbeth !!! I loved her!! Such a badass, not afraid of staking her claim and her authority. Two people who do not submit … but inevitably do for one another!!! Secrets and so so much spicy tension between them that will make them get feral for one another !!! So addicting !! An amazing book to read !!!

"Calling me Saint while the sweet taste of you is seared into my senses seems rather formal, wouldn't you say?"

"You deserve to be happy with whomever you choose to be. Whether that's Bonnie Bess or not. We choose the paths we follow. We determine who we are."

4th book in the Daring Duke series
Can be read as standalone, but MC’s from previous book (The Duke in Question) are also in this book and gives more context about FMC.

This review is going to be all over the place because I just don’t know where to start with all the praise I need to give this book. I read the Duke in Question last year and I was surprised at the exquisite mix of action, a historical setting and especially the steam. And let me tell you that Any Duke In A Storm was the best followup. This book can be read standalone, but if you want the full effect and context I would really recommend to go back and read The Duke in Question first. That features Lisbeth’s ex husband as the MMC and gives you already an impression about Lisbeth. I was thoroughly enchanted when I met Lisbeth in the previous book and I really wanted to learn about her. I didn’t know at the time that it was still an ongoing series and when I saw this pop up on netgalley and saw Lisbeth mentioned I pretty much screamed and pressed request asap!

This book was glorious and everything I wanted for Lisbeth. She deserves a man like Raphael, someone who falls first and he falls hard. He gives her the trust she needs, he knows he needs to give her space and that she will come (hehe pun intended) clean eventually.
The book starts at a pivotal time for both mc’s, Raphael has been working for years to get revenge on his uncle who is the biggest smuggler in the caribbean area and he is responsible for the downfall of his father. Lisbeth in the meantime has been working as a spy for two years to try and infiltrate and work her way up in the smuggling operations so that she can also catch Raphael’s uncle. Due to a series of unfortunate events Lisbeth finds Raphael on her ship and sparks are flying from the get go. The story takes you on this journey of pirates, hurricanes, near drownings, explosions and hot steamy scenes full of passion, to the high New York society and French courts and ballrooms.

I fell hard for Raphael, I want that man to fall for me, I want to give him a hug, I want to give him the world. He’s charming and he knows it and uses it, but not to excess. And that is also the reason why he works so great as a character. You know the phrase ‘show, don’t tell?’, that is exactly what happens here. It’s never overly mentioned how much of a french dandy he is, but it’s all there in the details between the lines. There’s so many layers to him and you feel it from the first few lines in the book.

Usually I am not a fan of the whole ‘mc keeps a secret from other mc which then becomes the third act conflict’, but in this story it works perfectly. Lisbeth has to choose between Raphael or catching his uncle for his crimes. She has worked so long as a spy, dedicated her entire life, that she lost her own identity and Raphael is the one where she feels like there may be some of her own identity left to find.

I want to talk about this book for hours, I haven’t even really touched on the subject of the steam yet, but let me tell you that it was glorious and I cannot wait to grab my own copy because this is going to be prime rereading material. Not that I have to reread any of it, there is one scene permanently engraved in my brain. The little glimpse of femdom really did it for me, and I loved how it switched from femdom to maledom. You don’t see a lot of switches in romancelandia and that on its own is making this book unique.


At the end when we get to the author's note I really recommend you all to read it. The amount of research that went into this book is incredible and throughout your reading journey you just feel the love the author has for the settings in which this story takes place, and when you get to the author’s note she gives more context. It made me tear up and realize that I really need to up my game in reading more books with diverse representation.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the chance to read this incredible romance story.

Any Duke in a Storm is the fourth book in the Daring Dukes series by Amalie Howard. Don't worry - if you haven't read the other books, you can still pick this one up and read it as a stand-alone as I don't think you'll miss out on anything.

I love a good pirate story and in this book, famed spy Lady Lisbeth Medford is on a ship bound for the West Indies, but the only thing more dangerous than her mission is the Duke she's trying to capture. Lady Lisbeth Medford, Countess of Waterstone and famed international spy, is determined to infiltrate a notorious smuggling ring in the West Indies while on a covert mission as a ship's captain. When her identity is compromised, she is forced to flee but she doesn't get away without some challenges...which includes her new sailing master, Raphael Saint.

Raphael Saint is the Duc de Viel and he he has been evading threats on his life for a while now. When he escapes from prison, he heads to the docks and looks for the first ship he can get on without endangering his life again...at least for now. Diving into his new role as the sailing master (for a crew made up of mostly women), he finds himself truly enjoying himself...especially with the intriguing captain he is now taking orders from.

As the story progresses, these characters are drawn to each other but they are keeping secrets and eventually, they come out. Now they need to figure out whether they can trust each other and what that means for their potential future.

I truly enjoyed this book. As I mentioned, I love a good pirate / high-seas adventure story and this one definitely fits the bill. Not only that, the characters are interesting and I found myself unable to put this one down until I found out how everything gets wrapped up. If you're looking for a new historical romance to pick up, grab this one!

first of all, lisbeth is goals. a badass spy lady on the high seas? literally an icon. this book was so surprisingly feminist yet full of lustful romance. also i guess i have a viking kink, who knew? i absolutely loved any duke in a storm and amalie howard is a historical romance powerhouse

This is the thrilling tale of a badass Viking spy and her arrogant but deadly charming Robin Hood pirate. It’s an enthralling action-packed whirlwind of spies, murderous villains, tropical storms and explosions, secrets, lies, intrigue and treason, loyalty, sacrifice and a little beastie. The sparks fly off the page and the dialogue is witty, quick and deliciously direct.

It’s anything but smooth sailing, and mixing business with pleasure is tricky in the best of situations. These two fight hard and love even harder! While Lisbeth is a demiromantic pansexual and basically an English rose in looks, Raphael has a multicultural background, a tattoo and some tantalising piercings. With both of them looking for dominance in this unusual and explosive alliance, they soon discover letting the other determine their pace can be most pleasing as well. They’re well-matched in everything, but trust is something that has to earned and that creates a sizzling enemies-to-lovers, touch-her/him-and-die, hate-to-love-you vibe with some really beautiful tender moments, sweet caretaking and some heartbreaking choices. And yes, the steam is exquisite!!

What an excellent read to start the new year! This one was a blast - literally - and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking a captivating adventure!

Lady Lisbeth Medford, international spy, is trying to infiltrate a notorious smuggling ring in the West Indies while on a covert mission as a ship's captain. Raphael Saint, Duc de Viel, escapes a trap and land on Lisbeth’s ship as the new sailing master. The two are suspicious of each other; but when a new threat on the high seas emerges, the only way out of danger might be to face it together.

This is the fourth book in the Daring Dukes series. The heroine, Lisbeth, is the former wife and spy partner of the hero from book three. Book three's couple plays a role in this story.

If you're looking for flirtatious adventure on the high seas, this is it. I thought it took a little bit to get going and I would have liked for the information about Lisbeth's mission and Raphael's plans for his uncle to be clearer, but this story hit its stride about a third of the way in and kept pulling me in. I liked that there was some role reversal here and Lisbeth held most of the cards as captain and spy, while Raphael started from a weaker position. This story had plenty of intrigue, swagger, and fun. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean, or the shows Black Sails and Our Flag Means Death.

Tropes: Disguised Character, Working Heroine, Ship Trip Romance, Forced Proximity

Steam: 3+ (three full scenes, but the first one felt like it could have been counted as two)

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the ARC of this book. all opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this! It was fantastic and I can not wait to see what's next! The character development, plot, and story were so well developed. I loved it. Amalie has such a way with pulling you into a story and making you feel like you're living it too. She does such a great job with the setting and showing, not telling. I enjoyed diving into this one and even as not the biggest historical romance reader, Amalie always makes me want to read them more often! I highly recommend checking this one out!

Famed spy Lady Lisbeth Medford Countess of Waterstone is on a ship bound for the West Indies, but the only thing more dangerous than her mission is the elusive Duke she's trying to capture. She's determined to infiltrate a notorious smuggling ring in the West Indies while on a covert mission as a ship's captain. But even when her identity is compromised and she's forced to flee. The trouble in front of her, however, might be even worse. Raphael Saint, the Duc de Viel, is her ship's new aggravating and dangerously charming sailing master, who might very well be part of the smuggling ring Lisbeth must bring to justice.
The fourth book in the series & it’s very easily read on its own. I always like a romance set on the high seas & thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really liked both Raphael & Lisbeth & loved that he fell hard & fast for her, I did find her to be a bit cold to begin with. I did love the chemistry between them & the banter was witty. A well written enjoyable romance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Amalie Howard is amazing. I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of Any Duke In A Storm from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed the story. All thoughts and opinions are my own. What an action packed, romantically charged, high seas adventurous story. Raphael Saint, has a priceless wicked sense of humor. He also happens to be an extremely handsome and attractive smuggler, and son of a traitorous French Duke. Lady Lisbeth Medford, also the Countess of Waterstone, is a strong, super athletic ship captain known as Bonnie Bess. The chemistry between these two is palpable. The banter is hilarious, especially the very creative insults of an an orphaned 12 year old girl. I absolutely loved and adored this story for its creativity, its uniqueness, and its well written flow of words. A fabulous story!

Everyone is at sea in this one with danger and smuggling and covert spy operations. Lisbeth is all the things: countess, British spy, and dangerous sea captain. She’s deep undercover to bring down a smuggling ring on behalf of the American government. Somehow she gets entangled with Raphael, the son of a disgraced French duke, who is part of that smuggling ring, but really just seeking revenge against his uncle for betraying his father. These two bicker and fight and struggle for dominance, all while lusting after each other like crazy. High on the steam and high on the action-adventure in this one.

I usually love Amalie Howard's books. The writing is always solid and the couples have crackling chemistry. Those two things were definitely true for Any Duke in a Storm but I just didn't enjoy this book as much as I've enjoyed most of the books I've read by her.

Lisbeth Medford has been undercover for nearly two years, posing as intimidating and swaggering smuggler, Bonnie Bess. Raphael Saint, the disgraced Duc de Viel, has been an actual smuggler since his father was falsely accused of treason and their family lands were seized. Both of them are in pursuit of Raphael's uncle, a notoriously treacherous smuggler himself, when they find themselves on the same ship, increasingly drawn together. But Lisbeth has secrets and a mission from the Crown that might just jeopardize Raphael's safety - and their relationship.

This book definitely had pirate romance vibes, and there was tons of fun pirate-adjacent content, including plenty of jokes and a 12-year-old girl who wanted to grow up to be a fierce pirate. But I just never entirely clicked with the two main characters. Raphael has that cocky pirate swagger, but I ended up finding him totally annoying instead of sexy. The moments where he stopped joking and was actually serious were among his best, but those were few and far between. Lisbeth worked better for me, but she too had some questionable moments where I got a bit frustrated with her. The overall story arc got a bit convoluted for me, as well, meaning I just never quite got into the book as much as I wanted too.

Ultimately, not my favorite book in this series, or of Howard's more generally.

3.25/5

This book definitely worked better for me than the third in the series, though I still had some of the same issues. The plot in this series is just...a lot. A lot happens, it's all a little convoluted because it's about spies, and I just end up not really caring that much about the plot itself. The same happened here, and the conclusion of the plot happens very rapidly.

BUT I loved the relationship between Lisbeth and Raphael in this one! I loved how firey Lisbeth was and how her relationship with Raphael makes her reevaluate what she really wants out of her life and how she keeps everyone at arm's length. I think the addition of her ward was so funny and also added to Lisbeth evaluating her life. I loved how gone Raphael was for her basically immediately and really believed in the passion and chemistry between them. Amalie Howard can write the HECK out of a sex scene, and that is true here - they're really really good!

I think I like this series theoretically more than I like it in execution - I really love the diversity and appreciate Amalie's authors note at the end. In this book, we have Raphael who is biracial (French and Tobagan) and Lisbeth who in our definitions now, would identify as pansexual and demisexual.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.