Eh? This left me mostly frustrated. The miscommunication trope is a tricky one, and not well done here. If I’m screaming: just talk to each other, it’s not great, the spice was good though.

I would like to thank netgalley and Kingsley Publishers for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was boring and not really connected to Austen at all.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! the story follows Aiden who suddenly inheritances the title therefore the responsibilities he never thought he would had to fullfil, like giving an heir, then he meets Loretta and the rest is story.
Is such a good HR, it balances so well everything that a HR needs.

This was a first time read for me by this author and it definitely won't be my last. A story of a marriage of convenience that unexpectedly develops into something more. Aiden, a military man, never expected to be responsible for the Northumberland Dukedom, but that's exactly what happens when his older brother dies and he inherits everything. Now he is expected to fulfill his duty of providing an heir, and of course that means he needs to find a bride, a prospect he is not looking forward to. That is until he sees Lynette. He believes they could have a comfortable life of convenience with each other. But Lynette wants only to marry for love. They begin to court and an attraction develops between them and Lynette begins to wonder if that will be enough. They both begin to develop real feelings for each other, but can't help but wonder if only duty and lust is driving these feelings. Is there a chance that they could both have true love?
A delightful story and sweet romance that I very much enjoyed and I look forward to reading more by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

It was fine but honestly conflict was mild and could have been resolved with better communication, and I have already forgotten most of the story or backstory of the leads.

I just had the pleasure of finishing this romantic historical fiction...my favorite genre. I loved the characters, especially Aiden & Loretta. and the story that led up to where we began. The dukedom is in peril. The first son had been groomed to inherit the title. He and his wife had been in the First son was married ten years and failed to produce a male heir. He is killed in an accident so they call upon the second son,Aiden who has been working in Switzerland as a diplomat for his country to come home immediately, learn the business and be married by the end of the London season. It is made clear it is his duty to the family to do this. He learns the business really quickly. He is less thrilled about being married. Granny insists it is his duty to produce an heir. He doesn’t see the hurry. Granny drags him to every luncheon and Ball as her escort. As it happens the first luncheon Aiden accidentally runs into Loretta while she is eating a peach from Mrs Paxton’s private garden. It was love at first sight for Aiden. He searched her out at the Paxton Ball that evening, they had dinner together, next day he sent a huge bouquet love ensues. Yes, I would recommend especially if you like historical fiction. I would like to thank the following for allowing me to read and review earlyThe one pitfall which I see in many historical fiction. Their engagement and marriage is based on a misunderstanding. Did he marry her for duty or love. He doesn’t know the best way to tell her that he loves her so he doesn’t but she won’t tell him she loves him either. I would like to thank the following for allowing me to read and review giving my own honest opinion.
#NetGalley
#KingsleyPublishing
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#MyDutyToYouAnAustenGenerationNovel
This is part of a series of books by this author.
Publication Date: August 19,2023
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Aiden Elliot has worked hard to prove himself as a second son, fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. Yet when his brother dies, he finds himself the new Duke of Northumberland. He resists fulfilling his duty of marriage until he meets Lynette Elphinstone. Lynette prefers to be a spinster but on meeting Aidan, she wonders whether they could be a love match or whether she is simply a means to providing an heir.
This is a sweet romance between two interesting characters. I particularly enjoyed the character of Lynette who had a mind of her own and embraced the notion of romance between herself and Aidan. I had wished that at times, Aidan had less self-talk as this tended to detract from the flow of the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Below are my honest thoughts on this book.

This book is the first in a new series. This book follows the story of second son turned heir Aiden, who needs to find a bride and marry quickly (at his family’s insistence). Aiden spots Lynette at event and is instantly intrigued by her. Aiden believes they could have a happy marriage of convenience, meanwhile Lynette will only marry for love. Aiden and Lynette begin a courtship, and Lynette believed a marriage of convenience with lust involved could be enough for her. Lynette and Aiden both develop feelings of love toward, but are hesitant to confess out of fear of rejection. Of course, they end up revealing those feelings and get their happily ever after.

One of the major tropes in this story was misunderstanding. The misunderstanding is one of my least favorite tropes mostly because as a reader, it is so frustrating. All these problems that Lynette and Aiden faced regarding their feelings of love toward the other could have been mostly avoided if they just had an honest conversation. Lynette making assumptions based on parts of conversations she heard between Aiden and his grandmother, and then drawing completely incorrect conclusions had me wanting to toss my kindle.

Additionally I couldn’t understand why Lynette got so upset that society viewed her marriage as a love match. Yes I know that’s what Lynette wanted most of all in her marriage, but Lynette wasn’t a fresh debutante. She had been out in society, I believe, for 7 years. Lynette just came off as very immature when she was someone who was essentially “on the shelf”. She should have had an understanding at this point about society and its gossip.

Finally, there’s one historical fact that bothers me. In the epilogue Aiden, Lynette and Matilda are discussing Sense and Sensibility. Lynette mentions that she would like to meet the woman who wrote the novel, however Jane Austen was never publicly acknowledged for her writing during her lifetime, and the epilogue takes place in 1812, when Jane Austen was very much alive.

Overall this book wasn’t for me. It took me awhile to get through even though it was reasonably short in length. If the misunderstanding trope is for you though you will probably find it more enjoyable.

Spare turned heir, Aiden Elliot, has to procure a bride, and fast! With the untimely death of his elder brother and imminent demise of his beloved father, Aiden's matriarchal grandmama is on his case to uphold the dynasty and continue the family lineage.

Enter bluestocking, Lynette Elphinstone. It's her nineth London Season and at the ripe old age of six and twenty, her days on the marriage market are numbered. Not that she could give a pinch of snuff. Lynette is quite happy to retire to the country and indulge her passion for literature. Although she is content with her lot, there's just one thing missing; Lynette yeans for the true love she reads about but believes can only exist in novels.

When Aiden spots Lynette doing something she shouldn't in Lady Paxton's orangery, he knows that he can have no other. He makes her an offer of marriage and with societal expectations weighing heavily, Lynette accepts. While neither of them can deny their attraction to one another, the question that vexes them both is whether their relationship is only based on duty and lust, and if there is a chance for love.

I am not a huge romance reader, but I thoroughly enjoyed My Duty to You by Alyssa Martin. Reading about a bygone era where marriage was openly mercenary as opposed to our modern ideals of marrying for love was interesting and often amusing. Alyssa paints a vivid picture of this time, where the outward gentility of the London Season belied its true nature; it was little more than a meat market.

Through it all, Alyssa Martin captures the excitement and trepidation of a new relationship, and she doesn't shy away from the sex scenes. Indeed, the blossoming physical relationship between the couple is exquisitely written and portrays how their sexual intimacy strengthened their bond.

A delightful, uplifting romance that will rekindle your belief in true love.

My Duty to You: An Austen Generation Novel by Alyssa Martin

Absolutely love this book. Great story, really speaks in depth of inner strength, physically and mentally.
10/10

Charming story, absolutely loved this book couldn't put it down superb well written and a great cast of characters will read more from this author.

I started this book with the hope of an interesting and exciting regency romance for the ages. However, what I got was a little underwhelming and frankly not so exciting characters. Lynnette and Aidan are basic and one dimensional. I get what the author was trying to say through these characters, take Lynnette’s best friend, Teresa I think her name was she was mention a couple of times and that was it no more of her was said and then, a bunch of other members of the peerage that were not contributing anything to the story. Aidan’s inner monologue was a little tiring as well as Lynnette’s. With just a little more communication this couple would have a better understanding of one another, instead the story drags. There were not glaring errors that I could find and the story is well written.

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