Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This felt almost like a reverse Cinderella story to me as I read it - Flora, the widowed Duchess of Sidmouth was a second wife to the much older Duke, but they actually had a love match, despite their age difference. She loved and respected him, and was a loyal wife, and mourned his death and has been a loyal widow for the years since his death, living on Kent Row. She was given a generous inheritance upon his death. Despite their happiness together, her stepchildren, the three children of Sidmouth's first wife, hated and reviled Flora, believing the worst of her that she seduced their father out of his love and fortune and is nothing but a contemptible, lying whore. Imagine their ire when they discover an additional codicil to their father's will, gifting her with another fortune if she met certain conditions after his death.

The three evil stepchildren conspire to do what they can to keep the monies out of their reviled stepmother's hands. To this end, they bring in their poor cousin Roarke Desmond. Roarke has no choice but to dance to his cousin, the new Duke of Sidmouth's tune, because he has his ill mother to care for, and because of poor management and investments on the part of his father and himself, he has no funds, and is forced to cozy up to his wealthy, but hated relatives to keep his mother fed and sheltered.

He doesn't know his uncle's second wife, and agrees to investigate her for a large amount of money from his cousins, to see if she has breached any of the edicts in the will, or has lied. What Roarke finds, when he inveigles himself into her group of friends is a lovely, warm, giving woman, whom he starts to fall for. Flora, for the first time since losing her husband, finds herself being attracted to a man, and starts to fall for Roarke, until her heart is broken when his deception and the mechanisms of her stepchildren are revealed.

But Roarke discovers that his cousins appear to have far more sinister plans for keeping the fortune from Flora than merely investigating her, and is compelled to keep the woman he has fallen in love with safe, despite being the cause of her heartbreak and loss of trust.

I generally enjoyed this story but I found it hard to swallow how easily Roarke allowed his contemptible cousins to bully and manipulate him. Perhaps he was feeling between a rock and a hard place, with his poor ill mother, but he came across as a bit weak willed, and cowardly, allowing himself to be used by them as he was, and only redeeming himself in the end when he saved Flora. I did enjoy the story, but did not find it as compelling as Valaria and Callum's story.

These can be read as standalone stories, but they do still connect as this happens somewhat concurrently to Valaria and Callum's story, the characters interact with each other, and there is continued build up to Bernadette and Theo's story, which I am looking forward to.



3.5 stars out of 5

Through wastefulness, bad investments and all round bad luck, Roarke Desmond has fallen on hard times. In order to take care of his dementing mother, he’s forced to grovel before his greedy and conniving cousins for an allowance. They have a cruel streak and when a secret addendum to their father’s will is revealed, the task Roarke in finding out about their stepmother’s lovers.
Desperately needing the funds, Roarke accepts, but upon meeting Flora, the lovely and very young dowager Duchess of Sidmouth, he’s immediately struck by her warmth and kindness. Ordinary encounters quickly lose their innocence when the attraction between Roarke and Flora grows.
Convinced she’s been faithful to her late husband these past three years, he returns to his cousin to report. In return they up the stakes threatening not only Flora, but also his mother.

⭐⭐⭐✨
📚 This second book in the series can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading them in order or part of the dynamic between the tight-knit group of friends - 3 dowager duchesses and 2 dukes - will be lost on you. The story itself is engaging, very fast-paced and entertaining with some nice steam, strong emotions, secrets, white lies, attempted murder and an unpredictable but satisfying ending. I like the MMC’s inner struggle and the care his has for his mother. The FMC on the other hand could have benefitted from a little more depth - she’s regularly outshined by secondary characters - but as a whole the group works very well.

3,75/5 ⭐️

✨ Historical Romance
✨ Love after Loss
✨ Second book in the Kent's Row Duchesses series
✨ Second Chance
✨ Steamy
✨ Class Difference & Mistaken Identity

>> I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review <<

Widowed duchess Flora has horribly cruel stepchildren who recruit their own impoverished cousin Roarke to spy on Flora and determine if she’s breaking the terms of an additional clause of her late husband’s inheritance. Roarke barely has any funds to support himself and his ill mother, so needs to rely on the charity of his cousins. When he meets Flora, he finds that she is attractive and kind and not at all the seductress that his cousins described. Flora had genuinely loved her much older husband and had no intention of entertaining future suitors. However, when she meets Roarke, she’s surprised to find that she is attracted to him. These two start up a friendship which may lead to more, but Roarke’s feelings of guilt are attached to everything he does. It seems like the reveal of Roarke’s betrayal may cause the couple to split before they’ve even begun, and they still need to deal with the dangers of Flora’s stepchildren. I liked how Roarke was a reluctant villain here, being torn between his obligations towards his mother and his growing feelings for Flora.

Great reading

This novel combines many positive and negative emotions. Hatred, vengeance, and jealousy will cause several twists and turns. Friendship and love will bring happy endings to all of these intrigues. The intrigues were thrilling, and I appreciated them.
I liked the two main characters in this book, Flora and Roarke. They are deep in their feelings, whether in friendship or love. It was enjoyable to watch Flora and Roarke's relationship blossom and their passion develop.
It is a steamy story that kept me captivated.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m enjoying this series about dowager duchesses and their new loves. I like how Flora loved her late husband and it wasn’t a forced marriage with no love behind it. I’m sorry she, and Roarke, had to deal with her stepchildren and his cousins. Seriously, what is wrong with them? They are horrible, petty, selfish, miserable and pathetic children, emphasis on the children or should I say childish part.

Roarke Desmond has a mother, who I assume has Alzheimer’s, and barely even recognizes her own son. He has no money and has to beg his awful cousins for money to take care of his mother. His cousins make him a deal to trick Flora so she doesn’t get another inheritance from their late father. He agrees and the deception starts.

It did take me a while to fully believe they loved each other. I can see the care, affection and passion but I didn’t automatically believe in their love until the end.

I love the bond and support of this group of characters. Flora, Valaria, Bernadette, Callum, Theo and now Roarke are a fierce group and they have each others back. It does take time for Flora to forgive Roarke which is totally reasonable. I like how they are there for each other in the end though.

I’m super excited for Bernadette and Theo’s book because I can obviously see their care and desire for each other. Can’t wait!

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 stars squeaked up to 4. This is the second book in this series, and works fairly well as a standalone, although secondary characters do play a big role in the plot. Stylistically this has its flaws but it's very fast moving and pretty compelling.

As far as MC's go, the MMC is a sympathetic cinnamon roll hero. The MFC is slightly too much on the "Mary Sue" side at times, and I was annoyed that she didn't look into MMC's mom's situation when she finally discovered the Big Secret, regardless of how angry she was at him. Just a little something like that would have given her more depth.

You basically know what will happen plotwise, although there is a slight twist involving the villains, with the author trying to give a couple of the cousins a bit of dimension. The ending falters a bit in the execution.

The level-3 steamy scenes are fine, if slightly tame (the scene with naughty paintings in the gallery was probably the sexiest in the book, and the MC's didn't even kiss).

Overall: A diverting, fast read.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.

Loved the story. It has a wonderful story line, with well developed and strong characters. There is danger and a family who wishes to destroy Flora for their own personal gain. While trying to protect her, Roarke falls in love and shortly thereafter Flora returns his feelings. There is a lot going on in this story and it held my attention until the very end. This is a great addition to the Kent’s Row Duchesses series. I can’t wait to read Bernadette and Theo’s story. Love the cover.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

Not Another Duke by Jess Michaels is the second book in The Kent's Row Duchesses series. This is the series that follows Dowagers as they find their second chances.
The Dowager Duchess of Sidmouth, Flora is content with her life, she misses her husband, as despite the consensus she did love him. Yet now almost three years after his death she is wondering if there isn't more for her. Yes, her friend has found someone, and it is possible there may be a different path for her.
Rourke Desmond is beholden to his cousin for his upkeep. If it were just him to consider he would never darken his door again as he is a vile person as are his siblings, alas his mother is frail and needs constant care. However, the current task is so abhorrent, spy on the widow of his late Uncle or risk ruin. When caught between no good solution Rourke is forced to head carefully. And it's only once he meets Flora and finds her to be refreshing and not at all the evil seductress described by his cousins that he truly realizes he had made an awful mistake. And when things become more complicated and the plot is uncovered danger now lurks with the potential to cause true harm. When standing up to the bullies may be the only way to see things through and the potential for forgiveness to those with impossible decisions.

Due to poor investments, Roarke Desmond has become dependent on his horrible cousins for an allowance, in order to care for his mother. This time, however, the assistance comes with an ultimatum: spy on their stepmother Flora, the Duchess of Sidmouth, to prove she is having an affair and is ineligible for an additional widow's portion. But when Flora and Roarke meet, there is an undeniable spark that threatens to turn both their worlds upside down.

This is the second book in the Kent's Row Duchesses series. All the couples' stories are connected, so I would recommend reading in order.

Evil family members and the need to protect loved ones are micro-tropes that I think generally work very well. You have villains to hate and already start the story routing for Flora and Roarke. I like how the story unfolded and that the secret was revealed in a reasonable time so the trust could be rebuilt.

Tropes: Widow, Class Difference (sort of), Mistaken Identity (sort of), Second Chance

Steam: 3

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