I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Bernadette, now Dowager Duchess of Tunbridge, and Theo, Duke of Lightmorrow, were friends as children. But since that time, their relationship has become nonexistent, and if it wasn't for their new friends, they wouldn't be in each other's lives any more. Always thrown together, they've managed to reconnect like it was yesterday, but the flirtatious aspect of the friendship is new. As is Bernadette's revelation that she wants to take a lover. Theo has always cared for her, and when he realises she is not joking, he offers to spend a few nights with her, to keep her safe and protected. The only problem is that their hearts and feelings aren't ready to give up after knowing how good they are together.

I have needed these two to get together since their first scenes in book 1. It was clear to everyone but themselves that they were in love with each other, but they just needed a push. Theo definitely fell harder for Etta, but she needed to work through her past insecurities, stemming from her childhood and her marriage, before she felt lovable. Theo was always at her side though, championing her, as were the other Duchesses and their partners. This book definitely tied the series up nicely, and was a great conclusion.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

I was really excited for this one as second chance is my jam, but ultimately it wasn't my favorite. I think this stems from the lack of emotional depth and connection between Theo and Etta. While the spice was definitely spicing in this one, I was missing those little moments I have gotten used to in other Jess Michaels books. I think those little moments of conversation where the characters are opening up to each other, that help their relationship grow, or the small touches of a new couple, make a relationship for me because it seems real and lasting. Those are the things that couples do, not just sleep together all the time, so their relationship felt superficial to me anyway. I absolutely can't believe I am saying this as someone who loves high spice, but I think this one had too much sex. There's a delicate balance between character building and spice, and I think this one just didn't have as good of a balance as her other books I've read.

Will I still read her books and buy them? Heck yeah. I just think this one didn't do it for me personally. She's still a great writer and I think if you're a fan of this series then you don't want to miss the conclusion of Theo and Etta's story.

I'm always up for a new historical romance author! This was better than I thought it would be for sure, and I'd read other books by the author. The setup is a little ridiculous and there are definitely parts of it that fall in the "these people should just have a conversation and all will be well," and parts were definitely too graphic for me, but the setup and the story were cute.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this series and this final book fit in well and Michaels is as always steamy - iliked the two lead characters and that we could see our faves from the previous books

Loved the story of Theo and Etta! I've been waiting for their story since book 1 in this series. Etta's first marriage was cold and loveless and seeing her two best friends happy makes her decide to pursue finding passion on her own. Theo has known Etta since childhood and is shocked when she admits to him her desires. He's even more shocked when he discovers her at the Donville Masquerade (great blending of series!) and decides the only one who will show her passion is him!!

Jess Michaels knows how to write characters with awesome chemistry and steamy romance scenes and she does not disappoint. Theo and Etta's story was well worth the wait and my favorite of the series.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not the Duke You Marry is the third and final book in The Kent’s Row Duchesses series.

The final story is about Theo, the Duke of Lightmorrow and Bernadette, Dowager Duchess of Tunbridge. They grew up together and neither had families that showed them love. Separated as teens by the cruelty of their fathers, they are once again reunited through their married friends.

Bernadette is the last one left on the Row. While she is happy for her friends that they are married she feels something is missing in her life and is looking for a way to satisfy it. One night Bernadette tells Theo she wants to take a lover and has no idea how to go about it. Theo is shocked. After trying to dissuade her, he offers to help her himself. They agree to a relationship with certain rules and to end once Valeria returns from her honeymoon.

A steamy few days are spent together exploring and awakening feelings each didn't realize they had. But trying to protect their hearts from being hurt when their time is up, they refrain from sharing what has been reawakened in themselves. An accident nearly takes Bernadette from Theo and forces him to realize that he wants more than just steamy nights with her. But Bernadette's father hears about her near-death accident, and cruelly hurts her in public. Bernadette is embarrassed and hurt by her father. She will have to decide what she wants most, her father in her life, or give Theo the chance to make things right and get what she dares to dream.

This was a fantastic conclusion to this series. I loved each character in all of the books. They were wonderfully written with loyalty for their friends and the people they love. Each book can be a stand-alone read but the series is so special you will want to read them all.

Not the Duke You Marry by Jess Michaels is the third book in the Kent Row Duchess series.

Bernadette "Etta" Duchess of Tunbridge is ready to fully explore her widowhood by taking a lover. She's hoping to finally find the passion that was sadly lacking from her marriage. Who better to ask than her childhood friend, Theo, The Duke of Lightmorrow. Of course, things don't really go her way, at first, and there may be a sex club involved and a bargain. But then again, best laid plans have a great way of ending up exactly as they aught.
Strap in for a hedonistic ride with Etta and Theo. Who finally get out of their own ways to experience the bliss and happiness they've always deserved.

The final book is here!

Theodore Alexander Monroe Tinsley, the Duke of Lightmorrow, never pleased his father since he was his own man. This made for a very hard life at home. Growing up he put on different "masks" to appease his father and continued that into adulthood. Few knew the real Theo. His friends, Callum, the Duke of Blackvale and Roarke Desmond knew enough.

At age eighteen his father and The Earl of Etheridge.demanded Theo marry Lady Bernadette, Etheridge's daughter. Even though the two were friends Theo rebelled and said no.

Lady Bernadette, Etta, was forced to marry the Duke of Tunbridge, who was old, mean spirited, and verbally abusive. Now with him dead, she lives on "Kent Row" with all the other dowager duchesses. Her friends Valaria, now the Duchess of Blackvale, recently married Callum, and Flora Desmond who just married Roarke, are happy with their lives. However, with her friends married, Etta is thinking of her own lack of a partner.

Etta ask, by some force, Theo how she can take a discrete lover. Shocked to the core, Theo tries to dissway her. Etta finds a letter from a club of her dead husband stating he is banned for a year, she goes to see if they can help.

What follows is a funny, erotic dance these two play. Both state plainly what they want and what they desire but is that all? Can they survive her father trying to sabotage them? Will they only be able to their deal?

The third story of Bernadette, the widowed Duchess of Turnbridge and Theo the Duke of Lightmorrow. They were childhood friends who are now thrown together as they are also friends with Valaria and Callum and Flora and Roarke, the characters from previous stories in the series who have found their HEAs. Etta decides she wants to find a lover after witnessing how happy her friends are and asks Theo for assistance in finding one. They are attracted to each other but do not want to act upon it because of their friendship. Can they continue on as friends if they give in to this attraction? Will a secret Theo has failed to share with Etta keep them apart? I couldn't put this book down until I got to the end to find out. A fantastic end to the series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

I loved all the characters in this book. Of course, there are Bernadette and Theo, the novel’s two main protagonists, who draw us into their unique relationship. What a beautiful friendship Bernadette, Flora, and Valaria have, and what can we say about Theo, Callum, and Roarke's other great friendship? The scenes between friends provide us with incredibly lovely and emotional moments. Bernadette and Theo remain the key characters, captivating with their sometimes tender, sometimes torrid relationship. We find ourselves carried away with them by the impact of their youth and their past and present feelings. These strong friendship and respect feelings collide with an intense and unexpected physical attraction. What a ferocious storm of emotions! A book to read: once you start, you won't be able to put it down.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Not the Duke You Marry is the third in Jess Michaels’ Kent’s Row Duchesses series. It can be read as a standalone, although I’d recommend the other books in the series as well. I found myself inexplicably struggling to get through this one. It’s not even that long, but not much happens (not unusual for this series), and I found myself struggling to remain invested.
On the surface, the dynamic between Etta and Theo is great. I love that they’re there to support each other after lifetimes of dealing with families who didn’t support them. And both of them have complex issues they deal with as a result of the way that their families have let them down.
But I feel like, while I’m used to the high-heat of Jess Michaels’ books, the deeper substance that I often prefer to complement the spice was missing. And it could also be my issue with this particular execution of no-strings sex/friends-with-benefits, as I didn’t feel like there was a lot of room for their deeper bond to be explored, even given the history between them.
While I didn’t love this as much as I hoped, it seems I’m in the minority, based on the early reviews. If you enjoy high-heat historical romance, I’d still recommend checking this out!

Despite being childhood friends, Theo, the Duke of Lightmorrow is left speechless when Bernadette (Etta), the Dowager Duchess of Tunbridge, confides to Theo that she wishes she could take a lover. Despite his shock, Theo responds and takes on the challenge, having always been attracted to her. Bernadette’s feelings for Theo are complicated, but so are the ways she views herself, feeling unworthy from her past experiences. It is only with Theo that she realises that her past experiences have not been true to the feelings that overcome her when she is with him.
I quite enjoyed both characters and found that as their relationship developed, so too did their past feelings rise to the surface. As they grew in confidence so did the intensity of their feelings. I must admit that I did find Bernadette overcomplicated their relationship and that her past hurts did hold her back. It was lovely to see them both admit their feelings, overcoming their past insecurities. An entertaining read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I read Jess Michaels before and I just knew I'd love this book! And I was right (as always) -- even though it's the third book in the series and I haven't read the previous two, there was no confusion, and I adored the story from the very beginning!

It's a friends-to-lovers, where the heroine -- Bernadette -- has been pining for the hero -- Theo -- ever since they met as children. Bernadette had been very unlucky with men in her life, who left her feeling unworthy and unloved. Few years after her husband's death, she decides to take a lover, and Theo, shocked by his friend's desires, volunteers to be the said lover! As friends do, obviously not because he can't stand the thought of another man being with her.

Their relationship progressed beautifully, I was rooting for them both so much! Jess definitely knows how to bring the steam and the angst. Theo had his own demons to fight, but there was never any doubt that he will do anything for his Etta. There was a nursing-back-to-health situation and it was just perfection!

I kind of predicted the third act conflict, but it didn't go the way I expected, and I was pleasantly surprised with our heroes' growth. I loved everything about this book, I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Theo, Duke of Lightmorrow and Bernadette, Dowager Duchess of Tunbridge, grew up together and both experienced the pain of families who didn’t appreciate them. Now that their mutual friends are married, they’ve rekindled a friendship that is also highly flirtatious. When one tipsy night Bernadette admits she wishes she could take a lover, Theo is shocked. They agree to start an affair but then there’s a near tragedy & an encounter with Etta’s father.
The third & final part of the trilogy & whilst it’s easily read on its own the three Duchesses are close friends so feature heavily in each story. A well written book which flowed well. I loved both Theo & Etta but they both had insecurities, which made them reticent to commit. Thank goodness they had caring friends who could see what was right in front of them. It took a near tragedy to make them realise what they really wanted
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Not the Duke you Marry by Jess Michaels
The Kent’s Row Duchesses #3

Dreams lost, pleasure plans pursued, and true love found…eventually ~ Great conclusion to this wonderful trilogy with second chances for all three of the duchesses.

What I liked:
* Bernadette: earl’s daughter, raised to “do her duty”, grew up around Theo as their fathers were friends, had dreams but did her duty, widowed young and has new dreams to pursue
* Theodore: son of a duke, rake, pleasure pursuer, wanted his father’s approval, good friend, hides deeper thoughts and emotions, grows a lot
* The slow burn second chance romance that grows between Theo and Etta once they are reunited when their friends start romances of their own
* That both main characters had horrible parents and other things in common
* That Theo always asked what Etta wanted/needed and how she wanted to feel when they were together
* That Etta was not easily walked over
* The way both main characters guarded themselves from pain…or thought that was what they were doing
* Getting to see the couples from the previous two books in the series
* Being glad I was born in this era and not when Etta was
* The conclusion of the series and the happiness found

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how horrible growing up must have been for both Theo and Etta
* Pondering how women of the ton were willing to be chattel and sold by their fathers to become the possession of the man who took over as “owner” on their wedding day

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

3.3/5-star rating

Adult Historical Fiction, heavy on romance. Both leading characters are enjoyable and even likable. The weakness is in the generic plot, which is not much beyond their trysts.

If you are in the mood for a romance between long-lost friends, this one is entertaining. A classic storyline between a widow and a handsome libertine. It’s an easy, quick read- worth an afternoon of entertainment.

Sad that we have come to the end of the Kent Row Duchesses series but Jess saved the best for last. Theo and Etta really pulled at my heart. Neither one were “seen”. How do you overcome? These friends to lovers are perfectly paired. Their story is both heartbreaking and uplifting. I do cry while reading stories but during this one I totally broke down blubbering. It was such a fantastic cry. Read this story and let all of the emotions come out. I cannot get over how much I loved this fantastic love story.

Bernadette “Etta”, the widowed Duchess of Tunbridge is feeling a bit out of sorts after her two dearest friends marry. She is happy for them, but can’t help but feel a little jealous and maybe even sorry for herself. Her marriage was by no means a love match, for the most part, he ignored her, just as her parents had always done, but after his death, she moved to Kent Row and made friends, but now they are married and leaving and she wonders what is her next step. She considers taking a lover and even mentions it to her childhood friend Theodore "Theo” Tinsley, the Duke of Lightmorrow, who by all accounts is a rake of the first order. But that conversation doesn’t go well and she is embarrassed. Later she finds a letter addressed to her late husband from Donville Masquerade, a pleasure club, and her curiosity is piqued. She visits the club and decides to join, hoping to find a lover. But instead of an anonymous lover, it is Theo who finds her. He gives her a taste of pleasure, but immediately takes her home. She presses him and he agrees to engage in an affair but makes it clear that it is only about pleasure, nothing more. She agrees to his terms, but wonders if she will be able to keep her word, as Theo has always held a part of her heart.

Theo is and always has been attracted to Bernadette and considers her a friend, a friend he doesn’t want to lose. They embark on their affair and it is clear that they are perfectly matched in bed. Theo is amazed that her late husband didn’t want her, not only is she passionate, but she is clever, kind, and considerate – what more could a man want? As his feelings deepen, he begins to long for more from their relationship and wonders if Etta feels the same. But before he can declare his love and desire to marry her, a hurtful secret from his past will crush any hope he has of HEA with the woman he now knows he can’t live without.

In my opinion, this is the best book in the series. I loved Bernadette and Theo together, I felt their chemistry right from the beginning of the series and couldn’t wait for their story and it was well worth the wait! This book is filled with emotion, insecurity, friendship, a near-death experience, steamy love scenes, vindictive family members, a little heartache, forgiveness, and finally a lovely declaration scene leading to the start of their HEA and as if that wasn’t enough, there is also a very sweet epilogue featuring all the couples. I liked the previous books, but I LOVED this one and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy steamy friends-to-lovers stories. This is the third and final book in the series, but it could definitely be read as a standalone title.

4.5 stars - rounded up

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Theo makes every mistake...does he ever make it up to Etta?

No, not really and that makes me so frustrated because Bernadette deserved the best, What she got all her life from her parents, from Theo, from her husband is them being casually cruel to her time and time again. Theo refused to marry her when he was eighteen. He knew he was making a mistake and for fourteen years, he kept being a shallow rake (boring and gross, with a high chance of sn STI). Then, long after she is widowed, she asks him for help with a lover and he blocks her. He even blocks her at the club that he went to to have fun without Etta, with a random woman or women. So, no. Does Theo ever atone for all the wrongs he's always done to Etta (making her feel rejected)? Not really. Theo definitely needed to work for it and grovel a hell of a lot more than he did.

I did enjoy this trilogy but felt like Etta was the most sheltered of all three duchesses and she really needed to spread her wings (not with Theo) to experience pleasure and sex with other men, not just Theo.
Recommend.

There are many enthusiastic reviews about this book, so I feel like the odd one out.
My first problem was with the idea of a woman going into a club for libertines because she wants to be worshipped and noticed. Her body might be, but she's clearly looking for more than that, so : wrong place, I'd say. My second problem is that there is practically no plot, everything depends on the psychology of the characters. They clearly love each other, they're clearly not imagining the other reciprocates, will they or won't they end up together... I hate it when people put thoughts into someone else's head because they are not sure of themselves, and they both do.

Maybe, also, I didn't like the book because I've caught a cold and I'm really tired, it wasn't the worst of books, just not the right book at the right time. You might enjoy it.