This story sucks you in from the opening in 1808 and holds you prisoner through the main body thirteen years later. I have been anticipating the enigmatic Seraphina’s story since the beginning of the series, and it was worth the wait. Of all of the Oddments (the name a group of friends bestowed upon themselves), Seraphina was the one who seemed to hold the deepest, darkest secrets. Turns out that was true. Finally, we learn all of Seraphina’s secrets – and goodness – there are some doozies in there. After you learn of all she endured, you’ll wonder at the strong, resilient woman she became. However, I believe that strength and resilience was already a part of her makeup or she would never have been able to endure and overcome all she did.

Lady Seraphina Trew, daughter of the Earl of Farrow, had the temerity to fall in love with, and secretly marry, a boy who worked in her father’s stables, Iain MacInnes. Seraphina never cared about the difference in their status – she just loved Iain beyond measure – until he betrayed her. Not only did that break her heart and soul, it cost her thirteen years of terror, hiding, doing unspeakable things, and protecting her sisters to her own personal detriment.

Iain MacInnes loved Seraphina Trew beyond measure – until she betrayed him in a most unconscionable way. Somehow, he’d always known that she couldn’t really love him because he was so far beneath her. Iain couldn’t punish Seraphina for that betrayal, he still loved her – always would – but he could take revenge on the pompous aristocrats of her class. And he did – over and over – he outmaneuvered them at cards and any other way he could and amassed their estates and a fortune to boot. Iain became a very wealthy man.

Seraphina, now known as Seraphina Athwart, has a comfortable life on the Isle of Synne. She and her two sisters own the Quayside Circulating Library where they are finally settled and happy. Until a very bitter Iain shows up looking for a divorce from her. She has no choice but to go with him to Scotland for the divorce.

Iain, now the Duke of Balgair, has recently learned that his dead wife is not dead at all. Bitter pain and resentment drive him to look for her for over a year until he finally finds her. He’ll drag her back to Scotland to prove she is alive – and to get the divorce he wants.

Goodness – what a read! Seraphina has intrigued me since the first book and Iain, WOW! Just WOW. I adored them as a couple and I loved seeing them open up during that road trip and discover what really happened to them all those years ago. I love Iain’s compassion and caring and his ready acceptance that he still loved Seraphina and wanted her to continue as his wife. What I didn’t love was that Seraphina held on to her determination to have the divorce and be done with Iain for much too long. What I would have rather seen was her continuing as his wife and the two of them exacting revenge on her father. That didn’t happen! After all he cost them, after all of the cruelty, he didn’t really get any punishment at all. Anyway, I still loved the book, but I didn’t give it 5-stars because I hated to see her father walk away totally unscathed.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

I have enjoyed all the Isle of Synne books and this is no exception. In this case, we have much more of a road trip (fair enough - eventually there are simply too many dukes on one island). I'm not a fan of second chance romances so this book start with a knock from my perspective.

Seraphina and Iain are both likeable characters and I believe they love each other. There was a lot of backstory that could have been explored, but I think that would have been a much darker book so I understand why there is a lot glossed over. It does mean this is just a light fun read.

One thing about historical romances is that I'm gonna roll through them so fast. I think I read this one within 24 hours-it's not too long, has a fun storyline (the third in a series too, so I was already well acquainted with the world), and takes place over a short amount of time, so it felt fast no matter what!

Long story short, The Duke's All That is a second chance historical romance with a stubborn red-headed bookshop owner and a stubborn Scottish man, both of whom thinks the other betrayed them right after they got married 13 years ago. There's a road trip, there's only one room at the inn, there's a foul-mouthed parrot, and there's miscommunication (which I usually detest, but this one was different, especially since the miscommunication was from the get-go.) Could I have used the two lovers to actually speak their feelings a little faster? Sure. But see above, they are stub.born.

All in all, quite liked it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the e-ARC!

DNF at 37%. I don’t hate the concept of this, but I really wish there was more context (or at least a hint) for why a seemingly happy couple’s marriage would break up early on, and she would go to such intense lengths to disappear. I just don’t feel the potential for investment in them falling back in love when I don’t “get” their history and have a reason to root for them.

Tropes: 2nd chance romance; MC seeking a divorce; MFC with a shadowy past
Steam level: 2-3
Part of a series: Yes, but it would work OK as a standalone.

3.5 stars rounded up because I appreciate that the author brought some darker elements into play here, including the topic of divorce, which usually doesn't take center stage in Regencies due to the challenges of getting a divorce at the time (of course Scotland's laws were more lenient). I enjoyed the return of previous characters in this series, the writing was solid, and the MC's did have chemistry. They're both likable, although I liked Iain more by the end (more on that below). The physical relationship is a slow burn with some tasteful steam, nothing OTT. (I find the cover absolutely beautiful, BTW.)

What kept this from a strong 4-5 stars for me:
--Need more bonding time for the MC's in the first half. A lot of time is spent with Seraphina's friends at the expense of time with Iain, and I felt like the emotional connection could have been stronger. I've had this issue with a lot of HR's recently, though, so it's maybe just personal taste.
--The Big Miscommunication(s) and a bit of repetitive internal monologue-ing. I'm just not big on conflicts that could have been easily solved through discussion. Let's move forward, people!
--The Third Act angst due to a decision Seraphina makes. I'm not big on martyrs and this plotpoint took a bit of the enjoyment out of the HEA for me.

Overall: this would probably fall in the middle of the books in this series for me, ratings-wise. I think the author tried a few new things here, introducing some darker elements, but it ends up being a bit trope-y by the end.
Still, this is a solidy written HR, and you might like it if you're more into some of the elements I mentioned than I am.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. This book is set to be published February 6.

Great second chance romance with the care and emotional depth that is Brittons hallmark. I love the isle of sinne and am always so happy to return to it, so this series is great. Seraphina was lovely and believable and her romance was tentative and heartfelt in the best ways,

Returning to the Isle of Synne is always a treat. This is the third in the Synneful Spinsters series and the second series the author has taken place on the isle. This one especially can be read on it’s own as much of the story takes place on a road trip to Scotland and there is plenty of recapping. I’ve read and enjoyed the books from both series.

Seraphina owns the Quayside Circulating Library at a seaside resort town on the Isle of Synne. She has kept quiet about her past from her good friends. And even her younger sisters who she supports do not know all of the things that she has done to provide for them. She is happy with her life and is stunned when her past catches up to her. Iain MacInnes has tracked down Seraphina after learning she wasn’t dead as he believed. Thirteen years ago he worked in her fathers stables and they fell in love and eloped. Her father tricked both of them into believing the other gave up on them. He has come to get a divorce from her. And he doesn’t share that he is now the Duke of Balgair.

This is a sweet, second chance romance. I’ve enjoyed Seraphina as a side character in the previous books and was happy to see her get her romance. Her pet parrot came off more annoying than funny but it did add some filler while the pair make their way to Scotland to take care of the legalities. I enjoy Britton’s easy writing style and this hits midrange for steaminess. I can’t wait to see what the author writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

I enjoyed this book so much, and I highly recommend it for fans of historical slow burn love stories, Scottish MMCs, and second chance romances.

Iain and Seraphina's story begins like an ending: two forbidden lovers exchanging vows and consummating their marriage in secret before absconding together for a new life. Except before they can get on the road, Seraphina turns back to say farewell to her sisters, changing her life and Iain's forever.

The story skips ahead 13 years, where Iain lives as a Duke with his newly discovered cousin and grandmother, still feeling very much alone. When he receives word that his wife, who he had heard had died following their separation, was actually alive, he sets off to discover where she's hiding.

Seraphina and her sisters live a quiet life on the isle of Synne, where they run a circulating library and Seraphina writes a serial under the pen name S. L Key. She is reserved and rather guarded even with her closest friends, but she lives as happily as she imagines she can. When Iain walks back into her life demanding a divorce, he threatens to unravel the safety that she has established for herself and her sisters, so she agrees to travel with him to Scotland to legally divorce him.

This is a story of forbidden love undone, of young lovers separated by lies and manipulation, and of a young woman who loves fiercely and will do absolutely anything to protect her sisters.

Although the story is told from two points of view, in terms of character growth it dominantly feels like Seraphina's story. She grows so much from the beginning to end, learning to open up and depend on the people she loves. It's a lovely story filled with slow burn romantic tension, just enough spice, and a satisfying ending.

After thirteen years apart, Iain learns that his duchess is still alive. Seraphina created a new life to keep herself and her sisters safe. Despite their painful past, the attraction between them still smolders. Haunted by hurt and betrayal, can Iain and Seraphina fall in love again?

This story is intense and emotional, with likable characters and secrets hanging between them. Even after the truth comes to light, the habit of distrust is difficult to overcome. I enjoyed how strong and determined Iain and Seraphina are.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Dukes All That is book three in the Synneful Spinsters series.

Iain MacInnes and Lady Seraphina were once young and madly in love when they married without her father’s permission. Thirteen years, several manipulations and traumatic events later Iain finds himself a Duke and not widowed like he’d been told for over tens years and Seraphina finally has a life and is safe with her sisters on the idyllic Isle of Synne in northeast England. When Iain finds Seraphina, he convinces her to go to Edinburgh with him so he can prove she’s alive and be granted a divorce. On their roadtrip they learn how they were both wronged but can rekindling the shared attraction and care they have for one another be enough to begin again now that they are different people with different wants in life?

This was a new to me author and had no trouble jumping in mid-series. While I could tell that a whole world has been created, I felt I was brought straight into that world reading of Iain and Seraphina. I enjoyed this second chance roadtrip romance and appreciated having MC that were older (39 & 32) with life experiences, even if they were more bad than good. I enjoyed the tension and the back and forth between the MC. There was a lot of feelings and trauma for each to sort through that wasn’t easily brushed off. It had me feeling for each of the MC, what they each endured and missed in the intervening years. The parrot companion brought comedic relief and kept the story from being too heavy.

There are three encounters that was mid steam.

Net Galley and Forever publishing provided an advanced ecopy of this book.

Young and in love, Seraphina and Iain married in secret and planned a life together, far from her controlling father. But when they are each led to think that they other betrayed their love, they spend the next thirteen years thinking the worst of one another. Now, having recently acquired a dukedom and learning that Seraphina - who he believed to have been dead for years - is alive and well on the Isle of Synne, Iain makes plans to find her and secure a divorce so he can finally move on. Seraphina has made good life for herself and her sisters on Synne, running the circulating library and surrounded by friends who know nothing of what she has been through to get where she is now. With each of them believing the other is to blame for their long separation, neither is pleased to find the attraction between them is still alive and well. But forced proximity can work wonders on a broken heart...

Britton's style of writing is so reminiscent of an older style of historical romances, full of angst and broken hearts and misunderstandings. However, she also does a nice job of bringing in more modern sensibilities to balance the more serious style. I've enjoyed the Synnefull Spinsters series as well as the original Isle of Synne books, and continue to enjoy watching favorite characters get their own happy endings. Seraphina has been a mystery for so long that it is a relief to finally learn her backstory and see her find happiness, and Phineas is a favorite secondary character. While some of the aspects of Seraphina and Iain's story feels unrealistic, realism isn't really why we read romance, is it? I would have liked Seraphina in particular to have experienced less trauma, but it does help explain why she is who she is and reveal her strength. The chemistry between her and Iain is steamy and a bit torturtured, but the sweetness that reemerges feels earned and authentic. Overall a solid read.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Duke's All That in exchange for an honest review.

I just loved this one so much! This book is so heartwarming, and definitely filled with fun and entertaining moments but it also explores deeper themes such as self-identity, and the courage to chase one’s dreams. This balance between heartwarming and thought-provoking elements makes the book a well-rounded and satisfying read.

When Ian finds out the wife he thought died is alive and well, he decides to track her down and get a divorce. Seraphina has been running and hiding along with her two sisters for years, and when confronted by her betraying husband she reluctantly agrees to travel back to London and grant him the divorce. They must spend days and days stuck together in a cramped carriage, then gasp! One of the inns only has one room! What are they do to but share.. Even if Ian is sleeping on the floor.. at least to start.. I think that while they had been steadily chatting, growing closer, and slowly revealing some of the things that had gone on in their lives while they had been apart, this scene really helps Ian understand that he didn't know what happened with Seraphina all those years ago and that he may have been wrong about her. Or rather right in how he felt when he married her. Seraphina does take a lot of time to let Ian in and tell him about all she experienced while they were apart. But you could always feel the chemistry and romantic tension between them, and I loved seeing it build until they realized they were it for each other.

This book had me on a rollercoaster of emotions for these two, and I am so happy they get to have their happily ever after! I can't wait to see what Christina Britton is going to write next!

I love the Synneful Sisters series so far and I was a big fan of Iain and Seraphina and I was rooting for them the whole time. The second chance romance was a delight and their journey back to Scotland was so enjoyable. I thought Seraphina was a little stubborn at times and wish she would have given over to her feelings sooner than later. I really liked Iain and I knew this man was in it for the long haul. I loved the different settings and the continuation of the female friendships. Overall I really enjoyed this one. Thank you to Forever publishing for sending me an e-ARC to read and review!

Seraphina is living in the Isle of Synne with her two sisters running the circulating library on the island. She’s got a mysterious past and a bit defensive and skittish. Turns out she was married many years ago, betrayed by her love, sent to an asylum, and then ran away with her sisters to protect them from their father. Her security is disrupted when her long-lost husband Iain shows up on the Isle to demand a divorce from Seraphina. He believes that he was betrayed by her all those years ago, then believed she was dead, and only just learned that she was alive. And now that he’s a duke, he’ll need to marry again in the future and need to be free and clear to do so. He doesn’t tell Seraphina that he’s a duke, just in case she has aspirations of being a duchess, but they do set off on a road trip to get that divorce. Along the way, they do actually start to talk to each other about what went wrong all those years ago and realize that they were both told lies by her father. He’s interested in making the marriage real, but she refuses and wants to go back to her quiet life with her sisters. It’s all a huge mess, made worse by the fact that Iain is still secretly a duke.

“The Duke’s All That” by Christina Britton
Will the lies be revealed and truth win the day?
The question this story answers, “Can two people recover from lies they believed thirteen years ago?”. This is a very moving story, that had me invested from the get go. Yes, there were tears (of mine) and there were chuckles, too. Oh, and there are the requisite spicy scenes too. (I skip those, as I do not need the details spelled out.). And, it was fun visiting the Isle of Synne again, too. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley

Vibes: "my wife is dead--OR IS SHE?", inconveniently talking parrots, there's only one bed, och aye

Working class guy turned unexpected duke Iain thought he was a widower... for thirteen years. Except oops, his wife, Seraphina, has been alive the whole time. And they're still legally married, whether they want to be or not. Ian isn't very happy with Seraphina, who he believes left him without remorse; and Seraphina isn't any happier with Iain, who she charges with his own betrayal. She's made a happy life for herself, and Iain could upend everything she loves; but there's still something between them, and even getting a divorce may not be enough to stop that.

Apparently, "I thought my spouse was dead" is on trend for 2024, and I'm not mad at it! This book was off to a great start with a reunion between Iain and Seraphina, both seriously pissed. And I do love their interplay, the hurt feelings and the snippiness and the remaining attraction. This is a solid book.

... Which makes it a little more disappointing that it's not everything it could've been. It's a pleasant read; I did like it; and I suspect that some of the people reading this would really like it. But I think it could've hurtled to a different level if there had been just a bit more stretching.

Quick Takes:

--This is the type of plot that does rely on chemistry to make the couple believably matched, and Iain and Seraphina do have that. There's more to their history than their (brief) time as a married couple, and that added to the sense of hurt feelings. They don't quite know each other--I mean, can you know someone after thirteen years of separation?--but they do still have feelings for each other, and that's rather delicious.

--Here's the thing, though. After this really arresting first meeting, you kind of go into this "hurry up and wait" thing. I get why Britton focused on Seraphina's relationships with her friends and her sisters. She's a girl's girl. I love female friendships in romance novels, especially historicals.

However, the focus on those relationships and Seraphina's life without Iain either needed to get cut down a good bit, or it needed to be shifted to another part of the book. For all that these two had a lot of chemistry, I didn't feel like they had enough time together in the first chunk of the novel, and that slowed the pacing significantly. Once we get to them one-on-one, I was kind of frustrated.

--Your mileage may vary on why there's so much confusion between Seraphina and Iain and what they both think of each other. I don't really mind miscommunication and secrets in romance, but I will admit that there is a lot happening here. On the other hand, I don't know that this kind of plot works without it.

That being said, there are a lot of external forces at play. Which again, may work for you. I felt like it was sort of... shoved in there to shift some of the blame off the two of them. I'd rather they both have to come to terms a bit more about being a little (or a lot) irrational. Because feelings!

--I did like how tough Seraphina was, and how willing she was to go to major lengths--including painful ones--to take care of herself and her sisters. It's rough at points, but I respected it, and it made her subsequent feelings and emotional walls more understandable.

Conversely, I found Iain to be a bit more "also ran" but still, he was a solid hero. I kind of would've liked him to be more of an asshole, to be honest. But that's kind of hard to pull off in the current market.

The Sex:

There are a few sex scenes, none of which are bad, but they're also not anything super explicit or super tame. Sort of flowery, but not super flowery, if that makes sense. I do think it could've happened a bit earlier in the book. Like I said, this is a slow burn.

Overall, I don't know that this book made me feel like I MUST read another Christina Britton novel anytime soon. But it was good, and I appreciated the places it went to. If you're into something that touches on the "dead spouse but not really" thing without going too far, check it out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Seraphina and Iain were once madly in love with each other, but after deception, hatred, and thirteen years, a divorce is needed. Iain has traveled to the Isle of Synne to confront Seraphina and get that divorce. Seraphina has been living in hiding these past thirteen years but now all that she has worked so hard to push away and the life she has built threatens to come tumbling down when her husband shows up.
This second chance novel will have you riveted and engaged in the story right up to the end. Very well written, has great character development, and a sweet (with some steam) romance. Some very surprising and traumatizing back story that is handled well.
I usually don't like second chance, road trip romances as they are very predictable. While this had a touch of predictability, I found myself unable to put this book down. I loved how strong of character Seraphina was and her chemistry with Iain was palpable. Of course, this story is full of miscommunication and lack of communication. The secondary characters are all well-rounded, and some much-needed comedy from Phineas. The only thing I was disappointed in was how the last chapter and epilogue felt rushed.
This is a must-read for fans of the series (although it is a stand-alone) and if you just want a really great story.
I received an advanced copy but my thoughts and review are freely given.

Seraphina's history is darker than usual for the ladies of Synne. Piece by piece we find out what happened to her when she crossed her father and married Iain. Why their HEA didn't happen. Why she disappeared with her younger sisters and was on the run for years. Why Iain vowed to never love again. Most of this story takes place on the road rather than on the Isle of Synne. It's a tale of tender young love than was nipped in the bud. Can it regenerate or has too much happened?

Seraphina Athwart has spent years building a life for herself and her sisters on the Isle of Synne. Then Iain MacInnes waltzes back into her life. She hasn’t seen him since he broke her heart 13 years ago, and he has tracked her down now because he wants a divorce.

I love the Oddments and the Isle of Synne. I adored Bronwyn’s and Katrina’s books and was so excited to pick up Seraphina’s, but this one ended up falling a bit flat for me.

It has some of my favorite ingredients for a historical romance: a friend group I already love, a Scottish MMC, a road trip (hello, forced proximity in a carriage), caretaking, an only-one-bed situation, some fun steam, and a second chance at romance (which I tend to enjoy in historical romance but not so much in contemporary).

There’s even a parrot that provides humor, protection, and emotional support.

Here’s what didn’t work so well for me, but may work for you (slight spoilers):
- A self-sacrificing character that makes unilateral decisions that impact those around them and their relationships
- How long it takes for the two characters to finally discuss what drove them apart
- Repetitive internal monologues/thoughts
- What feels like some inconsistent behavior for the characters
- Some of the elements in Seraphina’s backstory and how they are addressed
- Moments that feel like angst for angst’s sake
- All that carriage time with no shenanigans

All in all, while I wanted to be invested in these characters and their relationship, I ultimately wasn’t, and the book ended up feeling longer than it actually is. I still enjoyed seeing the Oddments during their brief appearances on the pages, and I always appreciate a love interest with a Scottish brogue.

I received an advance copy of the book from Forever and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.