I thought that this had a good premise and I liked the banter between the main characters. I wished that the characters were more fleshed out and that they had more development throughout. I thought that because there was so much happening too, it was hard to get a grasp on who Jasper was and what he was going through.

*Goodreads review posted 3/1/24, see link below

4.25✨, 1.5🌶️

Elements/Tropes:
📖~360 pages
📖Historical romance/romcom
📖FMC early/mid 20s x MMC 28 years old
📖A free-spirited FMC who doesn’t conform to society’s expectations
📖Former rake ‘what is this painful feeling in my chest it CANNOT be love’ MMC
📖Marriage of convenience
📖Loathe-to-love
📖Mutual pining
📖Fun banter between MCs
📖LOVE CONFESSION IN THE RAIN
📖Book 2 of an interconnected series with standalone romances (for full reference, I haven’t read Book 1)

Damned If I Duke is a historical romance by Anna Bradley and Book 2 in the Drop Dead Dukes series. It follows FMC Prudence Thorne, who’s been put in the immediate circumstance of having to find a husband and fast in order to contend with the extraordinary debt her father got them into with one unfortunate wager.

The person her father owes is none other than our MMC Jasper Vincent, the Duke of Monford, who happened to be having foul night and took a bet he usually wouldn’t have taken, one that put a man and his family out of their entire life’s earnings.

Fifteen hundred pounds later, there’s only about 500 pounds left, but to get them, Prue and her father must sell their last remaining place of residence.

Due to the circumstances, there is obviously no love lost between Prue and Jasper, however, sometimes the brightest of love can come from the deepest of loathing. Plus, their mutual denied physical attraction doesn’t simplify matters.

Prue and Jasper and their relationship absolutely make this story. Their banter was fun, their chemistry undeniable, and I loved how their dynamic slowly progressed through all the situations and wagers they found themselves in. There were times when the story wasn’t even intentionally trying to be funny, but Prue and Jasper’s personalities oozed off the page so much you couldn’t help but be pleased as anything while reading. Jasper in particular was just effortlessly entertaining. He has high maintenance drama king vibes that I’ve never seen work so well before in a historical MMC, and still be so extremely likeable. He had his jerk moments for sure, but Jasper is just simply and utterly a delight to read about.

There isn’t much I would change in this story. I think everything worked fairly well and came full circle story wise, with great character development for both MCs. I personally think this also could’ve worked as a shorter story with just the debt between the MCs as the main plot foil, versus also including the slight former mistress revenge ploy towards the end. I didn’t absolutely hate it because we got an amazing love confession in the rain scene and additional emotional developments out of it, but I just could’ve also done without it if it wasn’t there. I also think the MMC could’ve fought harder to avoid this third-act separation, but again, I accept it for the resolution we got. I’m just glad that there was no question about the MMC’s romantic feelings on the former mistress. He was wholly and completely done with her, even before the FMC happened, and then only had eyes for the FMC.

Loved the grandpa and grandchild relationship highlight with the MMC and his grandpa. Anyone who knows me knows how much those mean to me!

I would recommend this book to readers looking for a fun historical romcom that’s a great length, not too long or too short, with vibrant and dynamic characters and a solid romance.

Editorial notes for this pre-release arc copy:

Page 103, paragraph 3. Last dialogue in paragraph is missing an end sentence. It should be: "... from your unfortunate misadventure this morning."

Page 214, paragraph 6. Should be: "She was wearing a ruby and diamond necklace. She said,,,"

I had fun reading this book. It is the second of a series but I did not feel I missed anything in not having read the first. I really liked that Prue had great strength in character yet was warm and loving to her family and friends. I was really cheering her on! Jasper, for all his brash posturing, was really a marshmallow! There were hilarious shenanigans, sexy times (although a bit vague and bland given Jasper’s reputation), angsty moments and a HEA. I would have liked to see more repercussions to the villainess. I’m looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for Grantham, Jasper’s friend.

Overall:4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Very soon in, about 4% (after a brief set up for the hero’s mistress situation)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 7 months later

Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and thought it was very readable alone. The characters from book 1, Basingstoke and Francesca are characters in this one and do have some page time so ideally for all character background reading in order would be pleasant. (much of the first half of the story takes place at Basingtoke’s house so there is frequent interaction)

Basic plot:
Prue takes the opportunity to blackmail the Duke of Montford when it falls into her lap. He did scheme to take over a thousand pounds from her father and cut her season short after all..

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1818)
- house party-ish setting for much of the book (in Kent)
- close proximity
- heroine blackmails the hero
- enemies to lovers – the hero won a large wager against the heroine’s father
- hero is a bit possessive/jealous
- medium steam – 3 full scenes

Ages:
- hero is 28, didn’t see heroine mentioned but would guess early 20s?

First line:
Jasper St. Vincent, the Duke of Montford, had a talent for sin.

My thoughts:
I have read quite a few Anna Bradley books and have loved a lot of them. I wasn’t a big fan of her mystery series because I just prefer character driven romance and I was so very excited that she came back to that with this book.

I adore Bradley’s writing. She just wraps me up in swoony lines and her characters can get all angsty and emotional and pull at my heart and I found that with this novel. So many scenes I just loved, and thought there was some great humor here too.

I do think there’s some things going on in this plot that some others might find tiring – the evil mistress plot for one (which, thankfully, is not a huge part). And the hero borders on a bit of a jerk in some scenes.

I have such a soft spot for the name Jasper. I was already in love with him when I heard his name! I loved Jasper – I loved how he fell for Prue and just started acting a fool for her. I eat that UP! And I was so engaged with his heartbreak towards the end. Jasper has my heart!

Prue was a great heroine too. I liked how spunky she was and how she was raised to be fairly independent. But there’s so much she doesn’t know, especially about love and passion and the way she falls for Jasper was lovely.

I love Bradley’s steam. She’s usually on the lower end (and here the scenes are super long) but there’s something there, emotionally, that just makes her scenes feel so much stronger to me. I have missed reading her books and now I want to go back and read all that I’ve missed! (Like book 1 of this series)

And I do have a shelf for ‘feisty older lady’ for those interfering matchmaking grandmotherly figures, but I found that in a grandfather here and just loved it! I really enjoy when the grandparents are trying to hook up the grandkids 😂

Anna Bradley makes historical fiction so much fun! I absolutely loved Jasper and Prue's story. Ms. Bradley does such a wonderful job of immersing the reader into her books and this one is no different. Readers will be delighted with this book and won't want to put it down until the last page is turned.

4.5 stars
This is a fun, entertaining, good read. Jasper and Prue are interesting, relatable, intriguing, entertaining, complex, captivating characters. I enjoyed them as individuals and a couple. Their romance with its many twists and turns is fun to read. There were so many sweet, funny and romantic moments. I love being in this world and these characters didn’t disappoint. The secondary characters – especially Jasper’s grandfather – added to the fabric of the story. I love that the couple from the first book in the series was a big part of this story. I would have loved to have read Jasper and Prue put Lady Archer in her place. I cannot wait to read more from this world and series. The story is easy to read and get into.

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

Heat Index: 5.5/10.

Vibes: ballroom historical, snarky sniping, SCANDALOUS EARRINGS, and head over heels heroes who don't want to admit it

Prudence Thorne isn't happy with the rakish Duke of Montford, Jasper Vincent. Not because he's done her wrong personally--but because he won a sum from her father at cards, so massive that Prue is now forced to look for a husband to save them from ruin. A boring, staid husband. In an attempt to avoid her fate, she tries blackmailing Jasper--but when it backfires, there's the added complication of his grandfather deciding that she's EXACTLY the woman the duke needs. And pushing them inexorably towards a marriage they say they don't want.

Anna Bradley is good at writing chemistry, and you definitely feel the spark between Prue and Jasper from the start. They can't help getting their little digs in, even as their attraction to each other is very apparent. She doesn't reinvent the wheel here; it's kind of a classic ballroom historical, all about the snarking and the virgin-heroine-ing and the marriage-of-convenience-ing. However, the humor (I found several elements of this one QUITE funny) and Jasper falling pathetically in love made it entertaining, even if it didn't quite blow me away. It's definitely one for the traditional historical romance girlies.

Quick Takes:

--As I said above, a high point for me was the humor in this one. Jasper happens to have a pair of earrings he just secured from his former mistress (and I did like that he was an actual rake who'd kept actual mistresses, even if I wasn't in love with how this particular mistress was presented) which is what Prue gets a hold of for her blackmail scheme. And those earrings. Are not... normal earrings. They are earrings which teach Prue a thing or two, unintentionally. Visually.

Which leads to one of my favorite moments in this book, which is "Prue learns about things further while talking to her friend, the heroine of the previous book, who Is A Woman Now". I really wish that we had more historicals in which heroines learn about ~the marriage bed~ from previous heroines. It reminds you that, oh yeah, that last romance happened, and everyone is still AT IT. Plus, it's just a nice, authentic friendship beat for the girls.

--The physical comedy in general is really good here. Prue shoots Jasper by accident (and like, the location she shoots him in is probably one of the better locations to be shot in from a health perspective, but THE SHAME!!!). In general, you get the sense that Jasper is kind of a disaster, and he's just sort of fumbling his way through love while growing both increasingly besotted and increasingly infuriated with with her.

--I'm actually surprisingly fond of an "older person meddles in the love lives of the younger people" thing in certain historicals, and I don't think I realized this until I read this book...? Jasper's grandfather is right, and he knows he's right, and though I honestly wasn't 100% sure about how he had the clout to force Jasper to marry Prue, it worked. It's fine.

--That does lead to my critique of this one, though. The fluff and the chemistry and the romance is all good, but the plot kind of lacks? There isn't a lot of one, and that's FINE, but when you do have elements like the grandfather forcing the marriage, or Prue getting confused about her wedding night in a way that has actual ramifications... I just kind of feel like they weren't solidly tracked? Like, it sort of seemed thrown together, which is not how I felt about the previous book in the series.

However, I still had fun and I still very much want to read the next installment. So it doesn't derail the read, but it does keep it from being as strong as it could have been. I kind of felt like Prue and Jasper just sort of stumbled into love, versus falling in a way that I as the reader could track.

The Sex:

There are 2-3 sex scenes in this book, depending on how you define them (for me, it was three). I could have used one more, or more DETAIL in general. The first one in particular felt weirdly bare, as we get this pretty delightful lead up to the wedding night from Jasper's perspective. And he actually has a lot of anxiety about it, and it's charming, and I just wanted more follow-through after that.

This is a sweet romcom, which I do think could've hit harder, but was nevertheless pleasing. I think it will work very well for the Bridgerton crowd.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the 'Drop Dead Dukes' series by Anna Bradley when I read it in July 2023, in fact it was a 5 star read for me.

So, when I got the opportunity to read the next book, I jumped at the opportunity. This is a little bit of an enemies to lovers story, but he falls first so it's not really enemies to lovers, because although these two fight, they aren't really enemies. I must admit that I didn't remember Prue from the previous book, so when I started reading she seemed very 'buttoned up' and a little snobbish.

Jasper is endearingly captivated but oblivious Before he even knows he likes her he points out to everyone that her hair and eyes are not brown. Her eyes are HAZEL and her hair is CARAMEL, and why is everyone so blind?

In the first half of the book, there were parts that dragged a little. While Jasper and Prue's interactions from Jasper's point of view are entertaining, I found Prue's reflections and conversations a little, well, boring at times. In the beginning of the book, I couldn't get a handle on her character.

I found Jasper extremely entertaining from the beginning. He is acerbic and witty, with a colourful turn of phrase. I particularly liked his summation of Stoneleigh's character. It must have been a lot of fun to write his scenes.

Seeing Prue through Jasper's eyes really made me warm to her and, as the story goes on, her strength and courage become more evident.

By the middle of the book I was hooked, especially when these two finally give in to their attraction.

Even if the pace didn't work for me, this was still a very enjoyable read.

I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was really happy to have been able to receive this book and would like to thank NetGalley as well as the publisher Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review it. This was my first story by the author. I have to admit that I immediately fell in love with her writing. The flow was steady and the plot was interesting. I also fell in love with both main characters, Jasper, the Duke of Montford, and Miss Prudence Thorne. Both of them had strong minds and both had similarities. Jasper, being rakish and not marrying kind, enjoying his freedom, and Prue also does not want to marry yet trying to save, what has been left. Both love to fight weapons and their fast tongues. They even don´t like each other because of the wager Jasper took with Prue´s father and left their family in deep debt. Yet their best friends the Duke and Duchess of Basingstoke love them both dearly. How fitting that Prue finds something that belongs to Jasper, and maybe it could be given back to him for a small favor. What they haven´t planned on, was to start to care for each other. I truly loved the whole book and the direction the story was taking. The wit and their word fights were the best. I would like to recommend to everyone loving Regency stories mixed with strong-minded women and rakish men.

Poor Prudence has been in a tough spot since her father lost a great deal of money to a certain rakish duke in a card game and she’s putting up with her friend’s matchmaking efforts while she’s visiting. Except, Prudence dreads the idea of having to marry to secure a home even though her father is on verge of selling their home. Meanwhile, rakish duke Jasper has just recovered some scandalous earrings from a former mistress and when Prudence discovers them, she tries to blackmail him into forgiving her father’s debts. She’s comically bad at blackmail though and both of these people are feeling generally guilty about their behavior. They’re also stupidly attracted to each other, even though they don’t really like each other. It’s a bunch of chaos and comedy with these two, but at least Jasper’s stodgy grandfather approves of Prudence.

Damned If I Duke

Rating: 5 Your Grace Stars ⭐️

This is the second book in the Drop Dead Dukes series by Anna Bradley. I enjoyed the first book in the series but this one is my favorite. It has enemies to lovers, banter, humor, and a superb supporting cast. I couldn’t put this book down and was up half the night reading it. I loved Montford and Prue and especially how he is clueless about his developing feeling for Prue. If you are looking for a HR that is well paced, witty, with tons of chemistry then I recommend this one. My favorite HR read of 2024.

Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC.

This is a fun, quick read for those who enjoy historical fiction romance. Prudence is a strong, determined woman who has some ill feelings toward the Duke of Montford. Their banter rand interactions make for a good read.
Completely enjoyable.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Readers find themselves entangled in the somewhat predictable saga of Prudence Thorne and Jasper Vincent, Duke of Montford. The storyline, centered around blackmail turned forced marriage, unfolds with Prudence's bold yet ill-conceived plan to absolve her father's gambling debts by blackmailing Jasper, only to find herself unexpectedly married to him. The novel navigates the complexities of their evolving relationship, from adversaries to reluctant partners harboring a begrudging attraction.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable read with lovely characters!

What lovely characters: Prudence, a strong, independent woman, and Jasper, who enjoys life a little bit too much. Life pulls them together, but not without a beautiful animosity between the two that leads to colourful scenes. They are not holding their tongues to one another. That results in virulent verbal jousts that are enjoyable for us readers. The plots move swiftly and keep us on edge. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and we feel it throughout the novel. A very enjoyable read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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

This was really enjoyable, and I loved the reformed rake element. It gave me real Anthony Bridgerton vibes.

I loved reading about Prue. I want to be her some day. She could care less what people think about her. She's not hurting anyone so leave her alone. Jasper is in awe of her but also way too worried what people might think. Also he's worried for her. That's the part that I love.
Dawned If I Duke, is a very fun book to read.

Release Date: March 26, 2024
📖📖📖

Bold and adventurous, Prudence Thorne is not the kind of woman to stand by meekly when someone she loves has been wronged. And she’s quite certain that Jasper Vincent, Duke of Montford, duped her father into racking up enormous gambling debts. When fate offers her a chance to blackmail Jasper into forgiving her father’s losses, she seizes it . . . only to have her scheme backfire. Jasper enjoys London’s illicit delights too much to wed. Too bad his grandfather has decided that a woman with the nerve to blackmail might be exactly the sort of wife to tame him. Pressed into a marriage neither wanted—and fighting a desire neither expected—Prue and Jasper torment and tempt each other beyond reason. Surely a proper duchess should be subdued, obedient, and dignified? Yet just as he begins to get his wish, Jasper realizes how much he wants his unconventional wife—and only her—if it’s not too late to win her . . .

This is the second book in the #dropdeaddukes series. This book was fun and lights. It keeps to the standard historical romance troupe. I enjoyed the story but thought the rubies thing was weird (I’ll let you make your own call on that). Very good beach read!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#damnedifiduke #dropdeaddukes
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I love historical romances and try to read them at every opportunity. Damned If I Duke was really disappointing and I didn't enjoy myself. It featured a lot of cliches found in this genre and it was highly unoriginal. It was the typical marriage of convenience to erase her father's gambling debts storyline that I've seen countless times. There was nothing unique and I didn't like either protagonist. I took a chance on an unknown author and it blew up in my face.

I believe I would have enjoyed this book more if the romance hero wasn't such a toad. Jasper was entitled, pompous, and selfish to the max. He wasn't an endearing protagonist and I didn't like him one bit. He shares a name with my family cat and dragged his name through the mud. I read Damned If I Duke last month and don't recall much about my reading experience, other than it was unpleasant. Prudence was fine in comparison, and the only part I liked about this book was the billiards bet. It's also a very common trope to swindle the love interest via the pool table, but it worked for me. I personally have no billiards skills, but I'm willing to learn if I have the same outcome as Prudence.

Damned If I Duke was a run of the mill romance and nothing groundbreaking in the genre. I've read plenty like it and I'm sure I'll read plenty more in the future. I don't believe I'll pursue this particular author, but I'm happy to have given her a chance. I'm pleased that Jasper and Prudence got their happy ending, but it was certainly a perilous path to get there. I wouldn't touch this member of the gentry with a 50 foot pole and I'll be Damned If I Duke.

This is the second installment of the ‘Drop dead Dukes’ series by Anna Bradley. The first book, ‘Give the devil his duke’, was so much fun to read, so I was happy to read the next book about the Duke of Montford, whom you get to know in the first book.
Although part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone.
This book is about Jasper, the duke of Montford, and Prudence Thorne, the daughter of a man who recently lost a fortune to Jasper. She accidentally stumbles on a pair of valuable earrings belonging to Jasper. There is a particular reason he needs to have them back, so Prue decides to try and make a wager with him to win back the dept her father owes to him. Jasper isn’t used to such a bold, courageous woman who not only rides a horse like a pro, but also shoots, hunts and fences like a man. He’s not impressed by her trying to force his hand, but is intrigued by her. Prue thinks he’s a scoundrel and seemingly can’t stand him. Both of them are irritated by the other but can’t seem to stop noticing the other one, and slowly you see them developing feelings for the other one where they can’t stop thinking about the other one, and fall in love. I liked that their emotions evolved gradually and realistically. Prue is a courageous, bold woman, who doesn’t shy away from pursuing what she wants and doesn’t give a fig about what society thinks of her. In a way Jasper is the same, but he values the opinion of his grandfather a lot, the same as Prue cares about her father.
I really liked the book a lot. The plot was well-paced and it’s an easy and fun read. I wouldn’t have chosen for the rubies to contain pornographic miniatures, but would’ve made them into family heirlooms or something like that. Same result, less gross. I liked Jasper’s uncle a lot! Overall a book I recommend; you will enjoy it! I am looking forward to book three of this series.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am grateful for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

P.S.: I found two minor errors:
- “She may appear to be the picture of ladylike innocence, but the truth was, the duchess of Basingstoke was a slippery one.” Jasper is talking about his wife here, so it should read: “…the duchess of Montford was a slippery one.”
- Montford is spelled Monford once.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I liked this book quite a bit! It was just a fun romp even if at times the love story felt a bit forced. I didn’t really see the reason they had to marry, especially when they didn’t necessarily get along. I also didn’t understand the third act conflict nor how quickly it resolved. But it was still fun to read!