this was a good read while I was in it and I like Haymore's books. But after I finshed not much stuck with me.

How (Not) to Hate a Duke was an excellent read featuring an enemies to lovers romance.

Georgiana Milford may not come from a titled family but her status as a wealthy heiress has her being courted by every unattached man in need of funds. To escape the fortune hunters, Georgiana attends a two-week party at a lord's country estate but upon arrival she finds herself in an even worse situation as one of the guests is her father's greatest enemy: Theo St. Clair, the Duke of Desborough. Forced into each other's company, Georgiana and Theo trade barbs as they try to ignore the growing tension between them.

How (Not) to Hate a Duke immediately caught my eye for two reasons: the house party setting and the romance between rival families. Both of these are things I enjoy immensely in historical romances so I was excited to see the author's take on these. The house party was a ton of fun and I enjoyed the various games the characters played as well as the fact Georgiana and Theo found themselves paired up a few times. I liked that Georgiana's competitive nature wouldn't allow her to back out of the games when she found herself paired with Theo and that she was determined for them to win. The rivalry between the pair's family was primarily between the two's fathers but now that Theo's father has died, he inherits the rivalry along with his title.

The romance between Georgiana and Theo was delightful from the start. I loved how clear it was that they were attracted to each other despite the discord between their families. Theo is happy to follow through on that attraction while Georgiana is more inclined to hold to the grudge against him. It was fun watching him change her mind and I enjoyed the progression of their romance. The one thing I didn't really like was around three-quarters into the book something happens to separate the two and they remained that way for pretty much the rest of the book until right before the end. That felt like way too long of a separation but I was happy with how things were resolved.

Overall How (Not) to Hate a Duke was an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a fun historical romance.

I really enjoy this author and her romances! I was so excited to have been given a copy to the next from her. I thought it was sweet with a nice add of spice. I really like Georgiana and how she was wholly herself. Theo was so swoony! I think him and Georgiana were a great match! They complimented one another perfectly. Such a wonderful romance! I can’t wait for more from this author!

I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers, house party romance. House party is one of my favorite tropes in historical romance. The banter was done well, and I thought there was decent chemistry between the main characters. It did feel a bit rushed in parts, but overall a good read.

This book wasn’t for me. I don’t think I like regency romances. Thank you so much for the opportunity:)

Loved this fun enemies to lovers historical romance! It was cute, and the banter was perfect. I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because it felt rushed in parts.

Theo was a fantastic MMC, and I adored Georgiana. The romance was sweet with just the right amount of angst and tension. I also always enjoy a house party romance. All that sneaking around is delicious.

This book was great, and it seemed like the sister would be the focus of a future book. I can't wait for what looks to be a wonderful second chance romance!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I adored "How Not to Hate a Duke" by Jennifer Haymore! From the first page, I was hooked by the delightful and witty banter between Georgiana Milford and Theo St. Clair, the Seventh Duke of Desborough.

Georgiana, a wealthy heiress without a title, is tired of being pursued by fortune-hunting nobles. Her frustration is palpable, and it's easy to sympathize with her plight. But what truly adds spice to the story is her forced proximity to Theo, whom she initially despises. The dynamic between them is electric, filled with sharp exchanges and undeniable chemistry.

Theo, on the other hand, is a fascinating character. Thrust into the role of Duke, he has to deal with the shadow of his father's reputation and the prejudice of families like the Milfords. Despite this, his attraction to Georgiana is evident. His efforts to break through her prim exterior are charming and amusing, adding a delightful layer to their relationship.

The setting of a two-week party at a lord's country home provides the perfect backdrop for their growing tension. The way Haymore captures the social intricacies of the period is impressive, making the reader feel as if they are part of the high society gatherings. The tension between Georgiana and Theo is palpable, and their gradual shift from hate to affection is beautifully portrayed. The story's pacing keeps the reader engaged, with just the right amount of tension and resolution.

This book stands out because of the underlying mystery and the devastating secret that threatens to shatter Georgiana's world. The plot twist adds depth to the story, making it more than just a romantic tale but also a gripping narrative filled with intrigue and suspense.

Overall, "How Not to Hate a Duke" is a captivating read that combines romance, humour, and a touch of mystery. Jennifer Haymore has done a fantastic job creating a heartwarming and exciting story. If you're a fan of historical romance with strong characters and a bit of drama, this book is a must-read!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really was enjoying the story up until the two main characters separated. I thought it was silly and they should have found a different way to be together sooner. Overall a fairly good read.

I am a lover of all things Regency, especially when it comes to delightfully intriguing romance novels filled with tension and witty banter, and this latest one by Ms. Haymore did not disappoint! Georgiana is an heiress and is used to fighting off fortune hunters. While attending a house party, she encounters her neighbor and her enemy, Theo St. Clair, the Duke of Desborough, dubbed by the ton as the Duke of Despots. Georgiana and Theo's families are sworn enemies, and them being at the same house party under forced proximity sets the stage for some major sparks to fly during their tension-filled encounters. Theo can't help but be drawn to Georgiana, but Theo's reputation precedes him and Georgiana wants nothing to do with him. Theo has no idea how to convince her his wretched reputation is not accurate, but he definitely does his best to change her view of him.
Theo and Georgiana's chemistry sparkles as the tension between them elevates with each encounter. Both were strong and well-developed characters and I enjoyed the witty banter between them. A delightful and entertaining enemies to lovers story that was such fun to read!
My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing a complimentary copy. This is my voluntary review.

I loved this! A classic grump/sunshine tale with an added twist of enemies to lovers, I loved this book. It was such a fun read, a first from this author for me, but I've already added quite a few to my TBR.

I am a sucker for regency romance novels!

This was not the typical Enemies to Lovers romance. Theo and Georgiana needed to work hard to ultimately achieve their happy ending. Their families were neighbors, but their fathers were bitter enemies who would stop at nothing to destroy one another.

All of these issues are ultimately resolved and the couple has their happy ending. I was actually surprised when the truth came out. The scenario that I had envisioned was much more sinister. Theo and Georgiana were a likable couple and I was glad that they were eventually able to reunite.

Georgiana is tired of being pursued by fortune hunters and when her friend invites her to a country house party with few unattached males she jumps at the chance. However upon arrival who does she see but her father’s worst enemy! But is he really as bad as the rumours say?
Theo is also tired, tired of everyone assuming he is like his father when he is trying to turn around his estate. But what will happen when he is thrown together with the daughter of the family spreading rumours about him.
I really loved the banter between these two! The story has a similar feeling to Pride and Prejudice. There is a lot of angst and drama towards the end of the story but I can see why it is needed for the growth of the main character. Even so I didn’t really like that part of the book so much.
The beginning of the story however was just perfect for me. I recommend reading it if you like Pride and Prejudice, enemies to lovers(of a fashion), forced proximity, forbidden love/disapproving families.


I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Going back through my ARCs - thank you Entangled and NetGalley for this!

This was not my cup of tea. The story was really similar to a Sarah Maclean series and to a Lisa Kleypas series - which would normally be very appealing to me… but it was not done nearly as well.

The relationship was instant and lacked depth. The character development was also all over the place, as lifelong feuds were made childish and wildly out of touch.

Overall, this was readable but I would point HR readers in other directions before pointing them towards this.

Theo St. Clair is the new Duke of Desborough. His father's tyrannical and demeaning reputation has made Theo out to be the same. Everything he's tried to do for his estate and the village is blocked by his neighbor Milford. To get away from it all, he's invited to a country house party. There he meets Milford's youngest daughter, Georgiana. What starts as competition soon turns to love, but the biggest obstacle is still her parents.Theo's chance to make her his wife is to prove he's worthy. Georgiana is not your average young lady.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This was a delightful historical romantic read. Just the right amount of spice, romance, and laughs. You'll love these characters as they work hard to dislike each other.

Haymore excels at romance writing. Her characters are delightful with much introspection. Her plots are tightly woven. The sex scenes are hot! Overall a must read for fans of historical romance.

I’m honestly not sure what to say about this book, so I will make it brief. I didn’t enjoy it at all.

Most of the book was telling not showing, and the romance was non-existent. It felt forced for the sake of word count. There are very little details given, a lot of facts are vague or glossed over.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

How Not to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore

February 19, 2024
Entangled: Scandalous
Pages: 273
Genre: Enemies to Lovers Romance
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

I love these stories. Historical romance will forever have a place in my heart. Entangled has such a brilliant catalog of romances and authors.

This was deliciously naughty. The humor was well-placed, and the build-up between the characters was swoon-worthy. I loved the banter and development between these characters.

This was steamy in the best way. I devoured this story. This book was entertaining with charm, wit, humor, and grit. I love a good enemies-to-lovers storyline, and this did not disappoint.

I enjoyed this book a lot! I read it in two days.
Georgiana Milford, a wealthy heiress without title, is tired of being chase by fortune-hunting noble during the Season. Theo St. Clair, the Seventh Duke of Desborough, inherited not only the title, but the disdain of his tenants and his neighbors: the Milford family, who are convinced he’s exactly like his father. Now Georgiana and Theo are trapped together in a country party, forced to wear polite smiles while they trade acidic barbs and pretend to ignore the growing tension charging the air between them. But while there is danger in ruin, it’s the devastating secret her family has been hiding that will shatter Georgiana’s world…
This book is super easy to read and engaging. The story is well written, with nice steamy moments and witty dialogs. There’s a bit of aghast that I devoured. It’s an enemies to lovers, force proximity, with a sassy heroine and a misjudge hero. They are great for each other and I really like how they find their happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Gotta love a good enemies-forced-into-close-proximity, this time at a house party in the country. Theo and Georgiana, destined to be enemies due to the hatred between their fathers. I really enjoyed reading as they got to know each other for themselves and not as their parents. And then the drama began, and things took a twist I honestly wasn’t expecting, but I loved how the story evolved!