A wealthy yet untitled heiress, Georgiana is frustrated by the pursuit of fortune-hunting nobles. At a country party, she spars with Theo, a new duke haunted by his late father’s scandalous reputation. Despite the animosity between them, their forced proximity kindles unexpected attraction as family secrets unravel.

I loved Theo. He’s working so hard to be a good landlord and change the family’s reputation. But the harm his father did is difficult to overcome. Georgiana’s family especially has reason to hate the old duke, so her parents do their best to turn Georgiana against Theo. It’s a steamy and em0tional enemies-to-lovers romance.

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

Theo St. Clair, the Seventh Duke of Desborough, has found it far easier to run away from his father's cruel influence than to try and mitigate the previous duke's obnoxious ways. It's no wonder the people of the village and the ducal tenants have a hard time warming up to Theo. All they've ever known is cruelty from the duke.

Georgiana Milford's home is adjacent to the duke's property, and all her life she's heard her parents say what cruel and vicious people the St. Clair's are, including the current duke. When she finds out that Theo will be attending the same house party, she isn't sure if she should stay or go. Her parents would be furious to know that the duke was in attendance, but despite that, Georgiana decides to stay. Will she take the time to get to know the current duke and judge him on his own merits instead of listening to others?

I really liked the premise of this story, but I wasn't enamored with Georgiana. She came across as bratty and too opinionated without listening to her own mind. Theo did not deserve her disdain especially since she kept saying that she knew how to judge whether men were interested in her beyond her substantial dowry. I was especially disappointed by her behavior at the chapel. Where was her backbone, especially since she professed to love Theo. I thought that excuse to drive the couple apart didn't make sense. I would have liked them to have struggled to make the tenants' lives better together. There are a couple of teasing scenes in the story that were very well done, but not enough to lift the book to 4 stars.

Good story. I liked the main characters Theo and Georgiana, they had great banter. A fun and fast read! I definitely recommend!

In this follow up to Earls Rush In, Georgiana is tired of being pursued for her fortune and Theo is tired of being judged for his father’s actions.

Georgiana takes a while to warm up to and there are anachronisms and historical setting-related things that it took me out of the story. But none of that would have bothered me if the third act breakup had made sense.

This sudden new phase of Theo’s arc took place off page for the last %15 of the book. It was unsatisfying to be told he made this improvement and improved people’s opinion of him without us seeing it. Why couldn’t they have gotten married and struggled together to make those changes? A rushed ending with too much telling ruined what might’ve been a four star read. YMMV

Heiress Georgiana Milford is tired of the social whirl and fending off fortune hunters and is impatiently awaiting the arrival of her older sister who has been in Nova Scotia for 9 long years, so when her dearest friend Charlotte suggests that she join her and her husband at a house party for a couple weeks, she happily agrees. But her happiness is extinguished by the arrival of her family’s country neighbor and archenemy, Theophilus “Theo” St. Clair, the new Duke of Desborough, and an unfortunate encounter with a hawthorn bush. After that fiasco, she can’t wait to get to the country, but when she arrives she is in a for surprise, the duke is also a guest. She wants to leave, but Charlotte convinces her to stay and begs her to give the duke a chance, swearing that she has known him for years and that he is nothing like his vile father. She promises to try and is shocked to realize that she has misjudged Theo, and after getting to know him, begins to fall for him. But what future could they possibly have? Her father hates him and Theo has done nothing to improve his image in her father’s eyes. Is happily ever after possible or will she have to sacrifice one love for another?

Theo St. Clair inherited a nightmare from his father, the former duke aka the Duke of Despots. The estate is in disrepair, the fields are fallow, the tenants leaving, the villagers and his staff don’t trust him and to make matters worse, his neighbor Thomas Milford is spreading rumors about him and undermining all of his attempts to make improvements. Theo is at his wits end with the estate and when he is called to London to deal with his younger brother Sebastian’s gambling debts, things just get worse when he encounters Georgiana Milford in Hyde Park and is blamed for the damage done to her gown. He tries to make it up to her by offering the use of his carriage to get home without anyone seeing her, but his offer is met with contempt. Thankfully, Charlotte, the wife of his best friend Lord Trevelyan is there and manages to smooth things over. Later when Trevelyan suggests he take a break from his troubles and join them at the Merrick’s house party, he jumps at the chance. But when he arrives and finds that Georgiana is a guest, he wants to leave, but Trevelyan convinces him to give Georgiana a chance, telling him that if he can prove to her that his intentions for the estate are honest, then maybe she can get her father to back down. But the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that she is the only Milford he wants to impress. They declare their love, but when her parents arrive, it is clear that her father will never approve of him. He can’t lose her, but neither can he make her choose between him and her family. Will love find a way or was it doomed from the start?

This was a well-written, nicely done Enemies to Lovers story that gives readers a new twist on an old trope. The book is filled with wonderful characters, misconceptions, great secondary characters, spelunking, steamy love scenes, heartbreaking revelations, painful choices, true love, and finally a hard-earned HEA complete with an epilogue. I liked this book, but to be honest, I wasn’t a fan of Georgiana at the start of the book, she was very closed-minded and judgmental, but once she was able to put aside her preconceived notions about Theo, she became his fiercest defender and redeemed herself. Aside from that, this was a very entertaining and steamy read that was a fresh take on an old trope and a book that I am happy to recommend. Although this is touted as a standalone title, it is worth mentioning that it features characters from another one of Ms. Haymore’s standalone titles “Earls Rush In”.

4 stars

*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.*

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. Due to the death of his father, Theo had just recently become the new duke. Unfortunately, his father's bad reputation was impossible to escape. Theo had honorable intentions, but everything he tried to accomplish, was met with failure. He was being sabotaged by Georgiana's family!
Things came to a head when the couple found themselves stuck at the same house party. Their hostility was intense yet mixed with a definite attraction. Their arguments were entertaining and the steam that was eventually generated was plentiful. What would happen when they returned to their everyday lives? What if Georgiana's parents found out? Her parents were seemingly kind people. What had happened to cause such animosity?
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. I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

How Not to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore is an engaging and playful romance that explores the intriguing dynamics between a high-minded heiress and the dastardly duke residing next door. This enemies-to-lovers tale captivates readers with its seamless blend of love, conflict, and a touch of spice. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-rounded and enchanting historical romance experience.

I've read several books written by Jennifer Haymore and her historical romances are always pleasant. I prefer her Scottish lairds over her English gentry, but they all feature her signature sweetness. How (Not) to Hate a Duke was a complex story that had me feeling a multitude of emotions regarding the heroine. She was very aggressive and bratty towards the hero despite never meeting him before this event. She based all her misconceptions on her family's rivalry with his and his horrible father, not the duke himself. She kept repeating her dad's opinion rather than forming one of her own. I thought she was being so unfair towards him despite Theo trying over and above to change her bratty mind. It took nearly 60% of the novel for her to come to her senses. I swear she was Angelica Pickles incarnate.

I was really bummed out by Georgiana's behavior until we came to the parlor games. Ooh boy! That was my favorite part of the book. Nothing riles me up like some games helping restrained Victorians blow off steam. I nearly lost my mind when all the partygoers were blindfolded and had to guess their partners. Georgiana sat on Theo's lap and knew immediately who it was with nary a touch. The second juiciest part of the game was whenever a guest was incorrect, they owed another player a kiss as a punishment. It was a delicious double feature. That helped bring me out of my own bratty attitude and Georgiana eventually reeled in her disdain. There was also an unfortunate family meddling that soured my mood further into the novel as well. I liked the chemistry and Theo's earnestness, but Georgiana was the common denominator in all conflicts.

I have enjoyed every Jennifer Haymore book I've read to varying degrees. Theo was a wonderful hero who deserved far better than he received from the heroine. Nothing like a little parlor game to help lift the spirits. It certainly made me feel better. I liked the cameo of the couple from a previous novel and they relayed the most helpful relationship advice to our protagonists. If only Georgiana had heeded them earlier and she would have learned How (Not) to Hate a Duke far earlier.

I loved this historical romance, I am a big historical romance fan, and I really enjoyed the storyline from enemies to lovers. I really liked the characters, they were strong minded but complimented each other. It was a great read before Valentine’s Day.

thanks for the review copy!!!!

to say that i am obsessed would be an understatement. although i havent read anything else feom this author, i will certainly be remedying that asap. the spice was delicious and the characters were lovable. georgie and theo were so dreamy!!!

It took me a little while to warm up to this story as I found Georgiana difficult to like. I thought she was closed minded and petulant especially with her interactions with Theo. What was really disappointing was her attitude was based on information and opinions from other people notably her parents. Thankfully her attitude changed as she interacted with him at a country house party. This story was also surprisingly steamy given the time period and Georgiana’s innocence. While I appreciated Theo’s endeavours to change everyone’s idea that he was following the sins of his father, I was disappointed that Georgiana was not at his side while doing this especially since both had already declared their love for each other.

Stick with this one, you’ll be so glad you did. In the beginning, the characters seem unlikely to tolerate each other much less form an attachment. The author does a great job of drawing things out in a way that has you wondering how will things be resolved. Georgiana is a strong woman but fair minded too. Theo is almost painfully stoic as he tries to right his father’s wrongs.
Their families have been at war with each other for ages but you won’t know why… like all things worth the effort, things come together in a credible manner!

thanks for the review copy!

this was my first foray into jennifer haymore books but im already anticipating more. i really appreciated the dynamic between georgie and theo and how they came to know each other despite old prejudices. ALSO THE SPICE WAS A++++++++. the chemistry between the two wad delightful! definitely going to keep my eye out for more from haymore!

Georgiana is a wealthy heiress and Theo is the duke of Desborough. He's nothing like his rakish father. They fall in love when they are trapped together in a 2 week party....

Love Georgina and Theo together. Terrific chemistry. Fun banter. Love the fast pace of the book. There is a lot of LOL scenes in this book. It's also emotional at times. Really enjoy it.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Feuds, Games, Letters, Romance:
The first few chapters were about getting to know the history between Theo and Georgina. I almost gave up before I finally reached the two coming together at the house party where the story finally took hold and kept my attention glued to the pages.
Charming cast of wonderful, intriguing characters throughout this story.
It actually turns into a very emotional story dealing with family past and present situations, siblings, rumors, with many truths to be discovered.
I enjoyed the intelligent discussions between Theo and Georgina along with their sparking romance that had the pages almost igniting with
flames due to their smoldering passion. I did need my fan for some of the romance scenes. Gotta love the duke in that department.
Some things had me laugh out loud, especially the Blind Mans Bluff game, I had a few "OH No's", and a "Bravo" at speaking one's mind and standing up for oneself.
This is a fun, emotional, and exciting romance story that took me to a very rewarding ending that put a smile on my face.
✔Special Mention: To the coffin boat ride through the cave. "OH My". That had my heart pounding.
✔Mature Advisory:🧯🧯🧯+

As a newbie to historical romance, I wasn't sure what to expect. However this book has a little bit of everything and I devoured it in a day! Themes of enemies to lovers, family feud and forced proximity. Of course there a little bit of spice in there, but not too much. I adored that the MMC Theo made it his mission to win over the FMC Georgiana's family before attempting to woo her again. All in all this is a great historical romance!

Thanks NetGalley and Entangled publishing for the eARC!

After seeing the title, I knew I needed to read this book. What could the Duke have done to cause her to hate him? What did he do that had her wanting to fight those feelings? Georgiana Milfold comes from a rich family. At first she comes across as snobby and combative. We later see that she's smart, compassionate, knowledgeable, headstrong and a tad bit rebellious. Theo St. Clair, Duke of Desborough is despised by almost everyone that comes in contact with him, all because of his father. He comes off as cold, aloof, stubborn and unapproachable. We later see that he's kind, caring, passionate and determined. There's a lot of drama that happens between these two households. We watch as both of the characters learn that they don't have to do things the way their parents did. I loved seeing the growth they had individually as well as together. I would love to read more from this author.

I love all historical romance. I liked the friendship between Georgiana and her friend Charlotte.  I did not like how Georgiana treated the Duke for the first half of the story.  I think the book could've been a little shorter.  Loved the ending.

As a devoted Historical Romance enthusiast, I crave the perfect combination of tension, passion, and a dash of intrigue. "How (Not) to Hate a Duke" by Jennifer Haymore not only met but exceeded my expectations.

One of the highlights for me was the impeccable execution of the enemies-to-lovers storyline. Jennifer Haymore skillfully navigated the complex dance between Georgiana Milford and Theo St. Clair, the Duke of Desborough. The palpable tension between them kept me eagerly turning the pages, craving to witness the sparks fly as they moved from sworn enemies to something much more.

Georgiana Milford's character resonated with me on a profound level. Tired of suitors with ulterior motives, she seeks solace at a country house party, only to find herself face to face with Theo, the Duke of Desborough – her family's sworn enemy. This sets the stage for a riveting tale of love, conflict, and societal expectations.
Theo's struggles with inheriting his father's title, along with the accompanying gossip and feuds, added depth to the narrative. I found myself empathizing with his journey to alter the ton's opinion of him, proving that love can indeed blossom amidst the shadows of prejudice and judgment.

Jennifer Haymore masterfully crafts a world that is both enchanting and authentic. What I appreciated the most was her portrayal of a progressive woman in Georgiana, paired with a swoon-worthy gentleman in Theo. The dynamic between them, coupled with meaningful conflicts and a touch of spice, created a rich tapestry that Historical Romance fans will undoubtedly savor.

The characters are nothing short of wonderful. Their growth, vulnerabilities, and the evolution of their relationship kept me engrossed from beginning to end. The polite smiles concealing a brewing storm of emotions between Georgiana and Theo made for a compelling and memorable read.

"How (Not) to Hate a Duke" is a must-read for fans of Historical Romance. Jennifer Haymore has crafted a captivating tale that seamlessly weaves together love, conflict, and a touch of spice. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-rounded and enchanting historical romance experience.

Georgiana has a right to be fearful that men are after her money. Theo is a breath of fresh air. But why does he have to be her families enemy. It takes her quite a while to even trust him. That is a good thing because of the hard one trust it last even when her family comes in and tries to rip them apart. It's Theo that doubts what they have and whether he is good enough for her.
I really enjoyed reading this book.