Georgiana Milford is struggling to find love with all her suitors only seeing her large dowry and nothing else. When she is offered the chance to escape London to attend a two-week party at a lord’s country home, she’s delighted but not so, when she finds that she will have to endure her father’s greatest enemy. Theo St Clair, the Duke of Desbourgh. Likewise, Theo only attends the party, as his friends, who are also friends with Georgiana, beg him to. So, when Georgiana and Theo find themselves often paired together, they do their best to be polite. Yet the more time together, the more they see a different side to each other.
A great story with two characters who despite the odds, fall in love. I must say, without revealing the storyline, that I enjoyed how Theo rebuilds his standing in the community. Georgiana is a strong-minded character but once she falls in love, she does all that she can to stay strong and follow her convictions, despite the journey being a difficult one. I really look forward to reading more about Georgiana’s sister and Theo’s brother.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Entangled Publishing, for this great historical romance.

The use of a family feud was brilliant. The treatment of Georgiana to Theo in the first half of the book was a bit excessive. She came across as a really $itch. I really was hating her behavior, but as the book played out my opinion changed. Theo was a really champion and his determination to win Georgiana over was heart warming. I fell in love with him myself.

Lived it and hoping for a spin off, with Theo's brother perhaps.

Recommend

I love the characters (main and side), the world-building is fascinating, and the bond between FMC and MMC is interesting. This book had my laughing out loud a few times, and I read it in one day. Okay, I’m actually hooked!

Being a rich heiress, Georgiana has had many suitors who are after her money. She is immediately attracted to Theo whom her family despises. Though a duke, Theo is trying to clean up his father’s terrible reputation and fix the wrongs he did. They can’t help falling in love, but will family tear them apart? I received an ARC from Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for my honest review.

Tropes: enemies to lovers; family feud; house party; MMC's redemption; independent MFC
Steam level: 3
Standalone

4.5 stars rounded up. This is one of the better enemies-to-lovers HR's I've read in a while. The dialog is sharp and the storyline engaged me throughout. The author does an excellent job of world building, and Georgiana and Theo have strong chemistry. Theo is especially easy to sympathize with, as he is trying to separate his reputation from that of his deceased monster of a father and feels as if he's constantly failing. His character shows a deprecating sense of humor that's endearing, and the lighthearted scenes work as well as the more pensive and emotional scenes.

One of the aspects I liked best was how the 3rd act angst was resolved. Both Georgiana and Theo have thorough character arcs and grow as people, instead of becoming simply mired in lust and emotion. The HEA is well earned and believable, setting up the plot for the next book without making the reader feel as if everything was wrapped up too easily.

There are a few nitpicks: a couple of anachronisms stood out, and a character who is kind of the OM at the house party abruptly disappears from the plot. Also, I have to admit it took me until around the 50% mark to fully warm up to Georgiana. While Theo is supposed to be the one who hides behind a mask of disdain, she seemed fairly snobbish at times and overly dismissive of him. I felt that Finn and Charlotte, who are their best friends, could have helped smooth the way a bit more at the beginning.

However, as mentioned, the main focus is really on how Georgiana and Theo mature by the end, finding each other while finding themselves. It's a nice change of pace from the "enemies falling in lust, but where's the love?" issue I've had with some books using this trope.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.

Honestly one of Jennifers Haymore's best work!
The last 20% of the book I sobbed.
The gesture Theo went out to win everyone's approval to marry Georgiana was splendid.
Haymore's writing style has also been easy to read and engaging.
You knew what you were getting into - a HEA.
Perfect historical romance with a brilliant strong female lead and a male lead that loved the lead just the way she was.

A book I would definitely recommend.

I'm not usually a fan of family/family feuds. But this one had me hooked. I enjoyed the interactions between Georgiana and Theo. They both were well developed characters along with their friends. I hope she turns this into a series. I'd like to know more about Georgiana's friend and Theo's brother.

After reading a couple heavier books, I happily (and hoping for something heavier on the romance and lighter on the inevitable painful times of life) dived right into How Not to Hate a Duke - I won’t say more other than my wishes were not dashed and that How Not to Hate a Duke turned out to be just the book I needed.

*enemies to lovers
*house party
*close proximity
*sexual tension abounds

Theo is a wonderful MMC and Georgiana is a great MFC, although I’ll admit that it took me a little while to warm up to her. Also, I kept feeling like I was missing something with some of the secondary characters, but this doesn’t appear to be part of a series.

Overall, I enjoyed this one but, Jesus God, I shuddered in horror at the idea of having my cl*toris “pinched”... ugh. And, adding to that, there’s definitely some open door spice here. Issues aside, this was a fun read that kept my attention and didn’t overwhelm me with grief, via the plot or characters.


This was my second time reading the author and I look forward to reading of her work in the future 🙂



Thank you to Entangled Scandalous (Entangled Publishing, LLC) and NetGalley for the DRC

I absolutely loved reading "How (Not) to Hate a Duke" ! This book had everything I want in a Historical Romance, it was an unputdownable read.

Plot:
Georgiana Milford has grown tired of entertaining suitors who look at her with one thing in mind, marriage so they may claim her fortune for themselves. So when her friend Charlotte extends an invite to attend a country house party she gladly accepts. Only to find herself in the company of Theo the Duke of Desborough " her neighbor and family's sworn enemy.
Theo St. Clair has recently inherited his father's title and with that came gossip, misgivings and a feud with his next door neighbors the Milfords. It's not easy to be judged for your father's sins and Theo finds himself struggling to alter the ton's opinion of him.
Now both Theo and Georgiana must put on polite smiles and do their best to avoid unpleasant encounters with each other during their stay, which proves to be easier said than done.

I love a good enemies to lovers storyline and this book delivered that so expertly. It's filled with playful banter, tension, chemistry, passion, friendships and so much more.

This is a must-read for Historical Romance fans in my opinion, you're going to want to pre-order this one!

Thank you Jennifer Haymore, Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I loved this book. Jennifer Haymore delivers exactly what I look for in a historical romance - a progressive woman, a swoon-worthy gentleman love interest, meaningful conflict, and spicy scenes that are sure to satisfy modern romance readers.

Georgiana begins this story as haughty and prejudiced as her parents toward the Duke of Desborough. She sees him as the villain that her family has painted him to be, and she does everything that she can to continue to avoid and dislike him.

Theo is tired of being judged by his community and his neighbors based on his departed father's reputation, but he does not know how to change people's minds and resorts to withdrawal and avoidance instead of facing his challenges. That is until he meets and falls in love with Georgiana.

This story is playful, steamy, and romantic, and I love the way the characters grow and change as they challenge each other's assumptions. I look forward to reading more of Jennifer's writing in the future!