This is a pleasant Regency romance with a neurodivergant heroine. Eleanor is easily overcome by too much stimulation, hyperfocused on her interests, and akward in social circumstances. It’s interesting to see in the early chapters how she misreads people — interpreting a smile for a sneer, a disinterested look for a disdainful one — much colored by her raising at the hands of a strong-willed mother who expects her daughter to behave in a ‘proper’ way. Society is a challenge Eleanor isn’t often up to, but she’s no shrinking violet. For all that she’s quiet and meek, she’s not *weak*.

I enjoy reading about a heroine who isn’t necessarily sassy or snarky, plucky or assertive, who is constrained by societal expectations — and shaped by them — while still being herself. She reminds me of the heroine from Jane Austen’s Persuasion with her quiet grace and kind heart. That’s not to say she’s not without flaws, but those flaws feel genuine to the character, such as her naivety, her innate need to please even when she’s not fond of the person she’s with.

Montague, the love interest, is less developed. He makes cruel sport of Eleanor because she’s plain, awkward and everything his mother would hate to see him marry, and ends up with a more sincere offer of a fake engagement only because he dislikes Eleanor’s sister being a jealous brat. Personally, I felt like he fell in love too quickly, and the third act breakup was abrupt and clumsily done. It felt like it was done because the author decided to write it, not because the characters made that choice.

Still, I had fun reading this, and did so in one sitting. The writing is good, Eleanor is a charming character, and the world around her felt grounded and well realized. I want to thank Net Galley and Dragonblade Publishing for granting me acces to an advanced reader copy

First, let me say that, any story which highlights a form of mental illness automatically has my attention and admiration. When the story leads to a happy ending, it gains all of my stars plus more. Why, you might ask? Because I have children who all fall into the spectrum of mental health issues and life is so hard for them to find a place in it. These stories give me hope that they will each find their own hea, that joy will fill their lives as adults and that acceptance is possible.
Monty is overly spoiled and I didn't like him at first, but throughout the story, the author does a great job showing his growth and maturity. Eleanor, I loved from the first moment and cried buckets with every hardship she faced. As a mother with children like her, you can't be seen crying as your strength helps them to be strong, so all my tears reading this story are those that I have held on to for years. Please read this amazing story.

She's autistic, he's a duke...

Eleanor is autistic (on the spectrum, she uses her bracelet as a fidget spinner). She's painfully awkward and plump and plain. She tolerates the ton because she's supposed to. Her father is great, but her sister and mother are pieces of work. Eleanor would like to be left alone to paint. She also has a cringeworthy crush on Monty.

Monty, an entitled duke, is too busy enjoying his many mistresses and doxies to settle down and wed. He's pretty and pretty catered to. He feels superior to all the less pretty people around him. Ironically, both their mothers seem to enjoy hitting them with their fans. They both don't like the ton.

Eleanor and Monty actually spend a lot of time apart in this book. They enjoy steamy times and that leads to them being separated.
I did like the growth both characters had, especially Monty's development.
Recommend.

As usual with this author, I was not able to put the book down. I really enjoyed the heroine Eleanor. I think that any person who has ever struggled to fit in will find her relatable. She has a tough time dealing with the harpies of the ton. This is compounded by the fact that two of the biggest harpies are right there in her own family. Her mother and sister treated her disgracefully. Her father was a good man but he was not always around. So, when the handsome Duke of Whitcombe proposed marriage, Eleanor couldn't believe her good fortune. As ridiculous as his proposal was, she just had to accept. Other members of the ton were convinced that the proposal was a ruse. Why would a duke settle for awkward Eleanor when he could have any woman he desired? When Monty confesses that he proposed to her in a fit of pique to upset his matchmaking mother, Eleanor is shattered. Not being an utter cad, Monty backtracks a bit and makes her a deal. He offers a temporary courtship which should be beneficial to the both of them. Poor lovesick Eleanor agrees.
The plot of this story is rather obvious but the road to the happy ending is a good one. The author offers quite a bit of information about painting which is Eleanor's great passion. She also shows the reader some of the features of autism. I found it very interesting. Monty and Eleanor both grew a lot during the course of the story. I had to break out the tissues as I neared the end.
I received a free ARC from the author and NetGalley. This is my honest review.

A beautiful and richly woven romance caught my attention from the first pages. I enjoyed the story, Eleanor and Monty make an unlikely match, a false betrothal that becomes altogether endearing and perfect. Wonderful from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this book. Eleanor is a gem. I love her relationship with her father who really "gets" her. The Duke really understands her too. It is nice to see autism portrayed in what I think is a very realistic way. Brava on a fabulous read!

Eleanor Howard has never fitted into society she yearns to be loved for herself, not what others expect her to be. Her secret infatuation with the Duke of Whitcombe, who’d never deign to notice, much less court her would, if revealed, make her the laughingstock of the ton. Until he strides across a crowded ballroom and offers his hand. Montague FitzRoy, fifth Duke of Whitcombe, is unwilling to surrender the pleasures of bachelorhood. When his mother, insistent on finding him a duchess of the right pedigree, forces his hand, he decides on impulse to punish her by kneeling before the least desirable woman in the room. Only Eleanor believes his proposal to be genuine & he learns how her life really is. So they enter into a false betrothal that keeps Monty’s mother in check, and lifts Miss Howard’s prospects. Monty can weather a few weeks’ ridicule over an engagement to a woman whose eccentricities are gossiped about.
I started this book thinking I wouldn’t like Montague but I couldn’t have been more wrong, he was caring, patient & so tender around Eleanor – he stole my heart. I loved their journey to a HEA, which wasn’t easy but it made for a riveting read & I read this lovely book straight through, I cried & I laughed & I loved it. By far my favourite of the series, a very well written book & the author dealt with Eleanor’s autism sensitively
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I fell in love with Eleanor! She was so misunderstood and uncomfortable in society. The true message of this book is one of acceptance of people for who they are which Eleanor does so well. I cried through over half of the book, and could not stop reading to see how it would end. This is one of the best regency era novels I have ever read!

It was so lovely seeing Eleanor, by her example, helping those around her to be better people. This story is truly a must read!

His reputation for superficial cares belies his true caring nature.which is why he is able to see the real her uniqueness instead of her oddity. She is a sympathetic character, having to deal with antagonistic family members and society members. But she also has her champions, specially her soul’s other half. Excellent read!

I really enjoyed this book. It explained on living with autism before it was recognized. It is hard to be different and the heroine was trying to conform. She hated social gatherings. Although she was a very talented artist, only her father understood her need to paint. The hero was a little unlikeable at the beginning, but as the story goes on he opens up to his true feelings. The minor characters were important to the storyline and has several that were villainous. I hope a story is written about the reverend as he was so understanding. I would have liked an extended epilogue to find out more about the half sister.

An unlikely romance between two polar opposites: Monty, known as a cold-hearted rogue he’s everything shiny and arrogant a duke ought to be, and Eleanor is a social misfit, a merchant’s daughter with an aversion of crowded rooms and noise, unable to decipher society’s language, always compared to her popular younger sister and found lacking by her ambitious mama.

He proposes to her on a whim, to spite his mother. Surprised, she accepts only to learn the next morning it was all a hoax. When a bit of chaos ensues, he quickly learns how miserable her life truly is. Something inside him snaps and he offers another deal: a fake engagement to keep his mother at bay and allow them time so he can teach her how to navigate the ton’s treacherous waters.

As he learns to understand her and her small tics, he discovers a passionate and clever young woman, a gifted artist and a true beauty in her own right. She teaches him not just to look, but to really see, to appreciate all he has and all that he is.
He can’t help but lose his heart to this unique lady…

Eleanor has a form of autism, and I love how the author chose to portray her, and how Monty changes around her and because of her. He’s patient, tender and considerate. He really tries to protect her from the ton’s cruelty and their vicious gossip. I really enjoyed the growth in both characters, and the way their relationship evolved.

Of course he still screws up, and because her life gets turned upside down as well, it takes him six miserable months to find his way back…

I read this book in one straight sitting; it was absolutely impossible for me to put it down! This is such a moving romance - sensitive, thoughtful and so beautifully written! It has all the feels, colourful imagery, a touch of humour, juicy family drama, a dash of steam and so much heart.
It’s all in the detail, and I loved it!

It didn't take me very long to see that the oddity in this book was the fact that the FMC had some version of Autism and it was very well coached against the time and environment of the genre. Eleanor is seen as awkward, clumsy and strange for her fascination with unladylike topics. Even worse her dislike for crowds and loud noises and her inability to understand social cues or maintain societal niceties has her marriage prospects looking dim indeed.
Which is why she is delighted when Lord Montague asks her to marry him in front of the entire Ton. Only for her to realise that it was a ruse to stop his mama from pestering him about marriage. She is devastated.
However, Montague does have a heart and agrees to tutor her on how to function in society. Montague is in turn sweet and a complete rake and my opinion of him swung between the two extremes. However, his behaviour does get better and he finally deserves our heroine.
It was lovely to see neurodivergent representation in the Regency period and the different problems they would have to those experienced in our modern-day environment. In fact for the most part Eleanor is seen as odd rather than damaged and it is only against the comparison with the young boy she meets later that we see how well she is at masking.
The romance between her and Montague was real and didn't feel forced or rushed. Their chemistry was undeniable.
A nice palate cleanser with decent neurodivergent representation in an unusual genre.

A Ruse, A Request, Interesting Love Story:
The authors flamboyant and descriptive writing pulled me right into this intriguing story.
Eleanor, who is very naive young lady, is a disappointment to her mother and hated by her jealous sister is the heroine in this unusual story.
Montague is the handsome duke that captured my heart throughout all of the deception, escapades, a swoon worthy passionate lesson, and his heartfelt confession that brought tears of joy and a sigh of happiness. I did love the emotional dressing down he gave his mother.
Eleanor and Monty made a beautiful couple where they both learned and struggled through some difficult issues which brings the story to a happy ending.
📣Special Mention to Joey who stole everyone's heart
💖I loved the authors note at the end of the book that has a powerful understanding that explained some of my questions.

Eleanor is special with her artistic drawing expertise and her quiet demeanor.
She converses with others rarely as she struggles with small talk and the hidden meanings.
She is secretly in love with Montague, a Duke that is totally unaware of her.
One night, his mother harasses him into an impromptu proposal to Eleanor.
Then the fun and fireworks begin. Many little twists in their relationship adds to the excitement and joy of reading.
Great characterization in the storyline.

This was my first full read by Emily Royal and I enjoyed it very much! I could hardly put it down. Her writing is amazing, it has so much depth! It touches on the superficial world of judging each other based on appearance, and shows the value of the inner person, which has much more depth and value and has the ability to enrich your life, if you take the time and effort to see it and to discover.

Quick summary: Monty (not fond of the name, but what a great character) is a duke and incredibly annoyed at the superficial world of the ton. His mother is pressuring him to do his duty and marry a ‘suitable’ bride, in other words a beautiful girl with an impeccable background but with nothing else. Monty compared them to hothouse orchids:
<i>“Exquisite to look at, but they serve no purpose other than to be admired. When a man takes one on, he’s burdened with a responsibility for life—to feed and water her while she strives to maintain her elegance. But when the bloom inevitably fades and the petals grow tired around the edges, the man must redouble his efforts while turning a blind eye to her fading beauty. And then, once the beauty has gone—do you know what the man’s left with?”
“I cannot imagine.”
“A bowl of dirt,”</i>
So he does everything in his power to postpone marriage. But his mother keeps nagging him to do his duty, so one night he impulsively proposes marriage to the least interesting, dull and quiet girl in the ballroom - Eleanor. He figures that this will get his mother off his back and the girl won’t hold him to it. Eleanor has been secretly in love with Monty, but is considered an oddity by the people around her. She believes all the judgements that are uttered about her, but she has many great qualities.

I loved how Monty saw through the shallowness of polite society, felt exasperated by it and slowly was taught another view on life by Eleanor. She showed Monty <i>the difference between seeing and looking.</i> And Monty showed her that it was okay to be herself; different. It is all about perspective:
<i>“Rather than converse in riddles to conform to Society, you speak—and depict—the absolute truth. Whether that gives offense is no reflection of your character, Miss Howard, but that of others.”</i>

The story is extremely well written. It has enormous depth, great dialogues and many wonderful, deep thoughts. At the same time it flowed so well, at just the right pace. It has great character development and the falling in love felt real and even inevitable.
It touches on the subject of autism but in a beautiful way, without getting heavy.
The secondary characters were the perfect addition to the story. The Marlows, Elanor’s father, Monty’s mother - I loved them! I loved that the characters were great but also flawed. Everybody is flawed but it’s all about the willingness to grow. The contrast between who did not want to grow and who did was well represented. Just look at Juliette, Arabella and Eleanor’s mother vs. Monty, Lavinia and even Monty’s mother (I loved her!!). The story is about friendship, acceptance, forgiveness, being yourself, about being accepted and being accepting and the beauty in differences. It’s about being real and respected for who you are as a person deep down inside your heart and the way you treat others. Even the entire society with its titles is pitted against the working man with a profession. Which of the two truly commanded respect?

It is truly a beautiful story and I can highly recommend it! I have added Emily Royal to my Favorite Writers’ list and will definitely read more of her books!

A few of my favorite quotes:

<i>“Eleanor sees people without looking at them,” the boy said. “I hate being looked at, but I don’t want to be invisible—a-and Eleanor saw me.”</i>

<i>“The deepest love goes hand in hand with a fear of rejection that overcomes all hope. And you therefore take what is on offer, knowing that the pain of rejection if you admit—even to yourself—that you yearn for more would be too much to bear.”</i>

<i>“Are you saying that you cannot compete with a duke?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “I’m saying that I cannot compete with the man you love.”
“I’ve never said—”
“You never had to say it, Eleanor. Had you said it outright, I’d have doubted your conviction, for we say what we want others to believe. It’s only through what we don’t say that we convey our true feelings. I’ve seen the longing in your eyes, and though I wished it was for me, I knew it was for another. For him.”</i>

Thank you Netgalley, Dragonblade Publishing and Emily Royal for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am grateful for the opportunity and happy to share my thoughts and opinions.

I do like a fake engagement trope and this one was entertaining . I can’t say I liked Montague at the beginning but he grew on me over time . I did enjoy the sub plot with his mom and sister - I wonder if we will see more of Olivia . The heroine , Elinor, is autistic and this plays prominently in the story . I hated the way her mother and especially sister treated her , but her father was the kind of father every girl needs

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

I enjoyed my journey of this storyline it was entertaining and well worth reading. The characters are engaging and kept me turning the pages.

When a rake, Montague, gets tired of his mother trying to marry him off he decides to publicly ask for the hand of the shy and odd Eleanor. Eleanor, who has secretly admired Montague, says yes. They encounter many obstacles on their way to marriage. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

I appreciated an author depicting what it may have been like to have autism during the Regency era, but the depiction was so subtle most of the time that her behavior could have also been explained by being a very sheltered young woman with extreme social anxiety. And there were times when she didn't understand something and other times where she seemed to be able to understand people just fine; and given how her sister and mother talked about people I found it hard to believe that she wouldn't be aware of different terms for illegitimate children. Overall though, I think that anyone who has ever felt like they didn't quite fit in or had people judge them unfairly will relate to Eleanor. I would have liked to know a little more about her behaviors in public that led to people referring to her as "eccentric" - she seemed more shy and awkward than what I would have thought of as eccentric. As for Monty - he's one of those characters you like, then get frustrated with, then like again, then want to smack (and a few people do get some good swings in on him), then like again. His reasons for getting Eleanor involved in his life's drama are not great, but he did step up when she really needed him to. Her sister is pretty awful the entire way through the story and I can't say I felt all that bad for her in the end - I do feel for her having to go through everything alone, but had she not been so unnecessarily cruel to Eleanor she probably wouldn't have had to. The big question there is if she will pop up in a future book, unless this whole thing gives her a personality transplant I don't want to see her get her great big love story (am I being too tough on her? maybe, but I just don't think I could root for her). Now, back to Eleanor and Monty. I liked that their story takes place over time but I wished the time of their separation hadn't been so long. The upside of that was that it gave Eleanor the chance to learn for a fact that there were other people out there who would accept her and other men who would have happily married her. Even though she knew she could never marry Mr. Staines I think it was good for her to know she was indeed very lovable. I really liked Lavinia in her book, but found her to sometimes be a little overbearing here. She sometimes tried to take control of situations for Eleanor and tell her what to do (all out of love) as though she feels Eleanor can't be trusted to make her own smart decisions. I also didn't like that she tried to blame Monty for everything with Juliette - she had her eyes on her own Duke way before Monty and Eleanor got involved with one another. And how did Juliette and Mrs. Howard, who are all about gossip, not know about the rumors regarding that Duke's bad behaviors? Tangent done. I liked the big reunion scene with Monty and Eleanor, but he definitely owed Mr. Staines an apology - could her really blame the man for falling in love with Eleanor? The only thing missing from the epilogue was a quick update on Eleanor's father - I would have just liked to have known that he was back on his feet and happier now that his daughter was back home.