I love Elizabeth Hoyt and she's a auto-buy for me. This book is the third in a series and written as a standalone but I recommend reading the others to help understand the dynamics and actions mentioned. The story felt off balance and didn't give the relationship enough time to truly develop. After reading the amazingness that is her Maiden Lane Series, this fell flat. I also struggled with the MMC self-hatred for his sexual preferences and it never felt like he came to accept them or that the FMC enjoyed it.

3.5 Stars

was on the struggle bus with this one and barely finished it but it was like a bad train wreck and I just couldn't look away. Elspeth the FMC is looking for a book, Julian the MMC is looking for another book. These books are Important. They meet in a library while skulking about for said books. The meet cute was on point but then the entire thing proceeded to go downhill on a bike with no brakes.

First, there's too much plot. There's the aforementioned diaries/books. There's a matriarchal commune called (I kid you not) The Wise Women who have lost their way and need Elspeth and the diary of some Hag to find the righteous path again (not derogatory. Again not a joke) There's a mad bad Duke (and not the sexy kind) in the background who is doing things because he can or because he's evil? No idea...motivation is lacking in everyone. I had no idea why anyone was doing anything including why The MCs were into each other. The MMC has depraved sexual hunger? Ohhhh finally, I perk up hoping for some smutty smut. Alas, he's submissive which yesss please but Hoyt's idea of his "depravity" is having Elspeth tell him to get on his knees and service her. It was giving Gabriel St Vincent (iykyk)

Both sex scenes were exactly the same copy paste. Maybe there was a third? Because I don't recall them ever having penetrative sex? Might have passed out from sheer boredom and missed it. Also, virginal Elspeth raised in an all women commune takes to domination like a duck to water. She read a naughty book, you see so she immediately knows what Julian needs 🫠 There are a million and one characters from other books which I only read book two and it's been a couple of years so no I don't remember all these people 🥴 The pacing was wacky for the first 50% they just kept moving from scene to scene with no lead in. It read like a bunch of mismatched scenes barely cobbled together. The last half had vibes of the Hoyt in her Maiden Lane era but it didn't last long and by then nothing could have saved this for me. Except maybe one proper steamy submissive scene that involved more than him on his knees but nah can't get too spicy with these trad pub books or pearls might be clutched.
I like Hoyt, three of my all time favorite heroes were written by her but this was a mess.

⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5

Tropes:
Sunshine/grump
Age gap
Best Friend's sister

I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion

📣 she gets under his skin in such a satisfying way

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 how is your December reading starting off? Mine’s been steady. I’m close to reaching my reading goal for the year!

You’re pretty much guaranteed steam with an Elizabeth Hoyt historical, but you never know what the plot will be.

In No Ordinary Duchess, Lady Elspeth is on the hunt for a manuscript that she thinks could bring the Wise Women back to their roots. Meanwhile, she keeps running into Lord Julian, who feels the immense pressure of keeping his family safe from the machinations of their diabolical uncle.

The beginning of this book is particularly adorable. Elspeth gets under Ice King Julian’s skin in the best way. He tries to be buttoned up but she unravels him with her determination, persistent questions, & softness.

They’re such a great pair, with him presenting an impenetrable front in public & being emotionally reachable to her in private.

Throughout the book things move quickly. This bothered me less in the beginning than in the ending, where I wanted more.

But Hoyt serves up a pretty dependably satisfying experience, & this book isn’t an exception.

4 ⭐️, out now.

CWs: murder, attempted murder.
[ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of a pink Christmas tree.]

This just was not it. I’ve read all of Elizabeth Hoyt’s books and was excited for a new historical romance from her. This book was a long time coming and while I’m glad it finally got its release, it also just didn’t work for me.

The only book in this series I’ve liked is book 2 because it feels a little separate and different than book 1 and 3. If you were like me and not a fan of book 1, then this book is probably not going to work for you either. Basically we are back to these 2 families, the Duke of Windermere is involved again and so is his nephew Julian Greycourt this time. We get the Wise Women plot again (like book 1) which just hasn’t worked for me. She very much takes charge in their physical relationship as he likes to turn the reins over so to speak. I just wasn’t into the characters or the plot for this one. I’d still recommend books from this author since I have enjoyed most, it just wouldn’t be this book sadly.

I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

I've been reading Elizabeth Hoyt since her debut. One of the many facets of her writing that continues to bring me back to her books is her characters. In No Ordinary Duchess, the newest installment in her Greycourt series, both hero Julian and heroine Elspeth are standouts in Hoyt's long list of unforgettable lead characters.

There are few authors who write complex, emotionally tortured heroes as well as Hoyt. Do I love him? Despise him? Maybe both? In Julian's case, there were points where I wanted to wash my hands of him, others where my heart broke for him. He holds himself apart from family and friends (for reasons) yet strives to protect those he loves with every fiber of his being. He believes his past actions are villainous and unforgiveable and that present actions mark him as unnatural, unable to forgive himself for either. As I said: complex.

Elspeth is one of my favorite Hoyt heroines, a straight-talking young woman with an unconventional upbringing that sets her apart from a typical London miss. Everything about her feels authentic: her determination to complete her quest, her insatiable curiosity, her unapologetic exploration of sensual desires with Julian (Hoyt always brings the spice), and her refusal to accept defeat, especially at the hands of the true villain of this story. She's a force and I adored her.

The wise women storyline that runs through this series is one I could take or leave. It really doesn't add that much to the books for me other than as a plot device to explain the unexpected skills and knowledge the female leads possess. I'm not that interested in what will happen to the group. What I am interested in is Elspeth brother, Ran, former best friend of Julian and current recluse. The history there is fraught, fascinating, and overflowing with angst. I really hope Hoyt has a story planned for him. I am aching for it.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

I, like many, have been eagerly awaiting book 3 in the Greycourt series and hungry for anything new from Elizabeth Hoyt. No Ordinary Duchess has plenty of the unique twists and intriguing characters that Hoyt so frequently brings to her books but there’s just a little something missing. Julian and Elspeth are interesting and damaged just in the right amounts to be perfect for each other and I’d read the book just to find out how their story unfolds. It’s just a little something that I can’t quite put my finger on that doesn’t feel right about how this book unfolds. It’s quite different from the original teaser and they may just be it but still worth the read to see how Julian finds his peace and hopefully there will be more to come about Ran.

Spicy, male female, 3rd person dual point of view, regency romance. No Ordinary Duchess is the 3rd standalone book in The Greycourt book series. This has a number of tropes - age gap, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity along with some mystery and steam. I enjoyed the characters (the male lead is a secret submissive which led to some fantastic spice) and look forward to reading more books by this author.

I don’t know that I’ve ever said this about Elizabeth Hoyt’s writing, but this story didn’t flow well for me. There were parts that I absolutely adored, and things that just were okay but seemed to drag. On the plus side, there was nothing that didn’t work for me, just some slow parts that seemed unusual for this author in my experience.

Elspeth was phenomenally written. She is daring and brave in so many ways. So smart and matter-of-fact about so many things that ladies in that time were usually in the dark and embarrassed to even think about, yet she is also so naïve since she has lived away from most of society for so long. It’s such an intriguing mix, I cannot blame Julian for falling under her spell.

While Julian and Elspeth are, in some ways, working toward the same goal, they keep many secrets. Julian cannot trust anyone after the way things played out after his father’s death. He knows his uncle, the duke is evil and has eyes and ears everywhere. He trusts no one but his brother. Even his sisters think he is an uncaring cad because of the distance he keeps between them. Elspeth is trying to find proof of the true spirit of the Wise Women and soon realizes someone is out to stop her. Not only are the Wise Women a secret, but she must be extra careful so as not to be caught by the assassin sent to stop her. It’s a big old mess going on for these two! Throw in the bad blood between their families from when her brother was accused of killing his sister and nobody knows where anyone stands anymore.

We all know the heart cares little for these pesky matters. The connection and chemistry Julian and Elspeth have cannot be denied whenever they are in the same room, and when they are finally snowed in together that chemistry can no longer be denied. Of course, they still don’t share all of their secrets and that’s kind of where I get annoyed with the book and the characters. But when they are sharing their hearts and letting down their walls, this story is beautiful.

Again, I found the flow of the story to be uneven. Yet I wouldn’t want to skip this one. I love the characters and each book in this series has me more and more invested in the rest of the characters to find out what happened that long ago night. Where is everyone now? Can they all really have their HEA?

4/⭐️
2.5/🌶

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Hoyt writes an interesting spin on a historical romance. Secret societies, blood thirsty relatives, hidden documents, and a... dom/sub relationship? Definitely a lot steamier than your average historical romance. 🥵

Elspeth is a force to be reckoned with, and Julian had his work cut out for him. They had great chemistry. Typical grumpy/sunshine. The spicy scenes were a bit more graphic than I expected for a historical romance, but a refreshing take on how certain romantic relations were viewed in that time.

I really enjoyed this book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if there weren't so many loose ends. What happened with the Wise Women? Was Quin really seeing his sister, or is she actually dead? How did society receive Julian after inheriting the dukedom and learning his little secret? Just a lot up in the air.

This is the 3rd book in the series and can be read as a standalone, but I did feel as if there were a lot of blanks without reading the first two, especially when it came to character introduction. Overall a good read, I just would have like a little bit ✨️more✨️

I had only read one Elizabeth Hoyt before this one so I knew I would enjoy but I wasn't fully prepared for how much I would love this book.

✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ (Former) Best Friend's Sister
✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine

This book is the third in a series but don't let that dissuade you from picking it up. I hadn't read the first two and easily fell into this story.

I loved the little fairy tale portions that preceded each chapter! And I loved the plot where both main characters have secrets that they don't want to reveal. The chemistry between the Julian and Elspeth was incredible. I especially loved the scenes between them in his country house where they were so raw and honest with each other which led to them not being able to keep their hands off each other. I also loved that there was some role reversal in sex and shame here.

Highly recommend! After a spate of meh reads, I'm so pleased that this was a home run for me. 5⭐️

Steam 🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

No Ordinary Duchess was not my cup of tea, I still highly recommend Elizabeth Hoyt's other books, she is one of the few authors who is an auto-read for me where I know I will most definitely enjoy her books.

The setting is Georgian England in 1760. Julian Greycourt is heir to the Windemere dukedom. The current duke is his uncle who Julian believes is responsible for his mother’s death. He is hunting for a book that his mother made notes inside. Lady Elspeth de Moray is looking for a book as well. It is a diary of a founding member of an ancient women's Scottish society of which she is a member. The two join together looking through the Windemere library stacks.

There are a lot of obstacles between the pair including the general belief that Elspeth’s brother caused the death of Julian’s sister. This is an old fashioned historical romance. Complete with assassination attempts, blackmail and a truly evil villain. Sometimes I felt there was almost too much. But the sparks are there and passion flairs between the pair in delicious ways.

This can be read on its own but I have read the previous two books in the series and they do have an ongoing plot that resolves with this book.

Elizabeth Hoyt is a staple of the histrom community. That being said, this is only the third book of hers that I’ve read, the first two being from her very well known Maiden Lane series. I was immediately hooked upon starting Nor Ordinary Duchess. I haven’t read the first two books in this series which focus on the two MCs siblings and their stories, so I was a bit lost on some of the finer details and relationships but that didn’t stop me from enjoying plot. I honestly loved this book, and I didn’t want it to end. I read this in almost one sitting, it was that good!

Elspeth is a fun, independent FMC, while Julien is a cold, hurting, independent MMC. We have a typical grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers tropes going, but we also get some light femme dom that throws the typical histrom dynamics on its head. I wish this had been explored a bit more, especially towards the end as things are revealed, but it was still done well and obviously was steamy as you’d expect from Hoyt! There is conflict within the MCs two families due to an incident in the past as well as plot points for each MC separately that all work to challenge their relationship. More specifically, there’s an evil Duke (Julien’s uncle) who has made Julien and his siblings lives horrible. The ending did feel rushed, and I’m assuming there will be more books coming to this series as there were plot points left unresolved, but I still thoroughly enjoyed Hoyt’s newest novel. I’ve purchased the first two books in the series and plan to read them soon because I was not ready to say goodbye to this world just yet!

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary arc. All opinions are my own.

Elizabeth Hoyt's books just keep getting better. I am loving the Greycourt Series! I especially loved how this book flipped a lot of traditional stereotypes on their heads. There is an age gap and a fem dom! Plus the spice was impeccable!

Why, hello there, you broody hero, you! In spite of his best efforts to stay away, Julian Greycourt just keeps gravitating towards Lady Elspeth de Moray, and she keeps cropping up wherever he is.

Why is this a problem? Well…

Firstly, there’s that thing that happened years and years ago, causing a rift between him and her family.

Then there’s the age gap between them.

Also, there’s this predicament where his uncle is quite dangerous and has it out for Julian and everyone he cares about.

And, well, despite her title, Elspeth isn’t exactly a polished society lady. She’s not what you would expect from someone out in society at all.

What’s a man to do?

At a glance:
- Intrigue + multiple mysteries
- Age gap
- Grump/sunshine
- A bit of a forbidden romance situation
- Their families are (kind of) enemies
- Forced proximity
- Friends’ sibling
- Lots of time in libraries
- Submission 👀
- Book 3 in a series but can be read as a standalone

This is a fun one—especially once Julian and Elspeth find themselves truly alone together.

Elspeth’s unconventionality is exactly what Julian needs in his life, and together, they just fit. I especially liked watching them be vulnerable together and how Julian learned self-acceptance through their relationship.

I received an advance copy of the book from Forever. All review opinions are my own.

Julian Greycourt the ultimate grump with a heart of gold and a side of alpha sub. Lady Elspeth the sunshine dom who has captured a reluctant Julian’s heart. I do not understand how I read this book so quickly, I just know I may read it again.

I enjoyed the story. It was fun watching our two MCs circle around each other. There were some interesting threads that I wished could have been more explored, the Wise Women and the evil uncle. The side characters were lovable and makes me excited to circle back to the two prior books. Really loved the fairytale story we got along with the progression of the main story.

I was ready for some high level historical romance nonsense and I was not disappointed. Elizabeth Hoyt is great at creating wild situations (she's got a whole 12 book series of 1730s Batman, basically), and sometimes you just want that high drama in your books.

This one has Elspeth, a noble daughter raised by an enclave of women dating back thousands of years, who's in London to find the diary of the enclave's founder to resolve a schism in the community. She's hunting in the Duke of Greycourt's library when Julian, the nephew and heir, finds her and they have to hide from his evil uncle who poisoned his mother to death. Also there's a lady assassin after Elspeth. So this is prime historical nonsense.

I had fun with this one. The highly dramatic historical nonsense was great. It's very sexy, particularly if you enjoy power exchange. Elspeth is an unusual character for this time period, but it's because of her unusual upbringing.

I felt like I was missing some context from not having read the earlier books, and some of the plotlines were ended overly abruptly, but overall, I had a good time.

#romance #romancelandia #romancereader #reader #bookreview #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #romancestagram

There was a lot to the premise of this book. Both characters on the hunt for "diaries" tied to women who were very important in their lives. And in order to locate them, they join forces in Julian's familial library far from London. Julian and Elspeth feel a connection and when Elspeth finds out Julian's submissive tendencies she discovers that his passions are ones she thrills at experiences. Yet with their past shrouded by the believed death of Julian's sister by Elspeth's brother, they feel as if there is no possible future for them. And when Julian feels betrayed by Elspeth's actions a huge rift is formed between the pair.

Again, there was a lot going on in this book. I feel as though I would not have gotten through it as well as I did, if I had not purchased the audiobook. The plot points of Elspeth's wise women and the assassin after her sometimes felt clunky and didn't land as well as it could have. Also I struggled at times with Julian's belief that what he enjoyed intimately was shameful. I know at the time it would have been viewed as such, but maybe if it had been more detailed than what little bit we got between the characters it would have felt more like the big deal it was thought to be at the time. Perhaps my few dark romances have ruined me for what was/is considered more perverse.

I did enjoy the continued connection growing between the Greycourt and de Moray family and finding out more about the past rift with the death and accusation of murder between their siblings. I am intrigued to find out if Quinton's belief Aurelia is alive would lead to a fourth book between Aurelia and Rannolf! I am also excited to go back to book two in this series and read Messelina's story.

Overall, I liked this novel and the narration was enjoyable. Thank you to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third story in the Greycourt series set in the Georgian era. The characters are complex and interesting and strong-willed, to say the least. It was full of drama, action, forced proximity, secrets, intrigue, and suspense that kept me very engaged. I enjoyed this well written and entertaining love story with such sweet and sensual romance. I highly recommend reading!