Thank you so much to NetGalley and Suzanne Enoch for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for A Duke Never Tells coming out April 1, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoy this author’s writing! I’ve read a few of her books and loved them. I thought the narrators did a great job. They definitely do the different accents and voices. I thought the plot sounded fun. However, I think the ruse went on for too long. I’m still not sure what Meg’s plan was. She was thick, at times. It felt convoluted. James was also very much into drinking. I think he had some redeeming qualities, but the set up ended up being a little confusing and honestly no one caught on? I don’t think this book was for me. I would check out other books by this author.

A historical romance with chaos and shenanigans and multiple cases of hidden identity? Yes please. This book was so much fun, with lovely characters and character development. I adored it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
Comedy of errors aren’t usually my thing, but I actually really enjoyed this one. The narrators were two of my favorite voice actors, so all around an enjoyable listen.

As my first book by Suzanne Enoch this was a very pleasant introduction to the author. It was a fun read with two sweet romances, both of which I enjoyed and rooted for. The situation of everyone pretending to be someone else was quite entertaining, as was its unraveling and conclusion.
The audiobook experience was really good, both narrators were excellent.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Book Review: *A Duke Never Tells* by Suzanne Enoch**

*A Duke Never Tells* by Suzanne Enoch was a delightful and unexpected read! It’s a charming blend of hidden identities, humor, light romance, and a satisfying happy ending. I would give this book a solid 4 stars for its entertaining storyline and whimsical characters. While there’s very little spice, the plot is engaging enough to keep you hooked without relying on intense romance.

The story follows Meg, who, after a year of mourning the late Duke, is about to marry his son. However, she wants to get a real sense of what her future husband is like before their marriage. Meg, along with her 28-year-old spinster aunt, adopts fake identities to visit the Duke’s manor house, hoping to observe the son in his natural environment. However, what they don’t anticipate is the Duke and his man of affairs being at the house, leading to a hilarious series of mix-ups.

Through a series of comedic mishaps, the Duke ends up pretending to be the butler, while his man of affairs masquerades as the Duke. The result is a charming, lighthearted comedy of errors, with both Meg and the Duke finding an unexpected connection despite their assumed identities.

Overall, *A Duke Never Tells* is a fun, quick read that delivers on both humor and heart. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Utter antics and multiple cases of mistaken identity lend to the best holiday Meg Pinwell and her aunt Clara Bosley have ever had.

Lady Meg Pinwell is about to become engaged to a duke's heir with a terrible reputation as a rake, and then the very day the announcement is printed in the papers, the duke dies and suddenly several things happen: 1) Meg and her family must observe formal mourning for a man she's never met, 2) her Debut Season is must be postponed, and 3) she's now engaged to an actual duke. A year and two days out of mourning, Meg and Clara, her aunt (her mother's much younger sister) and outspoken suffragette best friend, journey to the estate of Meg's betrothed under false identities, only to be turned away by someone who seems to be a rather intoxicated and foul-tempered butler. They are then greeted by a rather surly man who appears to be the duke, but who seems to curse his own poor behavior and neglect of the estate. Except that the foul-mouthed butler is actually the duke, and the surly duke is actually the man of business, and everyone thinks they'll only need these false identities for a few hours. When Meg injures her ankle and cannot travel however, it's clear that for two weeks they'll be stuck in each others' company, with the wrong names, and likely falling in love with the wrong people.

This is an incredibly fun read. It has all the vibes and tone of The Importance of Being Ernest with a fresh historical romance plot and a much-aggrieved valet. We are rewarded with two strong romance plots, hand wringing over propriety, and while some might consider this miscommunication or characters hiding their identities for too long, the lighthearted tone and overall silliness makes it all acceptable.

A Duke Never Tells is closed-door romance, but similar to Enoch's last book, the screwball comedy antics don't make you miss any explicit scenes. It feels meant to be listened to, and the audiobook performance from Kimberly M. Wetherell and Jay Myers is highly enjoyable.

Thank you to Bramble for an ARC and Dreamscape Audio for an ALC for review. A Duke Never Tells is out 4/1/2025.

A Duke Never Tells by Suzanne Enoch is a multi=POV closed door Regency romance. The audiobook benefits from dual narration, bringing added depth to the mistaken identity hijinks in the vein of The Importance of Being Earnest, taken to the extreme. Meg is an earl's daughter pretending to be a lady's companion so she can stake out the country estate of the fiancé she's never met, her suffragette aunt takes on the role of said lady, a scandalous duke pretends to be a butler, and a man of business is forced into the role of a rakish duke. It's all fun and games until these roles go from a short ruse to a two week stay, all thanks to a sprained ankle. If only modern problems were as simple! This enjoyable read is burdened with a truly terrible book cover that may turn off some readers.

Suzanne Enoch delivers a charming and adventurous Regency romance in A Duke Never Tells, and the audiobook version, narrated by Kimberly M. Wetherell and Jay Myers, brings the story to life in a delightful way. Enoch’s writing is filled with humor and heart, making for an engaging and entertaining listen. The characters are well-developed, and their chemistry crackles throughout the story, keeping the listener hooked. The dual narration adds depth to the audiobook experience. Kimberly M. Wetherell and Jay Myers each bring their characters to life with distinct voices and expressive performances. Wetherell captures the heroine’s intelligence and wit, while Myers gives the duke a swoon-worthy presence. The alternating perspectives enhance the romance and tension, making it an immersive experience for listeners.
Overall, A Duke Never Tells is a fantastic historical romance with a fun plot, strong characters, and excellent narration. Fans of Suzanne Enoch, the mistaken identity trope, and Regency romance will find this audiobook an absolute delight.

This was an adventure, and I enjoyed it.

Meg is supposed to get married to Duke James who is supposed to be a wild man, gambling and women and irresponsibility. She'll do what she has to but when she comes up with a plan to sneak a peek at her new home and get the dirt on its owner from the staff she cannot resist. Meg and her aunt Clara come up with secret identities and arrive at the Duke's house ready for a tour and gossip. When they arrive they're greeted by the rudest butler ever (the Duke but he lied about who he was) and they have no choice but to follow the plan. Then Meg sprains her ankle and they end up stuck at the house for two weeks.

I was so entertained, just when I thought everything was going to sort itself out things just became even more confused.

A Shakespearean comedy worthy romp with identity swamp, undercover operations, and 2 adorable couples. I had a great time

I received an advanced listening copy of the audiobook for review. This is my own opinion.

This is basically The Importance of Being Earnest. The castle is even called Earnherst, which is adorable. Our intrepid heroes weave a whole lot of tangled webs that leave readers with a whole lot of humor.

As far as the audio goes, the narrators did a fantastic job, delivering their often ridiculous lines seriously, which really drives home the comedic Oscar Wilde vibe.

I definitely recommend this for readers who want a lighter historical romance. It’s funny but the characters say things about recognizing their privilege, and it’s just very self aware.

4.25/5 stars

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC!

This was absolutely delightful. I really didn’t know what to expect nor did I even read the summary beyond a glance. I was truly TICKLED when I realized that not only was she hiding her identity but he also was!! And the side characters too!! Whenever I encounter this specific type of hidden identity, it’s my FAVORITE thing EVER because the biggest barrier to the couples being together is actually a nonissue. It’s like dramatic irony to the point of screwball-esque. Also I just eat up a side character romance.

I didn’t think there’d be any spice because it was absent I her last trade paperback I read, so I wasn’t disappointed to learn I was correct. I’ll always want it, but the story worked without it and I was okay. I do think the secondary romance seemed almost a bit more developed than the main one, and an extra layer of intimacy would’ve strengthened their connection to perfection.

As for the audiobook, the narrators were absolutely fabulous. I don’t think I’ve heard either of them before??? (which is saying something) but I’d love to hear them again. They delivered the comedic timing perfectly. It would’ve been fun reading with my eyes but with my ears it was truly an Experienceᵀᴹ.

4.5/5

I received an ARC and ALC from the publishers. All opinions are honest and my own.

I had high hopes for A Duke Never Tells, the first in Suzanne Enoch's *The Wildes of Lindow Castle* series. The premise, featuring a rakish duke and a spirited heroine, promises all the classic elements of a Regency romance that I enjoy: witty banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a dash of intrigue. While I found the story itself enjoyable, I couldn't help but feel somewhat underwhelmed by the audiobook experience.

The story centers on the relationship between the Duke of Lindow, a charming but emotionally closed-off nobleman, and Lady Rosalind, a headstrong woman who’s trying to carve out her own place in a world that doesn’t quite understand her. It’s a standard Regency romance plot with a few twists, but overall, the characters are engaging enough to hold my interest.

However, my enjoyment of the audiobook was hindered by the narration. The narrator did a good job overall, but the different accents for various characters, especially the duke and the heroine, made it a bit difficult to follow at times. The shifts between different voices sometimes felt jarring, and I found myself straining to keep track of who was speaking. The accents, though well-performed, were not always easy to follow, which pulled me out of the story a few times. It's a bit of a shame, because I think the writing would have been more enjoyable for me had I read it in print.

That said, the chemistry between the main characters was palpable, and the romance, though predictable, was satisfying. There's also a nice layer of mystery that kept the plot moving forward. If you're a fan of regency-era romance with a bit of intrigue and don't mind a more challenging listening experience, this might still be a good pick. For me, though, I’d probably recommend the print version over the audiobook if you're looking to fully immerse yourself in the story.

In conclusion, A Duke Never Tells was an enjoyable read, but the audiobook's narration style just wasn’t for me. I still plan on continuing with the series, but next time, I'll opt for the physical book to get the most out of the story.