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Once Upon a Dukedom #2
The Duchess Hunt
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess. However, restoring the dukedom—left in ruins by his father—to its former glory demands all his time, with little room for sentiment. He places an advert encouraging the single ladies of the ton to write why they should be the one chosen, and leaves it to his efficient secretary to select his future wife.
If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can’t imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer.
But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he’s willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he’s hunting for has been in front of him all along?
If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can’t imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer.
But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he’s willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he’s hunting for has been in front of him all along?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 28, 2021
About the author
Lorraine Heath
74 books4,153 followersAlso writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 796 reviews
October 19, 2021
I've read a number of books by Lorraine Heath, but The Duchess Hunt is my favorite by this author to date. Just swoony, historical romance perfection.
I see some mixed reviews from my friends, but am 100% #teamtheduchesshunt. I found it incredibly hard to put down, and more moving and intense than expected. It's a slow-burn, colleagues-to-lovers romance with a number of small twists and turns to keep the excitement going. It's a relatively long story, but it won't feel that way for readers.
This story is great for fans of unrequited love, class differences, and some beautiful groveling (yes, I said it- give me that grovel-porn!). There is just so much to love about this story. I recommend reading the first in the series prior to this one, just for a little background info, but it isn't at all necessary.
Maybe it was just my mood, but this book pushed all the right buttons. Thank you for an extremely satisfying read, Lorraine Heath.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I see some mixed reviews from my friends, but am 100% #teamtheduchesshunt. I found it incredibly hard to put down, and more moving and intense than expected. It's a slow-burn, colleagues-to-lovers romance with a number of small twists and turns to keep the excitement going. It's a relatively long story, but it won't feel that way for readers.
This story is great for fans of unrequited love, class differences, and some beautiful groveling (yes, I said it- give me that grovel-porn!). There is just so much to love about this story. I recommend reading the first in the series prior to this one, just for a little background info, but it isn't at all necessary.
Maybe it was just my mood, but this book pushed all the right buttons. Thank you for an extremely satisfying read, Lorraine Heath.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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September 21, 2022
✨These urges have urges.✨
No this epilogue killed me. Leave it to Lorraine. Save for want of a little more dirty talk and adventure in the bedroom (or picnic blanket or carriage), this book was absolutely delicious and perfect and just what I needed, wanted, wished for on an obliging shooting star.
I’ve said before, Kingsland can get it. And what happened class? He got it. I’m such a sucker for a character that is so unbuttoned they bathe clothed. This book gave us TWO of those honeybuns. They were both so meticulous, uptight, and devoted to their work. Now if that’s not my kink I don’t know what is. I loved watching them start to realize that had feelings for each other. There was also a sick scene and King was DISTRAUGHT. Another kink? Check. Mate.
The tension between King and Pettypeace was perfection. Their urges had urges. The sex was a bit vanilla but the plot and characters won me over ten-fold. And there WAS sex, just not very long or graphic. Pettypeace did get herself off in a carriage which was great. Side note: there was a scene where King called her his right hand. To which she should have brought back up during a sex scene while getting HIM off like his right hand. Just saying.
Far in the future epilogues always leave me in shambles. I always think about these couples in romances as evergreen because they are (for the reader), but when the epilogue is like they’re old or they have ancestors, I get EMOTIONAL. Or more emotional. I’m always emotional. Therefore, this epilogue destroyed my sensibilities and I cried TWO times. Yes I’ve already read this book again. Another kink.
Overall, I can’t believe this book was so good! I mean I can but I’m still impressed by how unprepared I was. I do wish King would have handled her secret better but he groveled well. His disapproval and lack of steam were my only qualms but I’m already over them. I’m also probably reading this book again. Thus, this is probably a 4.75/5 but it made me cry so it wins back the .25 lost by his lack of sense.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
No this epilogue killed me. Leave it to Lorraine. Save for want of a little more dirty talk and adventure in the bedroom (or picnic blanket or carriage), this book was absolutely delicious and perfect and just what I needed, wanted, wished for on an obliging shooting star.
I’ve said before, Kingsland can get it. And what happened class? He got it. I’m such a sucker for a character that is so unbuttoned they bathe clothed. This book gave us TWO of those honeybuns. They were both so meticulous, uptight, and devoted to their work. Now if that’s not my kink I don’t know what is. I loved watching them start to realize that had feelings for each other. There was also a sick scene and King was DISTRAUGHT. Another kink? Check. Mate.
The tension between King and Pettypeace was perfection. Their urges had urges. The sex was a bit vanilla but the plot and characters won me over ten-fold. And there WAS sex, just not very long or graphic. Pettypeace did get herself off in a carriage which was great. Side note: there was a scene where King called her his right hand. To which she should have brought back up during a sex scene while getting HIM off like his right hand. Just saying.
Far in the future epilogues always leave me in shambles. I always think about these couples in romances as evergreen because they are (for the reader), but when the epilogue is like they’re old or they have ancestors, I get EMOTIONAL. Or more emotional. I’m always emotional. Therefore, this epilogue destroyed my sensibilities and I cried TWO times. Yes I’ve already read this book again. Another kink.
Overall, I can’t believe this book was so good! I mean I can but I’m still impressed by how unprepared I was. I do wish King would have handled her secret better but he groveled well. His disapproval and lack of steam were my only qualms but I’m already over them. I’m also probably reading this book again. Thus, this is probably a 4.75/5 but it made me cry so it wins back the .25 lost by his lack of sense.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
October 21, 2021
I absolutely love the trope where the one love interest is trying to help the other love interest find someone to marry. Automatically there is so much tension and angst! But in this one, both the hero and heroine are pining after one another from the beginning and I was obsessed with them. Penelope is Hugh's assistant and has been working for him for over a year. Now, he needs a wife and she is helping him with his list of potential wives. That means she has to go to balls with him and the tension is everything! He gets jealous when men show interest in her and she can't deny her feelings for him. I just loved how protective Hugh became over her and how he didn't know what to do about his growing feelings for her.
Both Hugh and Penelope are hiding secrets from one another that come to light at the end of the book. Hugh's reaction to her secret is very frustrating, but I did enjoy how they both dealt with their secrets coming out and found their way to be with one another. It was also really interesting watching Penelope's dynamics with the other staff, especially as it was clear that Hugh was treating her differently...
Overall, I loved this book! I highly recommend if you love historical romances!
Both Hugh and Penelope are hiding secrets from one another that come to light at the end of the book. Hugh's reaction to her secret is very frustrating, but I did enjoy how they both dealt with their secrets coming out and found their way to be with one another. It was also really interesting watching Penelope's dynamics with the other staff, especially as it was clear that Hugh was treating her differently...
Overall, I loved this book! I highly recommend if you love historical romances!
February 3, 2024
Ok......such mixed feelings about this book. I LOVED the last half of it and give it 5*. The secrets the H/h held I have never seen before. The spicy sex scenes and the resolution to each character's problems....Great! The epilogue Fantastic. 2* for the first 160 pages to get to that part. I read this as my Women at Work for Historical Romance Book Club Feb 2024.
January 8, 2022
Originally 3 stars but an additional half star for the epilogue...So 3.5 stars!
“I asked you to select a woman to be my duchess, and you chose wrong. But how can I blame you when even I didn’t comprehend that she has been with me the entire time? I would willingly die for you. I will kill for you . . . I will live for you. Miss Penelope Pettypeace, you shall always be the love of my life, the echo of my soul.” Penelope Pettypeace has been the secretary to the Duke of Kingsland for eight years, but her most unpleasant task yet is to find and select the perfect Duchess for Hugh whom she loves. The Duke of Kingsland is confused when he starts seeing Penelope more than the reliable secretary he had all these years…and when an opportunity to dally with her presents itself, he takes it. Nothing would change between them…except everything does. When secrets of the past re-appeared to haunt the two together, he has to decide whether the perfect Duchess he had been looking for all along was his secretary, Penelope, who had been there for him all this time.
The Duchess Hunt is the second book from Lorraine Heath’s newish historical romance series, Once upon a Dukedom. This book is about Hugh Brinsley-Norton, Duke of Kingsland, and Penelope Pettypeace. It is no secret that I loved the first book of this series and I was expecting to love this too, especially since the synopsis sounds like the perfect angst-fest book. The readers met Hugh from book one since he was the Duke Lady Kathryn was betrothed to for quite some time. He seemed like an interesting man so I was excited to read his book.
Meet Penelope Pettypeace: She has been the secretary to the Duke of Kingsland for eight years. And she loves her employer but she never dared dream that she would be the Duchess he would have by his side. After all, she is a mere commoner. Add to that, there is a secret from her past that haunts her up to this day. She is reliable and the best secretary one could ask for. She is smart, practical, competent and clever.
Meet Hugh Brinsley-Norton: He is the Duke of Kingsland. He has a knack for making money. When he inherited the title, it came with a massive debt and he worked hard to ensure that the Dukedom would return to its former glory. He loves his mother and his brother. He has the looks, title and wealth. He is quite the perfect catch. But like Penelope, he has secrets of his own. He has his own issues that leads him to believe that he can’t love anyone, which is the reason why he hunts for the perfect Duchess in the most impersonal manner.
The Duke of Kingsland picked a potential Duchess just last year which had disastrous results for the woman loved another man. But Hugh seems to have not learned a lesson because only two days after the woman rejected his proposal, he was once again hunting for the perfect Duchess. Penelope Pettypeace's task as his secretary is to select Hugh’s future wife. Although it is not the most ideal thing to find a future bride for the man she loves, Penelope will make sure that who she would pick will be perfect for Hugh. Penelope loves Hugh but she knows the two of them can never be together, until one encounter changes everything. Choosing to engage in sexual liaisons with Hugh, she decided, is better than to have nothing with him at all. Nothing would change, or so he says…but feelings complicate matters, and so do secrets of the past. When her particular secret came to light, it was bound to change everything in their lives….decisions, decisions, decisions and finally a HEA.
I had a hard time warming up to the heroine. While she was most definitely sensible and an ideal heroine, there was something about her that I did not like. What I did not like is that she kept her secrets from the readers for too long. Although I am not sure if that’s her fault or the author's. I hate being kept in the dark. I understand that she does not want the hero or anyone in her present life to know her secrets, but was it necessary to keep it from the readers too? It annoyed me. Also, it was more of a telling and not showing when it came to her feelings toward him. So at first, I did not really buy it. We are instantly told that she loves him but I did not feel it until later on. Her running away when things get complicated was very relatable though. Sadly, I did not fall in love with her character.
I was kind of disappointed with the hero’s character. I loved Scoundrel of my heart, and I was definitely intrigued with him when I read his part in that book. I wish I could say I loved him but I really did not. The line between Penelope being his secretary and a woman he starts being attracted to was confusing. It felt like it happened all of a sudden. Like, seriously, the woman had been your secretary for eight years and you are now only realizing how much you’re attracted to her? Meh, didn’t buy it. Again, I’m not sure if that was the character’s fault or the author’s. I also did not like how he reacted to the heroine’s secret, although it was actually very understandable especially during that era. But he does redeem himself. His secret shocked me too! I think his secret shocked me more than the heroine’s. I love how he made sure that Penelope’s secret from the past will never come back to haunt them. While I did not fall in love with his character, his love for Penelope became believable and I could not help but be touched.
This book was disappointing compared to the first book. But I guess it is all because of my own preferences: I find that I do not like the employer-employee trope in HRs. It just feels a touch modern? Something about this book just felt very modern and I did not like that. It took me at least four tries before I could finally continue on with the book. It just did not hook me like other Lorraine Heath books. For most part of the book, I did not feel the chemistry between Penelope and Hugh so when they were mooning over each other, I did not feel anything. The problem is that: we are just told how much Penelope loves Hugh. And now Hugh sees Penelope more than his secretary. I just did not buy it. They were working together for eight years! Seriously. The reason I decided to persevere is because I was curious whether I would end up loving it or not.
The thing is, I feel like Lord Lawrence stole the spotlight from Hugh. I was actually more interested in him! I need his book! Now this is a man whose book would be very enjoyable, I just know it. A wastrel who would later on find purpose in his life? I need it! Lady Sarah Montague’s small scene piqued my curiosity too. I wonder if the gent ended up jealous? Sounds like it would be an interesting book. The Chessmen were interesting too, I wish they would get their own individual books. And we also have Wolf, who is Griffith's older brother. His book is the next one, I know. But the synopsis does not intrigue me, which is unfortunate as his character seems just like the hero I would love. Now you see the problem? I was more interested in the side characters than anything happening between the main characters and their blooming romance.
I guess the problem that this book had is the: It’s not you, it’s me. It is a well-written book, as one would expect from Lorraine Heath. Her characters had substance but there was just something that I did not enjoy very much. Perhaps it was the too modern employer-employee couple dynamic, perhaps it was because both of them kept their secrets for too long, especially the heroine, which did not endear them to me. I was originally going to rate it only three stars but the last paragraph of the epilogue really touched my heart. It made me tear up, which was unexpected because I did not particularly really enjoy the book. It was so bittersweet. Because of that last paragraph, I decided to add another half-star. Overall, it is a well-written book that I am sure many people would enjoy, especially if they enjoy the employer-employee dynamic, mutual pining, and secrets from both hero and heroine.
Some quotes:
“He liked surprising her. Imagined the satisfaction to be found in a lifetime of doing so.”
“His Pettypeace. His. She wasn’t an object or a possession, but she was his secretary, his right hand, his start to the day. His closest ally. Dare he admit, his dearest friend? He couldn’t imagine a world in which she was not at his side.”
“A life without love is . . . even if it doesn’t last, even if it’s only for a short while . . . to find joy in the giving of yourself, to look forward to the day because that person will be part of it. To share your thoughts and not have them judged. To be able to disagree and know the person will listen to your argument and not think less of you for making it. To feel you’re better than you were before that person came into your life. And to weep when they no longer are.” (I loved this quote.)
“I haven’t the words to explain it adequately. While I had him, while he was in my life, what I felt was like sustenance to my soul. The sun, the moon, and the stars were all inside me.”
“How could he have ever thought he needed to hunt for the perfect duchess when she had been with him for so very long? Perfect for his soul, his heart, his body. Perfect as his wife, his lover, his partner. In all things, he’d never find a better match.”
“I asked you to select a woman to be my duchess, and you chose wrong. But how can I blame you when even I didn’t comprehend that she has been with me the entire time? I would willingly die for you. I will kill for you . . . I will live for you. Miss Penelope Pettypeace, you shall always be the love of my life, the echo of my soul.” Penelope Pettypeace has been the secretary to the Duke of Kingsland for eight years, but her most unpleasant task yet is to find and select the perfect Duchess for Hugh whom she loves. The Duke of Kingsland is confused when he starts seeing Penelope more than the reliable secretary he had all these years…and when an opportunity to dally with her presents itself, he takes it. Nothing would change between them…except everything does. When secrets of the past re-appeared to haunt the two together, he has to decide whether the perfect Duchess he had been looking for all along was his secretary, Penelope, who had been there for him all this time.
The Duchess Hunt is the second book from Lorraine Heath’s newish historical romance series, Once upon a Dukedom. This book is about Hugh Brinsley-Norton, Duke of Kingsland, and Penelope Pettypeace. It is no secret that I loved the first book of this series and I was expecting to love this too, especially since the synopsis sounds like the perfect angst-fest book. The readers met Hugh from book one since he was the Duke Lady Kathryn was betrothed to for quite some time. He seemed like an interesting man so I was excited to read his book.
Meet Penelope Pettypeace: She has been the secretary to the Duke of Kingsland for eight years. And she loves her employer but she never dared dream that she would be the Duchess he would have by his side. After all, she is a mere commoner. Add to that, there is a secret from her past that haunts her up to this day. She is reliable and the best secretary one could ask for. She is smart, practical, competent and clever.
Meet Hugh Brinsley-Norton: He is the Duke of Kingsland. He has a knack for making money. When he inherited the title, it came with a massive debt and he worked hard to ensure that the Dukedom would return to its former glory. He loves his mother and his brother. He has the looks, title and wealth. He is quite the perfect catch. But like Penelope, he has secrets of his own. He has his own issues that leads him to believe that he can’t love anyone, which is the reason why he hunts for the perfect Duchess in the most impersonal manner.
The Duke of Kingsland picked a potential Duchess just last year which had disastrous results for the woman loved another man. But Hugh seems to have not learned a lesson because only two days after the woman rejected his proposal, he was once again hunting for the perfect Duchess. Penelope Pettypeace's task as his secretary is to select Hugh’s future wife. Although it is not the most ideal thing to find a future bride for the man she loves, Penelope will make sure that who she would pick will be perfect for Hugh. Penelope loves Hugh but she knows the two of them can never be together, until one encounter changes everything. Choosing to engage in sexual liaisons with Hugh, she decided, is better than to have nothing with him at all. Nothing would change, or so he says…but feelings complicate matters, and so do secrets of the past. When her particular secret came to light, it was bound to change everything in their lives….decisions, decisions, decisions and finally a HEA.
I had a hard time warming up to the heroine. While she was most definitely sensible and an ideal heroine, there was something about her that I did not like. What I did not like is that she kept her secrets from the readers for too long. Although I am not sure if that’s her fault or the author's. I hate being kept in the dark. I understand that she does not want the hero or anyone in her present life to know her secrets, but was it necessary to keep it from the readers too? It annoyed me. Also, it was more of a telling and not showing when it came to her feelings toward him. So at first, I did not really buy it. We are instantly told that she loves him but I did not feel it until later on. Her running away when things get complicated was very relatable though. Sadly, I did not fall in love with her character.
I was kind of disappointed with the hero’s character. I loved Scoundrel of my heart, and I was definitely intrigued with him when I read his part in that book. I wish I could say I loved him but I really did not. The line between Penelope being his secretary and a woman he starts being attracted to was confusing. It felt like it happened all of a sudden. Like, seriously, the woman had been your secretary for eight years and you are now only realizing how much you’re attracted to her? Meh, didn’t buy it. Again, I’m not sure if that was the character’s fault or the author’s. I also did not like how he reacted to the heroine’s secret, although it was actually very understandable especially during that era. But he does redeem himself. His secret shocked me too! I think his secret shocked me more than the heroine’s. I love how he made sure that Penelope’s secret from the past will never come back to haunt them. While I did not fall in love with his character, his love for Penelope became believable and I could not help but be touched.
This book was disappointing compared to the first book. But I guess it is all because of my own preferences: I find that I do not like the employer-employee trope in HRs. It just feels a touch modern? Something about this book just felt very modern and I did not like that. It took me at least four tries before I could finally continue on with the book. It just did not hook me like other Lorraine Heath books. For most part of the book, I did not feel the chemistry between Penelope and Hugh so when they were mooning over each other, I did not feel anything. The problem is that: we are just told how much Penelope loves Hugh. And now Hugh sees Penelope more than his secretary. I just did not buy it. They were working together for eight years! Seriously. The reason I decided to persevere is because I was curious whether I would end up loving it or not.
The thing is, I feel like Lord Lawrence stole the spotlight from Hugh. I was actually more interested in him! I need his book! Now this is a man whose book would be very enjoyable, I just know it. A wastrel who would later on find purpose in his life? I need it! Lady Sarah Montague’s small scene piqued my curiosity too. I wonder if the gent ended up jealous? Sounds like it would be an interesting book. The Chessmen were interesting too, I wish they would get their own individual books. And we also have Wolf, who is Griffith's older brother. His book is the next one, I know. But the synopsis does not intrigue me, which is unfortunate as his character seems just like the hero I would love. Now you see the problem? I was more interested in the side characters than anything happening between the main characters and their blooming romance.
I guess the problem that this book had is the: It’s not you, it’s me. It is a well-written book, as one would expect from Lorraine Heath. Her characters had substance but there was just something that I did not enjoy very much. Perhaps it was the too modern employer-employee couple dynamic, perhaps it was because both of them kept their secrets for too long, especially the heroine, which did not endear them to me. I was originally going to rate it only three stars but the last paragraph of the epilogue really touched my heart. It made me tear up, which was unexpected because I did not particularly really enjoy the book. It was so bittersweet. Because of that last paragraph, I decided to add another half-star. Overall, it is a well-written book that I am sure many people would enjoy, especially if they enjoy the employer-employee dynamic, mutual pining, and secrets from both hero and heroine.
Some quotes:
“He liked surprising her. Imagined the satisfaction to be found in a lifetime of doing so.”
“His Pettypeace. His. She wasn’t an object or a possession, but she was his secretary, his right hand, his start to the day. His closest ally. Dare he admit, his dearest friend? He couldn’t imagine a world in which she was not at his side.”
“A life without love is . . . even if it doesn’t last, even if it’s only for a short while . . . to find joy in the giving of yourself, to look forward to the day because that person will be part of it. To share your thoughts and not have them judged. To be able to disagree and know the person will listen to your argument and not think less of you for making it. To feel you’re better than you were before that person came into your life. And to weep when they no longer are.” (I loved this quote.)
“I haven’t the words to explain it adequately. While I had him, while he was in my life, what I felt was like sustenance to my soul. The sun, the moon, and the stars were all inside me.”
“How could he have ever thought he needed to hunt for the perfect duchess when she had been with him for so very long? Perfect for his soul, his heart, his body. Perfect as his wife, his lover, his partner. In all things, he’d never find a better match.”
October 5, 2021
2.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
If there existed a more unpleasant task in the world than selecting the woman who was to marry the man you loved, Penelope Pettypeace certainly couldn’t imagine what it might be.
For eight years Penelope has been secretary to Hugh Brinsley-Norton, ninth Duke of Kingsland, and while outwardly he has only been “Your Grace”, he's grown to be so much more. When the woman he was going to propose to (the first in the series) decides to follow her heart, Hugh is on the search again for a wife and decides this time to put it into Penelope's capable hands. Penelope is determined to find him a wife he can love, even though he claims not to have a heart, while keeping her own feelings hidden.
Her respect for him knew no bounds, and her heart had followed.
Second in the series, I had no problem jumping in here, the ground covered in the first is relayed fully. However, I did miss seeing Penelope and Hugh's friendship start and develop. When the reader comes into the story, they already have a solid friendship, Penelope knows she loves Hugh, and Hugh is just awakening to the fact that Penelope is more than just an essential part of his business life but of his heart, too.
He viewed her as he might a man he respected, a man whose opinion he valued. And for her, who had never known any of that before him, it was an aphrodisiac.
The beginning has a lot of Penelope alluding to some massive secret from her past that would destroy not only her reputation but Hugh's if it ever came out, her roadblock to thinking they could never be together. The reader isn't let in on it until around 80%, just a little before Hugh finds out, too. It felt a little stretched out for how long Penelope would bring it up as a harbinger for it to appear so late in the story and then have a fairly quick wrap-up. What made it feel even less, even though the secret does have weighty consequences, was that Hugh has his own secret and it honestly feels like it could be a bigger deal than Penelope's but his character never mentions it in thought or fear until it suddenly appears as a reason to get the two to travel together to Scotland. The plot points in this felt awkward to me for some reason, Penelope's bemoaned secret that doesn't show up until very end, Hugh's secret that was huge but barely shows in his character, and then Penelope being blackmailed and dealing with it as if the blackmail letter was meant for Hugh when this whole time she's been scared of her secret coming out. Heath's writing is always smooth and readable but there was some awkward fitting plot points in this for me.
He’d taken her for granted, this woman who was such an important part of his days, who had begun to haunt his dreams.
As I mentioned, I missed seeing Hugh growing to find Penelope indispensable to his life, this was more admitting that he already felt that way and Penelope already loves him when we come into the story. Around 60% they decide to meet each other needs, Hugh because this is the first step to admitting he loves Penelope and Penelope because she does love Hugh and at twenty-eight is ready to have all her needs met. Of course, this only brings them closer together and we have some ignoring denial from Hugh and Penelope saying she doesn't want to get married anyway because she'd lose all autonomy, even though she loves Hugh. These two were a nice couple but I wouldn't say the showing and telling of their emotions went beyond or even made it to memorable.
Knight drew on his cheroot and blew out a series of smoke circles. “You might want to comb down your hair before going inside. You look as though you’ve been ravaged.”
He felt as though he had been, inside and out, from the moment he’d stepped closer to her and she’d looked up at him with something akin to longing.
Awkward fitting plot points, pretty sedate tone, and the faint praise of nice relationship between our main couple, made this into an ok read for me. Hugh's Chessmen friends and some debutantes we are given short intros through Penelope's interviewing for possible wives to Hugh, peak some interest for future books. This probably won't wow you but you won't be chucking it against the wall either.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
If there existed a more unpleasant task in the world than selecting the woman who was to marry the man you loved, Penelope Pettypeace certainly couldn’t imagine what it might be.
For eight years Penelope has been secretary to Hugh Brinsley-Norton, ninth Duke of Kingsland, and while outwardly he has only been “Your Grace”, he's grown to be so much more. When the woman he was going to propose to (the first in the series) decides to follow her heart, Hugh is on the search again for a wife and decides this time to put it into Penelope's capable hands. Penelope is determined to find him a wife he can love, even though he claims not to have a heart, while keeping her own feelings hidden.
Her respect for him knew no bounds, and her heart had followed.
Second in the series, I had no problem jumping in here, the ground covered in the first is relayed fully. However, I did miss seeing Penelope and Hugh's friendship start and develop. When the reader comes into the story, they already have a solid friendship, Penelope knows she loves Hugh, and Hugh is just awakening to the fact that Penelope is more than just an essential part of his business life but of his heart, too.
He viewed her as he might a man he respected, a man whose opinion he valued. And for her, who had never known any of that before him, it was an aphrodisiac.
The beginning has a lot of Penelope alluding to some massive secret from her past that would destroy not only her reputation but Hugh's if it ever came out, her roadblock to thinking they could never be together. The reader isn't let in on it until around 80%, just a little before Hugh finds out, too. It felt a little stretched out for how long Penelope would bring it up as a harbinger for it to appear so late in the story and then have a fairly quick wrap-up. What made it feel even less, even though the secret does have weighty consequences, was that Hugh has his own secret and it honestly feels like it could be a bigger deal than Penelope's but his character never mentions it in thought or fear until it suddenly appears as a reason to get the two to travel together to Scotland. The plot points in this felt awkward to me for some reason, Penelope's bemoaned secret that doesn't show up until very end, Hugh's secret that was huge but barely shows in his character, and then Penelope being blackmailed and dealing with it as if the blackmail letter was meant for Hugh when this whole time she's been scared of her secret coming out. Heath's writing is always smooth and readable but there was some awkward fitting plot points in this for me.
He’d taken her for granted, this woman who was such an important part of his days, who had begun to haunt his dreams.
As I mentioned, I missed seeing Hugh growing to find Penelope indispensable to his life, this was more admitting that he already felt that way and Penelope already loves him when we come into the story. Around 60% they decide to meet each other needs, Hugh because this is the first step to admitting he loves Penelope and Penelope because she does love Hugh and at twenty-eight is ready to have all her needs met. Of course, this only brings them closer together and we have some ignoring denial from Hugh and Penelope saying she doesn't want to get married anyway because she'd lose all autonomy, even though she loves Hugh. These two were a nice couple but I wouldn't say the showing and telling of their emotions went beyond or even made it to memorable.
Knight drew on his cheroot and blew out a series of smoke circles. “You might want to comb down your hair before going inside. You look as though you’ve been ravaged.”
He felt as though he had been, inside and out, from the moment he’d stepped closer to her and she’d looked up at him with something akin to longing.
Awkward fitting plot points, pretty sedate tone, and the faint praise of nice relationship between our main couple, made this into an ok read for me. Hugh's Chessmen friends and some debutantes we are given short intros through Penelope's interviewing for possible wives to Hugh, peak some interest for future books. This probably won't wow you but you won't be chucking it against the wall either.
October 19, 2021
5 stars - Historical Romance
I loved this so much! It's such a moving, passionate, and swoony romance! *Sigh*
I loved Hugh and how I was frustrated with Penelope and how long she kept her secret, but I understood her fear and reluctance.
I loved the Duke's mother. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Kate Reading, sounded like actress Judi Dench when she read her parts, which was fabulous.
I loved this so much! It's such a moving, passionate, and swoony romance! *Sigh*
I loved Hugh and how I was frustrated with Penelope and how long she kept her secret, but I understood her fear and reluctance.
I loved the Duke's mother. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Kate Reading, sounded like actress Judi Dench when she read her parts, which was fabulous.
February 3, 2024
Read: 2/3/24
3 stars
This was well written with interesting MC! The story had all the great elements in a hr. So why didn't I like it? Maybe it was my mood, but I was bored through most of it. The pacing was slow. Once they hooked up, the story got a little better, but I was happy when it ended. -- not a good sign.
Sidenote: This whole advertising for a wife by a Lord is ridiculous! I've seen this plot before and it makes no sense. Did some crazy English lord actually advertise for a wife, and it inspired all these authors?
3 stars
This was well written with interesting MC! The story had all the great elements in a hr. So why didn't I like it? Maybe it was my mood, but I was bored through most of it. The pacing was slow. Once they hooked up, the story got a little better, but I was happy when it ended. -- not a good sign.
Sidenote: This whole advertising for a wife by a Lord is ridiculous! I've seen this plot before and it makes no sense. Did some crazy English lord actually advertise for a wife, and it inspired all these authors?
September 22, 2021
Secretaries don’t come much better than Penelope Pettypeace. In fact she is such an excellent secretary that her employer of eight years, the Duke of Kingsland, has given Pettypeace the task of choosing the woman who will become his Duchess.
Not such an easy task because the duke has placed an ad in the paper asking for applicants to write a letter of why they should be his Duchess. In The Duchess Hunt Pettypeace’s job is to sort through the very large number of applicants and chose the best one to fit “the job”. Kingsland’s definition of the job is to “be a quiet duchess, one who is there when I need her and absent when I don’t.”
Pettypeace is an unusual secretary. Number one- she is still a rarity in Victorian times-she is a woman with a respectable job. Number two- she seems to have invented the spreadsheet. (Sorry couldn’t resist)
One way in which she is not a total rarity- although she is the epitome of a resourceful and efficient secretary- is that that she has fallen in love with her boss. Oddly enough the duke seems to be falling in love with Pettypeace but of course won’t admit to it for some fairly typical HR reasons. For one he refuses to believe he is capable of love, two that he is a somewhat snobbish duke. He is lacking in self-awareness, mostly because he and his brother suffered tremendous abuse at the hands of their father.
So here we are at the real meat of the book, the reason that made this a true HR standout. First let me give you one of the best quotes of the year “….That is the things about monsters, Pettypeace. They are monsters because they can delude people into thinking they aren’t.”
Then we come to their secrets. Both the Duke and Pettypeace have secrets that are real doozies. Here’s what kills me. One secret can lead to execution; the other secret can lead to becoming a pariah. Three guesses to whose secret caused the most angst and anger. Buzzz and give a stuffed animal for the little lady who answered correctly.
Heath almost always writes charming and appealing characters. Neither Kingsland nor Pettypeace are without friends, another hallmark of a Heath book, strong friendships.
I also enjoy books set in Victorian times, Heath presents a vibrant and lively portrait of the times and settings.
Heath’s series tend to run from intriguing secondary characters to the next series. So it’s a fun guessing game, which character will have the next book or the next series. I think it might be Marcus with hopefully the Chessman to follow.
One more thing, The Duchess Hunt has one of the sweetest endings I have read in years. Brava!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for review purposes.
Not such an easy task because the duke has placed an ad in the paper asking for applicants to write a letter of why they should be his Duchess. In The Duchess Hunt Pettypeace’s job is to sort through the very large number of applicants and chose the best one to fit “the job”. Kingsland’s definition of the job is to “be a quiet duchess, one who is there when I need her and absent when I don’t.”
Pettypeace is an unusual secretary. Number one- she is still a rarity in Victorian times-she is a woman with a respectable job. Number two- she seems to have invented the spreadsheet. (Sorry couldn’t resist)
One way in which she is not a total rarity- although she is the epitome of a resourceful and efficient secretary- is that that she has fallen in love with her boss. Oddly enough the duke seems to be falling in love with Pettypeace but of course won’t admit to it for some fairly typical HR reasons. For one he refuses to believe he is capable of love, two that he is a somewhat snobbish duke. He is lacking in self-awareness, mostly because he and his brother suffered tremendous abuse at the hands of their father.
So here we are at the real meat of the book, the reason that made this a true HR standout. First let me give you one of the best quotes of the year “….That is the things about monsters, Pettypeace. They are monsters because they can delude people into thinking they aren’t.”
Then we come to their secrets. Both the Duke and Pettypeace have secrets that are real doozies. Here’s what kills me. One secret can lead to execution; the other secret can lead to becoming a pariah. Three guesses to whose secret caused the most angst and anger. Buzzz and give a stuffed animal for the little lady who answered correctly.
Heath almost always writes charming and appealing characters. Neither Kingsland nor Pettypeace are without friends, another hallmark of a Heath book, strong friendships.
I also enjoy books set in Victorian times, Heath presents a vibrant and lively portrait of the times and settings.
Heath’s series tend to run from intriguing secondary characters to the next series. So it’s a fun guessing game, which character will have the next book or the next series. I think it might be Marcus with hopefully the Chessman to follow.
One more thing, The Duchess Hunt has one of the sweetest endings I have read in years. Brava!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for review purposes.
February 10, 2024
MADRE DEL AMOR HERMOSO!!
I LOVED IT!!!
Tenía mucho que no me gustaba tanto un libro de romance histórico, siento que volví al lugar donde una vez fui muy feliz.
Tenemos la historia de un DUQUE y su secretaria que estado enamorada de él en secreto por muchos años.
Como todo buen duque él tiene deberes y obligaciones y necesita un heredero para eso también necesita una esposa. Después del desastroso compromiso donde su prometida se casó con otro, ahora pone un anuncio en el periódico y su secretaria será la encargada de elegir a la mejor candidata, pero recordemos que ella está enamorada de su jefe por lo que será el trabajo más difícil y doloroso.
Ha sido una lectura deliciosa, con bastante tensión sexual, escenas spicy y una de las mejores declaraciones de amor que ustedes leerán.
I LOVED IT!!!
Tenía mucho que no me gustaba tanto un libro de romance histórico, siento que volví al lugar donde una vez fui muy feliz.
Tenemos la historia de un DUQUE y su secretaria que estado enamorada de él en secreto por muchos años.
Como todo buen duque él tiene deberes y obligaciones y necesita un heredero para eso también necesita una esposa. Después del desastroso compromiso donde su prometida se casó con otro, ahora pone un anuncio en el periódico y su secretaria será la encargada de elegir a la mejor candidata, pero recordemos que ella está enamorada de su jefe por lo que será el trabajo más difícil y doloroso.
Ha sido una lectura deliciosa, con bastante tensión sexual, escenas spicy y una de las mejores declaraciones de amor que ustedes leerán.
July 27, 2021
The Duke of Kingsland is in need of a wife. Penelope Pettypeace, his secretary of 8 years is tasked with finding said wife. There is some beautiful mutual pining because both of them are obviously secretly in love with each other. And BOTH hero and heroine are harboring their own great secret that could ruin their own individual lives.
It pains me to rate this 3 stars as I COMPLETELY ADORED the first book. But there were several things I had issue with, one is the fact that both secrets aren't really hinted at other than they are a big secret that would ruin them, until the moment they are revealed. While the Duke's secret is quickly glossed over (despite being kind of a huge deal) Pettypeace's secret takes front stage and honestly was painful to read about.
I really disliked the Duke's dunderheadedness about Pettypeace, he truly held out to the very end to admit his feelings for her and that made most of their time together feel very much like using her. I just didn't believe he actually loved her. But what really put this at 3 stars is how he reacts to her secret. It was so disappointing and I really hoped for better from him.
This book is truly beautifully written though, scenes are painted with so much clarity and beauty.
But a few things were a no for me.
I was provided an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
It pains me to rate this 3 stars as I COMPLETELY ADORED the first book. But there were several things I had issue with, one is the fact that both secrets aren't really hinted at other than they are a big secret that would ruin them, until the moment they are revealed. While the Duke's secret is quickly glossed over (despite being kind of a huge deal) Pettypeace's secret takes front stage and honestly was painful to read about.
I really disliked the Duke's dunderheadedness about Pettypeace, he truly held out to the very end to admit his feelings for her and that made most of their time together feel very much like using her. I just didn't believe he actually loved her. But what really put this at 3 stars is how he reacts to her secret. It was so disappointing and I really hoped for better from him.
This book is truly beautifully written though, scenes are painted with so much clarity and beauty.
But a few things were a no for me.
I was provided an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 4, 2022
5 estrellitas
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2022/...
Seguramente son excesivas, pero lo he disfrutado tanto, es una trama que me encanta!! y si él, me ha gustado, ella me ha encantado.
No es la primera vez que la autora repite este argumento: mujer que ha de encargarse de encontrar esposa al protagonista y, como no, termina casado con ella.
Pero, con esta trama tan sencilla, y unas tramas secundarias que añaden algo de salsa al tema.... no podía parar de leer y eso, hace que se las merezca
Ojo, aquí contamos con el gusto personal que hace que le añada esa estrellita para redondear.
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2022/...
Seguramente son excesivas, pero lo he disfrutado tanto, es una trama que me encanta!! y si él, me ha gustado, ella me ha encantado.
No es la primera vez que la autora repite este argumento: mujer que ha de encargarse de encontrar esposa al protagonista y, como no, termina casado con ella.
Pero, con esta trama tan sencilla, y unas tramas secundarias que añaden algo de salsa al tema.... no podía parar de leer y eso, hace que se las merezca
Ojo, aquí contamos con el gusto personal que hace que le añada esa estrellita para redondear.
November 4, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for an ARC copy, in exchange for an honest review!
2.25 ⭐️ for the story, 4 ⭐️for the audiobook
I was prepared to DNF this. I started this book in May. And it's now October... so. Yeah. Was not going well, to say the least.
(But the audio was worth it and thank goodness for Kate Reading! 😭💖)
Especially since the premise of this book was everything I wanted: an office romance between a boss and his employee, but make it
✨a historical romance ✨ What's not to like?
The hero, the Duke of Kingsland is in need of a wife and sets the task of finding a duchess to his secretary, Penelope Pettypeace. Little do they both know, they already have a crush on each other and everything ensues from there.
My main problems were that this was a bit too slow-burn, and the actual romance started more than halfway through the book. The first half was setting up their friendship/working relationship, but I also didn't get a much deeper connection with them since their crushes on each other was already stated and developed. And my second problem was Hugh's reaction to Penelope's secret past. It was distasteful and I kind of lost my respect for him after that, though he did realize his mistake after. Not to mention that his secret was probably worse and a bigger deal...
However, I really liked Penelope as a heroine, and her work ethic and relentlessness to achieve what she wanted was admirable. There were also great conversations about class differences, since it was unheard of for women to work the job she did and most secretaries were men. She was perceived to be above Kingsland's household servants in station but not as high as other 'office' workers or other secretaries just because she's a woman.
Storywise, it was quite sweet and lovely at times but I wished Kingsland groveled a lot more at the end. The ending was quite good once they got together and that epilogue was *chef's kiss*. Overall, a solid read and I'm intrigued by the side characters: the Chessman gentlemen, who I'm hoping will get their own books, and I'm looking forward to read the first book of this series, whose heroine was Kingsland's first bride-to-be.
~
I was struggling to continue the ebook at the 60% mark, but this was my first Lorraine Heath (I should've started with another book of hers). I know a lot of HR readers love her so I didn't want to give up. So I restarted but switched to audio the second time, and WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT. Kate Reading's narration is heavenly!
Heath's writing style definitely suited audio better to me than physically reading the words with my eyes. It flowed so beautifully and the storyline didn't feel quite as dragged out as it did the first time. I'm a fan and finished the audio in two days.
*audio listened on scribd
2.25 ⭐️ for the story, 4 ⭐️for the audiobook
I was prepared to DNF this. I started this book in May. And it's now October... so. Yeah. Was not going well, to say the least.
(But the audio was worth it and thank goodness for Kate Reading! 😭💖)
Especially since the premise of this book was everything I wanted: an office romance between a boss and his employee, but make it
✨a historical romance ✨ What's not to like?
The hero, the Duke of Kingsland is in need of a wife and sets the task of finding a duchess to his secretary, Penelope Pettypeace. Little do they both know, they already have a crush on each other and everything ensues from there.
My main problems were that this was a bit too slow-burn, and the actual romance started more than halfway through the book. The first half was setting up their friendship/working relationship, but I also didn't get a much deeper connection with them since their crushes on each other was already stated and developed. And my second problem was Hugh's reaction to Penelope's secret past. It was distasteful and I kind of lost my respect for him after that, though he did realize his mistake after. Not to mention that his secret was probably worse and a bigger deal...
However, I really liked Penelope as a heroine, and her work ethic and relentlessness to achieve what she wanted was admirable. There were also great conversations about class differences, since it was unheard of for women to work the job she did and most secretaries were men. She was perceived to be above Kingsland's household servants in station but not as high as other 'office' workers or other secretaries just because she's a woman.
Storywise, it was quite sweet and lovely at times but I wished Kingsland groveled a lot more at the end. The ending was quite good once they got together and that epilogue was *chef's kiss*. Overall, a solid read and I'm intrigued by the side characters: the Chessman gentlemen, who I'm hoping will get their own books, and I'm looking forward to read the first book of this series, whose heroine was Kingsland's first bride-to-be.
~
I was struggling to continue the ebook at the 60% mark, but this was my first Lorraine Heath (I should've started with another book of hers). I know a lot of HR readers love her so I didn't want to give up. So I restarted but switched to audio the second time, and WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT. Kate Reading's narration is heavenly!
Heath's writing style definitely suited audio better to me than physically reading the words with my eyes. It flowed so beautifully and the storyline didn't feel quite as dragged out as it did the first time. I'm a fan and finished the audio in two days.
*audio listened on scribd
January 23, 2023
Some of my shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
It’s not totally necessary – most of the focus is on the main couple. BUT the hero has a decent amount of page time in the prior book (Scoundrel of My Heart) so I’d read that first, and that one is really a continuation of book Beauty Tempts the Beast, which is book 6 in the Sins for All Seasons series and they really flow together (and some couples are mentioned here) so you might as well go back 50 books and just start at the beginning of Heath’s chronological works lol. (I kid! But if you are a completionist, Beyond Scandal and Desire is the first book of the Sins for All Seasons series where I think all of this starts
Basic plot:
Penelope has been in love with the duke for a number of years. Handling his affairs as his secretary, her hardest task is to be helping him select a wife to be his duchess when it’s the one place she longs to be.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian time period (1874)
- London setting
- a touch of road trip – they travel for a small section of the story
- class difference – hero is a duke, heroine working class
- work place romance feel – the heroine is the hero’s secretary (and has worked for him for 8 years or so)
- unrequited love (from both!)
- Celibate hero (it’s been a year)
- hero nurses heroine back to health
- consent is established
- medium steam – there are 4 full scenes, one is a bit short. Some of Heath’s prose is on the poetic instead of the explicit
- heroine has a secret
Ages:
- Heroine is 28, hero is 34
My thoughts:
So, I think when I next try Heath, I will actually read her instead of listening to audio. I usually like Kate Reading for the most part, but I had a disconnect with this book and the prior in the series (both on audio) but when I skimmed through parts of the e-book to take quotes, I was more captivated than before. Perhaps it’s my mood – but I may have to reread this some day and see if my rating changes.
As it is, I wasn’t in love with this one. I generally thought most of it was okay – I liked Penelope and I liked King. But I think I struggled a bit with him looking for a different wife almost the whole book. Being romance I knew it would work out okay but it just left me with a bit of a grossed out feeling as their relationship moved forward. It just didn’t tug on my heart and I felt lukewarm about the whole thing. I knew I was reading (listening) emotional things...I know. My heart is dead and I’m awful. I also didn’t like some of his reactions and thoughts when we find out the heroine’s secret towards the end.
So yeah I think it was just me with this book – if you are a fan of unrequited love especially, I think you will adore this novel. There’s so much pining for each other and they spend a lot of time together and thinking about each other.
Quotes/thoughts:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: (this is hoopla audio and might vary from other formats)
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
It’s not totally necessary – most of the focus is on the main couple. BUT the hero has a decent amount of page time in the prior book (Scoundrel of My Heart) so I’d read that first, and that one is really a continuation of book Beauty Tempts the Beast, which is book 6 in the Sins for All Seasons series and they really flow together (and some couples are mentioned here) so you might as well go back 50 books and just start at the beginning of Heath’s chronological works lol. (I kid! But if you are a completionist, Beyond Scandal and Desire is the first book of the Sins for All Seasons series where I think all of this starts
Basic plot:
Penelope has been in love with the duke for a number of years. Handling his affairs as his secretary, her hardest task is to be helping him select a wife to be his duchess when it’s the one place she longs to be.
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian time period (1874)
- London setting
- a touch of road trip – they travel for a small section of the story
- class difference – hero is a duke, heroine working class
- work place romance feel – the heroine is the hero’s secretary (and has worked for him for 8 years or so)
- unrequited love (from both!)
- Celibate hero (it’s been a year)
- hero nurses heroine back to health
- consent is established
- medium steam – there are 4 full scenes, one is a bit short. Some of Heath’s prose is on the poetic instead of the explicit
- heroine has a secret
Ages:
- Heroine is 28, hero is 34
My thoughts:
So, I think when I next try Heath, I will actually read her instead of listening to audio. I usually like Kate Reading for the most part, but I had a disconnect with this book and the prior in the series (both on audio) but when I skimmed through parts of the e-book to take quotes, I was more captivated than before. Perhaps it’s my mood – but I may have to reread this some day and see if my rating changes.
As it is, I wasn’t in love with this one. I generally thought most of it was okay – I liked Penelope and I liked King. But I think I struggled a bit with him looking for a different wife almost the whole book. Being romance I knew it would work out okay but it just left me with a bit of a grossed out feeling as their relationship moved forward. It just didn’t tug on my heart and I felt lukewarm about the whole thing. I knew I was reading (listening) emotional things...I know. My heart is dead and I’m awful. I also didn’t like some of his reactions and thoughts when we find out the heroine’s secret towards the end.
So yeah I think it was just me with this book – if you are a fan of unrequited love especially, I think you will adore this novel. There’s so much pining for each other and they spend a lot of time together and thinking about each other.
Quotes/thoughts:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: (this is hoopla audio and might vary from other formats)
September 14, 2021
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Once Upon a Dukedom #2
Publication Date: 9/28/21
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 384
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is a laser-focused, analytical, moneymaking machine. When he became duke, the title was in a total mess with no money in the coffers and debts running out its ears. He knew it was his job to protect his family, protect his tenants, and protect the duchy, so his one focus became that of making money. Fortunately, he was very, very good at it and he is now one of the richest and most powerful people in England. What he is not good at is emotions – because he has no heart. At least that is his belief. His father was a cruel and hateful man who used Hugh’s mother and brother to keep Hugh in line. So now, at the ripe old age of four and thirty, it is time for him to take a wife and set up his nursery. Fortunately, his requirements for a wife are very simple – she needs to be quiet and not bother him – and she needs to provide him with his heir and spare. He doesn’t plan to fall in love – or even like – and doesn’t expect his wife to love him either. It will be strictly a business arrangement and therefore he’s set his secretary to finding and choosing his bride. Goodness, goodness, goodness – will these men never learn?
Penelope Pettypeace is every bit as bold, intuitive, organized, efficient, and focused as Kingsland and that is why they work so well together. She was amazed when he hired her as his secretary about eight years earlier. She had boldly walked into his office and proceeded to convince him that she was the perfect secretary for him even though she was NOT what he had advertised for. Now, he’s assigned her the most daunting task yet – she is to choose his wife. That is going to be a very, very difficult thing to do because she has come to care deeply for the man. She knows he doesn’t reciprocate those feelings – and even if he did, nothing could come of it. So, she’ll do her best to find him a bride who will make him happy – even though he doesn’t know that is what he needs. Penelope’s past has caused her to reinvent herself time after time, but she’s been Penelope Pettypeace longer than she’s ever been anybody else. She knows there will come a time when her unsavory past will catch up to her again and she’ll have to move on – but not today – please not today.
Penelope and Hugh both have some very deep, very dark secrets. Secrets they share with absolutely no one else. Those secrets are much too dark to share – for anyone else to know. Yet, just as they have come to realize they share an interest in each other, those secrets threaten to come to light. Is it Hugh’s secrets or Penelope’s that are about to come to light? They’ll have to find out and deal with the threat of exposure. Will their fledgling relationship survive?
We met Hugh and Penelope in the first book of the series, Scoundrel of My Heart, and I couldn’t wait to read their book. You don’t have to have read that book to enjoy this one, but it is such a good book, why wouldn’t you want to read it? This series is actually a spin-off of the Sins For All Seasons series – which is also a great series.
I definitely recommend this book! While Penelope had known for a long time that she cared for Hugh, it was wonderful to see Hugh come to the realization that what he really needed had been under his nose all along. I hope you’ll read and enjoy this book as much as I did. Now, I can hardly wait for Marcus’s book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: Once Upon a Dukedom #2
Publication Date: 9/28/21
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 384
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is a laser-focused, analytical, moneymaking machine. When he became duke, the title was in a total mess with no money in the coffers and debts running out its ears. He knew it was his job to protect his family, protect his tenants, and protect the duchy, so his one focus became that of making money. Fortunately, he was very, very good at it and he is now one of the richest and most powerful people in England. What he is not good at is emotions – because he has no heart. At least that is his belief. His father was a cruel and hateful man who used Hugh’s mother and brother to keep Hugh in line. So now, at the ripe old age of four and thirty, it is time for him to take a wife and set up his nursery. Fortunately, his requirements for a wife are very simple – she needs to be quiet and not bother him – and she needs to provide him with his heir and spare. He doesn’t plan to fall in love – or even like – and doesn’t expect his wife to love him either. It will be strictly a business arrangement and therefore he’s set his secretary to finding and choosing his bride. Goodness, goodness, goodness – will these men never learn?
Penelope Pettypeace is every bit as bold, intuitive, organized, efficient, and focused as Kingsland and that is why they work so well together. She was amazed when he hired her as his secretary about eight years earlier. She had boldly walked into his office and proceeded to convince him that she was the perfect secretary for him even though she was NOT what he had advertised for. Now, he’s assigned her the most daunting task yet – she is to choose his wife. That is going to be a very, very difficult thing to do because she has come to care deeply for the man. She knows he doesn’t reciprocate those feelings – and even if he did, nothing could come of it. So, she’ll do her best to find him a bride who will make him happy – even though he doesn’t know that is what he needs. Penelope’s past has caused her to reinvent herself time after time, but she’s been Penelope Pettypeace longer than she’s ever been anybody else. She knows there will come a time when her unsavory past will catch up to her again and she’ll have to move on – but not today – please not today.
Penelope and Hugh both have some very deep, very dark secrets. Secrets they share with absolutely no one else. Those secrets are much too dark to share – for anyone else to know. Yet, just as they have come to realize they share an interest in each other, those secrets threaten to come to light. Is it Hugh’s secrets or Penelope’s that are about to come to light? They’ll have to find out and deal with the threat of exposure. Will their fledgling relationship survive?
We met Hugh and Penelope in the first book of the series, Scoundrel of My Heart, and I couldn’t wait to read their book. You don’t have to have read that book to enjoy this one, but it is such a good book, why wouldn’t you want to read it? This series is actually a spin-off of the Sins For All Seasons series – which is also a great series.
I definitely recommend this book! While Penelope had known for a long time that she cared for Hugh, it was wonderful to see Hugh come to the realization that what he really needed had been under his nose all along. I hope you’ll read and enjoy this book as much as I did. Now, I can hardly wait for Marcus’s book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 16, 2021
The second book in Lorraine Heath’s Once Upon a Dukedom series, The Duchess Hunt focuses on the Duke of Kingsland and his secretary Penelope Pettypeace. For eight years their relationship has been strictly professional. However, when the duke tasks Penelope with finding him a wife, Penelope knows she will do what she must to find him the perfect match, even if it breaks her heart. When a blackmail note threatens all they have worked for, Penelope and Kingsland must face their pasts and decide if they should risk revealing their feelings for each other.
Penelope is fantastic! She is smart and independent, secure in her position as King’s secretary. I love her confidence and her fierceness. She is not easily intimidated, and, much like King, she excels at her job. King is a man who likes to be in control. He is hugely successful and powerful, but he struggles to let people in. Both have secrets from the past that threaten to ruin their well-controlled and structured lives. I like how their secrets are slowly revealed throughout the story. They are tortured by their pasts, but the closer they become, the more willing they are to trust each other with their innermost secrets. I found this part of the story really interesting and unpredictable. I was surprised when their respective secrets were revealed and didn’t expect either.
Penelope and King respect and admire each other, and they have worked together for eight years. They know each other well, but solely on a professional level. They both love each other, but their reluctance to cross the boundary that has been in place for almost a decade stops them from expressing their feelings. This leads to a lot of angst and sexual tension, which is fantastic. There’s so much yearning, since Penelope has loved King for years, and King is so unaware of and confused by his feelings. It takes him a long time to realize just how much he’s taken her for granted, but once he does, he does everything in his power to change. I loved their love story and how their relationship deepened and changed, and I wholly rooted for them even though social expectations, arranged engagements, secrets, blackmail, and more stand in their way.
You know those love stories where the characters always refer to each other by their last names as a way to keep each other at a distance and maintain some semblance of formality? Then, when they finally use each other’s first names, it’s an epic moment – passion-filled and romantic and swoon-worthy? This book does that so well! It’s the type of romance that I find myself sighing deeply when reading because of the sheer beauty of it. I felt myself swooning a time or two, and the first time Kingsland said “Penelope,” I definitely fell in love with this couple a little more. The depth of their feelings and their longing for each other is lovely.
Other characters in the story are equally interesting, and I’m hopeful that some of them will be featured in upcoming books in the series. King’s friends The Chessman and a couple of the women that King and Penelope meet are intriguing, and I’d love to learn more of their stories. Something else I really like about this series is the epilogues, which take place years after the conclusion of the story. I always wonder what happens to my favorite characters after the story ends, and Heath provides us with the answers in these books. It’s wonderful to see how their stories, and other characters’ stories, progressed and changed.
This is a wonderful historical romance with dynamic characters and strong messages about love, trust, and forgiveness. Plus the love story is swoon-tastic! Even though this is the second book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, Scoundrel of My Heart, the first book is also fantastic, and I highly recommend it! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Lorraine Heath, and Avon for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Penelope is fantastic! She is smart and independent, secure in her position as King’s secretary. I love her confidence and her fierceness. She is not easily intimidated, and, much like King, she excels at her job. King is a man who likes to be in control. He is hugely successful and powerful, but he struggles to let people in. Both have secrets from the past that threaten to ruin their well-controlled and structured lives. I like how their secrets are slowly revealed throughout the story. They are tortured by their pasts, but the closer they become, the more willing they are to trust each other with their innermost secrets. I found this part of the story really interesting and unpredictable. I was surprised when their respective secrets were revealed and didn’t expect either.
Penelope and King respect and admire each other, and they have worked together for eight years. They know each other well, but solely on a professional level. They both love each other, but their reluctance to cross the boundary that has been in place for almost a decade stops them from expressing their feelings. This leads to a lot of angst and sexual tension, which is fantastic. There’s so much yearning, since Penelope has loved King for years, and King is so unaware of and confused by his feelings. It takes him a long time to realize just how much he’s taken her for granted, but once he does, he does everything in his power to change. I loved their love story and how their relationship deepened and changed, and I wholly rooted for them even though social expectations, arranged engagements, secrets, blackmail, and more stand in their way.
You know those love stories where the characters always refer to each other by their last names as a way to keep each other at a distance and maintain some semblance of formality? Then, when they finally use each other’s first names, it’s an epic moment – passion-filled and romantic and swoon-worthy? This book does that so well! It’s the type of romance that I find myself sighing deeply when reading because of the sheer beauty of it. I felt myself swooning a time or two, and the first time Kingsland said “Penelope,” I definitely fell in love with this couple a little more. The depth of their feelings and their longing for each other is lovely.
Other characters in the story are equally interesting, and I’m hopeful that some of them will be featured in upcoming books in the series. King’s friends The Chessman and a couple of the women that King and Penelope meet are intriguing, and I’d love to learn more of their stories. Something else I really like about this series is the epilogues, which take place years after the conclusion of the story. I always wonder what happens to my favorite characters after the story ends, and Heath provides us with the answers in these books. It’s wonderful to see how their stories, and other characters’ stories, progressed and changed.
This is a wonderful historical romance with dynamic characters and strong messages about love, trust, and forgiveness. Plus the love story is swoon-tastic! Even though this is the second book in the Once Upon a Dukedom series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, Scoundrel of My Heart, the first book is also fantastic, and I highly recommend it! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Lorraine Heath, and Avon for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 20, 2022
4.5 stars!!! I'm a bit sad that her conflict wasn't as prominent as I wanted it to be but lorraine heath tells an angsty love story featuring unrequited love.
March 3, 2024
⭐⭐
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
The road trip part of the story.
The heroine was a little bit “older” (28)
The heroine was not naive/innocent and clueless/ignorant about her own body and sex.
➖ What I disliked:
The pacing was too slow.
Dragged.
Sensitive and serious issues were more or less glossed over.
(Child abandonment, child and spousal abuse, child exploitation etc.)
Anachronistic.
Verbose.
Repetitive.
The main characters were too stoic and kind of boring and in some parts somewhat annoying/unlikable.
The romantic build up and chemistry was unconvincing/lacking… and there was no real “spark” or love between the main characters…. There was lust but not really any love/connection.
The hero had a mistress during almost all the time the heroine had been working as his secretary and the hero kept on looking for a wife/other woman for almost the whole story.
And it took the hero 8 years to realize he had been in love with the heroine… and that realization came out of nowhere really.
Most of the plot was just bland and so were the main characters.
Underwhelming.
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice.
(Small/petite heroine and tall and muscular hero)
The problems/issues with the heroines and heroes secrets were resolved too quickly and easily.
Believability/plausibility issues.
(It was a interesting and rather unique idea to have the heroine have the profession she had (secretary/personal assistant) and it was a very uncommon or even unheard of profession for a woman for that time period….. But it was also a little too much over the top and too anachronistic. …. Because why would a Duke employ a young unmarried woman as his secretary/personal assistant when she had No experience in the work/ profession from before or any references from a previous employer and also had a secret/false identity.)
June 1, 2022
I thought it was adorable how Hugh (King) wasn't even aware that he liked her but kept escalating the things he would do that might not seem romantic but were very considerate tasks that reflected his feelings for her: for example, moving her office to someplace nicer when before. Regarding her office: "It might have served sufficiently for someone else but not for her." Another example immediately following that is when he makes plans to hire her an assistant (how much work does she really have? lmao. He's making his dukedom sound like a huge factory or business.) because "she was much too valuable for things that required no thought."
Thoughts while reading
I'm SO looking forward to the Kingsland ball.
This book reminds me of "The Raven Prince" where the heroine is the lord's employee/secretary, a little plain, and the two fall in love. Honestly, in regency sort of HR (1874 is probably a little too late to be considered the regency period), I prefer the more glamourous ones with balls.
Damn, she's 28 & never been kissed (besides when she was 8 & 16)! I think the author went a little too far with the virgin thing
p.200~ Damn, he didn't just propose a secretary-with-benefits sort of thing!
Like others were saying, it took them 8 years though to realize their feelings for each other? And why now?
That first threatening letter was actually really creepy and reminded me of Riverdale. I had to resist peaking over my shoulder (it late at night when I was reading that bit). Penelope's past comes back to haunt her. I didn't get why other reviewers didn't like how King handled the situation; I didn't see anything wrong in what he did. Maybe I missed something, and I should reread it? I would have liked to know Penelope's real last name, though, unless it was Hart. Or was that her new fake last name??
Both characters were a little uptight & maybe slightly boring (not in the bedroom), but together, they were perfect for each other.
Also, someone needs to give Lorraine Heath's cover artist a raise because that cover is absolutely beautiful!!! (Her covers are always nice, but this one in particular... I love the color palette.)
Thoughts while reading
I'm SO looking forward to the Kingsland ball.
This book reminds me of "The Raven Prince" where the heroine is the lord's employee/secretary, a little plain, and the two fall in love. Honestly, in regency sort of HR (1874 is probably a little too late to be considered the regency period), I prefer the more glamourous ones with balls.
Damn, she's 28 & never been kissed (besides when she was 8 & 16)! I think the author went a little too far with the virgin thing
p.200~ Damn, he didn't just propose a secretary-with-benefits sort of thing!
Like others were saying, it took them 8 years though to realize their feelings for each other? And why now?
That first threatening letter was actually really creepy and reminded me of Riverdale. I had to resist peaking over my shoulder (it late at night when I was reading that bit). Penelope's past comes back to haunt her. I didn't get why other reviewers didn't like how King handled the situation; I didn't see anything wrong in what he did. Maybe I missed something, and I should reread it? I would have liked to know Penelope's real last name, though, unless it was Hart. Or was that her new fake last name??
Both characters were a little uptight & maybe slightly boring (not in the bedroom), but together, they were perfect for each other.
Also, someone needs to give Lorraine Heath's cover artist a raise because that cover is absolutely beautiful!!! (Her covers are always nice, but this one in particular... I love the color palette.)
October 6, 2022
I loved Penny and Hugh's story. She is inobtrusive to everyone but him... and when he finally takes notice of the woman who has been his faithful secretary, he cannot look away.
Penelope has secretly nursed her tendre for her forthright, demanding employer for years. She has a past she is trying to bury, and can't afford to hope for more than a brief dalliance if he ever sees her as more than an efficient, indispensable means of keeping his life in order.
From the moment he brushes her curls behind her ears for the first time, and notices the verdant green of her eyes behind her spectacles, she invades his every waking thought. But holding this enigmatic, elusive woman is far easier than tethering her to his side by ties greater than duty. When he tasks her with finding him the perfect wife she applies all of her formidable skills to doing just that.
A library encounter over a snifter of brandy, a moonlight sickbed vigil, an ill-advised dance that only heightens their awareness of each other all of these stolen moments coalesce into luminous, fragile feelings that leave both of them adrift.
This is one of my favorite Heaths so far, perhaps rivaled only by Once More My Darling Rogue. I cannot wait for the release of the next book in the series!
Penelope has secretly nursed her tendre for her forthright, demanding employer for years. She has a past she is trying to bury, and can't afford to hope for more than a brief dalliance if he ever sees her as more than an efficient, indispensable means of keeping his life in order.
From the moment he brushes her curls behind her ears for the first time, and notices the verdant green of her eyes behind her spectacles, she invades his every waking thought. But holding this enigmatic, elusive woman is far easier than tethering her to his side by ties greater than duty. When he tasks her with finding him the perfect wife she applies all of her formidable skills to doing just that.
A library encounter over a snifter of brandy, a moonlight sickbed vigil, an ill-advised dance that only heightens their awareness of each other all of these stolen moments coalesce into luminous, fragile feelings that leave both of them adrift.
This is one of my favorite Heaths so far, perhaps rivaled only by Once More My Darling Rogue. I cannot wait for the release of the next book in the series!
September 26, 2021
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess and has already chosen the wrong fiancée once. Instead, he leaves the task to his very efficient secretary, Penelope Pettypeace. She is determined to find the perfect bride for her employer....even though Penelope herself has feelings for Hugh.
This is the second book in the Once Upon A Dukedom series. While this book can stand alone, the first book is excellent and helps set up Hugh's bride hunt.
Hugh and Penelope are likeminded individuals: serious, focused, and trying to outrun their past history. I really enjoyed how Hugh depended on Penelope and valued her even before he realized his attraction. There is a slow burn while they try to avoid muddying their working relationship. Without getting into spoilers, I will say that I liked that there were surprises and how those reveals played out.
Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, Matchmaking
Steam Rating: 4.5 (a good number of scenes, but not very long/detailed)
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheDuchessHunt #NetGalley
This is the second book in the Once Upon A Dukedom series. While this book can stand alone, the first book is excellent and helps set up Hugh's bride hunt.
Hugh and Penelope are likeminded individuals: serious, focused, and trying to outrun their past history. I really enjoyed how Hugh depended on Penelope and valued her even before he realized his attraction. There is a slow burn while they try to avoid muddying their working relationship. Without getting into spoilers, I will say that I liked that there were surprises and how those reveals played out.
Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, Matchmaking
Steam Rating: 4.5 (a good number of scenes, but not very long/detailed)
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheDuchessHunt #NetGalley
January 28, 2022
First Impressions
The Duchess Hunt is a story that I was highly anticipating so much. In the previous book, “Scoundrel of My Heart” really built up the focus of the hero for this book. By the end of Scoundrel of My Heart you just want him to find his happy ever after. So I was so excited to delve into this book and get his story. It has a mix of unrequited love, forbidden love, class difference, and Boss and Secretary tropes. So pretty much some of my favorite tropes to read in romance but most especially a historical romance. I was really intrigued with the setup of the story and seeing the slow-built chemistry that is developed between Hugh and Penelope. I knew from the first chapter that this book would be rough on the emotions as we see how much Penelope has fallen for Hugh and he is kinda blind to it for quite a while. But I was also intrigued to see how this would work out for them. It definitely had the depths that you have come to expect from Lorraine Heath but it was a slow-paced read which I wasn’t expecting especially after the first book “Scoundrel of My Heart” kept me on my toes. So be aware before moving forward.
Summary
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is looking for a duchess. After what happened the last time, he is going to make sure he finds his duchess and someone that will fit the role perfectly and won’t get emotionally attached as his pride was hurt losing the woman he started to care for to another. He puts his secretary in charge of finding his duchess and will make his decision on the night of the ball he has in the plan for. Penelope is determined to find the perfect wife for Hugh, she may have been loving him from afar but if she is anything, she is efficient at her job and will prove herself to Hugh despite having secret yearnings for his touch and his heart. Hugh starts to take interest in Penelope but as the chemistry builds slowly between High and Penelope, there is a threat to them both. Someone that knows a secret and will blackmail them with it. As both High and Penelope have secrets in their past they would rather stay hidden, they aren’t ready for what is to come or the hidden desires that erupt between them. Will Hugh find that the love of his heart has been by his side this whole time or forsake it all for the sake of keeping up the pretense of being a proper Duke?
What I Loved
There was so many things to actually really enjoy about this book. The first I want to mention is the depth of the character growth. I just loved both Hugh and Penelope individually. They had such distinct personalities, and both are so efficient and capable at what they do which is also makes them a great team. They are so sync with each other and its pretty interesting to see how despite the practicality of their relationship in the past, there is something more deeper which is building between them. I did find that the this took some twists and turns I actually didn’t see coming. I do love how this author developed the plot in this book. It definitely keeps the interest of the reader to see where the story will take Hugh and Penelope. I was fascinated by how secretive they both are of their pasts, but especially Penelope. She is tight lipped about anything personal about herself. But when she starts to be more open with Hugh, this is were the relationship really takes its delightful turn into something deeper between them. I was intrigued b the complexity of their bond and seeing the intricate layers that form. Lorraine Heath has such a talent in developing these type of aspects within her stories and it really is evident within this one here.
What I Struggled With
so I had ONE major issue with this book, and the pacing is just so SLOW! I am not sure if this is just me, but in some of her books especially her more recently published works, the writing just doesn’t engage me like her writing used to for me. I wanted so much to enjoy this one more because the romance was so delightful but it took me days to actually read this one, and i just wanted to get through it and I never like that feeling especially from a favorite author. After the first book, and being so engaged, I was expecting this book to completely blow me away, and the pacing really affected my true enjoyment of this one here, unfortunately.
Overall View
The Duchess Hunt is a sweet softly built romance that develops a class difference romance into a complexity of emotion and passion that will curl your toes and leave you eager for more delicious treats from this author. You won’t be disappointed upon the reading of The Duchess Hunt.
The Duchess Hunt is a story that I was highly anticipating so much. In the previous book, “Scoundrel of My Heart” really built up the focus of the hero for this book. By the end of Scoundrel of My Heart you just want him to find his happy ever after. So I was so excited to delve into this book and get his story. It has a mix of unrequited love, forbidden love, class difference, and Boss and Secretary tropes. So pretty much some of my favorite tropes to read in romance but most especially a historical romance. I was really intrigued with the setup of the story and seeing the slow-built chemistry that is developed between Hugh and Penelope. I knew from the first chapter that this book would be rough on the emotions as we see how much Penelope has fallen for Hugh and he is kinda blind to it for quite a while. But I was also intrigued to see how this would work out for them. It definitely had the depths that you have come to expect from Lorraine Heath but it was a slow-paced read which I wasn’t expecting especially after the first book “Scoundrel of My Heart” kept me on my toes. So be aware before moving forward.
Summary
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is looking for a duchess. After what happened the last time, he is going to make sure he finds his duchess and someone that will fit the role perfectly and won’t get emotionally attached as his pride was hurt losing the woman he started to care for to another. He puts his secretary in charge of finding his duchess and will make his decision on the night of the ball he has in the plan for. Penelope is determined to find the perfect wife for Hugh, she may have been loving him from afar but if she is anything, she is efficient at her job and will prove herself to Hugh despite having secret yearnings for his touch and his heart. Hugh starts to take interest in Penelope but as the chemistry builds slowly between High and Penelope, there is a threat to them both. Someone that knows a secret and will blackmail them with it. As both High and Penelope have secrets in their past they would rather stay hidden, they aren’t ready for what is to come or the hidden desires that erupt between them. Will Hugh find that the love of his heart has been by his side this whole time or forsake it all for the sake of keeping up the pretense of being a proper Duke?
What I Loved
There was so many things to actually really enjoy about this book. The first I want to mention is the depth of the character growth. I just loved both Hugh and Penelope individually. They had such distinct personalities, and both are so efficient and capable at what they do which is also makes them a great team. They are so sync with each other and its pretty interesting to see how despite the practicality of their relationship in the past, there is something more deeper which is building between them. I did find that the this took some twists and turns I actually didn’t see coming. I do love how this author developed the plot in this book. It definitely keeps the interest of the reader to see where the story will take Hugh and Penelope. I was fascinated by how secretive they both are of their pasts, but especially Penelope. She is tight lipped about anything personal about herself. But when she starts to be more open with Hugh, this is were the relationship really takes its delightful turn into something deeper between them. I was intrigued b the complexity of their bond and seeing the intricate layers that form. Lorraine Heath has such a talent in developing these type of aspects within her stories and it really is evident within this one here.
What I Struggled With
so I had ONE major issue with this book, and the pacing is just so SLOW! I am not sure if this is just me, but in some of her books especially her more recently published works, the writing just doesn’t engage me like her writing used to for me. I wanted so much to enjoy this one more because the romance was so delightful but it took me days to actually read this one, and i just wanted to get through it and I never like that feeling especially from a favorite author. After the first book, and being so engaged, I was expecting this book to completely blow me away, and the pacing really affected my true enjoyment of this one here, unfortunately.
Overall View
The Duchess Hunt is a sweet softly built romance that develops a class difference romance into a complexity of emotion and passion that will curl your toes and leave you eager for more delicious treats from this author. You won’t be disappointed upon the reading of The Duchess Hunt.
March 16, 2022
CERCO UNA DUCHESSA TRANQUILLA E SILENZIOSA; PRESENTE QUANDO HO BISOGNO DI LEI E ASSENTE QUANDO NON NE HO.
Invece ogni donna sognava un uomo che fosse presente anche quando non si accorgeva di non averne bisogno.
Con il secondo volume, la Heath sposta la narrazione dai "rovinati" fratelli Stanwick, per concentrarsi proprio su Kingsland, il quasi-antagonista del primo capitolo.
E dico quasi perché in realtà già in precedenza aveva riservato parecchie sorprese.
In ogni caso, Hugh Brinsley-Norton, Duca di Kingsland, nonostante sia stato stato piantato in asso al primo tentativo, ha deciso di riprovarci con gli annunci sul giornale per trovare la duchessa perfetta.
Ha bisogno di un erede, ma non vuole neppure perdere tempo ed energia per sciocchezzuole borghesi come corteggiare, innamorarsi e poi darsi da fare per piacere a una potenziale dama.
Così delega la faccenda alla sua fedele segretaria, Miss Pettypeace.
E che Pettypeace non sia proprio la solita dipendente lo capiamo subito: dopo aver sbaragliato la concorrenza di molti segretari maschili, s'è fatta assumere per la sua sfrontatezza, ha mantenuto saldo il ruolo per la sua tenacia, e gli stessi investigatori del duca non sono mai riusciti a risalire alla sua vera identità.
Pettypeace è una presenza silenziosa da ben otto anni, non si è mai lamentata, non ha mai deluso il duca, investe in azioni (e qui la Heath ci spiega che, all'epoca, era l'unico investimento di cui le donne potevano conservare la proprietà) e riesce a destreggiarsi tra affari e incombenze più frivole, come appunto selezionare i curricula inviati dalle aspiranti candidate.
Ci vorranno un fratello scapestrato del duca, l'iscrizione a un club particolare, la scoperta di segreti del passato, un ricatto, un cambio d'abiti e pure una sveglia duchessa madre per far rinsavire King sulle vere intenzioni del suo cuore.
Come al solito, la Heath riesce a coinvolgermi appieno: ritroviamo i personaggi delle altre serie (Trewlove), c'è sempre un pizzico di originalità e ironia, e in più anche una certa parte hot (chi non lo vuole un duca focoso?).
Una serie calibrata e riuscita: al prossimo turno tocca a Marcus.
Invece ogni donna sognava un uomo che fosse presente anche quando non si accorgeva di non averne bisogno.
Con il secondo volume, la Heath sposta la narrazione dai "rovinati" fratelli Stanwick, per concentrarsi proprio su Kingsland, il quasi-antagonista del primo capitolo.
E dico quasi perché in realtà già in precedenza aveva riservato parecchie sorprese.
In ogni caso, Hugh Brinsley-Norton, Duca di Kingsland, nonostante sia stato stato piantato in asso al primo tentativo, ha deciso di riprovarci con gli annunci sul giornale per trovare la duchessa perfetta.
Ha bisogno di un erede, ma non vuole neppure perdere tempo ed energia per sciocchezzuole borghesi come corteggiare, innamorarsi e poi darsi da fare per piacere a una potenziale dama.
Così delega la faccenda alla sua fedele segretaria, Miss Pettypeace.
E che Pettypeace non sia proprio la solita dipendente lo capiamo subito: dopo aver sbaragliato la concorrenza di molti segretari maschili, s'è fatta assumere per la sua sfrontatezza, ha mantenuto saldo il ruolo per la sua tenacia, e gli stessi investigatori del duca non sono mai riusciti a risalire alla sua vera identità.
Pettypeace è una presenza silenziosa da ben otto anni, non si è mai lamentata, non ha mai deluso il duca, investe in azioni (e qui la Heath ci spiega che, all'epoca, era l'unico investimento di cui le donne potevano conservare la proprietà) e riesce a destreggiarsi tra affari e incombenze più frivole, come appunto selezionare i curricula inviati dalle aspiranti candidate.
Ci vorranno un fratello scapestrato del duca, l'iscrizione a un club particolare, la scoperta di segreti del passato, un ricatto, un cambio d'abiti e pure una sveglia duchessa madre per far rinsavire King sulle vere intenzioni del suo cuore.
Come al solito, la Heath riesce a coinvolgermi appieno: ritroviamo i personaggi delle altre serie (Trewlove), c'è sempre un pizzico di originalità e ironia, e in più anche una certa parte hot (chi non lo vuole un duca focoso?).
Una serie calibrata e riuscita: al prossimo turno tocca a Marcus.
May 31, 2022
I - this needed content warnings. Damned if it didn’t. This went to an unexpectedly dark place. Worse still, that dark place was not explored with the weight that it merits. I was 100% not expecting that reveal - it didn’t mess with me, but I can imagine it would smack somebody else clean in the face.
Having said that, the last paragraph of the epilogue gets a star just for itself. That was heart wrenching and I can only wish we could envision a similar ending for so many people in the same position - except the fucking internet makes that extremely difficult. I love epilogues that feature far off descendants as a testament to the love and family the couple created together - those are always so wonderful. So the epilogue was a double victory, really.
Having said that, the last paragraph of the epilogue gets a star just for itself. That was heart wrenching and I can only wish we could envision a similar ending for so many people in the same position - except the fucking internet makes that extremely difficult. I love epilogues that feature far off descendants as a testament to the love and family the couple created together - those are always so wonderful. So the epilogue was a double victory, really.
January 2, 2022
ARGH! This is the first time Goodreads lost my review before I can publish it. 😡 Well, here I go again.
I love that Kate Reading is narrating Lorraine Heath's latest series!
I enjoyed this book more than the first book in the series. I enjoyed watching Kingsland gradually come to realize that he wants and loves Penelope particularly since he's such a serious, no-emotions man. I did get annoyed at how he reacted to her secret though. Bad move, Kingsland, especially when she was there to help you through your secret. *shaking my head* Like some of Lorraine Heath's books, there is a sweet, romantic love declaration in the ending.
There was one scene with a very minor character that caught my interest. It was at the ball in which Penelope was assessing potential brides for Kingsland and crossing them off the list if they fail to meet his requirements. One potential bride is a wallflower named Lady Sarah Montague. This scene was after Kingsland and Penelope's first kiss, almost halfway through the book.
"To be honest, I only wrote the letter because I wanted to make someone else jealous," Lady Sarah Montague confessed.
...
"Miss Pettypeace, have you ever longed for anyone with every fiber of your being, only to have him never notice you, to act as though you don't even exist, to never have even asked you to dance?"
UGH! GIVE ME THAT UNREQUITED LOVE STORY!!! I want to know how it ends! Of course, this interaction was probably just a way to add more angst to Penelope's own longing for Kingsland. But I still want it!
I love that Kate Reading is narrating Lorraine Heath's latest series!
I enjoyed this book more than the first book in the series. I enjoyed watching Kingsland gradually come to realize that he wants and loves Penelope particularly since he's such a serious, no-emotions man. I did get annoyed at how he reacted to her secret though. Bad move, Kingsland, especially when she was there to help you through your secret. *shaking my head* Like some of Lorraine Heath's books, there is a sweet, romantic love declaration in the ending.
There was one scene with a very minor character that caught my interest. It was at the ball in which Penelope was assessing potential brides for Kingsland and crossing them off the list if they fail to meet his requirements. One potential bride is a wallflower named Lady Sarah Montague. This scene was after Kingsland and Penelope's first kiss, almost halfway through the book.
"To be honest, I only wrote the letter because I wanted to make someone else jealous," Lady Sarah Montague confessed.
...
"Miss Pettypeace, have you ever longed for anyone with every fiber of your being, only to have him never notice you, to act as though you don't even exist, to never have even asked you to dance?"
UGH! GIVE ME THAT UNREQUITED LOVE STORY!!! I want to know how it ends! Of course, this interaction was probably just a way to add more angst to Penelope's own longing for Kingsland. But I still want it!
October 21, 2023
Just delicious from beginning to end. Dummies in love who don’t know they’re in love just might be my favorite trope. And when they’re both serious, buttoned-up, traumatized dummies? PLEASE
October 16, 2021
Lively and entertaining romance between a charismatic Duke and his adorable secretary. The story falls somewhat flat when it comes to the big ‘mysteries’, but I never expected much in the first place.
Hopefully Marcus’ story will come next in the series!
Hopefully Marcus’ story will come next in the series!
September 25, 2023
To be honest, this book left me feeling rather 'meh.' It felt more like a contemporary novel than a historical one, with modern characters donning period clothing. At times, I even contemplated giving up on it. However, it did manage to hold my interest, thanks to the unexpected twists and turns that kept cropping up. Just when I was on the verge of quitting, something intriguing would happen, urging me to continue. I must acknowledge that Ms. Heath is an accomplished author with an extensive body of work, so she clearly knows her craft.
One aspect that didn't quite work for me was the fact that the main characters seemed to be mentally lusting after each other right from the start. I personally prefer the hero to have that 'Aha!' moment when he realizes he's been in love with the heroine all along, much like in And Then He Kissed Her. The constant mental longing between the characters made me impatient, wanting them to just get on with it.
While this wasn't my favorite book by Ms. Heath, it was decent enough to see through to the end. I'd recommend it to those who don't mind a blend of modern sensibilities in their historical romance. However, if you do mind, you might want to stick to the tried-and-true oldies.
One aspect that didn't quite work for me was the fact that the main characters seemed to be mentally lusting after each other right from the start. I personally prefer the hero to have that 'Aha!' moment when he realizes he's been in love with the heroine all along, much like in And Then He Kissed Her. The constant mental longing between the characters made me impatient, wanting them to just get on with it.
While this wasn't my favorite book by Ms. Heath, it was decent enough to see through to the end. I'd recommend it to those who don't mind a blend of modern sensibilities in their historical romance. However, if you do mind, you might want to stick to the tried-and-true oldies.
October 31, 2022
Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland has tasked his steadfast secretary Penelope Pettypeace with finding him his future Duchess, but increasingly becomes distracted by Pettypeace as he realizes what finding a wife will do to *their* relationship.
Pettypeace herself has secretly loved the Duke for most of her employment with him, but has kept it carefully hidden away like the leather notebook in her secret pocket. She'll find him his duchess AND will start considering finding some companionship of her own, even if it is just anonymous liaisons at the new club for second sons and commoner women.
But when a secret blackmail letter reveals both Pettypeace and King have secrets, their search for a Duchess is put on pause and gives them an opportunity to try a short term arrangement, for just giving into their sexual tension.
This was fun and swoony, the secrets bit was a little overwrought but I enjoyed the character development!
CW: exploitation of a minor , drinking, fighting
Pettypeace herself has secretly loved the Duke for most of her employment with him, but has kept it carefully hidden away like the leather notebook in her secret pocket. She'll find him his duchess AND will start considering finding some companionship of her own, even if it is just anonymous liaisons at the new club for second sons and commoner women.
But when a secret blackmail letter reveals both Pettypeace and King have secrets, their search for a Duchess is put on pause and gives them an opportunity to try a short term arrangement, for just giving into their sexual tension.
This was fun and swoony, the secrets bit was a little overwrought but I enjoyed the character development!
CW: exploitation of a minor , drinking, fighting
September 28, 2021
Title: The Duchess Hunt
Series: Once Upon a Dukedom #2
Author: Lorraine Heath
Release date: September 28, 2021
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: historical romance
If there existed a more unpleasant task in the world than selecting the woman who was to marry the man you loved, Penelope Pettypeace certainly couldn’t imagine what it might be.
Sometimes you open up a book and the very first line of the book is so attention grabbing that you're immediately compelled to read more. I experienced that with The Duchess Hunt and continued to be pulled in the deeper I went. Likewise, I was intrigued by both main characters from the start.
Hugh was shrewd, intense, a bit aloof, but far from cold. He was an enlightened man for that time because he had no qualms about hiring a female as his right-hand woman. Not only that, but he views at her as his equal in intelligence and competency. Getting into his inner thoughts early on, you notice that after eight years of working closely together, he's more intrigued by her than he allows himself to acknowledge. He frequently pulls himself back from his awareness of her as a woman, mainly because of the power dynamic between the two of them, and that caused a tug of war between his heart and his head. I really enjoyed the angst as it built in momentum during his inner struggle. What was funny was that his latent feelings for her were glaringly obvious to not only the reader, but his mother and closest friends as well. The only one who seemed to be in the dark (or denial) for much of the book was the hero. Penelope was aware of her own feelings, but completely unaware of his.
Blast her impertinent heart. Why did it always have to leap with joy whenever her gaze fell on him? Why did it have to yearn for what it could never possess?
If Penelope Pettypeace had any inkling that the Duke who employed her had any feelings for her other than professional, she just might have run. Though she has been secretly in love with the man for years, she isn't really the person who allows herself to get close to people because of her past. She's a very private person who has been burned badly because of the secret she holds, which ironically could be the thing that sparked Hugh's curiosity to look at her more than surface deep. She has an air of mystery about her that presents an appealing puzzle to a man like him.
The more he unveiled, the more curious he became. He was desperate to know everything. She’d always been an important part of the business side of his life, but it seemed at some point today a shift had occurred in his world, and he could no longer relegate her to only a portion of it.
Hugh is an investor, problem solver and astute businessman. The fact that he has known Pettypeace for so long and knows very little personal information about her makes him appreciate even the smallest insight as a gift. And the way he secretly craved being able to make her smile and laugh was the sweetest. It was these small details that made me root for the two of them and feel that they were made for each other. As well, it was refreshing to read a romance where the couple was so similar in personality rather than complete opposites.
They were both on the same wave length to the point that they could even finish each other's sentences and anticipate what the other would want or need. He put his complete trust in her abilities to handle his business empire if he had to travel in search of new opportunities. More importantly, he believed that she knew him so well, that she could even handle the tedious task of finding him a suitable wife better than he could. I will say that once the two of them started to explore their interest in each other a little bit, it felt a bit odd that they continued their discussions of her quest in finding him a wife. They were being a bit willfully ignorant about reality. The reality was that he was behaving jealously at the thought of her dancing with another man, he was possessive, and protective over her when she got sick. Then he would turn those thoughts off like a light switch and pretend that everything was casual until his permanent partner was found.
They both also had very big secrets that they held back from sharing with each other for the majority of the book. Once his secret came out, I'm not going to lie, it made me uncomfortable. I couldn't quite wrap my head around how this was so casually explained away because to me, I think there needed to be something much more drastic pushing Hugh to do something like that. Up until this point, the book was easily five stars, but this plot point did detract from my enjoyment. Then Penelope's secret was outed and while is was quite tragic, my sympathy wasn't completely there for her because she continued hiding it from him until the bitter end. I understand the shame that went along with it but there was a lack of trust on her part that was disappointing after he opened up to her with his massive secret.
The chemistry and drawn out anticipation over this couple made this romance really enjoyable for the most part. While there were some issues I had with the plot, the dynamic between Hugh and Penelope made up for a lot. I also really liked the detail that Lorraine Heath put into the epilogue, and thought it was an interesting way to close the story. If you're looking for a historical romance that's a little different from the common opposites attract, this could be the right book for you.
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