Lady Georgiana’s wild side has often gotten her into trouble. But she doesn’t realize just how bad things could be until she is invited to a clandestine masquerade party. When a mysterious stranger offers help, she accepts it. 

A few weeks later, Georgiana and her aunt attend a house party at a Yorkshire castle. The gathering is a way to find a bride for Duke Gabriel, the notorious rake. Georgiana is happy to be a regular guest with no intention of vying for his attention. However, the Duke turns out to be none other than the mysterious stranger. Now, what will these two do? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Georgiana (more) and Gabriel. 

My Thoughts: 

Firstly, why is this not marked as a series? Turns out, The Runaway Heiress is the first book of the series. This is the second. What the Lady Wants will be the third. While it works as a standalone, I couldn’t see the need for some details until I realized it was a part of a series. Then, it made sense. 

The premise is interesting. The book starts great. However, the narrative is weighed down by some fluff and continues to be slow throughout. Lighthearted reads aren’t supposed to be this slow! 

Georgiana is a contradiction. Some elements make her appealing. But she can also get on your nerves. Gabriel is relatively better, though I wouldn’t have minded a bit more depth. 

Note that the book is very much a light read. I liked this aspect. The bits and pieces of humor elevate the story, especially when Georgiana rambles on. 

I also like that the characters communicate even if they talk in circles. There is still some presumption, but no unwanted drama. They can sit and talk, which is a plus. It’s okay if what they say doesn’t always make sense to the other person. The important aspect is that they are willing to share it. 

There’s no third-act breakup, another plus. Of course, there is some drama and attempts to cause a rift between the couple, but it is handled the way it should be. I like that it serves as a basis for another plot development. 

There’s an unwanted chapter towards the end, which could have been shortened to a couple of paragraphs. Once the reader the end, they don’t want more fluff. They just need a nice rounded ending with an epilogue. We have an epilogue, but I could have done without the gossip and rumor chapter. 

The book is promoted as a steamy romance, and it is. I’d put it around 3.5ish steam. Think of Lisa Kleypas or Stephanie Laurens (though Laurens would be min 4). Never mind that the author calls Georgette Heyer her inspiration. 

To summarize, A Duke of One’s Own is an enjoyable read with a stronger second half. It would have been a 4-star with some of the clunks toned down. Still, I cannot deny that I was entertained by the book and am willing to more from the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.