Never Met a Duke Like You

by Amalie Howard Narrated by Mary Jane Wells

Overview

Clueless meets Bridgerton in this spicy opposites-attract Regency romance told with “self-assured style, wit, and energy” (Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author).

Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is beautiful, clever, and popular. Afforded every luxury as a duke's daughter, she fills her days with friends, intrigues, and a self-professed knack for matchmaking. She may have sworn off love for herself, but she is rather excellent at arranging it.

Faced with an insolvent estate, the Duke of Greydon has no choice but to return to England in a final attempt to revive his family's fortunes. He's been gone for years, happy to have escaped his mother and the petty circles of the ton. To his dismay, not much has changed, including the beautiful and vexing heiress next door.

But when an accident of fate traps the friends-turned-enemies in an attic together, the explosive attraction between them becomes impossible to ignore and even harder to resist. They are total opposites and their lives don't align in the slightest, but fate, the ultimate matchmaker, appears to have other plans . . .

"Refreshing, steamy, and stocked with characters you don't normally get to see in the genre-a must-read author." -Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Howard’s lyrical writing enlivens her bright, empathetic characters and her sharp eye on their class and cultural disparities only enhances their romance. Readers will be riveted."—Publishers Weekly on Always Be My Duchess

“Fabulous writing . . . such a delicious escape. Utterly delightful!”

—Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author, on Always Be My Duchess

"Refreshing, steamy, and stocked with characters you don’t normally get to see in the genre—a must-read author."—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Always Be My Duchess

"Amalie Howard tells a story with self-assured style, wit, and energy . . . her writing sparkles!"—Lisa Kleypas, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Howard pairs unconventional aristocrats in this page-turning Victorian romance. Admirable and progressive protagonists and Clueless-inspired plot are sure to have readers charmed.”—Publishers Weekly

“Howard gives readers main characters with intriguing layers and relatable flaws to cheer for as they navigate the peaks and valleys of their reunion love story, gradually unveiling each character’s thoughts, fears, and feelings along the way.”—The Romance Dish

Kirkus Reviews

2023-09-09
Howard follows up Always Be My Duchess (2022) with another historical rom-com.

Lady Vesper Lyndhurst sees herself as a successful London matchmaker but has no intention of finding a match for herself. In the past, she imagined a future with her neighbor and childhood best friend Aspen Drake, now the Duke of Greydon, but they had a falling out years ago. Aspen has been in America digging for fossils, but now he’s back home and intends to find justice for his father, who died in an asylum after he was unjustly committed by Aspen’s wicked mother. When Aspen and Vesper find themselves accidentally locked in an attic together, their antagonism quickly turns into desire they try to deny. Vesper agrees to help Aspen find a match for his mother’s ward, Judith, but as their lives become increasingly intertwined and complicated, their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. Veteran romance novelist Howard's latest is a very mixed bag. The inevitable conflicts between the clearly-made-for-each-other leads are overly drawn out; several plot elements are underdeveloped and add little emotional or dramatic heft; some scenes feel like unnecessary filler. However, the historical setting is rich and clearly well researched, Vesper and Aspen engage in delightfully sharp banter, and their characterizations are enriched by Vesper’s ADHD (mentioned in an author’s note as it would not have been diagnosed at the time) and Aspen’s passion for changing the Lunacy Act.

Fun but forgettable.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176928525
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	11/14/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos