A 2018 Daphne du Maurier finalist First comes love, then comes marriage. Unless it’s the otherway around. . . General Mark Grimaldi has sacrificed everything for his military career, working his way through the ranks without the benefit of a nobleman’s title. Now, his years of dedication are about to pay off–with an offer for a prestigious promotion to Home Secretary. There’s only one … to Home Secretary. There’s only one condition: Mark must be married. Aside from the small matter of not actually wanting to be wed, Mark faces another troubling problem: he already has a wife.
Nicole Huntington Grimaldi has spent ten contented years in France without her husband–and without regret. When Mark asks her to return to London and play the part of his beloved wife, she sees her chance. But neither of them is prepared for news that will throw Mark’s future into chaos…nor the undeniable desire they’ve rekindled. Maybe happily-ever-after can happen the second time around in A Duke Like No Other, the next Regency romance from Valerie Bowman.
Valerie Bowman’s Playful Brides novels are:
“Wholly satisfying.”–USA Today
“Smart and sensual…readers will be captivated.”–RT Book Reviews
“Smoldering.” —Booklist
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Couples who are married but distant and then must find a way to make a marriage work — that is one of my very favorite romance tropes. Here we have Gen. Mark Grimaldi, up for promotion, but only if he marries. Trouble is, he is married, to a wife he hasn’t seen (or wanted to see) in 10 years. The dreaded misunderstanding (a trope I dislike) has kept the two fervent lovers apart. Now Mark must go, hat in hand, to Nicole, and find a way to fake a happy marriage so he can be promoted. She agrees, but only because she wants something, too (and it’s not what Mark expects). Add to that basic plot a murder mystery, a wife who assists the Bow Street Runners (suspend disbelief all who enter) and two very stubborn people who simply do not work out their differences without a lot of trouble along the way — and it adds up to a satisfying novel. Other reviewers have pointed out a few historical anachronisms and a bit of modern feel in the book. I think they are correct, but what Valerie Bowman gets right — very right — is the ache of love from two people who have lost their way and have to seek each other out before it’s too late. That’s why, for me, this is a most satisfying read. (I received an advance copy on NetGalley. Opinions mine.)
A Duke Like No Other rates a solid 3.5 stars. The beginning is a little slow to really draw the reader in. Nicole is my favorite kind of heroine, unconventional, strong-willed, and intelligent. I found Mark to be too stubborn to be truly enjoyable. When misunderstandings drive the couple apart, Nicole uses her previous Bowstreet runner experience to become a spy in France. Mark blindly ignores his family out of hatred for anything to do with the aristocracy and is single-mindedly pursuing his military career. The only reason he finally seeks out his wife is to create the appearance of being a family man for a promotion. Nicole agrees to reunite with Mark with conditions of her own. When Mark’s cousin is murdered, an investigation ensues. I think the story would have been more enjoyable if the mystery played a bigger element of the plot because at times the plot seems to slow to a snail’s pace. The secondary characters are enjoyable and I hope to read about them in their own books. The book has a sweet, little HEA and ends faster-paced than it began. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
General Mark Grimaldi has had the goal of becoming the Home Secretary. He has survived fighting and imprisonment in France, but now that his goal is in his grasp, he is told that he needs to be married. Very few know, that he is already married and has been estranged from his wife for 10 years.
While working for the Home Office during the war in France, his wife, Nicole, continued to live there afterwards. So, he finds that he must go to her and request she come back with him to London and pretend to be his loving wife.
While she would not admit it to anyone, Nicole still is in love with Mark. She is lonely and she agrees on one condition- she wants a child. They are no sooner back in London, when they become involved in solving a murder- the murder of Mark’s cousin.
Through flashbacks, it becomes clear that they both still love the other, but are also both too proud and stubborn to admit it. While they work together on discovering the murderer and securing Mark’s new position, will they also work on their relationship? Can they set aside their foolish pride to find the love they once shared?
I was captivated by the characters and intrigued by the plot. The author wove an very exciting, yet romantic story.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.com. This was my unbiased and voluntary review.
A DUKE LIKE NO OTHER by Valerie Bowman is book Nine in the Playful Brides series. This is the story of General Mark Grimald and Nicole Huntington Grimaldi.
Mark might be the grandson of a Duke but he made himself what he is today. Working toward further goals he needs to reclaim his wife. Nicole left her husband shortly after the marriage due to misunderstanding and miscommunication on both parts. But now Mark is back looking to make everyone see their marriage as real. Nicole wants something from him…a baby.
Can these two get a second chance at finding love? Will their be another upset to this second chance?
Love Ms. Bowman writing and I enjoyed this book.
Mark has dedicated his life to his work. First as a soldier, a spy, and now it his goal to become the Home Secretary. It’s all within his grasp until he’s informed he won’t be considered without proving he’s a family man and must present a wife. That’s going to be tricky because Mark already has a wife and they’ve been separated for ten years.
Nicole is wild and free. She is not one to settle into what society dictates. For years she has lived her life in France where she is able to live the life she enjoys. However, she waits each day for the letter that will inform her that her husband has been killed while in service to his country. When he suddenly appears at her doorstep, her emotions are all over the place.
I loved this second chance story of a couple that have obstacles to overcome. There was just a tiny bit of misunderstanding that started the rift between them, but at the heart of it is a true separation of trust, beliefs, and wants. Perhaps a long honest conversation might have helped at the time but the fact that Mark was set in his belief of her position could not be ignored. Now, years later with more maturity and the opportunity to truly see one another, they may be able to heal what is broken between them.
Mark had every reason to feel the way he did but I personally thought he was a bit boneheaded. Nicole could have fought harder for him and what they had but she fled instead. Nevertheless, when you take those two decisions away, this story is quite charming with a bit of angst. I enjoyed reading how they reunited, placed conditions on each other, and came together for a common cause.
This is a really enjoyable book and I’d love to read about some of the secondary characters as well.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A very satisfying read with charming characters and a storyline that will keep you turning pages.
Ms. Bowman never fails to hold my attention and keeps my complete interest. A DUKE LIKE NO OTHER has it all romance, suspense,a but of danger, finding a true love and so much more. A must read!!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
AprilR
A Duke Like No Other (Playful Brides, #9) by Valerie Bowman……Another great one Valerie!!! I was so lucky to be able to preview this on #NetGalley… I like nothing better than a couple who are in love and misunderstand each other and have to work their way back together again… Mark (Grim) General and Spy Master… Nicole his wife… He thinks she married him ten years ago for his connection to the Duke…he accuses her of this three months into their marriage…she leaves for France and works for the War Office as a spy. Ten years later to become Sectary of the Home Office he needs a wife… This is where all the fun begins…laughs ..tears… Murder… And thank goodness a HEA. I couldn’t put this book down. I’m hoping maybe Regina and Daffin may be the next book.
Estranged for over 10 years due to pride and misunderstandings, Mark finds he needs to be a family man in order to secure a promotion. He travels to France to ask his wife for a favour but finds she has an unexpected condition of her own.
The novel bounces between the past and the present, enabling the reader to understand their early relationship and it’s breakdown. In addition there is a murder for them to solve with an unexpected culprit.
There is quite a bit of artistic licence in this novel, so readers who like some historical accuracy take note. If you are able to suspend disbelief then this is an enjoyable story and all the love scenes take place within the confines of marriage (Note: I do hate the modern Regency novel where unmarried maidens are conveniently unchaperoned at every turn!)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
General Mark Grimaldi is a self-made man, someone who has gotten to his current position by hard work alone. The spymaster is now aiming to an even higher position, but the one person who can grant him his wish wants him to have a wife. Fortunately for Mark, he is already married.
When her marriage went south, Lady Nicole Huntington took a position working for the Crown in France and remained there after the war ended. After 10 years expecting to hear her husband was killed, said husband shows up asking for her to come back to England for the sake of his career.
A murder, an unexpected development and a bargain to be fulfilled will bring Mark and Nicole closer than they expected and they will have to use their wits to find the murderer before a reluctant heir to the Duchy of Colchester is named.
This was my first read by this author and, though is the ninth book in the series, it was easy to read as a standalone. The story was original, somewhat entertaining and I liked the main characters, but that was it for me.
I was very attracted by the blurb, but I found the story lacking in some of the delivery by the use of too many modern mannerisms and forms of addresses that would have been considered inappropriate at the time. To make it worse, I predicted a lot of the twists of the book which reduced the entertaining value for me.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via by NetGalley for an honest review*