Fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton series will be swept away by a Regency romance of broken engagements, second chances, and stolen kisses from the author whom Publishers Weekly calls “irresistible”.
After her third fiancé leaves her at the altar, Lenora Hartley is beginning to think she’s cursed. One thing’s for certain: she needs to escape London and her father’s tyrannical attempts to find her … father’s tyrannical attempts to find her yet another suitor. The Isle of Synne, an isolated and idyllic retreat off Britain’s northern coast, is blessedly far from society’s gossip, but it also carries haunting reminders of her first fiancé. Letting go of the past to find happiness seems impossible — until Lenora is thrown in the path of a gruff, mysterious blue-eyed man who makes her pulse race.
Next in line for a dukedom he doesn’t want to inherit, Peter Ashford is only on the isle to exact revenge on the man who is responsible for his mother’s death. Once he’s completed the task, he’ll return to America where his life can finally be his own. Yet when he meets the beautiful and kind Miss Hartley, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Can Peter put aside his plans for vengeance for the woman who has come to mean everything to him?
for his mother’s death. Once he’s completed the task, he’ll return to America where his life can finally be his own. Yet when he meets the beautiful and kind Miss Hartley, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Can Peter put aside his plans for vengeance for the woman who has come to mean everything to him?for his mother’s death. Once he’s completed the task, he’ll return to America where his life can finally be his own. Yet when he meets the beautiful and kind Miss Hartley, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Can Peter put aside his plans for vengeance for the woman who has come to mean everything to him?for his mother’s death. Once he’s completed the task, he’ll return to America where his life can finally be his own. Yet when he meets the beautiful and kind Miss Hartley, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Can Peter put aside his plans for vengeance for the woman who has come to mean everything to him?more
I enjoyed this well-written historical romance. Lenora Hartley has been left at the alter – again – and decides to flee society, London and her father’s efforts to find her yet another fiance, returning to the Isle of Synne, even with its reminders of her first fiance. Peter Ashford is on the isle to get revenge on the man he holds responsible for his mother’s death. Once they meet they find themselves drawn to each other. The characters were appealing and I found the story hard to put down. This was an entertaining book and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
4.25 Stars
After her third fiancé leaves her at the altar, Lenora Hartley is beginning to think she’s cursed. One thing’s for certain: she needs to escape London and her father’s tyrannical attempts to find her yet another suitor. The Isle of Synne, an isolated and idyllic retreat off Britain’s northern coast, is blessedly far from society’s gossip, but it also carries haunting reminders of her first fiancé ho died there. Next in line for a dukedom he doesn’t want to inherit, Peter Ashford is only on the isle to exact revenge on the man who is responsible for his mother’s death thirteen years ao. Once he’s completed the task, he’ll return to America where his life can finally be his own. Yet when he meets the beautiful and kind Miss Hartley, he can’t help but be drawn to her.
This is the first in a new series & I found it to be a well written book that held my interest all the way through. The characters had plenty of depth & on the whole were likeable. I really liked Lenora who through no fault of her own had lost one fiancé & been jilted by two others but she’d never been attracted to any of them the way she is to Peter. I liked Peter but revenge is not my favourite trope & I felt his blinkered belief should have been resolved earlier, again a case of communicating. I did love how the relationship between Peter & Lenora developed. I did love Lady Tesh & hope she features in future books, I also really liked Quincy & look forward to his story.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A new-to-me author really came through, with this heartfelt historical romance!
Lenora Hartley has had a rough go of things. She’s had 3 fiances in 3 years, and she has still never been married. Her father is practically apoplectic after fiance #3 leaves her at the altar, and promises he’ll find another one for her as soon as possible. Meanwhile, she has the summer to “lick her wounds”. So, she heads to the Isle of Synne with her best friend, Margery, to visit Margery’s grandmother, Lady Tesh. Lenora came to the Isle every summer of her childhood, but hasn’t been back in 3 years, since the death of her first fiance. Everyone thinks she’s still heartbroken over losing him, but she’s been keeping secrets from those closest to her for years, and paying private penance in the form of never truly letting go emotionally to make her art any more. But being on the Isle brings back so many memories, and she’s feeling a bit haunted, until a gorgeous stranger shows up.
Peter Ashford is the heir to a dukedom, but he has zero interest in it, other than seeing it destroyed. He fled England for America when he was just 13, after the untimely death of his mother. He’s been living in Boston, and now after thirteen years, he’s back to repay a debt to someone who helped him, and to exact his revenge on the Duke, whom he blames for his mother’s death. But, Lady Tesh refuses to take his money, and begs him to fulfill his mother’s final wish for him instead: to spend a month in her home on the Isle. He’s feeling guilty and agrees, as long as his best friend Quincy can stay too. But, he has no idea that Lenora, and Margery, who is his cousin, are staying too. He’s extremely drawn to Lenora, and it makes him massively uncomfortable, as he basically keeps any tender feelings out of his life altogether. What will he be feeling after a month of getting to know her better??
Peter and Lenora were both extremely attracted to each other, in a way that they had never been to anyone else, but neither of them knew what in the world to do about it. Peter plans to return to Boston, after his promise is upheld, and his revenge is complete, and his plans include never marrying, and letting his line die with him. Lenora’s father has threatened to disown her if she doesn’t agree to marry whomever he finds who is willing to take her. She doesn’t know who she might end up with, but she knows she’ll never really be happy. She wants Peter so badly, as she understands he might be the only choice she’ll ever really get to make for herself, before she’s married off like her father’s property. But, they push and pull back and forth, and have misunderstandings aplenty. Peter has a quick temper, and rarely sticks around for explanations. Lenora often doesn’t want to ruffle feathers, and she doesn’t give her own opinions much, but with Peter, she finds herself wanting to be honest and tell him everything she’s thinking and feeling. They really were meant to be, but boy did it take them a while to get there!
I ADORED Peter’s best friend Quincy, and I CANNOT WAIT now that I know his book is next! He is such a fantastic rake of a character, and his downfall into love is going to be epic, I just know it! Lady Tesh was an amazing character too, and I loved her so much. There were many other side characters here who were also interesting, and one of them will be the heroine in book 2, so I’m excited for that as well.
This was a heart-tugging, emotional story about 2 lives made better by the main characters being with each other, and you knew just how miserable they would have been alone, or with anyone else. I loved how well Peter and Lenora fit together, and I was pulling for them from the start. I really enjoyed how the story played out, and this world of the Isle that the author has created. I look forward to reading much more!
A Good Duke is Hard to Find, by Christina Britton is well written. This book is a even paced book. The details of the story are explained well. The reader is able to visualize the scenes as they read the story. The characters dialogue is not to complicated when they carry conversations with other characters.
The plot and story line didn’t lose the reader in the direction that the writer wanted the reader to go. The drama was placed well through the book. Lenora and Peter’s romance is a sweet poignant love story. Their love grew slowly, but not to slow. The reader was able to see the true love that bloomed between these two characters.
Two tortured souls find peace together in this charming romance.
This tender story will take you on an expansive journey of emotions as Peter and Lenora both work to overcome their painful pasts and chart a future together. I was instantly captivated by the delightful characters on the Isle of Synne, and I especially appreciated how Freya’s personality was incorporated. I loved the secondary romance as they told the love story of their ancient ancestors, and I was impressed with how it was woven throughout the book.
Lenora is no simpering miss, here, despite the unfortunate outcomes of her father’s attempts at matchmaking. She’s patiently compassionate, and without any expectations, she slowly melted Peter’s anger and softened his heart. Peter is deliciously grumpy and almost beastly as he wrestles with his past. His personal journey to peace was authentic and sincere, culminating in a beautiful HEA that was a joy to read. I couldn’t love this book more. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
A Good Duke Is Hard to Find by Christina Britton is an excellent historical romance that is the first book in what is sure to be an amazing new series : Isle of Synne.
This book, to me, is special in that there is a slow burn and buildup in a wonderful, emotional, and romantic relationship between Lenora and Peter. Both meet while dealing with their own demons (current and past) and despite differences, find love, acceptance, fulfillment, mutual admiration, and respect in one another. I loved how each worked through their problems, and helped the other with theirs as well. I like how each seemed to improve the other. I loved both characters, and enjoyed their transformations throughout the book.
I also loved the secondary cast of characters, the locations, the Nordic fable added to the plot line, and I loved, loved, loved the ending. It was perfect in every way.
This is my first book that I have had read from this author and I have to say that she has made a definite fan out of me. I cannot wait to find more, and read more from this series in the future!
I can’t recommend this book enough!
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I received an ARC of A Good Duke is Hard to Find from Forever Publishing via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review. Warning: mild spoilers ahead.
I really wanted to enjoy A Good Duke is Hard to Find, the latest historical romance from Christina Britton, but something about this story just didn’t land right for me. Here’s my quick summary:
After her third failed engagement, Lenora leaves London to spend time at the Isle of Synne. However, the unexpected arrival of Peter Ashford, long-absent heir to the dukedom on Synne, throws her plans into chaos. Especially since her attraction for Peter is unlike anything she’s felt before. But Peter’s plans for revenge against the duke who caused him heartbreak as a child threatens any happiness he and Lenora might find together.
As I already said, something about this book doesn’t work for me, even though it’s similar to books I’ve loved in the past. I think part of my problem is the insta-love element in this story. It’s not uncommon for protagonists to fall in love quickly in romances, but when Lenora realizes she’s in love with Peter, I can’t figure out why. I just don’t think the story does enough of something (attraction? interaction? introspection?) on the front-end to make her declaration believable.
I also find this story frustrating because I think Lenora does a lot of emotional labor for Peter that isn’t reciprocated. From the very beginning, she’s trying to make Peter feel at ease on the Isle and seeks to comfort him, even though they’ve just met. However, Peter never really does the work on himself. His realization that he loves Lenora comes with the thought that, basically, she can make the pain from his childhood better. In other words, he expects her to do even more emotional labor on his behalf. And while there is a scene towards the end where he tries to mold himself into the kind of man he thinks she wants, I still see the emotional labor being unevenly distributed. I think that’s why I find this book unsuccessful when I enjoy similar stories. In those other novels, heroes really work to get their lives and emotional selves in order for the heroine, and I just don’t see Peter doing that work. I think it’s why Quincy is my favorite character because he flat out tells Peter to “quit being a prick.”
On the upside, I did think Britton did a good job with the swoon-factor. I loved the scene where Lenora teaches Peter to dance, which leads to their first kiss. Also, Peter was slightly redeemed when he focused on Lenora’s needs and desires rather than his own.
I may read book two in this series, especially since it focuses on Quincy, one of my favorite characters from this first book. However, it might be a library read rather than an insta-purchase.
I recommend A Good Duke is Hard to Find for historical romance fans, especially those that enjoy heroes with “viking-esque” looks (a descriptor frequently applies to Peter).
Series: Isle of Synne #1
Publication Date: 6/30/20
Number of Pages: 384
*** 3.5 Stars Rounded Up ***
Lenora Hartley’s journey to her HEA has been a tough one. She’s been left at the altar three times in as many years. None of them was her fault – one died in an accident, one eloped with someone else, and one left for the continent after a duel. Then, there is her father to contend with. He’s dead-set on marrying her off to his advantage – believe me, the man makes Simon Legree look like a saint. The poor woman deserves a summer break on the Isle of Synne to recover from the latest wedding debacle and her friend Margery is just the one to see that she gets there. The Isle is also where she hopes to confront and make peace with her guilt over her first fiancé.
I like a grumpy, curmudgeonly hero on occasion, but Peter Ashford really put that to the test. He wasn’t just grumpy, he was rude, hurtful, and bent on revenge no matter who it hurt – and I think he hung on to that way, way too long. When Peter was thirteen, he went to the Duke of Dane for help in saving his mother. When the duke turned him away and his mother subsequently died, Peter blamed the duke and vowed revenge. It has taken him thirteen years in America to make his fortune and return to England to exact vengeance upon the duke. The duke’s only son and heir died three years ago in an accident, the duke is gravely ill, and now Peter is the heir to the dukedom. Oh! Yes! He’ll get his pound of flesh now.
I liked the story well enough, but revenge is never my favorite trope – mostly because the person seeking revenge usually plans to hurt some innocent person in order to get back at the person they really want to hurt. I’ve never gotten how that is supposed to make sense. I thought it was well-written (though a bit draggy in spots), and I really liked the secondary characters – especially Quinton (Peter’s best friend), and Lady Tesh. I thought it had a lot of emotions and it was interesting to watch Peter try to figure out how to deal with those and come up with a HEA for himself and Lenora. I liked Quincy much better than Peter, so I’m really looking forward to the next book which will feature him.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lenora has been ill fated as a fiancée. She wants to do her duty by her father but is causing her nothing but pain. Peter is on a mission to settle old scores when he meets Lenora. He is an angry young man. The drama builds slowly as the characters get to know each other and skirt around their feelings. There are underlying pieces at play that eventually come out and lead Peter to making the decisions that allow him to lose his anger and let love into his life.
This is my first read by this author. The blurb sounded interesting but It was way too long for me to keep my interests.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Good Duke is Hard to Find was a great read with an original concept that brought something new to the historical romance and Regency romance genres.
Miss Lenora Hartley, despite her beauty and gentle breeding, has suffered the embarrassment of being left at the alter (or well before it) no less than three times – three times too many for her coldly distant father. To avoid yet another scandal, Lenora and her lifelong friend, Margery, return to the Isle of Synne to await her newest suitor per her father’s edict. Lenora intends to spend her time on the Isle reconnecting with Margery’s high-spirited grandmother, Lady Tesh, and making peace with the memories of her first fiancé who met an untimely death there. She has no reason to suspect that this visit would go anything less than according to plan, however, fate has other things in store.
Enter Mr. Peter Ashford, reluctant heir to the man who turned himself and his sick mother away at the tender age of thirteen. After spending the last thirteen years in America bitterly swearing revenge for his mother’s death, Peter has returned to the Isle to see his debts paid and his vengeance come to fruition. He never expected to meet his match in Lenora and certainly never thought that his head could be turned from the course he’d been pursuing for over a decade. As their longing grows for one another, Lenora and Peter must decide whether to linger in the past or look forward to the future.
I loved Lenora and Peter together. Theirs was an instant attraction, although they both denied it. But once they got together – fireworks. Both characters suffered their own tragedies and heartaches. Both characters had to learn how to live again. I enjoyed seeing them get their happily ever after. Definitely recommend!
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
3.75/5 stars!
As my introduction to Christina Britton books, it really was an enjoyable read. With the premise of a jilted heroine, a bitter hero, and a set of supportive characters amidst the charming Isle of Synne, the author’s “voice” was pleasing to read. I didn’t mind the instant connection between the hero and the heroine, but felt some clarification or details about certain verbiage were needed for my own satisfaction. Lastly, this won’t be the last Christina Britton book I read.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.**
Peter Ashford has lived with revenge for thirteen years. Having made his fortune in America, he’s back in England to pay a debt and refuse his duty as the heir to a dukedom. Only he wasn’t expecting to meet Lenora Hartley. Suddenly his life is turned upside down. Nothing is easy in this story. A few tears until everything falls into place.