A fake engagement becomes the real thing in this historical romance that New York Times bestselling author Grace Burrowes calls “first-rate Regency fun!” and is perfect for fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton series! Lady Clara Ashford had no intention of ever getting married. A rogue took advantage of her innocence when she was young, and she’s spent her whole life trying to make sure no one finds … trying to make sure no one finds out. But now that her sister is engaged, Clara’s well-meaning aunt has set her sights on Clara. Desperate to avoid the matchmaking schemes, Clara’s not sure what to do–until her neighbor, the new Duke of Reigate, shows up on her doorstep in need of her help.
Quincy Nesbitt reluctantly accepted the dukedom after his brother’s death, but he’ll be damned if he accepts his brother’s fiancée as well. The only polite way to decline is to become engaged to someone else–quickly. Lady Clara has the right connections and happens to need him as much as he needs her. But he soon discovers she’s also witty and selfless, and if he’s not careful, he just might lose his heart.needs her. But he soon discovers she’s also witty and selfless, and if he’s not careful, he just might lose his heart.needs her. But he soon discovers she’s also witty and selfless, and if he’s not careful, he just might lose his heart.needs her. But he soon discovers she’s also witty and selfless, and if he’s not careful, he just might lose his heart.
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After selling off his business interests in Boston, Quincy Nesbitt is finally back in England – but he doesn’t plan to stay long. After amassing a fortune, Quincy is, at last, going to fulfill his longtime dream to travel the world and see all the places he and his father hoped to visit. But before he goes, he will see not only his former business partner, Peter Ashford, the Duke of Dane, but also his family – who he hasn’t seen since he ran away after his father’s death 15 years ago. He visits Peter first and once again sees Lady Clara Ashford, the woman he can’t seem to forget. He reminds himself to keep his distance as he is not in the market for a wife. But all his plans are destroyed when he learns the shocking truth – all three of his brothers are dead and he is now the Duke of Reigate and the dukedom is in ruin.
Lady Clara Ashford is firmly on the shelf – at least that is what she wants. She once harbored dreams of a husband and family, but a mistake years ago cost her her dream and instead, she has become the family caregiver, first mothering her younger siblings, then nursing her father, and recently helping her cousin Peter in his new role as duke. She is content but wonders what will happen to her now that Peter is married and her sister Phoebe is engaged. If her Aunt Olivia, Lady Tesh has her way, Clara will be married – but such a thing is not possible and she has no room for a man in her life. But if she did, she can’t deny that Quincy Nesbitt would be her choice. He is smart, charming, and oh so handsome – and the first man she has been interested in for many years. She tries to keep her distance, but when she is listening to his concerns about the dukedom and his mother arrives with a bride for him in tow – she does the unthinkable and tells the duchess that Quincy can’t marry the lady because he is engaged to HER.
Unable to escape the lie, they agree to remain “engaged” until after her sister marries, but when soon, Quincy wants to make their engagement real – but Clara knows that her past makes that impossible, no matter how much she wishes things could be different. When the duchess begins prodding into Clara’s past, secrets will come out and everyone will be in for a big surprise!
This was a well-written, smoothly paced romance with likable characters. The story is rather simple and there is not a lot of conflict or angst – I did feel like Clara held onto her secret a bit longer than necessary and the end was a bit flat – but overall, Quincy is exceptional and I would read the book again just to get more of him! The book has meddling family, secrets, heartache, surprising revelations, warm love scenes, a sweet declaration scene, HEA, and an epilogue. This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone title (but if you want more Quincy, read the first book!!) with no problems. I enjoyed this story and I happily recommend the title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. *
Wow! This book is simply beyond words! It is romantic, fun, entertaining, heartfelt, heart-wrenching, and truly just incredible! Whenever I picked up “Someday My Duke Will Come”, I was whisked on an adventure with this moving story, and wish I could give this book far more than 5 stars!
This is the first book I have read by Christina Britton, and I can’t wait to read many more, as she is now one of my must-read authors, and this book…one of my favorites! Ms. Britton truly knows how to bring the world and her characters to life, and her storytelling is just breathtaking. Her characters feel so incredibly real, and you can feel what they do: the joy, the hopefulness, the pain, the longing, etc. Some characters you will fall in love with, and others, you will despise. Their interactions are so vividly written, and I truly felt like I was right there with them watching everything occur. Moreover, the pacing in the novel felt so perfect, and every single moment is right where it needs to be to progress the story.
Clara is such a strong, beautiful, warm-hearted, loving, selfless person who always puts the needs of others before her own. She has endured horrific heartbreak and pain in the past, and, understandably, is guarded when it comes to opening her heart up and trusting again. However, she does not allow this to impact how she loves those she cares most for. When a certain situation arises, never could she possibly have imagined that a split second decision to help a friend in need could lead to what it does.
Quincy is such a gentle, caring, loving, heartfelt, and strong man who wants the best for those around him, as well as to find happiness himself. When he returns home after running away at a young age, never could he have expected what he finds out, nor what happens when he goes asking for his friend for help on the matter, and what this helps lead to.
(Possible Spoilers!)
I found myself rooting for Clara and Quincy’s happily-after-ever from the very start. Their relationship is simply beautiful (even though it starts out as a fake one). Their deep understanding of one another, and the respect and love they share is so heart-warming to read, and they are there for each other through anything and everything. The love they have for one another starts to bloom long before they knew the other had feelings too, and they are just perfect for each other.
Also, Phoebe is simply adorable! I love how supportive and loving Clara’s family and friends are, and there were quite a few scenes that made me tear up.
If you enjoy Regency Romance, I highly recommend this book! I found myself picking it up whenever I had a moment to see what would happen next, and absolutely DID NOT want to put it down! There are many moments that I was not in any way expecting (no spoilers here), and I found myself really pulling for, caring, and feeling for many of these characters. In addition, numerous moments had me simply swooning and smiling from ear to ear.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of this novel, I so enjoyed it! All opinions expressed are my own.
Please Note: The author does deal with some heavier topics in the book, and I believe, she handles them with the upmost respect and care.
This can be read as a stand alone or regarded as the next entry in a delightful series. Quincy, best friend of the hero of the preceding book, is a handsome, charming man who walked away from his family and his past when he was 14. Clara, cousin of Quincy’s best friend, also has walked away, but from her future. She is still suffering from an incident in her past when she was a teenager and has sworn to never marry. Of course, Quincy and Clara are attracted to one another and equally adamant to not get involved romantically. The two are very endearing characters with hidden depths and I totally enjoyed their story.
4.5 Stars
“I love you so much it was as if I had lost half of myself when I thought there was no chance of a future for us…you are what makes me whole…”
Lady Clara Ashford has made it her mission to be the caregiver for her family, while secretly hiding a tragic pain she can never share. But when her younger sister becomes engaged, Clara finds she is adrift and alone even amongst her beloved family…that is until the return of one very dashing Quincy Nesbitt…
Quincy has long wished to travel the world and fulfil all the adventures he planned in his youth with his father. Before embarking on his grand tour, Quincy returns to London to visit his best friend only to discover his older brothers have passed, leaving him the title Duke of Reigate. Torn between two worlds, Quincy is once again becoming the victim of his mother’s cruelty…until an angel in the form of the beautifully strong Lady Clara gives him hope of something so much more…an opportunity to share an adventure of a lifetime…if only he can scale the walls she’s built around her heart.
The second installment to the Isle of Synne series is a slow burn romance I’d recommend to lovers of this genre! Quincy and Clara’s romantic tale will have you cheering at the end when they finally get their happily ever after…
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
Starring Lady Clara Ashford and Mr Quincy Nesbitt… the new Duke of Reigate.
Tropes: Fake Betrothal…. From Spare to Heir… Older Heroine/Younger Hero (not by much)… Friends to Lovers.
“You are what makes me whole.” -Quincy
I know, right?! Clara and Quincy’s road to HEA pulled me in from the start… and by the time we reached the end, I was a puffy-eyed mess and emotionally exhausted. Holy wow, it was wonderful.
Christina Britton writes angst beautifully. I wanted to hug Clara and Quincy who are put through the wringer, repeatedly, but together come out full of love and hope for each other and their future. I was bawling so hard for these two… one of the best ugly cry af books of 2020!!
This is the 2nd book in the Isle of Synne series. And I am hooked on this world that Christina Britton has created. I absolutely can’t wait to see who else is getting a story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily review it and the comments are 100% my own.
My star rating: 5 stars
Ugly cried AF. Major book hangover. Characters and storyline were freaken amazeballs. Made me wanna hug the author for writing a book that gave me all the feels!! Will definitely be re-reading this story over and over and over again!!
I enjoyed the humor and the witty banter among the characters in the book. The writer’s timing with the humor was well placed. I liked the comrade of all characters in the book. I like how the writer chose to have a leading character who was a joy to read throughout the book. The writer chose a plot based on a real situation that could have happened during the time.
Basically the plot was believable. As I read the story and as I was able to read 47% of the book. I found that the book was a steady note. Maybe a little more excitement placed here or there. Also, if there was more romantic interludes between the characters.
With the length of the book, maybe more four play/ steamy scenes with the leading characters. Readers would like to read the intense drama, extreme passion and a beautiful ending. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
4/5 stars!
The second in the Isle of Synne series features Lady Clara Ashford and Quincy Nesbitt as they enter a fake engagement that ends up with the, falling in love. But said road to love is not without obstacles, namely a disapproving mother, the heroine’s past, and the hero’s internal struggles in his newfound role as the Duke of Reigate.
Considering that the couple is really close to the hero of the first book, the group of secondary characters that encompassed their tight family unit makes a wonderful supportive cast as both Clara and Quincy faced internal and external struggles throughout the book. The story was deeply emotional and the happily-ever-after a much-deserved outcome for the couple after what they went through. I actually enjoyed reading this book a tad better than the first book of the series and I look forward to more Christina Britton’s books in the future.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.**
Someday My Duke Will Come by Christina Britton is the 2nd book in Isle of Synne series. I loved the first book, A Good Duke is Hard to Find, so I was excited to see another book featuring secondary characters from the previous: Quincy friend and former business partner to Peter Ashford and Lady Clara Ashford cousin to the Duke. Quincy returns to England after closing up loose ties from the many successful business ventures that he and Peter had created to start off his transcontinental travels. Before he can set off, he faces the looming black cloud of saying hello to his abysmal mother (sorry I have to say it) and finds out not only is she still heartless but that his older brothers are no longer alive and he is now being given the title Duke of Reigate. He is overwhelmed, stunned, and not at all happy with this predicament. Through all of this he runs into Clara whom has her own battles. She is feeling the pressure to find a match (gasp she is over 30!!!!), especially now that her younger sister Phoebe is getting married in a few weeks. Instant attraction occurs between the two despite their initial efforts, and through a bait and switch when Quincy is attempting to dodge an unwanted arranged engagement from his family, they join forces and enter into their own “engagement”. What started off as cloak and dagger, becomes real passion, devotion, and love. Can Clara and Quincy overcome their many obstacles and find true happiness with themselves as well as with one another? One must read to find out. Trust me, the journey is well worth it.
I love this series. The characters are complex, smart, funny, witty, and entertaining. I enjoyed the plot, the realistic obstacles, and the chemistry between Quincy and Clara. I loved visiting Peter, Lenora, and the family again. I started the book guessing how it would end, but that is what I wanted: love conquering all.
I really am enjoying this series and I look forward to the next book.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishers for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, B&N, and Instagram accounts upon publication on 1/26/21.
If you like heroines who have been taken advantage of but still have the resolve and fortitude to move on to accept what she could not change and still be compassionate and caring. You’ll cheer Claire on. She’s now 31 and plotting her escape to the country once her younger sister is settled.
The hero, Quincy, betrayed by mom and brother at age 14 escapes to America. Forms a friendship, a successful partnership with Peter. His dream is to travel. When he returns to London he looks up his newly married friend and discovers he is now a Duke of a bankrupt estate. Being a man of principle he’s determined to set things right.
He meets the lovely Claire. Mutual admiration and respect lead to a fake engagement to stymie his mother’s marriage plans.
Will they succeed in attaining their dreams? Chemistry abounds! Will they fall in love?
I enjoyed my first book by Christina. I cared about Claire and Quincy and Peter and Phoebe and Leonora. I’m looking forward to reading more of her stories!
3.5 Stars
Someday My Duke Will Come features a delightful romance that utilizes one of my favorite romance tropes, a fake engagement.
After returning to London for the first time in nearly fifteen years, Quincy Nesbitt discovers he has unexpectedly inherited a dukedom. Despite not wanting the title, Quincy is determined to do right by the dukedom but that does not include marrying the woman who was engaged to his older brother. When Lady Clara Ashford offers him a reprieve in the form of a fake engagement, Quincy is grateful and happy for more time with the woman who has captured his attention for over a year. But when Quincy’s feelings become all too real, he finds himself needing to convince Clara to give their romance a real chance.
Clara has been caring for her family since she was nine years old and her mother passed away. As a result of taking on such a role at a young age, Clara has never had time for herself. She’s always thinking of her family first which leaves no time for her to have a life. The way everyone treated Clara was frustrating and I really disliked how pushy some of the people in her life were. I disliked her aunt in particular as I hated how she felt entitled to run Clara’s life. Quincy’s father died when he was fourteen and his life was irrevocably changed. With a mother who despised him and intended to force him into the Navy, Quincy left home, never looking back. In the fourteen years since, Quincy has built a great life for himself and is finally at a place where he can fulfill a lifelong dream to travel. That is until he inherits a bankrupt dukedom he never wanted. Quincy’s family situation was tragic and it was hard watching him have to deal with his abusive mother.
Clara and Quincy’s relationship starts out as a tentative friendship that slowly develops into more. I loved the fake engagement aspect of their romance and thought it was very well done. The two each have their own reasons for entering into the engagement, her wanting her family off her back about marrying and him to avoid his abusive mother from forcing an engagement with a woman of her choosing. I liked that the pair were open with each other about what they needed out of the relationship and how they developed a true friendship as a result. Clara in particular has some heartbreaking moments in her past and I liked that while Quincy was there for her, he never pushed her to share more than she was ready for. As to the steamy scenes, they are well done although there aren’t many of them. Personally I would have preferred a few more as that’s just how I like my romances.
Overall Someday My Duke Will Come was a very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to the release of the third book in the series, A Duke Worth Fighting For, later this year.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
After the darkness of night – Joy Cometh in the Morning
This book had my emotions torn every which way. Fear, guilt, desperation, patience, restraint led to truth, unburdening and unconditional love. The story of Clara, a young girl thrust into responsibilities beyond her age, a moment of indiscretion and a forever pain and shame to be hidden from the world. She would go on to live her life for her siblings taking nothing for herself until she meets Quincy. Quincy grew up with an ice-cold witch for a mother and a devotedly loving father. After his father died his mother wanted to get rid of him in a cruel way. He decided at fourteen he would find his own way in the world and he did. He returned over a decade later to find all three of his older brothers dead and he was now the Duke of Reigate. Stunned beyond belief he needed time to process. He went to his best friend and brother of his heart Peter. It was Peter’s cousin Clara that gave him the reassurance he needed. She stood by him all throughout the transition. Things became complicated and a fake engagement was born. As time went on Quincy and Clara fought against their growing love for each other. When Quincy’s mother threatened Clara, she gathered her immediate family and revealed her deepest darkest secret. She expected they would no longer respect or love her and reject her outright. But they surprised her with their unconditional love and support and surrounded her with loving arms. With this ammunition Quincy’s mother was about to sneak out and wreak havoc on them all. But Quincy and Peter stopped her and threatened her. She promised to stay silent. But his mother still had one card left to play and she did. It devastated him. He no longer was sure of himself. If not for Clara he would not have found the utter truth of it all. Now there was nothing standing in his way from marrying Clara and she finally accepted. This is just a tiny synopsis of the story but there is so much more to it. I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you enjoy fake engagement historical romance with good characters and steamy yet sweet romance, then this is the book for you! At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like this since I wasn’t hooked by the beginning, but the more I read, the more I liked the MCs and the plot. Quincy and Clara are some of the best characters I’ve ever read. Clara was a kindred soul for me and I loved both hers and Quincy’s personalities. Their romance was steamy but so sweet and I loved it. There was also some mystery and action throughout the story which really improved it. The emotions throughout this book especially the grief were written very well and helped me to connect with these characters a lot more. This is the first book I’ve read of Christina’s, but it won’t be my last! I can’t wait to finish reading this series!
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one I absolutely loved. Mr. Quincy Nesbitt ran away from a cruel mother when he was only 14 years old to make his own way into the world. When he finally returns years later, he learns his three older brothers have all died and he is now the Duke of Reigate, a title he never wanted. To get away from his mother’s scheming to make Quincy marry his dead brother’s fiance, he and Lady Clara Ashford agree to a fake betrothal. Lady Clara suffered terribly in her youth at the hands of a rogue and she has vowed to never marry because of that experience. Unfortunately, the more time she spends in Quincy’s company, the more she wishes their betrothal was real. Can they both let go of their painful pasts and find the love of their lives?
Quincy was the perfect hero and I loved him. He was so kind and good and who couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He was so patient with Clara, but the more he got to know her, the more he loved her. He just had to convince her they could share a life together. Ms. Britton does a good job of teasing out Clara’s youthful heartbreak–it was so touching when she finally revealed what had happened to her when she was fifteen. I adore this series and can’t wait to read the next book.
I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
A wonderful historical romance, Someday My Duke Will Come follows Clara, a woman who put her life on hold to raise her siblings. Now 31 years old and content being single, Clara harbors a secret from her past that haunts her. A caregiver to her family, she is drawn to Quincy, especially when he finds himself in a precarious situation.
A self-made man and passionate traveler, Quincy does not want the responsibility of being a duke, nor does he embrace the connection to his estranged family. When Clara comes to his rescue during several difficult conversations, they realize how his situation could help them both. Clara and Quincy agree to pretend to be engaged to stop familial pressures and expectations. Will they admit their feelings for each other aren’t an act?
I love the fake relationship-turned romance between Clara and Quincy! They both resist their feelings for different reasons, and they both have scars from the past that haunt them. I love that they find each other, and I wholly rooted for their happy ending. The way that Quincy feels about Clara is particularly heart-warming. He admires and respects Clara and sees her for the strong, caring, and resilient woman that she is.
Rejected and unloved by his mother, Quincy’s life changed dramatically after the death of his father, and Clara helps him heal. Quincy does the same for Clara when she confronts her past. I love that they save each other and support each other unconditionally. Plus, their chemistry is fantastic!
A story of love and forgiveness, Someday My Duke Will Come is a swoon-worthy historical romance with great characters! Though it is the second book in the series, it can totally be read as a standalone. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Forever, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Someday My Duke Will Come is the second title in the Isle of Synne series, and while Clara’s and Quincy’s situation drew me in quickly I do think that if you haven’t read the first story, A Good Duke is Hard to Find, you will not feel the least bit lost. There are enough background and appearances by other characters to give you a very good idea of what has gone before. I will always believe in reading from first to last stories in a series, if at all possible, this time it’s possible to just jump in and enjoy.
Both Clara and Quincy had a major trauma in their young teen years, both have dealt with those events in their own unique ways. Quincy by leaving home and traveling the world, being gone for long enough to not know that he is the surviving son and the new Duke. Clara by believing she was unworthy of marriage and seemingly contently set herself out to be the caregiver to her family. Now, they are about to be drawn together in a fake relationship to stop Quincy’s nasty mother from insisting he marry the woman his deceased brother was about to bring into the family. No, not going to happen. Soon a friendship will turn into a pretend romance… and soon that pretend will turn all too real.
I enjoyed this couple’s story, wished for more to happen to an evil woman, and had a good time seeing how the story is moving forward for other characters. There were moments where I’d wished to see more action and not merely being told what was happening – but aside from those few moments, Quincy and Clara entertained, delighted, and kept me interested throughout their story.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Forever via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Lord Quincy Nesbitt and Lady Clara Ashford were introduced in the Isle of Synne book #1, and you could tell there was a bit of warmth and attraction between them then.
Finding out that his three older brothers are dead, Lord Quincy Nesbitt is the now the Duke of Regate, a position he never wanted. He must now use his personal fortune from his time in America to try to revive the Dukedom.
Lady Clara Ashford has known tragedy. After a heartbreaking incident, she has decided she will raise her younger siblings and be happy with her lot in life. With her brother dead and her sister getting married, now what will Lady Clara do?
Quincy and Clara have secrets. Can their pasts be put behind them so they can look to the future together?
I loved this book. I was lucky to get a review copy from NetGalley and read it right after I’d just finished the first Isle of Synne book. I am so glad I could read them in succession. Fabulous story.
Quincy Nesbitt unexpectedly inherits a dukedom after he’s returned after fourteen years. He left after his father dies at the age of fourteen after overhearing his mother’s plan of shipping him out to the military. He’s the fourth son, and as far as his mother is concerned an unwanted and better forgotten, a son who his father dotted on. Confirmed spinster Lady Clara Ashford’s world changed years ago and now that her sister is getting married it’s time to live her life. She’s always been attracted to Quincy Nesbitt, but she knew it could never lead anywhere with her secret history. He’s come to pay a visit to her brother to only learn he’s now the Duke of Reigate. I love this emotional and romantic story of two wounded souls with demons of their own to fight, can they continue to hide their feeling for one another or will their fiery passion consume them? I have voluntarily read and reviewed this excellent the book.
Warm, scandalous, and seductive!
Someday My Duke Will Come is set in England during 1818 and features the laidback, newly-appointed Duke of Reigate, Quincy Nesbitt and the sweet, kind, Lady Clara Ashford as they navigate a fake engagement, a meddling mother, histories strife with heartache, a newly acquired dukedom impoverished due to mismanagement, and a sizzling attraction that’s hard to deny.
The prose is light and amusing. The characters are tentative, passionate, and supportive. And the plot is an engaging mix of familial drama, redemption, desire, manipulation, shame, matchmaking, scheming behaviour, and steamy romance.
Overall, Someday My Duke Will Come isx1b a fun, easy, swoon-worthy read by Britton that I can honestly say is quickly becoming one of my favourite historical romance series.
Can I give this all the stars? Having already been introduced to Quincy and Clara in A Good Duke is Hard to Find, the first book in this series, made it easy to recall how much I liked these characters. Now, I love them. The angst when they both realize they are in love with the other was so palpable. Quincy is my new book boyfriend.
Lady Clara Ashford has spent her whole life taking care of others, especially after the death of her mother. And years later a rogue took advantage of her, leaving her to swear off marriage. With her younger about to be married Clara wonders where she’ll fit in without any purpose. Until Quincy returns.
Quincy is back from America to visit his friends before setting off to travel the world like he’s always dreamed. He also intends to confront the ghosts of his past and he stops at the home he fled years ago only to learn that he is now the Duke of Reigate. When his mother tries to push his brother’s former fiance on him Lady Clara steps in declaring that he can’t marry another because they are already engaged.
Thanks so much to Forever, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC to review.
3.5 Stars!! This is the second book in the series & the first one I’ve read. It can definitely be read as a standalone. HEA ending that I really enjoyed. I liked most of this book. I couldn’t get “into” the main characters & they seemed to fall in love without much romance. Most of the book I could guess what would happen. I really liked the epilogue, though I’d like to know what happened to the Duchess later in life. It was an enjoyable read, if a little predictable. For the most part, it was a good book that I’m glad I read.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley!*