Best Books of November – BookriotA lady with a noble mission. A duke looking for redemption. A forbidden love that cannot be denied, in The Good, The Bad, and The Duke by Janna MacGregor.Lady Daphne Hallworth is ready to celebrate the holidays with her family. But when they accidentally leave her home alone, Daphne uses the time to work on her dream—opening a home for unwed mothers. But her quest … for unwed mothers. But her quest isn’t problem-free: She’s in a battle to win the property for the home against her brother’s best friend-turned-enemy, Paul Barstowe, Duke of Southart. And that’s not all: someone has stolen her personal diary, which holds secrets that could devastate her family. Daphne has always harbored private feelings for the man her family scorns…though perhaps striking a bargain with the handsome Duke will solve both their problems?
Paul, long considered good for nothing, aims to open a hospital to honor his brother and restore his reputation. So when a conflict over the land brings him straight into Daphne’s life, they make a deal: He will help her find her diary if Daphne can change her family’s opinion of him. But before he can win her family’s affection, he has to win hers first. Maybe love was the answer to their family feud all along?
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“Sometimes the heart does what it wants no matter what common sense says.”
Since the tragic death of her sister, Lady Daphne Hallworth has done her best to not be a burden on her family. Shrinking away and becoming a wallflower at various functions, Lady Daphne has perhaps done too good of a job hiding away…especially when her family packs up and leaves for the Christmas holiday without her. Left alone to her own devices, she is determined to embrace her spinsterhood and start working on obtaining her own townhouse and staff, as well as finalizing her dreams of opening a home for unwed mothers. But when an act of kindness causes her most prized position to be stolen, Daphne is put in the path of an unlikely hero coming to her rescue.
Paul Barstowe, Duke of Southart, has been known as a scoundrel throughout the ton. But when his brother falls ill and passes, this rake of a Duke pledges to mend his ways in order to honor his brother’s dying request. When he spies a beautiful lady at a most unscrupulous gambling establishment, not only is he shocked to discover it is a former childhood acquaintance, but also the sister of his former best friend. Seeing a way to both rescue the fair lady and perhaps get back in the family’s good graces, Paul volunteers his services to assist Daphne in her quest to retrieve her journal.
As Daphne and Paul spend more and more time together, Daphne is finding it harder to hide the fact that she has been in love with him since she was a child…and Paul is discovering that perhaps his heart is not as hard as stone after all…
When I first started reading The Good, the Bad & the Duke, I was thinking to myself this was yet another spinster heroine and rakish hero romance…been there, read that over and over. But as the pages turned, I discovered there is so much more to the romance between Daphne and Paul. These are two lonely people that so desperately want to love and be loved, but both put on a mask of indifference hiding this need from those around them. That is until they take a chance on each other…and then, dear reader, that is when the story ignites!
This is the first book I’ve read by Janna MacGregor, and I loved it so much, that I ran out and bought the first installment to this series! While this is the 4th book in the series, it can be read alone. Highly recommend and look forward to reading more!
*Received ARC via NetGalley for honest review*
The Good, The Bad, And The Duke by Janna MacGregor is a phenomenal historical romance. Once again Ms. MacGregor has impressed me with her story-telling abilities and enchanted me with her lovable characters. Paul became the Duke of Southart when his beloved brother died, followed by his father. Daphne is the sister of Paul’s ex-best friend. When Daphne accidentally gets left behind when the family leaves for the country and she gets in trouble, Paul swoops in to help her in return for a favor. Paul and Daphne’s story is loaded with drama, humor, action, steamy sex and suspense. This book captured me from page one and held me captive until the end. I loved reading The Good, The Bad, And The Duke and look forward to reading my next book by Janna MacGregor. The Good, The Bad, And The Duke is book 4 of The Cavensham Heiresses but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Janna MacGregor takes all the wonderful things about romance and packs them into this delightful novel. I was captivated from the beginning with the artful bravery of young Daphne Hallworth, who faces an enraged magpie and a sly cat trying to steal a baby bird, and the kind encouragements of Paul Barstowe, Duke of Southart. As the story progresses, and the characters age, Daphne exhibits all the charm and beauty of a romance heroine, and Paul portrays the dashing rakehell with inestimable magnetism. But beneath these facades lie heroism, compassion, fortitude, and determination. Not to mention an ample supply of tenderness and heart.
The story captures the wonder and magic of the Regency period with its elaborate costumes and manners. I loved savoring the fine furnishings, the detailed clothing descriptions, and, of course, the subtle nuances conveyed by raised eyebrows, flowery speech, and overly polite protocol. And the romance. Oh, the romance! It’s engaging, moving, and oh so steamy. I’m afraid I blushed quite a bit as I read some of the scenes. If Paul is a handsome fox, then Daphne is a gorgeous vixen. I’ll let you imagine the rest.
Wonderfully plotted and easy to read, this fast-moving holiday romance will enchant your heart and lift your spirits. Get your copy of The Good, the Bad, and the Duke today. You won’t be disappointed.
A lovely story of redemption. Paul Barstowe did his best to live up to his father’s low expectations for him. The younger son of a duke, he was not treated well and went on to live a rakehell life, and some of his actions hurt his closest friends. Daphne Hallworth always liked Paul, but lost confidence in him when he hurt people in her family. After his father and brother died, Paul is trying to redeem himself for the sake of the duchy. Daphne accidentally embroils him in a desperate situation. Will Paul rise to the occasion and be the man he wants to be?
It was heartbreaking to see Paul struggle with his past and his feelings of worth. He was really a very decent guy at heart. Daphne saw the good in him and refused to give up on him. It was just a very nice story. Occasionally the emotional motivations of the characters seemed a little scattered, but the whole story came to a sweet conclusion. Good book.
Janna MacGregor created a scenario I’d never read about in Regency HEAs. I enjoyed this fresh look at the spinster sister. Don’t leave this one behind!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This book was a hard one to put down. This was so full of intrigue and suspense. I just loved it. Ms. MacGregor really does a fantastic job in capturing the reader’s attention. The plot of the book just flowed so smoothly that it felt like I was watching a movie in my head. The plot was such an original one that it really was a joy to read. It was not one that has done before (at least not that I have read a similar one). Some authors seem to write the same story over and over but with different character names and a slight change to the plot. Not here. I so enjoyed this.
The book was written in my favorite dual POV format. Being able to read the character’s thoughts really helps me, the reader, to understand the character’s actions so much better. This is especially important with reading historicals. The morals then are so much different than those of today’s. Understanding some of Paul’s actions would have been so hard to decipher without such insight.
Paul was a wonderful male protagonist. I just fell in love with him. He was so wonderful and protective of Daphne that I was completely smitten. Daphne was such a warm loving person that it is easily to be enchanted with her.
The only disappointment, it is over!!!! I can’t wait for the next installment. I will probably re-read the entire series over again after it is over. I will say this, do you have to read the prior books to enjoy this one, no. The author does a fantastic job of writing that the reader is not confused. I so enjoyed reading more of the prior characters and getting a glimpse of their continued story.
I so highly recommend this historical romance.
What would you do if your family left for Christmas without you?
What would you do if you were a duke wanting to repair your worthless reputation?
What would you do when your dream is met with obstacles; especially in the form of the handsome as sin ex-best friend of your brother?
What would you do if your road to redemption is constantly blocked by your ex-best friend’s beautiful sister?
What would you do if your private diary (one that contains secrets that if exposed would devastate those you love) is stolen?
What would you do if your beautiful nemesis is constantly tempting danger in her search for a missing diary?
Lady Daphne Hallworth and Paul Barstowe, Duke of Southart will answer all those questions while Janna MacGregor takes them on a journey of towards a happily ever after.
First, can I tell you how much I love this cover? I adore how season-appropriate it is and makes for a lovely postcard.
I enjoyed the inside too. Daphne is a strong-willed heroine, quite intrepid, and has a loving heart. She has always seen the good in Paul and stands up for him against her brother. Paul is a redeemed hero. He’s got a nobility in him that he only shows to Daphne and to his best friend Devan. I believed in their story and their eventual fall into love.
Janna’s writing keeps getting better with each new book. There were fewer anachronisms here than the previous ones and her character development is also much improved. Suggestions for future books: less flowery language and less introspection. I’ll definitely read her future work.
Well, this one’s a keeper. I stayed up most of the night to make sure Daphne was able to knock some sense into Paul’s head. He’s so noble and unselfish when it comes to her happiness, even willing to destroy himself in the process. It was so nice to find out that Paul was hiding behind his laugh and coldness, because, well…you need to read the book. I promise you will fall in love with Paul, too.
I’m so glad Paul’s story was told. I wasn’t sure how he would be redeemed but the author made it believable.
The reformed rake storyline is one of my favorites, and The Good, The Bad, and The Duke by Janna MacGregor is an awesome example of how it should be done.
Paul Barstowe has become the Duke of Southart after losing his older brother and father. On the outside, he is a duke with wealth and position in society. On the inside, he is dealing with a life full of mistakes and regrets and is working hard to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of that same society.
Lady Daphne Hallworth is a very perceptive young woman, who sees the good in Paul even though she knows the mistakes he has made. The unconditional support she receives from Paul gives her the strength to fight for their relationship, even in the face of opposition from her family. Paul wants Daphne, and feels he doesn’t deserve her, but her belief in him also gives him strength.
“He realized that his contentment, his sense of place in the world, and his belonging was only attributable to her.”
I really loved this book and enjoyed reading it. The characterizations are wonderful, and the writing is top-notch. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying historical romance.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book is yet another engrossing installment in the Cavensham Heiresses, Janna MacGregor’s debut series. This story has just about everything I could ask for. It has a thoroughly likeable heroine, a flawed yet endearing hero that you wish wasn’t fictional, a Home Alone-like plot and, of course, a romance to die for.
Lady Daphne Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke’s sister, is a breath of fresh air. She is a woman of substance, a complex and genuine heroine. She has strived to be the ideal daughter and sister, subduing her own wants and desires, hiding her emotions. She is surrounded by family and friends, and yet she feels invisible.
Lord Paul Barstowe was the very picture of the tortured hero and I so wanted him to find happiness and peace. He has lived a life full of mistakes and regrets, destroying every friendly relationship he ever had and living up to his reputation of libertine to be noticed by his father.
Daphne and Paul’s relationship is transactional at first. He helps her recover her stolen journal in return for her assistance in repairing his broken relationship with her brother. Paul is protective, tender and concerned for Daphne’s welfare. He gives her comfort when she needs it the most and helps her no matter the personal cost.
This book was a sensual and emotional read as we watch these two lonely people find each other, care about each other and eventually love one another. Their story was beautiful and heartbreaking at times, but their love for each other jumped off the pages. I especially liked that the heroine was able to stand her ground. She didn’t allow the hero, or anyone, to control her.
This story was beautifully written and despite the mistakes they both made, I found myself rooting for Daphne and Paul. Janna McGregor has such an exquisite style, a fresh narrative voice, evoking so many emotions in me and making me care for her characters.
This was a great story from start to finish. I loved catching up with the family, enjoyed the touch of intrigue and was satisfied that Paul earned back his place as friend of Pembrooke.
I received a free, advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review. Basically this is a historical best friend’s sister romance, with a twist.
Growing up, Lord Paul Barstowe, the second son of the Duke of Southart and Lord Alexander Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, were best friends, but to Lady Daphne Hallworth, Alex’s little sister, Paul was her hero. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, Paul and Alex not only became estranged, but Alex came to think of Paul as his enemy. That happened in the first book, which I have not read yet, but I was enable to glean enough from the narrative provided by the author to understand the dynamics.
Once his mother died, Paul grew up with indifference, bordering on hatred, from his father and became a rake, gambler and alcoholic. Years later, his beloved older brother, his protector, Robbie, died of rheumatic fever, followed shortly afterwards by the death of their father, making Paul the Duke of Southart. As Paul strives to be a responsible man, he is further tormented by his father from the grave. Meanwhile, Daphne has grown up to be a lovely but independent young woman. She has been in love with Paul since she was 9 years old but since the estrangement between the two families has kept them apart, she has decided to remain single and open a home for unwed mothers. Due to another miscommunication, she is left alone in London during Christmas time. A street urchin steals her reticule containing her personal journal, which if read by the wrong people, could cause ruin to her family. Spotting her searching for the boy, Paul vows to help her. Spending a few days together, they both realize that they love the other, but can they have a future together? Aside from the rife between her brother and the man she loves, there is a villain, who learns about the journal, and would do anything to destroy them both.
Endearing characters and a compelling plot are skillfully written. I enjoyed reading this book, which I stayed up later than I should have to finish. However, I have to wonder, if Alex was such a good friend to Paul, why did he not know what Paul was going through at home, that which molded him into the scoundrel he became? A real friend would have known.
Wow! Just Wow!
Janna MacGregor has done it again! I loved Paul he was absolutely the baddest bad boy out there, but he has hope…… I mean everyone has a good part in them, they just need someone to help them along, for our bad boy it’s Daphne and she’s a force to be reckoned with!
Their adventures begin when her most personal possession, her journal is stolen by a pickpocket. She’s on a quest to establish a home for unwed mother’s and she’s interested in the same property Paul is. A bargain is struck he’s to help her find her journal, which is of great importance Daphne get back, it’s contents can be devastating to her and her family if it lands in the wrong hands.
This was a fantastic read! I urge lovers of historical romance to pick this series they are wonderfully addictive, almost as much as chocolate. I knew Paul was hiding a heart of gold that the right woman with enough persistance would bring forth. Daphne saw this as well and she never once looked back.
Well written and emotional, the chemistry was sizzling the dialogue witty and the characters were AMAZING! The reader is engaged to the very last page. A truly enjoyable read!
I recieved a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
I loved reading Paul and Daphne’s amazing story in The Good, The Bad and The Duke by Janna MacGregor, book 4 in her Cavensham Heiresses series. Poor Lady Daphne Hallworth; almost a spinster living with family, her finances controlled by her brother, yet somehow unseen to others. How they could have forgotten her when they left for the Christmas holiday just reinforced her feeling of being invisible. Daphne decided to make the best of the situation and prove her independence. Unfortunately for Daphne her journal of private thoughts has been stolen by a street urchin. Enter Paul Barstowe, a man we discover is not only a better man than we were led to believe in earlier books, but with a depth of reasons for his previous behavior. Paul, he former best friend of Daphne’s brother, has worked hard to redeem his reputation. With Paul’s help to find the journal Daphne shows signs of recapturing her former self and the adventurous spirit she kept hidden since the death of her sister. Paul and Daphne are amazing together. He sees her, really sees who she is and she has been in love with him since a young girl. Plus their chemistry is off the charts. I loved how Daphne stood up to her family to accept Paul and realize that he is a changed man. This story is a definite celebration of the redemptive power of love.
Ms. MacGregor wrote an emotionally rich and moving story filled with sexual chemistry, fun dialogue, and endearing characters that are not to be missed. I highly recommend The Good, The Bad and The Duke to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
The Good, The Bad, and The Duke by Janna MacGregor
The Cavensham Heiresses #4
When Lady Daphne Hayworth was nine an encounter with Paul Barstowe, her brother’s best friend, made a lasting impression. Years later they are given the opportunity to spend time together during the holidays and what transpires changes both of their lives forever. It takes them a bit of time to get to their happily ever after but with each page read I felt the story building and growing in a way that had me hoping all would work out for both of them in the end.
This story is well plotted and written with both Daphne and Paul people I admired and could relate to. I loved their story and can’t wait to read what comes next. I am unsure who gets their story told next BUT would love to see the vicar appear in a book of his own someday as he is a man that intrigues me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Another fabulous Regency romance by Janna MacGregor. Loved seeing this naughty rake fall so hard for Daphne. Paul was swoony to the nth degree. And such a fun romance with the holiday theme. Highly recommended!
I thoroughly enjoyed this long-awaited addition to the Cavensham Heiresses series. It is well written (though a might wordy), well plotted and the characters were very likable and relatable. I particularly enjoyed seeing Paul’s redemption because he had been the villain in past books and it always appeared there was more to the story than was revealed at the time. Now, we know all. There is a lot going on in the book, but it is all easy to follow.
I loved the prologue showing a childhood interaction between our hero and heroine. It does more to show the true characters of the H/h than anything else in the book. It takes place at Pemhill, the ancestral estate of the Marquess of Pembrooke – which is the home of our heroine.
Lady Daphne Hallworth has trained herself to be all that is prim, proper and acceptable to society since the death of her beloved sister and best friend, Alice. Her family hasn’t dealt well with Alice’s death and Daphne doesn’t want to cause them more stress and strife – therefore, she tamps down all of her natural instincts – those we met and loved in the Prologue. She’s tamped them down so well that she has basically become invisible. All of that means that she was not surprised when she was forgotten, left home alone when the entire family left London for their country estate. Luckily, the under-butler, Liam, hadn’t left for his Christmas leave, so she wasn’t totally alone. Liam brought his mother back to cook for them and together, they cared for Daphne during the Christmas holiday.
Daphne left home to visit with her solicitor and see what progress he had made on finding a property for her charity that is to support unwed mothers. When she arrived, she found that his offices were closed, so she went to a park near her home and began writing in her journal. That journal contained some very, very, personal entries – some fantasy, some real, but all capable of causing scandal, pain, and ruin to her family and herself. So, when a street urchin approached her and stole her reticule with the journal in it – she was truly stunned, upset and determined to chase him down and get the journal back. She chased him all the way to the door of a notorious gaming hell – where she was denied entry.
Paul Barstowe, Duke of Southart, had a cold, abusive childhood. His father took great delight in beating him, berating him, and belittling him. Paul never understood why because he didn’t behave the same way with Paul’s older brother, Robert. Luckily, Paul wasn’t without love because both his brother and his mother loved him unconditionally. However, that didn’t keep Paul’s self-esteem from being non-existent nor did it keep Paul from doing whatever he could (including acting out) to gain his father’s attention. Robert was the heir, but he was sickly with rheumatic fever, leftover from a severe bout of scarlet fever. Sadly, he didn’t survive and that devastated Paul, who was then the heir. The highlight of his childhood was his close friendship with Alex Hallworth – they were as close as brothers. Because of Paul’s behavior, he’d ruined that friendship and desperately wanted to make amends with Alex. He just doesn’t know how.
Paul has made every effort to turn his life around and to restore his reputation and he has gone a long way toward doing that. He has quit gambling, drinking and womanizing and has concentrated on his role in parliament and establishing a charity in his deceased brother’s honor.
Paul is absolutely shocked to see Daphne at the entry of the Reynolds gaming hell. She seems determined to gain entry and is forcefully arguing with the majordomo. Paul knows that if she is recognized, she’ll be ruined, so he approaches to rescue her.
Finally, Daphne tells Paul about her journal and the street urchin robbing her. Paul agrees to help her retrieve the journal, but wants her to stay home and let him find it. Daphne, however, has decided that she will no longer be the invisible woman she had let herself become. She is determined to assist with the search and retrieval. They forge an agreement where he’ll help her find the journal and she’ll help him bridge the rift with her brother Alex. Then – all of the wonderful, exciting, and interesting adventures begin. You’ll just have to read the book to see them all.
I absolutely loved seeing these two find their HEA. Daphne couldn’t have been a better heroine. Once she settled her mind that Paul was ‘the one’, she never wavered, never doubted and boldly moved forward toward what she wanted. Paul was a wonderful if self-doubting, self-loathing, hero who had to come to terms with the fact that he loved Daphne and she loved him in return. It wasn’t an easy journey for Paul, but I loved how he got there.
I enjoyed this story and hope you will as well.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
This is at the third in this series that I’ve read, even though it is not my usual genre. I have fallen in love with the series because of the strength of the female characters that MacGregor portrays. Daphne may not have started out quite as strong as a few of the others, but the quickly stiffened her backbone when dealing with Paul and in trying to retrieve something of dire importance that had been stolen from her.
Paul, the Duke of Southart, was pretty much the opposite of Daphne’s character. He started out being regarded as arrogant and a miscreant. As the book progresses, his soft underbelly is brought to light while he tries to help and protect Daphne in her pursuit to retrieve the stolen item. I love it when a strong man is brought to his knees by love! He is also trying to resurrect some friendships he had damaged in the past. What’s not to love about a character like that? I’d take him any day!
I received this book via Netgalley in return for my honest thoughts.
I’m giving The Good, The Bad And The Duke a rare (for me) 5 stars. Janna MacGregor has story with a well thought out plot, well worded, easy to follow, and characters that jump off the page. I’ve thought about this review for a couple of days. How to intrigue you without giving too much away. I’ll try. If you’re not having indecent thoughts about the character of Paul, I’ll eat my new, stylish hat. Lets just get this over with. Paul, Paul, where for art thou Paul? You are the romantic moon in my night sky. I’m ok now, the drooling has stopped. On to the review.
Our heroine is Lady Daphne Hallworth, sister to Alex, Duke of Pembrook. Alex had his own story in The Cavensham Heiresses series. Daphne is described as having ebony hair and sparkling gray eyes. Sounds like a lovely combo, no wonder Paul is attracted. She’s also brave and self-sufficient. I like that in a heroine.
Our hero, and my crush, is Paul Barstowe, second son of the Duke of Southart. He’s described as being the handsomest man in England. I guess so, if you like blond hair and blue eyes (yes please). Through tragic circumstances he becomes the Duke.
We open when Lady Daphne is 9 years old and trying to save a baby bird. Paul helps her and wins her gratitude and admiration. Before he leaves he gives her a stone he’s found, it’s heart shaped (this is important to remember). Cut to 16 years later. Lady Daphne has a Home Alone situation. A street urchin steels her reticule with her journal in it. Big trouble, she’s written lots of juicy stuff in it. She has to get it back and Paul enters the picture. He, reluctantly, helps her get into a gambling hell, among other places, in search of her journal. A knight in slightly tarnished armour. Ms. MacGregor gave me a great archaic word, confabulation, meaning a chat. Love it. Daphne has to fess up that she’s alone and Paul feels obligated to look after her. This is convenient since he has taken to calling her Moonbeam and having poetic thoughts. He’s a goner. What he doesn’t realize is Daphne has decided to marry him. Reformed rakes make the best husbands, right?
Ms. MacGregor gives us admiration, bad boy antics, regret, attraction, a longing to belong, lust, love, misunderstandings and do-gooding. There’s a plethora of emotions running through this story. As this is a romance book there is a happy ending. We’d be disappointed if there wasn’t. Receiving a free book ARC is a true privilege and one I always enjoy. Being able to share my opinion is a pleasure. Both are free and without obligation. Happy reading.