The Duke's Last Word by Sophie Leigh Fox Series: Love, Most Ardently #1
on March 20, 2024
Genres: Regency Romance
Pages: 121
Format: ARC
Source: The Author
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For Love or Money, Who Will have the Last Word?
Miss Wilhemina Rose Middleton is a fiercely independent country gentleman’s daughter with a quick temper and cutting tongue to match. Willa dotes on her widowed father, Sir Edgar. But when he wagers their estate on a game of cards, she becomes the clause in a contract that would force her to marry against her will or risk financial ruin.
James, Duke of Heighbury, is a man of means and title who is accustomed to having the last word in business and courtship. Looking to gain a wife in order to save his inheritance from a conniving cousin, James agrees to save Sir Edgar from losing Middleton Grange, contingent on a marital match with Willa.
Can the affable and charming Duke convince Willa that marrying him would bring her happiness and security? Or will his selfishness and greed backfire on his plan to champion her hand?
Can a loyal and unpretentious daughter overcome her willful resistance to leave her father and marry James? Or will the Duke of Heighbury always have the last word?
I received this book for free from The Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
CW: Tremors/health anxiety, ED
Debut Regency romance in the traditional vein from author Sophie Leigh Fox hits many of the right notes, including a fierce heroine and likable Duke hero.
When said hero shows up at the Wilhemina’s family’s country estate, at first we think this might be a hate at first sight with a marriage of convenience thrown in. However, there are complications and the Duke is ready to step aside to help Wilhemina achieve her goals, even at the expense of their own.
Yet a slow, gentle friendship develops that starts to root into stronger feelings of love. The middle is probably where I had the most issues, just in that the heroine’s motivation seemed jumbled or unclear to me. In some ways, that can be reflective a true experience but the way it was written was confusing to me. However, it picks up with the appearance of a former fiancé of the Duke bent on creating trouble and introducing new conflict to the would-be couple.
The resolution is sweet, with enough historical details to help immerse the reader in the story.
This book is kisses only with little mature content. There is some subtext in the book that deals with trauma from Wilhemina’s mother’s death, and an onset of palsy-like symptoms. There is also some content that could be triggering for folks with an ED. Beyond that, it’s appropriate for most ages.
I think this is a great debut from an author that has clearly done her homework. It was easy to read, and although there were some elements that needed a bit more finesse, on the whole I would recommend this as an enjoyable and quick summer read.
*The author ran a 90 day ad on the site, however it did not influence my review. We waited until the conclusion of the ad cycle to read and review.
