4 Beautiful Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️.5/5

I have a secret... I love Regency romance, BUT NOT the whole historical thing. I love the nobility system. So, the fact that this was a modern-day story about a Duke and an heiress legitimately gave me butterflies! It had elements of the aristocratic lifestyle but still gave me the contemporary fix that I adore.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This is a dual POV story that follows Charles Marlborough and Elizabeth Kensington. They meet one day in a Hampton stable while Elizabeth is busy stroking a horse and connecting with it. While they (mostly she) pretend it doesn't make an impact, it actually has a significant effect on both of them. For the first time, neither of them has to pretend to live up to the facade of their titles—his as "Duke" and hers as "Billionaire Heiress." Given that both are considered "socialites," they often run into each other at similar events. Soon, this proximity starts to cause them to develop feelings. However, the Duke has a problem—he inherited a title with a mountain of debt.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I liked Elizabeth. I felt she was incredibly honourable, standing up for what she wanted and what made her happy while navigating the perilous minefield that can be rich society. She’s pursuing a career she loves, even if it’s not what people would expect from a billionaire heiress. She’s sweet, she cares about her friends, she’s generous, and she’s nothing like the spoiled rich princess stereotype. Elizabeth felt incredibly real—the kind of person you’d want as a best friend, because she looks out for you, genuinely cares, and doesn’t let money define her opinion of people. Given that one of her biggest fears is being defined by money, it was sweet to see how she never let someone’s wealth or yearly earnings affect her judgment.

Charles is a wonderful take on a modern Duke. He has a strong sense of duty and responsibility for his role, but he also genuinely cares about his family and is very protective of his sister and grandmother. He’s been dealt a rough hand, sacrificing his dreams and aspirations to protect the duchy. He’s also dealing with other family issues, like the abandonment by his mother and now their rekindling relationship. My only issue with him is that he’s incredibly proud, and that pride often leads him to run away from his problems. He takes a long time to learn to ask for help or open up about his situation because he’s carrying the weight of the world (and the dukedom) on his shoulders. This had a big impact on someone as young as he is, but in the end, he didn’t let his pride rule him.

Their romance took time to develop, but that’s why it was so impactful. It was sweet and grew out of mutual attraction and like-mindedness. What made it so adorable was that both of them found someone who made them better. I love how Charles was always there for Elizabeth, caring for her and looking after her. That’s one of my favourite tropes, and coupled with “tending to her injuries”—SIGN ME UP for 100 of these men, please! He just played directly into my soul!

If you love rich people drama or adore Gossip Girl, you’ll love this. It has rich society, New York, rich kids spending lavish amounts of money, and living what I would call an ACTUAL DREAM! They’re spending weekends in the Hamptons for events, then flying across the world in a private jet to lie on beaches. It’s not a realm many people are privy to, so reading about it and living vicariously through it will definitely give you that fix!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ British MMC
▶ Tending to Injuries
▶ Duke x Billionaire Heiress
▶ He Takes Care Of Her

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ More
▷ Mine
▷ He does her hair
▷ Were you mauled by a bear?

Overall, I went into this with very little expectations and it gave me EVERYTHING I NEEDED!

Thank you to C.W. Farnsworth and Valentine PR for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.