Always Be My Duchess

April 11, 2022
Howard (Rules for Heiresses) takes a cue from Pretty Woman in the steamy first Victorian romance of her Taming of the Dukes series. A night of too much revelry leads business minded Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix, to wander into a seedy London neighborhood, where he winds up with a revolver brandished in his face by street-smart ballerina Nève Valery. When the pair are then set upon by thieves, they work together to evade them, and their meeting ends with Lysander offering Nève 100 pounds if she’ll be his escort to an upcoming ball and help him avoid the machinations of society’s matchmaking mothers. The ball is a success, and they extend their arrangement: for 5,000 pounds and an introduction to the director of the Lyceum Theater, Nève will act as Lysander’s fiancée for the next two months. Nève, the daughter of an English viscount and a French burlesque dancer, makes a convincing impression as the duke’s fiancée—and when their attraction becomes more than an act, Lysander must decide whether his hunger for fortune outweighs his desire for a future with Nève. Howard’s lyrical writing enlivens her bright, empathetic characters and her sharp eye on their class and cultural disparities only enhances their romance. Readers will be riveted. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.

May 1, 2022
A duke hires a ballerina to play the role of his fiancee in this historical romance reminiscent of Pretty Woman. Genevi�ve "N�ve" Valery came to London to find work so she could financially support her injured sister back home in Paris, but she's been struggling to get hired as a dancer. When she rescues Lysander Blackstone, Duke of Montcroix, from cutpurses in Covent Garden, he offers her a proposal. In order to secure a business deal, he needs to prove he's a family man who intends to marry, so he will pay her handsomely to pose as a potential duchess he is courting. She accepts, but what starts as a one-night-only deal turns into more as they both realize the benefits of their partnership. As N�ve discovers the kind heart beneath Lysander's stony exterior, the pretend relationship begins feeling all too real. The central couple have an instant connection, but their relationship grows so much richer as they become closer and open themselves up to love and passion. N�ve is fierce and spirited and the perfect partner for the logical, stoic duke (Howard notes he is written as neurodivergent, which would not have been diagnosed in that period). The external conflicts aren't as well developed, and the baddies feel like caricatures. However, N�ve's friend group is wonderful, funny, and full of heart, which bodes well for future installments of this new series, as these ladies are sure to be the next heroines. Some of the drama seems superfluous, but the main characters make an enticing, entertaining pair.

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June 1, 2022

Howard's (Rules for Heiresses) new series opener is a delightful historical loosely inspired by Pretty Woman. Lysander, Duke of Montcroix, meets Genevi�ve Valery, an out-of-work ballerina, in less-than-ideal circumstances. Immediately taken with her, he devises a plan to both help him close a business deal and spend time with this intriguing woman. N�ve has recently been blacklisted and all but tossed onto the streets, due to her refusal to become the mistress of a powerful man. Lysander's plan offers N�ve a way to take care of herself and her sister long-term, and she heartily accepts the deal. With the book's likeable characters and familiar inspiration, readers cannot help but enjoy their time with Lysander and N�ve. VERDICT Howard creates great characters and dialogue here and sets the stage for plenty of enjoyment ahead as the series continues. A real treat.--Claire Brown

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June 1, 2022
When an unemployed ballerina comes to the aid of a drunken duke on a scary Victorian London street in the middle of the night, both their lives change. Unable to find a role in Paris and with her sister injured and unable to work, N�ve has gone to London to audition. Lysander Blackstone, gruff, humorless, and totally focused on business, will do whatever it takes to get the land he needs for the railroad route he plans to buy. The sentimental landowner wants to sell to a young family who will fill the castle he built for his recently deceased wife with children and joy. To appear to be the perfect buyer, Lysander arranges for N�ve to pretend to be his love interest. The duke finds himself caring for N�ve in spite of the misogyny instilled in him by his horrible father, while N�ve finds friends among a group of aristocratic women with great senses of humor and feminist leanings. Fascinating details about ballet, railroads, and corrupt business practices enrich Howard's first title in her Taming of the Dukes series.

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