My Inconvenient Duke

Waaah you guys. I really wanted to LOVE this! Loretta Chase has never failed me, and I did enjoy the first two books in the series. But this one... well, idk just didn't quote hit the mark for me.

Don't get me wrong—there are things to enjoy. LC brings her signature witty banter, and Alice and Giles have some genuinely fun and charming moments. I've always been a fan of the best friend's sister trope, and childhood friends-to-lovers can be so satisfying when done right. Their dynamic is playful, with just the right amount of tension simmering beneath the surface, which made for some cute, if brief, romantic scenes.

But, here's where it fell flat: the romance feels like it's constantly getting sidelined by everything else happening in the story. There's a lot of focus on side quests—rescue missions, animal saving, and even long stretches of letter-writing between Alice and Giles. The villain of the story came off as a fool, making the stakes not seem quote as high as the characters were making them out to be. Idk if that makes sense?

Also, as much as I appreciate Alice's passion for helping those in need, it just took away from the time they spent on their actual relationship. By the time they finally got together, I found myself wondering if they even really liked each other or if it was more out of convenience (lol get it?