The Duke Knows Best by Jane Ashford

Posted December 8, 2017 by Marsha in Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Series / 0 Comments

They’re wrong for each other, for all the right reasons…

Lord Randolph Gresham has come to London for one reason only–to find a suitable wife. Verity Sinclair may be intelligent, beautiful, and full of spirit, but her father knows a secret about Randolph that makes her entirely unsuitable as his bride. Not right for him at all, never, not a chance.

Verity knows that Lord Randolph lives in a country parish, and she wants nothing more than to escape to town. He may be fascinating, attractive, rich, and the son of a duke, but she’ll never marry him, nor will she talk to him, flirt with him, walk with him, or dine with him. She’ll sing a duet with him, but only this one time, and only because everyone insists.

But one duet invariably leads to another.

Titles in The Duke’s Sons series include:  Heir To The Duke – What The Duke Doesn’t Know – Lord Sebastian’s Secret -Nothing Like A Duke – The Duke Knows Best

Title:  The Duke Knows Best
Series:  The Duke’s Sons #5
Author:  Jane Ashford
Genre:  Regency Romance
Published:  December 5, 2017
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating:  4 stars

With The Duke Knows Best it appears that The Duke’s Sons series has come to an ending – I say “appears” for lately additional novellas have popped up after a series “official” closure, which I love but it’s not quite done then is it?  We now have Randolph’s story, and this is a man that I had hoped would finally find true love and happiness, and at first glance it seems that Verity will not be that woman.  But first impressions aren’t always correct as we often discover over time.

Verity has lived the life of a clergyman’s daughter, she has absolutely no intention of taking on the life of a clergyman’s wife – no, not going to happen, she won’t even consider the possibility.  She’s looking for adventure, for excitement, for anything that takes her far away from the dull, quiet life she’s led into wonderful escapades with a loving husband.  She’s not asking for much, right?  Randolph is looking for a wife, it’s time he settled down and returning to London for a Season seemed like a good idea at the time.  He certainly hadn’t expected his attraction to Verity, a young woman who has taken an intense dislike to him solely based on his profession.  The truth is they could make beautiful music together, and do when singing, but there are complications which appear insurmountable — unless a Duke has  your back.

There is a lot going on in The Duke Knows Best.  At times, almost too much.  It took me a long time to warm up to Verity, and I think that’s due, in part, to all the other plots going on as well.  But that’s just my thought, I read the story I’m given in the end.  Olivia was a nasty little piece of work, and with best friends like her, well, watch out.  There was a cruel touch to the pranks which I admit bothered me a lot.  There is fun and games, teasing but there is a line to be drawn.  In the end, I liked Verity and Randolph, even if I didn’t love them.  Now the wait to see what Ms Ashford brings us next.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle

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