Book Review: It’s All About the Duke by Amelia Grey

Reviewed by Heather C

Title: It’s All About the Duke
Author: Amelia Grey
Series: The Rakes of St. James #3
Hero/Heroine: Duke of Rathburne/Marlena Fast
Genre: M/F Historical Romance
Length: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Nearing thirty, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager that caused him and his best friends such scandal—but taking on a ward who needs a husband is a feat he’s not sure he can manage. The last he saw of Miss Marlena Fast, she was a spirited little ruffian, not the sort of bride most bachelors on the marriage mart sought. But one glance at the lovely lady she has become is enough to convince him otherwise…

Orphaned young and shuffled from family to family, Marlena counts on her fierce independence and quick wits to keep herself content. Being the responsibility of a notoriously wicked duke who upended so many lives is an unexpected challenge when she realizes he arouses her decidedly feminine desires. Marlena must be careful. She has her own scandalous secret to protect. If he finds out, will it shatter her chances of a happily-ever-after with the notorious rake?

Review:

It’s All About the Duke is the final book in The Rakes of St. James Trilogy and tells the story of Rath, Duke of Rathburne, and Marlena Fast, his new ward.  Rath, ever the rake he claims to be is immediately smitten with the “innocent” Marlena.  Little does Rath know, Marlena is the secret author of Miss Honora Truth’s Scandal Sheet, the gossip rag who writes all about the scandalous deeds of Rath and his two other rakish best friends.

Here is evidence of my latest attempt to find a “new to me” author I could obsess over like I have with everything written by Elizabeth Hoyt.  As this book was up for review, and I saw that it could be read as a standalone, I didn’t bother reading either of the first two books of the trilogy.  It didn’t take but a few chapters for me to piece together what had happened previously, and I quickly realized I had no desire to read more about the Rakes of St. James and their horrible prank with the “secret admirer letters.”

Now, back to Rath and Marlena’s story…

Pros:  I enjoyed the overall story, even with Marlena’s secret.  I enjoyed the banter between Marlena and Rath, along with all the over the top secondary characters.  Actually, I think all the crazy characters was the best part.  I laughed plenty of times at their ridiculousness.  Luckily, the fall out from the secret admirer letters is mostly passed, although it does play a major role in why Marlena started, and is still, writing the things she is writing.

Cons:  This book was not steamy…at all!  Not even a little bit.  Yeah, there is plenty of sexual tension and build up.  But when Rath and Marlena finally consummate, it was a complete disappointment.  Sorry, sweet, innocent kisses just don’t do it for me.  I need more passion than that.  Plus, I didn’t fall for the idea that Rath do such a quick 180 from being a rake, to begging Marlena to marry him after a few minutes of sex.

Cute story, but doesn’t stand out against so many of the other great historical romances out there.

Overall Impression: It was good

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*