Along Came A Duke (Rhymes with Love, #1)

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Along Came A Duke (Rhymes with Love #1)

by Elizabeth Boyle (Goodreads Author)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 702 ratings · 130 reviews

"A young lady with a fortune is subject to all sorts of untoward attentions by the worst sort of vagrants." Aunt Allegra

A lesson Tabitha Timmons, a penniless spinster, has never needed to heed. That is, until she is left a vast fortune payable only upon her marriage to the very respectable Mr. Barkworth--a match that offers little chance of discovering exactly what her aun...more

Hardcover, Large Print, 288 pages

Published July 6th 2012 by Thorndike Press (first published May 29th 2012)

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A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley

2012 Historical Romance Novels

107th out of 217 books — 542 voters

Historical Romance Novels 2012

69th out of 198 books — 98 voters

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Jun 08, 2012 Lisarenee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Sir, I will have you know, I never intend to go seeking a husband and am quite content with that notion." There, she'd managed her mind, and fortified by her first success she continued unabashedly, "Marriage offers no benefits to a lady, save leaving her a servant to a man's fickle whims and his selfish demands."

What a difference a day or even a few hours can make...

Tabitha Timmons was the daughter of a Vicar. When he passed, she was taken in by her Uncle and his wife. They hadn't done so out...more "Sir, I will have you know, I never intend to go seeking a husband and am quite content with that notion." There, she'd managed her mind, and fortified by her first success she continued unabashedly, "Marriage offers no benefits to a lady, save leaving her a servant to a man's fickle whims and his selfish demands."

What a difference a day or even a few hours can make...

Tabitha Timmons was the daughter of a Vicar. When he passed, she was taken in by her Uncle and his wife. They hadn't done so out of the kindness of their heart, however, she was part of a package deal. Her uncle would only be allowed to take over the vicarage if he agreed to take her in. Unfortunately, they didn't treat her like family, they treated her more like a maid and had her doing the cleaning and cooking and anything else that caught their fancy.

Just days after making her passionate declaration that she would never seek a husband, Tabitha was on her way to London to get married. Her uncle on her mother's side of the family had passed away and she was his only living heir. He'd left his vast fortune to her with only one stipulation, that she marry by the age she reached her majority and, if she wasn't already married, that she wed the man he'd chosen for her prior to his death--Mr Reginald Barkworth.

It seemed all had been decided for her and her new fate set. If not for a chance encounter between Tabitha and Preston, the man Tabitha had made the aforementioned declaration to, things may have turned out very differently. For on her way to London to meet her betrothed, along came a Duke (Preston) that should have scared Miss Timmons away, but decidedly didn't.
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This was a deliciously delightful read. I just adored the chemistry between Preston and Tabitha. The attraction between the two was undeniable and Preston's initial reaction to that attraction was priceless. I loved watching Preston realize his feelings for Tabitha after most of those closest to him already did. His actions had me laughing myself silly, grinning from ear to ear, and shaking my head wondering, "What does he think he's doing?" I loved how Tabitha didn't miss a beat and just did her best to smooth over his deliberate bad behavior. It's always fun to watch a man go a little crazy about a woman.

Tabitha was fun and, as I insinuated, cool under pressure. She started out the book in a bad position--under her aunt's and uncle's thumb, but proved to be smart and resourceful. I enjoyed the witty banter she and Preston shared and how she wasn't intimidated by his position or his bad reputation. I loved how she saw past the illusion he'd constructed around himself and saw to the heart of the man who resided underneath. I also liked the added dimension Reginald Barkworth, the man she came to London to marry, brought to the story.

Overall, I loved the book and gave it 5 out of 5 roses. It has a charming blend of humor, wit, and romance with a dash of suspense mixed in. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earns a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I highly recommend this one who loves humorous romances that leave you with a smile on your face.(less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While writing this I’m still not quite sure how I should rate this book. I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Boyle and have thoroughly enjoyed her previous books (4 stars!). I thought Tabitha was a great character: she was independent, accepted that she had a hard life but made the most of it and found joy if the life she was leading, was outspoken and let no one intimidate her (4 stars!). Unfortunately I’m a little iffy on our hero. Preston was funny and sarcastic and tried hard to overcome a tragic chi...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction

I haven't read anything by Elizabeth Boyle before, and so wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Tabbitha was an interesting heroine who must learn to know her true self rather than the person she has be trained to present to the world. Also, the hero is truly a rascal and a rake and I very much enjoyed his internal struggle as he tries to deal with why he is that way and if he wants to change or not. They have some serious chemistry together, and their sexy seductions scene tak...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Rachel C. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pop-fic-romance

The plot was a kind of a madcap muddle. Also, a historical romance writer should know that "a bit of muslin" is used to describe prostitutes, not ladies.

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Apr 26, 2013 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 30, 2013 Kez Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars

So I'm pretty down with the whole regency romance novel formula, and most of the time I can find aspects of a novel from this genre to enjoy. Not so with this latest offering from Elizabeth Boyle. The problem for me was the protagonists. Tabitha Timmons is apparently your quintessential vicar's daughter: chaste, moral, bit of a stick up her butt. Which apparently excuses the fact that one touch by our "hero" results in her dissolving into a pile of tragic, oh so feminine, oh so fluttery goo. He...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Issa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Along Came a Duke is the first in the Rhymes with Love series. Tabitha Timmons is a country miss who is well past the normal marriage age, she has no desire to marry. That is until her maternal uncle’s death leaves her an heiress, subject to her marrying the man of his choice, Mr. Reginald Barkworth, before she turns 25. That happy day, of course, is only weeks away.

Along the way she meets Christopher Seldon, the Duke of Preston. Preston is a young man who spends his time gambling, drinking, wag...more Along Came a Duke is the first in the Rhymes with Love series. Tabitha Timmons is a country miss who is well past the normal marriage age, she has no desire to marry. That is until her maternal uncle’s death leaves her an heiress, subject to her marrying the man of his choice, Mr. Reginald Barkworth, before she turns 25. That happy day, of course, is only weeks away.

Along the way she meets Christopher Seldon, the Duke of Preston. Preston is a young man who spends his time gambling, drinking, wagering, and basically being a rake of the worst sort. He has just caused a peer to make a poor wager that ended up ruining him, and as a result society has made him and his family outcasts.

Tabitha and Preston inevitably meet. He keeps his identity as a duke secret from her and they begin a flirtation though she doesn’t really like him and while he is instantly taken with her he isn’t sure why.

Tabitha meets her fiancé, Barkworth and he is not to her liking. She does not want to go through with the wedding but doesn’t know how to stop it and continues her flirtation with Preston. Preston doesn’t feel Barkworth is right for her and when she asks Preston to ruin her so Barkworth will call off the wedding he agrees.

That’s not the end though, there is plenty of secrets and mayhem to follow.

Like most Elizabeth Boyle book, this one had potential, but it just didn’t work for me. Tabitha lives with her aunt and uncle. She is forced to live in the attic and is treated like a servant. Her strong dislike of marriage seems odd. Does she want to be a slave to her aunt and uncle all her life? Marriage seems to be the only way out for her.

Preston himself is not an interesting character and nothing is done to make him seem, well, ducal. He plays too much. He has little care about what his antics do to his family. He has no interest or knowledge in running his estates. I will grant that it is amusing to watch him chase Tabitha around but there is no substance to him, even when he decides to walk a straighter path.

Preston’s shunning by society also did not ring true to me. He’s a duke of marriageable age and he’s cut because he gambles, sleeps around, and pushes peers into wagers they ultimately lose. Didn’t many of them do that? I understand he’s not a polite society favorite, but the shunning of a duke did not make sense.

Barkworth is drawn so opposite to Tabitha it’s almost comical but still painful. They have nothing in common, he hates what she likes and vice versa. His mother, who would live with them of course, is high strung, overbearing, and has Barkworth under her thumb. They are caricatures of a bad fiancé and bad mother in law. Having better characters where Tabitha faced a dilemma about wanting to marry him might have made for a better story.

Really this book is a combination of several standard story tropes and cliches. No one of them is written all that interestingly and combining them all together in one story did not make for a very interesting read. The book felt like a sitcom to me, a general story, some laughs, but skims the surface in formulaic way. I give it an okay and hope for a better book 2.(less)

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Oct 26, 2012 Jen Meegan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I must be frank. While I enjoy reading romance novels, especially those with a historical bent (Regencies, Georgian, et al)...Along Came a Duke was not the type I would have purchased had I been given a chance to read the preview chapters. But this was a Vine selection and as such, I only had the cover image and the back cover description to go on. It also had the benefit of a recommendation by Julia Quinn, one of my long-time favorite Regency writers. Let's just say I expected one sort of Regen...more I must be frank. While I enjoy reading romance novels, especially those with a historical bent (Regencies, Georgian, et al)...Along Came a Duke was not the type I would have purchased had I been given a chance to read the preview chapters. But this was a Vine selection and as such, I only had the cover image and the back cover description to go on. It also had the benefit of a recommendation by Julia Quinn, one of my long-time favorite Regency writers. Let's just say I expected one sort of Regency romance and I got another.

If you are a fan of Georgette Heyer and prefer your Regencies much more traditional in style with an emphasis on witty verbal repartee and less sensuality, this may be the book for you. The first in a series, this story follows the path of Tabitha Timmons, the daughter of a deceased vicar who currently lives with her unpleasant aunt and uncle in a small village. Luckily for Tabitha, she stumbles across Preston (aka the Duke of Preston) during a walk to a society meeting and light chaos ensues. Tabitha spends the majority of the book learning to trust her heart and her mind as she navigates and dodges a dashing Duke, a dull (almost) fiance, and dastardly relatives. Throw in an Irish terrier with a fetish for feathers and you've got yet another witty, light, and fairly typical Regency Romance.

Perhaps I've moved on from Regencies that rely strongly on dialogue or maybe I just like a bit more sensuality in my books, but it was not easy for me to get through this book without skimming. The plot was nothing out of the ordinary, the leads seemed lacking in chemistry, and I can't even recall the most basic detail about the hero's appearance. In fact, I think it's safe to say Preston bugged the crap out of me. He seemed far too flippant, shallow (even as he reflected on a personal tragedy), and rather dull...which is most certainly not what one wants in a romantic hero. I also took immediate issue with the fact that after saying he didn't think Tabitha's name suited her, he decided to call her Tabby instead. Tabby? Seriously?! That's a great name...for a family pet. Tabitha herself felt way too missish to me. Maybe I'm simply jaded and too darned old to read about twent-five-year old virgin spinsters, but her plight didn't really inspire a lot of sympathy from me. As for the secondary characters...there were WAAAAY too many of them. I was having a hell of a time trying to keep track of the various aunts and uncles let alone Tabitha and Preston's friends and aquaintances...I felt like I needed a spreadsheet. The dialogue, while sometimes entertaining, seemed too archaic for my tastes (a note on this....the author takes a page from the esteemed Georgette Heyer by trying to ground the characters and dialogue in the time and place. This is good to a point, but after a while the desire to be historically accurate made the story feel too dated, stuffy, and dry). Lastly, there were some plot threads introduced that, I feel, could have added something interesting to the story (the curse, the young man ruined by the Duke) but they were sort of thrown in and left dangling with zero closure.

My lack of enthusiasm about this book may stem more from my personal tastes than anything else. To me, the book had a very "been there, done that" feel. However, I think the author can write, I think the book had all the right elements to make a decent, traditional Regency (with a dab of sensuality snuck in), and I think there's an audience out there who will likely gobble this right up and be very pleased with the novel overall. It wasn't my kind of romance...but it may be yours.(less)

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Jul 31, 2012 Mary Gramlich rated it 5 of 5 stars

Am I seeking perfection in all things or just my love?

Tabitha Timmons has been forced to life her life under the very firm hand of her aunt and uncle who see her as a free ride not a loving niece. Tabitha longs for freedom from her country life and dreams of what wonderful things exist outside the confines of this restricted life.

Christopher Seldon, The Duke of Preston has no checks nor balances for his life and grabs every day with enthusiasm. Tabitha could not be any further from what he think...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Chy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I couldn't resist; I had to read a "historical" romance novel in the middle of reading Delusions of Gender. Had to. Couldn't be helped. And I gotta say, this cover was like a spoonful of sugar on the entertainment. (It is not the cover on the copy I have. Like, at all.)

{chortles merrily} I mean, even look at the name of the series: Rhymes with Love. Not love, but something that rhymes with it. "Shove," I think.

I keep forgetting one star is "didn't like it." It was entertaining as hell, just...pr...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-story, historical, part-of-a-series, romance

Tabitha Timmons is one of the cursed-ladies of Kempton. Anyone who marries a Kempton lass will soon perish. Except that this plot point really doesn't have to do much with the story except as a convenient reason that Tabby (as the hero calls her) is unmarried at 25. Being a vicar's daughter isn't enough? This is really my biggest quibble with the book. Why bring up something so juicy and gothic if you're not going to use it? Will it come into play later in the series?
Anyway, Tabby doesn't especi...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Virginia Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

"Along Came a Duke", and he was hiding his broken heart behind outlandishly rakish behavior. Christopher Seldon, Duke of Preston, is paving a path to Hell with less than good intentions. Miss Tabitha Timmons, a ward of some very selfish and demanding relatives, stands to inherit an unexpected fortune upon her marriage to a respectable suitor. Once Preston meets Tabby, he determines that she deserves so much more than life has handed her so far, and he decides to save her from a miserable fate. H...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Sophie Barnes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Boyle and there's no doubt that I'll be coming back for more - I'm absolutely thrilled to have discovered an author who can match Julia Quinn in terms of keeping me up late at night thinking, "just another few pages..."
When Tabitha Timmons is pronounced an heiress, she immediately sees it as her golden opportunity to escape the care of her overbearing aunt and uncle who have been enjoying her company as their personal maid. There's a catch though -...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Cherie Jensen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is my second time reading this book and though I still don't give it 5 stars I really enjoyed it. The duke is a rake but the reason he hasn't gotten married to the gals he's ruined is because he wants to marry for love. He has happy memories of his parents and siblings who are all dead due to an influenza that also killed Tabitha's parents. Tabitha is being raised by an aunt and uncle who use her for free housekeeping and bookkeeping and relegate her to live in the attic which is reminiscen...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Lee Thao rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-romance

[2.7 STARS]

Along Came a Duke is my first book by Elizabeth Boyle. Sadly to say, it didn’t not impress me. In fact, it left me agitated throughout the entire book. I was waiting and waiting and waiting and the spark just took so long. It will arrive after maybe (50 pages on a single scene) and then last like two seconds and then the whole waiting starts again. (sighs)

The Storyline? Overly used theme that the author failed to bring its best potential like other authors. The Characters? Nothing rem...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Connie Fischer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tabitha Timmons has been living in the vicarage that was her father’s for several years after his death. Her uncle is the current vicar and he and his wife treat Tabitha as their maid. She cleans, lives in a corner of the attic and is fed very little. When it is found that she has received an inheritance from a family member, her aunt and uncle take her to London to have her wed a Mr. Reginald Barkworth who is a handsome yet pompous, straight-laced man with a mother who would be the epitome of t...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, arrogant-but-i-love-him, netgalley-arc, funny-funny-har-har, girlies-i-would-take-for-a-tequila, plain-jane-blue-stocking-spinster, rake-man-whore

The same day that the very respectable vicar's daughter Miss Tabitha Timmons tells the insufferable, yet horribly alluring Mr Preston that she has no need to get married, she finds herself unexpectedly engaged to a gentleman she has never met. But she can't get the enticing Mr Preston and the feelings he evokes in her out of her mind and another chance encounter that ends with a wager and a kiss leaves not only Tabitha's head spinning.

This is my first Elizabeth Boyle read, but it won't be my las...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think this was a fun great read. I think that maybe editing could have turned this good fun book to a great book. I did like the basic premise.

You have a duke who causes scandals and starts falling for Tabitha, the vicar's daughter who was forced to live in her aunt and uncle's house (her old home) in the attic and basically be their servant. Tabitha inherits a boatload of money from her uncle but she is required to marry a man that her uncle has chosen for her. Tabitha first meets Preston, t...more

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May 30, 2012 Janusz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Poor orphan Tabitha finds herself being rushed into an arranged marriage by her mean guardians and a group of scheming blackguards out to get their hands on the huge inheritance she has been left by a distant relative. On her way to London to meet the man chosen to be her husband, she and her entourage stop over at an inn where she enjoys a friendly late-night meal with someone she later discovers is the notorious Duke of Preston. The relaxed meal with a witty and intelligent woman reminds Prest...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: got-bored, meh

I discovered Elizabeth Boyle while laid up in the hospital after surgery and tore through several of her books in a few days. Now out of the hospital with other things to do, I can't figure out why I liked her so much.

This book is SO heavy handed. I know. I know what you're saying. It's a romance. It's SUPPOSED to be heavy handed. But no. This book is so ridiculously full of the author, who thinks she is SO clever. I guess if you're an author this is to be expected...but in this case, it gets o...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Terra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a delightful tale of a country lass that comes into a fortune if the right provisions are met and a scandalous Duke that suddenly feels the need to protect an innocent against London and all of it's money hungry scavengers and unruly sorts. Question is though, who is Tabita Timmons in more danger from, the rake she knows or her own family and friends who are supposed to have the best intentions for her?

This story is a bit like a Cinderella story where a country bumpkin that is unloved b...more

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May 16, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story was entertaining, delightfully funny and reminds me of the old saying, "a man chases a woman until she finally catches him."

ALONG CAME A DUKE by Elizabeth Boyle is a historical romance with page-turning banter and romantic liaisons that leave the reader wanting more with each unexpected encounter. Preston is an incorrigible flirt and he's met his match in the irrepressible and witty Tabitha who quickly learns she can give as much as she gets. The characters are distinctly three dimens...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Billie Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013, read-hr-series, amazing-page-turner

Cinderella and the Scandalous Prince! Although, who caused more scandal is really a tie between the Duke and Mr. Muggins!!

At first I thought it was an ok book and typical of the first book in a series. Soon I found myself lost in the book laughing out loud until the sun was rising! I really couldn't put it down!! I fell in love with all the characters and can't wait to read the next one.

If you have an issue with historical inaccuracies then maybe this isn't your kind of book. Personally, I neve...more

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May 06, 2012 Jo (Mixed Book Bag) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, romance

Along Came a Duke is one of the books I got from Amazon Vine as an ARC. I like books by Elizabeth Boyle and this one is no exception.

This has quite a few laugh out loud moments in it. The two main characters are wonderful. Preston is that mixture of rogue and enduring little boy that women love. He doesn’t know it but he has been looking for a way to go home since he was six and with Tabitha he finds what he has been looking for.

Tabitha or Tabby as Preston calls her has not had an easy time sin...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-2012, romance-regency

This was a return to the type of books Ms Boyle wrote when she wrote about Tally, Fecility, and Pippa. It was fun, great prose and a hero who really, truly was the heroine's hero. Tabitha (Tabby) is swept along by the news she is an heiress, but must marry immediately. On her way to London she meets Preston-who she thinks is an ordinary working gentleman, not a peer. Preston has a very sad family history and is hanging on desperately to the only two people he still has-his twin uncle and aunt (w...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Nath rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, read-2012, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3/5 (C)

Why this book? Ms Boyle's books are usually miss and hit for me... and lately, they've been more on the miss side. I wasn't going to pick up Along Came a Duke; however, this is quite a striking cover and I've been reading good reviews for the book, so I changed my mind.

What did I like? I thought Along Came a Duke had a lot of potential. When I first started this book, I was hooked as the first few chapters were very strong in my opinion. However, I had to take a break reading this book be...more 3/5 (C)

Why this book? Ms Boyle's books are usually miss and hit for me... and lately, they've been more on the miss side. I wasn't going to pick up Along Came a Duke; however, this is quite a striking cover and I've been reading good reviews for the book, so I changed my mind.

What did I like? I thought Along Came a Duke had a lot of potential. When I first started this book, I was hooked as the first few chapters were very strong in my opinion. However, I had to take a break reading this book because of the New York trip and then, books that I wanted to read more than this one... and when I picked Along Came a Duke again, I really had a lot of difficulty getting back into the story. Even now, I don't really know if this was due to the story or me... All I know is that once I picked up the book again, I just wasn't as hooked and that's really unfortunate :(

Here are the reasons why I thought Along Came a Duke had so much potential. First, I loved the fluffy and light tone of the book. It was fun and fit perfectly the setting of the book. I loved Preston's relationship with his uncle and aunt - Henry and Hen, short for Henrietta - who are twins and only 6 months older than Preston. LOL, I can totally see the bond between them and I thought this situation was quite unique. I actually wished I've seen more of their interactions. Yes, Henry and Hen are exasperated at Preston's antics, but you can see they still care about him. Preston's background was also very interesting and I wished Ms Boyle had elaborated more on it. I wished we've known how good a parent Preston's grandfather was. At least, what we were given gave really good insight into Preston's personality and why Henry and Hen's ultimatum was so grave for the duke.

I also enjoyed Preston's friendship with Lord Roxley and the friendship between Tabitha and her two best friends, Daphne and Harriett aka Harry. It's clear that Daphne and Harriett are going to be the future heroines of this series and I enjoyed what I read of them. Especially Harry :) She was a lot of fun and I just can't wait to read her story.

Overall, I thought Ms Boyle did a great job with the setting and the characters. Where I had issues was which turns the story took.

What did not work for me? I guess if I had to sum it up, it would be the romance ^_^; I liked the characters and I actually thought Preston and Tabitha had chemistry together... but the way their romance unfolded, it was simply frustrating. I liked the fact that it took so long for Tabitha to figure out that Preston was a duke LOL. What I did not like is how she stringed him along. I know she was not convinced of his character, she thought he was lazy and so on, but she was still attracted to him and I think it would have been good if she had been honest from the start. The two of them seemed to play a game, dancing around each other... but that game just wasn't good ^_^; I hated how Preston had such a bad reputation and that most of it was unwarranted :( That definitively did not helped. I also thought Daphne was a bit annoying, giving advice to Tabitha when she herself didn't get it. Finally, I felt that throughout too much of the book, Tabitha was a bit of a doormat, letting everyone lead her, listening to their opinions and advice. I mean, she just became an heiress, wouldn't it be time for her to stand up to her family and say what she wants? Time to really take the reins of her life instead of following the flow. That part was frustrating given Tabitha actually had a strong personality, ideas of her own, which is what Preston was attracted to. But that part of her personality didn't shine with the others and that's how she found herself in such a mess :( And that's why I found the romance lacking.

My Grade? 3/5. I do believe that Along Came a Duke would have gotten a higher grade if I've read this book without taking that long break... unfortunately, I didn't. Overall, the book was enjoyable, but didn't measure up to the expectations I had based on the strong opening. The good news is that I did like the characters and they had me hooked and so, I am most likely to pick up the next book in the series :)(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Olivia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: overdrive

I found the book tedious and often thought "just get on with it!" Really, it took four chapter to describe one meal. Really? Overall the storyline and plot were good, but there were some wtf moments. The duke says he doesn't want to be the downfall of Tabitha, and even has this "plan" so he won't be at fault. Yet, when the plan is executed, he is exactly found to be at fault. Some plan. . .
I also found it totally unbeleivable that a Duke would be banned from the Ton. A handsome duke of marriage...more

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May 03, 2013 Shelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but there was something missing. I felt like the characters did like each other but it seemed like this book was incomplete in some way. Maybe I was expecting more romance-- I'm not sure. I personally like both of the characters but it seemed like a lot of the book was telling me, not showing me the story. I spent a lot of time feeling like I was missing the action... More like I was hearing the story from someone rather than reading a book where I should be able to see and he...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

So-so story with prodigious amounts of overblown prose, fairly uninteresting protagonists and only slightly amusing secondary characters (I honestly wish the dog had more time devoted to his obviously more interesting character). Tabitha's character is entirely inconsistent with the beginning and the end of the book and the overall naïveté of the storyline was yawn-inducing.

It's not a unique plot, so the characters and narrative really needed to stand out and it really doesn't. Bland and leaves...more

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Jan 05, 2013 ZaBeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: _g-romance, series_started, source-lib, 6-fromfictionstack

The opening of Elizabeth Boyle’s novel, Along Came a Duke, immediately brought to mind Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. As Austen’s classic romance novel begins with the declaration that every man with fortune must be looking for a wife, Boyle’s romance novel takes the opposite stand with a poor country girl declaring she has no desire for a husband.
Building on the classic nursery rhyme, Little Miss Muffet, Boyle’s title immediately sets the stage for the hero, the Duke of Preston, who has a...more The opening of Elizabeth Boyle’s novel, Along Came a Duke, immediately brought to mind Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. As Austen’s classic romance novel begins with the declaration that every man with fortune must be looking for a wife, Boyle’s romance novel takes the opposite stand with a poor country girl declaring she has no desire for a husband.
Building on the classic nursery rhyme, Little Miss Muffet, Boyle’s title immediately sets the stage for the hero, the Duke of Preston, who has a reputation for luring young debutants into his web of scandal by refusing to marry them when they try to shame him to the altar. Who could possibly get this young rake to turn aside his gambling and womanizing ways? Why there’s no one better than the orphaned daughter of a vicar, Tabitha Timmons, who is about to be married off by scheming relatives looking to cash in on her newly-inherited fortune. Both Preston and Tabitha (aka Tabby) are delightful characters who have just the right amount of intelligence and wit so that they never take themselves too seriously. While the London setting is strict on social decorum, there’s a wonderful sense in almost every scene that those rules are about to be broken with glee. Along Came A Duke is a wonderful opening to the Rhymes with Love series as well as a romantic comedy that will leave you smiling.
Boyle does a great job telling us Preston and Tabby’s story while weaving in just enough tidbits about other characters to make us want more. Within the first few pages readers are introduced to Tabby’s two best friends Daphne Dale and Harriet Hathaway who play key roles in helping Tabby get the man of her dreams. And while I adore these ladies, I’m equally interested in learning about the supporting cast of men in this novel including Preston’s best friend, Lord Roxley, who has trouble collecting money after he wins a bet; Preston’s cousin Henry Sheldon, who has received a ton of mail from London’s female population; and Harriet’s brother, Chaunce Hathaway, who seems to have a unique set of skills that will make him valuable in his job at the Home Office. Let’s hope Boyle gives them all happy endings in future books.
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About Elizabeth Boyle

Elizabeth Boyle was an antipiracy paralegal for Microsoft before settling down to write full-time. Her first novel, Brazen Angel, which won Dell's Diamond Debut Award in 1996, also won the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best First Book, and was a finalist for Best Long Historical Romance. She lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington. She is also the author of Brazen Heiress.

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Books by Elizabeth Boyle

Love Letters From a Duke (Bachelor Chronicles, #3)

Something About Emmaline (Bachelor Chronicles, #1)

Confessions of a Little Black Gown (Bachelor Chronicles, #4)

Mad about the Duke (Bachelor Chronicles, #7)

This Rake of Mine (Bachelor Chronicles, #2)

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Along Came A Duke (Rhymes with Love #1)

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