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Dueling for Dukes #2
The Duke Always Wins
Lady Anna Elmont, the dowager Countess of Wexford, has only one to remain safely a widow. Having spent two years under the control of her manipulative husband, Annie plans to enjoy widowhood and discover who she might have been had she not wed.
If the Duke of Grimsby will let her.
Despite their difference in age or perhaps because of it, Gabriel Phelps, the Duke of Grimsby is compelled to protect his best friend’s widow. After witnessing his mother fall victim to a man with dishonorable intentions after she was widowed, Gabriel will not allow the same thing to happen to Annie and so he proposes only to be flatly refused.
But when a compromising situation forces Gabriel to act, Annie must submit if only to save her family’s reputation and her sister’s hope for a future.
Will she be trapped in another cold and controlling marriage? Or will the unexpected spark of attraction between them lead to something of which she’d never dared dream?
The Duke Always Wins is the second book in the steamy, heart-stopping historical romance series, Dueling for Dukes. If you love sexy, spellbinding romance and heartwarming humor, don’t miss this captivating series from bestselling author Jessie Clever. Discover adventure and romance when you download The Duke Always Wins today.
If the Duke of Grimsby will let her.
Despite their difference in age or perhaps because of it, Gabriel Phelps, the Duke of Grimsby is compelled to protect his best friend’s widow. After witnessing his mother fall victim to a man with dishonorable intentions after she was widowed, Gabriel will not allow the same thing to happen to Annie and so he proposes only to be flatly refused.
But when a compromising situation forces Gabriel to act, Annie must submit if only to save her family’s reputation and her sister’s hope for a future.
Will she be trapped in another cold and controlling marriage? Or will the unexpected spark of attraction between them lead to something of which she’d never dared dream?
The Duke Always Wins is the second book in the steamy, heart-stopping historical romance series, Dueling for Dukes. If you love sexy, spellbinding romance and heartwarming humor, don’t miss this captivating series from bestselling author Jessie Clever. Discover adventure and romance when you download The Duke Always Wins today.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2023
128 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Clever
44 books194 followersJessie decided to be a writer because there were too many lives she wanted to live to just pick one.
Taking her history degree dangerously, Jessie tells the stories of courageous heroines, the men who dared to love them, and the world that tried to defeat them.
Jessie lives in New Hampshire where if she’s not at her desk writing, she’s probably letting the dog out. Again.
Join Jessie's Readers Club for sneak peeks and the latest news: https://jessieclever.com/newsletter/
Taking her history degree dangerously, Jessie tells the stories of courageous heroines, the men who dared to love them, and the world that tried to defeat them.
Jessie lives in New Hampshire where if she’s not at her desk writing, she’s probably letting the dog out. Again.
Join Jessie's Readers Club for sneak peeks and the latest news: https://jessieclever.com/newsletter/
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 4, 2025
Heroine: Anna Elmont (née Bounds), about 21. Nickname: Annie. Daughter of Earl Stoke Bruerne. A widow.
Hero: Gabriel Phelps, 39. Duke of Grimsby. Friend of Anna’s deceased husband.
Date: unknown
How they meet: Gabriel and Anna met off page at her wedding to his friend. Gabriel had tried to mentor the man to make him a better human being. Gabriel now feels a sense of responsibility towards Anna.
What happens: Anna had asked a favor of Gabriel. Her sister was hosting a ball to restore the reputation of her husband and having a duke in attendance was important socially. A couple of days later, Gabriel calls on Anna. He proposes marriage, feeling that Anna is in a vulnerable position. She, however, has no interest in being controlled by a husband again and refuses him. However Gabriel does not know her reasons and believes she must still be in love with her husband. He discusses with a friend how he might change her mind about marrying him.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: This was a nice change from book 1 of the series, with a hero who was truly a gentleman and put the needs of the heroine first. He battled some demons from his past, but did not let them rule his life, for the most part. The heroine was on a journey of self-discovery and it was nice to see her confidence grow through the course of the story. Hints of the hero’s foot fetish were pretty darn cute! Another plus was that the story had its moments of humor. There is a small timeline and storyline overlap with book 1 of the series, but I think this still reads fine as a standalone.
Steam level: some steam and explicit
Rating: 4 stars
Hero: Gabriel Phelps, 39. Duke of Grimsby. Friend of Anna’s deceased husband.
Date: unknown
How they meet: Gabriel and Anna met off page at her wedding to his friend. Gabriel had tried to mentor the man to make him a better human being. Gabriel now feels a sense of responsibility towards Anna.
What happens: Anna had asked a favor of Gabriel. Her sister was hosting a ball to restore the reputation of her husband and having a duke in attendance was important socially. A couple of days later, Gabriel calls on Anna. He proposes marriage, feeling that Anna is in a vulnerable position. She, however, has no interest in being controlled by a husband again and refuses him. However Gabriel does not know her reasons and believes she must still be in love with her husband. He discusses with a friend how he might change her mind about marrying him.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: This was a nice change from book 1 of the series, with a hero who was truly a gentleman and put the needs of the heroine first. He battled some demons from his past, but did not let them rule his life, for the most part. The heroine was on a journey of self-discovery and it was nice to see her confidence grow through the course of the story. Hints of the hero’s foot fetish were pretty darn cute! Another plus was that the story had its moments of humor. There is a small timeline and storyline overlap with book 1 of the series, but I think this still reads fine as a standalone.
Steam level: some steam and explicit
Rating: 4 stars
September 21, 2023
This is an age gap historical romance between a young widow and her former husband's friend.
Check your trigger warnings because we do see our heroine heal from an abusive relationship. However, I thought it was very well and very sensitively done. I found Annie to be extremely relatable, and Gabriel was a wonderful MMC.
I laughed a lot through this book. The sheer audacity of some of these characters cracked me up.
Check your trigger warnings because we do see our heroine heal from an abusive relationship. However, I thought it was very well and very sensitively done. I found Annie to be extremely relatable, and Gabriel was a wonderful MMC.
I laughed a lot through this book. The sheer audacity of some of these characters cracked me up.
September 20, 2023
The Duke Always Wins (Book 2) By Jessie Clever
Five stars, Gabriel the Duke had past baggage so did his friend wife who was now a widow, Annie. He felt honor bound to give his protection to her. But caught in compromising situation, they married. But can they overcome their past to have a future? Love breaks all barriers and bonds two lost souls. Bit confusion in the ending but good storyline.
Five stars, Gabriel the Duke had past baggage so did his friend wife who was now a widow, Annie. He felt honor bound to give his protection to her. But caught in compromising situation, they married. But can they overcome their past to have a future? Love breaks all barriers and bonds two lost souls. Bit confusion in the ending but good storyline.
November 15, 2023
Loved this couple's story. He's an older introverted bachelor, and is horrified as he gradually learns the widowed h's marriage was abusive. The h is amazing, finding the courage to help others, and to gently help him to understand his own history. Loved this couple's story.
November 13, 2023
Acquired Kindle edition when offered free on Amazon.
Three stars, reluctantly rounded up from 2.5, probably only because I was actually able to finish it.
I never had any clear sense of the historical setting. Regency? Early Victorian? Late Victorian? Just don't know, other than there was one reference to the queen, so I'm guessing sometime after 1837.
Both main characters were annoying due to their constant internal vacillation that seemed to have no basis in their individual history. Anna's was perhaps a bit more justified given the circumstances of her first marriage, but Gabriel came across as weak and insecure, even a bit immature. Why is he always leaning on Ardley for advice? And the Big Reveal of his traumatic past was eye-rollingly feeble.
But, of course, he's extremely handsome, and a duke, so I guess that makes it all okay?
However, I never got any real sense that he was a duke. Has he no estate that needs tending, or does his entire existence revolve around getting a bill passed in the House?
Annie was a little more three-dimensional, but I think it would have helped to know just how old she is, how long she was married, and how the relationship between her husband and Gabriel had started. Maybe that was in a prior book? A few more hints would have been nice.
Conflict was almost entirely internal -- Do I love him/her? What am I going to do about it? Is this what I want or not? -- and the plot seemed to be almost a coming-of-age story, with both characters needing to grow up emotionally. No drama, no real danger, no angst.
At least the writing was passable, except for a few proofreading errors that I don't count. The Americanisms -- bottom dollar, quilting bee -- did stand out rather sharply.
Three stars, reluctantly rounded up from 2.5, probably only because I was actually able to finish it.
I never had any clear sense of the historical setting. Regency? Early Victorian? Late Victorian? Just don't know, other than there was one reference to the queen, so I'm guessing sometime after 1837.
Both main characters were annoying due to their constant internal vacillation that seemed to have no basis in their individual history. Anna's was perhaps a bit more justified given the circumstances of her first marriage, but Gabriel came across as weak and insecure, even a bit immature. Why is he always leaning on Ardley for advice? And the Big Reveal of his traumatic past was eye-rollingly feeble.
But, of course, he's extremely handsome, and a duke, so I guess that makes it all okay?
However, I never got any real sense that he was a duke. Has he no estate that needs tending, or does his entire existence revolve around getting a bill passed in the House?
Annie was a little more three-dimensional, but I think it would have helped to know just how old she is, how long she was married, and how the relationship between her husband and Gabriel had started. Maybe that was in a prior book? A few more hints would have been nice.
Conflict was almost entirely internal -- Do I love him/her? What am I going to do about it? Is this what I want or not? -- and the plot seemed to be almost a coming-of-age story, with both characters needing to grow up emotionally. No drama, no real danger, no angst.
At least the writing was passable, except for a few proofreading errors that I don't count. The Americanisms -- bottom dollar, quilting bee -- did stand out rather sharply.
October 24, 2023
A widow and her Duke!
This is a touching,heartfelt story of two damaged people finding friendship, love and healing through their marriage.
Our MFC Annie is a widow who suffered through an abusive marriage. She has vowed to never marry again. Our MMC Gabriel, a former friend of Annie’s deceased husband, is determined to win Annie’s hand in marriage to protect her from disreputable men of the ton. Both characters have a lot of past emotional damage to restore and do so together…first, through friendship and later, love. Their character and relationship development is poignant, with humor and heart! I love Annie’s journey to self discovery and Gabriel’s opening up to feelings.
This is a touching,heartfelt story of two damaged people finding friendship, love and healing through their marriage.
Our MFC Annie is a widow who suffered through an abusive marriage. She has vowed to never marry again. Our MMC Gabriel, a former friend of Annie’s deceased husband, is determined to win Annie’s hand in marriage to protect her from disreputable men of the ton. Both characters have a lot of past emotional damage to restore and do so together…first, through friendship and later, love. Their character and relationship development is poignant, with humor and heart! I love Annie’s journey to self discovery and Gabriel’s opening up to feelings.
October 19, 2023
A steamy story. I enjoyed this next book in this series. There are a few Americanisms such as references to ‘bottom dollar’, and even a ‘quilting bee’ as being something Ladies would do. However, the storyline held
my attention, and these anachronisms did not not grate as they often can.There are not many ( or they did not register) so a little more attention and they would have been eradicated.
I would have loved to have heard the aftermath amongst the ton of Anna’s confrontation with Grimsby’s mother, and indeed how his mother was! Maybe as she will appear in book 3 and we will know, sadly it seems I have a year to wait!! I will definitely be reading Eloise’s story when it is out.
my attention, and these anachronisms did not not grate as they often can.There are not many ( or they did not register) so a little more attention and they would have been eradicated.
I would have loved to have heard the aftermath amongst the ton of Anna’s confrontation with Grimsby’s mother, and indeed how his mother was! Maybe as she will appear in book 3 and we will know, sadly it seems I have a year to wait!! I will definitely be reading Eloise’s story when it is out.
October 6, 2023
A page skipper with little charm
I have loved most of Jessie Clever's novels. This one was just not up to her usual standard. The main characters were both a bit sad and flat. The passion felt forced. The story was almost non-existant. In one part she spent 3 pages describing someone walking down to breakfast... if you are short on time, I'd give this a miss.
I have loved most of Jessie Clever's novels. This one was just not up to her usual standard. The main characters were both a bit sad and flat. The passion felt forced. The story was almost non-existant. In one part she spent 3 pages describing someone walking down to breakfast... if you are short on time, I'd give this a miss.
July 31, 2024
Lilykitty
I loved everything about this story. Most especially the buildup to their hot , desktop sexual consummation. A very original and entertaining episode. Grimsby and Anna are wonderful characters too.
I loved everything about this story. Most especially the buildup to their hot , desktop sexual consummation. A very original and entertaining episode. Grimsby and Anna are wonderful characters too.
August 9, 2025
Twist and Turns
I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of twists and turns in it. Domestic violence was really awful in the Regency area. So nice how the story came together. The characters were great.
I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of twists and turns in it. Domestic violence was really awful in the Regency area. So nice how the story came together. The characters were great.
September 15, 2023
3.25
This was good. Hoped for a bit more angst tho.
This was good. Hoped for a bit more angst tho.
November 1, 2023
Quick read
I really enjoyed the development of the heroine’s true character. I appreciated the support of the hero to help her develop and find her voice.
I really enjoyed the development of the heroine’s true character. I appreciated the support of the hero to help her develop and find her voice.
November 16, 2023
An enjoyable age-gap romance. Steamy, heart-felt, and second chance for a true love.
October 30, 2024
To think tales like this still happen. Glad we now have a society where all can gain the knowledge they need to live a full and happy life. Thank you for Anna’s story and her strength.
November 14, 2024
I found this book to have a very satisfying ending. I laughed in triumph at the third to last chapter.
November 24, 2024
It was the bromance that made me love this book.
February 1, 2025
Almost dnf, but then I pulled through. Really sweet book
February 11, 2025
More 2.5 stars I loved the librarian part but the romance felt flat
August 24, 2025
Didn't like it as much as her other books but it was enjoyable.
September 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this book.
December 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this historical.romance. It reminded me somewhat of Bridgerton!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews