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Game of Dukes #5
The Return of the Duke
She wanted a hot-blooded lover. He needed a cool-headed duchess. Their marriage of convenience will be anything but convenient…
When Fate throws tinker’s daughter Fancy Sheridan into the arms of Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, neither are prepared for the consequences. Fancy has always dreamed of passionate love and instead finds herself wed to a stoic nobleman whose heart belongs to another. Knighton needs a high-born lady to shepherd his unruly half-siblings through the ton and now has a wife who knows nothing of society and cares even less about its rules.
As Fancy and Knighton struggle to find common ground, hot and irresistible passion flares between them. All the while, dark secrets rise to threaten their budding happiness. Will husband and wife defeat their enemies and find everlasting love?
When Fate throws tinker’s daughter Fancy Sheridan into the arms of Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, neither are prepared for the consequences. Fancy has always dreamed of passionate love and instead finds herself wed to a stoic nobleman whose heart belongs to another. Knighton needs a high-born lady to shepherd his unruly half-siblings through the ton and now has a wife who knows nothing of society and cares even less about its rules.
As Fancy and Knighton struggle to find common ground, hot and irresistible passion flares between them. All the while, dark secrets rise to threaten their budding happiness. Will husband and wife defeat their enemies and find everlasting love?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2020
272 people are currently reading
764 people want to read
About the author
Grace Callaway
53 books1,087 followers
Preorder GLORY AND THE MASTER OF SHADOWS (Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels #4) for March 28th!
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Don't miss this thrilling new historical romance by USA Today Bestseller Grace Callaway! Set during the Opium Wars, this steamy and spellbinding Charlie’s Angels meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon romance will leave you breathless...
Their love is forbidden…and irresistible.
The daughter of a half-Chinese duke and a lady fossil hunter, Lady Glory Cavendish is a free-spirited campaigner for justice. She belongs to a secret society of lady detectives whose goal is to help women in need. During her latest case involving a dastardly dognapping, Glory crosses paths with the handsome and mysterious Wei Chen, a master of healing and martial arts. Fascinated by the noble shifu, Glory convinces him to take her on as a pupil; the more time she spends with him, however, the more she longs for lessons of a more intimate nature.
Master Wei Chen has led a life of discipline focused on a single goal: avenging his murdered kin. His journey takes him to London where, by day, he treats opium users in his East End clinic and, by night, he secretly hunts the villain who destroyed his family. Yet for the first time, temptation distracts Wei: his spirited and lovely new pupil stirs dangerous needs in him. Desires that are forbidden between a shifu and his student…and between a commoner and a duke’s daughter.
As Wei and Glory’s slow-burn romance ignites into fiery passion, they are drawn into a web of betrayal and deceit. Torn between honor and desire, revenge and love, the pair must decide if they will let the past determine their future…or if they will fight the shadows for their chance at happily ever after.
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About Grace
USA Today & International Bestselling Author Grace Callaway writes hot and heart-melting historical romance filled with mystery and adventure. Her debut novel was a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist and a #1 National Regency Bestseller, and her subsequent novels have topped national and international bestselling lists. She is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, the Maggie Award for Excellence in Historical Romance, the Golden Leaf, and the Passionate Plume Award for Historical Novel. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan and lives with her family in a valley close to the sea. When she’s not writing, she enjoys dancing, exploring the great outdoors with her rescue pup, and cheering on her favorite basketball team.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 19, 2020
4 1/2 SUPER Steamy w/ a side of Mystery Stars!
Ms. Callaway saved the best for last as this is my favorite in the series --- likeable main characters, a tantalizing mystery, and STEAMY GOODNESS GALORE!
Severin Knight believed he had been born on the wrong side of the blanket; thus, he spent his life working his way out of the slums and building a clothing manufacturing empire for himself which earned him the moniker "The Duke of Silk" in the London Underground. Last year, he learned that his mother was actually married to the Duke of Knighton, and Severin is his only legitimate child which means he inherited a dukedom and has become the one thing he wanted to be: a true gentleman. Unfortunately, the woman he wanted to become a gentleman for was married off to an earl 5 years before... Too little, too late seems to be Knight's stock in life. Now he requires a duchess to not only assist in his foray into society, but one who can also manage something else he inherited upon his father's death: his father's 4 illegitimate children. Knight believes that Bea may be the right woman for this position as she is the sister of a duke, so he gains an invitation to call on her with the intention of quickly obtaining her hand. What he hadn't counted on was Bea already being aggressively courted by a business rival of his, Wickham Murray (their story is told in The Duke Redemption, the book just prior to this that runs on a timeline concurrent to this one), nor did he count on stumbling across an intriguing and beautiful woman in the process.
Fancy Sheridan is the daughter of a tinker, and she is proud of her family and their trade. While a tinker's life provides little stability as they are constantly on the move to the next job or project, she was always content as she knew love and security with her parents and brothers. She has also been lucky enough to find a bosom chum in Bea, and when they are in the area, she is thrilled to stay with and spend time with her friend. And Bea needs a friend with the threats against her as she strives to provide a community for "outcasts" on a property many seem to want to obtain. When Knight arrives in the midst of the frenzy, Fancy is struck by the thought that she has found her fairy tale prince as he is everything she ever imagined one would be; however, she knows he is unobtainable. When Fancy is used as a message to Bea by being abducted and tied to a tree, Knight is the one who finds her and promises to never let anything happen to her. He can't seem to resist her pull as much as she cannot resist his, and when they give into temptation, his honor requires that he do the right thing. Fortunately, his libido vehemently agrees. But will Fancy agree to marry a man whose heart was given to another long ago and who vows to never love again? What will happen when Fancy's life is threatened? And if Knight and Fancy can survive the threat, can a tinker's daughter and a duke brought up in the Underworld find true happiness together?
What I liked:
--- Both MCs were very likeable which makes the reader feel invested in and want them to find their HEA
--- Knight was an interesting H as he was a duke, but he was from the slums, so he had a different perspective on things and didn't allow societal norms to influence him; I liked that he encouraged Fancy and told her she was more than good enough for him - he never made her feel as though she wasn't up to par
--- Fancy was extremely likeable - always finding the good in people and situations and genuinely kind to everyone
--- The mystery surrounding Fancy's true parentage added some suspense and drama which I much prefer over internal relationship angst
--- I appreciated that the author didn't make the love triangle too angsty, and when there was miscommunication angst, it was resolved quickly
--- STEAMY GOODNESS - early and often, please and thank you!
What I didn't like as much:
--- The mystery didn't come into play until a good ways into the book, so it felt like it crept up on everyone; I felt like it could have been more of a focus/could have had a larger impact on the story
Overall, this is the kind of story that made me a Grace Callaway fan: the likeable characters, the suspense, a fast-moving story line, and (of course!) a heaping helping of HOT!
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
Please note that I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Ms. Callaway saved the best for last as this is my favorite in the series --- likeable main characters, a tantalizing mystery, and STEAMY GOODNESS GALORE!
Severin Knight believed he had been born on the wrong side of the blanket; thus, he spent his life working his way out of the slums and building a clothing manufacturing empire for himself which earned him the moniker "The Duke of Silk" in the London Underground. Last year, he learned that his mother was actually married to the Duke of Knighton, and Severin is his only legitimate child which means he inherited a dukedom and has become the one thing he wanted to be: a true gentleman. Unfortunately, the woman he wanted to become a gentleman for was married off to an earl 5 years before... Too little, too late seems to be Knight's stock in life. Now he requires a duchess to not only assist in his foray into society, but one who can also manage something else he inherited upon his father's death: his father's 4 illegitimate children. Knight believes that Bea may be the right woman for this position as she is the sister of a duke, so he gains an invitation to call on her with the intention of quickly obtaining her hand. What he hadn't counted on was Bea already being aggressively courted by a business rival of his, Wickham Murray (their story is told in The Duke Redemption, the book just prior to this that runs on a timeline concurrent to this one), nor did he count on stumbling across an intriguing and beautiful woman in the process.
Fancy Sheridan is the daughter of a tinker, and she is proud of her family and their trade. While a tinker's life provides little stability as they are constantly on the move to the next job or project, she was always content as she knew love and security with her parents and brothers. She has also been lucky enough to find a bosom chum in Bea, and when they are in the area, she is thrilled to stay with and spend time with her friend. And Bea needs a friend with the threats against her as she strives to provide a community for "outcasts" on a property many seem to want to obtain. When Knight arrives in the midst of the frenzy, Fancy is struck by the thought that she has found her fairy tale prince as he is everything she ever imagined one would be; however, she knows he is unobtainable. When Fancy is used as a message to Bea by being abducted and tied to a tree, Knight is the one who finds her and promises to never let anything happen to her. He can't seem to resist her pull as much as she cannot resist his, and when they give into temptation, his honor requires that he do the right thing. Fortunately, his libido vehemently agrees. But will Fancy agree to marry a man whose heart was given to another long ago and who vows to never love again? What will happen when Fancy's life is threatened? And if Knight and Fancy can survive the threat, can a tinker's daughter and a duke brought up in the Underworld find true happiness together?
What I liked:
--- Both MCs were very likeable which makes the reader feel invested in and want them to find their HEA
--- Knight was an interesting H as he was a duke, but he was from the slums, so he had a different perspective on things and didn't allow societal norms to influence him; I liked that he encouraged Fancy and told her she was more than good enough for him - he never made her feel as though she wasn't up to par
--- Fancy was extremely likeable - always finding the good in people and situations and genuinely kind to everyone
--- The mystery surrounding Fancy's true parentage added some suspense and drama which I much prefer over internal relationship angst
--- I appreciated that the author didn't make the love triangle too angsty, and when there was miscommunication angst, it was resolved quickly
--- STEAMY GOODNESS - early and often, please and thank you!
What I didn't like as much:
--- The mystery didn't come into play until a good ways into the book, so it felt like it crept up on everyone; I felt like it could have been more of a focus/could have had a larger impact on the story
Overall, this is the kind of story that made me a Grace Callaway fan: the likeable characters, the suspense, a fast-moving story line, and (of course!) a heaping helping of HOT!
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
Please note that I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
January 1, 2024
My least favorite of the bunch. Not a bad book but I wasn’t a fan of him being in love with someone else for most of the book.
April 5, 2022
Initial thoughts. I wasn’t completely into the characters or the plot but the way that Grace Callaway writes, I read this to the end. I did skip the sex scenes to get to more Imogen drama TBH lol which wasn’t a lot. Yes. This story by Callaway is dominated by H’s lust of heroine. Many conversations end in you know what.
I think Callaway could have squeezed more angst out of the Imogen plot and from Fancy feeling like she needs to be a lady TBH.
Sometimes I get the feeling that this author holds back from writing the dark angst that she could do so beautifully along with her smooth and easy writing.
Like, Fancy does try to be a lady but I wanted some more angst but after some initial awkward family scenes, she gets a new wardrobe and viola. She is a success! Like… I want some more muffin accidentally thrown in the face. Yes this happened in the novel.
If you are looking for that type of heroine trying to belong but not quite feeling like it’s authentic for them, Brenda Joyce’s A Lady At Last comes to mind as both heroines are similar in that they try to be a lady but they’re not that insecure about it. Although Fancy wanted to be better because she thought she needed to for a man, she also threw in the towel with grace. Fancy did have self respect for herself whereas I felt like it would have had more angst if Fancy was a bit more like Gabby Garrity in Regarding the Dukes (book 3 in this series).
However, the sweet fairy tale ending really got me. And I need the overtly sweet Disney ending sometimes! That’s the one bit of fluff I need with no substitutions. As the send off to this series, I did have a smile to see all of the happy couples of the series.
I’ve noticed that Callaway enjoys heroes and heroines pulled from the stews or bourgeoise, code switching and elevating their social status into the Ton. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
All’s I know is I want to read more Grace Callaway.
I think Callaway could have squeezed more angst out of the Imogen plot and from Fancy feeling like she needs to be a lady TBH.
Sometimes I get the feeling that this author holds back from writing the dark angst that she could do so beautifully along with her smooth and easy writing.
Like, Fancy does try to be a lady but I wanted some more angst but after some initial awkward family scenes, she gets a new wardrobe and viola. She is a success! Like… I want some more muffin accidentally thrown in the face. Yes this happened in the novel.
If you are looking for that type of heroine trying to belong but not quite feeling like it’s authentic for them, Brenda Joyce’s A Lady At Last comes to mind as both heroines are similar in that they try to be a lady but they’re not that insecure about it. Although Fancy wanted to be better because she thought she needed to for a man, she also threw in the towel with grace. Fancy did have self respect for herself whereas I felt like it would have had more angst if Fancy was a bit more like Gabby Garrity in Regarding the Dukes (book 3 in this series).
However, the sweet fairy tale ending really got me. And I need the overtly sweet Disney ending sometimes! That’s the one bit of fluff I need with no substitutions. As the send off to this series, I did have a smile to see all of the happy couples of the series.
I’ve noticed that Callaway enjoys heroes and heroines pulled from the stews or bourgeoise, code switching and elevating their social status into the Ton. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
All’s I know is I want to read more Grace Callaway.
June 17, 2021
Aw, what a great ending to a series. It ended with a bang (with a fairy ale HEA ending). Very satisfying. I absolutely adored Severin and Fancy! Their road to HEA wasn't without hurdles, but the road felt smoother compared to other couples. They were just sweet together. I guess one of the reasons I adore Ms. Callaway's books would be the communication between the couples. They were up front with their expectations with each other (even though in the end, this wouldn't exactly be what they need or want).
You'll also get to see the characters from the previous books in this series. The steamy scenes were pretty well done here (compared to previous book featuring Wickham, which were a bit icky for me, hence the reason why it took me quite some time to pick this one up).
A solid 5 star and I'm looking forward to the next book by Ms. Callaway.
You'll also get to see the characters from the previous books in this series. The steamy scenes were pretty well done here (compared to previous book featuring Wickham, which were a bit icky for me, hence the reason why it took me quite some time to pick this one up).
A solid 5 star and I'm looking forward to the next book by Ms. Callaway.
July 31, 2020
"The fault is entirely mine for being an idiot." rightfully said the H.
December 31, 2022
4 stars —
Check out my #Bookstagram post on Instagram
Review. Really enjoyed this book! It's one of my favorite Grace Callaway reads. I loved Fancy and her pairing with Severin was perfect. Their class difference really is extreme, so I thought it was legitimate that she needed to have a bit of a makeover and different types of lessons in order to be a proper duchess, but I appreciated that she essentially stays the same person in her thinking and manner. I really liked that Severin's feelings for her don't change post-makeover—sometimes that happens, when it "opens the hero's eyes" or that type of thing, but Severin is already crazy about Fancy and the only import of her makeover is that it shows how much effort she's putting into their relationship and her new role, all for the sake of him and his family.
Fancy has the perfect balance of confidence and self-doubt. She's a strong woman who knows how the world works, and is resourceful and hard-working. She knows that she has a lot she can contribute to Severin's life and his family's, and she doesn't lose sight of this. As I said above though, the reality is that their class difference is extreme, and it would only make sense that Fancy questions how well she fits into that world and whether she can be what Severin needs to be, given that he set out to find a wife who is, in many ways, the exact opposite of her.
This is all complicated by the fact that he has never forgotten his first love and she still, in many ways, holds his heart—and is everything that Fancy is not. There's a lot of backstory here that has to be overcome by both Fancy and Severin, but it's very well done and as someone who doesn't like love triangles, I was not bothered by this subplot in the book. In fact, I thought it brought a lot to the story and both characters, and it makes the book very emotional in some parts in a way that truly touched my heart.
The age difference is quite significant, but it worked because Fancy was no naive miss—as no traveling tinker's daughter would rightly be. She's not jaded though and she has such a purity of spirit and goodness, which is such a wonderful contrast with Severin's severity (he's aptly named) and harshness.
Callaway excels at chemistry and hot love scenes, and this is no exception! The heat between them is sizzling. They are drawn to one another in a way that is beyond physical though, and like I said, they work together not only on that level, but in terms of personality as well—they're good for one another.
Criticism. My only real criticism is regarding the mystery/threat subplot. Outside of the spoiler tags, I'll just say that I thought it added an unnecessary aspect to Fancy's story. For more details:
Relationship Crossover in Previous Book. Note that although the beginning overlaps with The Duke Redemption , the previous book in this series, you in fact do NOT have to read it, because we don't get any details about their interactions, and those interactions are covered from their perspectives in this book. I was very excited to read this book, but made myself read Book 4 first for the sole reason that I didn't want to miss out on the beginnings of their relationship ... turned out that was 100% completely unnecessary.
Excerpt For a Little Laugh
#1 The Duke Identity — 4 stars
#2 Enter the Duke — TBR
#3 Regarding the Duke (Game of Dukes, #3) — 4.5 stars
#4 The Duke of Redemption — 3.5 stars
#5 The Return of the Duke — 4.25 stars
Other Grace Callaway Recommendations
My other GC favorites (4-5 stars), organized in order of my rating
● Her Husband's Harlot (Mayhem in Mayfair, #1) — 4 stars
● Her Wanton Wager (Mayhem in Mayfair, #2) — 4 stars
● Her Protector's Pleasure (Mayhem in Mayfair, #3) — 4 stars
● M is for Marquess (Heart of Enquiry, #2) — 4 stars
It was clear that Miss Sheridan not only lacked social polish, she didn't even know what it was. Yet something about the way she looked at him, with wonder and vulnerability, tugged at his gut.En Bref. Tinker's daughter meets a titan of industry who has recently inherited a Dukedom. They are equally enchanted by one another, but he needs a wife who is well-established in society and can help smooth the way for his four newly acquired half-siblings. After succumbing to their mutual passion, there is no other choice but for them to marry and make a go of it: she will do everything she can to help his family, be the Duchess he needs, and make him fall in love with her, and he will do everything he can to keep her with him, be a good husband and head of the family, while still guarding his heart. Amidst all this romance and relationship establishment and growth, they also need to deal with an emerging threat to Fancy, that comes from her mysterious past and led to her being abandoned in a field when she was a baby.
Review. Really enjoyed this book! It's one of my favorite Grace Callaway reads. I loved Fancy and her pairing with Severin was perfect. Their class difference really is extreme, so I thought it was legitimate that she needed to have a bit of a makeover and different types of lessons in order to be a proper duchess, but I appreciated that she essentially stays the same person in her thinking and manner. I really liked that Severin's feelings for her don't change post-makeover—sometimes that happens, when it "opens the hero's eyes" or that type of thing, but Severin is already crazy about Fancy and the only import of her makeover is that it shows how much effort she's putting into their relationship and her new role, all for the sake of him and his family.
Fancy has the perfect balance of confidence and self-doubt. She's a strong woman who knows how the world works, and is resourceful and hard-working. She knows that she has a lot she can contribute to Severin's life and his family's, and she doesn't lose sight of this. As I said above though, the reality is that their class difference is extreme, and it would only make sense that Fancy questions how well she fits into that world and whether she can be what Severin needs to be, given that he set out to find a wife who is, in many ways, the exact opposite of her.
This is all complicated by the fact that he has never forgotten his first love and she still, in many ways, holds his heart—and is everything that Fancy is not. There's a lot of backstory here that has to be overcome by both Fancy and Severin, but it's very well done and as someone who doesn't like love triangles, I was not bothered by this subplot in the book. In fact, I thought it brought a lot to the story and both characters, and it makes the book very emotional in some parts in a way that truly touched my heart.
The age difference is quite significant, but it worked because Fancy was no naive miss—as no traveling tinker's daughter would rightly be. She's not jaded though and she has such a purity of spirit and goodness, which is such a wonderful contrast with Severin's severity (he's aptly named) and harshness.
Callaway excels at chemistry and hot love scenes, and this is no exception! The heat between them is sizzling. They are drawn to one another in a way that is beyond physical though, and like I said, they work together not only on that level, but in terms of personality as well—they're good for one another.
Criticism. My only real criticism is regarding the mystery/threat subplot. Outside of the spoiler tags, I'll just say that I thought it added an unnecessary aspect to Fancy's story. For more details:
Relationship Crossover in Previous Book. Note that although the beginning overlaps with The Duke Redemption , the previous book in this series, you in fact do NOT have to read it, because we don't get any details about their interactions, and those interactions are covered from their perspectives in this book. I was very excited to read this book, but made myself read Book 4 first for the sole reason that I didn't want to miss out on the beginnings of their relationship ... turned out that was 100% completely unnecessary.
Excerpt For a Little Laugh
A strong arm hooked her around her waist. "Steady there, I have you."Game of Dukes Series
She jerked in shock, her back colliding with the very hard form of the Duke of Knighton. His bulging muscles caged her and prevented her from falling into the river. He took over the rod, his hand dwarfing hers. The fish continued to whip against the water, but it was only a matter of time before Knighton emerged victorious.
He landed the giant trout, its majestic body flip-flopping against the bank, splattering water and mud everywhere. Coming to her senses, Fancy pushed at the duke's arm, and he released her immediately. She went to grab her wooden club, ending the fish's suffering with a firm thwack.
Panting, she looked up at the duke.
He was staring at her, his expression inscrutable.
All at once, she registered her bedraggled state. She was soaked, her dress a wet clinging mess. Damp tendrils had escaped her braids and hung in her eyes. And, Sweet Jaysus, she was holding a bludgeon covered in fish scales.
Springing up, she set aside the club and tried to put herself to rights.
#1 The Duke Identity — 4 stars
#2 Enter the Duke — TBR
#3 Regarding the Duke (Game of Dukes, #3) — 4.5 stars
#4 The Duke of Redemption — 3.5 stars
#5 The Return of the Duke — 4.25 stars
Other Grace Callaway Recommendations
My other GC favorites (4-5 stars), organized in order of my rating
● Her Husband's Harlot (Mayhem in Mayfair, #1) — 4 stars
● Her Wanton Wager (Mayhem in Mayfair, #2) — 4 stars
● Her Protector's Pleasure (Mayhem in Mayfair, #3) — 4 stars
● M is for Marquess (Heart of Enquiry, #2) — 4 stars
August 18, 2020
Wow, super sexy. I think I liked Fancy best of all. Although did like characters and storyline. I did get a bit bored when it seemed nothing was happening, but perhaps I was just tired. Always rooting for Fancy. Fab story, which was very enjoyable. 5☆
September 24, 2020
2.5 stars
July 7, 2020
4.5 stars
I enjoyed this book so much, I finished it in a day. Fancy was definitely my favourite character. She had such a zest for life and was such a sweet and gentle person, who strives to see good in all. I liked that she was herself and not ashamed of her working class background. Severin Knight, although he was now a duke, had experienced a very tough life and was a self made man. They had an instant attraction but Fancy didn’t suit his idea of a duchess. This is a story that has danger, a secret and some very passionate scenes. The way the friends all worked together very satisfying. The only thing that I felt was a bit rushed was the epilogue, such a lot happened in a short time. However, this was a most engaging read.
I enjoyed this book so much, I finished it in a day. Fancy was definitely my favourite character. She had such a zest for life and was such a sweet and gentle person, who strives to see good in all. I liked that she was herself and not ashamed of her working class background. Severin Knight, although he was now a duke, had experienced a very tough life and was a self made man. They had an instant attraction but Fancy didn’t suit his idea of a duchess. This is a story that has danger, a secret and some very passionate scenes. The way the friends all worked together very satisfying. The only thing that I felt was a bit rushed was the epilogue, such a lot happened in a short time. However, this was a most engaging read.
February 11, 2022
I gave this book 4 stars solely because I really like this author however I did not care for the far fetched story line even farther fetched ending or the dialogue of the heroine. I do not suggest the audio it grated so I switched to just reading it, only a mild improvement. The country pumpkin thing was just a little much and I’m from the Deep South ha ha. But the book was well written and the steam was off the chart. Plot 2(1-10) steaminess 9 (1-10). It was more like a 3.75ish.
June 23, 2020
4.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1fz
Severin Knight grew up in the Rookery, having to scramble to survive. His father abandoned his mother before he was even born, causing her to resort to selling her body, then becoming an alcoholic, then drifting into madness. Severin’s life changed when he saved the life of a young lady when he was a teenager. His love for Imogen inspired him to work hard to transform himself into a gentleman and to become a wealthy man. Even so, he still wasn’t good enough for Imogen, and she married an earl to please her family, though she professed to love Severin. Having resolved himself to a future devoid of the love of his life, Severin, now known as Knight, resolves to continue being a true gentleman and focuses on his business interests. At the age of thirty, he is summoned by the dying Duke of Knighton, only to be told that he is, in fact, the legitimate heir. He inherits a dukedom, as well as the guardianship of four illegitimate half siblings he never knew existed. His aunt encourages him to quickly find a suitable duchess, one who has enough social consequence to prepare his unruly family for society, as well as manage them. Thus, Knight sets off to court Lady Beatrice, only to find himself strangely intrigued by her best friend.
Fancy Sheridan is the adopted daughter of a traveling tinker, who found her as an abandoned baby twenty two years ago. Fancy received all the love that her adoptive parents had to bestow, and became a true part of the family. During their travels, Fancy became best friends with Bea, a duke’s sister, and stays in a cottage on her land every year as her family passes through. Fancy is content with her traveling life, and has turned down proposals, vowing only to marry for true love, the kind she’s read about. When she sees Knight, it’s like she was struck by a bolt of lightning! Never has she had such an intense and instantaneous attraction to a man.
Though Knight himself had humble origins, and truly doesn’t look down on Fancy, he knows that she will never be the sort of wife he needs. Even when Bea makes it clear that she won’t accept his suit, Knight’s honor won’t let him take advantage of the mutual attraction between him and Fancy. He can’t wed her and he can’t bed her. Knight prepares to return to town, but circumstances have him rescuing Fancy from danger more than once. Finally, their passion overrules them, only to have them caught in a most compromising position. Though Fancy refuses to trap Knight into a marriage he doesn’t want, he is most insistent, and she finally agrees. Just so there is no misunderstanding, Knight is clear that he will honor and share a physical relationship with Fancy, he will never love her. His heart belongs to Imogen forever.
Oh, my goodness, Knight and Fancy! The steam between this couple about melted my kindle, and had me turning on the fan to dispel the smoke coming out of my ears! Aside from the physical chemistry, they had a genuine liking for each other and a wonderful rapport. As they grow closer every day, Fancy gives her all to becoming the kind of woman Knight needs, learning social graces, correct speech, and even charming his siblings. It seems as if love may be brewing, until his past love rears her unwelcome head, and the mystery of Fancy’s birth threatens her very life now.
I love this couple so much. Knight has truly become a gentleman of honor, but his playful and sexy side, as well as his generous care of Fancy make him a genuine hero. Fancy is warm, passionate, caring, and willing to give her all. But can she defeat a ghost from Knight’s past? Grace Callaway has a writing style that’s engrossing and reads as smooth as butter. THE RETURN OF THE DUKE flowed beautifully, making me get out the fan, tugging at my emotions, and leaving me smiling at the fairy tale like ending. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy an emotional romance with plenty of steam.
Severin Knight grew up in the Rookery, having to scramble to survive. His father abandoned his mother before he was even born, causing her to resort to selling her body, then becoming an alcoholic, then drifting into madness. Severin’s life changed when he saved the life of a young lady when he was a teenager. His love for Imogen inspired him to work hard to transform himself into a gentleman and to become a wealthy man. Even so, he still wasn’t good enough for Imogen, and she married an earl to please her family, though she professed to love Severin. Having resolved himself to a future devoid of the love of his life, Severin, now known as Knight, resolves to continue being a true gentleman and focuses on his business interests. At the age of thirty, he is summoned by the dying Duke of Knighton, only to be told that he is, in fact, the legitimate heir. He inherits a dukedom, as well as the guardianship of four illegitimate half siblings he never knew existed. His aunt encourages him to quickly find a suitable duchess, one who has enough social consequence to prepare his unruly family for society, as well as manage them. Thus, Knight sets off to court Lady Beatrice, only to find himself strangely intrigued by her best friend.
Fancy Sheridan is the adopted daughter of a traveling tinker, who found her as an abandoned baby twenty two years ago. Fancy received all the love that her adoptive parents had to bestow, and became a true part of the family. During their travels, Fancy became best friends with Bea, a duke’s sister, and stays in a cottage on her land every year as her family passes through. Fancy is content with her traveling life, and has turned down proposals, vowing only to marry for true love, the kind she’s read about. When she sees Knight, it’s like she was struck by a bolt of lightning! Never has she had such an intense and instantaneous attraction to a man.
Though Knight himself had humble origins, and truly doesn’t look down on Fancy, he knows that she will never be the sort of wife he needs. Even when Bea makes it clear that she won’t accept his suit, Knight’s honor won’t let him take advantage of the mutual attraction between him and Fancy. He can’t wed her and he can’t bed her. Knight prepares to return to town, but circumstances have him rescuing Fancy from danger more than once. Finally, their passion overrules them, only to have them caught in a most compromising position. Though Fancy refuses to trap Knight into a marriage he doesn’t want, he is most insistent, and she finally agrees. Just so there is no misunderstanding, Knight is clear that he will honor and share a physical relationship with Fancy, he will never love her. His heart belongs to Imogen forever.
Oh, my goodness, Knight and Fancy! The steam between this couple about melted my kindle, and had me turning on the fan to dispel the smoke coming out of my ears! Aside from the physical chemistry, they had a genuine liking for each other and a wonderful rapport. As they grow closer every day, Fancy gives her all to becoming the kind of woman Knight needs, learning social graces, correct speech, and even charming his siblings. It seems as if love may be brewing, until his past love rears her unwelcome head, and the mystery of Fancy’s birth threatens her very life now.
I love this couple so much. Knight has truly become a gentleman of honor, but his playful and sexy side, as well as his generous care of Fancy make him a genuine hero. Fancy is warm, passionate, caring, and willing to give her all. But can she defeat a ghost from Knight’s past? Grace Callaway has a writing style that’s engrossing and reads as smooth as butter. THE RETURN OF THE DUKE flowed beautifully, making me get out the fan, tugging at my emotions, and leaving me smiling at the fairy tale like ending. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy an emotional romance with plenty of steam.
January 9, 2022
Dear readers. To finish this you have to massively suspend your disbelief - massively. But if you can accept that a commoner with a horrible accent would be universally accepted as a Duchess then you'll enjoy this. It started slow with lots of the previous books referenced, but picked up after their marriage.
From the synopses you would think the H would be an ass, but he's actually consistently sweet, considerate and honest. He actually had flaws - which is more than I can say for the perfect heroine that everyone loves. There's a ridiculous amount of sex scenes but at least they liked each other first.
Franny did annoy me at the end, demanding love when he made it clear when proposing that was the one thing he couldn't give her. And the end was ridiculous, but overall it was an easy read with well rounded characters and sweet scenes.
From the synopses you would think the H would be an ass, but he's actually consistently sweet, considerate and honest. He actually had flaws - which is more than I can say for the perfect heroine that everyone loves. There's a ridiculous amount of sex scenes but at least they liked each other first.
Franny did annoy me at the end, demanding love when he made it clear when proposing that was the one thing he couldn't give her. And the end was ridiculous, but overall it was an easy read with well rounded characters and sweet scenes.
October 11, 2025
The Return of the Duke by Grace Callaway delivers yet another sensual, emotionally layered romance in her Game of Dukes series, this time pairing the stoic and guilt-ridden Duke of Knighton with a heroine whose warmth and vitality transforms his life in every possible way. Grace Callaway has a gift for writing love stories that blends passion, tenderness, and a touch of adventure, and while this installment isn’t quite what the blurb promises, it is still an utterly delightful read.
Fancy Sheridan is a foundling turned tinker’s daughter, a woman raised with love but very little exposure to the rigid expectations of society. She is young, sweet, and possesses a kind of unaffected honesty that immediately sets her apart from the polished ladies of the ton. When fate thrusts her into a marriage of convenience with Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, a man haunted by his past and by an old vow to a woman he once idealized, Fancy’s life changes forever. Their union is meant to be practical: she will help care for his siblings, learn and adapt to what it means to be part of his world, and he will provide her with stability and protection. But as with any good marriage-of-convenience romance, what begins as duty swiftly spirals into desire.
Severin is a complex hero; brooding, controlled, and carrying the burden of a vow made to Imogen, the woman he once thought he would love forever. Yet from the moment he meets Fancy, that carefully maintained restraint begins to fracture. What is wonderful here is how little resistance he actually puts up.
For all his talk of keeping his heart closed, his attraction to Fancy is visceral, immediate, and unstoppable. If the book falters slightly, it is in how it was marketed as a story of a man denying his passion; in truth, Severin is anything but restrained once he allows himself to have her. The result is a romance far less about denial and more about rediscovery, about a man learning that real love is messy, tender, and alive.
Fancy herself is one of Callaway’s most endearing heroines. She does not try to be anything other than who she is, and that honesty is precisely what draws Severin out of his self-imposed darkness. There is something beautiful about how she grounds him, her optimism balancing his pain, her compassion softening his regrets. And while she is no fiery rebel or combative feminist heroine, her quiet strength and self-awareness makes her one of the most compelling female leads in the series.
This book is also steamy, as is trademark Callaway. Her ability to write sensual scenes that balances emotional depth with raw desire is unmatched, and Severin and Fancy’s chemistry is electric from the start. The scenes are intimate not just in body but in emotion; every touch, every look, every whispered word builds toward a love that feels inevitable. The fairytale quality of the ending ties it all together perfectly, giving Fancy the life and love that she truly deserves.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy historical romances with emotionally scarred heroes, tender yet strong heroines, and plenty of heat balanced with heart.
Final Verdict: The Return of the Duke is passionate, heartfelt, and thoroughly satisfying. Fancy shines as a heroine, and Severin’s devotion makes the story beautifully worth it.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Fancy Sheridan is a foundling turned tinker’s daughter, a woman raised with love but very little exposure to the rigid expectations of society. She is young, sweet, and possesses a kind of unaffected honesty that immediately sets her apart from the polished ladies of the ton. When fate thrusts her into a marriage of convenience with Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, a man haunted by his past and by an old vow to a woman he once idealized, Fancy’s life changes forever. Their union is meant to be practical: she will help care for his siblings, learn and adapt to what it means to be part of his world, and he will provide her with stability and protection. But as with any good marriage-of-convenience romance, what begins as duty swiftly spirals into desire.
Severin is a complex hero; brooding, controlled, and carrying the burden of a vow made to Imogen, the woman he once thought he would love forever. Yet from the moment he meets Fancy, that carefully maintained restraint begins to fracture. What is wonderful here is how little resistance he actually puts up.
For all his talk of keeping his heart closed, his attraction to Fancy is visceral, immediate, and unstoppable. If the book falters slightly, it is in how it was marketed as a story of a man denying his passion; in truth, Severin is anything but restrained once he allows himself to have her. The result is a romance far less about denial and more about rediscovery, about a man learning that real love is messy, tender, and alive.
Fancy herself is one of Callaway’s most endearing heroines. She does not try to be anything other than who she is, and that honesty is precisely what draws Severin out of his self-imposed darkness. There is something beautiful about how she grounds him, her optimism balancing his pain, her compassion softening his regrets. And while she is no fiery rebel or combative feminist heroine, her quiet strength and self-awareness makes her one of the most compelling female leads in the series.
This book is also steamy, as is trademark Callaway. Her ability to write sensual scenes that balances emotional depth with raw desire is unmatched, and Severin and Fancy’s chemistry is electric from the start. The scenes are intimate not just in body but in emotion; every touch, every look, every whispered word builds toward a love that feels inevitable. The fairytale quality of the ending ties it all together perfectly, giving Fancy the life and love that she truly deserves.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy historical romances with emotionally scarred heroes, tender yet strong heroines, and plenty of heat balanced with heart.
Final Verdict: The Return of the Duke is passionate, heartfelt, and thoroughly satisfying. Fancy shines as a heroine, and Severin’s devotion makes the story beautifully worth it.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
November 18, 2022
Oh my goodness! I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy reading a book! That has got to be the happiest HEA I have ever read in my life! I can’t stop smiling!
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When reading the previous book I had slight inclinations as to possible things that could happen in Fancy and Severin’s story. But I’m pleased to say it was 100x better than I could have predicted! There wasn’t a single thing or moment I didn’t love this book! I thought I would continue to hate Imogen but even that I kind of understood. My heart still went out to Fancy on the occasions she saw them together.
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I loved the various fairytale stories that intertwined in this book, the rags to riches, the hope, the pure gentility and the desire! The 🌶🌶🌶 was amazing but also befitting to the actual characters and story.
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When Knighton first gets mentioned in earlier series he isn’t at all how I pictured him to be/you learn about him in this one. I think another reason why it worked is because you had various things going on but it didn’t feel too much, too overwhelming.
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The previous book for me was a little bit of a let down in comparison to the rest of the series and I was anxious as to how this one would pan out but I’m happy to say it’s possibly the best of all of them! I did not want to put this book down and I read it in about 8hours. It’s rare when a book manages to take you away, go on a journey and feel lighter and happier at the end of it, but this one did!
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I’m gutted this series is finished but I absolutely know for sure that I will be re-reading it and especially this book and I’m already excited to do so!
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When reading the previous book I had slight inclinations as to possible things that could happen in Fancy and Severin’s story. But I’m pleased to say it was 100x better than I could have predicted! There wasn’t a single thing or moment I didn’t love this book! I thought I would continue to hate Imogen but even that I kind of understood. My heart still went out to Fancy on the occasions she saw them together.
.
I loved the various fairytale stories that intertwined in this book, the rags to riches, the hope, the pure gentility and the desire! The 🌶🌶🌶 was amazing but also befitting to the actual characters and story.
.
When Knighton first gets mentioned in earlier series he isn’t at all how I pictured him to be/you learn about him in this one. I think another reason why it worked is because you had various things going on but it didn’t feel too much, too overwhelming.
.
The previous book for me was a little bit of a let down in comparison to the rest of the series and I was anxious as to how this one would pan out but I’m happy to say it’s possibly the best of all of them! I did not want to put this book down and I read it in about 8hours. It’s rare when a book manages to take you away, go on a journey and feel lighter and happier at the end of it, but this one did!
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I’m gutted this series is finished but I absolutely know for sure that I will be re-reading it and especially this book and I’m already excited to do so!
August 9, 2020
5/5 for Fancy -1 for the villain speech and origin story
Squick warning: Hero believes he owes loyalty to first love (he promised his first and last kiss to OW)
This book had some of my favorite tropes: the rags to riches, industrial background, the pining, the MOC. But Fancy was the best of all with her kind heart and empathy. I appreciated how open their relationship was and how it realistically built out of mutual respect and a lot of lust. This is Callaway after all.
I grappled with what I consider to be emotional cheating by the hero, but he never hid his emotions from the heroine and they talk a lot about their evolving feelings. I dont fault him to be honest, since the OW essentially gave him a reason to raise himself out of poverty. That plot point and the villain were the only things that bothered me.
Nevertheless, I had a lot of fun reading this and following Fancy’s journey. The HEA was very fulfilling.
Squick warning: Hero believes he owes loyalty to first love (he promised his first and last kiss to OW)
This book had some of my favorite tropes: the rags to riches, industrial background, the pining, the MOC. But Fancy was the best of all with her kind heart and empathy. I appreciated how open their relationship was and how it realistically built out of mutual respect and a lot of lust. This is Callaway after all.
I grappled with what I consider to be emotional cheating by the hero, but he never hid his emotions from the heroine and they talk a lot about their evolving feelings. I dont fault him to be honest, since the OW essentially gave him a reason to raise himself out of poverty. That plot point and the villain were the only things that bothered me.
Nevertheless, I had a lot of fun reading this and following Fancy’s journey. The HEA was very fulfilling.
September 18, 2023
Wonderful story of two people who seemed not a good match - but the heart knows better. Fancy Sheridan is a tinker's daughter who has spent her life travelling around in a caravan with just the bare necessities. But Fancy has always dreamed of a fairy tale love story and hopes to one day find her Prince. Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, has not always been a Duke, but a business man who has made his fortune well. He has lost at love before and intends never to try again. He also needs a wife who can help with his four younger siblings at home. Ms Calloway has written an amazing story of how they come together, become a real family, and save each other from their troubles. Characters from the Game of Dukes series make an appearance here, but this book can be read as a standalone. Highly recommend. *Side note: Ms Calloway has written an additional epilogue for her newsletter members that is a wonderful addition to the story, so sign up there to receive*
October 31, 2024
The Return of the Duke
4.5 Stars
Fancy Sheridan, the Foundling daughter of a tinker, and Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, are from different worlds, but that does not stop their immediate and intense attraction to one another. When circumstances lead to their unconventional union, Fancy and Knight must put aside their differences and work together to overcome the obstacles to their happiness. However, a deadly enemy has other plans...
Series note: There are a number of recurring characters from earlier books, and the events in the first few chapters overlap with those in the previous book, The Duke's Redemption.
Callaway has saved the best for last with Fancy and Severin's Cinderella style romance. Fancy is a delightful heroine and it is wonderful to see her grow in self-confidence as the story progresses. Likewise, Severin is a fantastic hero. His honesty and respect for Fancy, regardless of her social class, are particularly engaging. They have incredible chemistry and an intense emotional connection that strengthens their physical intimacy.
The mystery regarding Fancy's true identity is intriguing although the identity of the villain is obvious from the moment they are introduced. While the action is entertaining overall, the resolution and Fancy and Knight's HEA as is completely over the top and unrealistic. It mars an otherwise perfect story.
The next spin-off series, Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels, focuses on the daughters of couples from previous books in this and other series.
4.5 Stars
Fancy Sheridan, the Foundling daughter of a tinker, and Severin Knight, the Duke of Knighton, are from different worlds, but that does not stop their immediate and intense attraction to one another. When circumstances lead to their unconventional union, Fancy and Knight must put aside their differences and work together to overcome the obstacles to their happiness. However, a deadly enemy has other plans...
Series note: There are a number of recurring characters from earlier books, and the events in the first few chapters overlap with those in the previous book, The Duke's Redemption.
Callaway has saved the best for last with Fancy and Severin's Cinderella style romance. Fancy is a delightful heroine and it is wonderful to see her grow in self-confidence as the story progresses. Likewise, Severin is a fantastic hero. His honesty and respect for Fancy, regardless of her social class, are particularly engaging. They have incredible chemistry and an intense emotional connection that strengthens their physical intimacy.
The mystery regarding Fancy's true identity is intriguing although the identity of the villain is obvious from the moment they are introduced. While the action is entertaining overall, the resolution and Fancy and Knight's HEA as is completely over the top and unrealistic. It mars an otherwise perfect story.
The next spin-off series, Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels, focuses on the daughters of couples from previous books in this and other series.
April 5, 2022
OMGosh!! The Return of the Duke is my favorite story in Game of Dukes series. I gave all of these stories 5 stars. The Audible Narration by Marian Hussey is Amazing. Just Excellent in every story!!
The 5th and final story is about Severin Knight Duke of Knighton and Fancy Sheridan daughter of a Tinker. Or is she really his daughter? Who is Fancy?
I could not put down my kindle. I listen to the audible version in one setting. It was so good. Its one of those make you feel good stories. There is not a character that you will not like. Except the villains of course.
I Highly Recommend Game of Dukes series! Especially the Audible version!
The 5th and final story is about Severin Knight Duke of Knighton and Fancy Sheridan daughter of a Tinker. Or is she really his daughter? Who is Fancy?
I could not put down my kindle. I listen to the audible version in one setting. It was so good. Its one of those make you feel good stories. There is not a character that you will not like. Except the villains of course.
I Highly Recommend Game of Dukes series! Especially the Audible version!
June 27, 2020
This was a wonderful book to wrap up the series. I really loved the plot and the characters but I especially loved Fancy. She is a hopeless romantic and just wants a fairy tale ending. She is tinker’s daughter and quite proud of it. Also incredibly different from anyone of the upper ton. Through all of the changes in her life she really takes it in stride and adapts. She is never ashamed of who is she or her family but is open to learning new skills and changing a bit to fit into her new life as a duchess. She get along with the upper and lower classes. Never judging people from where they came from or their way of life. I really admired how her character handled every different sort of situation. Then she meets her Knight and knows he is the one she hopes will sweep her off her feet.
Knight is a great character as well. He wasn’t born as a gentleman but he truly is one at heart. He is good to Fancy and her family, his friends and lives with the guilt about his late mother. He does have high standards as to what he needs in a duchess but even when Fancy, who is unlike anyone he expected to be his future wife, becomes his duchess and in charge of his half-siblings, he never asks her to change her ways. He is not embarrassed by her manner of speaking or that she is not a lady of the ton. I think he likes her because she is different and accepts him, both good and slightly difficult or moody. They really are a perfect match! Also there are very steamy moments between them.
I always love the mystery in Grace Callaway’s books. The real mystery didn’t come into the book right away but we were left with little bread crumbs and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. It was unexpected but seemed like a great ending for our characters. That ending was the perfect way to wrap up the story and series. It was magical and put a smile on my face. I am SO excited for the new series, starting with Olivia McLeod. I was always hoping she would get her own book. Can’t wait until 2021!
Knight is a great character as well. He wasn’t born as a gentleman but he truly is one at heart. He is good to Fancy and her family, his friends and lives with the guilt about his late mother. He does have high standards as to what he needs in a duchess but even when Fancy, who is unlike anyone he expected to be his future wife, becomes his duchess and in charge of his half-siblings, he never asks her to change her ways. He is not embarrassed by her manner of speaking or that she is not a lady of the ton. I think he likes her because she is different and accepts him, both good and slightly difficult or moody. They really are a perfect match! Also there are very steamy moments between them.
I always love the mystery in Grace Callaway’s books. The real mystery didn’t come into the book right away but we were left with little bread crumbs and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. It was unexpected but seemed like a great ending for our characters. That ending was the perfect way to wrap up the story and series. It was magical and put a smile on my face. I am SO excited for the new series, starting with Olivia McLeod. I was always hoping she would get her own book. Can’t wait until 2021!
June 22, 2020
The Return of the Duke by Grace Callaway is full of lasting emotion and sexy passion. Fancy Sheridan and Severin Knight are the perfect opposites attract couple in Callaway's latest book in her Game of Dukes series.
Fancy is a foundling who was raised as a member of a tinker's family. She is loving and has been well-loved by her adopted family. She was never made to feel like an outsider and she dreams of a man who will own her heart. She is instantly enthralled with Severin Knight.
Severin is a new duke and knows he needs to find the right kind of society wife. A wife who will grace his halls and handle his four wayward illegitimate half-siblings. He believes Fancy's friend Bea is the right woman for the job, but she doesn't want him. Turns out Fancy is the woman who turns his head. She is all wrong for him, but he wants her anyway.
When Fancy and Severin are caught in a compromising position, they marry. He is frank with Fancy - his heart belongs to another woman. Fancy wants more, she'll accept Severin as her husband, but she won't give up her fight for his heart.
Oh my, this book was everything historical romances lovers want in a book. Angst, sexy scenes and two people who are meant for each other. Grace Callaway is a wonderful author - add her to your auto-buy authors list, you won't be disappointed.
Fancy is a foundling who was raised as a member of a tinker's family. She is loving and has been well-loved by her adopted family. She was never made to feel like an outsider and she dreams of a man who will own her heart. She is instantly enthralled with Severin Knight.
Severin is a new duke and knows he needs to find the right kind of society wife. A wife who will grace his halls and handle his four wayward illegitimate half-siblings. He believes Fancy's friend Bea is the right woman for the job, but she doesn't want him. Turns out Fancy is the woman who turns his head. She is all wrong for him, but he wants her anyway.
When Fancy and Severin are caught in a compromising position, they marry. He is frank with Fancy - his heart belongs to another woman. Fancy wants more, she'll accept Severin as her husband, but she won't give up her fight for his heart.
Oh my, this book was everything historical romances lovers want in a book. Angst, sexy scenes and two people who are meant for each other. Grace Callaway is a wonderful author - add her to your auto-buy authors list, you won't be disappointed.
September 11, 2021
The first half of this is wonderful-I love both main characters, and their affection for one another felt authentic, even as Severin insisted it wasn’t love. The second half was terrible. The resolution of the romantic conflict was way too rushed (it was solved by a single conversation, which was unsatisfying after several chapters of build up) and the mystery was absurd. Poor Fancy, kidnapped twice in the course of one novel-first by a friend’s enemy and then by her own! The idea that one woman could be tangled up in two unrelated murder plots was too absurd for me. I wish the author had kept this a slow burn romance with a love triangle and a Pygmalion subplot instead of sacrificing relationship and character development to fit in a silly mystery.
June 22, 2020
This book was exactly what I needed right now! I loved Fancy and Severin's sexy, romantic, emotional love story with just enough of the other characters from the series making appearances to keep things interesting. The mystery of Fancy's birth was well-done, but didn't distract from the main story and I LOVED the epilogue.
November 2, 2024
For about 1/2 way through the book, the angst was everything I was looking for. The h pining after the H’s heart. (He thought he was in love with OW to the point of not kissing any other woman including the h.) Then, this OW kissed the H and the h witnessed it. It died for me there. Especially because the H said many times that the OW was the woman he loved.
Yes, the h forgives him but it bothered me that the h was always trying to do her best by the H. Meanwhile, he was just lusty after the h. Their romance didn’t feel real.
Yes, the h forgives him but it bothered me that the h was always trying to do her best by the H. Meanwhile, he was just lusty after the h. Their romance didn’t feel real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2020
A great read! I couldn't put this one down. Knight and Fancy were made for each other. This book was very well written with lots of details to understand each character. We even got to know about each of their families. There was enough back story to understand what was going on in the beginning without being too much. We also get an appearance by couples in the previous books. And what an ending! I absolutely can't wait to read this author's next book. In my opinion her books are must haves.
June 19, 2020
The Return of the Duke by Grace Callaway is the 5th and final book to her Game of Dukes series. This was a bitter sweet ending for me. It was amazingly done but I am not ready for this series to end. I can’t praise this story enough. The writing is wonderful, the story is engaging, the characters and their connection is sizzling! I don’t know who I loved more Fancy or Knighton! I’m having a hard time articulating how much I really loved this book... suffice it to say that it is one of my top 10 favourite books of all time and I could read it (and the entire series) time and time again! I highly recommend this story. 5 incredibly big stars.
June 22, 2020
I really loved this one!! Perfect end to the series and I can't wait for the next one!
July 21, 2022
Let me start by saying this is one steamy book, my god.
Which is never a bad thing as long as it’s not repetitive.
I liked that Fancy was a commoner. She was down to earth, practical and nice. I did not like her speech. Maybe because English is not my first language but it got so annoying reading her lines with all the missing h, f, v whatever. I understand the need to amplify how she is a commoner but it does not make me ‘appy to ‘ave to read like this o’course.
I did like their marriage and how they tried to make it work. They were ‘onest (couldn’t help it) about their expectations and their lust for each other, no angst there.
To me the books should’ve ended long before it actually did. The whole princess plot was such a disappointed end. It was way too much and so sappy. And that says a lot coming from me.
Which is never a bad thing as long as it’s not repetitive.
I liked that Fancy was a commoner. She was down to earth, practical and nice. I did not like her speech. Maybe because English is not my first language but it got so annoying reading her lines with all the missing h, f, v whatever. I understand the need to amplify how she is a commoner but it does not make me ‘appy to ‘ave to read like this o’course.
I did like their marriage and how they tried to make it work. They were ‘onest (couldn’t help it) about their expectations and their lust for each other, no angst there.
To me the books should’ve ended long before it actually did. The whole princess plot was such a disappointed end. It was way too much and so sappy. And that says a lot coming from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
Going with three stars here, but that honestly feels a bit generous.
Way too much of this book was spent on Knight thinking he was still in love with Imogen, and that's just not really my thing. The entire plot with his half siblings felt like it got left unfinished. And honestly, Fancy just deserved a lot more from this story.
Way too much of this book was spent on Knight thinking he was still in love with Imogen, and that's just not really my thing. The entire plot with his half siblings felt like it got left unfinished. And honestly, Fancy just deserved a lot more from this story.
November 28, 2020
I took away one star cuz the epilogue was fucking dumb 😂
Also this could have been a sexed up Demelza, Ross, and Elizabeth ala Poldark 🤔
Also this could have been a sexed up Demelza, Ross, and Elizabeth ala Poldark 🤔
June 19, 2020
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
The Return of the Duke is the final book in the Game of Duke series. While it can be read as a standalone, the first half of the book takes place at the same time as the previous book in the series.
The Return of the Duke is a fairy tale-like romance between Fancy, a tinker's daughter, and Knight, a self-made man who inherits a ducal title. When caught in a compromising position, they enter a marriage of convenience. Love is out of the equation for the cynical hero, but there's definitely attraction and chemistry between him and Fancy. They're opposites in the sense that Fancy is a romantic who wants a fairy tale ending, while Knight is a cynic who believes love is a risk.
I pretty much love every single Grace Callaway book I've read and I enjoyed The Return of the Duke for the most part. I really wish I could give this book a higher rating, but unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of Knight. He spent majority of the book in delusion, thinking that he's in love with his childhood sweetheart. He also deluded himself into thinking that he could never kiss anyone else, let alone love anyone else. Although I'm not Knight's biggest fan, he's not the worst hero I've ever come across. He actually respects Fancy and he's very supportive of her and he likes her just way she is. He's also honest and open with Fancy about his opinion on love. He even tells Fancy that his childhood sweetheart won't affect their marriage, which is true for the most part. But the fact that Fancy spends most of the book thinking he is in love with another woman just doesn't sit well with me. And the fact that he even spends some time brooding over his childhood sweetheart during his marriage also doesn't sit well with me.
I basically loved everything except for the hero. Fancy is very sweet, but also kind of naive. Her naivete is endearing though. I adored her and I rooted for her from the beginning until the end. She deserved all the good things in the world and the epilogue was just the cherry on the cake. My favourite thing about this book is Fancy's growth as a character and her interactions with her family as well as with Knight's family members. I only wish her husband had realized his true feelings earlier on.
3.5 stars
The Return of the Duke is the final book in the Game of Duke series. While it can be read as a standalone, the first half of the book takes place at the same time as the previous book in the series.
The Return of the Duke is a fairy tale-like romance between Fancy, a tinker's daughter, and Knight, a self-made man who inherits a ducal title. When caught in a compromising position, they enter a marriage of convenience. Love is out of the equation for the cynical hero, but there's definitely attraction and chemistry between him and Fancy. They're opposites in the sense that Fancy is a romantic who wants a fairy tale ending, while Knight is a cynic who believes love is a risk.
I pretty much love every single Grace Callaway book I've read and I enjoyed The Return of the Duke for the most part. I really wish I could give this book a higher rating, but unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of Knight. He spent majority of the book in delusion, thinking that he's in love with his childhood sweetheart. He also deluded himself into thinking that he could never kiss anyone else, let alone love anyone else. Although I'm not Knight's biggest fan, he's not the worst hero I've ever come across. He actually respects Fancy and he's very supportive of her and he likes her just way she is. He's also honest and open with Fancy about his opinion on love. He even tells Fancy that his childhood sweetheart won't affect their marriage, which is true for the most part. But the fact that Fancy spends most of the book thinking he is in love with another woman just doesn't sit well with me. And the fact that he even spends some time brooding over his childhood sweetheart during his marriage also doesn't sit well with me.
I basically loved everything except for the hero. Fancy is very sweet, but also kind of naive. Her naivete is endearing though. I adored her and I rooted for her from the beginning until the end. She deserved all the good things in the world and the epilogue was just the cherry on the cake. My favourite thing about this book is Fancy's growth as a character and her interactions with her family as well as with Knight's family members. I only wish her husband had realized his true feelings earlier on.
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