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Lords in Disguise #2
Duke Looks Like a Groomsman
To win a bet with friends, a duke pretends to be a groomsman...then his ex-flame discovers him in the stables.
He's posing as a groomsman.
Rhys Sheffield, the Duke of Worthington, has bet his friends an ungodly sum of money that despite his loftiness, he can pass himself off as a servant at the house party of the Season. But when his clever ex-flame arrives and recognizes Rhys in the stables pretending to be a groomsman, she realizes it’s the perfect opportunity to pay him back for breaking off their engagement.
She’s the bride-to-be.
The lovely Lady Julianna Montgomery may be the only young woman at the house party who’s not in the market for a husband. She’s quite happily engaged to a marquess, thank you very much, and scarcely remembers the pain of being callously tossed over by the Duke of Worthington nearly two long years ago—till now.
All bets are off.
Rhys seems to be everywhere, flexing his muscles, laboring in the sun—and Julianna has never found him more appealing. With his signature charm, he persuades her to keep his secret. But when she learns he’s determined to win a bet of honor, she can’t resist playing a game of her own. She’ll spend the next fortnight tempting Rhys at every turn and making him lose his precious wager. Even if it means she must lose her heart in the process…
He's posing as a groomsman.
Rhys Sheffield, the Duke of Worthington, has bet his friends an ungodly sum of money that despite his loftiness, he can pass himself off as a servant at the house party of the Season. But when his clever ex-flame arrives and recognizes Rhys in the stables pretending to be a groomsman, she realizes it’s the perfect opportunity to pay him back for breaking off their engagement.
She’s the bride-to-be.
The lovely Lady Julianna Montgomery may be the only young woman at the house party who’s not in the market for a husband. She’s quite happily engaged to a marquess, thank you very much, and scarcely remembers the pain of being callously tossed over by the Duke of Worthington nearly two long years ago—till now.
All bets are off.
Rhys seems to be everywhere, flexing his muscles, laboring in the sun—and Julianna has never found him more appealing. With his signature charm, he persuades her to keep his secret. But when she learns he’s determined to win a bet of honor, she can’t resist playing a game of her own. She’ll spend the next fortnight tempting Rhys at every turn and making him lose his precious wager. Even if it means she must lose her heart in the process…
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2020
373 people are currently reading
793 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Bowman
57 books1,574 followersValerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance.
Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.
Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...
Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.
Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
June 7, 2021
Not my fave. I didnt like how our hero amd heroine separated and his reason for running off and hating her plus not telling the truth
October 21, 2020
Warning: There is a happily ever after for the couple, but the book ends on a cliff hanger. Apparently, there's an overarching plot (finding a traitor) that I must have overlooked when I read book 1.
This is a lovers to enemies/enemies to lovers and second chance at love trope. Rhys, our duke hero disguised as a groom (not groomsman, like the title suggests), courted our heroine, Juliana during her first season I believe. He went away for long time then sent her a letter ending things. At first, I thought someone else sent her the letter to end their courtship (like, maybe her dad, who didn't approve of Rhys), but we learn something else entirely when the big reveal occurs in the book. Not what I expected but I suppose the author wanted it to be connected to the cliff hanger and the resolution we'll see in book 3.
Julianna recognizes Rhys right away when she visits the stables on the first day of the house party. He convinces her to keep his identity a secret from the other house guests and his friends, or he'll lose the wager. Julianna attempts to make him quit by ordering him around while she visits the stables, which doesn't work since he's actually good at being a groom and rather enjoys it. Rhys also has an answer for every barb she sends his way. This eventually got boring. Their inner dialogue got repetitive, too, as they tend to blame the other for breaking off their courtship.
I thought the book was going to be more fun, but it wasn't. I'm not sure why all of the grooms and head groom were made aware of his true identity from the beginning. I think the book would have been more fun if they didn't know he was a duke in disguise.
Well, let's see how the last book ties the series up.
This is a lovers to enemies/enemies to lovers and second chance at love trope. Rhys, our duke hero disguised as a groom (not groomsman, like the title suggests), courted our heroine, Juliana during her first season I believe. He went away for long time then sent her a letter ending things. At first, I thought someone else sent her the letter to end their courtship (like, maybe her dad, who didn't approve of Rhys), but we learn something else entirely when the big reveal occurs in the book. Not what I expected but I suppose the author wanted it to be connected to the cliff hanger and the resolution we'll see in book 3.
Julianna recognizes Rhys right away when she visits the stables on the first day of the house party. He convinces her to keep his identity a secret from the other house guests and his friends, or he'll lose the wager. Julianna attempts to make him quit by ordering him around while she visits the stables, which doesn't work since he's actually good at being a groom and rather enjoys it. Rhys also has an answer for every barb she sends his way. This eventually got boring. Their inner dialogue got repetitive, too, as they tend to blame the other for breaking off their courtship.
I thought the book was going to be more fun, but it wasn't. I'm not sure why all of the grooms and head groom were made aware of his true identity from the beginning. I think the book would have been more fun if they didn't know he was a duke in disguise.
Well, let's see how the last book ties the series up.
January 4, 2023
1. Face sitting 2. Kind of a cliffhanger ending???
I think I liked this better than book 1 bc she was prepared to get married not out of duty but out of pettiness and I respect that 🫡 this was a nice second chance!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️*/5
*I think there’s enough here to count this as two scenes! The tension was !!!!
I think I liked this better than book 1 bc she was prepared to get married not out of duty but out of pettiness and I respect that 🫡 this was a nice second chance!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️*/5
*I think there’s enough here to count this as two scenes! The tension was !!!!
July 27, 2020
I am not a fan of second chance romances. They almost always fall into the trap of both hero and heroine thinking the same thoughts of regret throughout the story. I was afraid this book would dissolve into that same pattern but happily, it didn’t.
I’m not at all saying those thoughts of regrets weren’t there. They were, but it was at the beginning while the story was still being set up. Unlike a lot of titles with this trope, the plot didn’t hinge solely on the hero and heroine not having a simple discussion to clear issues up. Rhys and Julianna had that discussion, but it wasn’t at the end.
I did find it more fun in the first title when Frances didn’t realize Lucas was a lord until later. And I wasn’t a huge fan of the few flashbacks in the story.
*I received an eARC from Valerie Bowman in exchange of an honest review.
I’m not at all saying those thoughts of regrets weren’t there. They were, but it was at the beginning while the story was still being set up. Unlike a lot of titles with this trope, the plot didn’t hinge solely on the hero and heroine not having a simple discussion to clear issues up. Rhys and Julianna had that discussion, but it wasn’t at the end.
I did find it more fun in the first title when Frances didn’t realize Lucas was a lord until later. And I wasn’t a huge fan of the few flashbacks in the story.
*I received an eARC from Valerie Bowman in exchange of an honest review.
August 5, 2020
A passionate and funny second chance at love. Rhys and Juliana both have negative emotions regarding their previous relationship and both feel they were treated unfairly by the other. Since the end of their courtship they have not had to see each other, until Lord Clayton's House Party. Upon a trip to the stables Juliana immediately recognizes the groomsman as no other than Rhys, Duke of Worthington. She soon learns the truth of the ruse and plans to make Rhys' time miserable. She learns that revenge is not all that is seems and the passion between has to mean more. A second chance at love with dash of secrecy and good tension. I really liked Rhys and Juliana and Bowman is able to show how easily a small amount of pride and miscommunication can impact a relationship. Excited for the next in the series!
May 14, 2024
ANNOYING CHARACTERS AND A SO-SO PLOT
Safe to say, this one did not match up with the first book in the series (in my opinion).
What I didn't like
👎 Rhys: Oh man, Rhys pissed my off! I did not understand why he was so butthurt. And I felt like he was a broken record, repeating himself over and over.
👎 Julianna: Yeah, Julianna was not to my liking either. Especially not towards the end, where she makes a decision to sacrifice her own happiness in order to spite Rhys. So childish and toxic.
👎 Plot: While the plot wasn't necessarily bad, it was just a little bland. It didn't really offer any surprises.
Safe to say, this one did not match up with the first book in the series (in my opinion).
What I didn't like
👎 Rhys: Oh man, Rhys pissed my off! I did not understand why he was so butthurt. And I felt like he was a broken record, repeating himself over and over.
👎 Julianna: Yeah, Julianna was not to my liking either. Especially not towards the end, where she makes a decision to sacrifice her own happiness in order to spite Rhys. So childish and toxic.
👎 Plot: While the plot wasn't necessarily bad, it was just a little bland. It didn't really offer any surprises.
December 9, 2025
From 2 ★s to 4 ★s to 1 ★s to arrive ultimately at 2 ★
The roller coaster that was this book and it doesn't even have real drama or angst. Lets go through all those ups and downs together
. /\_/\ (\ _ /) A__A
( ˶•o•˶) ( •ω• ) ( •⤙• )
ଘ(ა🍵 ) (ა🍹૮)｡ (☕٩ )੭
(Saw this ↥ a while back and was dying to use it👉👈)
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The roller coaster that was this book and it doesn't even have real drama or angst. Lets go through all those ups and downs together
. /\_/\ (\ _ /) A__A
( ˶•o•˶) ( •ω• ) ( •⤙• )
ଘ(ა🍵 ) (ა🍹૮)｡ (☕٩ )੭
(Saw this ↥ a while back and was dying to use it👉👈)
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
May 14, 2023
Gostei bastante deste livro.
Acho as personagens um bocadinho infantis e o motivo da separação pouco convincente.
Conseguiram fazer-me rir em algumas partes e noutras desesperar porque ambos eram muito teimosos mas se assim não fosse o livro não tinha piada.
Contudo tenho que confessar que as personagens que mais gostei não foram as personagens principais mas sim a irmã de Julianna, Mary.
E claro as aparições ainda que poucas do Conde de Kendall e do meu já adorado sábio Marquês de Bellingham.
O fim deixa-nos a desejar começar imediatamente o terceiro.
Acho as personagens um bocadinho infantis e o motivo da separação pouco convincente.
Conseguiram fazer-me rir em algumas partes e noutras desesperar porque ambos eram muito teimosos mas se assim não fosse o livro não tinha piada.
Contudo tenho que confessar que as personagens que mais gostei não foram as personagens principais mas sim a irmã de Julianna, Mary.
E claro as aparições ainda que poucas do Conde de Kendall e do meu já adorado sábio Marquês de Bellingham.
O fim deixa-nos a desejar começar imediatamente o terceiro.
August 15, 2020
I feel like something was missing from this story. It read more like a novella than a full length story.
January 13, 2025
Rating: 3.5 / 5 (rounded down)
Unlike a lot of people, I'm not a fan of enemies-to-lovers romances; however, I AM willing to consider them, if they're done well. And what I mean by that is that the following criteria must be met:
+ the hero and/or heroine MUST have a legitimate reason for hating the other
+ the hero and heroine MUST realistically resolve what's wrong between them, rather than relying on lust and chemistry to do the job, before they get together
+ the plot MUST keep up the conflict between them only as long as its realistic to do so, and not just continue on and on in a contrived way
Of these three criteria, this book met...well, the first one, really, but that's it. And while the reasons are not the best or even on equal ground for why they hate each other, at least it's realistic and explained--eventually.
However, as for the other two reasons...eh.
I will admit that both Rhys and Juliana are likeable characters, and that how they play off each other was quite tolerable, at first. The problem with them is that even once they kind of talk over how they felt betrayed by the other, it still takes a lot of contrived plot to get them to fully talk about everything, and then for some reason even MORE plot before they actually get together. It just...made me kind of sick and tired to keep up with them for so long (or what FELT long, anyway, given that this book is only 225 pages), and that's ultimately why I'm ranking this a 3 stars instead of 4.
Let's just say that the sum of what their problem is--and why, in part, I wasn't fully convinced that they should be together at the end--is this:
Love cannot live without trust.
And that's really just what the problem comes down to: Rhys doesn't trust Juliana and continues to not trust her, but there's no real reason why, and even she rants about this to him and asks him why--for which he isn't able to give a good answer.
So...yeah, while it did have its sweet moments and while it did have a good premise for turning enemies-to-lovers, ultimately I think that the author was just trying to keep up the beginning conflict's momentum for too long, and should've introduced another conflict to keep them apart halfway through the book, rather than soldiering on through emotional angst.
If only things were different, eh?
Unlike a lot of people, I'm not a fan of enemies-to-lovers romances; however, I AM willing to consider them, if they're done well. And what I mean by that is that the following criteria must be met:
+ the hero and/or heroine MUST have a legitimate reason for hating the other
+ the hero and heroine MUST realistically resolve what's wrong between them, rather than relying on lust and chemistry to do the job, before they get together
+ the plot MUST keep up the conflict between them only as long as its realistic to do so, and not just continue on and on in a contrived way
Of these three criteria, this book met...well, the first one, really, but that's it. And while the reasons are not the best or even on equal ground for why they hate each other, at least it's realistic and explained--eventually.
However, as for the other two reasons...eh.
I will admit that both Rhys and Juliana are likeable characters, and that how they play off each other was quite tolerable, at first. The problem with them is that even once they kind of talk over how they felt betrayed by the other, it still takes a lot of contrived plot to get them to fully talk about everything, and then for some reason even MORE plot before they actually get together. It just...made me kind of sick and tired to keep up with them for so long (or what FELT long, anyway, given that this book is only 225 pages), and that's ultimately why I'm ranking this a 3 stars instead of 4.
Let's just say that the sum of what their problem is--and why, in part, I wasn't fully convinced that they should be together at the end--is this:
Love cannot live without trust.
And that's really just what the problem comes down to: Rhys doesn't trust Juliana and continues to not trust her, but there's no real reason why, and even she rants about this to him and asks him why--for which he isn't able to give a good answer.
So...yeah, while it did have its sweet moments and while it did have a good premise for turning enemies-to-lovers, ultimately I think that the author was just trying to keep up the beginning conflict's momentum for too long, and should've introduced another conflict to keep them apart halfway through the book, rather than soldiering on through emotional angst.
If only things were different, eh?
March 31, 2021
Enjoyable story. Like this series so far. 4☆
June 29, 2020
I am a big fan of Valerie Bowman. After reading the first book of the Footmen's Club I have been dying for the next book. This book is about Rhys Sheffield who is the Duke of Worthington.He and all of his friend have a large bit on who can dress up as a servant and get into one of the big ton parties. But he has a problem his ex finance see him and wants to make him pay for breaking off their engagement. Lady Julianna Montgomery engaged to a marquess. I love the chemistry between Lady Julianna and Rhys. I hope you love the book as much as I did.
July 22, 2020
Lady Julianna Montgomery attends a summer house party with her mother and sister. Julianna is the only woman at the house party not in need of a husband being happily betrothed already. When Julianna gets to the party she notices her old beau Rhys Sheffield, the Duke of Worthington dressed and acting as a groomsman. Julianna’s plan is all for revenge and to make Rhys pay for jilting her despite the feelings that both never expressed. As Julianna gets to know Rhys as a servant she realizes that he isn’t annoyed or even upset with all the menial tasks she gives him. Julianna attempts to get to Rhys but slowly starts to fall for him again. Rhys has a lot riding on the bet he made with his friends who are also at the house party acting as servants. Will Rhys be able to keep his secret from guests thereby winning the game without falling in love?
This is an amazing Regency story told wonderfully! The book has humor witty heated banter and great drawn out characters all rolled into one. This might be the second in the trilogy but can be read alone with enough background without getting lost. There are definitely enough plot twists to keep the story going without getting bored. Julianna the wronged heroine is at first unlikable because of wanting to get revenge. Okay her reasons are valid but it also made it difficult to connect with her too. Of course as you got to know her and why she treats Rhys the way she does make sense. Eventually she is genial enough to tolerate. Rhys the bullheaded and somewhat selfish hero also grates on the nerves but does become engaging enough as the book progresses. He is not really an ideal book boyfriend but still is not so bad. Ms. Bowman writes a good charming tale that definitely will keep you intrigued from beginning to end
This is an amazing Regency story told wonderfully! The book has humor witty heated banter and great drawn out characters all rolled into one. This might be the second in the trilogy but can be read alone with enough background without getting lost. There are definitely enough plot twists to keep the story going without getting bored. Julianna the wronged heroine is at first unlikable because of wanting to get revenge. Okay her reasons are valid but it also made it difficult to connect with her too. Of course as you got to know her and why she treats Rhys the way she does make sense. Eventually she is genial enough to tolerate. Rhys the bullheaded and somewhat selfish hero also grates on the nerves but does become engaging enough as the book progresses. He is not really an ideal book boyfriend but still is not so bad. Ms. Bowman writes a good charming tale that definitely will keep you intrigued from beginning to end
October 2, 2022
Rated 3.5
April 17, 2023
3.5 stars I liked this one more than the first one.
July 27, 2020
I sadly didn't love Duke Looks Like a Groomsman as much as I liked the first book in the series. It's a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, second chances type of trope, which is not my favorite to begin with.
I liked the banter and chemistry between Rhys and Julianna, and was looking forward to reading more about her after the few glimpses I got in the first book. My main problem with this book was the pacing. They would be in a situation where the tension would start to tighten and escalate, and they'd get to the dramatic peak... and then the next chapter would start with one of them lying in bed that night, unable to sleep and thinking back over the day. I don't want this build up and build up and tension and then someone says something that is just dropping a total bomb. Cut to night time and it turns out someone walked into the room in the next moment and they had to separate. NO. MC1 just dropped a total revelation bomb there! I want to experience MC2's POV as they're interrupted and they're prevented from responding/following up/whatever they wanted to do. What did they feel in that moment? What did they want? What were they thinking? "And then so and so ended up interrupting us and we went out separate ways" is SO UNSATISFYING. And it didn't just happen once, it happened again and again and AGAIN.
It's like watching a cake you're baking rise in the oven, anticipating how fluffy and delicious it's going to be, how you'll frost it, and then your five year old comes and stomps too hard next to the oven and the cake falls. Like, sure, it's still technically a cake, but why even bother at that point? It's basically ruined. Nobody wants that. STOP MAKING THE CAKE FALL, VALERIE. It just kept jerking me right out of the story and completely sapping all the delicious tension that had managed to build and it was very unsatisfying. The story itself was still good, and they had some great conflicts to overcome and I love a good wallow in self pity, but the repeated skipping to ahead to their sleepless nights just sort of ruined the book for me.
This is the second book in The Footmen's Club series. All three books in the series run on a concurrent timeline, taking place over the same two weeks at the same house party, with the prologue being the exact same actions/dialogue but from that book's MC's POV. You DEFINITELY need to read these in order though, because there are a LOT of spoilers for the first book (The Footman and I) in this second book. Even though I didn't love this one, I'm still looking forward to the final book in the series (maybe because Bell is my favorite and I am excited to finally get his book!), The Valet Who Loved Me.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the author for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
I liked the banter and chemistry between Rhys and Julianna, and was looking forward to reading more about her after the few glimpses I got in the first book. My main problem with this book was the pacing. They would be in a situation where the tension would start to tighten and escalate, and they'd get to the dramatic peak... and then the next chapter would start with one of them lying in bed that night, unable to sleep and thinking back over the day. I don't want this build up and build up and tension and then someone says something that is just dropping a total bomb. Cut to night time and it turns out someone walked into the room in the next moment and they had to separate. NO. MC1 just dropped a total revelation bomb there! I want to experience MC2's POV as they're interrupted and they're prevented from responding/following up/whatever they wanted to do. What did they feel in that moment? What did they want? What were they thinking? "And then so and so ended up interrupting us and we went out separate ways" is SO UNSATISFYING. And it didn't just happen once, it happened again and again and AGAIN.
It's like watching a cake you're baking rise in the oven, anticipating how fluffy and delicious it's going to be, how you'll frost it, and then your five year old comes and stomps too hard next to the oven and the cake falls. Like, sure, it's still technically a cake, but why even bother at that point? It's basically ruined. Nobody wants that. STOP MAKING THE CAKE FALL, VALERIE. It just kept jerking me right out of the story and completely sapping all the delicious tension that had managed to build and it was very unsatisfying. The story itself was still good, and they had some great conflicts to overcome and I love a good wallow in self pity, but the repeated skipping to ahead to their sleepless nights just sort of ruined the book for me.
This is the second book in The Footmen's Club series. All three books in the series run on a concurrent timeline, taking place over the same two weeks at the same house party, with the prologue being the exact same actions/dialogue but from that book's MC's POV. You DEFINITELY need to read these in order though, because there are a LOT of spoilers for the first book (The Footman and I) in this second book. Even though I didn't love this one, I'm still looking forward to the final book in the series (maybe because Bell is my favorite and I am excited to finally get his book!), The Valet Who Loved Me.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the author for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
January 3, 2021
In the last book we saw how 3 men pretended to be servants at a houseparty, now we learned more about their bet. Rhys just wants to win the bet, he does not want to have someone fall in love with him and not his title like his friend does. Or like his other friend who jumps at the chance to find a traitor to the crown.
So Rhys works as a groomsman, and then the woman he thought the would marry comes to the stable. Omg, these two! Rhys left because of real reasons, but he should have told her! Then he got angry because she much much later on meets someone new. Well she had not heard from you in a year, of course she moved on. You do not get to be angry, you also left because you are a silly Duke! Julianne oh she got be angry, she thought he would propose and then he just left.
She tortures him quite a bit because he wants to win his bet and she does everything to make him fail. Rather amusing. And I also wanted them to talk, really talk, to get it all out. Also to fall madly in love again, as they never stopped.
Of course they are still silly even close to the end, only because they are both so stubborn, but love always finds a way.
I liked them, stubborn idiots as they were. It was an easy listen. Though it does end with a cliffhanger of sorts, about that third guy I told you about, he who wanted to find a traitor so this leads into his book.
Good narrator, easy listening too. Good voices, and as always, historical romance is so good in audio. I prefer it these days
So Rhys works as a groomsman, and then the woman he thought the would marry comes to the stable. Omg, these two! Rhys left because of real reasons, but he should have told her! Then he got angry because she much much later on meets someone new. Well she had not heard from you in a year, of course she moved on. You do not get to be angry, you also left because you are a silly Duke! Julianne oh she got be angry, she thought he would propose and then he just left.
She tortures him quite a bit because he wants to win his bet and she does everything to make him fail. Rather amusing. And I also wanted them to talk, really talk, to get it all out. Also to fall madly in love again, as they never stopped.
Of course they are still silly even close to the end, only because they are both so stubborn, but love always finds a way.
I liked them, stubborn idiots as they were. It was an easy listen. Though it does end with a cliffhanger of sorts, about that third guy I told you about, he who wanted to find a traitor so this leads into his book.
Good narrator, easy listening too. Good voices, and as always, historical romance is so good in audio. I prefer it these days
January 8, 2021
¿Qué puedo decir? Este libro tenía una de las premisas más curiosas que he leído en cuanto a romances históricos y aunque no hubiera apostado mucho por él antes de empezar a leer, ahora debo decir que estoy gratamente sorprendida.
Este es la segunda novela de la serie pero las tres historias acontecen más o menos de manera simultánea así que creo que no me perdí de mucho (aunque ahora quiero leer el libro que me salté). Creo que no hay ninguna problema para leerlo como una historia en solitario, sin embargo el final que presenta hace muy difícil ganarle a la tentación de saber qué sucede en el libro siguiente.
Mi opinión sobre esta novela:
La historia nos presenta un romance de segundas oportunidades, con fricciones a causa del orgullo y el prejuicio -pero no podría parecerse menos a Jane Austen-, y con una gran presencia del humor. Estuve a las carcajadas buena parte del tiempo y se me hizo una historia rápida y entretenida.
No es un libro demasiado largo, lo que agradezco mucho, y la trama es muy sencilla por lo que no hay muchas sorpresas pero mantiene un buen ritmo. Lo que más destaco son sus personajes, el Duque de Worthington y Lady Juliana eran una dupla que se complementaba, la química entre ambos era evidente.
En general fue una lectura simpática para pasar el tiempo que terminó gustándome muchísimo. Sobre todo por el toque original al ya conocido drama de encontrar marido en el siglo XIX.
Este es la segunda novela de la serie pero las tres historias acontecen más o menos de manera simultánea así que creo que no me perdí de mucho (aunque ahora quiero leer el libro que me salté). Creo que no hay ninguna problema para leerlo como una historia en solitario, sin embargo el final que presenta hace muy difícil ganarle a la tentación de saber qué sucede en el libro siguiente.
Mi opinión sobre esta novela:
La historia nos presenta un romance de segundas oportunidades, con fricciones a causa del orgullo y el prejuicio -pero no podría parecerse menos a Jane Austen-, y con una gran presencia del humor. Estuve a las carcajadas buena parte del tiempo y se me hizo una historia rápida y entretenida.
No es un libro demasiado largo, lo que agradezco mucho, y la trama es muy sencilla por lo que no hay muchas sorpresas pero mantiene un buen ritmo. Lo que más destaco son sus personajes, el Duque de Worthington y Lady Juliana eran una dupla que se complementaba, la química entre ambos era evidente.
En general fue una lectura simpática para pasar el tiempo que terminó gustándome muchísimo. Sobre todo por el toque original al ya conocido drama de encontrar marido en el siglo XIX.
July 28, 2020
Valerie Bowman has another winner with Duke Looks Like a Groomsman! As soon as I finished this book, the second book in The Footman’s Club, I realized I now have to wait for the third and final book. This book brings us The Duke of Worthington’s (Rhys) and Lady Julianna Montgomery’s story. They had courted during a previous season but something happened and the Duke left the ton one day with no explanation as to why he didn’t return. Lady Julianna has since become engaged to another man. Rhys and Julianna meet again during her younger sister’s, Mary, season. He is posing as a Groomsman on his friend’s estate. Will he be able to convince Juliana to keep his secret, as to why he’s posing as a groomsman, and win the bet with his friends or will she expose him? Will she marry the Marquees, her intended husband. Will they rekindle their relationship or remain enemies? You’ll have to read an find out! I highly recommend this series. However, this book can be read on its own.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
July 28, 2020
Duke Looks Like a Groomsman" by Valerie Bowman is book Two in The Footmen's Club Series. This is the story of Julianna Montgomery and Rhys Sheffield, the Duke of Worthington. I have read (and Loved) the previous book which did add to my enjoyment of this one with the past characters. But, with that said I do think you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Rhys and Julianna once were on the bring of moving their courtship forward but Rhys had to leave for an emergency and he didn't come back to Julianna. There were several reason for this but one was the underlining issue with his past. This because of how he was raised by his father and of course Rhys seeing things himself. So he didn't really trust his feeling nor Julianna. Julianna was moved forward to marry someone else by her family so now she is engaged but her heart never left Rhys. This becomes their second chance at love with this house party and Rhys pretending to be a Groomsman. I am a big fan of this author's writing, so I do recommend this book and of course other by her.
July 24, 2020
Duke Looks Like a Groomsman is book #2 out of #3 of The Footmen’s Club Trilogy. I’ve read the first 2 books and am looking forward to the 3rd book to come out. Each book gives enough background information so that if you wanted to read one of the books as a standalone, you certainly can do that but after reading one book, I’m sure you’ll want to read all of them. This book is about Rhys Sheffield, Duke of Worthington, who made a bet with his friends that he could masquerade as a groomsman at a party and no one would recognize him. What he did not expect was that his
ex fiancé, Julianna, would show up and recognize him right away. Since he broke her heart by breaking the engagement a couple of years earlier, she has plans for revenge and tries to make him lose the bet by constantly demanding his groomsman services, hoping that he would lose the bet. This book is filled with humor, romance and drama! Looking forward to book #3!
I was given an ARC from the author for an honest review.
ex fiancé, Julianna, would show up and recognize him right away. Since he broke her heart by breaking the engagement a couple of years earlier, she has plans for revenge and tries to make him lose the bet by constantly demanding his groomsman services, hoping that he would lose the bet. This book is filled with humor, romance and drama! Looking forward to book #3!
I was given an ARC from the author for an honest review.
July 27, 2020
I have to admit that I preferred the first one to this book, but mostly because Rhys was not so much to my liking, and I found all his reasons not so good but, as his friends told him, mere excuses. Julianne and Mary instead, were 2 pretty good characters and I hope to see more of Mary and Harry's story in the next installment.
Devo ammettere che il primo mi era piaciuto di piú, ma principalmente perché Rhys non mi é piaciuto poi tanto e soprattutto tutte le sue ragioni erano mere scuse, esattamente come gli hanno detto i suoi amici. Piuttosto, Mary e Julianne sono proprio due bei personaggi e spero di sapere qualcosa di piú sulla storia tra Mary ed Harry nel prossimo libro.
Devo ammettere che il primo mi era piaciuto di piú, ma principalmente perché Rhys non mi é piaciuto poi tanto e soprattutto tutte le sue ragioni erano mere scuse, esattamente come gli hanno detto i suoi amici. Piuttosto, Mary e Julianne sono proprio due bei personaggi e spero di sapere qualcosa di piú sulla storia tra Mary ed Harry nel prossimo libro.
March 18, 2023
Unfortunately this one fell apart in the last 1/3 of the book. Dropped it from 3.5-4 stars to 2 because if all of this. I was quite literally rolling my eyes at the absurdity of things that happened. Was too clichéd.
Also in the end I did not like Rhys which was very disappointing after the first book in the series.
Lots of issues with continuity as well. I highlighted a lot in my notes that I shared. Continuity within this book and between this book and the first in the series.
I’ll read the next book since I already own it and will hope for a better experience. I hope it doesn’t fall apart at the end.
Also in the end I did not like Rhys which was very disappointing after the first book in the series.
Lots of issues with continuity as well. I highlighted a lot in my notes that I shared. Continuity within this book and between this book and the first in the series.
I’ll read the next book since I already own it and will hope for a better experience. I hope it doesn’t fall apart at the end.
January 31, 2023
I liked this book a bit better than the first but I hate lack of communication troupes. Had they properly communicated then they would have been together sooner. And I hated that cliffhanger ending. When you move onto a new book about a different main character then it shouldn’t be a cliffhanger. I am hoping Bell’s book is better.
September 4, 2023
There’s just something about Valerie Bowman’s books that I am obsessed with and this one was no different. For me good dialogue is essential in making a good book and she does this perfectly.
Normally I’m not a fan of second chance romances but she just executed the scenario perfectly. Was Rhys a bit of an idiot? Yes. Was Julianna petty until literally the night before her wedding? Yes. Did I love them anyway? Of course I did.
Normally I’m not a fan of second chance romances but she just executed the scenario perfectly. Was Rhys a bit of an idiot? Yes. Was Julianna petty until literally the night before her wedding? Yes. Did I love them anyway? Of course I did.
September 8, 2023
stubbornly adorable!
What a riot this story is when two bullheaded people work too hard to NOT fall in love. I loved the banter between Ryse and Julianna once she figured out how he was. Mary is adorable and the twist there was very well hidden! I really wanted to see the confrontation between Ryse and Julianna’s Dad, but it still is a beautiful story…..
What a riot this story is when two bullheaded people work too hard to NOT fall in love. I loved the banter between Ryse and Julianna once she figured out how he was. Mary is adorable and the twist there was very well hidden! I really wanted to see the confrontation between Ryse and Julianna’s Dad, but it still is a beautiful story…..
September 3, 2023
I hate when second chance romances hinge on the couple hating each other over a miscommunication, BUT this book was cute. Valerie Bowman knows how to write sweet, romantic historicals. I'm not usually one for sweet romances over angsty romances but I do like this series.
July 22, 2020
This is the type of storyline that draws me to a book. Second chance is a favorite. The Footmen’s Club is a great idea and when you throw in an arrogant, smarmy Duke what could go wrong? Worth is amazing as the groomsman and he is perfect in his position. I was pulled into his story that we don’t know a lot about but when it comes to light I bet you will love him also. Juliana is his perfect foe. She tries her best to get him to break out of his role as a groomsman but she comes to see that he is really good at it. There are so many scenes that are fantastic. I was cheering for this couple and the ending is perfect! Bravo Valerie.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
December 19, 2021
This series is just the right mix between fun and ridiculousness. So fun!
June 17, 2024
Tuvo exactamente la medida correcta de angst entre los dos y de hacerlo sufrir un poco, Rhys fue el culpable de todo, Julianna no merecía, pero también la entiendo por perdonarlo tan rápido 🥴
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