What do you think?
Rate this book
The Duke's Estates #4
A Gentleman Ought to Know
Charlotte Deeping needs something to keep her occupied now that she's back home after her first London season. She misses solving local intrigues with her school friends, but they've all gone off and gotten married. Then Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, comes for a visit, and drops a mystery right into her lap.
When Charlotte's brother makes her promise not to interrogate the marquess, she agrees. But that only means she'll have to find more subtle ways to learn about the mysterious marquess and his past. The more time they spend together, the closer Charlotte gets to finding answers, and to Laurence. That is, until Charlotte's digging rouses an old vendetta and Laurence has to delve into his own history to help the young lady he's come to love.
When Charlotte's brother makes her promise not to interrogate the marquess, she agrees. But that only means she'll have to find more subtle ways to learn about the mysterious marquess and his past. The more time they spend together, the closer Charlotte gets to finding answers, and to Laurence. That is, until Charlotte's digging rouses an old vendetta and Laurence has to delve into his own history to help the young lady he's come to love.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 7, 2023
49 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Jane Ashford
52 books405 followersJane Ashford has written historical and contemporary romances. Her books have been published in England, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Slovakia, Denmark, Russia, and Latvia, Croatia and Slovenia as well as the U.S. She was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Her latest book, Lost Time, is romantic suspense with a touch of magic.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
May 8, 2023
I'm giving this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This was my first book by Jane Ashford. I'm reading this series out of order. A Gentleman Ought to Know is the fourth installment. I didn't have a problem following anything, and I'm intrigued to read books 1-3.
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story very much, but found the romance a little lacking. I didn't always understand why Lawrence liked Charlotte. At times, she was discourtious to him through no fault of his own.
This was a clean romance, which I usually don't mind a fade to black style, but this one has nothing beyond a kiss.
It truly felt more like a mystery with a side of romance than a romance with a side of mystery. I like mysteries, so I enjoyed it, but if that isn't your thing, then you might want to skip this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This was my first book by Jane Ashford. I'm reading this series out of order. A Gentleman Ought to Know is the fourth installment. I didn't have a problem following anything, and I'm intrigued to read books 1-3.
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story very much, but found the romance a little lacking. I didn't always understand why Lawrence liked Charlotte. At times, she was discourtious to him through no fault of his own.
This was a clean romance, which I usually don't mind a fade to black style, but this one has nothing beyond a kiss.
It truly felt more like a mystery with a side of romance than a romance with a side of mystery. I like mysteries, so I enjoyed it, but if that isn't your thing, then you might want to skip this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 10, 2023
I love this series!
January 13, 2023
This is the fourth book in The Duke’s Estates series, and it is a charming addition. Charlotte and Laurence are interesting and likable characters, and their romance is sweet and lovely. And even though it’s the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
Charlotte is home after her first season in London, and with all of her friends now married, she is at a bit of a loss. Then, she meets her brother’s friend, and life changes for the both of them. Charlotte is a whiz at solving mysteries, and she becomes very invested in helping Laurence find out more about the death of his parents. I love how they work together to figure out this decades old mystery. They have great chemistry, and their slow-building romance is lovely.
The secondary characters are fantastic too. Merlin, Charlotte’s boisterous and loving family, and Charlotte’s friends are all dynamic and fun, and the banter among all of them creates such a warm and loving and wonderful setting. It’s a great contrast to the dark murder mystery Charlotte and Laurence are trying to solve. And when they all investigate together…the best!!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Charlotte is home after her first season in London, and with all of her friends now married, she is at a bit of a loss. Then, she meets her brother’s friend, and life changes for the both of them. Charlotte is a whiz at solving mysteries, and she becomes very invested in helping Laurence find out more about the death of his parents. I love how they work together to figure out this decades old mystery. They have great chemistry, and their slow-building romance is lovely.
The secondary characters are fantastic too. Merlin, Charlotte’s boisterous and loving family, and Charlotte’s friends are all dynamic and fun, and the banter among all of them creates such a warm and loving and wonderful setting. It’s a great contrast to the dark murder mystery Charlotte and Laurence are trying to solve. And when they all investigate together…the best!!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
March 7, 2023
An inquisitive mystery maven and a Marquess that witnessed the murder of his parents as a child.
I really liked how Charlotte and Laurence just clicked. Laurence wasn't afraid of Charlotte being outspoken and the teasing relationship she had with her brothers. Charlotte definitely enjoyed how easy conversation was with Laurence and him letting her take on finding out the mystery of his past. One of my favorite characters that added some fun to the mystery was Merlin, who is basically a crazy old man looking for something to do.
This book has a good balance of romance, mystery, and lighthearted family fun. The romance was definitely PG, so a little more fire would have been fun, but the overall story was told well regardless.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
I really liked how Charlotte and Laurence just clicked. Laurence wasn't afraid of Charlotte being outspoken and the teasing relationship she had with her brothers. Charlotte definitely enjoyed how easy conversation was with Laurence and him letting her take on finding out the mystery of his past. One of my favorite characters that added some fun to the mystery was Merlin, who is basically a crazy old man looking for something to do.
This book has a good balance of romance, mystery, and lighthearted family fun. The romance was definitely PG, so a little more fire would have been fun, but the overall story was told well regardless.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
March 12, 2023
Charlotte Deeping loves nothing more than solving mysteries. One of her oldest brother's guests for a hunting party is Lawrence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon. Lawrence has lived with a mystery since he was four years old. Who murdered his parents? With a sense of purpose, Charlotte starts asking questions from known sources about the murders. As pieces of the puzzle come together, Charlotte realizes Lawrence may be the man who will let her be herself. Unexpected evidence is found to explain what happened in the past and solve the murders. Some humor between her brothers, mixed in with danger makes for an interesting mystery. Kissing only.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
February 27, 2023
A tenacious lady who wants to forge her own path
A guarded marquess with a troubled past
An unresolved mystery that brings them together
And a love stronger than anything that might want to keep them apart.
Charlotte and Laurence are meant to be together.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
A guarded marquess with a troubled past
An unresolved mystery that brings them together
And a love stronger than anything that might want to keep them apart.
Charlotte and Laurence are meant to be together.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
March 28, 2023
Jane Ashford is the perfect author if you are looking for a light historical romance, that feels reminiscent of a Georgette Heyer style, that is very light on the steam, but has a really lovely level of sweetness to the story. Ashford's writing is gentle, and have a softness to its pacing, that give a realistic feel to the time period and the characters and situations. A Gentleman Ought to Know is the fourth novel in Ashford's Duke Estates series and it is a charming companion to the other novels. This and the other novels in the series, all take place outside of the London scene which give them a really lovely gentleness that is perfect for a Sunday afternoon read. Ashford's characters in this novel are both charming and easily likable, and their romance is soft and endearing. I find the plots of Ashford's novels to create a nice driving force for the through-line of the novel, but ultimately the reader is more motivated by the character development. Ashford has a charming way of creating light banter and moments between the couple that reflect the way that Jane Austen's characters and relationships are explored in her works. I would definitely recommend Jane Ashford if you are a love of author's like Austen and Gaskill, her works feel like a branch off of the tree of those style of works.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 8, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview of this book and this is my freely given opinion.
This is the 4th book of the Duke's Estate's series, and the story of Charlotte Deeping, the only daughter of a family of gregarious, horse breeders, and dedicated hunters, with several brothers. She is one of the group of mystery solving friends that were introduced in the previous books, and friend to Charlotte, the Duchess of Tereford. She is sharp witted, and sharp tongued, and as such, did not "take" when she had her Season. But then again, she was not impressed with the men she did meet, so has determined she would not marry, but stay single and independent and, and perhaps find some purpose in life through helping with the family horse breeding operation. She is missing her friends and their previous adventures, and mourns losing some of those close ties as her friends marry off and develop life paths.
With the oncoming fox hunt season, her family has decided to have a house party, and her mother is using the opportunity to bring in some eligible bachelors, hoping to match Charlotte, much to Charlotte's disgust. One of them is her brother's school friend, Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon. Laurence was orphaned at a young age, and it is hinted strongly that he was raised by various guardians who did much to repress him, and discourage him expressing emotion or any of his true self. He is quite stunned and overwhelmed initially by the Deepings and how boisterous and exuberant they are. Their family ways and closeness were so different from his own experience. He also finds that Charlotte is very attractive with her wit, intelligence, and truth, and seeks her out and reveals more of himself than usual.
Charlotte initially did not want much to do with him, especially knowing her mother's intentions. But then she discovers that he is a walking mystery when he mentions in passing a bit of his family's past, and she cannot help but investigate further when she finds out that his parents were murdered when he was only 4, and the culprits never found.
In the meantime, the Tereford's are continuing their tour of the various estates of the Duke's and one is nearby, Lorne. It was recently partially destroyed by fire, and they are there to set it to rights. Their little posse has unfortunately also adopted the strange man from the previous story, Merlin. As they embark on their quest to fix Lorne, he finds a treasure of a jeweled ring amongst the burnt ruins of Lorne. When this comes to light, Laurence is shocked to discover that is part of his family heirloom jewels, and the last he saw of it was when his mother wore it, adding to the mystery of their deaths, and now engaging not only Charlotte, but the Terefords, Merlin, and other members of the Deeping family as the brothers seeks to keep Charlotte safe.
I was a bit tepid about Charlotte and Laurence initially, but they grew on me as more of them became revealed - rather like how they grew on each other. Though it did seem a bit insensitive and bold of Charlotte to pursue the mystery of his parent's death with out some due consideration for his feelings. But I did like the mystery aspect of the story and the very interesting twist to it. Merlin is quite the asocial and unlikeable character, but he certainly adds the element of the unexpected to a romance. But there were a lot of side characters - Merlin, the Deeping siblings, and others, that did distract a bit from main story. I liked the continuation of the Tereford's story and marriage as a continuing line in the series as well. What I especially like is that the story stayed true to the main characters and how they are styled, in that Charlotte did not become a weepy damsel in distress, and was quite the brave heroine in the end.
4 stars out of 5.
This is the 4th book of the Duke's Estate's series, and the story of Charlotte Deeping, the only daughter of a family of gregarious, horse breeders, and dedicated hunters, with several brothers. She is one of the group of mystery solving friends that were introduced in the previous books, and friend to Charlotte, the Duchess of Tereford. She is sharp witted, and sharp tongued, and as such, did not "take" when she had her Season. But then again, she was not impressed with the men she did meet, so has determined she would not marry, but stay single and independent and, and perhaps find some purpose in life through helping with the family horse breeding operation. She is missing her friends and their previous adventures, and mourns losing some of those close ties as her friends marry off and develop life paths.
With the oncoming fox hunt season, her family has decided to have a house party, and her mother is using the opportunity to bring in some eligible bachelors, hoping to match Charlotte, much to Charlotte's disgust. One of them is her brother's school friend, Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon. Laurence was orphaned at a young age, and it is hinted strongly that he was raised by various guardians who did much to repress him, and discourage him expressing emotion or any of his true self. He is quite stunned and overwhelmed initially by the Deepings and how boisterous and exuberant they are. Their family ways and closeness were so different from his own experience. He also finds that Charlotte is very attractive with her wit, intelligence, and truth, and seeks her out and reveals more of himself than usual.
Charlotte initially did not want much to do with him, especially knowing her mother's intentions. But then she discovers that he is a walking mystery when he mentions in passing a bit of his family's past, and she cannot help but investigate further when she finds out that his parents were murdered when he was only 4, and the culprits never found.
In the meantime, the Tereford's are continuing their tour of the various estates of the Duke's and one is nearby, Lorne. It was recently partially destroyed by fire, and they are there to set it to rights. Their little posse has unfortunately also adopted the strange man from the previous story, Merlin. As they embark on their quest to fix Lorne, he finds a treasure of a jeweled ring amongst the burnt ruins of Lorne. When this comes to light, Laurence is shocked to discover that is part of his family heirloom jewels, and the last he saw of it was when his mother wore it, adding to the mystery of their deaths, and now engaging not only Charlotte, but the Terefords, Merlin, and other members of the Deeping family as the brothers seeks to keep Charlotte safe.
I was a bit tepid about Charlotte and Laurence initially, but they grew on me as more of them became revealed - rather like how they grew on each other. Though it did seem a bit insensitive and bold of Charlotte to pursue the mystery of his parent's death with out some due consideration for his feelings. But I did like the mystery aspect of the story and the very interesting twist to it. Merlin is quite the asocial and unlikeable character, but he certainly adds the element of the unexpected to a romance. But there were a lot of side characters - Merlin, the Deeping siblings, and others, that did distract a bit from main story. I liked the continuation of the Tereford's story and marriage as a continuing line in the series as well. What I especially like is that the story stayed true to the main characters and how they are styled, in that Charlotte did not become a weepy damsel in distress, and was quite the brave heroine in the end.
4 stars out of 5.
February 25, 2023
This is an unusual mystery, I admit that I have never seen or heard of using this premise in a cozy mystery. I knew it was described as a Georgette Heyer style mystery, but this is a very slow, very low burn of any kind, while I don't care for sexual content, I do not believe that if you are attracted to someone you don't kiss them until you are two thirds through the story! However, my biggest problem was not liking the heroine at all, Charlotte is so full of herself that she is obnoxious to the point I wanted to stop reading the story, I keep saying that I will not read another story where the main character drives me nuts, and she is offensive, she is unkind, narcissistic, she truly behaved as if she is better, and smarter than everyone, including her Mother, and the hero of the story, Laurence, The Marquess of Glenndarvon! He is kind, introverted, and too complacent for me, I like Alpha Males, and believe me he is not! As is typical for these types of protagonist, the feminist ideology triumphs, while degrading men, all men. The only reason I am giving it three stars is that I enjoyed her brothers, and kudos for the mystery, even though I was up to 80 percent before it came out of the blue, totally out of left field, it was a good idea, but it lacked finesse.
Thank you #Netgalley
carolintallahassee
Thank you #Netgalley
carolintallahassee
December 29, 2025
Unfortunately, this book just didn't do it for me - even Rosalyn Landor couldn't revive it. I started this book in the middle of the series, but I think it can be read as a standalone. I think there is some background on the characters that could be missing from not reading earlier books though. Another reviewer called this a mystery with a side of romance and I couldn't agree more. I just didn't feel the connection between Charlotte and Laurence at all. He seemed very sweet, but Charlotte was so rude to him many times and honestly a really unlikeable character! She just kept assuming things instead of just communicating! The mystery itself was interesting, but I will not look into reading anything else in this series.
March 26, 2023
Enjoyed the mystery during the house party with Charlotte and her brothers. Her mother had them invite some of their friends since she didn't meet anyone during the season. She is intrigued by Laurence who is a Marquess but more because she wants to know more about his past.
These inquiries and digging around are alerting others who are looking for the same info though.
In the middle of all of this Charlotte and Laurence grow closer and are very sweet. They share a kiss and you know they will get their hea just as soon as we get rid of the bad guys.
Def enjoyed solving the mystery of his parents murder. As there was a lot of subterfuge and political intrigue.
Thank you sourcebookscasa and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
These inquiries and digging around are alerting others who are looking for the same info though.
In the middle of all of this Charlotte and Laurence grow closer and are very sweet. They share a kiss and you know they will get their hea just as soon as we get rid of the bad guys.
Def enjoyed solving the mystery of his parents murder. As there was a lot of subterfuge and political intrigue.
Thank you sourcebookscasa and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
January 4, 2023
I was excited for the mystery-solving heroine aspect to this romance, but it never captured my attention. The writing style was simplistic for me and a little repetitive, and there was changing of the POV in the middle of scenes, which is a pet peeve of mine. Lawrence and Charlotte are likable, but this was slow for me with too much exposition and many unnecessary side characters. Both the mystery and romance were dull and forgettable.
I received an arc from NetGalley
I received an arc from NetGalley
February 7, 2023
I have two minds about this book. Hear me out, but there may be spoilers.
The heroine, 20 years old and the 4th of 5 children and the only girl, is walking along her family's estate. She is musing over her life since her 3 close friends have all married and she herself was not comfortable with her Season. She was questioning her future when a horse came jumping out of no where and almost clipped her with its hooves. She stumbled back and fell and lost her breath. The rider, a guest of her family, hurries over to her to offer aid. Once she catches her breath, she admonishes him. They argue a little and he tells her he is her older brother's friend, come to stay for the Hunting Season. The heroine's family, in addition to being part of the noble class, breed racing and hunter/jumpers. The rider, who is the hero, is a Marquess who went to school with her brother. The hero feels that her brother saved him when he first came to school. They are very close friends, but this is his first visit to their estate. He is 25 years old and just visited London for a partial Season. He was not happy with the debs looking for husbands. He felt they were too accommodating to any future husband they met.
With the heroine not sure if she would get married, plus she is very smart and doesn't hid her intelligence, she us a difficult deb. If someone does something stupid, she can verbally eviscerate them and protect herself. Because she is this way, she feels that she is not made out to be married. She is afraid to lose herself. The hero is attracted to the heroine, but is not sure he wants to share his life with a lady because he had a bad childhood. His parents were murdered when he was four years old.
This is where I do not know if I like the story or not.
The heroine and her 3 friends have a reputation for solving mysteries and when the hero tells the heroine about the way his parents were killed, she becomes intrigued as to who and why they were killed. The author did a good job trying not to trivialize his trauma, but I still felt there were a couple of times that the heroine was interested because she was bored and didnt have any direction in her life. It took almost the whole book for the characters to confess that they loved each other, and the trauma from the hero was dealt with in a sensitive manner. So I think that I like how this story was written. I was able to immerse myself and I felt that I was actually there,watching the events unfold. I recommend reading and give the book 5 stars.
The heroine, 20 years old and the 4th of 5 children and the only girl, is walking along her family's estate. She is musing over her life since her 3 close friends have all married and she herself was not comfortable with her Season. She was questioning her future when a horse came jumping out of no where and almost clipped her with its hooves. She stumbled back and fell and lost her breath. The rider, a guest of her family, hurries over to her to offer aid. Once she catches her breath, she admonishes him. They argue a little and he tells her he is her older brother's friend, come to stay for the Hunting Season. The heroine's family, in addition to being part of the noble class, breed racing and hunter/jumpers. The rider, who is the hero, is a Marquess who went to school with her brother. The hero feels that her brother saved him when he first came to school. They are very close friends, but this is his first visit to their estate. He is 25 years old and just visited London for a partial Season. He was not happy with the debs looking for husbands. He felt they were too accommodating to any future husband they met.
With the heroine not sure if she would get married, plus she is very smart and doesn't hid her intelligence, she us a difficult deb. If someone does something stupid, she can verbally eviscerate them and protect herself. Because she is this way, she feels that she is not made out to be married. She is afraid to lose herself. The hero is attracted to the heroine, but is not sure he wants to share his life with a lady because he had a bad childhood. His parents were murdered when he was four years old.
This is where I do not know if I like the story or not.
The heroine and her 3 friends have a reputation for solving mysteries and when the hero tells the heroine about the way his parents were killed, she becomes intrigued as to who and why they were killed. The author did a good job trying not to trivialize his trauma, but I still felt there were a couple of times that the heroine was interested because she was bored and didnt have any direction in her life. It took almost the whole book for the characters to confess that they loved each other, and the trauma from the hero was dealt with in a sensitive manner. So I think that I like how this story was written. I was able to immerse myself and I felt that I was actually there,watching the events unfold. I recommend reading and give the book 5 stars.
dnf
November 17, 2023I listened to 47% of this book, probably because of the narrator. I should have liked it for the language, the anxiety ridden hero, and the horses. But I got so annoyed with the heroine preying into his trauma and being lauded for it. The best character was Merlin. The brothers were annoying, too, with the way they „protected“ her.
July 24, 2023
Not my favorite in the series but an interesting read and the intrigue was fun and mysterious. I was not as enamored or the romantic part of the story but sometimes you have to give and take.
November 23, 2022
ARC Review
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The main characters were engaging and likable, and I believed the progression of their relationship. I also appreciated the mystery aspect of the plot, which isn’t often found in this regency romance genre.
A few small things brought this down from a five star review for me. 1) I found the first chapter to be a bit slow. It took me several attempts at starting the book to power through to the second chapter. (But well worth it when I did.) 2) The POV would often switch several times throughout a chapter, with no indication to this change. I found this a little disorienting. 3) (This is a pet peeve of mine.) Characters from previous books in the series were unnecessarily brought up and given updates on. This did not progress the current story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The main characters were engaging and likable, and I believed the progression of their relationship. I also appreciated the mystery aspect of the plot, which isn’t often found in this regency romance genre.
A few small things brought this down from a five star review for me. 1) I found the first chapter to be a bit slow. It took me several attempts at starting the book to power through to the second chapter. (But well worth it when I did.) 2) The POV would often switch several times throughout a chapter, with no indication to this change. I found this a little disorienting. 3) (This is a pet peeve of mine.) Characters from previous books in the series were unnecessarily brought up and given updates on. This did not progress the current story.
December 9, 2022
4 Stars!! This is the 4th book in ‘The Duke’s Estates’ series and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Charlotte and Laurence, the Marquess of Glendarvon. I liked Charlotte but also thought she could be a ‘female dog’ at times so it was hard to love her. Laurence was lovable and has a sad, dark mystery in his past. I really enjoyed this book with it’s mystery, murders, and falling in love. Who doesn’t love a romance with a murder mystery that the main characters are working together to solve?! No one, that’s who! Really enjoyable and entertaining read!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
February 22, 2023
Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Duke’s Estates #4
Publication Date: 3/7/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 336
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book when I first finished reading it. Well, I KNEW, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself, I think. 😊 So, I decided to let it stew for a few days before writing my review so I could then look back and see what really stood out for me. My impression is still basically the same. I generally liked the story and I thought the mystery was a good one. What I didn’t like was Charlotte! She was often described as ‘prickly’ – I would amend that to ‘bit***’ as that is how she acted most of the time. I loved Charlotte’s brothers and I can certainly see them with books in the future, and I loved Laurence and was so happy to have met him.
Charlotte Deeping met her best friends when they went away to school and they’ve been the closest of friends since. They solved mysteries and enjoyed each other, but now, Charlotte is the only one who remains unmarried. She didn’t do well on the marriage mart because of her ‘prickly’ personality. Now, at home in the country, with none of her friends nearby, she’s a tad on the bored side. If she just had a mystery to solve or something to keep her occupied, she’d get through it all. It is hunting season, and her family is a renowned breeder of hunting horses, so maybe someone or something of interest will show up at the annual hunt.
Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, is good friends with Charlotte’s brother, Stanley, who invited him to be a house guest for the annual hunt. Laurence hasn’t had a very happy life, but although he constantly thinks of what happened in terms of scandal, it really wasn’t. He was only four when his parents were gruesomely murdered. He never, ever, talks about it. It isn’t a secret, exactly, he just doesn’t wish to discuss it and doesn’t tell people about it. He is excited for the hunt since it is one of his favorite ways to pass the time – and he loves being able to gallop across the countryside on his excellent mount, Ranger. He even finds himself enjoying the ‘prickly, Miss Charlotte Deeping.
Charlotte learned about Laurence’s parents and she also learned from both him and her brother that it was a very private matter for him and he didn’t want to talk about it. However, Charlotte just couldn’t leave a good mystery alone no matter anyone else’s feelings about it. Then, to add another mystery, there was an odd finding at the estate of her good friend Cecelia and her husband the Duke of Tereford. When Laurence seems to recognize the find, Charlotte is off and running – and dragging all of them along with her – whether they wanted to come along or not.
I enjoyed the basic story and most of the characters. I didn’t care for Charlotte at all – I found her to be bit*** rather than prickly. She could have been a great character with a great romance, but she just didn’t cut it for me. I found her to not only be bit***, but she seemed to have no respect for, nor kind thoughts about any male. The book was filled with male-bashing and that just makes me want to put the book down. Yes, I know feminism is the theme of the day right now, but – does being for females actually mean being against males? Every female in this book had nothing but negative things to say about the males. It just made me really sad.
Can I recommend this book? Well – yes and no. If you don’t mind a prickly, male-bashing female lead who steps on everyone’s wishes and then acts as if she is the injured party, then yes, I do recommend it because the mystery and bones of the story are good. Otherwise, I can tell you that I enjoyed the bones of the story, I disliked Charlotte, and I would not read it a second time.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: The Duke’s Estates #4
Publication Date: 3/7/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 336
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book when I first finished reading it. Well, I KNEW, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself, I think. 😊 So, I decided to let it stew for a few days before writing my review so I could then look back and see what really stood out for me. My impression is still basically the same. I generally liked the story and I thought the mystery was a good one. What I didn’t like was Charlotte! She was often described as ‘prickly’ – I would amend that to ‘bit***’ as that is how she acted most of the time. I loved Charlotte’s brothers and I can certainly see them with books in the future, and I loved Laurence and was so happy to have met him.
Charlotte Deeping met her best friends when they went away to school and they’ve been the closest of friends since. They solved mysteries and enjoyed each other, but now, Charlotte is the only one who remains unmarried. She didn’t do well on the marriage mart because of her ‘prickly’ personality. Now, at home in the country, with none of her friends nearby, she’s a tad on the bored side. If she just had a mystery to solve or something to keep her occupied, she’d get through it all. It is hunting season, and her family is a renowned breeder of hunting horses, so maybe someone or something of interest will show up at the annual hunt.
Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, is good friends with Charlotte’s brother, Stanley, who invited him to be a house guest for the annual hunt. Laurence hasn’t had a very happy life, but although he constantly thinks of what happened in terms of scandal, it really wasn’t. He was only four when his parents were gruesomely murdered. He never, ever, talks about it. It isn’t a secret, exactly, he just doesn’t wish to discuss it and doesn’t tell people about it. He is excited for the hunt since it is one of his favorite ways to pass the time – and he loves being able to gallop across the countryside on his excellent mount, Ranger. He even finds himself enjoying the ‘prickly, Miss Charlotte Deeping.
Charlotte learned about Laurence’s parents and she also learned from both him and her brother that it was a very private matter for him and he didn’t want to talk about it. However, Charlotte just couldn’t leave a good mystery alone no matter anyone else’s feelings about it. Then, to add another mystery, there was an odd finding at the estate of her good friend Cecelia and her husband the Duke of Tereford. When Laurence seems to recognize the find, Charlotte is off and running – and dragging all of them along with her – whether they wanted to come along or not.
I enjoyed the basic story and most of the characters. I didn’t care for Charlotte at all – I found her to be bit*** rather than prickly. She could have been a great character with a great romance, but she just didn’t cut it for me. I found her to not only be bit***, but she seemed to have no respect for, nor kind thoughts about any male. The book was filled with male-bashing and that just makes me want to put the book down. Yes, I know feminism is the theme of the day right now, but – does being for females actually mean being against males? Every female in this book had nothing but negative things to say about the males. It just made me really sad.
Can I recommend this book? Well – yes and no. If you don’t mind a prickly, male-bashing female lead who steps on everyone’s wishes and then acts as if she is the injured party, then yes, I do recommend it because the mystery and bones of the story are good. Otherwise, I can tell you that I enjoyed the bones of the story, I disliked Charlotte, and I would not read it a second time.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 23, 2023
💍 A Gentleman Ought to Know 🔎
The Duke's Estates Book 4
✒️ Jane Ashford
https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW...
Release Date 03/07/2023
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B351Z8XB?...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Waltz into a delightfully detailed historical world that fans of Bridgerton and Georgette Heyer won't want to miss in this sparkling Regency romance from bestselling author Jane Ashford.
Charlotte Deeping needs something to keep her occupied now that she's back home after her first London season. She misses solving local intrigues with her school friends, but they've all gone off and gotten married. Then Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, comes for a visit, and drops a mystery right into her lap.
When Charlotte's brother makes her promise not to interrogate the marquess, she agrees. But that only means she'll have to find more subtle ways to learn about the mysterious marquess and his past. The more time they spend together, the closer Charlotte gets to finding answers, and to Laurence. That is, until Charlotte's digging rouses an old vendetta and Laurence has to delve into his own history to help the young lady he's come to love.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
For a slow burn romance, this is a smoldering trailing one, in fact for most of the story, due to a stubborn heroine whose head I would have bashed many times.
I could have understood her need to leave a mark or to make her own path, she can act shrewdly without being dismissive of others.
She is quick to judge someone by its cover, she misinterprets when it suits her, she jumps into any disparaging talk because it is easier than to rethink things, she denies her own emotions and gives the cold shoulder instead of opening herself.
She would have made a good heroine if she was not so set on her ideas, opinions and own worth.
When in fact, she quickly assesses people and belittles those around her by believing they are lacking, as she did with the hero or she some times does with her brothers.
Glendarvon is a quiet fellow, having never been mothered, especially after the murder of his parents. He has come to accept it as a fait accompli, and if not for Charlotte, he would not have sought to learn more about it.
Among the Deepings, he discovers chaos and noise can be appreciate, he witnesses a family’s dynamic has he has never known. For a man who has only known loneliness, it is unsettling at first, yet he comes to appreciate it and enjoy his talks with the many siblings, and Charlotte more specifically when she is not shutting him out or thinking him dim witted.
I confess after a while, I had enough of Charlotte’s treatment of Laurence. So I become more interested in solving the mystery than seeing the romance come to fruition.
The end was a bit weird with suddenly the men all deaf and singleminded and the women the bearer of the right answers.
3.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpAl31...
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2023read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #janeashford #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
The Duke's Estates Book 4
✒️ Jane Ashford
https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW...
Release Date 03/07/2023
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B351Z8XB?...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Waltz into a delightfully detailed historical world that fans of Bridgerton and Georgette Heyer won't want to miss in this sparkling Regency romance from bestselling author Jane Ashford.
Charlotte Deeping needs something to keep her occupied now that she's back home after her first London season. She misses solving local intrigues with her school friends, but they've all gone off and gotten married. Then Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, comes for a visit, and drops a mystery right into her lap.
When Charlotte's brother makes her promise not to interrogate the marquess, she agrees. But that only means she'll have to find more subtle ways to learn about the mysterious marquess and his past. The more time they spend together, the closer Charlotte gets to finding answers, and to Laurence. That is, until Charlotte's digging rouses an old vendetta and Laurence has to delve into his own history to help the young lady he's come to love.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
For a slow burn romance, this is a smoldering trailing one, in fact for most of the story, due to a stubborn heroine whose head I would have bashed many times.
I could have understood her need to leave a mark or to make her own path, she can act shrewdly without being dismissive of others.
She is quick to judge someone by its cover, she misinterprets when it suits her, she jumps into any disparaging talk because it is easier than to rethink things, she denies her own emotions and gives the cold shoulder instead of opening herself.
She would have made a good heroine if she was not so set on her ideas, opinions and own worth.
When in fact, she quickly assesses people and belittles those around her by believing they are lacking, as she did with the hero or she some times does with her brothers.
Glendarvon is a quiet fellow, having never been mothered, especially after the murder of his parents. He has come to accept it as a fait accompli, and if not for Charlotte, he would not have sought to learn more about it.
Among the Deepings, he discovers chaos and noise can be appreciate, he witnesses a family’s dynamic has he has never known. For a man who has only known loneliness, it is unsettling at first, yet he comes to appreciate it and enjoy his talks with the many siblings, and Charlotte more specifically when she is not shutting him out or thinking him dim witted.
I confess after a while, I had enough of Charlotte’s treatment of Laurence. So I become more interested in solving the mystery than seeing the romance come to fruition.
The end was a bit weird with suddenly the men all deaf and singleminded and the women the bearer of the right answers.
3.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpAl31...
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2023read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #janeashford #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
March 5, 2023
Maybe 3.5 stars.
It is most definitely not love at first sight when Charlotte Deeping and Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon meet. Especially since he nearly runs her down while taking a jump on the way to her family’s estate to join her brothers for the hunting season. Besides nearly killing her, he happens to be extremely handsome and sets her heart aflutter – to her everlasting disgust. Because, despite her all of dearest friends recently marrying, Charlotte has no desire to join their ranks and would happily declare herself a spinster and be done with society, she decides to ignore her inconvenient attraction to him. Good plan, but as soon as she learns that his parents were murdered and the culprits were never apprehended, she is consumed with curiosity and wants to investigate. But a promise to her brother hampers her attempts until she gets drawn into another mystery at her friend Cecilia’s nearby estate and enlists Laurence’s help.
Laurence is drawn to Charlotte from the start, but she makes it clear that she is not interested in being wooed. Yet she seems to enjoy his company and he finds himself telling her things that he never speaks of, primarily the gruesome murder of his parents when he was just four. She is compassionate, but not fawning. She is unlike any woman he has ever met and he can’t get enough of her. It doesn’t take long for him to realize that he wants to marry Charlotte, but she is not going to make it easy, because, for every step forward, they seem to take two steps back. And when the truth of his parents’ mystery comes to light, he becomes a target for the villains and any chance for HEA may be moot.
I liked the idea of this story, but the execution didn’t thrill me. I struggled to stay interested in the book as the first half dragged and was all about horses, foxes, and the hunt, the second half moved at a swifter pace, but now Charlotte has turned into a shrew. She describes herself as “prickly” and “acerbic” but I just found her to be intolerant, self-absorbed, and just plain nasty. She was quick to judge without facts and slow to accept her mistakes. I didn’t hate her, but she does make it hard to like her. I found Laurence to be more of a beta hero and could picture him as the submissive one in the relationship, and being perfectly fine with that. There is nothing objectionable about him and I felt sorry for him whenever Charlotte turned on him. This book was a very slow-burn romance, buried in a murder mystery. If it were just a mystery, I would have no problem giving the story a better rating, but it is supposed to be a romance and it wasn’t overly romantic, the love scenes are almost non-existent and I can’t tell you when or why they fell in love, other than he was handsome and she was not interested in him (or so he thought). But the mystery was very well done and the secondary characters were delightful. I have not read any of the other books in this series, but I had no problem following this story and felt it stood out well on its own. Overall, I enjoyed the story, as mentioned it was a very well-done murder mystery and for the most part, very likable, intelligent characters, as well as a bit of comic relief thanks to her brothers.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
It is most definitely not love at first sight when Charlotte Deeping and Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon meet. Especially since he nearly runs her down while taking a jump on the way to her family’s estate to join her brothers for the hunting season. Besides nearly killing her, he happens to be extremely handsome and sets her heart aflutter – to her everlasting disgust. Because, despite her all of dearest friends recently marrying, Charlotte has no desire to join their ranks and would happily declare herself a spinster and be done with society, she decides to ignore her inconvenient attraction to him. Good plan, but as soon as she learns that his parents were murdered and the culprits were never apprehended, she is consumed with curiosity and wants to investigate. But a promise to her brother hampers her attempts until she gets drawn into another mystery at her friend Cecilia’s nearby estate and enlists Laurence’s help.
Laurence is drawn to Charlotte from the start, but she makes it clear that she is not interested in being wooed. Yet she seems to enjoy his company and he finds himself telling her things that he never speaks of, primarily the gruesome murder of his parents when he was just four. She is compassionate, but not fawning. She is unlike any woman he has ever met and he can’t get enough of her. It doesn’t take long for him to realize that he wants to marry Charlotte, but she is not going to make it easy, because, for every step forward, they seem to take two steps back. And when the truth of his parents’ mystery comes to light, he becomes a target for the villains and any chance for HEA may be moot.
I liked the idea of this story, but the execution didn’t thrill me. I struggled to stay interested in the book as the first half dragged and was all about horses, foxes, and the hunt, the second half moved at a swifter pace, but now Charlotte has turned into a shrew. She describes herself as “prickly” and “acerbic” but I just found her to be intolerant, self-absorbed, and just plain nasty. She was quick to judge without facts and slow to accept her mistakes. I didn’t hate her, but she does make it hard to like her. I found Laurence to be more of a beta hero and could picture him as the submissive one in the relationship, and being perfectly fine with that. There is nothing objectionable about him and I felt sorry for him whenever Charlotte turned on him. This book was a very slow-burn romance, buried in a murder mystery. If it were just a mystery, I would have no problem giving the story a better rating, but it is supposed to be a romance and it wasn’t overly romantic, the love scenes are almost non-existent and I can’t tell you when or why they fell in love, other than he was handsome and she was not interested in him (or so he thought). But the mystery was very well done and the secondary characters were delightful. I have not read any of the other books in this series, but I had no problem following this story and felt it stood out well on its own. Overall, I enjoyed the story, as mentioned it was a very well-done murder mystery and for the most part, very likable, intelligent characters, as well as a bit of comic relief thanks to her brothers.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
February 27, 2023
A lovely romance with a side of mystery!
Laurence and Charlotte are about as unlikely a pair of lovers as I've ever read. Charlotte is far too outspoken and analytical to ever consider herself to be the sort of lady that a gentleman would want to settle down with, but she hadn't counted on Laurence.
Laurence has lived a quietly controlled existence since the death of his parents when he was very young. Everything about Charlotte challenges his thinking and dares him to consider new possibilities. He's not comfortable talking about the past, but Charlotte is always looking for a problem to solve so when she discovers his parents were murdered and the killers were never found, she's determined to see what she can turn up.
There's also a bit of mystery surrounding a recent fire at an abandoned holding near Charlotte's home, one that belongs to the Duke of Tereford, who with his wife, Cecelia, one of Charlotte's closest friends, is staying there while they rebuild the home. This fire seems to be a less emotionally-fraught mystery to solve, and that's where Charlotte starts.
Investigating all the assorted clues provides a unique framework for Laurence to unofficially court Charlotte, despite her insistence that she has no intention of ever marrying. This is where he figures out that the traditional methods for wooing young ladies won't have any effect on Charlotte, and this process - both for him and for Charlotte - is really the best part of the book.
Most of the story takes place at Charlotte's family estate, so we get to know her brothers very well as they also participate in all the various activities. I really identified with Charlotte's sibling camaraderie as the only daughter of the five Deeping offspring. The contrast of her large, boisterous family with Laurence's solitary upbringing was exquisitely done.
I loved how all the secrets and mysteries were revealed and resolved in the end, and I really enjoyed the way Charlotte and Laurence secured their HEA. The side story revealing more of James and Cecelia's future was a very nice treat. I also very much enjoyed Merlin's role throughout the story, and was happy to see his future settled as well.
This is the fourth book in the series, and in my opinion it is the best. Plenty of action, engaging characters, and never-a-dull-moment action sequences kept me glued to the story from start to finish. I highly recommend this story for anyone who loves historical romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Laurence and Charlotte are about as unlikely a pair of lovers as I've ever read. Charlotte is far too outspoken and analytical to ever consider herself to be the sort of lady that a gentleman would want to settle down with, but she hadn't counted on Laurence.
Laurence has lived a quietly controlled existence since the death of his parents when he was very young. Everything about Charlotte challenges his thinking and dares him to consider new possibilities. He's not comfortable talking about the past, but Charlotte is always looking for a problem to solve so when she discovers his parents were murdered and the killers were never found, she's determined to see what she can turn up.
There's also a bit of mystery surrounding a recent fire at an abandoned holding near Charlotte's home, one that belongs to the Duke of Tereford, who with his wife, Cecelia, one of Charlotte's closest friends, is staying there while they rebuild the home. This fire seems to be a less emotionally-fraught mystery to solve, and that's where Charlotte starts.
Investigating all the assorted clues provides a unique framework for Laurence to unofficially court Charlotte, despite her insistence that she has no intention of ever marrying. This is where he figures out that the traditional methods for wooing young ladies won't have any effect on Charlotte, and this process - both for him and for Charlotte - is really the best part of the book.
Most of the story takes place at Charlotte's family estate, so we get to know her brothers very well as they also participate in all the various activities. I really identified with Charlotte's sibling camaraderie as the only daughter of the five Deeping offspring. The contrast of her large, boisterous family with Laurence's solitary upbringing was exquisitely done.
I loved how all the secrets and mysteries were revealed and resolved in the end, and I really enjoyed the way Charlotte and Laurence secured their HEA. The side story revealing more of James and Cecelia's future was a very nice treat. I also very much enjoyed Merlin's role throughout the story, and was happy to see his future settled as well.
This is the fourth book in the series, and in my opinion it is the best. Plenty of action, engaging characters, and never-a-dull-moment action sequences kept me glued to the story from start to finish. I highly recommend this story for anyone who loves historical romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
March 8, 2023
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
A Gentleman Ought To Know is the fourth title in The Duke’s Estates series, and brings us a fun romance between two people who appear on the surface to be total opposites – but maybe there’s a middle ground for Charlotte and Laurence, only time will tell.
Charlotte’s recent Season wasn’t all she’d hoped it might be. The men she was introduced to would have bored a tree or shunted her into a life that she has no interest in whatsoever. She’s made the decision that she’s better off on her own and begins to plan her life as a single woman, a happily single woman devoting herself to the family’s business passion and perhaps solving the occasional mystery now and then. The very last thing she expected was to be thrown into a brother’s friend’s life or to discover that the Marquess of Glendarvon is surrounded by mystery. One that she’s quite capable of exploring with or without his wishes on the subject.
Laurence was raised by guardians who may have taught him the way of the world but severely lacked any emotional involvement or understanding. He’s certainly not accustomed to Charlotte’s way of looking at the world, but she does indeed fascinate him… which surprises him greatly. He’s lived with the mystery of his parents’ deaths his entire life, but now with one side trip and one piece of jewelry, he’s tossed back into the questions that have never been answered. When the woman he’s coming to love is placed in danger because of his past, it’s time to solve the mystery and the crime once and for all time… which isn’t the easiest challenge he’s ever faced.
I enjoyed A Gentleman Ought to Know; it’s a well-written, engaging romance with touches of mystery, danger, and a growing attraction that will weave Charlotte and Laurence into a lifelong love. But it’s going to take a bit of time to reach the happy-ever-after ending. I liked Charlotte, she’s headstrong, stubborn, and used to going her own way, especially in solving any puzzle that she is presented with. I loved watching Laurence grow from a stick-in-the-mud to a man beginning to understand emotions and reveling in that knowledge. They fit together, as opposite as they are on so many things – together, they make up a couple that works for them, and that’s really all that matters to the heart.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
A Gentleman Ought To Know is the fourth title in The Duke’s Estates series, and brings us a fun romance between two people who appear on the surface to be total opposites – but maybe there’s a middle ground for Charlotte and Laurence, only time will tell.
Charlotte’s recent Season wasn’t all she’d hoped it might be. The men she was introduced to would have bored a tree or shunted her into a life that she has no interest in whatsoever. She’s made the decision that she’s better off on her own and begins to plan her life as a single woman, a happily single woman devoting herself to the family’s business passion and perhaps solving the occasional mystery now and then. The very last thing she expected was to be thrown into a brother’s friend’s life or to discover that the Marquess of Glendarvon is surrounded by mystery. One that she’s quite capable of exploring with or without his wishes on the subject.
Laurence was raised by guardians who may have taught him the way of the world but severely lacked any emotional involvement or understanding. He’s certainly not accustomed to Charlotte’s way of looking at the world, but she does indeed fascinate him… which surprises him greatly. He’s lived with the mystery of his parents’ deaths his entire life, but now with one side trip and one piece of jewelry, he’s tossed back into the questions that have never been answered. When the woman he’s coming to love is placed in danger because of his past, it’s time to solve the mystery and the crime once and for all time… which isn’t the easiest challenge he’s ever faced.
I enjoyed A Gentleman Ought to Know; it’s a well-written, engaging romance with touches of mystery, danger, and a growing attraction that will weave Charlotte and Laurence into a lifelong love. But it’s going to take a bit of time to reach the happy-ever-after ending. I liked Charlotte, she’s headstrong, stubborn, and used to going her own way, especially in solving any puzzle that she is presented with. I loved watching Laurence grow from a stick-in-the-mud to a man beginning to understand emotions and reveling in that knowledge. They fit together, as opposite as they are on so many things – together, they make up a couple that works for them, and that’s really all that matters to the heart.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
March 3, 2023
A well rounded story with a blossoming case of characters what will keep you riveted.
Our cast:
Laurence Lindley, Marquess of Glendarvon, reclusive, lone child as his parents were murdered when he was four.
Miss Charlotte Deeping, the lone daughter of the household, and last of the four friends not married. She never thought she would find anyone she would lose her self identity on.
The brothers, Henry was set on the diplomatic corps, Stanley bulkiest of the four Deeping brothers, Stanley and Laurence friend, Cecil was unmistakably a dandy, Bertram the youngestbosterioust eighteen.
Sarah’s head full of odd facts, Harriet’s practical sense, Ada’s flair and vision, only mentioned but thought of often for insight.
Duke and Duchess, Cecelia of Tereford and Oliver Welden, "Merlin" he was a kind of hermit at their property in Cornwall.
As the fox hunting season gets started we have a werry Miss Charlotte wondering what will become with her life. Her family, loud, boisterous, and all horse mad have friends staying. Mama is trying to match-make to see her settled.
Lord Glendarvon is not use to the loudness and observes that this is the norm of the household. Not sure if he will fit, he keeps quiet.
When a mystery is presented to Charlotte she finds she can not resist. Her budding friendship with Glendarvon, who grudgingly agrees, added to her sense of belonging and wanting to figure him out. Lady Cecelia added counsel and sound reasoning that would have come from her friends help.
So join in to solve the last mystery of the intrepid Book club members as Lady Charlotte uncovers a twenty odd year old crime and mystery. Thru the wilds of the countryside and fox hunting to family-friendly dinners with loud debates and buttinsky brothers who think they know best. Watch as these two and Merlin grow, uncover evidence, and find yourself cheering them on. This will have you cringing in a few spots, I did, overcoming fears, and a calming peace of mind
Our cast:
Laurence Lindley, Marquess of Glendarvon, reclusive, lone child as his parents were murdered when he was four.
Miss Charlotte Deeping, the lone daughter of the household, and last of the four friends not married. She never thought she would find anyone she would lose her self identity on.
The brothers, Henry was set on the diplomatic corps, Stanley bulkiest of the four Deeping brothers, Stanley and Laurence friend, Cecil was unmistakably a dandy, Bertram the youngestbosterioust eighteen.
Sarah’s head full of odd facts, Harriet’s practical sense, Ada’s flair and vision, only mentioned but thought of often for insight.
Duke and Duchess, Cecelia of Tereford and Oliver Welden, "Merlin" he was a kind of hermit at their property in Cornwall.
As the fox hunting season gets started we have a werry Miss Charlotte wondering what will become with her life. Her family, loud, boisterous, and all horse mad have friends staying. Mama is trying to match-make to see her settled.
Lord Glendarvon is not use to the loudness and observes that this is the norm of the household. Not sure if he will fit, he keeps quiet.
When a mystery is presented to Charlotte she finds she can not resist. Her budding friendship with Glendarvon, who grudgingly agrees, added to her sense of belonging and wanting to figure him out. Lady Cecelia added counsel and sound reasoning that would have come from her friends help.
So join in to solve the last mystery of the intrepid Book club members as Lady Charlotte uncovers a twenty odd year old crime and mystery. Thru the wilds of the countryside and fox hunting to family-friendly dinners with loud debates and buttinsky brothers who think they know best. Watch as these two and Merlin grow, uncover evidence, and find yourself cheering them on. This will have you cringing in a few spots, I did, overcoming fears, and a calming peace of mind
December 22, 2023
This book was trying to do too many things, and that meant that very few of them got enough depth to be satisfying. It introduces the Deeping family, and it's clear that Charlotte's brothers are likely to feature in future books. Mission accomplished. We get to know enough about each Deeping sibling to be able to differentiate between them and perhaps be interested in their future stories. James and Cecelia ("the duke and duchess") return for another cameo. Mission accomplished. I've enjoyed their scenes throughout this series, and my only complaint about their own book (the first in the series) was that the ending was ridiculously abrupt - which the author/editor/publisher presumably considered okay because the pages that should have given us a nice glimpse into their "happily ever after" have been scattered through the rest of the series instead. Those two goals both got the space they needed to work.
The two main plots, however, were both shortchanged in my opinion. This is a romance so we're obviously supposed to root for Charlotte and Laurence as a couple. But it's also a mystery and, for the most part, Charlotte seems much more interested in solving the puzzle of who killed Laurence's parents than she does in the man himself. And I'm not sure why, but that part of the story fell flat for me. It's not that I don't like a good mystery. I LOVE a good mystery. I think perhaps it might have been because Laurence had clearly put that horrible night behind him and didn't necessarily want or need to relive the night 4-year-old him was locked in a wardrobe while his parents were brutally murdered. If the person most strongly impacted by the murder isn't invested in solving it, I'm not sure why I as a reader should be either. And if you take out all the time spent on the mystery, there really wasn't any time left for the romance which messed with the pacing, making parts feel rather sudden and inorganic.
The two main plots, however, were both shortchanged in my opinion. This is a romance so we're obviously supposed to root for Charlotte and Laurence as a couple. But it's also a mystery and, for the most part, Charlotte seems much more interested in solving the puzzle of who killed Laurence's parents than she does in the man himself. And I'm not sure why, but that part of the story fell flat for me. It's not that I don't like a good mystery. I LOVE a good mystery. I think perhaps it might have been because Laurence had clearly put that horrible night behind him and didn't necessarily want or need to relive the night 4-year-old him was locked in a wardrobe while his parents were brutally murdered. If the person most strongly impacted by the murder isn't invested in solving it, I'm not sure why I as a reader should be either. And if you take out all the time spent on the mystery, there really wasn't any time left for the romance which messed with the pacing, making parts feel rather sudden and inorganic.
November 25, 2022
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for sharing an e-ARC of this book with me on NetGalley!!!
“And so I found something to regret about the last London season … that I did not go to town, and so I missed my opportunity to waltz with you”
I really liked this regency romance !! This is the third book in “The Duke’s Estates” series, but you can easily read them as standalones.
It was not a common romance at all !! The mystery plot inside it made the story even more thrilling and enchanting and I actually couldn’t put the book down!!! The way the two main characters came to be in love with each other is honestly so sweet and beautiful and I was all in for that !! Do not expect spice because you are not gonna find any, but the plot of the book was so great, you really do not care about more intimacy between Charlotte and Laurence than what they already share. The fact that Charlotte is also the only daughter in a family of sons … it made their story even more entertaining!!
The trauma Laurence had to deal with and the investigation surrounding him, I think were made bearable because of Charlotte’s presence and what she comes to mean for him.
I really enjoyed this book and I truly hope for the author to continue this series !!!
“Please. Create a revolution in the house as you have in my heart”
“And so I found something to regret about the last London season … that I did not go to town, and so I missed my opportunity to waltz with you”
I really liked this regency romance !! This is the third book in “The Duke’s Estates” series, but you can easily read them as standalones.
It was not a common romance at all !! The mystery plot inside it made the story even more thrilling and enchanting and I actually couldn’t put the book down!!! The way the two main characters came to be in love with each other is honestly so sweet and beautiful and I was all in for that !! Do not expect spice because you are not gonna find any, but the plot of the book was so great, you really do not care about more intimacy between Charlotte and Laurence than what they already share. The fact that Charlotte is also the only daughter in a family of sons … it made their story even more entertaining!!
The trauma Laurence had to deal with and the investigation surrounding him, I think were made bearable because of Charlotte’s presence and what she comes to mean for him.
I really enjoyed this book and I truly hope for the author to continue this series !!!
“Please. Create a revolution in the house as you have in my heart”
Read
January 9, 2023I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is set in the same series as “The Duke who Loved me” and continues with several of the previous characters. This time, we get to see Charlotte’s chance at love, now that her friends are all wed. She no longer has anyone to solve mysteries with, and is feeling alone. Her prospects had not been great during her season, so her mother invites several gentlemen in an attempt to matchmake. One of the gentlemen has a background full of mystery that piques her interest, and the story unfolds from there.
This was a sweet, well written story and both stands well on its own, as well as part of the series. I loved how Lawrence was proud of her, rather than diminishing her knowledge and skills, and was not at all put off by her rescue. The mystery in the plot felt more a part of the story than other historical romances with this theme, and I enjoyed that Merlin finally found a calling, if only to ship him off because I found he was starting to become rather irritating. Of course, that was his purpose, but, maybe it was a bit over the top? I’d like to see more of these characters get their happy endings, but this was a good ending to the series for now.
This is set in the same series as “The Duke who Loved me” and continues with several of the previous characters. This time, we get to see Charlotte’s chance at love, now that her friends are all wed. She no longer has anyone to solve mysteries with, and is feeling alone. Her prospects had not been great during her season, so her mother invites several gentlemen in an attempt to matchmake. One of the gentlemen has a background full of mystery that piques her interest, and the story unfolds from there.
This was a sweet, well written story and both stands well on its own, as well as part of the series. I loved how Lawrence was proud of her, rather than diminishing her knowledge and skills, and was not at all put off by her rescue. The mystery in the plot felt more a part of the story than other historical romances with this theme, and I enjoyed that Merlin finally found a calling, if only to ship him off because I found he was starting to become rather irritating. Of course, that was his purpose, but, maybe it was a bit over the top? I’d like to see more of these characters get their happy endings, but this was a good ending to the series for now.
March 6, 2023
Charlotte Deeping, 20, is back home in Leicestershire after her season in London. She is missing her good friends, Ada, Harriet, and Sarah all of whom are married and living some distance away. The Deeping family owns a racing stable where they breed race horses and hunters. Charlotte has 4 brothers, Stanley, Henry, Cecil, and Bertram.
Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, is visiting their home as a guest of one of her brothers. As Charlotte gets to know him, she learns that his parents were murdered when he was just 4-years-old and no one know why. Since Charlotte and her friends all love a good mystery, she wants to help solve this one but her brothers tell her not to meddle. However, Charlotte is a strong-willed young woman and doesn’t give up easily.
When a ring is found that is a family heirloom belonging to Laurence, it opens up questions about his parents murder and many jump in to see what they can uncover.
Oh my. Too many characters involved here. The plot was rather boring and far-fetched. Laurence is a likable person but Charlotte is cold. Too many bumps in the road in this story to make it interesting.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Laurence Lindley, the Marquess of Glendarvon, is visiting their home as a guest of one of her brothers. As Charlotte gets to know him, she learns that his parents were murdered when he was just 4-years-old and no one know why. Since Charlotte and her friends all love a good mystery, she wants to help solve this one but her brothers tell her not to meddle. However, Charlotte is a strong-willed young woman and doesn’t give up easily.
When a ring is found that is a family heirloom belonging to Laurence, it opens up questions about his parents murder and many jump in to see what they can uncover.
Oh my. Too many characters involved here. The plot was rather boring and far-fetched. Laurence is a likable person but Charlotte is cold. Too many bumps in the road in this story to make it interesting.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 10, 2023
Miss Charlotte Deeping’s family hunting party turns into her preferred hunting party for Laurence Lindley, Marquess of Glendarvon, in “A Gentleman Ought to Know” by Jane Ashford!!
Prickly Charlotte almost gets run over by Laurence’s horse and does not let him live it down. However, as they learn more about each other while solving a fatal mystery, their meet-cute shifts from a reminder of near death to teasing banter.
The fourth book of the Duke’s Estates series is charming!! Charlotte’s friends are married and she does not want to. She does have marriage minded parents however they are not pushy, allowing for an organic relationship with her brother’s best friend.
The characters are entertaining and we get to see the different characteristics of Charlotte. She has four rambunctious brothers with different personalities and she has a distinct, lovely, and teasing relationship with each. Her friend and her duke husband allows Charlotte’s analytical and vulnerable side to show. There are others who collaborate with her to take action regardless of her gender.
I enjoyed the who-dun-it aspect to the story!! It allows for different settings, skills sets, twists, and more while they discover the full story that starts decades ago.
If you enjoy horses, mystery, skilled women, slow burns, and teasing, then I highly recommend this book!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Prickly Charlotte almost gets run over by Laurence’s horse and does not let him live it down. However, as they learn more about each other while solving a fatal mystery, their meet-cute shifts from a reminder of near death to teasing banter.
The fourth book of the Duke’s Estates series is charming!! Charlotte’s friends are married and she does not want to. She does have marriage minded parents however they are not pushy, allowing for an organic relationship with her brother’s best friend.
The characters are entertaining and we get to see the different characteristics of Charlotte. She has four rambunctious brothers with different personalities and she has a distinct, lovely, and teasing relationship with each. Her friend and her duke husband allows Charlotte’s analytical and vulnerable side to show. There are others who collaborate with her to take action regardless of her gender.
I enjoyed the who-dun-it aspect to the story!! It allows for different settings, skills sets, twists, and more while they discover the full story that starts decades ago.
If you enjoy horses, mystery, skilled women, slow burns, and teasing, then I highly recommend this book!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
July 28, 2023
This is the fourth book of The Duke's Estates and can be easily read as a standalone. The story was interesting with a little bit of mystery and intrigue added in with the romance to make this a delightful read. After having an unsuccessful Season, Charlotte is now back home and is feeling lonely, with all of her friends now married. She would always seek out and solve mysteries with them, and she is at a loss of what to do now. That is until Laurence, the Marquess of Glendarvon, shows up and provides her with quite an interesting one. With a renewed sense of purpose, she begins her sleuthing, and as she starts to unravel clues, she also starts to discover clues to her future. A future that just may include Laurence.
A very sweet and charming story! The characters were lovely and I enjoyed seeing them together and their relationship grow. The chemistry between them was great, and their slow-burning romance was sweet. I also enjoyed seeing the relationship between Charlotte and her family as well as with her friends. The interactions and banter between them was loving and fun, and gave me a warm feeling. A wonderful addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
A very sweet and charming story! The characters were lovely and I enjoyed seeing them together and their relationship grow. The chemistry between them was great, and their slow-burning romance was sweet. I also enjoyed seeing the relationship between Charlotte and her family as well as with her friends. The interactions and banter between them was loving and fun, and gave me a warm feeling. A wonderful addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
March 5, 2023
3.5 Stars
Charlotte Deeping needs something to keep her occupied now that she's back home after her first London season. She misses solving local intrigues with her school friends, but they've all gone off and gotten married. Then Laurence Lindley, the Marquis of Glendarvon, comes for a visit, and drops a mystery right into her lap. When Charlotte's brother makes her promise not to interrogate the marquis, she agrees. But that only means she'll have to find subtler ways to learn about the mysterious Laurence and his past. The more time they spend together, the closer Charlotte gets to finding answers, and to Laurence.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own, I love romance with a mystery & settled down to enjoy this book. It was a slow burn romance & whilst I really liked Laurence I disliked Charlotte & the more I read the more I disliked her. The book was well written & I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery but Charlotte’s character & the other female characters put a dampener on the book – if they'd have worn bras there would have been lots of bonfires!
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Charlotte Deeping needs something to keep her occupied now that she's back home after her first London season. She misses solving local intrigues with her school friends, but they've all gone off and gotten married. Then Laurence Lindley, the Marquis of Glendarvon, comes for a visit, and drops a mystery right into her lap. When Charlotte's brother makes her promise not to interrogate the marquis, she agrees. But that only means she'll have to find subtler ways to learn about the mysterious Laurence and his past. The more time they spend together, the closer Charlotte gets to finding answers, and to Laurence.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own, I love romance with a mystery & settled down to enjoy this book. It was a slow burn romance & whilst I really liked Laurence I disliked Charlotte & the more I read the more I disliked her. The book was well written & I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery but Charlotte’s character & the other female characters put a dampener on the book – if they'd have worn bras there would have been lots of bonfires!
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews