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The Three Graces #1
Constance and the Inconstant Duke
Constance Grace knows exactly what she is going to do with her life.
She is going to follow in her parents’ footsteps as a missionary and is preparing for a life in the depths of Africa.
But when events interrupt her careful plans, Constance must navigate wilder territory than foreign jungles.
She must negotiate the strange new world of Regency high society, and the dangers of an attraction to an irreligious and inconstant man.
Can she resist temptation and keep to her pure and perfectionistic plans?
Or must she learn to accept her own flaws, and open her heart to the complications of love?
She is going to follow in her parents’ footsteps as a missionary and is preparing for a life in the depths of Africa.
But when events interrupt her careful plans, Constance must navigate wilder territory than foreign jungles.
She must negotiate the strange new world of Regency high society, and the dangers of an attraction to an irreligious and inconstant man.
Can she resist temptation and keep to her pure and perfectionistic plans?
Or must she learn to accept her own flaws, and open her heart to the complications of love?
- GenresRegencyHistoricalRomance
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2022
14 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Nina Clare
26 books108 followersWhen she’s not writing stories or thinking up stories or reading other people’s stories, Nina likes to paint and collage pictures, get taken for long walks by her adorable dogs, and cook all things plant-based. She also does other things, like office work, but that’s the boring bit. She lives very happily in rural Cornwall, England with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 13, 2025
Loved it!
I always enjoy a sweet Recency romance, and this one is a treat! The characters are distinct and fun, and the plot is satisfying.
I am looking forward to Charity's story next!
I always enjoy a sweet Recency romance, and this one is a treat! The characters are distinct and fun, and the plot is satisfying.
I am looking forward to Charity's story next!
October 10, 2022
A truly delightful story!
Each of the main characters in this book have their own personalities and story lines that make me like them individually and even more as a whole. It really sets up well for more books in this series. I am very interested to read the stories for Constance's sisters!
Constance is a very dutiful, loving character. She genuinely desires to do the right even when it would cost her greatly. I love her devotion to her family and faith. She is very sheltered and her journey as she is forced out into society is naturally rocky as she encounters people with good and bad intentions. She is always seeking to know what is the next right step in her life that is upheaval.
Duke is a charming character. He is kind and gentlemanly one moment and then so obviously fallen in another moment. He has known one way of life for a while and that is a life of dissipation and pleasure. He is drawn in by the fact that Constance's character and demeanor are the opposite of everything he has known so far. He is challenged to change for the better in order to be worthy of her.
The hardest character for me to like was Mr. Soper as I am sure the author intended. He was all right and proper behavior, but entirely lacking in the soul and fire department. He was stiff, formal, and uncharismatic. Luckily, he is not a representation of all Christian missionaries since I am married to a wonderfully loving and passionate upcoming missionary.
Overall, a heartwarming love story that will charm you. I would definitely recommend this book!
Each of the main characters in this book have their own personalities and story lines that make me like them individually and even more as a whole. It really sets up well for more books in this series. I am very interested to read the stories for Constance's sisters!
Constance is a very dutiful, loving character. She genuinely desires to do the right even when it would cost her greatly. I love her devotion to her family and faith. She is very sheltered and her journey as she is forced out into society is naturally rocky as she encounters people with good and bad intentions. She is always seeking to know what is the next right step in her life that is upheaval.
Duke is a charming character. He is kind and gentlemanly one moment and then so obviously fallen in another moment. He has known one way of life for a while and that is a life of dissipation and pleasure. He is drawn in by the fact that Constance's character and demeanor are the opposite of everything he has known so far. He is challenged to change for the better in order to be worthy of her.
The hardest character for me to like was Mr. Soper as I am sure the author intended. He was all right and proper behavior, but entirely lacking in the soul and fire department. He was stiff, formal, and uncharismatic. Luckily, he is not a representation of all Christian missionaries since I am married to a wonderfully loving and passionate upcoming missionary.
Overall, a heartwarming love story that will charm you. I would definitely recommend this book!
March 27, 2024
Joyful and fun!
This book had me hooked from beginning to end. It reminded me of Georgette Heyer’s nod to regency England because of its lush details and pinch of comedy.
The development of Constance from a prude and naive girl to a woman of grace and understanding was very well done. I was glad when she finally realized that she could have a fulfilling life in a different way than her past dreams and assumptions. Her love story was not necessarily a new concept, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The author had such a way of describing scenes and expounding on characters’ hopes and dreams that they were practically pure magic. And the side characters who refused to conform to a normality reflective of the time period were a hoot. I just loved everyone’s outspokenness and friendship.
Now I feel invested in all three sisters’ lives and I just might need these on my paperback shelf.
This book had me hooked from beginning to end. It reminded me of Georgette Heyer’s nod to regency England because of its lush details and pinch of comedy.
The development of Constance from a prude and naive girl to a woman of grace and understanding was very well done. I was glad when she finally realized that she could have a fulfilling life in a different way than her past dreams and assumptions. Her love story was not necessarily a new concept, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The author had such a way of describing scenes and expounding on characters’ hopes and dreams that they were practically pure magic. And the side characters who refused to conform to a normality reflective of the time period were a hoot. I just loved everyone’s outspokenness and friendship.
Now I feel invested in all three sisters’ lives and I just might need these on my paperback shelf.
October 9, 2022
An amazing start to a new series that follows the Grace sisters. I am a big fan of Nina Clare’s writing and storytelling. The characters are so full of life with amazing depth and feelings. This book is no different! The story has so much depth and detail that really immerse you into the book. Constance is strong willed (in a good way) and loyal almost to a fault. Finnistone is so considerate of Constance’s feelings and kind hearted. The two of them together have a great story and I can’t wait to read more! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
May 1, 2023
A fun story of the power of love to bring two good but very different people together. The plot was a little rough, in my opinion, with some climactic moments coming too soon for the relationship development, which seriously hampered the believability, but overall the desired effect was created and it ended well. Several typos and a few word choice and historical accuracy issues annoyed me throughout but it was a light and sweet read.
November 12, 2023
delightful
What a lovely read!
From an ascetic boarding school to the country idyll of pastoral England, we journey.
Our heroine has a growth from being puritanical and equating sacrifice with godliness, to a more whole hearted view of helping others.
Our hero grows attached to family and reforms..
The real character development arc is the heroine.
very very lovely book to read.
i had duties half way thru and it was torture to put down.
What a lovely read!
From an ascetic boarding school to the country idyll of pastoral England, we journey.
Our heroine has a growth from being puritanical and equating sacrifice with godliness, to a more whole hearted view of helping others.
Our hero grows attached to family and reforms..
The real character development arc is the heroine.
very very lovely book to read.
i had duties half way thru and it was torture to put down.
October 12, 2022
This was the perfect book to read over my fall break! It's a wonderful blend of humor, lovable characters, and romance. It has that touch of classic-book-charm mixed with more emotionally engaging characters that I rarely find, but so dearly enjoy. "Constance and the Inconstant Duke" has definitely made a spot for itself on my top favorite reads of 2022.
December 4, 2024
A sweet story (if a little silly in places) and engagingly told. My main hesitation is that Christianity is portrayed as being all about duties, morals and behaviour. There was barely any mention of God and (I think) no mention of Jesus, which left the whole religion side of the storyline feeling rather hollow.
October 14, 2022
Cute
It took me a bit to actually get into the story. I had a hard time following the changes of point of view and time. A sentence would start and then you would realize "this is a different scene than the last sentence". Once I got past that, it was a nice story
It took me a bit to actually get into the story. I had a hard time following the changes of point of view and time. A sentence would start and then you would realize "this is a different scene than the last sentence". Once I got past that, it was a nice story
April 9, 2023
A page turner for sure!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews