Check out my review below for A Most Unusual Duke by Susanna Allen, a Regency romance with a fantasy-edge, sure to delight romance and fantasy readers alike! There's also a giveaway to enter, so keep scrolling!
Book Information
Title: A Most Unusal Duke
Authors(s): susanna Allen
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
Edition: Paperback, eBook, audiobook; 288 pgs
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Purchase: Amazon - Kindle - Audible - B&N - BAM! - iBooks - Kobo - TBD -
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
Edition: Paperback, eBook, audiobook; 288 pgs
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Purchase: Amazon - Kindle - Audible - B&N - BAM! - iBooks - Kobo - TBD -
Bookshop.org
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Please note the purchase links above are affiliate links.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Please note the purchase links above are affiliate links.
Tour Schedule
Week One
4/4/2022 - Books a Plenty Book Reviews - Review
4/4/2022 - Fyrekatz Blog - Review
4/5/2022 - The Reading Devil - Guest Post/IG Post
4/5/2022 - More Books Please blog - Review/IG Post
4/6/2022 - @theheavycrownreads - Review
4/6/2022 - BookHounds - Guest Post/IG Post
4/7/2022 - A Court of Coffee and Books - Review/IG Post
4/7/2022 - Sadie's Spotlight - Excerpt/IG Post
4/8/2022 - Owl Abridged - Review/IG Post
4/8/2022 - Angel's Guilty Pleasures - Excerpt/IG Post
Week Two
4/11/2022 - Quill Tree Fox - Review/IG Post
4/11/2022 - #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog - Excerpt/IG Post
4/12/2022 - Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf - Review
4/12/2022 - Fire and Ice - Review
4/13/2022 - Eli to the nth - Review/IG Post
4/13/2022 - Two Points of Interest - Review
4/14/2022 - The Momma Spot - Review/IG Post
4/14/2022 - @jypsylynn - Review
4/15/2022 - onemused - Review/IG Post
4/15/2022 - Rajiv's Reviews - Review
The Summary
Bridgerton meets Werewolves Within in this sparkling shapeshifter Regency romance mixed with humor, steamy chemistry, and fantasy.
The Duke said he'd never get married...
The Prince Regent insists his cousin and fellow bear shifter, Arthur Humphries, the Duke of Osborn, take a mate to ensure the continuation of their species. After all, Arthur is an Alpha, so he must set a good example. The duke would very much prefer to continue his comfortable bachelor lifestyle, but the Prince Regent is not a bear to be poked.
Beatrice, the widowed Marchioness of Castleton, is in possession of a powerful secret. She knows all about Shifters, her horrible late husband being one of them. At any moment, Beatrice could reveal the secrets of the Prince and those like him—unless the Prince can make sure she marries another Shifter.
A marriage between the Duke of Osborn and Beatrice is far from ideal for either one, but at least they won't fall in love...right?
Witty, fantastical, and entirely unique, A Most Unusual Duke is perfect for readers looking for:
• A delicious Regency romp with a paranormal twist
• A devilishly handsome Alpha hero
• A marriage of convenience
• A magical world to sink your teeth into
Reviews:
"Allen continues to make this unusual genre mash-up sing." ― Publishers Weekly
"Susanna Allen Writer's writing is SO GOOD. It sucked me right in. I think you'll love it, too."- Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series.
My Review
If you're looking for some classic romance tropes, then look no further. We got arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, fated mates, and slow burn all in one book. But we also have really strong female characters, especially in the form of Beatrice of main love interest. While many a Regency romance I've read has a stronger than usual female lead, Beatrice really stood out to me in terms of her competency. Then our leading man, Arthur, is the best mix of "alpha male" (both literally and figuratively) and gentle, caring husband. They butt heads and their romance is a very slow burn, but that makes the ending that much sweeter.
The supernatural elements are mixed well within the Regency-era. Of course most of the upper crust are all shifters of some sort, which made it a little unrealistic that it was an actual secret, rather than an open-secret, but not uncommon in books like this. I liked the different glimpses in the shifter cultures, and this is the first bear shifter romance I've read, so that was a fresh take.
I think overall this was an enjoyable read; it gives fantasy lovers a good romance to sink into and romance lovers a good fantasy to sink into. Also, there are two other books in the series (see above) that connect slightly, but also stand alone. So if you enjoy A Most Unusual Duke, be sure to check out Susanna Allen's other books, A Wolf in Duke's Clothing and A Duke at the Door.
Final Rating
About the Author
Susanna Allen...
... moved to Ireland for twelve months — in 1998. Having gained a Master of Philosophy in Irish Theatre Studies from the Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College, she embarked on a career in theatre criticism, eventually moving into feature writing on all things cultural, as well as lifestyle-oriented subjects for major Irish titles across newsprint and magazines.
Writing as Susan Conley, she is the author of Drama Queen and The Fidelity Project, both published by Headline UK, and the soon-to-be republished That
Magic Mischief. Her memoir, Many Brave Fools: A Story of Addiction, Dysfunction, Codependency… and Horses is published by Trafalgar Square Books and recounts the growth and insights she acquired after having taken up horse riding as an adult, post-divorce.
Susan is living her life by the three Rs: reading, writing and horseback riding, and can generally be found on her sofa with her e-reader; gazing out a window and thinking about made-up people; or cantering around in circles. She loves every minute of it!
Sounds fascinating in theory. Not sure I want to be reading a book with this cover in public. I bought it on kindle. :)
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