Cheers to the Duke

A charming, delightful romance that will bring a smile to your face! Having had a terrible marriage, now Jo has dedicated herself to the home her and her friends had established for fallen ladies who were working and trying to get back their lives. When she somehow driven to attend the christening of her friend's baby and be the godmother, she meets up with the benefactor of the home. Edward and his son were attending also and when he meets Jo, he know she is what he has been looking for!

This is the first book I have read in the series, but I have always enjoyed the author's writing. I found this romance lighthearted and entertaining with a gentlemanly hero and a woman who is determined to stand on her own two feet. The Dule of Grainger has made no secret of the fact that he is looking for a wife and a mother to his son. However, it is young Thomas who makes himself known to Lady Jo and makes his feelings heard on the subject. As Edward and Jo are thrown together by well-meaning friends, Jo experiences a certain amount of frustration, especially as she has determined to remain single and never again to allow herself to be put under the domination of any man. However, she cannot ignore her attraction towards Edward and also finds herself softening towards his son and his dog. Taking time and patience to win her over, Edward eventually breaks through the barriers, bringing this novel to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Edward was a solicitor before he inherited the dukedom. He's got a son from his first marriage, but the boy is lonely and needs a mother. None of the debutantes Edward meets interest him, and most of the ton look down on him due to his low origins. Jo is a widow who runs a home for abandoned women. She enjoys her independent life and has no desire to marry again. At a house party, her friends pressure her into a courtship with Edward. Despite the chemistry between them, she doesn't trust in love. Can Edward and his adorable son win her over? This is a character-driven novel where most of the drama comes from Jo's reluctance to marry, and her friends' interference. It's absurd (in a funny way) how paranoid she is about the people in her life trying to make her into a duchess, as if that's a bad thing. This book is as much her journey to self-awareness as it is a love story. And poor Edward! He's a big cuddle bear, and such a good dad. It's lovely to see him get his HEA with the woman he needs for himself and his son. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.