Eliza and the Duke Review (The Doves of New York, #2)

Hello, all!

Something about an interconnected standalone romance series just hits the spot, so I'm thrilled to be part of the blog tour for Eliza and the Duke by Harper St. George. Big thanks to the publisher for the copy, and you can read my review of the first book here! 

Pub Date: 6-24-24
Adult - Historical Romance

For Eliza Dove to get her inheritance, she must marry a man her estranged father deems suitable. While her fiancé spends his summer seeing the sights of the continent, Eliza dreams of having just one night to see the sights of London before she's shackled to a life she never asked for. Enter Simon Cavell.

When Eliza runs into Simon, she knows he's just the man she needs. Simon is the farthest thing from a gentleman. He's a prizefighter known as the Duke, and he's one fight away from securing freedom from the dangerous streets of Whitechapel for him and his late sister's daughter. Determined to keep Eliza from spilling his secret, he reluctantly agrees to take her out for one night. But it's clear by the raging attraction between them that one night could never be enough, leaving Eliza to concoct a scandalous bargain that will either land her Simon or ruin them both.

I always know I'm going to enjoy an HSG book. Her writing is straight to the point, and her plots are always interesting. I liked Eliza as a main character but found her a tad impulsive. She didn't always think her actions through, but I liked how Simon was always there to steer her away from danger. It was cute watching Simon fight his feelings for Eliza because you could tell he was gone for her from the moment they met. He came across as this rough and tough bruiser of a man, but he had such a soft side that I couldn't get enough of. I liked the romance, but their relationship was very insta-lovey, and I would've liked it to have dragged out a little more to help build the tension. While not a new favorite, it was still a solid installment, and I can't wait for the next one.

Rating: 3/5