At the Duke's Wedding

First three stories were fairly good -- not great because the narrative felt hurried, but certainly readable. The last story made the whole book worthless for me. The final story was about a modern day woman going back in time to the regency era and falling in love there. For those who love the idea of merging the two eras, my critique is useless. But for regency enthusiasts, this time-travel twist was unnecessary drivel. I now wish I could get my money back...

My dislike with these novellas is entirely my personal opinion that modern language has no place in historical romances. A few slips I could forgive, but these stories are peppered with contemporary phases. "Interesting, that" , and "Oh yeah" to name a few. I find that these sort of errors pull me completely out of the story and ruin my enjoyment. It's very disappointing because the stories themselves were fun and quite interesting.

I won't even mention the situations some of the heroines got themselves into, definitely did not pass the regency rules litmus test.

I recommend this anthology to anyone not put off by prodigious use of contemporary language in a historical romance. I can't tolerate it.

Overall 4+⭐️.
Rodale-Jack, an easily distracted rogue, has lost the Duke’s heirloom betrothal ring and lady’s companion Henrietta must help him find it. This was my least favorite of the four as I didn’t especially enjoy the flow of the writing here. 3⭐️
Neville-The scarred Earl of Bruton helps his dull cousin Frank woo Lady Rosanne through letters and loses his own ❤️. I really loved this one! Sweetly written with a strong but sensitive hero who is himself wooed by an intelligent, feisty heroine. 4.5⭐️ Linden-The Duke realizes he is betrothed to the wrong sister in a case of love at first sight with her widowed sister Cleo. Also nicely written about an honorable man who is totally at a loss as to how to correct his mistake and marry the independently original sister of his fiancé without being a total cad. 4.3⭐️
Ashe-Angela, a 21st-century American academia, rights a wrong and meets her match in Trenton, a British viscount caught in an impossible situation, 200 years in the past. This one was really fun as well, as I don’t believe Ashe has ever written a time-travel romance before. 4.4⭐️

I enjoyed this anthology, most especially Linden’s, Ashe’s and Neville’s novellas. (In Neville’s case, this was some of her last writing as she sadly passed last year). Fun and light-hearted reads nicely pieced together as a whole.

Each story in this anthology is written by a different author and is about a different couple who is attending the Duke's wedding at Kingstag Castle. I'm sure some of their storylines will intersect, and I am stoked to read each one!! I will review each one and give my castings.

That Rogue Jack by Maya Rodale
This is my first novel/novella by Maya Rodale--though I have many of her works downloaded on my tablet--and I have to say it will not be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this short as Rodale seemed to pack so much into it. Jack is a total charmer, complete with a Smile that inspired a brand of smelling salts(!!), while Henrietta is the no-nonsense, staid companion to the older Lady Sohpronia. All her life, Henrietta has had to be proper and responsible in order to keep her position as companion to Sophronia, so she has watched from the sidelines as Jack charmed his way through life and countless adventures. However, when the Duke entrusts Jack with safekeeping the family ring, the Duke's mother enlists Henrietta to make sure whimsical Jack actually has them in time for the wedding. Thus, Henrietta is swept into a whirlwind of secret rendezvous and nighttime adventures with Jack as they search for the ring (that Jack lost/misplaced), while Jack learns to see Henrietta (whom he's known all his life) in a new and lovely light. A wonderful romance of two unlikely people getting to know each other and falling in love because of the balance they bring the other! 4.5 stars

P.S. I Love You by Miranda Neville
Ugh, this novella. It disappointed me so much!! For me, the pacing was too slow and I think the courtship between Frank and Rosanne went on for much too long. The beginning chapter was interesting at first, then seemed to drag and morphed into a dragging story as well. I think part of the problem was the MCs didn't do anything (besides mope for someone they couldn't have). Unlike the first novella where the MCs had a goal they were trying to accomplish, Rosanne and Christian (and Frank) weren't really worried or occupied with anything besides falling in love with each other. Add in the fact that I wanted Rosanne to hurry up and realize what an amazing and broken hero Christian was (my favorite kind really), and I was definitely ready for the next installment. Christian was really the saving grace in this novella for me; he was so caring and sarcastic and beautiful inside and out. I LOVED him, so when Rosanne finally realized he was her REAL messenger of love I just about died. Overall, it was an boring start, an okay but long middle with a much better ending. 3.5 stars

When I Met My Duchess by Caroline Linden
I found this story to be much more enjoyable than the last, but definitely not up to par to the first one. I keep comparing each story to the first (and subsequently find them lacking) which I find very telling. I did enjoy this one though. Gareth, Duke of Wessex, thinks he has found the perfect bride. Miss Helen Gray is polite, reserved, and perfectly demure--the perfect candidate to become Duchess to his grand estate. Except when she and her family arrive at Kingstag Castle for the wedding, lightning strikes (literally) and he has eyes only for her scandalous and outspoken sister, the widowed Cleo Barrows. I liked their chemistry and Gareth's complete fascination with her and Cleo's independence and openness. However, again my main problem with this story was the character's lack of action! Maybe it's unfair to hold novellas to the same standard as I do to full-length historicals, but I've read other novellas (by the amazing Tessa Dare) that include adventure, mystery, and of course a lovely HEA. Even the first story of this anthology included a mission for the characters to complete (and ultimately bring them together), which is what I love to read. Anyway, enough of that. Overall, this story was cute in its forbidden and star-crossed love, and I really did enjoy the neat way it all worked out in the end. 4 stars

How Angela Got Her Rogue Back by Katharine Ashe
What a fabulous ending to this anthology! Ashe completely succeeded in pulling me back into this world and the intertwining characters, leaving me breathless for more. This was my first time-traveling historical romance (no I haven't read Outlander, don't kill me!!!), so I really didn't expect much going in. But I have to say, I kinda loved it. I haven't been into contemporary romances lately, but this story nicely blended the contemporary genre into the historical world that I love so much and I found myself really enjoying it. Angela was a very relatable, strong, and tenacious heroine (which I love), and Trent was just lovely--he was kind, caring, artistic **swoon**, yet vulnerable and unsure. I LOVED their courtship/romance, and their ending had me on the verge of heartbreak and tears at the unfairness of it all. Overall, this is a tie for my favorite with the first story That Rogue Jack because this story wasn't just about the romance--the MCs (mainly Angela) were looking/working towards SOMETHING and there was a villain to vanquish. Love! 4.5 stars

This is an anthology of four interwoven novellas, all taking place during the same event - a house party thrown to celebrate the wedding of a duke. I generally prefer full length books over novellas, since novellas often seem rushed and wrap up too quickly or conveniently. Done well, however, they can be delightful. I especially enjoy interwoven stories like this!They are written by four different authors, so have distinct writing styles, but the way the characters appear in all the stories really binds them together cohesively.

The first novella, That Rougue Jack, by Maya Rodale is delightful, light and humorous, and with relatively little “amorous activity” which novellas can sometimes rely too much on. It also sets the stage for the following three, introducing us to the setting and other characters.

The second story, P.S. I Love You, by Miranda Neville, takes a different tone and starts us out in a new setting, which was a little jarring at first. Still lovely, but a bit predictable. The hero is great in this story, though.

Third is When I Met My Duchess, by Caroline Linden, and by now you’re waiting to find out what’s happening to the duke and his wedding, because it’s been hinted at! This one is a little more steamy, and that felt a little shoehorned in. The rest of the story was great though!

Last is How Angela Got Her Rogue Back, by Katharine Ashe. I was not expecting this plot at all, and I won’t give it away - but it’s a good read, except there was a lot of steam in this for such a short story. Of the four stories, this was my least favorite.

Overall a well worthwhile anthology!

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book in return for my unbiased and honest review.

I throughly enjoyed this anthology!! I loved that all four stories take place at the same event and that you see a different perspective during each of them. Linden, Ashe, Neville and Rodale all have a similar writing style so it almost felt like reading one large book.

I definitely recommend this book to any historical romance lover!

I really enjoyed this book. It has several different authors and stories in it. My favorite two stories are : P.S. I Love You by Miranda Neville and When I Met My Duchess by Caroline Linden. I liked all of the stories. I really liked the concept of the book. The characters and plots were really good.

AT THE DUKE'S WEDDING by Katharine Ashe, Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale,and Miranda Neville is an exciting Regency Historical Romance Anthology. Four talented authors four wonderful stories. Where you mix four talented ladies you get dynamite stories that sizzles off the page. Filled with romance, passion,danger,scandal, and love. You can not go wrong with "At The Duke's Wedding". The characters are engaging,the plots interesting as well as intriguing and the passion is fulfilling. Fast paced and passion packed. You do not want to miss this intriguing story of Duke's,and their ladies. Wonderful job ladies! I am eager to see what comes next from these four ladies. They are simply wonderful,each and everyone of them. But,then, I enjoy their stories and "A The Duke's Wedding" was no exception. A must read for any historical romance readers as well as any reader who simply enjoys an great read! Received for an honest review from one of the authors.
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

Interchange between authors and seeing the caracteres floating in some pages of stories writen by the other author. I liked it. Lovely stories and very entertaining romances. I had a marvelous time reading the four stories. Thankyou authors!!

pardon spelling. I am from Brazil and writing in a hurry.!

I like the idea of this anthology, different stories around the same group of characters and the same time period. The last story threw me at first, I wasn't expecting the time travel thing. But I liked it after I realized that.

I loved the first three stories and only thought the fourth was ok. I may have liked the fourth more if it had been a longer story maybe. I love Caroline Linden so there was no disappointment there but all the stories were funny which is what I like in a romance. I'll check out the other authors and see if there full lengths are just as entertaining as these short stories.

if you are looking to while away a pleasant afternoon or two, this is the book for you - don't expect deep and profound characterisations or logic or historical consistency, but enjoy mix ups and adventure and lighthearted fun.

I enjoyed this book, first, because the writing of all the novels is flawless. Second, excellent idea of these wonderful writers to tie together the stories and use the characters in all of them even if in some cases it was "on passing"... or just acknowledging their presence in the castle.
The stories themselves were very nice, sweet love scenes in spite of showing all the passion between the two characters involved. This is what I call "done with exquisite taste".
As I like Victorian and Edwardian novels I thought this would be just one of the many, but it surpassed them all. Again, the writing is what puts the book in the FIVE STAR category.
Highly recommended!

When I Met My Duchess
by Caroline Linden

Gareth Cavendish is the Duke of Wessex is in a dreadful pickle ....he’s engaged to the wrong woman, well at the beginning he thought she was what he wanted, a biddable quiet wife the perfect ton marriage. Until he meets her sister Cleopatra Barrows and the heavens open and he hears angels singing he’s literally struck speechless and he knows deep in his heart she’s the woman of his heart! But how’s he supposed to rectify his situation and marry the right sister? Instead of the wedding of the season this will be the scandal of the season!
As with all of Caroline Linden’s stories this didn’t disappoint. Even though it was a short read it didn’t lack in anything the story and characters were well developed and flowed nicely the dialogue was witty and it didn’t lack in the chemistry department. And I adored the ever witty Aunt Sophronia.

This was a wonderful collection of short stories that flowed nicely together the perfect read for all historical romance readers!
I was given a complimentary copy this is my honest unbiased opinion.