A Duke in Shining Armor: Difficult Dukes

Not enough premise for a relationship- the groom's best friend chases after his fiance to try to get her back to the wedding. And of course, along the way, both parties start having more romantic feeling towards each other ( no surprise there). I couldn't really see a reason for these 2 to come together when the bride should of spent more time w/ her fiance, instead of his best friend. Then mayb she wouldn't have felt compelled to flee.

>>>>>My Synopsis (Review Follows): <<<<<
For seven years, Lady Olympia Hightower had been voted the Most Boring Girl of the Season. In the seven years that she'd been in the marriage mart, she'd received no offers, at least not the kind a respectable young Lady of high breeding would accept. So when a seemingly random act of kindness on Lady Olympia's part toward the Duke of Ashmont, a handsome young man, resulted in him asking for her hand, she'd accepted without batting an eye. Now, on her wedding day after imbibing in a glass or two, possibly three of tea, she was no longer so sure of her decision.

Things could have gone much differently if her aunt hadn't spiked the tea for it inspired her to bolt. Things could have ended much differently if a certain someone had gone in search of Olympia instead of sending his best man in his stead. It's those split second decisions that we make in life that can change everything and in this case it does. The question is for better or worse?

>>>>>My Review: <<<<<
This was an extremely charming, highly entertaining, delightfully funny, and adorably romantic read. Lady Olympia Hightower is overcome with an extreme case of wedding jitters. She knows the handsome Duke of Ashmont is a wonderful catch despite his being one of the three Dukes nicknamed the Dis-Graces, but all her doubts and fears start to surface tenfold. As she gets ready to stand up before God and all their friends and family to wed him, she feels the weight of what she is about to do and finds she just can't. So she makes a run for it.

The Duke of Ashmont plays such a small part in this one. He reminded me a lot of the brother in the movie "While You Were Sleeping"--the one who didn't get the girl. He's kind of clueless, easily manipulated, and is looking to marry Lady Olympia for all the wrong reasons--mainly because his uncle has tricked him into it. While I might have felt bad for this young man, it was fairly obvious that he and Lady Olympia knew next to nothing about each other and would never suit.

Hugh Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley, is the Duke of Ashmont's best friend/best man and the one he sends to find out what is taking Olympia so long. While chasing after the bride is above and beyond what is expected of a best man, he does so hoping to talk some sense into her. While trying to keep her out of trouble and get her to somewhere safe, a funny thing starts to happen--he starts to fall for the bespectacled young woman. His inner struggle to be good despite the attraction is what makes this story so good. I absolutely loved it.

I couldn't help but give this book 5 out of 5 roses. A sweet, sexy, and fun romance which features a hilariously funny comedy of errors. This one had me shaking my head, laughing myself silly, and smiling like the cat who ate the canary. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. This is definitely one for my keeper shelf.

Weird start...that doesn’t get less weird. If you are iffy after reading the sample, trust that and don’t purchase.

Two key people are drunk, the best man steps in to...make the situation clearly worse? Steal bride of his close friend? Her little brothers come to the rescue? This is an improbable plot...I don’t even want to finish it and I’ve barely hit 20%

3.5 stars - rounded

Olympia Hightower is not your average deb: winner of the dubious title, Most Boring Debutante for the seventh year, this bookish young woman is far from the expected. Literate and book loving, older and not wholly excited by her upcoming marriage, she’s a heroine that many of us would befriend, even as others in her situation find her odd. Now off the shelf, she’s due to marry the Duke of Ashmont, a notorious rake and one of the 3 dubbed the “Dis-Graces”, a marriage not even remotely intriguing to her, but because of her family’s desperate need for money, and her being a dutiful daughter – the marriage is on. Right up until she escapes out her window.

Hugh, Duke of Ripley is yet another of the Dis-Graces, and a good friend to Ashmont. He sees Olympia trying to run – and while tarred with the rake’s brush, he seeks to protect her and deliver her to a female relation, allowing Ashmont to come and plead his case. Hugh is a wonderfully compassionate man, he wants to make Olympia see sense, but there is something in her personality and her love of literature that calls to him: a side he’s hidden from even his closest friends. Slowly but surely their feelings and regard start to develop: a sort of mutual admiration society springing up between them. Hugh isn’t truly a rake, even though he is in a highly improper situation: his goal is to deliver the bride promised to Ashmont, and he truly struggles with his own feelings for her, and hers for him.

A bit uneven in pacing: early on the story is slow to develop and contains plenty of background and back and forth from Olympia, that actually was frustrating as it seemed to be the one worry she had: not her reputation when leaving, not being in the company of a rake – but her feelings about marriage. Fortunately though, the fun of the road trip as they are hunted, Hugh’s honest regard for her intelligence and conversational ability, and even the fun they are having with most of the rigid constraints of society falling to the wayside. Finally the connection between the two becomes apparent and spoken, with honest regard and a clear purpose that allays the fears and hesitations and allows their relationship to stand out. Full of unspoken and dreamed of passions, steam and plenty of heartfelt conversations, the story is a good introduction to the series and promises intrigue and interest for the other Dis-Graces.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Olympia is dangerously close to being on the shelf but when she serendipitously catches the attention of a duke, she has a chance to help her large family from financial ruin.
The Duke of Ripley is doing all he can to help his bestfriend not flub up his wedding but he should have been paying attention to the bride. When he sees her make a run for it, he chases her.
They're not meant to be together but they also wouldn't have it any other way.

He was trying desperately to find a way out of whatever it was he'd got himself into.

The first in a new series, A Duke in Shining Armor introduces us to the three Dis-Graces, dukes who have a bit of a tainted reputation because of the antics they have gotten up to over the years. The Duke of Ashmont has the face of angel but a bit of a drinking problem. Through some reverse psychology his uncle gets him to really pay attention to Olympia and offer for her. Just returned from a trip on the continent our hero, the Duke of Ripley, has come across Olympia at balls and such but tried to keep his attention of her to the peripheral as he wasn't ready to grow up yet. This latent attraction becomes the source of his problem.

This is a road romance that from page one hits the ground running and doesn't let up into well into the second half of the book. Ripley and Olympia have a bit of madcap adventures as they constantly spout wit back and forth. It gave them some spark but the duration and focus of it, came at the expense of some depth. Their dialogue had a tendency to come off as them talking at each other instead of with and I had a hard time getting to know them.

He'd said things and looked at her in ways other men didn't, and the combination had started to make her think she wasn't altogether the young woman she'd always believed she was. She knew rakes were dangerous but she hadn't understood how subtle the danger could be. Her ideas about a great many subjects were threatening revolution.

Along with their dialogue lacking exploring other emotions for most of the book, the vast majority (I think the last 5% goes a week into the future) takes place within 4 days, the first 50% of the story is the first day. I will say, even with this time frame, it doesn't feel like insta-love, which is a credit to the author's writing. The author has Ripley admit to himself a couple times that he always noticed Olympia and liked her personality and Olympia remembering having a pining moment over Ripley dancing with someone else but we don't get the scenes of a solid emotional growing between beginning attraction that I personally look for and enjoy.

"What are you doing?" he said.
"I'm being unsubtle," she said.

With the hero and heroine busy being witty and flitting around, I never gained a strong grasp of who they were. Olympia was probably the stronger of the two with her large family driving her to marriage and feeling like she didn't belong because she was voted the most boring debutante years in a row, which felt brought up more than enough. Her love of books and categorizing books is discussed but I would have liked some family interaction scenes or if she had friends; scenes that help show more personality and different nuances of a character. Ripley is given a very vague bad past with an ill father and though he has scenes with his friends, the Duke of Ashmont who's bride he's accidentally stealing and his brother-in-law the Duke of Blackwood, we're not shown how they became friends or what really binds them together. I was left with a lot of questions regarding Ripley and who he was.

Ripley was a disgrace and had been for years, but this had to be the worst thing he'd done in his life.
Yet it seemed to him the best thing he'd ever done.

The last 15% or so was more of what I was looking for, Ripley and Olympia seemed to talk with each other more and I began to feel their emotional connection, but it would have been great to have that start more towards the middle of the book. They also start to hit the sheets more but I frankly could have done with more of the platonic growing together at the time. Ashmont definitely doesn't shine here but as I'm sure he'll get the chance to be a hero of his own book, his redemption will interesting. The other friend Blackwood and his wife (Ripley's sister) seemingly have a secret frosty relationship that raises a lot of questions. With all the dukes running around, even I started to get fatigued but it's still a hard title to say no to. In a very small side story that managed to kind of steal the show for me, Ripley’s aunt seems to have a very interesting hurt and angry past with Ashmont’s uncle. The emotion and tension could be cut with a knife whenever the two were in a room and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing what comes of them.

With a bit too much wit and one-upping sarcasm for its own good and short time duration, this didn't start providing enough emotional building blocks for me until closer at the end. This author's writing is always engaging though and if you're in the mood for a quick paced witty back and forth, this definitely would provide.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Olympia is somehow set to wed one of the infamous and gorgeous "difficult" dukes despite her spectacles and love for librarianship. When she finds herself drowning her cold feet in a bottle of brandy she decides bolting out the window in her overwrought wedding dress is a far better idea than going through with the nuptials.
Brought reluctantly back from abroad to stand up for his best friend, the Duke of Ripley finds himself tasked with finding Olympia and bringing her back to her betrothed. Too bad he finds himself falling for the lady himself.
Both find themselves torn between honor, duty, and true love.

With witty banter and charming characters, I enjoyed my first ever Loretta Chase. What I didn't really enjoy was the conflict between best friends, especially since I felt bad for Olympia's original intended (I'm assuming he's going to get his own HEA in an upcoming book). Plus, the main plot took place over about four days and it felt a bit too quick for the characters to find themselves in so many different locations and falling in love so very quickly. I'm also not a fan of dueling, especially when it is between friends and used as a drama inducing plot point that causes our heroine to think her guy is dreadfully hurt.

That said, the scenes with Olympia and Ripley spark, and it is a fun start to a series.

I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Avon!

My second read by Loretta Chase and it was like the first one, a must-read.
A very different blurb from Dukes prefer Blondes, it was a road trip story and the action takes place during a short lapse of time.
Most of the book was the battle of wits between the h and the H with some insights from the other parties.

“Didn’t you tell me you were a damsel in distress?” he said. “I’m your knight in shining armor.”

This story of a tipsy run-away bride-to-be kidnapping in her tail a rakish Duke was full of humous, hilarious with some Laughing out loud moments but not only, their funny banters is what shaped this book is a so very enjoyable read.

“Her eyebrows went up. “It makes for a change,” he said. “I should not call it a change,” she said. “In your case I should call it . . .” Her eyebrows settled again and a glint of humor lit her eyes. “An apocalypse.”

“You kissed first,” he said. “On the cheek!” “On the cheek, on the lips. All the same to me. Female, kiss. Male, excited. Do I have to explain simple facts of life to you?”

It was also a rollercoaster ride of the emotions, during the four days of their journey, they grew up, matured to sort out who they really were.

Olympia always played the good girl, she felt out of place but she tried not to rock the boat until her wedding day. She thought that marrying a Duke will solve all her family problems, she thought she would have no problems to chose this path if it means securing her brothers future.
Until some brandy gave her second thoughts, and here she is on the road with a Duke, not her betrothed, assisting her in her flight.

“She’d called herself a damsel in distress, but she wasn’t. Damsels in distress were always virtuous ladies in trouble through no fault of their own. She was in trouble she’d made for herself. No dragons. No evil sorcerers. No stage villains twirling their mustaches. No heartless parents or stepparents.”

During her short time with Ripley, she realizes there is so much more to live than spending her time in a library. He makes her wish for more.

“she understood she’d waited years for him, without hope because she hadn’t dared to understand herself. She’d made herself what she ought to be, and it was like a dress that didn’t fit.”

Ripley, one of the three Dis-Graces, Dukes well known for their improper behaviors, walking on the thin line of scandals, always ready to launch themselves in any unlikely circumstances and hoaxes. Why following the runaway bride of his best-friend was at first more a joke to have some fun on the back of his friend Ashmont. But soon the prank turned sour when he began to comprehend Olympia was meant to be his.

“He saw her, and that was all he really saw: the daring girl who’d led him a wild chase . . . the girl he’d raced with in his invalid chair . . . the girl he’d wheeled after through the park of Camberley Place . . . and made love to, madly and stupidly, in his favorite place in the world.”

But how could he betray his friend?
While Olympia wonder how she can undo the mess in which she is now, fleeing from one man with another one, she begins to care too much for.
Together, they will have to sort out and face the consequences of their growing attraction and the path they will choose.

“Yes, well, you’re not a good girl,” he said. She sucked in her breath. “Good girls don’t get drunk and run away on their wedding day,” he went on. “Good girls don’t take off their clothes in front of wicked men. Good girls don’t taunt those men into tumbling them. Good girls don’t make the men wish they’d thought to do it years ago. Good girls are boring. You won the awards for boring because you were trying to be a good girl. You’re not. You’re a bad girl, and if you’d been a boy, you might have been one of my best friends. I’m glad you’re not a girl.”

My only querying is why Ripley left on one year abroad as I do suppose the next books will be about his two friends, I’m very curious of how Ashmont will redeem his way and what about Blackwood’s marriage.

I’m a verified customer on the store.fr

Lady Olympia Hightower is supposed to get married to a duke. Instead, she gets drunk, climbs out the window, and runs away. In her wedding dress. Said duke's best friend, also a duke, feels it's his responsibility to make sure she doesn't come to harm, even though in his opinion, she's not making a lick of sense. I think y'all can predict what happens to this couple, what with it being a romance novel. Anyway, I recommend this if you aren't hardcore anti-cheating - because they don't do things in the right order of (a) break engagement and (b) get it on, though they do realize they've done wrong and apologize. The character voices and the dialogue are exceedingly funny, and the adventure these two end up on is often hilarious. Chasing dogs through muddy fields, anyone?

There are a lot of what I call "men are from Mars and dumb, women are from Venus and incomprehensible" type comments, which I could have lived without. To be honest, I mentally armor up for gender essentialism when I read mainstream traditionally published non-queer romance, either contemporary or historical, because it's so rampant. But overall, I liked so many things about this book, and these characters were so clearly meant for each other, that I really enjoyed reading it even with those flaws. It's light entertainment done right.

Lady Olympia Hightower is set to marry the Duke of Ashmont. What should be a happy and joyous occasion, turns out into a total disaster (but in a good way). Olympia should be thrilled to be marrying the Duke as she is already nearing six and twenty, with no other suitors or offers of marriage. She should be happy that someone is finally interested in her, especially being that he is a Duke and she is, well, a bit of a wallflower. Her biggest accomplishment of seven seasons was being voted as the Most Boring Girl of the Season. So, Olympia can see why she jumped at the chance to marry the Duke. She does have six brothers to consider and she does not want to become a burden to them in the eventuality that she never weds. Too bad the Duke of Ashmont is a bit of an ass and so immature it makes her nine year old brother look like more of an adult. So what is a girl to do in this situation? Run on the day of her wedding, of course!

Hugh Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley has been set to the task as a groomsmen not even one day being back in London from the Continent. The wedding has come as quite the shock to him as men of his ilk (the Dis-Graces) did not marry gently bred ladies such as Olympia. The night before the wedding the Duke of Ripley, along with his two best friends the Duke of Ashmont, and the Duke of Blackwood, his fellow Dis-Graces, are well and truly drunk. It is left to the Duke of Ripley to make sure that Ashmont arrives at the wedding and that everything goes smoothly. Now, that he finally has Ashmont at the wedding on time, there is no sign of the bride. While Ashmont is getting more intoxicated as the minutes start flying by, Ripley decides its best that he go in search of the bride before all hell breaks lose. Imagine his surprise when he finds Olympia trying to escape through a window and into the rain. What is a groomsmen supposed to do in a situation like this, you ask? Why chase after the bride of course!

…….and this is where the fun begins!

Loretta Chase has always been one of my go-to authors. I have never been disappointed with any of her books and A DUKE IN SHINING ARMOR is no different. I found myself not being able to put the book down and staying up way later than I ever planned to. The story is filled with humor and laugh out loud moments which leave you wanting to keep reading just so you can laugh some more over their antics. I found myself immersed in the story and really invested in the two main characters and their HEA. Loretta Chase’s writing style flows effortlessly and this is just one of the many things I have always loved about this author. The plot is very much character driven and I felt that I really got the chance to delve deep into their lives. All and all, this was one fantastic read and should not be missed.

A DUKE IN SHINING ARMOR is such a great start to the Difficult Dukes series and I, for one, can not wait for the second installment.

3.5 Stars
Olympia doesn’t quite know how she got in this situation, but she think that her laced tea might have had something to do with it. Yet, her, the bespectacled girl voted the most boring in the tonne has somehow managed to get one Duke to propose to her and be running away from the wedding with another Duke. And not just any Duke either, but the Dis-Graces, the trio of wild and rakeish Dukes no longer accepted into any respectable lady’s ballroom.

It’s been a while since I have read anything by Loretta Chase and when I saw the blurb for A Duke in Shining Armor I decided that I had to give it ago; there’s nothing I like more than a rake and wallflower type of story. Now, after reading it I am glad I gave it a try as although it isn’t my favourite by Chase it was still a lot of fun. Right from the start this tale of a wedding gone awry puts a smile on your face, it’s witty with some very likeable characters.

Oympia, our heroine is usually a very sensible, and many would say boring girl; however, when we first meet her she’s drunk as hell and trying to climb out of a window. As the story goes on, the more I like Olympia, when not drunk, she’s a sensible, clever and take-charge kinda gal. And with out hero, not the “poor” bridegroom, but his best friend Ripley, that’s exactly what’s required to manage, his reputation as one of the Dis-Graces is well deserved. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two, it was witty and charming with an undertone of sexual tension, perfect for a light-hearted historical romance.

Now, you may have guessed that there is a jilted bridegroom in this book, and I know a lot of people, including myself, hate the idea of cheating. But, don’t fear although eloping with the best man isn’t the sign of a faithful bride and running off with your best friend’s affianced isn’t the sign of a great friend…Chase handles the whole situation very well. Lets put it this way, if the groom spent more time thinking and less time drinking this may have gone differently.

A Duke in Shining Armor was a good addition to the historical romance genre, especially if you are looking for something lighthearted and fun, I will definitely continue to follow this series.

One of the things that I adored most about this novel is that despite what the title might suggest, the hero isn't always saving the day. Ripley gets into some of his own scrapes, injuring himself multiple times, and Olympia is actually the one who helps him resolve the situation. On multiple occasions she stands up against bullies, defending those that are weaker, and risking herself to do what's right. And although some might say that running away from the alter shows a certain cowardice, I think that in this situation it shows a tremendous amount of courage. She knows that she doesn't feel what she should for her fiance and takes off on her own, still in her wedding gown and without a plan. She risks the censure of her family and of society to do what she thinks is right. That takes real bravery. I love that there's a sense of balance in this romance. Both the hero and heroine save each other, as it should be.

I know many people have problems with cheating in novels, or even just the implication of it. I'm usually one of these people, as well. Normally I would probably feel a bit icky about a romance where a guy falls for his best friend's fiance, but somehow the author handled it in a way where it didn't seem like the wrong thing to do. I think maybe this was due to the fact that we don't really get to know Olympia and Ashmont as a couple and we know that they aren't in love with each other. They're marrying because it seemed like the right thing to do and because of family pressure. And although Ripley is constantly reminding himself and the reader that Olympia should be off limits, he beats himself up about it so much and they just seem to fit so well together that you actually end up encouraging him in your head. Go get her, Ripley! Kiss the girl! So, if the idea of a novel where a hero pursues his best friend's ex seems like a turn off to you, you might actually be pleasantly surprised despite your reservations.

Loretta Chase did a wonderful job of creating characters you really want to cheer on and a romance that I couldn't put down. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next in this series. If you love a historical romance with a rake trying his darnedest to reform and a spunky heroine who is finally ready to break all the rules, A DUKE IN SHINING ARMOR is definitely one to read.

Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.

Shockingly, this is the first time I have read Loretta Chase... and I liked this one so much that now I am excited to tackle the backlog of her published works! A Duke in Shining Armor kicks off a new series, the Difficult Dukes, featuring the three Dis-Graces, the Dukes of Ashmont, Ripley and Blackwood. These three Dis-Graces and their scandalous antics are well known around the ton, and historically they have not cared a whit what anyone thought or said about them. But that all seems to be changing. Blackwood has married Ripley's sister, Alice, and Ashmont is set to marry Lady Olympia Hightower. Or is he?

Lady Olympia Hightower has been voted the Most Boring for the last seven seasons. As a unrepentant bibliophile, Olympia has been considering a future of spinsterhood or marrying the septuagenarian Lord Mends to become his librarian. As the only daughter with five brothers, she is leaning toward marrying a man old enough to be her grandfather so her family will be able to afford to provide for her brothers' future. But when the Duke of Ashmont surprises everyone by courting Olympia, she feels she can't say no. Until she gets drunk on her wedding day and becomes a runaway bride. Olympia was quite the humorous drunk and I loved her logic and banter with our hero throughout her drunken escape. I also loved that we had a bookish heroine, with a practical but entertaining side. I thought she was great.

Hugh Ancaster, the Duke of Ripley, was given one task by his best friend, to take charge of the bride and make sure the marriage went off without a hitch. Recently back from a years long travel, he doesn't quite understand why his friends have suddenly caught the matrimonial bug. It also doesn't help that he has always found the bride-to-be intriguing and attractive. So to convince Olympia to go back to his friend, Ripley had to (attempt to) deny his ducal desires for the first time in his life. Olympia certainly did not make it easy. I thought Ripley was an awesome hero. He uplifted our heroine's self-esteem, attempted to be a good friend, but ultimately could not resist the pull of attraction. I thought including his struggle over betraying his friend was added a humanizing aspect to the story and created a stronger emotional connection to his character.

The romance unfolded at a nice pace, and the banter between the couple was fun and entertaining. It wasn't so much flirty as it was humorous and practical. Olympia's character seemed to grow quite a bit in a short time, where she stopped thinking so much about others and took something for herself. Though she never lost touch with her true personality, the one who was kind to everyone and didn't want people fighting or troubling over her desires.

The friendship between their Dis-Graces was genuine and supportive. We often see female friendships in stories, but I really like getting the male perspective, especially when the friendship is so meaningful. The only thing that was a bit off for the story for me was the marriage between Blackwood and Alice. It almost seemed like there was an earlier book and we were missing all the backstory, but I have a feeling that Blackwood's book is going to take place (at least partially) contemporaneously with Ripley's story. So I am looking forward to seeing that play out. I also can't wait until Ashmont really does meet the woman to make him lose his head.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Avon.

Oh my goodness, I loved this book and cannot wait for the rest of this series!

The Duke of Ripley returns to England from abroad to find his world turned on its ear (in his words, "the future had arrived while [he] wasn't looking")--one of his close friends, one-third of the infamous trio "Dis-Graces," is about to marry an unlikely bride, the bookish and almost-on-the-shelf Olympia Hightower. Ripley is roped into being his best man, tasked with making sure the wedding goes off without a hitch. One teensy little problem? The bride is no longer convinced of the wisdom of their union, but unsure of or how to get out of it gracefully--so she gets drunk and escapes out the window.

Naturally Ripley has to follow. And naturally, hilarious disasters ensue.

The first half of the story--their escape and Ripley's thwarted attempts to bring her back--is an absolute joy to read. The second half--what happens next--slows things down a bit (it's pretty inevitable, really, given the craziness of the first part) and things get more angsty as Ripley and Olympia realize that 1) they're falling for each other and 2) the complications that this could cause might be disastrous. For a while there, an HEA seems almost impossible--fortunately, Ms. Chase pulls one off with aplomb (phew!)

Now we just have to figure out what the heck is going on with Ripley's sister and her husband (another Dis-Grace, of course) and find an actual bride for Olympia's jilted suitor--write fast, please, Ms. Chase!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Lady Olympia Hightower is a practical, sensible, bookish wallflower. So, when the Duke of Ashmont asks her to marry him, she agrees. She promises her self that she has let go of her childhood dreams of romantic love and Knights-in-shining-armor.

But what happens when she realizes that Ripley is everything she ever dreamed of? Will she stay true and staid and marry Ashmont or will she break free and make her dreams come true?

Hugh Ancaster, Duke of Ripley, is an irresponsible, but honorable Dis-Grace. He is also spoiled and believes money mends everything.

When he realizes that Olympia is perfect for him, will he take her as his own? If so, will Ripley be able to mend fences with his friend from childhood, when he has stolen his bride?

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely but found it was rather lacking in the time leading up to the climax. I found it rather slow and what kept me interested during this lead up was the witty repartee between the two main characters. However, both the beginning and the rest of the book were exactly what I was expecting from this author. The book kept me riveted wondering how the three main characters were going to solve their dilemmas. The witty banter, sarcasm and hijinks between the characters were a highlight for me as they made me laugh. I loved all the characters in this book and am looking forward to reading all of their stories. Well done 3.75 stars. For more reviews, follow me on Facebook at Suesromancereviews or on my blog at Suesromancereviews.blogspot.com

When I see a book by Loretta Chase, I know that it will be a story worth reading.
Lady Olympia Hightower is twenty-six years old and in her seven seasons has not managed to become betrothed. Image her surprise when she receives an offer from the young, wealthy and utterly gorgeous Duke of Ashmont? Her parents are almost desperate for funds to support her brothers and Olympia being the practice sort, accepts him. What she comes to find out is that Ashmont is a wastrel of the worst sort and hangs out with several gentlemen of the same ilk. On the day of her wedding, the groom is totally inebriated and Olympia decides she has to escape. Climbing out of a window, she is followed by Hugh Ancaster, the Duke of Ripley who is a friend of the Ashmont's and has been tasked with standing up as his best man. What follows is a whirlwind journey with Hugh, at first trying to get Olympia back to the wedding. But as fate often has different ideas, an attraction begins between the two. Of course there is a lot of adventure and many entertaining moments that will keep you turning the pages!
You will love this book as I did and will be looking forward to the next in the series!

Despite Loretta Chase's insistence on referring to men as "males" and women as "females," I really liked this book. For better or worse, I'm now accustomed to her frequent assertion that "he was a man, and so he did X," so it doesn't ruin my reading of her books any longer. While I do think that men are capable of not staring at a woman's ankles, I was quite happy that the heroine, Olympia, finally got the attention and admiration that she deserved. This is a true "romp," with a runaway bride and all sorts of road trip shenanigans. All of the characters are more complicated than they initially appear, and Chase's love for fashion sets the story firmly in time and place. If you can overlook the implausibility of three dukes raising hell together for years and then falling for the same woman, you'll like this one. I will add that a big part of the central conflict is Olympia's frustration with the institution of marriage. I found some elements of her Dressmakers series to be slut-shamey, but this was a refreshing and much more progressive novel. Well done.

First, let me say that I love the cover of this book. It fits the theme of the book perfectly. The only way I would have liked it more is if it had a man chasing the woman because that is exactly was Ripley does for half of the book. When I was reading the book I was bothered by two things. One, how everything happened in a very short amount of time. Like ridiculously short. Most of the chasing and the adventure happens in the span of a day or two. I have no idea how they managed to fall in love with each other. I didn't buy Ripley's excuse of watching her from afar and admiring her. He could have lost Olympia to his friend because of that.

Speaking of said friend, I was feeling sorry for him until he lashed out like he did because he found out Ripley and Olympia had fallen in love. He never mentioned that he loved and despite the way he acted I am still rooting for him even if I have the suspicion that he is going to get a wife in the third book. Ashmont's story is bound to be interesting. I think the second book will be about a certain wife and her husband. I the last chapter it was mentioned a couple of times how apart they were and that they should dance together so Ashmont will have to wait for his turn a little bit longer.

The second thing that bothered me is how inappropriate some things were and how none peers mentioned anything. One would think that the world scandal would have been mentioned at least 100 times in this book since Olympia left her husband to be at the altar, but nothing like that happened. Also since when is appropriate for a man and an unwed woman to be in the same carriage? Ashmont might have made Ripley the one to make sure everything was running smoothly, but I don't think his duties and liberties were extended like that.

Despite those things, I enjoyed the book. It was a good romance novel and because of its length, it was easy to fool myself into believing more days had passed and I was thrown a little guard when the characters mentioned how much time had actually passed in this book. A duke in shining armor is a solid foundation for the series. We meet all the characters we need to know the story is set in a good way. I will read the second book and I recommend this one.

Chase develops a playful, witty and swoony-worthy romance between Lady Olympia and Ripley that was a joy to read. Chase doesn’t write super spicy so she has to find other ways to develop her relationships which really appealed to me. I like the impromptu road trip aspect in a Regency because it creates so many obstacles for the characters. Finding clothes, food and board without planning ahead is a lot harder during the Regency era.

Shout out to Chase’s attention to historical detail, in the back of the book Chase has a bibliography explaining a few aspects of the book including the special licensees you needed back in the day to get married in a house and not a church. They are such small details that I wouldn’t have thought to question but I appreciate her pointing them out.

I imagine the rest of the books in this series will follow Ripley's friends, known as the Dis-Grace’s (who seem like lowkey Regency-era Paul brothers) but Chase is also weaving in some other background plotlines so I think this is a great series to get in the ground floor of while it's just starting.

A Duke in Shining Armor is a great kickoff to a new series with a charming romance and a dash of good old fashioned mischief and mayhem.

I held off reading this book for months once I got it - not because I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but because I knew once I read it, I’d be desperate for more with a long for Chase’s next novel.

The book was a fun, clever, witty, romp of a story about Lady Olympia HIghtower (aka the runaway bride) and the 7th Duke of Ripely (aka one of the Dis-Graces and the intended bridgegoom’s best man . . . of sorts).

The characters were interesting and well-developed and the story raced along straight to the finish. I loved little touches like how bothered the Duke was at being out, not with a bedraggled runaway bride, but without a hat and how Olympia was so unaware of how attractive and appealing she was.

I’m so glad I picked this book out of my to-be-read pile and I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Loretta Chase writes very well. A Duke in Shining Armor is an interesting read with lots of fun. The characters are regency-appropriate with a little edge. .Olympia was great with her bookish ways. Hugh was great for his loving Olympia’s bookish ways. The two go through a lot of unique, humorous situations for much of the book. The sexual tension builds and builds until finally, the two accept that while society won’t like it they cannot deny they’re meant to be together. We are told Hugh is a total rake but we never really see that. He’s anything but with Olympia. He’s honorable and treats her, the bride of his best friend, properly until he can’t deny his love anymore. Olympia is oblivious to her attractiveness. She’s certain going back to her fiancé is the only chance she has of avoiding becoming an old maid. It takes quite a bit for Hugh to convince her he finds her attractive.

Filled with a lot of humorous situations, the right amount of honor and propriety and some pretty smoking sex, A Duke in Shining Armor is an entertaining read and sure to be a favorite of Regency fans.

Oh my gosh! How I loved Ripley and Olympia's story. Ripley chases his best friend's runaway bride, Olympia. Olympia is the regency version of a nerd and she's now my spirit animal. She's the perfect wallflower that even Ripley has his eye on. Even though Ripley is known as one of the "Dis-Graces", he's the highly intelligent one and the perfect match for Olympia. A folly of errors keeps the story flowing and the reader laughing.
If you enjoy historical romance with a unique protagonist, I highly recommend reading Duke in Shining Armor.

I adored this unusual Romance. How often do you find the protagonists not falling instantly into a fever of desire? Olympia and Ripley attraction develops slowly. He follows her after she escapes her wedding to his best friend because he's bored and is trying to fulfill his duty as best man. What follows is a humorous adventure and a slow realization that they actually like each other. Yes, it develops into LOVE, of course, but it is more realistic than many other relationships that occur in the Romance genre. Frankly, they are wonderful together and I enjoyed every minute.

I am a big fan of Loretta Chase but this was not one I would recommend. The characters were never developed and relied on inane banter as their only communication. The heroine running away from the wedding made very little sense and the Hero was supposed to be a best friend it seemed mean to me and hard to even like either character. Sorry I have read so many wonderful Loretta Chase books I found it hard to believe she wrote this.

Get ready for a novel that ends as adorable as the beginning is rascally. I know this book is a romance but the tone, pace, dialogue and descriptions all inspired joy, smiles, happy anticipation and delighted laughter. This has to be one of the most upbeat romances I’ve read in a long time. It’s fun with a capital F.

Usually the groom is the no show at a wedding but in A Duke in Shining Armor it’s the heroine who does the fleeing and her madcap dash for freedom is witnessed and then abetted by the hero, the Duke of Ripley. Of course, he’s just there to make sure she’s safe until she changes her mind and goes back to his best friend to get married. He’s sure she’s going to change her mind, isn’t she? Okay, not this time but she will, right? What follows is a charming and hilarious adventure as Lady Olympia runs from what she knows she should do, what she always does because she’s so proper, and ends up learning more about herself in a few days than she’s ever learned in all the years before. It’s shocking! It’s eye-opening and I never knew what pickle she’d get into next. Olympia is a riot.

Ripley, though his aunt calls him Hugh, was a thoroughly wonderful hero. Seeing him slowly discovering the wonder that is Olympia has high entertainment value and I was charmed. At first he was noble, then tempted; he fights the temptation and then comes the ‘kiss’. It’s at that point he opened the Pandora’s Box called Lady Olympia Hightower and the book turned sensual, seductive and very romantic. A Duke in Shining Armor shifted into high gear and became a novel I could not put down. I can’t even begin to tell you all the things the poor hero had to deal with in trying to keep up with the heroine.

The only thing that made me roll my eyes is Ashmont. He really needs a wakeup call and a boot in his derrière because he was so weak! He and Blackwood were secondary characters and Ripley’s best buds, but Ashmont is the one who created the impetus for the entire conflict. Of course, he is the perfect character to get his story next because Ashmont’s uncle thinks a lady like Olympia is perfect for him. I almost (pinches fingers) feel sorry for the guy when Ms. Chase pairs him with a lady who’s more than a match for him. That is one book I DON’T want to miss!! In any event, he and Blackwood set off on the adventure of ‘retrieving his bride’. Here’s the thing, he came across as … still a boy. By the time this novel wraps up, I got the sense that Ashmont is finally getting a clue.

I adored how the author had Ripley and Olympia play. The hero is imaginative and full of fun and he helps the heroine see she’s capable of being spontaneous and silly and the sky wouldn’t fall. I enjoyed his yearning for her but beating himself up because he shouldn’t. I mean, he IS the best friend of the intended groom. That was a great conflict and I liked how Ms. Chase handled it.

There is so much I want to say, I’m having a hard time trying to rein myself in. A Duke in Shining Armor is refreshing, amusing, well written and a lot more labels I could tack on. I think the happy ever after ending is perfect. It’s just a great read and I loudly say, Don’t Miss This Book!

originally posted at long and short reviews

A Duke in Shining Armor is book 1 in the Difficult Dukes series. I knew I had to try this book out when I read the blurb and saw that the leading lady was bookish. Those types of characters in Historical Romances tend to grab me and I wind up amused by their antics. I'm so glad I gave this a go, the story was entertaining and full of things happening in rapid succession.

We start off with Lady Olympia Hightower getting a bit anxious right before her wedding. She keeps hitting the booze to calm her nerves and that in turn leads her to escaping out a window with the groomsman, the Duke of Ripley, chasing after her. She's determined to get away and go to her Aunt's estate, and luckily for her Ripley decides to escort her safely there. Feelings start to bloom as they're on their adventure and things are constantly changing as their plans are altered. I was questioning how Ripley's friend would feel being jilted at the alter then finding out his fiancee liked another man though.

A Duke in Shining Armor is a highly entertaining Historical Romance you won't get enough of. I really enjoyed Olympia's character, she's strong willed and goes after what she wants. Ripley was a great match for her and you could see their relationship blossom with each page turned. I will say this is kind of a cheating situation though since Olympia runs from her wedding then winds up with another man before the relationship is called off. Some readers might not enjoy that, though it didn't really bother me much like it normally would in this book. All in all, this was a great read and I'd recommend it for people that enjoy fast paced adventures in their Historical Romances.

I had a really difficult time getting into this book at first. I love the premise and I liked the characters but I just wasn't feeling the chemistry between the hero and the heroine in the first half of the book. (If I had to hear about his dang hat one more time I was gonna scream!) Once they did finally get together it was so good and that's what saved it for me. The last few chapters were amazing and I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series!

I enjoyed this book, as I enjoy all of Loretta Chase’s books. Loved Olympia and Olympia’s love of rare books. Ripley was an excellent hero, but I’m suffering from rank inflation fatigue — I’m tired of almost every hero in Regency England having to be a duke. I wish publishers would stop pushing that. If this book weren’t by one of my favorite authors, the title would have had me skim past the book on my Recommended list.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were laugh out loud moments and the most lovely romantic scenes. Olympia, who was kind to one of the "dis-graces", finds herself about to be married to him. Ripley, another one of the "dis-graces", promises to make sure the wedding goes as planned so of course he needs to protect Olympia as she climbs out of a window, over a wall, falls off a boat, saves a dog...

This was a great, well-written book. Olympia is about to marry a duke, when she finds herself climbing out a window and running away. Hugh is trying to help his friend and bring the bride back. Then many additional unexpected things happen. This book was so amazing, it was full of laughs and I could not put it down. I loved it and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Just having returned to England, the Duke of Ripley finds that he's a bridesmaid at his best friend's wedding. But when he sees the bride go out the window, what's a bridesmaid to do but go after her. Nice regency romp of a bride who wants to marry for love and the Duke who does everything he can to make her happy. Lots of laugh out loud moments.

some of the best badinage I've read in a romance in a good while. It's all lighthearted until a change in tone at the very end. I found that a little jarring. Also there was a bit about a nobleman encountering a canny street urchin and I really expected him to offer the kid a permanent job. No, just more racketing on . But despite that a fun read.

Funny , witty ,lots of mishaps to pull you into the escape and then we find out that Olympia and Hugh have been aware of each other for quite sometime and this is when they start to fall in love . However stopping her first betrothed and her second betrothed from ruing their long friendship will take planning and there will be some witty repartee and deed to save the day and the Bridegroom.

If you want a story that has characters who make you smile, this book is for you! When a longstanding wallflower accepts the marriage proposal of an Infamous Duke, and then has second thoughts on her wedding day, mayhem ensues.

This was such a fun read. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait for the next in the series. I also liked her research notes at the end of the book which showed her thoughtfulness in portraying a truer storyline.

I read this author and go back and re-read her books. This one is my favorite, with humor, respect, engaging characters who are quite believable. Right up there with Sheila Simonson's Regency romances, particularly Lady Elizabeth's Comet. Both keepers I will pass on to my granddaughters when they're older.

Just having returned to England, the Duke of Ripley finds that he's a bridesmaid at his best friend's wedding. But when he sees the bride go out the window, what's a bridesmaid to do but go after her. Nice regency romp of a bride who wants to marry for love and the Duke who does everything he can to make her happy. Lots of laugh out loud moments.

some of the best badinage I've read in a romance in a good while. It's all lighthearted until a change in tone at the very end. I found that a little jarring. Also there was a bit about a nobleman encountering a canny street urchin and I really expected him to offer the kid a permanent job. No, just more racketing on . But despite that a fun read.

Funny , witty ,lots of mishaps to pull you into the escape and then we find out that Olympia and Hugh have been aware of each other for quite sometime and this is when they start to fall in love . However stopping her first betrothed and her second betrothed from ruing their long friendship will take planning and there will be some witty repartee and deed to save the day and the Bridegroom.

If you want a story that has characters who make you smile, this book is for you! When a longstanding wallflower accepts the marriage proposal of an Infamous Duke, and then has second thoughts on her wedding day, mayhem ensues.

This was such a fun read. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait for the next in the series. I also liked her research notes at the end of the book which showed her thoughtfulness in portraying a truer storyline.

I gave this book give stars because it was so humorous as well as being romantic. It helps me to lose myself in a good book and relieve some of my worry about what the liberals are trying to go do to our country. I love this country and want it to remain free.

3.5 stars
A Duke in Shining Armor, is an entertaining fictional story, and the first book, in Loretta Chase’s Difficult Dukes Series.

Lady Olympia Hightower is about to become the new Duchess of Ashmont. She should be ecstatic. But, instead of basking in all of the luscious benefits that will come with her new title, Olympia’s been drowning her fears with alcohol. The problem, according to Lady Olympia, is that the Duke of Ashmont, is as handsome as an angel, and she, was practically on the shelf. Lady Olympia has been passed over, year after year and was considered by most men, to be bookish and boring. So, what would a man like the Duke of Ashmont want with her? That’s the question she needed to figure out before marrying the handsome devil. When Hugh, the Duke of Ripley came knocking at her door, she knew that her time was up. Lady Olympia took the only escape she could think of, out the window.

The Duke of Ripley was given the responsibility of making sure his best friend’s wedding went off without a hitch. Hugh was pretty sure, though, that Lady Olympia, escaping her own ceremony, was going to put a damper on his friend’s day. So, without giving it much thought, Hugh hoisted himself up and climbed out the window, to be about the business, of fetching the soon-to-be-new Duchess of Ashmont.

When Hugh took on the mission of bringing Lady Olympia back to the wedding, he fully expected a challenge. What he didn’t expect, though, was that his challenge would include stuffing his growing attraction to Olympia, and keeping his hands to himself.

Although I enjoyed reading this book, I didn’t find it realistic or emotionally captivating. However, if you are looking for a light historical fiction romance, this may be the perfect book for you.

Thank you, Avon Publishing and Edelweiss, for my advanced review copy.

Great story! Loved the strong, intelligent, funny female lead. Also enjoyed the chemistry between the lead characters. The dialog was fun and fresh. All main characters were very interesting. Very fun read!

oh my heart! What a splendid story! I loved the banter and action and adventure. Ripley and Olympia were perfect together and I can not wait to see who Ashmont ends up with!

*thanks to the publisher for sharing this with me*