ARC Review: How to Deceive a Duke by Samara Parish

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Publishing Date: January 25, 2022

Synopsis:

Fiona McTavish is an engineer, a chemist, a rebel—and no one’s idea of a proper lady. She prefers breeches to ballrooms, but her new invention—matches—will surely turn as many heads. There’s just a little matter of her being arrested for a crime she didn’t commit. And the only person she can turn to for help is the man who broke her heart years ago.

Edward Stirling, Duke of Wildeforde, will do anything to restore his family’s name and put his father’s scandalous death behind them. But when Fiona needs his help getting released from prison, he can’t deny her—even though it means she must live with him as a condition of her freedom. With the desire between them rekindling as fast as the gossip about their arrangement is spreading among the ton, Edward will have to choose what matters most to him—his reputation or his heart.

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This was a thoroughly delightful romance with some of my very favorite tropes. Edward feels forced to live his life with strict propriety. Fiona is as unconventional, stubborn, and self-reliant as they come. She’s also the love of his life.

Fiona regularly dresses in breeches, dons the disguise of a fictional brother while trying to sell her invention, charms Edward’s family in both guises, and is a wonderful heroine.

Seeing Edward gradually dropping all his rules and strict propriety for Fiona as he falls even deeper in love with her was wonderful. I absolutely adored the ‘grand gesture’ — definitely my favorite I’ve ever read.

I enjoyed every moment of reading it — sweet, swoony, and altogether charming.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an e-arc for review.

Favorite Quotes:

“Pish. You were in control of every event that put you in that room. What you experienced was not powerlessness; it was consequences.”