3.5

I'm usually not a big fan of the historical romances that have the females so opinionated and modern that it takes them out of the time period, and Minerva is certainly that. She drinks scotch, gambles, gives men investment advice. But with Minerva it works. I didn't feel taken out of the era; I felt like if any woman was able to act this way, it would be Minerva.

The characters in this are just really well done, so well done that you can forgive a little ridiculousness. Really enjoyed it.

This was kind of fun. I enjoyed the woman who believed she was ugly trope though he could have done a better job making her believe she wasn't ugly to him, though the attempt was made.

Very much enjoyed my first Lorraine Heath! It did feel a little bit like I was being thrown into the middle of a series, with all the relationships between Minerva and her family and friends, but I think I muddled most of it out. I did enjoy how independent and self-assured (for the most part) Minerva was, though it did take Ashe forever to wrap his man-brain around his feelings and realize this was something special. (side note: we only ever hear him referred to as "Ashe", which is short for Ashebury, his title. We know from the prologue that his given name is Nicholas, but no one ever uses it, not even his wife. Seems odd?)

Rating: 4.5 stars

This ended up being just an okay read for. But let’s be honest…an average Lorraine Heath book is still a good book, you know? I loved the initial set up for this, but felt the plot fell a little flat and uneventful. Beyond their initial encounter, I never really felt the chemistry between Ash and Minerva (especially after Ash started to deduce Minerva’s identity and the things that followed after that). One thing I normally love about Lorraine Heath is how unique and twisty her romances can get, but this ended up being super predictable and we never really got any fun twists or reveals. I was pleasantly surprised that Ash’s…photography hobby wasn’t nearly as creepy as I thought it was going to be. So that’s a plus at least! All in all, especially having binged through so much of Lorraine Heath’s backlist lately, this was just fine but I have a feeling this will be a super forgettable.

On a positive note - Having just recently binged and loved the Scoundrels of St. James series, I was so excited to see that Minerva is the daughter of Jack Dodger. I loved his wholesome interactions with Minerva and getting to see him as a doting father.

While this was just an average read for me, I know I can always put my trust in Lorraine Heath and will definitely be continuing on with this series!

Coffee dates with Falling Into Bed with a Duke

• First date: We meet Miss Minerva Dodger who after six-seasons has come to terms with being a spinster. Despite her large dowry or because of it, Minerva is determined to remain single unless she meets a man who meets her qualifications. 1. He must not be in it for the money. 2. He must respect her opinions and treat her as an equal. 3. He must LOVE her. I adored Minerva she is confident, strong and sharp. She is more concerned with current events that the social gossip of the ton.  She knows what she wants and when she announces she will go to the Nightingale Club to enjoy one night of pleasure I am not at all surprised. At this point, I am all in, because you just know mischief and romance will ensue.


• Second date: All the ladies at Nightingale wear masks to hide their identity; the men do not. Ashe, The Duke of Ashebury, one of the notorious Hellion of Havisham is intrigued by the masked Minerva, and invites her to a night of pleasure. Their first encounter is interesting and Ashe soon wants more. He is determined to discover who she is. This added a little Cinderella mystery. The two of them have encounters during social events and I enjoyed their engaging discussions, and banter. She of course knows who he is and he is quite confident that the masked lady and the spinster Dodger are one and the same. The dance these two begin is delicious to watch.


• Third date: Things are heating up between the masked lady and Ashe as their dance continues. The budding romance between Minerva and Ashe is sure to curl your toes. Heath adds some complications that may throw the identity reveal into a wicked spin. All of which had me flipping the pages and curious about the outcome. Ashe has a secret and I loved that Heath weaved in this disorder. She showed the impact it has on a strong, intelligent man. Passion and emotions from the characters had me swooning, smiling and crossing my fingers. Seeing the growth in Minerva as Ashe tries to woo the Lady Dodger was delicious. Minerva’s parents were positively delightful and a breath of fresh air for Regency London. We see growth and acceptance as we move towards the end of this date. Heath provided a eulogy that will delight and satisfy readers.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer