Fortune Favors the Duke by Kristin Vayden ARC Review

 

Title: Fortune Favors the Duke
Author: Kristin Vayden
Publish Date: December 28th, 2021
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

The new Duke has a proper scandal brewing.

Quinton Errington is perfectly happy teaching at Cambridge, with his elder brother carrying the duties of being the Duke of Wesley. But when a trip to celebrate Wesley's last week of bachelorhood ends in tragedy, Quinton, who becomes the Duke of Wesley, would give anything to have his brother back.

Now, under the most heartbreaking circumstances, Wesley's would-be bride, Catherine Greatheart, is left wanting. Her only protection left, her grandmother, has fallen ill, and Catherine has nowhere left to turn but to the family she was so close to being part of. The new Duke is kind, and she could use a friend who understands what she's going through.

Between learning how to be the head of his family's estate, mourning his brother, and trying not to fall in love with his late-brother's fiancée, Quinton will need some help—and it's a good thing he's not alone.

Penelope's Review

This was a really sweet story about overcoming tragedy and finding happiness in those around you. The premise was great, but unfortunately, I found that the overall story didn't end up being all that memorable. There wasn't much to make this book stand out in the historical romance genre. That being said, it was still an enjoyable read and I'm glad I picked it up.

I like Catherine a lot. She was grieving the loss of her fiancé yet still had a good head on her shoulders. She was brilliant with her estate and investments, and I loved seeing a woman in charge in that regard. Quin was grieving the loss of his brother and coping with the sudden inheritance of a Dukedom. I thought he handles the stress relatively well, and enjoyed watching him fall for Catherine slowly but surely. While I did like seeing Catherine and Quin take comfort in each other to help overcome their loss, it ended up being a different kind of romance than what I usually prefer in this type of book. It was a slow, sweet growth of affection that morphed into love and while I know some readers will absolutely love that, it wasn't my favourite.

There was little in terms of twists and turns and intrigue, so you'll have to read this for what it is. A mature exploration of the ripple effects of tragedy and the steps people take to overcome loss. The book has great characters, and it's a nice story. It just didn't grab my attention.

Rating: 3.5/5 Devils!