Yours Truly, The Duke is a delightful first novel in the new Say I Do trilogy by author Amelia Grey. Grey is a go-to author for me who never disappoints and this book is no exception. I love Regency romance, with its rigid rules and instant attractions, roadblocks that must be overcome before the much-anticipated HEA, and characters who often don’t even believe they are in love. Yours Truly, The Duke has all this and much, much more.

Neither Fredericka nor Wyatt wants to be married, but they stand to lose if they aren’t. As a single woman, maintaining custody of her orphaned nieces and nephew is unlikely in light of her married, well-to-do cousin’s challenge. Wyatt will lose an inheritance from his grandmother’s estate unless he meets the condition that he is now a husband. A marriage of convenience seems the perfect solution. Fredericka can stay in the countryside she loves, the children secure. Wyatt can continue his wild bachelor life until he needs an heir. Except . . .

Fredericka’s cousin Jane is childless and determined to have those children, not because of an overwhelming love for them but because that’s the way it should be. Jane and Fredericka’s sister were close and excluded her and treated her cruelly. So when Jane intensifies the custody battle Fredericka worries that she will lose if she and Wyatt don’t appear to be a genuine loving couple, a family, and she therefore shows up unannounced with the children at Wyatt’s London home. This interferes with his daily, nightly, weekly, constant gaming and once again Fredericka feels unwanted and unwelcome, and wonders how Wyatt can be so selfish and greedy. But she knows nothing about his life - is there more below the surface?

The attraction between Fredericka and Wyatt was instant and undeniable, right from the start of the decidedly unromantic proposal. And although real marriage isn’t on the agenda for either of them, as the children settle in and they all fall into certain routines family life slowly begins to seem real.

Yours Truly, The Duke is a sweet story, with tender moments, steamy moments, and scary moments when the custody battle and secrets people in position of high authority don’t want revealed enter their lives. Fredericka and Wyatt become closer and closer, initially clumsily and reluctantly, with misunderstandings and humor and tears, but when they begin to genuinely appreciate and value each other they are formidable and no one can stop them.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press SMP Romance for providing an advance copy of Yours Truly, The Duke via NetGalley for my enjoyment and honest opinion. Very, very enjoyable indeed. I highly recommend it and cannot wait for this next book in this wonderful trilogy. All opinions are my own ( )

Barbara’s rating: 2.7 of 5 Stars
Series: Say I Do #1
Publication Date: 3/28/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 368

I was looking forward to reading this book because I loved the scenario as it was spelled out in the book blurb. The writing itself was good and the story flowed nicely, but the characters – OMGoodness – there was not one single character in the book that I liked. Well, I liked the kids. 😊 The characters all seemed one-dimensional to me and I failed to see the attraction they found for each other. I am so sorry it all fell flat for me because I really wanted to love this story.

Frederica Hale was orphaned when she was very young and she and her sister Angela were sent to be raised by a cousin’s family. About a year ago, Angela and her husband passed away and Frederica now has the raising of their three children. She’s bound and determined to do everything she can to raise her nieces and nephew to be proper adults. Then, she learns that her cousin Jane is filing for official guardianship of the children. Jane, with a doting husband, who can be granted legal guardianship stands a very good chance of winning custody – unless Frederica finds a husband – fast.

Wyatt, the Duke of Wyatthaven, suddenly finds himself in need of a wife – and he only has a week to find and marry her. What he needs to find is a woman who wants to continue her life in the country and who will allow him to continue his life in London. No changes for either of their lives other than having said the vows.

Both characters are guilt-ridden with things from their past and they both let that rule their current lives. I can understand that, but it just got so very, very, very tiresome and what was even worse was the constant – and I do mean constant – miscommunication, misunderstandings, and bickering between both lead characters. He’d say something – perhaps not just exactly correctly – and she’d twist it to mean something entirely different. I truly could not see what the attraction was for either of them. Another thing that really rang the bell was that he had a mistress – but he hadn’t dismissed her when he married. He told Frederica he hadn’t seen his mistress since he had met Frederica – but – he hadn’t dismissed her either.

For me, this author is usually hit or miss and this was a huge miss. That really makes me sad because I truly wanted to love the story and just couldn’t. I didn’t even care for Rick and Hurst who will be featured in the other books in the series, so I’m not sure I’ll read them. Of course, maybe if I do read them I’ll learn something about Frederica and Wyatt that will make me like them and their story better.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

When only marriage will do!

Frederika Hale needs a husband to stall her cousin Jane taking Fredericka’s sister’s children from her. Frederika has had charge of her children for over a year. Jane has never visited or had anything to do with the children but recently having accepted her childless state, has decided she is best situated to bring the children up.
The Duke of Wyatthaven needs a wife or else his grandmother’s fortune goes to a poetry society. The head of that Society is a man who taught Wyatt at Eton. A man who couldn’t punish the young heir to the dukedom, but his friends had no such impediments for the bully.
It was quite hilarious watching the duke and his dukely friends attempting to compose a letter of marriage. Even more amusing was what he ended up with.
It turns out Wyatt is quite an interesting man, far more than I found Frederika to be, who seems hampered by her own childhood insecurities
I enjoyed the duke’s relationship with the children, particularly Bella who called him Uncle, Your Grace, and howled with laughter at the image of the children imitating the duke and his friends holding a card night—complete with card, cheroots and cards. Jane was not amused. Fredericka was undone.
A marriage of convenience tale with some addictions that made for a lively read, although I just wasn’t fully feeling the chemistry between the main protagonists.

A St. Martin’s Press invite via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )

Yours Truly, The Duke begins when the Duke of Wyatthaven and Fredericka Hale both need to wed swiftly, but for separate reasons. He to inherit, she to maintain guardianship of her nephew and nieces. Their "meet cute" was anything but! They we and decided to live their separate lives. When trouble comes knocking, Fredericka heads to London in search of help from the Duke. Through a series of unfortunate events, they manage to eventually fall in love.
The story was slow to build interest, but I stuck with it and I am glad that I did. The children are endearing, and the Duke fallible, but lovable. It all comes together and I look forward the the other books that will follow, ( )