{Playful Brides Review} No Other Duke But You by @ValerieGBowman

No Other Duke But You by Valerie Bowman
Published by St. Martin's Press on April 30, 2019
Genres: Historical, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon, Amazon Australia, Available with KU Subscription, iBooks
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SINGLE LADY SEEKS DUKE

Lady Delilah Montebank has her marital sights set on the Duke of Branville. There’s just one problem: he barely knows she exists. But no matter, she’s got a plan to win him over with her charm, her wit—and perhaps the love potion she has in her possession wouldn’t hurt her cause...

Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley, thinks his best friend Delilah’s quest to become a duchess is ridiculous. He’s always said he’d rather give up all the brandy in London than commit to one person for life. Besides, he knows that Delilah’s love potion can’t possibly win over Branville…since she accidentally gave it to him instead. But perhaps this is the excuse he needs to show her he’s always loved her...

Delilah can’t believe she gave the potion to the wrong duke. Then again, Delilah could do a lot worse than win the hand of her handsome best friend. Could it be that the right duke has been before her eyes all along?

I received No Other Duke But You for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Delilah Montebank and Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley, have been friends for years. While Thomas claims he will never marry, that is not quite true. The Duke is just waiting for the moment his fair Delilah is ready to take a husband.

Several of the characters from the Playful Brides series come to join Delilah to put on a charity performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Delilah’s mother has threatened to engage her to a man Delilah has no desire for if she’s not engaged by her birthday. The play performance just happens to be the same night. With rehearsals and schemes going on behind her mother’s back, she hardly has time to fall in love. Or does she?

Bowman gives us another stellar read for the girl who deserved to have her story told. Going from friends to more than is one of the troupes I like best and we got a vibrant take in the form of Thomas and Delilah. Each time they shared the page, the simmering attraction sparked my desire to read as fast as possible. I loved how Bowman incorporated not only one of my favorite Shakespeare works, but she was able to bring back some of the most beloved characters from the ten previous stories.

For an epic romantic journey into a night not soon forgotten, read No Other Duke But You.