A Duke Like No Other

General Mark Grimaldi is the grandson of a Duke, but his mother was disowned for marrying an Italian Catholic and so he has always had a dislike of the aristocracy. He married Nicole Huntington 10 years ago, thinking she was an aristocrat who loved him as the poor soldier he was then. Unfortunately three months into the marriage he discovered that she already knew of his aristocratic family, added to which she was secretly spying for the Bow Street Runners behind his back. Words were spoken in anger and Nicole fled to France where she has been a spy ever since. Now Mark is hoping for promotion to Home Secretary but his boss wants to appoint a family man, so Mark has travelled to France to see if he can persuade Nicole to return to England until he gets his promotion. I found this book a bit misleading, the blurb led me to believe this was an couple, estranged as a result of a misunderstanding, reconnecting to enable the husband to get a prestigious promotion and falling in love. Whilst it was, it was not the main plot, which revolved around solving a murder. So this was kind of a murder sandwich ie romance-murder-romance. And to be honest, both felt a little halfhearted, there wasn't enough romance AND there wasn't enough detective work. I also noted a few word choices that seemed out of place in an historical novel, talking about "giving a toss" about someone and "fancying" someone seem too modern. I thought that Mark's excuse for getting upset with Nicole seemed flimsy and for a supposedly clever man he was remarkably stupid about his family and his wife. Nicole on the other hand seemed to default to running away at the slightest excuse. Overall, it was a pleasant enough read but it didn't wow me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Valerie Bowman is a talented writer notable for her worthwhile characters. Even if the story is not particularly powerful or original, Bowman characters typically steal the spotlight and make the story worthwhile. That being said, A Duke Like No Other fell short. Both have their faults that their merits do not excuse. There were also many issues with the story. The reader has to suspend disbelief for the majority of the plot which feels both unrealistic, particularly for the time, and dramatic. Despite that, Bowman delivers with her signature style and heat. If the reader and accept the historical inaccuracies as well as frustrations the characters invoke, the story is actually quite enjoyable.

I enjoyed this story of a married couple finding their way back to each other. Nicole and Mark hurt each other but find they need each other now. The physical attraction never disappeared, but the trust needs to be rebuilt. Both are strong characters, and I laughed and cried as the story progressed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author. I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.