Name: A Duke in Shining Armor
ISBN: 9781432851767

Loretta Chase

A "New York Times"-bestselling author launches her new Difficult Dukes series about three men, known as the Dis-Graces, who vie for the title of the Worst Duke in London--and only the right heroine can tame each beast. Simultaneous library hardcover.over.

A Duke in Shining Armor

Not all dukes are created equal. Most are upstanding members of Society. And then there’s the trio known as Their Dis-Graces. Hugh Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley, will never win prizes for virtue. But even he draws the line at running off with his best friend’s bride. All he’s trying to do is recapture the slightly inebriated Lady Olympia Hightower and return her to her intended bridegroom. For reasons that elude her, bookish, bespectacled Olympia is supposed to marry a gorgeous rake of a duke. The ton is flabbergasted. Her family’s ecstatic. And Olympia? She’s climbing out of a window, bent on a getaway. But tall, dark, and exasperating Ripley is hot on her trail, determined to bring her back to his friend. For once, the world-famous hellion is trying to do the honorable thing. So why does Olympia have to make it so deliciously difficult for him . . . ?

Difficult Dukes

Sonia Grgas

My favorite romance author does it again. A very entertaining read!

Arianna M

Frankly, I didn't very much like this book. The style isn't pleasurable to read, and the first hundred or so pages (15-20%) are a continuous repetition of two or three simple concepts, over and over again, which made the reading quickly boring and then decidedly annoying.
It didn't help matters that the romance was okay, but could've been hugely improved by a rewrite. There's bits here and there when it really sparks — (view spoiler)[in the library when they race together on the wheelchair, later in the fishing house, and on their wedding night (hide spoiler)] — but it needed something more earlier, in my opinion. (view spoiler)[And I wish Ripley's psychology and how he'd matured more than his friends would've been explored more rather than his mind just being a constant "he was a man, she was a woman! of course he wanted her!" *e y e r o l l* which doesn't do all that much to convince me he was much matured. (hide spoiler)]
[mild spoiler about a trope I hate] (view spoiler)[I'm also over and done with heroines who are gorgeous but got to the age of 26 without ever suspecting anything of it. Oh, me? Beautiful, and shapely? No way! I don't own a single mirror! Not one vaguely reflective surface! *eyeroll* (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[What's more, I really must mention that I hated how it's remarked over and over again she was voted Most Boring Girl for years… surely there were other, more "boring" girls at the ton. Like the ones who didn't speak to anybody not looked anyone in the eye. I'm sure there must have been girls like that. Olympia, not so much. But okay… if it's more ~dramatic that way… I guess. (hide spoiler)]
In short, I do believe this had a really nice premise, and I got it because the NYT column made me curious, but I wanted something more. 1.5 stars @goodreads let me put half stars ratings!!!!!

b.andherbooks

Olympia is somehow set to wed one of the infamous and gorgeous "difficult" dukes despite her spectacles and love for librarianship. When she finds herself drowning her cold feet in a bottle of brandy she decides bolting out the window in her overwrought wedding dress is a far better idea than going through with the nuptials.
Brought reluctantly back from abroad to stand up for his best friend, the Duke of Ripley finds himself tasked with finding Olympia and bringing her back to her betrothed. Too bad he finds himself falling for the lady himself.
Both find themselves torn between honor, duty, and true love. 

With witty banter and charming characters, I enjoyed my first ever Loretta Chase. What I didn't really enjoy was the conflict between best friends, especially since I felt bad for Olympia's original intended (I'm assuming he's going to get his own HEA in an upcoming book). Plus, the main plot took place over about four days and it felt a bit too quick for the characters to find themselves in so many different locations and falling in love so very quickly. I'm also not a fan of dueling, especially when it is between friends and used as a drama inducing plot point that causes our heroine to think her guy is dreadfully hurt.

That said, the scenes with Olympia and Ripley spark, and it is a fun start to a series.

I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Avon!

Lorena

Lover of Romance 

A Runaway Bride... Bookish, brainy Lady Olympia Hightower should be elated she's marrying the ‘catch' of several London seasons. Her large, spendthrift family certainly is! And yet, Olympia finds herself sneaking out the chapel window, in a mad, attempt to escape her glorious future as a duchess. A Duke in Pursuit... Virtue was NEVER a virtue for Hugh Philemon Ancaster, 7th Duke of Ripley, but even he can see his duty as best man requires him to recapture the fleeing bride, and return her to the bridegroom. But with every one of Olympia’s clever turns, he’s finding it harder to give her up. A Matchmakers Dream... Surely something so temptingly wrong can’t be so deliciously right?! “A canny bluestocking virgin and an honorable rakehell duke lead fans on a rollicking escapade in a delectable story that overflows with Chase’s signature lively wordplay, hilarity, and simmering sexual tension.” – Library Journal, starred review “Longtime romance author Chase’s first Difficult Dukes historical sparkles with wit...Chase’s spot-on humor and period-authentic writing combine with easy-to-love characters for a superb soufflé-light romance.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review “Chase is a grande dame of historical romance, and her latest displays the clever plotting and brilliant dialogue for which she’s known ...Chase brings a fun blend of quirkiness and wit to a sexy love story that’s both charmingly romantic and laugh-out-loud funny.” –Kirkus “When it comes to writing unforgettable, superbly crafted historical romances, RITA Award–winning Chase is the crème de la crème, and A Duke in Shining Armor, which launches her new Disgraceful Dukes series, is another exquisitely sensual, perfectly calibrated masterpiece of frothy wit and flawless characterization.” – Booklist, starred review “Overflowing with Chase’s signature wit and laugh-out-loud humor, this series starter will definitely win readers’ attention. It’s not just the lyrical prose, wonderful dialogue, appealing characters (the Dis-Graces) or the sensuality, but also the depth of emotions Chase infuses into her runaway bride scenario that has readers sighing with pleasure.” – Romantic Times, 4 1⁄2 stars, Top Pick

A Duke in Shining Armor

Reviews

Highlights