The Duke Goes Down The Duke Hunt

I did really enjoy the plot of this story. A duke who who looses everything and becomes a regular guy, trying to find an heiress to get back to his old life. A vicars daughter who hasn't had an easy childhood, alot in part to the former duke. She like books, and takes care of her aging father, helping with his sermons. Peregrine Butler used to be a spoiled little butthole who made some really horrible comment about Imogen that she happened to overhear. While she knew that they would never be friends, the things he said to his friends were very hurtful, and they stuck with Imogen her whole life. Fast forward 10 years and Peregrine has lost everything and is in search of his heiress. Imogen doesn't want him anywher near impressionable young women, so she starts some rumors.. At first they are harmless like he is actually bald, has 6 toes on each foot.. which is bad enough, but not the worst of them. He has no idea why Imogen would spread these rumors, doesn't even really remember how badly he used to treat her.. So after a moment of intense arguing about the rumors turns into one of the best kisses of thier lives, Peregrine decides that he needs to spend more time with Imogen.. and of course they end up falling in love. I did enjoy their romance, I love how surprised both Imogen and Peregrine get when they realize there dislike for each other has turned into something else. The only thing I wish we got more of was Peregrine either remembering, or someone telling him all of the mean things he and his sister did to Imogen in the past. I think if he realized how much of a tool he was in the past it would have made it even better when he realizes that Imogen has fallen for him anyways.. I also would have loved a good groveling apology..

3/5 Stars ** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!** This felt like a very middle-of-the-road book for me. I can't say there was anything bad about it, but I feel like there could've been more to the story. It all just felt very average. There were a few times where I laughed out loud at some of the rumors that were going around about Perry in the ton. The writing was good and kept me interested enough to finish the book. Overall I would recommend giving this a try. It was a super quick and easy read, I was able to finish it in one sitting.

Vicar's daughter Imogen Bates seeks to keep the heiresses of her small town of Shropshire safe from the no-longer-Duke Peregrine Butler. She does so by spreading falsehoods while protecting her own secrets. Perry's fall from the dukedom, discovered when someone discovered he was born before his parents' married, has turned his life into a tailspin. Not to mention people seem to think he has extra toes and bad breath, and god forbid, is a bad kisser. How's he supposed to catch an heiress like this? Plus, the vicar's daughter is increasingly suspicious and in his path. Perry has known Imogen his whole life, why all of a sudden does she seem so fetching but also so irritating? The last straw is an unforgiveable lie that Perry confronts Imogen about, leading to some heated argument - and kissing. Two enemies and opposites soon find they cannot keep their hands off of each other, but at what cost? I dunno, this wasn't great for me. I wanted more of the Duke going down and less of the petty rumors and Shropshire hijinks. I can be cool with a mean heroine, but when you tell people someone has (view spoiler)[ syphilis (hide spoiler)], especially in this historical setting, and then have no ramifications about that lie, I just, I dunno. The audio was entertaining enough to keep me listening, the narrator was engaging and kept the story moving forward, along with being decent at making the characters distinguishable. I received a free ALC from HarperAudio and an eArc from Avon for review.