The last thing Katrina Denby expected to find in her garden was the body of the man who ruined her three seasons ago. No matter that his death is a tragic accident, the rumors are enough to kill any woman’s prospects. With two scandals now hounding her, the best she can hope for is a hasty marriage of convenience—until her first love shows up in her drawing room, reminding her of all the reasons why she wanted a love match. If only he weren’t already engaged. . .

Sebastian Thorne, Duke of Ramsleigh, knows what he has to do to save the dukedom from the crushing debts and scandal his father left: marry and marry well. He’s picked the lady, too—a baron’s daughter who is pleasant, if a little boring. But seeing Katrina again makes him want to throw all those perfectly laid plans out the window. The first chance he had with her, he chose his duty over his heart. Doing so again might prove utterly impossible.

Titles in the Synneful Spinsters series include — Some Dukes Have All the Luck —♥— What’s a Duke Got to Do With It —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

NetGalley ARC

Title:  What’s a Duke Got to Do With It
Series:  Synneful Spinsters #2
Author:  Christina Britton
Genre:  Historical Romance
Published:  July 11, 2023
Publisher:  Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
My Rating:  4

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It continues the Synneful Spinsters series with perhaps a second chance romance for Katrina and Sebastian, yet there is still so much in the way before their happy ending can come to pass.  Frankly, a big, goofy, lumbering pup named Mouse pretty much stole this one from the main characters with his antics and personality.

There was a time when Katrina and Sebastian might have married and had their fairytale romance… but certain events and the actions of others stole that away from them.  Now, years later, they encounter each other only to rediscover those feelings never faded, but each is in far different circumstances.  Katrina’s fall from grace through no fault of her own has ensured that she must marry a man she really wants no part of.  Sebastian must marry well in order to help the people who depend upon him, as he may be the Duke now, but an almost penniless Duke cannot keep his people from starving.  He has one last task to convince the young lady’s father that their marriage can take place when he comes upon Katrina again, and all those feelings return.

I enjoyed this one, but it’s not one that I’ll return to again.  Katrina and Sebastian are wounded lovers with a lot of pining and “I would marry you… if only I didn’t need a cash influx into the Dukedom” type of angst.  What had happened to Katrina was loathsome, but given the time, perhaps not that unusual… but still unfair all around.  My favorite character turned out to be the four-legged kind, and Mouse and his antics won my heart early on.  I had fun, and I’ll leave it at that.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

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