All the Duke I Need audiobook

*3.75 stars*I really liked All the Duke I Need, the third book in the fabulous Desperately Seeking Duke series, but this is a flawed one, guys. If I'm being completely honest with myself, the plot holes and problems are everywhere, but when push comes to shove, I couldn't get enough of it. I'll start off with the good. For those of you who have read the previous two books in the series, you'll be familiar with the strict yet relatable Duchess and the set up to this story. I have a big soft spot for this series, and though this book can be read as a stand-alone, I like the previous two stories as background for this one. The Duchess needs to find an heir for her ill son, and in the meantime, she help to care for her massive estate. That's where the male MC for this book comes in. I looooved the fact that we had a non-white female MC. Super rare in historical romance, across the board. Very unusual, and extremely welcome. Philippa is half Indian and the Duchess's step-granddaughter, and she is dearly beloved. I really liked her as a character, and I enjoyed her chemistry with Will. Will was also a great character. Assertive, strong-willed, kind, and interesting, I loved reading about him and his growing disinterest in his family's shipping business and increased interest in all things Carlyle Castle and Philippa. Here is where the issues come in: the plot makes almost no sense, and things are wrapped up WAY too quickly in the end. For the whole book, readers are kept in the dark as to what BOTH MCs are truly thinking, which is odd because we are in their heads. When the big twist comes, WAY too close to the end of the story, it seems insane because we get very few clues beforehand, from both MCS or from any other details. I think if the author allowed more time to wrap things up or let readers in on more clues earlier, it would have been better. The ending made me feel so cheated! I needed at least two more chapters to get the resolution I needed (maybe a book 3.5??). Despite my multitude of issues, when it comes down to it, I love Caroline Linden's writing style and just simply really enjoyed this book. Yes, it had issues and could have been greatly improved upon, but I still really liked it. I'm hoping for more in this series, even though I think it finished it's natural course of events. goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok

Philippa Kirkpatrick is one of the most eligible heiresses in England thanks to her connections to the dukedom of Carlyle through her step grandmother’s family. Having been raised at Carlyle Castle, Philippa is a country girl at heart and not eager to leave her beloved home, though the duchess is eager to see her married and settled.American William Montclair is in London with his brother, tasked with expanding their family’s shipping company. But Will isn’t satisfied with the business and since they could use an influx of cash anyway, he takes a job as steward for the Carlyle estate, promising his skeptical brother that he’ll limit the position to a year only.Philippa is thoroughly scandalized by the brash young steward and has her hand’s full stopping the duchess from sending him packing on his first day. She decides to teach him how to handle the duchess and other difficult figures around Carlyle, only to find herself unwittingly ensnared by his charms.For his part, Will is coming to adore everything at Carlyle, especially Philippa. But he has his own secrets to keep and promises to uphold, even from Philippa, even if it means breaking both their hearts.First off, I want to say I enjoyed this story on the whole and it kept my attention for the most part. That said, the heroine was pretty unlikable at first and definitely had to grow on me, simply because her initial behavior toward the hero was rude beyond belief. Both Philippa and the duchess were incredibly snobby and unnecessarily snappish and judgmental towards him, and this didn’t improve for quite some time. Luckily, Will was charming enough to me to hold my interest and once Philippa started to get to know him and changed her behavior towards him, I really loved her determination to be with Will and make things work no matter what. Considering he almost messed that up big time, her willingness to fight for their future happiness solidified the success of this story for me. I only wish that the story had been more balanced in terms of the secrets Will was keeping and their revelation. Though hints were dropped periodically throughout the story, the big reveal didn’t come till nearly the end and then it was just a lot of plot happening all at once and in conjunction with the culmination of the tension and attraction that had been building between Philippa and Will. I think those revelations deserved a bit more page time or at least more elaboration during the epilogue, which felt like a fairly abrupt ending to me. Everything ended satisfactorily for me, at least, but I would’ve liked just a bit more of it. Beyond that, I liked that once both Philippa and Will were on board with being together permanently, they made it happen and didn’t take no for an answer, I only wish that had happened sooner so I could’ve really enjoyed rooting for them.I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

3.5 stars, rounded upThis book opens 20 years in the past when Sophia St. James, the Duchess of Carlyle met her daughter’s step-daughter Philippa “Pippa” Kirkpatrick for the first time and instantly fell in love with the little girl. Years later when her parents die, and her English relatives what nothing to do with the Anglo-Indian child, the duchess raises Pippa as her beloved granddaughter. Later Pippa fills the role of companion to the duchess and is universally loved by all on the Carlyle estate – a feeling that is completely reciprocated by Pippa. That is until the new steward arrives and stirs things up…William “Will” Monclair and his brother Jack have been sent to London from Boston by their father to establish a shipping office for the family’s shipping business, a business Will has no desire to be a part of, so when an opportunity arises to be the steward of the Carlyle estate, he jumps at the chance and promises his brother that he will only take the post for a year. But Will is not prepared for the amount of work that needs to be done on the estate, the secrets that are being kept by its inhabitants, or the attraction he feels for Pippa. Sadly, Will knows that his attraction to her and his growing attachment to the estate, the duke, and the tenants cannot have a happy ending, because he too has secrets and has made promises that his honor demands he keeps, no matter the cost to his heart.This final book in the Desperately Seeking a Duke series isn’t exactly what I expected, nor is it all I hoped it would be. The writing is good, all the characters are wonderful, the chemistry between Will and Pippa is believable and their romance is slow-burning and heartfelt. But for me, this book was a slow read, the story was slow-moving, basically, the first half of the book is just Will and the duchess butting heads over the estate, and there is very little interaction between Will and Pippa until the second half of the book. In my opinion, Will’s secret was held for too long and the ending of the book was too abrupt. My understanding is Ms. Linden plans to write a series epilogue, which I hope will wrap things up a bit more neatly, and answer questions that were not addressed in this book. Overall, it was a nice story that dragged a bit at the beginning, evened out in the middle, and then finished with a huge bang, yet for me, it felt incomplete even though there is an epilogue in this book. This is the third book in the series and while you could read it as a standalone title, I would recommend reading the series in order.*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

"Do not be frightened of what love will cost you, be frightened of what you might lose if you deny your love."They could not be more inappropriate or unsuitable for one another-- but the heart wants what it wants. His first appearance before the Dowager Duchess is delayed by a shirtless dowse under an outdoor spigot the laundry women cannot stop swooning over. And as much as she disapproves of him, Philippa Kirkpatrick wishes she'd gotten a glimpse of William Montclair's bare chest as well.The new steward is not the stodgy stick in the mud everyone expected. He is a brash, strikingly handsome American who whispers sweet nothings with the aplomb of a French courtier. He is brimming with both ideas and competency, despite his lack of experience managing an estate. Philippa has managed her adopted grandmother's affairs with a deft hand since she turned eighteen. She has tracked the correspondence and the accounts and resents the intrusion of someone who appears to be a cavalier interloper. William and Philippa are thrown together so that he has a guide to the tenants, the estate's concerns and the reparations to be made. The more time they spend with one another, the greater their feelings become.But William has secrets he cannot share, and Pippa needs the safety and security of marriage to a landed gentleman. Any future seems doomed before it begins. I loved this story of the loss and obstinacy that has shaped the lives of this couple. They cling to the expectations of others until they realize nothing matters if you do not have love.

Well! If that wasn’t the perfect ending to the series! I loved Philippa, both as a child and as a grown woman. She was capable and fierce in her love of her family. I also loved Will, who was determined to make the most of his time as steward to the duke’s estate. It was so wonderful to get to know the estate better, the land and the buildings and the people. And the way Will engaged with the old Duke was so incredibly sweet and gentle. Just….lovely.

** spoiler alert ** What a ride!This is the last book in the series and because I read A LOT of historical romances I thought I knew the ending but no, the plot was a surprise to me. In this book Pippa who is like a beloved granddaughter to the duchess of Carlyle falls in love with the new steward. What I liked:Will was such a delight! Although his big secret made me want to hit him in his headPippa who was a smart and easy-going woman with her own mind.Like that the h was partly indianThe duke, such a wonderful portrail of him and his familyWhat I didn't like:The overrushed anding! Really! After 3 books and that what we got? Yes I know there will be a follow-up but really it would be much better to include it like a longer epilogue. I'm still so dissapointed. Overall a wonderful series, if you hanen't read it the just do it. NOW!Steam level: 4/5Overall rating: 4,5 (if the ending would be more clarifying it would be 5)

Will Montclair and his brother are from America. Hoping to drum up business in London for their shipping company, Wiil is not satisfied working in London in an office. He takes a job as a steward for an estate called Carlyle. Will immediately takes steps to start making repairs even after the Duchess gives him a hard time. Her granddaughter, Philippa is widely attracted to Will. Anything between them is doomed with the difference in class. Philippa is determined that they are meant to be together. Will is carrying a secret, a secret that could give him hope to marry Philippa and to heal old hurts. Not necessarily a surprise ending. Heat Level 3 ❤️I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

What a very nice and satisfying conclusion to this wonderful series. This one was definitely slow burn and low angst. It was exactly what I wanted in a romance right now. The chemistry between William and Pippa was amazing. I loved loved loved the happy ending for the series as a whole. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Philippa Kirkpatrick is all but a duchess as a charge of the Duchess of Carlyle, and tends to the estate as well as she can and most of that is tending to the Duchess' every whim and the current Duke's ailing health. When the new steward arrives looking more of a pirate than a proper Englishman she tries to think the better of him, especially hearing about his heroics on the land.William Montclair was originally in London with his brother to get the family shipping business off the ground, but after a turn of bad luck he takes a job to steward the Carlyle estate. He's met with the obstinate Philippa and the prickly Duchess of Carlyle who threatens to fire him at every turn. Enchanted by the young lady and the clash of wits that occur, he decides to try his best to keep the job. Even though his social status and secrets threaten to keep them apart, he cannot stay away from her.This is the third book in the Desperately Seeking Duke series by Caroline Linden, which in my opinion can be read as a standalone. The thread that ties the book with the others as far as I'm aware, as I have only read the first, isn't too thick. Though I do intend to read the second as soon as I can. I adore this series and Caroline Linden has become one of my new favorite historical romance authors!Philippa isn't a duchess herself, she is the daughter of a solider, only related to the current Duchess through marriage. The Duchess' daughter was her step-mother. I would also like to mention, which seems to not be in any of the promotional material, that Philippa is part Indian. I love seeing a historical heroine of color! I also loved how connected Philippa remained to her her culture, most of her gowns are described in beautiful jewel tones and she had some of her mothers jewelry along with a portrait of her hanging in her rooms. There's also something about Caroline Linden's heroes that set them apart. I know it's all the rage to be a rake in a historical, but from the two books I've read from this series, the men are complete gentleman even without the title. It's really a breath of fresh air, not that being a rake isn't terrible, but it can feel a little bit overdone at times. Give me a softer hero or a working class hero from time to time. That said this book broke my heart a few times. There's lots of banter and angst and longing. I really loved how they butt heads in the first of the book. I would recommend it to everyone!

3.75 StarsRaised in the splendour of Carlyle Castle by her doting guardian, the Duchess of Carlyle, Philippa Kirkpatrick is one of the greatest heiresses in England. The duchess is eager to see her wed, but Philippa hesitates to leave the only home she knows. William Montclair is in London to expand his family’s trading firm, with little progress. Impulsively he takes a job managing the Carlyle estate, for the money, he tells his incredulous brother, and only for a year. Philippa is shocked by the handsome, scandalously bold new steward. It’s all she can do to prevent the horrified duchess from sacking him on sight. She determines to teach him how to love Carlyle as she does, only to find herself reluctantly charmed by the rogue. It’s true; Will is falling for everything about Carlyle…including the duchess’s beautiful ward. The third book in the series & an absolutely lovely romance. A well written engrossing read which I devoured & found hard to put down until it suddenly ended with no series closure & no epilogue. I felt cheated & unsatisfied. I loved both Philippa & Will & I loved their journey to a HEA, I loved their slow burn romance & I was on course for a five star read until that ending.My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read