The Duke Goes Down audiobook

✨But losing everything is like the duke going down on . . .✨This is one of those books that you hope is gold simply because the cover is absolutely ravishing. I mean really, I want to use it as wallpaper. As for the story, I found myself just as wrapped up. It was funny, hot, low angst, and absolutely lived up to its name: the duke indeed went down. I read this one incredibly fast and simply took it all in. There wasn’t much more to the story than the romance, and I actually found that quite refreshing. There’s a bit with a bar renovation that, in a number of other books, would have taken a chunk of the plot but it was entirely scaled back here. The conflict was resolved very quickly and it didn’t disrupt my enjoyment at all. I got everything I wanted: a hot duke with the lungs of a swimmer and a not-so-proper vicar’s daughter. Both characters were making questionable decisions at the beginning and I found it fun for each of them to get a reality check. The first half of the book was extremely funny and the second half was entirely swoon worthy. I didn’t think the spreading of rumors lasted too long or was overdrawn and I wasn’t really bothered by the antics. I know Imogen harbored a grudge for a long time but Perry wasn’t all peaches and cream to begin with so it all evened out in my book. Overall, The Duke Goes Down was a Very Good Time and gave me everything I was craving. I enjoyed getting to see the two go from enemies to lovers to actual friends and the steam was just right. Unsurprisingly, I’m still desperate for more of the couple in the second book. I will absolutely reread again because it was the kind of story I want to bask myself in on a lazy afternoon.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

Peregrine Butler's world comes crumbling down when it's discovered that he was born before his parents' marriage and he is not the legal heir to the Penning dukedom. He returns home to Shropshire to take his mother's advice and woo an heiress. But Imogen Bates intends to wreck his plans and "protect" the local ladies. She's known since childhood that Perry's an insincere, overprivileged arse...but an unlikely kiss has both reconsidering their animosity towards each other.This book is the first in a new series and it's a true enemies to lovers story. Perry was a jerk as a child and young adult, saying some horrible things about Imogen, including comparing her to rotten lemons. Imogen, in turn, is awful right back, and gets her revenge by spreading rumors to ruin Perry's marriage prospects. Everything changes, of course, after they kiss and that spark leaves them both off-kilter. I enjoyed this story quite a bit. There is plenty of build up, and I would have liked just a little more time for development of the relationship on the back half of the book. Jordan uses flashbacks well, in order to condense the backstory some, but I was wishing for just 2-3 more chapters so I could have savored the characters a little longer. The epilogue was great and I'm already excited for Mercy's story!Tropes: Riches-to-Rags, Class Difference, Enemies to LoversSteam Rating: 3

Imogen Bates first met Peregrine “Perry” Butler, the heir to the Duke of Penning when she was just eight years old and her father became the Vicar to Shropshire, their encounter ended with Imogen being pushed into the lake by Perry’s little sister, laughed at by Perry, and left in tears. Subsequent meetings over the years were not much better, culminating in their final encounter when she was fifteen and attending his eighteenth birthday party, where she overheard him and his friends talking about her and was crushed to hear Perry insult her, later when he found her, she was finally able to give him a piece of her mind and left – but her hatred for Perry festered.Ten years later Perry’s perfect life comes crashing down when it comes out that his parents were not actually married when he was born and therefore, he is not the duke! Now with no title, no money, and no home, he has moved into the dower house with his mother and is hunting for an heiress to marry. But someone is determined to stymie his attempts at courting by spreading lies about him. At first, he is bewildered why the ladies who were once eager for his attentions are now treating him like he has the plague and then he learns why and confronts Imogen. Their confrontation ends in a kiss that leaves them both shocked and wanting more.But even a toe-curling kiss is not enough to stop Imogen’s quest to keep Perry from finding a rich bride, and she spreads a rumor that is sure to keep the brides at bay. When Perry learns of it, he knows there is only one person that would broadcast such a lie and seeks her out to put an end to her interference once and for all. But instead of giving her a set down – he shows her what he could bring to a marriage and then finds himself wondering if marriage to an heiress is really the answer to his problems or if he could take his life in a new direction, one that includes Imogen. He then sets out to forge a new path and win Imogen. It would appear that he has succeeded when he learns the truth about his downfall and once again his life comes crashing down, but this time is worse because this time his heart is broken.This was a well-written, fast-paced story that utilizes the enemies-to-lovers trope to perfection. The story has lies, secrets, witty banter, steamyish love scenes, heartache, a wonderful hero, a surprising revelation, and finally a sigh-inducing HEA complete with an epilogue. I will be honest, I had a really hard time liking Imogen, I understood her dislike, but to do the things she did because he hurt her feelings when they were children, made her seem petty and spiteful and very hard to sympathize with and I don’t feel like she really redeemed herself. But in the end, I loved the book and even though I wanted more for Perry, I was happy with the final outcome. This is the first book in a new series and I am happy to recommend this title and will certainly be looking forward to reading the next installment! *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.*

I have so many thoughts about this book that are swirling all around and idk if I’ll be able to articulate my review in the right way, so bear with me here. First, I wanna say, I. Love. Bullying. I love the bully trope. Love it. Give it to me, because I’m here for it. Give me the name calling, pinching, pettiness, bitter child angst tears, and years of resentment. I AM HERE FOR IT! I. Love. Bullying. Tropes!!!I just need these two angsty and bitter people to make out and realize they were idiots when they were kids and who gives an F about the past?! It just fuels their love even more IMO. The bullying part isn’t a big part of this book and it didn’t bother me at all. I know some people are bothered by bullying, but if you can’t tell my this review, I love bullying. 🤣Second, this book was awesome. The pacing, the plot, the characters. I really enjoyed it. Having read a crap ton of HR, I can usually guess what’s going to happen, but I really didn’t see the ending coming. And it was a delightful happy little surprise ending for me. Cheers to some mature and emotionally strong characters! Also, am I okay because I love bullying in books so much?!!!!

This is an amazing story.Humorous and a happily ever after, it is awesome.Imogen is the vicar's daughter, virtuous and trouble incarnate.Perry is the son of the Duke found to be conceived before his marriage to his mother. Their love story is one filled with humor.I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Sophie Jordan does it again with another amazing historical romance!Imogen Bates, daughter of the local vicar, and Perry Butler, the Duke of Penning, have never gotten along. Since they were forced to interact as children, they've harboured disdain towards each other.Perry's world comes crashing down before him when it's revealed he's a bastard child, born months before his parents' wedding and he loses his title, his dukedom, his everything. Imogen is relishing in his misfortune, and thinks it serves him right for looking down his nose at everyone his entire life. But when Perry sets his eyes on the local heiresses for marriage, Imogen is determined to make him look like an unworthy husband-potential. So she spreads a couple of little rumours, hoping to hurt his reputation a little and save the women on Shropshire from an unhappy marriage to the former Duke. Just a couple of little white lies, like he's completely bald and wear a wig, he suffers from bad flatulence, and the worst one of all: he's a bad kisser. But once Perry catches wind of them, he wants Imogen to set the record straight and he'll do anything to prove her wrong..Ooh the steam level in this book. You could cut the sexual tension between Imogen and Perry with a knife. And the scenes where Perry is showing Imogen how wrong she is about him? My goodness! So steamy!Who doesn't love a good enemies-to-lovers historical romance? THIS IS MY SHIT. Can't wait to see what comes next in this series..

This has gotten a lot of low ratings but I actually loved this. It was fun and funny. Loved the characters and I could see why she did what she did. Was it right? Probably not but we have all done wrong things in life. Very enjoyable story.

This book has been one of the most unique regency romance I think I’ve ever read! As much historical romance that I read it never occurred to me that this could happen! (I won’t spoil it for you) this was one of the best plot devices I’ve read in a long time. The enemy to lovers aspect of this story slightly grinded on my nerves, I am not a fan of gossip monger main character. I’m looking forward to where this series will go, and I’m very curious about the Duke. Overall I really enjoyed this slightly slow burn romance!

Been in a reading slump lately, so I was happy to have something that made me crack up laughing.

I received an ARC of this book to read through Edelwiess+. All opinions are my own. The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan is the first book in her new series, The Duke Hunt. Peregrine Butler has lost everything, his title, his fortune, his lands, and he’s reduced to living in the dower house of his former estate with his mother because it was discovered that his parents didn’t marry until after he was born. Vicar's daughter Imogene Bates has discovered she has a mean streak because she can’t forgive Perry, her childhood nemesis and making sure that this villain doesn’t take advantage of the local heiresses has become her goal. When Perry discovers that Imogene is the source of the nasty rumours about him, he confronts her and makes sure she understands that he is not bald, does not have six toes and that he is an excellent kisser. I found this enemies to lovers story delightful and highly recommend reading it. Steam Level: Medium (yes, the duke does go down) Publishing Date: July 27, 2021. #TheDukeGoesDown #TheDukeHuntSeries #SophieJordan #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalRomanceSeries #HistoricalRomanceReader #HarperCollinsCanada #AvonRomance #MyBookPledge #HCCFrenzy #booksstagram #bookstagrammer #RomanceReader

Tw: a scene of domestic abuse toward the end of the bookIf you are looking for the perfect vacation read, look no further. This book is light, fluffy, sweet like cotton candy. Perry and Imogen are two petty dummies and I love them. Perry was the local lord and kind of a bully as a kid and Imogen has been waiting for him to go down. Turns out he’s illegitimate and he does. Imogen decides she has to protect the women of her town from him and spreads some really evil rumors about him. Perry sort of doesn’t get it and Imogen is full of spite due to childhood spats and his family owning everything, including her dad’s house and job. I really liked the interplay and the tension. The book stays really light throughout and I think it’s perfect for reading fast.

I loved Perry and who he became due to his circumstances. Fun read.