Book Review: Debating With The Duke By Alexa Aston

Alexa Aston is a fantastic author from Texas who specializes in writing Regency and Medieval Romances. Her about page says she loves to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances where they can really blossom. Her books are packed full of such trying times, as they are not always the fluffiest romance novels to read, but they are absolutely riveting. This fun author also enjoys traveling, seafood, and of course, The Crown on Netflix! Her latest romance novel, Debating with The Duke, is the second book of the Second Sons of London series, which details rags to riches stories of second sons who go off to fight against Napoleon for the English only to return to English soil after inheriting their father’s estate.

Release Date: April 6, 2022

Page Count: 244

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing

Regency Romance Summary: Debating with the Duke 

Major Everett Wayland is a bit on the shy side of life until you really get to know him, or he is on the battlefield. Then he absolutely becomes a true man of regency. After being injured in the war, he is informed that he is actually the next Duke of Camden. Being a second son, this is a total surprise to him as his brother and father were both in good health when he left the continent. He arrives home and is at a complete loss on how to run his life or his estates, so he seeks the help of his friends and gets a little more than he bargained for, a wife!

At first, Lady Adalyn Goulding seems like the farthest thing from duchess material. Though she has her finger on the pulse of society and is the latest fashion icon, she is also a well-known matchmaker and makes appointments with the men of the ton to set them up with young debutantes. She, however, is getting long in the tooth by regency standards because she has had over half a decade’s worth of seasons and is still unwed until the arrival of the Duke of Camden; that was how she wanted it to stay. Even after his arrival, she had her doubts and decided to be his matchmaker. Avoid the parisons mousetrap at all costs, you know. 

The duke had other plans, and through hell, high water, or even scandal, he was determined to make Lady Adalyn his duchess. The trials they face after the fact may result from his own stupidity and blunders. Like every other regency romance, the book ends in a happily ever after scene, with the marriage going well just as a regency romance novel should.

If Debating with the Duke seems like a book you would like, go ahead and read the first two chapters for free!

Noteworthy Moments From Debating with the Duke 

When I start reading a series, I like to go in, for the most part, “blind” without reading the description or who the characters are. Especially once the series gets going. It is always a pleasant surprise to see who ends up together. This book is no different. In one chapter, the Duke of Camden’s friend Tessa conspires to set him up with one of her cousins. When you flip the page, you are introduced to Lady Adalyn, and I must say I was so excited by the turn of events that I almost squealed with joy.

From there, the book takes a bit of a downward turn and gives you that yucky taste in your mouth as the last one did. The duke goes on and on at the beginning of the book about how he really doesn’t think he and Lady Adalyn would suit. Some of the things he thinks and says are downright awful, and in a way, it makes you dislike him as a character.

At some point, the two eventually come to an understanding. They even have a Julia Quinn-like moment from The Duke and I. They make an agreement to dance with one another at the balls. It is decided that Lady Adalyn will lead the duke through society, and when she has a duke’s attention, it will make other men more interested in her.

The character’s love story eventually redeems itself as most of Alexa Aston’s novels do, by being as swoon worthly and in love as ever. You can read more noteworthy parts of this book and other opinions on the One More Book Blog.

Steamy Regency Romance

Debating with the Duke is a steamy Regency romance that gets four flaming hearts on the steaminess meter. There are descriptive intimacy scenes within the text and a scene where the couple makes love in a carriage. That is all fine and good until you have the rather disturbing thought that those carriages had drivers sitting on top of them, and the walls were rather thin. I had never thought of it in the countless romance novels that I have read that play out this scene until I read this book. Now, this mental picture shall always be in my mind when I encounter such scenes.

Four Star Romance Novel

Debating with the Duke gets a four-star romance novel because, overall, it was a thrilling read. It is not fluffy and takes on some profound, meaningful thoughts, circumstances, and conversations within the text. It also makes you feel. At times it will leave a bad taste in your mouth and make you hate the characters, and at other times you will swoon or laugh along with them. Overall you should read this book!

Where Can You Get This Regency Romance Novel?

You can get Debating with the Duke, a Regency romance novel through Amazon in paperback, ebook, or through the Kindle Unlimited program. This book was still enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program when this blog post was written. The Kindle Unlimited program is the perfect library subscription for regency romance fans because tons of new books are coming out in the program to read for a monthly fee, like Netflix. If you are new to kindle unlimited, check out these first-time subscriber discounts:

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