A Most Unlikely Duke: Diamonds in the Rough (Diamonds in the Rough, 1)

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes
Book One of the Diamonds in the Rough series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

He never thought he'd become a duke, or that the secrets of his past would cost him his greatest love...

Raphe Matthews hasn’t stepped foot in polite circles since a tragedy left his once-noble family impoverished and in debt. The bare-knuckle boxer has spent the last fifteen years eking out an existence for himself and his two sisters. But when a stunning reversal of fortune lands Raphe the title of Duke of Huntley, he’s determined to make a go of becoming a proper lord, but he’ll need a little help, and his captivating neighbor might be just the woman for the job…

After her sister’s scandalous match, Lady Gabriella knows the ton’s eyes are on her. Agreeing to tutor the brutish new duke can only lead to ruin. Although she tries to control her irresistible attraction to Raphe, every day she spends with him only deepens her realization that this may be the one man she cannot do without. And as scandal threatens to envelop them both, she must decide if she can risk everything for love with a most unlikely duke.

What I Liked:

I've read five of Sophie Barnes' previous books, and I think it is safe to say that this is my favorite of hers. Or perhaps this book is tied with The Trouble with Being a Duke, which was the first Barnes book I'd read. I'd been looking forward to reading A Most Unlikely Duke since Barnes announced the book's publication on her social media, and she did a post on the cover photo-shoot. I knew this would be a historical romance novel for me and I am so glad that it did not disappoint!

Raphe Matthews and his two younger sisters have lived by themselves in the slums of St. Giles for fifteen years. Raphe took up bare-knuckle boxing in order to pay off a debt his father left, and to take care of his sisters. One day, just after he accepts a deal to fight the best bare-knuckle fighter known to this underground business, Raphe receives an official letters from the solicitors of the Duke of Huntley... due to deaths and succession, Raphe is the new Duke of Huntley. He moves his sisters to the Huntley properties, but it's obvious that they won't fit in, given their mannerisms, speech, and disdain for society and the ton. But their neighbor, Lady Gabriella, is determined to see the girls succeed. Her older sister was a perfect lady but ran off with an American businessman. So Gabriella, once an awkward, bug-loving girl, must be the paragon of the ton. But she knows how it feels to be ostracized, and she won't let down down the new duke's sisters. But she doesn't expect to fall for the new duke himself, despite her resolve to stay away from him. Marrying into a family with a good reputation and lineage has always been her parents' goal for her, but Gabriella isn't so sure that she wants that. What she realizes is that she wants Raphe, rough background and all.

I'd been looking forward to reading this new book by Barnes, not only because she's a familiar Avon author, or because the cover is stunning (it really is!). The synopsis sounded fantastic! A rags-to-riches story with a young noblewoman helping the family find their footing and inevitably falling in love with the new young duke? Yes, please!

When I started reading the book, I grew a little uncertain, because of Gabriella's marriage situation. For Gabriella, the story starts with her and Fielding, the young earl who is courting her. Gabriella's parents have doubled her dowry, and Fielding has taken an interest in her. It is clear that Fielding and Gabriella's parents expect things to end in a marriage contract and a wedding. But Gabriella feels stifled by Fielding, and by her parents. Usually this sort of plot would bother me (in which the female protagonist is "engaged" or is courted by another). But it was so clear that Gabriella really did not want to interact with Fielding, and that she was forcing herself to be civil, because she knew how much this match meant to her parents and her family's reputation.

Basically, the involvement with Fielding was very little, because he had no romantic or sexual interest in Gabriella, and vice versa. On the other hand, as soon as Gabriella saw Raphe, even in his disheveled state, she was intrigued. Their first meeting was a little embarrassing for Gabriella and hilarious for Raphe.

Gabriella is a sweetheart, and so kind to the new duke and his sisters. Despite her parents warning her not to go to her new neighbors, she does so every day, to teach Amelia and Juliette how to comport themselves. And of course, she and Raphe collide and bicker. Gabriella is not a perfect, beautiful lady like she is trying to be - she is more intelligent and a little odd, compared to what society would force her to be. She and Raphe are a lovely pair.

There is only one sex scene in this book (BOOOO), but the chemistry between Raphe and Gabriella is very obvious and yet subtle. They get along very well (even with the initial bickering), and they grow to care for each other very deeply. But they have a lot of tension between them, which I'd been waiting... and waiting... and waiting, to see it all explode. That would be my one complaint - not enough sex scenes!

I loved the bond between Raphe and his sisters - it's a healthy and strong bond. Usually younger sisters are made out to be pompous, bratty, and irritating, in historical romance novels. In this book, Amelia and Juliette are quiet and kind, yet lively and spirited. They are also very respectful of Raphe and very aware of all that he has given up and done for him. They're about as old as Gabriella (i.e. not super young, but not terribly old either), and all three ladies become good friends.

This book has a lot going on, besides the budding romance between Raphe and Gabriella. Raphe and his sisters try desperately to fit into society, though most of the ton won't have them. And then there is Raphe's questionable past as a bare-knuckle boxer - what will happen when polite society finds out that its newest duke used to fight for money? And the deal that Raphe made - will he go through with it, as the new Duke of Huntley? Barnes really covers the whole nine yards in this book - nothing that was brought up in the beginning is left to be forgotten.

The ending is quite a good one! Raphe deserves his happily-ever-after for sure. Everything came together a little too neatly but I'm not going to complain because I'm just happy that Raphe is happy with Gabriella. I can't wait to see cameos from them in subsequent books!

What I Did Not Like:

Like I said, the only thing I would complain about is the lack of sex! There is only one sex scene in the book - at the very end, and it is so brief. Booo! Maybe I'm spoiled? I feel like most Avon-published historical romance novels that I've read have more than one sex scene (and that first sex scene is usually, errr, pretty detailed). More sex is (almost) never bad!

Would I Recommend It:

If you like historical romance novels, then this is a good one to try! I feel like I haven't been reading as many as I used to, so I couldn't tell you too many others that have published already for the year that I liked (maybe Mary Wine's Highland Weddings books that published in 2017 - those are good. Scottish historical romance though, not Regency.). In any case, this book was very good and hey, if you're not a huge fan of sex in romance novels (you like the sweeter/swoonier books versus the sexier ones), then this is definitely one for you!

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. Still a good rating and still a good that I would highly recommend! With that beautiful cover, and a beautiful story to match, you can't go wrong. Watching Raphe and Gabriella fall for each other was so sweet and I kind of want to reread this book already!

I started this craving more historical romance and that’s exactly what I got, expect sort of bland. Raphe is a dock worker and a bare knuckle boxer who learns he’s a duke some how and Gabriella is a lady with a scandalous family who can’t love a scandalous man too. It’s okay, just average on what I usually read, I probably won’t remember the characters in 15 minutes and there was no steam. It was okay, if somewhat over done and almost boring.

Who doesn't love a good rags to riches story, add romance and humor and it's a perfect read. Enjoy

A+++++++++

5 stars
The story of Raphe Matthews. A man who has lived a hard life trying to protect his two sisters and is suddenly thrust into the role of the Duke of Huntley and Lady Gabriella whose sister’s scandalous marriage has taken all choice of her own marriage out of her hands.

I loved this book, I loved the characters I loved the depth of emotion and connection. I felt for them, I cheered with them and I cried for them. I can’t wait to move on to Amelia’s story the character’s were so rich that I even wanted one of the secondary characters to get his own story.
Richardson would never actually get his own story being the Duke’s secretary but I loved him. I loved all the staff. Hopefully we will see more of them in coming books.

One Thing that annoys me. It is said that Gabriella got her sister’s dowry added to hers so her dowry is now 100,000 pounds. Which is why even though Gabby wasn’t liked by the ton for her unconventional ways one man really wanted her. For her dowry.
Later we find out her sister’s scoundrel husband asked for 50,000 pounds to marry her but Gabriella says that 50,000 was more then twice Victoria’s dowry. And an astronomical sum.. Yet earlier in the book her father had offered 50,000 for a painting like it was nothing so it’s just a bit of putting on inconsistent the Warwick wealth is mentioned.

Still a solid five star read that I will come back to again and again.

Off to read the second book in the series the Duke of her desire Amelia and the Duke of Coventry’s story.

A Most Unlikely Duke is the first in the Diamonds in the Rough series and a definite winner. This book is a fast paced, fun, thrilling adventure with laughs, drama and a heartwarming love story. This is a story of overcoming prejudices and being happy with one's self. This is Raphe and Gabriella's story. Raphe has no use for the gentry. Being orphaned at a young age and having to raise his sisters, he became a bare-knuckle boxing champion until one day his entire life changed. Gabriella has never really fit in because of her fascination with insects but when her sister causes the family scandal, Gabriella steps up to save the family's reputation. She is being courted by an Earl but when she meets the Duke, sparks fly and she tries to fight the attraction. Gabriella teaches Raphe's sisters how to go about in society and Raphe teaches Gabriella how to live for herself.

A Most Unlikely Duke,  (Diamonds in the Rough 1), Sophie Barnes 

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Historical  romance,

I don’t read much historical romance, but every now and then I have a hankering for that strange past world where lineage rules, and there’s a very defined line for who is acceptable and who isn’t...

It's a kind of mentally relaxing read, when what hat to wear is a subject for serious decision, a sort of letting go of real issues and delving into a world where for many its a life filled with frivolities.
Of course I’d want to be born on the frivolous side, not the scullery maid getting up at 5am to light fires etc, though that probably would more likely be me ;-)

So we meet Raphe and his sisters, abandoned by their parents after debtors prison loomed, and he’s looked after them since. He was only 12 so its been hard, and he’s done some tough things.
The last few years he’s made a name from bare knuckle fighting, certainly not a gentleman’s sport....
Then suddenly in a swift change of fortune he’s the Duke of Huntley, and his sisters are Ladies....

So that was fun, seeing how they could assimilate into Society. They did have that childhood history which helped with the credulity. Rather than the Pygmalion aspect of completely learning from scratch it was more a reminding of what they had learned years ago.
They need to keep the last few years secret though, with a society that is horrified by any taint of scandal. throw in the Lady next door, about to become engaged to another but who Raphe becomes seriously attracted to, and we can see disaster looking.

I really liked Raphe and his sisters, and of course girl next door Gabriella.
She’s a real sweetheart, always been left to herself and her amusements ( insect collecting – though she seems to keep them alive rather than pin them to a board as was more usual back then).
With her sister’s scandalous breaking of her engagement and marrying another Gabriella has to step up, make a good marriage and push the scandal of her sisters behaviour firmly in the past. There's no room for her to be with the potentialy scandalous person next door...

There were some fun moments here, some great characters, including Raphe’s staff who were such a help to him.
In reality some of the staff in these houses were the worst of snobs, but he’s hit lucky and they take him under their wing!
I wasn’t totally convinced of Gabriella's parents reactions towards the end given how they started but its reasonable.

Its a sweet story, very light and fluffy, nothing to get too mentally taxed by and sometimes that’s just what I'm looking for. After a few deep, dark reads, some fantasy dramas and murders I just want a pleasant easy read in a bygone world.
This book did all that. Its not one I’d reread, not would this genre be my mainstay by for a one off gentle escape from other books, into a gentile world its perfect.

Stars: 4. a fun, gentle escape into a bygone era.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Author and Publishers

Dock worker and bare knuckle fighter Raphe Matthews suddenly finds himself the Duke of Huntley. He and his sisters have lived in the slums of St. Giles in London since their father's suicide. The huge change in circumstances doesn't come without problems. The snobs of the "ton" will never accept them if they find out where they grew up.
Lady Gabriella Radcliffe has to be extra careful in her behavior since the scandal her older sister caused. Her parents have chosen a very suitable man for her to marry. The fact that they have absolutely nothing in common , and he only wants her money doesn't seem to matter. The new neighbours will cause a distraction.
This is lots if fun. Our hero has carried a lot of responsibility on his very broad shoulders and trying to do his best for everyone. Our heroine has been trying to fit into a role that is just not right for her. Will she do as she's told or what she wants???
This is part of a series, but is easily read as a stand alone. It does give us a little teaser at the end for the next book. I will definitely want to read that as well.

Author Sophie Barnes offers a delightful tale of true love and finding one’s true worth in her latest release, A Most Unlikely Duke. Throughout this romantic tale, Ms. Barnes treats readers to an honest friendship between the new Duke of Huntley and his neighbor Lady Gabriella, that slowly, and believably, morphs into a tender, enduring love.

Becoming a Duke allows Raphe to offer his sisters a future he could have even dreamed of. Moving next door to Lady Gabriella offers him a chance at a love he never imagined. The efforts Raphe and his sisters make in order to achieve society 'polish' are at times hysterical, and always endearing. Kudos to Ms. Barnes for some excellently developed secondary characters, especially in the Huntley household.

All that’s standing in the way of Raphe achieving all he desires is the ghosts of his past and the prejudice of the aristocracy. Raphe wants to be seen as the man he truly is, not the circumstances he came from. Not an easy task, but the love and steadfast support of the indomitable Lady Gabriella make it all worth the challenge.

I’m not going to lie, I usually like my historical romances with a little more heat than A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes supplied. However, this book has more than enough heart to make up for any lack of steam. In fact, the level of intimacy portrayed feels genuine to the characters and the time period, thus making it the absolutely perfect amount.

Gabriella and Raphe both crave acceptance for their true self and each provides what the other needs in this beautiful tale. Raphe needs someone to share his burden and provide the safe haven he’s always strived to give those he loves. By trusting Gabriella and allowing her to be his support, Raphe helps her regain her inner strength and toss aside the suffocating exceptions of her parents and the scrutinizing ton. In A Most Unlikely Duke, author Sophie Barnes provides a perfectly lovely tale filled with honest emotion and relatable characters — and a happy ending that feels worthy and well-deserved.

The start of a new series A Most Unlikely Duke is a great start to the Diamonds in the Rough series. As always Sophie Barnes writes a great tale and a wonderful romance. Following your heart and breaking the rules never felt so good.

Raphe and his sisters lost their parents young with no welcoming family to take them on and creditors beating down the door Raphe does the only thing he can do and that is to go to work for one of the creditors. As he grows he trains to be a bare knuckle fighter and starts paying off his father's debt that way. Fifteen years Raphe and his sisters have lived in St. Giles just barely scraping by, Raphe has no love the aristocracy. One night Raphe receives a message that changes everything, he is the sole heir to the Huntley dukedom.

Lady Gabriella use to be the wild one, she was the peculiar one, but once her sister ran off and married a man against her parents wishes all the while breaking of the engagement to a Marquess. Gabriella's choice of wanting to marry for love was thrown out the window and now she must do as her parents wish to set straight the reputation of the family, even if the man is detestable. The Earl of Nugent is the detestable man who (like most men back then) is just looking for pretty arm candy. Gabriella however has a brain and likes to use it especially when it comes to entomology. Gabriella is also unaware of her looks, her sister was always the pretty one to her.

Raphe and his sisters, Amelia and Juliette, move into the Huntley townhouse right next door to Gabriella and her family, they make quite the impression. Gabriella feels sympathetic for the sisters and against her parents wishes she offers to tutor them in the way of high society. Despite the rocky introduction Raphe and Gabriella start to fall in love. Gabriella wants to do right by her family but her feelings for Raphe have grown strong enough that she finally stand up to them. Raphe has only confided the truth about his past to two people Gabriella and Duke of Coventry, who proved himself a good friend. Gabriella's father not trusting Raphe dug until he found out and forbid the match, it's isn't until after Victoria, Gabriella's sister, shows back up that their father has a change of heart. Raphe's past however is not done with him and it just maybe the one thing to ruin the reputation and his sister's chances of making a good match.

Overall, this was a great read. The Raphe and Gabriella were first and foremost the majority of the storyline, several little things that deviate from them but ultimately add to the building of the relationship. All those little things build up to a great ending and a wonderful romance. Raphe proved himself to be a loyal protector and so sweet.