TL;DR: The Duke Effect was a fun historical romp that features an opposites-attract romance featuring a sassy whip-smart FMC and a starchy do-gooder MMC. I loved the evolution of Nora and Constantine’s relationship from antagonistic acquaintances due to the mistaken/hidden identity trope but eventually grows into mutual respect, trust, friendship, and eventually, love. It was angsty, swoony, and a bit cheesy but so good!

Colour me surprised because I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! I wasn’t entirely sure that I liked Nora when I first met her in the previous book, The Virgin and the Rogue, especially because she was so unrepentant for her actions that, in my opinion, felt more than a little violating. The fact that she was a teenager with a brilliant mind does not excuse her of responsibility! But I digress.

The premise of the romance was fantastic and it was also one of the main reasons I decided to give this a try. For years now, Nora has taken up her deceased father’s pen and has been exchanging letters with others asking for medical advice. Constantine was one of those who corresponded with her father and as a result and unbeknownst to him, with Nora, as well. Things unravel when he’s called home after a streak of unfortunate accidents requires him to assume the title of Duke and he searches out the good doctor for advice in person. There’s a mixed-up/hidden identity reveal, forced proximity, and a bit of forbidden romance, and it results in intense sexual tension, angst, and the emotional awakening of two characters who are known for their stoicism and logical brains.

I found myself unexpectedly getting swept up not only in the sexual tension between the two but also in their emotional journeys. I ended up really liking Nora and her spunky personality. She’s feisty, smart and headstrong, and often still has trouble holding her tongue and thinking first, which was a big no-no for well-raised ladies back in the day. I appreciated her no-nonsense attitude and her desire to feel needed but also to be seen as a healer in her own right. There’s a lot that she has to learn how to deal with especially now that both her sisters are happily wed and busy with their own families and she’s determined to practice medicine in a society where ‘proper ladies’ are expected to have no intellectual interests whatsoever. All of these thoughts and emotions are new to her and adding to the loneliness and confusion is the way her low rank is constantly shoved in her face by those around her. I felt for her and it definitely made for quite the angsty read!

While Nora is all fire, Con is her opposite and is known for being the do-good rule-follower. He’s been away with the army for most of his adult life and now that he’s being called back, he feels obliged and like he owes the family for having raised him, despite their lack of genuine interest in him. He obviously feels betrayed when he learns of Nora’s deception but I loved the way their relationship evolves into one of trust and how he bolsters her, especially in the field of medicine, whenever others continuously try to push her down. While I would’ve loved to see them spend more time talking to each other while fighting their growing feelings for each other, I still really enjoyed the way their romance progressed—it was sweet and sexy without being over-the-top cheesy or ridiculous.

Have you read The Duke Effect or is it on your TBR?

• Follow me on Goodreads!
• Follow me on Bluesky
• Follow me on Instagram!
• Follow me on Twitter!