I loved this book so much. The idea of these two characters belonging to such different worlds coming together and falling in love when least expected is the main thing that makes me love it even more. Their it and banter is amazing and how he felt head over heels in love with her it’s just so beautiful.
They don’t match in the eyes of society but truth is that they will match better than anyone can think about them. And their love story is not an easy one but a hard worked story with a well deserved ending of happiness

I enjoyed this lovely romance very much. Will be looking out for more from this writer.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read this.

Would I Lie To The Duke is written by Eva Leigh and published by M&B Historical. Jessica Mcgalle is the companion to Lady Whitfield. Jess has travelled to London to check everything is ready for her mistress. Unfortunately she has an accident and is unable to travel as planned. Jess pretends to be Lady Whitfield as she visits the Bazar to try and find funding to save the family’s soap making business as it has been recently destroyed in a fire. Jess meets the Duke Noel Rotherby. Noel who assumes she is who she says she is and he is impressed with her financial acumen. Sparks fly between them as they flirt throughout the novel, clearly taken with each other, but how will Noel react when he find he has been duped?
I normally enjoy Eva Leigh’s novels but this is the first time I struggled to connect with the characters and found that 21Century attitudes seeped into a Regency era romance.



I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

I thought this book's description was intriguing, however I found myself somewhat disappointed with the execution of it all.
As this is a historical romance, I had expected a little bit more accuracy and detail regarding the times in which this book was set.
I also found myself struggling to connect with the characters in any way. Unfortunately, this book didn't appeal to me.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
A good read with an interesting tale. The writing is quite good and the characters spunky and likable.
However, it wasn't very accurate ot the time as it could have been which did make it less realistic.
On the whole an OK book.

An entertaining, well written story but I struggled throughout with how modern it was, yet supposedly set in Regency times. I don’t understand the trend to transpose 21st century attitudes and behaviours to a historical setting and pretend this is authentic.

For those of us who think historical accuracy is important, it is tiresome to read stuff which we know does not reflect the reality of the era.

I also found it really annoying that American spellings were used in an English setting - honor instead of honour for example. If you set a book in Regency England, then use English terminology.

For readers who don’t care about historical authenticity, this is an enjoyable read.

Content warnings: Mention of house-fire; heroine has fear of fire with phobic attack shown on page; mentions of parental death.

This series follows a group of men who formed an unlikely bond in their youth, despite their differences, while in an all-day detention at Eton – yes, it’s a Regency take on The Breakfast Club, and it’s as fun as it sounds! The prologue here (as with My Fake Rake) is a glimpse into that fateful Saturday, and a pitch-perfect take on a scene from the film, reminding us of all the characters and the roles they are playing. My Fake Rake followed Sebastian (the nerd); Would I Lie to the Duke is Noel’s book. Noel is the Duke of Rotherby, and takes the ‘princess’ role played by Claire in the film; popular and charming, he’s the ton’s most eligible bachelor, but he’s crushingly lonely, since no one bothers to get to know the real him. That is, until he meets Lady Whitfield – a smart, confident woman whom Noel can’t resist. Trouble is, Lady Whitfield is really Jessica McGale in disguise, posing as a high-class widow at a Dragons’ Den style business society Bazaar in order to gain the trust of elite investors to save her family’s business – though she only wanted to get close to Noel to gain his influence, the sparks between them indicate that they’re not only a good business match, but possibly perfect for each other in every way…

Jess is exactly the kind of heroine I love: she’s got both book-smarts and street-smarts, and can talk her way out of almost any situation. After the death of her parents, she feels responsible for keeping her family afloat, and when a fire wrecked their farm and their soap business, she was forced to take work as a companion, so when we meet her, she’s feeling like a failure. But it doesn’t take long for her to find an opportunity to get back on track, and when she does, it’s like she lights up – you can really tell she thrives on being useful, efficient and respected. I loved seeing her set the stuffy business society on its ear! Noel is a really enjoyable character too, and one that it takes Jess (and the reader) time to get to the heart of. He seems carefree and happy, and he instantly has a connection with Jess that leads to wonderfully arch banter, but there’s a loneliness at the heart of him that means he doesn’t ever really feel anything for other people. I loved seeing him learn, through Jess, to stop being so careless in assuming people would just go along with his ideas – he grows a lot through their relationship. In fact, they both do – this isn’t a terribly long book (353 pages, but the font is massive!), but there’s a wealth of character development packed in. I won’t spoil anything about the way the relationship unfolds, but this is definitely a book where the steamy scenes do some important character work, which I always appreciate more than having them randomly tacked on.

The plot is pacey, and there’s plenty of drama – Jess’s deception proves the rule that a small lie can spiral into bigger and bigger lies, and there are moments when I was genuinely worried for her that it was all going to fall apart in an unsalvageable way! I’m not usually a huge fan of stories where one of the main characters maintains a hidden identity for so long, because I feel like it undermines my belief in the strength and honesty of their relationship, but that’s really nicely subverted here, because though Jess takes on a new name, she’s more herself in the fast-paced business world than she ever has been before, and so it really is her true self that Noel falls in love with. I often say that the success of a romance novel for me is in how much I trust that the pair would be happy after the dramatic ending, when they actually have to live together, and Jess and Noel definitely have a good solid future ahead of them, I think.

If I had to sum this book up in one sentence, it would be that it’s just a huge amount of fun! I loved spotting the 80s references (I’m sure I must have missed plenty, though!), and though the Dragons’ Den style Bazaar- where a group of rich investors audition business owners – is towards the farfetched end of the historical romance spectrum, it leads to some extremely funny scenes. It’s a romp, for sure, and exactly what I’m after from the genre: charming gentlemen, clever women, and pure fluffy escapism! I’m really looking forward to book three, Waiting For A Scot Like You. Five out of five stars!

Jess is a companion to a Lady and is sent to London to prepare for her employers arrival however an injury prevents her from coming to London so instead Jess uses the time to infiltrate a Bazaar in order to try to find investment to repair her families farm so they can resume their luxury soap production. She meets Noel, an incredibly wealthy Duke and sparks instantly fly
I struggled with Jess, I loved her as a character but at the same time really disliked her deception, posing as a widowed Lady to get into the Bazaar, made me uncomfortable even though I understood why she did it. Jess is very clever and has a fantastic financial mind which she uses in a brilliant manner and her love for her family is so strong. Her struggle of how and when to tell Noel the truth came through feeling so real and made me sympathetic towards her and by the end I was really routing for her and totally adored her
I loved Noel as a character, he is so used to people only wanting to be around him and only seeing his Ducal exterior but Jess see’s deeper than that which is a novelty to him but also something that endeared him to me, he is also clever and quick witted which showed that there was so much more beneath the exterior that he put on. He was also willing to be vulnerable around Jess and not always in control which seemed to be so unlike him but which added depth to his character
Noel and Jess’s battle of wills and thier verbal sparring kept me on my toes and I was hooked, determined to know what would happen next and what would happen to Jess and Noel’s relationship
I found some of the business propositions that were put forward at the Bazaar to be fascinating including a fire suppression system for mills which felt like the inspiration for the modern day sprinklers!
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a historical romance which looks at a different part of society with main characters to fall in love with

Risking her heart to guarantee her future

Would I lie to a duke by Eva Leigh

Here is my review and take on the wonderful historical novel by Eva Leigh that kindly been sent by mills and boon to review on this blog tour. Remember no spoilers if you want to know what happens please buy the book you will not regret it 🥰

Heroine in this novel is Jessica mcgalle a humble farm girl who works for lady catherton but has a plan to start a business with her family After the fire destroys most of her family business but is very determined to start a soap making business and have them sold in London, while in London going around various business she meets the hero Noel on the street and he is impressed by her sharp business sense and is instantly attracted to her. So she decides to play a role of lady Whitfield and invites herself into the annual convocation of investors at the marquess of trash London residence where she bumps into Noel and the sparks fly and the flirting starts, and boy this novel does not hold back on this here is a sample of one in which made me
laugh and blush at the same time
She wanted to lick him
“I’m looking forward to it”
Her gaze snapped to him. Was mind reading an other of his ducal gifts? “Pardon”
“The presentation and sampling an array of mrs carton’s delicacies”


I like that the heroine is very strong minded, take no crap but had this strong determined attitude that warmed me to her a modern day lady in a regency world.

The hero is Noel who is known to be a notorious carefree duke, soon as he meets the heroine he can’t stop thinking about her, but if he thought that she was going to be a Notch on the bedpost, he is does have a sensitive side as well and I think he falls for Jessica so hard and even saves her from the embarrassment , and was generally hurt and felt that in the writing and it was nice to see a soft side to the hero as I think it makes it more emotional.

I Love the colorful language in the novel 🤣🤣 made the hero sound more realistic. The heroine being modern and head strong, the sexual chemistry is well written in this novel and I did found myself blushing and the sex scenes in the novel was well can make you go hot under the cover and the author does not hold back on this


This book is beautifully written, and the chemistry between hero and heroine oozes sex and lust and a lot of flirting, that made me go all ☺️
And I love it.

So if you love a modern version of a cinderella style story set in a regency era. And if you are like me love a love story that can make you go red 🥰🥰🥰 then this is the book for you I give this 5 stars
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

And this book I’m keeping in my keep pile and I just buy another for my mum to have as I did love this story so much xxx

If you aren’t just a voracious reader of historical romances, but also a lover of the ’80s, you can’t resist a mix of Working Girl, The Secret of my Success, and The Breakfast Club, can you?

In Would I Lie to the Duke, Eva Leigh grabs the right atmosphere of these movies and writes a story that is read like you’re watching it, while your mind plays the soundtrack(s) as well. Although we’re in the Regency era, the book is perceived in a more modern key that may feel a bit off sometimes, but it still works for the purpose of the plot. It’s easy to get eager to see if Jess’ plan goes through—or changes—and how things develop between her and Noel, who is a man with a very interesting side to show . . . Providing the right woman, that is. Temperatures can suddenly arise, ladies, it would be wise to keep a fan with you at all times.

A pleasant read with a resolute heroine, a (saucy) likeable duke, and a business to run at all costs. How far would you go?

Jess is a determined and desperate woman who will do anything to save her family business. She is astute, and knows how society works, and decides to become one of them to achieve her aims. Noel is a carefree, gentleman entitled but not arrogant and he is smitten with Jess.

This is a sensual romance with great chemistry between the couple. The conflict to their happy-ever-after revolves around Jess's lies when the truth is so important to a man with trust issues. The couple's dialogue is witty and wonderful and carries the story along to its happy conclusion but only after considerable angst and heartache for the mismatched pair.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank Mills and Boon for the copy of this book, as part of the virtual tour.
This is the story of Jess and Noel. Jess is a companion to a wealthy lady, to try and save the family business of soap making – which her 2 siblings are running. By chance Jess has to spend a fortnight in London, on her own, and decides to use this time trying to get stockist for the family soap. Whilst in London Jess poses as Lady Whitfield, in order to gain access to like mind people, who may back the family business. At one of the gathering she meets the Duke of Rotherby (Noel), who has the reputation of being a ‘bad boy’. Whilst they both are in the same circle their friendship develops and Jess has to decide whether to stay as Lady Whitfield or come clean as to who she really is. This quotation typifies her struggle “Her family, both living and dead, counted on her. The duke was an indulgence and temptation, and she could not yield to either – but, damn, how she wished otherwise.
The characters are well written, the storyline is well developed and believable. Jess was a great character, who was not afraid to speak her mind. She was forthright when she needed to be but also took time to think about others. Noel was a complex character, as what he showed to most people was not necessarily the true man. He also has a depth to him that not everyone sees. I use this quote as an example “I’m collecting pieces of you, like a beachcomber looking for polished stones and beautiful shells”. I liked the interaction between the two main characters and also between them and the subsidiary characters.
I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more books by Eva Leigh.

Jessica McGale's family business desperately needs investors but she knows London's elite will never look twice at a humble farm girl. What else is a bright, ambitious girl to do but pose as the mysterious 'Lady Whitfield'.

However, being Lady Whitfield places Jess up close and personal with the rich and powerful, and none more so than the disturbing yet dashingly handsome Duke of Rotherby.

Jess needs Noel's influence and support for her business but things are far from straightforward when one assumes a whole new fake identity. There is always an over-arching fear of getting caught and that is where the story gets exciting - Will she, won't she? Can Jess ever dare to tell Noel the truth?

Meanwhile, Noel too is hiding his true nature from society by creating a notorious, carefree image for himself. The chemistry between the two is electric and one is never certain until the end whether they will have their happily ever after!

Thank you to Mills & Boon, for sending me a copy of Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh, and for the opportunity to participate on this blog tour.

Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh is the second book in the Union of the Rakes series. It can be easily read as a standalone though.

Synopsis:

This is the story of Jessica McGale. Her family business is in need of investors, after it collapses due to a fire. Jessica is determined to acquire investors for her business at any cost. When she realises that London’s elite will never give a chance to a humble farm girl like herself, she does the unthinkable. She poses as “Lady Whitfield” and joins the elite on the table. She especially tries to get close to the Duke of Rotherby, as his influence and support could save her company. But one thing Jess never expected to happen, is to grow feelings for him.

Noel is the carefree and notorious duke, but only his close friends truly know him. When he meets Lady Whitfield at the business bazaar, his world shifts. She makes him want to obey every command she tells, which is something he never imagined doing. He struggles to trust people, but trusting Jess is so easy.

But what happens when the business bazaar is over, and so is the fake portrayal of Lady Whitfield? How do you cope when someone has lied to you, but you want them in your life forever? Read this amazing book to find out!

My Thoughts:

I was so hooked about this book, and I finished it in two days. While the plot is a bit predictable and it has a Cinderella vibe to it, I still enjoyed it a lot.

I could completely understand where Jess was coming from, and in order to save her business, I don’t think there were any other options, given how much rejection she faced in the first chapters. But as soon as she started developing feelings, she should’ve been honest with Noel. The person in me felt uncomfortable for her every single time she would deliberately put herself in an awkward situation and not tell the truth when she had a chance to. And the business trip to the farm? Oh, that got me biting my nails again. I also understand that continuing with the deception was a crucial part of the plot, to produce the drama that it did, but I am just not a fan of dishonesty.

Noel was an amazing character, even though, at times, he seemed like the typical rich boy.

I loved the way his relationship with Jess progressed during the couple of days, and how he started opening up. Honestly, I didn’t believe it at first, given that it was based on a lie. I thought that given the fact how much trust issues he had, he could never get past her betrayal. And for me, his way of coping and resolving the issue didn’t fit with his character. I have the feeling that people who are lucky enough to have a high income and live in the elite societies are much more wary of “gold diggers”, and everything Jess does (even though for a good reason), seems to be for her business. So I wouldn’t have blamed him if he reacted in a way more different way and just told her to “bugger off”.

Overall, I enjoyed Would I Lie to the Duke and it was a very pleasurable short read to get me away from reality. I don’t always dive into historical romance, and this was a surprising change that ended on a positive note. Honestly, I am glad that it sparks a debate in my mind and makes me think of “what I would have done” on either side of the relationship. I would have acted very differently. And maybe that’s the reason I’m not married to a duke (yet).

The second in the Union of the Rakes Trilogy.
Jess is determined to keep her family business afloat and when the opportunity arises to become acquainted with some influential people, Jess takes the opportunity. But when she meets the handsome Duke Noel of Rotherby, things don't go quite according to plan.
The characters in this book are likeable, although Noel comes across as arrogant at times, he also shows his other side which is so loveable. Jess is a strong determined woman and will stop at nothing to get what she wants for her family, but she also wants to do the right thing and help anyone she can.
A very steamy novel that had me all kinds of flustered, the connection between these two is definitely hot! And well written, it gave me all the feels and had me wanting more, I will be picking up more of Eva Leigh's book as soon as I can!

Would I Lie to the Duke is the second book in the Union of the Rakes series by Eva Leigh. It can easily be read as a standalone book so don't worry if you haven't read the first book yet.

Jessica McGale has to pretend to be an aristocrat in order to try to get funding for her family's soap-making business which has suffered after a fire. Doing so brings her into Noel, the Duke of Rotherby's life.

Noel is fed up of people hanging off his shirttails and always wanting something from him. When he meets Jessica as Lady Whitfield, a widow, he is impressed at her intelligence and is also physically attracted to her. He loves that she doesn't want anything from him!

Jessica plans to save her family business and then go abroad with her employer immediately afterwards. She decides she can afford to have an affair with Noel, enjoy their time together, and then deal with her heartbreak afterwards. She can't fight her attraction to him. As for Noel, he has always thought himself a love them and leave them man. He knows that Jessica will be going abroad and he too is happy with a fling. At least that is how they both feel, to begin with. The more time they spend together, the more passionate times they have and the more they realise they want more from each other. Is it possible, it can't be, not when their whole relationship has been built on lies, or can it?

I absolutely loved the premise of this story. There were some lovely moments that made me smile. BUT some of the time the writing seemed too modern. It was easy to forget that this was meant to be a historical romance. Noel played the sub to Jessica's dom in the steamy bedroom scenes which just didn't seem right. Those scenes were what I would expect to read in a contemporary erotic romance. Besides that, I like for my hero in a book to be the alpha which he very much was when he wasn't in the bedroom. I didn't like him being ordered to do things in the bedroom even if he loved it!

I gave the first book in this series 5 stars and couldn't say enough good things about it so I was disappointed that this one wasn't equally as good. Will I read more in this series, absolutely, because although this book wasn't as good as the first I love the Union of the Rakes and want to read all of their stories.

A seductive, erotic, historical story, with all the niceties of the age, but rolling on girl power, both in business and the bedroom.

Trying to secure funding for repairs to their family business, a surprise opportunity is taken advantage of, while trying to secure an investment. This also shows what a fine and sound business brain a woman can have.

Trouble is hearts with deep emotional feelings and integrity become involved leading to personal distress when the business is saved, secured and thriving.

True love wins through, with a happy ever after ending in this romantic story of love, commitment and happiness.

Would I lie to a duke
By Eva Leigh
Pub date 25 aug 2020
Jessica trying two save her farm so they produce honey soap and in order two save the farm Jessica travels two London two the top shops in Bond Street she goes hunting for the perfect seller she goes by the name lady Whitfield and is looking for investors two save the farm, The only things in she need money up front and the investors would not give money up front now. Unless the order is produced. Jess gets two know the duke of rhoderby a young man she meet at a business bazar. Jess looks round two sea who would invest in her businesses her aunt gives her a pound note two survive until she get back from the country. She stayed at her aunt house and wear her aunt clothes two look like a lady and impress the duke and business like lady. Jess knows the bazaar the only thing that can save her family business and that Noel the duke is there for company as well. Everyday she attend with Noel and get two the people at the bazaar she wear her aunt clothes all the times everybody thinks she a lady her and she like that. Noel takes a liking two her they have a kiss of two at the bazaar in private she doesn’t tell him she the farmers girl only that she a lady. Everyday she meet new people and like the investment and listening two people stories about they business she explain two them about her soap first they seem not impressed but they do start two reason. Jess start two like the duke he offers two meet her in the firework work display and they enjoy it they kiss and touch each other and they start two go back two the firework display before no way realise they gong. Everyday was different the food was. Great she sat by Noel the duke through most of the event she like lady Farris and enjoyed their company she gave a soap two a few people two try. Jess and Noel went two the market and Noel dressed up so know one could recognise him he loved spending time with Jess they looked at all the stall but so many fruit and he bought her a comb and enjoyed each other company they knew they didn’t have long left Jess told him she moving two the continent and he reall started two like her and kissing her and touching her. The last day they all agreed two visit the farm two sea what it was like and have a tour of the factory Jess was worked she wrote a letter two her mum and told them she was coming and she was a lady now. She rode with Noel in the carriage two the guest house they had a lovely time the food and drink was great her bedroom was lovely and she made love Noel she really enjoyed it she knew she was here for her family but really wanted that time with Noel. The next day the tour of the factory went great her family explained about the fire and things was going smooth she love Noel but couldn’t tell him that this farm was her house. The ride back home was quite she knew it was the end of her journey she got back two the house and her aunt was there she couldn’t believe it her aunt wounded why she was wearing her clothes she ran from the carriage and told Noel she could not sea him anymore again. He was bob smacked felt really hurt and Jess was crying she went with lady catharton two the ball she was hooding Noel was there but she could not sea him she was gutted she served her employer and she Sean Noel he dressed her has a lady in front of everyone and aunt said she not a lady my servant and Noel was disappointed they all wounded why she lied and she couldn’t tell them her aunt said she was fired and she went back home crying and hurting that she lost everything her family was fine and was grateful for what she done and thanked her. Eventually she had a letter of bond street they wanted two meet her in London with 36 bars of soap has one order she was thrilled she took her sister with her and saved the deal with Bond Street and saved the farm mcgails and mcgaills soap was saved she had a four month contract with them. She hoped Noel would meet her and he did they met up and talked and eventually he told her he loved her and wanted two spend the rest of his life with her and she loved him and they got married and the farm was saved they was making profit she knew she lied two Noel but it was two save her family farm honey soap.
My thoughts.
I loved this book Jess character I loved she was a business woman who wanted two saved her family farm. And she loved Noel deeply really wanted. Two tell him she ended up with him anyway I loved how strong her character was.

Noel character is a business man a handsome duke and he loved Jess for who she was . He was charming funny he stood by Jess .

I gave this book five stars,

Having enjoyed the previous novel in this series (My Fake Rake) I was looking forward to reading Rotherby’s story. It is a very different story to Sebastian and Grace’s and the author manages to portray perfectly the business world of this period without over-representing her research. The plot is expertly plotted with excellent detail (I did like the Twitter joke!) and the hero Noel and heroine Jess are strong and likeable. The sex scenes were not to my taste but I was already aware that the author writes these in very strong terms so I only skimmed these to get back to the writing that I prefer. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Would I Lie to the Duke is a historical romance which is cleverly structured to include moments and topics which are still incredibly relatable today. Making it an interesting and fun read.