I really struggled to get into this story and I'm a big fan of this genre. This is my first time experiencing this author and this series. Sadly I don't think I'll go back and start book 1 & 2 but thankyou for the opportunity to listen to it

I chose this audible book in error. I thought it a historical novel but, for me, is a historical romance. The narrator, Philip Battley, whose pronunciation, diction and accent was excellent but the story was not for me. A narrator is, for me, so important to an audible book and can either make or break the enjoyment of an audible story. In my opinion, an audible book allows the listener to 'hear' words, which sometimes are unfamiliar to the listener whereas in a reading book, you ''see'' the word. CHINOISERIE was a new word for me, and so, even if the story did not hold my attention I did learn something new. Isn't reading/listening to stories amazing?

I give a 3 star rating and honest review of this audible book.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING
AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS AUDIBLE BOOK

I absolutely adored this romance between Eleanor Kent, the enterprising Privateer, and the Duke of Danby. I especially enjoyed how Eleanor was such a powerful force, so independent and unflinching in the face of having to stand alone in the world of men. Likewise, I found it beyond pleasing that Danby was charming and regal, while remaining unafraid to show affection toward the infirm and children, nor was he ashamed to write poetry or appreciate aesthetic beauty in decor.

The main love interests, Eleanor and Danby, begin with a chance encounter during an event hosted by the Prince Regent. It’s quickly revealed that Eleanor is actually at Prinny’s event because she has been his personal mastermind behind the design and the illegal sourcing of many pieces adorning the rooms. Meanwhile, it is also disclosed that the Duke of Danby is a part of a special task force to sniff out smugglers, in cooperation with the Prime Minister.

Despite the danger of spending too much time with one of the men hunting Privateer’s, such as herself, Eleanor quickly goes from passing acquaintance to becoming engaged as a consultant in a chinoiserie redecorating project - of the Duke’s master bedroom. That one meeting starts a cascade of events that draw the couple closer, until they can no longer deny what is between them.

The writing quality is excellent - a mix between fast-paced scenes, engaging dialogue, and occasionally riding the edge of flowery but without crossing over too far. For the audiobook version, the narration by Phillip Battley was quite good. I was not especially enamored with the voices he used for the main two characters, but his consistency of form overrode any complaint about the particular pitch and timbre. He was an exceptionally competent reader, bringing variation of sound to life (from the intimacy of whispers and murmurs, to a baby cry or even a dog barking), and I would absolutely listen to more works by him.

This story takes its time. If you like to experience the slow build of a relationship from attraction to a raw forest fire of desire, you will find yourself satisfied with this story. After this, I intend to go back and read the first two books in this series.

Eleanor and the Duke
Duke of Danby is head of the smuggling task force trying to stop the smuggling. who is also a rake.
Eleanor is a fierce independent woman trying to protect her family and home by smuggling for people including the Prince,
A good intriguing Historical drama, light fun and tender romance.
Eleanor and Danby has a connection that neither one can denied
Enjoyed listening to narrator did great with all voices.He had a very pleasant voice.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Spinster Eleanor Kent is one of England’s most sought after smugglers, her work for the Prince Regent has placed her in the path of the Duke of Danby the audacious rake and head of the smuggling task force. Danby becomes quite intrigued by Eleanor, he’s gets her to renovate his bedroom, he starts reading to her invalid father and the chase is on. Eleanor knows he’s up to something and decides to keep her enemy close to her and see where this friendship leads. I love these two they are perfect together as they try to outwit each other, an attraction grows, but then the walls are closing in on the smuggling ring and Eleanor has choices to make to save her life and her company. I have voluntarily read and reviewed these excellent story.

A thousand thanks to NetGalley for this ARC from Oliver Heber books.

Swept up in the current fervour for Historical Romance , this first book choice for 2021 was a great jumping off point. As sweet as the Madeira wine smuggled in the holds of ships, as fiery as the titian haired heroine of the piece . A brisk , fun and enjoyable romp . The Prince Regent turns a blind eye to the rather dubious way a young lady seeks to support her ailing Father . A Duke set by the PM to curtail the excesses of the Privateers , both set at odds...Adversaries become strangely entangled.

This is a book that speaks to female empowerment, independence and a sudden if at first begrudging respect for that by our hero. This book cleverly examines more than just a love affair and I liked the subtle social commentary that came from the sub plots of foundling children and charitable dispositions. Resulting in a book book that is filled with warm humour as well as a fair bit of bodice heaving and wicked glances!

The narration of this Audiobook version was deft and light- I would certainly seek out more Phillip Battley Narrations

The Narration: Philip Battley did an excellent job narrating this book. He had a pleasantly accented voice for both the male and female characters. He portrayed the female characters without being noticeable or awkward. His performance also made the funny parts of the book shine through. Narration rating: 5/5

The Story:
I enjoyed the historical setting of the Regency Period added so much to this story. I especially liked that the partying Prince Regent, Prinny, plays a pivotal role in the story.

The characters were likeable and fun. Eleanor was an easy character to like: she was working hard to provide for her ill father and created a profitable privateering business. The Duke is a rogue, but is kind to Eleanor and her father. I think it is hilarious that he was reading a risqué book to Eleanor’s father to help with his recovery.

The conflict comes when the Duke is trying to track down a smuggling ring. Little does he know Eleanor, the person redecorating his bedroom, is the head of the smuggling ring. They marry to save her from privateering charges, but I think at that point neither one of them fought having to marry too hard.

The one element in the plot that I thought was unnecessary was the baby. Eleanor and the Duke are strolling in the park one day and hey, look at that...a baby. I thought it was an unnecessary and odd element to add to the plot.

I enjoyed this entertaining Regency romance. The characters have chemistry and their fun banter is a highlight of the book. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy open door historical romance. Story Rating: 4/5

How far are you willing to go to uncover a secret?

The Duke of Danby is well known among Britain for his rakish behavior; But upon given the mission to rid England of smugglers, nothing will stand in his way. Not when the Prince Regent managed to bankrupt the Kingdom more than once, and Danby will not stand by as his country crumbles.
Eleanor Kent remembers how it feels to be helpless and hungry. At twenty-seven Eleanor might be a spinster, but she will never be hungry again, for she is one of the most successful privateers in England.
When the duke of Danby begins to show an interest in Eleanor and her father, she is not a fool. She knows the duke is snooping around to find smugglers, and the last thing she wants is for him to snoop around in her business. But Danby is relentless, and the closer the two get, the harder it is for Eleanor to detect what is real and what is nothing but a scheme to expose her.
Throw in an orphan baby, an ill father, some loyal servants, and a meddling Prince Rigint, and you get this intriguing and beautiful novel.

The Duke's Privateer is an original novel that follows a strong and smart heroine and a Bright and cunning Duke as they find their way to one another in a most unusual way.
Eleanor's character, intelligence, and utter kindness made me adore her throughout the book. Amy Jarecki created this remarkable woman whose heart and intelligence made her such a success in a world that was only for men back in these days.
Also, the chemistry between Eleanor and Danby was great and I enjoyed following Danby as he tried to protect Eleanor while finding all the smugglers in England and saving his country. Seeing how kind and admiring Danby was with Eleanor every time she reviled another piece of herself to him was absolutely heart-warming.
The only thing I would add was more of Margaret and Eleanor or Danby because at times I've even forgotten of her existence.

Overall The Duke's Privateer is an intriguing historical romance, full of banter, intelligence, and lovely characters.

This was only 2nd audiobook I ever listened and I really enjoyed the audio version of this historical romance.

The story was interesting and I liked the historical details, I really liked prince Prinny with all of his parties, dinners and interfering with main heroes.

I really loved Philip Battley, the narrator. He did an excellent job with all the voices, he used different height of voice and accents to make it more interesting. I could listen to him all day. He has a soft and intriguing voice that you just want to listen over and over.

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. These words are my own.
This is my first audiobook I've listened to. I wasn't sure what to expect but I enjoyed it. Philip Bately did an excellent job with the characters.
As for the story itself, you have a very strong, intelligent, feisty, beautiful heroine in Eleanor. She is the daughter of a Viscount who is not afraid to turn their depleted funds around by doing hard work. She becomes a privateer and smuggler.
Our hero is Sherbirn, a young good looking, unmarried Duke. He is haughty and cocky. He takes on the commission given him by the Prime Minister to chase down the smugglers causing the government to lose money in tariffs.
This sets up the beginnings of a wonderful relationship. With its ups and downs , this story had a few twists to it.
My only criticism is the constant miscommunication between the two. It started to get annoying.
4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

In this historical romance we are following Eleanor who is a privateer who obtains art, alcohol, artifacts, etc for wealthy people of society. Meanwhile, the Duke of Danby, Sher, is trying to rid the country of smugglers to make sure the kingdom doesn't fall into bankruptcy. Although they have opposing goals, they are attracted to each other creating a tangled web which eventually leaves them both in tenuous circumstances.

Firstly, I really liked the premise of this book. We had this spunky heroine who is independent, caring and has lovely, trusting relationships with her staff. I am sure they are out there but I have never read a romance with a female smuggler so I liked those hard and soft aspects of her character. I also really liked the side plot of Margaret and seeing how that progressed throughout the book and in their relationship.

Despite what I did like, I felt that the conflict was resolved too quickly. I would have loved more fleshed out backstories for both of the main characters, especially Eleanor. We know she had a rough past because of money problems stemming from her fathers illness but I wish we got more details of her scrounging to survive and keep her family afloat. We are told Sher is a rake but we dont really see evidence of this on page. He doesnt't have a lot of personality IMO. I also would have liked more angst. It felt like other minor events happening around them took away from the romance so I didn't really feel adequately convinced of their want of each other. The mundane married life took up too much real estate in the second half of the book. If that was condensed, there would have been far more room for character development and the romance itself.

Overall, this was just okay. Its a fun, easy read with a good premise but it needed more fleshing out. I think this would be a great option for people who want less romance or just want to try out historicals for the first time. The smut is also pretty tame compared to other historicals I've read so this can be an option for readers who want more fade-to-black smut.

Audiobook was a good listening experience. Really enjoyed the narrators voice.

2.5 stars rounded up to a 3

This Regency romance was a fun and quick read. The narrator was good, but sounded a lot like John Oliver which made me chortle through much of the book.

I received a copy of this audiobook from Netgalley and I'm leaving an honest review. I loved this narration! I'm not a fan of listening to books. I'm often annoyed at the narration and find myself not finishing however the narration on this title is superb. The story is fun with a bit of a twist thrown about in the middle and you know where its going but its throughly enjoyable getting there!

A beautiful, sweet story.

Ms Jarecki pens an incredibly beautiful story, full of great descriptive detail, with period appropriate pieces mentioned throughout the story. With such beautiful imagery one can’t help but be transported back in time to England. You can see every detail in your mind’s eye. An intelligent and strong willed heroine makes a perfect match with a handsome and very kind Duke. Both characters are meaningful and intriguing, one finds themselves deeply invested in these characters.
This audiobook contains several interesting elements that give it credence and believability. I enjoyed the privateering and smuggling aspects of the story.
A truly well written book.
This was my first time listening to a story performed by Phillip Batley.
He has a very pleasant sounding voice and truly performed this story. I listened with a critical ear, but found nothing but pure enjoyment in his narration. He’s really quite good.
He breathed life into each and every character, never mixing up character’s voices or sounding too masculine while performing female characters. In truth, I was pleasantly surprised. Do I recommend this audiobook? Absolutely. This is a must have.
Overall I found the story and the narration outstanding.

arc provided by netgalley for an honest review

This is the third book in the Devilish Dukes series but it can be read as a stand alone.

We have two main characters:
— Sherborn (Sher) Price, the Duke of Danby: He has to put an end to the smuggling that has been happening across the country and in return empties the country’s treasury.
— Eleanor Kent, daughter of Viscount Lisle: She is a smuggler, specifically a privateer, who is doing this as a way to support her family after her father’s injury. Although, her family is plenty wealthy now…it’s the fun and excitement that keeps her going along with smuggling.

They meet at the Prince’s dinner under the disguise that Sher needs her to help redecorating his room but he is under the correct assumption that she knows something about the smuggling. After spending lots of time together, their attraction grows more and more but Eleanor knows Sher is spying on her and decides she will no longer see him.

They end up getting married so her “bad deeds” won’t be held against her. It starts off as an enemies to lovers to a marriage of convenience and they must work through their differences to get along.

This was not a story that particularly captivated me but it was an easy read and would recommend it to lovers of marriage of convenience.

A high 4⭐️
“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more...” -Nicholas Sparks
This audiobook was narrated by Philip Battley. I liked him and was very impressed.
I was delighted by this fluent, crisp historical romance. The story was different and I love a strong heroine. The banter and chemistry that bounced between these two was wonderful.
This author is new to me and I definitely want to listen to more of her stories.
I highly recommend this audiobook for historical romance lovers.
Thanks to Oliver Heber Books for this Arc audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book had all the working of a great love novel. Actually while watching the Bridginton series on Netflix, I noticed it had a lot of similarities. Classic star crossed lover kind of thing, but a twist on high society. Really loved the lead character as she was set as a spinster in the beginning and I loved that she felt she was happy to provide for herself and not need to marry. Besides that is was all perfectly splendid and predictable. Unless I missed it, I didn't hear that much description of the Duke. Although that was a good thing in some ways because I got to conger my own in my mind.

I really enjoyed the audio version of this historical romance. The story was interesting and I liked the H/h and the historical details, but the real highlight for me was Philip Battley, the narrator. He did an excellent job with all the voices and really acted out the roles and made the characters - including the bit parts - come to life. My thanks go to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to the audio book in return for my honest opinion.

Regency romances have fell out of my favor because I find the pomp and circumstance a little tedious but I recently got back into this type of book because I liked imagining how the nobility existed (hey, I love Downton Abbey!)

This book kind of has that type of feel- Eleanor was great- in order to bring her family back from ruin, she turns to smuggling and does quite well for herself. I loved how strong and resourceful she was. The duke of Danby was tasked to find smugglers and bring them to justice and Eleanor was caught in the crossfire but as a favored daughter to the viscount, the duke and she required a fake marriage in order to bring her family back into honor. But can they reconcile and become more than enemies?

As I mentioned, Eleanor was a great character- strong and fun. The Duke was more of a rigid character, typical of what we would see in regency novels (pride and prejudice, anyone?) but I liked seeing him open up more. There were a few really slow periods in the book and the whole unraveling was pretty plodding but overall, I enjoyed the book,

I listened to the audiobook through NetGalley (Thanks!) and it was well done. The male narrator did such a good job playing multiple characters and his voice and accent really immersed me in the story. It was a fun listen.

Eleanor Kent took over her father's import business when war injuries left him in her care, and she added a bit of privateering to increase her income and support her family and employees. So, when the Duke of Danby, tasked with shutting down smuggling operations across the country, meets Eleanor at a dinner and is smitten with her, Eleanor has to decide whether to cut all ties or play his game of cat and mouse despite the danger to herself and her business and her attraction to the duke.

I liked this novel because it gave Eleanor agency and power of her own from the beginning, in a way that doesn't usually occur in regency-era romance novels. Her ability to support herself and her father put Eleanor and the Duke's relationship on a more equal playing field and led to a smarter, more exciting will-they-or-won't-they storyline,

Also, Philip Battley did a wonderful job narrating this book and he infused emotion, sarcasm and humor into the story and I'll definitely be looking for his name in the audiobooks I choose in the future.

Overall, I found the story charming, the characters relatable and I will be going back and listening to the first two books in Jarecki's Devlish Duke's series.