I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Interesting romance novel. Historical fiction and a great weekend read.

I enjoyed this story. I really liked the h and h, Theo and Hetty. They were both interesting characters with some flaws. I wish there was an epilogue so I could see how the relationship progressed.

Fabulous read!
1806, England

With her father disinherited, young Hetty Latimer has been left without a dowry. Having given up hope of ever marrying, she spends her days secretly creating pictures to help supplement her family’s income.

While out gathering wildflowers for her project, she stumbles across Theo Devenal, the new Duke of Charlton. With the duke’s sardonic humour and Hetty’s sensibility, sparks immediately fly and a mutual attraction blossoms. However, disaster strikes when the two are caught in an apparently compromising position by Hetty’s furious father.

Unwilling to exacerbate his wrath, Theo and Hetty do their best to avoid each other, but their paths continue to cross. And each time, Theo is obliged to rescue the accident-prone Hetty from trouble.

Although conscious that he is expected to marry high, the duke soon finds his feelings for Hetty intensifying. Chafing against the strictures of his exalted position, he now must decide whether he is prepared to flout convention and follow his heart…

DNF at 30% Unable to connect with characters, which causes me to not enjoy the story. Its likely me...not the book.

With her family in difficult financial circumstances, Hetty is out in the woods picking flowers to make art to sell when she runs into the new duke, Theo. What follows is a series of occasions when the two are brought into contact, while both believing they can never be together due to the difference in their social statuses - which is not helped when Theo upsets Hetty's father over a misunderstanding.

I really hope for more historical depth and sense of place and period when I read a historical romance, but this could have been set in any "olden times" setting. It doesn't feel well researched at all, I'm not an expert but even basics like terms of address for nobility I don't think were right. (Fairly sure you don't address a Duke as "Duke"!) There is no chemistry between the hero and heroine and I can't see what attracts them to each other at all. I struggled to get through the book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publishers for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anytime I want to escape to a time and place where love is sweet and people are wonderful, despite their foibles, I pick up one of Elizabeth Bailey's books. I am never disappointed.

In this 9th instalment of Bailey's Georgian Brides By Chance series, Hetty keeps getting into scrapes that the new Duke in town needs to help her out of. She's the quiet twin, usually, but this arrogant duke really brings the spirit out in her. And for his part he is compelled to be with Hetty, even though she is not the type of woman he could ever make his duchess.

Full of angst and humour, this book is my favourite in the series so far.

Can't wait to read more.

With her father disinherited, Hetty and her twin sister resolve to use their creativity to help supplement their family's reduced income. Hetty gathers wildflowers for her picture and stumbles into the new Duke of Charlton, Theo Devenal. Sparks fly between them, but misunderstandings make matters difficult. Will a duke flout convention to wed a penniless lady with a penchant for disaster?

This was a sweet tale. Though I thought the "love" between them an exaggeration of the attraction that happened early on, I found this young pair believable and gave them a pass on the matter. They both behave like the young people they are, still learning to find their place in the world. I was sympathetic to Theo's reluctance to fall into the expectations of society regarding his rank. Hetty's penchant for bursting into tears over everything was slightly annoying.

Overall, it is a sweet, easy-to-read romance. The plot is well paced and uncomplicated. Those who are looking for a relaxing afternoon read will probably enjoy this one.

After a first meeting which ended with her father believing the duke was attempting to seduce her and the duke certain that she had orchestrated the meeting in an attempt to force him into marriage, their relationship seemed ended before it could begin. But Hetty seems unable to stay out of scrapes, and the duke always seems to be on hand when she does, obliging him to rescue her. However, their budding relationship still seems doomed, because her father, all the more proud since the family's difficulties, refuses to permit any contact between the two. Can Hetty and the duke overcome this barrier to their happiness?

There is perhaps a little too much reliance on coincidence in the way that the two kept on bumping into each other at exactly the right (wrong?) times, and her dad's actions were fairly irrational, but I enjoyed the story nevertheless. It kept me on my toes and held my interest throughout, and I was very happy to see them finally able to be together (that hardly counts as a spoiler in a romance, does it?). All in all, an enjoyable and satisfying clean romance, and I look forward to reading Hetty's twin's story.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

DNF at 40%. I just can’t get on with either hero or heroine! She is silly and weak and he is rude and condescending, and every time they’ve met their chemistry has been so lacking as to be almost negative. By this point in the book I should be rooting hard for them, but instead I can’t see why they like each other at all - so I don’t think this is one for me, I’m afraid.

This is the second book I have read by this author, who is fast becoming a form favourite. Theo struggles with the expectations of the unwanted role of Dukedom he has just inherited,. Henrietta comes from an impoverished family and they both struggle with their feeling when fate keeps throwing them together. I really enjoyed the witty dialogue between these two and didn’t want to finish this book, I look forward to reading more from Elizabeth Bailey.

I love historic Fiction, romance novels. It took awhile for me to get in to the book but by the end I was fully involved. This is a good story about finding yourself. The Duke is very cocky but has a big heart! #netgalley #DisasterandtheDuke

I loved the description and wanted to read it. It was archived before my request date. So, it shows up on my bookshelf as archived not downloaded. I am sorry to have missed it. The cover looks intriguing as he is clearly taken with her. The blub is interesting and hints at a great story.

I had a hard time getting into this book and found myself skipping over passages and getting to the end to get the HEA. The writing was good - but goodness I could not find myself feeling a connection to the characters or the storyline.

Well.... this book is well written. Unfortunately, I can't bring myself to like the characters.... at all. I will say I enjoy a brooding, grunting, and cussing Hero though and it is not to be found in this story. However, if you love the sweet romance books with characters that are not as mature then I would absolutely recommend this story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Theodore Oliver Lionel Devenal, the Duke of Charlton had come into his title about a year ago. He was not happy and not ready for the responsibility. He was saddled with the Dowager, who was only six years older. She enjoyed the limelight and enjoyed telling Theo what to do and when.
He met Henrietta Latimer one day when he was out shooting rabbits. Scared her to death. She is very sensitive and disaster-prone. She was gathering Wildflowers for some pictures she was making to sell.
Her family was in reduced circumstances and needed help. He also thought that maybe her father and she were playing a scheme. He wanted nothing to do with it.
I thought this was a lovely story. Hetty could cry at the drop of a hat especially if her feelings were hurt. Theo was always saying something rude to her. There are a few twists in this book and can make things a little confusing. It was easy to read and was engaging. The characters were lovely and warm
but at some point, Theo tended to make everyone angry.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

The writing:
The story telling was splendid and clearly the author is talented. There is no anachronistic language and I was very thankful for that! This is a chaste story and the characters don’t kiss until close to the last page.

The hero and heroine:
Theo, the duke, is not your typical duke of historical romances. He is 26, and he acts 26. He is immature and still adapting to his role for which he was unprepared. He did not want to be a duke and he did not just magically become a dark, mysterious, brooding person overnight with an intimidating presence. This I really appreciated. He was young and the way he behaved was realistic for the most part. Except he can’t stand to see anyone cry… because… man. One thing I didn’t like was when he called h an “idiotic female” bc he was worried she’d hurt herself. He was 100% right but that’s not ok to say.

Hetty…. Oh Hetty. I must say I am not a fan. She is a damsel in distress who cries buckets at every turn. Yes she is 19… but her twin was also 19 and she was her polar opposite.

The relationship:
The author explained that this is a historically accurate portrayal of societal rules about propriety between man and woman back in the day… how virginity is treasured to ensure legitimacy of heirs… and how very easily a woman can be compromised. In some ways I appreciate this and it is educational, but part of me also wishes that the author used creative liberties to make it more interesting. This book shows everything that was awful for women and untitled/poor people back in the day and it was not pleasant or diverting. For example, Theo says:

“Mr Latimer, I must beg you to put me out of my agony. Will you or will you not give Hetty to me?”

The side characters:
Cecilia the duchess (wife to Theo’s late uncle the duke) was only 6 yrs older than he, and was made to be a caricature of annoying and overbearing lady of the time.

Hetty’s father also irritated me: to be in your 60s and to have zero control of your emotions. No wonder Hetty felt it was ok to cry every 10 seconds. quite unrealistic the way he speaks to the duke, and how he criticizes him for being haughty but at the same time disrespecting him…his behavior justifying why Theo had been so aloof to begin with! Also, what kind of loser does not figure out a way to make his own living and relies on an allowance and being next in line for the baronetcy until you’re 50 or 60? He came around in the last few pages but it was too late for me.

I am a fan of Silve, Hetty’s twin. She is a strong woman in spite of her youth. I can’t wait to learn her story. Lady Ella/Ellie was also adorable and was quite a delight in all her scenes.

These are my own personal opinions. So just because a book didn’t suit me doesn’t mean it won’t suit others.

I received an ARC of this book. Thank you to Sapere Publishing and NetGalley.

Perhaps not the typical historical romance that one read. I found the heroine a bit too irritating with all the weeping. The book on the whole had a bit too much of that.

This book starts off a bit rocky. The main characters were soooo dramatic. One weepy and the other just to brusque. But I kept reading and both their characters were more developed and less annoying. I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would.

DISASTER AND THE DUKE is the ninth novel in the Brides by Chance Regency Adventures series by ELIZABETH BAILEY, but it can easily stand alone.
Theodore Devenal, Duke of Charlton, is not happy about being thrust into his position due to his uncle's death and his failure to produce a male heir, and, in trying to keep away from the falseness of the social scene, comes across as rather haughty.
Henrietta Latimer is very sensitive, unlike her twin sister Sylvestre, she cries easily and gets into all kinds of scrapes.
I love all the characters and the very Jane Austen setting, together with some pride, some prejudice, some sense, some sensibility, and some tempers flaring.
It is a most enjoyable historical romance novel and one I can highly recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Sapere Books. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This didn't quite land for me. It's a very traditional-style historical romance, with lots of weeping, hijinks, incensed elders, and intrigues. The language is a mix of traditionalisms ("pray", "damnation", etc) and casual modern terms (calling work a "grind" for example) that never quite let me settle into a sense of place/time. It was a bit too fanciful to be taken as a "serious" read but humor didn't seem to be the main intent either. I just couldn't get invested, but fans of old-school period dramas may find it enjoyable.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.