Her stories may be scandalous, but Ms. Michaels uses her canvas in a twofold way. To entertain and to tackle social issues such as poverty, sexism, rape and other types of injustices that were just as prevalent years ago as they are in modern society today. Behind the heated trysts, the suspicious happenings, betrayals and crude behavior, lie stories of survival that inspire with their strength of character and abundance of hope. Her Favorite Duke is one of those beautifully written pieces of art. Margaret is a woman determined to make her voice heard. She loves her family, but longs to follow her heart. Simon is a man of honor, but his heart's desire has him questioning all that he holds dear including his precious honor. Will he let his pride cost him his greatest treasure? ( )

Meg is engaged to Graham who is marrying her for duty, but in love with Simon who is also in love with her. I'm using first names because there are a lot of Dukes involved - even Meg is the sister of a Duke, Albermarle from the first book in the series. When Meg and Simon are caught in a storm and spend the night together, the engagement to Graham is broken and so is the friendship between the men. However, Simon feels a lot of guilt over what happened, even though he's been in love with Meg for seven years.
I was very happy with this book as I looked forward to it since reading the first book in the 1797 Club series. I did think Simon was a bit too whiney; along with everyone else I wanted him to put up more of a fight. But like most of Ms. Michael's books, it was a satisfying conclusion. Now I want the next book to see what happens with Graham. ( )

... a puzzler!

The beginning of this episode of The 1797 Club has promise, although it raised questions. Engaged to the wrong Duke at a young age by her brother James to one of his best friends, Meg had to endure seven years of an engagement that had not one jot of romance. Her heart has always been Simon's. Simon returned the feelings silently. They are however the best of friends. When they are caught out overnight in a storm their life changes. Now is the time to seize the moment. After all Meg is compromised and Simon must step up to the plate. Which he does but instead of being relieved Simon mopes around feeling guilty for have betrayed a brother Duke. The beginning had promise, the last part dragged out a bit. The resolution was predictable. The puzzle? Why wait seven years, why punish yourself when you've gained the prize--the woman you've always loved, why try to destroy that by decrying the what is now? The answers are complicated but too slow in the coming.
Themes of love, betrayal and honor (alongside those steamy love scenes that hallmark Michael's novels) underpin all, but there's not enough oomph in the overall story to really grab your interest.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

Her Favorite Duke by Jess Michaels
The 1797 Club #2

Ten teens at boarding school form a club to assist one another as they grow into their positions of being dukes one day - The 1997 Club - this series is already plotted out to have ten volumes starring the ten who form the club. Over the years a bond stronger and closer, in some ways, than that of blood brothers is formed. In each book of the series we find out what has become of the members of the club and who they will find their HEA with.

In this, the second book of the series, we have the story of Simon Green, Duke of Crestwood and how he acquires his duchess. We find out that he has been in love with Margaret “Meg” Rylon for nearly a decade. Meg is sister to James, now the Duke of Abernathe. (James and Emma found their HEA in book one, The Daring Duke.) One of James’s first acts as duke was to ensure Meg’s future and security. To do so he chose one of his brothers, Graham, to be his sister’s husband, drew up the contract and presented it proudly as a fait accompli and in doing so never knew that by doing so he was preventing his sister and Simon from finding love together. Neither Meg nor Simon uttered one word of discontent for seven long years but when a wedding date is announced both are upset in a very large way and a compromising incident occurs that changes the situation dramatically. The two once thwarted sweethearts have a chance at their HEA but it won’t come without hurting dear friends, self-condemnation, emotional upheaval and social castigation. Whether or not Simon and Meg can finally leave their need to please others behind and reach out for what they want and need is at the crux of the matter and only through soul searching, wise words from friends and personal soul searching will they be able to have a truly happily ever after ending. The hook is set for book three in which Graham will have his story told in The Broken Duke. I look forward to finding out who he will end up with AND whether friendships damaged in this book can be repaired in the next.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )