It Had to Be a Duke Audiobook By Vivienne Lorret cover art

It Had to Be a Duke

The Liar's Club, Book 1

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It Had to Be a Duke

By: Vivienne Lorret
Narrated by: Faye Adele
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USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret launches a new series with a sparkling romance about a spinster, a duke, and a fake engagement that blurs the lines between enemies and lovers…

Verity Hartley always tells the truth. Well, mostly. However, when her snooty neighbor returns to their small hamlet to brag about having a grand Season, a plethora of ballgowns, and so many suitors that she cannot possibly decide which one to marry, Verity tells a lie. She claims to be betrothed. To a duke. Who happens to be her family’s sworn enemy. But what are the odds that he would ever learn of this one, little, harmless falsehood?

Magnus Warring, the Duke of Longhurst, is on the precipice of marrying an heiress to save his estate from financial ruin. At least, he was. Until he hears an unbelievable rumor that he is already betrothed. To the daughter of a liar, cheat, and swindler! Needing to protect his reputation, he hunts down the culprit. And when he finds the untamed beguiler, she has the audacity to ask him to lie for her. To pretend to be her fiancé!

One week, that’s all Verity needs. Then Magnus can return to his life. But nothing is ever that simple. Sometimes it doesn’t take that long to fall in love, even with the enemy.

©2023 Vivienne Lorret (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Historical Historical Fiction Regency Regency Romance Romance Royal Romance Royalty
Entertaining Banter • Witty Dialogue • Excellent Narration • Engaging Protagonists • Delightful Storyline
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Verity and Magnus - they were just magical! I really loved how they didn't fall into "insta-lust" as is common in HR. They truly disliked each other and the regard, then respect, then friendship, then love was gradual and really believable. The banter was witty and the story was quite entertaining. Wonderful narrator too! Totally credit worthy.

What a delightful tale!!

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And the main characters in this novel have all made whoppers. So the question is whether they learned anything of value from them.

We all make mistakes.

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It was slow moving. Hard to stay focused on the story.
The reading was ok but the story was not a page turner even when listening audibly.

Long

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Surprisingly good read but was muddled n needed more action n suspense but overall good pass time read.

Good stuff

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An engaging enemies to lovers tale with entertaining banter between protagonists as sexual tension steadily grows. There are several laugh out loud moments and plenty of quirky secondary characters to round out the story.
The performance was perfectly suited to the tone of the story.

Sock Puppets

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I have been having trouble finding stories that interest me lately. My Audible library is fairly extensive at over 1000 books and mostly romance novels. That said, finding something a little different can be difficult. This story was simply delightful. Not a deep read but very entertaining, and as another reviewer said it had " laugh out loud moments". Not one, not two, but many.

My biggest concern lately, is that I cannot find books that interest me that are not virtual voice. Nice that you get a break from paying such a high cost for a book, but narration, timing, pronunciation and a multitude of other failures is turning me away. On this book, however, it is narrated by Faye Adele, and I found her to be spot on for everything. Now that Audible has introduced the virtual voice free, and slowly increasing the number of novels and the price, what is happening to our Favorite narrators?

I am very happy with this story and narrator and look forward to the next in the series, I am only sorry that it will be a few months away. My message to Audible is to consider your loyal readers and cater more to their likes and dislikes. I especially like when books have male and female narrators to give more lifelike interactions, and better emphasis to different situations.

Delightful

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This book is so well balanced.

The characters have strong living personalities. They are wishy washy in the type of character they originally poise as. So many times I have started reading a book only to find one or many of the characters not following their type of personality portrayed.
The relationship between the characters is well written. There isn’t that weird scene where they both love each other but it takes them forever to figure it out or fight it. It flows naturally and rationally in the book. I like that as you continue reading the book the relationships and twists in their circumstance goes deeper. Ie: the secret money transfers and the knowledge that the family has that makes them seem smarter than originally portrayed.
The romance is sweet and yet feeling. It makes you believe it and still enjoy it. It doesn’t have overloads of hot and heavy scenes that seem over the top.

I could continue but all in all it was a wonderful book!

Enjoyable

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It had heat, chemistry, evil brats and a mystery.
Narration was good… I didn’t like dukes voice…. But I suppose it fit him.

So nice to find such a fun book! I

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I loved the characters. The story was different and very enjoyable. Will continue the series

Loved the story

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Just like one of the other reviewers, I have been having a hard time finding the right books as the story either drags on or it is difficult to listen to the narration. I was a bit worried with the first chapter but after that I didn’t want to stop listening.

Just the right mix

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