It Had to Be a Duke: A Novel

Vivienne Lorret

Nov 2023 · The Liars' Club Book 1 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

It Had to be a Duke - Not my preferred genre but I won this in a GoodReads giveaway. It was nice to hold a paperback, with no fumes!, and a comfortable font size. The story is interesting, funny, and happily, without silly drama or stupidity. There's an ogre, but all the families are great and supportive. The development of the relationship between Verity and Magnus was well written with plenty of good dialog. I was tickled by Reverend Tobias' response to Verity's comment, so funny. There are sex scenes, written sex is boring, and if pillow talk happened during, I wouldn't know. No vulgar language, just a good story similar to what I had read in the Seventies. 4*

We’ve all lied when we’re not having a good day, right? As did Verity Hartley who thought “It Had to be a Duke” she entangled in a fake engagement in Vivienne Lorret’s first book of her newest The Liar’s Club series! The book starts off crazy, hilarious, and strong! And, we get more crazy, laugh out loud moments throughout the book especially when Verity and Magnus Warring, the Duke of Longhurst, are bantering.

The courtship between Verity and her duke is light and fun. But there’s a lot going on in this book beneath the surface, regarding the rift between their two families. The book is entertaining with a hint of danger and intrigue. The sensual tension is high. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret writes fun and steamy Regency historical romances. She lives in the Midwest where she coaxes words out of giant mugs of tea and attempts to jot them down before they can escape.