All the Duke I Need: Desperately Seeking Duke

Caroline Linden

Apr 2022 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

The delightful search for the true Carlyle heir continues in this next book in the sexy Desperately Seeking Duke series from USA Today Bestselling Author Caroline Linden

She’s a duchess in all but name

Philippa Kirkpatrick has been raised at Carlyle Castle by her doting guardian, the Duchess of Carlyle. Preoccupied with the succession of the dukedom and the duke’s health, the duchess has left the estate in Philippa’s hands—and Philippa is determined not to let her down.  

He's not a duke at all . . .

The arrival of a new estate steward should be a relief, but instead it threatens to upend everything. William Montclair is handsome, brash, and scandalously bold. The horrified duchess wants to sack him on sight. Philippa is just as shocked . . . but also, somehow, charmed.

But could he be her hero?

Carlyle cannot be her home forever, but Philippa is determined to leave it in good hands. She means to teach Will how to run the estate properly and love Carlyle as she does. The more time she spends with Will, though, the more she likes him . . . trusts him . . . even loves him. Unfortunately, she’s also more and more certain that Will is keeping secrets that could break her heart.

Ratings and reviews

I was fortunate in being able to read the previous books in the series as they gave me the background I needed for this well-written and intensely romantic novel. The Duchess of Carlyle is a stickler for all things proper on a number of fronts, and she and Will Montclair clash upon their first meeting. It is an absolute wonder that he isn't fired before he served even one day as the steward at Carlyle Castle. His one saving grace is Miss Phillipa Kirkpatrick, the Duchess's companion, and granddaughter through marriage. Will, a shipowner's son, sent to London to establish links for his father's business, cannot pass up an opportunity when it presents itself to work at Carlyle Castle as the estate manager. He has his reasons for accepting the post but knows that if the truth ever gets out, he is going to be in dreadful trouble with his father, who had made him swear to avoid the Carlyles at all costs. Will did not take into account the feelings he would develop for the lovely Phillipa, even though he realizes that any relationship between them would be completely unacceptable. Phillipa lives by her own rules and when it looks as if she will lose Will, she turns to her own heritage to find strength. I loved the main characters in this novel, as well as the supporting cast, and even the Duchess despite the fact that vinegar ran through her veins. This is a beautiful romance and it really did jerk on my heartstrings, to the extent that I found myself wiping away the tears in the closing paragraphs. I received a copy of this amazing book through NetGalley as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Philippa manages the Duke of Carlyle's household on behalf of the duchess, her step-grandmother. When Will, the new steward, is hired, he discovers that the previous steward let the property fall into disrepair. The duchess is appalled by the changes Will wants to make. He and Phillipa work together to convince the duchess to approve his plans. Spending so much time together, Will and Phillipa are irresistibly attracted to each other. But the gulf in their social stations is wide, and Will's secrets threaten to tear them apart. This is a complex and enjoyable story. Caroline Linden always manages to surprise me, taking the plot in directions I don't see coming. I loved Will and Phillipa, both separately and together. They're charming and kind, with a ton of sensual tension between them. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Welcome to Carlyle. I liked that All the Duke I need was about outliers. Phillippa is the duchess of Carlyle's companion and defacto granddaughter. So much death surrounds the Duke and Duchess of Carlyle. Will Montclair is American, brash, young, the new steward and looking more like a prate then a steward of Carlyle, He's smitten with Phillippa, but he's temporary, working as a steward for money. Phillippa is half Indian and a working woman. She essentially runs the castle. I really liked that both Phillippa and Will were working people (yes surrounded by dukes and duchesses). I appreciated getting to know the duke and duchess more and at their private home (castle). Recommend. 4.5

About the author

Caroline Linden knew from an early age she was a reader, not a writer. She earned a math degree from Harvard University and wrote computer code before turning to fiction. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award, the NJRW Golden Leaf Award, and RWA’s RITA® Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England with her family. Find her online at www.CarolineLinden.com.