LAST DUKE STANDING - Julia London
A Royal Match #1
HQN Books
ISBN: 9780369706324
February 22, 2022
Victorian Romance

England: 19th Century

Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria must marry, and soon. Her father, the king, is dying, and the people of Wesloria expect their queen to have a husband. Shy to the point of trembling when in crowds, Justine is sent to England to be guided by Queen Victoria, and to hopefully find a suitable husband. Her brush with scandal has given her mother the impression that Justine's judgement in men cannot be trusted. Hopefully, the English queen will set an example, and give some much needed advice. Traveling with her sister, Princess Amelia, who is considered the beauty in the family, Justine glumly begins what she deems an ordeal in England. Meanwhile, Justine's mother is convinced by the Prime Minister to hire famed matchmaker, Lady Lila Aleksander of Denmark, who will see to it that the proper man is found.

In England, William Douglas, Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale, and the future Duke of Hamilton, is ordered by his father in Scotland to be the official escort of Princess Justine. The duke feels that William, who knows everyone due to his reputation as a rake, will make sure that the young woman is not matched up to a scoundrel. And William knows all of the scoundrels. It seems that the duke owes a favor to the Weslorian prime minister who wants to be assured that the hired matchmaker doesn't pick someone who will not be easily led by the PM. Reluctantly, William takes on the task, although it's clear from the beginning that the princess is not pleased with his presence.

Despite not being happy with the entire situation, Justine slowly begins to trust, and actually like her handsome escort. After all, he's not a candidate to be her husband, so having a friend by her side who knows the lay of the land, and who also seems to understand her extreme shyness, is making her stay in England a bit easier. Potential suitors line up, and Justine and William team up to try and make the right decision.

LAST DUKE STANDING is the first book in the Royal Match series. Two seemingly opposite personalities collide, and then grudgingly work through their differences in order to ease the transition from princess to queen. With the outgoing Princess Amelia testing the patience of her sister, and the matchmaker in the background, Justine must rely on not only her own judgement, but that of William to get through this entire affair.

With an engaging premise, and great characters, LAST DUKE STANDING is an enjoyable read.

Jani Brooks