Always Be My Duchess
Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard
Published in 2022
Main Couple: Lysander and Geneviève (Nève)
The Story: Lysander is a cold, business minded Duke who’s lack of emotion is preventing his next deal. Nève is being blacklisted from every ballet company by the man who ruined her sister in Paris. A chance encounter throws their lives together and a plan sparks to get them both what they want by pretending to be engaged, but how long will their relationship remain pretend?
The Sex: Vanilla. She’s a virgin, but by choice rather than belief. I really appreciated the author’s note at the beginning of the book. She uses terminology of the time and stayed sex positive where she was able. (Aka. When someone wasn’t being an asshole.) This is a fake fiancé situation, so they have sex outside of wedlock. Their first time is in the music room after sharing a moment. She’s a dancer and he a musician. He’s playing in the middle of the night and she listens outside of the room. There’s asking for consent from Lysander. I don’t love a moment when she seems to never had heard of women receiving oral sex. She mentions earlier that the women in the ballet with her talked openly about their sexual exploits. What a tragedy if none of them had ever received oral sex! (“The girls in the corps in Paris used to discuss their liaisons as frankly as one would discuss one’s preference for petits fours. Positions, body parts, orgasms, and pelvic acrobatics in bald, cheek-scorching detail." Chapter 7) Overall, they have a lot of chemistry. I always appreciate bringing in antiquated language. Makes me giggle.
Favorite Lines:
“Her lower half was flooded with liquid heat, and her nipples were attempting to cut their way out of her bodice to profess their fidelity.” Chapter 1 It was that last but that made me laugh out loud. What a great description of their chemistry from their meet-cute.
“Or perhaps she was inventing a hero where one did not exist.” Chapter 9 I think it’s important to make sure you’re looking at a partner realistically. It can be easy to make excuses, but critical thinking is important.
“Those to need to go at it in truth. I’ve tried to get them together for ages, and neither of them will accept that they are perfect for each other. They fight like cats and dogs. I bet they’d swive like it, too” Chapter 13 SWIVE! One of my favorite lost terms for f*cking. That’s the level it was at when it was in use.
Ways Lysander asks for consent:
“Are you doing this out of obligation?”
“Are you certain?”
“Are you in pain?” he asked, halting abruptly, his voice raw. “Don’t you dare stop, Lysander, or I will cheerfully murder you.” all from Chapter 16
“Gorge myself on the banquet of your body.” Chapter 20 Yes, please!!! What a poetic line!
“Fuck if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever beheld. Wild, damp tendrils of hair framed her luminous face. Her checks were flushed, her lips swollen and red. Her green eyes glowed in a post-release haze. She looked gorgeously satisfied, and all he wanted to do was have her again.” Chapter 20
Least Favorite Lines:
“Nearly there already, Nève reached her fingers down between their bodies and circled the part of her that ached. It didn’t take much.” Chapter 16 This just made me feel like she was faking in. Not really, but how would you know to touch your clit if this is your FIRST time having sex? And it would take more than a few touches.
“A broad, wet swipe against her throbbing sex had her shuddering and falling back against the desk. Surely that wasn’t what she thought it was…” Chapter 20 I’m sure you know what oral sex is. C’mon!
Final Thoughts:
This was a perfectly adorable book. I think my favorite part of this book was the rebellious women Neve falls in with and how they exist in society. This is not a book where everyone has lived a life of luxury, but fought for what they want. In the fighting, Neve and Lysander create a new life path to work towards. That’s true of any good relationship. You makes changes in the life you were building alone in order to have that person with you. Additionally, Lysander expresses a very “modern” opinion of women. It allowed for the story to have a more equal feel between the MCs that some regency romances, but was something I had to suspend my disbelief for. (“He did not subscribe to the patriarchal notion that a woman was the weaker sex whose only value was her womb. That a woman was less intelligent, less capable, or less competent.” Chapter 17)This is a pretty fluffy book. If you’re looking for someone spicier, this might not be for you. I also want to see what happens to the friends she made in later books from the series.
Spice Level: 2/5
Kinks Explored: None
Voices Heard: One of the best friend’s parents are from India, but that’s it.
Did I like it? Yeah. I found the characters fun. Putting the rest of the series on my TBR.