Say No to the Duke: The Wildes of Lindow Castle

Written by Eloisa James

Narrated by Susan Duerden

One little wager will determine their fate—a daring escape or falling into temptation with a rakish lord.

Lady Betsy Wilde’s first season was triumphant by any measure, and a duke has proposed—but before marriage, she longs for one last adventure.

No gentleman would agree to her scandalous plan—but Lord Jeremy Roden is no gentleman. He offers a wager. If she wins a billiards game, he’ll provide the breeches.

If he wins…she is his, for one wild night.

But what happens when Jeremy realizes that one night will never be enough? In the most important battle of his life, he’ll have to convince Betsy to say no to the duke.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9780062916914

Eloisa James

Eloisa James is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author and professor of English literature, who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight.

Reviews for Say No to the Duke

[NNEAMAKA PAYNE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another of the Wildes of Linow castle. It is always an enjoyable book and fun reading. Can wait to learn what is next to the next storyline. The Wildes of Lindow Castle series and (yesses!) is the first book in this series with a female main character—Lady Boadicea (Betsy) Wilde.
Beautiful Betsy Wilde has turned down all wedding proposals leaving only one that she may or may not approve from Thaddeus who’s a Duke. Then there’s Lord Jeremy Rodent whom she strikes up a wager with and who’s staying with the Wildes while he recuperates. Jeremy has been having a rough time of it living with shame and guilt from losing all his men in the War over in America. Betsy is exactly what he needs and wants as she’s the only reason he begins waking up from the fog he’s been living in. She begins to feel feelings for him too. Jeremy’s cousin wants nothing more than to declare him inept and schemes against Jeremy to claim his inheritance. Betsy who’s a Wilde through and through is bold and fierce and has no problem standing up for the man she loves.
This is such a wonderful story but very unique with the issue of PTSD addressed. I especially enjoyed the pokes of fun and steamy love/hate relationship between Betsy and Jeremy!

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't care for the setup for this book at the end of the last one, and the blurb as well, emphasised that wager. But thankfully that was just a starting place and it felt like things quickly moved on, which I was glad. I liked the characters alright, but ultimately it felt a little lackluster and the characters seemed to drag their feet. Overall fine though.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely delightful installment in the ongoing matrimonial intrigues of the Wildes of Lindow Castle -- hijinks, adventures, healing. Great story.

Advanced Readers Copy Provided by Edelweiss

[annawaffles · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun story! I love that neither protagonist had a Deep Dark Secret hanging over them the whole time. I tend to read individual romance novels rather than sticking to an author or series, but I definitely want to read more about the Wildes.

[grgenius_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What we have here is what happens when war is raged, and leaves its mark. What we have here is what occurs when people want more than their fair share, at the expense of others. What we have here is a prim and proper young lady of the ton with the given name of a warrior queen, and the heart of a champion, wanting nothing more than to take life by the...horns...and make it her own. What we have here is a man who believes himself damaged beyond repair or care, who couldn't be more wrong. What we have here is a group of ladies taking a stand and making room for themselves in a world saturated with men, alongside the men that would be their supporters as they rise above the times. What we have here is a work with heart, heat, passion, and SO MUCH MORE!

All in all, I adored Lady Betsy's fire, both in front and beyond an audience...but even more so when she let the mask fall away and became her true self. I fell in love with Lord Jeremy despite his inner darkness because his true heart was more golden than a gilt framed miniature. I treasured Lady Knowes for her larger than life personality, as well as her expert advice...she truly was a treasure. The cast of characters goes on with many worthy of mention, as well as those that would do better if left under a rock, and despite propriety being overrated at times, they achieve a proper balance, serving to add to the story of a young woman set to live her life on her terms, outside of the shadow of a wayward mother, and with her whole heart.


**copy received for review; opinions are my own

[nicolewbrown · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the fourth book that takes place in 1790s England at the Duke's house who has umpteen children by three wives. This book focuses on Lady Boadicea, who goes by Betsy. Her mother was the Duke's second wife who ran off with a Prussian Count leaving the Duke with two children, one of whom isn't his. But Betsy is most definitely his. She looks so much like her father. Betsy is determined once she goes to Boarding School and discovers the gossip surrounding her and her mother--that people expect her to have loose morals--that she'll prove them wrong. So she plans to get marriage proposals from every high ranking eligible bachelor out there and do so by being the opposite of herself and acting so sweet and innocent.Her plan has worked perfectly and she is receiving a proposal from a Duke whom she turns down but he won't take no for an answer. Also in the room at the time is Lord Jeremy Roden who is staying there recovering from the Revolutionary War and a great loss he had of men on the battlefield. He was the only survivor of a bloody battle. Betsy keeps trying to get him to play billiards with her because she knows he is good and wants the challenge. So that night they make a wager: one night with him no strings attached or if she wins he will take her dressed in boy's breeches to an auction so she can bid on something which is something that women aren't allowed to do. He agrees if Lady Knowe, her aunt comes with them. She wins the game and wins the wager.So Jeremey takes Lady Knowe and her friend the Dutchess whose son proposed to Betsy who also wants to wear men's breeches. The Duchess's son comes along with them but he disapproves of this plan. Jeremy, on the other hand, thinks this is an interesting idea. While staying at the inn in town where the auction is to take place, he runs into his father who is looking for him. It's been a year since the two talked because Jeremy feels that he let his father down.The more the Duke pursues Betsy the more that Jeremy wants her for himself. But Betsy is worried about being too much like her mother and Jeremy is not sure he's fit for anyone considering he spent time in Bedlam after a fireworks incident left him unable to remember what happened. Parth, a friend of the family gets him out. The sex scene doesn't take place until the end of the book, which is disappointing. I would have liked to see her lose the wager and have to sleep with him no proposals asked and seen her deal with her feelings that she's like her mother for being wanton with him and then have him deal with his feelings of PTSD and not wanting to marry because of it. But that's not the book I got. It was still good as James's books are always good. I give this book four stars out of five stars.QuotesBut there was something wrong about men with yellow hair. It took away from their…their manhood.-Eloisa James (Say No to the Duke p 62)The sad fact was that wicked men were interesting and good ones were boring.-Eloisa James (Say No to the Duke p 63)Don’t ever believe the word ‘no’ unless you say it yourself, dear. It makes life much more agreeable.-Eloisa James (Say No to the Duke 173)There is no right in war. There is only what happened.-Eloisa James (Say No to the Duke p 188)A true leader feels he has failed every man he loses.-Eloisa James (Say No to the Duke p 190)Married people say all sorts of things to each other. It’s the nature of the beast. Your spouse is the one person who can be honest with you and still be loved.-Eloisa James (Say No to the Duke p 232)

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lady Boadicea (Betsy) Wilde is the oldest girl in the family, the daughter of the Duke's second wife who ran away with a Prussian. She has always been affected by her mother's behavior and is determined to be the best and most proper debutante who gathers the most proposals when it's her season. Lord Jeremy Roden has been living at the castle. He's suffering from PTSD; he lost all his men in battle in North America due to this colonel's incompetence though Jeremy takes the blame. As a result, Jeremy has been hanging around the billiard room with a bottle of brandy. When Betsy shows up there to receive her latest proposal from the heir to the Duke of Eversley, Jeremy is an amused and vocal spectator. I liked this one the best of all the Wilde books so far. Both Betsy and Jeremy are flawed but interesting characters who really are perfect for each other. The plot is very funny as Jeremy gradually realizes his feelings and Betsy comes out from the facade she's been presenting to the world. It's a very sweet story and a lovely addition to this wonderful series.

[eyes92c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wildest of the Wildes!Those Wildes! I just adore them and their very human, very idiosyncratic behaviour.This time add in Lord Jeremy Roden, stalwart damaged warrior with wonderful sense of humor and so real.I adored this story of young woman who resolved early on never to display the passion her mother had.From her early days at school Lady Boadicea 'Betsy' Wilde had learned that society was very unforgiving for the daughter of a woman who'd borne children to different men and run off to Prussia with her lover. After all 'blood would out". Betsy determined to be above reproach, even as she squashed the frightening passionate and excitable side of her nature. Lady Betsy would give society nothing to gossip about. She would be an example of all that the ton required of a young woman.Hence a path strewn with marriage refusals as Betsy battled her internal demons.Only Jeremy, the damaged hero warrior really saw her, and what a difference that "seeing" would make.A game of billiards, a wager' and a pair of breeches leads to a night to remember before Betsy finally accepts a duke's proposal, before she crowns her season with success! After all this was what Betsy wanted, and she would never say no to a Duke, even as Jeremy intrigued!A HarperCollins ARC via NetGalley

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lady Boadicea Wilde, who prefers to be called Betsy, has dedicated her life to proving that she is not a wanton woman like her notorious runaway mother. In her first year after her debut, she received a record fourteen marriage proposals, culminating in one from a duke's heir. She considers marrying him, especially since Betsy adores his mother.Lord Jeremy Roden returned from a harrowing time in the army in very bad shape and suffering from PTSD. At Betsy's brother's invitation, he has spent the last several months staying at the Wilde's castle, hiding in the billiard room pretending to drink himself into a stupor. He thinks Betsy is making a terrible mistake in marrying her future duke--especially since Jeremy wants her for himself. Betsy in turns is very attracted to Jeremy--which horrifies and frightens her.Excellent characterizations and a believable and very sexy romance.