I really enjoyed this book!

Like the first story in this series, Leigh skilfully intertwines matters of social justice into her writing; I really appreciate this in any novel but especially historical romance

The characters were so likeable and I quickly felt involved in their story. I’m usually not a fan of the fake/mistaken identity trope but Leigh made this plot device feel new and necessary. No spoilers, but I found it so interesting how Leigh used it to highlight the importance of identity and status in society.

Noel is a good-hearted character in a way that is just so refreshing to read! Willing to listen and to help. Jessica was also lovely - so strong and protective of her family which I admired.

Overall this was a lovely read: fun as well as thoughtful, and I would recommend this novel to fans of Tessa Dare and Lisa Kleypas.

Answer: Yes, about some things at least. and can get away with it.
So the time of Beau Brummell has just past but his influence lingers – especially his encouragement to bathe every day. Not everyone agrees, but enough do, to make soap for those bathing a profitable concern. If you can manufacture in sufficient quantity and quality as well as economically enough to make a profit. During the 19th century soap manufacture was a very fragmented activity. Many old plans of towns all over the country provide evidence of small local soap works, and some housewives in rural areas would still make their own soap in the home.
Interesting that the author has ‘thrown in’ people of colour owning businesses and being entrepreneurs not just servants. And women knowing enough to run businesses and invest sensibly too. I’m sure there were more them there is commonly acknowledged too.
I liked the story line and writing style, even though I thought there could have been social and political background to round out the commercial discussions.
English Heritage tells us about black workers in the 18th century the following:
“Waged and enslaved servants formed the largest group of black workers. A black servant, often a young page or handmaid, was seen as a status symbol, adorning the houses of the well-to-do. Their experiences and legal statuses varied enormously. Some, like John Rippon, lived comfortably. Others were displayed as walking, talking objets d’art, wearing silver and brass collars on which was engraved the name and address of whoever had bought their lives.
A small number rose from servitude (often with the help of their former masters) to enjoy independent lives. Prominent among this class were the Westminster shopkeeper, lettrist and composer Ignatius Sancho, the coal merchant and property owner Cesar Picton in Kingston-upon-Thames and the Nottingham-based George Africanus, who ran a servants’ register in the city.

Estimates are that in the late 18th century at least 10,000 black workers or servants lived in London, with a further 5,000 + throughout the country. In terms of the most common businesses owned were Public houses owned by black men which could be found across the country, and here is Pablo Fanque, who was born as William Darby in Norwich, and who rose to become the proprietor of one of Britain's most successful Victorian circuses. There were also several well known musicians and many served in the army and navy – not always voluntarily.
The main difficulty being that black people were frequently not identified as such in the registers and documented history of the time, race and colour was not considered important to record except when the person was special in some way.

I kind of missed calling Rotherby ‘Rotherby’. It took some getting used to to refer to him as Noel…and that is my only critique of this book.

Jessica McGale is in trouble. After her parents death, and a fire on the farm, her family business is in danger of failing and she and her siblings risk being split up. She needs people to invest in their business but no one will listen to a poor farm girl with a damaged farm. A chance comes when she manages to make her way into the Bazaar, a place where wealthy aristocrats invest in businesses. But the only way she gets in, is by posing as a noblewoman herself…

I loved this book. It had the heat that was missing from book 1 (some of those sex scenes were darn steamy). The chemistry between the two was clear right from the start, they were amazing together.

Noel was such a breath of fresh air. For all those tired of dark, brooding heroes–I present you Noel. He is the epitome of a gentleman, he’s fun loving, he’s endlessly charming and, most importantly, he apologises when he does something wrong. He was such a sweet, witty hero and I loved every time he came on the page. It was so lovely to see him wooing Jess and it was heart warming whenever he showed her his vulnerable side.

Also, he’s a sexually submissive Duke. I honestly can’t find fault with him. He was amazing. I knew I’d love him from the glimpses we caught in book 1 but he fulfilled those expectations and then some. Ah, I could honestly praise him for days.

But I can’t forget Jess, our leading lady. She was so confident, both sexually and in her normal life. She knew what she wanted and needed and she was determined to succeed. Whilst some of her actions resulted in pain, both for herself and others, this was about her journey. I loved her character growth, she was such a savvy businesswoman and I adored whenever she had a chance to shine.

We saw a lot more of the other guys in this book, which was brilliant. I loved that we’re gradually seeing more of these guys, and their relationship seemed more real in this book. There were very much part of the background in the previous book so I liked how they played more of a part in this one.

Overall this was such an engaging read, there were some genuinely warm, funny moments. All I can say is I cannot wait for the next Union of the Rakes book!

Also I need there to be a Curtis and Rowe book. I’ll even take a novella! Please Eva Leigh? Pretty please?

Jessica McGale’s family business desperately needs investors and she’s determined to succeed at any cost but she knows London’s elite will never look twice at a humble farm girl like herself so when the lady she's companion to becomes ill & stays in the country Jessica goes to London posing as “Lady Whitfield.” Society thinks Noel the Duke of Rotherby is a notorious, carefree duke who dabbles in investments, but there’s a side to him that only his closest friends see. When he crosses paths with Lady Whitfield at a business bazaar, his world tilts on its axis. She’s brilliant and compelling, and brings him to his knees like no woman has before.
This is the second book in the series & is easily read on its own. Another very well written books with characters of depth who are well portrayed. I liked both Jessica & Noel but didn't love them & I found their insta-lust hard to believe. The pace of the book was good & I was drawn into the story & wanted to see how things were resolved. I also loved the humour which mad me laugh out loud at times not my favourite book by the author but still an engaging read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via Edelweiss. This in no way impacted on my view.

Would I Lie to the Duke follows Jessica McGale as she navigates London as a companion to Lady Catherton, while trying to save her family's soap making business that burned down a few months ago. After Lady Catherton is delayed in the country due to an illness, and Jess is alone in London, she decides to masquerade as Lady Whitfield, gain access to the exclusive Bazaar, and find some wealthy backers to save her family. She meets Noel, Duke of Rotherby, and together they have such a chemistry that she starts to forget that she's little old Jess McGale, and not Lady Jessica Whitfield. Noel, for his part, has never felt like this around a stranger. He's always been slightly hidden and aloof, apart from with his closest friends, the Union of Rakes, but Jess breaks down all his walls and she the real Noel. When their attraction becomes too much, the spanner is thrown in the works when the Bazaar want to travel to Jess' hometown, to see the business in situ, and her whole Cinderella style dream could come crashing down around her. Will Noel forgive her, or has she ruined everything?

Eva Leigh has been an author I've wanted to read ever since I got into Regency romances, and this book was just fantastic. I was hooked from the get go, and really enjoyed both points of view. Jess was a perfect heroine, and her story was so moving, and I completely understood why she pretended to be Lady Whitfield for so long, and get it a secret from Noel, even though she knew it was likely to turn out in a big mess. She was caught up in the whole experience, and felt like Jess McGale wouldn't be someone that Noel would be interested in, and she wanted that love and attention before it was too late and the clock struck midnight. Noel, on the other hand, was a very complex character, I felt, who had his two different personas, but only with Jess, and the occasional appearance of his fellow Rakes, did his true persona appear, and we really got to know the real Noel, and not the Duke of Roherby. When both of them were apart, they were thinking about the other, and though their attraction and lust was instant, them starting to love each other grew gradually, as the story progressed, and it felt natural. Inevitably, there was a bit of drama and angst towards the ending when Jess' lies caught up with her, but the resolution was just what was needed, and I'm now desperately looking forward to book 3, Hit Me with Your Best Scot. I can't wait to read more of Eva's books in the future.