A Duke's Lesson in Charm is book 3 in The Gentlemen Authors series by Sophie Barnes and features the story of Emily Brooke and Callum Davis, the Duke of Stratton whom I wouldn’t call enemies per se, but it seems that the universe is conspiring against them. Every time they occupy each other’s space, disaster seems to occur. This has happen form the time of their first encounter and so it makes it sort of hard as Emily is the one that is known as the Lady Librarian and Ada would really like her to review her husband and his friend’s novel. Callum being one of the authors now finds himself often in her company as their friends have happily married each other. What are these two to become now? This turns into a delightful adventure of mishaps and misunderstandings that will keep the reader turning the pages with enthusiasm. This review was given on the ARC copy received from the Publisher via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion.

This is a likeable Regency romance which, although it is part of a series, doesn't require you to have read the previous two to understand what is going on (basically, three cash-strapped Dukes have decided to write a romance novel, and this brings them into contact with their three separate love interests.) I'm rather dubious that anyone would believe the gap in the market cause by Jane Austen's death would be filled by novelists writing a book called "Seductive Scandal" (!) but that aside it was a short and entertaining read with likeable characters. I've read one of the other books in the series and that was also good fun.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Sophie Barnes

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Callum and Emily are 2 characters you will enjoy getting to know. Wonderful story penned by the author. Will recommend to others!

Callum and Emily are a wonderful couple and this book has the reader rooting for them from the start. Do to misconceptions on both sides, their path to true love is not at all a smooth one. Sophie Barnes has done a wonderful job with this series and readers will love this book.

Enchanting read. A huge fan of Ms. Barnes. She never disappoints and her writing always leaves a smile on my face.

i think i know what inspired this book, and honestly if i am right, it took the most basic tropes and made it work and better. i liked it and it was so sweet and more people should read it.

I enjoy this series so much and this was no exception. The leads are great, the male authors of romance are a great new trope.

Another wonderful Regency romance. There's little I like more than unexpected love and fixing past mistakes. So good!

Such a great book! Historical romances were the man is the clumsy one are rare, at least I haven't read much of them... which made this one so much fun for me. The fact that she suggested a fake courtship was the cherry of the cake. This is the second book I read from you and I loved it! I hope to read more from you soon!

This was a really fun story. I laughed and I cheered for this couple. They both were awesome characters and people and I loved how a dog and a little boy brought them together. This book also is fake romance/engagement trope and I loved how it came out and happened.

Emily and Callum, the Duke met six years before but they both are so attracted that they become pretty clumsy around each other. So they have a hate thing going. At best I would call them frienenemies. That is until the new ward of Callum meets Em's dog Hilda and its love at first sight. It makes these two talk and get to know each other without a lot of pressure.

One aspect of this story is that three dukes have written a romance and Em is a reviewer and this part of the story was really important and I loved how the author used this as an issue between Emily and Callum.

A Duke's Lesson in Charm by Sophie Barnes is book Three in The Gentlemen Authors Series. This is the story of Emily Brooke and Callum Davis, Duke of Stratton. Emily and Callum seem to have one issue after another when ever they run into each other. So to avoid anymore funny run accidents they have avoided each other. But then Callum ward Peter has taken a liking to Emily dog Hedi. To make Peter happy Callum will have to be in Emily's presence. Enjoyed their story.

A Duke’s Lesson in Charm by Sophie Barnes
Gentlemen Authors #3

Bumbling, anxiety ridden, difficult encounters had two people who could be perfect for one another staying far apart until something changes ~ Fun read for today!

What I liked:
* Callum Davis, Duke of Stratton: kind, caring, good friend, most of his inheritance spent, guardian of his cousin’s son, debut novel written with two friends soon to be published, has an interesting situation with Lady Emily
* Lady Emily Brooke: loving daughter of Lord & Lady Rosemont, good friend to Harriet and Ada, owner of Heidi her canine companion, writes a column for a newspaper, has an interesting situation with Callum
* Peter: orphaned, in the care of Callum, grieving, begins to come out of the darkness when he meets Emily’s pet – Heidi
* That Callum puts Peter first and is willing to approach Emily for Peter’s sake
* The correspondence between Callum and Emily that broke the ice and the ongoing growing relationship between them
* The way communication between Callum and Emily managed to overcome many issues that began to crop up but managed to be nipped in the bud
* Emily’s parents: loving, wise, wanted the best for their daughter, admirable
* That this stands alone without reading the first books in this series

What I didn’t like:
* Usually, I manage to put in a villain here BUT there weren’t any true villains in this book – I will say that the grief due to the loss of a loved one, though a bit of a catalyst, did make me think of people I have had to say goodbye to in the past.

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

This is the 3rd book in a trilogy and possibly the best. I haven't loved this series and found many of the situations to be ridiculous.

Callum and Emily do not get along. It seems whenever they are in the same place (only once a year as it happens) some calamity occurs. As it turns out this is just foreplay on Callum's part. He has found her intriguing from the moment they met and seems to bumble his way through every interaction thereafter.

When they meet in the park while he is out with his cousin and she is walking her dog they begin a new chapter. Through spending time together they learn about one another and begin to see each other in a new light. Only Emily's alter-ego could ruin everything. Thankfully daddy's money saves the day!

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I enjoyed the second book in this series, this one wasn't as good in my opinion.

Callum and his friends wrote a romance novel as a way to refill their coffers after spending recklessly.

Emily is a secret book reviewer and the woman Callum becomes a bumbling fool around since her danced with her at her debut 6 years previous.

There isn't really any tension in this book and the secrets and reasons for staying away from each are weak. There is barely any conflict and the plot seems insignificant.

It just feels like a list of events the two experience rather than a flowing story. Honestly Callum and Emily were kind of bland. It took a relatively long time for me to finish a relatively short novel.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

This is the third and last installment of the Gentlemen Author Series. This time we read about Callum, Duke of Stratton's story.
I enjoyed this entire series. The guys have a time of it trying to write their novel in an attempt to combat their serious lack of income coming in to their individual estates. Along the way they find love where they least expected, each yielding to his destiny in their own fashion
Sophie Barnes is one of my favorite Regency romance writers. Her books hit the mark and never miss. Barnes knows just how to blend naughty with nice for the perfect mix that explodes across the pages of her novels.
The characters are charming and witty, their banter is entertaining and real. I just love everything about Sophie Barnes' writing style, I am never disappointed when I pick up a book written by her.
Thank you to Sophie Barnes and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Callum, the Duke of Stratton, Anthony, the Duke of Westcliffe, and Brody, the Duke of Corwin, are impatiently waiting on the publication and release of their romance novel, SEDUCTIVE SCANDAL. A glowing review by The Lady Librarian in The Mayfair Chronicle, would mean instant success. Callum always seems to lose his equilibrium when it comes to Lady Emily. For six years, they try to avoid being anywhere close to each other. But Callum's ten year old ward, Peter, and Emily's dog Heidi, become fast friends. Who knew that all the trepidation of being in each other's company was really a strong attraction to each other? Missteps can still happen and the success of Seductive Scandal hangs in the balance. Callum and Emily totally define the word awkwardness in the beginning. Sweaty hands, bumping heads and tripping over imaginary carpet is not just for teenagers. Mild open bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I would like to thank netgalley and the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable.

What has made this series so much fun is that it has followed the creation of a romance novel designed to capture the then-recently-late Jane Austen’s fans, not merely through the process of writing the thing but more specifically through the trials and travails of getting it published and into the hands of as many readers as possible.

The first book, A Duke’s Guide to Romance, planted the idea in the heads of three financially embarrassed dukes by a young gentlewoman who binds books in the back of her uncle’s popular bookshop. Along its merry way it introduces Anthony Gibbs, Duke of Westcliffe to Ada Quinn, the love of his life, AND gives both the dukes and the readers a peek into the way that books were printed and published in Jane Austen’s day.

The second book, A Duke’s Introduction to Courtship, moves the story about how books get made into the hands of the potential printers and publishers for the Gentlemen Authors’ completed novel. As Brody Evans, Duke of Corwin, learns the editing and publishing business from the ground up, he falls in love with the printing press’ crackerjack print compositor, Harriet Michaels. Who has done an entirely too convincing job convincing everyone, including Brody, that the print compositor is a young man named Harry.

Their book, A Seductive Scandal, is ready to be put into the hands of its readers. Which is where this third book and my envy come in. Book discovery has probably been an issue for authors, publishers and readers since the first text was chiseled into a stone tablet. It was a problem in Jane Austen’s day, it’s still a problem today and will probably still be a problem for as long as there are so many books and so little time. Meaning forever.

To convince people to buy their book, potential readers need to know it exists and believe that it will be worth their time to read. Which is where the Lady Librarian comes in. The Lady Librarian has the most popular book review column of the day, published in an equally popular and widely distributed newspaper. She has the Gentlemen Authors’ new novel at the top of her TBR (To Be Read) pile, and plans for her review to be published in the Mayfair Chronicle on the morning that A Seductive Scandal arrives in bookshops all over London.

Which it will be. Whether that review will be a paean or a pan is the saga told in A Duke’s Lesson in Charm. Because Lady Emily Brooke has come to believe, after years of clumsy contacts between herself and Callum Davis, Duke of Stratton, that this particular duke has no charm whatsoever.

Callum has no idea that the Lady Librarian is Lady Emily’s alter ego, while Emily is not aware that Callum and his two friends are the true authors of the book she’s been asked to review. The resulting misunderstandings, misidentifications and missteps threaten to scupper any possibility of A Seductive Scandal paddling the Gentlemen Authors’ respective fortunes away from the River Tick. And may just cost Callum and Emily the love of their lives.

Escape Rating A-: This final book in the Gentlemen Authors series is one that I have been anticipating with more than a bit of envy. The romance was lovely, but then ALL the romances in this series have been lovely.

What I was REALLY looking forward to was the story of a heroine who produces something extremely similar to what you are reading right this very minute. Lady Emily Brooke is a book reviewer. It’s the perfect ending to this series about getting a book to its readers, and I was just plain curious to see a bit of how this particular part of the process worked back then.

I do envy Lady Emily the reach of her publication and the size of her audience. She can literally make or break a book, which becomes the final bit of dramatic tension in this story.

But it’s hard to make an entire story about the solitary acts of reading and writing. We’d just be inside Emily’s head the whole way and probably not as entertained by that as she ultimately is by the book.

What we do have is a charming and sometimes fraught romance that manages to be both as filled with non-traditional female agency as the first two books in the series while still telling a story that is a bit closer to what is thought of as a traditional Regency romance.

Unlike the heroines of the first two books, Emily is a member of the ton in good standing. It’s Callum’s reputation that has taken a bit of a hit, both as a result of the behavior that wrecked his finances AND his quiet attempts to keep the bill collectors at bay by selling off some items that he won’t miss and letting go of some staff he can no longer afford to keep.

His title and his person seem to be the only assets Callum has on the ‘Marriage Mart’, and Emily’s father has some serious questions about Callum’s suitability to marry the well-dowered Emily. Her father’s objections are very nicely handled. Too often in historical romances, the father of the bride is a bit of a villain, but the Earl of Rosemont’s reaction to Callum’s suit for Emily’s hand hits all the right notes.

On the way to that suit, one of the best parts of the story is the way that Callum and Emily finally manage to get over their years of disastrous encounters through Callum’s adoption of his young cousin, and said cousin’s insta-love for Emily’s dog Heidi.

Once Heidi helps them leap over their initial apprehensions, their original animosity turns to real friendship, and then more, in the best enemies-to-lovers fashion – at least until a series of self-inflicted misapprehensions nearly breaks them apart.

All in all – and I realize there’s been a LOT of all in this review – A Duke’s Lesson in Charm was a marvelous and utterly fitting ending to what has been a lovely Regency romance series. As always, I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!

The final installment in the Gentleman Author's series- this story if of Callum, the Duke of Stratton and Lady Emily. They have known each other for some time but haven't always gotten alone because each time they interact with some mishap occurs with each of them blaming the cause on the other. They are brought together after Callum's ward, Peter, who lost his parents, forms an attachment to Emily's dog, Heidi. Callum and Emily become closer as they meet at the park and at Emily's home to allow Peter time with Heidi. They agree to a pretend engagement when Emily's grandmother suffers an illness and is expected to pass away but before she does she expresses regret that none of her grandchildren are married. After agreeing to the engagement, secrets that Callum has kept are exposed and cause Emily to wonder why he agreed to the engagement. This final story is a fantastic end to the series, It is a sweet romance that builds on friendship developing into love.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.