The Worst Duke in the World

November 15, 2020
When a Regency duke would rather feed blancmange to his prize pig than pay court to prospective brides, it's fortunate that the girl next door also likes pigs. Anthony Farr, Duke of Radcliffe survived an unhappy first marriage and is deathly afraid of marrying again. He would rather spend his days pottering about on his farm and skipping stones on the lake with his 8-year-old son, Wakefield. But when a poor relation of the Penhallow family arrives in the neighborhood, she quickly becomes friends with both Anthony and Wakefield. Where Anthony is simple and even childlike, Jane Kent is just uneducated and still suffering from the traumas of spending her early life in poverty. In their first encounter, afternoon tea in the company of Jane's relatives turns into a fierce competition. Jane and Anthony are both determined to devour more food than the other--all while maintaining a polite facade. It's the first of many deftly funny scenes in the novel, although some of the jokes become a little repetitive, such as Wakefield's frequent mispronunciations of long words. The dialogue, too, is both funny and a little tiresome, with long conversations that don't significantly advance the plot. But the book has other strengths that set it apart from typical Regency romances. It's body-positive. There are several scenes where Jane, Anthony, and Wakefield demolish decadent food. There's also a little light sadomasochism, which feels surprising since the main characters are otherwise so childlike. And it's a nice portrait of what courtship is like for a dedicated single parent. The child and his needs are central to the love story. A bumpkin duke and a young woman belatedly acquiring a gentlewoman's education make for an entertaining love story.

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January 4, 2021
Berne’s sparkling fifth Penhallow Dynasty Regency romance (after Engaged to the Earl) pairs an unconventional duke with the newest member of the wealthy Penhallow family. When penniless 20-year-old Jane Kent discovers a letter written to her grandmother, Charity, by Titus Penhallow, she learns that Titus was her grandfather. Jane travels to Surmont Hall to present the letter to Mrs. Penhallow, her great-grandmother, who enthusiastically welcomes her into the family. Because Jane’s poor upbringing afforded her little education, Mrs. Penhallow solicits the local vicar to tutor Jane alongside Wakefield Farr, the eight-year-old Marquis of Rutherford, son of the Penhallow’s neighbor, Anthony, Duke of Radcliffe. Anthony, a widower who cares little for living up to ducal expectations, is enchanted by Jane’s beauty and refreshing candor, though he remains resolute never to marry again. But when Mrs. Penhallow takes Jane to London to search for a husband, Anthony misses her more than he anticipated and must decide whether to confess his feelings to Jane or risk losing her to another man. Jane’s curious combination of naivete and street smarts makes her an endearing heroine, and the romance between Jane and Anthony is enhanced by witty banter and Wakefield’s mischievous antics. Series fans will be thrilled. Agent: Cheryl Pientka, Jill Grinberg Literary.

November 22, 2021
Berne’s winning sixth Penhallow Dynasty Regency romance (after The Worst Duke in the World) begins when Philip Thane, an unrepentant rake whose debts are catching up with him, visits his relative Henrietta Penhallow to ask for money. She agrees on the condition that Philip visits the agrarian village of Whittlesey to deliver a speech on her behalf at their annual Plough Day festival. En route, Philip meets Margaret Allen, a ravishing folklore scholar researching Plough Day, who can’t stand his snobby, lecherous behavior. Philip’s hopes for a perfunctory trip are dashed in bizarre fashion when he wakes after the festivities to find it’s Plough Day all over again. From there, anyone familiar with Groundhog Day
will anticipate what comes next, as it follows the movie almost beat for beat (though Berne deserves credit for the copious humor and heart). As Philip progresses from confusion through hedonism to desperation to bed Margaret (who will have none of it) and near-madness, Berne patiently lays the groundwork for his redemption: learning to see cozy Whittlesey as more than a backwater and Margaret as more than an object of desire. The eventual coloring-in of the setting and central relationship leads to a romantic and satisfying conclusion. It’s familiar but expertly crafted. Agent: Cheryl Pientka, Jill Grinberg Literary.

Starred review from December 1, 2020
After discovering a long-lost letter from Titus Penhallow to her grandmother Charity, penniless orphan Jane Kent is suddenly introduced to a world of material comforts when she becomes the newest member of the Penhallow family. To fill in the gaps in her education, Jane begins taking lessons from the local vicar, who is also tutoring Wakefield Farr, the young son of Anthony Farr, the duke of Radcliffe. After his last disastrous marriage, Anthony has vowed never to wed again, yet much to his surprise, Anthony quickly finds himself falling for the refreshingly different Jane. There are pigs, pumpkins, and pamphlets, oh my! And a charming, fairy tale-like sensibility powering the latest blissfully romantic addition to Berne's Penhallow series, following Engaged to the Earl (2020). Filled with endearingly quirky characters, plenty of droll wit, and a number of clever literary grace notes, including a blink-and-you'll-miss-it homage to the most perfect porcine-inspired piece of children's literature every written, this is a transporting, transcendent triumph.

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