A special gift is on its way for romance readers this Christmas—the launch of the Netflix series Bridgerton, produced by Shonda Rhimes and adapted from Julia Quinn’s series of the same name! The trailer was just released, and we’re eagerly counting down the days until we can start episode one. The first book in Quinn’s series is The Duke and I, and since we know romance readers love a good duke, here’s a list of 2020 romances featuring dukes to fall in love with while you count down to Brigderton.
The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
Courtney Milan returned earlier this fall with the start of a new series that readers won’t want to miss. Chloe Fong doesn’t have room in her life for frivolity. She told Jeremy as much three years ago when he tried to court her. When he returns, she wonders if he’s made good on his word to come back once he was more serious. It’s soon clear that Jeremy is still the roguish and playful bachelor he’s always been, but this time he’s set out to prove to Chloe that she could use someone like him in her life. Once he’s won her heart, then he’ll tell her the secret he’s kept from her all these years: He’s a duke.
Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh
Farmer’s daughter Jessica McGale takes on the persona of “Lady Whitfield” with the aim of securing wealthy investors for her family’s struggling business. Jess sets her sights on Noel, Duke of Rotherby, but isn’t prepared for the sparks that start to fly between them. As the two grow closer, she begins to fear what will happen when Noel discovers her true identity and wonders if saving her business is worth the cost of breaking the heart of the man she’s grown to love.
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley
This historical romance transports readers to London in 1814. West Indian heiress Patience Jordan is imprisoned after she questions the strange circumstances surrounding her English husband’s death. Escaping with the help of the Widow’s Grace, an organization that assists and protects widows, Patrice returns to find her son in the care of Busick Strathmore, the Duke of Repington. Doing whatever it takes to be close to her son, she accepts a job as Lionel’s nanny, secretly planning their escape.
Restored by Joanna Chambers
The fifth in Joanna Chambers’ Enlightenment series follows the second-chance romance between a duke and his former paramour. Henry Asquith, Duke of Avesbury, ended his relationship with Kit Redford 18 years ago to fulfill his obligations to raise a family. When they reunite, Henry learns that Kit never received the money Henry had left him after they separated. Though Kit, now the owner of a gentleman’s club, believed he had healed from past wounds, seeing Henry again leaves him feeling ripped open. In an impulsive moment, Kit demands penance, and Henry agrees to do anything to mend what’s broken between them.
Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy
A widow begins to fall for the duke courting her stepdaughter in the first book in Diana Quincy’s Clandestine Affairs series. When Lady Delilah Chambers shares a passionate evening with a stranger at a country inn, she never expects to see him again. She’s shocked when he walks into her stepson’s estate the very next day, but determined to put their encounter behind them and focus on her stepdaughter’s happiness. For Elliot Townsend, Duke of Huntington, one night with Leela wasn’t enough and he’s willing to risk anything to be with her.
A Good Duke Is Hard to Find by Christina Britton
While romance readers have no trouble finding dukes (as this list can attest), Lenora Hartley isn’t as lucky. Left at the altar by a third fiancé, she’s beginning to fear she’s cursed. Through with her father’s attempts to match her once more, she retreats to the Isle of Synne. She’s hoping to escape the reminders of her past, and instead finds herself face-to-face with her future. Reluctant future-duke Peter Ashford has an agenda for his time on the island that doesn’t include Lenora, and yet he can’t seem to stay away from her.
Duke I’d Like to F… by Sierra Simone, Joanna Shupe, Eva Leigh, Nicola Davidson, Adriana Herrera
If you’re crossing your fingers that Bridgerton brings the heat, you won’t want to miss this steamy anthology hitting shelves later this month. Combining the talents of five of our favorite romance authors, each short story follows a duke and the woman who steals his heart. Simone’s entry features a duke chasing after his nephew’s runaway fiancée, Shupe’s heroine is determined to seduce a duke who happens to be her father’s best friend, Leigh brings a duke and a governess together, Davidson’s duke enters into a scandalous contract with a spinster, and Herrera’s takes her heroine on an adventure she won’t forget.
An Inconvenient Duke by Anna Harrington
The first installment in the Lords of the Armory series introduces readers to Marcus Braddock, Duke of Hampton. A former general, Marcus returns from war to discover a tragic accident led to his sister’s death. Convinced that there’s more to the story than he’s been told, Marcus decides to investigate and turns to Danielle, his sister Elise’s best friend. He sets out to earn her trust, and along the way loses his heart.
So excited for Bridgerton!! Erica Ridley and Julia Quinn are two of my favorites!