I dislike giving single star reviews, but I just didn’t like anything about this. I’ve read 6 previous books by this author and they were mostly 3s, which isn’t a high score, but I also didn’t dislike any of them. This one though… I actually *disliked* both main characters, which is rare, usually at most I am just indifferent to at least one, lol. The heroine was supposed to come off as the less spoiled princess maybe? But that still left her plenty self focused with her defining feature just being ‘a princess’. And I feel like we were meant to feel sorry for her, but it’s hard to pity a future queen. And the hero was obnoxiously cocky with not much more to him either. A lot of the book is just them butting heads, and then suddenly we’re supposed to believe they care deeply for each other and no one else will do. I didn’t buy it at all. There’s an attempt at some political intrigue and matchmaking as well, but I couldn’t muster any care for it either. I considered still trying the next book, but it looks like it’s also a class difference/enemies to lovers trope, with a matchmaker, just with the more frivolous and spoiled sister princess. So no. ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Last Duke Standing is the first book in a new series, A Royal Match by Julia London. It is related to her previous series, The Royal Wedding, as it is set in the same world and shares secondary characters with the first series but takes place later in time. Crown Princess Justine of Westloria has been sent to London to find a match, her father is dying, and the men in her government are not open to her ruling as queen without a suitable consort. Therein lies the conundrum. She needs a partner who is confident enough in himself to understand that she is the queen, and he the consort but still strong enough to support her without trying to rule himself. Lord William Douglas, Marquess of Hamilton and Clydesdale, heir to the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, has spent the last few years trying to repair the damage to his family's fortunes caused by his father, so he is understandably annoyed when he's coerced into reporting back to the prime minister of Westloria the progress of Justine's matchmaking adventures. He soon discovers that the obnoxious teen princess has grown into a woman who may just steal his heart.
Delightful banter, strong supporting characters, and a couple whose HEA will have you cheering are the hallmarks of a Julia London novel, and this story is no exception. I enjoyed reading it very much and do recommend it highly. Steam Level: light side of medium. Publishing Date: February 2, 2022. #LastDukeStanding #JuliaLondon #HQN #HarlequinRomance #HistoricalRomance #RoyalRomance #HistoricalRomanceReader #bookstagram #bookstagrammer ( )