Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma
Author: Violet Marsh
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B+
What I’m Talking About:
Eoin Aucourte, newly minted Duke of Foxglen at only 22 years of age, is ready to make some changes to the dukedom now that his abusive grandfather has passed. However, his first mission is to locate his mother and sister, who were turned out of the household after his father died when Eoin was six. He approaches the gang at the Black Sheep coffee shop for help.
Hannah, one of the proprietresses of the Black Sheep, is mad at herself after flirting with Eoin, not knowing who he is. But when he returns asking for help, she sees it as her opportunity to get revenge on the Aucourte family for stealing land from her family. She quickly agrees to help him find his mother, hoping to get secrets on the family in order to ruin them.
Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is the third tale in Marsh’s unconventional, unnamed historical romance series, and it’s my favorite to date. I love how Hannah and Eoin have an immediate attraction before realizing who the other is. I appreciate the baggage both carry, but in the end, it really doesn’t weight them down too badly. They work well together and genuinely respect one another. Each lifts the other, helping one another be their best.
Yes, Hannah’s secret by omission (not telling Eoin about their families’ past connections) hangs over them nearly the entire story, and sure *spoiler* he doesn’t find out from her. And yep, if she’d told him early on it wouldn’t have been an issue… but the author doesn’t make it a huge issue either, which is in keeping with Eoin’s character. He knows his family is trash and wants to improve things. He wants to be a fair duke, and Hannah helps him believe in himself.
There is a wonderful twist in the discovery of Eoin’s missing family, and I LOVED the entire scene and reveal. Their reunion is tender; I will not confirm nor deny if there were a few tears in my eye. The mystery behind who is trying to bring down Eoin is fun to follow, but the plot is a tad weak, although it functioned as a great way to bring the couple together.
Although this is a standalone story and romance, I believe Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma is best read after the first two books in the series due to character development. I’m really enjoying the gang at the Black Sheep, and I am hopeful we get one or two more pairings.
Note: This book is directly connected to and follows chronologically Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man and Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case by Violet Marsh.
My Rating: B+
Jen
About the Book:
Eoin Aucourte, the newly minted Duke of Foxglen, always played by his grandfather’s rules. But now that the old man is dead, Eoin’s first decision is to track down his long-lost mother. The only problem? He’ll have to visit the infamous Black Sheep Coffeehouse to begin his search. Rumor has it that the owner, Miss Hannah Wick, knows all the gossip from the dingiest St. Giles alleyways to the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair. But the whip-smart daughter of a pirate also has a way of making Eoin forget all the lessons on propriety that his grandfather ruthlessly instilled in him.
The Duke of Foxglen represents everything Hannah disdains about the nobility. Even worse, his grandfather exiled her papa from England, setting her father on the course of piracy and endangering her entire family. Seeing an opportunity to seek vengeance on his family, Hannah pretends to “help” the shy, surprisingly handsome duke—but soon realizes Eoin may be the first truly honorable noble she’s ever met.
With every clue they uncover, their search intensifies … and so does their attraction. But with so many secrets between them, does love even stand a chance?
Release Date: March 17, 2026
Publisher: Forever
Series: Unnamed Series #3
Genre: Historical Romance
Format(s): paperback (336 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: NetGalley
#RRBC 2026: Non-Regency Historical romance Georgian era