*** 2.5 Stars *** *** Review updated to add: The writing is excellent, it is the main character and events with which I take issue. ***

Several years ago, Lady Della Howlett, the older daughter of a duke, ran away with her dance instructor (with no thought about how that would affect her sisters). She wasn’t happy at home with a cold domineering father and an unfeeling mother and when Mr. Baxter showed an interest in her, she fell for him. It didn’t take her long to realize he wasn’t the one she wanted to spend her life with, but she was already expecting a child by then. Still, she wouldn’t marry him. Her parents disowned her and refused to have anything to do with either her or her child. After the birth of their daughter, Nora, Mr. Baxter took off with Della’s jewels, leaving Della and Nora to fend for themselves. Luckily for Della and Nora, they were befriended and rescued by Sarah Wattings.

Captain Griffith Davies (a Viscount) lived with constant criticism from his father. He was never good enough, never smart enough – just never – enough. With no thought for how it would affect his much-loved cousin, at the age of sixteen (or maybe it was seventeen) Griffith ran away to sea. Now, he is a much-respected captain of his own vessel, serving queen and country. He’s docked in London waiting for his ship to be reloaded before heading back out to sea. He and his first mate are at a pub getting drunk when – he’s accosted by a hat pin wielding female – and then he’s arrested by the Royal Navy.

This author’s books are always humorous and I was really looking forward to reading this one. Sadly, for me, a small bit of humor and a generally likable hero were all it had going for it. Had it not been for those two things, I would have put the book down before the halfway point and would not have finished it.

When I first began to read, I thought the biggest problem I would have with the book was that there was absolutely no way Griffith could be a Viscount. That just couldn’t have been the case. After a few chapters, that didn’t even signify. What did signify was the heroine. She grated on every nerve in my body. I have not ever read a more selfish, self-centered, controlling, demanding, unrelatable and unlikeable heroine. She was a bitchy shrew of the highest order and I totally failed to see why Griffith would desire to spend one minute with her much less fall in love with her.

I love strong, independent, resilient female leads but Della just came off as shrewish. It was her way or the highway and she was very, very, very quick to take offense. If you did not do her bidding and do it her way, she wanted nothing to do with you. You must constantly apologize to her, tell her you'd do whatever she wished, in whatever manner she wished it. Nobody could help her –not for any reason – nor could they do anything for her – which was highly hypocritical because her ‘mission’ was to find Sarah’s husband and reunite them.

Why do so many authors seem to equate being strong and resilient women with shrews? I know a lot of very strong, very resilient and very independent women and most of them are very lovable as well as strong. Why can’t a strong heroine want an equal partnership rather than demanding that it all be her way or the highway?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I had issues with Griffith as well. Not many though. I really liked him and wanted him to find his HEA with almost anyone except Della. My issue with Griffith was merely that he had no spine when it came to Della – he was obsessed with her.

The book moved along at a low altitude with Griffith and the humor keeping me going. Then, at around the 70% mark, it started losing even that altitude and by the 80-85% mark, it had taken a nose-dive and had crash landed. Griffith just needed to grow a set when it came to Della. I think the entire book had been hinting at a dom/sub thing (no, I don’t know exactly how that works) and then that scene toward the end just put the nail in the books coffin for me.

Just as an additional side note, this book had a very modern ‘feel’ to it. It was more like a contemporary read that is dressed up in period clothes.

So, the bottom line is – I would not re-read this book nor would I purchase it for a friend. I hope my view is in the minority and that the author has success with this, but I just cannot recommend it. This is all my own personal opinion -- you might love it. If you choose to read it, I hope that you really do like it.

Given Goodreads rating system, 2-stars means 'it was OK' and 3-stars means 'I Liked it'-- therefore, I believe 2-stars is the correct rating.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through Edelweiss+ in exchange for a fair review. Never A Bride by Megan Frampton is the 4th book in her delightful Duke’s Daughters series. It can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the series. Captain Griffin Davies, Viscount Stanbury heir to the Duke of Northam meets Lady Della Howlett when she searches him out as she is helping her best friend locate her missing husband and he had been a seaman on one of Griffins ships. Griffin agrees to help her out locating the missing man if she will help him navigate the ton by pretending to be his betrothed. His cousin the Duke is quite ill and Griffin will need to learn how to be a Duke. Lady Della Howlett is a scandal, she ran off with her dancing master and had a daughter and has been disowned by her ducal parents. I loved the banter between these two. Going along with them on their journey to HEA was a delight. It was so nice to read a light hearted book for a change. Quite steamy. Publishing Date April 30, 2019
#AvonBooks #MeganFrampton #Edelweissplus #NeverABride ( )