What I Did For a Duke: Pennyroyal Green Series (Pennyroyal Green, 5) Mass Market Paperback – February 22, 2011

I am new to romance novels, and I found this to be great series. Julie Ann Long does a wonderful job of developing the characters in each book so that you fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other. This series tells the story of two families, the Redmonds and the Everseas, who have hated each other for centuries. The Redmonds, Isaiah and Franchette, have three sons, Lyon, Miles, and Jonathan, a daughter Violet, and a niece, Lisbeth. Jacob and Isolde Eversea have four sons, Marcus, Chase, Ian, and Colin, two daughters, Olivia and Genevieve, and a nephew, Adam Sylvaine. So far (as of August, 2013) there are 8 books in the series, and still more to come. You could try to read just one or two books from the series, and Long recaps the characters that are important for each story so that you could read just one, but it's worth it to read them all. I won't go into great detail on the characters or plot of this book or the others, you can read the other reviews for that. I just wanted to write a review on the series itself for those looking to begin it.1. The Perils of Pleasure: The story of Colin Eversea, sexy, witty, and charming, and about to hang for a crime he didn't commit, and Madeline Greenway, his rescuer, who is smart and strong, and wanting to earn enough money to sail to America and start a new life for herself. The story takes them on a journey to discover the truth about the crime in order to clear his name, who is trying to hide the truth about the crime, and who is paying to have him rescued. I loved Colin and Madeline.2. Like No Other Lover: The story of Miles Redmond, an entomologist who has traveled the world, and returns to England hoping to secure enough money to fund another journey. He is the second Redmond son who is now the family heir, due to the disappearance of the eldest and beloved son Lyon. Cynthia Brightley is a woman who snubbed him years ago when she had her choice of men to marry, and after a scandal that essentially kicks her out of favor with high society, finds herself invited to the Redmond's home for a house party. This is a great one in the series, and will have you laughing out loud!3. Since the Surrender: The story of Chase Eversea, a wounded war hero who is sent by his family to bring his cousin Adam back to Pennyroyal Green to become the town's vicar. This is my least favorite of the series. I wanted to like this story, but I was disappointed. It was meant to be mysterious and suspenseful, but just fell short to me. The characters are well written and I liked them well enough, but the plot just seemed to be a let down in the end.4. I Kissed an Earl: The story of Violet Redmond, and her overseas journey to find her brother Lyon and save him from the Earl of Ardmay, who wants to bring him to justice for suspected piracy. This book is very slow to get going (especially after reading the previous book in the series), and I found myself putting it down halfway through, but I'm glad I picked it up again because everything picks up and gets so exciting, it ended up being one of my favorites.5. What I Did for a Duke: The story of Genevieve Eversea and Alexander Moncrieffe. Genevieve is in love with her best friend Harry who is about to become engaged to someone else. Alexander was engaged to be married until he discovered Genevieve's brother Ian in bed with his fiancé. Now he wants to make life hell for Ian, and hopes to use Genevieve to do so. Each story in this series (with the exception of Chase's) just gets better and better. I loved to watch the friendship and romance develop between these two.6. How the Marquess was Won: Lisbeth Redmond thinks her beauty and last name will win her the love of Lord Julian Spencer. Spencer needs to marry Lisbeth in order to reclaim a portion of Redmond land that once belonged to his family. Neither of them counted on a schoolteacher by the name of Phoebe Vale to disrupt their plans. This one was so good, so charming and funny, and I fell in love with Julian and Phoebe.7. A Notorious Countess Confesses: The story of Reverend Adam Sylvaine and Evie Duggan. I must say, I didn't think I would enjoy this one since he's the vicar, and well... how romantic could it be??? And was I ever wrong. I couldn't put this one down!8. It Happened One Midnight: The story of Jonathan Redmond and Thomasina. Jonathan's character has really grown since the beginning of the series, and I absolutely fell in love with him in the book. This was my absolute favorite it the series. It's a must read!

4.5 stars for me...Cut to the Chase:This book has wonderfully drawn characters that are complex, yet easy to relate to – both of our protagonists are at initially cross purposes (she is in love with her childhood sweetheart, he is in love with no one, and wants merely to use her for revenge), but their internal growth/self-realizations, as well as their journey towards each other is wonderfully believable, very passionate and also thoroughly engaging for the reader. There are times when the writing gets a little too cutesy/farcical for me, and the timeline in which the story unfolds makes it borderline unbelievable… all of which pulls me out of the story and makes me give it a less than perfect rating. That said, it’s been a long time since I’ve been this engrossed in a historical romance.Greater Detail:We start off seeing Ian Eversea climb into bed with Alexander Moncrieffe’s (the Duke of Falconbridge) fiancée Abigail. It’s a humorous scene, made more so by the appearance of the duke, who threatens Ian with a pistol and then makes the younger man climb out of Abigail’s window stark naked and go after a horse that’s already been set loose. Despite the fact that Ian and Abigail weren’t able to consummate their relationship, Falconbridge believes he has been cuckolded, and decides to seduce Ian’s innocent sister Genevieve as retaliation.Genevieve, meanwhile, has been in love with her best friend Harry for years now, and waits in anticipation of him proposing – the problem is, Harry confesses that he’s hoping to propose to their mutual friend Millicent. Genevieve is, of course, heartbroken and not at all interested in the attentions of Falconbridge.Since Falconbridge is attending the Eversea’s house party, he and Genevieve are thrown together constantly (mostly because he’s pursuing her and trying to make sure that they stay in each other’s orbits). Fairly soon, they develop a genuine liking for one another, with Falconbridge admitting his initial plan for revenge, guessing at Genevieve’s unrequited love for Harry, and even offering to help her.What’s really wonderful about the story and its characters is that in helping each other, they kind of inadvertently reveal layers of their own personality that had been dormant. Genevieve tortures her brother Ian with talks of wills and last words, even though she’s generally thought of as the quiet, serene sister, who should be above such pranks. And Falconbridge, who has a reputation for being so cold and heartless, is really shown to be quite witty, and even vulnerable because of a painful past.The dialogue is engaging and believable (though Long is a little overly fond of italicizing in her dialogue so that everyone starts to sound a certain way with a particular rhythm), the love scenes are quite passionate and well written and overall, it’s thoroughly enjoyable. I would read it again, I would happily recommend it and most of the things here are nitpicking details (like the fact that other than the initial introductory scene with Ian and Abigail, and the epilogue happy ending scene, everything in this book takes places within a one week house party doesn’t really work for me… or that they keep referring to the duke the wrong way…not ideal, but not a deal breaker either…)Other Things to Know:This is the fifth book in the Pennyroyal Green series – and though there are a lot of references to characters who have already had their book (for example, Colin Eversea, who’s featured in The Perils of Pleasure) as well as ones who will obviously be featured in future novels (Vicar Adam Sylvaine ,who was later the protagonist in A Notorious Countess Confesses as well as Olivia Eversea, whose book hasn’t been published/written yet). I read them out of order, and I think that each story is more or less standalone. That said, there are a LOT of references to the side characters, and part of me wishes that I had proceeded chronologically.Comparisons to Other Authors:The author Long reminds me of the most is definitely Julia Quinn… maybe Amanda Quick. She has less sex than many other authors (Laurens, Kleypas, even Quinn), though the scenes that are here are fairly intense. Mostly, it’s her witty dialogue and funny scenarios that remind me of Quinn – there’s a sense here that everything can be poked at, and be found to be entertaining, which is something I appreciate. However, like Quinn, Long seems to get carried away with the mirth of it all sometimes, and I found it hard not to roll my eyes at just how far-fetched a couple of the scenes were.

Every written word of Julie is so elaborated, so much art. I very much enjoyed the witty and intelligent dialogues. I really devoured this book, could not stop reading it. It is going to be one of the very small amount of books that I will reread in the future. Reading the description did not prepare me for this at all. Simply amazing. Don’t miss it!

this is the first book in the series that i read but i am definitely going to read them all s.s.

Alex e Genevieve são um casal tão fofo!!!!Tiveram duas coisas que não gostei no livro: o Harry e os problemas que com a diferença de idade entre os protagonistas. Harry era apenas burro (desculpa contar isso, mas ele realmente era) e a diferença de idade entre Alex e Genevieve é bem tranquila. Fala sério, ela já tinha mais de vinte anos e ele tinha uns trinta e poucos, não era um problema tão sério assim e a Genenieve realmente me incomodava ao reclamar que Alex era tão velho quanto o pai dela.Na real? Se isso realmente fosse verdade, o pai da Genevieve teria tido a filha e os irmãos mais velhos dela quando ele era apenas uma PRÉ-ADOLESCENTE. Isso serial totalmente assustador e eu realmente ficava incomodada toda vez que a diferença de idade era mencionada.Mesmo assim, realmente amei o livro e DEFINITIVAMENTE vou ler mais livros da Julie Anne Long! <3

At first, I thought there was a bit too much flourish/hyperbole to the language being used but it was so, so worth it once the book really locked into the intimate conversations and moments between Alex and Genevieve. The focus on the love story, rather than some nefarious subplot, is my favourite type of historical romance and the love scenes were amazing because the relationship between the two main characters had built up so beautifully and intensely. Excuse me, while I go fan myself.

#5 of the " Pennyroyal Green Series. " This was a hilariously funny novel, from the Duke making Ian crawl out the window naked when he is discovered to the end of the novel, it is just laugh out loud fun. The Swan chasing the mean girl while the Lord and the footman chase it was so much fun and so lifelike, if you have ever been charged by a swan or a goose you know how vicious they can be, and no they don't give up. Ian wondering if his food was safe to eat - another silly scene that just had me laughing. But this novel was also a very romantic story, too, although with about a 20 year age gap you would not have expected this. This was probably my favorite novel of the " Pennyroyal Green Series "