#CountYourDukes has been going around Instagram, where historical romance readers count the novels they own with “duke” in the title. I don’t have enough paperbacks to participate in the picture challenge, but the challenge has inspired me to cultivate a list of all the historical romance books I have read or written starring a duke as the hero. So without further ado, here are my Regency, Victorian, and other historical eras about dukes (or about-to-be dukes):

This list will be updated every time I read an amazing historical romance about a duke!

THE ALPHA DUKE

In which the duke knows how much power he has and is happy to lord it over people (but he absolutely will not fall in love, thank you very much). 

Accidentally Compromising a Duke by Stacy Reid

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.01

A debutante wants to trick a man into marriage, but she accidentally goes into the wrong bedroom and ends up marrying a famously cold duke. 

The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.90

A duke hires a prostitute one night, only to feel so guilty about it that he hires her as a governess to “save” her from sex work. When she shows up, they have very complicated feelings towards each other.

Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.09

A duke and a maiden pass a stormy night alone with his dying cousin in a hunting shed. The duke insists they marry; the maiden would rather not. But she stays to solve the mystery, and of course, she ends up falling in love as well.

Surrender to the Devil by Lorraine Heath

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.0

Franny is very happy as bookkeeper for London’s premier gambling hell, but the duke, Sterling, is determined to lure her into being his mistress. They play cat and mouse until he finally listens to her (and until she decides she wants to enthusiastically consent).

The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.87

Violet is the shy twin in glasses. Her sister is the one marrying dreamy Adrian. Until Jeanette decides the morning of the wedding she doesn't want to go through with it, so they pull the ultimate switch, and Violet marries him instead. Everything is great - except her husband has no idea he married the wrong sister.

How to Love a Duke in 10 Days by Kerrigan Byrne

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.16

Alexandra is a successful archaeologist who really has no need of men at all. She shows up to her friend’s wedding ready to save her from a sticky situation, only to be drawn inexplicably to the groom. Obviously, the solution is to marry him herself, saving her friend. 

One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.86

Spencer doesn’t neglect duty, which is why he always shows up and dances a single set at balls during the season. He has never been distracted by his partner until Lady Amelia D’Orsay claims his dance - and makes some demands. An uneven friendship blossoms between them until it becomes something more. 

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart by Sarah MacLean

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.02

The Duke of Disdain has absolutely zero interest in anyone with a whiff of scandal coming near his family, so he is pretty ticked off to find scandal-in-waiting Juliana Fiori hiding in his carriage one night. They embark on a two-week companionship that shakes both their worlds.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.99

Sebastian Devereaux is a politically savvy duke who wields his power happily. Annabelle Archer is determined to turn that power towards the suffragette movement. An enemies-to-lovers escapade ensues.

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THE DUKE IN DENIAL

In which the duke doesn’t really want to face up to his responsibilities, either because of trauma or because he is being a man-child.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.88

We all know this one! Simon hates his father so much that he has been avoiding all ducal responsibilities, but when he compromises his best friend’s sister, they have to marry. Complications ensue. 

The Duke who Didn’t by Courtney Milan

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.96

Jeremy has a secret: he is the duke who has neglected the town of Wedgeford so long they joke about it. He is also in love with Chloe, and he is afraid she will judge him. Too bad she is so busy with her to-do list she doesn’t notice he is trying to marry her.

Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Ghurke

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.91

The Duke of Tremore is passionate about archaeology, and Daphne is the best archaeologist archivist he can find. He doesn’t realize she has the biggest crush ever on him. Then he *sees her without glasses* and can’t keep his hands off her, under the guise of *teaching her to be a woman*. Along the way, they both learn more about themselves.

Duke of My Heart by Kelly Bowen

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.89

Max wasn’t supposed to become the duke, so he is very happy to continue running his shipping line rather than take over his duties. The only problem is that his sister disappears the night of her coming-out (with a naked man in her bed). He doesn’t have any choice but to trust Ivory to make this scandal disappear - and find his sister - no matter how much he is distracted by her beauty. 

The Other Duke by Jess Michaels

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.79

Serafina really didn’t want to marry her fiance, the duke, so she is pretty happy when he drops dead. Except his successor lays claim to the marriage contract. A reluctant, handsome, womanizing successor. She is determined not to fall in love, even if she does have to marry the duke, but he has other ideas.

THE DO-GOOD DUKE

That rare, progressive duke who wants to use his power to change the world. Most of these are cinnamon roll beta heroes!

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.86

Ash has seized the dukedom from his long-lost relatives after the previous duke committed bigamy. He has no qualms, until he falls in love with the duke’s daughter - who hates him.

Would I Lie to the Duke? By Eva Leigh

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.85

Noel realizes how ridiculous it is to be a duke. Since he can’t do anything about the attention he receives, he tries to use it for good by making responsible investments and treating people kindly. When he meets Jess, he thinks he has finally met a woman who sees beneath his title - and who is even more interested in business than he is. 

The Duchess Wager by me!

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.26

Fitz doesn’t believe in marrying simply because one has fallen in love. So he takes a wager that he won’t marry his next sweetheart. And then he meets Margot, who isn’t interested in marrying him in the first place. 

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.83

Minerva Lane is a strategist, and her goal is to stay invisible as she fights for labor reform. But then the Duke of Clermont comes to town. Somehow, he notices everything she does. And he’s interested in her. And her activities. And she can’t bring herself to reject him the way she should, even though there is no future whatsoever for them.