Author: Torie Jean

Series: Chawton Falls in Love

First Published: 07 November 2023

“I’ve got you, Dessy. Always have.”   

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank so much Torie for sending a copy my way!

Can a professional hockey player reform his rakish ways for a winning shot at his best friend’s guarded heart?

Nestled between rocks and mountains, the slumbering town of Chawton Falls, NH, blinks alive every autumn when the Wentworth Estate hosts the Jane Austen Regency Fair.

For event coordinator Aulie Desfleurs, fall is a dizzying season full of bonnets, muslin, bicorn hats—and, unfortunately, this year, playing the role of the foolish Lydia Bennet. A sensible woman to her core, she has no time to worry about her mysterious chronic illness or love life.

So what if a spicy photo of her best friend Jack Parker in a penalty box threatens to reignite a spark from years ago? If she maintains her distance—an easy feat during hockey season—she’ll be fine.

Jack Parker, the bad boy of the American professional hockey league, is suspended…again. Forced to flee to Chawton Falls, Jack comes face to face with a swell of repressed emotions…and a goat. Seeking a distraction, he soon finds himself in the fair cast as the infamous rake, George Wickham.

Wearing breeches isn’t exactly on brand, but after five years of harboring unrequited feelings for Aulie, Jack’s willing to sport the high-waisted pants if it means convincing her he can be the dashing hero she deserves.

With a less than stellar dating history, and a suspension deadline looming, Aulie knows falling for Jack would be foolish.

But when he kisses her like a man possessed, one day, and takes care of her like a saint, the next, Aulie’s forced to choose: either embrace Jane Austen’s signature truth, “we are all fools in love,” or risk living like the author without a happily ever after of her own.

I completely adored Dukes & Dekes. I have no idea how Torie Jean can create these sweet and flirty rom-coms while packing them with some serious issues like chronic pain and grief. I adored Aulie and Jack. It gave me all the small-town and autumn vibes.

Jack and Aulie had been close friends for the past five years when Aulie dramatically entered back into Jack’s life by diving into a fountain. Jack’s instantly drawn to Aulie. She had been the only person to spark some life in him after the loss of his father. When Jack found out she was his best friend’s little sister, he never made a move. Jack is now a professional hockey player and is known for playing dirty. The new season is not off to a great start. He’s come back from a MCL injury and they are facing off his biggest rival. Unable to reign in his anger and put his team first, Jack ends up with a 40-game suspension. Wanting to lay low from the press, Jack ends up back in Chawton to spend the summer with Aulie and his family. Aulie is struggling with coordinating this year’s Jane Austen’s Regency Fair as two of her cast members have eloped and left the state and is scrambling to fill the roles of Lydia and Wickham last minute. She is behind on her planning this year as pain is flaring up. Not helped by the fact she’s had another dead-end appointment where a doctor told her there is nothing wrong with her. Jack offers to help Aulie however he can with the fair, so the pair take on the roles of Lydia and Wickham. While wearing breeches wasn’t on Jack’s list of things to do during his suspension, it does give him the chance to take the risk and show Aulie that he is the dashing hero she deserves.

Aulie has been unlucky in love and paired with her chronic pain she’s shied away from being the dreamy romantic she was when she was younger. She’s had a crush on Jack for as long as she can remember but has no confidence that her cardigan-wearing, book-loving self would be anything Jack would be interested in. Especially when comparing herself to Jack’s past girlfriends. My heart aches for Aulie as she’s struggling with her pain and because she’s been gaslighted by doctors over the last ten years. She has come to assume that she is not strong enough and that she needs to try harder to get over the pain. Over the novel, she learns to be kind to herself, to take care of her body and to recognise that it’s not a weakness to ask for help. For someone with chronic pain, it was a great reminder. The chronic pain representation here is perfection. It is something that constantly pops up throughout the novel. We see Aulie try and push through and brush away her friends and family’s concerns. I am so appreciative that Torie has included this representation as it highlights what it’s like to live with chronic pain and endometriosis. I love that Aulie slowly discovers her romantic, dreamer self as she plays Lydia and her relationship with Jack develops. She learns that while it’s scary to take a risk and fall in love, the possible heartbreak is worth the dullness of not having lived.

Jack is struggling with the grief of losing his father. He believes that he is too emotional because he was told weeks before his dad passed about his cancer diagnosis. For years, Jack has done all he can to squash down all emotions. I adore watching him slowly learn to express himself as he woos Aulie. But more than that, while learning to open up to Aulie he ends up being able to open up to his family and finally start to heal from his grief.

The friends-to-lovers element here is spot on. You can tell that there is a rich history between these characters while they are both pining. There is some miscommunication only because Jack is not good at expressing his emotions to anyone and Aulie believes she’s not his type. Also, both of them fear risking their friendship. The caretaking scenes in here, where Jack looks after Aulie, are so sweet and had me melting. If you love the caretaking trope, then you need to read this ASAP!

This book might just have the best grand gesture scene I have ever read. Not only is Jack willing to don tights again and go to reveal just how long he has been in love with Aulie, but his teammates also sit down and watch a bunch of Regency romance movies and help him workshop the whole thing. Honestly, it made my heart swoon.

If you like the sound of friends-to-lovers romances with a hint of forced proximity and a dash of mutual pinning set at a Jane Austen Regency Fair, then Dukes & Dekes is for you. I am beyond excited to see Torie write next.