Name a more iconic duo than a duke and a bluestocking.

That’s what we’re getting in Emily Sullivan’s latest historical romance, Duchess Material [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM]. Phoebe is from a family with money, but she wants to do some good in the world. She’s left her family behind for the most part and is now a teacher for women in a rough part of London in the 1890s. When one of her students disappears, she takes it upon herself to investigate and lands in police custody. The only thing she can think of to save herself is to drop the name of her childhood friend, Will, who happens to be a duke now.

He also happens to be her childhood crush that she never really got over. Seeing him again after several years brings a lot of those feelings back. On Will’s side of things, he’s trying to find a duchess and is surprised to find he doesn’t mind when Phoebe distracts him from this quest. The quest to find the missing student quickly takes over and shows him things about his fancy duke life that he didn’t know.

One of my favorite aspects of Duchess Material is that it works through an aspect of the time period that you don’t often see. It feels so fresh for the genre to get glimpses into prostitution and what crap women went through in order to be on their own.

Overall, this is a spicy and fun ride. I don’t know what it is about romances in 1800’s UK with a mystery subplot that I love so much, but it’s basically crack. This one did not disappoint and I’m definitely looking forward to Phoebe’s sister Alex getting a story next.

118. MARIE BENEDICT RETURNS: A two-timeline tale of a female pharoah chiseled out of history – LiteraryHype Podcast

Send us Fan MailThis week on LiteraryHype Podcast, Marie Benedict returns. Her conversation in episode 68 was the most-downloaded episode of 2025, and she's challenging you all to make this one do even better.Marie's newest book is Daughter Of Egypy, which is about a female pharoah named Hatshepsut and the female archaeolgist, Lady Evelyn Clarke, who went in search of her tomb and found something even bigger. Both women saw their accomplishments diminished, and Marie explores what may have gone down in history. We're talking all about the book, her trips to Egypt, and her efforts to tell the story correctly.Links to come.Support the showSupport the podcast by shopping:EtsyMy Bookshop.org listsLibroFM audiobooksTry Audible Plus  Gift Audible Membership Glocusent LED Neck Reading LightTry Shameless Snacks10% Off at Once Upon a Bookclub10% off Goli VitaminsTWO FREE AUDIOBOOKS with new LibroFM Membership: Kindle Unlimited FREE FOR THREE MONTHS!Prime Television FREE TRIALJoin the fun!WebsiteInstagramTiktokY…

1. 118. MARIE BENEDICT RETURNS: A two-timeline tale of a female pharoah chiseled out of history 20:32
2. 117. K.L. WALTHER: A Risky Business retelling, romcom shenanigans, and heavy topics in YA romance 22:12
3. 116. SHANNON J. SPANN: Crafting a theatre-based fantasy world & finding your own voice 37:19
4. 115. AMALIE HOWARD: Writing Why Choose Romantasy & Finding Her Own Voice 35:37
5. 114. KRISTIN DWYER RETURNS: Publishing a book when BTS is making a comeback 21:14

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