The Unexpected Duchess By Valerie Bowman May 2026

Lady Lucy Upton is a "vivacious" and opinionated heroine with a unique appearance—mismatched blue and hazel eyes and unruly curly hair.

Lucy hides behind a hedgerow to feed Cassandra discouraging lines, only to find herself invigorated by the "Duke of Decisive," who proves to be her intellectual match. The Unexpected Duchess by Valerie Bowman

The story highlights a core friendship between three distinct women: the scholarly intellectual, the delicate beauty, and the witty Lucy. Lady Lucy Upton is a "vivacious" and opinionated

by Valerie Bowman is the witty and romantic debut of the Playful Brides series , set in Regency England. Inspired by Edmond Rostand’s classic play Cyrano de Bergerac , the novel subverts traditional romance tropes with a spirited "battle of wits". Plot Overview the delicate beauty