The Duchess Deal
Author: Tessa Dare
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B+
What I’m Talking About:
The Duchess Deal is a hilarious, lovely historical romance. Dare retells the Beauty and the Beast story with a hardworking seamstress and a scarred-by-war Duke.
Emma shows up at the Duke of Ashbury’s home wearing the outrageous wedding dress his ex-fiancee commissioned and then didn’t pay for. Living on meager wages, she demands to be paid. Ash, desperate for a wife and admiring Emma’s fortitude, offers her a marriage of convenience instead. Despite her initial objections, he wins her over.
“That was, perhaps, the most unfeeling proposal she could imagine. The man was cynical, insensitive, condescending, rude. And she was going to marry him.”
As the pair spend time together, she gets him to open up and realize that not everyone is disgusted by his appearance. However, it’s a long journey, and progress often slips when he’s reminded of his looks. Ash is his own worst enemy, and he embraces his Monster of Mayfair moniker.
While their story is fairly predictable, it’s an absolute delight. Dare writes witty, intelligent, interesting characters. I love Emma’s constant search for the perfect pet name for Ash. She keeps him on his toes and their banter is laugh-out-loud funny. I adore all of the supporting characters, especially young Trevor who wants to the a vigilante sidekick called The Menace.
The Duchess Deal is my first Tessa Dare title, but it certainly will not be my last!
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Jen
About the Book:
Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.
His terms are simple:
– They will be husband and wife by night only.
– No lights, no kissing.
– No questions about his battle scars.
– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.
But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
– They will have dinner together every evening.
– With conversation.
– And unlimited teasing.
– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…
Release Date: August 22, 2017
Publisher: Avon
Series: Girl Meets Duke #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Format(s): e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Borrowed from the library