The Duchess Deal(Girl Meets Duke #1)
by Tessa Dare
August 22, 2017
370 pages
Goodreads Summary:
When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules… 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…
When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules… 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…
Review
It's been a while since I last read a regency romance so when I saw The Duchess Deal had excellent reviews I picked it up. So swoony but also the angsts!
The Duke of Ashbury's scarred features has led to some deep emotional wounds. Only with one girl's appearance does his self-loathing begin to lessen. At first it frustrated me to no end that Ashbury kept pushing Emma away. Such a stubborn man. He really needed to recognize the good things in his life. I was so relieved when she eventually melted his iced over heart. The monster-prowling-the-street story arc was a bit cliché but clever in the way it was used in the story. It led to many laughs ;)
I really liked Emma's personality. She was sweet and upfront about her feelings most of the time. Past experience had her facing reality early on. As a result she was motivated to act in calculating ways but it was always with the best of intentions at heart. I loved the nicknames she used on the Duke and how it became a game to find the right one. It was hilarious hearing the endearments Emma (and her friends) came up with. I never realized there could be so many and some were just plain ridiculous! It's a wonder she never used the same one twice.
The sexual atmosphere between Emma and Ash was electrifying. They really heated up the pages! The will-they-won't-they tension was super exciting. Romance fans will not be disappointed with this relationship and its curious heroine and sexy beast of a hero ;)
Now the setup of the next couple has me intrigued. Their bookstore meet cute was adorable. I can't wait to see what kind of sparks they'll ignite! Like The Duchess Deal, I'm certain it'll be swoony AF.
The Duke of Ashbury's scarred features has led to some deep emotional wounds. Only with one girl's appearance does his self-loathing begin to lessen. At first it frustrated me to no end that Ashbury kept pushing Emma away. Such a stubborn man. He really needed to recognize the good things in his life. I was so relieved when she eventually melted his iced over heart. The monster-prowling-the-street story arc was a bit cliché but clever in the way it was used in the story. It led to many laughs ;)
I really liked Emma's personality. She was sweet and upfront about her feelings most of the time. Past experience had her facing reality early on. As a result she was motivated to act in calculating ways but it was always with the best of intentions at heart. I loved the nicknames she used on the Duke and how it became a game to find the right one. It was hilarious hearing the endearments Emma (and her friends) came up with. I never realized there could be so many and some were just plain ridiculous! It's a wonder she never used the same one twice.
The sexual atmosphere between Emma and Ash was electrifying. They really heated up the pages! The will-they-won't-they tension was super exciting. Romance fans will not be disappointed with this relationship and its curious heroine and sexy beast of a hero ;)
Now the setup of the next couple has me intrigued. Their bookstore meet cute was adorable. I can't wait to see what kind of sparks they'll ignite! Like The Duchess Deal, I'm certain it'll be swoony AF.
o0o maybe this is something I need! It sounds so cute and I've been kind of looking for something like this. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
~Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
I'm so happy to hear you say that! Happy reading Brittany <3
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