Monday, August 20, 2018

Review: The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare


The Duchess Deal by Tessa DareThe Duchess Deal
(Girl Meets Duke #1)
by Tessa Dare
August 22, 2017
370 pages

Goodreads     Indigo

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…



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.
 
4 Cats

2 comments:

  1. 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.

    Thanks for sharing,
    ~Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so happy to hear you say that! Happy reading Brittany <3

      Delete

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