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laurenblack's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
jdanby's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first regency-era historical romance and I’m surprised by how much I ended up adoring it. The main couple (Emma and Ash) are adorable, and all the supporting characters are so lovable!
You’ve… been menaced.” 😂😂😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
paui's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
espurrr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I usually do not enjoy historical romances, yet I really had fun with The Duchess Deal. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, Bridgerton-style romance with more self-awareness and better, more likeable characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical trauma
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
This is a romp, which feels so rare in Beauty and the Beast retellings (that often feel so dark-and-stormy). This is classic Tessa Dare humor - absurd, over-the-top, and wryly modern despite the historical setting. The melodramatic scenes feel intentionally campy, and yet the relational development throughout our marriage-of-convenience still feels very sincere and tender. For the first time in my reading existence I was more frustrated with our female main character than our male main character in the third act (who am I?!), but I still loved how well balanced these final conflicts are in construction and how authentically they mirror our characters' fears.
A great starting point for readers newer to historical romance, and an easy entry point to Tessa Dare.
A great starting point for readers newer to historical romance, and an easy entry point to Tessa Dare.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Vomit and Pregnancy
jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beauty & the Beast inspired marriage of convenience between a grumpy Duke and the seamstress who knocks him on his ass. A great series starter and a perfect intro to HistRom.
Emma is 😮💨
*narrated by Mary Jane Wells 😍😍
Emma is 😮💨
*narrated by Mary Jane Wells 😍😍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, and War
mood_reading_maya's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
What fun this book was! It had everything I love about Tessa Dare's writing style: history, emotional connection, humor (so much humor), interesting characters, just a teensy bit bonkers plot, and the perfect balance of spice.
In The Duchess Deal, Ash and Emma enter into a marriage of convenience. Ash needs an heir; Emma needs financial security (and has a desire to help a friend with her out of wedlock pregnancy). What follows is an immensely funny and deliciously spicy grand old time. As the first book in the series, it does such a great job balancing the introduction of side characters for future books and maintaining the focus on the primary couple's dynamics. You have scheming servants pushing these two into situations designed to make them "fall in love." You have a cloaked Duke wandering the streets of Mayfair and taking out ruffians (a little bit like Batman but much sillier). You have a group of 3 unconventional "spinsters" who befriend and support Emma. You have Ash and Emma boinking non-freaking-stop in their efforts to produce the ducal heir at the center of their marriage of convenience. This is a good time all around!
Ash is a grumpy, disillusioned, and broody sort of Duke. He lives with significant facial and upper body scars from a war injury at Waterloo. He uses Shakespearean curses quite vividly! He doesn't want to fall in love, but well there's just no helping it when it comes to Emma. For her part, Emma is witty, intelligent, and unfazed by Ash's broodiness. She has worked to make her own way since being thrown out by her father at 16, and is loath to give up her seamstress skills just because of newfound financial security.
You want a fun summertime historical romance read? This is it!
In The Duchess Deal, Ash and Emma enter into a marriage of convenience. Ash needs an heir; Emma needs financial security (and has a desire to help a friend with her out of wedlock pregnancy). What follows is an immensely funny and deliciously spicy grand old time. As the first book in the series, it does such a great job balancing the introduction of side characters for future books and maintaining the focus on the primary couple's dynamics. You have scheming servants pushing these two into situations designed to make them "fall in love." You have a cloaked Duke wandering the streets of Mayfair and taking out ruffians (a little bit like Batman but much sillier). You have a group of 3 unconventional "spinsters" who befriend and support Emma. You have Ash and Emma boinking non-freaking-stop in their efforts to produce the ducal heir at the center of their marriage of convenience. This is a good time all around!
Ash is a grumpy, disillusioned, and broody sort of Duke. He lives with significant facial and upper body scars from a war injury at Waterloo. He uses Shakespearean curses quite vividly! He doesn't want to fall in love, but well there's just no helping it when it comes to Emma. For her part, Emma is witty, intelligent, and unfazed by Ash's broodiness. She has worked to make her own way since being thrown out by her father at 16, and is loath to give up her seamstress skills just because of newfound financial security.
You want a fun summertime historical romance read? This is it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and War
lucy3000's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy
leontyna's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy