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tegangrey1's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
wanderlust_romance'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: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: War, Drug use, and Drug abuse
rjwilliams911's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
ashs_books's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fun and just what I was expecting. It was funny and made me laugh. A good entertaining, lighthearted read. I enjoy a historical romance!
ashction's review against another edition
5.0
my first foray into Tessa Dare (and historical romance authors who are NOT Julia Quinn) was so much fun! emma and ashbury's banter was so much fun and i loved seeing this marriage of convenience turn into love. can't wait to pick up book 2 in this series - thankfully i already have it on deck!
caralawless's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
katiehasanxiety's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TESSA DARE CAN DO NO WRONG 🗣️ I enjoyed my reread via audio even more than my first read (and that was five stars)!!!
rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and was hooked pretty quickly. A grumpy / sunshine romance with absolutely 0 dating was so intriguing and done so well. I loved Ash and Emma so much because they were both stubborn and hurt, but couldn't resist loving each other. The writing swept you away into the romance and I couldn't get enough. Ash's secret as the night vigilante also made me love him more and also laugh at the way that evolved. Emma is the sweetest trying to help and friend, but also coming to terms with how her father's hurt has shaped how she views other relationships. The ending was oh so sweet and I will miss both these characters.
pinofomoh's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
2.5
mariettula's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ducal stars
Re-reading this, I had forgotten how funny it is. I remembered it being one of my favorite historical romances, but let me tell you...it's very funny. The banter is off the charts.
Here we have the Duke of Ashbury, or Ash, or darling, or precious angel muffin etc. etc.... He has been disfigured during a war and is determined to close himself off from everyone and everything. BUT he needs an heir.
Enter Emma. The strong heroine, having survived a lot, makes the decision to make her life easier with a marriage of convenience. And in doing so, beging their banterful, sweet and great journey.
It's an awesome read, easy and fun with the hint of vulnerability and emotions to make it all count more.
Re-reading this, I had forgotten how funny it is. I remembered it being one of my favorite historical romances, but let me tell you...it's very funny. The banter is off the charts.
Here we have the Duke of Ashbury, or Ash, or darling, or precious angel muffin etc. etc.... He has been disfigured during a war and is determined to close himself off from everyone and everything. BUT he needs an heir.
Enter Emma. The strong heroine, having survived a lot, makes the decision to make her life easier with a marriage of convenience. And in doing so, beging their banterful, sweet and great journey.
It's an awesome read, easy and fun with the hint of vulnerability and emotions to make it all count more.