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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
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: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
kaitrates's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
'You're here,' he repeated, taking her hand and drawing it against his chest, right above his pounding heartbeat. 'In my heart. Somehow you crashed your way into it when I wasn't looking. The same way you barged into my library, I supposed. But you're here now, inside. Emma, you're the very life of me.'
BRB don't mind me completely SWOONING over this gorgeous, funny, steamy romance.
This was my first Tessa Dare book (though I apparently read a short story of hers in a Christmas anthology years ago) and it absolutely won't be my last. I had a blast!
So many surprising and funny moments in this! From Ash moonlighting as a vigilante (LOVE) to the many sex scenes to our badass girl group.
I've taken a long break from histrom, mostly because my taste in books has evolved. It feels good to "come home" and find unexpected disability rep in a type of book that I've definitely become less likely to pick up in recent years (namely those by white authors featuring characters who are white, cishet, conventionally attractive, thin, and appearing pre-disabled).
What kept this from being a true 5 star for me is that I wanted it to rooted in a bit more of a disability justice lens. I wanted more from Ash's character arc related to his scarring and chronic pain, as well as his identity as disabled. I wanted him to reckon with his sense of self, his internalised ableism and pretty privelege. I also chaff at the fact that this is apparently a beauty and the beast retelling because of his disability? ICK.
All in all, I really enjoyed this and am eager to dive into the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and War
annick's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The funny sarcastic banter in the opening scenes was great. But I lost interest soon after with the narrative and plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
becap's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
Me encantó
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
yoohanna's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Sexual content, Ableism, and Panic attacks/disorders
mousecat's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit
boundbyemily's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
“Don’t love me.”
The words came unbidden from his throat. Not a thought, but a plea.
“Too late,” she whispered in his ear.
“Don’t tell me so. Don’t say the words.”
“I love you.” She cupped his face in her hands and brushed a kiss to his lips. “I love you so much.”
Beauty and the Beast meets Batman — this story had all the delectable b&tb tropes with a more brazen and strong willed fmc. A definite must read if you like historical romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Ableism
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
michbrito's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Body shaming
Moderate: Pregnancy