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hammock_and_read's review
5.0
WOW this is one of the best historical romance books I have read yet! I mean you will 100% love the main character (Emma) or there is something wrong with you! It's funny with not only how they meet with her in a wedding dress to her getting a cat to have something. Chase plays badminton with his butler to keep his arm moving. Her new friends are sooo funny and can't wait to see more of them in this series.
Overall, 5 stars and 4 steam!
Overall, 5 stars and 4 steam!
mcayers316's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
20_kiki_01_jinab_04_21's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
reverie_reads_everything's review against another edition
funny
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
3.25
bjhenning's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Relatively open-door romance. Picked it up based on a recommendation from a podcast. Quick and entertaining read, with characters that you root for. Also pretty predictable.
jshepherd5's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
radianest's review against another edition
4.5
This was so much fun! The banter made me laugh out loud, even when I was in public. A marriage of convenience turned to love, with a little bit of a beauty and the beast feeling. I loved it! And am excited for the next ones, as each of the heroines were introduced in this book.
domicspinnwand's review
5.0
Hach, was für ein nettes, wortwitziges Buch! Ich habe das britische Hörbuch gehört und hatte sehr, sehr viel Spaß am britischen Akzent der Vorleserin. Aber auch die Story ist toll: Wortwitzig, clevere Charaktere, sogar die Nebenfiguren (der Butler! Lady Penny!) sind zum Niederknien - so toll! Lasst Euch nicht von diesem schauderlichen Nackenbeisser-Cover abschrecken! Wobei das Cover meiner Hörbuch-Variante nicht so grauslich war. Ich bin auch alle Fälle entzückt, Tessa Dare als Autorin entdeckt zu haben. Und da dieses Buch Teil 1 in einer bisher 3bändigen Reihe ist, kann ich gleich weiterhören - juchu!
carsonelainee's review
4.0
god bless the friend that suggested tessa dare to me when i told her i was looking to get more into historical romance. i had seen tessa dare, especially the duchess deal, around for such a long time but had never had the boost to truly get into her work.
i’m so glad i finally was in the right head space and mood to try it. these last couple of days reading her books has been the time of my life. they’re just so much fun and not overly serious. i can’t help but find my self smiling and laughing as i’m reading which hasn’t happened in a while!
the duchess deal, specifically, is very special because it has some of my favorite tropes and even some that i haven’t historically loved, but thought worked very well in the context of the story. it has marriage of convenience, forced proximity, terms of endearment, grumpy/sunshine - all things that i love! there’s also another trope that is spoilery so i won’t mention it, but historically i hate it and normally it’s enough to make me hate the book, but… i actually didn’t mind it in this instance…
emma is a standout heroine and is a fresh character among the many characters who suffer from the slightly dated conventions of historical romance novels. she is not a naive, virginal character. she actually has experience and stands up for herself on multiple occasions instead of letting herself be run over.
ashbury is a typical romance hero, but again, it’s done in a refreshing way where he doesn’t come off as a product of the time. he is funny, but also suffers from real trauma that is given great screentime in the novel without it being the butt of a joke.
together they are way too sweet. there is such a realistic development of the romance (if you suspend your disbelief for a couple of instances). i just loved it so much and could definitely see this book, and the next couple in the series, becoming a real comfort read.
i’m so glad i finally was in the right head space and mood to try it. these last couple of days reading her books has been the time of my life. they’re just so much fun and not overly serious. i can’t help but find my self smiling and laughing as i’m reading which hasn’t happened in a while!
the duchess deal, specifically, is very special because it has some of my favorite tropes and even some that i haven’t historically loved, but thought worked very well in the context of the story. it has marriage of convenience, forced proximity, terms of endearment, grumpy/sunshine - all things that i love! there’s also another trope that is spoilery so i won’t mention it, but historically i hate it and normally it’s enough to make me hate the book, but… i actually didn’t mind it in this instance…
emma is a standout heroine and is a fresh character among the many characters who suffer from the slightly dated conventions of historical romance novels. she is not a naive, virginal character. she actually has experience and stands up for herself on multiple occasions instead of letting herself be run over.
ashbury is a typical romance hero, but again, it’s done in a refreshing way where he doesn’t come off as a product of the time. he is funny, but also suffers from real trauma that is given great screentime in the novel without it being the butt of a joke.
together they are way too sweet. there is such a realistic development of the romance (if you suspend your disbelief for a couple of instances). i just loved it so much and could definitely see this book, and the next couple in the series, becoming a real comfort read.