A review by distilledreads
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

emotional 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

4.0

A very enjoyable regency romance! It delivers on everything put out in the description: a seamstress appears in the Duke of Ashbury’s library wearing a wedding gown and he proposes with the intent of procuring an heir; Emma agrees before implementing a few terms of her own. What ensues in their marriage is lighthearted fun that touches ever-so-slightly on the disproportionate values surrounding virtue and the subsequent consequences. I’ve read the third book in this “series” previously, The Wallflower Wager, but really they’re more companion novels involving tangential characters, rather than a linear series. While this did mean the two felt very similar in plot and narrative, I enjoyed the tropes used and Tessa Dare’s writing style with its witty banter between the couples. Regency romances tend to be formulaic in nature, and that’s why they’re so well-loved. I had intended just to read a few chapters before bed, and then proceeded to finish the novel in four hours, so it’s truly a fast-paced, fun read. 
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