Review: The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare
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Series: Girl Meets Duke #1
Author: Tessa Dare
Published February 22nd 2018 by Mills & Boon
Goodreads Synopsis
When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules…
Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.
His terms are simple:
- They will be husband and wife by night only.
- No lights, no kissing.
- No questions about his battle scars.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.
But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
- They will have dinner together every evening.
- With conversation.
- And unlimited teasing.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…
Goodreads
Review
The Duchess Deal meets Emma Gladstone as she is desperate enough to be knocking on a Duke's door for payment on a wedding dress she made. After leaving home a few years ago, she managed for find a position at a dressmakers, and has been making do, but after the former fiancee of the Duke of Ashbury refused to pay for her work, she's at risk of losing everything. After returning from war, injured and scarred, Ash has been alone. His fiancee back out of their engagement, and he's now realising he needs an heir. But to get one of them, he needs a wife. When one seemingly appears on his doorstep, wearing a wedding gown no less, he makes a deal with Emma - marry him, and never want for nothing again - but there are a few caveats. They will only be 'married' by night, there's no kissing, and once an heir is on his way, Emma can leave and go to one of the other properties and live in peace. Emma doesn't want a marriage like that, but is willing to accept it, at first, with some of her own requests. Will Emma knock down Ash's walls, and allow them both to feel loved?
Both of the main characters in this book were fantastic, and so nuanced. Because of his injuries, Ash feels basically worthless, and tries to keep anyone and everyone away from himself. When he meets Emma, and she perfectly fits his bill for wife, he thinks he can scare her away too, but she's too much for him. Because of her own background, she won't accept feeling worthless, not again, and as the new Duchess of Ashbury, she has a position that lets her meet people who love and care for her. The group of women she meets, Lady Penelope, Alexandra, and Nicola, are all fantastic in their own rights, and will have their own books which I'm desperate to read! The banter between Ash and Emma was wonderful, and to see both of them grow and open up to past trauma was refreshing to see. I honestly was grinning at times when they were together, and though there was a bit of angst towards the end of the book, the resolution was perfect! Bring on The Governess Game!
Dates Read:
February 21, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
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