ARC Review: A Duke for Diana (Designing Debutantes #1) by Sabrina Jeffries
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Series: Designing Debutantes #1
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published May 31st 2022 by Zebra
Goodreads Synopsis
A successful debut requires a smashing social event, and in this dazzling new series from New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries, the key ingredient is Elegant Occasions—a talk of the ton trio of creative, enterprising young ladies who’ve rejected working as governesses to become party planners. And if they, and their wealthy clients, happen to find love along the way, it just makes their efforts more rewarding...
Self-made civil engineer Geoffrey Brookhouse has unexpectedly inherited the dukedom of Grenwood. But he has a secret that could ruin his family. Hoping to save his timid sister from that fate, he seeks to marry her off to a respectable, protective gentleman. With the London Season imminent, Geoffrey hires Elegant Occasions to orchestrate her debut. Yet Lady Diana Harper, spirited fashion expert, proves more than he bargained for. Suddenly, Geoffrey’s sister is emerging from her shell, and he is beleaguered with social invitations and gossip! Worse, Diana is attempting to transform him into a presentable duke—when all he really wants is to win her heart...
Diana doesn’t know what to make of the handsome, disheveled duke. The man bristles at the very idea that his fashion faux pas might spoil his sister’s chances. Yet Geoffrey’s stubbornness simply inspires Diana to ruffle his feathers—by setting him on a course of self-improvement. Although there’s something endearing, even irresistible about his flaws, can a man who hates the ton tolerate a woman who makes her living catering to them? Little does either know that they have more in common than they suspect—and that two can create a society all their own...
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
For Lady Diana Harper, what should've been her perfect debut season, soon turned into horror when her mother created the scandal to end all scandals, and ruined the reputations of her daughters. Rather than becoming governesses or companions, the sisters decide to become the ton's go to party planners, helping debutantes and society matrons alike with all their needs to navigate London during the Season. Though Elegant Occasions has had a number of well connected clients in the past, they've never had a ducal family, which would really help their business. So when the newly minted Duke of Grenwood, self made man Geoffrey Brookhouse asks for help in polishing up his sister ready for her debut, and maybe help him along the way too, it's a dream come true. But from the get go, Diana and Geoffrey clash, and they seem to do everything to ruffle each other's feathers.
This was a book that as soon as I heard about it, I knew I needed to read it. I love Sabrina's books, and the synopsis of A Duke for Diana drew me in straight away. After the fall out of their mother's scandal, and the subsequent divorce, Diana and her sisters, Eliza and Verity, find themselves floundering, and needing to do something to survive. Elegant Occasions was their life line, and though it wasn't right for the daughters of an Earl to work, they have found a place in society which works for them. I loved Diana, and how she was sort of the glue to keep them all together. Geoffrey was definitely rough around the edges, but growing up in Newcastle, and becoming an engineer was all he expected in life, and being told he was the new Duke of Grenwood was definitely not in the cards for him. He dislikes the aristocracy for their treatment of his parents, but he knows that the best thing for his sister is for them to travel to London, find the perfect partner for her, in case a scandal which is plaguing him comes to light. Geoffrey and Diana were the right fit for each other, and though they rubbed each other up the wrong way, the banter and chemistry between them truly allowed them to know each other, and allow for their happy ending. Bring on book 2!
Dates Read:
February 19, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
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