ARC Review: A Dare too Far (The Debutante Dares #2) by Charlie Lane
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Series: The Debutante Dares #2
Author: Charlie Lane
Published December 2nd 2021 by WOLF Publishing
Goodreads Synopsis
In this friends-to-lovers Regency romance by Charlie Lane, an independent lady and a cautious earl must do the most daring thing of all—fall in love.
A daring lady.
A caring earl.
And a Christmas house party that turns love into a dangerous game.
The Earl of Abbington is not a daring man.
Responsible for the care of an opium-addicted uncle, George’s life poses dangers to a bride that he’ll never risk. It’s why he avoided the independent and kind Lady Jane last year, despite her brother’s request he protect her during her season. His neglect no doubt led to Jane’s tattered reputation. In reparation, he’s sent pre-approved suitors to the house party to ensure she marries well, not to a man whose life is a nightmare.
Lady Jane is done being daring.
Her daring spirit ruined her reputation, her family’s social standing, and her brother’s marital prospects. But a Christmas house party attended by a coterie of willing suitors can put everything right. Plain of face and ordinary of intellect, Jane knows she’ll never find love. And she doesn’t want it anyway. Love is the most daring thing a woman can do, after all. Instead, she’ll develop a system to test her suitors and discover the best husband for a practical sort of marriage.
Jane needs George’s help choosing a husband, but George soon realizes he can’t give it without betraying his own heart. Together, they must find the courage to face the dangers of love or lose the love of a lifetime.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
After her reputation is destroyed all because she ran after her friend in the company of Lord Devon, Lady Jane knows that she will need to marry, if not for herself, but for her brother's happiness. Over the Christmas period, there's a house party planned, in which Jane has the chance to meet some suitors who aren't bothered by her reputation, and and can pick someone to marry. Her friend, George, Earl of Abbington, has been helpful in finding suitors, but when he is injured at the event, and needs to rest, Jane finds it hard to focus on her task, and instead spend her time with George. And for George, too, he's regretting the fact he brought men to meet Jane, when he realises that the only person he wants her to marry is himself.
I knew when I read Daring the Duke that Jane and George would be the protagonists of their own story. It was clear that there was a chemistry and attraction between them, and I loved their banter in this book. Something really refreshing, too, was that George was the first one to realise his own feelings, and really fight to show Jane he wanted to marry her and would do right by her. There are some difficult topics discussed, particularly loss and addiction, which allowed the characters to seem more real. Though there were many twists and turns towards the happy ending, Jane and George's story was sweet, and definitely perfect for the couple.
Dates Read:
March 25-26, 2022
Rating
3 Stars
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