Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Also by this author: The Governess Game, The Wallflower Wager (Girl meets Duke, Book 3)
Published by Harper Collins on January 28th 2014
Genres: Fiction, General, Historical, Regency, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eBook
As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one. Ugly duckling turned swan? Abducted by handsome highwayman? Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?No, no, and . . . Heh.Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?This one.
If you know me at all, you know I’m not much of a historical romance reader… in fact, there is only one title that I’ve read in recent history. I loved it, so I’m not sure what my hang-up with the genre is. I guess hang-up isn’t really the word to use, I think I just tend to lean more towards contemporary BUT… I’ve heard some amazing things about Tessa Dare and her books and I wanted to give them a try. So I tweeted for some recommendations and Romancing the Duke was the overwhelming winner.
I’m just going to say it.
I pretty much loved everything about this.
Our heroine, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight has grown up on tales of romance and intrigue, unfortunately her life hasn’t unfolded like the stories her father told… at the ripe old age of 26, she’s considered a “spinster” with only passable, plain looks and she hasn’t a single thing to her name after her father passed away and her cousin took ownership of everything possible. Then she receives a letter stating she needs to show up at Gostley Castle to claim her inheritance. Hoping for a few hundred pounds she’s stunned to find out it’s something all together different.
Ransom, Duke of Rothbury and current inhabitant of Gostley Castle has been missing from his regular life of drinking and carousing for the last 7 months. Everyone fears him dead. The truth is that he’s been hidden away in Gostley Castle hiding the truth… that he’s scarred and practically blind. He’s not willing to give up ownership of Gostley Castle though just because someone says he must, and so begins our story.
You guys, this book has just about everything I look for in romance… a broody, stubborn, sexy hero… a feisty, stubborn heroine. Ransom and Izzy were perfection together and it was fun to see the relationship build between them.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to laugh as much as I did while reading this book. Dare does an amazing job with balancing the drama of the characters lives with some lighthearted fun.
“Did she reach out and give it a handshake? Touch one finger to the tip? Bid it a polite howdoyoudo?”
I seriously laughed out loud while reading the above part. And the banter between Ransom and Izzy was wonderfully done as well…
“For God’s sake. Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Smile.”
“How do you know I’m smiling?”
“I can hear it. Hell, I can feel it. It’s all warm and sweet and…” He scowled. “Bah.”
But this is a romance and you definitely get that as well… and the sexy stuff was so damn sexy…
“I’m going to take this slowly.” He dropped little kisses on her lips. She could taste the whisky in them. “Until I can’t anymore, and then I’ll probably take it hard and fast.”
And the romance-y stuff was so sweet
He stopped in his paces. “Izzy.”
“Yes? Did I forget something?”
“This.” He bent his head and kissed her. Just a warm, lingering press of his lips against hers. “You seemed to need that.”
If those quotes don’t sell you on this book I don’t know what will.
If you’re looking for a sweet, mostly drama free, light-hearted romance you definitely need to pick this one up! I know I’ve put all of Tessa Dare’s backlist on my ‘To Be Read’ pile and will be picking them up very soon!
I’m just going to say it.
I pretty much loved everything about this.
Our heroine, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight has grown up on tales of romance and intrigue, unfortunately her life hasn’t unfolded like the stories her father told… at the ripe old age of 26, she’s considered a “spinster” with only passable, plain looks and she hasn’t a single thing to her name after her father passed away and her cousin took ownership of everything possible. Then she receives a letter stating she needs to show up at Gostley Castle to claim her inheritance. Hoping for a few hundred pounds she’s stunned to find out it’s something all together different.
Ransom, Duke of Rothbury and current inhabitant of Gostley Castle has been missing from his regular life of drinking and carousing for the last 7 months. Everyone fears him dead. The truth is that he’s been hidden away in Gostley Castle hiding the truth… that he’s scarred and practically blind. He’s not willing to give up ownership of Gostley Castle though just because someone says he must, and so begins our story.
You guys, this book has just about everything I look for in romance… a broody, stubborn, sexy hero… a feisty, stubborn heroine. Ransom and Izzy were perfection together and it was fun to see the relationship build between them.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to laugh as much as I did while reading this book. Dare does an amazing job with balancing the drama of the characters lives with some lighthearted fun.
“Did she reach out and give it a handshake? Touch one finger to the tip? Bid it a polite howdoyoudo?”
I seriously laughed out loud while reading the above part. And the banter between Ransom and Izzy was wonderfully done as well…
“For God’s sake. Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Smile.”
“How do you know I’m smiling?”
“I can hear it. Hell, I can feel it. It’s all warm and sweet and…” He scowled. “Bah.”
But this is a romance and you definitely get that as well… and the sexy stuff was so damn sexy…
“I’m going to take this slowly.” He dropped little kisses on her lips. She could taste the whisky in them. “Until I can’t anymore, and then I’ll probably take it hard and fast.”
And the romance-y stuff was so sweet
He stopped in his paces. “Izzy.”
“Yes? Did I forget something?”
“This.” He bent his head and kissed her. Just a warm, lingering press of his lips against hers. “You seemed to need that.”
If those quotes don’t sell you on this book I don’t know what will.
If you’re looking for a sweet, mostly drama free, light-hearted romance you definitely need to pick this one up! I know I’ve put all of Tessa Dare’s backlist on my ‘To Be Read’ pile and will be picking them up very soon!
About Tessa Dare
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twelve historical romance novels and four novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award and multiple RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance," and her books have been contracted for translation in a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a pair of cosmic kitties.
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