The Duchess Deal: Girl Meets Duke

Really loved Emma and Ash. They had fantastic chemistry and Emma's pet names for Ash made me laugh so much. If I had any critiques, it would be that I wasn't a fan of the Monster of Mayfair plot line.

Tessa Dare continues to be one of my favorite authors in historical romance.

4.5/5

So very disappointing. Didn't feel like a Tessa Dare novel at all. The story was ok, a bit tired story line but could have been a quick, fun read. I just couldn't get over the language. Not only modern, but a bit teenagery. For example, they sit at opposite ends of a long dining table. She picks up her bowl and wine glass and goes to sit next to the H. He says "Really?". She answers "yes, really". There was another exchange that felt like it came right out of a Dr. Seuss book. The butler talks back to the Duke like a rude child throughout the book. Way too many other examples.

It was a disappointment. Not sure how it has such a high rating.

Just got the new Sherry Thomas and hope for a better read.

Laugh out loud funny, tender and witty--the perfect escape read. With a Regency "House" hero, a stalwart heroine, some madcap spinsters and a "Menace," and some of the best dialogue I've read in a while, this is my new favorite read!

FINAL DECISION: Enjoyable and very, very funny historical. A book that rifts on Beauty and the Beast with a heroine who doesn't take any gruff from the hero but instead challenges him out of his moody self-absorption.

THE STORY: Emma Gladstone, a vicar's daughter ruined and come to London as a seamstress comes to the home of the Duke of Ashbury to get payment for a wedding dress she created for his cancelled betrothal. Ash returned from war horribly scarred, but he decides that Emma meets all his requirements for a wife. Ash has some requirements for their marriage of convenience. He will bed her every night until she conceives, with no kissing, and then she will leave and raise their child in the country. Emma, however, is determined to bring Ash back into the world and has her own demands -- which begin with nightly dinner and conversation.

OPINION: I enjoyed this book because Emma refused to allow Ash to wallow in his pity party. From the beginning, she sees herself as an equal and pulls him into relationship. While having her own fears and past pain, she almost immediately sees Ash as someone of worth. I admire a woman who has her own internal scars but lives her life with purpose and without complaint. And she is an optimist with hope who teases her husband with silly nicknames and her refusal to just leave him alone.

Ash is a man with horrible scars, but his deepest scars are emotional. Born and raised in his privileged position as rich and handsome, he doesn't quite know how to function in a world where people look at his face and are horrified. Instead of trying to change people's minds, he has instead embraced the worst of his fears to cope. Better that he call himself a monster, be a monster, act like a monster. That way he can avoid the pain of rejection.

I thought the story was well done. Many would rate this book higher. The reason I gave it a very good 4 is that I think that the humor at times deflected the serious notes in the story. I think I just prefer a darker more serious story. I like humorous stories and I really liked this one, but I sometimes felt that the story could have gone deeper than it really wanted to. That being said, I thought this book was very enjoyable and recommend it especially for those who like humorous historicals.

WORTH MENTIONING: Emma meets three "original" women who might just be the heroines of future stories.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE DUCHESS DEAL is the first book in the Girl Meets Duke series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

This book was witty and beautifully written. The h had so much spunk, I loved it. Plus there is the whole Batman and Robin thing(I won't spoil it my explaining), which just made the boom so much more fun. I haven't read a romance I enjoyed so much in long time! Highly recommended!

I really love Tessa Dare's books. I Like this one too, but for me personally just a bit less ''historical'' in places. It was very funny and entertaining, however I could not connect with the characters. Maybe its only me. I will be eagerly waiting for her next book.

The Duchess Deal is another beautifully written story by Tessa Dare and an absolute must read! It's filled with well rounded characters and a truly heartfelt love story that will bring a smile to your face as you're reading.

First book that I have ever read by Tessa Dare but it certainly will not be the last. Loved the book. Never laughed so much and the swearing parts had me in stitches. I would have no hesitation recommending this book to my friends

I really enjoy Tessa Dare. Her novels have wonderful character development and a natural flow most romance novels lack. However, this one left me feeling dissapointed. It is common to find the heros are often egotistical donkeys arse leaving the heroine to make up for it. It is a rare find when a hero is actually kind to the heroine... but this one never made up for it. The hero was not only an arse but he was an ugly arse. When I got to "I'm dying to take a piss" part I gave up hope.

Let me start with the positive. I liked most of plot in the beginning, unrealistic as it was I do not read romance novels for their similarities with real life. I like the way this author writes, the dialogue, the descriptions of places and things. That being said, this book is silly, the concept of the Monster of Mayfair is so silly it almost made me stop reading. Maybe if I had read this 10 years ago I would be fine with most of the silly parts, but I felt my I.Q. dropping while reading this.

I have yet to be disappointed in a book by Tessa Dare. Of course, one needs to enjoy romances, and it's even better if you like Regency romances. If you don't like romance, read someone else. Of course, if you don't like Regency romances, why did you choose this book in the first place? There is always a good plot (though I admit I question a Duke, or even a Duke's only heir being allowed to go off to war where he could quite easily be killed, my only quibble with this book), interesting characters, and a well written, well told story. So buy this book and enjoy.

I really enjoy Tessa Dare. Her novels have wonderful character development and a natural flow most romance novels lack. However, this one left me feeling dissapointed. It is common to find the heros are often egotistical donkeys arse leaving the heroine to make up for it. It is a rare find when a hero is actually kind to the heroine... but this one never made up for it. The hero was not only an arse but he was an ugly arse. When I got to "I'm dying to take a piss" part I gave up hope.

Let me start with the positive. I liked most of plot in the beginning, unrealistic as it was I do not read romance novels for their similarities with real life. I like the way this author writes, the dialogue, the descriptions of places and things. That being said, this book is silly, the concept of the Monster of Mayfair is so silly it almost made me stop reading. Maybe if I had read this 10 years ago I would be fine with most of the silly parts, but I felt my I.Q. dropping while reading this.

I have yet to be disappointed in a book by Tessa Dare. Of course, one needs to enjoy romances, and it's even better if you like Regency romances. If you don't like romance, read someone else. Of course, if you don't like Regency romances, why did you choose this book in the first place? There is always a good plot (though I admit I question a Duke, or even a Duke's only heir being allowed to go off to war where he could quite easily be killed, my only quibble with this book), interesting characters, and a well written, well told story. So buy this book and enjoy.

5 RIP-ROARING OUTLANDISH AWESOME STARS!!! I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Filled with so many LOL moment!! I can't even begin to say how fantastic this story was! Ash and Emma are the best! Ash with his witty Shakespearean comebacks and Emma with her no less than witty repertoire had me laughing with tears...Loved it! Just loved it!!!! I cannot wait for Penny, animal lover, Nicola the baking scientist and Alex our timepiece connoisseur, they must have their own stories!!! Well done again Ms. Dare, beautifully, emotionally and humorously done.

This book was absolutely amazing. I love the main characters and how different they were from typical historical leads are in books. It was quite refreshing that Ash wasn't the dashing womanizing rakish Duke and Emma wasn't the typical society girl or gentleman's daughter who either is in desperate need of a husband or who is charmed by the male into bed and finds herself having to marry him. It was also nice that Emma was allowed to be sexually aware and to find sex enjoyable from the very beginning. And boy does Tessa know how to write those sex scenes, hot hot hot! This is a must read book for anyone who likes historical romances!

This has got to be one of my favorite Historical Romances EVERY. It was the best LOVE / HATE Romance add in a strong willed heroine and a broken but beautiful soul Duke and you have a book that is so hard to put down.

This book had so much charm, chemistry and stolen moments between the Duke and Emma. From the minute Emma busted into scene, I adored her. The author gave her such a great personality, soul and I loved her. It was so easy to cheer for her to get what she deserved and was easy to imagine how hard the Duke with walls of steel would fall for her.

This book was such a satisfying read. I #highlyrecommend this book. I know you will fall in love with it as much as I did.

Seamstress Emma Gladstone barges into the Duke of Ashbury’s home and demands payment for a wedding gown ordered by his ex-fiance. There will be no wedding as the spoiled heiress could not abide to look at Ash’s scarred face and body. He makes Emma a proposition. Ash will pay for the appalling dress or he will marry her and make her his duchess for he needs an heir. Emma agrees to marrying him. She sees his scars but also the brave, caring man who wears the scars. She doesn’t mean to fall in love with the grumpy duke but to only abide by their agreement. But love finds a way into both of their hearts.

This was my favorite Tessa Dare book in years. Her recent "Castles" series was too light and fairy-taleish for me. This one had some of her tongue-in-cheek humor, but she didn't go over the top with it, and there is some poignancy in the story too, with both the hero and heroine having survived some hard times.

I received an ARC of this book

I loved this book and all it's characters! The Duchess Deal is the first book in Tessa Dare's newest series and I am really looking forward to the next one after how much I loved this book. The Duchess Deal had a Beauty and the Beast aspect to it which was fun to read but I really loved the way all the different characters interacted and learning more about them. The relationship between Ash and Emma has it's ups and downs but I was happy to see how everything works out for them and thought the Epilogue was really cute. I also loved seeing how Ash acted with Trevor and I hope to see more of Trevor in the series. The relationship between Ash and his butler Khan was also a lot of fun to watch, I really liked Khan's character.

The Duchess Deal has a fairy tale feel to it. It is Cinderella meets Beast from Beauty and the Beast. The characters were engaging, enjoyable and lovable. The story keeps you entertained from the very first sentence. The Duke of Ashbury was severely wounded at Waterloo and now not only bears the physical scars but also the internal trauma as people cringe and scream when they see him. Emma Gladstone was a vicar's daughter, cast out for when she is caught in a compromising situation and is now working as a seamstress. She meets the duke when she goes to collect money owed to her for the wedding gown she made for his ex-fiancé. Ash offers to make her his duchess instead and the story that follows will have you laughing, sighing and cheering for the happily ever after.

This story was so amazing! The story is so well written and the characters are very well developed and likeable. I was rooting for them the entire time. The author was very thoughtful with the witty and clever dialogue. It had me laughing out loud. I liked that the characters dealt with their misunderstandings maturely rather than dwelling on it. They actually talked about their feelings. I loved the intimate scenes and thought they were necessary so that we can see that the heroine truely desired her husband. I think it was important to portray that side of the relationship. I adore the characters, the story, and this author! Trevor is hilarious and I hope we see his story.

I know very little about Tessa Dare, but I hope this is a first of a series because I need books for Penny and all her animals, Alex and her clocks, and Nicola's science experiments. I love when books make me fall in love with the secondary characters as well.

In addition to them, we get the beleaguered but faithful butler Khan, the unexpected sidekick Trevor aka "the Menace" and Breeches the cat. All steal scenes from the leads, who pretty much embody Belle and the Beast. It was light-hearted, very funny, with just enough angst for Ash. I got through the 368 pages within the span of a day, so bonus star for keeping me engaged and unwilling to put it down.

I loved this Beauty and the Beast story. Ash was a bit hard to like in the beginning, but Emma won me over right away. Ash cannot help falling in love with the brave Emma and she sees beyond his scars to the noble man beneath them. Despite his efforts to be unlikable, the author shows us his true nature through the eyes of Emma, his servants, and Trevor, the boy he befriends during one of his late night jaunts as “the Beast of Mayfair”. Emma has a really interesting circle of friends and I am curious to learn more about each of them. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
Book One of the Girl Meets Duke series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 22, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

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…

What I Liked:

You know those readers who have this author they love and they seem to LOOOOOOVE everything the author writes? And in your head you're like, chill, we know you're a huge fangirl/fanboy, you would never dislike anything that author wrote. Yeah, sometimes I catch myself rolling my eyes at people like that (you know, when you're like okay Jan we already know you're going to love the book, we get it). That is terrible of me and I should really stop that because I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. When it comes to Tessa Dare? I have yet to read a book of hers that I didn't absolutely love (or at the very least, adore). Granted, this is only the seventh book of hers that I've read... well, I guess that's a lot. She has written twenty, if I've counted correctly. Anyway. The lowest rating I've given any of those seven books is four stars and that is pretty much the definition of fangirling. I love this author's books. I can't help it. I know I'm not alone. Please don't judge me!

The Duchess Deal is book one of a brand-new, unconnected series by Tessa Dare. The Duke of Ashbury came back from war horribly scarred, due to a rocket blowing up in his face. It destroyed much of one side of his face, and all down that side of his body. His engagement to a lady of good societal status has been broken. His estate is not in the best shape, due to him being gone at war for so long, and then in recovery when coming back from the war. Ashbury needs a wife, and a desperate one, at that. What does he do when Emma Gladstone, seamstress of the wedding dress that Ashbury's ex-fiancee was to wear? Well, he marries her, the seamstress, who was in need of a bit of money. Emma isn't repulsed by the Duke's scars - if anything, she is intrigued by them. She agrees to marry him and to follow his terms. She'll get pregnant and move into the country house, where she'll give birth and raise the child. No affection, no kissing, no lights on when they have relations. But both of them will discover that falling in love isn't something they can control, and all of Ash's rules won't stop love.

I don't even know how to write this review! This book was fabulous - can I leave it at that and call it a day? This book made me smile, giggle, swoon, fan myself, and swoon all over again. I adore marriage of convenience stories, and this one did not disappoint. Of course it didn't! Tessa Dare never disappoints. (Unrepentant fangirl here.)

I felt like this book was more about Ash than it was about Emma, though the story was told from both of their POVs and both of them had huge stakes and backstories and roles in this book (not just one or the other). The author spends a lot of time characterizing and perfecting Ash's personality, demeanor, self-loathing... trust me, you'll want to hug this guy over and over, while reading this book. Ash seems like a moody, grouchy, cold recluse, but he is so noble and selfless. He thinks of everyone before he thinks of himself - his tenants, his estate/staff, his dukedom (hence the haste to marry - to produce an heir so the dukedom will go to a suitable heir), random strangers in the streets of Mayfair. Ash is so misjudged, and it hurt me to see how badly he thought of himself. He thinks he is a monster because of his scars, and he never goes out to town or to societal events that a duke should attend. I feel so bad for him, because he totally has the right to wallow, but at the same time, you want him to think more highly of himself and to stop letting his ex-fiancee's treatment of him affect his attitude towards himself.

Yeah... the ex-fiancee is a terrible person. Ash is the one who broke the engagement, but because the ex-fiancee couldn't stand the sight of him. How awful of her.

Emma is almost like the opposite of Ash. She is a ray of sunshine, a dash of positivity, a parcel of happiness. She agrees to marry him for several reasons, one of which is that she can't stop thinking about him, after their first meeting. Emma is so selfless and kind, and like Ash, she wants to help others more than she wants to help herself. The difference is that Ash does a lot in secret, whereas Emma is more direct and deals with the people she helps. I love how Emma is so accepting of his appearance, his grouchiness, and his stubbornness. She never thinks to abandon him and leave him to his fate - in fact, she always hopes that he won't send her away to the country house when she becomes pregnant (which was their agreement). Emma is patient and sweet, exactly what Ash needs.

I loved the staff of Ash's house! Khan is hilarious in his stoic way - a true companion to Ash, though he has served in the duke's house longer than Ash has been alive. The staff of the house are always plotting to force Ash and Emma together in some uncanny situation, like luring them into the attic and locking it, and leaving them at the country house with no carriage. They are desperate for Ash to fall for Emma because he needs someone, and Emma is a good "someone" for him.

Also, the cat. Let's not forget the cat, Breeches. I didn't totally like him at first, but I love how the cat latches on to Ash (who is grumpy and hates the cat). Ha!

The banter between Ash and Emma is so great! Sometimes is so sarcastic, sometimes light and witty, sometimes teasing. Ash is mostly grouchy, but as the story goes on, he becomes more open and outwardly kind. I love the playfulness that exists between them, even in the early times of their relationship when it wasn't quite playful yet.

The romance is lovely! Ash is attracted to Emma immediately, which is one of the reasons why he wanted to marry her from the moment he saw her. Emma is attracted to Ash, something that Ash doesn't believe at first. The two of them have such great chemistry, which leads to some pretty passionate sexy times. Guys. I feel like this is Tessa Dare's hottest book yet. Ash has a lot of pent-up intensity, and Emma... Emma loves his lovemaking. I adore this kind of physical relationship - they both come to know and understand each other's preferences, and luckily, they sync very well together. Things are hot and a little rough in the bedroom, but in a very steamy, very consensual way.

I love the myriad issues that Dare includes in this story. It's not just about Ash and Emma falling in love. The story deals with Ash accepting himself and his appearance, and gaining more confidence. It's about Ash getting past the psychological damage his ex-fiancee did to him. It's about Emma letting go of how her own father treated her when she did something that was a mistake. It's about Emma trying to help another woman who has done something similar to Emma's mistake. There is so much to love about this story. because there are so many parts of the story that come together to make a beautiful book.

I won't say more because I think anyone who is a fan of this author and/or is interesting in this book should experience it for themselves. I want to happy-cry every time I finish a Tessa Dare book! I think When a Scot Ties the Knot is still my all-time favorite book of hers, but this one isn't far behind. None of them are!

What I Did Not Like:

There is one tiny part of the climax that I didn't love, because it involves Ashbury swallowing his pride when Emma should have also swallowed hers. I definitely agree with Ashbury manning up and doing this and that, but I also think Emma should have backed down and swallowed her pride too. This is a huge pet peeve of mine in adult romance (across all genres - contemporary historical, paranormal, etc.). Emma had just as much to apologize and fight for.

It's not a huge deal and nothing to sink the book, just a pet peeve of mine that bothers me 99% of the time. In this case, it isn't so bad, but it's still there. Emma hurt Ashbury (in the climax) as much as he hurt her, so I wanted to see them BOTH make amends. Hence the four-star rating (as opposed to five stars).

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this book to any historical romance fan out there! Start this new series and then go read some of her older books! I also recommend the Castles Ever After series and the Spindle Cove series. I need to read her books besides those, but yeah, you're pretty much safe with any Dare book that you choose. I'm loving her more recent more though! If you want fun, sweet, swoony, sexy historical romance, look no further. (Well, I could give you other recommendations of other authors' books too. But Dare does historical romance SO WELL.)

Rating:

4.5 stars. You know why I'm rounding down. But seriously, this book was magical. It reminds me of The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane by Elizabeth Boyle, with a scarred and grouchy hero and a persistent and sweet heroine who won't leave him alone. And also has an annoying (but endearing) cat. Plus the sort-of hate-to-love romance. Except The Duchess Deal involves a marriage of convenience early on in the story, and I love that trope. Anyway, this book was awesome and you should not miss it if you enjoy adult historical romance!

Building on the review I left on Audible: "Witty, romantic, sexy tale magnificently read by Mary Jane Wells. Ms. Wells and her steamer trunk full of accents, tones, cadences and inflections brought each character individually to life. I wish I'd been able to spend more time with Emma and Ash." The story is basic Romance, but it's so well written. I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me. Seriously. I'm new to the works of Ms. Dare, but I can't wait for the next novel in this series. I'll have to pick up one of her older titles to tide me over for the next month.

This is my first Tessa Dare novel and what an easy, breezy, sexy read! I love a good marriage of convenience plot, and combining that with the Beauty and the Beast dynamic plus author Dare’s naughty sense of humor makes for a very fun and sexy romp. Did I mention sexy? I confess I found both his and her subplots to be a little undercooked, but since the action never strayed from the central couple for too long, I can’t really complain. Looking forward to reading more from Tessa Dare!

As usual, Tessa Dare has written a wonderful book and started what should become a great series. Emma and her Duke.......she brought light and life to him. In turn, he gave her a sense of protection; something she had never experienced. Her three friends were a breath of fresh air. These two learned to believe and trust each other which of course led to love. Ms. Dare presented each with challenges and she skillfully led them through successfully. And....the sex/love scenes are worth the price. At the very least, read it to meet Breeches.

Tessa Dare is an auto-buy for me, and I've never been disappointed. This one lives up to all my requirements: damaged yet delicious hero, sharp, witty dialogue, and a strong heroine.
The conflict was perfectly set up, the highs wonderful, and the dark moments heartbreaking. It also introduces some new characters that I hope will get their own books soon. I loved every minute and had to tear myself away for such mundane things as cooking dinner :)

So my biggest question is what happened to the pregnant chick? This secondary character's pregnancy is a hug me part of the plot and then you're just left wondering what happened after she told her father.

This book was funny, and I adored the characters. Some of the stuff like specs patterns I'm not quite sure were historically accurate, but I enjoyed the story enough that it didn't really matter.

Overall I'd definitely recommend it.

Is it possible for my swoons to have swoons? Because I'm pretty sure they all mated together in a swooning frenzy and had swoon babies. I mean all of the swoons! ALL OF THEM!!!! This book was everything. EVERYTHING. It was romance perfection. I think my goosebumps had swoons, for goodness sake. No really. I'm not exaggerating even a little. This book was a little peace of romantic heaven. It was everything I love about a great romance; great banter, humor, sizzling steam, and two main characters that you can't but help and fall head over heals for.

Emma Gladstone
"Complexion: cream. Lips: rose petals. Lashes: sable. Backbone: steel."

I. Loved. Her. Here's a woman that didn't live an easy life. Not even close. And yet she never loses her fire, her sparkle, her incredibly gentle heart. When she faces down a broody duke in order to receive payment for a dress she made for his ex fiancé, the last thing she expects is a proposition of her own. The man is impossibly stubborn, grumpy, with a penchant to blasphemy in the most creative of fashions, and perhaps slightly deranged...

"Are you—” There seemed no way to say it but to say it.
“Your Grace, are you trying to get me into your bed?”
“Yes. Nightly. I said as much, not a minute ago. Are you listening at all?”
“Listening, yes,” she muttered to herself. “Comprehending, no.”
“I’ll have my solicitor draw up the papers.” He returned to his place behind the desk. “We can do it on Monday.”
“Your Grace, I don’t—”
“Tuesday, then.”
“Your Grace, I cannot—”
“Well, I’m afraid my schedule is quite booked for the rest of the week.” He flipped through the pages of an agenda. “Brooding, drinking, indoor badminton tournament . . .”

The Duke of Ashbury has returned from the war, a scarred, shell of a man he once was. A monster he no longer recognizes in the mirror. But a duke needs an heir, and to get an heir, he needs a wife, and to get a wife, well...he needs a miracle. When the beautiful Emma comes charging into his house, he believes she holds the answers to everything he desires. But what he doesn't expect is for the witty beauty to tilt his world on its axis.

The chemistry between these two was instant and fiery. I couldn't get enough of it. Their banter, their daily push and pull of Emma attempting to break through his walls and Ash retreating further behind them. I loved it so hard. I loved Emma's backbone and take charge attitude. She was no wilting wallflower but there was also this endearing softness to her. It wasn't long before everything about her began to tear down the walls that Ash has built around himself and questions everything he once thought. I loved watching that wall of his break down slowly. I loved the way that Emma slowly but surely healed his heart even though she couldn't heal his scars. I love that he was the most perfectly imperfect hero. There was something so completely endearing about the man. GAH.

"You are wet, and you are cold. You don’t like being cold. Therefore, I despise you being cold. I would go about murdering raindrops and setting fire to the clouds, but that would take slightly more than an hour. Perhaps even two. So we’re here, and you will cease complaining about it.”

This book is why I read romance. I can't believe this is my first Tessa Dare book and I plan on rectifying this immediately. I loved every chapter, every page, every word. If you're a fan of swoony and steamy historical romance with incredibly vivid and multi-layered characters, this is simply not to be missed!

Tessa Dare’s newest series, Girl Meets Duke, begins with Emma Gladstone, seamstress and Vicar’s daughter, doing laps around Mayfair square wearing a wedding dress. She needs payment for all the work she put into the monstrosity of a frock and since the bride won’t pay now that the wedding is called off, she’s about to demand payment from the would-be-groom. When she finally works up the courage to knock on the door and is admitted to Ashbury House, the Duke doesn’t just offer to pay her, he decides to wed Emma too. Thus Emma and Ash begin a marriage convenience in The Duchess Deal.

This book was my first introduction to Tessa Dare’s work and I’m honestly not sure why I’ve waited so long to read her historical romances. I found Dare’s character development for Emma and Ash to be basically flawless; I understood each of their motivations going into the marriage and I found their reluctant fall into love to be endearing. Dare has a unique ability to make characters “sing” and she found a way to make me love her hero and heroine without hiding their flaws.

She stiffened her posture. “Your Grace, you called my work ‘unicorn vomit.’ You asked me to disrobe for money. Then you made the absurd declaration that you would make me a duchess, and that I should visit your bed on Monday. This entire interview is nonsensical and humiliating. I can only conclude that you are making sport of me.”

He lifted one shoulder in an unapologetic shrug. “A scarred recluse must have some amusement”.
Our H/h, Ash and Emma, are funny. Like, laugh out loud, snort milk out the nose funny. I found myself in love with the idea of them way before Emma or Ash had declared any sort of commitment or appreciation for one another. As the book went on I just became more and more convinced that these two were perfectly suited for one another.

Beyond the romance, Dare wove little side plots and details into The Duchess Deal. My absolute favorite detail was that the servants at Ashbury House were worried about the Duke. They wanted for Emma and Ash to fall in love so badly that they came up with all sorts of ways to push them together. They weren’t even trying to hide it from Emma, they gave her ideas for how to turn his affection like turning her ankle or spilling wine on her dress. Adorable. Emma and Ash both had side plots of their own moving in the background of The Duchess Deal. Emma was trying to help a friend find housing as she approached the birth of her child and Ash had a secret identity. Sadly, neither of these side plots were built up strongly enough to make a ton of sense. They served their purpose in humanizing Emma and Ash, but I didn’t think they were grounded enough to make the book wholly better.

The Duchess Deal is a solid start to a new series. It’s solidified my desire to read more Tessa Dare and the next book in the series, releasing in 2018, is already on my TBR list. 4 stars for The Duchess Deal!

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews.

What’s it About? The Duke of Ashbury has been a reclusive grouch ever since he was wounded in the war but now he needs an heir and for that he has to marry. He’s not particular at this point about who and when Emma Gladstone bursts into his library wearing a wedding gown she made for his former intended and demanding to be paid, Ash figures she’ll do. He convinces her to marry him in a short amount of time but he also sets down some rules for their marriage which include no kissing, no questions about his scars, and they’ll only be husband and wife at night in order to conceive his heir. After she’s pregnant he’ll send her away to raise their child. But Emma has some tricks up her sleeves. She wants to have dinner with him every evening, have conversations with him, teases him relentlessly, and stubbornly refuses to leave him alone to brood. She isn’t like other women and Ash soon has no choice but to give in to his determined wife.

Overall reaction to the story? It’s been a while since I’ve been so thoroughly entertained by a romance like I was by The Duchess Deal. There is so much to love about the first book in the Girl Meets Duke series that I don’t know where to begin. The romance was terribly romantic but to me, it was the characters who really made this story sing! Ash and Emma were just part of the list of reasons to love this book, the other part had to do with the kooky supporting cast of characters. From Ash’s servants to the set of friends Emma makes after her marriage, all of them brought their own magic to the story. The Duchess Deal is definitely a romantic story but I wasn’t expecting it to have me snorting or laughing out loud with the cast of lively and lovable characters.

Describe the hero in five words: Cheeky. Bitter. Unsure. Intelligent. Stubborn.
Did you like him? Yes.
Why? Ash’s actions were nothing more than a front to keep himself from getting hurt again so how could I not fall a little in love with him? He had a bruised heart and a hidden yearning to be loved so yeah, totally lovable. Even at his gruffest he was still a good man with a really sharp wit and sense of humor which again, totally my thing. He was totally stubborn too and needed people around him who weren’t going to be intimidated by his scars or by his sometimes rude behavior. Ash never pushed the boundaries to the point of no return though, he could be a bit of a brat to be honest but I never saw him as a jerk. Just someone who really, REALLY needed a hug at least three times a day.

Describe the heroine in five words: Snarky. Persistent. Clever. Caring. Stubborn.
Did you like her? Yes.
Why? Emma made the perfect foil to Ash’s determination to remain aloof and alone. She was a loving, nurturing character who just happened to possess the same level of appreciation and talent for sarcastic bantering as Ash did. Emma stood her ground and didn’t let him intimidate her and she wasn’t above insisting on a few conditions in their marriage. Or in flat out ignoring his ridiculous conditions for their marriage. Early on I knew she was going to be fun and challenge Ash at every turn and she didn’t disappoint at all. Emma’s personality made the interactions between her and Ash better and gave their relationship a sense of equality even though Emma was essentially just a broodmare in the beginning. Emma was even forward enough to point out that she needed a name to cry out when they were getting intimate and if he didn’t pick one he wasn’t going to like the one she chose.

Let’s talk about the romance: The Beauty and the Beast theme is always a favorite with me but Ash and Emma put their own stamp on the theme with their Sarcasm and sass filled verbal exchanges. As romantic as the The Duchess Deal was, Ash and Emma also built a relationship on fun and humor starting with the fact that Emma refused to call Ash by his title, instead she wanted a pet name for him and spent the whole book trying some of the most absurd pet names on him to which he had varying reactions to.

In this particular scene Emma and Ash have only been married a short time and this is her second (I believe) attempt to come up with an endearment to call Ash. She has just interrupted an indoor badminton game between Ash and his cheeky butler who quickly abandons the game and Emma picks it up in his place.

How about that supporting cast? Yet another place where The Duchess Deal wins is with its motley crew of nutty supporting characters. Ash’s servants who are delightfully improper and so hopeful that Emma will heal Ash’s wounded soul and bring the house back to life that they conspire to throw these two together at every moment, and Emma’s group of new girlfriends who are in themselves unique. There’s a Alexandra who earns a living setting clocks to Greenwich time, Penelope who takes in wounded animals and is a vegetarian, and Nicola who is described as a mad scientist but really she just bakes the best goodies. Those three are just as entertaining and mischievous as Emma and I can’t wait to see more of them.

Click It or Skip It? Click It. The Duchess Deal is one of the reading highlights of my year! There's so much love, laughter, and friendship in it that it will be hard book to beat.

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.

One of my favorite authors! Enjoyable and hard to put down. As in her other novels, witty dialog and charming romance. I loved how she called him such funny endearments when he was so serious and grouchy in the beginning. I loved his funny servants who deeply cared about him and plotted scenes to try and make him fall in love with Emma. She was a lovely, warm hearted woman who by loving the duke and not being disgusted by his disfigurement, gave him peace, happiness and self worth. She restored him and made him a man when others made him feel like a monster. He cherished her. And of course, there were hot love scenes!

RATING: 5 'Floatish. Singsong-ish.' Hearts!!

The Duchess Deal is my first Tessa Dare book and one of the best historical romances I've ever read. It's swoon-worthy, completely romantic, and with just the right amount of humour in it, ensuring an entertaining read from beginning to end. Emma and Ash won me over instantly from page one with their strong and witty personalities that lent to the playful banter between them. And the two of them together, as a couple, are a beautiful balance of sweet and sexy—I doubt I'll be forgetting them anytime soon, if ever.

"Really, truly, honestly, earnestly, properly. And completely" LOVED this book! I can't wait for the next in the series, and in the mean time I'll be making my through Ms. Dare's entire backlist.

Fave Quotes:

“I have an unfortunate habit of looking for the best in people, and it makes me blind to their flaws.”

“If you say so, my treasure.”
“I daresay I do, you little baggage.”

“And you claim to be feeling this way. Floatish. Singsong-ish. About me.”
She sighed. “Yes.”
“That’s absurd.”
“I know, but I can’t seem to stop it.”

“You’re mine,” he said hoarsely, lifting his head and staring deep into her eyes, willing her to believe. If you leave, I will follow. Do you hear me? I will follow and find you and cart you home.”

It is my first read by this author, I do recall having seen her name and her work in many the store research but with some many books to read and only 24 hours a day, sometime- if not often I forgot.
But this book as a first installment of a new series appeared as a perfect one to become acquainted with Tessa Dare world, plus the blurb did it even more, I’m sold to any beauty and the beast renewed version.
And I must say I was not disappointed.
Well at first, I confess I found the storyline rather slow, but I just finished a series so very different with more actions so I have to reacquaint myself to a different narrating pace but finally action there was too, different.
I do loved the humour, even wounded the two main protagonists kept their wits and banter like swordsmen. They made me laugh out loud, between Emma’s pet names to irritate him to his way of cursing quoting Shakespeare plus if you add a more bones and claws than fur cat and a group of plotting servants and peculiar friends, a stubborn kid, just for this, it was worth the read.
But of course, there are more, Emma is an amazing woman, she stands for herself, she self made herself, she paid dearly for her one mistake as a tender age, no more a kid but still not yet a woman, but nothing stopped her. She is a great heroine, caring and always ready to help others. But she Longs too for love, for someone who will accept her as she is with her flaws and her skills.
Ash is hiding, disfigured in battle, he can’t even stand to look at his reflection. The last blow came from his former betrothed when she rejected him because of his appearance.
So they are here, face-to-face, he trying to conceal his scars in dark corners and she in an “unicorn vomit” like ugly wedding dress. Just this first scene sucked me in the story.
The rest is a battle of intellect.
They are both smart, but their past experiences left them quite dumb regarding truth and faith in the other.
Hopefully even their stubbornness has its limits. It is a slow war, but their love will gradually won step by step over their own fears.
I can now say it was an awesome read, not what I expected at first but none less amazing.
So much I already have preordered the next installment.

**<< Spoilers Alert >>**
I do adored when Ash paid a visit to Emma’s father, furious when he learned how she was casted out because of her sole error. He drove the death out of him impersonating the devil itself.
And I was over the moon when Emma rejected her father’s apologies, she mistaken infatuation for love as a very young woman because she was seeking for something missing in her life. Despite being a kind and caring woman, she was not weak -to me, to greet her father with forgiveness when he was never able to love her. Sorry but sometime, remission is not always the right path.

I’m a verified customer on the store.fr

I’m a huge fan of author Tessa Dare so it came as no surprise that I loved The Duchess Deal. The Duchess Deal reminded me of Beauty in the Beast. The Duke of Ashbury, Ash, returns from the war with injuries and a brooding attitude. Ash spends his days hidden in his estate and has abandon all his connections with society. But to secure his inheritance he must find a wife and have an heir. Right away! His engagement ended due to his injuries, but Ash is determined to find a wife. Fate brings Emma Gladstone to his door, wearing a wedding gown. Emma is the seamstress of Ash’s ex-fiancé and demands payment for the wedding gown that she spent hours to make. Emma needs the money to pay her rent and it becomes clear they can help each other. If they wed, Emma will live in luxury and financial security, and Ash will have the wife and heir he desperately needs. A deal is struck for a marriage of convenience, with each having rules for their relationship. Falling in love is not part of their deal, but will they be able to follow this most important rule? You’ll need to read The Duchess Deal to find out!

Tessa Dare writes romances that make me smile, laugh and swoon. But it is the lovable characters that always stands out. With her books there is always a strong heroine and I loved Emma. Emma struggled on her own for years and held on to a caring spirit. I loved that her decision to marry Ash was influenced by her desire to help others. I also loved that she was independent and stood up for herself. Ash’s cold demeanor may have frightened his staff, but Emma held her ground and fought for what she wanted. Her fearless attitude is what attracted Ash to Emma. Ash believes he is a monster due to his injuries and grouchy attitude, but beneath his coldness is a caring person. The more time he and Emma spend together the “wall” he’s built to keep people away breaks down. Ash and Emma’s relationship has sizzling chemistry and playful banter, they are meant for each other. Along with the main characters is the great supporting cast. Khan, Ash’s butler, is a devoted servant but not afraid to knock some sense into Ash. The new friends Emma meets are delightful and remind me of the strong females from the Spindle Cove series and I can’t wait for their books in this series to be released.

The Duchess Deal is a magical romance and a great start to a new series. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical romances.

Loved, loved, loved! This sat on my TBR for way too long (I had both the print copy and the audio, so I have no idea what I was waiting for--not to mention, that cover is gorgeous...) and once I started the audio version, I kept looking for excuses to keep listening--more baking, dog walking, laundry folding, dish washing, heck--even house cleaning!--because I didn't want to stop. I adored both Emma and Ash (his Shakespearean curses made me LOL) and could not wait for them to realize that what they had wasn't "just" a marriage of convenience at all.

It takes them long enough...but really, that was okay too, because Tessa Dare's writing is just so. Much. Fun. To. Read. Seeing him realize that he was so much more than a scarred monster was absolutely delicious.

Since I'd read the second book first ( The Governess Game , I especially enjoyed seeing how the Girl Meets Duke "girls" started hanging out, seeing Alex and Chase's original meeting in the bookstore, and getting to know Ash after having seen him give Chase such a hard time in The Governess Game (it involved more Shakespearean insults, of course), even if it was all a little backwards.

The narrator (Mary Jane Wells) did a fantastic job; hopefully she'll do the rest of the series as well!

How long until the next book ( The Wallflower Wager ) comes out? (Answer: too long. Sigh...)

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

4.5 Stars

A hilarious marriage of convenience love story! From chapter 1 I knew I was going to love this book. The dry sarcasm of the Duke of Ashbury hooked me from the start. What a stubborn, insufferable but sexy man! He needs an heir and hence a wife but due to a war injury, he is left scarred and doesn't believe any woman would truly want to marry him for love. So he proposes to the most convenient woman available and makes her a deal she can't refuse.

The banter with this couple is so witty and borders on comical at times. During the bedroom scenes, I wasn't sure if I should have been turned on or bending over in laughter. The progression of this arranged marriage morphing into true love was so natural. The attraction was there from the start and it was so sweet to see these two fall in love.

Poor Ash! My heart bled for him. He has been hurt in the past by superficial, vain people who rejected him because of his scars. He was always on the defense. It took him so long to believe that Emma truly loved him. He tried to push her away so many times. Emma was no pushover though. She was such a strong heroine. She also has a past filled with people who turned their backs on her but she never allowed anyone to intimidate her. This despite the fact that she was a seamstress turned Duchess and now had to navigate the world of the "ton" as a new aristocrat.

Even before both of them realized the magnitude of their feelings, we see how protective they are of each other. I loved seeing the wild possessive side of Ash come out whenever Emma was threatened. Amidst all the comedy, this was a heartfelt, emotional romance. My first historical romance for this year but now I'm eager for more!!

4.5 Stars
Historical Romance
POV: Dual
Heat Level: Moderate
HEA

I have to be honest, I am generally not a fan of period romances. I love movies from various eras, but for some reason I always gravitate to books about the present. That was until I read the Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare. I read about five books a week and when I saw this book recommended in one of my reader groups, I put aside the 50 unread books I have on my I pad and purchased this one. And I am so glad I did. I liked the book from the very first page and didn’t stop reading until I finished it.

I loved the Duke of Ashbury and how he and Emma met. He needed a wife and an heir, and she needed love and companionship so they decide to come together in an arrangement that will benefit them both. They each have issues, he was injured at war which left him badly scared, and she had an incident happen when she was a teen that made her flee from her home. In order for me to not put a book down, I have to admire and respect the heroine, and I thought Emma was awesome. She was kind, smart, bold, educated, patient, wise, and oh so witty. I loved how she stood up to him, wanted a true partnership, and made him see all the good that she saw in him. This was not easy as he was a bit of a bear to live with and their clever banter was a normal part of their dialogue and what I liked reading about best.

Ash was so complex but all he wanted was to give and receive love as well. He was hurt and broken from a past relationship, in addition to his war wounds, and Emma helped to heal him. I loved in the end how he did fight for her and finally admitted his true feelings.

Other reviewers compared this book to Beauty and the Beast and I do agree with a bit of Batman and Robin thrown in (you will see how he meets his young protégé). Parts did get a bit crazy, but it’s a book based on fiction and I am reading for an escape. I liked all the verbiage used in this book and am glad I read an electronic version so I could easily look up words from Old England. The book took me back in time and it was truly a pleasure to experience their journey and how they became a family.

For starters, let’s talk world building, tone, style, and all that jazz.

Elley: The setting is Mayfair in London during the Regency period. I love the backstories for both Emma and Ash, and Tessa Dare always right such delightful, witty, fun romances. Once I got going with this book I had a really hard time putting it down.
Ariel: Tessa Dare did a great job in this one of creating a wonderful atmosphere, both in Ash’s residence, and the way she held to the distinction of different class systems without making any of the characters snobbish or jerks about anything. I always do appreciate a sassy butler too, which Ash certainly had. Someone give that butler his own book! Make him a recurring character

OK, now for the good stuff: let's talk main characters and their love story!

Elley: I love me a damaged man with a heart of gold. While other girls were dreaming of Prince Charming and pretending to be Cinderella, I was watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame and swooning over Quasimodo. I also preferred the Beast over his transformation into Prince Adam. So obviously I fell immediately head over heels for Ash.
Ariel: When I initially read the description, I was concerned that Ash would be kind of a brooding alpha-hole, or that he would be so bogged down in his personal woes that he wouldn’t have any other personality. But it turns out I LOVED his personality! He maintained a great rapport with Emma, had the right amount of brood without getting over the top. I appreciated Emma’s spunk, and her ability to stand up for herself.
Elley: Oh my gosh, I loved Emma! I like that she’s so sexually free in a time when women were supposed to just lie there and let their husband do his thing. Yeah, baby! And yeah, she’s definitely got gumption. Can you imagine striding into the residence of a duke wearing a dress that looks like a unicorn vomited on it and demanding to be paid? You go girl.
Ariel: I feel like in Regency romance there is a fine line between delicate flower and wanton lady, and Emma manages to walk that line very nicely.

What about those side characters?

Elley: OK, I *loved* Ash's little sidekick, what did he call himself again?
Ariel: I don’t remember but he definitely should get his own book. Or at least keep showing up and being adorable. I couldn’t totally place his age. Is he old enough to end up with one of the friends? I am 100% here for that.
Elley: I felt like he was more like 11 or 12 or something. But he definitely needs to come back around in future books! I also really liked Ash's servants. I feel like you can tell a lot about a person from how they treat "the help." Today that might look like how they treat their waiter or speak to a cashier, and if someone talks to people in the service industry like they're trash they're most likely not a keeper. I think the way Ash's servants interact with him (especially his butler!!) says a lot about his hidden heart of gold.
Ariel: The only thing that bugged me was the “the servants are conspiring to hook us up” plotline, and the weird maid whose only function was to act like an awkward matchmaker. That seemed a bit forced. But I absolutely loved the butler, and how he was Captain Sass all the time at Ash. I would love to hear more about him.
Elley: It’s cute how much they care about their master and want him to be happy and fall in love! OK, yeah, a lot of the matchmaking plotline was weird and out of place. But that BUTLER! I also really loved Emma’s circle of strange friends, and I imagine the rest of the books in the series will be about them. Talk about some quirky leading ladies!!
Ariel: I am 100% here for every single quirky book about this friend group, and I hope our favorite masked bandit makes an appearance in all of them.

Overall rating/thoughts?

Elley: I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down once I got started reading it. I give it 5 stars, and can’t wait to read the next books in the series!
Ariel: I gave it 5 stars for the same reason. It didn’t get bogged down in gloom, the characters were wonderful, and as always, Tessa Dare’s writing was top notch. More books now please!

Ash is convinced no woman will ever want him or love him, who wants to be intimate with a monster? He has convinced himself that his physical scars will repulse everyone, especially any potential love interests. Emma sees the man behind the horrific scars and finds herself falling for the stubborn aristocrat.
Emotional attachment isn’t part of the deal though. Not according to the deal the two of them have agreed to. It includes an heir to the dukedom, a lot of teasing, and definitely under no circumstances shall there be any kissing. Not an easy task when you’re in the throes of passion.
The Duchess Deal has an equal amount of passion and playfulness, including a house full of scheming staff invested in Emma and Ash, and their very peculiar relationship. At the same time the read is hotter than a chilli pepper. An excellent balancing act of charm, wit and desire.

Lovers of Regency romances want to experience the moments of illicit passion, the moments when there is a sharp intake of a breath just before the feisty beautiful woman is kissed passionately by the debonair gentleman. There are some authors who also manage to infuse the wicked and the saucy with a sense of humour, and that is the core essence of a standout Regency novel. Tessa Dare certainly knows how to combine the hot and heavy horizontal tango with a quick witted humorous dialogue.
Instead of relying on all of the usual clichés and the sometimes stuffy repertoire of this genre, the author has fun with the characters and the plot. This sense of adventure and joie de vivre can be felt throughout the book. Tessa Dare elicits amused snorts and accelerated heartbeats in equal measure.
*I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher for purposes of review.*

Droll. Delightful. And who cares about details or believability when we have a scarred, snarky Duke who strolls around at night engendering "Monster of Mayfair" legends paired with a sadder-but-wiser good-hearted seamstress who makes friends with an eccentric coterie of girlfriends whilst trying to woo the scarred Duke's heart?

This is a light-hearted, but steamy, romance with both hero and heroine pretty much always making fun of each other or themselves through wit and innuendo. It's fun. Don't take it too seriously and you'll have a fun time. There's some steamy times where the Duke and Emma work out some of his "but I'm too horrible for someone to want me" and her "I'm a fallen woman and nobody wants me" issues that worked pretty well.

There's also the side characters. From Khan, the Duke's long-suffering butler, who schemes with the other household servants to get Emma and the Duke into situations where they'll fall in love, to Trevor the Menace who makes himself the Duke's sidekick, they're a hoot.

If you're in the mood for light-hearted, bantery romance without worrying too much about the details, this is your book!

This is not a romance novel, because the Duke of Ashbury and Emma Gladstone don't marry to fall in love, they are just following the rules they put on their contract when they decided to get married. Have a son on one side on the other have a civilized dinner every day with a little talk... seems easy isn't it? If they follow the rules love will never have a space in their agreed marriage... or is what they think... Ready for the deal?

Let me say that I had so much fun reading this book! The verbal fights between Emma and Ash are hilarious, really sometimes I almost cried for so much laugh!
This book is about love, redemption and acceptance, easy to say, more difficult to accept. Emma and Ash have their own baggage, and if they want this marriage to succeed they have to be trustworthy between each other apart of accepting their faults, of course. It will not be easy, both of them had lost the things they thought were the most important of their lives, so they will have to learn to respect and trust someone..
The only thing that I didn’t like very much was that it seems that even if Emma loves to know what Ash does in his every day routines and respect all of their weird hobbies, he can not accept that she is really good sewing and creating dresses, he should learn some respect to Emma and her desires and dreams.
I have to admit that it was not just the main story that was interesting, there are a few secondary characters that stole my heart, and I hope we will see them on a next book! Can we be updated too on Emma and Ash? I am sure they will have much more to say...!
I can assure you that if you start reading this book you will fall in love with Emma and Ash, their love story is unique and enchanting!
Ready to be the Duchess?

My first read of 2018 was a good one. The Duchess Deal: Girl Meets Duke 1 nicely kicks off Tessa Dare’s Girl Meets Duke series. It is regency romance with a beauty and the beast vibe to it.

The Duke of Ashbury has been badly scarred at war and lives his life in solitude with his servants as company. He was engaged but it was broken off after he returned from the war. Emma Gladstone is the seamstress that was working on the Duke’s bride to be’s wedding dress and now that the wedding is off, she finally shows up at the Duke’s doorstep hoping to collect the money they owe her for the dress. The Duke has been thinking that he needs an heir to leave his wealth to and he wants to find a wife. When Emma Gladstone comes knocking at his front door the timing can’t be more perfect. He makes her the offer. Marry him and she will be set for life with his wealth, all that he asks for is she provide him an heir. He believes himself unlovable due to the scarring.

Emma initially refuses but afterwards she agrees, knowing the offer is once in a lifetime plus she needs the marriage in order to help her unwed pregnant friend so win win.

First off, I loved the Duke of Ashbury a.k.a. Ash straight away. He’s tall, brooding but sarcastically funny and one half of his body is scarred. I fell for the beauty and the beast trope hook line and sinker. He is cranky at times but has a good heart. Alot of the story-line is about his being able to accept that she truly loves him.
I also liked Emma. She is straightforward and intelligent and speaks what is on her mind. She has her own painful past and it is slowly revealed as the story flows. The interactions between these two were so fun to read and it was nice watching them fall in love.

As usual, Tessa Dare does not disappoint. She writes couples whose personalities compliment each other and heroines who can take care of themselves and she adds a nice dose of humor to her stories that make them really enjoyable. The writing flows smoothly and whenever I would put this book down I couldn’t wait to pick it up again.

This was a story about how nobody is perfect and about second chances and about loving someone for who they really are. Also, about accepting yourself and leaving the past where it belongs, in the past. I highly recommend her books to fans of the genre or to anyone looking to get swept away into a good romance.

I had high expectations for The Duchess Deal, and while it is definitely entertaining, I didn’t love it the way I expected. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had I not recently read a truly excellent historical romance with a marriage of convenience theme. I don’t know, but 3.5 stars is still pretty darned good.

For an impoverished woman, Emma seems remarkably blasé about the perks of being a duchess, including having money. The Duke of Ashbury is sullen, cold, and impersonal. Nonetheless, Emma is instantly drawn to him. I loved her teasing and his wry sense of humor. Ash’s insecurity and vulnerability are appealing, but only up to a point. After awhile his woe-is-me attitude grows tiresome. Fortunately, their mocking exchanges inject a great deal of fun into their relationship.

While I enjoyed their blossoming romance, I wasn’t invested in the rest of the story. The silly side plot involving Ash’s alter ego held little interest for me. Emma’s poorly hatched plan to help a friend is also less than satisfying.

For me, this was an enjoyable read. It just wasn’t a page-turner.

THE DUCHESS DEAL was my romance group's book of the month for November, and I am only now just getting around to it because people are jerks and don't return their library books on time. I figured it would be a two-birds-one-stone type of affair: belatedly finish our group read and also knock out a category on that Yule Challenge.

Here's the thing. I don't normally like fluffy romance novels. You say the word "fluff," and unless you're talking about a cat or marshmallow cream in a jar, I flee in the other direction. But THE DUCHESS DEAL is actually...cute? And genuinely hilarious? I actually lol'd at a few of the lines. It's so ridiculous and over-the-top, like Lisa Kleypas and Gail Carriger decided to have a slightly mad tea party and guzzled rose tea and macarons while dinking around on a typewriter. It's cute and silly and it works, even if it is slightly mad.

Emma is a seamstress and her latest work - a wedding dress - has gone unpaid, and her letters demanding said payment have gone unanswered. She decides that the best course of action is to wear the wedding dress to the house of the Duke she wants payment for, because, you know, visual aids.

The Duke of Ashbury was forced to call off his engagement because his wife-to-be found his facial and bodily scars so disgusting that she literally became ill at the prospect of their wedding night. However, he wants an heir - partially to spite the relatives he hates and deny them the pleasure of inheritance - and when Emma comes altar-ready to his doorstep and seems less than repulsed by his imposing visage, a rather unconventional idea forms in his head.

They work out a deal: he will marry her, and by day she can do whatever she wants as long as she sleeps with him every night - at least until she gets pregnant. Then he'll move her off to his summer estate and they never have to see one another again. It all works out: Ash gets his heir, and Emma has the means to save a friend of hers who had a child out of wedlock.

Neither of them expect to end up falling for one another.

I know this plot is cliche and a little over-the-top. Beauty and the beast retellings are available in spades - and yet, few of them manage to balance the gruff and yet vulnerable personality that is characteristic of the beast without making him seem like a total nerf-wad. Ash is a jerk, and sometimes he is an annoying jerk, but I never felt like he was a totally bad person. Later on in the book, it becomes just how badly he was hurt, and how much of his nasty exterior is purely defensive, much like a porcupine's quills.

Emma walks a fine line between genuinely quirky and twee, but ultimately I found her more amusing than anything else. I thought her passion for dress-making was great (so many romance heroines have zero hobbies). I thought the nicknames she came up with to annoy the Duke were hilarious ("Twinkles", "Bunnykins" - LOL). She also has a rather lovely array of friends.

Which brings us back to the point of this exercise - the Yule Challenge, which is unarguably biased in favor of fluffy books. I decided to use THE DUCHESS DEAL to fulfill the "Luna" category for lovable sidekicks because this book has them in spades: whether it's a brattily precocious young man named Trevor, a snarky Butler named Khan, a contrary cat named Breeches, three eccentric ladies named Alexandra, Nicola, and Penny, or a goat named Marigold, Tessa Dare has you covered.

This is my first Tessa Dare book and it won't be the last. Anything that makes me smile this much gets three stars, no matter how silly it is. Honestly, this was just the breath of flowery air I needed after a visit to Bodice Ripper Town. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars

I just couldn’t take it any longer, my fellow romance book loving friends. I pushed my long ARC reading list aside and finally delved into a library edition of The Duchess Deal, a 2017 GoodReads Choice Awards nominee. So I’m here now just to post a few very brief comments to officially chalk this one up as a rare 5 star read for me.

Emma, the heroine, really made this story for me. She was sassy, quick to give as good as she got, saw straight into the soul of this reclusive, scarred hero, and won over this duke’s stubborn, reluctant, afraid to love heart.

You could definitely say Ash, the hero, got a whole lot more than he bargained for when he proposed this marriage of convenience arrangement. Naturally, after reading the synopsis, I was expecting his standoffish behavior and attempts to keep Emma at arms length. What surprised me was his own hidden sense of humor that peeked through in off the cuff comments, back and forth banter, and inner monologues.

I can clearly see why this book was nominated. Here’s to hoping you’ll end up enjoying it as much as I did.

(These comments are based on a library edition. This is not a detailed advanced reader copy review. I received no compensation for this review.)

A soft story with Tessa Dare's usual charming characters and the reason for 4 stars over the 3 it really is. Ash and Emma are likable and sweet together. Dare's breezy style is fun, if not terribly deep or richened by the honest conflict needed for a strong novel. Stuffing the light plot with sex fills Dare's pages where depth of story should be and she too often plays fast and loose with convention and accuracy. Her books are almost aways a 4 over 3 star read, which says something about her consistency But what stories she could write if she created real conflict and opened her confined plots to a bigger, deeper story rather than filling it with quirky secondary characters who disappear for most of the book and then rush in in the end, always feeling irritatingly tacked on.

5 RIP-ROARING OUTLANDISH AWESOME STARS!!! I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Filled with so many LOL moment!! I can't even begin to say how fantastic this story was! Ash and Emma are the best! Ash with his witty Shakespearean comebacks and Emma with her no less than witty repertoire had me laughing with tears...Loved it! Just loved it!!!! I cannot wait for Penny, animal lover, Nicola the baking scientist and Alex our timepiece connoisseur, they must have their own stories!!! Well done again Ms. Dare, beautifully, emotionally and humorously done.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
???
A giggle from the beginning , the forward is brilliant and says so much about what to expect from the book , which is serious with an edge of hilarity.
Although some will say it’s about a serious subject ,that of a man so disfigured he breaks the mirrors and thinks no one should look at him in the light.
This book puts me more in mind of a more human reaction , both these souls know pain ,rejection and wether they realise it or not crave love and acceptance.
It made me laugh out loud at the pet names she called him , the Butler was a brilliant character too .
I can honestly admit to a few tears especially when she finds the mirror . It made me feel so many emotions.
A wonderfully written book
Loved it
Top marks !

This book was absolutely amazing. I love the main characters and how different they were from typical historical leads are in books. It was quite refreshing that Ash wasn't the dashing womanizing rakish Duke and Emma wasn't the typical society girl or gentleman's daughter who either is in desperate need of a husband or who is charmed by the male into bed and finds herself having to marry him. It was also nice that Emma was allowed to be sexually aware and to find sex enjoyable from the very beginning. And boy does Tessa know how to write those sex scenes, hot hot hot! This is a must read book for anyone who likes historical romances!

This has got to be one of my favorite Historical Romances EVERY. It was the best LOVE / HATE Romance add in a strong willed heroine and a broken but beautiful soul Duke and you have a book that is so hard to put down.

This book had so much charm, chemistry and stolen moments between the Duke and Emma. From the minute Emma busted into scene, I adored her. The author gave her such a great personality, soul and I loved her. It was so easy to cheer for her to get what she deserved and was easy to imagine how hard the Duke with walls of steel would fall for her.

This book was such a satisfying read. I #highlyrecommend this book. I know you will fall in love with it as much as I did.

4.5 stars

The Duchess Deal takes a less-used trope that I have previously enjoyed in contemporary books. I can't reveal what this theme is but I loved that context for the story and it is this theme that brokers 'duchess deal'. Emma is a lowly seamstress but previously a gentlewoman. Emma had courage and the spark needed to negotiate and spar with the Duke of Ashbury aka lambkins, sweetmeat, precious angel muffin (you had to be there).

Tessa Dare rolled out her delectable humour from the first chapter and what I love about this is the humour never detracts from the underlying story that has seriousness and heart aching moments. When Ash first claps eyes on Emma, he doesn't quite know what to make of her.

"He was blinded. Not by her beauty-though he supposed she might be beautiful. It wasn't possible to judge. Her gown was an eye-stabbing monstrosity of pearls, lace, brilliance and beads."

Life has been pretty tough on Ashbury and he's such a cantankerous personality but he definitely has a slice of the endearing about him. I felt compassion for him and I wanted the nice side of him that was buried to shine through. The ups and downs of Ash made for absorbing reading.

"Fortune was a heartless witch in perpetual anticipation of her monthly courses. And didn't Ash know it."

The story was excellent with depth and some predictability that didn't detract from enjoyment at all. The friends that emma developed in her new role in life were great side characters, as were Khan and Breeches. I suspect some of those friends may be part of the series as it evolves and I am excited about reading more from this eclectic mix of women.

Highly recommended for all fans of Dare and any new readers wishing for that unusual combination of rom-com historical style.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

Emma Gladstone, age 22, is calling upon the Duke of Ashbury at Ashbury House in Mayfair. She is wearing a wedding gown that she had sewn for Miss Annabelle Worthing who had been engaged to the Duke. Annabelle had broken off their engagement when the Duke was injured in the war leaving him badly scarred.

Emma is a seamstress at Madame Bissette’s shop. Now, she needs the payment she never received for making the gown. However, the Duke refuses to pay her unless she leaves the gown with him. After arguing with him fails, she begins to remove the gown. Seeing that she is a strong, feisty, and pretty young woman, he tells her that she can have the money owed her or she can become his duchess. He needs a wife, an heir, and theirs would be a marriage of convenience. Thinking that he is joking, she grabs the money and flees. However, he seeks her out at her shop and convinces her to marry him.

The marriage is carried out quickly and Emma learns from him that as soon as she is pregnant, she may retire to one of his homes in the country where she will have the baby and, if it’s a boy, she won’t have to deal with him again. An heir is all he needs.

While the Duke is a man used to giving orders and being obeyed, Emma is determined for them to have some sort of relationship. So, she does all she can to become involved with his daily life. While he fights it somewhat, he can’t help but become intrigued by this woman.

Emma’s past as the daughter of a vicar has left her with some scars of her own. What happened to her that made her have to become a seamstress in London?

This romance mixed with some of the best humor I have read make for a love story that tops them all. Don’t miss this book. This is Book No 1 of the Girl Meets Duke series and I cannot wait to read more.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Tessa Dare is an absolute master at what she does. Of course there are hundreds of historical romance authors out there, but no one quite does it like Tessa Dare. Her books are priceless gems. each one better than the previous one. The Duchess Deal was no exception. Telling the story of two unlikely personalities in a marriage of convenience falling slowly but hardly for each other, The Duchess Deal is Tessa Dare’s most magical, most romantic, and sexiest novel to date.

As always Dare writes characters that are full of heart and soul. Emma, darling darling Emma, is a witty seamstress who has made a life for herself after she’s ousted and disowned by her vicar father. She is a woman with a lot of strength, self-possession, kindness and compassion. Life may have dealt her a bad hand, but she moves on from that and instead channels her grief and disappointment into her passion of making dresses. In many ways, she is the complete opposite of the brutally scarred jerk who proposes the preposterous idea of entering a marriage of convenience. Said jerk is of course the Duke of Ashbury, a war-hero who is in desperate need of an heir. He is gruff, broody, and angry for the way his life has turned around, but he also somehow finds a way to sneakily settle in your heart and make you swoon for days. Your heart aches for him, and you want him to see himself beyond the physical scars to the hero that he is. Of course, he is a man after all, and an incredibly bull-headed one at that, so it takes a kind, passionate and loving woman like Emma to finally crumble that tough wall he has built around him.

This Beauty and The Beast-esque romance between Emma and Ash is delightful, awkward, and sexy. They both go into the marriage with plans of not falling for each other, and as a reader, you scoff at that because you know from their very first meeting that the kind of attraction they have doesn’t end at lust. It’s fun watching them dance around each other, push each other’s button, and slowly and subtly fall desperately in love with each other. It’s a swoons-inducing romance that will leave you breathless. The clever banter, the hilarious teasing (mostly on Emma’s part ), and the sensuous and steamy love scenes makes it a romance that’s absolutely worth the read, and re-read. As always with Tessa Dare’s novels, there is also a great depiction of female friendships between Emma and a lovely, and quirky group of women who embrace her with open hands. They are a fun addition to the book, and add even more humor to the story, along with Ash’s nosy, meddling staff who only want for him to find love.

The Duchess Deal is for those readers who love a good toe-curling romance between two broken and unlikely souls that fit beautifully together that also has a memorable cast and humor for days. If the rest of the Girl Meets Duke series is going to be anything like this first book, then romance readers are in for a ride.

The Duchess Deal is book one of the Girl Meets Duke series. I'm addicted to books by Tessa Dare so of course, I had to grab this one. With this being the start to a new series it still brings all the great aspects that you'd expect from a Tessa Dare book. It's full of heart melting romance, with hard headed leading characters you can't get enough of.

We start out meeting Emma Gladstone, a seamstress in a rather unconventional way. You see, Annabelle Worthing requested a wedding dress, which Emma made but then the wedding was called off and no one ever paid her for her work. Emma decides to go to the Duke of Ashbury and request the money due from his ex-fiancee, she does so by wearing the dress to confront him. Ash grants her the money but is in need of a wife that can bear an heir and sets his sights on Emma after that confrontation. He's so used to everyone being revolted by the scars he got from the war and has a major chip in his shoulder from it too. After a little back and forth, they decide to have a marriage of convenience but each sets some rules in place. He pretty much just wants her to get pregnant and then she's off to another estate, but she wants dinner together each evening as well as actual conversations to get to know one another. As you can imagine Emma ruffles his feathers and with each page you can see them grow closer, even though the Duke doesn't realize until he's hooked.

The Duchess Deal is an addicting read you won't want to put down. The characters are attention grabbing and have their own flaws which really brings a touch of realness to the story. I've found the leading ladies in TDare books tend to not be pushovers which I really appreciate since it leads to an entertaining read. I'd recommend this book to anyone fond of historical romance with a marriage of convenience trope.

Emma Gladstone has gone to the Duke of Ashbury’s home for one reason – to collect payment on a debt she feels she is owed. The Duke can settle the debt, but he wants more out of the deal: Emma will marry him, produce an heir, and ride off into the sunset. Or at least to a small cottage in a nearby village.

Emma is intrigued by the idea that this handsome, wealthy and enticing man would want anything to do with her, the down on her luck daughter of a vicar. Ashbury’s persistence wins Emma over, but it’s not that much of a challenge as Ashbury has already captured Emma’s heart, whether he knows it or not. Ashbury himself is a much tougher nut to crack, however, and his battle scars are deeper than the grievous physical scars he sees in the mirror. Emma is up for the challenge, but Ashbury is unyielding, determined to not let this enchanting woman slip through the slight fissures that are weakening the shell he wears like armor. Emma will have her way, but it won’t be easy!

The Duchess Deal is the inaugural offering in Tessa Dare’s new “Girl Meets Duke” series, and it’s going to be a tough act to follow! The dialogue between Emma and Ashbury is witty and razor sharp, and the pages of the story just melt away as the plot progresses. This couple is interesting, and even better, their relationship is believable. Emma wears away Ashbury’s resistance through being herself; there’s no pretention, and Ashbury’s facade is a false front created out of self-preservation. Dare’s characters have a realness to them, and the bumps along the road to the ending bring out even more of that authenticity. This book is a binge-worthy read, a “don’t bother me, I’m reading” type of romance novel that doesn’t come along often enough. Don’t miss it! -- Joyce Greenfield, ReaderToReader.com

Both hilariously enchanting and romantic, The Duchess Deal will appeal to all readers, even those who don’t normally veer into this genre. Tessa Dare excels at bridging the gap between Contemporary and Historical with her signature humor and authentically fresh characters. A marriage of convenience grew to have such unexpected depth and twists and turns, and a love story that was captivating from the very beginning.

Dare manages to always perfectly capture the strong, defiant heroines that don’t fit into their expected place in both society and relationships, and with Emma she brought a great sort of bold shyness to her which made her even more endearing. It greatly contrasted with the Duke of Ashbury’s brittle outer shell as it hilariously pushed his buttons and pulled at his heart, both of which took him out of his comfort zone. The dynamic between the two (made even more fun by the meddling of others) was hysterical and completely charming; watching them step about and cross boundaries, sometimes on purpose or not, was the most fun of it all. The heat between them was beguiling and became this powerful thing to unite two people merely in it for what it brought on paper. For all of Ashbury’s protestations, watching her slowly become the balm to soothe his soul was absolutely the best part of the story.

The Duchess Deal was a fantastic love story with compelling characters that effortlessly elevated this tale to the grand story it became. Dare’s writing flowed seamlessly from start to finish and easily brought to life a long ago time period. A top-notch start to a series and one that I cannot wait to continue on.

Tessa Dare’s writing is brilliant! She’s one of my all-time favorite historical romance writers, so it’s no surprise that The Duchess Deal was utterly fun, with clever banter, but also emotional and touching.

The Duke of Ashbury is a dark and difficult man after the war left him a scarred shell of his former self. His fiancée could hardly bare to look at him so their engagement came to an end, but Ash still needs to produce an heir to inherit. As he’s mulling this over, Emma crashes into his life, a seamstress demanding payment for his former fiancée’s wedding dress, and the solution seems to appear right before his eyes.

I had so much fun reading as this marriage of convenience inevitably turns into more. Emma wants more than just a physical relationship, and that more gradually pierces Ash’s poor, scarred heart. His insecurities over his injuries make it hard to believe that Emma could ever actually desire him, and Emma worries that if she falls in love she’ll get her heart trampled, as has happened in the past, so they each have hurdles to overcome. It took some time for the emotional barriers to come down, but their physical relationship turned hot right away! In the interest of producing an heir neither hold back, and, oh my, did they burn up the sheets! Pretty hard to keep someone at arm’s length when you’re lusting after them all the time!

Witty, hilarious, sizzling and emotional, The Duchess Deal was a splendid start to Tessa Dare’s newest series: Girl Meets Duke!

I love a damaged hero whose life is upended by an intrepid heroine and that's exactly what Dare gives us in The Duchess Deal. Ash and Emma are such fun. She's a surprise at every turn and exactly what our wounded (in body and spirit) hero needs to pull him out of his self-imposed isolation. Their journey is engaging, emotional, and satisfying. Surrounding this unlikely couple are fascinating secondary characters including three young women who, it appears, will all have stories of their own and my personal favorites: the hero's long-suffering butler, Khan (I adored him!) and a cheeky young boy who appoints himself the hero's crime-fighting assistant. I'm hoping we'll have the opportunity to see both of them again in future books.

Pair these vibrant characters with Dare's witty dialog, heartfelt emotion, and sparkling humor (Emma's many possible pet names for her Duke when she can't figure out what to call him, and he's no help, are hilarious. "Twinkles" was a particular favorite of mine) and you have a feel-good story that will make you laugh, sigh, and turn the final page wanting nothing more than to go back to the beginning and start all over again.

Cute book! Poor Ash!! I feel so bad for him! I can understand where he's coming from with his scars-sort of. I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 14 years old and I have severe scars on my arms, chest, stomach & lower back & I hate them!!! Luckily, I'm able to hide mine easily. I really liked this book & how it's not a typical romance! The main characters are pretty much opposite what authors usually make them! He's scarred & cranky. She isn't in the same social class as he is & she was a laborer-working her fingers into calluses! I really liked both characters & I thought they suited each other really well! I recommend reading this book. It's entertaining & well written! I felt so bad for the main characters & the difficulties they have both faced/face. I wanted to give them a big hug! I'd like to know what happens with Emma's Dad-the big jerk! (SPOILER ALERT!!)-I wish someone, an old friend, would've come forward at the ball Ash went to & acted like he was glad to see Ash or Thanked him for being in the war! (His ex-fiancé doesn't count since she didn't do it for Ash but for herself!) I just feel bad that he doesn't have any male friends, besides his butler! Overall-this was a really good book!

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare (Audio Edition)
Narrated by Mary Jane Wells
Series: Girl Meets Duke, book 1

5 HUGE FUNNY STARS! This book was fantastic!! It was super funny and had me laughing within the first few paragraphs! The writing was superb, the use of uncommonly used words, in just the right spots made all the difference. The wounded/tortured hero is not my favourite plot line, as usually I find them too sulky or whiny. This book did not conform to that. While Ash did sulk, he did so with flair and wit.

I loved how Ash was actually a good person, how he longs to love her.. and how sometimes he just can't stop himself from doing so- even when he tries to. Emma was a strong leading lady, she stood up for what she wanted and didn't let Ash get away with anything. She kept pushing his boundaries and they had wonderful chemistry together.

The narration fantastic! Mary Jane Wells has a style all her own and pulls out the sarcastic wit that was needed for this audiobook to succeed!

I highly recommend this book and I am sad it is over… because how will the next book I read compare?!?!

~Paragraphs and Petticoats~

4.5 Stars
Tessa Dare has a new series called Girl Meets Duke and the first book, THE DUCHESS DEAL is an impressive start. Readers can expect the same snarky comebacks and charming personalities that her characters are known for, but this book also has an interesting premise.

Emma Gladstone is seeking payment for a wedding dress that she made. But since its been called off, she does to the would-be groom, the Duke of Ashbury, to be compensated. The Duke has avoided marriage thus far, but he must do so quickly or else he won’t have an heir. His personality is brooding and glowering but it’s no match for the charm that Emma holds.

This book was so fun to read. You can always count of Tessa Dare to deliver a charming book. I was smiling from ear to ear as I read this book and I have to say that I’m very excited for this series. Free-flowing and easy to read, it’s also an easy one to devour. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be able to read it in one sitting.

And soon, you’ll be wishing to claim the heroes one by one just like me. Trust me when I say that this is not a book that you want to miss.

A delight to read.

Emma and Ash will win you over in a heartbeat.

The banter between them starts from the first encounter between them and sets the tone of the book.

The Duchess Deal does address serious issues but its done using a light tone. No excessive angst or drama. Emma and Ash are both adults, they act accordingly (most of the time).

I loved Ash's gruffness. He tried being the Beast but it didn't work. He did an apprentice...

Ash had integrity and always did what is best for the people under his care.

His responsibilities made him propose to Emma and she' for her own reasons , accepted.

I loved he mad her realize he hires people because THEY need jobs and a way to support themselves. It wasn't about his position as a Duke, but his duty.

Emma was cast away from her home at a young age and she supported herself working as a seamstress. She had a big heart and so much love to give.

I loved the friendships she developed during the book, the courage she had to care and love Ash despite the arrangement between them.

This story had me laughing, crying (but not the ugly cry), and so much more. I can't come up with words to describe my feeling for this book.

Now you are wondering why I LOVED The Duchess Deal. First off, it's a Beauty and the Beast kind of theme. We have disfigured Duke of Ashbury. He feels who could ever love someone who is so disfigured and ghastly. He's a bit beastly towards Emma. All he can think of is she's marrying for his money. In sum aspects she is, but she's not a gold-digger. Her motives for marrying Ashbury are kind of altruistic, but she grows to love him. Of course she sees the kind and gentle side. He seriously plays up the beast part by being sort of vigilante. So, we have that going on with the story, but the banter between these two is fabulous. Seriously, these two slay me with their conversation.

The Duchess Deal is definitely a page turner. If you haven't tried a Tessa Dare I would highly recommend trying The Duchess Deal. It's witty, smart, and funny, but it's also has good emotional kick to it too. Overall, a good read for all.

Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss

The Duchess Deal was such a fun and outrageous (in the best way) book about a scarred Duke and a penniless seamstress who marry in a marriage of convenience. Duke of Ashbury returned from war with scars on his face and body, he is in need of an heir but he doesn't think a woman of the ton will want to marry him because of his disfigurement. So when Emma turns up at his house in a wedding dress he decides on the spot that she would do as his wife.

I loved Ash and Emma, they are so funny and adorable together! The dialogue is brilliant, I thoroughly enjoyed their banter, the snark, and the sassiness. It was akin to watching a game of tennis or a badminton to see who is going to score a point ;-). Both Ash and Emma are interesting and likeable and there is enough conflict and tension between them to keep reader's interest. I was so engrossed, I couldn't put the book down! The Duchess Deal was my first Tessa Dare book and is the best historical romance I've read in a long time. I enjoyed it immensely and only wish I picked up any of her books sooner.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss

Tessa Dare is my favourite. Ever book I've ever read of hers has made me giggle, swoon, and sigh. Her books feel like adult fairy tales and, if you haven't already started devouring her backlist, please start.

Before we even get to the story, I have a few things to address. First of all this cover - OHMYGOD. I'm swooning before I even have a chance to read the title. Gorgeous.

Second of all, every Tessa Dare blurb is perfect and I don't know how they do it. Writing blurbs is hard. But this says everything you need to know, so I'm not going to give you a summary (not that I typically do in my reviews, but please read the blurb).

Alright, now on to my feelings.

The Duchess Deal made me feel all warm and happy. It was a big fluffy hug and it was exactly the escape I needed. It is fast-paced, swoony, and light-hearted, without shying away from life's darkness & heaviness. I absolutely loved both our hero, Ash, and our heroine, Emma. Between them there was banter, sweetness, steam, and tension. Neither has had an easy path in life and their happily ever after is hard earned and well deserved. They are perfect together. I loved their snappy dialogue from the start. I was up way too late with this book, trying not to wake my husband with my constant giggles and sighs. This story is so romantic and so sexy.

5 stars - everything about The Duchess Deal is beautiful.

Thank you to the publisher & Edelwiess for the early review copy. I've also purchased the audiobook and look forward to hearing the story again!

Ash and Emma were ADORABLE together. But, then, I have a soft spot for growly, brooding men and the women who give them ridiculous pet names. Honestly, Emma's increasingly off the wall nicknames for him had me laughing. Hard. And his ... quiet horror at some of them made me laugh even harder.

But this isn't all pet names and laughter. Ash isn't the usual perfect Duke. He's scarred. He's surly. He's very, very lucky Emma crossed his path when she did. While she ticked off all the boxes he thought he needed in a wife, she also had a backbone of steel and she wasn't about to let him get away with some of the things he tried to get away with.

Her charming openness takes him off guard. Her acceptance of his scars goes a long way toward shocking him back into the world of the living. AND THOSE NICKNAMES. He pretends to dislike them, but we all know differently.

I'm generally enamored of all Tessa Dare's books and this one was no different. Ash and Emma were sweet and silly and absolutely perfect together.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

Wow, what a great story. Ash and Emma's banter is hilarious. Dare does a wonderful job growing these characters from friends to lovers to soulmates. The minor characters are just as compelling, from Ash's sidekick, The Menace, to Khan the beleaguered butler to Emma's tea-taking friends from across the street. I can't wait to read their romances (I'm assuming the next books will be about them and am hopeful that I am correct in this). Dare is a superb writer who knows how to blend romance, heat, humor, and heartbreak into her stories. A great start to a new series.

The Audible version of this book was the closest thing to a perfect listen as I could get. The reader captured both the heroine and hero perfectly, and it made all the difference. I laughed through the whole book, and I was thoroughly charmed.

I loved this book. It was a fun book to read with humor in it from the very beginning that made me smile. I loved Emma and the duke together. Their romance along with the quirky friends and the matchmaking servants made this an enjoyable read.

My favourite historical romance to date. I put off reading the. For a long time, this one came highly recommended and I can see why. It was fun and witty. The banter was hilarious. Will read more in the series.

What wasn't to like! I read the sample and knew I had to read it. The first chapter was hilarious and intriguing. So I purchased it and was not disappointed. The book was well written with funny dialogue. I never tell a synopsis of a book, but I will say Emma and the Duke were sparring partners from get go. I could not put it down.

I really loved this story. The characters were very engaging. Their quirkiness brought lots of humor and lightness to the story which was needed to lift the heaviness of the duke’s sorrow. All events occurred at a reasonable pace; the story never dragged or felt rushed. The sex scenes were inventive and tastefully written. I will reread this book many times in years to come.

Maybe it’s my strange sense of humor, but I thought this was one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while. The pairing of the scarred duke and the poor seamstress is so unlikely it’s a comedy of errors. The characters remained a little flat throughout the story, but the snappy banter was so much fun I was willing to forgive them almost anything.

I adore Tessa Dare's romances and the first book in this new series is no exception. I loved the heroine of this novel, Emma, for her resilience, her mind, her wit, and her ability to get under Ash's skin. I live for grumpy heroes, and Ash fits the bill in the best of ways. They've both been hurt by their pasts, they both have a lot to contend with, and have to learn to communicate with each other and themselves. I devoured this book in one sitting and can't wait to see what's next in Dare's Girl Meets Duke series.

While I'm not a fan of Tessa Dare's habit of not following the rules of historical accuracy in her historical romances, this story was delightful. Ash and Emma were a charming couple, and their romance was truly enchanting.

I look forward to reading the next in the series!

SO SO SO funny! I literally laughed out so many times to the annoyance of my husband who's trying to sleep. :D

The plot lines are sort of predictable and I lost a little bit of interest towards the end of the book.

But still a really funny read and very entertaining!

>>>>>>My Synopsis (Review Follows): <<<<<<
Once upon a time a young seamstress, down-on-her-luck, decided to take matters into her own hands. She put on the wedding dress that had been ordered but never paid for, marched into her client's ex-fiance's house, and demanded payment. Little did she know the man, a Duke, would make her a proposition--one she'd find she couldn't refuse...

"Here is your choice, Miss Gladstone. I can pay you the two pounds, three shillings." (...) "Or," he said, "I can make you a duchess."
>>>>>>My Review: <<<<<<
This is an example of Tessa Dare at her finest.The Duke of Ashbury, was injured during the war. He bears most of his battle scars on his face and many have trouble meeting his gaze as they are unable to see past his scars. Since returning from the war he's lost his fiance, become a recluse, and moonlights in the evening as a vigilante earning himself the moniker 'the Monster of Mayfair'. He knows a love match is not in his future so when Emily Gladstone barges into his study and doesn't cower, isn't appalled by his appearance, appears to be of genteel background, and is rather pretty, even in the horrendously gaudy gown his former fiance chose, he decides she's the one that he wants.

Emily is a strong young woman and a talented seamstress. For six years she's had to fend for herself and has done rather well considering her circumstances. When the duke makes his offer she doesn't immediately accept thinking it to be some kind of ruse to make her his mistress. When he persists in his pursuit, she finally takes him seriously, but timid she is not. She gives as good as she gets and doesn't let him get away with bullying her. She challenges him every step of the way and slowly coaxes and lures him out of his self imposed isolation and back into the land of the living.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. It was a deliciously sweet and sexy romance that had elements reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast. It's a book about seeing beyond the facade one presents to the world and seeing into the heart and soul of the individual who lurks beneath. I loved the way Emily handled Ash and the way she gently teased and coaxed the beast right out of him. While he tried not to show it, Ash had a lot of pent up anger and emotions he needed to work through. In some ways he mourned the loss of who he used to be. It took Emily to show him that he still had much to live for and while his outside appearance might have changed he was still the same man on the inside. I absolutely adored this one. On the Lisarenee Romance Reading Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I very much enjoyed this one.

I went into reading The Duchess Deal not knowing the hero, Ash—the Duke of Ashbury—is horribly scarred. And I’m kind of ashamed to admit I’m not a big fan of the beauty and the beast trope. The second I realized what I was reason, 60% of me thought I might not be long for this book despite absolutely loving Tessa Dare’s last book.

What a mistake that would have been if I’d allowed my prejudice and discomfort make me put this book down. But I should really thank Ms. Dare for that because she made sure the book was ‘unputdownable’. She sucked me in from the start.

Usually I’d start off by saying how much I loved the hero because in order for me to give a book 5 stars, I need to fall head over heels in love with him. Not to say that isn’t the case here—I do love Ash—but I really really loved Emma. Ms. Dare really has a way with her heroines. I’m just remembering now how much I loved Charlotte in Do You Want to Start a Scandal.

Emma Gladstone is a seamstress looking for payment for the wedding gown she made for Ash’s former fiancée when she shows up at his residence. How that interaction with turns into a marriage proposal from the taciturn duke is a product of fate. At least that’s the way I look at it. Initially, Emma pays him little mind. The idea of a seamstress—no matter how scarred he is—marrying a duke is preposterous. He can’t be serious. And even when she realizes he is, there’s his disposition. He’s not the warmest of men.

“You are a duke. I am a seamstress. What else is there to be said?”

He held up one hand and counted off on his fingers. “You are a healthy woman of childbearing age. You are a gentleman’s daughter You are educated. You’re passably pretty—not that it’s a concern for me, but a child should have at least one nonhideous parent.” He was down to his last finger. “And you’re here. All my requirements are met. You’ll do.”

Emma stared at him in disbelief. That was, perhaps, the most unfeeling proposal she could imagine. The man was cynical, insensitive, condescending, rude.

And she was definitely going to marry him.

Emma hasn’t had an easy life. She’s estranged from her father and has been on her own for a good while. I was moved by one of the main reasons she accepts Ash’s proposal. So selfless. Always thinking of other people. And the way she is with Ash. Open. Honest. Maybe a little too honest and open for her tender heart. I felt for her. I hurt when she hurt and laughed at her wit and guileless charm. I especially loved that she isn’t a wilting wallflower when it comes to her emotions or sex.

As for Ash, my heart bled for him. Scarred by war, he doesn’t believe any woman could ever want him. He thinks he’s a monster—and sometimes plays one in real life. He became engaged to his former fiancée before he was scarred in the war and everyone thinks she dumped him because of that. Lucky for him Emma needs money, could use a home of her own, and is willing to marry him. But he’s determined that once she gives him an heir, they won’t share a bed again. Sigh. How naïve of him. Emma does exactly what he fears. She worms her way into his hardened heart, softening it and him.

The Duchess Deal is filled with Ms. Dare’s trademark humor and wit. I loved the scene where Davina (Emma’s special project) and Emma discuss birth control.

“So he wore a French letter?”

Davina gave her a blank look. “What’s that?”

Emma was nonplussed. “Precisely what precautions did you take?”

“All the usual ones. After it was done, I jumped up and down for ten minutes. Sniffed pepper to make myself sneeze three times, and drank a full teacup of vinegar. I did everything right.”

Then there’s the scene when Ash is introduced to vegetarian fare.

“I’d like a ham sandwich very much, thank you.” Ash took one eagerly, stuffing a large bite into his mouth. The more chewing he could manage, the less speaking he needed to do.

“No, no. It’s a sham sandwich,” Penny said. “Vegetables mashed and pressed into a loaf, then sliced like ham. Turnip and potato, mostly, with cloves and a few beets for color. Quite nourishing, and every bit as delicious.”

Oh, God.

Ash choked on his bite. He strove manfully to conceal a grimace as he washed the mess down with a gulp of tea.

“Lady Penny is a vegetarian,” Miss Teague said.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

She doesn’t eat meat,” Emma said.

He paused. “I still don’t understand.”

And lest you think Emma and Ash’s romance is all fun and games, deeper issues are covered like Emma’s past, Ash’s nightly sojourns that get him into a bit of trouble, and meddling servants. Okay, the last one is quite humorous.

All in all, a wonderful book. Personally, I think it’s Ms. Dare’s best book yet. And I can’t wait for the next one.

~ Beverley

The only thing better than a romance that sweeps you off your feet is one that is also so much fun to read. If The Duchess Deal, the 1st in Tessa Dare’s Girl Meets Duke series is any indication, this series is one that promises to truly engage readers, transporting them to another world, giggling and snorting all the way.

The Duke of Ashbury returned from Waterloo physically scarred. His fiancé was repulsed by him and his friends deserted him. He’d become a brooding, menacing man with a bitterness that tempted him to lash out at everyone. In short, he was an ass. And he enjoyed it. He would have continued to live alone except for the fact that he needed an heir so his estates didn’t pass on to a worthless cousin. He needed “a woman of childbearing age and respectable lineage, in urgent need of money, willing to share a bed with a scarred horror of a man. In short, someone desperate”.
Emma Gladstone was the daughter of a vicar. After an indiscretion, her father had chosen to protect appearances rather than protect her and had cast her out. She’d traveled to London and had spent the last 6 years supporting herself as a seamstress. Needing to collect fees for a wedding gown that had never been collected, Emma had no choice but to go the ex-groom, the Duke of Ashbury, to collect her payment. When instead of paying for the gown, he suggests they marry, Emma was shocked. What an absurd proposition! They knew next to nothing of each other and what little they did know of each other, they didn’t like. Emma found the duke cynical, condescending, and rude. And she was definitely going to marry him.
Emma would be crazy to turn down such a chance at security. And so they were wed. Ash’s demands were simple: they’d be husband and wife by night only, no lights, no kisses, no questions about his scars, and once she was pregnant, they were done. Emma had her own demands as well. They would dine together and there would be conversation. A simple enough agreement. What they didn’t count on was the attraction they would feel for one another. This was a marriage of convenience. Pleasure wasn’t the goal. Any form of affection would be disastrous. But one touch made them want another. And another. And another.

I have never fallen in love with two characters so quickly. Ash and Emma were so much fun. Both had backbones of steel and were extremely stubborn. They’d both been disappointed by life and love and thus were distrustful of the feelings they were developing for one another. Their tug-o-wills was a thing to behold. And their dry wit and sarcasm made every interaction hysterical. I loved Ash’s personality. Yes, he was cynical and could be a real ass, but beneath it all, he had a kind heart and his own insecurities. And even though he struggled to express his feelings, and often said the absolutely wrong thing, it just made him that much more loveable. I think I fell in love with him the minute he suggested uses for the monstrosity of a gown Emma had created. His Shakespearean curses were hilarious, and his use of reverse psychology in the bedroom was the sexiest thing I’ve ever read.
I fell in love with Emma from the moment she stormed into Ash’s library demanding payment for the wedding gown. She was not some shy miss. She had guts. She said what she thought and wasn’t afraid to tackle any topic. Ash liked people who challenged him and he got that in spades with Emma. The pet names she used to get under his skin were priceless, and when she fit him for a ball gown, I was in tears.
While each character was fun to read, when they were together, it was sheer perfection. Their first 2 attempts at bedding were some of the funniest scenes I’ve read in ages. Ash was surprised at Emma’s adventurous side in the bedroom. She was eager and responsive. And while during the day, Ash might seem aggravating and snappish, at night he was patient and sensual. They found themselves anticipating those nightly visits. So much so that they decided it would be prudent to double their efforts at impregnating her. Soon they were more than increasing their efforts and christening every available surface in the house. Little by little Emma was making Ash feel less like a monster and more like a man.
The secondary characters added a lot of fun to the story too. I thoroughly enjoyed the servants conniving ways to bring Ash and Emma together. Kahn, the butler, was a definite favorite for me. And Emma’s spinster friends were a hoot with their idiosyncrasies. I’m hoping their stories are developed in future books.
The Duchess Deal is rife with acerbic humor and powerful sexual chemistry that will keep you turning the pages. If you want a story that is humorous, witty, and sometimes just plain silly without sacrificing emotion, real character development and an interesting plot, you’ll be thrilled with this one. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.

Ladies (and gents) - this made the list of my 2017 favorites. I knew after the first couple of pages that this book would be special but the more I advanced the more it became obvious what a wonderful story Tessa Dare has created with The Duchess Deal.

Emma is a spirited young woman with a huge capacity for love and compassion. When she arrives at the Duke's house all she wants is to be paid for her labor that went into the creation of the wedding gown for Ash's former fiancée. She is facing a man covered in burn scars who proposes to marry her because he needs an heir.

Ash can't stomach the hunt for a bride - he can't even stomach his own face and body in the mirror. When the young seamstress enters his house he knows she is the solution to his problems. He doesn't want this cousin to inherit the title and all that it entails so he needs an heir of his own. It is supposed to be a marriage of convenience and as soon as Emma is with child she is to live in a house in the country. Neither of them anticipated how their mutual attraction would change the course of their lives.

These two characters were made for each other. Both of them have ulterior motives for the marriage, both of them try to stay detached. And of course both of them fail. Emma is a wonderful heroine who does what the thinks is right. She isn't intimidated by the duke which Ash finds rather curious and his admiration for the young woman grows.
Emma finds beauty in everything, and especially in the bitter, cynical young duke. I loved how she accepted him, how there was never a question that she desired him for the man he was with all his flaws, physical and character-related. With her selfless, kind and sweet mind I was completely charmed by her. Her sass, the endearments she found for Ash were comical.

Ash...can I say that he is probably one of my all-time favorite HR characters ever? The retorts he volleys back at Emma had me laughing out loud so many times, I stopped counting at some point. Life wasn't kind to him until the sweet little seamstress entered his life. He suffered horrific injuries during war and the scars make women and children run from him terrified so it's only natural that he keeps people at arms' length. But when Emma comes into his life she shows him that he is desirable and good and soon he knows that if he lets her go his life will become darker again. He wants to protect her and hold her close.

Emma tries so hard to make him believe her that he is more than his scars and it was incredibly sweet to see the ice-wall around Ash's hard thaw. His indignation, arrogance and snark but also his big heart, deep hurt and vulnerability make him one of my most favorite and swooniest heroes in Historical Romance.

One thing I need to mention that was incorrect (and I do that because of my Viennese ancestry) - Wienerbrød isn't an Austrian pastry, it's Danish. However, that's no biggie, I just wanted to mention it for the sake of authenticity.

Tessa Dare really brought these characters to life. I could feel the whole range of emotions these two went through in every word and it's a testament to this author's writing abilities. I have read some of Ms. Dare's books before but I think this is my favorite so far. The smart banter was one of my highlights. There is a whole range of potential future heroines, all of them with their own quirks and I am already salivating for the next book in this series!

ARC from Edelweiss

I’ve read Tessa Dare before, and while I enjoyed the book I read, it didn’t stick with me. I’m happy to report that The Duchess Deal swept me off my feet and carried me away; there will be no forgetting this one. There’s something about a gentle husband who entices his wife to fall in love with him without even realizing he’s doing it that I find so romantic. Romantic heroes who don’t know they’re romantic are one of my weaknesses. I can’t get enough of them.

Ever since her father disowned her years ago, Emma Gladstone has been getting by as a seamstress. But that all changes one night when she storms the Duke of Ashbury’s solitude to demand payment for his former fiance’s wedding gown while wearing it. Little does Emma know that she is the answer to the Duke of Ashbury’s prayers, as he’s in need of a wife. Or more precisely, an heir. Emma’s not sold on the fact that the duke actually wants to marry her, so Ashbury does have to do a bit of convincing. And as Emma has a friend in need of help (and who better to help someone than a duchess,) she takes him up on his offer. Emma doing something for someone else sets the tone for their entire marriage. Left with scars from the war, The Duke has lived in solitude in an effort to spare people from his ‘hideous’ appearance, but his new bride isn’t quite so easily dismissed. Emma makes it her mission to spend time with her husband, and in the process, she begins to fall for him. I adored Emma. I love it when we have a hero or heroine who, despite the fact they haven’t been shown the same because of past events, are able to show love and compassion anyway. And are persistent when those around them won’t accept it – Emma was determined when it came to her husband. It was devastating the way Ash had once upon a time had a family he loved and was loved by, but thought it wasn’t anything he’d ever have again. After all, how could a child, even his own, ever look at him and love him? I loved the way the duke softened towards Emma, wanting to make her happy and opening up to her little by little. I thought the pacing of this story was wonderful; this was definitely a slow burn love story, and I loved every moment of it. The friend’s Emma made in this story were hilarious, and I am hoping to see more of them. I think their stories, especially their scenes together, could be a lot of fun.

I loved The Duchess Deal. It has all the makings of a wonderful story – heart, romance, hilarity, and depth. If you’re a Tessa Dare fan – or a fan of historical romance – this book is not to be missed!

This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag. (less)

For an author whose work I've seen time and again in the stores but never picked up, I'm just wondering what was wrong with me?! I grabbed The Duchess Deal on a whim, just happened to be looking for a historical romance that night, and couldn't put it down.

This book starts off a bit rough. You're given very little background information and thrust right into the thick of things without much to go off of in terms of the characters, their personalities, and their desires. I wasn't really a fan of how the romance began with the duke simply pursing Emma because "she would do." That whole mentality rubbed me the wrong way but I will say he grew out of it and I warmed up to his character more later on.

I think the humor is what ultimately sold me. Throughout the book and the rushed marriage of convenience, the Duke of Ashbury only wants to be called "Duke" or "Ashbury" by his new wife and she'll have none of that. She spends many scenes coming up with new and ridiculous pet names for her husband that had me cracking up more often than not, especially when she got her new "misfit" friends to help her out.

That was another strength: the secondary characters. I didn't feel like anyone was just thrown into the story to be a plot device or another body in the room. I definitely hope to see Emma's friends again as each had their own quirks that made them unique and interesting. I wanted to know more!

But Emma wasn't a slouch of a heroine. She held her own and I liked that she stood up for herself, whether through direct confrontation or in other ways that made her point known. And her duke's vigilante justice habits were a bit amusing but overall he was definitely the broken hero in need of saving and I felt like that trope was played up a bit. It did give Emma the chance to be the one in charge, though, which I liked. Sometimes I feel like male leads in romances are too dominating and that it's the only role authors see them in but Dare gave her duke more vulnerability and it worked.

Was this book far-fetched? Absolutely. The entire situation definitely needed to be taken with a good dose of lightheartedness. The Duchess Deal is not for someone looking for a more realistic take on Victorian London with ton drama. It's about two people thrown into a crazy situation and is just a fun read perfect for when you're looking for something light and humorous!

I love this book SO much. Books like The Duchess Deal are the reason why I read romance. This marriage of convenience/beauty and the beast story made me so happy.

The Duke of Ashbury needs a wife. More importantly, he needs an heir so that the dukedom doesn't pass to his prat of a cousin. When seamstress and vicar's daughter Emma Gladstone turns up in his library wearing the wedding dress designed for Ash's now-former intended, Ash offers her a deal. He'll make Emma a duchess, thereby securing her a life of wealth and privilege. In exchange, she'll give birth to his heir. After that, they'll live apart for all intents and purposes. Everyone wins.

Emma quickly learns the reason for Ash's broken engagement: he returned from the war wounded and permanently scarred. His would-be bride couldn't bear his appearance and rejected him. Once proud and confident, Ash is left a bitter, sullen man.

Emma accepts Ash's proposal and they are soon wed, with a few of Ash's rules in place: no lights, no kissing, no excuses until she's pregnant with his heir. But Emma negotiates her own conditions in return: they'll have dinner together every night, complete with stimulating conversation.

It quickly becomes apparent that Emma gets under Ash's skin, in all the best ways. Emma is no wilting flower. She's bold, headstrong, and not afraid to chase her pleasures in life. As for Ash, he can be surly and exasperating--when he's not showing moments of incredible tenderness and fierce loyalty. Emma and Ash are evenly matched in wit, making every interaction an exercise in verbal foreplay. And can I just say that I never knew badminton could be so sexy?

But like Ash, Emma has heartache that she's determined to conceal. As the lines of their arrangement become significantly blurred and they begin to fall for each other, slowly they learn to trust each other and fully reveal their painful pasts.

Balancing out the gravity of their secrets is wonderful banter between Emma and Ash. In addition, the supporting characters of Ash's household staff and Emma's friends make for some delightful moments.

The Duchess Deal is book #1 in the Girl Meets Duke series. I cannot wait to read the next. The Duchess Deal made me smile, cry, laugh, and swoon. It also filled me with hope: the idea that love can bring you back from the edge, that it can truly make you a better person. That kind of hope is something we can all use a bit more of these days. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advance copy of this book from Edelweiss.

6 Amazing Stars

The Duchess Deal is a standalone and is the first book of the Girl Meets Duke series. This one, totally blew me away. I was scrolling through Goodreads and I noticed a five star reviews. I then read most of the reviews and EVERYONE was raving about this book. I was 100% intrigued and it met and exceeded my expectations.

I loved The Duchess Deal from the FIRST PAGE. I read this book at a slow pace, trying to gather each and every word. I was savoring this story, never wanting it to end. This book has everything you could want in a historical romance book.

The Hero has battle scars < - RIGHT?! I know. I’m a sucker for this.

The Heroine is a poor seamstress < - YES! You know I love my damsels.

There’s also witty banter, great tension and an awesome romance. This book was pouring with romance, it’s like every historical romance book should live up to this kind of writing.

Tessa Dare is a genius and I’m a fan, I’m hooked for life and I want more.

The Duke was once a beautiful man that had everything, but after nearly dying and his body mangled with scars he’s a little bitter. I LOVED Ash. I found him the perfect combination of brooding, hot and the complete alpha male package I love to read and lust for.

He’s so angry and bitter towards the world and I loved reading Emma trying to change him.

Emma is smart, loyal and feisty. She’s a gentlemen’s daughter, but after being casted out by her father she learned to live poorly as a working class seamstress. I love love love Emma. She’s not your typical Heroine. She’s no wallflower and I love these types of girls. Sure they find themselves in hard situations, but that doesn’t mean she is going to crumple. She will make her own way.

The Duke needs a wife and Emma knows this is her best opportunity. She can live the life she always wanted, a simple house in the country.

I love the relationship between Ash and Emma. It had the perfect balance of witty banter, tension and chemistry that kept me interested. The book had great steam! They are so playful towards each other and I could have read hundreds of pages of their dialogue. That was my favorite part of the book.

Gah, I can’t gush on how much I love this book. Once I finished I wanted to read it all over again. If you are looking for the perfect historical romance book, The Duchess Deal is it.

A truly wonderful tale of a love that will make you laugh and cry. This is a highly creative take on Beauty and the Beast. A great start to "Girl Meets Duke Series".

The Duke of Ashbury is a recluse since he came home from the war. He was badly burned and disfigured. His fiancee has broken off their wedding and he knows that it will almost impossible to find someone who will marry him, he needs an heir to his title and estate.

Emma Gladstone is a brave, practical young lady who has made a life for herself on her own. As a seamstress, she is living a precarious existence. She arrives at the Duke of Ashbury demanding payment for a wedding dress that she made for his ex-fiancee so she can pay her rent and eat. She is not afraid of the Duke, his temper or his appearance.

Ashbury cannot believe that the young lady that has barged into his house has not gone screaming into the night after seeing his horrid visage. He immediately proposes marriage. She thinks he is touched in the head from his injuries and just wants her money. When he shows up at the dress shop she works at and lays out the reasons for the marriage she agrees to his conditions and she becomes his Duchess.

The witty back and forth that they engage in was smart and hysterical. I haven't smiled and laughed this much while reading in awhile. Emma is an amazing character who sees beyond Ashbury's appearance to the man beneath. His heart, his bravery, his honor make him a man she can love. Ashbury cannot seem to keep Emma at a distance. She keeps breaking through his guard and he finds himself caring for her and giving her whatever she asks. This is a breathtaking love story that will bring joy to your heart.

I have always liked Tessa's writing. This book takes her writing to another level. I absolutely loved this book from the first paragraph. This story had it all. Everything a lovely romance should have. All I can say is I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Tessa is one of my go too authors and all of her books are keepers.

​I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this. I loved the story line, the characters, the flow and details, and the amazing wit and charm. This was wickedly entertaining. I loved it!

Ash and Emma were quite a pair. Right from the beginning I was pulled into the story thanks to their personalities. They had such a great rapport. It was just so entertaining with their animosity and verbal sparring. I loved Emma's logic and how she stood up for herself and show she challenges the Duke. And the Duke... oh my! He was a bit mean and spiteful because of his scars and past but I knew deep down he was so much more. I loved watching his walls come down and him open up. I loved watch Emma's attempts to draw him out of himself. It was so incredibly sweet. This almost had a Beauty and the Beast feel to me and I ate it up.

There's some drama of course but not a lot. Enough to keep things moving along and add some spice to the story. There's a nice amount of emotion as well and a heck of a lot of heat. I loved it all. There is this beautiful building relationship and romance as they get to know each other and open up and I was excited about every detail. I also like the mischief that the Duke was up too at night, that added another layer of humor to the story.

I thought the writing was excellent. The story flowed nicely. I loved the descriptions of the time period and details. I thought the build was fantastic and there was great character development. Wonderful pace. The smart, witty comebacks and pet names Emma called Ash were priceless. There were just so many great moments, I couldn’t get enough. I thought there was a great cast of characters as well between Emma's friends and the Duke’s staff. Their interactions created a lot of fun moments. It was just a really well rounded story.

On a personal note, this is the first historical romance I ever read since 2013. After seeing so many positive reviews for this story and friends recommending it, I decided to step outside of my box and give it a try. I have to say, I have been missing out and shame on me because this was fantastic. Tessa Dare has a new fan in me! I finished and pretty much wanted to add her entire back list to my TBR. It was just so entertaining, I adored it!

Complimentary copy received for honest review.

4.5 stars

The Duchess Deal takes a less-used trope that I have previously enjoyed in contemporary books. I can't reveal what this theme is but I loved that context for the story and it is this theme that brokers 'duchess deal'. Emma is a lowly seamstress but previously a gentlewoman. Emma had courage and the spark needed to negotiate and spar with the Duke of Ashbury aka lambkins, sweetmeat, precious angel muffin (you had to be there).

Tessa Dare rolled out her delectable humour from the first chapter and what I love about this is the humour never detracts from the underlying story that has seriousness and heart aching moments. When Ash first claps eyes on Emma, he doesn't quite know what to make of her.

"He was blinded. Not by her beauty-though he supposed she might be beautiful. It wasn't possible to judge. Her gown was an eye-stabbing monstrosity of pearls, lace, brilliance and beads."

Life has been pretty tough on Ashbury and he's such a cantankerous personality but he definitely has a slice of the endearing about him. I felt compassion for him and I wanted the nice side of him that was buried to shine through. The ups and downs of Ash made for absorbing reading.

"Fortune was a heartless witch in perpetual anticipation of her monthly courses. And didn't Ash know it."

The story was excellent with depth and some predictability that didn't detract from enjoyment at all. The friends that emma developed in her new role in life were great side characters, as were Khan and Breeches. I suspect some of those friends may be part of the series as it evolves and I am excited about reading more from this eclectic mix of women.

Highly recommended for all fans of Dare and any new readers wishing for that unusual combination of rom-com historical style.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

Emma Gladstone, age 22, is calling upon the Duke of Ashbury at Ashbury House in Mayfair. She is wearing a wedding gown that she had sewn for Miss Annabelle Worthing who had been engaged to the Duke. Annabelle had broken off their engagement when the Duke was injured in the war leaving him badly scarred.

Emma is a seamstress at Madame Bissette’s shop. Now, she needs the payment she never received for making the gown. However, the Duke refuses to pay her unless she leaves the gown with him. After arguing with him fails, she begins to remove the gown. Seeing that she is a strong, feisty, and pretty young woman, he tells her that she can have the money owed her or she can become his duchess. He needs a wife, an heir, and theirs would be a marriage of convenience. Thinking that he is joking, she grabs the money and flees. However, he seeks her out at her shop and convinces her to marry him.

The marriage is carried out quickly and Emma learns from him that as soon as she is pregnant, she may retire to one of his homes in the country where she will have the baby and, if it’s a boy, she won’t have to deal with him again. An heir is all he needs.

While the Duke is a man used to giving orders and being obeyed, Emma is determined for them to have some sort of relationship. So, she does all she can to become involved with his daily life. While he fights it somewhat, he can’t help but become intrigued by this woman.

Emma’s past as the daughter of a vicar has left her with some scars of her own. What happened to her that made her have to become a seamstress in London?

This romance mixed with some of the best humor I have read make for a love story that tops them all. Don’t miss this book. This is Book No 1 of the Girl Meets Duke series and I cannot wait to read more.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Tessa Dare is an absolute master at what she does. Of course there are hundreds of historical romance authors out there, but no one quite does it like Tessa Dare. Her books are priceless gems. each one better than the previous one. The Duchess Deal was no exception. Telling the story of two unlikely personalities in a marriage of convenience falling slowly but hardly for each other, The Duchess Deal is Tessa Dare’s most magical, most romantic, and sexiest novel to date.

As always Dare writes characters that are full of heart and soul. Emma, darling darling Emma, is a witty seamstress who has made a life for herself after she’s ousted and disowned by her vicar father. She is a woman with a lot of strength, self-possession, kindness and compassion. Life may have dealt her a bad hand, but she moves on from that and instead channels her grief and disappointment into her passion of making dresses. In many ways, she is the complete opposite of the brutally scarred jerk who proposes the preposterous idea of entering a marriage of convenience. Said jerk is of course the Duke of Ashbury, a war-hero who is in desperate need of an heir. He is gruff, broody, and angry for the way his life has turned around, but he also somehow finds a way to sneakily settle in your heart and make you swoon for days. Your heart aches for him, and you want him to see himself beyond the physical scars to the hero that he is. Of course, he is a man after all, and an incredibly bull-headed one at that, so it takes a kind, passionate and loving woman like Emma to finally crumble that tough wall he has built around him.

This Beauty and The Beast-esque romance between Emma and Ash is delightful, awkward, and sexy. They both go into the marriage with plans of not falling for each other, and as a reader, you scoff at that because you know from their very first meeting that the kind of attraction they have doesn’t end at lust. It’s fun watching them dance around each other, push each other’s button, and slowly and subtly fall desperately in love with each other. It’s a swoons-inducing romance that will leave you breathless. The clever banter, the hilarious teasing (mostly on Emma’s part ), and the sensuous and steamy love scenes makes it a romance that’s absolutely worth the read, and re-read. As always with Tessa Dare’s novels, there is also a great depiction of female friendships between Emma and a lovely, and quirky group of women who embrace her with open hands. They are a fun addition to the book, and add even more humor to the story, along with Ash’s nosy, meddling staff who only want for him to find love.

The Duchess Deal is for those readers who love a good toe-curling romance between two broken and unlikely souls that fit beautifully together that also has a memorable cast and humor for days. If the rest of the Girl Meets Duke series is going to be anything like this first book, then romance readers are in for a ride.

The Duchess Deal is book one of the Girl Meets Duke series. I'm addicted to books by Tessa Dare so of course, I had to grab this one. With this being the start to a new series it still brings all the great aspects that you'd expect from a Tessa Dare book. It's full of heart melting romance, with hard headed leading characters you can't get enough of.

We start out meeting Emma Gladstone, a seamstress in a rather unconventional way. You see, Annabelle Worthing requested a wedding dress, which Emma made but then the wedding was called off and no one ever paid her for her work. Emma decides to go to the Duke of Ashbury and request the money due from his ex-fiancee, she does so by wearing the dress to confront him. Ash grants her the money but is in need of a wife that can bear an heir and sets his sights on Emma after that confrontation. He's so used to everyone being revolted by the scars he got from the war and has a major chip in his shoulder from it too. After a little back and forth, they decide to have a marriage of convenience but each sets some rules in place. He pretty much just wants her to get pregnant and then she's off to another estate, but she wants dinner together each evening as well as actual conversations to get to know one another. As you can imagine Emma ruffles his feathers and with each page you can see them grow closer, even though the Duke doesn't realize until he's hooked.

The Duchess Deal is an addicting read you won't want to put down. The characters are attention grabbing and have their own flaws which really brings a touch of realness to the story. I've found the leading ladies in TDare books tend to not be pushovers which I really appreciate since it leads to an entertaining read. I'd recommend this book to anyone fond of historical romance with a marriage of convenience trope.

Tessa Dare is in my opinion one the most haunting of authors in historical romance to date. Her stories are equal parts heartbreaking but highly unforgettable. The Duchess Deal takes a few cues from Beauty and the Beast and like the thief of the night Ashbury presents himself to be runs away with a readers soul. Emma is the owner of a lonely heart. Ashbury is the keeper of a broken spirit. Their's is a relationship of convenience until emotions become involved and the terms run away with their hearts. Nothing is as beautiful as the courageous and seductive romance of two lost souls finding a forever home in each others arms.

This is a lovely homage to Beauty and the Beast. I love how Dare cleverly laces in references to modern popular culture in a period-appropriate way. I love her feisty heroines and her friendships among unusual ladies. Thoroughly enjoyable, highly recommended.

Worth your time and energy. In fact, would make a great book club game book. Answer the following questions and any you would add/think of:
1)how many movie scenes do you recognize? 2)count the names she has for him. 3)What word in the 21st century news, jumps off the page in the middle of the book? !4) What characterization of the media in the book is used today?
Don't have all the answers, but was having fun making up the questions as I read.
BTW, be sure to read the dedication and make notes! ;))

Thank you, Tessa Dare! I loved reading "The Duchess Deal". Started reading it a day or so ago (won an advanced copy in a giveaway) and could not put it down. Love all of the characters in the story. The way that the two main characters, the Duke of Ashbury and Emma Gladstone interacted with each other put a smile on face and had me laughing out loud. The story's unexpected twists and turns kept me wanting the story to never end. Its unique secondary characters - Khan, the butler; Breeches, the cat; Trevor, The Menace: and Emma's friends, Penny, Nicola and Alexandra all complimented the witty and crazy antics of the main characters. Definitely a book that I will read again...and again!

My headline pretty much says it all. The scarred hero/Beauty and the Beast trope is usually dark and gothic and brooding, but Tessa Dare somehow keeps it light and witty and laugh-out-loud funny without downplaying the severity of Ash's injuries or the physical and emotional trauma he has suffered. Emma has her own painful past and less obvious scars, but she, too, has a sense of humor and enough optimism and determination to rescue both of them.

The secondary characters- Khan, Trevor, and the Ladies who Eat Sham- are all delightful, too. I hope to see them as recurring characters throughout this series.