From the Bookshelf of Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn…

Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After, #1)

Tessa Dare

Start date: March 1, 2014

Finish date: March 31, 2014

Discussion: Monthly Read

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Monthly Read

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What Members Thought

Jul 30, 2013 Shawna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance, hero-good-groveling-eating-crow, heroine-i-adore, heroine-odd-spinster-wallflower, a-all-time-best-top-100-fave-reads, heroine-naïve-virgin-like-a-virgin, hero-alpha, hero-brooding-serious-grumpy-aloof, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, hh-phobia-disorder

5+ stars – Historical Romance

One of the best, wittiest historical romances I’ve read in quite a while. I loved it from start to finish! 5 utterly enjoyable, charming stars!

35 likes · Like · see review

Nov 05, 2013 Annie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: for-fresh-fiction-review, ebooks, favorites, my-hottie-harem, 2013-favorites, drinks-on-me, arc, books-i-go-rabid-over, first-book-in-series, king-of-the-harem

"ROMANCING THE DUKE possesses everything a lover of happily-ever-afters could want!"

Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction ...more

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Dec 05, 2013 Janga rated it it was amazing

Romancing the Duke introduces Tessa Dare’s new series, Castles Ever After. This novel gives a hard twist to the fairy tale and the gothic romance, using elements of both in a manner that both pays tribute and gently mocks the genres. Throw in the Moranglian Army, a Regency version of rabid fans engaged in convocation and cosplay, and the result is a wholly delightful story that is sweet, sexy, smart, funny, and definitely different. Dare proves that she belongs in that rare company of writers l ...more

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Dec 06, 2014 NTE rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, rakes, regency, series, twee

Read for CBR 6

strange bequest, perhaps the strangest castle ever, and the handsome stranger who insists that it’s his: these are the things facing Miss Isolde Goodnight at the start of Tessa Dare’s Romancing the Duke. But she is perhaps better prepared than most ordinary Society misses,for such an unusual turn of events – as the daughter of a writer famous for his tales of fancy and fantasy, most staring the younger Izzy, herself. . Armed for adventure (and short on any other actual choices), I Read for CBR 6

strange bequest, perhaps the strangest castle ever, and the handsome stranger who insists that it’s his: these are the things facing Miss Isolde Goodnight at the start of Tessa Dare’s Romancing the Duke. But she is perhaps better prepared than most ordinary Society misses,for such an unusual turn of events – as the daughter of a writer famous for his tales of fancy and fantasy, most staring the younger Izzy, herself. . Armed for adventure (and short on any other actual choices), Izzy decides to accept her new castle, the Duke who’s hiding away from the world inside of it, the menagerie of weirdness it entails, and see what kind of real life story she’s found herself in this time.

The answer includes hidden panels & secrets straight out of any self-respecting Scooby-Doo episode; a cast of characters who would fit in nicely at a modern day cosplay competition; Plans A through F; some harsh realities about being disabled in Regency England (ugh. Even period appropriate ableism makes me mad.); secrets on the part of both the hero and the heroine; and at least one scene that was closer to Monty Python than anything else. (I did expect someone dressed as shrubbery to enter stage left at any moment.) I really enjoyed it, especially liked that it had enough laughs to balance out the tougher scenes – Let’s just say that Izzy has issues – many, many issues, but that is nothing compared to Ransom, who blunders around a lot and is basically the embodiment of every GIF I could find of the Beast from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, (particularly the one where Belle won’t let him in, and he makes a “you see” gesture), only less hairy. I decided not to include them, but you get the picture – he’s a wounded warrior (sigh, but kind of in a good way: I’ve got a weakness, I know it.), and even when he’s being a jerk, you’re still rooting for him to get his crap together.

First in a series where – apparently – ladies get left castles, which sounds either awesome or horrendous, and I’ll probably check out the rest to see which way they go.

...more

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Feb 11, 2014 Brittany rated it really liked it

Shelves: february-2014

the beginning was slow but the pace picked up quick enough. I loved the story and the twists! I wish they would of addressed the thief more though. good read.

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