Title: Romancing the Duke
Author: Tessa Dare
Series: Castles Ever After #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel
Available: Now
As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.
And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.
Ugly duckling turned swan?
Abducted by handsome highwayman?
Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?No, no, and… Heh.
Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?
This one.
Source: Bought it
I loved this book. It’s ridiculous and fun, warm and witty, sweet in all the right places, a teeny bit emotional in others, it knows how to laugh at itself and it plays on every Gothic romantic fantasy out there, not to mention the over-the-top nature of die-hard fandom. In short, it was the perfect pick me up when I was feeling sick.
Izzy is a woman in trouble. After devoting the best years of her life to helping her father, she’s been repaid after his death with precisely nothing. Everything she’s ever known and ever owned has been left to her horrible cousin, including all the royalties to her father’s famous Goodnight Tales. Destitute and close to desperate, Izzy has lost all hope. Until a letter arrives and she finds herself the recipient of a most unusual bequest – a crumbling castle, complete with degenerate duke. Except the duke claims the castle is his, though Izzy’s deceased godfather claims otherwise.
So begins this romping tale of mischief and mayhem, with a blind duke, a plain miss and more tin-tray knights than you can swing a damsel at. I loved Izzy and the way she handles all the twists this tale throws her way. She’s strong and firm with Ransom, sweet and kind to the Moranglians, not to mention determined to make the castle a home, despite her own fears and Ransom’s stratagems. I loved how she crept under the troubled duke’s guard, and how he in turn snuck into her heart. She’s kind, funny, sarcastic and a bit snippy, but always, always fun to read about.
Then there was Ransom, the miserable duke, who’s shut himself up in his castle to die. Until he finds out that his castle might not even be his own anymore. Then he can’t quite decide whether to get rid of Izzy or use her to figure things out. Yes, he’s surly and grumpy and says some horrible things, but he’s also wounded and broken and longing for things he doesn’t understand. The little things he does to take care of Izzy – all the while telling himself (and her) that it’s just to get rid of her faster – were so sweet. And the doubt not speech was just glorious.
On top of all that this book has my new favourite battle cry – “Release the ermine!” It’s bonkers and batty (er, literally at one point), imaginative and witty, pokes gentle fun at fandom while also revelling in the joy of it, and was just a wonderful read. If you want something light and fluffy that will make you smile and possibly giggle, chortle, chuckle and laugh out loud, with surprises and sweetness and moments to sigh over, and you also like a bit of romance in your historical setting, then give this a try. I found it a real treat. It’s definitely time to fill in the gaps of my Tessa Dare collection.
Romancing the Duke is out now!
Visit Tessa Dare for more details.
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