Anna's Reviews > The Duchess Deal

“The Duchess Deal” by Tessa Dare

4.5⭐️/5⭐️
3🌶/5🌶

“She smiled. “Do you know, I suspected you were a good man, deep down. Even if very, very, very deep down. In a fathomless cavern. Underneath a volcano.””

The Duke of Ashbury is in a bind, he must secure an heir to his fortune, otherwise his awful cousin will inherit everything. By complete chance (or fate), he meets Emma Gladstone, the former seamstress of his ex-fiance. Her introduction to Ashbury is fiery, she doesn’t hold back and isn’t afraid to stand up to him; she’s the perfect marriage candidate. Ashbury proposes a marriage of convenience: she provides an heir, he provides a comfortable life in the country once she is pregnant. The two never expected to quickly develop feelings for the other person, which adds complications to their arrangement.

-This was such a well-needed book. The last book I read was a big disappointment, and I wanted to read something that would guarantee a pleasant reading experience. Well, this book absolutely delivered. This would have been a five star book, but I took off half a star for rehashing what was previously a solved disagreement. Otherwise, I loved every moment of this book.

-This is only the second historical romance I’ve ever read, and if you’re someone that’s new to the subgenre I really recommend picking up “The Duchess Deal”. This felt more like a romcom than a true historical romance, which feels a little silly to say. I mean, the whole plot revolves around a marriage of convenience between a scarred duke and a former seamstress. There’s class discussions throughout, along with heavy topics (parental abandonment, sex outside of marriage and its implications, war injuries, self loathing, etc.), but humor is effortlessly weaved throughout every conversation. That’s not to say Tessa Dare makes light of these topics, but she somehow finds a way to poke fun at the harsh realities.

-Both MCs, Emma and Ash, are interesting, fun characters who show a great deal of depth. Yes, Emma has fun giving Ash ridiculous nicknames, but she also befriends the fringes of society, wants to continue sewing clothing, and never gives up on showing Ash her love for him. Meanwhile Ash has this ridiculous (I say this term with love) side plot where he acts as a vigilante, and gains a reputation for being ‘the Monster of Mayfair’. So, he has this tough facade where he doesn’t want to be looked at, keeps his house in the dark, and SAYS he doesn’t want to get attached to Emma. But does he really stick to what he says? No, because while he’s scarred from the Battle of Waterloo, he’s still a funny and charming fellow.

-I think if you enjoy monster romances you’d like this book. Think about it, how dissimilar are monstrous MMCs versus an MC who believes they are unworthy of love because of their physical appearance? There’s a lot of overlap.

-I’m so pleased with the spice level in this book! It’s explicit in its own way, totally open door, and there are many scenes to enjoy. Tessa Dare even includes a little cheat sheet at the beginning of the book in her dedication, so readers can refer to the list if they are unsure of when to expect the spice.

-I would recommend this book if you: are new to historical romances, love the marriage of convenience trope, enjoy reading about scarred MMCs, and want to read a well rounded book. You can’t go wrong with this book, I think its story and characters will appeal to a wide range of readers.