"It seemed any young woman at odds with her place in life--
might find a happier home within the pages of a book."
might find a happier home within the pages of a book."
--Tessa Dare, Any Duchess Will Do
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 375
Publication Date: May 28th, 2013
Source: Borrowed from Library
Previous Books in Companion Series: A Night To Surrender & A Week To Be Wicked & A Lady By Midnight
Goodreads Description
What’s a duke to do, when the girl who’s perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can’t live without?
Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season--or any season--but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.
Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training"...and fail miserably.
But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure--a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess--can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?
What’s a duke to do, when the girl who’s perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can’t live without?
Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season--or any season--but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.
Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training"...and fail miserably.
But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure--a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess--can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?
I always love when you start a book or series and you end up really falling in love with it in a completely unexpected way...this is how I feel about Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove series. It started as a 'Alexa recommended this and it should be good' read and morphed into a series I find equal parts hilarious and off-the-charts sexy. But what I always take away mostly is the humor. I laugh OUT LOUD while reading. It is so funny! The mental commentary from our characters is so self-deprecating and witty that I have to stop reading at points because I'm actually laughing out loud. Griff, our hero, is no exception. There's one scene in particular where he accomplishes a physical feat and, of course, he acts like it's nothing when in his head he's saying most likely he pulled something and will pay for it later. I die. Love.
While Griff is hilarious, our heroine is nothing to scoff at. I love Dare's heroines because they are fierce, intelligent, opinionated, and witty as all hell. Pauline is a tavern waitress and farmer's daughter, and from the beginning she plays her own game. She is also hilarious! OMG her first interactions with Griff and his mother, I just can't. It's too good. And then you add in the sentiment of her sister who is a little mentally delayed and your heart is beating for her.
While I'm on the topic of characters, I have to talk about the Duchess. Talk about a character who came out of left field and stole my heart! She is rough in her demeanor because, duh she's a duchess, but once you get past the phlegm--read the book--she is a sweetheart. Her actions and motivations are pure and her dynamic with Pauline is probably legit the best part of the book for me. I just adore how the Duchess takes her under her wing and tries to make her into a duchess...and her plotting getting Griff and Pauline together is so legit.
The story is somewhat of a Cinderella fairy tale...and I loved every minute of it. Pauline's fascination with the dresses and parties while also have a blunt opinion of the higher classes was a great combination. Her attempts at failure but also success were great. The moments with Griff were...smeltering. Like...wow. I was fanning myself at one particular scene because HOT DAMN does Dare write some sexy scenes. Wowza. Approve.
We also get a lot of emotion from our characters because Griff is harboring a secret. The plot and pacing is well-done and I like that Dare doesn't give us a huge allusion so his 'secret' but rather it is slowly revealed how closed off he really is. I really appreciated and loved this!
While Griff is hilarious, our heroine is nothing to scoff at. I love Dare's heroines because they are fierce, intelligent, opinionated, and witty as all hell. Pauline is a tavern waitress and farmer's daughter, and from the beginning she plays her own game. She is also hilarious! OMG her first interactions with Griff and his mother, I just can't. It's too good. And then you add in the sentiment of her sister who is a little mentally delayed and your heart is beating for her.
While I'm on the topic of characters, I have to talk about the Duchess. Talk about a character who came out of left field and stole my heart! She is rough in her demeanor because, duh she's a duchess, but once you get past the phlegm--read the book--she is a sweetheart. Her actions and motivations are pure and her dynamic with Pauline is probably legit the best part of the book for me. I just adore how the Duchess takes her under her wing and tries to make her into a duchess...and her plotting getting Griff and Pauline together is so legit.
The story is somewhat of a Cinderella fairy tale...and I loved every minute of it. Pauline's fascination with the dresses and parties while also have a blunt opinion of the higher classes was a great combination. Her attempts at failure but also success were great. The moments with Griff were...smeltering. Like...wow. I was fanning myself at one particular scene because HOT DAMN does Dare write some sexy scenes. Wowza. Approve.
We also get a lot of emotion from our characters because Griff is harboring a secret. The plot and pacing is well-done and I like that Dare doesn't give us a huge allusion so his 'secret' but rather it is slowly revealed how closed off he really is. I really appreciated and loved this!
Reserved Seating
If you love historical romance, hilarious banter, and sexy scenes...this book's for you.
If you love historical romance, hilarious banter, and sexy scenes...this book's for you.
What I think is even funnier is that you've read some of the books in this series before I have! I need to fix that. But really, I enjoy Tessa Dare's books because she does swoons AND humor so damn well :D Can't wait to read this one!
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