Romancing the Duke
Castles Ever After
-
-
4.3 • 13 Ratings
-
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In Romancing the Duke, American author Tessa Dare delivers a delightfully breezy historical romance that’s palpably lusty from the first chapter. For the penniless Izzy, the future finally looks promising when she receives notice that she is to inherit a castle—albeit a crumbling, near-derelict one—where a rugged but brokenhearted duke resides. Sparks fly from this playful plot set up and Dare confidently teases out enough mystery and misdirection to keep the story skipping along. It’s a scintillating start to the Castles Ever After series.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Dare's first Castles Ever After historical provides a unique twist to a fairy tale, complete with an ancient castle, a damsel in distress, and a wounded hero. In 19th-century England, Isolde "Izzy" Goodnight is left penniless when her father, who was a writer, dies. Her one ray of hope is a letter telling her that she has inherited Gostley Castle from her godfather. The castle turns out to be a crumbling structure that already has a resident: Ransom Vane, the Duke of Rothbury. After an accident left him blind, Ransom has secluded himself in the castle, not realizing that his agents sold it to the man who bequeathed it to Izzy. Certain that the truth of the building's ownership lies in the untouched correspondence on Ransom's desk, Izzy insists on becoming his secretary. While she is drawn to his masculine beauty, Izzy really falls for Ransom when his kindness belies his rakish behavior. Dare's lyrical writing and expert, intense character development make this a romance to be savored with the eager expectation of future series installments.
