The Duchess Deal

(Girl Meets Duke #1)

Tessa Dare

Ash, Duke of Ashbury/Emma Gladstone

My Rating: 

When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules…

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple:

– They will be husband and wife by night only.

– No lights, no kissing. 

– No questions about his battle scars.

– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:

– They will have dinner together every evening.

– With conversation.

– And unlimited teasing.

– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…

The Duchess Deal is the first book in the “Girl Meets Duke” Series by author Tessa Dare. I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Dare’s books and this one was no exception! What a fantastic start to what I expect to be an excellent series!

George “Ash” Pembrooke, the Duke of Ashbury was disfigured in the war. Ever since his injury he’s been miserable and has made everyone around him miserable. If he was going to look like a monster, he might as well enjoy the role….

Emma Gladstone is a vicar’s daughter now working as a seamstress. Emma was thrown out of her father’s home after an indiscretion and walked to London to create a new life for herself.

Oh my what a fabulous story! I adored Ash and Emma from the very start. They had a fantastic chemistry between them and the dialogue they shared was witty, entertaining and had me laughing at times. The secondary characters are extremely entertaining and add to the overall story. Emma’s friends Alexandra, Penelope & Nicola will be getting their own books and I can’t wait to read them. To me this was just an absolutely perfect story from the pen of author Tessa Dare!

~ Rose