The Brazen Bluestocking

The Brazen Bluestocking

The Duchess Society #1

Tracy Sumner

★★★★★

A defiant society outcast.
A forbidding rogue who doesn’t believe in love.
And a passionate wager.

Daughter of an earl, Lady Hildegard Templeton hasn’t conformed to what society expects from a woman of her station. Industrious and unique, she’s created an emboldened organization for women on the cusp of marriage, The Duchess Society. Called a bluestocking to her face and worse behind closed salon doors, she vows to marry for love. And nothing but. Although the emotion has never shown itself to her. Until she meets him.

Bastard son of a viscount and king of London’s sordid streets, Tobias Streeter has spent a lifetime building his empire, and he needs the Duchess Society to find a suitable wife. An asset to expand his worth in society’s eyes. But he vows his search will have nothing to do with love and everything to do with vengeance. Until he meets her.

Soon, Tobias and Hildy’s plans are in turmoil as they choose between expectation, passion, and love.

The Plot

Hildegard Templeton and the Duchess Society are hired to facilitate the match between Tobias Streeter and Matilda. It’s a marriage of convenience so Tobias gets doors opened to him within Tom and Matilda can practice medicine. But when Tobias and Matilda see sparks fly, they realize this may be more complicated than they ever imagined.  

The story hooked me from the first pages; curious how Hildy and Tobias end up together with him already engaged.  From their first meeting, the attraction was palpable. Oh the kisses and the dirty talk. Swoon!  There was lots of things keeping them apart, pride, people, miscommunication, secrets, and of course danger!  It had it all and it was all done well! 

The Heroine

Hildegard Templeton is smart and witty and, having been left with a crumbling home when her brother and father died, she needs a good match to increase the Duchess Society’s business. She had an abusive father and left home as soon as she could. She refuses to marry and be under the control of a husband…that is unless she falls madly, deeply in love, like fairy tale love. She is confident is who she is despite how the ton treat a self-made spinster. But when Tobias sees her for her and not a pretty face with a title, she starts to fall, fast. 

The Hero

Tobias Streeter is the bastard son of a viscount and grew up on the streets of East End. After sometime serving in the Royal Navy, he was given contracts with the East India Company and used them to make a thriving business.  But he wants more; he has studied architecture and designed buildings but he wants to work with a famous architect and needs the credibility that marrying the Earl of Hastings daughter will bring. He is not sure he can give all that up for Hildy. 

The Steam

The narration of the electricity flowing between them, the dirty talk, and the passionate sex is just so good!

Stand Out Moment

My heart still aches when I replay the scene of him kicking her out of his office

Who Would Like This

Do you like steamy historical fiction, then this will be an instant favorite for you too!

Final Thoughts

Oh. My. Gosh. This is an absolute favorite. 

Tropes

Working class, East End, Bluestocking heroine, Abduction/Kidnapped, Shipyard, danger/suspense, Illegitimate, Architect Hero

Working class, East End, Bluestocking heroine, Abduction/Kidnapped, Shipyard, danger/suspense, Illegitimate, ArchitectHero