Self-made civil engineer Geoffrey Brookhouse has unexpectedly inherited the dukedom of Grenwood. But he has a secret that could ruin his family. Hoping to save his timid sister from that fate, he seeks to marry her off to a respectable, protective gentleman. With the London Season imminent, Geoffrey hires Elegant Occasions to orchestrate her debut. Yet Lady Diana Harper, spirited fashion expert, proves more than he bargained for. Suddenly, Geoffrey’s sister is emerging from her shell, and he is beleaguered with social invitations and gossip! Worse, Diana is attempting to transform him into a presentable duke—when all he really wants is to win her heart...
Diana doesn’t know what to make of the handsome, disheveled duke. The man bristles at the very idea that his fashion faux pas might spoil his sister’s chances. Yet Geoffrey’s stubbornness simply inspires Diana to ruffle his feathers—by setting him on a course of self-improvement. Although there’s something endearing, even irresistible about his flaws, can a man who hates the ton tolerate a woman who makes her living catering to them? Little does either know that they have more in common than they suspect—and that two can create a society all their own...
THE REVIEW
After watching her parents destroy each other and their marriage publicly, Diana has little desire to marry and little ability to find a husband with the shame her parents divorce has brought to their family. She and her sisters start a business helping the Ton with their parties and events throughout the season. Diana had settled into her spinster life with her sisters when Geoffrey stumbles into her life and, for the first time, made her want things she never had before.
Geoffrey has been dealt a hard hand; his father died, he was thrust in to a Dukedom, and he has to take care of his sister and mother. He decides the best way to protect his sister from her father's sudden death is to take her to London and get her married to a gentleman. He seeks out the ladies at Elegant Occasions to help since he hasn't a clue what to do. Geoffrey is grumpy with the stress and pressure he is under, but Diana is not cowed and pushed back at him.
This book was a fun read and it felt different from a lot of historical romances I've read. I'm sure the plot is not anything new, but the way it read was refreshing and exciting. The secondary characters were fantastic and I can't wait to read their love stories.
TROPES
Historical Romances, Regency Era, Season/Marriage Mart, Ton Society, Beta/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Titled Hero, Bluestocking Heroine, Independent Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Working Heroine, Carriage Steam, Desk Steam, Slow Burn, Instant Attraction, Workplace Romance, Sudden Nobility/Rags to Riches, Two Flame, Four Star
HistoricalRomance, RegencyEra, Season/MarriageMart, TonSociety, Beta/CinnamonRollHero, TitledHero, BluestockingHeroine, IndependentHeroine, VirginHeroine, WorkingHeroine, CarriageSteam, DeskSteam, SlowBurn, InstantAttraction, WorkplaceRomance, SuddenNobility/RagstoRiches, TwoFlame, FourStar
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