The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

The Duchess Deal
Girls Meets Duke #1
by Tessa Dare
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…

So I never read Historical fiction let alone Historical Romance. But so many people have recommended this to me and since I was going through a slump I said why not. Ya’ll! This was a breath of fresh air! I adored this book and this freakin’ couple. Emma came to be paid for a wedding dress that she made for his former fiance. Once they meet sparks fly and he offers her a marriage of convenience. 

“She wasn’t a seamstress any longer. She was a wife, a duchess. And she was terrified.”

Ash was so hilarious in all his brooding, I couldn’t help but love him. After returning home from war with half of his body badly scarred he locked himself in his manor and refused to be out in society. Was he hard to love? Yes. Was he rude and annoying at times? Hell yes! He had his reasons but he let them go to have a future with Emma. 

Emma was so damn sweet and I loved her with my whole heart. She saw past what everyone else saw when they looked at him. While she was sweet, this girl was also a spitfire! She challenged him and stood up to him and that’s exactly what Ash needed.

This to me came off with Beauty and the Beast vibes along with a marriage trope thrown in. It had witty banter and two characters who both needed to heal from the past and found the healing in each other. This won’t be my last Tessa Dare book, you can bet I’m ordering The Governess Game soon! 

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