swampgoddess's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I LOVED this book. I've wanted to read romances for a while but didn't want anything that took itself too seriously. Or at least, wasn't poorly written or tacky. Tessa Dare's writing is so witty and clever. I'm having trouble putting this series down at a reasonable time, it's just so damn addictive.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
5.0
I’d heard Tessa Dare was funny, but this was just a ding-dang delight. The kind of romance where the characters are having so much fun, you find yourself having fun right along with them. A seamstress shows up on a duke’s doorstep demanding payment for a wedding dress she made for his fiancée—except the fiancée dumped the duke, and the seamstress is wearing the dress in question in hopes of…I don’t know, startling payment out of the unsuspecting man? Instead she inspires a crazy notion: the duke needs an heir, and therefore a wife, and he thinks, why not just marry this gal who conveniently showed up in a wedding dress? Don’t ask too many questions, don’t analyze whether the plucky, sweet, sex-positive heroine is anachronistic—just go with it, and you’ll have as great a time with this book as I did.
teesbookjourney's review against another edition
5.0
Ash is the ultimate grump, and he has leaned into this status - He's had an injury on his face from war, and his bride has left him; however, he needs to get married and have an heir to keep his inheritance.
Here comes Emma looking for the fund from the wedding dress she made - Ash sees an opportunity to help them both.
I loved this romance - Emma was sincere, and Ash is Ash - Grumpy and mean sometimes, but Emma can handle his behaviour and is making him better
of course, love grows, and it's glorious
I love this series so far and can't wait to continue.
Here comes Emma looking for the fund from the wedding dress she made - Ash sees an opportunity to help them both.
I loved this romance - Emma was sincere, and Ash is Ash - Grumpy and mean sometimes, but Emma can handle his behaviour and is making him better
of course, love grows, and it's glorious
I love this series so far and can't wait to continue.
mollyxmiller's review against another edition
5.0
Hilarious. Tessa Dare is hilarious--and this book is absolutely wonderful. She takes the "swerve into the skid" approach to period romance and I LOVE it.
auiobook2's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sri_savita's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to this in a matter of hours and love this book so much I can't even pick a favorite quote. This story kept me on the brink of tears for how much pain Emma and Ash each went through and had to navigate in their own relationship. It was just Father's Day, and both main characters' wounds are related to their own father (Emma) or their fears about fatherhood and caring for someone (Ash). They're both scarred and I think that's exactly what I loved about this book and Lord of Wicked Intentions . It isn't that the heroine is soft and perfect and heals the damaged hero; it's that both characters help each other to work through their own hurts, and heal together.
So now I'm totally onboard the "dark, brooding, and mysterious - with a tortured past" trope train, despite initially thinking, based on reading reviews, that Ashbury is the kind of prickly, (emotionally) scarred, closed-off, aversive grumpy guy that a lot of Romancelandia loves but I usually don't. Reading this on the heels of my first Lorraine Heath book was perfect - Ash was secretly a softie, and just like Rafe in Lord of Wicked Intentions , prone to doing really nice things for other people - he just didn't want them to know it.
This series is absolutely Tessa's best so far, and I am excited for Nicola's book. I hope we get that soon! I have loved each book I read more than the last, and I read them in reverse order which was perfect. Even more perfect were: the cat that becomes best friends with the soft grump in this book (we love a cat man), The Monster and Menace of Mayfair - a vigilante duke and his overly eager sidekick that he reluctantly lets tag along.
So now I'm totally onboard the "dark, brooding, and mysterious - with a tortured past" trope train, despite initially thinking, based on reading reviews, that Ashbury is the kind of prickly, (emotionally) scarred, closed-off, aversive grumpy guy that a lot of Romancelandia loves but I usually don't. Reading this on the heels of my first Lorraine Heath book was perfect - Ash was secretly a softie, and just like Rafe in Lord of Wicked Intentions , prone to doing really nice things for other people - he just didn't want them to know it.
This series is absolutely Tessa's best so far, and I am excited for Nicola's book. I hope we get that soon! I have loved each book I read more than the last, and I read them in reverse order which was perfect. Even more perfect were: the cat that becomes best friends with the soft grump in this book (we love a cat man), The Monster and Menace of Mayfair - a vigilante duke and his overly eager sidekick that he reluctantly lets tag along.
erinj254's review against another edition
2.0
Sweet story if historical romance is your thing. It’s not mine.
jessicalouise25's review against another edition
5.0
As always Tessa Dare does not disappoint. I adore everything she writes and this is definitely one of my all time favorites. The characters were honest and real. The relationship was wonderful and emotional and just... Just so good. I can't even talk about this book, it's too soon. Just know I adored it and it's cute and funny and endearing and emotional and amazing. Just read it. Do it. Now. I might go do it again actually... Too soon? Nope!
gingerbooknerd3's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury