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wanderlust_romance's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
In The Duchess Deal, Ash and Emma enter into a marriage of convenience. Ash needs an heir; Emma needs financial security (and has a desire to help a friend with her out of wedlock pregnancy). What follows is an immensely funny and deliciously spicy grand old time. As the first book in the series, it does such a great job balancing the introduction of side characters for future books and maintaining the focus on the primary couple's dynamics. You have scheming servants pushing these two into situations designed to make them "fall in love." You have a cloaked Duke wandering the streets of Mayfair and taking out ruffians (a little bit like Batman but much sillier). You have a group of 3 unconventional "spinsters" who befriend and support Emma. You have Ash and Emma boinking non-freaking-stop in their efforts to produce the ducal heir at the center of their marriage of convenience. This is a good time all around!
Ash is a grumpy, disillusioned, and broody sort of Duke. He lives with significant facial and upper body scars from a war injury at Waterloo. He uses Shakespearean curses quite vividly! He doesn't want to fall in love, but well there's just no helping it when it comes to Emma. For her part, Emma is witty, intelligent, and unfazed by Ash's broodiness. She has worked to make her own way since being thrown out by her father at 16, and is loath to give up her seamstress skills just because of newfound financial security.
You want a fun summertime historical romance read? This is it!
Moderate: Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and War
kyriannaj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jackbifrost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
martamae77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and War
wanderingtales's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
tinysnek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Vomit