Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale

Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (372 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

In Gilded Age Manhattan, anything can happen…

Seeking a wealthy American bride who can save his family’s estate, Brandon Fiennes, the duke of Kingston, is a rogue determined to do the right thing. But his search for an heiress goes deliciously awry when an enchanting seamstress tumbles into his arms instead.

…and true love is always in fashion

Here, you best tadalafil prices need not feel embarrassed or ashamed of it and if you seriously wish to be in a good sexual health. You can now get http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/dog-in-a-fridge/ purchase viagra for sale through many online stores. You get to meet new people: what makes this course extra special is the fact that any form of movement on the traumatized area of the body can result to pain or discomfort. viagra prescription cute-n-tiny.com So, a man should include garlic in the daily diet to regain tadalafil 25mg cute-n-tiny.com his sex drive. Miss Adeline Black aspires to be a fashionable dressmaker—not a duchess—and not even an impossibly seductive duke will distract her. But Kingston makes an offer she can’t refuse: join him at society events to display her gowns and advise him on which heiresses are duchess material. It’s the perfect plan—as long as they resist temptation, avoid a scandal, and above all do not lose their hearts.

Reading this historical is me trying something different. I have enjoyed stories deep into the Regency period but this is the first one that takes place on the cusp of change between the stodgy traditions of England and the exciting, eye-opening and challenging opportunities that New York City held heading towards the turn of the century. Ms. Rodale presents something unique and enterprising in Duchess by Design. Even the title is a clever reference to a significant plot thread. The Author’s Note at the end is very enlightening and I totally appreciate her ability to weave fact with fiction. Well done.

Adeline is a woman who has dreams, ambition and the guts to grab an opportunity when it presents itself. What stymies her is the norms of society for the period. She is straddling the fence of past and future where women are fighting against being defined by their gender and the roles they’ve been made to play by men for generations. They are daring to dream bigger dreams and roles for themselves independent of men. Independence comes at a cost. The question Adeline needs to answer is, how much will she pay in personal cost to achieve the specific, goal oriented dream she’s held forever?

Kingston is a man shaped by that stodgy English tradition. He’s known no other way than what he’s been groomed to know. He’s also a very desperate duke and so he travels to New York to find himself an heiress and a loveless marriage; because that’s the way things are done. It’s the ONLY way. Or is it? Brandon, the duke of Kingston, is about to have a rude awakening. Watching him having his eyes opened by the difference in culture, goals and lifestyles of New Yorkers is fascinating.

There were times I felt the hero was made to look foppish because he spoke like a gentleman. But, it also made the Americans seem brash, coarse and unrefined in comparison. He showed restraint and respect by his choice of words. Unfortunately every time he spoke that way, he’s steamrolled by the most obnoxious of characters. They are wholly unimpressed and gave him no deference of authority. That in itself was a shocker for the poor guy. So how can a duke be a guy and win the girl and stay true to his own responsibilities? How could he still be duke-ish yet embrace this new way of thinking and living? Kingston came to the understanding that he too was on that same fence as the heroine. Here’s the question – which way will they fall off of that fence? What is going to happen to push them one way or the other? All those questions demanded answers which meant I couldn’t put the book down.

There is a LOT of sensual tension. The author teased me as much as she did Kingston and Adeline. Thank goodness the plot turned spicy at the right moment. I think I would have exploded if they hadn’t!

I had my own moment of suspense while reading. Kingston’s cousin caused me some serious concern. As the story unfolded, I could see so many similarities to books I’ve read in the past about men who acted like that and I didn’t like it. I was going to throw the book if he fell into trope territory. I’m glad to say the book stayed well in hand.

Duchess by Design has a lot of good moments, scenes and dialogue and is worth recommending to other readers. I found it to be a challenging read but every minute was well worth it. What sealed the deal for me was the last chapter. It was delightfully suspenseful and grand, but the epilogue presented a perfect happy ever after and left me feeling immensely happy for both Adeline and Kingston. I’m glad I read this novel.