Audiobook Review: The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Author: Tessa Dare

Narrator: Mary Jane Wells

Title: The Duchess Deal

Series: Girl Meets Duke #1

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: Audiobook

Published:  August 22, 2017

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

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…

Review:

Gotta love a Dare book ;). I saw this at the library and I downloaded it so quick my head spun. 

Here we follow Emma and the Duke of Ashbury. Emma was once a pastor's daughter who was kicked out to fend for herself. She picked up the sewing needle and made something of herself. However, she hasn't been paid for an expensive wedding dress from the Duke's broken engagement and she vows to get paid. Little does she know the Duke is about to start another hunt for a wife. He needs an heir and he needs one now. The two come to an agreement and strike a deal... 

These two poor broken souls melted my heart. Ash was extremely wounded at the Battle of Waterloo. He is scarred on the outside and inside. His ex was a piece of crap. He deserves better dammit! *shakes fist* Emma was tossed out on her ear after she did something silly like fall in love and give awar her virginity while her father sat there and preached forgiveness and love. *shakes head*

Even with the trauma and shitty people they had to endure...this never got overly dark. Yes, they have moments of self-pity, but never to the point it was tragic. Gotta love the author for sitting strong on this fine line and doing it well. There was even humor! All the hilarious (mind you cute) nicknames Emma would call him and his obvious disgust at it had me giggling like a schoolgirl. 

The lust was there, but love took a long, long time. Which was fitting and I loved watching them become friends and then more. 

The narrator was absolutely wonderful. I def recommend doing the audio of this instead of the book-book. She really brought the scenes to life! 

I did want more from the epilogue though. I feel like the side characters that I adored needed some spotlight. Like Emma's preggo friend (I won't spoil anything of the side story there). What happened? GIMME MORE! Maybe we'll see them in the next books? Sighs. 

All-in-all this was a nice Dare novel. Love, hawt smexy scenes, amazing characters, and humor. 4 stars from me. I needed more in the epilogue after falling for the side characters. 

Challenge(s):

- #54 for Audiobook challenge