In One Dance with a Duke—the first novel in Tessa Dare’s delightful new trilogy—secrets and scandals tempt the irresistibl...
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reviews
Nov 14, 2010
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~*
rated it: 
Spoilers are marked
It seems that lately I’ve been doing a lot of “first reads” of an author and in keeping with that trend, this is my first by Tessa Dare and overall I was quite pleased.
I’ll start out by saying that I’ve seen reviews and comments by people who thought the Stud Club idea for a plot was dumb, boring, and lacking believability, but I actually thought it was a great jumping off point and foundation for the trilogy. After all, when you think about it, it’s n More...
It seems that lately I’ve been doing a lot of “first reads” of an author and in keeping with that trend, this is my first by Tessa Dare and overall I was quite pleased.
I’ll start out by saying that I’ve seen reviews and comments by people who thought the Stud Club idea for a plot was dumb, boring, and lacking believability, but I actually thought it was a great jumping off point and foundation for the trilogy. After all, when you think about it, it’s n More...
156 comments
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Nov 06, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Arousing. That's the first word that comes to mind. Handsome, debonair, sensual, passionate, romantic.(although he won't admit it) These are just a few of the many qualities of Spencer, The Duke of Moreland. Arousing on the dance floor, riding a purebred horse and most important riding a woman to ecstasy!
This was the first Tessa Dare read for me and I have to say it won't be my last. My goodness, Ms. Dare can bring the romance and sensuality to the reader! Just her descrip More...
8 comments
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(14 people liked it)
Jun 25, 2010
Shawna
rated it: 
4 stars – Historical/Regency Romance
This is my first read by Tessa Dare, and I enjoyed the writing, humorous dialogue, witty banter, rather unique plot, and steamy romance. The main reason it didn't get a 5-star rating is that I just didn't quite connect fully with the characters, and I never really became emotionally invested in their relationship. I liked curvy, spirited, strong-willed spinster Amelia and arrogant, alpha with a hidden, tender, romantic side Spencer, Duke of Morlan More...
This is my first read by Tessa Dare, and I enjoyed the writing, humorous dialogue, witty banter, rather unique plot, and steamy romance. The main reason it didn't get a 5-star rating is that I just didn't quite connect fully with the characters, and I never really became emotionally invested in their relationship. I liked curvy, spirited, strong-willed spinster Amelia and arrogant, alpha with a hidden, tender, romantic side Spencer, Duke of Morlan More...
23 comments
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Mar 15, 2011
Laura the Highland Hussy
rated it:
I thought this was great. I read a few reviews where Amelia's affection for her brother Jack was overdone,but I thought it worked with the way her relationship and self-martyring personality was. And to be fair, the self-martyring wasn't really all that bad...that was more Spencer's take on Amelia, not mine.
Amelia and Spencer meet at a ball, minus any romantic impulses. They are married just days later, as a business arrangement, and fall into friendship and love. I loved how Spencer was More...
Amelia and Spencer meet at a ball, minus any romantic impulses. They are married just days later, as a business arrangement, and fall into friendship and love. I loved how Spencer was More...
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Oct 28, 2011
willaful
rated it: 
3 1/2 stars. Although I was disappointed that this didn't have the freshness or originality of some of Dare's previous books, it was an engaging read that often made me laugh at lines like these: "Spencer stared at the words so fiercely, Amelia would not have been surprised to see the scrawled letters roust themselves from the paper and rearrange to spell different words, just to escape his displeasure." I keep wanting to compare it to Julia Quinn, except I've developed such an intense
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(8 people liked it)
Nov 12, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
I have such mixed feeling for this romance. The beginning just didn't work at all for me and I had a really hard time getting into the story.
It did have elements that I typically love strong demanding hero, forced (sort of) marriage. But when it comes down to it I just didn't like more than I liked.
I did read it fairly quickly but feel that it was a bit wordy. The editor would have been correct in cutting about 50 pages or so.
In the end the h/h grew on More...
It did have elements that I typically love strong demanding hero, forced (sort of) marriage. But when it comes down to it I just didn't like more than I liked.
I did read it fairly quickly but feel that it was a bit wordy. The editor would have been correct in cutting about 50 pages or so.
In the end the h/h grew on More...
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May 30, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
12 comments
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Jan 29, 2012
Roxanne
rated it: 
"My virtue? You were--" Oh, there was no use in mincing words now. "You were able to divine my virginity, by fondling my leg."
"Yes."
She covered her eyes with one hand, then traced her left eyebrow with a fingertip. "Forgive me, Your Grace. Are you suggesting a woman is some sort of ... piece of fruit to you? One squeeze, and you know if she's ripe?"
2.5 Stars
Hmmm what to say about One Dance With a Duke, this book was More...
"Yes."
She covered her eyes with one hand, then traced her left eyebrow with a fingertip. "Forgive me, Your Grace. Are you suggesting a woman is some sort of ... piece of fruit to you? One squeeze, and you know if she's ripe?"
2.5 Stars
Hmmm what to say about One Dance With a Duke, this book was More...
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Jun 19, 2010
Kit
rated it:
Loved it! There were a few pages where I was bewildered by Spencer or Amelia's temperament but the story as a whole was enchanting. I am very grateful the rest of the "Stud Club" is being released in quick succession-I'm looking forward to Rhys' then Lily & Bellamy's stories.
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May 23, 2010
Holly
rated it:
This is the first book by Tessa Dare that I've read. Based on the reviews I read of her first trilogy, I wasn't sure they were for me. This one, however, sounded right up my alley.
While I loved most if it, I'm really struggling to come to terms with the actions of the heroine at the end of the book. But protagonists made mistakes throughout, but I don't understand why the heroine made the choice she did.
Otherwise I really loved it. The story itself was wonderfully told More...
While I loved most if it, I'm really struggling to come to terms with the actions of the heroine at the end of the book. But protagonists made mistakes throughout, but I don't understand why the heroine made the choice she did.
Otherwise I really loved it. The story itself was wonderfully told More...
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Dec 21, 2011
Jenny E
rated it:
ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITES! There are not words for how much I enjoyed this book! It had everything I like in a romance novel...an awesome hero, a likeable sassy heroine, a little intrigue, a little comedy, not too much angst, a little (HOT) spice, and a tight plot with easy readability and great dialogue!
This was such an enjoyable read! I clearly wasn't expecting much from a book in the "Stud Club" series, but I got it at the library for free and it had great reviews More...
This was such an enjoyable read! I clearly wasn't expecting much from a book in the "Stud Club" series, but I got it at the library for free and it had great reviews More...
Jan 30, 2012
Jan
rated it:
I liked this so much more than I expected!
I want to write a lot, but Kiss of Snow just arrived, and I'm barely holding on to my excitement. I'm lucky that Magic Slays hasn't arrived yet, or I wouldn't know what to do with myself faced with the impossible choice what to read first.
Anyway, I wanted to read this series, the moment I saw the most excellent trailer Tessa Dare created for it. Even if you're not a fan of historical romance, I recommend you watch it.
H More...
I want to write a lot, but Kiss of Snow just arrived, and I'm barely holding on to my excitement. I'm lucky that Magic Slays hasn't arrived yet, or I wouldn't know what to do with myself faced with the impossible choice what to read first.
Anyway, I wanted to read this series, the moment I saw the most excellent trailer Tessa Dare created for it. Even if you're not a fan of historical romance, I recommend you watch it.
H More...
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Sep 14, 2010
Lady Vale
rated it:
I absolutely loved this book. So many amazing quotes from it. It was breathtaking more than once.
This was such a sweet story. In it, you will find a lovely, shy and extremely caring wallflower. She would have never been noticed by the duke in any normal circumstance, but that's what is so nice about books, isn't it? He did. So we see how this couple -one very different from the other- struggle and try to move on every problem they go through. As the story goes on, we see how they we More...
This was such a sweet story. In it, you will find a lovely, shy and extremely caring wallflower. She would have never been noticed by the duke in any normal circumstance, but that's what is so nice about books, isn't it? He did. So we see how this couple -one very different from the other- struggle and try to move on every problem they go through. As the story goes on, we see how they we More...
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Oct 28, 2011
Anja
rated it:
This book started off slow for me. I did not feel like there was any spark between the leads and wasn't particularly interested in either character. A third of the way into the story I started to see a change in them. They had already married and were on their way to the country estate and started to actually spend time together talking and getting to know one another. I could see a friendship forming and their personalities started to become clear. Their relationship developed slowly but r
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 10, 2012
Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~
rated it:
Review @ Under the Covers
3.5 Stars
Amelia isn't impressed with the Duke of Midnight. He descends upon a ball at midnight dances a set with one of the young and the brainless before leaving again, the ladies sighs of both desire and fear follow in his wake. However, her wastrel brother owes him money so when he next makes his melodramatic entrance she commendeers his hand; however, little does she know that that one action will cause her life to change drastically.
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3.5 Stars
Amelia isn't impressed with the Duke of Midnight. He descends upon a ball at midnight dances a set with one of the young and the brainless before leaving again, the ladies sighs of both desire and fear follow in his wake. However, her wastrel brother owes him money so when he next makes his melodramatic entrance she commendeers his hand; however, little does she know that that one action will cause her life to change drastically.
More...
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 18, 2011
KarenF
rated it:
This probably isn't the best book I've ever given 5*s to but I realized after I read it that I kept going back to re-read passages that made me smile or made me sigh. It's great fun for the reader to watch Spencer and Amelia fall into friendship and then love in fits and starts. Other reviewers seem to have a problem with Amelia but I really didn't. Being blind to her bother's faults is part of who she is and it's established pretty early on. Dare is often compared to Julia Quinn and while I
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Jul 05, 2010
Kim
rated it:
Superior to most things I've read by TD, with the exception of Surrender of a Siren. It doesn't really come close to that kind of brilliance, and it's a tad wallpapery, but I greatly enjoyed it. The writing is witty and engaging, and what it lacks in unique setting & storyline, it compensates well for by being just an all-around enjoyable read.
I gave it an A-
I gave it an A-
Jan 27, 2012
Evie
rated it:
A perfect Cinderella story! The Duke of Midnight– the ton is totally intrigued by him. I mean, who wouldn’t? Well, that is where Amelia d’Orsay comes in. Where every woman dreams… to be the chosen one for that one magical waltz at midnight, Amelia does not. Not until that night when she chooses him and not the other way around. Better yet, her reasons for choosing him have nothing to do with wanting to fulfill a silly girl’s dream, rather she wants from him something that no woman of her station
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Dec 22, 2011
Janusz
rated it:
Horses feature prominently in the narrative, so perhaps it's not too inappropriate to say the story came flying out of the gates, settled down to a steady trot, then faded disastrously in the home straight.
Once the usual lines had been drawn between the arrogant, attractive and aristocratic male and his quick-witted, sharp-tongued female adversary, the two of them seemed to circle round each other, exchanging sparkling, witty and sometimes hurtful dialogues but basically getting nowh More...
Once the usual lines had been drawn between the arrogant, attractive and aristocratic male and his quick-witted, sharp-tongued female adversary, the two of them seemed to circle round each other, exchanging sparkling, witty and sometimes hurtful dialogues but basically getting nowh More...
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Oct 28, 2011
Jane
rated it:
Hero loving and admirable. Heroine TSTL. She enabled and coddled her addicted-to-gambling brother. This was no fun.
STORY BRIEF:
Amelia has been a wallflower at the balls and believes she will be a spinster. Her parents are dead. She and her brothers are surviving but don’t have a lot of money. Her brother Jack is addicted to gambling and frequently comes to Amelia for money. During a ball, Jack tells her he had to rent the family’s summer cottage to Spenser to cover gambl More...
STORY BRIEF:
Amelia has been a wallflower at the balls and believes she will be a spinster. Her parents are dead. She and her brothers are surviving but don’t have a lot of money. Her brother Jack is addicted to gambling and frequently comes to Amelia for money. During a ball, Jack tells her he had to rent the family’s summer cottage to Spenser to cover gambl More...
Oct 14, 2011
Alexa Loves Books
rated it:
I love a good romance novel tossed into my reading pile every now and then. It's a refreshing break from the many contemporary, classical and young adult novels I read, and plus, it usually only takes me a day or two to finish. I discovered Tessa Dare through The Ballroom Blog and decided one day to randomly try reading one of her novels.
Ms. Dare writes a beautiful little love story between Amelia d'Orsay and Spencer Dumarque, the Duke of Moreland. While there are a great many thi More...
Ms. Dare writes a beautiful little love story between Amelia d'Orsay and Spencer Dumarque, the Duke of Moreland. While there are a great many thi More...
Dec 30, 2010
Megan
rated it:
I enjoyed this far more than I had expected to. Apparently, you can do Regencies that are fun but have substance, and at many turns, I found myself enjoyably surprised by the characters and their depths. I liked both Amelia and Spencer, and I appreciated the depth (and consistency) of character that was developed throughout the book. Amelia's character arc, particularly, was painfully earned and realistic; I can guess other readers were annoyed by her flaws and her initial choices, but I found h
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Jul 26, 2010
Jessi
rated it:
Summary: A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members--yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing Duke of Midnight. Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobod
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May 27, 2010
Barbara
rated it:
Okay, I will admit first off that I was totally charmed by Tessa Dare's toy themed book trailer for her new Stud Club (oh gag me with a spoon) trilogy. It was just too clever (especially the bit where the playboy Ken doll is surrounded by naked Barbies, but I digress...)
But I was smitten enough to give the first book of that trilogy, One Dance With a Duke, a try. Heck--I even spent real money to buy the book!
Well, I would have been better off just watching the book trailer a few mo More...
But I was smitten enough to give the first book of that trilogy, One Dance With a Duke, a try. Heck--I even spent real money to buy the book!
Well, I would have been better off just watching the book trailer a few mo More...
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May 28, 2010
Beanbag
rated it:
This was a really enjoyable premiere of Tessa Dare's new trilogy, The Stud Club.
Of course, The Stud Club refers to breeding horses, but we know what it reeeeeeeealllly means. Vavoom.
In any case, I had a few problems that cost Dare a star, but overall the romance was nice and the evolution of their attraction and devotion made sense to me. Their love scenes were well written and sensual and I didn't feel there were so many that I needed to skim.
Both characte More...
Of course, The Stud Club refers to breeding horses, but we know what it reeeeeeeealllly means. Vavoom.
In any case, I had a few problems that cost Dare a star, but overall the romance was nice and the evolution of their attraction and devotion made sense to me. Their love scenes were well written and sensual and I didn't feel there were so many that I needed to skim.
Both characte More...
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May 25, 2011
Angela
rated it:
Amelia (the heroine) was a bit too-good-to-be-true in some ways, but that really only came up in retrospect, looking back and considering the story as a whole. While actually reading, I never thought of her as unbelievable or irritating, which really is a good thing and shows how immersive I found the book.
Spencer (the hero) on the other hand was definitely NOT too-good-to-be-true! :-) And I mean that in a very good way. His social anxiety was, I thought, a very character-building t More...
Spencer (the hero) on the other hand was definitely NOT too-good-to-be-true! :-) And I mean that in a very good way. His social anxiety was, I thought, a very character-building t More...
Jun 15, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
From My Blog...
I am rather excited to share with my readers the first book in a trilogy I will be reviewing by Tessa Dare. The first book in the trilogy, One Dance With A Duke, is the book I shall be reviewing today. In July and August, I will be reviewing the second and third books in the trilogy, Twice Tempted By A Rogue and Three Nights With A Scoundrel, respectively. I am very excited about this tour and hope my readers will be as well.
The novel begins in 1817 London More...
I am rather excited to share with my readers the first book in a trilogy I will be reviewing by Tessa Dare. The first book in the trilogy, One Dance With A Duke, is the book I shall be reviewing today. In July and August, I will be reviewing the second and third books in the trilogy, Twice Tempted By A Rogue and Three Nights With A Scoundrel, respectively. I am very excited about this tour and hope my readers will be as well.
The novel begins in 1817 London More...
Oct 25, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Pretty good historical romance, I suppose. I'm not entirely well-versed in the nuances of the genre--one of my first exposures to it was Whitney, My Love which I abhorred--but I liked this one. The hero and heroine both retained the key parts of themselves, changed and developed as characters. Sometimes, I found myself getting irritated at Amelia who was too much of a martyr but I understood why. Spencer, the Duke of Morland (or alternatively, the Duke of Midnight), was great--though he bothered
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Mar 22, 2011
OceMei
rated it:
another Tessa Dare that I read besides Ladies series. What I am going to say is that this story is amused me. It's about a duke named Spencer who always come nearly midnight to pick one among many women at the ball, and dance with them. On the other hand, there is a woman named Amelia, wanted to meet Spencer in order to ask him to forget about her brother's debt to him. They had a dance and but then they found that one of Spencer's friend in the Stud CLub was died and there's a sister to take ca
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Aug 11, 2010
Nisha
rated it:
This book is simply good. I loved everything except the dubious club name, 'Stud Club', to which has rules that I still don't understand.
Amelia is the typical wallflower heroine, plain and plump, but somehow managing to ensnare super hottie and super mysterious Duke of Midnight. But Spencer isn't that typical Rakish hero. Instead he's reclusive, socially uncouth, and has the sensitivity of a rock. Plus he falls for Amelia soon after meeting her, quickly seeing her as she truly is an More...
Amelia is the typical wallflower heroine, plain and plump, but somehow managing to ensnare super hottie and super mysterious Duke of Midnight. But Spencer isn't that typical Rakish hero. Instead he's reclusive, socially uncouth, and has the sensitivity of a rock. Plus he falls for Amelia soon after meeting her, quickly seeing her as she truly is an More...
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