Grace By Contract (Once Upon a Duchy #1)
Grace by Contract
by Rachel Rossano
Edition: ARC, 2020
Synopsis: After her father uproots the family to the northern duchy of Brackenhurst, Grace Eldon and her four younger sisters struggle with a new life of hardship. Desperate to keep a roof over their heads amid mounting debts, she and her youngest sister seek employment in the Duke of Brackenhurst’s household despite fearsome rumors.
Scarred and maimed from a terrible fire Silas Isling, Duke of Brackenhurst, buries himself in his work to avoid the stares of pity and fear. When one of the new maids shows no fear at his appearance, he is intrigued. That is until his meddling steward gives her the task of cleaning Silas’ bookroom. It is a most unwelcome disruption since he prefers to be alone.
While a thief plagues his castle, an old nemesis reappears, and enemies invade in the guise of guests. Amidst the distractions and chaos, Grace brings some unexpected order. Once convinced his scars had stolen all hope for love, Silas finds his life forever changed by the quiet maid. Could she love a scarred Duke?
Inspired by Beauty and the Beast
Debt hangs heavy over Grace’s head, and she is desperate to protect her youngest sister from a lecherous friend of their father. She indentures herself to the Duke of Brakenhurst, hopeful to find safety. Her skills at reading and writing soon make her invaluable to the Duke, who is not as beastly as his reputation had led her to believe. But danger is just around the corner, waiting for her to take the wrong step.
From the cover, I was expecting a medieval tale based more in history, so I was surprised when there was no date for me to place the story. I didn’t realize this Beauty and the Beast retelling was a fantasy, no magic but not set in our history. Even though it was not what I thought it would be, it was still enjoyable.
The tale alternates between Grace and Silas, the Duke of Brakenhurst. Both have had difficult lives. Silas is scared from a fire where he lost his sister. Grace’s father was revealed as a thief and brought the family down in the world. Trust does not come easily for either one. Watching them slowly fall for each other made for a pleasant afternoon.
The story is well told, and I liked the details that I DID recognize from history. Readers who are looking for a fairy tale retelling that is creatively, if not historically accurately, told, I would recommend this.
I received a free copy through Loving the Book for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
Rachel Rossano is a happily married mother of three children. She spends her days teaching, mothering, and keeping the chaos at bay. After the little ones are in bed, she immerses herself in the fantasy worlds of her books. Tales of romance, adventure, and virtue set in a medieval fantasy world are her preference, but she also writes speculative fantasy and a bit of science fiction.
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