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Any Duchess Will Do
(Spindle Cove #4)
by
What's a duke to do, when the girl who's perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can't live without?
Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season--or any season--but his diabolical mother abducts him to "Spinster Cove" and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever ...more
Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season--or any season--but his diabolical mother abducts him to "Spinster Cove" and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever ...more
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Kindle Edition, 389 pages
Published
May 28th 2013
by Avon
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Start your review of Any Duchess Will Do (Spindle Cove, #4)

5 OUTSTANDING AND 'AWWWW' STARS.
This book made my heart melt, weep, and gave it a little meltdown/panic attack towards the end.
Any Duchess Will Do is the 4th and i believe the final book in the Spindle Cove series. I am madly, and deeply in love with this series and the author. I don't even want to think about this being the last book because then i might cry and never stop.
Pauline Simms is an overworked and struggling 23 year old serving girl. All she wants is to open up her own little ...more
This book made my heart melt, weep, and gave it a little meltdown/panic attack towards the end.

Any Duchess Will Do is the 4th and i believe the final book in the Spindle Cove series. I am madly, and deeply in love with this series and the author. I don't even want to think about this being the last book because then i might cry and never stop.

Pauline Simms is an overworked and struggling 23 year old serving girl. All she wants is to open up her own little ...more

Aug 24, 2020
chan ☆
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance,
2020
surprisingly, this worked for me
surprising, because i'm blue in the face with shouting about how tessa dare's damaged heroes don't work for me. but i guess there is an exception to every rule.
this story was pretty unique to the tessa dare brand. you have an untitled lady, who is probably the most working class of any of the heroines i've read in historical, being selected by a duke as his future duchess. Griffin is brought to spindle cove by his mother to select a wife and to piss his mom off he ...more
surprising, because i'm blue in the face with shouting about how tessa dare's damaged heroes don't work for me. but i guess there is an exception to every rule.
this story was pretty unique to the tessa dare brand. you have an untitled lady, who is probably the most working class of any of the heroines i've read in historical, being selected by a duke as his future duchess. Griffin is brought to spindle cove by his mother to select a wife and to piss his mom off he ...more

This is one of my all time favorite historical romance novels. From the first page to the last, I love the heroine to pieces. Her spark, her spirit, sassiness, optimism, can-do-attitude, loyalty and sense of fairness. She really wants to help the Duke achieve his goals. She loves his mother too, who's a great character in her own right. I just loved every single character in this book! Rather than repeat the blurb, I'll talk about my fav scenes, in no particular ranking order:
#1: Where the Duke ...more
#1: Where the Duke ...more

Alrighty.
So Tessa dare once again made me like a book (like, not love) with a plot I could not have been less interested in!

Yes, cute Ryan Gosling gif, I enjoyed it despite the fact that I don't care for the Wealthy Duke Falls for the Poor Commoner storyline. I know plenty of you guys love that one, but for me? Eh. Not so much.
So. Yeah, the characters just won me over!

Oh, and I loved the Duke's meddling mother!
When I grow up, I want to be her. Seriously.
Here's a woman who drugs her adult son, d ...more
So Tessa dare once again made me like a book (like, not love) with a plot I could not have been less interested in!

Yes, cute Ryan Gosling gif, I enjoyed it despite the fact that I don't care for the Wealthy Duke Falls for the Poor Commoner storyline. I know plenty of you guys love that one, but for me? Eh. Not so much.
So. Yeah, the characters just won me over!

Oh, and I loved the Duke's meddling mother!
When I grow up, I want to be her. Seriously.
Here's a woman who drugs her adult son, d ...more

I’m kicking myself in the nuts. Why did I ever wait to dig into a Tessa Dare book. 🤨 Hands down, one of the best-written and funniest and equally romantic regency romance books I’ve ever read/listened. It was really REALLY good. Funny story, a while ago, I travelled to Spain and I actually met with Tessa Dare in person. We were both attendants of a summit there. But the thing is although I knew her books, I never knew she wrote them. In my defense, I haven’t read any MF in a couple years and I
...more

May 30, 2013
Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
5-star-books
There are just not enough superlatives to describe this book. ANY DUCHESS WILL DO has edged A WEEK TO BE WICKED into second place as my choice for the best book in this series. A ginormous feat considering how much I love Colin and Minerva!
There are so many things I love about this book, it's difficult to know where to start but I'll try.
The story blends all the magic of …
Pygmalion
My Fair Lady
and
Cinderella
The book is rich in humour and the sparkling dialogue provides so many memor ...more
There are so many things I love about this book, it's difficult to know where to start but I'll try.
The story blends all the magic of …


and

The book is rich in humour and the sparkling dialogue provides so many memor ...more

Apr 19, 2013
Jill
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance-european
The Duchess of Halford would like grandchildren. Tired of her thirty-five year-old son, Griff's bachelorhood, she takes matters into her own hands. She drugs and kidnaps him and takes him to Spindle Cove to choose a young lady.
"You choose a girl - any girl - and I'll polish her myself. Who could better prepare the future Duchess of Halford than the current Duchess of Halford?"
Pauline Simms is a farmer's daughter and serving girl at the local tavern. Griffin Eliot York, Duke of Halford has his ow ...more

I think historical fiction might be one of the greatest things ever
“Farewell, she thought wistfully. Farewell, finest arse in Creation.”

Short novel gets short *but happy* review
Meet Griffen: the arrogant EX.playboy who refuses to wed until his mother...kidnaps him and forces him to choose from a room of options.
“He’d thought himself so damned clever, picking the serving girl out of the spinster crowd."
Just a silly little trick in this mindgame with his mother. But Pauline became a play ...more
“Farewell, she thought wistfully. Farewell, finest arse in Creation.”

Short novel gets short *but happy* review
Meet Griffen: the arrogant EX.playboy who refuses to wed until his mother...kidnaps him and forces him to choose from a room of options.
“He’d thought himself so damned clever, picking the serving girl out of the spinster crowd."
Just a silly little trick in this mindgame with his mother. But Pauline became a play ...more

Jan 31, 2017
Jilly
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
romance
This is a really cute story about a duke falling for a serving girl, and they were adorable and it was hot and swoony sometimes, but the true star of this book is the duke's mother - the current duchess. She is dry, sarcastic, bossy, controlling, and has a propensity to knit horrible little things in the hope of someday having a grandchild.

knitting kitteh is producing better projects than duchess no-grandma..
Since her son, Griffin, is a total skeezebag in a previous book and doesn't look like h ...more

knitting kitteh is producing better projects than duchess no-grandma..
Since her son, Griffin, is a total skeezebag in a previous book and doesn't look like h ...more

Oct 28, 2014
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
hot-hot-hot,
historical,
favorites-2014,
loved-it,
m-f,
audiobook,
great-chemistry,
romance,
narrator-amazing

Tessa Dare has been my most surprising wild card of 2014.
I went into this year convinced that I could never love historical romance, especially M/F historical romance. Then Tessa Dare smacked me upside the face with her Spindle Cove series and sent me reeling.
I loved them.
I've been listening to the series in audiobook format, so I was devastated when saw that the supremely talented narrator from the first three books, Carolyn Morris, was replaced by Eva Kaminsky. However, I shouldn't have worr ...more

3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a cute, fun read. I am really liking this author's characters and the banter we get with them! But for some reason I didn't feel like we got as deep of a connection with these two as I have in the other books I've read from Ms. Dare. I'm not even sure why I feel that way exactly...so even though it was enjoyable, I didn't quite like it as much as the The Duchess Deal or A Week to Be Wicked 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Pauline and Griff's story ...more
Overall Opinion: This was a cute, fun read. I am really liking this author's characters and the banter we get with them! But for some reason I didn't feel like we got as deep of a connection with these two as I have in the other books I've read from Ms. Dare. I'm not even sure why I feel that way exactly...so even though it was enjoyable, I didn't quite like it as much as the The Duchess Deal or A Week to Be Wicked 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Pauline and Griff's story ...more

[4.5 ⭐️]
My heart. I feel sick with love.
Tessa Dare just can’t do no wrong for me. She writes the most infectious of stories with the best romance possible that has me setting expectations. I mean, if I do not find myself someone that has all the qualities of every fictional character I fell in love with, I’m rioting. And eventually fall into inevitable despair.
I love the writing. I love the characters. Her female characters in particular always have this individuality about them that makes them ...more
My heart. I feel sick with love.
Tessa Dare just can’t do no wrong for me. She writes the most infectious of stories with the best romance possible that has me setting expectations. I mean, if I do not find myself someone that has all the qualities of every fictional character I fell in love with, I’m rioting. And eventually fall into inevitable despair.
I love the writing. I love the characters. Her female characters in particular always have this individuality about them that makes them ...more

“Miss Simms,” his mother said, “if you think you can trick me into repeating your vulgarities, you will be disappointed. Suffice it to say, slang, blasphemy, and cursing have no place in a lady’s vocabulary. Much less a duchess’s.”
“Oh. I see. So your grace never curses.”
“I do not.”
“Words like cor . . . bollocks . . . damn . . . devil . . . blast . . . bloody hell . . .” She pronounced the words with relish, warming to her task. “They don’t cross a duchess’s lips?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
Miss Si ...more
“Oh. I see. So your grace never curses.”
“I do not.”
“Words like cor . . . bollocks . . . damn . . . devil . . . blast . . . bloody hell . . .” She pronounced the words with relish, warming to her task. “They don’t cross a duchess’s lips?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
Miss Si ...more

Jul 02, 2012
Shawna
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Romance fans
Shelves:
historical-romance,
angsty-dark-heavy-lotsa-drama,
hero-fake-rake-assumed-player,
hr-regency-napoleonic-era-wars,
hero-recluse-loner-lonewolf,
hero-reformed-rake-player,
best-wittiest-banter-dialogue,
brothers-sisters-cousins-family,
tearjerker-tugs-at-heartstrings,
historical-romance-regency
5+ stars – Historical/Regency Romance
Wow! I loved this! I haven’t relished a historical romance this much in quite some time. I adored everything about this book. Here’s a quick summary of what I enjoyed most about it.
*Endearing, unique, lovable heroine – Pauline is caring, funny, cheeky, brave, honest, spunky, loyal, and strong yet vulnerable. I absolutely adored her!
*Sigh-worthy hero
*Heartwarming, swoonalicious romance – This has some of the sweetest, most memorable, delightful romantic moment ...more
Wow! I loved this! I haven’t relished a historical romance this much in quite some time. I adored everything about this book. Here’s a quick summary of what I enjoyed most about it.
*Endearing, unique, lovable heroine – Pauline is caring, funny, cheeky, brave, honest, spunky, loyal, and strong yet vulnerable. I absolutely adored her!
*Sigh-worthy hero
*Heartwarming, swoonalicious romance – This has some of the sweetest, most memorable, delightful romantic moment ...more

Audio: 5+ STARS!!
Story: 5 STARS!!
We all know that Tessa Dare's sense of humor is wonderful, but she truly outdid herself with the premise and execution of Any Duchess Will Do!
I don't think I've ever laughed so hard while listening a book. Huge kudos to Eva Kaminsky for her incredible performance.
Plot: In an attempt to thwart his meddling mother's claim that she can turn any woman in Spindle Cove into marriageable Duchess material, Griffin, t ...more
Story: 5 STARS!!
"I'll take her."AAAAHHHH! So glorious!
We all know that Tessa Dare's sense of humor is wonderful, but she truly outdid herself with the premise and execution of Any Duchess Will Do!
I don't think I've ever laughed so hard while listening a book. Huge kudos to Eva Kaminsky for her incredible performance.
Plot: In an attempt to thwart his meddling mother's claim that she can turn any woman in Spindle Cove into marriageable Duchess material, Griffin, t ...more

Rating: A ... Heat: Hot
Well, it’s officially official: If I want a good cry, I’ll pick up one of my favorite Tessa Dare books. Each and every time she creates heroes and heroines who worm their way into my heart and tug on those heartstrings. Kate and Thorne? Made me bawl my ever-loving eyes out. Minerva and Colin? When they weren’t making me laugh, they put tears in my eyes. Pauline and Griff? Yeah, those two got the water works going pretty good and pretty often. I love the ladies and gents of
...more
5 poignant, romantic, sexy, glorious, wonderful, brilliant stars! A truly beautiful series finale!

“Her,” he said. “I’ll take her.”
Tessa Dare has crafted one of the most pleasurable books I’ve read. If you’re looking for a fun, sexy Historical Romance, then you’ll not want to miss this! I thought it perfect escapism.
Oozing humor, it’s filled with witty dialogue and the banter is ever flowing. It also has very sensual love scenes and offers a story that flows faultlessly from beginning to end. There’s no wading in; from the get-go it grabs you and will have you laughing out loud and anxious f ...more
Tessa Dare has crafted one of the most pleasurable books I’ve read. If you’re looking for a fun, sexy Historical Romance, then you’ll not want to miss this! I thought it perfect escapism.
Oozing humor, it’s filled with witty dialogue and the banter is ever flowing. It also has very sensual love scenes and offers a story that flows faultlessly from beginning to end. There’s no wading in; from the get-go it grabs you and will have you laughing out loud and anxious f ...more

Jun 13, 2013
Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
This is a Regency version of My Fair Lady, and not a very convincing one. It exceeded my expectations, and was more convincing than I had expected considering the preposterousness of the premise, but then again, my expectations were extremely low and my dubiousness not entirely misguided. Come on, people, this is the Regency era. Liaisons between commoners and dukes are highly uncommon, and that of a barmaid and a duke? Even more ludicrous. Still, this book carried it off the dubious premise bet
...more

4.5 Stars
Tessa Dare and the Spindle Cove series are just a lot of fun. I love her slightly unconventional heroines and all the mishaps they get into. At times this series is ridiculously funny and I find myself just grinning along stupid smile on my face growing larger line by line.
The premise is simple the Duke Griff after leading a life of debauchery and scandal suffered a tragedy that changed him. His mother knowing something was wrong and wanting ...more
“Her,” he said. “I’ll take her.”
Tessa Dare and the Spindle Cove series are just a lot of fun. I love her slightly unconventional heroines and all the mishaps they get into. At times this series is ridiculously funny and I find myself just grinning along stupid smile on my face growing larger line by line.
The premise is simple the Duke Griff after leading a life of debauchery and scandal suffered a tragedy that changed him. His mother knowing something was wrong and wanting ...more

Sometimes, when I’m reading a new book, I just know that I’ll have to write a review the minute I finish. Usually, that happens when a book is either remarkably good, or stupendously bad. As I was reading Any Duchess Will Do, I realized that I would write a review as soon as I had read the last page, because this book is remarkably, stupendously wonderful –- perhaps the best of the Spindle Cove series.
In truth, I had this feeling up until I hit the 75% mark on my Kindle, after which I became ann ...more
In truth, I had this feeling up until I hit the 75% mark on my Kindle, after which I became ann ...more

After reading this book, I feel like I temporarily turned into Golum from 'Lord of the Rings'.
Here's a short example of what I mean:
* * *
Me 1: We loves it!
Me 2: No, wait... it was too weird and unrealistic. He fell too hard, so fast. Same with her. And it was one fucking week, for seriousness' sake! It was beyond improbable. Also, their stations were too different. And the guy was too accepting. No way we could even fool ourselves into believing this could happen, or was happening. And also, ...more

Mar 17, 2018
Sam (AMNReader)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
series,
book-boyfriend,
historical,
best-heroine,
read-in-2018,
scribd,
hrbc-mad-about-series
Reread 5/10/2020 for once of my favorite mothers in romance. Honestly, 99% of the reason I reread it.
----original review-----
This book had a lot of sparkly shiny fairytale.
I enjoyed it. I liked-really adored-all the characters but Griff's mother can be my devious mother-in-law anytime.
...I was shocked that one scene actually made me tear up...
(view spoiler) ...more
----original review-----
This book had a lot of sparkly shiny fairytale.
I enjoyed it. I liked-really adored-all the characters but Griff's mother can be my devious mother-in-law anytime.
...I was shocked that one scene actually made me tear up...
(view spoiler) ...more

Mar 01, 2016
Susan Phillips
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
recent-reads
A duke selects the girl most likely to fail to be his future bride. As much as I love the set-up for this book, any Tessa Dare book is a delight.

Written December 3, 2014
4 stars - Enchanting, delightful, charming and so on. Hearthwarming good!
I must start to say I enjoyed this nearly 11 hrs audiobook listening, very well narrated by Eva Kaminsky, so very much. 'Any Duchess Will Do' was my first historical by Tessa Dare as well.

My title describes well what I felt a few days ago..
Good story and funny cheeky intrigue. It was both right amount of romance and heat (for this genre), as an good plot. As the icing on the cake was this audioboo ...more
4 stars - Enchanting, delightful, charming and so on. Hearthwarming good!
I must start to say I enjoyed this nearly 11 hrs audiobook listening, very well narrated by Eva Kaminsky, so very much. 'Any Duchess Will Do' was my first historical by Tessa Dare as well.




My title describes well what I felt a few days ago..
Good story and funny cheeky intrigue. It was both right amount of romance and heat (for this genre), as an good plot. As the icing on the cake was this audioboo ...more

Loved this one. Even wrote a short novela as a review for it but it got lost and I am too lazy to rewrite it. *mostly bad memory*

Bumped up to 5 stars after re-reading it.
However unlikely the plot or anachronistic the MCs actions may be, there's something to this book, the writing, something in the characters, that always stays with me. I know I'll be re-reading this again and again, and I'll simply love it. ...more
However unlikely the plot or anachronistic the MCs actions may be, there's something to this book, the writing, something in the characters, that always stays with me. I know I'll be re-reading this again and again, and I'll simply love it. ...more

Sep 30, 2012
Mary - Buried Under Romance
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romances-first-priority
Posted on Buried Under Romance
Tessa Dare has proven herself a fantastic writer with her Spindle Cove series, and Any Duchess Will Do lives up to my expectations, though it's a close second with A Week to Be Wicked.
The premise is highly amusing. Griffin York, the Duke of Halford and the fourth richest man in England (I quote this) is breaking his mother's heart. The duchess desperately wants grandchildren before she falls into her decline, or worse, commit atrocious knitting crimes with nothing ...more
Tessa Dare has proven herself a fantastic writer with her Spindle Cove series, and Any Duchess Will Do lives up to my expectations, though it's a close second with A Week to Be Wicked.
The premise is highly amusing. Griffin York, the Duke of Halford and the fourth richest man in England (I quote this) is breaking his mother's heart. The duchess desperately wants grandchildren before she falls into her decline, or worse, commit atrocious knitting crimes with nothing ...more

Loved it!!!! Griff and Pauline are so perfect for each other. I seriously love Griff so much. He has such a big heart and loves so deeply. Highly recommend this book to all my HR lovers.

So here’s the thing. I’m kind of addicted to historical romances. I don’t expect Pulitzer level writing, I don’t expect to be blown over by intricate plots, by subtle dialogue that is both witty and thought-provoking, by characters who speak to me on an intimate level.
Let’s be honest. When I read romances, I’m in it for mindless candy. A fluffy bit of confection that takes me out of my own head for a few hours and lets my brain coast on automatic.
So I read it. The book starts off in a predicta ...more
Let’s be honest. When I read romances, I’m in it for mindless candy. A fluffy bit of confection that takes me out of my own head for a few hours and lets my brain coast on automatic.
So I read it. The book starts off in a predicta ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Sinopsis en Español // Synopsis in Spanish | 1 | 3 | Feb 27, 2015 12:30PM | |
Q&A with Tessa Dare: * Any Duchess Will Do Discussion Thread - SPOILERS INCLUDED | 257 | 203 | Jan 19, 2015 11:16AM | |
WORD Bangin' Book...: April Book Club Pick: Any Duchess Will Do | 1 | 7 | Apr 15, 2014 09:03AM | |
Q&A with Tessa Dare: Vote for Any Duchess Will Do on DABWAHA | 1 | 13 | Mar 23, 2014 05:57PM |
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Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellen ...more
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellen ...more
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