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Charming the Duke

Holly Bush (Goodreads Author)

3.44 · Rating details · 374 ratings · 40 reviews

1849 . . . Matilda Sheldon, the middle daughter of the sixth Earl of Bisset, has never been interested in the fashionable society events that so preoccupy her parents and siblings. Her loving, albeit, daft family cannot understand why. But Matilda has little use for silly rules and dramas. She would rather occupy her time with a worthwhile cause such as opening The Sheldon ...more

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Paperback, 289 pages

Published March 18th 2014 by Holly Bush Books (first published 2005)

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Average rating 3.44 ·

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· 374 ratings · 40 reviews

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Mar 22, 2014 namericanwordcat rated it really liked it

Shelves: english-romance, secondary-love-story, resistant-herione, 4-star-romance, great-parents, large-family, funny, children, historical-romance, regency

I was utterly taken in by this witty, fast paced, and ultimately tender romance. The sense of family in the book is especially endearing as is the banter between the Duke and our heroine.

I discovered Holly Bush's historical romances last year and she has yet to disappoint. Her great talent is in taking themes that can be tired and shining them until they sparkle and you remember why they became troupes in the first place.

Here, she leaves the American West of her other books for a Regency ...more

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Jul 08, 2014 Tara Chevrestt rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, first-reads

I broke my "no dukes, no rakes, no rogues" rule and read this novel the last few days. I was drawn in by the cover and the author's solid reputation for being talented.
Being a huge Downton Abbey fan, I was pleasantly delighted by the Dowager in this story. Every time she spoke or tapped away with her cane, I pictured the Dowager, a delicate, aged eyebrow arched, as she looks at whomever she's speaking to as if they're an imbecile...and in this case, they rather are.

The main story follows ...more

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May 16, 2016 Hasnamezied rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-romance, best-covers, worst-الاسوأ, hero-marries-for-money

This book started really good,then I don't know what went wrong in it?
It became boring and boring to the limit you can't take it any more. Sorry but the best thing about this book it's cover.

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Apr 20, 2014 [̲̅ρ̲̅υ̲̅и̲̅y̲̅α̲̅] rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: for something fun and heart-warming

Shelves: omg-was-it-fun-or-what, favorites, brilliant-cover, requested-review, holly-bush

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book... for more, visit Punya Reviews...

Holly Bush’s Charming The Duke was my first book by her, with a heroine after my own heart. I always find a book more enjoyable when I can connect the characters and Matilda was pretty much the type I love to read about. There were some major fun characters in the book too who just doubled my enjoyment overall.

Matilda, the second daughter of the Earl of Bisset is nothing like an ...more

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Mar 27, 2014 Yackie rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-romances

CAUTION MILD SPOILERS

I read and loved Ms. Bush's other book, Train Station Bride. I was excited to see another book had just come out. Sadly, I was disappointed with this one.

The "world" was not very established and things that happened weren't really believable. Towards the end we're supposed to worry about a scandal involving one sister that can affect the whole family which was a lie made up by the villain. But Matilda had already caused a scandal of her own by being compromised by Thornsby. CAUTION MILD SPOILERS

I read and loved Ms. Bush's other book, Train Station Bride. I was excited to see another book had just come out. Sadly, I was disappointed with this one.

The "world" was not very established and things that happened weren't really believable. Towards the end we're supposed to worry about a scandal involving one sister that can affect the whole family which was a lie made up by the villain. But Matilda had already caused a scandal of her own by being compromised by Thornsby. The only way to save the family from further scandal would be to marry him, but she refuses. Yet that was not mentioned, a scandal did not happen and the family was not affected by having a compromised daughter who remains unmarried.

The characters were one-dimensional. They were either clever or stupid. Very few were clever and everyone else were complete idiots. The characters were pretty boring and I did not care for any of them. Matilda and Freddy (or is it Freddie? because the spelling changes throughout the book) had no chemistry together. I did not feel love or passion between them. Yet we are constantly told that they will have a good marriage because their "coupling" will be good because of the chemistry they had. Thornsby's sister, Athena, and Smithly had way more chemistry than they did (although that's not saying much) and they're not the main characters.

At the end we see Matilda leaving in a carriage from a Garden Party filled with drama, and Thornsby saying good-bye to her with a promise to call on her the next day where he will possibly propose. The next chapter happens 45 days later, they have already been married and we're treated to the one and only sex scene in the book. Which is short and still without any chemistry. The proposal,wedding day and any time spent together after the proposal and wedding were left out along with any chance to make this couple believable.

The only thing I did enjoy about this book was the kids, Alice and Jonah, and how Thornsby was with them.

It pains me to say this, since I absolutely loved Ms. Bush's other book and her writing in it, but this one was totally lacking in every way. ...more

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Mar 02, 2015 Vins rated it really liked it

Shelves: historicals

Smart , Sassy , Sweet h
M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F
HEA/HFN/etc Ending: HEA
Contains Cheating: NO!
Contains Children: (view spoiler)
Jealy/Possy/OTT Rating: 3
Angst Level Rating: 3
Feel-Good Level Rating: 4
Steam Factor Rating: 1
Kink Level Rating: 1
Amount of Sex In The Book: (view spoiler)
Overall Smex Rating: (view spoiler)
Hero Description: Duke
Hero Likability Rating: 3.5
Heroine ...more

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Mar 22, 2014 Debbie McCreary rated it it was amazing

Matilda loved her life. Sure she has 2 dim-witted sisters and her mom and dad almost as bad. But Matilda is content, starting her orphanage. Until she meets the Duke of Thornsby. The duke disrupts her life from the moment they meet. Misunderstandings plague them from then on. The duke attempts of courting are filled with mishaps. Charming the Duke is very well written. This is the first book of Holly Bush I have read and I will read her again.

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Nov 09, 2014 Robin Malek rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So charming!

Loved the story and the characters. I was so totally charmed by the whole story. Independent Matilda and the scoundrel Thornsby both learning how to "deal" with each other and all of the children. Thank you!

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Mar 25, 2014 Kimberly Rocha~ Book Obsessed Chicks rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romances-a-la-kimberly, historical

Miss Matilda Sheldon could care less what people think about her. Unlike her sisters who always the height of fashion and comportment, Matilda thrives to disappear into the background wherever she goes. Her only interest is opening and running an orphanage and to care for those orphans who have nothing. Her lovely but dim-witted sisters are on the lookout for suitors and consistently peck at Matilda about her drab appearance.

The Duke of Thornsby needs to find himself a bride, one that would fit

Miss Matilda Sheldon could care less what people think about her. Unlike her sisters who always the height of fashion and comportment, Matilda thrives to disappear into the background wherever she goes. Her only interest is opening and running an orphanage and to care for those orphans who have nothing. Her lovely but dim-witted sisters are on the lookout for suitors and consistently peck at Matilda about her drab appearance.

The Duke of Thornsby needs to find himself a bride, one that would fit into his lifestyle well but not overtake his life. The clock is ticking for the duke though, for unless he marries by the time he turns thirty he stands to lose his inheritance, but his scandalous reputation keeps the eligible ladies and their marriage minded mothers at a distance ans the pickings are slim for the handsome duke.

The Sheldon sisters, daughters of the 6th Earl of Bisset are quite the trio. While two are quite attractive and social, they are pretty much airheads, and Matilda, the middle daughter while dull in appearance, is intelligent and quite mouthy when she feels it's necessary. When the duke meets the outspoken Miss Sheldon, neither of their lives will ever be the same. While the duke needs to marry, and quickly, Matlida wants nothing to do with it. When the pair are caught in a compromising position placing Matilda's reputation at risk, instead of going the marriage route, she runs the other way leaving the duke in a state of confusion. Matilda is quite confused herself, for even though she says she will never marry, she has developed feelings for Thornsby and doesn't know what to do about them. In the wings, Matilda's beloved grandmother and the duke's sister champion for the pair to wake up and smell the proverbial coffee.

When Matlida refuses Thornsby's suit he needs to find an alternate solution to his problem. His subsequent proposal to an unsavory lady of the ton prompts quite a few displeasing incidents, one of extreme import is the disappearance of the two children who were left in the duke's care by their mother. a servant of the duke's who passed away, leaving the children alone. When the duke realizes his huge mistake in his proposal to the obnoxious lady he quickly dismisses her, but not before she threatens to make his life miserable. Now Thornsby must make an attempt to court Matilda, for as he finally realizes, she is definitely the lady for him.

CHARMING THE DUKE by the smart and sassy Holly Bush, is a fabulous read from beginning to end. Holly's unbeatable sense of humor and her remarkable storytelling shine through in CHARMING THE DUKE.. I thought the duke was going to be a stodgy bore of a hero and was so pleasantly surprised by his reaction to Matilda that he has wormed his way into being my new book boyfriend. Matilda's bright determination make her such an interesting heroine. Miss Bush is as comfortable in Regency England as she is in the American Mid-West and I will follow this brilliant writer anywhere.

~KIMBERLY~
...more

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Mar 28, 2014 Peg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, historical-fiction

Charming the Duke is a humorous historical fiction novel that takes place in England during the 1800s. The Duke of Thornsby was speechless when he discovered that in order for him to receive his inheritance, he would have to be married by his thirtieth birthday. The very thought of it made him shudder. However, he’d be damned if was going to lose his fortune just because of a technicality. The Duke had less than a year to find and marry a woman who wasn’t aware of his appalling reputation. He Charming the Duke is a humorous historical fiction novel that takes place in England during the 1800s. The Duke of Thornsby was speechless when he discovered that in order for him to receive his inheritance, he would have to be married by his thirtieth birthday. The very thought of it made him shudder. However, he’d be damned if was going to lose his fortune just because of a technicality. The Duke had less than a year to find and marry a woman who wasn’t aware of his appalling reputation. He needed a plan.

Thornsby smiled at the invitation to the Earl of Bisset’s house party. The pea-brained Earl had two beautiful dimwitted daughters and a featherhead for a wife. No one in that entire family would even have the wherewithal to look past his title and see that he was a notorious rake. What could be more perfect?

Thornsby’s eyes glazed over while the two half-wit daughters, Juliet and Alexandra, chattered endlessly to him about bows and ribbons. His head was splitting. He needed to get away from them. How could he have ever thought, marrying one of these airheads would be a good idea? The only daughter he could even consider marrying was Matilda, the middle one – the daughter he didn’t know the Earl had before he insulted her. How was he to know that Matilda wasn’t hired help? Moreover, what was she doing dressed up like a maid in the first place?

Matilda wanted nothing to do with The Duke of Thornsby. He was a pretentious, rude, stick-in-the-mud, who was only interested in himself. She, on the other hand, had an orphanage to build, children to help and a life to live. Why would she ever want to be tied down to a man? And a controlling one at that.

Thornsby found himself growing fond of Matilda. She was caring and even pretty when she wasn’t wearing grey. He was doing his best to win her over when his past came roaring back, threatening to destroy all that he had held dear.

I found Charming the Duke funny, a little too silly at times, but enjoyable just the same. I would recommend this book to readers looking to lose themselves in a light and humorous fictional story.
...more

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Apr 24, 2014 Farrah rated it liked it

A light, sweet, and enjoyable read, Charming the Duke was a good historical romance. I didn't love it, but I did like it. It was a sweet romance.

The characters were okay. I liked the Matilda was strong and independent, but it frustrated me that she was a bewildering combination of self-deprecating and self-conscious about her looks but disdainful and downright arrogant about her intelligence. It especially didn't sit well with me that she constantly called her family dim-witted and was almost ...more

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Mar 20, 2014 Deanna Sletten rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

It's 1849 and Matilda Sheldon is not interested in snagging a suitable suitor like her two sisters are. Fashion, gossip, and all the other trappings of her social status do not interest her, especially putting on a show to find a husband. She feels she is not as pretty or graceful as her sisters and therefore puts her energy into other more serious pursuits like starting an orphanage. But when The Duke of Thornsby, who desperately needs to find a proper wife, meets Matilda, he finds himself not ...more

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Dec 28, 2014 Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Charming has taken on new depth an euphemism for blissful bed sport.

Matilda, a forthright woman in a family of flighty finds it hard to connect with her family until they lovingly rally around her orphanage project with more heart than skill.

The Duke must have a wife. Amongst the the glittering, twittering debutantes it is the wren who fascinates him and continually dismisses him. Matilda breaks through his cool disdain, unsettles and fires his passion. Though the road to happiness is thwarted ...more

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Apr 27, 2014 Jess F. (From Me to You ... Book Reviews) rated it liked it

"3 out of 5 stars. Matilda and Frederick (Thornsby/Freddy) will charm you in this quaint historical romance!"

Read more of this review, a teaser, and a an excerpt here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2014/04/blog-tour-made-grade-charming-duke-by.html -- Posted as a part of a blog tour on April 30th.

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Mar 22, 2014 Dianne rated it really liked it

Holly Bush's "Charming the Duke" is a most enjoyable book. I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and I loved the ending. My only concern is that I felt there were too many similarities to Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice" at times.

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Sep 04, 2015 Annette Drake rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It was charming.

Entertaining. Delightful banter and a delicious hero. There is something endearing about a man who loves children. Just an enjoyable read.

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Apr 09, 2014 Agnes rated it really liked it

Enjoyed reading this book. It had some very funny bits in it. Lost my way towards the end . Otherwise been 5 stars.

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Aug 29, 2019 Arabellavidal rated it it was ok

Why is a widow referred to as a Miss as well as a Countess? How will the youngest sister's marriage to a Viscount lead her to become a future Duchess when his father's an Earl? Why is a Marquis' eldest son and heir called a mere Mister as well as a Viscount?

Why am I supposed to think that a woman who physically ruins things her daughter-in-law takes pride in, is a worthy role-model for feminism?

Why isn't the entire Sheldon clan ostracized by the scandal caused by Matilda rejecting the Duke's ...more

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May 05, 2018 ☽ Rhiannon ✭ Mistwalker ☾ rated it liked it

Shelves: aaaaangst, to-reread, plain-spinster-wallflower

Not terribly angsty, but enough so to get on the shelf. I liked the family and chuckled several times - Ethel cracked me up! Despite my lack of interest in storylines with kids, it didn't much bother me here (not a huge feature really). Great drama with the Victorian-era Regina George. (3.5 stars)

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Jul 10, 2018 Princess rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"Charming" little book. Even if it was almost squeaky clean.

Cute and entertaining. But I prefer my books be a bit more scandalous. That being said, it was still fun.

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Feb 16, 2017 Pilar Seacord rated it it was ok

Matilda Sheldon is the smart one of a not so bright family. Except for Grandmama Ethel. Duke of Thornsby needs to be married by his thirtieth birthday or forfeit his inheritance. His sister Athena and best friend Smithy who are always arguing are trying to come up with suggestions. Thornsby says they are going to a party at the Sheldon's. When they get there Matilda ends up opening the door and Thornsby mistakes her for the maid. Then he puts his foot in his mouth even more. It got to be rather ...more

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Nov 17, 2016 Luxica rated it really liked it

Shelves: steamy

3.5 stars

Completely agree with other reviewers. Didn't believe the love between the h/H even remotely. It might have been lust but it just felt like they were together because they were pushed together by others. Matilda was encouraged to marry by the idea of intimacy in marriage. Freddy (urrgh, what a name) was suddenly interested in the idea of love and falling in love when he knew about his parents love story. I think he was desperate to be in love and Matilda was available at the right time. ...more

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Dec 17, 2016 Wyrdness rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: okay-but-boring, romance

I really liked the characters in this book, but the story itself was sadly rather bland and unbelievable in places.

There was no heady romance, no real angst, not even any particularly tiresome misunderstandings (there were a few misunderstandings but none that seemed extremely contrived or overly stupid). It was really just two lonely individuals considering the idea of marriage and love whilst wondering if the other could ever find them "suitable".

Though the writing was technically decent I ...more

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May 02, 2015 William Simmons rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Sadly I found what should have been a great book just ok

The plot wag good and for a while the storyline seemed to be following along. Then it just lost it. Actually looked back to see if I had jumped ahead too far.

After Miltilda leaves the bus party with the knowledge that the Duke is supposed to talk with her father their next day it jumps 45 days. Naive me, even then I thought it must be taking use to the wedding. Imagine my surprise to find out they have been married 46 days.

Besides missing ...more

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Jan 05, 2015 Lulu rated it it was ok

The heroine's grandmother tells her, that even if your husband is a Trottel, marriage is not that bad if the "coupling" is "charming". And oh god, the hero must be a crack shot in this department because a Trottel he is!

(view spoiler)

...more

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May 11, 2015 Lobna Amer rated it did not like it

Maybe I'm in no place to judge. I have not finished the book (stopped at page 60). The heroine is the most obnoxious, pompous, know-it-all, cynical female that I've ever read of. The hero's interest in her is just NOT understandable.

Her family is the sweetest, yet she derides them as frequently as she thinks, which is super often

She thinks EVERYONE is a dimwit just because they like taking about balls, dancing and fashion. B****, PLEASE! Get off your high horse!

She is aggravatingly rude but

...more

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May 13, 2014 Dee rated it liked it

More of a 2.75 stars really.
This was...charming (an in joke that is a little belabored in places in the book, but adequately describes the whole story). It was sweet, it was very old-school regency in feel - no overt sex scenes, barely even kisses. The big issue I had with this was the ending. What the heck happened? One moment we're heading nicely towards matrimonial bliss by way of a presumably lovely proposal after a huge denouement...then suddenly we're in bed and already wed. Where was the ...more

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May 03, 2015 Sonia rated it it was ok

Recommends it for: romance, spinster

Shelves: ebooks

Mathilda was about as unlikeable as possible and Thornsby wasn't much better. Mathilda is an unattractive spinster who gives up on marriage since she doesn't believe that she can retain her independence once married. Thornsby is a Duke who needs to marry by 30 to collect on his inheritance. Typical story told in a typical way. What made this awful was that Mathilda was such a shrew and Thornsby was such an idiot. Mathilda looked down her nose at her family - loving them but thinking them ...more

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May 07, 2015 Gail rated it liked it

For the most part, it was a good fun period story- the end got a bit descriptive however. A young lady- who has some brains- and isn't all that into looking good- playing society games-- decides to do something with her money and sets up an orphanage. As she is working, she meets a duke. At first he is obnoxious and yet she starts to grow interested in him. Their plans are thwarted by a conniving woman who tries to stop the progress of their relationship.

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May 15, 2015 Sheila Hatke rated it liked it · review of another edition

An interesting story.

When I first started reading this book I was not sure I would like it, but quickly found myself rooting for the Duke and Matilda. Their first impressions of each other and the ups and downs of their relationship as they found their happily ever after made for a fun read. The Dowager Countess was especially entertaining.

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About Holly Bush

Holly Bush

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“Love always has something to say. Sometimes it shouts from the highest hill, and sometimes it whispers so softly one must listen closely to hear. Do not turn away. It is a rare and precious commodity. Treasure it.” The Gentrys of Paradise

Holly Bush books are set during the turbulent and transformative years of the late 1800’s. The first two books in her newest series, The Gentrys of Paradise, ...more