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The Debutante Dares #1
Daring the Duke
In this Regency romance by Charlie Lane, a London season of scandalous dares forces a lady and her duke to see that perfect isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
A redheaded bluestocking in desperate need of a wealthy husband.
A handsome duke looking for the perfect duchess.
And a dare that shows that opposites may not only attract but can be so much more.
Lady Tabitha Hampton has the memory of an elephant. Her sharp brain locks everything away tight as a trunk in an attic. But this talent fails to help the twenty-seven-year-old bluestocking attract the attention of a single wealthy suitor. And she needs one. With three sisters of marriageable age, a sickly father, and a series of bad investments draining their dowries, Tabitha’s marriage could save or ruin her entire family.
The Duke of Collingford needs a wife, but not just any one will do. Arthur’s future duchess must be perfect in every way—fair of face, impeccable manners, with enough social influence to impact his parliamentary projects. When he joins the whirl of the London season, the duke finds an insufferable, redheaded wallflower instead.
Tabitha insists she can be the perfect duchess, if he’ll only give her the chance. Arthur agrees to test her abilities, but she tests his control. And one taste of her lips is enough to make him embrace chaos.
Opposites may attract, but can they cooperate? Or will they lose everything, including their hearts?
A redheaded bluestocking in desperate need of a wealthy husband.
A handsome duke looking for the perfect duchess.
And a dare that shows that opposites may not only attract but can be so much more.
Lady Tabitha Hampton has the memory of an elephant. Her sharp brain locks everything away tight as a trunk in an attic. But this talent fails to help the twenty-seven-year-old bluestocking attract the attention of a single wealthy suitor. And she needs one. With three sisters of marriageable age, a sickly father, and a series of bad investments draining their dowries, Tabitha’s marriage could save or ruin her entire family.
The Duke of Collingford needs a wife, but not just any one will do. Arthur’s future duchess must be perfect in every way—fair of face, impeccable manners, with enough social influence to impact his parliamentary projects. When he joins the whirl of the London season, the duke finds an insufferable, redheaded wallflower instead.
Tabitha insists she can be the perfect duchess, if he’ll only give her the chance. Arthur agrees to test her abilities, but she tests his control. And one taste of her lips is enough to make him embrace chaos.
Opposites may attract, but can they cooperate? Or will they lose everything, including their hearts?
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2021
892 people are currently reading
697 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Lane
72 books184 followersCharlie writes Regency romance that's lighthearted and hot. Her books have a little bit of angst, a lot of laughs, and a whole lot of heart and heat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
January 14, 2022
Very amusing unusual story
I was very entertained with this story but at like sound 35% it just lagged but then it picked up once again after they married. I loved both the hero and the heroine. She has been introduced to him five times at different events and each time she gave a different name because her friends dared her too. It was a game they played but little did she know he was on to her and he wanted to see her suffer. But he falls in love instead. A very unusual story as the hero is such an alpha hero but is quite honest about his falling for her. At first he wants a perfect Duchess but perfect she is not. But she has a photographic memory so she says I can be perfect and he doesn't believe her. But she is going to memorize the duchess playbook and debrets etc and show him perfection. But he decides to heck with perfection and just ends up loving the heroine as she is. There is a rude uncle and a conniving Grandmother that do not approve and try to separate them but true love ends up prevailing. And honestly she was perfect. She loved him and her friends and there is a bill trying to stop children being chimney sweeps and she stays true to herself. There is humor, sadness and Lots of hijinx and I ended up loving the book. Its safe and free in KU. I have never read this author before but I will definitely read her again. Loved the epilogue so much. It was so funny. I even upped it a star for it.
I was very entertained with this story but at like sound 35% it just lagged but then it picked up once again after they married. I loved both the hero and the heroine. She has been introduced to him five times at different events and each time she gave a different name because her friends dared her too. It was a game they played but little did she know he was on to her and he wanted to see her suffer. But he falls in love instead. A very unusual story as the hero is such an alpha hero but is quite honest about his falling for her. At first he wants a perfect Duchess but perfect she is not. But she has a photographic memory so she says I can be perfect and he doesn't believe her. But she is going to memorize the duchess playbook and debrets etc and show him perfection. But he decides to heck with perfection and just ends up loving the heroine as she is. There is a rude uncle and a conniving Grandmother that do not approve and try to separate them but true love ends up prevailing. And honestly she was perfect. She loved him and her friends and there is a bill trying to stop children being chimney sweeps and she stays true to herself. There is humor, sadness and Lots of hijinx and I ended up loving the book. Its safe and free in KU. I have never read this author before but I will definitely read her again. Loved the epilogue so much. It was so funny. I even upped it a star for it.
September 20, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Wolf Publishing for this arc.
I've not read this author before so I had no real expectations going into this book. I found it to be a pleasant read. The characters were fairly fleshed out, though both Tabitha at 27 years old and Arthur at 30+ years old struck me as rather immature for their age. Neither had any sort of sense of self in social or "professional" settings... Tabitha coped by assuming an expected "role" and Arthur just shoved a bigger stick up his butt. I had a hard time engaging with either one of them...
The plot -- while somewhat contrived (expected in an historical romance) -- was predictable (also expected in an historical romance) seemed to have a few free floating loose ends. ??Uncle Brutus ?? What?
Overall, not a bad read, but not good enough to chase down the author's backlist for me.
2.5 stars
I've not read this author before so I had no real expectations going into this book. I found it to be a pleasant read. The characters were fairly fleshed out, though both Tabitha at 27 years old and Arthur at 30+ years old struck me as rather immature for their age. Neither had any sort of sense of self in social or "professional" settings... Tabitha coped by assuming an expected "role" and Arthur just shoved a bigger stick up his butt. I had a hard time engaging with either one of them...
The plot -- while somewhat contrived (expected in an historical romance) -- was predictable (also expected in an historical romance) seemed to have a few free floating loose ends. ??Uncle Brutus ?? What?
Overall, not a bad read, but not good enough to chase down the author's backlist for me.
2.5 stars
March 1, 2023
Fun, cute, charming.
February 7, 2022
Daring the Duke was just a bit strange. I personally don't like to read about Spinsters!! Heroine of the story Lady Tabitha Hampton the eldest daughter of an Improvised Marquess was not only on the Shelf she was in the Closet too. I think 27 years old is far too old to be called a debutant in her first season. Its neve explained why she missed 8 seasons. Her mother died 8 years ago. The other problem I had was is she a virgin? Her first sexual encounter with the Duke didn't read like she was virgin. The other problem I had was that Authur the Duke of Collingford was controlled by his uncle and his grandmother. Duke are more powerful than Authur was. They had to much power over a Duke. Authur wanted to get Rose Hall and unentailed property that his uncle inherited. So, the uncle demands he marry the perfect lady he picks and Tabitha isn't it. Now Auther and Tabitha must convince the uncle she is perfect, or he will lose Rose Hall his childhood home.
It's just a little bit too much silliness going on in the story for me. The Dare that Tabitha gets is ridiculous. She must get introduced to the Duke 7 times using silly ridiculous names. Are these ladies 5 year olds? She is 27 years old. Not 5 years old.
It's just a little bit too much silliness going on in the story for me. The Dare that Tabitha gets is ridiculous. She must get introduced to the Duke 7 times using silly ridiculous names. Are these ladies 5 year olds? She is 27 years old. Not 5 years old.
November 29, 2021
I wasn't expecting a ton when I picked this one up. I just wanted something to read quickly that would take my mind off things. Sadly, this wasn't the right book for that. Instead of providing escapism, it was just a slog. Not enough tension in the romance, not enough smut, and not enough plot I actually cared about. The characters were bland. This one wasn't bad, it just had a problem with being way too little in every regard.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 8, 2021
My first book by Charlie Lane and I am already eager for more! This story features Lady Tabitha Hampton and Arthur Pennworthy, The Duke of Collingford. Both of them are actively pursuing the marriage mart but for slightly different reasons:
A redheaded bluestocking in desperate need of a wealthy husband.
A handsome duke looking for the perfect duchess.
And a dare that shows that opposites may not only attract but can be so much more.
When a dare between wallflowers leads to the Duke of Collingford taking a second and then third look at the feisty redhead he is surprised to find his perfect Duchess may have been found. Can Tabitha learn to be the duchess Arthur needs? Will Arthur figure out perfection, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder? Will these two end up in a marriage of convenience or is there a chance for a love match?
This is truly a fun opposites-attract, marriage-of-convenience, social-status-be-damned romance. Admiration turns into lust and attraction which then leads to romance and love. I enjoyed every word. I love it when a stuffy male MC falls in love and his entire outlook on life changes — it’s refreshing!
I recommend this story to everyone who enjoys watching a man who doesn’t believe in love … fall in love.
4.5 Stars ⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥
A redheaded bluestocking in desperate need of a wealthy husband.
A handsome duke looking for the perfect duchess.
And a dare that shows that opposites may not only attract but can be so much more.
When a dare between wallflowers leads to the Duke of Collingford taking a second and then third look at the feisty redhead he is surprised to find his perfect Duchess may have been found. Can Tabitha learn to be the duchess Arthur needs? Will Arthur figure out perfection, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder? Will these two end up in a marriage of convenience or is there a chance for a love match?
He’d very rarely in his life found pleasure in the imperfect, but her imperfections—her red hair, her freckles, her passionate defense of others—they called to him.
This is truly a fun opposites-attract, marriage-of-convenience, social-status-be-damned romance. Admiration turns into lust and attraction which then leads to romance and love. I enjoyed every word. I love it when a stuffy male MC falls in love and his entire outlook on life changes — it’s refreshing!
He didn’t have feelings for Tabitha. He loved her. But he wanted to say the words for the first time to the woman who inspired them.
I recommend this story to everyone who enjoys watching a man who doesn’t believe in love … fall in love.
4.5 Stars ⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥
October 4, 2021
I received an advanced reader copy of Daring the Duke in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this opportunity.
I was excited for this first part of a Regency romance trilogy, since this is a genre I really like to indulge in every once in a while.
I very much liked the idea of the story and was excited for a light-hearted romance with lovable, funny characters.
However, there was little to no plot at all and it dragged on forever. Especially the ending was unnecessarily drawn out - Tabitha could just have given the same line to the grandmother five chapters earlier, had there not been the necessity of setting a premise for the second book in the series.
But let’s start from the beginning.
Lady Tabitha is a twenty-seven year old debutante looking for a suitor to ensure her family’s well-being and her sisters’ introduction into society after a failed attempt at increasing the family’s savings has left the marquess virtually poor.
Other than being reprimanded for that mistake over and over by one of her sisters, this whole backstory isn’t important at all to the plot. Tabitha herself is only coming out because of a generous aunt, and that on its own (a wealthy aunt sponsoring a poor but titled family member) would honestly have served the purpose of the book just as well in my opinion.
When Tabitha and her friends Jane and Lillian grow bored of being largely ignored by the other attendees, they give each other dares to make the season more fun. One of them is that Tabitha gives another name whenever she is introduced to the Duke Arthur of Collingford - but he notices and reprimands her.
However, he is in search for a suitable wife as well, and Tabitha insists that she can learn to be a perfect candidate due to her perfect memory.
The Duke must be the most un-interesting love interest I’ve read about in a long time. He had little to no character traits from the start and I could honestly not care less about him. On top of that, the whole obsession with perfection (was there a single page that didn’t have that word printed at least three times?) got old quickly and I wish he had dropped it somewhere around the middle of the book.
As funny as Tabitha was at times, I couldn’t quite warm up to her and her quirkiness. As I said before, the whole backstory wouldn’t have been necessarily for the plot, and its existence just seemed to make Tabitha more of an obnoxious “I’m not like the other girls”-character. It’s aLeo possible to allude to mind palaces and the like without explaining it at several points throughout the book.
It bothered me how childish both Tabitha and Arthur seemed again and again, and how random the walk and all the incidents on it to Rose Hall were. Especially the later certainly didn’t help with how slow of a read the book was for me, no matter how interesting the idea of the plot itself was.
At times I was also a bit lost in the many descriptions, because they served the purpose of showcasing the author’s eloquence better than it helped create a picture of any scenery.
2/5 stars.
I was excited for this first part of a Regency romance trilogy, since this is a genre I really like to indulge in every once in a while.
I very much liked the idea of the story and was excited for a light-hearted romance with lovable, funny characters.
However, there was little to no plot at all and it dragged on forever. Especially the ending was unnecessarily drawn out - Tabitha could just have given the same line to the grandmother five chapters earlier, had there not been the necessity of setting a premise for the second book in the series.
But let’s start from the beginning.
Lady Tabitha is a twenty-seven year old debutante looking for a suitor to ensure her family’s well-being and her sisters’ introduction into society after a failed attempt at increasing the family’s savings has left the marquess virtually poor.
Other than being reprimanded for that mistake over and over by one of her sisters, this whole backstory isn’t important at all to the plot. Tabitha herself is only coming out because of a generous aunt, and that on its own (a wealthy aunt sponsoring a poor but titled family member) would honestly have served the purpose of the book just as well in my opinion.
When Tabitha and her friends Jane and Lillian grow bored of being largely ignored by the other attendees, they give each other dares to make the season more fun. One of them is that Tabitha gives another name whenever she is introduced to the Duke Arthur of Collingford - but he notices and reprimands her.
However, he is in search for a suitable wife as well, and Tabitha insists that she can learn to be a perfect candidate due to her perfect memory.
The Duke must be the most un-interesting love interest I’ve read about in a long time. He had little to no character traits from the start and I could honestly not care less about him. On top of that, the whole obsession with perfection (was there a single page that didn’t have that word printed at least three times?) got old quickly and I wish he had dropped it somewhere around the middle of the book.
As funny as Tabitha was at times, I couldn’t quite warm up to her and her quirkiness. As I said before, the whole backstory wouldn’t have been necessarily for the plot, and its existence just seemed to make Tabitha more of an obnoxious “I’m not like the other girls”-character. It’s aLeo possible to allude to mind palaces and the like without explaining it at several points throughout the book.
It bothered me how childish both Tabitha and Arthur seemed again and again, and how random the walk and all the incidents on it to Rose Hall were. Especially the later certainly didn’t help with how slow of a read the book was for me, no matter how interesting the idea of the plot itself was.
At times I was also a bit lost in the many descriptions, because they served the purpose of showcasing the author’s eloquence better than it helped create a picture of any scenery.
2/5 stars.
March 14, 2022
Daring the Duke follows Lady Tabitha Hampton and Arthur Pennworthy, The Duke of Collingford, who find love when they least expect it. A twenty-seven-year-old debutante with a photographic memory, Tabitha must marry to help her family financially and ensure her sisters marry well. Arthur needs to marry the perfect woman to gain his inheritance. When they make an arrangement where Tabitha can prove she is the perfect wife, neither expects to fall in love. Could this potential marriage of convenience lead to something more?
Tabitha and Arthur have a great opposites-attract romance, and I love how their relationship grows over the course of the story. Tabitha and her friends Jane and Lillian pull pranks on their peers, and Arthur is one of the few who doesn’t fall for them. Cool and composed, Arthur insists on a “perfect” wife who plays by the rules of elite society and will meet the strict standards put forth by his family. Far from perfect, Tabitha is one to break the rules. This couple is so different, yet they complement each other well. They have great chemistry, and I really like how they banter with each other. It’s fun and clever and filled with sexual tension. Whether they’re bickering, teasing, or talking, you can tell there’s a spark between the two.
Both characters grow and learn a lot throughout the story, as each becomes more vulnerable and willing to take risks with their hearts. I enjoyed their personal journeys as much as their journey as a couple. I also liked a lot of the secondary characters. They are interesting and dynamic, and I am curious to learn more about them. I can’t wait to read their stories, especially Jane, Lillian, and Arthur’s brother.
This is a fun and entertaining historical romance, and I really liked the characters and the messages about friendship, love, and taking chances. It’s a great start to Charlie Lanes Debutante Dares series, and I’m eager to read the next one!
Tabitha and Arthur have a great opposites-attract romance, and I love how their relationship grows over the course of the story. Tabitha and her friends Jane and Lillian pull pranks on their peers, and Arthur is one of the few who doesn’t fall for them. Cool and composed, Arthur insists on a “perfect” wife who plays by the rules of elite society and will meet the strict standards put forth by his family. Far from perfect, Tabitha is one to break the rules. This couple is so different, yet they complement each other well. They have great chemistry, and I really like how they banter with each other. It’s fun and clever and filled with sexual tension. Whether they’re bickering, teasing, or talking, you can tell there’s a spark between the two.
Both characters grow and learn a lot throughout the story, as each becomes more vulnerable and willing to take risks with their hearts. I enjoyed their personal journeys as much as their journey as a couple. I also liked a lot of the secondary characters. They are interesting and dynamic, and I am curious to learn more about them. I can’t wait to read their stories, especially Jane, Lillian, and Arthur’s brother.
This is a fun and entertaining historical romance, and I really liked the characters and the messages about friendship, love, and taking chances. It’s a great start to Charlie Lanes Debutante Dares series, and I’m eager to read the next one!
October 18, 2021
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*
I started this reading without any pretensions and I fell in love with it.
The author's writing is wonderful and enjoyable to read.
Our main couple is completely passionate and captivating.
I really enjoyed following their story, I liked how the author didn't put unnecessary plots in the story, and how fluid it was to read.
This is a book that I had a great reading experience.
I also enjoyed all the discussion about perfection that this book brings, I felt represented at various times in the story by the way they felt.
I liked all the characters so much that I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series. It's not my favorite period romance or one of the best but it's an incredibly nice read to make.
Ps: the only thing I didn't like is how the cover model looks nothing like the main character!
I started this reading without any pretensions and I fell in love with it.
The author's writing is wonderful and enjoyable to read.
Our main couple is completely passionate and captivating.
I really enjoyed following their story, I liked how the author didn't put unnecessary plots in the story, and how fluid it was to read.
This is a book that I had a great reading experience.
I also enjoyed all the discussion about perfection that this book brings, I felt represented at various times in the story by the way they felt.
I liked all the characters so much that I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series. It's not my favorite period romance or one of the best but it's an incredibly nice read to make.
Ps: the only thing I didn't like is how the cover model looks nothing like the main character!
July 14, 2025
I really don't like leaving bad reviews and usually I put nothing and move on but sometimes you just have to. I read Charlie Lane's London Secret series at the beginning of this year and really enjoyed the first 3 books. Book 4 was a complete disappointment. Almost like a totally different writer. I almost sent it back but stuck it out. Made me double check to make sure she wasn't one of those fake authors you hear about.
I was really looking forward to this new series and was hoping she would get back on track with her good writing. Again, totally disappointed. Just strangely written. The storyline made no sense. I've read hundreds and hundreds of books about the ton and this one was just ridiculous. All the characters were just ludicrous with their approach on being a duchess. It was just so weird. I didn't feel anything for the characters. No depth to them. Just blah. I just felt nothing reading this.
I was really looking forward to this new series and was hoping she would get back on track with her good writing. Again, totally disappointed. Just strangely written. The storyline made no sense. I've read hundreds and hundreds of books about the ton and this one was just ridiculous. All the characters were just ludicrous with their approach on being a duchess. It was just so weird. I didn't feel anything for the characters. No depth to them. Just blah. I just felt nothing reading this.
October 30, 2021
In Spectacular Fashion💘!
ADULT Historical Recency Romance 💕and Adventure
Daring to do the Duchess Test. She's so worthy in the eye of the beholder.
Lady Tabitha 💃💋and her friends dare each other to do silly things all the time.
On a dare, Tabitha 💃💋has different people introduce her to the handsome Duke of Collingford🐺🍆⛲ quite a few times at different balls, but she uses a different name each time. She believes the Duke 🐺🍆⛲will never remember her. Wrong.
Tabitha💃💋 also has a mathematically inclined photographic memory, where she sees everything in a room or place and can recall exactly how many doors, windows, candles, chairs, people, etc are there.
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook from Amazon 📚with KU.
This is a fun and often humorous ADULT novel that I enjoyed very much.
ADULT Historical Recency Romance 💕and Adventure
Daring to do the Duchess Test. She's so worthy in the eye of the beholder.
Lady Tabitha 💃💋and her friends dare each other to do silly things all the time.
On a dare, Tabitha 💃💋has different people introduce her to the handsome Duke of Collingford🐺🍆⛲ quite a few times at different balls, but she uses a different name each time. She believes the Duke 🐺🍆⛲will never remember her. Wrong.
Tabitha💃💋 also has a mathematically inclined photographic memory, where she sees everything in a room or place and can recall exactly how many doors, windows, candles, chairs, people, etc are there.
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook from Amazon 📚with KU.
This is a fun and often humorous ADULT novel that I enjoyed very much.
November 6, 2021
“Daring the duke” is a fantastic love story full of passion, political issues, and unshakable loyalty.
Read full review in the 2021 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
April 28, 2022
Kinda bland.
The plot with Rose Hall didn't make much sense and there was a lack of tension between the main couple in the second half of the book 🤷🏻♀️
The plot with Rose Hall didn't make much sense and there was a lack of tension between the main couple in the second half of the book 🤷🏻♀️
January 21, 2023
Didn't want to put it down
I had been in a slump and this turned out to be just the charming story to lift me out of it. Quality writing with sharp wit, fun banter, and excellent chemistry. I just adore a stuffy hero who unbends and a smart but quirky heroine who comes into her own. Lots of fun; both sweet and a little spicy 🔥🔥
I look forward to the rest of the series.
I had been in a slump and this turned out to be just the charming story to lift me out of it. Quality writing with sharp wit, fun banter, and excellent chemistry. I just adore a stuffy hero who unbends and a smart but quirky heroine who comes into her own. Lots of fun; both sweet and a little spicy 🔥🔥
I look forward to the rest of the series.
February 1, 2022
This was a 3.5 but I raised it to 4 due to the characters. Story was a bit off and on for me. I didn't really feel a true chemistry between Tabitha and Arthur. There was some humor regarding some of the dares. Story was slow in parts. I would try the second book though.
December 19, 2021
This was my first book by this author. It took me a few days to read as it didn't keep my attention. The MC's were both kind of boring. Arthur is your typical stick up your ass Duke and Tabitha is a 27 year old spinster first season debutante?? She must marry well to save her impoverished family. He must marry the perfect Duchess to gain a property. It started kind of enemies-to-lovers but really wasn't. I didn't feel that much enmity from the Duke towards Tabitha. Stuff happens and there is an HEA. I didn't connect to either character and probably won't continue the series.
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
August 31, 2022
I had trouble investing in this book. I'm not sure if it was the story itself or just that I am in a bit of a slump. I just found the characters awkward and the story boring. It took a long time for me to get into the book and by then I'd kinda lost interest. I just didn't feel the connection between Tabitha and the Duke. I've read other books with a similar premise that I enjoyed more.
October 18, 2021
A beautifully written love story with utterly perfect imperfections.
May 16, 2022
Among the fun with the ton. Tabetha and Arthur pursue a intimate relationship that blooms into something beautiful. The romance was very sweet and sentimental. As soon as I started reading the book I noticed that the words moved so easily., therefore, I new that this was going to be a fun book to read. I found the characters fun and enjoyable. Tabitha gal pals most definitely were the sunshine in her life. Arthur, brings entertainment to the book that helped keep the pages turning.
January 6, 2022
X rated
Not what I was led to believe. Sadly, this is not a clean read. The story had promise until the middle of the book when lust took over what had promised to be an intelligent and clever love story. I could not finish.
Not what I was led to believe. Sadly, this is not a clean read. The story had promise until the middle of the book when lust took over what had promised to be an intelligent and clever love story. I could not finish.
June 22, 2023
3/5
RTC
RTC
September 23, 2023
Cute historical romance. Try if you like Julia Quinn. Didn’t love the narrator but that could be a personal preference.
September 25, 2021
3 1/2 stars overall. This is the first in a new series by Charlie Lane. I'm a fan of her brand of quirky Regency romance humor. She typically creates absurd, laugh-out-loud scenes, and the first few chapters introduce this awkwardly outspoken heroine with the photographic memory, Tabitha, with amusing aplomb. The starchy duke, Arthur, is a bit of a cold fish to start off, and I didn't really warm up to him until after the halfway mark. The duke's brother, Devon (who will be featured in the next entry in the series) is more likable. But the love scenes are well-written and Arthur does come to life as the plot progresses.
Around the second quarter of the book through the middle chapters, the tone is more serious than in some of this author's previous books, particularly when Arthur's almost neurotic need to be perfect and Tabitha's frequent belittling of herself drag down the proceedings. It's not helped that the reader doesn't have a full perspective on H or h. One of Tabitha's younger sisters had an irritating habit of making disparaging comments about investments that Tabitha had risked the year before to save their family, which unfortunately led to financial losses and the necessity for Tabitha to marry well. This situation begged for more details, as Tabitha was ostensibly shouldering the blame for a swindler's actions. What exactly happened? So many implications are never discussed.
Also, there was a traumatic experience in Tabitha's past that established her obsession with memorizing details. I felt that an earlier reveal of this, perhaps in the form of flashbacks, would have led to deeper character development. Arthur too had an unfortunate childhood that could have been explored to make him more dimensional. It was almost as if the author didn't trust herself to dig below the surface.
There is a ridiculous character introduced later in the book that doesn't fit at all in the time/place and only seems to exist for comic relief. This scene is (fortunately) brief, but bewildering. Uncle Brutus is an unpleasant figure looming over Arthur the first 3/4 of the book who just seems to disappear, with the H's weirdly mercurial grandmother taking the uncle's place. She seems like an intractable dragon lady, then does a 180 without further ado.
Hang in there, because the end of the book is charming, with a sweet epilogue that did have me looking forward to the next entry in the series. I still like this author, and hope the book that follows irons out the necessary details and that Devon and Jane are characters to root for.
Note: this is not a "sweet and clean" romance. It does contain steamy scenes and post-marital sex. Language is PG-rated.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Around the second quarter of the book through the middle chapters, the tone is more serious than in some of this author's previous books, particularly when Arthur's almost neurotic need to be perfect and Tabitha's frequent belittling of herself drag down the proceedings. It's not helped that the reader doesn't have a full perspective on H or h. One of Tabitha's younger sisters had an irritating habit of making disparaging comments about investments that Tabitha had risked the year before to save their family, which unfortunately led to financial losses and the necessity for Tabitha to marry well. This situation begged for more details, as Tabitha was ostensibly shouldering the blame for a swindler's actions. What exactly happened? So many implications are never discussed.
Also, there was a traumatic experience in Tabitha's past that established her obsession with memorizing details. I felt that an earlier reveal of this, perhaps in the form of flashbacks, would have led to deeper character development. Arthur too had an unfortunate childhood that could have been explored to make him more dimensional. It was almost as if the author didn't trust herself to dig below the surface.
There is a ridiculous character introduced later in the book that doesn't fit at all in the time/place and only seems to exist for comic relief. This scene is (fortunately) brief, but bewildering. Uncle Brutus is an unpleasant figure looming over Arthur the first 3/4 of the book who just seems to disappear, with the H's weirdly mercurial grandmother taking the uncle's place. She seems like an intractable dragon lady, then does a 180 without further ado.
Hang in there, because the end of the book is charming, with a sweet epilogue that did have me looking forward to the next entry in the series. I still like this author, and hope the book that follows irons out the necessary details and that Devon and Jane are characters to root for.
Note: this is not a "sweet and clean" romance. It does contain steamy scenes and post-marital sex. Language is PG-rated.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 16, 2021
Daring the Duke is the first of a series by Charlie Lane. It's a cute story that drags at times, though it also provides some unexpected laugh-out-loud moments. The premise was a little unclear however, and I never quite figured out what the main conflict was.
Basically, it's a story of a nearly-on-the-shelf (and nearly destitute) wallflower who grabs the attention of a handsome duke. At first that attention is negative. Arthur is angry over a game Tabitha plays (based on a boredom-inspired dare) where she introduces herself by different, increasingly silly names every time they meet. However, he is as intrigued as he is infuriated, and soon the two find themselves courting. Arthur needs to find a wife his family approves of in order to inherit his childhood estate, and Tabitha needs to marry money in order to save her family and support her three sisters.
Tabitha is far from perfect duchess material, but she does possess a photographic memory. She convinces Arthur that this skill will enable her to memorize all the important things a perfect duchess needs to know. The two set out to prove to Arthur's family that she is The Duchess, but increasingly, Arthur finds himself yearning for the real Tabitha underneath the facade.
So I guess the premise is about what perfection really means to different people. However, this lovely concept is frequently muddied by plot points that don't seem to pan out. The concept of the dares risking Tabitha's reputation seems a little overplayed, and the threat of Arthur's uncle disapproving of Tabitha never really gains traction. There are parts that I thought alluded to Tabitha's family's financial situation maybe not being all that it seems, but nothing happens there either, and I was incorrectly certain there was something off about the state of Arthur's beloved country estate. Tabitha's relationship with her sisters is also unclear; sometimes it seems as if they're close but then others seem very much the opposite. It's like there's more to the story then we're privvy to. It's as if the book comes later in a series, and we should know more about the characters than we do.
More books are coming soon to the series, and perhaps some of these threads will be picked up.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
Basically, it's a story of a nearly-on-the-shelf (and nearly destitute) wallflower who grabs the attention of a handsome duke. At first that attention is negative. Arthur is angry over a game Tabitha plays (based on a boredom-inspired dare) where she introduces herself by different, increasingly silly names every time they meet. However, he is as intrigued as he is infuriated, and soon the two find themselves courting. Arthur needs to find a wife his family approves of in order to inherit his childhood estate, and Tabitha needs to marry money in order to save her family and support her three sisters.
Tabitha is far from perfect duchess material, but she does possess a photographic memory. She convinces Arthur that this skill will enable her to memorize all the important things a perfect duchess needs to know. The two set out to prove to Arthur's family that she is The Duchess, but increasingly, Arthur finds himself yearning for the real Tabitha underneath the facade.
So I guess the premise is about what perfection really means to different people. However, this lovely concept is frequently muddied by plot points that don't seem to pan out. The concept of the dares risking Tabitha's reputation seems a little overplayed, and the threat of Arthur's uncle disapproving of Tabitha never really gains traction. There are parts that I thought alluded to Tabitha's family's financial situation maybe not being all that it seems, but nothing happens there either, and I was incorrectly certain there was something off about the state of Arthur's beloved country estate. Tabitha's relationship with her sisters is also unclear; sometimes it seems as if they're close but then others seem very much the opposite. It's like there's more to the story then we're privvy to. It's as if the book comes later in a series, and we should know more about the characters than we do.
More books are coming soon to the series, and perhaps some of these threads will be picked up.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
October 31, 2021
A Perfectly Imperfect Love
"Together, they strode down the hall, the perfect duke and duchess--unflappable, unimpeachable, and untouchable, even for each other."
The theme of perfection is deftly woven into Daring the Duke as the heroine, Tabitha Hampton, is positioned to clash imperfectly with the handsome but rigid Duke of Collingford who is seeking perfection in a mate. From the start, the idea of a man seeking perfection in a woman is likely to get a reader's back up--even though it must be admitted that the duke strives for perfection in all things, including himself. Furthermore, the duke's quest for perfection is tied into deep-seated anxieties relating to his own worth as a son, a nephew, and the upcoming head of his noble family.
While the novel begins as an enemies-to-lovers story, the primary conflict of the story is between the newlywed couple Tabitha and Arthur and the groom's family, particularly his exceedingly dislikeable uncle and unexpectedly vicious grandmother. The crux of the conflict hinges on a plot point that requires a suspension of historical disbelief--and this was my one qualm.
But other than that, the way in which Daring the Duke explores the extreme vulnerability between two people in a new relationship was unique, fascinating, and felt truly authentic. The fact that the couple marries midway through the novel was also a nice change, for they must decide whether or not to face trouble together as a united pair or to allow themselves to be pulled apart just as they are finally starting to truly come to know one another and to love the person they find, imperfections and all. I enjoyed how Arthur really evolved as a hero, becoming a passionate and loyal husband, and refusing to allow his own stubbornness and anxieties to keep him from supporting his wife.
Charlie Lane has a beautiful style of writing that will leave you admiring lines such as "They curtsied, sinking together like a single flower landing on the surface of a pond." Jane Crenshaw and Lillian Clarke, along with the duke's younger brother, Devon, add charm and wit to the plot. Looking forward to seeing their stories explored in future books in the series!
"Together, they strode down the hall, the perfect duke and duchess--unflappable, unimpeachable, and untouchable, even for each other."
The theme of perfection is deftly woven into Daring the Duke as the heroine, Tabitha Hampton, is positioned to clash imperfectly with the handsome but rigid Duke of Collingford who is seeking perfection in a mate. From the start, the idea of a man seeking perfection in a woman is likely to get a reader's back up--even though it must be admitted that the duke strives for perfection in all things, including himself. Furthermore, the duke's quest for perfection is tied into deep-seated anxieties relating to his own worth as a son, a nephew, and the upcoming head of his noble family.
While the novel begins as an enemies-to-lovers story, the primary conflict of the story is between the newlywed couple Tabitha and Arthur and the groom's family, particularly his exceedingly dislikeable uncle and unexpectedly vicious grandmother. The crux of the conflict hinges on a plot point that requires a suspension of historical disbelief--and this was my one qualm.
But other than that, the way in which Daring the Duke explores the extreme vulnerability between two people in a new relationship was unique, fascinating, and felt truly authentic. The fact that the couple marries midway through the novel was also a nice change, for they must decide whether or not to face trouble together as a united pair or to allow themselves to be pulled apart just as they are finally starting to truly come to know one another and to love the person they find, imperfections and all. I enjoyed how Arthur really evolved as a hero, becoming a passionate and loyal husband, and refusing to allow his own stubbornness and anxieties to keep him from supporting his wife.
Charlie Lane has a beautiful style of writing that will leave you admiring lines such as "They curtsied, sinking together like a single flower landing on the surface of a pond." Jane Crenshaw and Lillian Clarke, along with the duke's younger brother, Devon, add charm and wit to the plot. Looking forward to seeing their stories explored in future books in the series!
October 21, 2021
What do you get when you mix a rambunctious Lady who never forgets and a stodgy, somewhat boring duke who strives for perfection? Daring the Duke is the first book in The Debutante Dares series. It started out quite enjoyable. I love the idea of Wallflowers daring each other to do outrageous and scandalous things in ballrooms during the season. So it started out cute and funny, but never really maintained the momentum.
Lady Tabitha Hampton, with the "horrid" red hair, made some bad investments and must marry well in order to restore her family name and ensure her sisters can marry well. Arthur the Duke of Collingford, needs to find the perfect wife, in looks and temperament, so that he can inherit his beloved country estate.
After the initial introduction, the plot was very slow moving, and I think this would have better suited a novella. Arthur was very superficial and boring. Even though we're supposed to see his "growth" as a person, it happens so fast that we really don't know what makes him tick aside from his quest for perfection. Tabitha has a photographic memory, and there was one scene where Arthur whines and pouts because he can't remember all the possessions in all his houses. Poor, poor Arthur.
I liked the epilogue, because we were back to the humor that made the beginning so enjoyable.
My favorite moments were with Arthur's carefree brother Devon and Tabitha's friends. I'll pick up the next books in the series just to see what happens to them.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
Lady Tabitha Hampton, with the "horrid" red hair, made some bad investments and must marry well in order to restore her family name and ensure her sisters can marry well. Arthur the Duke of Collingford, needs to find the perfect wife, in looks and temperament, so that he can inherit his beloved country estate.
After the initial introduction, the plot was very slow moving, and I think this would have better suited a novella. Arthur was very superficial and boring. Even though we're supposed to see his "growth" as a person, it happens so fast that we really don't know what makes him tick aside from his quest for perfection. Tabitha has a photographic memory, and there was one scene where Arthur whines and pouts because he can't remember all the possessions in all his houses. Poor, poor Arthur.
I liked the epilogue, because we were back to the humor that made the beginning so enjoyable.
My favorite moments were with Arthur's carefree brother Devon and Tabitha's friends. I'll pick up the next books in the series just to see what happens to them.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
November 25, 2021
I really liked this romance between Lady Tabitha Hampton the daughter of a marquess and the Lord of Collingford, Duke Arthur Penworthy.
They are so sweet and funny and awkward together and you can’t help but feel for them in their struggle to become perfect in the tons and some of his family’s eyes.
I was just so angry with his uncle Brutus and his Grandmother for creating so many obstacles in their way and the way they treated her and spoke to her was abominable.
Luckily she was a strong and feisty woman who by the end thought sod it if they don’t like me for me then they would have to live with it because she wouldn’t change herself more than she already had for them. And Arthur would give up everything even Rose Hall ,which he always dreamed of and saw as their dream home, to be with her. Now that is what I call LOVE.
I loved their meet cutes which was build on a dare that her two best friends set for her. I laughed out loud when I read it.
Lady Tabitha is a Wallflower together with her two friends Lady Jane and miss Lillian and since they are not noticeable at the balls they start daring each other to do things that if noticed would cause a huge scandal and ruination. But what happens when Arthur sees through her dare and confronts her and will he take up her dare of making her into the perfect duchess so he can inherit Rose Hall his childhood and Dream home?
There is a couple of steamy scenes but most are fade to black.
I can definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
They are so sweet and funny and awkward together and you can’t help but feel for them in their struggle to become perfect in the tons and some of his family’s eyes.
I was just so angry with his uncle Brutus and his Grandmother for creating so many obstacles in their way and the way they treated her and spoke to her was abominable.
Luckily she was a strong and feisty woman who by the end thought sod it if they don’t like me for me then they would have to live with it because she wouldn’t change herself more than she already had for them. And Arthur would give up everything even Rose Hall ,which he always dreamed of and saw as their dream home, to be with her. Now that is what I call LOVE.
I loved their meet cutes which was build on a dare that her two best friends set for her. I laughed out loud when I read it.
Lady Tabitha is a Wallflower together with her two friends Lady Jane and miss Lillian and since they are not noticeable at the balls they start daring each other to do things that if noticed would cause a huge scandal and ruination. But what happens when Arthur sees through her dare and confronts her and will he take up her dare of making her into the perfect duchess so he can inherit Rose Hall his childhood and Dream home?
There is a couple of steamy scenes but most are fade to black.
I can definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 19, 2021
This is a new author for me and a really good one. This book is amazing!
Lady Tabitha Hampton has the memory of an elephant, but this talent fails to help the twenty-seven-year-old bluestocking attract the attention of a single wealthy suitor. And she needs one. With three sisters of marriageable age, a sickly father, and a series of bad investments draining their dowries, Tabitha’s marriage could save or ruin her entire family.
The Duke of Collingford needs a wife, but not just any one will do. Arthur’s future duchess must be perfect in every way—fair of face, impeccable manners, with enough social influence to impact his parliamentary projects. When he joins the whirl of the London season, the duke finds an insufferable, redheaded wallflower instead.
Tabitha insists she can be the perfect duchess, if he’ll only give her the chance. Arthur agrees to test her abilities, but she tests his control. And one taste of her lips is enough to make him embrace chaos. Opposites may attract, but can they cooperate? Or will they lose everything, including their hearts?
Oh, these two! They are so good together! I loved both main characters. They are well developed and enjoyable. There’s so much to see in Arthur. He surprised me in a really good way. And Tabitha is smart and funny.
The dialogs are something out of this world: funny, witty, emotional, sexy. There’s a lot of kissing and sexy times in this story and that’s always a must! I highly recommend this story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lady Tabitha Hampton has the memory of an elephant, but this talent fails to help the twenty-seven-year-old bluestocking attract the attention of a single wealthy suitor. And she needs one. With three sisters of marriageable age, a sickly father, and a series of bad investments draining their dowries, Tabitha’s marriage could save or ruin her entire family.
The Duke of Collingford needs a wife, but not just any one will do. Arthur’s future duchess must be perfect in every way—fair of face, impeccable manners, with enough social influence to impact his parliamentary projects. When he joins the whirl of the London season, the duke finds an insufferable, redheaded wallflower instead.
Tabitha insists she can be the perfect duchess, if he’ll only give her the chance. Arthur agrees to test her abilities, but she tests his control. And one taste of her lips is enough to make him embrace chaos. Opposites may attract, but can they cooperate? Or will they lose everything, including their hearts?
Oh, these two! They are so good together! I loved both main characters. They are well developed and enjoyable. There’s so much to see in Arthur. He surprised me in a really good way. And Tabitha is smart and funny.
The dialogs are something out of this world: funny, witty, emotional, sexy. There’s a lot of kissing and sexy times in this story and that’s always a must! I highly recommend this story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 6, 2021
Tabitha has an incredible memory, and some of those memories she would rather forget, like when she made a bad investment with her family's savings and lost it all. Arthur is in need of a duchess and Tabitha has caught his eye. After all, she's been introduced to him multiple times under different names, something that is a little beyond the pale in the Ton. Unfortunately,. he needs to find the perfect duchess in order to finally inherit his childhood home in the country and the rules of his inheritance are strict! However, when he does confront her about her about her deception, she makes a counter proposal. She will act as his duchess to be, which will allow her a position to take care of her family's needs. Naturally, Arthur is skeptical. How is this daring bluestocking supposed to become a demure duchess overnight?
To Arthur's surprise, she's actually pretty good at. To his further surprise--and hers--this ruse begins to become less of a ruse as they begin to lose their hearts against the better judgement of their heads!
This book was really good. I finished in in two nights while on vacation and it was a totally different take on Ton life than I'm used to. I loved the characters and their families. I look forward to further adventures in Lane's take on the Ton. It was sweet, fiery, and funny, and that's everything you want in a light-hearted historical romance read!
To Arthur's surprise, she's actually pretty good at. To his further surprise--and hers--this ruse begins to become less of a ruse as they begin to lose their hearts against the better judgement of their heads!
This book was really good. I finished in in two nights while on vacation and it was a totally different take on Ton life than I'm used to. I loved the characters and their families. I look forward to further adventures in Lane's take on the Ton. It was sweet, fiery, and funny, and that's everything you want in a light-hearted historical romance read!
October 27, 2021
A redheaded bluestocking in desperate need of a wealthy husband. A handsome duke looking for the perfect duchess.
Lady Tabitha Hampton has the memory of an elephant. Her sharp brain locks everything away tight as a trunk in an attic. But this talent fails to help the twenty-seven-year-old bluestocking attract the attention of a single wealthy suitor. And she needs one. With three sisters of marriageable age, a sickly father, and a series of bad investments draining their dowries, Tabitha’s marriage could save or ruin her entire family. The Duke of Collingford needs a wife, but not just any one will do. Arthur’s future duchess must be perfect in every way fair of face, impeccable manners, with enough social influence to impact his parliamentary projects. When he joins the whirl of the London season, the duke finds an insufferable, redheaded wallflower instead.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked both Tabitha & Arthur & became invested in their journey to a HEA. My only quibble was that the pace was uneven & very slow in places. I loved opposites attract plus Tabitha has a photographic memory, which added to my enjoyment. I also loved how Arthur’s true character gradually emerged. I look forward to reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Lady Tabitha Hampton has the memory of an elephant. Her sharp brain locks everything away tight as a trunk in an attic. But this talent fails to help the twenty-seven-year-old bluestocking attract the attention of a single wealthy suitor. And she needs one. With three sisters of marriageable age, a sickly father, and a series of bad investments draining their dowries, Tabitha’s marriage could save or ruin her entire family. The Duke of Collingford needs a wife, but not just any one will do. Arthur’s future duchess must be perfect in every way fair of face, impeccable manners, with enough social influence to impact his parliamentary projects. When he joins the whirl of the London season, the duke finds an insufferable, redheaded wallflower instead.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked both Tabitha & Arthur & became invested in their journey to a HEA. My only quibble was that the pace was uneven & very slow in places. I loved opposites attract plus Tabitha has a photographic memory, which added to my enjoyment. I also loved how Arthur’s true character gradually emerged. I look forward to reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
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