The Debutante's Dilemma

by Elyse Mady

One woman in search of passionMiss Cecilia Hastings has achieved what every young lady hopes for during her first London season...in duplicate! She's caught the eye of not one but two of England's most eligible bachelors. Both Jeremy Battersley, Earl of Henley, and Richard Huxley, Duke of Wexford, are handsome, wealthy and kind, the epitome of proper gentlemen. But Cecilia doesn't want proper, she wants passion. So she issues a challenge to her a kiss, so that she may choose between them.Two men in love with the same womanFriends since childhood, and compatriots on the battlefields of Spain, Jeremy and Richard have found that falling for the same woman has set them at odds and risks destroying their friendship forever. But a surprising invitation to a late-night garden tryst soon sets them on a course that neither of them could have anticipated. And these gentlemen quickly discover that love can take many forms...22,000 words

Genres: Historical, Historical Romance, Romance, Menage, Erotica, Ebooks, Erotic Romance

70 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

An enthusiastic and voracious reader of everything from 18th century novels to misplaced cereal boxes, Elyse has worked as a freelance magazine writer for the past several years.

Her first work of fiction, The Debutante’s Dilemma, was published by Carina Press in the fall of 2010. Her first contemporary romance, "Learning Curves" was published in June, 2011

In addition to her writing commitments, Elyse also teaches film and literature at a local community college. In her free time she enjoys (well, enjoys might be too strong a word – perhaps pursues with dogged determination would be better) never ending renovations on their century cottage with her intrepid husband and two boys.

With her excellent writerly imagination, she one day dreams of topping the NY Times Bestseller’s List and reclaiming her pre-kid body without the bother of either sit-ups or the denunciation of ice-cream.

Reviews

[MrsJoseph *grouchy* · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://bookslifewine.com/r-the-debuta...

This was a rather adorable erotic romance that I was greatly surprised to really enjoy.

I picked up a copy of The Debutante's Dilemma in 2011 when it was being offered as a free download by Carina Press. I have to admit...the cover really drew me in: it's gorgeous and so romantic. I ran into my first roadblock when I opened the short and realized it was a love triangle story. Ugh. I hate love triangles with a passion that cannot be denied so I immediately closed the book and put it on the back-burner.

I didn't give The Debutante's Dilemma another thought until a friend of mine read and reviewed it recently. She told me it was sweet and nothing like I expected. I got excited and decided to read it asap. And I did. And she was right - The Debutante's Dilemma is nothing like I expected...I was lead astray by the interior summery.


Read the rest here: http://bookslifewine.com/r-the-debuta...

[Riverina Romantics · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews check out: www.riverinaromantics.blogspot.com

The description caught me straight away - A debutante that is caught between wanting two men – who in return want her back.

The first thing I noticed about this book was the amount of detail that went into the historical style of writing. It was constant and full on and frankly I was blown away at the amount of detail for a first time author – Elyse Mady truly did a fantastic job, but for someone that doesn’t read a huge amount of historical it did become a bit too much for me. I found myself having to really concentrate cause frankly I ain’t that smart and was a little daunted by a lot of words that I’m not familiar with.

I loved that Cecilia was willing to give up marriage proposals from two sexy, rich men because she wanted a marriage filled with passion and the way she resolved the issue was extremely sexy.

You naughty, naughty minx Cecilia!!

However I finished this book feeling like all the loose ends weren’t tied up and in my opinion it ended a little too abruptly. How did they make the final decisions regarding their relationship?

I don’t want to ask any more questions because it will give away the ending – but I felt that the ending was completely out of the ordinary especially for that era and that it needed a little more explanation. But it was a very good read and a terrific debut novel from Elyse Mady!!

[Heather in FL · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, wow... who knew those proper "Ton" folks could be so freaky deaky?

At first, I wasn't sure I would make it through this story. The language is very much how they used to speak: proper and flowery and such. Eventually I got used to it, and it added to the "ambiance" of the story.

So this was the story of debutante Cecelia. It's her first Season, and she's in high demand. She's caught the eye of both a Duke and an Earl, who have both asked her father for her hand, but she wants to marry for love and passion. The way courting took place then, everyone was on their best behavior, and while Cecelia knew the Earl and Duke were interested in marriage, she couldn't tell if they were interested in her as a person or as a showpiece. These men have been best friends for years and were introduced to Cecelia separately. Each fell in love with her on sight, not realizing his best friend felt the same way about the same person. Once they discovered their shared interest, it caused a rift, but then they each decided to make an effort to keep their friendship, no matter who Cecelia chose. They decided they didn't want to lose both their love and their best friend in one fell swoop.

Since neither man had made any "improper" advances toward her, she hatched a plan to meet with each man and have him kiss her to see if there was any type of spark. She wanted to be sure it wasn't going to be the traditional marriage of the time where an heir and a spare is conceived and then the husband and wife have separate wings and lovers and such for the rest of their lives. So she sends letters to each of her suitors, but she never could have guessed they'd receive and read their notes while they were together. Intrigued, they both show up to the meeting place at the same time, and things get pretty freaky from there. It went WAY beyond kissing, lol. And Cecelia still can't make up her mind. It all turned out really well for the three of them. Unconventional, sure, but they were able to structure their relationship so it was acceptable in public and just what they wanted in private. Lucky girl, lol.

[Mary Gramlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a woman have two many men in her life?

Miss Cecilia Hastings is a striking beauty and the toast of the ton with not one but two handsome and eligible bachelors asking for her hand. These are not just any men mind you trying to obtain her favor these two men are the best of friends and have been since their first adventure after moving from the cradle to the adventure. Cecilia is envied and criticized by her peers and for making these two men choose between her and their friendship.

What Cecilia wants more than just a match is a marriage of passion and nightly yearns and cold nights filled with lust. Is it possible to have all that from just one man? Cecilia wants to make sure she choose the right man and the only way to confirm that the decision she is making is the right one is to “test the waters” so to speak. Secret rendezvous arranged, potential husband shows up, Cecilia is ready to – wait a minute both men are here how did that happen? What shall she do now that she is confronted with a decision yet both questions have been asked at the same time? My, my, my whatever shall she do?

When you are sure you see the direction this book is taking, guess what you get smacked right in the head with a new idea and one so outrageous it is believable only because it is well written. Anyone can have an idea it is how you execute that makes the difference to the reader and Ms. Mady really knows about the element of surprise and how to write Regency with a kick!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those short, sweet little stories that dives right into the issues at hand and moves things along at a quick pace. I get a kick out of books where the perfect girl ends up being a bit wild (for the record, I also like books where the wild girl ends up respectable- as long as she gets to be naughty in bed!) or where the civilized trappings of society are tossed aside so that our main characters can experience true happiness.

What can I say? I liked this one. It isn't groundbreaking but it's sweet and sexy. I liked the contrast between the proper language used to tell the story versus the idea of this young, virginal woman going against societal norms and choosing to take matters into her own hands as far as her suitors are concerned.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[tyrianpurple · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was gonna to rate this 5 stars and shelved it to my favorite. really. till before i read the epilogue, i was sure i would do just that.

despite a novella, we got to learn so much about each character, about the men friendship. though the writing style a bit hard to consume. the passion and longing described in a way that immersed me in.

i know how they would solved their problem. and i was so ready to overlook the impossibility of it done at that era. but what makes i took out the one star is the open-ending. hell! who married whos being reject. darn, why confussing? the solution already spelled, reader already accepted no matter who finally got the bride. why not just stating it instead of making us guess and dreamy?

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will always be drawn to historical romances that happen in or around Victorian or Regency London, so of course I had to check out this story from NetGalley. It was only 70 pages long, so a rather quick read. I liked it, but I wish it had been longer. There was much unsaid that could have been included, to round the story out (like who the groom was or even a follow-up scene after things were 'settled'). Nevertheless, it was a nice way to escape for an hour.

But next time, Ms. Mady, I implore you to lengthen your story. It could have been so much better. And I look forward to reading more from you.

[Andrea (mrsaubergine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this book - right until the last chapter. What a copout ending! It was obvious the author didn't want to resolve the "dilemma" of the title so she opted for the vague route, which almost totally ruined the whole story for me. I'm glad this was a freebie, as if I'd had to pay for it I would be really annoyed. I can only assume she ended up with the Duke - he had the bigger title - but... grrrr. Mady's other works have been recommended to me but now I'm not so sure.

[Moriah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-1/2 stars. I liked the lilty, formal language a lot. I liked that the ending was a tad ambiguous. There was the misuse of a word (discrete/discreet), which bugged. But a) it was too short and because of that, b) I can't buy how the debutante was initiated into the pleasures of the flesh when she hadn't been so much as kissed. And, well, I didn't really care that much about the characters; I simply didn't know anything about them.

[CozyCorner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not realize this was a novella when I borrowed it from Libby. This was a little disappointing only because it meant the story line had to be rushed and I think it would have been a great full length story. That said I really enjoyed it. It definitely wasn't like your typical historical romance. I would have really liked to know more about the Duke, the Lord and the Debutante

[Om Prakash · Rating 1 out of 5]

The storyline doesn't get its peak of emotions and satisfaction.
Lack of fine language not so intrigued by the words used by the author to describe the emotions. It was a blatant piece of writing.

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for adult readers. Well written, and interesting. Highly recommended.

[Dahlia (yadkny) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two men vying for the attentions of the same woman is never a good thing, or is it?

Cecilia, having been raised in a proper and prosperous household, has never had so much attention showered upon her like she has now. The whole of society is waiting on an expectant breath for her to show favor of one suitor over the other, but she holds back. Her reasoning is regardless of looks, title, or wealth, but of what will become of her when she is taken as a wife. Deep down she craves for her husband to be of a passionate mindset, so that they may experience things in a way that isn’t born of duty or responsibility thereby leading to a dull and unfulfilling life. One bold move and she now finds herself in precarious situation that could either be greatly worth the risk or ruin her for life.

It’s amazing how something as simple as a letter, among other things, could be taken as improper back in the 1800's. The numerous and easy ways to create scandal is tremendous, which is what intrigues me about this time period. Affectionate gestures are not openly on display, so it would be hard to distinguish if someone merely respects you or if it could be something much more. Cecilia for being so young and inexperienced, is quite brave to take on the responsibility of such discovery with two well-known men. Jeremy and Richard are amazingly not the rakes I expected them to be. They’re for all intents and purposes respectable gentlemen, which is refreshing considering the amount of rakes that can be found in other stories of this genre.

I will admit that this book was a bit of a vocabulary challenge for me and had me pausing on a few occasions to look up certain words, but I did enjoy the proper presentation of the story. While reading it felt authentic in both a character and dialogue sense. The ending contains that happily-ever-after that I was seeking, but also allows for some of my own conclusions to be drawn as well. It’s a little twisted in that we never truly know what the author is thinking, but fascinating and enjoyable nonetheless.

This is a short read by Ms. Mady and her first published work. I look forward to seeing what other kinds of sensual and erotically romantic stories she comes up with next.

Reviewed for Carina Press via NetGalley:
http://www.netgalley.com/

[Habrewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Debutante’s Dilemma by Elyse Mady
* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The Debutante’s Dilemma takes us back to a time where carnal relations aren’t discussed much less a consideration for marriage. The only reason for a marriage match was for both families to profit. That wasn’t a good enough reason for Miss Cecilia Hastings though. The talk of the ton, she is a delight to have at any event. She is not only beautiful but well educated and well spoken too.

Her parents have a loving relationship but she doesn’t sense any passion between them. She wants more for herself than to be used to gain land or money; she wants to experience it all. She has not one but two suitors that have asked for her hand in marriage. They are both handsome but as different as night and day.

Both Jeremy and Richard have fallen in love with Cecilia and have asked for her hand in marriage; each without the other knowing who their intended was. They have been friends since childhood and both are concerned that the marriage to Cecilia will ruin their friendship.

Cecilia devises a way to test their commitment and sends out a note requesting their presence. She was surprised when they both showed up and she got more than she bargained for. Once the door was opened, there was no way she could go back. She knew what she had to do.

The characters were interesting and had depth. They helped pull you into the story and keep you interested. I think in this case the trio of main characters worked well and added to the story, rather than take away from it. My only complaint was you never find out which of the two suitors she chooses. The author does give you a glimpse of Cecilia’s life a year later but alas still no clue to who her husband is.

Overall I really liked The Debutante’s Dilemma and give it 4 Flaming Hearts.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE DEBUTANTE'S DILEMMA by Elyse Mady is an erotic M/F/M historical romance set in 1814 London. It is an M/F/M (male/female/male) story.It is a debut novel for this author. While the writing is good,the story interesting,the plot has twists and turns. I have a few issues with the story.First,a young debutante in the 1800's,who can't decide on a possible marriage proposal from two men.The two men are,supposedly best friends from their Eton days and military days,are older than the young lady in question.If they are such best friends wouldn't one of them step aside,when he found out the other was seeking her hand in marriage?Second,what young lady in this time era would actually meet two gentlemen together at the same time to find out which one she wants to accept their proposal from.While deciding to partake in an sexual adventure with both men at the same time,please. Last but not least, the end result is marriage to one,have two boys,one favoring each man(assuming they are twins,of course),Then to live happy ever after,with one of the men being Godfather,yes to his own son,and the other husband/father,while at the same time continue with their sexual adventure.Please.This is probably why I don't usually read this type of book.It is a quick read,with an interesting overall storyline,until the ending that is.Although,the end is a little vague to me,I guess I got the overall picture.If you enjoy M/F/M and this sort of thing than this is the story for you. This is my first encounter in this genre and frankly,I just don't get it.I understand love and attraction comes to all kinds,but what about the aftermath? This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and details can be found at Carina Press and My Book Addiction and More.

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and to the point, The Debutante's Dilemma made up for its lack of too good to be true leading characters with a wit I appreciated. I find it rather remarkable that for all intents and purposes Wexford, Henley and Cecilia were perfect paragons of all that is good. Other than the short fall-out between Henley and Wexford, they remained utterly civilized. And Cecilia, even with her daring scheme, did it for the simplest of reasons--she wanted passion in her marriage.

I don't mean for that to sound like I expected the males to descend into barbarian behaviors and for Cecilia to be a shrew, but I felt not real connection to the characters. They were just so...nice! Henley gives Wexford the cut direct--apparently for the first time in the 6 months they had both been actively and ardently courting Miss Cecilia--but Henley is so distraught over the idea that later he apologizes and Wexford just shrugs it off. Given Mady's fixation with all the ways Cecilia could be led to scandal, I found it disconcerting that such a big social faux paus would be just filed away.

The intimacy scene, at the end of the novel, is appropriately hot and steamy. I attempted to overlook the fact that at some point Henley and Wexford had a mutual agreement to help Cecilia out--together--and didn't seem to have any compunction about it. They didn't discuss the matter, other then some significant glances to each other at various points, so it led me to believe it wasn't the first time such had occurred.

In the end this felt more like the tail end of a novel then a fully fleshed out story. As amused as I was by the banter between several characters, it couldn't keep the ship afloat for me to find any real satisfaction with the epilogue.

[Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on Romancing the Darskide:
http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot....

A scandalous read too shocking for its time!

Cecilia Hastings is young woman in search of a man who will make a proper husband in London's society and a passionate lover in the bedroom. During her first London season she's managed to charm two potential suitors, Jeremy Battersley the Earl of Henley and Richard Huxley the Duke of Wexford, who also happen to be best friends. Cecilia enjoys the company of both her suitors, but must discover who possesses the ability to fulfill her passionate desires before she can choose her future husband. To do this, she thinks up a gutsy scheme in order to make her final choice.

Cecilia schedules a secret meeting one night with Jeremy and Richard where she will test their devotion and affection, by sharing a kiss. When things don't go as planned and both show up simultaneously, Cecilia is sure she has lost them both. What she doesn't know is that Jeremy and Richard both long for her and are willing to come together to show her passion like she's never known.

This is a short but sultry erotic historical romance. The characters are very adventurous for this time period and quite enjoyable. The story is very well written for a novella, flows at a good pace and the ending was a total shocker! I wanted a little more steamy romance but had to remind myself this is not a full sized novel. The Debutante's Dilemma is a spicy Regency romance for those who enjoy debutante balls, secret rendezvous and a sexy ménage!


*Note: This book contains explicit sexual content and situations that some readers may find objectionable: M/F/M ménage.

[Cathiecaffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Debutante's Dilemma by Elyse Mady is a quick erotic romance story of Miss Cecilia Hastings who has been the eye of the ton with her beauty and background. With two of England's most eligible bachelors, Jeremy Battersley, Earl of Henley, and Richard Huxley, Duke of Wexford, both expressing their want of her hand in marriage, Cecilia is at a dilemma of what to do. She has feeling for both of them as well as they do for her.

Cecilia decides that she doesn't want marriage without passion. She comes up with a plan to invite each separately, to share a kiss so she could determine which she felt the highest feelings for in their kiss, despite having feelings for them both. Her plan doesn't go as expected and she's confronted with both at the same time. Now she's at a further dilemma to explain to them what she had wanted to accomplish with them both together as well as how to decide what to do with this challenge of feeling for both of them.

The Debutante's Dilemma by Elyse Mady is a erotic romance Menage a trois, MFM (male, female, male) , that concludes as a HEA, Happily Ever After, but at an unusual outcome! Very sensual and romantic scenes with Cecilia, Jeremy and Richard, its one quick read that the author ties together to a successful ending for all three! While in the beginning of the book appears to have some terminology from the author's deep writing that may require looking up as well re-reading as long worded sentences, the second half is much more visually and empathetic connecting with the characters and their emotions. This tied up The Debutante's Dilemma by Elyse Mady to be a quick sizzling Menage a trois romance read, great for a one evening read!

[ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...] · Rating 2 out of 5]

My reviews are mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

Ménages aren't my cuppa as I found out while reading this novella. I'm a total 'one man and one woman hopelessly in love'-type and sharing him with anyone else (and vice versa) isn't my kinda stuff. Reading something like that leaves me pretty uncomfortable. This was a free download and I was curious, a short story with the said debutante Cecilia and her two male friends Jeremy, an earl and Richard, a duke (look at the titles!); two veterans of war with Spain. The writing was ok. It seemed like they all liked each-other, love even and in the end, decided to 'share' that love. She let the one she's more attracted to strip her out of her virginity while 'petting' the other. She later married the 'more attracted to' one. The other one was invited 'frequently' in their house, as some gossip column reports. The end result?

Two hale, plump heirs who spent their days immured in the unending comfort which their wealthy and loving family could provide, and who were, as all who had been so distinguished as to admire them during one of their mother’s exclusive and sought-after at-homes could attest, as sweet and adorable as any two babies could possibly be. Of course, a more dissimilar pair it was hard to imagine. One blond, with soft blue eyes and the sweetest pair of dimples, the other dark, with a thick shock of brown hair that made him look quite rakish despite his diminutive size. But both were, despite these superficial differences, without doubt the apples of their doting parents’ eyes.

Oh great! ... 2.5 stars.

[Cee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little romance novella set in Regency England. Debutante Miss Cecelia Hastings is being courted by two of the most eligible bachelors of the whole empire. Yet before she can make a choice between the two of them, she has to ask them something. Something of the utmost discretion.

Even though I generally dislike love-triangles, I got this novella for free, so I figured I'd give The Debutante's Dilemma a try. Because the choosing between the two men was actually the focus of the story, it felt less of a convenient "hey, let's make our heroine's love life a more exciting!" but a genuine plot. It fits the time period, where marriage is on the top of a girls mind.

Because this book is so short, there is not much time to have some more in-depth info about the characters, and I had a hard time to keep Cecelia's suitors apart. For me their character was pretty much interchangeable, not having seen them enough to remember their distinct personalities.

The resolution of the plot was rather rushed, just a mention afterwards. I myself didn't even get it at first, because there's just some hinting at, and no direct description. Ms Mady uses a lot of fancy words, which fits the book, but doesn't make it easier to read. As English is not my first language, I was glad my Kindle had a dictionary function, or I probably would have put this book down.

It's a historical M/F/M novella, available for a very decent price. If you're into this kind of books, you will probably like The Debutante's Dilemma.

[Christin (Portrait of a Book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, especially anything set in Regency London. And such a book with a little romance added in? Even better!

It was easy to be swept away in this story; the language and the society parties took me to another country and century. Mady delivered a high quality of writing that reminded me why I love classic novels. The style was, for the most part, consistent; but occasionally a seemingly modern word would creep in and I would be jarred for a moment.

Even still, for the majority of the novel I only found myself wishing that this story were longer. The characters were well-portrayed, but I wanted to know more about them. I wanted to see more of their histories and watch the interactions unfold. This idea seemed like something that could easily be turned into a novel, and it would be one I would enjoy reading.

And then came the crux of the book. I have to say that I was completely not prepared for what happened, and I found it rather unbelievable. And a major detail is missing from the ending. While I think I understand the reason for it, the omission was still frustrating.

Overall, however, this book was very well-written. I will be interested to see what this author writes next!

Rating: 3 stars

[Between the Covers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, especially anything set in Regency London. And such a book with a little romance added in? Even better!

It was easy to be swept away in this story; the language and the society parties took me to another country and century. Mady delivered a high quality of writing that reminded me why I love classic novels. The style was, for the most part, consistent; but occasionally a seemingly modern word would creep in and I would be jarred for a moment.

Even still, for the majority of the novel I only found myself wishing that this story were longer. The characters were well-portrayed, but I wanted to know more about them. I wanted to see more of their histories and watch the interactions unfold. This idea seemed like something that could easily be turned into a novel, and it would be one I would enjoy reading.

And then came the crux of the book. I have to say that I was completely not prepared for what happened, and I found it rather unbelievable. And a major detail is missing from the ending. While I think I understand the reason for it, the omission was still frustrating.

Overall, however, this book was very well-written. I will be interested to see what this author writes next!

[Freya Duquesne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I really wish it had been made into a full-length novel, because the first part of it was mostly telling. It felt like a summary of a larger work. But I loved the characters--I wish we could have learned more about the two male leads. There was a homoerotic charm about their friendship that was very intriguing. It would have been nice to learn more about the heroine as well.

The Scene at the end was well written, sensual and explicit without being crass. It stayed true to the characters as well as the time period, though it was quite remarkable that a virginal 19th century young woman was able to jump directly into a menage with hardly a fuss! But the idea was so interesting, it was easy to suspend disbelief for the sake of seeing what the author was going to do with it.

But for being as short as it was, it still held my interest and was entertaining. The writing style was actually quite appropriate for a Regency novel. If Ms. Mady decided to write more books set in that time period, she would do well at it. I'm quite interested in reading more from this author.

[Stephanie Kline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so disappointed with this novella. I had previously read another Elyse Mady book and LOVED it, so I was excited to start this one, but there are absolutely no redeeming qualities to this story. First of all, the story is too short (as novellas are), to really develop an interesting story. The characters are just kind of thrown together and you don't actually get a good sense of who you're reading about. Secondly, I found the story to be completely and utterly unrealistic. I can't give anything away here, but the choices and suggestions that the main character Cecilia makes are completely ridiculous. Thirdly, the entire final chapter (25 pages on my iPad) was raunchy, erotic-novel-style sex. I'm not a prude when it comes to romance novels, but this was just a bit much. When the story is so short that you can't even formulate a real story, the solution should NOT be to just throw in a long and unnecessary pornographic scene. If I hadn't been so close to the end of the story, I would have just stopped reading. Anyway, hope to find better Mady books, but I wouldn't recommend this one.

[Vasya · Rating 1 out of 5]

The language in which this book was written was good. In fact, it was the only good thing in the book, because as for the rest...

The story is not developed. We are thrust in the middle of a story with only a sexual act as it's ending. That's it. There is a bit talk about her dilemma as she can't decide which one of the guys she wants most, but nothing major because the sexual act was spread on more pages than the actual dilemma. The "novelty" may be that it was set in the Regency era, but well, it makes it all the more bizarre, because two man sharing one woman, especially at that time in history - simply unbelievable. First of all, they are English bred high society, and as mush as I like the books that deal with those types of heroes, they are just too open-minded for that class and that type of society to deal with it at this way.

This book just didn't cut it for me. I love romances that are set in historical era, but love triangles and more were never and will never be my style. I'm more one-on-one girl.

This review is based on a digital ARC received via netGalley.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, nicely done — I really like the language, how it's written; it's a good match for the period in which it's set, almost like a Jane Austen without the light humor. The content of the story, goes from polite parlor room to erotic, though, so it may surprise some readers who came to this book for the Regency setting and yet dive in without reading the blurb. Hint: it's a little more than just a love triangle, folks.

I liked it, though. Probably my only nitpick about it is that you don't really know who Cecilia ends up marrying. It's left open in a bit of a lady-or-tiger kind of cop out ending. I really, seriously would have been fine with either choice, so long as the author actually made the choice and then justified it. It would have felt a more complete story if I didn't have to guess for myself, and I wouldn't have felt cheated out of a proper ending. My guess, of course, is that she went with the duke because of the bigger title and because of the two heroes his POV came first.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Debutante's Dilemma is a historical romance set in 1800's London, in the height of the Season. It is a time of strict moral codes of behavior and the Cecilia Hastings is far more passionate than her prim and proper fellow debutantes. Cecilia was a likeable character, and as relatable as a character from another century and society can be. Her emotional struggle between her heart and the rules of society was well-written and well-developed, and drew me in as a reader. While you knew from the beginning where the story was leading, getting there was still an enjoyable thing. I did wonder how there was going to be a satisfying ending, as the story was leading to something other than what society at that time would have expected. But the ending did answer the remaining questions satisfactorily, if a little rushed. There was a bit of an erotic turn to the story, but it didn't overshadow the book and was not the primary focus of the story.

[Beate · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the f**k is this? I haven't read anything more stale or boring in a long while. I tried to make my way through this novella, but my brain kept shutting down. I had to skim my way through it. Even that was impossible.

There was a huge distance to the characters, there was no way to connect with them. And who tagged this book as erotica? Seriously! There is nothing erotic about it. It's dry and boring, and the little "scene" at the end was just....not sexy or erotic.

This was half-way poetic and the descriptions of everything and everyone pretty much killed it. I want to get into the main players minds, I want to know what they're thinking and feeling - I don't want to know what they're wearing or how they're moving or what they're doing. This book would have benefited from getting more personal with the characters and drop all the stuff that happens around them.

When you sell a book as erotica, it better be erotic.

[Kimm · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella is not for the faint of heart…of the prudish variety that is…

It is a short and racy account of one women’s decision between two men…in which a compromise, of sort, is reached. I was a little taken by surprise when I read it because I would have categorized this as Erotica (maybe I’m wrong with the label) more than a Regency romance.

The story jumps to the point very fast and packs a quick powerful punch. There is not a lot of depth to the plot and the characters are skimmed over rather briefly. But, if you want to knock your socks off in a short read and like a lot of steam…this may be the right choice for you. For me…not so much, but more because it just isn’t my style of read.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novella that is set in the classic historical romance genre and format, but which highlights once again that there were women and men who appeared to be completely bound and gagged by the rules of the ton but who managed to live life according to their own dictates. A young debutante is so beautiful as to be classified as one of the "Incomparables" and who has her pick of the aristocratic bachelors is stuck quite literally between two best friends. Both are madly in love with her, both are bound and determined to have her, and both are ultimately willing to sacrifice a life-long friendship in order to do so. Ms Mady does a masterful job in this short work and her resolution to the impasse is so very well crafted. A really good read!