Review: Romancing the Duke By Tessa Dare

  In the first in Tessa Dare's captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love...

     As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too.  The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

     And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off.

     One by one by one.

     Ugly duckling turned swan?

     Abducted by handsome highwayman?

     Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

            No, no, and.... Heh.

     Now Izzy's given up yearning for romance.

She'll settle for a roof over her head.

What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six-year-old woman who's never even been kissed?

   This one.

I am not usually a fan of historical romances but this story was so sweet and fun to read that it made me rethink historical romances. The story was an unusual one, I thought, for a historical romance but it worked.  Izzy and Ransom were quite a pair that clashed and came together in a touching story.

I liked that it was an unusual historical romance in that you wouldn't think that a young woman would move into a castle by herself.  It was so touching how she felt about herself and that she wanted more and was not judging how Ransom was with his faults. This is a great book and I will be looking forward to reading the rest of the series in Castles Ever After.

Review: Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Okay, okay I will admit it. I still believe in fairytales and long for adventure and happily-ever-after. I actually even live behind a castle, so how could I not understand Izzy's longing for the same things I want? I'm so happy to say that this story lived up to my dreams, it had all the elements I needed to enjoy the entire situation. I developed an immediate connection with the heroine and I know that Izzy and I would be great friends if we ever got a chance to meet. I loved how faceted this story was, dealing with amazingly serious subject matters yet making me chuckle out loud at the antics of some of the key players. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect, tall dark and brooding hero. I like my leading men to have a slightly arrogant attitude and Izzy's duke is as sexy as they come. When I fall in love with the characters I can't help but love the book and I truly loved everything about this one, the setting was superb, the romance sweet and sexy and the premise a dream come true.