ROMANCING THE DUKE
(Castles Ever After, #1)
Tessa Dare
BLURB
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.
★★★★★
Romancing the Duke was a great audiobook. A good story can either be enhanced by a narrators ability to make the story pleasing to the ear or ruined by the way the narrator portrays the story. Luckily, for me, this one worked and had me listening to it in my spare time.
The story was a Beauty and the Beast, sort of, retelling which captured my curiosity. Izzy Goodnight finds herself in a castle with a wounded duke who wants nothing to do with her or the outside world. Prior to ending up in the duke’s castle, Izzy had lived with her father until he died and left her penniless.
Izzy was the daughter of a well-loved author whose fairy tales were published throughout the countryside. Unfortunately, at the time of his death, his will had been that the next closest male relative would inherit Mr. Goodnight’s fortune.
There was a slight twist towards the end of the book that added to the fun of the story. Overall the story was a good fairy tale in its own right.
Romancing the Duke is the first book in the Castles Ever After series. Lovers of fairy tales and historical romance will enjoy this tale between a 26-year-old virgin and a surly duke. Their steamy connection and witty banter will keep readers engaged in their story.